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September 15, 1909. THE women and children. The order and attention are remarkable. In fifteen years we have never seen anything like it in street work. Disorderly children in Brownsville make it necessary to have a policeman there. But in Manhattan we have no need for an officer. The crowd gathers quickly, and listens with eager interest for over an hour to three or four addresses, in English and Ger man. In both places a quiet work of conviction is going on, and men are being led to real inquiry about Jesus and the way of salvation. One atheistic Jew, full of debate and gainsaying a few months ago, says now that he believes, and he and others are constantly studying the New Testament. Another Jew told one of our workers that he was about to commit suicide, but was arrested by our street meeting. He later followed the worker to another meeting, and professd to take Christ as his Savioui. After the street meeting a second meeting is held in a hall, and is often most encouraging by reason of tne order and deep interest shown. Short messages are given, followed by questions, which often give a chance for very direct nersonal dealine and Dlain handling of the truth. Here are some sample questions: "What proofs have you that Jesus is th& Messiah"? "Is the blood of Jesus of sacrificial character"? "How could God be just in taking an innocent person to suffer for the guilty"? Instead of closing the work during the hot season we are going right on. This is the time for reaching the crowds. God has given us a force large enough, to do this without undue strain. We propose to have no break, God willing,, in the street work until cold weather compels us to stop. Last year we continued the open-air work till the middle of December. The Lord is revealing His hand in this new work by many answers to prayer. One precious token is the following: Three new workers recently offered themselves to us, a man and his wife, and a student just out of a Bible school. All three use the German which is so important, and all are self-supporting. This makes now a force of seven men and women in our work who use German readily, and others are at hand to be emnloved when the Lord wills it. But before any large advance is possible we must secure a hall under our own control. Our work is hampered by our having only a church basement for meetings. We need a hall where we can have a reading room and daily meetings for men, with work for women and children, which is not possible now. In November, 1908, we opened a school for training workers for the Jewish field. We held this work to be furiVnental to true advancement in the Irk of evangelizing the Jews of our Id. A home is greatly needed for this v_ Ihonl and an a eentar fnr tha whnla >tork. We have a building In view lilch is Ideal for the purpose. It will 1st $450,000 but by rental of extra | lomg will provide an income of some / PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUTI ^2,000 yearly, which makes this property very desirable. We have nearly $4,000 given and jfledged for the purchase. We appeal to our readers for prayer. When God works in answer to prayer, as He is doing with us, that is the time for more prayer. The way is open before us for a wide development of gospel work. We crave prayer for divine wisdom in this enlargement. We want to see the definite results in the work, and so our hearts yearn and burn after souls, that they may be led to Christ. We ask earnest prayer for God's blessing on his work. Brethren, pray for us and for the Jews with whom we deal. 63 Central Place, Brooklyn, N. Y. BOOKS ABOUT PREACHING AND PREACHERS. It is said that the distinguished Dr. Dale, of Birmingham used to read every book about preaching he'could get hold of. Not many of us can hope to come up to the record of that eminent English divine. But if preaching be the great and difficult business we believe it to be, we should be supremely ambitious to improve our talents, and endeavor to master the principle of this most important and sacred art. One way to do this is to read the best that has been written on the subject in the way of treatises on homiletics and pastoral theology. A still ' better way is to read the lives of the B>vui. uiuqui o ul imipu eiuqueniT, aim to learn of them. Since biography is the most interesting department of literature, as Dr. Johnson said, nothing should so appeal to us ministers as the lives of the great preachers of the world. As a clerical tonic we recommend the reading of at least one book on homiletics, and one such biography a year. I have recently found such a course very helpful, and commend it to my brethren. It included: 1 ."The Christian Minister and His Duties," by Principal Dykes. This is a very sound scholarly and spiritual treatise on the work of the minister by a mnntpr in Tarn ol Fir nvlrna nAooaoo?o mmm W> MV<i * . lyj nco J/UOOVOOCO unusual qualifications for writing suclj a book, since to the experience of a long and brilliant pastorate he has added that of years of teaching in Westminster college, Cambridge. It is a scientific treatise, covering the whole compass of the preacher's duty. At the same time it is very practical and inspiring. 2. "The Cure of Souls," by lan MacLaren. As this is an old and well known work, (being the Yale lectures on preaching for 1896) we shall not dwell upon it. It is very readable and suggestive. Its intense seriousness is relieved by many little touches of graceful humor and gentle sarcasm, which Impart a literary flavor to it. The book has stood the test of time, because based upon a knowledge of his age and of human life. It is largely autobiographical. Dr. Watson excelled as a pastor. 3. This fact was demonstrated by reading it in connection with Dr. W. R. Nicoll's "Ian MacLaren, the Life of John Watson." I believe any minister will be a better man, and a more faithful ser* ? * i. 15 vant of Christ for reading this book. It is needless to say that the literary work is well done. Dr. Nicoll's name guarantees that. We have been deeply impressed by Dr. Watson's many sided humanness, his high sense of honor, his loyalty to duty, and his loving devotion to the Master. He was before all, and above all, a minister of Jesus Christ. His life and his preaching were centered in Christ, whom he loved with a mvstlo'a tenderness, and preached with a master's strength. He will live in history as the author of "Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush." But with him literature was only a by-product, his main business was to preach the evangel of Jesus, and to serve the Church of Christ. All of his rich and varied gifts were humbly laid at the feet of his Lord. Of these three books, Dr. Dykes' is the most satisfactory to one who wishes a scientific treatise on practical theology. But I believe you will get more profit, pleasure and inspiration from the "Life of Ian MacLaren." Washington, N. C H. B. Searight. FAMILY PRAYER. I know there are many families in which there is not any worship either night or morning. Many, too, in which there is no blessing asked before meals. This often results from diffidence on the part of the head of the family. This ought not to be. There are many books on prayer and forms of prayer that could he used. It may be better to read a prayer than to have no gathering of the family for worship. I am not, nor have I ever been, an advocate for worship of that kind. I believe there is a very simple way in which worship can be held night and morning that can be made very beneficial. I believe the best thing is to use the Lord's prayer. This is always appro pnate. it may be done either by father or mother, or the prayer may be repeated by all the family. My idea is for the father to call his family together read a short portion of scripture and then for them to kneel and for him to repeat the Lord's prayer, or they may repeat it in concert. I prefer that he should repeat it alone. I believe that if he will do this he will soon learn that he, with that, will be able to add petitions such as will make it both a pleasure and profit to himself and family. The best time for this is when the family are all ai the table. Make the service short and it will soon become a pleasure. I have known some families, where it was the custom for each member to repeat a verse of scripture before each meal. If this is acquired, causing the children to memorize a verse for each meal, and not repeat the same verse, a vast amount of scripture will be learned in that way. I have known the Shorter Catechism to be learned in that way. Can not our ministers induce the heads of families in their churches or in vacant churches, they may visit, to especially try the plan first suggested. Statesville, N. CJ W. W. M.