MIFFLIN AND RELIGIOUS BOOKS. COMPANY'S Prof. George Prentice. Wilbur Fisk. In American Religious Leaders Series. 16mo, gilt top, $1.25. The Bible. The Riverside Parallel Bible. Containing the Old and New Testaments, both the Authorized Version and the Revised Version, in Parallel columns. Carefully printed from bourgeois type, two sizes larger than that used in the English Parallel Bible. With References, Prefaces, Lists of Revisers, Readings preferred by the American Revisers, etc. Quarto, 1742 pages, $5.00; Persian, $10.00; full morocco, $15.00. Professor J. L. Diman. The Theistic Argument as Affected by Recent Theories. Edited by Professor George P. Fisher. Crown 8vo, $2.00. Orations and Essays, with Selected Parish Sermons. With a Memorial Address by Professor J. O. Murray. A Memorial Volume. With Portrait. Crown 8vo, gilt top, $2.50. Thomas Starr King. Christianity and Humanity. Sermons. Edited, with a Memoir, by Edwin P. Whipple. With Portrait. New Edition. 12mo, gilt top, $1.50. Applied Christianity. Moral Aspects of Social Questions. 16mo, gilt top, $1.25. Rev. Wm. Wilberforce New-Rev. Frank W. Gunsaulus. ton. The Transfiguration of Christ. 16mo, gilt top, $1.25. Dr. Muhlenberg. In American Re- Thomas à Kempis. ligious Leaders Series. 16mo, gilt top, $1.25. Guy le Strange. With Of the Imitation of Christ. decorative head and tail pieces, initial letters, etc. 16mo, $1.50; flexible calf, $3.00. Pocket Edition. With the same Decorations. 18mo, $1.00; flexible calf, $3.00. Edition de Luxe. With full-page Plates, all the Decorations of the above editions, red ruling, etc. 8vo, parchmentpaper covers, $5.00; flexible morocco, $9.00. Samuel Lunt Caldwell, D. D. Cities of our Faith, and other Addresses and Discourses. With Portrait and Biographical Sketch of Dr. Caldwell by Oakman S. Stearns, D. D. 8vo, gilt top, $2.00. For sale by all Booksellers. Sent, post-paid, on receipt of price by the Publishers, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 4 Park Street, Boston; 11 East Seventeenth Street, New York. Typewriter. Durability, Easy Manipulation, Rapidity. Every Improvement that the highest order of mechanical ability can devise or capital and business enterprise obtain will be incorporated in the Remington. Its future policy, like its past history, will be one of constant progress. Wyckoff, Seamans & Benedict, 327 Broadway, New York. SUCCESSOR OF THE UNABRIDGED. CAUTION is needed in purchasing a dictionary, as photographic reprints of an obsolete and comparatively worthless edition of Webster are being marketed under various names and often by misrepresentation. The International bears the imprint of G. & C. MERRIAM & CO., Publishers, Springfield, Mass., U. S. A. THE ANDOVER REVIEW: A RELIGIOUS AND THEOLOGICAL MONTHLY. VOL. XVI.-OCTOBER, 1891.- No. XCIV. AN ADVANCE STEP IN SUNDAY-SCHOOL BIBLE IN the "Andover Review" for October, 1890, the writer presented some reasons for a change in our methods of Sunday-school Bible study, together with some suggestions as to a comprehensive course of such study, and a full outline of a proposed course of lessons on the Life of Christ. The suggestions met with the very warm approval of many distinguished pastors and laymen of various denominations and in widely separated places, and the need and demand for the proposed lessons was so apparent that the publication of them was begun January 1, 1891. What was but a dream a year ago has now become an accomplished fact, and I gladly avail myself of the kind interest of the editors of the "Andover Review" in this matter to state what has already been accomplished, and to announce further plans for the future. I. THE LESSONS PUBLISHED. The Outline Inductive Bible Studies on the Life of Christ, to which reference is made above, were first published in three grades, Intermediate, Progressive, and Advanced, which supplied the needs of all departments of the Sunday-school excepting the primary.1 On the first of 1 Professor Harper's connection with these Lessons. The system and method of studies proposed in the above-mentioned article met with such hearty approval by Professor (now President) William R. Harper that he earnestly desired to adopt it as a part of his own general scheme of popular Bible study. At his request, an arrangement was made with him concerning them, and the numbers for the first six months therefore bear his name as editor in connection with that of the author. But he, being unable on account of his numerous engagements to give the studies the benefit of his personal attention, July primary lessons and cards, prepared by Miss Lucy Wheelock, instructor in the Boston Primary Teachers' Union, were added, so that the series is now in use in all its grades. II. SUCCESS. From the first these lessons were an assured success. So far as can be judged from letters received from all parts of the country, they have commonly more than satisfied the expectations of those who adopted them. The numerous