the best nutriment. (American Book Company, New York.) The latest volume in Dr. W. T. Harris's very long but invaluable International Educational Series "comprises a selection from Montaigne's Essays on Child Education. Strange as it may seem, Montaigne was in some respects in advance of the pedagogical thinkers of our own day. His was the influence which a hundred years later most affected John Locke, and, two hundred years later, Jean Jacques Rousseau. (D. Appleton & Co., New York.) In two neat volumes Mr. H. L. Stephen has condensed and edited, chiefly from Howell's voluminous pages, accounts of ten famous English State Trials, Political and Social. The trials are those of Sir Walter Raleigh, Charles I., the Regicides, Colonel Turner and others, the Suffolk Witches, Alice Lisle, Lord Russell, the Earl of Warwick, Spencer Cowper and others, and Samuel Goodere and others. The editor's work has been admirably performed. It would be hard to imagine. more of human tragedy than is compressed within these little volumes. (The Macmillan Company, New York.) A pretty edition of a new translation of Bida's charming love story of Provence, Aucassin and Nicolette, is put forth by Fords, Howard & Hulbert (New York). The translator is Mr. A. Rodney Macdonough, and he may be congratulated on the grace and facility with which his work has been accomplished. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is an abridgment from the International which aims to be full, accurate, and authoritative, and yet in moderate compass and of a moderate price. It has over eleven hundred large octavo pages and an equal number of illustrations, with ample appendices, tables, etc. It will undoubtedly prove useful and convenient to students and others who desire a happy medium between the unabridged and the too-abridged. (G. & C. Merriam Company, Springfield, Mass.) Mr. George A. B. Dewar, in his Wila Life in Hampshire Highlands, comes closer than any recent writer on out-of-door topics to the charm of Richard Jefferies. He knows the woods and hills at every season; he watches birds, trees, plants, and insects with a loving patience; he conveys to the reader through true wordpictures his enjoyment and constant companionship with nature. Mr. Dewar writes neither as a naturalist nor as a sportsman, but as a nature-lover endowed with the special knowledge of both. The volume is delicately illustrated and handsomely printed. (The Macmillan Company, New York.) The Rev. Dr. Alexander Whyte has published, through the F. H. Revell Company (New York), the first volume of a work on Bible Characters. The book is one which cannot be other than helpful to every student of Old Testament history. Dr. Whyte's vigorous style brings Jeroboam, Rehoboam, Elijah, Elisha, and the rest before us with startling and effective distinctness. Books Received For the week ending September 8 DAVID W. AMRAM, PHILADELPI.IA Amram, David W. The Jewish Law of Divorce. DREXEL BIDDLE, PHILADELPHIA Brooks. Sarah P. In the Bivouac of Life. DOUBLEDAY & M'CLURE CO., NEW YORK Prichard. E. and Hesketh (E. and H. Heron). A Modern Mercenary. 81.25. Little Masterpieces. Edited by Bliss Perry. Thackeray, GINN & CO., BOSTON Tarbell, Horace S. and Martha. Lessons in Language and Grammar. 70 cts. D. C. HEATH & CO., BOSTON Dole, Charles F. The Young Citizen. 45 cts. THE YOUNG CHURCHMAN CO., MILWAUKEE, WIS. Smith, Colonel Nicholas. Great National Songs. $1. THE MACMILLAN CO., NEW YORK Jones, Jenkin Lloyd. Jess: Bits of Wayside Gospel. $1.50. Herrick, Robert. Hesperides. Edited by Israel Gollancz. Vols. I. and II. (The Temple Classics.) 50 cts. Wordsworth, William, The Sonnets of. Edited by Israel Gollancz. 50 cts. (The Temple Classics.) Sterne, Laurence. Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. Edited by Israel Gollancz. 50 cts. (The Temple Classics.) Thoughts of Divines and Philosophers. Selected by Basil Montague. 50 cts. Edited by Israel Gollancz. (The Temple Classics.) Cavendish, George. The Life and Death of Thomas Du Bose, William P The Soteriology of the New Testament. THE PILGRIM PRESS, CHICAGO Bridgman, Raymond L. The Master Idea. FLEMING H. REVELL CO. NEW YORK Thurston. I. T. The Bishop's Shadow. $1.25. CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, NEW YORK Decle, Lionel. Trooper 3809. $1.25. Hornung, E. W. Dead Men Tell No Tales. $1.25. Warman, Cy. The White Mail. $1.25. Trent, William P. The Authority of Criticism. $1.50. Spears, John R. The Fugitive. $1.25. THE F A. STOKES CO., NEW YORK Grinnell, Morton. An Eclipse of Memory. 