Nature.

Saturday.

And he wandered away and away
With Nature, the dear old nurse,
Who sang to him night and day
The rhymes of the universe.
And whenever the way seemed long,
Or his heart began to fail,

She would sing a more wonderful song
Or tell a more marvellous tale.

-Longfellow.

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

pres

The completing leaflet lessons in the ent course have been issued, covering the Sundays in June. The subjects are as follows: "A Book of Visions" (Daniel), "One More Look at the Prophets," "Old and New: Judaism and Jesus," and "Review." Price, 50 cents a hundred leaflets.

The Channing Hall "Talks" by Rev. W. Hanson Pulsford have been of unusual interest this winter; and the teachers in attendance are fully agreed that they have received great benefit and enlightenment. The readers of this paragraph will share with me the deep feelings of sadness at the accident which has befallen Mr. Pulsford. At the time of writing this it is not clear just what will be the results from this injury to his head, which was occasioned by a fall. It is the hope of all that he will soon recover and be able to give again to his parish and the public the inspiration of his ever-active mind.

The anniversary meeting of the Unitarian Sunday School Society at King's Chapel on Thursday, May 27, included the following programme: remarks by the president, Rev. Edward A. Horton, followed by twenty minute addresses by Rev. Charles G. Ames, D.D.,-subject, "The Three Sunday-school Objects: Inspiration, Education, Consecration"; Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer,-subject, "The Sunday-school of To-morrow"; Mr. Edwin D. Mead,—subject, "The Sunday: school as a Witness to God in History"; and Rev. Robert Collyer, D.D.,-subject, "Our Debt to the Children."

A new book just published promises to be of constant use and great help for Sundayschools, especially the primary department. It is a volume compiled by Sarah J. Eddy, entitled "Songs of Happy Life." It is a happy collection of poems and music, much of which is original, treating the joyous life of nature, and containing songs appropriate to Bird Day and Arbor Day exercises. The little volume presents a very attractive appearance. I have not had time to test the music, but presume from its authorship that

it is excellent. This book sells for the low price of 25 cents, and is published by the Art and Nature Study Publishing Company, Providence, R.I., pages 192, containing 109 songs; and in addition there are exercises and letter-press on humane education, band of mercy, and similar subjects. Copies can be ordered of the Unitarian Sunday School Society, 25 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass.

I do not wish to make the question of the matter of money too prominent; but it is often necessary to bring up the subject of contributions to the Unitarian Sunday School Society, lest our ministers and superintendents should forget the appeal in the midst of so many other applications. Therefore, I venture to call to mind the opportunity which the spring and opening summer Sundays give to our churches and Sunday-schools for remembering the Unitarian Sunday School Society with an annual donation. Will you, friends, try to have this collection taken before the vacation days come, when it is impossible to obtain the best financial results?

The Unitarian Sunday School Society welcomes the awakening influence of the is abundant ground for confidence in this Young People's Religious Union. There movement that it will contribute at last, among its total results, to the upbuilding of the Sunday-school welfare. The young people are the natural allies of the Sundayschool, not simply as pupils, but as workers and teachers. The meetings at Boston on Anniversary Week were strong testimony not only to the need of such an organization, but to the response which such a movement meets when it is fitly inaugu rated.

The Boston Sunday School Union closed its very successful winter session on Monday evening, May 17. Inspiring addresses were given by Rev. W. Hanson Pulsford, Mr. Dudley R. Child, and Rev. A. M. Lord. The following officers were elected for the ensubury; vice-president, Mr. Dudley R. Child, ing year: president, Mr. Frank A. Drew, RoxCambridge, Mass.; treasurer, Mr. Julius H. Boston; secretary, Miss Louisa P. Parker, Tuttle, Dedham, Mass.; directors, Rev. Edward A. Horton, Boston; Miss Mary E. Glidden, Neponset; Miss Lillian Allen, and Mr. Frank H. Burt, Newton, Mass. Boston; Miss Alice L. Higgins, Longwood;

EDWARD A. HORTON.

God's Spirit brings what most man's spirit asks,

The eternal motive to the finite day,
The highest purpose to the smallest tasks,
The stars themselves as lamps to light our
way.
-Priscilla Leonard.

BOOKS.

How to read the Bible. By Walter F. Adeney. New York: Thomas Whitaker. The author of this exceedingly compact text-book is professor of New Testament Exegesis at New College, London; and he has succeeded in giving in most accessible form a very untechnical clear book of directions for intelligent method in reading the Bible. While quite careful and conservative, Prof. Adeney follows the purely scientific and historical method, and puts the average reader in the way of reaching the best modern conclusions. The chapter upon general principles to be followed may seem superfluous to many readers, but it carefully and clearly guards against errors which are only too common in popular Bible interpretation. No book which we have yet seen will be more serviceable to any Sunday-school

teacher who wishes to understand the Bible before teaching its profound truths.

