THE CHRISTIAN WITNESS AND Church Members' Magazine. 1863. 66 THY KINGDOM COME. THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN." PUBLISHED BY JOHN SNOW, 35, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1862. EDITORIAL ADDRESS. IN completing Volume XX. of the CHRISTIAN WITNESS, a feeling of solemnity steals over the mind. According to the statistics of human life, nearly two-thirds of the generation that hailed its appearance have passed away, and of the remaining third, it is impossible to say how many are still its readers; proper allowance, however, being made for competition, emigration, and other causes, it may be presumed that the number is small, so that the present constituency, to a vast extent, consists of new subscribers. This is according to the course of nature, and all that is required is, that the living shall promptly and uniformly hasten to occupy the places of the dead, enjoying the same privileges, and discharging the same duties. It is not enough, however, merely to fill the blanks of daily occurrence; population is ever on the increase, and our churches are annually multiplying; facts which require that the circulation of the magazines should, in that proportion, be extended. But even that is not sufficient, inasmuch as the mass of the people know nothing of these or of any similar publications, and hence the necessity of aggressive means for their diffusion. Let me, then, specially direct your attention to the Address of the Treasurer and Secretary, with which the present Number opens, and crave for it a careful perusal. In connexion with this subject, I now beg leave to introduce a matter personal to myself. Next month the CHRISTIAN WITNESS will enter on its majority, an event which I desire to turn to the best account for the good of the Congregational Body. Of the mass of monthly serials which have appeared in the course of these twenty years, how few survive! The CHRISTIAN WITNESS and the Penny Magazine, however, still exist, despite the most intense competition, in such strength that had they attained to nothing more even at the outset, they would have been deemed, and justly deemed, a great success. The total of the joint issues considerably exceeds Fourteen Millions! This is a fact without a parallel in the history of such publications. From this immense circulation, notwithstanding their extraordinary cheapness, the pecuniary results are all but incredible. The clear profits on the magazines and interest on stock arising therefrom are about £16,000. Still, time, as usual, in all such cases, necessarily brings along with it heavy delapidations which require suitable and constant repairs, and occasionally a special effort; and the present is, I think, a fitting period for one of these. My heart is deeply intent on doubling or trebling the circulation! Is the proposal startling? It need not: you, Fathers, Brethren, and Friends, have only to set about it with strong hearts and active hands, and it will soon be done! I ask this grand and general rally, not merely for the comfort of aged and afflicted ministers, and the spiritual good of individuals and churches, but also, that, at the proper time, I may be enabled to hand over the Magazines to my successor in a healthful and hopeful condition. In presenting this important request, it behoves me once more to make the most heartfelt acknowledgment of past services. There is no hazard in affirming, that no man engaged in this department of the Periodical Press was ever so supported as I have been, or was ever more handsomely rewarded for his labours, or received more uniform kindness and hearty co-operation. I had the unspeakable advantage of being selected by the Committee of the Congregational Union, and publicly appointed to the Editorship at the Autumnal Session in Leeds, by a resolution which was moved by the late ever-to-be-remembered John Angell James, and seconded by a pillar and ornament of Nonconformity-the Rev. Dr. Vaughan. This |
