quarter of the globe, than steps are taken to make its will and power of protecting or releasing the sufferers known and felt.

The literature of the Alliance alone redeems it from the reproach of insignificance, and entitles it to the esteem, if not the actual adherence, of all Christian men. In the present volume we have an inaugural discourse by one of the greatest of the Dutch divines, Professor Oosterzee, of Utrecht. Then the "Religious Condition of Christendom" is concisely reported by no less than fifteen writers of eminence in the countries which are separately represented, and among these is a sketch of the Nonconformists of England, by our Next friend the Rev. J. H. Hinton. comes the department of "Theology" -eight contributions, beginning with the "Spirit of Criticism," by Professor Henzog, and ending by "Reformation and Revolution," by Dr. Oosterzee. The last of these consists of Aphorisms, to the number of fifty, "regarding reformation and revolution on the territory of the Church and Theology" -a very remarkable paper. Following this is a third series, entitled "Social Questions," in which Christianity is treated of in connection with modern society-religious libertythe school and the Bible-educationnationalities-literature-art and science. A fourth collection of documents is ranged under the head of "Christian Philanthropy," furnished by English and Continental writers, lay and clerical. "Christian Missions" is the subject of the fifth section, and is discussed in ten papers by as many other writers. Speeches, resolutions, and farewell addresses close this valuable publication. To the whole Dr. Steane has prefixed some thirty pages of most interesting narrative, imbued with his own amiable spirit. The more this goodly volume is read, the higher will it be prized, if we may judge from our own experience of the effects of perusing it.

THE CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT TO "Cook's EXCURSIONIST" is a sixpenny pamphlet, issued for the purpose of explaining his arrangements for three great tours projected for the year 1869. These tours were announced in our last number in a letter from Mr. Cook,

To

which we learn has been received with lively interest by our readers. those who perused that letter, and to others who skipped it, we commend this pamphlet, which is crowded with valuable information, highly instructive to the stayers at home, and especially useful to those who may undertake the tours. The suggestion of the Conductor that the Editor of this Magazine should form one of the party, and his generous offer of assistance, demand our thanks; but when our daily engagements are considered, together with the costs of the longer journey, all hope of personally accompanying the excursionists is extinguished. If, however, we are not permitted to 66 go thither unto the land of Israel," so as to be able to tell what we have seen, we anticipate the pleasure of recording some of the incidents of travel from Mr. Cook's own pen. His communications will be most acceptable to his old and new friends among the General Baptists.

POEMS AND BALLADS.

By Janet Hamilton, Authoress of Poems and Essays, &c. Glasgow: J. Maclehose. 1868.

A VOLUME of poems to which the Revs. George Gilfillan and Dr. Wallace have written introductory biographical sketches, might be presumed to possess intrinsic value. Yet great men are sometimes induced by benevolent motives to commend that which has only a mediocrity of merit. Not knowing how far these patrons of a Scotch poetess, whom we are sorry not to have known earlier, might be influenced by partiality in the praises they have lavished upon her, we approached her pretty looking volume quite warily. Needless caution! The book is all that its eulogizers represent it. The soul of poetry is in all its parts, and one after another may be read without any abatement of the pleasure at first afforded. Janet Hamilton's words are imbued with such a grace, that like those of the angel addressing Adam, they "bring to their sweetness no satiety."

Of the poetess herself we may give her own account:-"My father, being bred a shoemaker, found it convenient to remove to the town of Hamilton

with his wife and child (myself). I would then be between two and three years old. There we resided till I was seven, when my parents, having suffered severely in their health by the close confinement, removed to the small village of Langloan, parish of Old Monkland, where they both worked as field labourers on the farm of the estate of Drumpellier for about two years, while I kept house at home; and being early taught by my mother to spin, my daily task in her absence was to produce two hanks of sale yarn, in which I seldom failed. When my mother left the out-door labour, I was taught to work at the tambour-frame, which was then a very remunerative employment for women and girls. My father also left the out-door labour a short time after, and commenced working at his trade on his own account. He engaged a respectable young man to assist him. This young man became my husband in 1809. I had ten children by him, seven of whom, with their father, still survive. We have lived together in the married state fifty-nine years. My husband will be eighty in August, 1868, and I seventythree in October of the same year."

