THE CHURCHES AND MINISTERS IN 1857 : CHURCHES. MINISTERS. With pastor. With st. sup. Vacant. TOTAL. Pastors. St. sup. Others. TOTAL. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCHES IN 1857, AND THEIR CHANGES THE YEAR PRECEDING: CHURCH MEMBERS. ADDITIONS. REMOVALS. BAPTISMS. SAB. N. H. Mass. R. I. N. Y. Maine, 238 4,525 9,608 16,648 2,466 452 243 695 .... 3,241 848 757 СннS. Males. Fem. TOTAL. Absent. Prof. Let. TOTAL. D'th. Dis. Exc. Tor. Ad. Inf. SCHOOL. .... 147 ... .... 70,502 34 4,210 633 1,476 THE CHURCHES AND MINISTERS IN 1858: CHURCHES. MINISTERS. With pastor. With st. sup. Vacant. TOTAL. Pastors. St. sup. Others. TOTAL. THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCHES IN 1858, AND THEIR CHANGES THE YEAR PRECEDING : CHURCH MEMBERS. ADDITIONS. REMOVALS. BAPTISMS. R. I. Conn. 22 .... .... .... 3,118 925 N. Y. 1,003 1,694 N. J. 227 463 728 Penn. 27 1,440 CHнS. Males. Fem. TOTAL. Maine. 242 4,924 10,481 17,699 2,537 1,407 478 1,885 294 550 45 889 689 811 19,425 N. H. 184 5,571 11,880 20,363 3,371 1,300 456 1,756 899 624 27 1,054 660 373 20,868 Vt. 190 5,404 10,307 19,656 2,476 715 405 1,120 334 480 15 811 338 257 13,763 Mass. 482 21,426 46,668 69,466 10,614 2,993 2,027 5,020 1,135 1,949 87 3,171 1,293 1,411 3,392 195 101 296 282 10,823 21,969 42,078 766 1,691 178 5,392 9,467 16,778 707 2,401 28 141 10 34 SAB. Absent. Prof. Let. TOTAL. D'th. Dis. Exc. Tor. Ad. Inf. SCHOOL. 73,210 291 10,139 522 401 353 4,123 506 427 933 27 217 21 265 156 139 160 .... 7,518 4,118 100 .... 524 998 394 5 8 .... 144 :8:37:8: 3:3:བྷུཎྜ:: : :➢ 482 125 142 6,116 ... ... 40 39 .... 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. Books of Interest to Congregationalists. It will be our object under this head to notice quarterly such (mainly new) works as promise to be of special interest to Congregational ministers and laymen. We cannot afford space-nor does it comport with the design of this Journal-to notice general literature.-EDS. 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 distinguished 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 Devotion. 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! So, there is a grandeur worthy of the theme 8. It contains a large number of hymns in the last stanza of Hymn 357 : 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, All hail, triumphant Lord! Before thy throne we bow: For Jesus liveth who was dead. In like manner, Hymn 434, "Oh speak of name which "falls like music on the ear, When nothing else can soothe or cheer." Is there anything upon the theme "Christ Jesus, these eyes have never seen I see thee not, I hear thee not, Like some bright dream that comes unsought, And charms my ravished soul. I love thee, dearest Lord!—and will, &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 recognize my own. I see the scourges tear his back, 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; "T was I that shed the sacred blood; I crucified the Christ of God, And when we come to the last stanza we Yet not the less that blood avails To cleanse away my sin! And not the less that cross prevails To give me peace within! In like manner, Hymn 746 will commend itself, for its touching simplicity, to all who of the 12th of Hebrews. Hymns 1179, and 1273 are of the same class. 3. New Doctrinal Hymns. This is a very important feature, for much may be done in the songs of the sanctuary to interweave the great doctrines of our faith with know by experience what it is to lay the pleasant associations of the people; their 'sins,' 'guilt,' 'wants,' 'griefs,' 'cares,' 'on Jesus.' One can almost imagine the beloved disciple uttering himself in its last lines: I long to be like Jesus, Meek, loving, lowly, mild; The Father's holy child: I long to be like Jesus Amid the heavenly throng, It is one choice excellence of this new Manual of song that it is so rich in this department of hymns pertaining to Christ and the Atonement,- -so full of the Cross, and the love of which it is the affecting symbol. 2. New Versions of Scripture Lyrics. The Editors remark in the introduction, that they "have sought for the choicest metrical versions of passages from the Bible." Although we do not find some of Watts' versions of the Psalms, yet this is, eminently, a Biblical Hymn Book. Its compilers seem to have had constantly in mind the fact that "as we depart from the Biblical standard, we are in danger of introducing a morbid pietism in the place of a healthful piety." Some of the Hymns are literal versions of and something has sometimes been done in Lord, my weak thought in vain would climb Whose secrets I must ask in vain. And calmly, sweetly, trust thee still. Every humble grateful Christian, whatever his creed, will welcome and love to passages from the Bible. Hymn 37, "Un- sing, such words as these: (H. 240.) to the Lord, unto the Lord," &c., admirably presents the old Hebrew style and spirit of the 96th Psalm, successfully preserving even its repetitions. Hymn 195, beginning: Up to the hills I lift mine eyes, There all my hope is laid; The Lord who built the earth and skies,— is almost a literal rendering of the 121st Ps., Not to the mount that burned with flame, O gift of gifts! O Grace of faith! My God, how can it be That thou, who hast discerning love, How many hearts thou might'st have had How many souls more worthy far Of that pure touch of thine! The same may be said of the Hymn 977, on the "Saints' Perseverance." 4. New Hymns of Joy, The Bible represents divine worship as a joyful exercise. We are pleased, therefore, to find in this volume, many hymns of this character; |