"words in season" that are better than sermons out of season-facts, anecdotes, social hints, life-lessons of heroism, anything that is of "good report"-these press pulpits would do almost as much good as their Church pulpits. In some instances I know the clergy localise a London paper for themselves. This has been done by the Rev. W. Talbot Hindley, Vicar of Holy Trinity, Margate, who I have no doubt would gladly give information.

One further thought. Might not much good result from a watchful comment or protest addressed now and then to newspaper editors both London and provincial? The encouragement the press gives, indirectly at least, to gambling and betting is a very painful sign of the times. Mr. C. B. Strutt recently gave figures in the Publishers' Circular as the result of an analysis of the contents of the London morning newspapers for one week. The seven papers devoted 3912 columns in the week to general news, whilst the sporting news alone absorbed 136 columns. More than one-third of the news of the day was thus associated with betting and gambling. What is more painful still, a letter of remonstrance, able and courteous, addressed by a London layman to twelve leading daily papers was left unnoticed by all, and the same letter, afterwards sent to about 250 London and provincial papers, only found insertion in fourteen. Advertising and other interests were said to be too deeply at stake. Might not the Times, which has avowed its conviction that "gambling is an abominable vice," show that it has the courage of its convictions by taking the lead in a crusade against the London gambling establishments which are wrecking so many of our young men, and bringing ruin upon so many families?

I would add further, that I think our great Religious Societies would greatly gain by seeking to utilise the general press more than they do, especially in May. A crowded meeting in London is but a drop in the bucket. Even 2,000 hearers only represent one out of each 2,000 population. I remember a C.M.S. meeting when Lord Cairns gave an address, which, if printed in the Times, would have arrested the attention of the world of business men. The next morning there was a long threequarter column report of a Liberation Society meeting held the night before, but not till the succeeding morning were the readers of the Times informed that Lord Cairns had made a speech-and that was all! Surely the Times would have yielded to a little C.M.S. pressure, or if otherwise, an outlay of £20 to secure the insertion as an advertisement of the Lord Chancellor's masterly vindication of the mission work of our Church, would have been well-spent money. To print it separately and distribute it to the constituency of the Times would probably have cost £500; but even this would have been wisely spent to reach such an important body of readers-an Exeter Hall crowded audience multiplied a hundred fold. Of course this suggestion is applicable to reports of local religious meetings everywhere. Commander Dawson, the model Secretary of the Missions to Seamen Society, knows how to utilise the provincial press. The meeting may be small, but a carefully prepared and anecdotal report is sure to be provided, and by a little trouble, inserted without cost in the newspapers for the benefit of the thousands of readers who never go to meetings.

II. As a second suggestion-Find out what books, magazines, and papers are read in the home.

I once went into a shop in a populous neighbourhood, and asked the shopman for "the worst things he had." I got them-very unwillingly served-and then I asked, "Would you like your children to read these papers?" I need not give his answer, but I know my words of advice were not lost upon him. Now let us bear in mind that what is sold at the newsagents' gets into the home. I believe we have little idea of the moral filth which is thus defiling our parishes. No wonder working people don't come to church. If we would win them we must look well to the printing press.

But in all homes this moral filth-and atheistic teaching toowidely circulates. Canon Lefroy, of Liverpool, justly says:-"These days are characterised by a phase of literary disease of a domestic kind which was unknown a few years ago. Infidelity at the present moment is domesticated in the homes of England, and publications-high-class, so called-which sap the very foundations of religious belief gain an entrance to the drawing room.' The Rev. W. O. Purton, in a valuable paper in the Churchman (which all churchmen ought to read), describes these publications as "mingle-mangle." "In one part you will find infidelity, in another infallibility; one article is sceptical criticism, and another apologetic." The Art Journal also says of our popular novels, so widely read by the middle and upper classes, "They aim to make vice look respectable, attractive, glittering, and enviable." But let me quote words more weighty still. From the open grave of one whom all England mourns to-day-a philanthrophist whose memory will never die-our Earl of Shaftesbury-I seem to hear again the testimony he bore in life—" There is no greater danger that threatens us-I allude to it wherever I go, and I shall never cease to allude to it, so long as I have breath-there is no greater danger threatens us than that abundant, attractive, poisonous literature of a sensational character, which is spreading over the whole surface of Society." If any think this is exaggeration, I urge inquiry. Facts are facts, and it is no use to live in "a fool's paradise."

Then I think the clergy should have a pure literature sermon once a An Ephesian bonfire would purify the parish. Mention books that ought to be found in every home. Fill the basket with good wheat, and there will be no room for chaff. A good illustrated family Bible; a simple, earnest family Prayer-book (there are none better than Dean Vaughan's, Mr. Everard's, and Mr. Gordon Calthrop's); a home Hymnal (to get music into the home); biography for young and old; magazines of general interest; and Sunday tales-"earthly stories "— after the model of the Parables, with "heavenly meanings," to brighten and gladden the Day of Rest to the olive branches. Such a list of other books, by the way, might well form an item for the cover of the local magazine.

III. And this brings me to a third suggestion, which I will give in the words of the late revered John Deck, of Hull-Every Parish ought to have its Magazine Society.

It is wonderful what some of the clergy have done in this direction. The Fulham Magazine Society, founded by the Rev. G. S. Batty fifteen years ago, has 100 canvassers. These sold during the last year no less than 27,246 periodicals, making a total of nearly 850,000, to the value of £2,860, since the formation of the association. The Rev. R. Ross,

of Forest Gate, says: "We have circulated about 60,000 copies of our magazine during the past ten years. The influence for good is incalculable, and it has brought large help to the Church and other institutions. It assisted in raising the vicarage, and in enlarging the church. It lent a helping hand in the erection of two other permanent churches, and two iron churches, and also in providing a large part of £2,000 towards the building of our Church Institute. Besides, it has aroused interest, and supplied wants in many directions."

These testimonials could be multiplied indefinitely. Rightly worked, the Magazine Association is a Missionary Association throughout the parish. The Pure Literature Society, I may add, supplies admirable rules, and gives valuable help in starting these associations. There need be no loss incurred. There may be gain. Anyhow the cost of tracts-often not read, because given-is saved: Parish printing is avoided; and many contributions secured. But in any case no organisation can be so inexpensive, and if there should be a deficiency, a collection after the Pure Literature Sermon would meet it; and ought also to supply the clergy with a book fund for Confirmation and other gifts, which too often tax the pastors' purse. The early part of December is the right time for starting; and the canvassing work is found to be most willingly undertaken by many who would hesitate to engage in higher and more spiritual work.

The Sunday School, is, of course, a great help in this matter. Magazines with pictures are always in favour with the young. An offer of magazine volumes at half the half-price (at which halfprice they can often be obtained)-the shilling book for threepence-would often arrest stray pence on their way to the miserable lowclass music halls, where Sunday scholars are not unfrequently found. £5 might thus put into circulation books worth £20; and books, remember, are more immortal on earth than preachers or teachers.

The Parish Almanack also affords a good opening for district visitors, especially when the distributors take the "tacks" with them, and fix the Scripture monitor for the year on cottage walls. The magazine or weekly newspaper, as a slight recognition of the services of a choir, has also been found most heartily welcomed.

The use of the magazine local cover is a most interesting study to those who see many of them. If bishops and patrons are looking about for hardworking clergy to fill "good livings," they cannot do better than examine the various covers of parochial magazines.

IV. As a fourth suggestion, in large centres of population, I would recommend the formation of a Caxton Brigade.

It was my privilege to make the first experiment of a Caxton Brigade in London. But the main success has been achieved in Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, and other large towns. In Manchester, Mr. Gilbert Kirlew states that in one year about £3,000 passed through the hands of 400 boys, and £10 more than covered the losses incurred through dishonesty or poverty. The boys earn from 5s. to 15s. a week, and dispose every week of from 300 to 350 shilling books, in addition to more than 8,000 penny publications. Any lady wishing for a sphere of usefulness should commence with one boy. Certainly every small parish should have its Caxton boy, and every large parish its Caxton Brigade.

V. My fifth suggestion is the establishment in villages of a Book shop.

I have often wondered how many parishes there are without a bookseller's shop, as compared with the number possessing a public-house? I do not say "a baker's shop," although I suppose food for the mind is really as necessary as food for the body; only nineteenth century "progress" can scarcely be expected to take this in at present. Ladies and others, in rural parishes, might do a world of good by a very little outlay in promoting and aiding the opening of cottage book shops, in the windows of which tempting and attractive books and papers might be displayed. Even if none were purchased, the villagers would look at the pictures, and read what they could for nothing; and a daily change would make the window a kind of pulpit for diffusing useful and interesting information all the week round.

I think this thought is worth pursuing. The thing could soon be tried if a dozen clergymen would undertake it. Something done, and less planned, is the need of the age.

Let me, in closing-with a side glance at the coming election-just call attention to a recognition of the existing need of utilising especially the Newspaper Press which appeared in a recent number of the National Church. The writer says: "There cannot be the least doubt that churchmen and Conservative politicians have too long and too completely ignored the influence of the printing press. If, thirty years ago, when penny papers began to develop, churchmen had taken them up as Radicals did, the present aspect of parties in Parliament would have been very different."

But

Now, I deprecate as a mistake confusion of politics with attachment to the Church of England. As the National Church, I see no reason why it should not include, as it certainly does include, those who honestly differ on political questions. But I am not the less glad to find the National Church so thoroughly alive to the "influence of the printing press." I wish this could equally be said of our Church itself. can it whilst we know that several Nonconformist papers possess a circulation equal to, if not in advance of, the entire circulation of all our church newspapers-and one weekly paper, Lloyd's, whose politics, to say nothing of religious principles, few of us would endorse, claims a circulation of 600,000 copies weekly, reaching, I suppose, at least three million readers? I doubt whether all our Church papers could give an aggregate of 100,000 circulation.

I fear, therefore, the clergy, with happy exceptions (for we are not so sleepy about the press as we were-the Disestablishment cry is in the air), have yet to be aroused to the practical action which is so needed. Many evidently forget that, whilst in the Church pulpit, they reach, comparatively speaking, a handful of hearers-who least need teachingthey might, by utilising and recommending the Christian newspaper or magazine, reach and influence the whole body of their parishioners. If a clergyman were asked to preach to a congregation of ten thousand worshippers assuming the possibility of his voice reaching them-he would appreciate the opportunity; or if, as an author, he could hope to secure a circulation of even a thousand copies of a volume of his sermons, he would know how to esteem his unusual experience; but the duty of rendering active and energetic support to Christian newspapers,

which every week place a large amount of religious truth before ten thousand times ten thousand readers, is only realised by a few.

May the day be hastened when that duty shall be thoroughly and heartily recognised by the many: when we shall all be very hard workers in using the press for without hard work no good work is ever done. Then will the printing press become what it really ought to be-not only a mighty political and educational power in the world, but, emphatically and distinctly, "The Church's Lever."

DISCUSSION.

The Rev. G. EVERARD, Vicar of Christ Church, Dover.

I REMEMBER that every year the Christian Knowledge Society puts forward more than twelve millions of publications, many of them large and important books; that another Evangelical agency-the Drummond Tract and Book Depôt-puts forward nineteen millions; and I also remember that the Religious Tract Society puts forward each year seventy-one millions, including cards and other publications; but when, on the other side I remember, the large number of ungodly, atheistical, and impure publications that are spread over our land, I think we cannot imagine that we have risen yet to our duty in this matter. In urging the importance of the printing press on the Church, how grateful we ought to be to those gentlemen who have oftentimes, at the cost of wonderful labour and self-denial, taken up this work; I am sure this has been the case with Mr. Bullock. May I just throw out a few practical sugges tions? I believe example is better than precept, and I should like to mention a few examples of noble action, with reference to the printing press. First, then, a dear brother in the ministry, six feet six inches high, with a large head, goes out at halfpast five, morning after morning, with his pockets full of striking papers he has written suitable to those whom he meets, blacksmiths, factory workers, etc., giving each a paper with a hearty, loving word. Sometimes, before going home, he is in the workshop kneeling down with one to whom he has given a paper. Another instance of this good work, namely, a dear old Canon of Oxford, who for years and years gave away to the undergraduates, valuable books worth 5/-, 6/-, 8/-, and 10/each-giving them away by hundreds, and many are in the hands of clergymen to this day. I may mention a young lady, shut up in her bedroom for fifteen to twenty years, and out of that room there have issued no less than some 250,000 letters which she has sent to all quarters of the world. I may mention, too, an aged clergyman, who can no longer work or preach as once he did, but who sends out year by year, I should suppose, hundreds of pounds worth of books to his poorer brethren in different large parishes in the metropolis and elsewhere. I might also refer to a London merchant-George Moore-a name known to many of you, who used every Christmas to give away 2,000 valuable books to those under him, and to the London City Missionaries, many of those books costing him from 4s. to 5s. each. And there is a gentleman, well known to myself, who has an estate on the banks of the Severn, which he throws open to visitors for 20 or 30 miles round in the summer time; and Sunday School teachers and scholars go there from all quarters, and he never lets them go away without a book to take home with them. I have seen his library piled up with books published originally at Is. each, which he gives to these Sunday School teachers and others. These instances will show the wonderful doors open to those who have the means of aiding in this work. I might throw out a few suggestions to my brethren of the clergy with respect to ways in which we may utilise the printing press. I think it is important for us to look round our parishes, to look at the various classes under us, then see how in different ways we may circulate amongst them what may be helpful. For instance, how important it is in our parishes to have the right book to give one. I have found "God's Light on Dark Clouds" inestimable to put into the hands of a Christian lady or gentleman who has lost some near and dear relative. I have found, for the last ten years, that lending tracts has (to some extent) done its work. But we should do our utmost with our parochial magazines; then each month it is well to send round something to every house in the parish, something