letters of recommendation from those who have used them establish beyond question the following facts: (1.) That, although these lessons cannot be used without some study, say an hour on each, yet, for all who are willing to give their Sunday-school work any reasonable amount of time, these lessons are easier to study and easier to teach than the International Lessons. (2.) That, where the teachers enter into the spirit of these lessons, they in many cases to a marked degree arouse new interest in Bible study, and very often increase the attendance in the classes using them, and this alike in all classes, from the youngest to the oldest. (3.) That the classes generally are learning vastly more under this system than they ever did under any other. It is not claimed that these lessons have been a success in every school or class secured the services of Ernest D. Burton, Professor in New Testament Interpretation at Newton Theological Institution, Newton Centre, Mass., to do this work for him, and at the end of the first half year withdrew from the enterprise, as stated in the following announcement :— "In view of the peculiar responsibilities which have been placed upon me recently, I have felt compelled to withdraw my connection from the course of studies on 'The Life of Christ,' prepared by the Rev. Erastus Blakeslee. I have, therefore, transferred my interests in the same to Mr. Blakeslee, whose work on these studies I heartily commend to those who feel the need of improved methods of Sunday-school Bible study. The examination on this series of studies offered by the American Institute of Sacred Literature will be held at the close of the year, as already announced. (Signed) W. R. HARPER. "NEW HAVEN, June 8, 1891." Simultaneously with this withdrawal of Professor Harper, the publication of the studies was transferred from the Student Publishing Company, Hartford, Conn., to the much larger facilities of the Bible Study Publishing Company, 13 Bromfield Street, Boston, Mass., and Professor Burton kindly consented to continue his editorial work upon them, so that the transfer of interests should work no detriment to the character of the lessons. At the desire of the author, Professor Burton, whose name now appears as editor in place of that of Professor Harper, is now giving these lessons the most careful attention, and has made, and will continue to make, many valuable suggestions. using them. It is not possible that any system can be, but the exceptions in this case are rare, and are largely overbalanced by the enthusiasm of the great majority concerning them. Their circulation has steadily increased from the first, and they are now used in a large number of schools and classes in considerably more than half the States in the Union, and in Canada, Japan, and West Africa. These results have been achieved notwithstanding the natural reluctance of schools to give up the lessons to which they had been so long accustomed in order to experiment with a wholly new and untried system of lessons, and notwithstanding the fear which many felt that they would not be able to dispense with the multitudinous helps of the International Series. So great success attained in so short a time not only stamps these lessons with the verdict of public approval, but also strongly emphasizes the awakening interest of our Sunday-schools in better methods of Bible study. III. REASONS FOR SUCCESS. (1.) Dissatisfaction with the International Lessons. This success is doubtless in part due to the deep and widespread discontent with the International system. Facts that have come to my knowledge within the past year show that this dissatisfaction is much greater than I had supposed. I should be unwilling to publish some of the statements of opinion concerning that system which have come into my hands, lest I should seem unreasonably to antagonize and discredit a scheme of Bible study which was probably the best scheme possibly attainable at the time it was adopted, and which has done a noble work, but which has not grown to meet the demands which itself in part has created. Were any evidence of the existence of this dissatisfaction needed, it would be only necessary to point to the frequent attempts to minimize it in the addresses and publications of those most deeply interested in preserving that system unchanged. (2.) Some reasons for that dissatisfaction. (a.) Not comprehensive. When considered with reference to the real needs of all well-established church Sunday-schools, the defect in the International system is a radical one. It is often said that the system is a good one, and that all that is needed is some better method of teaching it. Interpreted in the light of current comment, that means that the International Lessons can be and should be so taught as to give a comprehensive knowledge of the Bible. I find many remarks of that general import in my file of newspaper clippings for the past year, but no one has as yet arisen |