"The Church," as it has been understood for nearly 2,000 years, however, means something more than a voluntary organization to promote secular ends, no matter how laudable they may be. To many who leave the Church do so through a mistaken emphasis on or a mistaken idea of their own importance. Too many who indulge in virulent attacks or pessimistic utterances do so because they are disappointed because the Church has not in her organic life endorsed their particular panaceas for social ills. Because she does not advocate their hobbies therefore she is wanting in perspicacity and is deficient in moral force and courage! Nevertheless the Church persists. She is performing her two-fold service to God and to man, as she has for 2,000 years, and will no doubt, so far as finite eyes can discern, continue to do so until her appointed end shall arrive. In the meantime it is a proper question for devoted and devout communicants of the Church to ask "Has the Church an immediate function in connection with pressing current-day problems and if so, is she discharging it in the spirit and in the letter and with efficiency?" Believing that she has and that it is the duty of every Churchman, in the words of the Christian Social Union: "1. To claim for the Christian law the ultimate authority to rule social practice. 2, To study in common how to apply the moral truths, and principles of Christianity to the social and economic difficulties of the present time. 3, To present Christ in practical life as the living Master and King, the enemy of wrong and selfishness and the power of righteousness and live," these articles have been written. It is my hope that time and opportunity will be afforded to discuss certain specific phases of social problems from the Church point of view. "I very cheerfully enclose $2.00 for the nenewal of my subscription. I was one of the first subscribers and I have enjoyed the AMERICAN CHURCH MONTHLY every month since." (Signed) CAPTAIN D. R. FAY, Dallas, Texas. The American Church Monthly Fourth Year A magazine of comment, criticism and review dealing with questions confronting the Anglican Communion and more especially the Church in the United States, Subscription, $2.00 a year. 25c a copy. SELDEN PEABODY DELANY, D.D., Editor. From the Bishop of Pennsylvania: "I am very glad to express my approval of the American Church Monthly and my conviction that it will occupy an important place in our church life." The American Church Monthly is reaching a large and growing audience of readers, worthy of the traditons of our Communion, and drawing to its staff of contributors a continuous exhibit of latent scholarship which has long waited an outlet for its encouragement. FOR RENEWALS DUE. The circulation of the "American Church Monthly" has been maintained and somewhat increased from the time of its first publication. We believe that, as a magazine, it has been constantly improving and fills a distinct position in the literature of the Church, which was needed, and that it is worthy of a much wider circulation.. Although the cost of publication has been increased, and we have no desire of increasing it because we desire its wide circulation among the Clergy and thoughtful laymen. The circulation ought to be trebled, and if this could be done, it would put the magazine beyond any thought of ever increasing the price. We are asking our friends to procure additional subscriptions. If you appreciate the magazine, as we think you do, you will be glad to make the effort.. In addition to this, the publisher would be very glad to receive a list of names from you which might be canvassed. EDWIN S. GORHAM, Manager "THE CHRISTIAN'S DAY" A Book of Meditations for the Daily Life of a Christian 257 pp., 12mo., cloth, gilt... Second Thousand $1.50 "The 'Christian Day' contains chapters on 'Prayer, Meditation, "Temptation,' 'Repentance,' 'Confession,' 'Relation to Others, Work,' 'Pain,' 'Discipline,' 'The Supernatural, Thanksgiv ing. These subjects are all dealt with, not in a speculative or theoretical fashion, but in a practical way, as by one meeting real difficulties and answering actual questions."-Holy Cross Magasine "MEDITATIONS ON THE CREED" 512 pp., 12mo., cloth, gilt.. Second Thousand .$2.00 "An extraordinarily successful and practical correlation of Creed and Conduct, the kind of treatment of the subject calculated to help people disturbed by attacks upon the Catholic Faith at the present time and develop the vigorous, manly and positive type of Christian character."