No deputation from Nonconformist Churches brought words of fraternal greeting to the Conference, but an admirable substitute was incidentally provided. Mr. Spurgeon paid an unofficial visit of inspection to the luncheon-room, and was naturally forthwith haled to the platform. He addressed the Conference in characteristic style, urging it to be loyal to its 'grip' of evangelical truth. To him, Dr. Osborn replied in most felicitous terms. Perhaps never was the feeling of the London Conference SO greatly wrought upon as it was during this incident. Then was again manifested -what cannot be too often exemplified and experienced-the oneness of all true Christians and their cordial cooperation in all that concerns the welfare of Christ's kingdom. Differences of doctrine, however important, do not imply differences of faith in, and love to, the Lord Jesus. recognize the unity of the Spirit in the diversities of administration and opinion is one function of a sound mind. Of all people, Methodists are under the deepest obligations to realize that which one of our Hymns for the Lord's Supper so finely and broadly expresses: To 'Part of His Church below, We cannot criticize the official discourses delivered in connection with the Conference. The President's sermon exactly befitted the man, and manifested his acknowledged excellencies. The ex-President's sermon told effectively upon the large congregation that gathered to hear it. The text chosen for the Charge (Acts xx. 31) was exquisitely apt, with its implied reference to the usual term of a Wesleyan Minister's labour in any one locality. In moving the resolution of thanks for the Charge, Dr. Pope said: 'I could have wished with all my heart that, if possible, I might have begun my life again, in order that I might do what many of the young men now present were charged to do'; and every Preacher who attended the Ordination Service could echo Dr. Pope's desire. The Fernley Lecture was delivered, not as is customary, on the Monday before the opening of the Conference, but on the evening of the first day of the Mixed Conference. With all convenient speed after the publication of the Lecture, a notice of it will appear in this Magazine; we need, therefore, now give but a single word of appreciation of its high intellectual qualities. Necessarily most of the time of the Representative Conference was occupied with financial questions. The Report of the Committee of the Schools' Fund caused the most protracted and animated debate. A motion for the admission of laymen's sons into our Connexional schools was negatived by a large majority, and the question of concentrating the Boys' Schools on one site was referred to the May District Meetings. The proposal to increase the Thanksgiving Fund to three hundred thousand guineas met with a practically unanimous approval. More difference of judgment declared itself when it was suggested that a collection should be made for the Thanksgiving Fund in all our chapels. On the one hand, some feared to destroy the spontaneous character of the gifts by an appeal with the collecting-box; on other hand, it was contended that only by means of a public collection could large numbers of our congregations have the opportunity of contributing. The latter argument prevailed, and the collection will be made. the The thought of three consecutive years' decrease in the number of members of Society dominated the two Conversations on the State of the Work of God. Very noticeable were the spiritual fervour and feeling displayed in the Representative Conference during the conversation. At times the emotion verged upon the uncontrollable, and the tension was marked as the lines were sung a second time: 'Grant the grace for which we pine, Give Thyself, the Comforter.' In the Pastoral Conference manifest emotion never reached the same height; but the Ministers set themselves with calm earnestness to discover the causes of the continuous decrease, and to remedy them, if possible. The earlier conversation was opened by the President, who called attention to the obstacles to the work, and said suggestively: 'There are many hindrances to successful work in our Circuits, and perhaps we carry about with us some of the most stubborn of these hindrances. a .... The heart is the mirror of the heart, and every brother will understand what that is which he would like God to remove, and which, if God did remove it, it would make him, whatever be the proportion of his strength at this moment, a man of double power.' Mr. Richard Green pointed out that, allowing for new members fully received, and deducting deaths, 'there was positive loss of thirty-seven thousand.' He thought it was not 'a converting, but a saving Ministry that they seemed to need.' There is a great deal of truth in the statement: converting power still attends the preaching of the Gospel in our chapels, though not to the extent we desire, but the converts we gain we fail to keep, at least an undue proportion of them is lost. Mr. Hellier thought one chief reason of our failure was insufficient preaching of the doctrine of Sanctification. The peculiar difficulties of