make a nearer approach to the character of ministering angels. Their order was first established at Annecy, in Savoy, in 1660, as a refuge for widows and sick females; there are still communities of them in all Christian countries, and they have never swerved from the duties imposed upon them by their venerable founder. They still devote themselves to the relief of the sick and unfortunate, and they have assumed the additional duty of educating girls.

There are many well-meaning but narrow-minded persons, who sneer at the Episcopal Church because it is willing to recognize greatness and goodness wherever it finds those qualities. When other sects become equally enlightened, they will be equally liberal. The church that has produced men like Tillotson, Butler, Warburton, and Paley, can afford to despise that petty jealousy which can see no good in anything that does not emanate from its own muddy fountain. The Episcopal church is not only learned, but it has the good sense to know whence its learning has come. While the Anglican church may well boast of Oxford and Cambridge, it refuses to forget that both were founded by men like De Sales; and it is sufficiently evident that the members of those noble institutions themselves are not altogether oblivious of the spirit which produced them. This is as it should be; it is only for Ignorance and Thoughtlessness to hate, rather than love, their benefactors.

There are several maxims in the little book under consideration which fully bear us out in these views. "The soul's greatest gain in virtue," says De Sales, "consists not in thinking much on God, but in loving him;" and need we add that those who love God will hardly hate their neighbor because he has not exactly the same faith which they have. "Pagans," he says, "love those who love them; but it pertains to Christians to show friendship to those who love them not-nay, towards the objects of their repugnance and aversion." Against national prejudices he says: "Avoid speaking ill of other nations. If they all have their particular defects, they all have, too, their special excellences." One more is all we can make room for, but it is worth a dozen: "An ounce of work done freely amidst dryness and darkness of soul is worth a hundred pounds wrought among consolations and transports." Would that some of the sensation preachers of the present day, who are much better suited for the stage than the pulpit, would study and digest some of these "Golden Sayings !"

The character of the second volume mentioned at the head of this notice is sufficiently indicated by its title. It contains a good deal of judicious advice and interesting information regarding the sacraments, and is written in a clear, lucid style, and in a liberal, Christian spirit, Although designed exclusively for Episcopalians, we think that Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, &c., would derive profit from its perusal. The volume is printed in tasteful style, and neatly bound in muslin.

Pastoral Letter of the Most Rev. Martin John Spalding, D. D., Archbishop of Baltimore, together with the late Encyclical of the Holy Father, and the Syllabus of Errors condensed. Baltimore: Kelly & Piet. 1865.

OUR readers are aware that we are not in the habit of noticing the pastoral letters of any denomination; but we do not hesitate to make an exception in the present instance, partly because the subject is not that of an ordinary pastoral, and partly because the "Letter" before us possesses merit of a high order as a literary effort. We confess that in general we rarely open such documents, so that those who send them to us dispose of them in an unprofitable way. But Archbishop Spalding is the author of a "History of the Protestant Reformation," which is written with considerable ability, exhibits extensive research, and is characterized by great liberality of thought and feeling; to such an extent is it distinguished by these features that had it fallen into our hands at the time of its publication, we would have reviewed it at length if only to show by some extracts that even a controversial writer can be abundantly logical and forcible in his arguments, without using a harsh or discourteous expression. But if we thought it too late to review a work which had already attracted so much attention in Europe as well as in this country, its perusal had at least the effect of determining us to review the first work emanating from the same pen; and we have watched so well accordingly that we are pretty sure this is the first since the time alluded to. The late Encyclical Letter of the Pope affords Dr. Spalding an ample opportunity to display his peculiar powers, and accordingly he proves one of the most vigorous and most successful defenders of the pontiff. We are not of those who thought at any time that the document which has attracted so much attention throughout Christendom, and which has received such un qualified condemnation in certain quarters, was designed to have any in jurious influence on our free institutions. We felt satisfied from a careful perusal that it was directed mainly, if not exclusively, against the socalled Red Republicans, Communists, Fourierites, &c., &c., of continental Europe-against those who, under whatever name, seek to bring religion into contempt. But let us hear the archbishop on the alleged bearing of the Encyclical on the affairs of this country:

"To stretch the words of the pontiff, evidently intended for the stand-point of European radicals and infidels, so as to make them include the state of things established in this country, by our noble Constitution, in regard to the liberty of conscience, of worship, and of the press, were manifestly unfair and unjust. Divided as we were in religious sentiment from the very origin of our govern ment, our fathers acted most prudently and wisely in adopting, as an Amendment to the Constitution, the organic law, that 'Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of. (Amend. 1.) In fact, under the circumstances, they could have adopted no other course, consistently with the principles and even with the very existence of our newly-established government.