--REV. ARTHUR JENKS, D.D., Professor in the General Theological Seminary, New York. "THE SELF-REVELATION OF OUR LORD" Meditations on the Self-revealing Titles Applied by Our Lord to Himself 344 pp., 12mo., cloth, gilt.. .$1.50 Every point that he touches is illuminated; and everywhere we find hopeful suggestions. Most illuminating are his discussions of the relations between Science and Philosophy and Religion; of the Authority of the Church, especially that of our American Church; of the Holy Eucharist; and of many other matters that are of vital interest to the earnest Christian. "THE INVITATIONS OF OUR LORD" Notes of Meditations 294 pp., 12mo., cloth..... .$1.50 The new volume fills a much felt want, and it will find, we trust, many readers who will profit by its teachings. We are sure that through its influence the practice of meditation will spread and many who have hitherto been deprived of this aid to spiritual growth, because of the supposed difficulties, will be led to understand its beauty and helpfulness. "ON PRAYERS TO THE DEAD" 176 pp. Library binding..... $1.25 "Dr. Barry approaches the subject of Invocation of Saints in a refreshing and straightfor ward manner. The author takes into consideration not the practice of the Western Church only but also of the Eastern Church, which draws no sharp line of distinction between All Souls and All Saints, and whose members both pray for their departed relatives and ask them for their prayers in return."-The Church Times, July 25th, "Dr. Barry's book presents the true Christian attitude toward the departed-based on the Catholic doctrine of the Communion of Saints."-REV. FRANCIS J. HALL, D.D., Living Church, August 16, 1919. FROM A CONVENT TOWER 186 pp. Library binding.. ..$1.25 [Just Ready CONTENTS-Saint Mary of the Hills.-The World Without the Gates.-Those Who Seek.-The Novices. The Chapel.-The Tabernacle.-The Silence. In the Library.—The Life of Sacrifice. -Compline, THE RELIGION OF THE PRAYER BOOK the Rev. Selden P. Delany, D.D. 12mo. 275 pages. Cloth. Price, $1.75 Second Thousand The new book by Dr. Barry and Dr. Delany entitled "The Religion of the Prayer Book," is. a serious attempt to examine the various offices and rites, and to ascertain if possible just what kind of religion the Prayer Book teaches. Edwin S. Gorham, Publisher 11 West 45th St. New York Largest Life Insurance Business in the World METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (INCORPORATED BY THE STATE OF NEW YORK). Haley Fiske, President Frederick H. Ecker, Vice-President $5,343,652,434 Total Amount of Outstanding Insurance Larger than that of any other Company in the World. Ordinary (annual premium) Life Insurance paid for in 1919 $910,091,087 More than has ever been placed in one year by any Company in the World. Industrial (weekly premium) Insurance paid for in 1919 $508,590,405 More than has ever been placed in one year by any Company in the World. Total Insurance placed and paid for in 1919 $1,418,681,492 The largest amount ever placed in one year by any Company in the World. Gain in Insurance in Force in 1919 $914,140,618 More than ever has been gained in one year by any Company in the World Number of Policies in Force December 31, 1919 Larger than that of any other Company in America. Gain in Number of Outstanding Policies 21,770,671 1,986,410 the World has ever gained in one year. Number of Claims paid in 1919 $29,085,337.17 289,125 Averaging one policy paid for every 30 seconds of each business day of 8 hours. Amount paid to Policy-holders in 1919 $73,581,759.91 Payment of claims averaged $505.93 a minute of each business day of 8 hours. Metropolitan Nurses made 1,300,883 visits free of charge to 256,000 sick Industrial Policy-holders. Metropolitan men distributed over Twelve Millions of pieces of literature on health Bringing the total distribution to over 200,000,000. Reduction in general mortality at ages of 1 to 74 in 8 years 17.9 per cent. Typhoid reduction, 69 per cent.; Tuberculosis, over 33 per cent.; Heart disease, over 23 per cent.; Bright's disease, over 25 per cent.; Infectious diseases of children, over 46 per cent. In general reduction and in each case of disease, this is far greater than that shown by statistics of the Registration Area of the United States. Death Rate for 1919 lowest in History of Company. |