We have to care for the precious heritage bequeathed to us by our fathers. We have to care for the young; it is awfully true that their moulding and their future are in our hands. Have we not sufficient worth among us to serve our purpose? I could mention gentlemen in this Conference who could supply us with the argumentative, the rhetorical, the facetious, the serious, the colloquial, the philosophic, the poetie, the practical, the ethical, the doctrinal, who have won, and with much benefit to the Churches sustain, high positions. Our friends the Wesleyans have lately had the most serious, if not irreparable, losses in their front rank. The genial Dr. Jobson; the fascinating Dr. Punshon; the vastly-informed, the ready Mr. Coley: the racy, powerful Mr. Simpson, have ascended to a more perfect state. But many men of thought and action remain. Others are coming up, and must stand out in the distinctness of exceptional men. We have plenty of material, if we only knew how to use it. Let search be made; let the choicest be selected, and let it be seen by other Churches that Methodism is not only "Christianity in earnest" -a rather questionable compliment from some quarters-but that it shines, and does not burn only; that we have among us, in large numbers, the intellectual and the cultured, with power to express their sentiments with clearness and force; that the greatly gifted are also the truly pious. We want the scholar and the sage, who submit their hearts and heads to Christ; who do not reason the less conclusively because they love and trust. If we seek we shall find.

Our literature ought to be made as attractive as possible. In style; sample, Everett's Village Blacksmith-so full of real life, so amusing, so instructive. In illustration; this is a picture-loving age. The author's pen and the artist's brush ought to assist each other. They have done this in other departments of thought. George Cruikshank and Charles Dickens are inseparable. Why not have such an alliance in the literature of our Churches? (I am not speaking of topics.) It is needed. Why? To keep pace with popular literature; to secure the attention, and contribute to the refinement of the tastes of the young; to take from dangerous hands means which have been almost exclusively used for comical, and, in many instances, corrupt purposes; to give the robe and the jewel to enthroned truth. I am happy to be able to cite a sample of what I desire should be done. Messrs. Cassell and Co.'s serials are judiciously conducted, contain lessons of wisdom, sometimes open avenues of light, leading to the holy and the abiding; and we know that pictorial illustrations are among their chief charms. We may have the solid with the pleasant-good food on dishes of gold. Why, John Forster, the most original, I think, of English essayists, was always in pursuit of books with pictures in them. He knew the value of artistic suggestion and adornment. Canon Farrar and Dr. Geikie may help us better to understand the life of Christ; certain we are that Doré has brought the Divine life before our awakened

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sympathy, to our sight, to our touch; his creations live with us, follow us, like Raphael's cartoon of the punctured hand of the Crucified. We are now on high ground, I know, but would it not be wise to bring into our service the best talent available? The Roman Catholics know the value of cultivating the beautiful, and Protestantism would not be a bit the worse for being more artistic. Now, as regards denominational book-publishing houses, the first question that arises is, Are they desirable? I think they are. I so answer, judging from the past, believing also that each denomination has an accurate knowledge of its own affairs, its wants, and its funds, any peculiarity there may be in its expression of doctrine, any prominent feature in its history. It is a family, and has its own ties and responsibilities. It is a State, and ought to have self-government, though belonging to what I may call the United States of Methodism. Some are of the opinion that private firms build better vessels than the Admiralty. Besides, it is not well to have a monopoly, but it is well to have friendly competition. You are very likely to get the best of everything where there is rivalry. We are at present distinct communities, and as such have businesses of our own. There will some day, I doubt not, be an organic union of all the Methodist bodies, an event which Bishop Butler, if he were now living, would put among probabilities; then we can have our central premises and branches everywhere.