"In adopting this Amendment, they certainly did not intend, like the

European radicals, disciples of Tom Paine and of the French Revolution, to pronounce all religions, whether true or false, equal before God, but only to declare them equal before the law; or rather, simply to lay down the sound and equitable principle, that the civil government, adhering strictly to its own appropriate sphere of political duty, pledged itself not to interfere with religious matters, which it rightly viewed as entirely without the bounds of its competency. The founders of our government were, thank God, neither latitudinarians nor infidels; they were earnest, honest men; and however much some of them may have been personally lukewarm in the matter of religion, or may have differed in religious opinions, they still professed to believe in Christ and his revelation, and exhibited a commendable respect for religious observances. Therefore their action could not have been condemned, or even contem-. plated, by the pontiff, in his recent solemn censure, pronounced on an altogether different set of men with a totally different set of principles-on men and on principles so very clearly and emphatically portrayed in the document itself, which every sound canon of interpretation requires to be strictly construed."

Now that the time for calm reflection has come, we think that few, if any, will deny this. It will be seen that Dr. Spalding shows some excellent reasons why we should not be too ready to believe that Pius IX. is unfriendly to free government:

"All impartial men, Venerable and Beloved Brethren, who are acquainted with the mild and amiable character, and with the eventful and almost romantic history of our venerated and beloved Pius IX., will be slow to judge harshly of anything he has ever said, written, or done. Taken from the bosom of the people who so loved him, though himself of noble lineage, he was raised to the Pontificate amidst the acclamations of the people. He at once threw himself into their arms, and, first of all European sovereigns, he inaugurated free institutions far in advance of the times, as the event proved. He proclaimed a general Amnesty, brought back the political exiles, and, amidst the congratulations of Europe and America, he granted and proclaimed a liberal Constitution to his people, whose idol he at once became.

"The scene soon changes, and what was so auspiciously begun and so generously granted, soon terminates disastrously, and the glory of the new PontiffKing speedily sets in blood, not shed by him-for he never shed any one's blood-but shed by those very men, whose signal benefactor he had been, and who now, in return, repay his goodness with ungrateful treachery and bloody machinations against his throne and his very life. His prime minister is assassinated at the very opening of the chambers under the Constitution; the bloody dagger is paraded in triumph through the streets of the eternal city; the so lately idolized Pontiff is besieged in his own palace by a mob goaded to fury by the conspirators, and the ball, which was probably intended for him, strikes down at his side his amiable and learned private secretary, Dr. Palma; he escapes himself at length in disguise, and he becomes an exile at Gaeta, where the world loves and reverences him in his fallen fortunes, more even, perhaps, than it had done when he was dwelling in the splendid palaces of his predecessors. His divine Lord and Master was insulted and crucified by the people among whom he had gone about doing good; and it was meet that the disciple should not be above the Master."

This is a striking picture, and it must be admitted by every reflecting mind acquainted with the circumstances, that it is not at all overdrawn. What Protestant forgets how much he wondered, some sixteen years ago, at the exemplary liberality of Pius IX. Not only did he set a good example to other sovereigns by granting a constitution to his people, but he advised every Catholic prince to be equally liberal. Limited as our space is in this department of our journal, we will make room for one more extract,

Nor will any unprejudiced person, who has carefully read the Encyclical deny the existence of the moral courage which the archbishop describes with such eloquence and pathos:

