There appear to have been, in 1857, 5 churches in NEBRASKA, with 2 ministers and 92 members; the advance sheets of the Year Book inform us that in 1858 there are 8 churches, with 4 ministers, and 144 members.

The General Association of KANSAS, from the recent date of its origin, and other causes easily understood, furnishes no very satisfactory statistics. According to the statistics of 1857, there were 8 churches, having 7 pastors or stated supplies, with 85 members,-two of the churches making no report. There, were also 3 Societies without churches, and six ministers. This number of churches differs from the number as given in last year's Year Book, where several preaching stations, or Societies, are inserted as churches. For the present year we have no other information than that contained in the Year Book for 1859, which may perhaps need modification from the cause above alluded to, and which gives 18 churches, 13 ministers, and 139 members.

CHURCHES.

According to last year's Year Book, there appear to have been 13 churches in OREGON, and 10 ministers. At the session of the Oregon Association, held at Forest Grove, Washington County, it appeared that Oregon contains eight Congregational churches, 18 stations, 284 Church members, and 238 in the Sabbath Schools. This apparent falling off is evidently due to an incorrect estimate the previous year.

The statistics of CALIFORNIA are so painfully heterogeneous in their nature, both for 1857, and 1858, as almost to defy reduction to any order. Our sympathies with our brethren on the Pacific coast would be greatly heightened if they would furnish, a little more carefully, the information we need. The publications of that General Association for the two years are entirely different from the statistics as published in the Year Books, as any one will see who will compare the reports of the latter with the following tables, which we have constructed with great misgivings:

MINISTERS.

The following tables contain a summary of the preceding statistics for the years 1857, and 1858. That they are to be received with great allowance is evident from the foregoing remarks. It is also to be taken into consideration that in addition to the number of churches enumerated below for 1858, there are at least 225 other churches, Independent, or connected with Presbyterians; and also that 243 of the 2,367 churches enumerated make no report of additions or losses. It is supposed, however, that the number of Church members is given with sufficient

exactness, inasmuch as those who cannot be counted, are hardly worth counting. It will be seen, also, that in only a portion of the States do they have any childrena very surprising feature when we consider the rapid growth of our country.

Outside of the United States the Year Book enumerates 79 churches in Canada, with 55 ministers and 3,712 members; six churches, four ministers, and 420 members in Jamaica, three churches and three ministers in New Brunswick, and two churches with two ministers in Nova Scotia.

From these tables there appear to be, at the present time, in the United States, 2,369 Congregational churches, of whom 1,922 have Pastors or stated supplies. These 2,369 churches have 230,094 members, of whom 21,582 have been added during the last year, against 10,602 removals by death, dismission and otherwise.

So far, then, as the foregoing statistics shed light upon the progress of Congregationalism among us for the period to which they refer, there seems to be a gain of 54 new churches, 64 ministers, and 9,762 Church members; there having been 951 more removals from the churches, and 8,077 more additions to

them, during 1857-8, than during 1856-7. There are also 56 fewer churches reported without the means of grace. In all probability, the statistics next published— which will include the fruits of that great Revival with which God has so richly blessed the American churches-will shew much greater, and more gratifying tokens of advance. We trust that the science of statistics in the mean time may so commend itself to all proper authorities, that our labor-should we be spared then to go over the same ground-may be lighter, and more thoroughly remunerative in its results.

THE SABBATH HYMN BOOK: for the service of song in the House of the Lord. Compiled by E. A. Park, D.D., Austin Phelps, D.D., and Lowell Mason, Doctor of Music. New York: Mason Bros. Boston: J. E. Tilton & Co. 16mo. pp. 957. This volume contains 1,290 Hymns, 24 Doxologies, 58 Selections for Chanting, and 128 pages of Indexes,-of which one is a Logical Classification of the Hymns; one, an Alphabetical Index of the Subjects of the Hymns; one, an Alphabetical Index of Subjects of the Selections for Chanting; one, a Biblical Index; one, an Index of the First lines of Hymns; one, an Index of the First lines of Stanzas; and one, an Index of Authors.

This 16mo edition, which is in very clear type, and superior style, is sold at retail, in sheep binding, for one dollar. An edition in somewhat finer type, with the Hymns in double columns, will soon be issued, and will retail at about sixty-three cents. An edition with tunes adapted to the Hymns will also soon be published, at the retail price of one dollar and a quarter; and the tunes will also be printed by themselves, in a volume which will retail at thirty-five, or fifty cents.

