John Wesley. By Rev. R. GREEN. Pp. 192. London, Paris, and New York: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. A very admirable, popular biography of the great reformer of England. Lectures in Defense of the Christian Faith. By Prof. F. GODET, Author of Commentaries on Saint Luke and Saint John and Romans, etc. Translated by W. H. LITTLETON, M.A., Rector of Hagley and Canon of Gloucester. 8vo, pp. 320. New York: Anson D. F. Randolph & Co. Randolph & Company have done a good work in republishing in America these brilliant lectures at a price cheaper for the popular circulation they deserve than the British edition. Hosannahs of the Children, and other Short Sermons for Young Worshipers; or, A Chime of Bells from the Little Sanctuary. By J. R. MACDUFF, D.D. 12mo, pp. 354. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 1882. Unbelief in the Eighteenth Century, as Contrasted with its Earlier and Later History. Being the Cunningham Lectures for 1880. BY JOHN CAIRNS, D.D., Principal and Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics in the United Presbyterian College. Pp. 216. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1881. De Quincey. By DAVID MASSON. 12mo, pp. 198. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1882. Manual of Object Teaching. With Illustrative Lessons in Methods and Science of Education. By N. A. CALKINS, Author of "Primary Object-Lessons," "Phonic Charts," and "School and Family Charts." 8vo, pp. 469. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1882. German Principia. Part I. A First German Course, containing Grammar, Delectus, and Exercise-Book, with Vocabularies, and Materials for German Conversation. On the Plan of Dr. William Smith's "Principia Latina." Third Edition, Revised and Enlarged, with the Exercises Printed in both German and English Characters. Pp. 237. New York: Harper & Brothers. 1882. Nez Perce Joseph. An Account of his Ancestors, his Lands, his Confederates, his Enemies, his Murders, his War, his Pursuit and Capture. By O. O. HOWARD, Brig.-Gen. U. S. A. Pp. 274. Boston: Lee & Shepard. New York: Charles T. Dillingham. 1881. Pp. 47. Stories about New York: Phillips & Report of the Commissioner of Education, for the Year 1879. 8vo, pp. 757. Garfield's Words. Suggestive Passages from the Public and Private Writings of The Boy Travelers in the Far East. Part III. Adventures of Two Youths in a REV. WILLBUR FISK, D.D. DR. WILLBUR FISK, whose likeness and sign-manual form the frontispiece of the present number of our QUARTERLY, was born at Brattleboro, Vermont, August 31, 1792. His parents were of the fine old Puritan stock, but had become Methodist in sentiment. Under the parental roof his character was marked for rectitude, manliness, and piety. He entered Burlington College in 1812, but that institution being suspended during the war, he went to Brown University, where he was graduated in 1815, under President Messer. In his college course he was eminent for ability, especially in extemporaneous oratory. But his spirit became secularized, and his ambition turned toward law and statesmanship. He studied for a brief period, but his health failed and pulmonary symptoms appeared. Under a revival at Lyndon, Vermont, he received a religious renewal, and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He soon became distinguished, not only for piety and zeal, but for his rare ability as a pulpit orator. He was chaplain to the legislature, preacher of the annual Election Sermon, and his pulpit productions frequently became widely diffused through the press. In conjunction with a number of his ministerial brethren he founded a religious weekly paper, which is now "Zion's Herald," which was the first religious weekly in Methodism, "if not," says his biographer, "in the world." Under similar auspices the first Methodist literary Institution in New England was established at Wilbraham, Mass., of which he became the first Principal. Soon after the Methodist college was established at Middletown, Conn., and he became "First President of the Wesleyan University." While at Wilbraham he was elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Canada, and while at Middletown he was elected Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States, but he declined both positions in behalf of his mission as an educator. But eminent and varied as were the qualifications of Dr. Fisk, it was as a theologian that we most honor his memory. It was the great question of theodicy, the divine sovereignty and human responsibility, which, misstated by the predestinarian theology in New England, especially called forth his powers. His sermons and publications brought out the ablest championship on the other side, and beyond all question he was master of the field. Nowhere in England or America has the true Wesleyan-Arminian theology-that evangelical theology which has been, and still is, marching to a sure triumph in the general Protestant Church-been more clearly and conclusively stated than in his brief volume entitled "Calvinistic Controversy." In the great slavery controversy Dr. Fisk was an intrepid leader for years on the conservative side. He foresaw with accurate prescience that war was the sure result. He foretold the bloody contest. He therefore stood with the great body of the wise and good for tolerance of a great evil in hopes of an ultimate providential deliverance. Thereby happily he retarded the day of bloodshed until the North was powerful enough to win the battle for freedom. In this great discussion all the executive and oratorical ability of Dr. Fisk were exerted. His friends have compared him for his gentle piety to Fénelon; but it is certain that when aroused he could assume something of the imperious type of Bossuet. Too brief for the fullness of his usefulness and fame were the years of his life. The pulmonary tendencies of his early days. never left him; and he long worked as a resolute and heroic semi-invalid. His career closed with a death-bed of holy triumph, Dec. 22, 1838. His Life, written by his chosen biographer, Rev. Dr. Holdich, is a deeply interesting portraiture. Our engraving is from a portrait painted in England during his visit thither, now in possession of Mrs. Fisk, who is still living in her residence on the University grounds at Middletown. Plan of Episcopal Visitation for Spring Conferences of 1882. Time. Bishop. Time. Bishop. .Hurst. Moradabad.... Jan. 11 12 Foster. Italy... March 29 Harris. Newark... March 30. Wiley. .Peck. New York East. Waterbury.. April 5.. Simpson. Foster. Muncie April Wyoming ...Wiley. Harris. New Eng. South'n, April 12.. Andrews. March 8.... Wiley. April 26. March 9.. Simpson. Foss. Merrill. Foss. 3...... Foss. Virginia.. Kansas Philadelphia. Baltimore.. Millville... March 8.. Andrews. Manassas. Abilene. Frankford... March 9... Warren. , March 15.. Bowman. Cont'l Pennsyl'a.. Lockhaven.... March 15..... Hurst. Washington Missouri Lexington Saint Louis. Baltimore March 22.... Wiley. New Hampshire... Lawrence, Mass. April 19. Maine ..City of Mexico. February 2.. Andrews. Harris. Harris. Harris. |