LITERARY NOTICES.

DR. BIBER'S somewhat prosy tract, entitled, The Communion of the Faithful essential to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist (London Masters; and Church Press Company), sufficiently refutes itself, and therefore needs no long notice on our part. We should recommend any who have doubts either on the Anglican or Primitive authority, or on the propriety of non-communicant attendance to read it in order to see for themselves how few and feeble are the arguments which even a learned man can bring against this pious practice. Dr. Biber falls into the common delusion-less excusable in his case, who is a Doctor of Divinity—that in Medieval times the people were discouraged or prevented from communicating, and substituted "hearing Mass" for communion. Nothing can be more unjust or untrue. Then he assumes that such must be the intention of those who wish to restore to all the baptized their inalienable right. And so, having given to his dog a bad name, he proceeds very scientifically to hang him. But he makes it clear beyond a doubt (1) that there have always been non-communicants remaining at the Holy Eucharist; (2) that their right, though disputed, has never been denied; (3) that their remaining has been used as a means of bringing them to the still higher privilege of partaking of the Mysteries. And thus he has made out a splendid case in our favour. We, like Dr. Biber, have as our ultimate object to bring all Christians to even a daily communion. But we do not find them fit for it now; and, strange as it may seem to him, we imagine they will appreciate their privileges better by assisting at the Holy Mysteries than by walking out after the sermon. Indeed the question is solved in the trial. Those who most strongly urge non-communicant attendance can generally show a larger number of frequent and devout communicants, whose numbers are continually being recruited from those who remain to worship, as it were, in the outer court of the temple. Unless he is prepared to say, on the one hand that all our church-goers are fit to communicate on every occasion, or on the other, that those who are not, should never come to church at all, he must concede the justice of our position. For none will surely assert that Matins and Evensong are sufficient diet for starving souls. But towards the close of this brochure our wonder at its inconsistencies is gone, seeing that the learned Doctor avows himself, as to the Eucharist, to be a Calvinist. He admits "a special Presence" in this Holy Sacrament, only to the faithful communicant. Of course, therefore, the adoration of the Mystic Lamb, special intentions, and spiritual communion are a mystery to him. He naturally cannot see from this point of view how the worshipper can benefit at all by the sacrifice without communion; we are only sur

prised that he believes in a sacrifice at all. Those who accept the Church's doctrine of a Real Objective Presence, crowd into the Presence-chamber whenever they can. If they have received before, or if, as penitents, or for any other reason, they abstain awhile from communion, they do not see why they should be debarred from worshipping at His footstool, and before they refrain from doing so, they will require some better proof that they have no right to this privilege than Dr. Biber has afforded them. No one would think of remaining to worship without receiving at a Dissenting "Supper," for Dissenters dream of no other presence than one "to those who in the way and for the purpose appointed by Christ draw near to do that which He hath commanded-to eat His flesh, and to drink His blood." Let not Dr. Biber labour under a misconception; it is because we believe the Real Presence that we advocate non-communicant attendance; it is because he does not believe it, whatever he may think, that he opposes it.

The energetic Incumbent of S. Mary's, Soho, has published another sermon, addressed to the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, and intituled The Union of the Natural and Supernatural Substances in the Holy Eucharist analogous to that of the Human and Divine Natures in the Incarnation (London: Masters). It is very learned, and we have no doubt that the Confraternity were much edified by it.

In A Letter on the proposed alteration of the Order for the Burial of the Dead (London: Masters), Mr. Grueber gives us his own very sensible view of the case, namely that "Godly discipline" is the only right cure for the grievances complained of. All very well, but where are we to find it? Moreover, we are very sorry to observe that Mr. Grueber would admit lunatic suicides, or those whose coroner's juries make out to be so, to the benefit of Christian burial. If the rubric makes any exception from its general rule, we have yet to learn where it is to be found.

Mr. Stuart's admirable pamphlet on "Low Masses" has provoked certain unfavourable criticisms in the Ecclesiastic, a freak of our contemporary's which we noticed with surprise and regret in our last. To three successive criticisms he has replied by three Answers to the Ecclesiastic (London: Palmer), in which he has not only successfully refuted the objections made to his plan, but established more firmly than ever the necessity of adding daily "Masses" to daily offices, if we would regain the people to the Church. We confidently hope that the result of this controversy will be the more general adoption of the Daily Sacrifice (which is not represented by Mattins and Evensong) in our Churches.

Miss Yonge has given us a work of much research, History of Christian Names (London: Longmans), which will fully support and increase her reputation. It contains much curious and interesting matter, very ably put together.

We have been much pleased with the good sense, Catholicity, and plain speaking of Seven Sermons, by Mr. Gilbert Vyvyan Heathcote (London: J. H. and J. Parker). He has shown therein the right method of dealing with our labouring classes in respect of certain sins too fearfully common among them, and we hope his example will be widely followed.

A most useful, and much needed little tract, has been published by the "Committee of Clergy" (London: Palmer), called, Will ye also go away?—a few words on the Presence of all the Faithful at the Holy Communion, which will do more good than the Church Review and Dr. Biber can do harm. Every one must see that this point of the non-communicant attendance is the one about which a battle is now to be fought. We hope that this tract will have even a wider circulation than its predecessors have had.

The Churchman's Diary for 1864 (London: Masters) is in every respect like its predecessors. We cannot help thinking that the occasional introduction of new matter in the notes would be beneficial.

Christian Thanksgiving: a Sermon preached to a Country congregation in preparation for their first solemn Harvest Thanksgiving, by a Literate Priest (London: Hayes), is very sound and well adapted to its object.

A Layman's View of a Churchman's Political Duties, by German W. Danks (London: Palmer), chiefly consists of extracts from Mr. Disraeli's works, with a view of increasing Churchmen's confidence in him. Every such endeavour meets with our warmest sympathy and approbation. This pamphlet is written with skill and judgment.

