take away one's breath. Two-thirds of her book might be called a plea for reason in religion; and it is a strong plea; but it is often very one-sided. The most sensational essay in the volume is perhaps that on the Christianity of Christ, the most suggestive those on the Struggle for Immortality, the Psychical Opportunity and the Psychical Wave, the strongest and most sustained that on the question, Is God Good?

Midnight Talks at the Club. Reported by Amos K. Fiske. New York: Fords, Howard and Hulbert. This book purports to be made up of reports of conversations between three friends, one a sincere believer in orthodoxy, one a dashing skeptic, the third a candid and sincere religious liberal. The range of conversation is somewhat wide, extending considerably beyond religion, although religion is its central theme. The talk is remarkably good. There is nothing hackneyed or dull about it. It is just what might easily have come in their earnest hours from three bright, clear-headed, intelligent men holding different religious views. Many bubbles both of skepticism and of religious superstition get pricked. The influence of the book is constructive. Indeed we hardly know of a better book to put into the hands of one perplexed by the sore religious problems that are before this generation.

Black Beauty, his Grooms and Companions. By A. Sewell. Published in America by the American Humane Education Society. Heavy paper, 12 cents, by mail 20 cents. Mr. George T. Angell, the president of the society publishing the volume in this country, claims that the book is justly to be regarded as the "Uncle Tom's Cabin of the horse," and bids fair to be as widely influential in abolishing cruelty to horses as was Mrs. Stowe's book in destroying human slavery. Certainly it is an interesting story which one cannot read without having his regard for the horse, man's noblest companion and servant, increased. The book has already found a large sale in England, and it ought to find one larger still in this country.

Henry M. Stanley. By H. F. Reddell. Robert Bonner's Sons. Paper. Price, 50 cts. This is a fairly well written story of Stanley's early life, his career in the Confederate army, in the U. S. navy and as a war correspondent in Abyssinia, his search for Livingstone, his founding of the Congo Free State, and his last expedition for the rescue of Emin Bey.

Edward Burton. By Henry Wood. Boston: Lee and Shepard. Price, $1.25. This is a novel written for the purpose of giving the optimistic views of a believer in Christian Science. The story has not enough plot or movement to make it interesting. The characters, representing people in high life with their diverse opinions, form an ex

clusive company, moving in a narrow circle, with leisure to discuss and settle all burning questions without having any contact with the classes who feel them.

THE REVIEWS AND MAGAZINES. We name below some of the more important articles in the magazines and reviews of the month.

Unitarian Review (August).

Two Old-time Ministers of Lexington. By C. A. Staples.

The Orthodox Church of Russia. By Cornelia W. Cyr.

Forms of Agnosticism. By J. Frederic Dutton.

Intermingled Ways, New and Old. By W. M. Bryant.

Andover Review (August).

The Philosophy of the Sublime. By C. C. Everett.

The Farmers' Alliance. By C. S. Walker. The Westminster Confession and the Thirty-nine Articles of the English Church. By C. C. Tiffany.

NEWS FROM THE FIELD.

The Unitarian Grove Meeting at Weirs, N. H., began small but grew in numbers and interest from day to day, and ended with the largest attendance that had been known for years. Delegations were registered from eighty-five places, including twenty-seven where there is no Unitarian church. Thirteen different States were represented. Thus the meeting is wide-reaching in its missionary influence. The closing Sunday was an especially interesting day. Rev. E. L. Rexford of Boston (Universalist) preached in the morning, and Rev. Robert Collyer in the afternoon.

We learn that Rev. E. R. Hodges, of Nottingham, England, returns to this country before the end of August.

MISSIONARY MEETING IN CHICAGO.

The committee appointed at the convention held in Chicago last fall to carry into operation a plan there proposed for the formation of a Unitarian Conference Association, has decided to call a mass meeting of Unitarians to discuss and promote

the interests of church extension, and to afford an opportunity for the officers or delegates of the several conferences to meet and organize the contemplated association. This missionary meeting will be held Oct. 28-30, 1890, in Unity Church, Chicago; and Rev. M. J. Savage has consented to preach the opening sermon. A more extended announcement will be published soon. In behalf of the committee.

J. H. CROOKER, Chairman.

Madison, Wis., July 17, 1890. Boston. Rev. Messrs. Phillips Brooks, Episcopalian, Edward Everett Hale, Unitarian, A. A. Miner, Universalist, Charles G. Ames, Unitarian, George A. Gordon, Congregationalist, and Brooke Herford, Unitarian, have been invited by the executive committee to give a series of addresses be fore the Boston Congregational Ministers' Meeting, each speaker taking one Monday morning.

Carthage, Mo. A correspondent writes: We have here a beautiful town of some nine or ten thousand inhabitants, mostly eastern people-a very intelligent community. I hope we may have a Unitarian society formed here at no distant day.