50 cts. Walkey, S. For the Sake of the Duchess, 50 cts, The Religious World The Northfield Conference of Christian Workers The seventeenth annual Conference of Christian Workers, which has just closed its sessions at Northfield, was the most largely attended of any ever held. The increase in the number of clergymen was especially noticeable. Of Of course Mr. Moody was the soul of this as of every Northfield Conference. The Rev. Dr. John Balcom Shaw, pastor of the West End Presbyterian Church, New York City, made the opening address. The next day the Rev. Dr. Wilton Merle Smith, of the Central Presbyterian Church, New York City, followed in an address emphasizing the need of a more spiritual ministry. During the first four days of the Conference the Rev. George Campbell Morgan, of London, spoke no less than seven times, taking for his general subject "The Will of God." Mr. Morgan spoke very frequently during the Conference, and also remained for some days thereafter, giving the daily post-Conference addresses which for several years have been a feature of the work. Another well-known speaker at the Conference was another London pastor, the Rev. F. B. Meyer, the successor of Dr. Newman Hall at the great church across the Thames from Westminster. Two years ago, at Mr. Moody's invitation, Mr. Meyer came to America and gave a series of addresses on The Development of the Spiritual Life." The succeeding year Mr. Meyer devoted six weeks to visiting American cities where he had been unable to hold urgently demanded conferences the year before. This year Mr. Meyer has been obliged to return to England, but Mr. Morgan still remains, and is to devote the autumn months to giving addresses in some of the leading cities on similar lines to those given this summer. This extension of the Northfield Conferences is sure to be appreciated by those who have not been able to attend these gatherings. Denominational Houses at Northfield Other prominent speakers at the Conference were the Rev. Drs. Torrey, Pierson, Selwyn, and Mabie. The last named is the Secretary of the Baptist Foreign Missionary Union. During the Conference he called for a meeting of the Baptists at Northfield to consider the advisability of erecting a house in which missionaries and others could be entertained. Dr. Mabie thinks that there are at least-twentyfive Baptist foreign missionaries in this country on furlough who could attend the conferences if there were such buildings, but, under present conditions, are unable to come to Northfield. It is believed that such a house might be used for seminary girls during the school year and for missionaries and others during the Conferences. On this suggestion Mr. Moody followed with one looking to the erection of a Presbyterian House, Mr. John Willis Baer, Secretary of the Christian Endeavor Society, and also a Presbyterian elder, assuring him that the Presbyterians would not be behind the Baptists in this matter. As to the Presbyterians at Northfield, the recent conferences have been emphasized by their particular attendance and enthusiasm. From New York City alone between fifty and sixty Presbyterian pastors were present-practically the whole local Presbytery. The results should be a great revival of evangelistic preaching in the churches of the metropolis. American Presbyterian Decline Recently published statistics in the daily press have seemed to show that Presbyterianism is hardly holding its own in this country as regards membership, or even in the number of churches. Even the Philadelphia "Presbyterian," speaking of the decline from year to year, for the last five years, of the number added on examination and certificate, exclaims: "We are not receiving on profession as many as we are dropping from the roll. How long can this continue without disastrous result? The decline is not in one Presbytery or one city, but a general falling off in the whole Church." Writing to us on this matter, however, the Rev. Dr. William Henry Roberts, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, explains some of the decline by the fact that there has been a general removal from the rolls of many of the congregations of the names of "absentee members over three years absent," etc., while for members dismissed and dropped there are no statistics for 1894, 1895, and 1896. Last year fifty-six thousand members were dismissed and dropped; this year, fifty-three thousand. In 1894 seventy-four thousand members were added on examination; this year, only forty-eight thousand. On certificate in 1894 forty-one thousand members were added; this year, thirty-five thousand. The decline has been a steady one in both lists. The list of net increases to the Presbyterian Church is also a series of downward steps. In 1894, forty thousand persons were added; in 1895, twenty six thousand; in 1896, twenty thousand; in 1897, seventeen thousand; in 1898, fourteen thousand; and so far in 1899, eight thousand five hundred. The American Lutheran Church The approaching Lutheran Council at Chicago calls renewed attention to the progress made by the Lutheran Church in the United States. From a membership numbering not a quarter of a million forty years ago, it has grown to one numbering more than a million and a half. In 1859 the various Lutheran bodies had only ten small theological seminaries, eight colleges, and one academy; now the figures are twenty-five, forty-six, and thirtysix respectively. Startling as this progress is, the figures are vouched for by that official organ, "The Lutheran." From it we learn that no less decided progress has been made in other directions. Forty years ago the Lutheran Church had "become a stranger to itself;" now it has come to recognize itself anew, and the basis of one faith and one practice is being cleared of the rubbish which had almost buried it. Again, from the few translations which constituted all there was of native Lutheran literature forty years ago, there is now a list of books in English-devotional, historical, doctrinal, and other books-that do honor