"Amidst the fearful tempest which now threatens with shipwreck the feeble bark of Peter, the attitude of the humble Successor of the Fisherman is calm, collected, imperturbable, verging even on the sublime! It is the living embodi ment of moral power clad in the panoply of heaven, contending hopefully and heroically against overwhelming physical force, armed with the terrible appliances of modern warfare. A feeble old man, the weakest of all the sovereigns of Europe, despoiled by brute force of the better and richer portion of the small domain which had descended to him in peaceful and unquestioned succession for more than a thousand years, and which he held in sacred trust for the benefit of all Christendom; his status determined, and his possessions-or rather those of the Church-bartered away by diplomatic negotiations and conventions, coolly entered into, without either his participation or consent, by powerful neighbors calling themselves children of the Church; brought to bay, at length, by the approaching crisis in his affairs, is he cast down, is he overwhelmed? No; but he rises buoyantly on the wave which threatens to engulf him, and, elevating himself to the full height of the emergency, he dares proclaim to emperors, kings, and peoples, great truths and principles, which they appear to have forgotten, which it was not pleasant for them to hear, but which it was his duty to utter. With calm dignity becoming his station, he alludes not directly to his own particular grievances, but he takes in, at a glance, the evil principles and influences which threaten the subversion of all Society and of all Religion; and he boldly proclaims, that might does not consecrate right, that God and His Church are not to be banished with impunity from the government of the world, that human legislation is not to overbear divine principles and institutions, and that infidelity and radicalism will destroy, while Religion alone can save human ciety from the deluge of evils which threatens its disorganization."

That an old man like Pius IX. should launch forth to the world so wonderfully vigorous, bold, and startling a document, in the present critical condition of his affairs, may well be ranked among the psychological phenonema of the age; for, that those various topics are handled with great ability in the Encyclical, and that it exhibits almost incredible research, are facts admitted by all competent judges. Certain it is that, considering it altogether, apart from the dogmas which it inculcates, we do not remember to have read any document of equal extent which so forcibly reminded us of the Horacian precept:

"Doctrina sed vim promovet insitam
Rectique cultus pectora roborant."

MISCELLANEOUS.

Annual Reports of various Insurance Companies. New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, 1865.

THE pile of documents before us exhibits a considerable increase in the business of insurance during the past year; and we feel satisfied that although many policy-holders have been disappointed, as usual, for the simple reason that they exercised no discrimination in procuring those policies, the general amount of good accomplished has increased in an equal ratio. The intelligent portion, even of those who have been swindled, have undiminished faith in the value of insurance; for they know they

have only themselves to blame for confiding in a class of insurers who are unable to insure themselves against heavy mortgages, on what they call their capital stock; they find that their neighbors, who pursued a different course, got every penny to which they were entitled. Not a few of the companies who have thus brought discredit on insurance, have been obliged either to retire from the field, or to increase their capital and improve their conduct. All will have to do so before long, if it be not the fault of the public; because there are so many substantial and reliable companies that there is no excuse for dealing with those of the opposito character. What is most important just now to those seeking the protection of insurance is, that they should be on their guard against the numerous new insurance companies springing up almost weekly like fungi. It is hardly necessary to observe that we do not mean that all new companies are to be avoided; on the contrary, we feel satisfied that there are some of the newest which afford as good protection as the old, so far as they undertake it. But be it remembered that these are the fewest in number; and consequently that a close scrutiny is necessary in order to avoid being swindled.

At present, more discrimination is necessary in effecting marine insurance, the most ancient of all, than any other kind. There are four times as many companies as the public need; but because a large proportion of our merchants are disposed to divide their patronage, this does not prevent the organization of new companies. Besides, there are many fire companies which, failing to succeed in that branch, have, managed to secure the right of accepting marine risks also. That some have done so in good faith, far be it from us to deny; but, if we have not been grossly misinformed, and we have made extensive and careful enquiries, the number is considerably less than is generally supposed-certainly not more than one out of every five. The remaining four will dupe as many as they can, and then retire, but only to appear, under other names, a few years hence, or perhaps in one year after they have swindled as many as would put any faith in their pretensions. At first sight it may seem difficult to believe this; but illustrations of it are constantly occurring in various forms; in other words, there are many who know to their cost that we do not misrepresent the facts.

The marine company which has done most business during the past year in proportion to its stock, age, &c., is the Columbian. No other company, of any age or capital, has exhibited more unequivocal proofs of prosperity; and what is much more important to the public, no company has proved a more reliable protection to those of its policy-holders who happened to need its aid. In addition to various other evidences, we have the authority of several who received its checks for this. More than one have assured us that the conduct of the officers of the Columbian Marine Insurance Company, when applied to by policy-holders who have