THE

UNITED CHURCH JOURNAL.

NEW SERIES.

TO OUR READERS.

In commencing the third yearly volume of our Journal, we think it proper to address a few words of explanation to its readers, of our motives in altering the title which it has borne for the first two years of its existence. Notwithstanding our professions to the contrary, some would entertain, from the word IRISH on the title-page, an expectation that the Journal should deal exclusively, or nearly so, with matters connected with the Irish branch of the Church. This, as indeed we have said more than once, never entered into our plan. We do not wish to be exclusive, either in a partizan or in a territorial sense; and it is to avoid the latter, that we now adopt the title of the UNITED CHURCH JOURNAL, and thus cut off all occasion of mistake as to our position, and also keep before the minds of our readers everywhere the important fact that our Church is the United Church of England and Ireland, both in the mother-country and in the colonies; that, as there is identity of doctrine and government, so there is identity of interest, and should be of sympathy and co-operation.

The expectations which we had formed on the starting of our Journal have been fully realized-that we should become the medium through which moderate and earnest men of various views would express their opinions and suggestions on biblical and ecclesiastical subjects; and we are pleased to find so much valuable matter from various correspondents in the two volumes. What enhances our satisfaction is, that so many of the younger members of the clergy are among our contributors, who may thus feel themselves encouraged, by perhaps discovering within them talents which they did not suspect, to devote some of their time to the composition of works of theological learning, like those which already bring so much credit to our Church. The clergy of the present day, if they desire to hold their position in the country, must be a learned clergy. While the various other branches of knowledge are progressing, the legitimate teachers of religion cannot stand still, but must strive to keep the eternal truths of Christianity in harmony with the advancing knowledge of matter and mind. Our civilization is a

VOL. III.-N. S. VOL. I.

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