WHY IS IT?
BECAUSE, First, HENRY WARD BEECHER is its Editor, and his Editorials, Star Papers, and occasional Literary Reviews and Lecture-Room Talks are sought for by thousands, while the auxiliary editorial labor is in the hands of cultivated journalists; the CONTRIBUTORS being representative men of ALL Denominations.
BECAUSE, Secondly, ITS FORM, sixteen pages, large quarto, Stitched and Cut, is so convenient for reading, binding, and preservation, as to be a great and special merit in its favor.
BECAUSE, Thirdly, It is called "the Most Interesting Religious Paper published," being quoted from by the press of the entire country more extensively than any other. The critical Nation (N. Y.) says it is "Not only the ablest and best, but also, as we suppose, the most popular of American religious periodicals. At all events it is safe to predict that it will soon have, if it has not already, greater influence than any other religious paper in the country."
BECAUSE, Fourthly, It has something for every Member of the Household, admirable contributed and editorial articles, discussing all timely topics; fresh information on unhackneyed subjects; reliable news of the Church and the world; Market and Financial Reports; an Agricultural Department; excerpts of Public Opinion from the press; careful Book Reviews, with Educational, Literary, Musical, and Art Notes; much matter of a high and pure religious tone; a Household Department; choice Poems; Household Stories; and Chat for the Little Ones.
BECAUSE, Fifthly, All subscribers are entitled to
TWO SUPERB OIL CHROMOS,
"WIDE AWAKE" and "FAST ASLEEP,"
A pair—no cheap colored prints, but splendid copies of Oil Paintings, by an eminent English artist. The pair, by a fortunate arrangement which one of the partners of this house was able to make with the proprietors of the pictures in Paris, during the late siege, are furnished to the Publishers at a rate entirely exceptional. So that, although the selling price of them is ($10) Ten Dollars, at which price thousands have been sold in America, and still are selling and will be sold by the picture trade generally, the Publishers of The Christian Union give away the two pictures, of course unmounted, to every subscriber to the paper. Or, if preferred, subscribers will receive a fine impression of Marshall's Household Engraving of Washington, of which Darley, the celebrated artist, says: "It is, beyond all question the best head engraved in line yet produced in this country, as well as the finest copy of Stuart's portrait I have ever seen."