Blankthorpe Parochial Papers. By " An Old Parishioner." Edited by the
Rev. C. R. Ball. (S.P.C.K.)—The " Old Parishioner " is, we may suppose, not a literary fiction, but gives us a view of Church matters from a layman's standpoint. The relations of clergy and laity, preaching, worship, matters of parochial organisation, and
methods of recreation, are among the topics of which he treats, writing always sensibly, and always, we take it, with a satisfactory knowledge of his subject. We would especially commend to the attention of all whom these things concern, the excellent chapters (xii.-xiv.) which discuss "Blankthorpe Feast," "Blankthorpe Benefit Clubs," " Blankthorpe Provident Dispensary." The " Old Parishioner" can say a smart thing on occasion,—as when he remarks that extempore preaching may be more " telling " than preaching from manuscript, but that there often seems to be " not so much to tell." He is quite right, too, when be says that, as a rule, the clergy " are rather in advance of their lay brethren than behind them in matters of religious opinion."
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