ADDRESS TO OUR READERS. The close of 1855 brings with it the duty of addressing a few words to our readers, before we enter together on 1856. After an acquaintance of more than ten years with some of them, we trust we may be permitted to address them as not only readers, but friends; and, with the freedom and familiarity of friendship,-a friendship sanctified by common labours and common hopes,we would heartily wish them a happy ending of the year which still lingers, and a happier new year when it shall arrive. The year that has just gone has been full of events suggestive of earnest and devout thought. The great event of the WAR must, of course, come first to mind, as chiefly characteristic of the year which is just passing. Though that war is a necessity, and one which we have felt it our duty to justify, we cannot but regard it as a most painful circumstance, that should call for the most constant prayers of the people of God. Already how many have fallen victims to its ravages! Already how much suffering has it caused! Already how much it has interfered with christian and social progress, in our own country, and throughout the world! One of the most painful consequences of the war to us, is the indifference it inevitably induces in all classes to the realities of the higher life. When we are so much excited by the events of this world, it is difficult to avoid forgetting the greater concerns of that world which is unseen; and though this consideration should by no means lead us to neglect the interests of time, it should teach us ever to subordinate these to the interests of eternity. Let us pray that the church of God may be enabled, in this trying time, to realise its true position and duty. Especially let us beseech Him, who heareth his people always, that the blessings of peace may be speedily restored; and that meantime the cause of liberty and justice may be maintained and advanced. Ecclesiastical affairs have not been so significant this year as last. Here, as in other things, the war has interfered with that rapid progress which might otherwise have been looked for. Still there are many indications of the extension of what we deem correct views on ecclesiastical questions, both amongst statesmen and the people at large; and, at any rate, the way is being prepared for grander achievements than have yet been gained, in the great battle of religious freedom which our fathers bequeathed to us. Denominational matters appear to remain very much as they were. Some long familiar faces have disappeared from our midst, and new labourers occupy the positions from which others bave gone to their rest and reward; but still iv ADDRESS TO OUR READERS. the work of God among us proceeds, and many, though not so many as we could wish,-continue to be added to the kingdom of our Lord. We refer with pride and gratification to the success which has attended an effort which we last year advocated, and which we had always looked to as the completion of our own plans, namely, the establishment of a weekly journal for the denomination. We trust we may say that the success which has thus far attended that effort, has been such as to give hope of the ultimate establishment of the paper on a safe and permanent basis; and we are sure it will commend itself all the more readily to our friends, from the association with it of the benevolent and christian project which has been recently announced. For ourselves, we have cause to thank God and to take courage. We are happy still to receive assurances of the acceptableness of our little periodicals, and of their continued usefulness; their acceptableness, at least, has been proved this year by a somewhat enlarged circulation. We again request the aid of our friends, that that circulation may be still increased; and, relying on the help of the correspondents who have hitherto supported us, and on such new helpers as we may be able to gain, we address ourselves with hope and confidence to the labours of another year. |