The reality of a Christ-likeness in men of like infirmities with ourselves is very full of sweetness and consolation, even while it renews our grief that ourselves are so unlike Him. There are true copies of beautiful originals, although coarse and defective copies. Every one recognizes the stamp, howbeit the material which takes the impression is neither pure nor plastic. Christ is our Sun; we walk in His light, and rejoice in the warmth of His love. But as the material sun has a more subtle, actinic ray, and impresses its own image on a surface enough sensitive and secluded to be thus impressed, even so doth He, the Bright and Glorious, imprint His own similitude on quiet and submissive souls while yet in the tabernacle of the clay. It may be that carrying something of Him into Paradise, and resting there in perfect stillness beneath His smile, the latent image shall be developed, and we shall presently "wake up after His likeness," so perfected that ourselves shall be "satisfied with it." Compare the martyred Stephen and the dying Christ. "Father forgive them! They know not what they do. Into Thy hands I commend My Spirit !" "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge! Lord Jesus receive my spirit !" Was ever child more like his father! A VISIT TO LUTTERWORTH. little since Wiclif's day, save for a few modern, rather handsome buildings. Of course the chief interest centres now in As we have only just passed the fivehundredth anniversary of the death of the church, and thither we turned our steps. Wiclif, our first and greatest reformer, and It is a small building, consisting of tower, so much attention has been given to his life nave, aisles, and chancel. The tower (at and writings, both in England and in this the west end), pillars, and arches of the country, a brief description of a recent visit nave are of the last half of the thirteenth to Luttterworth may be interesting. century. The aisles were built about the No one spot is so intimately connected in middle of the fourteenth century, and some our minds with Wiclif as this village where authorities place the chancel in the last half he passed the last years of his life, where of the fourteenth century, coeval with the he died, and where most of his greatest reformer, others a century later. The church work was performed. For it is not so much has been restored under Sir Gilbert Scott, from his share in the political contests of and a few stained-glass windows, the gifts the age, his co-operation with Edward of individuals, have been added. III. and John of Gaunt, against the usurWe approached this venerable building pations of papal authority, that the from the east, by a path leading through the name of John Wiclif is known and church-yard to the porch on the south side. honored wherever the English language is This has been rebuilt within a few years, spoken-not so much, I say, for these and over the doorway is carved the head of reasons, weighty though they are, but be- Wiclif. It was with feelings of deepest cause to him we owe the first version of veneration that we entered these sacred our English Bible; because he gave to our walls. Plain and unpretentious almost in ancestors the Word of God in a language the extreme everything seemed, and one they could read and understand, and no could imagine it little changed during the longer be kept by the priests from studying past five centuries, save for the oaken pews it for themselves. And it was at Lutter- filling the body of the church, and the worth that the great part of this work was modern glass filling some of the windows. done; from Lutterworth he sent out his The heavy stone pillars, Early English in company of disciples, " 'poor-priests," as style, supporting the arched roof, and the they were called, to carry this precious clerestory windows between; the beautiful treasure in their hearts, as well as their tracery and framework of the aisle windows, hands, among the country people, to scatter no two of which on a side were alike; two broadcast over the land the seed of the curious old frescoes, lately uncovered, on Divine Word that should yield such a plen- the walls-one over the chancel arch repretiful harvest. senting the Day of Judgment, with our Lord seated on a rainbow in the upper part, two angels blowing trumpets on either side, and below, graves opening and figures arising from them-one on the north wall, over a doorway, representing King Richard II. and his queen, Anne of Bohemia, and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster-these, by turns, arrested our attention, and deserved careful study. So it was not strange, brought up as I had been to know and love this quaint and strong version, still more the author of it, that my steps should turn to Lutterworth, and scarcely any place in England had a I would emphasize, however, the Christlikeness visible here and now. Illustrations crowd upon me. I know nothing so Christian as to love a lost and hateful thing for the reason that it is lost and hateful; to cling with unalterable affection to a dishonored man, whose person is as dear as his crime is loathsome. Names and dates can be furnished of sundry instances. This one is authentic. A lovely young woman, re-deeper interest for me. spected, happy, discovers that her husband It was interesting to find that Lutterworth is a defaulter, just ready to abscond with is very near the geographical centre of Enghis felonious gains. In a moment her arms land, two old Roman roads, the Fosse and are around him. "Do not flee," she says. Watling street, which divide the kingdom The pulpit next claimed notice-six-sided "Re-assert your manhood, and accept the from north to south and east to