second edition, is published by the Young Churchman Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The main part of it is confined to a treatment of "Theology Proper," and discusses with abundant learning and clearness such subjects as theism, anti-theistic theories, the divine nature, the attributes of God, the Trinity, etc. In all this there is much that is most satisfactory, even although it is stated with the succinctness and sometimes with the dryness of a text-book. Any young student who should go through it with an effort to consult the numerous authorities who are referred to on every page, would be richly rewarded for his labor. The disputable portions of this discussion mainly rest upon the assumptions contained in Part I, which is entitled "Introduction," and it is into this that the non-Episcopalian theologian will look with most interest and with keenest scrutiny. For here he will find a characteristic statement by a high churchman of what he understands by the Science of Theology, the church's dogmatic office, and the nature and function of Holy Scripture. He will find that Dr. Hall refers to his church continually as the Anglican Church, a title which strikes one curiously in the work of an American theologian; and one which is no real parallel to the name Catholic Church by which alone the Roman Church allows itself to be called, or even the name Greek Church by which Westerners describe the great Orthodox Catholic Church of the East. The use of the name is, however, significant. It means, as we proceed with this introduction, that Dr. Hall plants himself firmly upon the doctrine of the church formulated by the tractarian movement in England. For him theology is, indeed, the Science of God and Things Divine, but it "assumes the Catholic Faith as its premise and governing principle." If we ask exactly what the Catholic Faith means, we discover that it is to be found in physical science and anthropology so far as these throw light upon God and the moral and religious nature of man, but especially in revealed truth or the Catholic Faith. This is "contained in the sacred Scriptures, summed up in the creeds, and affirmed by the undisputed general councils." It is from the creeds that the voice of the church is primarily heard, and these creeds are the Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian symbols. These furnish the premises of Christian thought." This idea is emphasized with utmost conviction and clearness repeatedly. So much importance is attached to the definite declarations of the church that attention is given to the various ways in which the church has expressed its mind upon the essentials of the faith. Those which are known to be promulgated by the church everywhere and from the beginning are even in their verbal conciliar form a law to the conscience of the individual believer. And yet some are of supreme authority which have not been so formulated. "Much that is necessary to be believed has not been given dogmatic form in the ecumenical sphere; e. g., the doctrine of baptismal regeneration." By what test we are to discover all that belongs to the latter class, Dr. Hall does not tell us, and the way is opened for the indefinite claims of doctrines which are neither defined by councils nor have been universally accepted by Christendom. Dr. Hall's chief difficulty has been to describe the nature of the authority which attaches to the Scriptures as compared with that which inheres in the indefinite body of truth promulgated by the church. At this point the lack of

a historical method produces acute difficulties which are not obliterated by the author's patient and detailed statements regarding the Scriptures. He lays down the position familiar to those who have read in Anglican literature and on which Newman laid such emphasis, that "it is the function of the church to teach, and of the Scripture to prove the faith." Again he says, "That a Scripture is divinely inspired is made known to us primarily by the church." And yet again, "The Bible is not the source of truth in God's kingdom, for the church's possession of it is more ancient than the Bible and was derived by direct revelation." These sentences, which undoubtedly contain truth in them, do not, however, represent the original relation of Scripture to the life of the church. Nothing is more important for our day than the right presentation of this matter, for our defense of the truth of Christianity as well as our exposition of its nature must depend ultimately on the view which we hold alike concerning the way in which the faith was created and the relation of that faith to the church and to the Scriptures respectively. It is the conviction of many of us that a class of writers on this subject whom Dr. Hall almost completely ignores, those namely who are not afraid of the word "Protestant," have done most to trace the historical origin of the faith and to place the Bible and the church in their true relations to one another.

On the main portion of the book not much need be said by way of criticism except this, that the theism and the Trinitarian doctrine here described cannot be finally defended today without a more clearly defined and consistently employed theory of knowledge. Nothing is more certain as the result of the philosophical labors of the last century than that we cannot convincingly deal with any doctrine of the metaphysical until we have a doctrine of the manner by which the metaphysical becomes known to us and its reality is ascertained by the human mind. Repeatedly in the course of Professor Hall's exposition one feels the lack of this. It need not be added that the doctrine is evangelically sound, devoutly expressed, even although at times a scholastic method is somewhat rigidly employed. (Young Churchman Co., pp. ix, 106. $1.00 net.)

