By FAIRY PATTERSON, of Hall Street National School, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan.

How does the Life-boat Service Help the Cause of Peace between Nations ? EVERYTHING that serves to promote peace and goodwill, amongst the nations of the world, ought to be encouraged and helped by all right-thinking people.

It was never God's intention that the nations of the world should be at strife one with another, or that they should spend so many millions every year on war material, that could be used for much better purposes.

The scripture precept, " Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," if it were thoroughly obeyed, would put an end to all such strife, and surely there could be no greater bond of sympathy between the nations than that the people of one should risk their lives in heroic efforts to save those of another who are in serious danger of being lost at sea. While the earth remains, the sea must be used as a means of worldwide communication, and but for those who " go down to the sea in ships, and do business in the great waters," carrying goods of all kinds from one country to another, many of the comforts and necessaries of life would be sadly missed.

On many a wild night, while we on land are sleeping safely in our beds, what terror men and women and children must experience on sea, if they know that their vessel is in danger of being lost with all hands.

How anxiously they look for help from some quarter, and with what joy they hail the appearance of the lifeboat, from the shore, or some other ship forging its way through the storm to bring them to safety.

It does not matter what colour, or creed, or nationality they be, they are human souls in danger, and every eSort must be made to rescue them.

Can any one think that they who are thus rescued by brave men and women of another country will ever harbour an evil thought against them, or will wish to see them under shot or shell or bomb, at the whim or fancy of those who for selfish ends or material gains blindly rush into war ? As in small communities, they who would live at peace and goodwill with their neighbours are ever willing and ready to show their sympathy and give their help to those who are in need, so seafaring men of all nationalities know and understand each other's trials and difficulties, and whether around their own coasts, or far away by other lands, they all know that when their vessel, if in danger, sends out its S.O.S. signal, from all parts others will hasten to help them, and, wherever possible, the lifeboat will be the.first on the scene. The founder of the life-boat service, Sir William Hilary, and those associated with him, wrought a greater work than they knew, and until the day comes when there shall be no more sea, the institution thus founded will continue to enlarge its influence for peace and goodwill amongst the nations of the earth, and is indeed worthy of the support of all peoples and every government..