west, cross-in form, of beautifully carved oak, almost consequences of your error. I will stand ing each other six or eight miles from here. black now, repaired and restored where by you and share your lot to the bitter end." Lutterworth is about thirteen miles from needed, but the very same pulpit from Aye, and she never flinched. Within a Leicester (where I was staying for a short which our noble reformer so often made his month her hair was grey. Consideration time), one of the old towns dating from the voice heard in words of warning or of enfor others made her deny herself to friends, time of the Romans, and still preserving couragement. What a crowd of thoughts who would be compromised by familiarity many relics of their occupancy. We started and associations came thrilling through with a felon's wife. All thought of happi- early one morning, going by Midland Rail- one's mind, chiefly of gratitude to Almighty ness was finally surrendered. My business way to Ullesthorpe, from thence by coach. God, that He raised up such a man to do His in life," she agreed, "is not to be happy, work, just when the world seemed hopelessly but to rescue my fallen husband." bound down by papal authority and priestly rule, and the people steeped in ignorance. Like the pilgrims to St. Peter's at Rome, I felt prompted to ascend on my knees those steps that holy feet, as of any canonized saint, had so often trod. It is a pretty drive of three and a half miles, through quiet country lanes, pleasant even O ye shining ones, who shall be sent to in the November day when we saw them, convoy her to her rest, how gently will ye with hedges dotted here and there with red lift her from the dust of her voluntary berries, and fields and homesteads stretching humiliation! How soft the touch of your away between, and lovely in the summer angel palms! How will ye say one to when the hedges are in blossom and the another of this chastened, suffering soul, it fields sprinkled with flowers. Lutterworth is by every token and lineament a true is a quiet little town of about two thousand counterpart of Him who left the ninety and inhabitants, consisting of one main street nine in the wilderness, and with bleeding running down to the little river Swift, at hands extricated the lost sheep from the thorns of its own folly, wherein it seemed hopelessly entangled. Would we be more like Christ? There is a lost one not far away, an unlovely, yet very precious outcast Let us be up and doing, lighting a candle and seeking diligently until we find him! THE catalogue of the University of Rochester shows that the number of students is 153, and the institution is in a prosperous condition. The pulpit stands just outside the chancel arch, at the north side, and through the corner of the wall just behind it is one of those curious holes-called a hagioscope, or the foot of the hill, while about half way sometimes a squint-found in some old another street branches off to the right, churches that were made for the purpose of leading to the church, and from both these allowing people on that side of the church shorter streets lead in various directions. to look through at the elevation of the The town is lighted by subscription, and Host. In the chancel on one side stands an paved by means of the proceeds of an old old oak chair, called Wiclif's chair, in which grant of land. The elevation of its site and he is said to have been carried out of church the dry, gravelling soil render it very the last time he was present there, a few healthy. The houses, of brick or stone, are days before his death. A second chair built closely together, and the place has a has been made to correspond, and both very substantial look, different from many adorned (?) with red velvet cushions. These American towns of the same size, and look-cushions, and some frescoes that have been ing as though it might have changed very undertaken in a style of very high, modern art, seem quite out of keeping with the rest of the church, and offend one's sense of propriety as well as one's taste. How we wished that this church could become the property of the nation, and kept as a memorial of her greatest rector! On the altar, under the east window, are a pair of wooden candlesticks, now gilded over, said to be also of Wiclif's time, and under a glass case in the vestry are preserved portions of vestments worn by him. fields through which he walked; above all, the Book of books, his legacy to the world, the very phraseology of which helped more than any other one book to mold our language into its present form! With such thoughts in our minds, we retraced our steps up the steep and pebbly street, and were soon on our way back to the station and to Leicester. But our trip lingers in my memory as one of the days that can never be forgotten while life lasts, the fulfilment of long cherished wishes. THE BENEDICITE. This old Canticle, the Benedicite, is one of the least understood, and perhaps least valued portions of our liturgy. And it is not strange, for it breathes an odor of times far different from ours, and of a Christian culture in some respects greatly unlike that of the Western world. At the west end of the church is an old black oak table, with leaves sliding underneath the body of the table, very large and heavy. From this Wiclif is said to have distributed food to the poor on certain days. BY THE REV. ARTHUR WENTWORTH EATON. I let my fancy also picture the good man and scholar seated at this very table, with some of his poor priests" about him, assisting him in translating the Word of God, or in making copies of it to spread over the country. In a glass case upon this table are kept two volumes of Wiclif's