THE Committee of the Colonial Missionary Society continue to receive urgent representations from their correspondents in the several Australian Colonies, of the need for special and immediate effort to penetrate the Bush with evangelistic agencies. The Committee feared that the statement which they originally published, setting forth the moral degradation into which Bush society, in many places, was sinking, would be regarded as somewhat extravagant; and they have had evidence from several quarters that this fear was well grounded; but the more they know of the facts of the case, the more fully are they convinced that the representations on which they have relied, so far from being over-coloured, have been strictly and conscientiously moderate. A private correspondent in Sydney, a gentleman occupying a prominent position, and looking at the moral condition of the Colonies from the Christian citizen's rather than the Christian minister's point of view, says: Missions for the Bush are the great religious want of the Colonies." Another correspon"Ten ministers could at

dent says: once be advantageously stationed in Northern Queensland alone, and that number, at least, would be required to pay periodical visits to all the stations."

In the last Quarterly Chronicle it was stated, that the Rev. T. Jenkyn, of Clermont, had accepted an appointment to labour in the Bush, making Rockhampton, Queensland, his starting-point. The Committee had hoped ere this time to have been able to associate with Mr. Jenkyn another minister, who should alternate with him in pastoral labour in Rockhampton and itinerating labour in the Bush; but in this they have hitherto

been disappointed. There is a likelihood, however, of an agency being supplied to a larger extent than was at first anticipated, from the Colonial College and the membership of the Colonial churches. The friends of the Society in the Colonies, who have an intimate knowledge of Bush life, are of opinion that men who have had the advantage of Colonial training, or at least, an experience of several years of Colonial residence, are more likely to be able to bear the tear and wear of an itinerating ministry in the Bush, and to be able, generally, to enter into the spirit of the whole enterprise, than men who should go forth fresh from our Eng. lish Colleges, or from quiet pastoral spheres in this country. One correspondent, writing from Sydney, says that "the agents suitable to such work need considerable Colonial experience, and can be more readily procured in this country than in the father-land. Camden College has, during the brief period of its existence, sent forth five young men into the ministry, all of whom are doing important work, and has now nine students in training, some of whom are particularly adapted for the kind of service desired, which is as much required in this Colony as in Queensland. We have large districts in various parts of our Colony, the inhabitants of which seldom or never see a minister of any denomination, and to whom the kind of agency proposed would prove a blessing quite unspeakable." The Committee feel that they will be relieved of a great burden, and that a serious hindrance to the progress of the work which they have so much at heart will be taken out of the way, if the Colonial churches and colleges can supply the

men qualified for this special and peculiar form of labour.

The Committee have received several communications from friends interested in the movement in this country, and also from friends in the Colonies, advocating the employment of lay agency. the agency, that is to say, of Christian men not trained to the ministry, who may be qualified by knowledge, personal devotedness, and courage, for the work. The Committee are quite prepared to believe that such agency may be usefully employed. Mr. Kirby, writing from Dalby, on the borders of an extensive Bush district, expresses the feeling which all who know the circumstances of the case must have, that men are required for this service who have a peculiar fulness of spiritual life; who can live almost alone. Amidst influences hostile to spiritual growth and fidelity, Mr. Kirby says:-" A minister for the Bush will be useless, unless he be a consecrated man. The Divine life should, as it were, overflow in a perennial stream. Christ must be in the man, a well of water ever springing up, or else Christians at home had better keep their money. It strikes me that two or three godly laymen, carrying books, Bibles, tracts, etc., would be better than professed ministers not fitted for the work. I find one of my most efficacious methods of working is book-selling. Cassell's Illustrated Bibles are great blessings. Drawn by the pictures, the people turn again and again to the sacred page. I almost dance for joy when I sell one." This letter points to a form of agency, answering to the colportage of Europe, which may be usefully employed in checking the growth of unbelief and carnality in the settlements which no regular ministry of the Gospel has reached. There is another form of itinerating

service, of which the Committee hope to be able to avail themselves. Ministers, like Mr. Kirby, of Dalby, and Mr. Draper, of Goodna, who have extensive Bush districts in their neighbourhood, might be equipped for and aided in undertaking occasional journeys into the Bush-distributing copies of the Word of God, and religious books and tracts, and, whereever they had opportunity, preaching the Gospel to the settlers. These excellent and zealous men are most eager to be engaged in this service, but they have not the means of giving effect to their desires. They cannot travel in the Bush without horses and a conveyance of some kind. It is under consideration by the Committee at present whether it would not be well to vote a certain sum to these brethren and others similarly situated, with the view of equipping them for occasional missionary journeys into the Bush, and of defraying the costs of such journeys. Mr. Draper in a recent letter says:"I am not sanguine about the success of any elaborate scheme for attacking the strongholds of sin in the Bush. I am tolerably certain that if a small sum were placed at the disposal of some of our ministers already settled here, mission work of a most satisfactory character would be the result. Brother, might, I am sure, with the assistance of proper horses, do much, but he could not now keep them. Mr. could render great services, but he, I think, has been obliged to part with one or two of his horses, from inability to keep them. Had I £20 to purchase a spring-cart, saddle, and bridle, I could also cover a large extent of country to great advantage, and could carry the Gospel to many, very many. I am situated very advantageously for this kind of work. I have a horse, but have been thinking of parting

with him; for the corn I hoped to get from my garden, &c., last year, failed on account of drought, and where I hoped to have 50 or 60 bushels, I only obtained about five. Consequently I have had to buy corn."