The Book-rooms ought to be so managed as effectually to promote common interests. I mean this, the denominational ought to be honourably and cheerfully subordinated to the general welfare. Where there can be mutual assistance it should be readily rendered; where united action may be required, to gain a great object, there should be an instant sinking of the sectional and a general fusion of energies. There ought to be stout and combined opposition to Ritualism, Rationalism, Romanism. Matters having to do with national education, temperance, the closing of public-houses on the Sunday, the liberty of the press, or "unlicensed printing," as the immortal Milton expressed it; marriage laws, the removal of the legislative protection of the great social evil, the maintenance of institutions and doctrines of old-fashioned Methodism, and the sweeping away, by a strong hand, any modern adjuncts likely to mar its beauty or retard its progress; these, among other subjects, ought to secure united action in our literary and publishing schemes. While remaining denominational, we must be more catholic, broader in sympathy, freer in action; the tribes ready to meet and present an unbroken front to a common foe. It would be a step in the right direction to have one principal periodical, in addition to the ordinary magazines (ordinary, I mean, as to regular publication), heartily recognised by all, receiving contributions from all, and published quarterly. And why not have a YearBook? Other Churches have theirs, and thus they see where they

are, and compel others to see what they have done. The records would be comprehensive and permanent. We must have it. It would not only indicate the vastness of our operations, but our oneness. If England does not produce it, America will, and we would rather have this from our Western brethren than some of the weather we get from them; it would be more pacific. And we must, if possible, have one Hymn-book. This would be received by others as a sure sign and fruit of our unity. It would bring us together in public all over the world -the Chinese and the North American Indian, the mother in England, and the boy in Australia, would meet at the throne of grace in praise. And to know this would be helpful to prayer and trust. It would preserve and strengthen early associations, and contribute in no small degree to the conservation and diffusion of true Methodism, strong, spiritual, joyous.

One word more. As we are faithful, loving, confiding, as we seek to be right, and have the courage of our convictions, by our pen-work and publishing arrangements, our extensive literature will be kept in health and power, will continue to expose error and sustain truth, and will give to our Churches a wide and bright future.

The

REV. J. C. ANTLIFF (Primitive Methodist Church of Canada) gave the invited address. He said: By the phrase "Denominational Literature," as employed on this occasion, I understand all publications issued from the press in the interests of Methodism, whether intended to defend it against the attacks of its enemies, to propagate its doctrines and usages amongst the general public, or to promote the moral and spiritual wellbeing of its readers in general and its adherents in particular. earliest literature of Methodism was chiefly polemical, and was intended to defend it from the misrepresentation of religious but mistaken men, the slanders of vile men, or the heretical doctrines of false teachers. But at the present the polemical has given place to the didactic and devotional, for the period of attack has gone, and I may perhaps, in passing, be allowed to suggest the inquiry whether we are not now more in danger from the laudation of friends than the persecution of foes? Though Methodism has never made great literary pretensions, yet it will be evident to any one who will take the trouble to look over a list of its publications, that it has been endeavouring to promote the wellbeing of men, not only by the voice of the preacher, but also by the pen of the author; and from the beginning the press has been consecrated by it as an ally in accomplishing its beneficent purposes. Cur literature is an important element in the forces that make Methodism such a power for good in the world, and this will be perceived at once if we imagine the condition of our Churches without it. Though I purpose to call attention chiefly to periodical literature, I cannot resist the temptation to say a few words relative to Methodist publications of a more substantial and permanent character. It is a