to Lutheran scholarship. The journal above quoted admits that the services of Lutheran churches, too, were almost as bald as those of any Calvinistic church; now, however, "we have a matchless Common Service, several unequaled hymn books for the Sunday-school, a graded series of Lesson Helps bound to mark an epoch in Sunday-school teaching, a rich Lutheran commentary, and a long-wished-for encyclopædia, shortly to appear. . . . In short, forty years ago American Lutheranism was as unstable, unformed, and contradictory as the American character itself. in its infancy. To-day it is growing into a more robust, uniform, and well-rounded Lutheran force, which, as it becomes more unified, will exert an influence in our chaotic American religious life hitherto unknown." A French Protestant Paper Speaking of the work done in France by the Protestant newspaper "Le Signal" in the interest not only of Protestant influence, but of every effort to raise moral and social standards, the Londen "Christian World" says that in the evil days when it was next to impossible for any but the voices of passion and prejudice to get a hearing in France in the Dreyfus affair the "Signal" risked everything in its bold stand for the right. The risk was great, indeed, for a new paper, struggling with the difficulties which beset every fresh journalistic enterprise. It must needs face, first, the opposition of Roman Catholicism, next the envenomed hatred of its atheistic opponents, but, lastly and hardest to bear, the defection of numbers of timid or indifferent Protestants. "Le Signal " has a distinctive literary as well as political character, and contains contributions from the leading French Prot-. estant writers. Its moral tone is, of course, excellent. The Protestants of France, comparatively few in number, are giving a good account of themselves. They deserve the sympathy of Christian people everywhere. The Metlakahtla Settlement A dozen years ago, for the sake of greater civil and religious liberty, the people of a place called Metlakahtla, in British Columbia, under the leadership of Mr. William Duncan, emigrated to Annette Island, off our Alaskan coast. The work of the intervening years is seen in the fact that to-day Annette Island has be come the center both of commercial and of Christian activity in all that region. The government consists of a council, twenty in number, who attend to the civil affairs of the town. These officers are elected annually. The religious government consists of a body of elders, also twenty in number, who look after the spiritual affairs of the church. That church has no denominational name; it is known as "The Christian Church of Metlakahtla." Both original members and natives believe and are taught that they must be in fellowship with all Christians, but that they need owe allegiance to no denomination. After a time of probation, natives who have been obedient to the rules of the community may be accepted as members of that community, and may even be counted members of the church, because, as Mr. Duncan says, "if they are true to our rules, they will be true Christians." Native labor built the church building, and the natives themselves subscribed one-fifth of the cost, the total of which amounted to ten thousand dollars. Half of that total was earned by the dwellers on Annette Island, and the remainder was subscribed by American and English friends. The serviccs at the church are conducted in the native tongue, except some singing which is in English. The means for the support of the settlement, including government, church, school, and hospitals, is supplied by the industries planted years ago by Mr. Duncan and his coadjutors. The Annette Island settlement forms one of the most interesting points in the Alaskan tour. Dr. Moxom's Bible Class The plan of work for the Bible Class of the Rev. Dr. Moxom, of the South Church, Springfield, Mass., is a model for other similar classes. This particular class is about making a critical study of the Book of Genesis. There will be a careful analysis of the book into its separate documents, the sources of which will be noted and the characteristics of which will be brought out. Special attention will be given to the creation stories and their Chaldean, Egyptian, Indo-European, American, and other parallels. The story of Eden and the Fall will be studied in connection with Greek and other myths of the origin of evil. Similarly, the account of the Noachian Deluge will command attention. Some fifty topics requiring exhaustive research, having an extensive bibliography of first-class authorities, are being given out for papers to be presented by individual members of the class. Among these topics, not to mention those that have to do with creation and the flood, are the following: "The Origin of Man and Primitive Ideas;" "The Serpent in Religion;" "The Origin of Sacrifice ;" "Human Sacrifices in Religion;" "The Beginnings of Art;" "The Tower of Babel Myth Concerning the Origin of Language ;""The Origin of the Hebrew People;" "Egypt in the Time of the Patriarchs ;""The Sabbath in Genesis ;" The Family in Genesis ;" and "The Name of God in Genesis." All will be regarded from a scientific point of view. The attitude of mind will be that of a reverent criticism, but entirely fearless in its treatment of this portion of the Hebrew Scriptures, while at the same time confident that it is not without great spiritual value. Under such leadership as this class is fortunate in having, there is much to be gained from such a study and nothing to be feared. Truth as the main thing is sought, whether enshrined in myth, legend, story, or semi-authentic or unquestionable narratives. As a sample of the thoroughness of the work, a minor topic, with its bibliography, is here given : XI.