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REMARKS.

Bog-Oak wishes to say a word to the various requests she has had for less work each month. The remedy is in the Members' own hands. Why do they write such needlessly long answers? The longest by no means always get the highest marks. She is told the work is harder than it was at first. Compare this month's work-i.e. November-with one of the first or second year, when, e.g. several heresies and one important biography came in one month; and it is not really more. One Member complains of having to write four essays every month. Why does she? The questions don't require it. Occasionally, indeed, Bog-Oak likes to ask a question requiring more thought than research, so that Members of the C. H. S. may not exhibit the faults recently found by the Oxford Local Examiners in History, viz., that 'candidates did not show the least understanding of the facts with which they dealt, and with which they were familiar.' At the same time Bog-Oak joyfully recognises the immense pains and care bestowed on the papers. This year covers very little over twenty-five years for the eleven papers; though, of course, one can always make a retrospect.

37. Henry VIII.'s various Formularies have been most correctly stated by Etheldreda, Hermione, and Water Wagtail. But the connection between them might have been more clearly put by many. The Ten Articles (1536), which were more Catholic than Lutheran, mark the ne plus ultra of Reform in this reign. The Institution of a Christian Man,' or 'Bishop's Book' (1537), was the devotional side of the Ten Articles. The Six Articles' Law-the whip with six thongs'-marks the reflex tide setting towards Rome in the King's later years; while the Erudition of any Christian Man, or necessary Doctrine,' the King's Book was the counterpart of the Six Articles, and put a full stop to Reform.

38. Etheldreda, Water Wagtail, Honeysuckle, and Maidenhair best analyse the Ten Articles. All should have drawn the important distinction between the first five and the latter five of the Ten Articles-between things necessary, and things lawful but not necessary, to salvation. Rome's great mistake has been magnifying things laudable and not necessary into Articles of Faith; and it was to the credit of the Reformers that they recognise the distinction. It is more correct to say the Ten Articles were influenced by the Augsburg Confession than that they were founded on it, for they are professedly against 'Lutherans and Anabaptists.' Nevertheless, they speak of justification, and even, to a certain point, of the Sacraments, in terms of the Augsburg Confession, i.e. the Melancthonian presentment of Lutheranism. Trudel: Rebaptization' is an inadmissible word for 'Re-baptism.'

39. The versions of Scripture are very well given by Etheldreda, Hermione, Water Wagtail, Ierne, and Honeysuckle. The principal versions, not only translations, used in this century were: (1) The Vulgate. (2) Erasmus' Greek Testament. (3) Various Old English versions, including Wycliffe's, all more or less obsolete. (4) Tyndall's, from Hebrew and Greek (not, as Maidenhair says, from German). This was always forbidden because (a) published without authority; (B) containing many errors and changes in the venerable words; (y) but chiefly because bound up with heretical prefaces abusing Church and clergy. (5) The version begun by Cranmer and the Bishops in 1535, and renewed in 1544, but stopped at once. This was hardly in use. Yet it was used probably by the Prayer-book Commission, for the offertory sentences are believed to come from it; and perhaps the clause in the Litany, 'Oh, God, we have heard with our ears.' (6) Coverdale's, from Latin and German, which, by the way, was authorised in 1536 to be placed beside the Vulgate in churches-an order not widely obeyed. (7) Matthew's, 1537, an imperfect conglomerate of Tyndall and Coverdale,' licensed pro tem. (8) The Great Bible,' which was Matthew's re-edited from the original tongues (not, as Gooseberry says, translation No. V.). It was, however, called Cranmer's from the Preface.' It was this (and not Matthew's, as Water

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Wagtail thinks) which was stopped by the Inquisition in Paris. Our Prayerbook Psalms come from the Great Bible, not Coverdale's, as Nil Desperandum thinks.

40. Etheldreda and Water Wagtail give excellent accounts of the Office Books. Why does Fidelia say our English Prayer-book began to be put together in 1543? It was not begun till Edward VI.'s reign, and the very first bit, the Litany, was not composed till 1544, and then not used publicly. Veritas: Henry VIII. died in 1547, not 1549. Gooseberry: The Uses had all survived. The only superiority of the Sarum Use was that it got earliest into print, and so was sometimes used beyond Salisbury Diocese, even before, in 1542-only seven years before the first Prayer-book, it was ordered throughout Canterbury Province, not all England. Gooseberry enumerates the books of the Reformation, not those before, which were: (1) The Missal. (2) The Breviary, including besides the Hours-(a) Antiphonary; (8) Lectionary; (y) Invitatories; (8) Responsaries. (3) The Manual, or Occasional Services. (4) The Pontifical, containing all offices as said by a Bishop. These four were arranged differently in various national Uses, of which we in England had several. But a 'Use' was not an additional Office book, as Trudel, Maidenhair, etc., think. The Sarum Missal and Breviary were parts of the Sarum Use.