Colorado. We learn that Missionary Powell, of Kansas, is spending his vacation in working up a Unitarian society in Silverton, Col. Silverton is one of the most important of the mining towns of that state

as wicked as most mining camps-but with a saving element of enlightened and cultivated people who find no home in the only Protestant church in the place.

Fairhaven, Wash. - Unity Church by Rev. W. E. Copeland, on July 27. Others was organized here, with fifteen members, were to join on his second visit, two weeks later. With a good pastor, the new church may become the strongest in the city. Fairhaven is one of three towns on Bellingham Bay, near the British line, that will in another year form one city with a population of twenty-five thousand. The town has a delightful situation, and is the water terminus of the Great Northern Railroad.

Hillside, Wis.-The Tower Hill Summer Assembly and Fourth Sunday-school Institute were held in Unity Chapel, Aug. 13-27. A Ministers' Institute under the leadership of Rev. J. Ll. Jones, was held each morning from 9 to 10:30; and a Sunday-school Institute, led by Prof. H. D. Maxson, from 11 A. M. to 12:30 P. M. The subjects considered at the two Institutes respectively were the preparation and work of the minister, and the first year's work in the Six Years' Course of Study recently published by the Western S. S. Society. The evenings from 8 to 9:30 were given to Unity Club work, lectures, readings, etc. We go to press too early to have received a report of the meetings.

is nearly completed, and the society is in a Houlton, Me.-The new church here prosperous condition.

Lansing, Mich.-The Agricultural College Chronicle says: President Clute has firmly established himself in the love and confidence of students, faculty and board of directors, and is demonstrating his ability, wisdom and justice with every act of his administration."

Marblehead, Mass.-Rev. James K. Applebee has resigned charge of the Second Congregational (Unitarian) Society. His address will be hereafter, 10 Ashford St., Allston, Boston, where he will be ready to make engagements for lecturing and preaching.

Marietta, O.-The papers speak highly of Rev. J. T. Lusk and his wife and their long work here in connection with the Unitarian society. The church has adopted the following resolution:

WHEREAS, Our long time pastor, Rev. James T. Lusk, has for reasons stated in his communication of the 30th ult., and this day acted upon by us, resigned his position as pastor of this society,

RESOLVED, That in parting from him we desire to put on record, testimony of our

high regard for him as a minister, and to say that, in his extended ministry amongst us, we believe him to have been constantly actuated by a sincere desire for the highest welfare of this church, and that to whatever field he may be called in the future the hearty good wishes of this people will accompany him and Mrs. Lusk, his co-laborer in all good and charitable work, for their success and happiness, and we earnestly hope for his complete and speedy restoration to health.

Marshalltown, Iowa. The Progressive Thinker contains in full a sermon by Rev. T. W. Woodrow of this place on "The Seat of Authority in Religion."

Philadelphia, Pa. A correspondent writes: The summer services of our Spring Garden Church have, for a series of years, been conducted by lay members. We have either the printed sermon of some minister read, or an original essay by some member. Notably excellent have been those by Mrs. Anna W. Longstreth, president of our society, and by Miss Gertrude Magill. Miss Magill is our offering to the West, as she goes to aid Rev. Joseph H. Crooker in his various labors. Women readers will occupy one-half the Sundays during Mr. Nichols's vacation. The much larger attendance this year of young and old is due largely to their zeal and consecration. It is expected that Mr. Nichols will be with us on Sept. 7th, when regular services will be resumed. The Sunday-school commences a week later. Prospect Harbor, Me.-Mr. C. G. Horst, a recent graduate of the Meadville Theological School, has been preaching at the Union church during the summer.

Richmond, Ind.-Rev. A. G. Jennings, of Toledo, Ohio, spent Sunday, July 27, here and preached two very acceptable and helpful sermons. His visit to Richmond has much strengthened the hearts of the Unitarians here. Mr. Harrison Ogborn has recently been preaching some "lay sermons," one of which on "Faith and Worship" has been printed in full in the Rich

mond Palladium.

Shelbyville, Ill.-Rev. J. L. Douthit, assisted by the editor of the Unitarian and others, has been holding some extra meetings. But we go to press too early to report them in this issue.

Valparaiso, Ind.-Rev. T. G. Milsted, of Chicago, preached here in the Opera House, July 27. The seating capacity of the Opera House is for eight hundred, but the seats were all filled and many were obliged to go away. The congregation was largely made up of students of the Northern Indiana Normal School, which is situated at Valparaiso.

West Gouldsboro, Me.-The second annual session of the Hancock Conference of Unitarian and other Liberal Christian Churches was held here August 19. The

8 P. M. Public worship, with sermon by Rev. Reed Stuart of Detroit. At the close of this service there will be a meeting of the directors.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14.

George W. Briggs, D. D., of Cambridge. 9:30 A. M. Devotional meeting, led by Rev.

