Harvard College, each family sending one peck of corn annually, for the support of poor students! In 1851 the gift of twenty acres of land in Medford was offered as a site for a college, and accepted by those interested, who named the institution, in honor of the donor, Tufts College. The history gives an account of the several steps in founding this institution of learning, illustrated by a fine picture of the College as it appeared in 1855, admirable portraits of Dr. Ballou and Mr. Thomas A. Goddard, and views of the Barnum Museum and the Goddard Chapel.

8, Nature's Hallelujah. Illustrated and Arranged by Irene E. Jerome. Engraved and printed under the direction of George T. Andrew. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1887. Oblong 8vo. $6.00.

The Message of the Blue Bird. Told to Me to Tell to Others. Shepard. 1886. 4to. $2.00.

Boston: Lee &

Dora. By Alfred Tennyson. Illustrated. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1887. 4to. $1.50.

Here are three beautiful additions to Illustrated Literature. Nature's Hallelujah has for its text a curious prose rhapsody in which sense and nonsense, symbolism, materialism, the Bible, nature, birds, and one hardly knows what not, are jumbled together in strange confusion. Then follow exquisite selections from Longfellow, Whittier, Lucy Larcom, and many other poets, describing the advance of the year through the cold dreariness of Spring to the Summer's fulness. Each page and poem has been seized on by the artist, a Chicago lady, who with rare fidelity to her theme, renders its sentiment in skillful grouping of her choir, the feathered songsters, the flowers, the trees, the ocean and the stars, and leads them on from stage to stage in their inimitable rendering of their Songs of Praise, Nature's Grand Hallelujah.

The Message of the Blue Bird is the announcement of the Risen Christ, full of hope and consolation. The illustrations here are simple but most delightful pictures; the artist having a rare gift in illustrating. Both books are appropriate at all seasons, and well worth buying by all who love the beautiful in Nature and in Art.

Dora, Tennyson's poetic gem, has here a setting worthy of its beauty. The artist, Mr. W. L. Taylor, has represented with great fidelity the pathetic situations of the poem, each illustration plainly telling the story of the poet. The manufacture of the book seems faultless, and the pictured aids give new interest and strong emphasis to the wondrously told story.

9. Faith and Righteousness. A Memorial of Sumner Ellis, D.D. With an Outline of his Life and Ministry. By Rev. C. R. Moor. Boston: Universalist Publishing House. 1887. 16mo. pp. 325. $1.00.

As we finished reading this handsomely printed and bound book, we recalled the words of a keen oberver of men: 66 Biographies of great, but especially of good men, are most instructive and useful as helps, guides and incentives to others. Some of the best are almost equivalent to gospels, teaching high living, high thinking, and energetic action for their own and the world's good.". - These words impressed us as having a felicitous application to the story of the life of him whose Memorial is before us. A great man in mental quickness and comprehensiveness, and in versatility of acquirement; self-made in the highest and best sense, that of bringing to his aid all that it was possible for him to obtain from schools, books, companionship with thinkers, eagerness to impart knowledge to and to receive it from others, trained powers

of observation strengthened by contact with men, nature and art, and a constant effort to do and be at his best wherever his lot was cast, or whatever the work to which he devoted his energies. A good man, in his unflinching loyalty to purity and duty, his helpfulness to others, his Christian spirit and temper. Such a man was Sumner Ellis. The story of his life put fairly on record must act like an inspiration and a stimulant to others. Rev. Mr. Moor has done well in bringing into small compass the essential features of the mortal career of his friend, and a discriminating and just analysis of his mental and spiritual powers. The Memorial is not made up of mere details of private or of professional life, necessarily largely marked by repetitions; but of comprehensive statements which disclose the peculiarities of youth, studentlife, manhood in its freshness and in its maturity, the preacher's and the pastor's plans in his several fields of labor, the thinker in his study, the quick observer in his travels, the scholar in his publications. The biographer has put the best of his own mind and heart into his record, and well deserves, and we doubt not will receive, the commendation of the Church for the fitting monument which he has thus raised to one whose abilities, character and spiritual worth were so wholly consecrated to its service.

