popular religious service on the Common. Some time before Cornetist H. B. Stuart had sounded a note, many had gathered; and by the time the singing was begun there was a large audience. Rev. Christopher R. Eliot introduced Rev. W. R. Lord of St. Paul, Minn., who read the Scripture lesson; and Rev. John W. Day of Hingham offered prayer. In his remarks Rev. Mr. Lord said that, while in a big city every man pressed hard one upon another, yet nowhere was a man more separated, more lonely. He was sure that, if each individual would but remember that he represented humanity, there would be a greater elevation of the individual character than at present. The fact is that in large centres people somehow get the notion that no one is watching or paying attention to them or their acts or lives; but such is not really the case. Every one's life is taken as an example by some one of a community He begged all to remember that each person represented humanity, and then that humanity would be glorified. Mr. Day showed why Unitarians Christians. Every man, he said, who tried to lead a life of perfection similar to Christ's life was really a Christian. It was not the mere belief in Christ, but the imitating of his life, that made a man a Christian. It was the actual life of a man that would save him,-not a belief in any one church or doctrine. The life of Christ should constrain us all; and every man should strive to represent that life of Christ, which was the only enduring, everlasting life."

or age.

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Gardner, Mass.-On the evening of July 10 a very pleasant reception was given to Rev. William Channing Brown, commemorating the close of his first year's pastorate of the First Unitarian Church of this town. Under Mr. Brown's earnest and devoted labors the past year has been one of the most successful in the history of the society. Forty-one new members have been added to the church during the year, the attendance has steadily increased, and all things tend to show a healthy and permanent growth of the society. The church has been kept open all summer, the pulpit having been supplied during the pastor's absence by Rev. B. R. Bulkeley of Chicago, Dr. James T. Bixby of Yonkers, N. Y., Rev. John H. Applebee of Buffalo, N. Y., and Rev. William Brown of Tyngsboro, Mass. The attendance and interest in the Sunday-school have been very encouraging; and we are looking forward to increased interest at the opening of the school in September, a vacation having been had during the month of August.

In April the Guild of the Good Samaritan was formed by the young people; and meetings were held each Sunday evening until the 1st of July, the young people of

the guild having entire charge of the services for the evening. These meetings

have proved very successful in stimulating an interest in the church by the young people of the society, and plans have been made for their continuation early in September. The programme for the month will be as follows: September 6, The School and the Church, "led by Mr. L. P. Nash; September 13, "Preaching," by Prof. F. A. Christie of Meadville, Pa. ; September 20, Courtesy, led by Henry W. Stevens; September 27, "Honor, led by Birdys E. Lockwood. Sunday morning, September 6, there will be a Young People's Religious Union service, conducted by the pastor. Subject, "Truth, Worship, Service."

Helena, Mont.-On the return of Rev. J. H. Crooker and his wife (Rev. Florence Kallock) at the close of July the ladies of the Unitarian church gave them a reception at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kleinschmidt, which was very largely attended, not only by members of the congregation, but by the people of the city generally. At the first service after vacation, on Sunday morning, August 2, the congregation filled the hall, though a large part of the members are absent on ranches or vacation trips, as is common during the summer in this locality.

During the past year the size of the congregation has materially increased, and the work of the church has been enlarged. Though small, the Sunday-school continues to grow in number and interest. The best thing in many ways done during the year was the organizing of a free kindergarten in a destitute part of the city. A large number of prominent and intelligent young ladies have given this work their personal attention, and what was begun as an experiment has proved a great success, and done much good. A church home is very much needed, and could easily be secured in a short time, were it not for the extreme financial depression, which still continues. But it is hoped that steps in that direction will soon be taken.

It is felt that Mrs. Crooker will be able to give valuable assistance to the educational and philanthropic side of the church work; and both Mr. and Mrs. Crooker hope to do something this fall in spreading our gospel in various places throughout the State. Plans are now being made in that direction.