10:30 A. M. "The Relation of the State to

the Individual," President E. Benjamin R. Tucker, Esq., of Boston, Rev. W. D. Andrews of Brown University, Benjamin Bliss of Boston.

sion of the morning subject. 2:30 P. M. Meeting for business and discus

3:30 P. M. Résumé of Recent Theology. 7:30 P. M. 66 Imagination in Religion," Rev. Francis Tiffany of Cambridge, Mass. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15.

9:30 A. M. Devotional meeting, led by Rev. Stopford W. Brooke of Boston.

10:30 A. M. "The Relation of Physiology to Psychology," President G. Stanley Hall of Clark University.

11:30 A. M. "Certain Relations of Psychology to Theology," Prof. George T. Ladd of Yale College.

66

3:30 P. M. The Relations of Mind in Evolution," Prof. E. D. Cope. 7:30 P. M. "The Life of Jesus and the Primitive Gospel," Rev. S. R. Calthrop, Syracuse, N. Y.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16. 9:30 A. M. Devotional meeting.

10:30 A. M. "The Serpent Tempter in Genesis," Prof. C. H. Toy of Harvard Univer

sitv.

11:30 A. M. "Christianity as enriched by the Modern Study of the New Testament," Prof. George L. Cary of Meadville, Pa.

The States of Wisconsin and Minnesota appear to be taking the lead in the formation of school libraries. During the past year these states have established over 1,200 libraries.

MISSIONARY NOTES FROM MR.
JENNINGS.

Mr. Editor: As the Unitarian is so much a missionary magazine, I venture to send you a few notes of my vacation missionary work. After returning from Chautauqua, where I preached in a Methodist church, I found letters from several of my old missionary fields, saying, “Come over into and help us."

The first was from Richmond, Ind. Here I went July 27th, and found the outlook brighter than when I was there before. A very pleasant and centrally located hall has been erected, which the Unitarians are able to hire at a merely nominal cost. My audiences were good, and the interest manifested was most encouraging. In the morning, the Swedenborgian minister present. In the evening there were three or four orthodox clergymen in the congregation. Some one requested me to speak on, "What think ye of Christ?" After doing this, the Presbyterian minister wished me to explain the "Logos doctrine." I do not know whether he was satisfied or

was

not. The following Tuesday evening I called the people together again, and outlined some club work for them for the winter. They intend to hold meetings every week during the season. Evidently the seed sown in the past in this place is now beginning to bear fruit.

From Richmond I went to Cincinnati, where I called on Mr. Thayer, and visited Mrs. Smith, our enthusiastic Post Office Mission worker. Taking the boat next day, I went down the Ohio river to Rising Sun. Here I spoke in an unused Universalist church Sunday morning and evening. In the evening several clergymen were again present. Quite an earnest desire was manifest to have regular liberal preaching in this town. I left Monday evening for Kentucky, after having promised to return in the fall and deliver a course of week-evening lectures.

My next objective point was Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky, one of the most attractive cities it was ever my good fortune to visit. I had the satisfaction of knowing that I was the only Unitarian minister who had ever visited the place intending to speak. Only one family (only a part of one family), so far as I knew, were Unitariansthe family of Judge Geo. C. Drane. Judge Drane's mother and sister had lived in Louisville, where they had been under the ministrations of James Freeman Clarke and Mr. Heywood. Judge Drane is not a member of any church, but is a thorough Unitarian. I found the Christian Register and the Unitarian in his home. I spoke Sunday morning and evening in the Christian church, in the absence of the regular minister. At the conclusion of the services, more than a score of the leading citizens in the place came forward and expressed themselves as being in full sympathy with

our belief and work. In the afternoon, the chaplain of the State Prison, who was present at the morning service, invited me to deliver an address to the prisoners; which I did. In the evening I spoke again in the Christian church, and the place was crowded. I left Frankfort also with a promise to return in the fall or early winter and deliver a course of week-evening lectures. I think with little effort a liberal church could be started and supported in this place. No more important field than this could be selected, as Frankfort is not only the capital of the state, but is one of the most thriving and beautiful cities of the South. I go next to Columbus, Ohio.

A WORD FROM JAPAN.

TOKYO, July 15, 1890. My Dear Sunderland: I cannot write at length to you to-day. The moist heat peculiar to this country at this time of year seems to have arrived in full force, and I am succumbing to it as anyone from the latitude of Minnesota must. I shall try to get among the hills and on the heights before another week passes.

Two days ago, Mr. and Mrs. Williams arrived. We had prepared for them what in the end seemed to us to be a really too warm reception. To my great surprise, however, they say they like it. The blaze of our zenith sun tends to produce in our New York friends only the most genial of glows. I am consumed under it. It is to me a sort of omnipresent monster, from whose reach there seems no escape. But we shall see. When the distracting fascinations of the novel surroundings of our friends shall have spent their force, perhaps they will begin to have some realizing sense of the fierce assaults of these skies which now seem to them to fall so lightly. But I am beginning to write in a bookish way.