The present volume of her poems is lovingly and respectfully inscribed to her brothers, the men of the working classes; and in verses which may be given as a specimen of many pieces in the book itself

"Ah! not low my aspirations,

High and strong my soul's desire,
To assist my toiling brothers
Upward, onward, to aspire.
Upward, to the heaven above us,
Onward, in the march of mind;
Upward, to the shrine of freedom,
Onward, working for our kind.
This to you, my working brothers,
I inscribe; may nothing low
Dwell in mind, in heart, or habit,
Upward look, and onward go."

A REFUTATION OF THE PERSONAL REIGN OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, &c. In Twelve Letters to a Friend. By W. H. Mortimer. Second Edition Enlarged. London: E. Stock. 1869. THE Author, in an Introduction, assigns the reasons which induced him to publish these letters. A valued friend assured him that he would find overwhelming evidence in the Word of God to prove the personal reign of God our Saviour on earth. But finding

C

no reign of Christ to be revealed excepting His spiritual reign, he undertook to defend this view. This defence was not intended for publication, but the letters being shown to some friends, and greatly approved, he was induced to send them to the press in 1867; and now the call has been made for a second edition. They have our cordial recommendation.

THE HIVE: A STOREHOUSE FOR TEACHERS. Vol. I. 1868. London: E. Stock.

THE Publisher might have hit on some other and happier title, but he could hardly have projected a better publication than "The Hive." We have more than once expressed our approval of the work on its appearance in monthly numbers; and now it comes in the form of a cheap and handsome looking volume, we cheerfully renew our praises of it. The Class exercises, and the Outlines for the Desk, are not only helpful to the teachers of our Sunday schools, but might be studied to advantage by village preachers, and be found serviceable in their preparation for sanctuary work.

Three months ago we had the pain to animadvert on a work, entitled "Life and Death as taught in Scripture." The same book attracted the notice of a few earnest thinkers, and led to their meeting at the house of a minister for the purpose of holding conversation on the topics therein treated of." The meeting ended in the appointment of one of the number to prepare a review of the book, and to submit his paper at a subsequent meeting. The result has been the publication of a sixpenny pamphlet, called "A Few Words" on the work reviewed by a writer, whose Who A. D. initials only are given.

may be is quite unknown to us, but we thank him for his "Words," which we believe to be "words of truth," and well fitted to counteract the mischief which is contained in "Life and Death."

Our notices of the monthlies kindly sent to us must be short. The Sunday Magazine has a mixture of the solid and the superficial of theological

teaching, and of entertaining tales, embellished with many pictures.Good Words for the Young, November and December, by the same publishers, is got up in a very attractive style. Its paper, open type, and numerous illustrations, all assist to render the readable matter more alluring and winsome. This new serial can hardly fail of success. The Sword and Trowel completes its volume for 1868 with a number of average excellence, and is likely to enter on its fifth year with its full complement of subscribers.-The Baptist Magazine is fairly filled with

sensible articles; but the Editor would have deserved more commendation by writing an ordinary preface than by penning the Nota Bene which is put into the place of one, and which is as pure a bit of bumptiousness as ever invited general censure.-The Church has closed with an Editorial Postscript, which is only another name for a Preface, expressing gratitude for past support, and craving a larger measure of favour in the future.-The Scattered Nation, The Appeal, Old Jonathan, and Topics for Teachers (Part 2) are all good.

WITH eager arms a mother pressed
A laughing babe against her breast.
Then thus to heaven she cried in prayer:
"Now even as his face is fair,

O Lord! keep thou his soul within
As free from any spot of sin."

