IN assuming the management of this Review our first words. are due to the subscribers of the Religious Magazine, some of whom have been its patrons for nearly thirty years, and who may naturally experience at first a feeling of regret at so marked a change as has been effected in its character and name.

They will, however, consider that after all it is hardly more than the complete realization of a purpose which has been gradually and half unconsciously developing itself in obedience to the demand which has of late years, in the absence of any distinctively theological Unitarian review, more and more persistently claimed that this should serve in its place so far as its scope would permit. The time had come when it was evident that something more was required, and measures were actually on foot for the establishment of a separate Review. Under these circumstances, on consultation with many friends of the Magazine, and with others whose judgment commands respect, it was decided that the interests of the cause could be better served by merging the energies of the Magazine and those that might be

developed by a new Review into one vigorous enterprise, than by attempting to support both.

But we desire to say, that it will be our aim to make the Unitarian Review no unworthy successor of the Religious Magazine, as a helpful family religious journal; we propose to retain many of the familiar features of the Magazine, and shall endeavor to keep them to the standard of their former excellence.

We shall usually offer in each number one Sermon. And in regard to this we wish to make a suggestion to those who may present to us sermons for publication, namely, that they shall be selected not so much with reference to their intellectual excellence, - at any rate not because of their value as discussions of points in Theology or Philosophy. Such discussions we should prefer to have in the form of carefully prepared Articles. In the Sermons we should rather look for the most effective presentations of religious truth and religious appeal, in the various methods in which different preachers excel; so that in this department we may have a collection of noteworthy specimens of the modern Christian Pulpit.

Our more especial efforts will, however, be directed to the end of making this a thoroughly able Theological Review, that shall represent the best learning and culture of our time as applied to the questions of Christian theology.

It is our conviction, that there is no more important service than that which is rendered by the religious thinkers of our day, who are giving public expression to their thoughts upon the great topics which are so generally discussed, but which the great mass of the people have not the leisure or the capacity profoundly to consider, and on which consequently such crudeness and error commonly prevail. The reading public will gladly welcome and recognize the worth of any arguments that deserve such recognition, and it is our hope that this Review may win such a measure of confidence as on the one hand to be adopted by our ripest thinkers for a medium of communication- and on the other to be consulted by those who seek help towards the intelligent solution of the problems of theology and philosophy and social life.

Whether or not our expectation is to be realized, will depend chiefly on the amount of co-operation we receive from those on whose ability as writers we must depend to make the Review valuable and attractive. And this leads us to anticipate one possible difficulty in the way of securing the highest quality of scholarly contributions, namely, the fact that some may object to sending such carefully prepared articles to a periodical which, after all, does not claim to be exclusively a Theological or Philosophical Journal. In answer to this we can point to instances enough in the history of literature to prove that, in a little while, the literary instinct of the time will discover excellence, whatever be the place where it is habitually to be found. The most remarkable Essays written during the present century were contributed by St. Beuve, under the title of "Monday's Chat," to the columns of a daily newspaper in Paris. It was not long before that Monday Morning paper was sought by all who wished to see the best discussion of topics pertaining to Literature or art or philosophy, — and they would have sought them in whatever publication St. Beuve might have chosen for his mouth-piece. A few years ago the enterprising publisher of what had been regarded one of the most superficial of weekly story-papers was sagacious enough to engage Edward Everett to contribute a series of such articles as this accomplished scholar and orator might be willing to prepare; and, in spite of the previous prejudice, the papers containing these articles were bought and read, throughout the country, by a class of persons who had never looked into the periodical before. hope that in our case there will be no such actual prejudice to overcome, but we have mentioned an extreme illustration, in order to emphasize our conviction that the somewhat miscellaneous character of our Review need not impair its fitness as a place for the very highest class of theological and philosophical writing, such as we shall use our best efforts to secure for the portion of each number that is devoted to this department. If we can once establish a reasonable assurance that every number will contain one or more articles that every thinker will want to read, we believe those who look for such will not be deterred from seeking and recognizing it by the fact that the rest of the space is given to articles — not we' hope unworthy of being associated with them, but of a different character and aim.

We

As to the Theological position of the Review, it will aim to carry out the thoroughly liberal principle which has characterized the Unitarian body, and which we believe to be the most helpful to the investigation and promulgation of the Truth. It will be, however, decidedly and unequivocably on the Christian basis; and it will aim at building up rather than pulling down the structure of Christian faith. We shall not consider ourselves bound by our principle of liberality to publish crude doubts and theories merely because they are sincere; for these steps in the progress of an individual mind, however necessary and however deserving of respect, are not so much likely to afford help to others who may be in a similar condition, as they are to unsettle those who have not experienced it. But, within the limits of Christian belief, we shall encourage honest inquiry and the honest expression of any matured conviction.

We shall also make it a prominent purpose to promote an acquaintance with the various activities of the Unitarian denomination, and to stimulate an interest in its work and its opportunities, -in regard to this we shall speak more at length in another part of the present number of the Review.

We will only add that we hope to keep ourselves alive to all the present interests of our time, believing that matters pertaining to social life and progress may fitly demand a prominent place in a Journal that tries to serve as the representative of a religious body.

In our treatment of these subjects we shall endeavor on the one hand not to be withheld by any excessive regard for old ways, and on the other not to be carried away by the enthusiasm of too earnest hopes of change.

These are only the general features of our plan, such as it seemed necessary that we should present in asking for attention and support. We hope to receive such aid as will enable us to make the Review helpful in the various directions in which it I will seek to serve.

CHARLES LOWE.