The more the peculiar conditions of Bush society comes to be understood by the Committee, they are the more persuaded that a various agency from the regularly sanctioned and welleducated minister of the Gospel, to the mere distributor of religious literature, is needed, if the appalling spiritual destitution which has come to characterise it is to be effectually grappled with. Many of the stations are occupied by men who have been well educated, and who at one time enjoyed religious privileges of no mean order in the mother country, but who, being far from the means of grace, have come to regard them with indifference. If they are to be interested the work must be done by men at least as well-educated as themselves. On the other hand, there is much work which might be better done by an agency of a simpler character, such as is indicated in the extracts above.

The Committee are anxious to be rightly guided in the matter; with this view they are constantly in communication with Christian friends in the Colonies, and they will leave no means untried to give effect to what seem to be the wisest counsels. In the meantime they can do nothing, unless the means be furnished to them by the Christian people at home. The cost of what has been undertaken will severely tax the resources of the Society, while the cost of what ought to be done would go far beyond its whole income. By the last mail an application reached the Committee, from one of the wealthiest of the Colonies, for a vote

of from £300 to £400, in aid of their Bush Mission enterprise. The Committee are sure that the money, if voted, would be well spent; the field is all but boundless-the need of labourers,-many labourers, most

66

urgent; but if this application were complied with, and similar applications were made for the other Colonies, and these in the event of their being made could not be refused, the Society would not have one shilling left for its ordinary work. They therefore reiterate their appeal to the Churches to give freely of their substance for this most necessary work, long and shamefully delayed. 'Long and shamefully delayed." Both the Christians in the Colonies and those in the mother country are to be blamed. It may be true that the Colonists in the towns have been sorely treated, and have to put their energies to the strain to provide for their own things; and it may be said for the mother country that the demands upon her liberality are large, various, and unceasing; but the fact remains that practical heathenism has been allowed to lift its shameless front within the pale of the empire, and that our fellow-citizens are sinking to a degradation, which has perhaps no parallel in English history. So long as the Churches, whether at home or in the Colonies, have means for anything, they cannot be allowed to plead that they have not means to attempt to check this disgraceful and dangerous degeneration. The hearts of the good men who are engaged in the service of Christ in the vicinity of the Bush districts are breaking within them, because of the abounding wickedness which they feel themselves helpless to stem; and they are crying aloud to their privileged brethren in Britain not to leave them without prompt and substantial help. "From my heart," writes one of them, "I

wish we could do battle with the enemy here. Wickedness is really very impudent, and practical atheism of a novel and specious character, is drawing much that would otherwise be good, from the hearts of those who at home were professing Christians. One great feature, however, which presents hope, we find in the fact that very few refuse to hear the Gospel-nay, they absolutely thank you when you carry it in any shape to their houses, whether it is by preaching or by the loan of a book or tract." And he then writes: If we could send the Gospel into these desolate regions, I believe the Lord

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would bless the work to His glory, and to the benefit of those weak creatures now held captive and tormented by the devil at his will."

The following practical hint speaks for itself:-" Copies of the English Independent are peculiarly valuable to me as I give them away, and people become aware of the strength, spirit, and aim of our body. They perceive also that we do not lack knowledge, and discernment of the times. Among the people here I know of nothing which has an equal propagandist power, as distinguished from converting and regenerating power."

The Early Years of Christianity. By E. DE PRESSENSE, D.D., Author of "Jesus Christ: His Times, Life, and Work." Translated by ANNIE HARWOOD. London: Hodder and Stough

ton.

But

DR. PRESSENSÉ has secured a large share of respectful attention among English readers, and a considerable amount of well-deserved admiration. The present volume will find a hearty welcome from the readers of his previous volumes. It forms a valuable contribution to the history of the early Church. Pressensé's style is lucid and attractive. He does not deal with his subject with the elaborateness and exhaustiveness of many eminent German divines. when he only touches topics capable of and demanding further development, he at least touches them wisely. If he does not produce a steady and permanent illumination all along the path he traverses, he leaves no part of it in absolute darkness, and often delights us by a sentence which places an old topic in a new and brilliant light. The analysis of the character and theology of St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. John, respectively, are very discriminating. The references to the literature of the subject are copious and valuable. The book as a whole is pre-eminently a suggestive book. The student who reads it carefully may occasionally differ from the author, as we do, but will be very

likely to extend his reading in many useful directions. The perusal will often impel the student to the use of his pencil and note-book, and he will find his study greatly facilitated by the admirable "Index of Subjects" which accompanies the volume.

