What Should be Done.

Religious services must be made more elastic, the hard-headed artisan must be taught to realise the distinct and close connection between religion and the work of daily life; and his feelings must be studied, if it be the duty of the Church to become all things to all men, that she may save some. In general, there must be more of the stirring life of to-day and less of the overshadowing influence of tradition and precedent, more of freedom and less of routine, more of manliness and less of cant, more of Christ and less of the Church, if the work is to be done.

How to Meet the Want.

We must, once for all, give up the idea that the masses will be attracted, in any large bodies, to our chapels. They are not unwilling to give for the support of institutions they have learned to love, but at present they do not love Christian ministers and churches. Besides, it is not merely the pew rent to which they object, but the pew. If we were to abolish all pew rents and leave our places perfectly free, their dislike would not be removed. They want the same kind of freedom which they have at political gatherings. Is it possible to meet their wishes without alienating present worshippers? They on their side would not like the promiscuous gathering. They have been accustomed to their own seat, and to destroy all such associations would be a very great revolution indeed. What then, can be done? My own feeling is that the difficulty might, in some degree, be met by the erection of public halls, with which should be connected working men's institutes. A Church might have its own, or a group of Churches might unite to erect and sustain one. The place would be free, and the seats unappropriated, so that all classes of people would feel themselves at home. . . . From the hall, if the work were successful, numbers would be gathered into the Church, and then by a natural and happy process the class feeling would gradually die out.

A glance at the interesting and more readable Missionary Chronicle of our Connexion issued last month will show how at Belfast, Darlington, Barrow, Crewe, and Gloucester, we are trying by our Home Mission enterprises to meet the wants of the age, to reach the outlying masses of the population, and attract them to the preaching hall or the house of God. The work at Darlington is especially encouraging, and should be promptly supported and wisely consolidated, in order that what is now being gained may add to our permanent strength and aggressive power in that important centre of population. Our Connexional Aid and Extension Fund, if largely increased, will give us the material help we need in developing our Home Mission work, and in helping the Christian Church of this country to solve the problems suggested by the census.

Our Membership.

Twelve months ago we were able to announce an unusually large increase of members as shown in the October returns. This was mainly owing to the exceptionally marked increase in the Nottingham circuit. This year the October returns, so far as we understand them at present, do not point to the special increase of any one circuit, but rather to the hopeful

position of several circuits or of the Connexion as a whole. As is often the case at this time of the year, the returns show a small decrease in the totals but it is much less than it has been in many previous years, when, after all, the succeeding Conferences have shown an increased membership; moreover, the general steadiness of the present returns, the improved position of the majority of the circuits, and the growing fruits of our evangelistic work at this season, may fill us all with hope, and be an incentive to renewed exertions. We have heard of revivals or actual increases at Willington, Nottingham, Dudley, Darlington, Durham, Belfast, London, Truro, and at several other places. The general results tell rather of steady growth in the Connexion generally than of large spasmodic increases in a few places.

Memoir of the Rev. Thos. Allin.

We have read this book with much delight and profit. Old friends of the Connexion who want to trace its history in Hanley, Longton, Bolton, Nottingham, Manchester, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Halifax, Chester, Stockport, Liverpool, and Newcastle-under-Lyme, should buy this volume, and thus revive pleasant and thrilling reminiscences of the past. They will hear again the echoes of Mr. Allin's eloquent voice, and live once more amid the stirring scenes of his earlier ministry, as well as of his later growing fame. Young ministers who need bracing (and who does not ?) by contact with a remarkably earnest, simple, and influential life-the life of a scholar, a philosopher, a powerful preacher, a learned and eloquent defender of the faith-should read this book. Church workers, too, will find in it many useful hints. Until we had read it we had no idea that Mr. Allin's superintendency of circuits had been characterised by such evangelistic vigour, such methodical plans of work, and such numerical increases as were reported in some of his circuits. In Halifax, Hanley, Liverpool, Huddersfield, and other places there were sound revivals and powerful aggressions made. The "plans of usefulness" he devised and circulated in Sheffield circuit are marked by much tact and wisdom, and should prove suggestive to ministers and churches to-day. They are given on pages 97 to 100. The book, too, contains lessons of trust and resignation in affliction which bereaved and suffering saints may ponder with real spiritual gain.

