Cant configure editor, doesn't save parameters?

Reading the user manual for hugs.... (running on fedora c5) Hugs doesn't seem to be set to use a particular editor, I tried following what it said in the manual... ":set -E"vi +%d %s"" it accepts it... and if i then type ":e" it does open the editor. but if i close hugs, re open it, type ":e", it goes back to asking for an editor to be configured first.... Is the configuration not permanent? Surely I dont have to type this in every time... ? Thanks alot for your help :)