escue Work" is rather a comprehensive term, and we must utter a gentle protest against its being exclusively applied to any one section of Rescue Work, as appears to have been done by the Rev. Arthur Brinckman in a valuable little book upon work amongst the Fallen, which he has just published entitled "Notes on Rescue Work." It may be well, however, in dealing with the whole subject to offer a few hints upon this department of the work first, as they are to be found in the book just mentioned. We need hardly say we do not agree with all the writer's conclusions. We think his remarks on

Tract distribution

liable to mislead. He does not "believe in it," and cannot remember any woman of this sort ever telling him that her first resolve or wish to quit her sin came from the perusal of a tract. It is hardly surprising that this should be the experience of one who does not believe in it, and therefore we may presume seldom if ever himself distributes or encourages the distribution of tracts, and it is hardly fair to bring forward such experience (or rather absence of experience) in support of the very idea which produced it. There may be cases that a tract would be the most unlikely means to reach, there may be some who "are sick of tracts, others who would tear them up, others who take them home to make fun over them with their companions," but some at least have taken the first step on the better road because the Holy Spirit used the truth as simply set forth in a tract though it was in a very faulty fashion. "Tracts have yet to be written that would be just the thing for them." It is quite safe to say this, even without having read all the tracts that have been written for the purpose, lor though in our view there are some very suitable ones; there is doubtless still room for something better. But there is surprisingly little to find fault with in Mr. Brinckman's book, and much, very much that is practical and helpful in the various phases of the work. We will now quote a few of his remarks.

How to take up the work.

Whoever takes up this work should do so in the fear of God, in all humility, should ever pray for more and more love for God and souls, and never forget that, of all efforts to help souls, this work requires in those that attempt to carry it on, some knowledge of the world, combined with plenty of tact and common sense. Maudlin sentimentality, ignorance, excitability, impatience, talkativeness, goody-goodiness, are the ruination of it.

Those who under God will succeed best are those who aro calm, patient, brightly hopeful, refined, and who, as regards their own efforts and the work they help, say as little as possible.

The kind of workers required.

The workers have the real burden of the Mission upon them, and as far as possible they ought indeed to be a picked body of women.

I must confess that the great majority of clergymen have not had much experience in this special work, and that on the whole women can, will, and must do the greater part of this work amongst women.

Some think it does not much matter who your workers are at this preliminary rescue work so long as they are good, earnest women. It is impossible to say how much does depend on them,—under God nearly all.

How often one worker speaks to a woman without avail, and another wins her directly!

And if a girl agrees to go to a Home, how often (whether she is allowed to correspond or visit her or not) does the thought of the first good friend outside keep the penitent in the Home, trying to persevere. How often has it been that when in a restless mood a girl leaves a Home she either at once or subsequently seeks "her lady," and is kept in hand by her till something else can be done for her; granted that very often a woman of, say, the sub-matron class of life in a small refuge, will see through and through one of these women, and understand her when many a born lady would fail to do so; granted that some of these paid Mission women of the working class can do a very useful work, still, with all the grades of women who live in sin, from the highest to the lowest, the elevating as well as the first winning influence of the cultured, common-sense lady is by far the most powerful.

As a rule the married are more tit in every way for this work than single women are.

The women who work amongst these women should be the very pink and flower of their sex. It is a mistake, and a vital one, I believe, to say "any good woman with pluck and zeal will do for this sort of work, or that if she is a little coarse in mind or manner, perhaps all the better for dealing with coarseness and the low forms of vice."

If a woman is very talkative, rough, coarse, noisy, excited, inclined to be too familiar with these women, and to be in the least degree light in her talk about them or their sin, it is only the enemy of souls, or foolish enthusiasts, of the Salvation Army type, who could approve of her taking part in this work.

"Plain and homely" is all very well, but these women are not attracted by anything in the least degree approaching to coarseness, levity of manner or light talking about their sin! The workers cannot be too refined, courteous, and gentle in manner.

As regards this work in the streets being done by men, I think it ought not to be.

The women do not believe in it, that it is done with the best intentions, and often attribute the worst of motives to the proceeding.

Women can do a good and useful work in the streets, if they are quite independent and keep to the work regularly for some long time.

(Mr. Brinckman in his notes narrows the saying to "all Churchmen," but we have good reason to know that no such limit need be put.)

The first object in the work.

The first and direct work is, of course, to win souls for God, but in speaking of the woman's reformation, be it remembered this is the object of rescue work to bring her back from sin to holiness—to God.

"Placed in situations," "Otherwise assisted," "Emigrated," may all mean no reformation at all.

It need not follow, that the woman is really penitent, loves God any the more, and is in the true, high sense of the word rescued.

Most of these real reformed cases must be known to God only.