Words of Comfort for Parents Bereaved. of Little Children. Edited by WILLIAM LOGAN. New and Revised Edition.. London: James Nisbet and Co.

WE welcome this somewhat abridged and therefore cheaper edition of a work which we highly value, and very earnestly commend. Mr. Logan has done well to abridge-for the work had become rather bulky through its excess of wealth. It has lost nothing, but gained much by the process.

Franconia Stories. By JACOB ABBOTT. Author of the "Young Christian." London: Hodder and Stoughton. THOSE who are acquainted with Abbott's books for children, will rejoice with us to see this new edition in one compact volume, of stories, which have been long known and appreciated by the juvenile public in England. If we were to characterise these stories in one word, we should say they are eminently wholesome because they are eminently true to nature. The most ordinary domestic scenes in the life of ordinary boys and girls, are sketched with a vividness of outline and exactness of

detail, which at once gains the interest of children; and the moral teaching is all the more powerful that it is inwoven with the texture of the story instead of being directly taught. These stories will always be popular with true child. ren. As to the precocious little men and women who abound in the present generation, they will find food more adapted to their taste in abundance, in the more exciting and sensational class of children's books, both religious and secular, which are also to be found in lamentable abundance.

The Ante-Nicene Library: Translations of the writings of the Fathers, down to A.D. 325. Edited by the Rev. ALEXANDER ROBERTS, D.D., and Rev. JAMES DONALDSON, D.D. Vols. xiii. and xiv. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

THE thirteenth volume of the "AnteNicene Library," contains the remainder of the writings of Cyprian, together with the writings of Novatian, Minucius Felix, &c., translated by the Rev. R. E. Wallis, Ph.D., of Wells Cathedral. The fourteenth volume contains the writings of Methodius, Alexander of Lycapolis, and Peter of Alexandria, with several fragments. These are translated by the Rev. D. R. Clark, M.A.; Rev. B. H. Hawkins, M.A.; Rev. B. L. Pratton, and Rev. S. D. Galmond. The learned editors prosecute their work with unabated zeal and care.

Friedrich Wilheim Krummacher: An Autobiography. Edited by his Daugh ter. Translated by Rev. M. G. GASTON, A.M., with a Preface by Rev. Professor CAIRNS, D.D. Edinburgh: T. and T. Clark.

THIS volume will, we doubt not, find its way into many circles, and it will not disappoint expectation. It is full of interest relating both to the man and to the times in which he lived. The extracts which we gave lately from the account of his boyhood and youth will give our readers the best idea of its style.

Pastors and People: A Centenary Memorial of Flint Street Congregational Church, Hull. By the Rev. GEORGE THOMAS COSTER. London: Hodder ard Stoughton.

THE Centenary of the Fish Street Church was observed by various services in April, 1869. The Rev. George Lambert, one of its pastors, left to his children a diary, in twelve volumes

foolscap quarto, extending from 1781 to his decease in 1816. And on this diary a great part of the volume is based. It is pleasant to find that among the present deacons of the church there are two sons and two grandsons of previous pastors. The interest of the volume is for the most part local. But it is far from being exclusively so. It may be read with interest and profit by those who have never seen the Humber. Nuts for Boys to Crack. By Rev. JOHN TODD, D.D.

Hints and Thoughts for Christians. By Rev. JOHN TODD, D.D. London: Bembrose and Sons.

ADMIRABLE books, the one for the young, and the other for older people. Dr. Todd needs no introduction to the young or the old. But we do not know that we have met before with anything from his pen so racy and piquant. The extracts we have given in recent numbers will give a good idea of the style and contents. Jesus,-All in All. By C. R. HOWELL. with a preface by Rev. SAMUEL MARTIN. Third and cheaper edition, Carefully revised. London : The Book Society.

WE have already commended, and do again commend, Mr. Howell's little book most heartily. We are glad to see that it has been so appreciated as to call for a third edition, making, we are told, an issue of 15,000 in all. It is admirably fitted for usefulness among inquirers, and indeed to others who cannot be so reckoned. Pastors and the teachers of senior classes will find it of great service in their work.

Reconciled; or the Story of Hawthorne Hall. By EDWIN HODDER. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1869.

A STORY for young people told with considerable beauty and pathos. Perhaps the author "preaches" rather too much for a story-teller; and the characters he describes are too obviously the mouth-pieces of his own sentiments, and consequently have an unreal air. This is artistically a defect, but the lessons inculcated are good and useful, and we doubt not the book will find a welcome in many a home circle.

Adrift in a Boat. By W. H. G. KINGSTON.

London: Hodder & Stoughton.

THIS tale will be a prime favourite with boys. It tells how two lads got "Adrift in a Boat," and all the adventures which followed. The story is full of incident and spirit.