Bible, Forshall and Madden's edition, presented by Mr. Edwards, secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society; also an old black letter copy of Foxe's "Book of Martyrs." The old font has curiously been presented to the Musuem in Leicester, and I saw it there afterwards, only the upper part or basin remaining, of a gray stone, carved on the sides, and a hole in the bottom to let out the water. A modern font stands in the west end of the nave underneath the tower. A fine mural tablet by the younger Its origin is Greek, probably Alexandrine, and it is an apocryphal addition, like the history of Susanna, and the history of Bel and the Dragon, to the third chapter of the Book of Daniel. The exact date of its composition is as uncertain as the exact date of the Septuagint, but it is probably not much older than the Septuagint, and it is contained in that version as well as in the version of Theodotion, besides being found in the Old Latin and the Vulgate. Westmacott, in "alto relievo," illustrating It was sung as a hymn in the later Jewish the labors of the reformer, with a com-church, and was sung commonly in the memorative inscription below, is placed on Christian Church, at least as early as the the wall of the new chancel aisle. fourth century. It was hard to tear ourselves away from So it has come to us, but it is often rethis hallowed place, and we lingered outsidegarded as a sort of literary curiosity, and its in the churchyard that surrounds the value is doubted. church, the numerous tombstones showing tokens of the generations who sleep there till the Resurrection, less than the elevation of this spot above the ground on each side. On the south side especially the ground slopes steeply to the street, on which stand some old alms-houses. The rectory stands on adjoining ground to the north, a pretty, modern building, including some portions or fragments of the old rectory of Wiclif's time. The living is in the gift of the crown, the income somewhat less than £600. The Rev. T. H. Tarlton has been rector since 1879, and seems much beloved by his people. To an increasingly large number of persons, however, the old hymn is full of rich poetic and religious meaning. It wafts us back to freer, more inspiring thought, and a purity of religious feeling that belong only to the ante-Nicene days of the Church. Then dogma was fresh and vital, a large and animated courage ruled the hearts of men. God and man were not antagonized as afterward, the Incarnation had not dwindled to a theory, and everywhere men saw the workings of the Divine Mind. The most characteristic and prevailing principle of Greek theology was, as has been so often affirmed, the doctrine of the immanence of God, a doctrine that Western Christendom almost lost sight of, and for which it substituted legal mechanical views of God's relation to His universe. Carried too far, the doctrine might become pantheistic, and so defective on its ethical side, but lost altogether, God would necessarily be conceived of as a great Mechanic who had built a universe from which He had withdrawn Himself to some distant heaven; or as a Great Man who had made a huge, lifeless machine, the crank of which He kept perpetually turning from afar. That was the conception of Western orthodoxy, but it is one that we, in these sympathetic days, are rapidly getting away from, and the doctrine of the immanence of God is again taking its true place as the central and controlling doctrine of our system, and is coloring all our thought. Walking down through the main street of the town to the river Swift, we stood upon the bridge crossing the stream, a comparatively, modern one, but occupying the site of the old bridge, the stream so low that it flowed sluggishly under its brick arches. After Wiclif's bones were taken from their resting-place in the church where he had labored, and were burned, by the barbarous decree of the Council of Constance in 1415, from this spot, perhaps, where we now stood on the bank, his ashes were cast into this little stream, no larger than a small brook, and to quote the familiar words of good Thomas Fuller, "this brook conveyed them into the Avon, the Avon into the Severn, the Severn into the narrow seas, they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wickliffe are the emblem of his doctrine, which is now dispersed all the world over." The great poet of our changing thought What memorial more fitting than this is Wordsworth, and so like is the spirit of stream so identified with his name, these his poetry to that of our old Greek Canticle, that one is often reminded as he sings, “O, all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord," of some of the familiar verses of our best loved poet, the man whose master vision was of God in nature. It is Wordsworth's central doctrine, and in order to read him aright we must understand it, that nature is not lifeless, but that every varied movement of her vast tides is a separate thought of God; that His life is in her, and that through her processes the Eternal perpetually makes Himself known. "To every form of being is assign'd An active principle: howe'er removed From sense and observation, it subsists In all things, in all natures; in the stars Of azure heaven, the unenduring clouds, In flower and tree, in every pebbly stone That paves the brooks, the stationary rocks, The moving waters, and the invisible air. Whate'er exists hath properties that spread Beyond itself, communicating good, A simple blessing, or with evil mix'd; Spirit that knows no insulated spot, No chasm, no solitude; from link to link It circulates, the Soul of all the worlds." More clearly still he speaks: "The Being that is in the clouds