PREFACE. Who would believe our third SOME again, thank God! voyage of circumnavigation is finished? We rounded Cape South in August, Cape North early in December, and arrived, after a prosperous and pleasant passage, safe to land.* The gallant Captain Cook, one of England's noblest seamen, went round the world three times, but it took years to accomplish. But then he was on voyages of discovery and in sail, while we are engaged in the passenger and cargo traffic, and in steam. Our cargo is truth and our passengers those who are bound for the Kingdom. Our twelve monthly sailings have been prompt, and not even the celebrated Cunarders could have made better time than Chart and Compass. In glancing at the log, we see many dangers passed and many reasons for devout gratitude. It is painful to see a ship proudly start on her voyage and afterwards spring a leak, get ashore, and perhaps founder, in every case gratefully abandoned by captain and crew! So is it in Magazine-life. Even in our short trips we have passed many a disabled craft, and seen the poor captain (editor) and crew (contributors) doing their utmost to keep her afloat. But the leaks (in the shape of monthly debts) could not be stopped, and there seemed to be no chance of getting a suck of the pumps. And we have since heard that several of such have been abandoned to their fate! If people think there is no responsibility, and that it is an easy thing to build, float, and sail a Magazine, we urge them to try, but let them first count the cost. The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon was recently asked to assist in launching such a vessel, named "The Christian Commonwealth," and he writes, "A friend, who saw the title of the paper, remarked that it required no common wealth to carry on a new paper at the first, and he might have added that it will require no common wealth of talent and skill to conduct it with success." Yes, great preacher, and the COMMON wealth of * Since the Preface was written we have had to hoist our flag half-mast high. But the Captain's "banner" over us is love.-ED. |