As the light perpetually presses upon all objects and seeks entrance everywhere, and will come in at whatever window is open,nay, if but a cranny or pinhole be there, will come in as much as it will suffer,-so God's beauty, truth, right, power, are continually pressing for entrance into all souls in the universe, and as much enters each as it will allow. But, as the light that enters is affected by the quality of the window it passes through, so it is with the light of God shining into human souls.-Samuel Longfellow. Safe in thy wide enfolding arms, We dream perchance that we are blest, But that first moment, when we don Our fears, our follies, and our sins. Hardly our eyes have caught the light Before that Shape that left us last, When sleep came, stands upon our right, And flings upon us all our past. But sleep divine, surcease of pain, One day there cometh, when no more We wake to all the strain and stress And tumult of this mortal shore. Embraced by thee, all undismayed, We find, at last, how sweet, serene, Their rest who, all life's acts outplayed, Wait at God's hand the next new scene. -Hattie Tyng Griswold. SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. A new tract, No. 7, has been added to the series for free distribution, published by the Unitarian Sunday School Society. It is entitled "How to make the Sunday-school Attractive," by Rev. John W. Day of Hingham, Mass. This was originally an address given at the annual meeting of the Sunday School Society, and was listened to with deep approval. It will now serve a still wider purpose. Copies furnished without cost on application in person or by mail. When the entire numbers of Every Other Sunday for a whole year are massed together, they represent a large resource of stories, poems, articles, and illustrations. Nothing better could be furnished for home reading; and the volume now bound contains the issues of 1896-'97, forming Volume XII. of this interesting little paper. It is handsomely bound in cloth. Price, 75 cents a copy. A new edition of Mrs. Wilson's "An Illustrated Sunday School Primer" (12th edition) is now out. Price 15 cents a copy; $1.50 per dozen. The demand for the "New Song and Service Book" has been so great this autumn that still a new edition of 1,000 copies is in the press and orders are waiting to be filled. Price 40 cents a copy, or $4.00 a dozen. The annual appeal has been sent out from the Unitarian Sunday School Society for contributions. There has been a hearty response throughout the denomination to the statements of previous years of what is wanted to carry on the work of this society. But I should like to present two points for the consideration of those interested in the spread of our faith and the strengthening of our churches through the young people. First, there are still many Sunday-schools and churches not regularly contributing; and I appeal to them for fresh attention to the reasons why the Unitarian Sunday School Society should be strongly supported. Second, I would ask those Sunday-schools and churches accustomed to give that they would plan, if possible, to send in their donations before summer. Such promptness will facilitate the work of our organization very much. Besides, it would seem to be a much better method for the schools in question, since the contribution is then out of the way, and the field left clear for other things. The current leaflet lessons on "Beacon Lights of Christian History" are having still greater popularity than when I mentioned them in the last number of the Unitarian. The dramatic and biographical elements in these lessons, and the simple way in which the events are told, combine to make them easy for the teacher and interesting to the pupil. The enlarged amount of matter also gives the teachers a better preparation for the class work. The lessons for December are now ready. The lesson that would fall on December 26 is omitted, as most of the Sunday-schools are absorbed in Christmas exercises. There are, therefore, only three lessons published for the month of December. The subjects are as follows: Primary: "Being Sorry," "A Brave Preacher," and "Jesus Preaching." Intermediate: "Spirit of Repentance," ""Preachers," and "The Preacher's Spirit." Advanced: "Spirit of Repentance," "Chrysostom," and "The Preacher's Spirit." The Primary and Intermediate grades are prepared by Rev. Edward A. Horton; the Advanced, by Rev. Albert Walkley. The Primary and Intermediate grades are illustrated in every lesson. Each leaflet consists of four pages. Price for each grade 75 cents per hundred leaflets. I receive evidence from various sources that the Sunday-school work in our denomination is going forward with more energy, and is conducted with more intelligence than at any time before. That happy tone, which is essential to the successful performance of duties in any direction, seems to be entering more and more into our Sunday-schools. It is the tone of a real pleasure in the work and a bright anticipation