Simonds will remain another year. He was re-elected by acclamation and made a graceful speech of acceptance. Mr. Simonds has done a great work in building up the church, and while he could command a larger field of work and a better salary than he enjoys at present, he is, nevertheless, so well pleased with Madison and his congregation that he does not yet wish to sever his connections with them.

The reports of the various officers showed a healthy growth of the church and a bright outlook for the future. Prof. E. R. Mauer made a brief address on the work of the Contemporary club, and Miss Lelia Gile reported for the Young People's guild. This department showed the greatest progress, increasing in membership and in interest in the work pursued. Last year a study of Channing and other liberal leaders was made. This year the programme consists of studies of representative characters of the world, living and dead.

Manistee, Mich.-The various activities of the church here are full of life. A Mothers' Club has recently been organized in the church. Miss Harrison's book, "Child Nature," is to be used as a basis of study. The club meets Tuesday afternoon in the ladies' room of the church. A class of girls meets every Friday afternoon in the church to sew for the needy, while Mrs. Byrnes reads to them "Silas Marner." The Ladies' Society and Young Peoples' Union held a joint sale and social in December which was very successful, there being a large attendance of all classes of people in the town. The receipts of the evening were $175, of which $125 was clear gain.

The Sunday-school invited in about sixty poor children to share with them in the Christmas festivity in the church. In addition to the candy and nuts, they were presented with some needed articles of clothing. The Sunday-school is growing right along, having more than doubled since January 1896. Mr. Byrnes has announced for January and February a series of eight "Sunday Evenings with the Poets." Mr. Byrnes gives a short address on the poet and his special genius, quoting from the poet to illustrate his points. Some of the good readers in the parish are invited to read appropriate selections from the poet, and, so far as possible, the songs of the poet are sung by the choir. Whittier, Longfellow, Burns, Field, Lowell, Riley, Holmes, Emerson, are the poets announced.

Proctor Academy.-The financial agent makes the following appeal to the friends of education for aid for Proctor Academy:

Dear Friends,-In behalf of the Unitarian Educational Society I wish to make respect

ful application for a contribution in aid of Proctor Academy for the year ending June, 1897. The sum of $2,000, which is now in course of collection, a part having been received, will be needed for this annual account. Many persons and Branches of the Women's National Alliance have contributed hitherto in moderate amounts.

The school had fifty-three pupils present for the fall term, 1896. Four teachers are employed. Of the pupils that have gone out from the school for the past two years, three are in Harvard College, one in Radcliffe, two in the Meadville Theological School, three have engaged in teaching, one has taken kindergarten training, and two housekeeping.

Special efforts are made to increase the endowment, now amounting to about $8,000. Until the endowment is substantially increased, a moderate annual amount will be needed from the friends of education. Bequests have been made by the late Mrs. Mary A. Hunt, of Nashua, $3,000, and Mrs. Nancy Ann Eastman, Andover, a residue not yet received.

Hoping for the favor of a donation to the annual account, I am

Very truly yours,

LYMAN CLARK,
Financial Agent.

The

Roxbury, Mass.- First Church. Roxbury Female Benevolent Society: This society was organized in 1827, and ever since has been a very efficient aid in the charities of Roxbury. It gives employment in sewing to a large number of women, and distributes many garments to the needy. It meets for its work at Putnam Chapel, every Monday morning at ten o'clock. It has an employment committee and a loan and gift committee. It has invested funds amounting to $7,600. President, Mrs. Mary A. Wells; vice-president, Mrs. Charles Pollock; secretary, Miss Julia Worthington; treasurer, Mr. Gorham Rogers; auditor, Mr. Henry W. Putnam.

The John Eliot Club: This club was organized in 1890 for the purpose "of bringing the gentlemen of the parish into closer and more helpful relations to their pastor and to one another, and promoting an active interest in the religious and social life of the church." The meetings are held at the Thorndike, on the first Thursday evenings of December, February and April. President, Azariah Smith; vice-presidents, Robert C. Metcalf, Dependence S. Waterman; secAlfred Bunker. retary, S. Everett Tinkham; treasurer,

The Woman's Alliance: This is the Branch of "the National Alliance," connected with the First Church, and its aim is to enlist the interest of every woman in

the church in denominational and missionary work. Its meetings are held the first Tuesday in every month, from October to May, in Putnam Chapel at three o'clock. The first half hour is devoted to business, then follows a talk or lecture, afterward tea is served, and a half hour given to conversation. The annual membership is one dollar. Connected with it are the Post-office Mission and the Cheerful Letter Exchange. President, Mrs. Henry D. Forbes; vicepresident, Mrs. Alfred Bunker; recording secretary, Mrs. Theodore M. Plimpton; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Francis Ware; treasurer, Mrs. Lucretia H. French.