and air, That is in the green leaves and among the groves, Maintains a deep and reverential care For the unoffending creatures whom He loves." And he sings how he has felt, in nature, "A Presence that disturbs me with the joy Whoever understands the rapidly growing love for Wordsworth, whose far-seeing eye finds a hitherto unsuspected divineness in nature, whoever has imbibed the true spirit of our Benedicite, will know the secret of the changing conceptions of many religious men. This secret is a growing reverence for nature as a manifestation of the divine thought, and a new belief in the unity of revelation. Whatever reverent and earnest men are questioning to-day, they are questioning only in virtue of their growing sense of the greatness and nearness of God, not from any irreverent wish to make His glory less. And our wisest men are not finding so much dissatisfaction with established formularies, as with poor and meagre interpretations of them. It is "more life, and fuller, that we want," not less. We want to feel the heart-throbs of God in all His universe; to have as Christ had, fellowship with rocks and trees, and birds and flowers, and know as He knew that to one law "the whole creation moves," and to one all-pervading life it witnesses. The Benedicite is in wonderful harmony with the scientific spirit of our generation. Each new student of the mysteries of nature bring us more and more wonderful revelations of her greatness. The flower from the crannied wall is a universe in miniature, and God's thoughts are just as grand in the lowest as in the highest things. In these scientific days, when we are learning so much our fathers did not know, about God in nature, how much more intelligently than they can we sing, "O, all ye works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord, praise Him and magnify Him forever!" There has always been something peculiarly interesting in the life of St. Francis d'Assisi among the birds and beasts and flowers in the wilds about Alverno. They were his "little brothers and sisters," and his life and theirs flowed gently on together. And there is something peculiarly.hopeful in the growing love for nature among city men and women, and the increasing desire to spend a large part of each year in the country. The tendencies in theology, in science, and in social life, are in some measure alike, and in so far as they indicate larger and healthier views and aspirations, they are signs of a divine progress in human affairs. LOOK FOR GOOD DEEDS. BY M. E. W. When a man undertakes to perform some great act, there are two methods by which fellow-men may encourage him: One, by pointing to the evil which he is about to oppose, and by showing him the enormity of the evil, stimulate him to his greatest effort the other, by cheering him from time to time by the acknowledgment of the successes he has won. poor sick child in the adjoining room. The power to the episcopate—and I suppose this And so it is from the poorest to the richest; daily temptations are overcome, daily little deeds of kindness are shown, a helping hand is reached out, a cheering word is spoken, and yet they are never noised abroad. Could one day's good deeds be summed up in one of our daily papers, even in a small community, how amazed we would be to read of it. It could not be, and we would not have it, but let us sometimes recall this brighter side, lest the cloud which gathers when we think of the darkness of evil blind us, and make pessimists of us all. 'Right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty, Election by the vestry from a list of persons recommended by the bishop under canonical provision; this is the remedy which the Church, I think, one of these days will apply to this evil, when it has reached its consummation; for, bad as things are, they will be worse, I fancy, before they are better. But now I am not concerned with this. What I want to say to vestries and the lay-people is, that it seems to me they would do well to take heed to the lines of conduct which apostles and apostolic men followed, when they were looking after men to fill the office of deacon or apostle; men that in uplifted and holy lives were really "witnesses of the resurrection;" men that had kept long and THE OLD RECTOR AND HIS VACANT close companionship with Christ; PLACE. BY THE BISHOP OF ALBANY. 66 men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom." I find the same stress laid in St. Paul's counsel to the first Bishop of Ephesus, For thirty-six years he has been our as to ordination to the priesthood, "faithful spiritual guide and pastor. Our marriages men who shall be able to teach others;" have been performed by him, our children "blameless, chaste, vigilant, sober, of good have been baptized, and our dead buried by behavior, patient; blameless, faithful in all him, for all these long years. When we things;" and again to the Bishop of Crete, have rejoiced, he has rejoiced with and for "blameless, not self-willed, not soon angry, us, and when we have mourned or sor- not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of rowed, we have always received from him filthy lucre, sober, just, holy, temperate, When thoughtful men think and speak of sympathy, consolation, and comfort. While holding fast the faithful word." It is all the great evils in the world, their minds are we gratefully remember his manifold and well enough to say that vestries have a right so influenced by the current reading of the long-continued kindly ministrations to us as to take all this for granted in every clergynewspapers that it is not to be wondered at individuals, we desire to express our ac- man. I wish this were true, but the fact is