sists the influence of environment up to a certain point, and then unites with it to perpetuate an individual type. Man can in a measure control his environment, and so modify the slow forces of heredity.

Dr. Peckham was the second speaker, and laid great stress on environment. It is a well-known fact that like produces like in the mental, moral, and physical world; and it has been man's interest to take advantage of this, except in the case of his own offspring. The great difficulty of distinguishing between inherited and acquired pecul iarities was spoken of; but the speaker felt that many traits were the direct result of environment. The case of a child having been lost and cared for by animals was alluded to. The child shows a disposition to abandon the upright position, and displays many other animal traits. Emigrants in most cases change. We inherit tendencies, not actual qualities.

Mrs. Rogers spoke of the individual responsibilities to overcome bad traits by force of will, and, particularly, of the responsibilities of parents.

Mrs. Wood, in an able paper, advocated the theory that inherited traits can be overcome by the will, and earnestly urged securing the co-operation of children by telling them their inherited faults.

LITERARY NOTES.

We are glad to see that the Boston Saturday Gazette is publishing the regular weekly

sermon of Rev. Charles G. Ames. This is the paper which for so many years printed regularly the sermons of James Freeman Clarke.

Rev. J. T. Sunderland of Ann Arbor is about to begin the publication of a regular monthly sermon, nine numbers a year, running from October to July. The price of subscription will be forty cents a year. Subscriptions are solicited.

Unity promises to make its issue of December 17 a "Whittier number."

The December number of the New World is quite the equal in interest and value of any issue that has preceded it. Besides book notices, etc., it contains nine articles, as follows: "The Brahmo Somaj," by Protab Chunder Mozoomdar; "The Future of Christianity," by W. M. Salter; "Progressive Orthodoxy," by Prof. Egbert C. Smyth; "Michael "" Servetus, by Joseph Henry Allen; "The Present Position of the Roman Catholic Church," by S. Santayana; "The Church in Germany and the Social Ques

tion"; "A World outside of Science," by T. W. Higginson; "The Birth and Infancy of Jesus," by A. Réville; "The Monistic Theory of the Soul," by James T. Bixby.

The Unitarians of the Pacific Coast show their enterprise by enlarging their bright little monthly, the Guidon, into a monthly of about double the old size, called the Pacific Unitarian. The first number of the new periodical has just reached us, and commends itself as in every way admirable. The Pacific Unitarian Conference stands

sponsor for it. Publication Committee, Rev. Horatio Stebbins, D.D., Rev. Thomas Wendte, Van Ness, Horace Davis, Rev. Charles W. Charles A. Murdock, editor. gospel is $1 a year. The price of the new messenger of our It is so good, and the evident need for it is so great, that it ought to find ready and generous support. Send subscriptions to 10 Post Street, San Francisco, Cal.

The Contemporary Review, the Nineteenth Century, and the North American for November all contain articles on Ernest Renan. The writers are M. Monod, Sir Frederick Pollock, and Robert Ingersoll.

Mrs. Celia P. Woolley of Chicago (whom our readers will be glad to know is to be the regular Chicago correspondent of the Unitarian hereafter) is spending a few weeks in the East, lecturing and giving parlor readings. She is prepared to make engagements with Unity Clubs, Women's Clubs, etc. Her subjects are: "Tennyson"; "In Memoriam'"; "The Humor of George Eliot"; "A Study of Shakspere"; "Voltaire"; "The Biglow Papers"" (conversation, with readings); "Ibsen's 'Peer Gynt'" (illustrated with musical selections from the Norwegian study of the woman question); "Liberty composer, Grieg); "Margaret Fuller" (a and Loyalty in Religion"; "The Value and Mission of Doubt"; "George Eliot's 'Spanish Gypsy"" (the principle of self-sacrifice, true and false); "Radicalism"; "Prophets in Literature." Mrs. Woolley is the author of the following named books: "Love and Theology" (republished in paper as "Rachel Armstrong"); "A Girl Graduate"; "Roger Hunt." She has also prepared a programme of study of the works of George Eliot. Mrs. Woolley's address is 196 Forty-fourth Street, Chicago.

Roberts Brothers, Boston, have in press a book on "The Life and Philosophy of A. Bronson Alcott," written by F. B. Sanborn and W. T. Harris. It will contain matter written by Emerson especially for this pur

pose.

At University Hall, London, Dr. Brooke Herford is giving a series of lectures on "Liberal Religion in America." Rev. P. H. Wicksteed is also giving two series, on "The Growth of a Nation's Religion" and on "Dante's 'Purgatory.""

Macmillan & Co. have just published a new book by Rev. Stopford A. Brooke, entitled "A History of Early English Literature," uniform with Bryce's "American Commonwealth."

"The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World we live in" is the title of a new book by Sir John Lubbock, published by Macmillan & Co. Price, $1.50.

