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expressions of good-will in those places which are the abode of men whose lot it is to labour and to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brow—a name remembered with expressions of good-will when they shall recruit their exhausted strength with abundant and untaxed food, the sweeter because it is no longer leavened with a sense of injustice."

Lord PALMERSTON (1784-1865) was in Parliament for sixty years, and held office in his youth. Though he loved to be the Nestor of the House of Commons, he seemed, like La Fontaine, never to be old.

Earl RUSSELL, so much associated with him in office, entered the House of Commons when young, and from the prestige of his family and his attachment to the Liberal party, was early a statesman in office.

WILLIAM EWART GLADSTONE (1809) was born at Liverpool, where his father, a Scotchman, was a merchant. Young Gladstone was carefully educated, and displayed great ability in youth. He graduated as a double-first in classics and mathematics. He was in the House of Commons at twenty-three, and a Lord of the Treasury at twenty-five. When he published his volume on "The State in its Relations with the Church," before he was thirty, Macaulay in reviewing it said: "The author of this volume is a young man of unblemished character, and of distinguished parliamentary abilities—the rising hope of those stern and unbending Tories who follow, reluctantly and mutinously, a leader whose experience and eloquence are indispensable to them, but whose cautious temper and moderate opinions they abhor. It would not be at all strange if Mr. Gladstone were one of the most unpopular men in England." But Mr. Gladstone disappointed the hopes of his party and the fears of his opponents.

The promise of his youth, though emi

nently fulfilled by his peerless abilities, was not fulfilled in Conservative results. He lived to become the greatest Liberal leader known in England, and one of the most popular among statesmen, even by the National party in Ireland.

In America the way to statesmanship is open to ability. Some very distinguished youths have taken a conspicuous place. The Constitution of the United States, which is acknowledged to be one of the most masterly and perfect pieces of modern statesmanship, was framed by one of the youngest legislators.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON (1757-1804) was the constructor of Fort Washington, on Manhattan Island, when he was only twenty years of age. The skill displayed attracted the attention of General Washington, who at once took him into confidence, which was unclouded till his melancholy end. Before he was thirty, Hamilton was the first and greatest expounder of constitutional liberty in America. He was the chief author of the Constitution. He became a member of the first Cabinet of President Washington, and Secretary of the Treasury. When Washington was recalled from his retirement in 1798 to become commander-in-chief, Alexander Hamilton was appointed first major-general. In 1804, his powerful influence in New York prevented the election of Aaron Burr to the presidency, and from that day Burr sought occasion to quarrel and fight with Hamilton. He was too successful in his efforts, and challenged Hamilton. They met at Weehawken, opposite New York, in July 1804, and though Hamilton refused to fire, Burr shot him dead. It was felt that the brightest intellect in America had fallen a victim to a savage and abominable custom which had too long prevailed in older states of Europe, and had barbarously

been introduced into a new country. He was then only forty-seven years of age.

When the heavy debts which had been incurred faced the American Congress, Washington said to a friend: "What is to be done with this heavy debt?" "There is but one man

in America can tell you," said his friend, "and that is Alexander Hamilton." That led to the appointment to the Treasury already noticed. "The success of his financial schemes was immediate and complete." Daniel Webster said, "He smote the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of the public credit, and it sprang upon its feet."

TH

IX.

YOUNG DIVINES.

HERE have been very many throughout the Christian. centuries who have in early youth dedicated themselves to the Christian ministry and have been invested with the sacred office. Even since a professional education has been required by the regulations of Churches, it has been found that opportunities are afforded to precocious young men to be early equipped for public service. But in their case, no less than in that of the other classes already considered, it is the development of superior ability, or the accomplishment of distinguished work in youth, which warrants our giving them a special place in the record of the achievements of youth; and there is a long list of such illustrious divines, from which we make a selection to encourage and stimulate the rising clergy.

ORIGEN (185-254) was one of the most remarkable young men that have adorned the Christian Church. He was a native of Alexandria, and was born of Christian parents of some position in life, and possessed of a competence. It was a period of comparative rest to the Church, and Christians were at liberty to resort to the schools of learning without any insult or peril. The father of Origen, named Leonidas, was a man of intelligence and piety. He took a large share in the education of his son, reading the Scriptures with him,

and making him commit passages to memory every day. He would often talk with the boy about what they read together, and encourage the eager inquiry of his son.

The mind of Origen was singularly active and fond of investigation. He wanted to find deeper and more hidden. meanings in the sacred text than the literal sense seemed to warrant. Leonidas tried to guide and even to check this speculative tendency, but at the same time blessed God for such a son. Often when the boy was asleep he would kiss his bare bosom, which he regarded as the sanctuary of God's Spirit. He gave him ample opportunity of attending the schools for which Alexandria then was so renowned; and Origen devoted himself to the preparatory sciences of grammar, arithmetic, and geometry with great zeal. Philosophy, too, charmed his aspiring soul.

He was early admitted to the Christian school which had been established at Alexandria by Pantænus, and over which the cultured Clement afterwards presided. One of his fellowstudents states that he listened with Origen to these early teachers. The tendency of their prelections was towards that allegorical exposition which the youth himself had indulged when listening to the simple expositions of his father.

Origen even in youth had disciplined his mind to resist the temptations and pleasures which abounded in Alexandria, and by which so many were ensnared. He lived for sacred truth and for the unseen world, and was early captivated by the sublime and purifying doctrines of Christianity. "Origen's faith," says Dr. Pressensé, was nurtured in the Church as well as in the home. Christian worship at Alexandria was a thing of much beauty. Nowhere else were the public prayers so poetically rich and full, as we see from the liturgical docu ments of the time. The forms of adoration were grand and solemn, though also striking in their simplicity. It is pleasant

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