W. D. M.

There are many ways of describing and defending Christianity, and all kinds of books are needed to do this work for all kinds of people. If so be only that the work be done earnestly and in adaptation to definite needs, each worker deserves his welcome. Hence we welcome a little book called The Creed of Christ. It is written by Rev. Richard Venable Lancaster and is sent out by the Presbyterian Committee of Publication at Richmond, Va. It is written by a sturdy believer, a clear writer, and ardent student of the Bible. The mere scholar will of course wonder at some of the methods employed. He will note that there is no discrimination between the way of using the Fourth Gospel and the other three. He will also wonder at some of the things which are said about the relation of Jesus to the Scriptures. That most difficult and delicate subject is treated with great confidence and some exaggeration. To say, "No precept (of the O. T.) does he repeat" may be simply an oversight even in an author who knows his gospel so well, and who must remember Matthew 5:31-38. And yet that oversight is significant of the general

attitude of many of our most evangelical writers. It is true and a matter of great moment for our faith that Jesus does affirm the authority of the O. T. But it is the O. T. as interpreted and adapted by Himself and the Spirit of His gospel to the new age which He is founding. To see that doubtful fact and to accept it as the supreme fact in the relation of Jesus to the O. T., will hasten a most desirable agreement among men who ought not to be in different camps. The author writes thirteen chapters on "The Creed" and gives his expositions with eloquence, clearness and true unction. If literalism is occasionally carried too far, and if sometimes meanings are read into the word of Jesus which come from a later theological standpoint, these faults must not detract from the general and convincing picture which is given from his own teaching of the work of Jesus as the Saviour and Lord of our race. (Presbyterian Committee of Publication, pp. 206. 60 cents.)

W. D. M.

The publishers, A. S. Barnes & Co., have projected "The Right Life Series," designed to offer "a series of small, easily read books intended to furnish material for settling the convictions of thoughtful people upon questions which are uppermost today. What are we to believe? What is the Right Life? What are we to think of the Bible today? What is the ethics of Business? How should religion be taught? — and the like." the first of this series is The Right Life and How to Live It, by Henry A. Stimson, with introduction by Wm. H. Maxwell, city superintendent of schools, New York. The themes chosen are The Facts of Life, The Law of Life, The Moral Equipment, The Moral Obligation, The Rules of the Game. The opening chapters state in very easy, familiar terms a philosophy of personality, environment, society, state, God. The closing chapters treat of sex, work, business, home, sport, animals, etc. The whole is very simple, very lucid, but also truly thoughtful, really earnest. Any honest reader, old or young, will enjoy the reading and find things falling into order and growing clear. The author has used his eyes amid current scenes; his thought has attended his eyes; and his pen has in a free, original way recorded his thought. The book is a good sign. May its readers multiply, and its kind increase. (A. S. Barnes & Co., xviii, 256. $1.20 net.)

C. S. B.

A quite unusual "Essay in Morals" appears in C. Hanford Henderson's The Children of Good Fortune. He holds that morality is as normal and inclusive of all things human, as gravitation is of all things physical; thus he includes the conscious and the unconscious, the voluntary and the involuntary, deeply conscious that he is constructing a 'truly overwhelming conclusion." He holds that Right and Wrong are discerned only in results; advocating "an empirical morality," a morality whose prime test is "efficiency"; whose "worth" is measured in happiness. He holds that this happiness or worth must be “at the same moment" undivided good fortune and social welfare. He holds that this morality or efficiency or worth must be passing continually under revising judgment. He holds the one cardinal virtue, the one that in reality contains

all the other major and minor virtues, is knowledge or wisdom, meaning

'that cosmic attitude of mind which leads one to seek to know things as they are, and to make one's thought and action partake of the same soundness and reality." This knowledge he conceives to be compelling " and so virtue. He believes in "habit" as a moral goal.

This is the core of the book. It is curious to see how this empirical, almost mechanical view culminates, in the closing chapters, in an almost ideal exaltation of duty and freedom, as conceived and displayed by Jesus. It is this that makes the volume, as stated in the opening sentence of this note "unusual." One wonders whether he really knows what he has done. If he really does, and can truly harmonize all his words, one would like to hear him make a careful explanation. For it involves nothing less than showing Physics and Ethics to be identical, or to put it another way, showing how there is "purpose" in "the movement of every single molecule" of the human organism. Probably he will hide behind his own sentence early in the book:- "The problem is too subtle for such thick wits to grasp." But the question does persist: Are the two wings of the book attached to the same bird?