of good results. Of course there are many Sunday-schools that are laboring under severe circumstances. It is not easy to find the sunshine of good cheer in such conditions. But the valor and constancy demanded in such cases, when manifested, are great tokens of credit to those who keep up the battle. There is often an unexpected turn by which the depressed situation is set free, and then those who have stood by loyally are doubly rewarded. But, speaking of the Sunday-school field as a whole, in the Unitarian denomination it is gathering itself together with more determination and with a firmer sense of victory. EDWARD A. HORTON. YOUNG PEOPLE'S RELIGIOUS UNION. [Headquarters, Room 11, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass., Emma R. Ross, secretary.] Apropos to the Union topics for 1898, now in the hands of the printer and soon to be sent out, we are glad to print this extract from Onward, the organ of the Universalist Y. P. C. U., who are to use the same subjects. Change C. U. to R. U., and these words will apply to us. THE Y. P. C. U. TOPICS. We fear that some of our unions do not understand the value of the topics as selected by the National Y. P. C. U. for use in the devotional meetings. A number of the unions are using topics of their own selection, and some make up a list of themes derived from miscellaneous sources. The topics thus selected may be excellent, yet consider: We are not simply young people; we are not simply Christian young people we are an organization, the Young People's Christian Union. What does that signify? It means that we are banded together with a common purpose, aim, and method. It means that as an army we shall march together, keep step, and be a unit as related to the plan of battle or the stratagem of the campaign. It means that we shall not be a scattered multitude, we were that before there was a Y. P. C. U. It means rather that we should constitute a body so compact and unified that at any given time its whole mighty force can be hurled against a given obstacle, and that its combined influence may be exerted unitedly in a given direction. We need to act to gether, but we need also to think and pray together; and the knowledge that each week, and at each devotional meeting, all of our members are thinking, speaking, and praying about the same things, makes us feel stronger and gives us courage and makes our bond of union seem more real to us. But there is another consideration which, perhaps, should carry even greater weight, though it is related to what has just been said. The national topics are not a miscellaneous jumble of themes thrown together helter-skelter. Neither are they simply a selection from a large variety of subjects furnished. They are this, but vastly more. The topics for two years have been furnished by some of the best known and most experienced and able of the workers in the Universalist and Unitarian churches. From these topics the required number have been selected and arranged, this arrangement being made with reference to personal human need, the needs of society and different departments of our work and the several church and national festivals. No less than fourteen special days are provided for in the topics for the coming year. The national topics, therefore, present the following important features: (1) They are the work of experts. (2) They are selected and arranged with reference to personal, social, and church interests. (3) Their universal adoption will strengthen the bond of sympathy between the unions, and will contribute to an even and symmetrical development of thought, interest, and purpose throughout our body. We hope all of our unions will use the national topics the coming year. NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF UNITARIAN WOMEN. THE NEW YORK LEAGUE.-A regular meeting was held Friday, November 5, at the Church of the Messiah, New York, Miss Emma C. Low presiding. After the reports of the secretary and treasurer had been read and approved, Mrs. Morehouse, chairman of the Religious News Committee, presented the items of denominational interest from this section of the country. Mrs. Gustav L. Becker in behalf of the Philanthropic News Committee told about the opening of the Mills House in this city, and also of the proposed plan of two young women architects to build model tenements. The president then introduced Mrs. Emily Fifield of Boston, who took up the subject for the day, "The Alliance as a Missionary Force," and spoke from the fulness of her heart. She felt that every Alliance should begin by doing home work, and thus prepare the way for outside work. First strengthen our own convictions, then spread our gospel. She believed in an active church, meeting the needs of the day, open every day, and from which can emanate something great and good for the community. Alliance Branches are being formed all over the country, in out-of-the-way districts, They have Unitarian literature sent to them, they are familiar