that the first method is one which they knowledgment and appreciation of the great these are not the things they lay most stress naturally employ. We hear the cry-and efficiency and success of his services for us on. What are called "moderate views," justly too-"Go into the slums. See the as a Church. The tie which binds us to our the sine qua non, here; pleasing social In all battles, either with visible or invisible foes, battles with our fellow-men or with ourselves, these two methods hold good. evil !" and as we run our eyes down the columns of our papers, how do the headings bring home again and again to our hearts the fact that the world is full of wicked ness. It is not possible, nor would it be desirable, to point in the same columns to items of good daily and hourly accomplished; but can we not in our hearts, from time to time, try to sum up for our encouragement the enormous amount of Christian work that is being done. We do not refer to the grand noble charities which are on every side. They must necessarily be upheld by money, and where money enters fame unfurls her banners. They are doing grand and noble work, and we by no means underestimate that work. We plead to-day, however, for the millions, yea, billions of Christian deeds which the papers never see, which friends never hear of, and which are even hardly known to those who do them. beloved rector, strengthened as it has been manners, there. Another parish wants a man with a good voice, who can preach down his next-door neighbor, and empty the meeting-house of that covey of silly sparrows which always flock to hear the noisiest preacher, and twitter and chatter about him, and look for no instruction, and for no teaching, and lend no strength to any church. And another parish, most shameful of all, most sorrowful, most anxious, is in pursuit of a man of fortune, who can live on it and support them. I am afraid the fault is largely ours; pandering to popularity, cheapening our office, too much seeking self. But the longer I live, the more I feel that all this lowering of the spirituality of the clergy which brings us into disrepute But changes will occur-men will come is the great weakness of religion in the world. and men will go, if in no other way, by The longer I live the more I see that it is death-and, as they go, there comes that the priest's life that tells. Its daily, hourly very puzzling problem, the choice of a new sermon is more eloquent than the pulpit's rector. I am not going to enter into what rhetoric. Its evident illustration of the seems to me the simple remedy for most of its Master's life is more effective than figures of Take, for example, some of the scenes difficulties: the recognition of the episcopate speech. And neither underrating preaching, daily enacted among the very poor. A in the Episcopal Church, which seems hardly administration of the sacraments, education, woman has a fearful temper; in her poverty a violent thing to do; not the irresponsible or authority, I am sure that through and and suffering she has never checked this, power of patronage, but the overseeing above all, unless we are to be not "dumb but has let it have its way. From angry power of nomination and counsel. When dogs" so much as barking men, the words with a neighbor over a matter of I see the great readiness of presbyters to need of all our ministerial life is holiness, trifling importance, she goes from abuses in advise about filling vacancies, while the spirituality, loose-holding by the world, fastwords to abuses with hands, and soon stones, same men repudiate all control for the holding to the cross. There is keen satire brick-bats, and even kerosene lamps are bishop, to whom belongs some share of and searching ground for self-examination— thrown at her enemy. responsibility for these souls, I recall the as we see the carelessness, the loose moralIn the same building dwells a widow, quiet suggestion of Mr. Caird's cathedral ity, the low standards, the declining zeal of hardworking, even suffering in her poverty; paper: "The introduction of the cathedral our flocks-in Chaucer's poure Persones in the midst of her suffering she finds a system would be followed by an increase of figure, "that if gold rusts, what should iron ATHANASIUS. BY THE REV. EDWARD A. RAND. eloquence, wisdom, scholarship, beat against and the boy's intelligence and official dig- the bar-was Athanasius. But which would nity so much interested the bishop that he win, truth or error? Would the waves took him into his special care, subsequently drown and wash away the bar, or would making him the bishop's secretary. In this the bar shake them off, and refusing death way Alexander and Athanasius are asserted by drowning, rise up above them a conto have met. If the story be a historical querer? A long, serious, almost deadly fact, of how much moment to the Church | struggle was before the youthful Athanasius. and the world was that chance meeting on | A deacon at Nicaea, he soon on the death of the sands of the Mediterranean? He do." I could greatly wish that Ember days doxy? Unlike the long, lank Arius, this and ordination anniversaries drove us more champion is small of stature. He is young, in to consider our own lives; that we could about twenty-five years old. He has a cernow and then get quiet days for meditation tain brightness of countenance, a face that and mutual instruction; that some books of In the first glimpse that we have of seems to speak when it looks at you, having special devotion for the clergy were more in Athanasius, he stands upon the white sands eyes that are tongues. He rises to make a our hands and hearts, like "The Memorali that rim the blue Mediterranean. Alexan- statement. As