THE

FRIENDS' QUARTERLY EXAMINER.

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Religious, Social, & Miscellaneous Review.

No. XXXIII-FIRST MONTH, 1875.

N.B.-The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed in any article bearing the signature of the writer.

EDITORIAL.

ANOTHER year has now run its course, and, for the ninth time, we have to address our readers upon the entrance of a new year.

By the kind and continuous support of a wide circle of voluntary contributors we have been enabled to complete our Thirty-second number without lack of material upon any occasion. It would be too much to suppose that the nearly 5,000 pages of original matter which we have been thus enabled to cull from a great variety of intelligent religious minds, has been all of like value-but we venture to think that this large addition to our denominational literature has been of no mean service to the good cause which we have at heart, and which induced the Publishing Committee to commence this effort nine years ago for

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the benefit, as they believed, both of readers and writers.

Concerning the latter class-many of whom had never before "appeared in print," it has been a source of gratification to us to see that the door for literary expression having been once opened with us, they have not allowed the literary sword to rust in the scabbard, or the pen to lie idle on the closed inkstand -but that in other pages besides our own, not a few of these have been earnestly engaged in advocating far and wide the cause of truth and righteousness, and seeking openly to impart to others some of the rich and unmerited blessings which they had themselves received.

Probably at no period of the history of mankind has the pen wielded so mighty an influence as in this generation. The universal spread of education has opened up an audience of readers which has hardly any limit. The cheapness of publication affords channels for supplying an unlimited amount of printed matter, and our postal arrangements enable us to sow broadcast, or in whatever special quarter we please, those burning thoughts by which our own hearts have been stirred. We believe this facility for appearing in print has been in some cases almost comparable to the discovery of a sixth sense-partly from the help which writing affords to get a man's own ideas clearer, more practical, and definite; but still more from its opening up a large area of human minds with which the isolated dwellers in small places may hold converse, and by which they can select and speak to those particular classes of readers for whom they feel they have some message, but with whom they have no chance of personal intercourse.

Even within our own memory it was thought much beneath the dignity of great men either in the religious or scientific worlds, to write for the

periodical press, or to take any part in newspaper correspondence. We are glad that this false estimate of a Christian's duty, at all events, has been greatly dispelled, and that wherever there is an opening for service apparent, and whenever an instrument for good is placed in his hand, there is the altar to offer the sacrifice, and there also is the sacrifice to offer upon it. We could rejoice heartily if the opportunity afforded to the members of our own Society in the three monthly periodicals in circulation amongst us was more largely availed of.

When we meet in such conferences as the Yearly Meeting or First-day School gatherings, we have doubtless many minds charged with valuable thoughts and counsel for which there is no room for expression. Why should it be held as a half-binding tradition amongst our aged and worthiest Friends that speech is the only medium for imparting religious concerns, and that unless they feel called upon to travel throughout our meetings and address the soul through the ear, they may be idle and disregard that talent of "noiseless speech" which our periodicals in this age place in the hand of every believer and of every concerned Friend? We are told at times that these publications lack interest, and are deficient in earnest expression. We would ask all readers, and especially those whose infant pens have now learned to lisp their thoughts through these columns, whether this complaint does not lie at their own doors, and whether their own consciences are clear either of ignoring, or of not more fully availing of one of the most effective means for imparting good which in this age is placed in the hands of educated Christian men and women?

We believe there are many persons who, feeling that they are "slow of speech and of a stammering have been ready, like the Lord's servant for

tongue,

merly, to plead this as an excuse for effort, but who might nevertheless profitably avail themselves of the pen for expressing religious thoughts not given unto them for themselves alone, but to "profit withal."

In looking back over the long roll of contributors to this periodical we have from year to year to mourn the removal of different valued writers; and it has been profitable to us to turn to the words of those who now no longer speak from earth, but whose language stands permanently recorded on these pages for our behest; and it has been a source of real satisfaction to feel that in several instances we have thus meditations and counsels which would otherwise have been lost to our members and to the world. Though their voices are now hushed for ever here below, these printed utterances remain, so that they, being dead, yet speak, and under the Divine blessing their words may bring forth fruit to the Lord's praise in the hearts of those who never heard the human lips or looked upon the saintly and peaceful countenances which on earth bewrayed them, that they indeed had been with Jesus, but who now see Him face to face, and behold Him as He is.

How needful also is it that we who remain should do that which our hands find to do "heartily, and with our might." Very vividly at this time are the circumstances of a beloved friend brought before us, who, unexpectedly, sent a manuscript which he desired should appear in our columns; and before the proof was returned for his revision, the spirit of the writer could no longer take part in the affairs of earthhe had been summoned to the heavenly mansions above, and, as we reverently believe, is now for ever with the Lord. Both for those who pen and those who read our pages, how forcible are the words of the hymn :