Passing an object to functions

Version: PHP 4.3.9 I have a database connection class. I create an instance of this class, then pass it to a function. Within that function, I can use that object passed to the function. Within this function, I then call another function, and want to pass the object to the second function. This is where I am having problems. I cannot access this ocject from the second function. Here is an example of what I am trying to do: function test1(&$OBJ_db) { echo get_class($OBJ_db); //Echos "lp_database" test2($OBJ_db)' } function test2(&$OBJ_db) { $OBJ_db->query("SOME SQL STATEMENT"); //Fatal error: Call to a member function on a non-object echo get_class($OBJ_db); //Echos nothing echo gettype($OBJ_db); //Echos NULL } $OBJ_database=new lp_database(); test1($OBJ_database); Anyone have any ideas why I can't pass the object from function test1 to function test2? Even if I do not pass by reference, I can access the object in function test1 but not in function test2. b.