On the same subject another pamphlet has just appeared, called The Politics of Churchmen (London: Rivington). We have alluded to this at some length in another part of this number, and therefore here only take the opportunity of recommending it to the best attention of our readers. A more important pamphlet has not been printed for some time.

Mr. Skeffington, of Piccadilly, has published a reasonable and well-written tract, called A Word to all on Christmas.

A new and neatly-printed edition of that well-known and truly Catholic manual, The First Catechism of Christian Doctrine, has just appeared, and may be obtained either of Mr. G. J. Palmer, of London, or of Mr. Mowbray, of Oxford. To recommend it on our part would be a work of supererogation, as it has received the approbation of so many whose judgment is of value, and has been practically found of the greatest use in teaching the doctrines of Christianity to children. Its statements are plain, terse, and accurate, while the prayers at the end render it still more complete. We know of no catechism that can at all be compared to it-which is very great praise.

The Gospel of the Pentateuch, a set of Parish Sermons, by the Rev. C. Kingsley (London: Macmillan) is the well sounding title of a volume apparently published in vindication of the truth of the Scripture narrative, and on the whole it is a good book. But it is strange to find him attributing his inspiration to Dean Stanley, to whose work on the Jewish Church he considers himself indebted for anything good that may be found in the present volume. The style of the book is as excellent as Mr Kingsley's writings always are. His orthodoxy on certain points, e. g. the doctrine of the Incarnation, is indisputable; but on the main point upon which the volume turns-the plenary inspiration of the Bible-v -we suspect that his thoughts are freer than he suffers his words to be. And he is more ready to rebuke those who dread the effects of all irreligious criticism, than those who in the course of such criticism have made shipwreck of the Faith. However, we wish that all free thinkers were as honest and as orthodox as Professor Kingsley.

Mr. Robert Brett's new publication, of which two Parts have reached us, entitled, The Christian's Daily Guide (London: Masters), is an Anglican "Golden Manual," admirably compiled, and calculated to effect a great amount of good. The prayers are terse and Catholic, and the general plan of the book is excellent. We commend it to the attention of the clergy with all confidence.

We cannot approve exactly of the temper of an expostulatory letter to the Bishop of Glasgow on Episcopal Government and Church Finance (Glasgow: Ogle), which has just reached us. But having read it carefully, we can state this much, viz., that a communion which can tolerate the obvious abuses which are recorded in this pamphlet is not one which can be expected to make any great progress. That its author, Mr William Hay, the Incumbent of Baillieston, has not one grievance, but many, is obvious; and it is equally so that the Bishop of Glasgow is morally bound to take measures to rectify the state of affairs here recorded, and to remove a grave and telling scandal.

The Choir and Musical Record (London: Wright) is a valuable and well conducted weekly serial devoted to Church Music. No. 13 contains a discriminating account of the services at All Saints', Margaret Street, written with ability and judgment.

Its

We have to welcome and recommend a new penny monthly serial published at the Alexandra Press, called The Camden Journal. tone and style of writing are above the average of such publications, and it contains a very favourable allusion to the A. P. U. C.

The Norwich Spectator for November contained a short allusion to the Claydon case, in which the writer appears to forget that the ancient laws of the Anglican Church, as regards ritual, are still in force, and that what was not expressly forbidden at the Reformation is now perfectly legal.

The Seventh Annual Report (for 1863) of the S. George's Mission, London, is full of interest. With a very limited staff of clergy and other helpers, and a constantly increasing sphere of labour, the results gained are most satisfactory. We are told that "There are now upwards of 100 communicants connected with the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, and 60 or 70 belonging to S. Saviour's; this latter number would have been much increased had the congregation enjoyed the advantage of more settled spiritual ministrations. These communicants consist of persons of from 13 or 14 to 70 or 80 years of age, and are mostly in direct spiritual intercourse with the clergy, either through the help of sacramental confession or frequent instruction. Classes for communicants are held at both chapels, and during the past year there has been formed a Confraternity of communicants, which combines the following objects: intercessory prayer for the conversion of sinners, the spiritual advancement of the members themselves, the honour of our Blessed Lord in the Holy Eucharist, in union with a larger Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, prayers for the clergy, sisters, and other labourers in the Mission, and intercession for the Unity of Christendom in connection with the general Association for that purpose." And in reference to the current controversy on non-communicant attendance, it is interesting to hear Mr Lowder's experience of its beneficial effects. He says, "It has of course been implied in what we have said, that we encourage our communicants to be present at the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, even when not communicating. This report is not the place for entering upon controversy, but for stating our own experience after a seven years' trial. Unless we believed such a practise to be both in harmony with the teaching of the Catholic Church, and permitted by the Church of England, we could say no more, but being convinced that it is, we can amply testify to the blessings attendant upon the full and free exercise of it, in the increased devotion of communicants, frequency of communions, and the higher appreciation of the abiding presence of our Blessed Lord in this sacrament." We wish the S. George's Mission all prosperity and abundant success. Would there were more like it.

A Pastoral Letter to the Faithful of the Diocese of Birmingham, by the Bishop of that See, is mainly occupied with a solemn warning against the prevailing infidelity of the age, while wise and valuable counsels for avoiding the danger are added.

The Catholic Calendar and Church Guide for 1864 (London : Duffy), a Roman Catholic publication, being well printed and arranged, will be found very useful to members of that communion. Cardinal Wiseman's "Catholic Statistics" is part of an interesting paper read by His Eminence at the Mechlin Congress.

A short tale of the Early Church, published by Mr. Masters, entitled Beatrice, is the production of a well-meaning but not very powerful or original writer.