This Hymn Book has the advantage of having been for many years in preparation, in able hands. Its inception dates back to the best years of the life of the late Prof. B. B. Edwards, who, in company with one of the present editors, laid out the plan of such a book, and commenced collecting for it, in this country and in Europe. After Prof. Edwards' lamented death, his distin

guished colleague carried on the labor, calling to his aid the culture and abilities of

the two eminent men now connected with him in the work.

The principles on which this Manual for the service of song has been prepared are thus noted by its publishers:

1. It is designed to be a Manual of De

votion.

2. It is designed to be a Manual of Devotion to the Redeemer.

3. It is designed to be a Biblical guide and aid to Devotion.

4. It contains a large number of the tried hymns of the Church.

5. It contains some of the ripest fruits of modern Hymnology.

6. Special effort has been made to secure for it some of the richest hymns on the most difficult subjects.

7. Special effort has been made to secure variety and appropriateness of subject and style.

Where sin's dark empire is no more,

And death a vanquished foe!

appropriate to special occasions.

9. It is incidentally designed for use in the family, and in the choir.

10. It has aimed at a decidedly lyrical character.

11. Special effort has been made to select for it those readings of hymns which are best in themselves, and best adapted to actual use in our churches.

12. It has aimed to adopt the most lucid and natural arrangement of its hymns, and to furnish the fullest and most logical indexes.

We regret that the necessarily narrow limits of a mere Book notice, like this, must wholly prevent us from any such extended and thorough review of the "Sabbath Hymn Book" as its peculiarities demand. We do not know that we can do better, under all the circumstances, by way of aiding our readers to form some just judgment in regard to it, than by taking up some one feature of its many-sidedness, and endeavoring, by some minute analysis, to show them how it has performed its work. We select its department of new hymns, as being at once one of its most distinguishing peculiarities, and one in which the public will naturally feel especial interest.

We proceed, therefore, to make room for a few specimens of these new Hymns, here garnered for public use-presenting them by classes, according to their subjects.

1. New Hymns on Christ. A rich hymn, certainly, and one which we think will wear well in the sanctuary, is this (H.302): There is none other name than thine, Jehovah Jesus! Name divine! On which to rest for sins forgivenFor peace with God, for hope of heaven. &c. &c.

We are apt to think too little of a risen Saviour. There are some new hymns here peculiarly fitted to draw us toward our ascended, and triumphant Lord. Take the last stanza of Hymn 366; only true love to Jesus can breathe such a prayer:

Saviour, since thou art gone before,
Oh, grant that we may go

All hail, triumphant Lord!

The resurrection thou;
All hail, incarnate Lord!

Before thy throne we bow:
Captivity is captive led,

For Jesus liveth who was dead.

In like manner, Hymn 434, "Oh speak of Jesus," makes more precious to us that name which

"falls like music on the ear,

When nothing else can soothe or cheer."
Is there anything upon the theme "Christ
loved unseen," equal to the following, by
Dr. Palmer. (H. 689):

Jesus, these eyes have never seen
That radiant form of thine!
The veil of sense hangs dark between
Thy blessed face and mine!

I see thee not, I hear thee not,
Yet art thou oft with me;

And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot,
As where I meet with thee.

Like some bright dream that comes unsought,
When slumbers o'er me roll,
Thine image ever fills my thought,

And charms my ravished soul.
Yet though I have not seen, and still
Must rest in faith alone;

I love thee, dearest Lord!—and will,
Unseen, but not Unknown.

&c. &c.

In Hymn 747, by Bonar, we have a view of the believing sinner's relation to the Atonement, too seldom presented. The hymn is admirable in its graphic power:

I see the crowd in Pilate's hall,
I mark their wrathful mien;
Their shouts of "crucify" appall,
With blasphemy between.
And of that shouting multitude
I feel that I am one;
And in that din of voices rude,

I recognize my own.

I see the scourges tear his back,
I see the piercing crown,

And of that crowd who smote and mock,

I feel that I am one.

Around yon cross, the throng I see,

Mocking the sufferer's groan;
Yet still my voice it seems to be,

As if I mocked alone.

"T was I that shed the sacred blood;
I nailed him to the tree;

I crucified the Christ of God,
I joined the mockery!

And when we come to the last stanza we are melted to tears: