writers. A slight change only has been made, — for the worse, we think, and the fourth verse is far inferior to that for which it is substituted. Other hymns which are given as anonymous, might have been ascribed to the authors of whom they are now the well-known productions, and who are entitled to the credit of such verses as those, particularly, which we find in the hymn beginning, "Calm on the listening ear of night," by Rev. E. H. Sears, or in that by the late H. Ware, beginning "Great God, the followers of thy Son."

The Sunday School Service Book "by one of the officers" of the "Sunday School Society" to which it is dedicated, possesses, we think, as a whole, very great merit. From the remarks with which we commenced, it may be inferred that we favor the use of such books, as tending to make the devotional exercises of the school personal on the part of the children. We have heard them objected to by teachers, who tell us, that after the service has been read a few times, it ceases to interest, and the children begin to show symptoms of inattention and weariness. We have not been accustomed, however, to consider this objection insuperable. We have supposed that a service-book might be so constructed and used as in a great measure, if not wholly, to do it away, and we hesitate not to say that the one before us approaches far nearer to what we conceive such a book should be, than any other which has hitherto fallen under our eye. It is prepared by an experienced teacher, and is in some of its features, we believe, original. The plan is different, at least, from that of any other we have seen, and the Services being thirteen in number, besides a New Year's and an Anniversary Service, the same service occurs only once in three months.

The Service consists of eleven parts; a Lesson from the Scriptures, Lesson for the Day, and the Class Lessons, constituting three of them; and four hymns, a Devotional Exercise from the Scriptures, Prayer, the Lord's Prayer, and Benediction, making up the remainder. Each service has a specific subject, as "True Worship," "Early Piety," the "Scriptures," "God in his Works," "Character and Mission of Jesus Christ," "Love to God," and others of a similar kind. All parts of the service given have reference

to this subject, and the lesson for the day, which is to be read by the superintendent, and the class lessons, are expected to relate to the same. There are certainly several

advantages attending this plan.

The whole service, with the lessons, is supposed to occupy an hour and a quarter. It will doubtless be objected by some persons, that there is too much of it, that it leaves too little time at the disposal of the teachers, to be occupied with the class lessons, and that it is better suited to constitute a whole half-day's religious exercise with children, than to fill a space before or after the usual church services. Such was our first impression, but we confess that this impression has been in a great measure removed by a more careful examination of the book, and by further reflection on the subject. We know something of the wants of Sunday schools, and are very sensible of the imperfection of the method pursued in many of them, and of the little fruit which is the result. It is impossible to deny that the exercises, as they are often conducted, are wearisome to children. We think that the variety and change introduced into the present service book will tend in part to prevent this weariness. Further, we must be allowed to express our belief that half an hour is as much as can, in ordinary cases, be profitably given to the class-lessons. It is as long as grown up people are usually willing to listen to a sermon, and the exposition or illustration of a child's lesson, we think, ought not to occupy a longer time, at least unless the school is remarkably favored with good teachers. There are teachers, we know, to whom the children seem never weary of listening, and by whom their interest in the exercise may be sustained an hour and more. But take the schools throughout the land, Orthodox or Liberal, they may consider themselves fortunate, if one-tenth part of the teachers are of this description. Such teachers furnish the exception, and not the rule. We do not speak this as matter of censure. We are simply stating a fact, which is very readily accounted for, and it would be strange if the fact were otherwise. There is less need, too, that the class lesson be protracted, as, where the service book under notice is used, the lesson for the day, to say nothing of the prayers and selections, relates to the same subject. We beg, however, that we may not be misunderstood when we

use the word "lesson" and speak of its exposition or illustration, as if we referred to "manuals," or books of questions and answers; which we could wish to see nearly, if not wholly, banished from our Sunday schools, where, with few exceptions, they are still retained, as much probably from the circumstance that the teachers want confidence in themselves to proceed in the exercise without them, as from any other cause. The true method of conducting the exercise is, we conceive, by familiar conversation.

As to the length and number of the other parts of the service, to which the supposed objection refers, they can be reduced at the discretion of the superintendent, and probably will be, in most cases; yet there may be instances in which the whole may be wanted. For ourselves, we are disposed to think, that where the children attend the usual exercises of the church immediately before or after the Sunday school exercises, an hour given to the latter is better than a longer time. To the objection, if such an objection he made, that the same subjects of instruction, and those limited to thirteen, will recur in a circle, it may be replied, that only parts of them need be taken up at one time, and while as a whole they embrace all the great points in religion, most of them are of so large a compass as to admit of having an almost indefinite number of lessons given under each. The language and spirit of the Services are excellent.

