of growth out of bad things into better ways of life, that it appeals to every progressive, liberal mind to day.

As a banner, the Bible leads ever forward.

Massachusetts W. C. T. U.

THE Massachusetts Woman's Christian Temperance Union sent a letter of criticism to Miss Willard, the president of the National Woman's Christian Temperance Union, calling her to account for the resolution passed at Baltimore in October, which welcomed Jews and Catholics to fellowship. To this criticism Miss Willard replies very nobly, and her closing paragraphs are as follows:

"Let it be remembered that the Woman's Christian Temperance Union is not a church: it is a temperance union. It has no creed, but it has a toleration of principle. It stands for total abstinence, total prohibition, and a white life. Among its rally cries are these: 'No sectarianism in religion; no sectionalism in politics; no sex in citizenship.'

"Its motto is for God and home and native land; and it proclaims not only in this, but in every nation, that only the 'gospel of the golden rule of Christ can bring the gladness of the golden age of man.'

"If Catholic or Protestant, Jew or Gentile, will come to us as fraternal message-bearers or as working allies upon this sacred plat form, let us not only clasp their friendly hands, but go more than half-way to welcome them to the broad outlook and blessed

fellowship of a union that has the home for its centre, harmony for its watchword, and the happiness of all for its heaven-appointed goal. In this faith and purpose I am your loyal comrade and coworker."

Departments.

AMERICAN UNITARIAN ASSOCIATION.

The American Unitarian Association does not flatter itself that it is recognized everywhere as the exponent and best defender of the principles upon which the American republic is founded. But for all that it wishes the people of America a Happy New Year, and it will do what it can to realize its wish. What is it we have most at heart? What is it that, being done, would best fulfil our mission? Is it not to do the simplest, and therefore the most difficult, of all things, - to put the essential principles of the conduct of life before the minds of the people, and then to make them effective in action?

There is no church in the country that would not stoutly affirm that it existed to increase love to God and love to man. From Catholic to Mormon all are agreed in that. But there are but a few hundreds of scattered churches in the country (including our own) which any one can join on a simple profession of a desire to love God and serve man. Instead of putting the essential things first, the Church reserves these for the most part. It puts between them and the minds of believers schemes of salvation, quadrilaterals of belief, and systems of church government. In all the plans for tains, even by way of indirect reference, Christian unity recently offered not one conlove, duty, reverence, or any essential principle of the devout and righteous life.

Now, the Unitarian Church of America has undertaken to put the first things first. It hopes to remove all obstructions to faith. It calls upon all lovers of their race to lay aside things non-essential, and to unite mind, heart, and hand to bring into activity in American life the principles which make for peace in the family, order in the neighborhood, justice in society, righteousness in

the State.

The wit of man, working for sixty recorded centuries, has as yet devised no method to accomplish these ends so effective as to bind men together by a covenant to work together. Religion has been the most effective bond of social union, and the Church in some form has always been the most powerful agent of progress in the art of living well.

The December meeting of the directors of the American Unitarian Association, held on the second Tuesday of the month, was in part given up to matters in the Middle States; and the following appropriations were made: Ithaca, N.Y., $1,500; Trenton, N.Y., $300; Plainfield, N.J., $500; Vineland, N.J., $300; Newburg, N. Y., $400;

Pittsburg, Pa., $300; Hamilton, Canada, $500; Passaic, N.J., $300; Albany, N.Y., $1,500; for new missionary work, $200; for one-half the salary of Rev. D. W. Morehouse, superintendent for the Middle States, $1,250.

The South will claim attention at the January meeting. We have there churches at Charleston, Richmond, Chattanooga, Asheville, Atlanta, Knoxville, Memphis, New Orleans, Austin, and San Antonio. Excepting Charleston, none of them are self-supporting. Can they be made so within a reasonable time? If they can be made Southern institutions, loved and cherished by Southern people, they can be well supported. At present they are in part regarded as importations from the North. And yet in the South are thousands of people who think for themselves, and, doing so, find themselves at odds with "Quadrilaterals" and "Pastoral Letters." Jefferson and Monroe did not scorn the aid of Dr. Bentley, the stalwart Unitarian of Salem, Mass., who was their constant correspondent and for them the purveyor of the best literature the world of his time afforded. Cincinnati, with churches that have recently joined the Southern Conference, Baltimore, Louisville, and the First Church in St. Louis can do much to make Southern people feel at home in our fellowship. They can do much also with money to sustain the Association while it gives temporary aid to struggling churches.