From heaven the Lord an answer made-
"Behold! I grant as thou hast prayed."
Within her door the darkness crept,
And babe and mother sweetly slept.
From belfry rang the midnight bell;
The watchman answered," All is well!"
The mother, by the cradle side,
Awoke to find the child had died.
With grief to set a woman wild,

She caught and clasped the marble child,-
Until her heart against his own
Was broken, beating on a stone !

"O God!" she cried in her despair,
"Why hast Thou mocked a mother's
prayer ?"

Then answered He, "As I have willed,
Thy prayer, O woman, is fulfilled!
If on the earth thy child remain,
His soul shall gather many a stain;
At thy behest, I stretch my hand
And take him to the heavenly land!"
The mother heard and bowed her head,
And laid her cheek against the dead,
And cried, "O God! I dare not pray-
Thou answerest in so strange a way."
In shadow of a taper's light,
She moaned through all the livelong night;
But when the morning brought the sun,
She prayed, "Thy will, O God, be done!"
-Theodore Tilton.

HOVER gently round our loved one,
I Bear him to the land of flowers,
Where the roses bloom eternal,
Climbing o'er the heavenly bowers.

Whisper softly in his hearing,

Of that heavenly home above, Where the rippling, pearl-clear waters Mirror back God's holy love.

Throw thine arms of love around him When all earthly friends shall fail; Press him closely to thy bosom,

Bear him through the shadowy vale. Guide him through the troubled waters, Though the surging billows roar; Bear him safely past the breakers To the ever" shining shore."

CENTENARY FUND.

THE Committee appointed to superintend and carry out the movement to raise a fund of £5,000, in commemoration of the Hundredth Anniversary of the Connexion, have met and resolved upon certain plans of operation. It is proposed not to confine the effort to raise this sum to the Centenary year, but to begin at once, and to complete the work in the year ending June, 1871. Circulars will be issued forthwith to all the churches, and to private individuals, members or friends of the denomination. The formation of local or congregational Centenary Committees in connection with all the churches is earnestly recommended, and it is suggested that such committees consist of the minister or ministers, with a treasurer and secretary, and a staff of collectors. The churches are requested to make three collections for the Fund; the first during the first six months of the year 1869, the second before June, 1870, the third as soon as possible afterwards. Liberal donations to the Fund are earnestly requested from our wealthier friends. Annual subscriptions for three years are solicited, the first payable at the Assosiation in June, 1869, the second at the Centennial Association in June, 1870, the third in the course of the following denominational year. Collecting books will be provided for use in our Congregations and Sunday Schools. The ministers of our churches and occa. sional preachers are respectfully urged to assist in preparing the minds of the people for co-operation in this effort; and it is suggested as very desirable that Centenary sermons be preached, and Centenary public meetings held in all our chapels and preaching places. Arrangements are to be made for deputations to visit the churches, in accordance with the resolutions of the Association at Louth. A brief Centenary Paper is to be prepared and printed for judicious and careful distribution. The attention of the Conference at the beginning of the year (1869) is specially

invited to this Centenary movement; and the earnest advocacy of the enterprise by one at least of the speakers at the Home Missionary Meeting at Sheffield in June next, is to be recommended as exceedingly desirable. It may be proper also to add that half of this Centenary Fund is to be set apart for the Union Baptist Building Fund, and half of it for Home Mission purposes, either in the erection of a Centenary Chapel in some suitable locality hereafter to be agreed upon, or in such other way as the Association shall determine. This at least will be the apportionment of each sum received, if no other apportionment is desired. At the special request of donors, contributions will be applied either wholly to the Building Fund, or wholly to the Home Mission Fund; but where no request is made for any other appropriation, such contribntions will be equally divided.

The

There can be no just reason to doubt the practicability of raising from the whole Connexion this modest sum of £5,000, on the occasion of its attaining the venerable age of one hundred years. There are over 20,000 members in our churches; an average contribution of one shilling and eightpence per year from each member for three years, will amount to the sum proposed. Building Fund needs help, our Home Mission efforts should start afresh after a hundred years' experience of their importance; may not a prompt and liberal response to this appeal be anticipated, especially as the occasion calls for practical recognition of the goodness of God to the Connexion during more than three generations of men?