Quite a large part of the book contains a selection from Dr. Ellis's Sermons, made with discriminating care, by Rev. Dr. Cantwell. There are thirteen, arranged under the general heading: “Faith and Righteousness," bearing the following titles: The Universal Intuition, The Incarnation a Necessity, The Christ Consciousness, The Fallacy of Disbelief, Inferences Based on Gift and Growth, Faith Confirmed by Progress, Righteousness, The Law of Service, Current Tendencies in Thought and Life, The Law of the Christian Spirit, The Song of Mercy and Judgment, The Fulfilling Principle, Religion the Vital Bond. Through these he, being dead, yet speaketh. They are his noblest Memorial, the best commentary on, and the best vindication of what his biographer has said concerning him. They have been judiciously selected, and give in their variety a satisfactory showing of the manifold ability of the preacher. Sound in theology, simple in arrangement, excellent in literary execution, they are sermons which must have made a profound impression as they fell from the living lips, and will certainly prove helpful now to those who may read them.

The Memorial is embellished with an excellent portrait of Dr. Ellis, which cannot fail to be gratifying to all who ever knew him; and the mechanical work on the book is of the best, and reflects great credit on the Publishing House.

10. Vexed Questions in Theology. A Series of Essays. By James Freeman Clarke. Boston: Geo. H. Ellis. 1886. 12mo. pp. 249.

The

This is a collection of Essays new and old, we judge, as one of them was confessedly written in 1861; but for the most part they are recent productions, and have to do with present problems in theology. subjects discussed are: The Five Points of Calvinism and the Five Points of the New Theology, The Sin against the Holy Ghost, Christ and his Antichrists, The Introduction to the Gospel of John, Old and New Ideas Concerning the Divinity of Jesus, Is Probation or Education the End of Life? The Sabbath -Sunday-or the Lord's Day-which? Old and New Views Concerning the Bible, The True Coming of Christ, Agnosticism vs. Positivism, The Hercules and Wagoner of To-day, or State Help vs. Self-Help, Recent Discussions Concerning Conscience

and its Development, The Scientific Bases of Prayer, The Meaning and Value of the Lord's Supper at this time, Some Reasons for Believing in a Future Life, — in all fifteen topics. They are discussed in the broad and catholic spirit which is such a marked characteristic of Dr. Clarke's treatment of the themes on which he writes. We should not be able to agree with some of his principles of interpretation of the Sacred Word, nor with all the so-called liberal tendencies of his thought; but we are often greatly refreshed by the vigor of his utterances as he deals with error, and charmed by his admirable way of lighting up by a touch of common sense New Testament doctrines which traditional interpretations mystify, if they do not make them absurd. Of this character is his admirable treatment of the doctrine of the Logos, in the chapter on "The Introduction to the Gospel of John;" as is also the chapter, "Is Probation or Education the End of Life ?" Mixed, indeed, with some extreme notions of inspiration as manifest in the so-called sacred writings of all people, are many historical facts touching the origin of the theory of the plenary inspiration of the books of the Old and New Testaments, in the essay on "Old and New Views Concerning the Bible." Very suggestive, too, is the essay on "The True Coming of Christ," taking the ground now occupied by many in all sects, but for nearly three-quarters of a century taught and defended by Universalists, that the so-called second coming is spiritual and not physical, not bodily. We heartily commend these essays as worthy of a place among the books which ought to be read to-day.

11. Educational Psychology. A Treatise for Parents and Educators. By Louisa Parsons Hopkins. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1886. 16mo. pp. 96.

Grammar for Common Schools. By B. F. Tweed, A.M. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1886. 16mo. pp. 113.

Physiology for Little Folks. The Child's Book of Health, in Easy Lessons for Schools. By Albert F. Blaisdell. M.D. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1886. 16mo. pp.

117.

The first of these text-books is by a practical educator of large experience, the Teacher of Normal Methods in the Swain Free School, New Bedford. It is the digest of a course of lectures given to her pupils, and, as she tells us, "is the result of long and attentive observation of mental phenomena and development, carefully selected reading, and such original thought and organizing power as I could bring to a subject in which, as parent and teacher, I have been deeply interested." themes of the several chapters: Psychology, Physiological Psychology, Sense Perception, Memory, Imagination, Judgment and Reason, and Taste, or the Sense for Beauty, are discussed in an interesting manner; and the book will prove profitable reading to all, and especially to the class for whom it is particularly intended.

The

Prof. Tweed's Grammar is one of the most simple and common sense text-books on the construction of the English language that we have ever seen. The rules are put in few words; the examples are copious; the analysis is an excellent showing of the relation of subject, predicate and modifiers, in simple, compound and complex sentences; while the appendix conveys valuable information concerning the use of forms of speech by some of the best writers, which are in conflict with what have heretofore been regarded as the only allowable modes. For some of these innovations there seems to be good reason; but we confess to not being convinced that it is in good form or true to fact to use the expression, the two first, or the three last.