The Chapel Club: This is a new organization for the young ladies of the parish. It meets the last Tuesday of every month at the chapel at three o'clock P.M., and all the young ladies are expected to join it. The object of the club is to help in various charitable work of the denomination, to aid the New England Hospital for Women, and other institutions. President, Miss Ethel Hunneman; vice-president, Miss Eunice Cruft; treasurer, Miss Helen Rogers; secretary, Miss Corinne Wallis.

The whole work of the church, under the inspiring leadership of Rev. James De Normandie, goes forward prosperously.

Saco, Me.-Mr. Marsh has given two of a series of informal lectures at the vestry, the subject being "The Middle Ages." He makes them very interesting, and has a blackboard on which the most important events and dates are written. The regular services of the church and young people's meeting are well attended. The Social Circle and Woman's Alliance each calls the respective members together at stated times. At the annual meeting of the Alliance, Mrs. William Emery was elected president, Mrs. Marsh declining to serve longer, as she is. a firm believer in rotation of office. A number of the Alliance ladies packed a sugar barrel with clothing, reading matter, and toys for the family of Mrs. Taylor, living in Washington State.

Salem, Mass.-The First Church has called to its pulpit Rev. E. J. Prescott of Kennebunkport, Me.

A successful series of vesper services is being held at the North Church on Sunday afternoons at four o'clock.

-Some special evening services have been held at the East Church, at which Rev. E. D. Towle has treated some of the modern methods of religious revival.

-The Barton Square Church and the East Church have held local union meetings of Alliance which have been interesting and helpful.

-The weekly Teacher's Meetings have been

well sustained and have developed much interest in the subjects discussed.

Rev. George L. Chaney has completed a three months' engagement in the pulpit of the First Church. His active co-operation in the general work of our churches was much appreciated by all.

was

Of the

Sheffield, Ill. The society here never in better condition. The year 1896 was a memorable one. On the lot west of the church, a handsome two-story modern parsonage has gone up, being provided with hot and cold water, bath-room, and furnace, as well as good laundry conveniences in the This handsome addition to the basement. church property is principally the gift of Mrs. William M. Whipple, being supplemented by other generous friends. The pastor and wife are now installed in the new home, after a period of waiting in much less commodious quarters. In addition to this enterprise, the Ladies' Society undertook the rehabilitation of the parlors at considerable cost. The trustees painted the outside of the church in the summer. A monthly parish paper, Fraternity, was begun in October. The Guild, meeting Sunday evenings, has proved quite prosperous, the programme being, by universal consent, especially meritorious. Sunday-school so good a report cannot be made. "Unity Bible Lessons," published by Old and New of Davenport, Ia., will probably be adopted for 1897, and this change, it is confidently hoped, will do much toward awakening and sustaining interest. In addition to these activities, the society subscribed $25 toward the finding of a permanent home for an orphan child, through the Illinois Children's Home Society. At the annual meeting for 1897 the following trustees were elected: Chairman, Mr. Jasper Wood; Messrs. J. Prior, D. F. Humphreys, Charles Simington, and C. Gunkle. The Finance Committee: Messrs. W. W. Dewey and Elmer Battey. The Rev. J. C. Allen, late of Winona, Minn., has been visiting the pastor for the past few weeks, during which time he has occupied the pulpit on two occasions, and lectured before the Guild on "Faust," giving on each occasion great delight to his auditors.

Springfield, Mass.-Church of the Unity: The most interesting event of the past month was the annual visit of Booker T. Washington. His address was most interesting, and the large audience were given an opportunity to contribute toward the fund necessary to carry on the good work Mr. Washington is doing among his colored brethren. Martineau was taken up at the meeting of the Woman's Alliance, January 7. An interesting paper was read by Miss

Harriet Hudson, after which the value of Puritan influence was discussed. Mr. Stebbins, of Worcester, preached for us January 10. The Ladies' Benevolent Society met January 14 to sew for the needy. Supper was served at six o'clock, and a social evening followed.

Sterling, Ill.-Services are held by the People's Church every Sunday evening at 7.15 o'clock in G.A.R. hall. Sunday-school classes at 10.30 A.M. A class for the study of Emerson's life and writings meets once in two weeks on Tuesday evenings. A cordial invitation to all of the meetings is extended to the public.