It may be proper to add, for the information of friends, that the Centenary Committee appointed by the Association consists of the following brethren: Mr. W. B. Bembridge, of Ripley, Mr. E. Johnson, of Derby, Mr. R. Johnson, of Hitchin, Mr. H. Jelley, of Yarwell, Mr. T. W. Marshall, of Loughborough, Mr. W. Newman, of Louth, the Rev. W. R. Stevenson, M.A., and Mr. F.

Squier, of Nottingham, and Mr. J. Wilford, of Leicester, Mr. Arnold Goodliffe, of Nottingham, is the Treasurer of the Fund, and the Rev. Thos. Goadby, B.A., of Derby, Secretary."

TOUR TO TURKEY, EGYPT, AND PALESTINE.

TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir,-The very interesting appeal on this subject in the December number must have awakened a strong desire among many of our friends to join Mr. Cook in his eastern expedition. I write to say that I shall (D.V.) be one of his February travellers, leaving Paris with the second party on the 24th of that month. I shall be most happy to extend all Christian kindness and attention to any friends in the denomination who are disposed to give themselves so great a treat.

As an

old traveller I think I could give some useful aid to those less experienced than myself. Five years ago I had £200 deposited in a bank for this purpose, £100 having been presented to me by the church, but the bank failed, and I got two hundred eighteen pennies dividend instead of £200. I am looking forward, therefore, now to the great desire of thirty years, to visit Egypt, the cradle of early learning; and Palestine, the land of the Divine special favour, and the wonders wrought by the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. I need scarcely add, that while the pleasure and inspection will in the first place be mine personally, the profit, in the way of results, will be for my congregation, and the churches of Christ generally, as opportunity may offer after my return. I am, yours most truly, Paddington. J. BURNS, D.D. P.S.-I consider Mr. Cook's terms as being very low, besides taking from parties all trouble as to hotels, modes of transit, interpreters, &c. I had calculated on doing it for about £150.

THE ORISSA MISSION.

TO THE EDITOR

Dear Sir,-At the Free Conference of the subscribers, &c., to the Orissa Mission, held at Derby, Dec. 8, the very excellent papers of brethren Pike

and Crass weller, did not, as I thought, embrace the cause of our deficient funds, or supply the needful remedy.

At the meeting I ventured the opinion that our pecuniary position might be attributed to the want of general organization throughout the body for producing the needful means; excepting in the juvenile department, which, from its efficicnt working, has saved the Mission from ruin.

Analyzing the last Report, I find only eighty-eight churches, numbering 15,425 members, had public collections during the year yielding £692.

One hundred and twelve churches in all aided the Mission, comprising 17,708 members. These churches supplied only two hundred and thirtyeighty collectors and obtained £916.

The Sabbath schools of seventyseven churches, containing 19,600 scholars, have fully one thousand collectors at work, and realized in the year, £740.

De

From these sources the principal income of the Society is derived. ducting from the £916, the amount given by twenty-two subscribers, viz., £204, whose contributions do not much, if at all, depend upon the collectors, it will be seen that the juveniles obtained the largest amount.

The one hundred and twelve churches assisting the Mission contain, as stated, 17,708 members, and have but two hundred and thirty-eight collectors; which, for all to be asked to subscribe, gives an average of seventy-five members to one collector-the result, no doubt, being that many hundreds are never applied to.

The seventy-seven Sabbath schools, containing 19,600 scholars, have fully one thousand collectors at work, an average of one to every twenty; these, as a rule, collecting weekly, and paying their receipts to the treasurer monthly, are well supervised, and their work, on the whole, satisfactorily done. Feeling very deeply that a much better state of things is needed, I respectfully submit the following suggestions.

Those best acquainted with the course of the British and Foreign Bible Society, are aware that one of its most important elements of success has been the most efficient working of the local auxiliaries; and the principal