On the subject of Ritual, the four things which have been matters of recent litigation are referred to, viz. :-Curtseying, Candles, Incense, and Mixed Chalice. The three first are argued against as being unsymbolic; the fourth is held to be in strict accordance with all the Ancient Liturgies; yet, according to the accepted decision of the Dean of Arches, "the mixing may not take place during the Service, because such mixing would be a ceremony designedly omitted in, and therefore prohibited by, the rubrics of the present Prayer Book." Mr. Sadler then goes on to say a few things about Vestments. He inherits the feelings and opinions of his Church and party. There is no question raised as to the propriety of wearing vestments of various sorts according to the different services and degrees. We confess we cannot very patiently discuss this question here. There is much that is absurd about the ritual and vestments of the Anglicans, much that is unmeaning, and much that is simply childish pageantry. It is very suggestively said by Mr. Maclagan, in his Essay, that “the great Apostles of the Gentiles, had he himself been located in a London parish, would not have contented himself with the regular services of the Prayer Book, nor with the ringing of the Church-bell." Imagine the Apostle Paul using a Prayer Book at all! Conceive the Apostle carrying about with him, from place to place, a set of garments to be worn on various occasions in the course of public worship, going from vestry to reading desk, and back again, and then to the pulpit with another toga a change of character, as less godly performers would term it! If on these matters we are to go for sanction and authority to the Christian ages long past, let us go as far back as we can the further we go the higher the authority. If we take the Apostles into account, and especially their Master and ours, we must see how little and foolish this attempt at display, pomp, and effect, must be in His eyes. This is one of the instances in which time and genius and zeal might have been put to very much better use. But the burden of blame rests with those whose practices necessitate discussion. The Fathers must bear it, for they easily adopted these practices, because, (next to the apostles,) they lived nearest to Judaism.

There are topics introduced in this volume, beyond those named in this article, upon which we have not said a word. Dr. Hook's introduction on "Anglican Principles," Bishop Ellicott's Essay on "The course and direction of modern religious thought," and Sir Bartle Frere's contribution to the literature of "Indian Missions," have not been referred to at all. We must not now venture to deal with them, inasmuch as the

last page or two that we may secure for the appearance of this review, must be given to a very rapid survey of movements which interest all who have any concern for the general weal of our country, and of the Church of England as a part of the Church of Christ.

The Church of England is awaking to the desirableness of introducing Laymen into her Synods and Councils. It is called in one of these Essays "the question of the day," and is confessed to be the way, (perhaps the only way,) of helping the Church out of her present difficulties. Already laymen of notoriety, and laymen of humble birth and station, have taken part in some of the Congresses and Synods that have recently started up in some Dioceses; and a man need not be very young to be justified in the expectation that he will see this element of reform and true establishment accomplished more organically than just now is possible. The disestablishment of the Irish Church will hasten this reform. Some are saying, "wait until the change comes in England; then will be time enough to introduce this new element;" but wiser men are pushing forward the reform in this direction before the "evil day" comes. They probably see that there is scarcely asurer way of postponing that day than by effecting this enlargement of the governing body. Though that should be the result, we shall rejoice in the progress thus made; for when that anticipated divorcement shall take place, the Church will be the better able to bear the shock, and maintain her many and valuable institutions, because she has allied herself more closely to the sympathies of the people. She will then see how short of sagacity she was in keeping men of business and energy out of her conferences during so many generations; and that for three hundered years or more, one of the chief elements of the Reformation, "the whole theory of which was to set the laity free,"it never intended "to exclude them from the direct management of the Church," (p. 198,) was undeveloped and unutilised.

In the ninth Essay,-" The Church and Education," by Dr. Barry, the Education Bill, now actually a part of the law of England, is pretty nearly anticipated. We imagine that that Bill will, for the most part, suit the High Church party, if its views are fairly represented in Dr. Barry's Essay. Until the experiment of a double policy, in respect to religious and secular teaching, and free and compulsory attendance, has been tried, as probably it will be before any vital alterations are made in it, it would be useless to discuss the question here and now..

The possible Disestablishment of the Anglican Church naturally occupies considerable attention. Besides the more or less incidental references made to it by the other writers, Dr. Irons deals rather fully with the question. His essay is briskly written, and has a liberal tone. He anticipates a condition of affairs when" the two polities, the Church and the World, may in no distant time have to act independently." (p. 116.) ́ And yet it is about the most, (indeed we may say the only), tantalising and shortcoming Essay of the series. He concludes by asking a question," Is civil society ready for the changes thus shadowed forth?" He does not attempt an answer to that enquiry; and yet, in view of the fact that it is a question rising daily into greater prominence, it is the question which should have received an answer. We are all perhaps able to look before us a little, and discern some of the things that dimly or plainly fill the future. The question, however, being asked, and no answer being ventured, each reader will be left to elaborate his own reply. We know that not a few will, without elaboration, say, "Ready, ay ready," and, judging from the tenor of his essay, we believe we shall not be far wrong in recording the impression that Dr. Irons thinks so too.

