Membership, and then by signing the 'Bond of Union,'-which is a general expression of purpose,— -or otherwise by contributing ten dollars annually. It is hoped that all who do contribute will also sign the 'Bond of Union,' and thus remove the membership from any financial consideration. Applications for membership should be made to the minister, who is chairman of the committee. One may become a member at any time: however, it is hoped to make a special feature of membership at Easter." And of the Sunday-school it is said :"The Sunday-school meets every Sunday at 12 M. If you know of any young person who is not in any Sunday-school, and who ought to be in ours, please hand his name and address to the minister. You are invited to attend the opening exercises, even if you cannot remain the whole hour. The library is in use, but new and later books are much needed. Teachers' meetings at the minister's study Fridays, 5 to 6 P. M."

New Haven, Conn.- Rev. Henry C. Badger has been preaching for the Universalist church here during the past three months to steadily growing congregations, and has been asked to take permanent charge of the society. He will probably stay at least until July. A few weeks ago he preached a very strong sermon on "Phillips Brooks and our Boston Heretics," which by request he repeated later as a paper before all the New Haven ministers at their Monday meeting.

New Orleans, La.-The Unitarian church in this city has called Rev. Walter C. Peirce of Rhode Island to be its minister. The invitation has been accepted; and Mr. Peirce preached in New Orleans for the first time on Sunday, February 5.

New York.-The New York League of Unitarian Women held its regular meeting March 3 at Lenox Avenue Church. The programme was as follows: "The American Unitarian Association," Miss Lilian Freeman Clarke, Boston; "The National Conference and Women's Alliance," Mrs. Emily A. Fifield, Boston; "The Western Conference," Rev. Ida C. Hultin, Moline, Ill.; "The Middle States Conference," Mrs. Anna W. Longstreth, Philadelphia; "The Unitarian Sunday School Society," "Mrs. Thomas J. Mumford, Plainfield, N.J.; "The Southern Alliance," Mrs. George L. Chaney, Richmond, Va. At 2.30 P.M. Miss Florence Everett of Boston and Mrs. F. B. Skinner of Philadelphia met for conference and discussion with Post-office Mission workers.

Oakland, Cal.-The announcements of the First Unitarian Church are very voluminous. The pastor, Rev. Charles W. Wendte, preaches during Lent a series of sermons on "Jesus and Modern Thought."

The Starr King Fraternity has inaugurated a series of weekly lectures on "The Theory of Evolution." The Unity Club, the Lend a Hand Club, and classes in French, German, and English literature all announce interesting work.

Pittsfield, Mass.-On Sunday morning, February 26, Rev. Carl G. Horst preached an excellent sermon entitled "My Confession of Faith," a two-column report of which appeared in the daily paper. Indirectly, it was a reply to the Baptist minister's sermon in which he had taken the liberty, with more zeal than judgment, to run down "liberal theology." Mr. Horst took for his text John xviii. 3 and Matthew xvi. 16, and said: "It is not my purpose, nor have I the time this morning, to speak of all the articles of my faith. I will speak of but four points,-points on which a liberal clergyman for some reason or other is frequently misunderstood, and so often-unintentionally, I trust-totally misrepresented."

Mr. Horst then took up each of these four points, -God, Man, Christ, and the Bible.

"To sum up, then, what has been said, let me say :

"1. I believe in God, in one God, one Father in heaven.

"2. I believe in Man, not hopelessly ruined, but incomplete, and ever advancing as the ages pass 'unto a full-grown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.'

"3. I believe in Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God (not God the Son), not as God to be worshipped, but as the divine Messenger, the great and holy Teacher to be loved and followed.

"4. I believe in the Bible, not as the literal word of God, but as containing a revelation from God to man, to be studied reverently in the light of reason and good common sense. Reason is the arbiter of truth. By it we prove all things, and hold fast that which is good.'

"If all the theological turmoil that is going on around us, if the heresy trials of Prof. Smith and Dr. Briggs and Rev. Mr. MacQueary indicate anything, they indicate that these views are destined ultimately to be the creed of Christendom, as sure as day follows night."

On March 12 with Rev. J. W.