Cornwall occupied some time, and in that county our losses are largest. Then Dr. Rigg spoke weighty words; he admitted other causes of decrease, but insisted that they were by no means characteristic of the present day; and regretted the too frequent carelessness of the brethren as to meeting Classes for tickets. Mr. M'Aulay spoke words of warning about the 'amusements' that are sometimes permitted upon Trust-premises. He put his finger upon a real danger. Diversions are only too frequently 'diversionsfrom the narrow way.' A Minister must discountenance, especially on Trust-premises, much that is possibly not wrong in itself on account of ite associations. No subject more urgently requires temperate, candid, tolerant, fearless discussion than this. Dr. Osborn closed the conversation in an address of great power. He exhorted our people to seriousness, showed how the revival of re ligion in the Established and Dis senting Churches injured Methodism denominationally, though it vastly benefited the nation, and made some valuable practical suggestions about Leaders' and Society Meetings, and the matter and manner of preaching. Every speaker recognized the fact that the pressing need of the Churches was an abundant outpouring of the Holy Ghost. The President began the conversation in the Mixed Conference, and offered as topics for the speeches, what God was doing 'in our own souls,' 'in our families,' and 'in our Circuits.' Dr. Pope gave utterance to words of sorely-needed encouragement; and urged a faithful adherence to, and attendance upon, the Class-meeting. Subsequently Mr. Pryce, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Duncan spoke glorious and blessed Love-feast experiences, and several laymen reiterated their conviction of the importance of the Class-meeting, and testified to the good results that followed the Leader's careful and regular attendance at it. Dr. Rigg and Mr. Dewhirst told of the success that had rewarded earnest and well-directed work, and Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Walton pointed out the necessity of endeavouring to make our Sunday and Day Schools more spiritually productive. In a thoughtful, earnest address, Mr. J. E. Vanner warned the Conference against tinkering' the Class-meeting in times of depression. them wait till times of prosperity came, and then they would not be likely to make any mistakes. We omit all reference to earlier portions of Dr. Osborn's address in order to make room for the conclusion, though we are strongly tempted to emphasize his wise words as to the deficiency of too many of our members in religious knowledge, and the necessity of regular reading of something better than 'trash.' After referring to the holy men who had passed Let SELECT LITERARY NOTICES. Modern Anglican Theology: Chapters on Coleridge, Hare, Maurice, Kingsley and Jowett, and on the Doctrine of Sacrifice and Atonement. Third Edition, Recised. To which is prefixed a Memoir of Canon Kingsley, with Personal Reminiscences. By the Rev. J. H. Rigg, D.D. London: Wesleyan Conference Office.We can only at present express our pleasure at the appearance of a new edition of this work, originally published nearly twenty-five years ago. We are glad, too, that Dr. Rigg has prefixed to the volume his very able Memoir of Canon Kingsley, which was so widely appreciated when it appeared in this Magazine. Next month we hope to give a more extended notice of the whole work. The Trial of Jesus of Nazareth Considered as a Judicial Act. By H. W. away, and to the abiding presence of the Master, he said: 'The Saviour lives for evermore. He is not less interested in the work we have to do than He was in days of old; not less willing to bless us than John Wesley or his blessed sons in the Gospel; not less anxious for the salvation of souls. No! but looking on with an interest which I dare to say grows as it advances. If His interest in the work, if His determination may be relied upon, then what remains to us but to say, Lord, increase our faith; bless us, as Thou dost wish to bless us, to the full extent of Gospel privileges, and according to Thy gracious promise, "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour My Spirit upon thy seed, and My blessing upon thine offspring: and they shall spring up as the grass"-not like flowers in a hothouse, but as the grass, and " as willows by the water-courses. One shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob"; and thus, one by one, the people will be gathered in, and the work will be done.' God grant that this prophecy may be fulfilled, and that the new Methodist year may be rich in spiritual blessings, and that the next Conference may see not only increased numbers, but a holier people and a holier pastorate! B. I. Bleby, of the Middle Temple, Barristerat-Law. London, 1880.