"The author of the essays here brought together resided in Berlin from the time when his health broke down in 1871 until his death in 1879. His dominant interest in civil and religious liberty, and in all social movements which involved the discussion of fundamental principles, forbade him to be a recluse; and he responded, notwithstanding the prolonged physical sufferings by which he was hindered, to frequent calls for speeches and essays in different countries where exciting questions were under discussion, and where he believed that the voice of an American familiar with European affairs might help on the deliberations of the friends of human progress. Many of his addresses were widely distributed in different languages. Some of them have permanent value. In this belief, they are offered to those who love and honor the name of a fearless, eloquent, and enlightened advocate of Christian liberty in Church and State. In addition to the addresses several essays are here given, in which the author shows his high estimate of scientific researches, while he steadily upholds the doctrines of the Christian faith"--Book. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).