G. P. Putnam's Sons have just published "The Life and Works of Louis Agassiz, by Charles F. Holder (Vol. No. 2 in "The Leaders of Science Series"). Price, $1.50.

A new volume (No. 7) in "The Heroes of the Nations Series," on "John Wyclif," has just appeared from the publishing house of the Putnams.

One of the most important books of the present year is "A History of Modern Philosophy" (from the Renaissance to the Present) by Prof. B. C. Burt of Ann Arbor, Mich., just published by A. C. McClurg & Co. of Chicago. vols. $4. The work is divided into three periods, which are subdivided into groups of authors. A brief biography of each author is given, followed by a list of his principal works, and a summary of his philosophy and of his relation to the history of modern thought. The content of his philosophic system and his influence upon succeeding thinkers are then briefly stated, together with the author's own comments and criticisms. The work is alone in the field which it occupies, and is notable for the accuracy of its facts and summaries and for its perspicuous style.

"The Insight of Faith" will be a welcome book to all the loving friends of the late Rev. H. W. Foote, minister of King's Chapel, it being compiled from selections from his sermons. 1 volume, 50 cents. Boston: Geo. H. Ellis.

"Jesus Brought Back." This is a second edition of Rev. J. H. Crooker's popular little book. The first edition was published in Chicago by A. C. McClurg; but this edition is brought out by Geo. H. Ellis, Boston, and on so much better paper as to give the volume a more substantial appearance. The value of this modern statement of the natural historical Jesus has been widely recognized. 1 vol. $1.

A very pretty "Ware Calendar" is to be published this month by Geo. H. Ellis, Boston. The selections are mostly taken from the unpublished writings of Rev. J. F. W. Ware.

"By Subtle Fragrance Held" is the title of a tasteful little volume by Miss Mary Fletcher Stevens of Portland, Mass. As the title implies, this is a story of greater delicacy of expression and of more spiritual feeling than ordinarily met with in the

novel of the period. It is a pleasing tale of modern life illuminated by the pure and bright ideals of a noble character. As a gift for girls, it is admirable. Sundayschool superintendents can find nothing better as a reward book, inculcating as it does in an attractive way natural religious motives. 1 vol. Price $1. Publishers J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.

The most carefully and elaborately prepared scheme of studies appropriate to the commemoration of Columbus year which we have yet seen is issued by the literary class of the Lynn Unitarian Church Unity Club. It is entitled "Studies around 1492," and can be obtained of the pastor, Rev. S. B. Stewart, Lynn, Mass.

"Afterglow." This modest but beautifully printed little book is a prize to every one who values the heart language of an honest man; and, when that honest man is also a saint, though a thoroughly alive one, as is the author of this volume, Rev. Frederic A. Hinckley, who is there that will not rejoice to read and hasten to possess? There are in the small volume, which is tenderly dedicated to the memory of his beloved daughter, four admirable sermons, all compact of spiritual power, speaking out of the rich experiences of a faithful life. Published by Geo. H. Ellis, Boston.

"Members of One Body." The title indicates the purpose of this very acceptable little volume of short sermons from the pen of Rev. S. M. Crothers. In the introduction Mr. Crothers says, "That religious culture is imperfect which does not enable one to interpret sympathetically his neighbor's creed"; and it is the intention of this volume to help on that sympathetic appreciation between sects which leads to the recognition by any one of the real spiritual significance of any other. There are six sermons, treating, respectively, of "Roman Catholicism," "Calvinism,' "Methodism," "Rationalism," "Mysticism," "The Unity of Christendom." It is a book entirely outside denominational lines, and should have a very wide circulation. It is a good book of reference for Sunday-school teachers who are following a study of the sects. Published by Geo. H. Ellis, Boston.

THE REVIEWS AND MAGAZINES.

The North American Review (November). The Scandinavians in the United States. By Prof. H. H. Boyesen.

What Cholera costs Commerce. By Erastus Wiman.

Waste Products made Useful. By Lord Playfair.

Swiss and French Election Methods. By Karl Blind.

[News items are solicited from all our ministers and other workers. Send them to the EDITOR OF THE UNITARIAN, 141 FRANKLIN ST., BOSTON, before the 18th of the month.]

Rev. Arthur G. Pettingal, a graduate of Yale College and Divinity School, and formerly a Congregationalist minister, having sustained a thorough examination covering all points bearing upon his qualifications for the work of the Unitarian ministry, and having satisfied the Committee on Fellowship that he is in all respects worthy of their approval, is hereby commended to the fellowship of our ministers and the confidence of our churches.