he addresses the assembly, Vitae Sacerdotalis," the searching addresses der, Bishop of Alexandria, noticed a group they all listen as to a master. There is a of the Bishop of Central New York on the of children on the shore, absorbed in some certain impetuosity to the flow of his words ministry, Heygate's "Ember Hours," "The religious ceremony that they were perform-compelling attention, even if not overpowConfessions of Augustine," "St. Chrysostom ing. It was that of baptism, and a boy-ering opposition. Like the sand-bar amidst on Priesthood," and I confess to have found administrator was dipping the others in the this torrent, projected the daring, defiant, much food for humble thought and prayer snowy surf of the great sea. Alexander's spirit of Arius. The man though whose in Cardinal Manning's book on "The Eter-attention was specially called to their leader, nal Priesthood," sadly marred by some uses of language, but on the whole a wholesome and startling tonic to the soul. I am disposed to attach some value even in a matter so really intense as this to the question of our vestments. There are three things of the essence of our ministry · purity, authority, learning. The first is constantly brought to our mind by the clean linen, his friend, Alexander, became bishop. What which should be always scrupulously As the years turned wearily over, an age a succession of storms we have in his after clean, of surplice, alb, and chasuble, so of fierce doctrinal controversy was reached. life! His enemies succeed in effecting his much more befitting and so much more It was that famous discussion of the truth deposition, and he is exiled. Recalled, beautiful, it seems to me, than many of the Trinity-a discussion that shook the Alexandria rises up and opens its arms to colored vestments of the richest stuffs. Christian world everywhere. On one side him as to an honored, beloved father. The The stole, the jugum, or yoke, is the were those headed by Arius, who believed Arians are not dead, and attack him once\ symbol of the kind of authority we have; that Christ had a nature like that of God, more. Condemned again, finally restored, as men under authority, having others the Father, but not the same nature. This then condemned in turn, he has painted the under us; servants of Christ, who are rec-was the doctrine of the Homoi-onsion, like scene one February night when ministering tors, pastors, overseers of His flock. And I nature. On the other side was the orthodox at the altar of the church of St. Thomas, he shall be glad now, where it can properly be party, believing that the nature of the Son sees an armed whirlwind, soldiers with done, to have the clergy wear the symbol of was the same as that of the Father. This weapons in their hands. Bursting into learning the hood, which is the mark of was the doctrine of the Homo-onsion, same God's house, and shouting wildly, they their degree in Arts or in Divinity. Of nature. That one little letter-iota-what spring like beasts toward the altar. course, I know it will not make them learned, a vast difference it made! When did one escapes only to become an exile among the any more than he is therefore pure, clothed little pen-stroke ever make so much trouble? hermits and monks of Upper Egypt. In in fair linen, or always a real ruler, who It was an exceedingly insignificant storm-361, he comes back again, only to be driven wears its badge. But these things have centre, but around it blew what winds and away once more, and this time by a heathen their double impression upon the people raged what waves! Neander relates how horde. He returns in 363, but an Arian and upon us. The very contradiction be- the discussion "spread to the people of high tempest breaks about him, casting him tween costume and character reminds the rank, and then still lower down; so that, as forth again. In the tomb of his fathers, wearer of what he ought to be unless he Socrates expresses it, a war of dialectics he is a refugee. What a hiding-place! All would become a chronic inconsistency and was carried on in every family, and, as this while he was the earnest defender of live a long lie. And in these days, when Gregory of Nysso relates, the Homo-onsion the Trinity. He indeed merits Hooker's learning in the ministry is never so much came to be discussed in the bakers' shops, at panegyric; "So that this was the plain conneeded to counteract, not irreligious learn- the tables of the money-changers, and even dition of those times the whole world ing, which is rare, but unlearned irreligion, in the market for old clothes !" Ammianus against Athanasius, and Athanasius against which is frequent, I trust the hood of the tells how, in that stormy period of doctrinal it. Half a hundred years spent in doubtful graduate may remind the people that in our discussion, "the highways were covered trial which of the two, in the end, should department we are supposed to have been with troops of bishops, galloping from every prevail-the side which had all, or else the educated, to be trained in theology, to be side to these assemblies." What a pounding part which had no friends but God and doctors in the sense of competency, as well of the highways must, then, have been heard death--the one a defender of his innocency, as call to teach, and that it may remind us, when the great Council of Nicaea was held the other a finisher of all his troubles." on whom the responsibility rests, that "the in 325! Alexander, the Bishop of Alex- Restored again to his see, the patriarch priest's lips should keep knowledge," not to andria, was there, of course, for Arius Athanasius, from February 366, was suffered let the distractions of detail, or