The Hymns exhibit a choice selection and rich variety. They are 308 in number, and are arranged under twentyfour divisions. A third Part is added, containing prayers and hymns to aid the devotions of teachers at their meetings. The prayers, nine in number, were prepared by several of the compiler's "friends, of the clergy," with the exception of one, taken from the writings of the late Dr. Greenwood, and one by a superintendent, and 45 hymns are given. This part of the volume, we doubt not, will be found useful, and was necessary to its completeness as a service book. We hope that the work will receive a fair trial, and if it does not answer its object, let a better be made, if any person can be found to execute the task.

Of the last book named at the commencement of this article" Hymns and Tunes for Vestry and Conference

Meetings," we have left ourselves little room to speak, and can only say, in general terms, that we are much pleased with it. Something of the kind has been long wanted, and is now especially acceptable, when the practice of the old and primitive congregational singing is reviving among us, which is sure to bring back a taste for the old, simple and devotional music. The book is a small one, modest, and unpretending; but it well fulfils its design. It embraces a sufficient variety of tunes to answer the purpose for which the publication is intended, and these, as well as the hymns, two or three of which are given to each tune, seem to us to have been well chosen.

A. L.

ART. XI.-PRESENT POSITION OF UNITARIANISM.

WE endeavored in our last number to present a correct view of the internal state of our denomination, so far as it had been affected by the more important circumstances of our recent history. We proceed now to consider its external, or relative position, to ascertain how far its place and influence, as one of the divisions of the Christian Church, are such as we can regard with satisfaction. Our remarks cannot at present extend beyond our own country. We hope at a future time to be the means of bringing before our readers some statements respecting the condition of Unitarianism in the United Kingdom, and on the continent of Europe, which shall be entitled to their confidence. The questions now to be answered are these; - has Unitarian Christianity gained any diffusion in the United States within the last fifteen or twenty years; and, if we give to this inquiry an affirmative reply, has its progress been as great as its friends anticipated; or, if not equal to their hopes, has it been as great as they ought to have expected?

To the first of these questions we at once return an affirmative reply, and we doubt if there be any need of spending time in adducing proof of its justice. We presume every one will admit that there are more Unitarians, and more Unitarian churches now, than there were twenty, or twelve years ago; that our doctrines are better understood, and our name more familiar to men's ears. Even

those who try to talk about the decline of Unitarianism only mean, we suppose, that the growth of other sects has been more rapid, and has left us in a more decisive minority. This is the point upon which there may be difference of opinion, and about which we should especially desire to reach the truth. With a positive increase, we may yet have relatively lost ground. Is it so ? Are facts against us? Are tendencies against us?

We have at times hesitated in regard to the answer that should be made to these inquiries. We have, perhaps, sometimes yielded to a feeling of discouragement, and doubted if what we held to be Scriptural religion was making its way through the community. The tone of exultation with which other sects have spoken of our decrease, we have been prompted by a candid judgment towards them to suppose had some support in truth, and would be found, to our sorrow, to be authorised by an examination of facts. We were willing however to know the truth, and have therefore taken some pains to review the facts on which such an opinion should rest; and we now say, in perfect honesty, that they do not present to us any ground for discouragement, nor furnish any occasion for the prophetic rejoicing of those who anticipate our downfall. It is the hopes (or the fears,) and not the information, of those who use pleasant words respecting the decay of Unitarianism, which supplies them with the material for ingenious paragraphs in a sermon or a review.

That our views of religion are embraced by more persons in the United States now than were at least known to entertain them a few years ago, we say, cannot be denied. Look in what direction we may, we perceive evidence of such increase. Go to Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, yes, anti-Unitarian Connecticut, which meets you at its borders with the Saybrook Platform in one hand and the Common Prayer-Book in the other, and gives you your choice between these two symbols of faith, and you will find more, and stronger societies than could be found in 1830, to look no farther back. If we pass out of New England, the progress of a Scriptural faith is seen to be still more unquestionable. In the city of New York the condition and the influence of the Unitarian churches there indicate a substantial growth. In