J. F. MOORS, Chairman.

D. W. MOREHOUSE, Secretary.

Alton, Ill.-Rev. W. M. Backus was installed pastor of the First Unitarian Church, November 18. A beautiful and inspiring service was held, the following clergymen taking part: Rev. T. B. Forbush, Rev. F. L. Hosmer, Rev. J. C. Learned, Rev. W. A. Pratt, Rev. John Snyder. An evening platform meeting was afterwards held. at which the same speakers made brief addresses upon the subject, "What the Unitarian Church has to say about the Bible, Man, Jesus, God, and the Church."

Ann Arbor, Mich.-Our Unitarian work has opened here this fall with more than usual interest, strength, and promise. The morning congregations for November averaged nearly three hundred, and the evening congregations nearly four hundred. The Unity Club meetings on Monday evenings have averaged over three hundred and fifty. The Students' Bible Class has averaged about seventy, besides Mr. Sunderland's Sunday afternoon New Testament Class for university students only, numbering thirty. and a New Testament Class of high school students, under charge of Mrs. Sunderland, numbering fifteen. The King's Daughters

organization connected with the church now numbers fifty, and is said to be the largest organization of the kind in the State connected with any denomination. Mr. Sunderland will begin this month the issue of a regular monthly printed sermon in pamphlet form.

Belmont, Mass.-On the afternoon of November 9 an open meeting of the Women's Alliance was held in the church parlors, which was largely attended and proved to be of great interest. Rev. Mary T. Whitney of West Somerville gave an excellent talk on "The Care and Training of Young People," after which there was a general discussion of the subject, followed by a brief address by the minister of the church. Refreshments were served at the close of the formal meeting, and a very pleasant social hour was passed. On the evening of November 14 the whole parish came together to congratulate Rev. Hilary Bygrave on the completion of the sixth year of his pastorate, and to rejoice with him and each other over the total extinction of the church debt. Mr. Bygrave thanked his people for their readiness in carrying out his suggestions, and felt sure they had not come to the end of their tether, but would go on bravely to other things. He said that he was a little proud of himself, and very proud of his parishioners, in that they had conceived and built and paid for their delightful church building, costing, all told, nearly thirty-five thousand dollars, within a period of three years.

Boston, Mass.-Rev. Richmond Fisk, D.D., of Watertown, N. Y., has received a unanimous call to the Church of Our Father in East Boston. This is a most important post, being the only Unitarian church in East Boston, and in the heart of an immense unchurched population. It offers an unusual opportunity for a specially valuable work.

-The little Unity Chapel on Dorchester Street, South Boston, is to be the centre of a new attempt to reach the masses, under the able administration of Rev. John Tunis, who was duly installed November 6. -One of the most useful enterprises ever attempted in this city is the noon-day rest for working women. The idea was proposed by Rev. E. E. Hale, and has been carried out by a committee of the Lend a Hand Clubs, under the chairmanship of Mrs. Laura B. Martine. The committee have leased rooms at 45 Temple Place. Here, during the mid-day hours, they may find a homelike retreat, so arranged that they may enjoy a rest and partake of the lunch brought from home, relished by a cup of hot tea, coffee, cocoa, or bouillon, or they can procure a substantial lunch at prices much lower than the usual restaurant rates, the profits being saved to the patrons rather than the proprietors. Members of the com

mittee will matronize the rooms daily, and all possible thought will be given to the comfort and convenience of patrons. -One of the pleasant features of the many denominational meetings through the past month has been the presence of Dr. Horatio Stebbins of San Francisco, and the opportunity of hearing his eloquent addresses. -The Channing Hall lectures being delivered by Dr. J. H. Allen on "The Early History of Unitarianism" are arousing a Dr. Allen treats in great deal of interest.

a more thorough manner than has yet been given the growth of Unitarian thought through Servetus and Socinus, and the development in Poland and Transylvania. The lectures are given on Saturday afternoons up to and including December 3. -One of the most attractiye lectures of the season was given by Rev. Solon Lauer at the Young Men's Christian Union Hall, November 16, on "The World's Fair." unique set of stereopticon slides, prepared by Mr. Lauer from photographs just taken by himself at Chicago, made the lecture of unusual interest.

Α

Chelsea, Mass.-The Unitarian Sundayschool held a Thanksgiving vesper service November 20, at which Rev. E. A. Horton and Rev. C. F. Abbott addressed the children. Mr. Horton urged the parents to form a wall around the school, and thus help to retain the older pupils.

The main school has nearly doubled its numbers this fall, and the kindergarten is in its usual flourishing condition. The children made a very generous Thanksgiving donation to the "Children's Home and Day Nursery."

He

Chicago, Ill.-The editor of the Unitarian exchanged pulpits on November 13 with Mr. Jones of All Souls' Church. found the church a hive of busy activities, with its Sunday-school, its Confirmation Class (in charge of the pastor), its Unity Club divided into various working sections, its library, reading-room, manual training, etc. Sunday evening is given up at present to University Extension work. Prof. Mɔulton of the University of Chicago has just completed a course of lectures on "The Bible as Literature," and Prof. Price is just beginning another course on "Modern Egyptology and Assyriology as Confirmatory of Old Testament History."

