OUR PRIZE AWARDS.

DEFINITION OF EARNESTNESS.
HIS Competition has proved a great success, both in

The quality of the definitions, which in

many cases were strikingly original. We noticed, however, in going over the papers, that not a few of the competitors, in defining the word Earnestness, had confused its meaning with that of Perseverance, and the result was a faulty, if not erroneous, definition.

The PRIZE in the SENIOR DIVISION is won by MATTHEW STOBART (19), Haydon Bridge, Northumberland.

We award CERTIFICATES to AMY BEATRICE DEANE (Uxbridge), HERBERT W. WRENCH (Lower Norwood), MARIE A. MACINTOSH (Camp Tralee, co. Kerry), THOMAS H. KNIGHT (Lostwithiel), W. ALDERSEY LEWIS (Lee, S.E.), CECIL N. SMITH (Everton, Lancs), ELEANOR E. ARCHER (Harbury, Warwickshire), H. F. GRAHAM (Wandsworth), MARGARET LAMBERT - HENDERSON (Kensington).

SUMMER AND WINTER AMUSEMENTS: WHICH ARE PREFERABLE?

A CAPITAL lot of papers. We wish we had room to publish

half a dozen of them in full. The light and easy style of many pleased us greatly.

We award the PRIZE in the SENIOR DIVISION to ELEANOR ELIZABETH ARCHER (21), Westfields, Harbury, Leamington.

CERTIFICATES are well won by THоs. H. KNIGHT (Lostwithiel), HERBERT H. WRENCH (Lower Norwood), MARIE A. MACINTOSH (Camp Tralee, Ireland), ALICE C. WILKINSON (Harrow), HARRIET L. ELMES (Addlestone).

We HONOURABLY MENTION CECIL N. SMITH, GERTRUDE LISTER, ARTHUR MORGAN, JOHN LEAK, AMY BEATRICE DEANE. In the INTERMEDIATE DIVISION the PRIZE is gained by FRANCIS S. PAYNTER (16), Stoke Hill, Guildford. CERTIFICATES are gained by JAMES E. ARCHIBALD (Alston), ALBERT W. PHILPOTT (Martock, Somerset), G. A. THORNE (Chester).

We HONOURABLY MENTION GERTRUDE KELL, MORGAN ANTHONY, EDITH WALL.

In the INTERMEDIATE DIVISION the PRIZE is gained by FLORENCE G. ATTENBOROUGH (15), Portscatho, Cornwall.

CERTIFICATES are awarded to FRANCIS S. PAYNTER (Guildford), FREDERICK TAYLOR (Littleport), ALICE W. MCDOWELL (Canonbury, N.), J. W. VERRIER (Taunton).

We HONOURABLY MENTION WILLIAM SHEPHERD, FLORENCE E. LEGG, JONATHAN WOOD, HENRY COLEMAN, SARAH M. LUDFORD, EMILY M. HOPKINS, E. GREENWOOD, MAUD B. MACPHERSON, ERNEST MARTEN, ALBERT W. PHILPOTT, ALICE S. DREW, JAMES J. NEWMAN.

In the JUNIOR DIVISION the general merit of the definitions sent in was somewhat disappointing. We give the PRIZE to HOWARD MOSELEY (13), 52, Kimberley-road, Nunhead.

We HONOURABLY MENTION ROBERT W. LISLE, CHARLES PLEDGER, LILIAN STOREY, W. MOUNTJOY, AGNES ARCHIBALD, EFFIE BELL, HENRY T. NEWMAN, H. F. BELL.

OUR PRIZE COMPETITION PAPERS.

EASTER HYMN.

HE general merit of the poems sent in for this competition being in many cases excellent.

In the SENIOR DIVISION the PRIZE is won by MARIE A. MACINTOSH (21), Knockglass House, Camp Tralee, co. Kerry, Ireland.

CERTIFICATES are 'awarded to W. ALDERSEY LEWIS (Lee, S.E.); PATTIE E. VARNAM (Thornton, Leicester); LUCY OLIVE MACLEAN (Shoeburyness); CHARLES A. COOPER (Hackney); F. CRATHERN (Enfield Highway); CHARLES WHEELER (Chesham), KATE SMITH (Burnham, Essex).

We HONOURABLY MENTION EMILY J. NAYLOR, BLANCHE DEANE, EDITH J. MILLAR, CHARLOTTE WOOD, THOMAS H. KNIGHT, ELEANOR E. ARCHER, AMY B. DEANE, CHARLES S. HERD, WILLIAM F. TUPMAN, ANNIE TOMES, W. C. AMBROSE, EDITH BENHAM, MARY N. MORELAND, FREDERICK WARD, ARTHUR MORGAN.

In the INTERMEDIATE DIVISION we award the PRIZE to JAMES EDWARD ARCHIBALD (15), College Villas, Alston, near Preston.

CERTIFICATES are gained by FRANCIS S. PAYNTER (Guildford), JOHN GODEFROY (Bishops Stortford).

We HONOURABLY MENTION C. MAUDE BATTERSBY, FLOREY BADCOCK, EDITH HELENA COOKE, SARAH W. GIBSON.

In the JUNIOR DIVISION the PRIZE is won by UNA MURIEL MAUD HAIGH (10), The Walnut Tree House, Walmer Hill, near Deal.

We award CERTIFICATES to WILLIAM A. HAIG-BROWN (The Charterhouse, Godalming), and ISABELLA M. A. MEEHAN (Amble, Northumberland).

PUZZLEDOM.

(Selected from the Intermediate Prize Paper.)

