Rev. Everett D. Burr, pastor of the first Baptist Church of Newton Centre, Mass., has declined to accept a call from the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church, New York City, of which President Faunce of Brown University was formerly pastor. The Fifth Avenue church is known as Rockefeller's church because the Rockefellers contribute largely to its support. It is what has come to be known as an institutional church, carrying on benevolent and educational work among the poor in addition to the usual church activities. It is understood that the Rev. Mr. Burr was offered a salary of ten thousand a year. He was well fitted by experience to take charge of the varied interests of the Fifth Avenue church, for until about one year ago, he was the pastor of the Ruggles Street Baptist Church of Boston, which, under the princely patronage of Editor Ford of the Youth's Companion and other benevolent persons, contributed to the well being of thousands of poor people in Boston for years, and which continues the work; the liberal provisions of Mr. Ford's will insuring it a large income.

Among its news items the Boston Herala recently published the following: "The Rev. Dr. William C. Winslow of this city, vice—president of the Egypt Exploration Fund, yesterday announced the discovery of a valuable trophy among the large number of papyri recently received by him for distribution among several universities. It is the oldest fragment of the gospels in the world.

"Dr. Winslow states that papyrus contains a large part of the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew. It was found at Oxyrhynchus, forty miles south of Cairo, near the famous 'Logia,' or 'Sayings of Jesus,' and its date is placed by some experts at 150 A.D., and by the editors of the society's publications at fifty or sixty years later. On an important doctrinal point it declares in common the exact language: 'Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary, thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.' It is to be noted, too, that the most ancient piece of St. Paul's epistles is in Boston."

Among its gems of thought collected under the head of "The Quiet Hour," the Universalist Leader quotes the following from the writings of James Martineau: "In truth, that which is deemed the happiest period of life must pass away, before we can sink into the deep secrets of faith and hope. The primitive gladness of childhood is that of a bounded and limited existence, which earnestly wishes for nothing that exceeds the dimensions of possibility,—of a human Paradise, about whose enclosure—line no inquiry is made; and through sorrow and the sense of sin we must issue from those peaceful gates, and make pilgrimage amid the thistle and the thorn instead of the blossom and the rose, and lie panting in the dust, instead of sleeping on the green sward of life, before we learn through mortal weakness our immortal strength, and feel in the exile of the earth the shelter of the skies."

A writer in the New—Church Messenger says: "One hundred years ago the thought of God was the thought of a Being vindictive, full of anger and unending in resentment. Children quaked in fear as they hid their heads beneath the coverlets at night. But lo a change has come—the thought of God as the heavenly Shepherd, the divine Father, has crept into the hearts of men, stealing away their fear and dread, and bringing to them in gentle ways the perception that the sheep of his pasture are men. And behold the spiritual life of the world is quick with the consciousness that 'God is Love,' and we find that after all we are all the sheep of one fold with one shepherd; and that he who is the lamb of God is gradually lifting the load of sin from the world."

The Church Standard says: "The Presbyterian Committee on the Revision of the Westminster Confession of Faith has unanimously agreed that some change in the credal statement is necessary, but is divided as to the character of this change. The majority recommend that a change should be made by a supplemental explanatory statement, to cover certain points in the Confession of Faith, and also to include statements as to the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, missions, and the love of God for all men. The minority recommend a supplementary statement of doctrine without being restricted to specific and limited points in the Confession, but in entire harmony with the system of doctrine contained in the creed."

The Congregationalist says: "To become morally numb and indifferent is worse than to suffer pangs, however sharp, which stimulate towards repentance and reform. To fall permanently to a lower level of aspiration and effort and to face the peril of falling still lower and lower continually is more lamentable than any other possible penalty now or hereafter, here or anywhere. To choose to sin not as the occasional exception nor even frequently, yet in spite of repeated, persistent strivings after better things, but as one's habit, accepted and admitted—this is the worst of all possible penalties which can befall any one of us."

In one of its editorials the Universalist Leader says: "Christianity does not mean the running of all lives into the same mold; the making of all alike. It seeks not uniformity, but unity of diversities. It would bring each to his own individual perfection. That does not make John over into a Peter, or Philip into a Thomas, but in the perfection of each is found the perfection of all. The spirit of Christ in the hearts of men is like water at the roots and the rose, the grass blade and the oak—tree. The spirit of Christ in your heart will not make you some one else, but it will make you you."

D. T. Denman says in the (Baptist) Standard: "The man who makes his own religious welfare the one thing of prominence and subject for self—congratualtion will forget God and his fellow—man. One of the great evils which threatens the religious life is superficiality. The superficial man is almost certain to become a formalist. There is a certain amount of religious energy in all of us and it must find some method of expressing itself. If it is not absorbed in vital communion with God and service for man it will run through the channels of ceremonialism."

A writer in the (Baptist) Watchman says: "Sincerity is equivalent to purity; a heart without guile, such as Jesus had. The Word of God lays great stress on this quality. 'Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.' Will any others see Him? We think not. The question in the 15th Psalm as to who shall dwell in the holy hill—a very personal question—has an answer which is based on the righteousness and truth of the heart. It is the heart that gives character to the life,—the life that counts with God."

The (Unitarian) Christian Register says: "Now, of all who have ever taught, Jesus was the most distinct in his utterances. He always meant just exactly what he said. His words were as limpid and as clear as a mountain stream. As fine glass, which is no obstacle to the incoming of ligh, are the teachings of Jesus. We take them accordingly, as sound money, at their face value; for, to understand them, we have not to explore the deep mysteries of a system of philosophy or theology."

A writer in the New Church Life, after describing the process of self deception of which self love is the beginning, says: "When the mind is thus formed from false doctrines within and without, then the clear perception of good and truth departs and in its place there comes the obscure perception arising from fatuous light, which, however clear it may appear to him who is in it, is nevertheless thick darkness itself."

The (Baptist) Examiner quotes the following from the writings of Gardiner Spring, D.D.: "With the exception of the writ of habeas corpus, a privilege not required under the Jewish government, simply because it did not allow of imprisonment, there is not a single feature of free government that is not distinctly developed in the Bible."

The (Roman Catholic) Truth quotes the following from St. Vincent: "The first step which he who desires to follow Jesus Christ should take, is to renounce himself; that is, his own sentiments, his passions, his will, his judgment, and all the motions of nature."

The (Methodist) Christian Advocate says: "Let all delays come to a speedy end. Live to—day. Do good to—day. Be as nearly like Christ as possible now. Measure up to your highest ideal now."