Rev. Mr. Horst exchanged Carney of Holyoke.

was

tion in Relation to Religion," and most ably presented by Rev. S. M. Crothers of St. Paul, Minn., followed by Rev. B. R. Bulkeley of Concord, Mass., and Rev. E. B. Andrews, D.D., president of Brown University.

San Francisco, Cal.-The Second Society is rejoicing over the successful purchase of the Woodbridge Presbyterian Church, into which the society has now moved. Opening services were held February 26. This society grew rapidly out of evening services held in Mission Music Hall in 1891. Rev. Leslie W. Sprague has accepted a call to become the settled pastor.

Seattle, Wash.-On February 20 the Unitarian society held its annual meeting, which was the largest and most enthusiastic in its history. The report of the past year was read, which showed a prosperous condition of the society. A very hearty call was extended to Rev. William G. Eliot to become the permanent pastor. The call has been accepted.

South Natick, Mass.-The acceptance by Rev. L. R. Daniels of the pastorate of our society here is matter of congratulation to every one concerned. Mr. Daniels has also been unanimously invited to become pastor of the church at Sherborn, to hold afternoon services.

St. Louis, Mo.-Mr. Charles Nagle read a paper on "Our Neglect of Criminal Laws" before the Unitarian Club on February 21. It awoke much earnest feeling, and the discussion which followed was prolonged beyond the usual hour. The club is greatly indebted to Mr. Nagle for a most stimulating address.

The chorus choir gave Weber's Mass in G on Sunday, February 19. The congregation filled the house, and the high level of these services was fully maintained. Musical people watch for these occasions, and are present in large numbers on each opportunity.

During Lent the congregation is invited to a series of Sunday evening devotional services. At these services a talk on some overlooked or misunderstood passage of Scripture is a feature.

Unitarians here were not to be deprived of the pleasure of hearing Dr. Hale on the occasion of his recent visit to St. Louis. He was unable to preach; but, had he been as familiar with our people as they with him, he would have recognized a large proportion of the members of Unity and the Church of the Messiah in the audience he faced on the occasion of the dedication of our new public library building, at which time he delivered a delightful address.

Rev. John Snyder emphasized the loss all felt in Bishop Brooks's death by an eloquent memorial sermon the Sunday following the eminent divine's death.

The Unitarian Club met on the 21st, and listened to a paper on "Pulpit Politics," by Mr. Marcus M. Pratt.

Ellen M. McKeighan, wife of J. H. McKeighan, died at her home in this city March 17, after a long and painful illness. The loss our society has experienced is expressed in resolutions adopted by the Eliot Society of which she was president in 189192, the Mission House Board, on which she had served for years faithfully and well, and the Unitarian Club, of which her husband had been president and she a constant and interested attendant during the active days of health. The truest expression of our loss is the sense which as individuals we have of her helpful, cheerful energetic presence gone from among us.

A tablet to the memory of the late Dr. William G. Eliot has been placed in the

church.

Dr. Eliot of Portland preached recently.

The February meeting of the Eliot Society presented the church work in very good condition. The Sewing-school, Mission and Morning Sunday-schools, Sewing Society, Junior Eliot Society, each presented reports of active work. A missionary fund has been added to our resources, by means of which the society hopes to be more effectual as a branch of the Women's Alliance.

St. Paul, Minn.-The women from the Unitarian and Universalist churches in St. Paul and Minneapolis have organized the Liberal Union of Minnesota Women, to promote fellowship and the discussion of questions of religion, ethics, and philanthropy. Its next meeting is to be held March 28, at the Church of the Redeemer in Minneapolis. Mrs. Alice Ames Winter will read a paper.

Ware, Mass.- Two sermons by Rev. V. E. Southworth-one entitled "Are we Christians?" and the other "A Commonsense View of Conversion"-have recently been printed in pamphlet form as a tract for missionary use.