significant fact that Methodism has been so prolific in the issue of Commentaries on the Holy Scriptures, which indicates that our people have been students of the Word, and that while they have had a zeal of God, it has been according to knowledge. The various systems of Theology issued from the Methodist press have, in not a few instances, found a place in the libraries of divines outside the pale of our own Church, some of whom have borne high and ungrudging testimony to their worth. But the literature of Methodism is specially rich in books tending to develop and strengthen the religious life. What shall we say of its hymns, sung to-day in more languages than were spoken on the day of Pentecost, and in every country under heaven; hymns prized alike by lisping childhood and tottering age, by the savage merging into civilisation, and the most refined and cultured of the race; hymns containing the purest Scriptural sentiment in the most charming numbers? How many have been encouraged and strengthened in the Christian warfare by these hymns, and how many have died singing in their glowing words their final triumph! So that the hymns of the Wesleys have been both a battle-cry and a pæan. But for Christian biography, Methodism has long been justly famous, and this form of literature is recognised by all as peculiarly helpful in the promotion of experimental religion. The thrilling stories of the heroism of Methodist preachers has inspired multitudes with admiration for courage in its highest manifestation, and strengthened many a faltering one in noble resolve and daring action. The memories of its saintly men and women, many of whom belonged to the poorer classes, have been helpful in enkindling a noble enthusiasm in the bosom of their compeers that has redeemed their lives from dreariness and drudgery, and has illuminated their humble cottages "with a light that never shone o'er land or sea," while the records of its death-bed triumphs— for, as Wesley said, "Our people die well"-has encouraged many a Mr. Feeblemind in the prospect of crossing the river, and filled his mouth with singing as he passed away to the Celestial City.

And much as I admire the erudite and philosophical systems of theology published by Methodist authors, I am not sure that, after all, its "short and simple annals of the poor" have not been more serviceable in turning men from darkness to light, and also in confirming the faith of the disciples in the eternal verities of religion; for while a logical argument may not be understood, a holy life cannot be misunderstood. But let me leave this more general view of denominational literature to call attention specially to the particular branch-periodical literature, which is chiefly composed of popular magazines; for I do not refer now to the quarterly reviews which are published mainly in the interests of the more cultured of our people. Most of the several branches of Methodism issue their monthly periodicals, and I think the time of this Conference may be well spent in considering how this literature may be brought to the highest degree of perfection in respect

to its quality, and how the largest circulation may be secured. All will admit that our periodicals should be of the best possible character as to their contents, and to compass this end our best writers should supply the respective editors with articles likely to both interest and instruct, articles pointed, pithy, and pious. Those who have had any experience in editorial work will bear me out in the statement that it is not always the persons most capable of writing that are most eager to see their productions in print. There are those who could render the highest service to the readers of our periodicals, who are apparently indifferent to this phase of Christian work for Christian work assuredly it is. If necessary, payment, and liberal payment, should be made to writers, yet it seems only reasonable that gifted brethren should be possessed of enough of the denominational esprit de corps to contribute articles to their own periodicals, rather than to private publishing firms because a few more shillings or dollars would thereby be secured. Let our denominational literature, then, be of such a character that it may fairly compete in quality with the issues from the secular press. But it appears to me that the ablest writers should contribute not only on the ground of a denominational sentiment, but because they may thereby accomplish in a larger measure than they could by viva voce preaching of the Word, the great end of their ministry-the salvation of souls. Who can tell into how many hands a magazine may come? And who knows the influence an article may have on the minds of its readers ?

A minister in America, who for many years has been eminently successful in his pastoral work, some years ago wrote a tract Some time after its publication he stated that he had received so many letters from those converted by reading this tract, that he believed he had been manifold more successful in saving men by that single tract than by the whole of his pastoral work. And so the periodical press opens a most extensive field of Christian usefulness, and therefore able labourers will do well to cultivate it assiduously. But further, I plead for the more systematic and earnest endeavour on the part of preachers and Church officials to increase the circulation of this class of denominational literature. There is a possibility that, as the salaries of ministers increase, and the amount of profit realised by the sale of books becomes comparatively insignificant, that this sale of denominational literature may be treated with indifference, and perhaps there is also danger on the score of the feeling that it is not very respectable to perform the duties of the book stewardship. We contend, however, that though "respectability" is good, usefulness is better. The duty of the Methodist preacher is to do good by every means in his power, and when dignity and duty come into collision, dignity must go to the wall. Perhaps a minister may feel that in urging his people to take the connexional periodicals, mercenary motives may be attributed to him; if so, he may devote the profits