The book thus partly reviewed is opportune, affording much valuable information on Anglican principles and the Anglican position, at a time likely to aid in the formation of the opinions of the age. Learning, earnestness, sincerity, and devoutness of spirit have helped to make this work of such a character as to ensure for itself a long-retained place in the literature of our times; and though it will probably share the general fate of essays-sink into oblivion-yet it must now be acknowledged to be an able apology or defence of a Church which has reckoned amongst its lights men whose names will ever be fragrant alike to Anglicans and Non-Anglicans,-Hall, Taylor, Ken, Herbert, Pearson, Jackson, Bull, Hooker, and a host of others. All good men and true desire for that Church even a more glorious history in the future than it has had in the past.

D. H.

PP

ART. IV. THE TIENTSIN MASSACRE, AND ITS BEARING ON CHRISTIAN MISSIONS TO CHINA.

THE fearful outrages of June 21st have given the city of Tientsin a vile notoriety. Since it was taken by the allied forces of England and France in 1860, after the capture of the forts at Takoo, it has attracted but little attention. Though made into a treaty port after the war, its commercial importance was chiefly known to the European merchants in China, as no direct shipments were made to it from England or America. With its large native population of 500,000, and being the centre of a populous district, it afforded scope to missionary enterprise, and has thus become known to the friends of missions. But now it is known to all the civilized world as the rival, if not the equal, of Cawnpore, as the scene of deeds the most finished in fiendish cruelty and horrid barbarity.

Its position may be seen by referring to any school boy's map of China, at the extreme head of the Gulf of Chili on the north west. Takoo is at the mouth of the river Pei-ho, and about 35 miles above the mouth is the city of Tientsin. The country is one dull plain, marshy and barren, except along the river sides, where are numerous thriving villages, verdant fields, luxuriant orchards, and well-cultivated gardens. From the serpentine windings of the river the water-road for ships is sixty-five miles to Tientsin. In summer time the country looks beautiful from the deck of a vessel going up the river, the peach orchard trees and cornfields relieving the unsightly brown mud villages, and screening the barren plain from view. On one of the deepest arms of the river, about two miles below the city, is what is known to the natives as the hamlet of Tzi-Choo-lin, and to Europeans as the " Foreign Settlement." It is a plot of land ceded to the British, according to Treaty, for residence and purposes of trade. It is divided into lots and sold to purchasers, who, in addition to the purchase-money, pay an annual rent to the Chinese government. Here the foreign residents have made a fine wide road, or Bund, by the side of the river, which answers the double purpose of a quay for the landing of goods from ships, and a public promenade. Good houses and large warehouses have been built in foreign style by the merchants, and a most imposing structure, the British Consulate, stands at

the head of the Bund. This settlement fronts the river, has a central road, and the back lots are bounded by the high road from Tientsin to Takoo. On this high road, about two hundred yards north of the "Settlement," are the "Methodist Mission" premises of the Methodist New Connexion Missionary Society. There may be seen the foreign church and missionaries' houses. Adjoining this property on the north is the residence of the missionaries of the "American Board," one of whom is the Rev. C. A. Stanley. Behind this again, and nearer the city, is the London Mission property, on which two houses stand, one being occupied by the Rev. J. Lees. These mission properties, though not on the "Foreign Settlement" proper, are so contiguous as to be susceptible of protection from it, or the gun-boats which may lie in the river by the Consulate. Between the settlement and the city are a village and a long suburb, through which are streets running right to the east gate. Tientsin, like all the cities of China, is walled. This wall is of pounded earth, cased with brick. In height it is about twenty feet; from ten to fifteen feet wide on the top, which is paved, and on the outer face has a castellated parapet. The length of wall is about 3 miles, being one mile from east to west, and three-quarters of a mile from north to south. It is pierced with four gates, facing the cardinal points of the compass. On the north-west, north, and east of the city walls are most populous, extensive, and busy suburbs. Indeed there is far more of population, wealth, and business outside than inside the walls. This is owing to the commercial and maritime character of the place. The Grand Canal from the west runs along the north side of the city; from the north runs the Pei-ho, forming a junction with the Grand Canal on the northeast corner of the city. Thus, for several miles along both the sides of the river and the canal are densely-populated suburbs, the two sides being connected with ferries and three bridges of boats.

When foreigners first took up their residence in Tientsin they rented houses in the eastern suburb, between the city wall and the river, as being the most eligible for trade. In this part is a long street with the finest shops that are to be seen in the place. It runs down by the river side, on towards the foreign settlement. Some of the foreign merchants continue to reside in this quarter, and carry on their business there, and most of those who have houses on the settlement have native agents and warehouses in this quarter too. It is in the lower part of this street that the Sisters of Mercy had their establishment. It is a large property which was