Winchester, Mass.-Last December the young people of the Unitarian church were gathered together, and asked if a service on alternate Sunday evenings would be helpful and interesting to them. There seemed to be but one opinion. They came together one Sunday evening shortly before Christmas, and the objects of the proposed meetings were set before them. The services were wholly religious in their object. The end in view was, specifically, the cultivation of reverence. The method has been that of a simple religious service: namely, a hymn; an invocation prepared so that all might repeat it together, sometimes preceded by the reading of a few sentences of Scripture or other devotional literature; the invocation was followed by a responsive

reading, taken from the Sunday-school "Service-book"; another hymn; a prayer repeated in concert; a short address by the minister; one or more hymns; the "Lord's Prayer," either repeated or sung together; the benediction. The subjects of the addresses or talks were taken, after New Year's, from six of the titles of the seven chapters of Ruskin's "Seven Lamps of Architecture." They were not, however, talks upon cathedral building. The general subject was "Character Building"; and the titles of Ruskin's book served admirably for the "texts" of these talks. "Sacrifice, """ ""Truth," "Power," "Beauty," "Life," and "Obedience" seemed to the projector of the services some, at least, of the elements out of which "character" must be built. Then, as Ruskin is, perhaps, more of a preacher than an architect, it seemed a good thing that young people should become acquainted with some of the wonderfully beautiful and strong passages in the "Seven Lamps of Architecture." At the close of the talk, or during its progress, one or more of these passages were read. Certainly, nothing can be found in English literature more beautiful or more pregnant with moral earnestness and inspiration than the last paragraph of the chapter, "The Lamp of Truth." To help us on the musical side of the service, 66 Hymnal" recently published by Mrs. the Williams has been used. It proves, at least for such meetings, to have in it all the devotional helpfulness claimed for it by its compiler.

These services have been well attended throughout the winter by young people, mostly between fifteen and twenty-five years of age. Eighty per cent. of those attending are in their teens. A lady of the churchshe was very sceptical as to the success of such services at first-asked what attraction was offered to make young people attend such meetings. The answer was, -and it is the absolute fact,-"None whatever." The leader of those services believes, with the force of absolute conviction, that young people have religious feelings, and that you have only to touch them in a healthful, natural way to bring them into active operation. He believes that all feelings, preeminently the religious feelings, need an opportunity to express themselves. cannot otherwise develop. A simple and genuine service is in itself an adequate way of such expression, and is all the "attraction" that is needed, or that in this case has been offered. The one thing needed, in the writer's opinion and experience, to awaken religious interest in young people, is religion,-simple, genuine, devout religion. Reverence develops under its influence, as the rose or the lily grows beautiful under the influence of the summer sun. The cultivation of reverence by means of rational, healthful, religious expression has been the aim, the only "attraction."

They

has succeeded thus far, and, in our opinion, will succeed in interesting our young people anywhere.

MRS. EUNICE B. WILLIAMS.

IN MEMORIAM.

Whenever I hear, as sometimes it is my lot to do, doubts expressed as to whether our Unitarian faith is worth sustaining, my thoughts at once revert to the noble manhood and womanhood, equal to that which any church can show, which our liberal religion has bred. And I do not think chiefly at such times of the great galaxy of preachers, poets, philanthropists, and reformers who have been such an ornament to our denomination, but of the host of modest and unrenowned saints whom we have nurtured and brought to bloom in our congregations.

The recent loss which our church and denomination have suffered in the death of Mrs. Eunice B. Williams of Yonkers is a To loss too great to be passed unnoticed. all those who had the privilege of a close acquaintanceship with Mrs. Williams, she represented pre-eminently the fragrance, power, and beauty of that genuine goodness which perfumes the atmosphere of so many of our churches with its sacred memories.

As some gently flowing streamlet finds its way through the meadows, almost hidden beneath the tall grass, but demonstrating its presence by the cheerful music and

fresher verdure that attend its course, so did her gentle and unostentatious life bless and brighten all those within her sphere of influence.

Her serene equanimity ever rose superior to circumstances. Her gracious dignity won every heart. Her singular elevation and purity of soul impressed even those who had but slight acquaintance with her; and to those who came to know her well her invariable kindness of spirit, her devout faith and true Christian life, was a crown of honor to her liberal faith and the most persuasive_commendation of its uplifting power. To grow one such saint is

a priceless fruit worth fifty years of effort to any congregation. For such a life at once deepens our love for God and strengthens our faith in man and his immortal destiny. Though the earthly form perish, the eternal essence survives, inspiring the best instincts of the soul, quickening the hope of immortality, and becoming, indeed,

henceforth

"The sweet presence of a good diffused, And in diffusion ever more intense."