We have pleasure in adding the following testimony to the worth of the book. It is from a review of the work in a public journal. "A well-spent life, and a well-written book. The subject of this memoir was one of the most eminently-gifted and gracious men that have adorned the ranks of the modern Christian ministry, a man of great original capacity, developed and improved by strenuous and persevering culture, who rose from comparative obscurity to the highest walks of Christian excellence and usefulness by the force of his own character and talents. All Methodists should read it."

A Aseful Vocket-Book.

Our ministers are missing a valuable auxiliary in pastoral work if they are not using The Minister's Pocket Diary and Clerical Vade Mecum,

published by Hodder & Stoughton, and adapted to the needs of ministers of all denominations. As we look through our copy for 1882, we are amazed at the facilities it gives, not only for daily entries of passing events, but for lists of members and candidates, pastoral visitation, absentees, inquirers, Church business, books lent or wanted, sermons preached, and all the miscellaneous pocket-book needs of a busy minister's life. There is also a vast amount of information on ecclesiastical affairs which one likes to have within easy reach. The book is exceedingly useful, and we cordially recommend it. Its prices are 2s. and 3s., and it may be had as usual from the Book-room.

Memoir of Mr. Hu.

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We are delighted that we are to have a memoir of this brave and holy man of God-one of our first native preachers in China, and certainly the most able and eloquent of them all. One of our missionaries, writing of him at the time of his ordination, said: Father Hu is one of our candidates, and it is no depreciation of other Christians to say that he stands head and shoulders in moral stature above any of them. He is a man of whom the Church at home would be proud, a splendid example of Christian integrity and moral excellence. I love the venerable old man, and hope to spend a happy eternity with him in heaven."

Writing of him at another time, Mr. Robinson describes him as "a fine stalwart example of Christianity,” and as "the prince and king of all" the native teachers, “Would that I could introduce him to our friends personally. I think they would be charmed with the man, and give thanks to God for the light that has entered his soul." We shall have to wait till we arrive on the shores of a nobler clime than China before we can have the joy of an introduction to Father Hu, and hear from himself the story of his conversion and missionary work. Meanwhile, we may have the privilege of communion with the fine spirit of his useful life in the memotr by Mr. Innocent, which our mission secretary, Dr. Stacey, is having printed in "Chronicle" form for wide circulation. Dr. Stacey speaks of it as "a very interesting document," which the Mission Committee think should be sold at a penny per copy. It ought to be circulated in thousands. It will fill about twenty pages." Sown broadcast through the Connexion, it will surely be precious seed which should bring forth fruits of rejoicing even to a hundredfold.

Another ecumenical Result.

Last month we gave an account of one marked result of the late conference in the proposed formation of a fraternal union of the Methodist Churches of Newcastle-on-Tyne district for the purposes of friendly intercourse and co-operation in Christian work. We now learn that a similar association has been already formed in Birmingham, that our own Churches have taken a part in the movement, that a basis of brotherly ccoperation has been practically adopted, and that it will be submitted to the next quarterly meetings of the four principal Methodist bodies-viz., the Wesleyans, the Primitive Methodists, the Methodist New Connexion, and

the Methodist Free Churches. The association will be governed by a committee consisting of all the Methodist ministers within the area of the Birmingham circuits, together with three laymen from each of the circuits. Our friends will be glad to know the design of this new movement, whatever may be their individual opinion of its merits or its actual power for good, and hence we present them with the following brief outline of its objects:

1. This association shall be called "The Birmingham Methodist Union."

2. The object of the Union is not legislative action, for it will have no authority to legislate. It is not doctrinal controversy, for Methodism has no doctrinal differences. It is not to harmonise the various polities and usages of the several branches of Methodism, for Methodism has always striven for unity rather than uniformity. It is not, in a word, for consolidation, but for co-operation. 3. The objects of the Union are thus more particularly defined:

(a) To promote fraternal feeling between Christian Churches so closely allied, and having so much in common as regards doctrines, Church government, and Church institutions.