"We stand (1) for the worship of God, (2) for purity of personal life, (3) for the God-appointed service of man."

This is Section IX. of the statement of belief of the People's Church of Sterling and Rock Falls, subscription to which constitutes association with the society.

Temple, Me.-Rev. W. H. Ramsay, of

Farmington, preaches here every other week, and is doing excellent work. He is greeted by large audiences, and the people are glad to hear the new gospel. There is a large liberal religious element here that has been choked up by Orthodoxy, and Mr. Ramsay has succeeded in bringing it out into the light of day. This really should be the mission of the Unitarian denomination, -to church the unchurched. There are bright prospects in that direction here in Temple.

West Roxbury, Mass.-On Christmas Eve the Sunday-school had their tree and games. There were also stereopticon views of famous paintings on the Nativity, and selections were given from noted poets appropriate to the occasion. The Lend a Hand is sewing for the Children's Rest in Roslindale and for the Tuskegee School. The ladies of the sewing circle have drawn generously on their treasury toward the payment of an incumbrance on the lot of land recently purchased by the society. Ther Woman's Alliance have had two very interesting papers during the month, one on "Moods," by Mrs. Beatley, of the Church of the Disciples, and the "History of the Devil," by Rev. W. H. Fish, Jr., of Dedham. At the vesper service on January 17, Mr. Hussey gave the first of a series of sermons on "The Lord's Prayer." The church was well filled, and the music of an exceptionally fine order.

Wilton, N.H.-New Year's Sunday was a memorable day in the annals of the Unitarian church at Wilton Centre. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Mitchell, preached a fine New Year's sermon, in the course of which he

referred to the Church as an institution claiming and worthy of the support of all good citizens, and closing with calling upon all present to commemorate this the first Sabbath of the year by entering into closer connections with this venerable church, now and at once, and called on Mr. J. F. Kimball, as a member of the prudential committee, to state the conditions of membership and other facts gleaned from the past records.

Mr. Kimball stated that, with the pastor, he had made an examination of the records and had found it a most interesting study. He stated that the Unitarian Year Book for

1897 gave the date of the organization of this church as 1763; but the town history showed that a church was built and used in 1752, so that this society had a history covering a hundred and forty-five years. The first settled minister, Rev. Mr. Livermore, was ordained in 1763. He was the grandfather of the late Dr. A. A. Livermore. In 1818 the church was incorporated, by act of legislature, under the name of "The Congregational Church of Wilton." By this act of incorporation, membership was acquired by signing articles of agreement. There appear to be no records extant until January, 1829, since when they are pretty complete. On that date the act of incorporation was acArticles of cepted and by-laws adopted. agreement were drawn up, over the date of Dec. 16, 1828, probably preparatory to the annual meeting on the following first Tuesday of January, 1829, to which a hundred and forty signatures are attached. Of these hundred and forty only one survives, the venerable Deacon George Buss. These names are largely the names of the fathers and grandfathers of the present congregation, and probably represent a large majority of the numbers, as well as the vigor, intelligence, and wealth of the town. It is to be remembered that at this time only one other church, the Baptist, was in existence. In 1853 the by-laws were revised, the articles of agreement copied, and the signatures of forty-three gentlemen are affixed. No ladies' names appear. Of these forty-three only two remain, Deacon George Buss and Mr. John D. Wilson, both of whom were present. At the close of Mr. Kimball's statement, Mr. Mitchell called on the congregation to come forward and sign the articles of agreement, and his request was responded to by nearly every person present.

Yarmouth, Me.-There seems to be an increased interest and activity all around. There is a larger attendance on the church services, and a greater activity in subordinate societies. The ladies' circle has just held one of their most successful "fairs," the receipts being over $130.

Volume XII.

Number 3.

CHAPTER XXII.

Song of David.

And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: and he said,

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;

The God of my rock, in him will I trust;

My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge;

My saviour, thou savest me from violence.

I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised:

So shall I be saved from mine enemies.

For the waves of death compassed

me,

The floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

The cords of Sheol were round about me:

The snares of death came upon me. In my distress I called upon the Lord,

Yea, I called unto my God:

And he heard my voice out of his temple,

And my cry came into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled, The foundations of heaven moved And were shaken, because he was wroth.

There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,

And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also, and came down ;

And thick darkness was under his feet.

And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly:

Yea, he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

And he made darkness pavilions round about him,

Gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.

At the brightness before him
Coals of fire were kindled.

The Lord thundered from heaven, And the Most High uttered his voice. And he sent out arrows, and scattered them;

Lightning, and discomfited them.