Our work must strengthen itself in the department of literature if we are to maintain the renown of the older days. All the world is thinking, writing, printing. There are great thoughts which ought to go into print in these stirring days. Five years hence the twentieth century will begin. May it better the brave record of the century drawing near to its close!

GEORGE BATCHELOR.

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

I will turn a portion of this department into a question-box for this issue. A great many times I am questioned concerning the following subjects. This is a convenient way of replying, not only to those who ask, but to many others who are thinking the same things.

"What is the chief qualification for a good Sunday-school teacher?"

A little difficult to answer briefly, but it is safe to say that the first requisite for success is the ability of a teacher to show personal interest in his or her work. A great scholarship goes for nothing when the atmosphere of a teacher is cold. The

friendly tie is the one that binds the different elements together effectively. There is no escaping this, however much we may wish to put first intellectual ability or some other qualification. The magnet at the centre of a constant and ardent attendance on the part of the pupils is the teacher's evident affection and concern for the members of the class. Added to this, of course, is the necessary interest the teacher should also have in the lessons and due preparation for them.

"What relation shall the minister take to the Sunday-school?"

That depends very much upon the church and the school. Differences are so great that it is hard to lay down a rule. It must be decided partly by the fitness of a minister for certain things, and also as to the material one has on hand. It would be foolish for some ministers to attempt to be superintendents of Sunday-schools. In other cases they are obliged to be, owing to the lack of competent volunteers. Theoretically, I believe that a minister should not be a superintendent, but his relation to the Sunday-school should be constant, friendly, and effective, a power behind the throne. The real answer to this question is that the minister's relation to the Sunday-school in all churches, however constituted, should be an active, co-operating one; but the actual duties vary.

"Is it wise to have remarks at the opening of the Sunday-school by outsiders?"

Here is another case for argument, based upon differences, again, in Sunday-schools. It is a dangerous piece of business to ask this one and that one to speak. Time is often wasted, the lessons encroached upon, and, frequently, nothing well said at that. I have had occasion a hundred times to say that there are very few individuals who know how to talk concisely and helpfully to young people. If the lesson is a uniform one, then the minister or some selected speaker can utilize the opening by remarks to good results.

"In these days is it advisable to have libraries for Sunday-schools?"

Here, again, is a debatable matter, to be settled discreetly by considering each case. There are Sunday-schools in the cities where libraries are not of much help, because the pupils have so many books at home. Yet I have noticed that even there books for the younger ones prove of great attractive power. I should say that in a majority of our Sunday-schools scattered over the country, a library was valuable which contained greatly selected books not common in other sources, books which, without being "goody-goody," yet had a moral tone and a religious current.

"What shall be done with a class of boys

who show no interest in the lessons, and come unprepared?"

I have always sympathized with the teachers who have asked me this question. It is often a dreary undertaking to handle such an array of restless and indifferent pulpils. There is only one way for a devoted teacher, and that calls for patience and faith. The editor of the Pilgrim Teacher has a very good word on this topic: "Inattention comes very near being the worst obstacle many a teacher has to face. When a whole class comes to the session with no knowledge about the lesson, and with no desire to get that knowledge, the teaching is hard. The only thing for a teacher in this situation to do is to present the lesson as attractively as possible, and keep pegging away until a better result is obtained."

"Is it advisable to drill on the music in the opening devotional exercises?"

My feeling is against this. Better, it seems to me, to go through with some blunders than to turn the religious exercises into a teaching of music. Of course, if there are flagrant mistakes, then stop and have them corrected. If there is inattention and lack of spirit, make the pupils go back and sing over. But I assume that this question refers to actual rehearsal of new tunes, the pointing out of technical errors, and the like. This ought to be carefully seen to at some other time.

"Do you advocate the reading of stories in the class by the teacher?"

This question I have answered frequently in print, and always to this effect, that the reading of a story should be the climax to the teaching. Whatever is done in this way should be for illustration and enforcement of something taught. To use up the precious teaching time in reading something picked up at haphazard is, to my mind, almost criminal. There is often a chance to round out and impress a lesson at the end by reading a brief, pertinent story.

"Is there any way of making the opening

exercises more attractive?"

I know of only one resource beyond the ordinary helps of good music and bright method of conducting. That is to have the superintendent prepare himself. No one should open a school and conduct the service who has not carefully thought out the whole thing, part for part. His mind, backed up by his heart, should be in the exercises. It must not be a perfunctory and mechanical affair. The superintendent should be so imbued with the particular impression he wishes to make through that service that his whole bearing and tone would confirm what is being said and sung. This is true of successful and impressive de

votional services in the pulpit, and the same law applies to religious exercises in a Sunday-school.