Subscriptions received from Kadapa, Hermione, and Honeysuckle.
No September Papers from Miss Molly reached Bog-Oak.

The China Cupboard.

ARRANGED BY CHELSEA CHINA.

(For the regulations of all Monthly Packet' Competitions, see p. 240.)

FIRST SHELF.

BLUE CHINA.

DEBATABLE Ground.

We now sum up the last debate on the old lines for the present. Indeed, Chelsea China has herself been roused to think out many problems, and, though few of them can be said to have been settled in these pages, various views have come face to face with each other. She hopes that in the discussions on different authors now undertaken, some points which it has been difficult to put into debatable form may come into court. It is a very good thing, when vague puzzles are in the air, to bring them into the light of day, and Chelsea China would remind all readers, that there is no use in discussing authors' principles, as to which there can be no dispute, or which have no bearing on the real thoughts and perplexities of readers. She again begs that correspondents will suggest such authors as they think suitable for discussion.

As to the present and last debate, Christmas has limited its extent, nor does Chelsea China think the point has been quite seen. It is of course one of the many times when all depends on the definition of words. If humility is defined as wishing to take the lowest place, of course it is not compatible with ambition in the ordinary sense of the word. But if it is defined, as thinking lowly of oneself, as having a poor opinion of one's own merits, it may co-exist with the most ardent wish to succeed and shine. Whether it can also do so, with the power of surpassing others, is another question. There is an inward consciousness of any real power, which pricks through self-distrust and intentional self-depreciation, and produces VOL. 85 (V.-NEW SERIES). NO. 504.

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when resisted, a disturbance of spirit which has not much in common with real humility.

But surely, the sense of a special power, and the strong desire for opportunities of exercising it, is not incompatible with a general sense of one's own demerits and the knowledge that, except in the one particular, we are no better than our neighbours. Papers received from Dame Mary, Taffy. Smut's is given. The two first discriminate carefully between right and wrong ambition, apparently meaning the difference between the desire of triumph for ourselves or for a cause. But is the latter ambition at all?

Bildad and Bath-Brick both very good.

'Is Humility compatible with Ambition?'

We were taught that humility meant the low opinion we had of ourselves in comparison with that we had of others. That low opinion of ourselves is surely perfectly compatible with an ambition. For none but those who are truly good are truly humble, and they also are ambitious. For there is a true ambition and a false one, and there are also two kinds of humility. Those who have seen the grand representation of Henry VIII.' at the Lyceum Theatre, and heard the passionate words, Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition,' must have realised the force of them, and the falsity of Cardinal Wolsey's ambition. For what was it, for which he was ambitious? Wealth, power, honour, respect for himself, yet when face to face with the injured, perjured Queen, with what mock humility did his evasions and extenuation come. She had been to him a patroness, yet he turned on her when he found her in his way. Ah! if Wolsey had not left it to the last to say those sad words: Had I but served my God as I have served my King, He would not now have left me naked to mine enemies'; if he had been ambitious for the honour of his God and the Church first, his humility would have been genuine. For therein lies the secret of ambition, being compatible with humility. To realise that we are not 'our own,' that prima facie we are set on earth to do God's work. Whatever ambitions we may have, and rightly too, all should be prefaced by or concluded with the prayer, 'Thy will be done.' Then we shall be humble over our successes, for we know that if our ambitions on earth are fulfilled, it is by God's goodness in giving us what we have wanted, and worked for. I think, therefore, it is proved that humility is compatible with ambition, provided that the ambition is not one of self-aggrandisement. If it is for the glory of God, and for the good of others, then humility will be there too. For humility is the outcome of love, and love is the best gift we have from Him, who humbled Himself in order, if we may dare reverently say so, to complete His ambition for our welfare.

AUTHOR FOR THE MONTH.

F. Marion Crawford.

SMUT.

With especial view to the discussion of the type of female character which he apparently considers the most admirable.

SECOND SHELF.

VARIETY SPECIMENS.

ELEVENTH COMPETITION.

'As to the hidden wills, they are innumerable, and the world of fiction could hardly get on without them.'-C. M. YONGE.

Given: A Hidden Will-consequent Complication and Solution.

an outline Plot on these lines.

Invent

Only seven Wills have appeared. Of these Aline Grefil Beck's has a nice complication in the heroine being obliged under the first will to invest her money in a milliner's business, from the need of which a wealthy marriage has since absolved her. But that small piece of paper under the drawer? It has been squeezed flat so very often. And that sliding panel in Smut's plot is rather an ancient hiding-place, though Chelsea China admits that the cleaning it by the new inhabitants is a bright idea. On the whole, there is a neatness in L. F. W's devise, it tallies so well with the plot, that, farcical as it is, Chelsea China fancies it must have the prize. A serious complication, so complete and ship-shape, would be a treasure indeed. Mayblossom, Cheshire Cat, Bluebell, and Varagine good. Comment next month on these last papers,

DECEMBER-PRIZE WINNER.