-The Story of Cain and Abel (Gen. iv., 1-17). Hastings's Dictionary, I., 5 ff.; Encyclopædia Britannica, I., 33, IV., 642; Addis, Documents of the Hexateuch," I., 7-9; Ryle's "Early Narratives of Genesis;" Schrader, Cuneiform Inscriptions;" Delitzsch, "Genesis ;" Dillman, "Genesis ;"" The Bible for Learners;" Lenormant, "Beginnings of History," 146-217; "The Biblical World,” III., 264 ff. 66 In alone. They differ widely, both in theological doctrines and in ethics. The author points to the wonderful influence which Christianity exercises. However, its advances have already reached their farthest limits, and "it is now destined to disappear from the face of the earth." It emphasizes the existence of an absolute Creator of all things, the Father of Love. In proof of this truth there has been no agency in the world's history more powerful than Christianity. Buddhism, says the author, this truth is compressed in the same shape, only that in this system God is seen more as he dwells in nature. What the advocates of this religion call Buddha is practically the same as that which the Christians call Godhead. Another great truth which Christianity has made prominent is the obligatory character of the moral law. This doctrine of the sure reward and punishment is taught also by Buddhism; but the Christian conception of the nature of the future life and of the day of judgment "is not as reasonable as that of the Buddhist conception of the series of existences with gradual ascent and descent through the transmigration of souls." Christianity is indebted for its influence largely to the purity and the exalted conception of its ideal life. Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for the salvation of the world, and this deed has for all ages given to the world the possibility of an elevation and exaltation of mankind. The doctrine of the four Gospels is the most perfect and practical moral code under the sun. "In all of this there is nothing that conflicts with Buddhism. But the Christian doctrines have still another side. They teach superstition and ignorance, and these weaknesses will finally bring about the end of Christianity, unless they are cured in time. The most important of these dangerous doctrines is that of the Trinity." The article is valuable because it shows that the various teachers of religion are nearer together than many imagine. A Sunday Rest Congress In September, 1900, under the patronage of the French Government, an International Congress will be held on questions concerning Sunday as a legally and socially recognized day of rest. The sessions will be held in the Palais du Congrès of the Exhibition. The President of the organizing committee is Senator Bérenger, and among the members of the committee are representatives from both Catholic and Protestant clergy, as well as members of Parliament, economists and statists, and delegates from the various Chambers of Commerce, manufacturers' unions, and railway companies. The Congress will be open to all who are interested in its programme. The fee for membership has been fixed at ten francs. Only active members and delegates will have the right to take part in the sessions. The language of the Congress will be French, although papers may be communicated in other languages, always provided that a summary is presented in French. Two sessions will be held daily, at nine and at three o'clock. The discussions will be limited to the matter stated in the programme, and speakers will not be given the floor for more than a quarter of an hour, nor will they be allowed to speak twice in the same session on the same subject, unless the Assembly should decide otherwise. The Secretary of the Congress is M. Bompard, 28 Rue d'Assas, Paris, France. An Open Bible The present is sometimes spoken of as the age of an open Bible. While it is true that we may read the book with no one to make us afraid, to many it is still a closed book because of the fragmentary way in which they read. Many passages are better understood in the light of knowledge gained by reading other parts of the Bible. One part illumines another. The study of particular passages is good, of course, but often we are hindered in the interpretation of a passage by our lack of familiarity with the whole Bible, Systematic and consecutive study of the whole Bible is encouraged by the "King's Household Slip-book." It divides the entire Bible into a four years' course, giving a portion for each day and providing for the reading of the New Testament during each of the four years, so that the reader, while seeking a comprehensive knowledge of the whole field of Bible truth, is still kept in touch with New Testament teaching. Those who wish to join the class now forming should address Mrs, E. H. Bronson, Salem, New Jersey. |