CHRISTIAN WORDS:

THE ORGAN OF THE

WESLEYAN REFORM UNION.

1874.

"Christ is Head over all things to His Church, and His Word the only and
the sufficient rule both of its faith and practice,”

WESLEYAN REFORM BOOK-ROOM, 8, EXETER HALL,

AND MAY BE HAD OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.

1874.

Per. 11144.2.

PREFACE.

The first number of

In closing our volume for 1874 we are forcibly reminded of the past history of our periodical. The General Committee, in 1850, determined to issue a monthly serial, and a small committee was appointed to carry this out. It was our lot to be appointed on that committee. Its first Editor was the Editor of the Wesleyan Times. "The Wesleyan Reformer" was published, price one penny, January, 1851. In 1853 the title was altered to "The Wesleyan Methodist Penny Magazine," at the end of 1857 the Magazine was given up. At the Delegate Meeting of 1860 it was resolved to publish a Penny Monthly Magazine, to be an exponent of our principles and a record of our work. In January, 1861, the first number of "The Wesleyan Reform Union Magazine" was published; and under that title, and the present shorter and more general title of "Christian Words," it has been continued to the present time.

The first Editor has gone to his final account; the second, third, and fourth are no longer found in the ranks of the Wesleyan Reformers; the fifth died in the Lord. The brethren who have conducted the last series are still found on the Committee of The Wesleyan Reform Union, and we believe are as true to Christian Truth as jealous of Christian Liberty.

A glance at the index of this volume will show our readers the pleasing variety which has been introduced, and that no class has been overlooked. Here are Christian Words for the young and the old; Lessons worth learning; the Biographical Sketches show how the Christian has lived and how he died; the Original Articles show thought and research, while the Selections are interesting and instructive.

This Magazine is the only organ which the Union possesses. It is a medium of communication between the different Churches, and thus tends to unite those who hold the same views and principles, and cherish the same hopes of an eternal union above.

The new volume for 1875 will start with a fresh impetus, for the Sheffield Circuit has given an order for 800 of the January number. If our other Circuits would follow this example our circulation next year will be more than doubled.

London, Nov. 16th, 1874.