In this Present World. By George Hodges, D.D. New York: Thomas Whitaker. We find this volume to be very commonplace sermons. Possibly that fact suggested the title. No other reason is apparent, for the subjects are the usual Scriptural ones, suggestive of all things both in heaven and earth. The most interesting passage we have discovered is the extraordinary statement in the preface which reads, "The first sermon in this book has been preached forty times." We refer our readers to the sermon itself for justification of our wonder. It is the quality of the sermon which provokes our surprise, and puzzles us as to the possible weakness of its author, who could consent to repeat it forty times. This particular sermon is entitled "The Ground of Christian Certainty"; and the whole argument consists in giving up every hope of human reason and every attempt to discover truth, and accept instead absolute authority, "accept it and be satisfied," put the weary sum away and accept another's answer. Perhaps the unreasonableness of this kind of argument necessitates its very frequent repetition. We do not think this volume fairly represents Dean Hodges's pulpit work.

John Hopkins Morison. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co.-The subject of this memoir was a Unitarian minister, the representative of a class of which there are few left. He lived in every decade of the nineteenth century; that is to say, his life covers the whole period of Unitarian development in this country. Dr. Morison was, however, not himself a controversialist. This memoir deals with the facts of his quiet life and the

qualities of his sweet and unselfish character. His one aim in life was to prove himself in all things a faithful minister of Christ. Besides his parochial and pulpit work in the quiet parish of Milton, Mass., Dr. Morison served the denomination as the first professor of New Testament Exegesis when the Divinity School at Harvard was established, also as editor of the Christian Register for a time, and later of the Unitarian Review. This memoir will be of interest not only to Dr. Morison's numerous friends, but as throwing many side lights upon the whole period of our denominational history.

Jesus Christ during his Ministry. By Edmund Stapfer. New York: Scribner's Sons. This volume is the second in the series entitled "Jesus Christ: His Person, his Authority, his Work." It is admirably translated from the French. As a clear and yet vividly written description of the ministry of Jesus considered from a purely historical point of view, this work promises to be a valuable contribution to the literature of the subject.

The Open Mystery. By A. D. T. Whitney. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co.-This last volume from the generous hand of Mrs. Whitney will probably be a surprise as it will surely be a delight to her many devoted readers. "The Open Mystery" is neither more nor less than a new and remarkable interpretation of the sacred stories of the Old Testament. Mrs. Whitney tells us that the volume grew out of studies begun for the purpose of helping her grandsons to a proper understanding of the mysteries hidden in the wonderful Biblical stories. The secret of her explanation may be suggested by the quotation on the title page,-"All these things are done in parables." Mrs. Whitney does not care so much for dates, authorship, or origin of the various Old Testament legends; but she seeks and reveals the treasure of truth which was from the beginning, "the same yesterday, to-day, and forever."

The New World for June, 1897, has the following varied and attractive table of in Modern Thought," W. W. Fenn: “A contents: "The Possibilities of Mysticism Fragment on the Ephesian Gospel," E. A. Abbott; "Jesus the Ideal Man," J. M. Whiton; "The Problem of Job," Josiah Royce; "Thought as a Remedial Agent," E. F. Hayward; "The Philosopher of Harmony and Fire," C. P. Parker; "The Theism of China," F. H. James; "Adaptation in Missionary Method," W. J. Mutch; "The Paul of the Acts and the Paul of the Epistles," Orello Cone. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston.

QUEER COMPANIONS.

I am going to tell you a true story about two strange playmates, a dog and a toad.

The dog, whose name was Don, was a great, fine-looking fellow, and seemed to understand everything that was said to him.

One evening I thought I would go into the back yard and see how Don was getting along. He was very apt to run away, you see, so we had a portion of the yard fenced off for him to roam about in.

When I got near, I noticed that Don was very intently watching something on the ground. Wondering what it could be, I approached very quietly, and there lay a toad. Its little eyes were blinking rapidly, and were watching every movement of the big animal beside him.

"Poor little toad," I said, "you are afraid you are going to be killed; but I will save you." So I pushed it along until we reached a hole in the fence, and poked it through into the next yard.

Now Don did not seem to like this one bit. He followed me closely, uttering little barks and making funny noises.

"Oh, ho! Master Don," said I. "You are angry to think your prey has escaped you; but, if you want anything to kill, you had better hunt for a rat."

As I left, Don seemed to look after me reproachfully; but I did not mind, for I felt I had done a good deed in saving the life of the toad.

The next evening, however, I was at tracted by a series of joyful little barks from Don.

"What is the matter with him?" I wondered, and concluded I would go back and

see.

When I got there, what was my surprise to see the toad there again. Don was jumping about, and seemed to be tickled to death.

"What a foolish toad," I thought, "to brave death in this way." So I tried to make it move, but could not budge it.