"How far do you think a Sunday-school can be made to prosper by methods and machinery?"

The questioner in this case, as I have reason to know, is anxious to adopt all new ideas, if possible; but she is uncertain as to whether they will make the Sunday-school she has in charge any larger or any more vigorous. She thinks that it is personal work and the spirit of interest shown which determine a Sunday-school's prosperity. In this my questioner is right. I have seen Sunday-schools rise into great religious and numerical success under methods and arrangements which seemed primitive. I have seen other schools in which the latest "fads" and the greatest number of wheels were used; and yet the spirit was lacking in the wheels, and the school was not as prosperous as under old and simpler ways. Nothing can take the place of personal devotion and the enthusiasm of leadership. Machinery is good, but it will not run of itself.

I would remind those who want to supply their children with good reading matter that Every Other Sunday, when bound for the year, makes a tempting and valuable collection of poems, stories, essays, and illustrations. Volume X. is now ready in attractive form. Price 75 cents.

The leaflet lessons in the current course are out for January. The subjects treated are "The Great Supper," "The Vine and the Branches," "The Prodigal Son," and "The Prayer of Jesus." The Intermediate and Advanced are bound together in one leaflet. The Primary is also an illustrated four-page leaflet. Price 50 cents per hun

dred.

EDWARD A. HORTON.

Thankfulness is the tune of angels.Spenser.

GUILDS.

CHURCH ETIQUETTE.

Read before the Guild of the Channing Memorial Church, Newport, R. I., by Sarah W. Ladd.

The church is formed for our highest good, at a cost of time and money to many; and, in order to make this investment earn proper dividend, each of us has a duty to perform. The minister may do the best of work; but, unless we co-operate with him, success will not be attained. I propose, in a simple and familiar way, to point out some of our shortcomings.

To begin, I will say that I think that the empty seats on Sunday morning speak volumes against us. Many otherwise good Unitarians are absent on that occasion. Do such realize that they thereby neglect their spiritual education, which is really of the highest account to us, and should control the moral and, to a great extent, the physical well-being? If the exercises were simply amusing, we should have no cause for complaint.

A fault of lesser magnitude is tardiness. Our service does not commence at such an early hour as to excuse it. If the prayer has already commenced, and we are supposed to be in harmony and of one accord in the petition to the throne of grace, how unpleasant to hear a series of movements, rustling of garments, etc., which are necessary to seating ourselves! A little more effort on our part would correct this in a large part.

Now, do we seriously consider how disheartening to the minister, after he has given the best of himself to study and preparation, to see empty seats and scant numbers to listen to his sermons, which he had hoped would at once be a pleasure and profit to us all? How it must lessen his courage and enthusiasm and chill inspiration! but even then the loss is greater to ourselves.

Let us try to overcome all the obstacles that we should be sure to if we had a ticket to the opera house or other place of amusement. As we require the minister to be in his desk on Sunday morning and at the appointed hour, let us second him in his successful effort. I have heard it said, "He should be there, for it is his business." None the less is it ours to be there to listen and to join in the service. It is an act of discourtesy to him whom we have appointed the highest function in the church. If we are invited to a feast, we should consider it discourteous not to attend or tender some regret for not being able to do so. The feast is prepared at expense and trouble, for the mutual pleasure of host and friends,

more largely the latter, since the host or hostess usually realizes his part from the reflex pleasure of the guests. If they have been gratified, the giver of the entertainment is more so.

Sometimes a minister preaches a series of sermons with a view to a complete study of some subject. To miss one from the series may impair the force of the whole in its bearing on that object. I know that many people, busy all the week, feel like remaining at home on Sunday for rest,—not a bad idea in itself; but who does not know that a different kind of exercise rests one most? The mind, drawn from the workaday ideas to a higher plane of thought, often causes one to forget weariness,-in fact, it has disappeared. The mind exerts a real and positive influence over the physical body. Pleasurable emotions rest and recreate us. Perhaps some of us may complain that a sermon is not sufficiently interesting to hold our attention. Well, I sympathize much with any church which has such a preacher. It certainly is not our lot. No minister should be expected to preach equally good sermons every week; but the preachers of our faith are usually interesting, for it is mostly live and thinking men who join our ranks. They are not hampered by a cut-and-dried theology, nor bounded by high walls which one must be careful about peering over. With simple faith in Almighty power, the accumulated knowledge of the world is their workshop. Much can they find therein, but not without labor, diligent and careful study day by day. If we are not interested, I fear that, for the most part, the fault is our own.

