Our Father in Heaven, the light of this new day is the light of Thy countenance, therefore we rejoice. In Thy sunshine our souls find strength for the burdens Thou dost give, and even through Thy shadows we reach the peace which passeth understanding. Yet Thou art comfort to us that we may comfort the troubled and the distressed with the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted. Set Thou our feet in the paths of service. Make us, we pray Thee, glad ministers of Thy mercy, and in binding up the wounds of others may we have balm for our own. By this day, may we grow in patience and power, and in the knowledge of Thy love. Amen. LEON O. WILLIAMS. October 23 _Life has a thousand pages--love and scorn, Hope and adventure, poverty and sin, Despair and glory, loneliness forlorn, Age, sorrow, exile, all are writ therein--; And on each page, however stern or sad, Are words which gleam upon the crabbed scroll, Revealing words, that make our spirits glad, And well are worth the study of the soul. We may not lightly shrink from any leaf, For on it may be writ the word we need. God turns the page--whatever joy or grief He opens for us, let us wisely read._ PRISCILLA LEONARD. Fill our souls with Thy light, O God, that we may ever hope. Give us the poise of endless progress. Make our souls free and joyous as the bird's wing. Give us the courage of our convictions in all places, under all conditions. Make us brave. Take away all forms of fear, whether of man, of nature, or of Thee, and make us feel that each is our mighty friend, but Thou supreme over all, faithful each moment to our being, in ten thousand sweet, true, tender, life-giving, life-sustaining ministries. Teach us to look for Thee everywhere, and to see Thy order, and Thy beauty, facing all things Heavenward. May our ideals be perfect holiness, perfect strength, perfect love, perfect service. Make our faith great in the higher estate, where our faculties, only dawning here, shall rise in a glorious morning of the soul. Amen. A. N. ALCOTT. October 24 _Suppose a kindly word of mine Could lift the clouds and bring sunshine; Am I my brother's keeper?_ _Suppose the weary worker toils, For scanty pittance delves and moils; Am I my brother's keeper?_ _Suppose in penury and fear My neighbor see the wolf draw near; Am I my brother's keeper?_ * * * * * _Perhaps--who knows?--perhaps I'm not! Self-centred soul! hast thou forgot The marvel of our common lot, The mystic tie that binds us all Who dwell on this terrestrial ball, Stupendous hope of time and song, The bourne for which the ages long? How hard our hearts must seem to Thee, Exhaustless Fount of Charity!_ HENRY NEHEMIAH DODGE.