with the best thought of the day; but they lack fellowship. Hence she urged our members, our secretaries, to write to these isolated Branches, to welcome them, and make them feel their bond of fellowship. Mrs. Fifield then spoke of the opportunities the Post office Mission gave to the Alliance for most efficient misssionary work, and gave for the encouragement of workers a number of interesting instances of good done through this avenue. Rev. Florence Buck of Cleveland was then presented. She said: I am to speak of that which must animate us if we would be a great missionary force. The great religions of the world are sometimes classified, among other ways, as missionary and nonmissionary. How is the Alliance to be placed? Mahomet pushed his faith at the point of the sword, and in other religions many have chosen baptism rather than death. That has all passed away; but was there not, after all, something good in that old spirit which wanted the whole world to believe as they did? How shall we cultivate this missionary spirit? First, we must have faith in the gospel we have to give. Although tolerant toward other faiths, we must still believe ours to be the best and truest. Then, again, we must have faith in the people to whom we give our gospel. Every man is a child of God. We have heard it so often we cease to appreciate it. This must be a conviction of the heart. She admitted that some of the basal principles of our faith were not easy for the masses to comprehend; but must the people understand all the deep questions before they accept the principles? Must we never quench our thirst until the chemical composition of the water is comprehended? Again, we must cultivate the spirit of self-sacrifice. It has not been for nothing that Jesus said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." After telling the beautiful legend of the Ganges, how it came to earth from above, and found its present channel by following the footsteps of their holy man, she added, There is a stream of pure and undefiled religion, that will follow the footsteps of every child of God who bears the message to the thirsty multitude. Rev. Minot J. Savage, at whose church the meeting was held, was asked to close the meeting with a few words. He spoke most encouragingly of the opportunities of the Alliance, it being a national association, thoroughly American, and unhampered. It is perfectly free to do a work as open as the continent. In regard to the question whether our gospel is fitted for the masses, he thought it could not appeal in the same degree as the old forms. We have to prepare the way. We must teach a new theory of God, of the universe, of the Bible, and of man. Our religion, you say, is simple. Simplicity in art, dress, literature, in everything, is the last and highest product of civilization. The untrained are appealed to by something sensuous. Right here comes in the grand opportunity of the Alliance, to train, to educate. A church needs to have its roots deep down. Paul started churches all over the Roman Empire. It is neither the meeting-house nor the ordained minister that makes a church. The Alliance can do this work begun by Paul, this work of organizing churches, better than any other organization can do it. There is no use sending out a minister where he cannot be supported or where there is not any real church. These little circles which meet together every Sunday and read sermons are churches, and I believe they should be so recognized on our Year Book. In this way the Alliance can make more churches in the next ten years than the American Unitarian Association has ever created. The doxology and a benediction brought the exercises to a close, and a social hour was spent at luncheon. ALICE P. JACKSON, Rec. Sec'y. BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. An Artist's Letters from Japan. By John La Farge. Century Company.—Among gift books for the holiday season this handsome volume is likely to be very popular. The unfailing charm of the subject, which has already supplied so many delightful books, is here doubly enforced, both by the rare excellence of the artist's own illustrations and the winning grace of his literary style. Of the latter the genuineness and frank simplicity win the reader's interest at once, the little touches of description that fight up almost every page are so characteristic and quaint, the scenes steal into consciousness as though beheld with the eyes. "The priests came down from the temple, looking like great butterflies in green and yellow, capped with their shining black hats." "The temple attendants brushed with brooms the mosses of the pavement, and the gates were closed. I listened to the fluting of the priests in the sanctuary on the hill until the blaze of the sun passed under the green film of the trees. 