-From a legal point of view, four opinions about the trial of our Lord have been defended: (1) The trial and verdict were just both technically and actually; (2) They were technically just and actually unjust; (3) They were technically unjust and actually just; (4) They were unjust both technically and actually. Mr. Bleby defends the last proposition. He does not add much that is new to the knowledge or argument of his subject, but he marshals his facts, and points out their bearing with the skill of a lawyer. He has been at some pains to acquaint himself with the literature of his subject, but he does not seem to have seen the able and suggestive papers of Mr. Taylor Innes in The Contemporary Review, nor Sir J. Stephen's discussion of the matter. Mr. Bleby has written a useful little pamphlet, stating his own case well, but with, perhaps, insufficient reference to the arguments of his opponents. The Oxford Bible for Teachers. Oxford: Printed at the University Press; London: Henry Frowde. We have received copies of the edition of The Oxford Bible for Teachers, 'printed expressly for the Sunday-School Centenary Celebration of 1880. We have already spoken in high commendation of this admirable edition of the Holy Scriptures, with its compact and comprehensive Notes, Concordance, etc. If every Sunday-school teacher possessed and used this volume, a new and better era in Sunday-school teaching would be inaugurated. Into the Light. By Jennie Perrett. London: S. W. Partridge and Co. Ben Owen. By Jennie Perrett. Second Edition. London: Elliot Stock. -Into the Light is a well-told story of the struggles of a friendless orphan. It is sure to interest young people, and will be very popular in Sunday-school libraries. We are not surprised to see that Ben Owen has reached a second edition. It is a fresh and spirited story. Stories from the Greek Tragedians. With Twenty-four Illustrations from Designs by Flaxman and others. A Traveller's True Tale. After the Greek of Lucian of Samosata. With Twelve Illustrations by C. O. Murray. By Alfred J. Church, M. A., Author of 'Stories from Homer, etc. London : Seeley, Jackson and Halliday. The former of these books contains free and condensed translations of thirteen well-chosen stories from the Greek Tragedians. The second is an adaptation of Lucian's Vera Historia. It is scarcely possible to imagine anything better of their kind. Mr. Church's translations are forceful, faithful and graceful. His English might make the reader think the tales had been written originally in that language. He has caught and reproduced the spirit of his authors; many happy turns of language show that he has studied the Greek closely. The Traveller's True Tale vindicates for Lucian the credit of being the earliest cultivator in a field which has since been skilfully worked by Dean Swift, Jules Verne and many others. The illustrations add greatly to the charm of the volumes. John Lyon; or, From the Depths. By Ruth Elliott. Undeceived. By Ruth Elliott. London: Wesleyan Conference Office.-John Lyon is a capital book for all classes of readers, but we would especially recommend it to young men. We have never read a tale in which the Temperance cause is better put or more powerfully advocated. The great variety of characters are admirably and most naturally drawn; and the thrilling interest of the story is in no way impaired by the deep spiritual tone which prevails, but is not obtruded. We are glad, too, to see a second edition of a book which has done good service in the interests of Protestant religion. Undeceived ought to open young peoples' eyes to the hollow and unsatisfying nature of ritualistic teaching when it is carried to its logical and almost inevitable limits. Punrooty; or, The Gospel Winning its Way among the Women of India. By C. M. S. Lowe. London: Morgan and Scott. This simple recital of the triumphe achieved by the Word of God and by prayer' will stimulate and cheer Christian workers, who will rise from its perusal with the conviction that faith in God is as powerful an agent for subduing the world now, as it was in the days of the Apostles. To candid doubters, too, we earnestly recommend the book. A Homiletical Commentary on the Book of Numbers. With Critical and Explanatory Notes, Indices, etc., etc. By the Rev. William Jones. London: Richard D. Dickinson. -The bulk of this commentary consists of material for sermon-making. viz., homiletic outlines, and suggestions and illustrations from various sources. Of its kind the work is by no means a bad specimen, but we are not greatly in love with the kind. The critical notes are generally selected, and with good judgment. New Grammar of French Grammars. By Dr. V. de Fivas, M. A., etc. Forty fourth Edition, Revised and Enlarged, 1880. London: Crosby, Lockwood and Co.-The Grammaire des Grammaires is one of the very best and most compact French Grammars. We are glad to find that it retains its well-deserved popularity. John Ploughman's Pictures, and More of his Talk. By the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon, London: Passmore and Alabaster. This little book is very characteristic of its author. Of course, there are many very good things in it. Much sterling advice in the form of pointed, and often broad humour. The great recommendation of it is, that it is just the book that working men will read, and in the style and spirit that they will heed. HAZELL, WATSON, AND VINEY, PRINTERS, LONDON AND AYLESBURY, |