Hopedale, Mass.-The Neanikos Club was formed at the parsonage on the first Monday evening of July. It is composed of the youths of the town between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one. Its purpose is to furnish a place of common meeting, with amusements proper for such an organization, together with the necessary facilities for reading and other means of intel

lectual development. The membership will be limited to residents of the town of Hopedale, and there will be no sectarian conditions. Suitable rooms have been hired, and they will soon be thoroughly renovated and furnished. While the boys will be expected to conduct all the affairs of this club, a board of directors chosen by the club' will constitute a body to have general oversight. The board of directors contains the following names: Rev. Lewis G. Wilson, Frank H. French, George A. Draper, Florence M. Day, and Howard W. Bracken. At the present writing twenty-one members are enrolled. A subscription paper has been circulated among the citizens to assist the Neanikos Club in getting the rooms furnished, and already about $200 has been pledged. The name which has been chosen to represent this organization is the Greek word which means youthful, "noble, "high-spirited, "active, etc.. a word which conveys the idea of a noble-minded youth; and we believe the young men who have banded themselves together under this watchword will insist on preserving a high standard of social and intellectual life.

Janesville, Wis.-The pastor of the vigorous People's Church of All Souls', Rev. Victor E. Southworth, has issued a letter to his people encouraging all to take energetic part in the work of the church this coming year. He calls attention to many little things which, while apparently trivial, are indeed of deep importance in the successful conduct of every religious organization. Among these we may mention: prompt attendance, hospitality toward strangers, taking part in the work of the Sunday-school, informing the minister of all cases of sickness or any special need for his services, interest and participation in the allied societies of the church. The letter concludes: "This year the only new enterprise that will call for additional giving is the fund for home missionary work. We want you to consecrate one penny each day to the printing and free distribution of our gospel. Here in Janesville and throughout Southern Wisconsin are a great many people who have only wrong ideas of free religion. They think we are teaching a dangerous gospel. They do not understand its beauty and power. They have wrong conceptions of what we as a religious society are trying to do. Now, this home mission work is to render all misunderstandings and misrepresentations impossible by spreading abroad clear but kindly declarations of the fundamental principles of our free religious society. If a hundred people will furnish me with a penny a day each, for one, two, or three years, and let me use it for printing Free Religious Leaflets, and in distributing them through the mail and in other ways, I feel confident that the day will soon come when no one

in this city or county can remain ignorant of the truth as we try to teach it. And to know the spirit and purpose of the free church means at least to respect it for its openness and earnestness, if not to love it and join in its work."

liberal tendency in Japan as follows: "The Japan. The Yokohama Mail refers to the Christian press furnishes abundant proof that churches of all denominations are engaged in a struggle, in one form or other, with the current of Japanese nationalism and self-assertion. The principle that it is not necessary that an Oriental church should be an exact imitation of its Western models is generally acknowledged, and numerous concessions are constantly made in response to proposals advanced by native churches. As an illustration of the truth of this remark, we may quote a few lines from Bishop Bickersteth's pastoral letter, published in May last. Referring to the recent decision of a synod of bishops, whereby the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England were excluded from the Japanese prayer-book, Bishop Bickersteth says: Now the Thirty-nine Articles have no ecumenical authority. . . . They are not, and do not profess to be, a complete statement of Christian doctrine, and were certainly never intended by their compilers to be imposed as a standard of Orthodoxy outside the British Isles. Further, speaking generally, the imposition of elaborate doctrinal standards, as distinguished from the brief devotional enumeration in a creed of the facts of belief, is an evidence of weakness. The bishop adds, "The doctrinal confession of an Eastern church, if its formulation be deemed requisite, should be the work of Oriental theologians, be racy of the soil, spring out of a surrounding of Eastern circumstances, and carry to those who study it the obvious meaning of its own allusions and references.'

"Though all this, and a great deal more, is admitted by the majority of foreign missionaries, there is a general feeling that the demands for freedom of thought and action constantly made by Japanese churches are fraught with danger, in that they are apt to be extended so as to include liberty to decide on the doctrines of the church which it is necessary for a Japanese to accept in order to be enrolled as a member. 'I deeply regret,' says Bishop Bickersteth, in the charge from which we have quoted, that it does not seem to me possible to accept as Christian a great deal that goes by that name in Japan. The manifesto put forth at Nara last year, at a very large meeting, as expressing apparently the maximum of common belief of those who attended, is lamentable evidence of the results in a country like Japan of what is called "liberal" or undenominational

Christianity.'''