-There are good reports of all our Chicago churches. Mr. Fenn's congregations grow at the Church of the Messiah. The Third Church on the West Side, as well as All Souls' Church on the South, is becoming a centre for University Extension work. Unity Church, on the North Side, has just taken a promising forward step by the organization of a Young People's Guild, which starts off with much vigor and a good membership. It will hold religious meet

ings every Sunday evening in the church parlors.

-Preparations for the World's Fair are going on everywhere. The buildings in Jackson Park already form one of the wonders of the world. The preparations that are making, in the way of hotels, boardinghouses, etc., for the accommodation of visitors at the Fair, are on a scale never known anywhere before in modern times. Nothing is more surprising or more inspiring than to see how the public interest is growing in the great religious meetings which are to form such a conspicuous feature of the Fair. Plans are making for these meetings on a great scale. Nearly all the denominations are already throwing themselves into the work of getting ready with a spirit and energy that make success certain.

We were surprised to find that preparations for our Unitarian World's Fair meetings were not farther advanced. It ought to be plainly stated that it has been a surprise and a disappointment to our people in Chicago, as well as the West generally, that the Council of the National Unitarian Conference have voted to hold its biennial meeting next year in Saratoga instead of throwing its strength into a great gathering at the World's Fair. It is believed that the Council will themselves see that they have made a mistake, and will yet rectify it. But there is no time to lose. With our small numbers, surely we are the last of all the denominations that should divide next year. All the strength, wisdom, and energy we have surely should be thrown into the Chicago meeting. It promises to be the most important opportunity to make ourselves and our thought known to the world ever offered to us in our history.

If among

the religious bodies and religious forces represented at Chicago next year, we drop virtually out of sight, as we must do if our main strength is to be diverted to Saratoga, it will be a disaster of the gravest kind.

Let it not be understood, however, that our Chicago committee has done nothing. It has done perhaps as much as it was possible to do under the circumstances. There is time yet to make our World's Fair Unitarian Congress a great event in our history. But can it be done in any other way than by a general waking up of our people throughout the whole country to the importance of the opportunity that is now before us, and by massing all our force in one place, and in one strong, well-planned, and thoroughly representative meeting or series of meetings? For further information on this subject see "Editorial Notes."

Cohasset, Mass.-The August number of the Unitarian reported the fiftieth anniversary sermon of Rev. Dr. Osgood, which was preached in the same church as his first sermon fifty years before, and from the same pulpit which he has occupied almost unin

terruptedly for fifty years. On October 26 last was celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of Dr. Osgood's ordination. Bishop Huntington and Rev. Dr. Briggs, the only survivors among those who took part in the ordination of the young minister fifty years ago, were unable to be present, but sent their greeting by letter. Dr. A. P. Peabody, however, under whose preaching the venerable pastor sat before his ordination, was present, and spoke eloquently, with many interesting reminiscences of former days. Rev. Dr. E. E. Hale and Rev. Dr. J. T. G. Nichols, both classmates of Dr. Osgood, also spoke. The Plymouth and Bay Conference presented Dr. Osgood with a handsome silver cup as token of their affectionate esteem.

Exeter, N.H.-The fifth anniversary of the Young People's Church Guild was very interesting. President Barton, a Senior in the Phillips Exeter Academy, gave a brief history of the guild. Students have taken an active interest in it from the start. Since it was formed, the church membership has nearly doubled. The guild has done good missionary work at home and abroad. At present it clothes an Indian girl at the Montana School. Two Harvard students, former presidents of the guild, made addresses, Mr. Ralph H. Bowles and Mr. Winfred J. Dennison. Miss Kate L. Brown also spoke. This is the second time Miss Brown has been kind enough to visit us, greatly to the delight of our young people. The minister, Mr. Nickerson, was sick at the time of the anniversary; but the young people know how to conduct their own meetings.

Mr. W. J. Dennison said, in substance: It seems to me that religious duty may be defined in a single comprehensive command, "Love!" This is our duty to ourselves, not only religiously, but universally. It is our only duty, -to love ourselves, to love our fellows, to love our God. If we can do this, we can do our full duty, we can live the complete life.

And, then, the question arises, How shall we strive for this power of doing our duty, this power of loving? In the first place, we must read the great works of the master-lovers of the past, of God's messengers through all the ages, and we must embody the principles of those works in ourselves. Then we must reach out with our minds and hearts and put ourselves in contact with the master-lovers of the present, with those noble men whom we to-day revere as Godlike men; and we must draw to ourselves the elements of their nobility and of their love. And we shall find that, by so doing, we do not rob them, but rather enrich them. They become nobler and more full of love for having shared with us. For love ever multiplies itself. There are two other ways of learning to love,-two ways so in