Miss Wintle, Etwall House, Andover.

An old maid, Celestina Twiggs, has much money and a darling parrot. Said parrot's favourite speech is, 'You want the old maid's money!'

A nasty tempered niece, fairly well off, but grasping, Sophonisba Twiggs by name, lives with said old maid, fawns on her for her money, and pretends to love parrot.

A poor cousin, Ella, lives opposite with her invalid mother, pensioners of Celestina's.

A worldly, money-loving nephew, James Salter, lives hard by; his son, Edward, is in love with Ella.

Ella, good, true, and beautiful.

James, much exercised, wishes to get Miss Twigg's money whatever happens, and thinks Ella has a chance of it, but would not for the world his son should marry a pauper.

Celestina dies. Hunt for the Will.

Tableau.-Parrot left without food, screaming, 'You want the old maid's

money!'

Sophonisba says, 'You horrid beast,' and leaves it.

Ella takes it home and feeds it.

No will found. James Salter and Sophonisba co-heirs. They marry.
Edward told to give up Ella. 'Won't!'

In arranging the house after return from the honeymoon, will found at the bottom of the maize-bin, before witnesses.

Will reads thus

I leave all to that person who shall have cared for and fed my parrot after my death.'

Despair of James and Sophonisba. Joy of Edward and Ella.

I.

2.

Curtain.

SUBJECT FOR FEBRUARY.

Sketch the appearance and character of a dog.

WHO, WHEN, AND WHERE?
ANSWERS TO DECEMBER QUESTIONS.

'So was their sanctuary violated,

So their fair college turned to hospital.'

The Princess (LORD TENNYSON).

'Thoughts that lie beyond the reach

Of thy few words of English speech.'

To a Highland Girl (W. WORDSWORTH).

3. Prince Giglio, in 'The Rose and the Ring' (THACKERAY).

4. By Harry Walmer, to his little lady-love: 'I think a Norfolk biffin might rouse her, Cobbs.' 'Boots at the Holly Tree Inn' (CHARLES DICKENS).

5.

"The Pilot of the Galilean Lake.'

Lycidas, line 109 (MILTON).
'Much Ado About Nothing'

6. Benedick. 'I have the toothache.' (SHAKESPEARE).

CORRECT ANSWERS RECEIVED.

Nemo, 18; Double Dummy, 12; Two Corsicans, 21; Rothay, 24; G. Festing, 18; Rule of Three, 30; M. R. A., 6; Helen, 27; K. Anstey, 24; W. M. T., 6; Greta, 18; Honeylands, 24; The Cousins, 15; Cedars, 24; Swanzey China, 30; Mab, 27; Starling, 24; Sandford and Merton, 24; Helga, 6; Sir Percival, 24; Feu Follet, 30; Mumps, 24; Gareloch, 24; Apsley Guise, 30; Sybil, 18; Hexagon, 12; Halliday, 12; Hedwig, 18; Parlet, 18; G. G., 27; Clio, 21; Old Maid, 30.

The letters of Rothay, Feu Follet, and Mab shall be considered.

Chelsea China has been lenient enough to credit all the Benedicts, though she thinks the mistake might have been avoided. Few words of English speech is in quotation marks, and therefore she cannot credit the various young foreigners who did not know English. Very few were up in their Wordsworth. Louis Kerneguey, in 'Woodstock,' is not called Giles.' Giles of Brittany is credited. If a reference can be given for any occasion when Charles II. or Charles Edward masqueraded under the name of Giles, credit shall be given.

SEARCH QUESTIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

The authors and contexts of the following:

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'Then to contribute to my loss,
My knife and fork were laid across;
On Friday too! the day I dread!'
'Far in a wild, removed from public view.'
'What seemed his head,
The likeness of a kingly crown had on.'

'The last leaf on a blasted tree.'

'For birds are like men in their contests together,
And in questions of right will dispute for a feather.'

'Well may'st thou think this honest steel

Was ever drawn for public weal;

And such was rightful Heaven's decree,
Ne'er sheathed except with victory.'

Will those who wish to vote for the best story in the Christmas Number send in their votes. One for each household.

THIRD SHELF.

ODDS AND END S.

NOTES AND QUERIES.
QUERIES.

Mai would be much obliged if anyone would tell her where to find a poem of which each verse begins

Is it true, O Christ, in Heaven?'

See June Number, 1892.

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