Dr. Blaisdell's little book is one of a series of text-books on Physiology and Hygiene, intended for use in the Common Schools, with special reference to the Effects of Stimulants and Narcotics on the Human System. The book before us is the first in the series, and is intended to be used by the youngest pupils. It is, therefore, simple in its wording, familiar and suggestive in style, and admirable in its illustrations. The blackboard is frequently brought into use, and the main idea of each lesson is placed thereon in some simple but comprehensive sentence. The evils of the use of Alcohol are faithfully portrayed. The book seems to be just the one to interest and instruct the younger children.

12. Universalism in America. A History. the Universalist Historieal Society, etc., etc. Boston: Universalist Publishing House. 1886.

By Richard Eddy, D.D., President of Vol. II. 1801-1886. Bibliography. 12mo. pp. 634. $2.00.

This volume completes the published story of the rise and progress of Universalism in America. It especially deals with our Church history during the present century, including the origin and cause of the Winchester Profession of Faith, the development of Church Polity, experiments and successes in founding Academies, Colleges and Theological Schoolr, and the famous Restorationist Controversy. Appended to all is a Catalogue of the literature of Universalism in this country from 1753 to 1886, including one hundred and eighty-two titles of Universalist periodicals. Doubtless a more full notice of this work will appear in these pages before long, and therefore we only add that the mechanical make-up of the book is the very best.

13. The Universalist Register: Giving the Statistics of the Universalist Church, and other Denominational Information, etc. For 1887. Edited by Richard Eddy, D.D. Boston: Universalist Publishing House. pp. 104. 25 cents.

This is the fifty-second annual issue of our Church Year Book, and no pains have been spared to make it complete and accurate. The editor solicits criticism and corrections, and especially desires that the clergy will realize that the perfection of a work of this kind depends on their co-operation with his efforts. The Register should be in every Universalist family. It will be sent post-paid on receipt of the price.

ard.

14. A Boston Girl's Ambitions. By Virginia F Townsend. Boston: Lee & Shep1887. 12mo. pp. 895. $1.50. Six in All. By Virginia F. Townsend. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1886. 12mo. pp. 447. $1.00.

The Little Master. By J. T. Trowbridge. Illustrated. Boston: Lee & Shepard. 1887. 16mo. pp. 230.

Three wholesome books for young people. The stories well told, and the lessons illustrated by them of great importance to the ambitious but inexperienced youth of our land. We recommend them to our Book Commission as eminently worthy of being added to the list of books suitable for Sunday School libraries.

Several notices omitted here for want of room will appear in the April number.

All books noticed under the head of "Contemporary Literature" will be found on sale at our Publishing House.

ARTICLE IX.

An Alleged Scientific Perdition.

PART II.

MR. COOK states what he doubtless means as a paradox: Man has natural power to open the door. God's knocking enables him to open the door. He says: Man by nature. can make no holy choice; and yet, again, he declares tha some act of man's free will must go before God's entrance into the soul. It would certainly appear that the sonl which does such an act, must by nature both choose and do a holy thing. But taking the assumed paradox above, we observe, that should God's knocking stop, man's natural power would count for nothing, and with that would go the corresponding responsibility free will would disappear, and the soul become a spiritual fossil, or go into dissolution.

If such a contingency were the position of the Lectureship, it might have apparently some support from science. It is speculative science which shows us that evolution reaches in the physical world an equilibrium between conflicting forces when dissolution of the products of evolution set in. For instance, the solar system is destined as a product of evolution ultimately to be dissipated into the attenuated matter out of which it arose. But in that case, the process is renewed, and a new solar system will again be evolved. So, if it should be thought that a finite mind may in like manner be ultimately dissipated, or reach a point of entire moral collapse, science would lend no necessary support to the idea of a permanent collapse, but rather to the idea of dissolution and a renewal of evolution. On the assumption of the immortality of the soul, we cannot see that science lends any aid whatever to the idea of a permanent state of evil habit and its consequences. On the contrary, it appears to us to set forth a universe wholly averse to the permanence of evil conduct, its processes being ever those of elimination, restoration, dis. integration, renewal, correction, progress.

NEW SERIES. VOL. XXIV

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