The church is a mutual association for help in our ethical and spiritual life. It touches every department, the family, business, society, politics, government, and art. It is the true end and aim of the ideal church to work together in the endeavor to find out how to live, or, in other words, how to think and act in the temptations, trials, and perplexities of life. Other occupations are for the means of physical life. The church, if it accomplishes its mission, teaches us how to use these means for the attainment of the ideal life.

What shall we say of whisperings during the service and sermon? The minister, who overlooks the whole area of the inte rior, cannot help being disturbed by this rudeness. If we address a few friends on any subject in our drawing-rooms or even in ordinary conversation, it would be especially rude to turn to our neighbor for conversation. If a person is making a best effort at a piano in a drawing-room, and any one of those present begins conversation on another theme, it is rightly deemed discourteous. If we are not enjoying the

music. at least let others do so. I know that all good performers will agree with me as to the disturbing influence on themselves. Now, is not the offence really greater at such a time and place as the church, which is set apart for divine worship?

An exceedingly ill-bred habit is that of reading during the service or the sermon. I am happy to say this is by no means as common as some other faults.

Even on our way down the aisles and out of the house of God, let us keep at a distance from the more sordid of our everyday interests. A lady, not of our city, complained that it disturbed her, on her way out, to hear remarks like the following:

"I will not have my dresses made on a sewing-machine!"

Let us get all the benefit that we can by not dismissing too soon the thoughts and ideas that have been given us. Even a little time given each day during the week to what we hear would make it more practical and helpful to us. I find it so.

Allow me to speak a word on our attitude in prayer. That the ear of the Lord is ever open to our heartfelt petitions is true, whether standing or walking or whatever our position may be; but, when the meek and lowly Jesus prayed to the Father, it is said that he bowed his head. Is not the example a good one? and will it not induce a more prayerful and reverent spirit, inasmuch as external objects are shut out? And may we not hope that a whole church united in one humble attitude will have a stronger effect on each and all?

Do not let us consider these small matters trivial in their consequences. Each of us may set an example to some one. No one is too old or too young to do his best and influence others.

"It was only a sunny smile,
And little it cost in the giving;
But it scattered the night
Like morning light,

And made the day worth living.
Through life's dull warp a woof it rose
In shining colors of hope and love;
And the angels smiled as they watched above,
Yet little it cost in the giving.

"A smile, a word, or a touch,
And each is easily given;
Yet either may win

A soul from sin

Or smooth the way to heaven. A smile may lighten the failing heart, A word may soften pain's keenest smart, A touch may lead us from sin apart.

How easily either is given!"

At the Third Religious Society, Dorchester, Boston, the guild began its evening meetings on December 1. Mr. Mott pre

upon

sided at the opening meeting, and spoke "How to Read the Bible," showing how wonderfully interesting this study of the Bible becomes when treated in the modern way, as an historical account of how slowly men have found out about God.

On December 15 a guild paper of interesting contributions was read by Miss Wilde, containing a letter from Miss Channing, a description of King's Chapel, by Mrs. Laura T. Greene, and "A Conversation," by Miss Ella Martin.

Miss Wilde also reported, as a delegate, the union meeting of guilds at Neponset. Mrs. Curtis gave some valuable suggestions from a Guild Alliance meeting.

The Committee on Work have a programme for the year almost ready for publication.

A circular has been sent out with reference to the new national young people's organization. It is accompanied by a suggested form of organization for local societies. They come from a special committee, consisting of Rev. E. A. Horton, Rev. A. W. Gould, and Mr. George W. Stone. Both circulars should receive careful consideration by the existing young people's societies. Copies will be sent to any one applying to Mr. Horton, 25 Beacon Street, Boston.

The guild at Littleton, Mass., is in a prosperous condition. It was the first guild organized, and it has never been in a more active condition than now. It is well attended, and the meetings are interesting and profitable.

The guild at Medfield recently observed the seventh anniversary of its organization. The exercises consisted of music, addresses, and a supper. Delegates from several neighboring guilds were expected, but a severe storm prevented their attendance. The meeting was a very pleasant one, though the attendance was necessarily small.

The guild at Bedford, Mass., prints on its programmes this excellent statement of its object "to encourage among its members and others the spirit of religious inquiry, to strengthen and help the church, and to bind its members together into a fraternity for sincere friendship, mutual helpfulness, and earnest moral and religious culture."

The Guild for Christian Culture at Neponset, Mass., at a recent meeting had six five-minute addresses on "Unitarian Belief." The meeting was spirited and interesting, all the papers were good, and some of them were of superior quality. All pronounced it one of the very best meetings the guild has ever held.