Don was very uneasy during this operation; and I began to think there was some

thing funny about the affair, so I determined to watch and see what would happen.

Don eyed me suspiciously for a while, but finally seemed to make up his mind that I was not going to interfere with him; and then he turned his attention to the toad.

First he took his paw, and began scratching the sand over the toad until he had entirely buried it. Then with his nose he gently brushed the dirt away. After he had done this several times, he opened his mouth, and, to my dismay, picked up the poor little toad, and walked off to another part of the garden with it.

"O you naughty dog!" I cried. “Are you not ashamed to kill that poor toad?" And I ran after him, hoping to be in time to save its life.

I need not have worried, however; for, when I got there, Master Toad was lying on the ground without a scratch of any kind, and looking as if it had really enjoyed its novel ride.

Don was wagging his tail, and, glancing at me, seemed to say, "How could you think I would kill my little friend?"

I felt so ashamed of my unjust suspicions that I left; and, as I looked back, he was going through his burying process again.

The next night and the next the toad appeared. Don would bury it, uncover it, and then pick it up, and carry it to another place. And what good times these two would have! The toad seemed to enjoy the play extremely, and would let Don do anything he wanted to; while Don was very gentle, handling his playmate with great

care.

For over a month the toad appeared. But one night it did not come, and Don was disconsolate. He ran around the yard, poking his nose into all the corners and uttering little cries, as if calling on the toad to come out and play.

It was of no avail, however, for it never came again; and it was a long time before Don gave up watching for his strange little friend.-H. Mae Johnson, in Our Dumb Animals.

ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Rev. Charles T. Sempers, having satisfied the Committee on Fellowship of his fitness for the Unitarian ministry, is hereby commended to our ministers and churches. D. M. WILSON, Chairman. D. W. MOREHOUSE, Secretary.

Athol, Mass.-Rev. and Mrs. Carl G. Horst of the Second Church will sail for Germany June 24, for a three months' visit to Mr. Horst's old home there, which he left about fifteen years ago. The Executive

Committee have granted him a three months' leave of absence. Rev. Mr. Horst has nobly earned this rest and change. He has been most faithful in attendance upon duties connected with the church and appendant societies, and the prosperous condition in which they now are is largely a result of his popularity and energetic effort.

Bernardston, Mass.-Easter Sunday was very appropriately observed by the Unitarian parish, Rev. Mr. Birks preaching a sermon in the morning upon Immortality and selected music by the choir. The young people's Fraternity now number over sixty; and four of the number united with the church at that time, two young men and two women. The evening was devoted to the young people, who, with the Sundayschool children, gave an interesting entertainment, consisting of recitations and music. Remarks were made by the pastor and selections by the choir. Two members from the Fraternity were elected as delegates to attend the meetings in Boston Anniversary Week.

The Ladies' Social Circle held their an nual meeting on the first Wednesday in May, and re-elected the old board of officers. Reports from the secretary show that the women during the past year have accumulated some over $300, $200 of which was paid into the treasury of the parish.

Boston, Mass.-King's Chapel: A bronze tablet has been put up over the door of King's Chapel, giving the date of its establishment and that of the corner-stone of the present building: "King's Chapel 1686. The corner-stone of this building laid August 11, 1749."

-The Channing Club gave a reception and banquet to Dr. Edward Everett Hale and Mrs. Hale at the Vendome Hotel, April 26, in commemoration of Dr. Hale's seventyfifth birthday. There was a very large gathering of members and their wives. The invited guests included Dr. Philip S. Moxom and Dr. George Hodges. Dr. Hale was in the best health, and spoke with his ever-unfailing humor, full of feeling and inspiration.

-Church of the Disciples: The James Freeman Clarke Club had a large and interested audience at a recent Sunday evening service. Invitations had been sent to neighbor unions, and were responded to by encouraging delegations. The topic was "The True Christian, " and was ably treated by the president of the home organization, Miss Lena L. Carpenter, and Mr. Fisher, Mr. Howard, Miss Burgess, Miss Hastings, by Miss Mason, president of the New South and Unity Union, Mr. Locke, president of the Second Church Fraternity, Rev. F. B. Mott, Rev. L. W. Sprague, Rev. C. G. Ames, Miss Cheever, Mr. Thomas Roberts, Mr. Daymude, one of these from Trinity and one from a Christian Endeavor Society. A paper was read by Miss Baker of the Nathaniel Hall Society, for Mrs. Holbrook. A broadly charitable but deeply religious, sentiment characterized all the speaking. The singing from the new "Hymnal Leaflet' was much enjoyed.

-The Benevolent Fraternity have formally voted to discontinue services in the Church of the Unity, and to sell the property. Since the resignation of Rev. Minot J. Savage the supporters of the church have scattered, preferring to attend the suburban churches near their own homes. The Benevolent Fraternity already own four properties in the South End; and the sale of the Church of the Unity will aid, and not