THE FRIENDS' QUARTERLY EXAMINER. A Religious, Social, & Miscellaneous Review. No. XLIX.-FIRST MONTH, 1879. N.B.-The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the opinions expressed in any article bearing the signature of the writer. EDITORIAL. THE commencement of a thirteenth volume of the Friends' Quarterly Examiner brings to us once more the pleasing duty of addressing our readers at the commencement of another year. It reminds us also of the rapid flight of time since, twelve years ago, we first entered on the privileges, as well as the responsibilities, of Honorary Editor. There is an epigrammatic saying that "nothing is certain in this life but the unexpected," and had our first contributors in 1867 ventured to predict, that when the year 1879 should come round in the revolving cycle of time, the same Editor would be found in the same place writing a thirteenth annual greeting to the readers, we should have been amongst the first to question the likelihood of such a conjecture. The possibility of a Quarterly Magazine, without endowment and with its literature conducted solely on "voluntary principles," being able to survive for so long B a period, and the probability of a succession of non-professional writers being found willing, as well as able, continuously to enlist the sympathies and interest of an audience so varied and wide-spread as that of the Society of Friends, were points gravely set before us by sincere well-wishers; and when to these and other difficulties were added the great uncertainty of life itself, and of health and strength and temper for the right performance of Editorial service, it is no marvel if in our most sanguine moments we failed to reach forth into these unknown future years, and picture to ourselves the closing days of the year just gone and the opening of 1879 calling for yet another annual salutation to the many readers and writers with whom for these long years we have been so pleasantly associated. The Reunion of writers at the Devonshire Hotel in May last, which was lately recorded in the “Voice from Southampton," No. XIX., sets forth the present views and feelings of the Editor so fully that it seems needless to repeat them on this occasion, but we will rather turn to a few thoughts which are naturally suggested by this returning season, with its hopes and its fears, its doubts, its sorrows, and its joys. Twelve years ago! What changes nationally, religiously, and socially--have occurred since then! Dynasties have been overthrown, kingdoms destroyed, Death has visited many a throne, and nearly every palace chamber. Popes and emperors, kings, princes, and prelates, presidents, rulers, and statesmen have passed away. Germany has become an empire, and France a republic. Some of the most appalling wars that ever visited nations have been commenced, carried on, and finished; and although our country has been happily preserved from involvement in either of the great European struggles, we have been engaged, both in Africa and India, in a fierce and cruel warfare. Then also in other directions how great have been the issues since 1867. Alabama treaties, the Suez Canal, French and Spanish revolutions, colonial changes, household suffrage, and a multitude of other political events, have been crowded into this short period of time; whilst in the progress of arts and sciences the strides have been greater probably than in any previous similar epoch of the world's history. Again, in ancient records, old Troy has been disentombed; the discoveries of ruins and monuments, and the deciphering of inscriptions relating to the earliest periods of history, have been marvellous in extent as well as in importance, and if the nation should be preserved in peace, it is impossible to say what disclosures this accumulated impetus of the past twelve years may lead up to in the years succeeding. But with all these changes for good and for ill going on around us, with the siftings of religious thought and upturning of theological systems, how blessed is the thought that the Lord our God changes not; that His Truth is immutable, and His love cannot be removed. Amidst all the vicissitudes of life, all that would overwhelm us now or destroy our hopes in the future as we see old foundations are being removed and landmarks of every kind ready to vanish away, we have the glorious assurance that, to the Christian believer, "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His." Then, if for a moment we turn to the social and domestic changes amongst ourselves since the day when our first number was issued; scarcely one household amongst all our readers which the angel of Death has not visited,-now, perhaps, in the removal of the aged pilgrim with his day's work done in the daytime and ripe for the heavenly garner; and now, the young man and the strong cut off in the midst of a career of honour and great usefulness; and then, the little child just entering upon life's joys, full of hope and trust and promise. Even out of the ranks of those who have been contributors to this publication how often have we had to refer to the gaps occasioned by their removal at various periods of life's stage. "Leaves have their times to fall, And flowers to wither at the North Wind's breath, Thou hast all seasons for thine own, Oh! Death." It has been our custom as the years roll on to record some of the losses by death of our band of contributors. Amongst those whose vacant places since last year we have to mourn are our late valued friends Charles Fox and William Ball. The pages of the Annual Monitor have contained short and fitting tributes to the memory of these two, who were amongst our earliest writers, and whose animating help we have often had thankfully to acknowledge. But concerning these, and many others of our lost comrades, may we not reverently and rejoicingly bear witness, "That they have fought the good fight and have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for them also a crown of righteousness that fadeth not away.' And for us who remain contributors to these pages, and those whose eyes may scan these lines, may we not, very many of us, at the close of the dying year, in adoration and reverent thankfulness unto Him who, even in His various dispensations of joy and sorrow, hath crowned the "year with His goodness," say, in the language of the Psalmist, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life." But turning to the gloomy aspect under which the New Year has opened upon us as a nation, what shall we say? Wars and rumours of wars; heavy taxation and no trade. Multitudes of families, especially in Scotland, who, but yesterday, were |