EXTRACTS FROM REVIEWS.

" We cannot praise this book too highly, nor wish that it may be too widely known. If we look at its outside, it is a most elegant book, bound in a handsome binding designed by Mr. Butterfield, and most suitable for a present at the great Christian Festival to which we are already beginning to look forward. And the printing, paper, and general get- up of the book agree with the chaste beauty of its exterior. But the chief reason why we wish to commend this volume to the notice of our readers is because of the immense good which may be done by the introducing of carol- singing into our churches and our homes. As Mr. Baring- Gould writes in his most valuable Introduction: Perhaps there is as great a need nowadays of impressing the great doctrine of the Incarnation on the popular mind as in the days of the great regenerator, St. Francis of Assissi, who was' the father of carols and carol- singing.' In his day, Manicheeism was making terrible ravages among Christian people; multitudes were losing their faith in, or denying altogether, the Incarnation of Our Lord, which is the key­stone of Christianity; and it was a great inspiration which moved St. Francis to ask the Pope's permission to have in the churches representa­tions of the Holy Nativity, and to sing hymns in the vernacular to the Divine Christ Child. And in our own day, just such a need as this still exists. We have to enforce this doctrine by every means in our power, and it is a grievous mistake to think that the only means available is to preach sermons on the subject. The country- people, at least, need some­thing more, and, as Mr. Baring- Gould suggests, if we could not have the præsepio of St. Francis in our Churches, we could have it in our schools; and we could also sing his carols both there and in the Churches. Such a plan was carried out, we believe, by that noble Churchman, Charles Lowder, when he was Vicar of St. Peter's, London Docks. We think that Mr. Chope, the editor of this volume, makes a wise suggestion when he tells us the line which he has himself pursued in his well- known Church of St. Augustine, Queen's Gate. Since 1868, the book of Carols has been used instead of the hymn- book during the whole of the Christmas and Epiphany seasons; and he adds, it is always to us- congrega­tion, choir, and clergy- the very beginning of Lent to lay aside our popular, much- loved carols." Psalms and Hymns" though appro­priate at all other times of joy or sadness, are not the" spiritual songs" best suited to express our" great joy" for the" good tidings" of the Saviour's Birth and Manifestation to the Gentiles. The Carol belongs especially to this dispensation. It was introduced by the angel when he announced the first Christmas, and the Carol has continued the" Evangelical Song ever since. The variety in the editions of this book makes its popular use exceedingly easy. Besides the beautiful edition for presentation, published at 78. 6d., Mr. Chope has also published another musical edition, in cloth for 4s., and the treble part in paper covers for 1s. There are also several editions of the words only. One is a beautiful little volume, bound in cloth gilt with a special design, and illustrated with copious woodcuts

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