London. BERMONDSEY.- Rev. Harold Rylett has issued an address to the "many earnest and intelligent people to whom orthodox Christianity has ceased to be religiously helpful," cordially inviting them to attend the services of this church, "at which a rational faith is presented in a reverent spirit." "Unitarians believe," says Mr. Rylett, "in God as 'the author and the giver of all good things,' and in man as the child of God; and they hold that the largest possible liberty is essential to the most perfect development of man. Accord-. ingly, Unitarians refuse to adopt any formal creed. They believe that God continuously incarnates himself in man, his child; and they therefore keep their minds open to receive new light and guidance from God-gifted souls of every age and nation. To Unitarians the Bible is precious, because it contains utterances of men moved to speak by inspiration of Holy Spirit, and because, above all, it contains the record of the life and teaching of Jesus, the Christ, who came that men 'might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' Unitarians believe that pure religion consists in taking Jesus for an example and following in his steps; and it is their solemn conviction that earnest endeavor to lead the Christ life surely leads to the kingdom of God."

organ,

HAMPSTEAD. A valuable new built by Messrs. W. Hill & Son, was opened at the Rosslyn Hill Chapel on Sunday by Mr. S. Liddle, the organist. It is placed in the chamber on the south side of the nave, and presents an imposing appearance, with a "coved" case projecting over the choir seats, the diapason pipes being distributed among three flats and two towers of pipes in the case. The action is tubular pneumatic throughout. The console for the player projects conveniently forward, and is fitted with all the latest appliances. All pipes other than those of wood are spotted metal for reeds to eight feet, and flue work to four feet. The bellows are blown by two hydraulic engines, attached to parallel feeders inside the

organ.

These motors are silent and automatic. The new choir seats are designed by Mr. T. Locke Worthington.

Lynn, Mass.-Rev. F. C. Southworth of Duluth preached at the Unitarian church, corner of South Common and Church Streets, August 23.

Oakland, Cal.-Mr. and Mrs. Wendte had a fine reception on their return from their vacation. Nearly every seat in the church was filled, and many were the congratulations and greetings at the close of the service. Mr. Wendte preached on the text, And Elijah went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb, the mount of God.” He gave a

July 19 a series of union grove meetings was commenced by the pastor, with the hope of inducing a brotherly feeling between the neighboring churches, and reaching a class of people who do not attend any other service. The meetings have been very successful, the audiences numbering from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and fifty persons.

On the evening of August 3 Rev. J. W. Barker tendered a reception to the members of the parish and the people of Pembroke. About one hundred and twenty-five people assembled to show their appreciation of Mr. Barker's successful efforts toward the building-up of the society. An entertaining musical programme, consisting of piano duets by Messrs. Nye and Gordon of Quincy, a vocal solo by Mr. Charles Tilton, and readings by Miss Abbie Horton of Rockland and Miss Mabel Simmons of Kingston, were listened to with much pleasure. Among out-of-town guests from Quincy, Dorchester, and Boston were Rev. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Phillips of New Haven, Conn. Mr. Phillips made a very eloquent and witty speech, congratulating Mr. Barker upon his successful work.

Peoria, Ill. Rev. R. B. Marsh preached a very instructive sermon in the People's Church on The Second Stage in the Growth of Liberalism." We quote: "Preachers and religious papers have labored in season and out to impress upon people's minds the necessity of reading the little, narrow, faulty Bible. We must labor as hard to ge: men to read the larger, truer Bible of the ages. We shall raise up, if we are faithful, a better set of converts, because we have wider knowledge of truth for them to feed upon. Instead of urging men to read the childish record of Genesis, we must impress upon them the study of works of real science, that have to do