I. MESOSTICH.

"When shall it be?" the waiting cry,
"That we shall see God's word fulfill'd?
When shall the throb of woe be still'd?
When shall the glory fill the sky,
And ope the golden gates on high,

As God has by His prophets will'd?
When shall the dead no longer lie

In the dark depths of cold earth chill'd?"

Ask not the question of the Lord;

He knoweth best when time shall be

To give His rest to fire and sword,

To calm life's rough and bitter sea;
He knows, alone, when He shall free
Men from their graves to His reward.
1. A faithful servant of the Lord he lov'd,

Who preached the Gospel as his God approv'd.
2. Far o'er the waves, to Israel's King of fame,
To hear His wisdom, pomp and splendour came.
3. No self-appointed ruler, but a head

Of Israel's greatness in the days long sped. 4. Foes of God's chosen people, who would stay The weary wand'rers on the barren way.

5. Emblem of mortal strength, in vainest hour, But struck to death by a despised power.

6. From whose dark groves the ancient woodman hew'd The beams that built God's Temple where it stood. 7. Far have his children spread, from clime to clime, And long have they possess'd a Saviour's light; May Christians trust that they may see the time When pagan worlds shall know no more of night. II.-NUMERICAL PUZZLE.

A Book of the New Testament.

6, 1, 2, 3, 9, 13. 3, 7, 10, 5, 2, 6. 6, 9, 11, 12, 10, 6, 4. 4, 6, 10, 12, 1, 5. 4, 10, 8, 12

13, 10, 7, 11, 4. 3, 7, 10, 11, 13.

2, 8, 5, 3, 6.

3, 7, 10.

9, 8, 6, 2.

1. 1001

Where an Apostle preach'd the Word,
A prophet's voice in Israel heard;
Struck by a wrathful God at last,
In glory now, with sorrow past;
Of whose beauties oft we sing,
A faithful worker for his King;
With his Lord upon the mount,
A prophet here of lesser count;
One who ruled o'er Israel's land,
Sav'd by God's Almighty hand.
III.-ARITHMOREM.

Crown him as a martyr should be crown'd,
With diadem of gold and robe of white,
And let the choir of beauteous angels sound,
As from his bruised body life takes flight.
For he is one, the first of those who fell,
Because they lov'd their Master true and well.
Though others pass'd the weak defence.
less by,

an a star

as haste on

He could not leave a fellow-man to die. Where brave disciples fought the way by love,

Bless'd by the aid of all God's power

above.

Where, to assembled men, the Saviour came,

And marvelled they if this could be the

same.

Hence came the visions, wondrous in extent,

That to a banished man by God were sent.

Vain his revenge, although such mighty hate,

Worthy of such a man his lowly fate. Fair promise of the land before our view, Whose plains are smiling, and whose skies are blue.

Cleansed wholly by his faith, so should we be,

From doubtings of our Lord for ever free.

IV.-DIAGONAL PUZZLE.

When Paul, Apostle, who could never fear

The raging tumult or the madden'd crowd,
Address'd the people with his preaching here,
There were not few who had to idols bow'd,
That took a Saviour to their hearts, to save,
And battled persecution to the grave.

1. Well might the griev'd ones weep, with bitter tears
And rending sorrow, 'mid the scoffers' jeers.
2. Would that the erring kings upon this earth
Had but a tenth of all his truth and worth.
3. Here, for His children, did our God perform,
More than fierce fire could do or rushing storm.
4. Though at no might of mortal man dismay'd,
His life was lost when he was so betray'd.
5. Fam'd for the product of its fertile hills.
6. How sweet the sense of welcome rest that fills
The air, where'er we go upon the day
That God hath will'd we should put toil away!
7. Deep in the ruins, where its glory lies,
Seek for reward of its iniquities.

AUGUSTUS H. SCALES (16).

OUR PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

WE offer a PRIZE OF BOOKS TO THE VALUE OF HALF A GUINEA

to Competitors under Twenty-one; a SECOND PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE to those under Seventeen; and a THIRD PRIZE TO the Value of FIVE SHILLINGS to those under Fourteen, for the best

ACCOUNT OF AN AMATEUR CONCERT.

MSS. must not contain more than 1,200 words; and each Competitor must count his or her own paper, and affix the total at the end of the last page.

We offer BOOKS TO THE VALUE OF HALF A GUINEA to Competitors under Twenty-three; a SECOND PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE to those under Eighteen; and a THIRD PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF FIVE SHILLINGS to those under Fourteen, for the best paper on

MY FAVOURITE BOY-HERO IN ROMANCE. MSS. must not contain more than 1,000 words: Competitors must count their own papers.

We offer Books TO THE VALUE OF HALF A GUINEA to Competitors under Twenty-three; a SECOND PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF SEVEN SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE to those under Seventeen; and a THIRD PRIZE TO THE VALUE OF FIVE SHILLINGS to those under Fourteen, for the best paper describing

THE BEST DAILY ARRANGEMENT OF A GIRL'S LEISURE TIME, IN TOWN OR COUNTRY. MSS. must not contain more than 1,000 words: Competitors must count their papers.

General conditions applicable to the above Competitions :— All papers must have name, age, and address attached. Must be guaranteed as original by parent, guardian, minister, or teacher.

All papers must be sent in not later than 21st May. All papers must be fastened together, but different competitions must be kept separate.

No papers will be returned unless accompanied by a stamped and addressed envelope or wrapper.

We would call special attention to

OUR SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARY COMPETITIONS,

in which Prizes to the value of

TWENTY-ONE POUNDS

are offered to Competing Sunday-Schools. Full particulars (with coupon) will be found on the yellow cover.