the danger- was in his diocese, and there was kin- to quietly remain at Alexandria, earnestly ous gift of fluent speech, or the vain re- dled the spark destined to warm and prosecuting his episcopal work. After many liance upon mere authority be substituted spread into a flame. Look at the council rough waters, the vessel came into a shelfor the close and constant study of the with its distinguished gathering of wisdom, tered haven, and the sun went down upon sacred sciences and of all else that may experience, the dignity of many years, and it in peace. He died in 373. help to its advancement. Used myself to the enthusiasm of opening manhood, sincere Athanasius must be judged by the standwear the academic hood for thirty years, I and catholic love, and doctrinal hate also. ard of his times. Bold to conceive of an am glad to hope that the custom will pre- And there is Arius, a man of sixty years, attack, intrepid before the enemy's intrenchvail, now that our General Seminary has tall, slender, his hair massed in confusion ments, and persistent in storming them, he put upon its statutes a definite prescription on his head, dressed like an ascetic and certainly was a good fighter. This comof a form of hood for its two degrees in showing in his attenuated frame the inevit- bative element in him by nature, the times theology. At all events, dear friends and ble effects of a slim diet and many vigils. aroused, as if by the cry of a bugle, and brethren, let us see to it that we be careful When he speaks he has a certain melody of developed it. A man sure to have strong to know the Holy Scriptures, which are able voice, persuasiveness of manner too, and friends on his side of the intrenchments, he to make us wise to the salvation of our own yet he could makes furious charges in his was certain to have hot enemies on the other and others' souls; that we be faithful to word-battles. Epiphanius pictures him as a side. He did not hesitate to sling at them feed and fold the flock of God, which He person "inflamed by his own opinionative- such words as hydras," ," "devils,"" dogs,' hath purchased with His blood, and that ness," likening his figure to that of "a sub- " maniacs," chamelions," "beetles," we so live among men, in purity and charity tle serpent," and charges upon him the fault" leeches," antichrists," etc. But side by and holiness, that they may take note of us of magnetizing seven hundred holy women side with this antagonistic element in the that we "have been with Jesus."-Conven- into loyalty to his views. But who is that man existed a conciliatory spirit. When tion Address. speaking on the side of Alexander and ortho-his pet word "homo-onsion was liable to 66 misinterpretation he was willing to relin- Alike in spirit and scope, these two con- the great difficulty of carrying out plans ferences had certain important points of dif- which suit the needs of the population in erence. That in New York was not limited England among the American working to ladies working in various directions, but classes. Those who have wide experience was strongly influenced by the fact that sev- in this matter often find it practically imeral clergymen took part in the discussions, possible to carry out schemes for working whereas in Philadelphia none but women girls upon the lines of English work in the were present; and on the other hand, in New same direction. The inherent self-respect York City, the subjects under consideration of the American working girl rebels against were all practical, and in most cases all regulations that in the remotest degree limited to temporal matters, whereas in suggest class inequality, and it is exceedPhiladelphia, while the subjects brought ingly difficult to find the missing link in the forward in the morning were confined to a chain of sympathy between the educated few practical methods, the discussions and refined lady and the girls she is most arising out of them included theories as well anxious to help. The first society of this as practice, and opened the way for the kind originated in England in 1874, and later afternoon discussion, in which the was started in this country three years later whole conference merged into a considera- by the formation in St. Anne's church, tion of mental and spiritual needs, prepara- | Lowell, of a local branch, and the following tive work, and matters of a purely religious year a diocesan society was formed in character. Massachusetts, which acts now as the central council of the society. Then, too, certain branches of the subject of Church work were brought out very Experience has brought about some prominently in the later meeting-as, for variety in methods in different districts, but instance, the distinct religious training of the main object of the members and That Athanasius was learned, his scholarly women, and the fact that their work lies associates is always the same: to help the works attest. In the sixth century, this largely among men; the preparation, by girls not only in a secular way, but to was a saying; "Whenever you meet with prayer and meditation, for Bible-class promote their spiritual and eternal interests a sentence of Athanasius, and have not paper teaching; and what may be called the by every means. The discussion upon this at hand, write it down upon your clothes." spiritual aspect of the whole question was subject brought up the question of the comThat he was a man of sharp insight, that throughout uppermost. Temperance work, he had such command of natural forces which was comparatively slightly touched that he seemed to be a supernatural being, upon in the New York Conference, was a is demonstrated by that weird title he bore topic of most earnest