568 BOOKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. It was like a hymn to nature. The noise of the locusts had stopped, and this floating wail, rising and falling in unknown and incomprehensible modulations, seemed to belong to the forest as completely as their cry. The last beams of the sunset made emerald jewels of the needles in the twigs above me, made red velvet of the powdery bark when the distant flutes ceased." The descriptions of temples are elaborate and full of vivid detail. "The bronze roofs were black, and the green copper glistened like malachite on the edges of the vermilion rails, . . . the wet mosses glowed like fairy flame on the red lacquer, the great wall was blotched with purple lichen, and the columns were white at the bottom.' The Coming People. By Charles F. Dole. T. Y. Crowell & Co.-This brave little book has the sound of Mr. Dole's voice in it. All his earnest conviction, his direct, unpretentious method of expression, his clear, pure faith in the essential goodness of mankind, vibrate through paragraph and chapter with winning power. In a very convincing preface Mr. Dole shows that his point of view, though unwaveringly optimistic, is the growth of years of thought and experience, the outcome of the questioning spirit, and not mere youthful ardor. And no one can read the book itself without feeling on every page the forcefulness of careful reasoning, even if in some instances there are other lines of argument not touched upon, and which seem to make possible other conclusions. The plan of the book might be summed up as an attempt to outline that ethical plane of civilization in which each human being would desire, and therefore largely succeed in living, the life of a son of God. Selfishness is the chief obstacle to the attainment of this end; and so, very shrewdly, we are reminded that "what is not good for the hive cannot be good for the bee," and that the motto of the coming people must be "Show us what is good for mankind, and we will try to bring it about. We are here at every step of our way to do good." The interesting applications which Mr. Dole elaborates, and the beautiful visions he depicts, we must leave to those who are going to read the book for themselves; and we hope they will be many. The Christ of Yesterday, To-day, and Forever. By Ezra Hoyt Byington. Roberts Brothers.-The success Byington's recent history of the Puritan of Dr. in England and New England has doubtess created a demand for something more from his pen; but we fear his readers will be disappointed in the present volume, not exactly because of any demerit in the literary work it offers, but because [Dec from the very striking title one is naturally led to expect a treatment of a tre mendous theme in a thorough and scholarly Unfortunately, however, this volume turns manner, like the method employed with out not to be an historical inquiry into the such admirable taste in the Puritan history. place of Christ or his work. The title of chapter, and the book itself is a volume of the book is simply the text of the first worthy of a wide circulation; and Dr. Byington's many friends will be glad to sermons. These sermons are strong, and work; but the expectation of an exposition have this fine collection from his best pulpit of the great work of the Master is not realized. bert Hamerton.-Roberts Brothers. There The Quest of Happiness. By Philip Gilis a lot of good sound common sense in this, the last and unfinished work of the author of "Human Intercourse." which almost goes without saying-a great There is alsois the charm of light and delicate fancy, deal of fascinating literary beauty. There of the deftness of the practised writer, of variety, of human incident and anecdote. Yet the whole impression is rather that of the dabbler than of the philosopher. Perhaps a little harmless dabbling is refreshing and restful; and, certainly, Hamerton knows how to entertain us, but there seems to be some danger that in so serious a matter as the quest of happiness a superficial inquiry may lead us gether. This Hamerton seems to have into the entanglement of byways to such an extent that we lose the main road altoeffectually done for himself. He advocates gloriously heroic inspirations of the evera pleasant making the best of things, at the sacrifice of all the divinely impossible and striving, ever-hoping, ever-aspiring ideal. of all that is splendid and unselfish in our youth. It lacks the one thing needful,—a His philosophy would sap the vital streams vigorous faith. velt. American Ideals. By Theodore RooseWinning of the West" will command a G. P. Putnam's Sous.-A ume of essays from the author of "The volhost of readers, and the contents of the present book furnish ample reward to all who join in the venture. The essays deal with treatment, how decisive the opinions exhardly necessary to say how vigorous is the many phases of national life. It is pressed, or how perfectly clear the point of view maintained. There is wide difference only be one feeling in regard to the manliof opinion as to the methods of reform indorsed by Mr. Roosevelt, but there can ness and sincerity of the presentation. |