It

Yonkers, N.Y.

JAMES T. BIXBY.

gation of the Liberal Word, through the increased circulation both of our periodicals and our book-literature. In the list of publications now bearing the imprint of Geo. H. Ellis are works, not a few in number, which include within themselves the satisfaction almost complete of that very urgent and helpful Time-Spirit, than which nothing to-day in the religious and thinking world is more prominent. These works, while already many of them have met large and appreciative sale, deserve far wider notice and circulation than they would naturally

religious and social problems of our time. Any religion or social thought not worth propagating is not worth holding. Too much of the Liberal work in the past has been passive. It has shrunk from proselyting. The world however is now so largely catching up with that Liberalism which has been, that the progressive Liberalism is being now almost shamed by the very crying needs of the age-into the preaching of its Modern Gospel with a zeal and power approaching that of the holders of schemes of thought and life less true and satisfying but ap

DO NOT STOP TO ASK YOURSELF, "Is this friend orthodox' in thought or 'Liberal'? and if orthodox' shall I not be trespassing on friendship or conventionality if I send a ‘Liberal' volume?" There are few, in this new day, who would not delight to have the Liberal page, if sent to them without their seeking or asking for it. They perhaps might not themselves seek out the work, but, having it, they would read and be helped by it. The new and happier Thought of To-day is in the air, and many look toward it longingly.

BEAR IN MIND that the Unitarian and the Christian Register are two of the ablest-edited and most wisely progressive religious periodicals printed, and that the large variety of topics included in the LIST OF PUBLICATIONS of Geo. H. Ellis cannot fail to supply your need for a book, whatever branch of modern need you would like the book you buy to treat of.

A complete Catalogue of our publications will be sent to any address on application. We here speak of one or two of our more recent works, endeavoring to give some idea of their scope: The Insight of Faith.

Brief Selected Paragraphs from the Writings of Henry W. Foote.

Perhaps from "books of devotion" in general the majority of the holders of liberal relig

ion shrink. They know how spiritually unsatisfying the ordinary work of this nature is; no word to-day-however ostensibly deep and high

can really be spiritually "satisfying" if at the same time it shocks the reason or is so conventionally pious in phrase as to repel.

In the present booklet we have something stronger and broader than the customary devotional volume: we have the high call to selfreverence and self-reliance, and the sight of Possibility. Mr. Foote, in his personal thought, was of the older, the conservative Christian Unitarianism. But in these pages is the insight of faith which, however founded on theological and Christological props, does not, after the fashion of that ordinary devotional expression to which we are accustomed, keep the props always in such naked rudeness before us that we see them only, and fail wholly of the beauty and helpfulness of the structure they but serve to uphold. The desirable structure is a divine manhood. Devotion is the upbuilding and sublimation of the individual soul, through sight of Blessedness and the struggle therefor. Worship is not for God's sake, but man's. Devotion is not a rhetorical varnishing of deity, or of any worldsaviour, but the inspiring of self to life-victory. And this is the strong sound—the martial music - of these "paragraphs" from Mr. Foote's unpublished sermons.

If every tried heart and tempted soul might have continuously by him or her this little book-it will take up little room lying open on the desk or work-bench, and will slip easily into the coat-pocket or work-basket - life would be stronger, and fuller of recognized blissful opportunity from the moment of the volume's possession and first use. It should be a gift to many a young man and young woman, from any one interested in them, as an inspiring “companion” till its high incentive becomes a part of the self of every possessor of it.

Open the booklet anywhere:

The world sees a conqueror in him who overcomes by subduing: the gospel sees a victor in him who overcomes by rising above.— p. 46.

Only they whose faces shine with the glory of some inspiration which lifts them out of themselves shall ever do abiding work in this earnest world, and themselves shine in the memory of those who come after. To "press towards the mark of the high calling" is the secret of all true success.- p. 47, 48.

The possibilities of evil and weakness which are in every soul may become realities of good and strength. Exactly for that end is life given us, and all its encouragements and all its hardnesses invite us toward that grand result.- p.

5, 6.