with the beginnings of things. Instead of reading over the travels of a band of semibarbarous wanderers, we must invite them to a reading of the real history of many peoples and nations, especially of our own. We are a chosen people.' God has led our fathers across the desert of the sea and land, his providence has been over us, his hand delivered the slave in a more marvellous way than were the children of Israel delivered, because it was done in the real way, working from within on men's hearts, not from without on their superstitions. We, too, lost our first-born; and there was mourning in every house, and many graves were filled, not by the wrath of God, but by the greed and anger of men. Our prophets are a hundred to one of those of olden time. They utter truth deeper, hopes higher, and morality purer than ever came to those ancient worthies. Especially do the modern prophets excel in the universal uplifting of the race. There is no more the idea of the partial, the chosen people, the favorites of Deity. Such ideas have disappeared, and a view of the solidarity of the race comes in to take their place."

Salem, Mass.-The First Church has been open all summer for the union service of the Unitarian churches. Rev. Leon A. Harvey preached on the 2d of August. He gave an excellent sermon, which was listened to by a small audience, because of

a

severe storm. Rev. C. A. Staples of Lexington, Mass., preached August 16. In the absence of Rev. Messrs. Towle and Latimer, Rev. Mr. Manchester had charge of most of the services up to August 16, Rev. Mr. Cressey having charge August 23 and 30.

-The Alliance of the Barton Square Church has held meetings at "Juniper" and at Danvers, at the summer homes of Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Simonds. The old Sunday-school library of the Barton Square Church has been transformed into a minister's room," and a bookcase for the Sunday-school library has been made in the vestry. These changes have been made under the auspices of the Alliance, the members of which are earning money in various ways to meet the expense incurred.

Santa Barbara, Cal.-Rev. W. H. Fish, Jr., pastor of the Dedham Unitarian church, is preaching here in exchange with Rev. E. R. Dinsmore during the months of August and September.

St. Louis, Mo.-The Universalist has a pleasant account from its Washington correspondent of the Unitarian Mission here: "The Unitarian Mission, on Ninth and Washington Streets, right in the heart of St. Louis's slum district. This mission is established on stable foundations, with

men and women of wealth and influence behind it, and a popular church to see that it lacks for nothing. It grew from a little acorn, as other things grand and good have in this world; and the church built a fine mission house, with an airy and commodious audience-room. An orphanage accommodating forty children carries on a kindergarten and several other benevolent enterprises, besides Sunday services and Sabbath-school. The Eliot Society of the Church of the Messiah (Unitarian) carries on all the various lines of church extension under one head, 'special committees' having each enterprise in charge. The sewing society consists of the president and vicepresident of the Mission School Board and the chairman of the Social Committee, whose special business it is to look after the interest of this mission,' and to provide clothing for the children under its It is able to pay for teachers and for

care.

The Weirs, N.H.-The grove meetings at Lake Winnipesaukee, July 27 to August 2, were more than usually pleasant and profitable. The weather was in general very favorable, and certainly a more enjoyable gathering of Unitarians never came together. The programme was carried through with but slight changes, Rev. A. R. Hussey of West Roxbury substituting on Wednesday evening for Mr. Stewart of Lynn with great acceptance. The excursion to Wolfboro on Tuesday was well attended, and resulted in considerable help to the good people of the church in that place. The "Woman's Day' was made bright and enthusiastic by the presence of Mrs. Fifield, Mrs. Davis, and Mrs. Livermore. The Young People's Day was a decided success, which has been already noticed in these columns. "Layman's Day" was especially good with its lectures and addresses, including two not on the original programme from William P. Fowler of Boston and William L. Melcher of Laconia. The two sermons of Sundayone in the morning by Dr. Brundage, on "The Liberal View of Prayer," and one by Dr. Rexford of Columbus, Ohio, on "The Liberal Gospel''-were worthy of the largest hearing. They would have been greeted with better audiences, had not a heavy rain prevented the usual Sunday attendance. The great kindness and courtesy of the Methodist minister at Weirs in inviting Dr. Brundage to occupy his place in the little chapel Sunday morning is worthy of special recognition. The Unitarians of New England are missing a great deal when they absent themselves from the good fellowship and earnest, uplifting spirit of these yearly occasions. The grove meeting might be made a source of cumulative power to our churches, our minister, and

our cause.