(b) To take steps to prevent, as far as possible, the waste of power resulting from different Methodist bodies occupying the same field.

(c) To facilitate the transfer of members removing to new residences, from one Methodist denomination to another, in cases where the denomination to which such members have belonged is unrepresented in the neighbourhood.

(d) To gather the opinion of the Methodist Churches on current social and religious questions, so as to enable them to take common action.

(e) To provide for such united religious services or meetings, or interchanges of pulpits, as may from time to time appear desirable.

Chapel Froperty.

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A correspondent has sent us a series of questions which he says are of Connexional import," and on which he asks for " some information." He thinks that " many ministers and trustees would like light on these points;" but the points strike us as of hardly sufficient general interest for full discussion in this Magazine, and we confess at once that we make no pretence to the legal acumen required for such questions. We beg to refer him and all others concerned to the law and to the testimony which they will find in our Poll Deed, our Model Trust Deed (to be had from the Book-room), pages 51-53 of the General Rules, and pages 42-43 of this year's Chapel Report. For further information he may apply to our Chapel Secretary, or to our Law Clerk, Mr. Hankinson, who will always be glad to answer any questions that bear on the real interests and safety of chapel property presumably connected with our denomination.

The Revision of our Rules.

Our January quarterly meetings will shortly be considering the amendment of our General Rules suggested by the October quarterly meetings. These suggested amendments, classified by the annual committee, will be printed and sent to the circuits for consideration at the next quarterly meeting. We are given to understand that there is a general wish that the circuits should not attempt any great or numerous alterations of our established Rules, and we believe the Annual Committee sympathise with that wish. Whether this hint will be sufficient to keep the circuits within the absolute minimum of changes in the Rules, we

know not. We modestly forbear to urge it, lest by that rule of contrary which no revision of human nature has yet expunged, we should excite an opposite desire in anyone's mind. We have heard of an old man in a fortified city who in all his life never had a desire to leave it until the governor made a proclamation in time of danger that no one should go beyond the city walls, and then the old man could not resist the temptation to which his very love of liberty incited him. Our septennial revision gives us ample liberty of change; nor have we any wish to restrain its proper exercise; but, whatever our temptation, it may be our wisdom not to aim for the present at any changes, excepting those of a pressing and inevitable kind.

The Circulation of our Magazines.

"We believe our Church papers to be necessary to the culture of our people, old and young; that they are a most valuable adjunct to the minister in pastoral work, and true conservators of the religious life and health of individuals and families; and that we ought to urge their claims upon our people until our own Conference organ is taken by every family."

Such was the declaration of a Methodist Conference over the sea, and we doubt not it reflects the opinion of our own Conference as well. We are grateful for the increased circulation of our Connexional magazines during the past year, but we are hoping for a still greater increase this year. It is a question of personal effort on the part of our ministers, our local agents, and our subscribers generally. The Editor has sent out useful advertisements and show bills. But the mere distribution of these and the announcements from our pulpits, though necessary as auxiliaries, will not suffice. There should be personal canvassing and appeal. We thought the plan suggested by one of our correspondents was an excellent one. He has tried it, and found it answer. He advised the appointment of young ladies or other persons to canvass the neighbourhood and to undertake the monthly distribution of the magazines-especially the Juvenile Instructor-at the homes of the people. This would be an excellent method of Christian work as well as of the circulation of good literature. By this method too there might be localisation of the small magazine in large districts. Another correspondent suggested the appointment of fresh agents in places where the circulation is declining. Fresh blood would give fresh vigour. Another correspondent urged that superintendent ministers should more freely seek the co-operation of young ministers and more fully remunerate them. We commend these and other hints previously given in these pages to our many well wishers and helpers. Several circuits were conspicuous last year by the marked smallness or decline of their circulation of the magazines; let them this year be equally conspicuous in their more vigorous effort to circulate our excellent and improving serials.

SYNONYM.