consideration in this with some, 66 Magician." That he was Philadelphia meeting, and in connection greatly beloved in his see, the warm love, with it one or two facts of importance were the profound respect of Alexandria plainly very clearly brought out. Leading thinkers certified. That he accomplished a grand on this subject emphasized their conviction work for the Church, we cannot question. Looking back and looking afar, his labors for the truth rise like a mountain-top amid assailing storms. The winds of error may rush upon it, but rush in vain. ANOTHER GLIMPSE OF CHURCH BY JANET E. RUUTZ-REES. parative values of institutions, and suggestions were offered as to the desirability of allowing greater freedom to individuals in connection with such societies. It is in these discussions that the great value of Church conferences is shown, and by their aid much light is thrown upon the practical methods of Church work in every direction. that the pledge exacted from members of It is a curious fact that kitchengardens, temperance leagues or societies should be which have proved such inestimable boons one of total abstinence, but should be held in New York, are as yet scarcely known in only during the pleasure of the taker. This Philadelphia. This is a very suggestive undoubtedly illustrates a very deep truth in illustration of the different social conditions human nature, the natural revolt against which may exist in large cities, even in the coercion in any direction. A man who same country, and which in this particular voluntarily abstains and continues his instance is owing to the fact that one of the abstinence without actual compulsion, most distressing elements of New York life feeling that he is free to release himself is missing in Philadelphia. There are no Truth," said one of the world's thinkers, from his pledge at any time, will develop tenement-houses there, with their teeming "is many-sided," and nothing can better the higher nature more readily, because his multitudes, and the terrible problem of illustrate this fact than the various points self-respect and will are both involved in humanitarian work in densely crowded which always come out for consideration in the continuance of his good conduct, and earnest discussion about earnest things. One every day will strengthen their growth. of the greatest blessings of our own day The temperance work carried on upon this lies in the possibility of so concentrating principle has been endorsed by fifty-four varied experiences as to gather from each bishops, and is established upon such a that portion of the truth which is noblest system in many dioceses, the object of the and best. This, which is true of every sub- members connected with it being twofold, ject that commands attention in nineteenth- the elevation of the individual, and active century life, is essentially so of work opposition to the license system. Much undertaken by great organizations and in- good has been effected by local temperance stitutions. It completely vanquishes the societies in connection with Bible classes; spirit of narrowness and intolerance, and children are encouraged to take the pledge brings into sympathetic relation those who upon the understanding that at maturity urged that there was an essential error in have the remotest connection with such they can themselves choose to remain the attempt to obtain money for spiritual work, entitling them to consideration and abstainers or not. It is somewhat strange, purposes by frivolous means, by raffles, by respect, and at the same time opening up in view of the deeper earnestness of consid- charity balls, by the sale of worthless artito them fresh avenues of thought and eration of this subject at the Philadelphia cles at exorbitant prices. The recognition action, and by sympathetic co-operation conference, that there are only 1,200 members of the need of purity of purpose in this strengthening every effort. of the Church Temperance Society in that direction, and of sincerity in gifts devoted This, one of the greatest revelations of our city, and a vastly greater proportion in to the service of God, was a fitting prelude era, was strongly brought out at the Church New York. One statistical fact of deep to the afternoon discussion of educational Conference held a month ago in New York, importance was brought out during the dis- or preparative work, which was, if possible, and has been emphasized very decidedly cussion, namely, that the money expended even more interesting than that which dealt by the lessons learned and experiences yearly for liquor in America exceeds that with active charitable undertakings. gained in the discussions upon various spent for staple articles of food by one hunbranches of Church work, which occupied dred million dollars. Churchwomen during the day consecrated to the purpose in Philadelphia, on February 12th. homes is not forced upon the philanthropist. At the same time, day nurseries, of which seven or eight are established in New York, are equally numerous in Philadelphia, and the principles upon which they are carried on are identical. This, too, is true of maternity societies. The division of subjects to be discussed during the day, brought into prominence, at the close of the morning session, a consideration of methods of raising money for religious objects. It was very strongly A consideration of the means by which individual workers find it necessary to preMany very interesting facts in connection pare for Bible classes, and Sunday-school with the work of the Girls' Friendly Society teaching, led to the inevitable conclusion in this country were given in illustration of that there can be no holy work without |