The whole study may be brought to a point upon this sentence in his chapter upon The Cardinal Virtues :- 'Truth-telling is neither right nor wrong inherently, but depends for its character wholly upon results." One would like to hear the author harmonize this sentence with the definition of "Knowledge" cited earlier in this note. One falls to thinking of the anomalies of higher mathematics, so-called. And one falls to wondering again why men resort to writing books before weighing the gravity of a negative, or discerning East from West. But all the same, this book is an unusually good one for a man to read and ponder. (Houghton, Mifflin, pp. 405. $1.30 net.)

C. S. B.

For many years Professor George L. Raymond of Princeton University has been indefatigable in careful studies of the problems of what may be called practicable æsthetics, and in publishing his results. He has the advantage over most writers in this field that he brings to bear upon it an unusual combination of powers - an exceedingly alert, inquisitive and versatile mind, a thoroughly developed artistic sympathy, combined with no meagre record of distinctly artistic experience and achievement, and last, but not least, the power to express himself in lucid and finished English. His books are brimful of earnest and penetrating discussion, abound in interesting, often brilliant ilustration, and are executed with charming enthusiasm. The series of his studies in his chosen field now includes seven volumes, some more comprehensive, some more special. That which he places first, Art in Theory, is now issued in a second edition, differing from the first edition in containing as an Introduction an address on the educational value of art studies and also two new Appendices on Plato's and Aristotle's æsthetics respectively. These are useful supplements to a book whose general value has been recognized for more than ten years. (Putnam, pp. li, 286. $1.75.)

W. S. P.

The series of handbooks known as "The Makers of British Art," of which some seven volumes have appeared, is now increased by one on Gainsborough by A. E. Fletcher. This biography commends itself at once by its readableness. It is full of information not only about its immediate subject, but about the middle of the eighteenth century. The author digresses somewhat freely, but usually with interest and pertinence. The whole first chapter, for example, is a case in point, with its spirited defense of Puritanism (to the ranks of which the painter belonged by descent) against the common charge of artistic Philistinism. As the story of the artist's life is leisurely and easily told, a vivid and impressive picture is drawn of his personality, his career and his fertile and beautiful work. Much space is given to setting him in his place as the first of the good landscapists and one of the most interesting of the portrait-painters. His style is extolled for its naturalness, its love of the picturesque and humble, its instinct for color and its almost incredible variety, and numerous examples are discussed at some length. The book is enriched with about twenty exceedingly satisfactory illustrations, several painstaking appendices, and an index. (Imported by Scribner. pp. xvi, 234. $1.20 net.)

W. S. P.

Few are the books along a line of fascinating interest for the preacher, namely: books of critical estimate of preaching in its great exponents. We therefore welcome this book on Modern Masters of Pulpit Discourse, as we have welcomed Dr. Brastow's volume. Professor Wm. C. Wilkinson gathers papers of his which have appeared in the Homiletic Review into a volume "Modern Masters of Pulpit Discourse." Of course he considers Beecher, Spurgeon, Brooks, Storrs and Maclaren. He also includes Talmage, Newman, Liddon, Bersier, Finney, Felix, W. M. Taylor, John Hall, Broadus, Moody, Gunsaulus, Punshon, President Robinson. He adds studies of Jesus and Paul as preachers, and contributes eighteen sonnets on the eighteen preachers considered. As the preachers are of unequal eminence, so his estimates are of unequal merit. His most helpful and distinguishing contributions, however, are on the men of whom less has been written and yet his paper on Maclaren is perhaps the best and fullest in the list. His remarks upon Beecher are appreciative upon the whole, but rather captious. It is evident that a man's type of theology has more than once in this volume affected the estimate of rhetorical and oratorical qualities. Minute criticisms of grammar and small points of style often have disproportioned expression. But on the other hand, Dr. Wilkinson has been of great service in discriminating praise. Every great preacher is not uniformly great, but is great despite certain things, to which we shut our eyes in criticism. The author has the courage of his convictions upon these vulnerable points. We sometimes feel that his strictures are the dictates of a teacher of budding homilists in the Seminary rather than the larger estimates of the power of recognized leaders. This feature, however, will make the book of the greater value to young preachers. The style of the book is clear, and facile. The variety of his exponents, the frankness of his criticisms, the appreciativeness of his judgment and the introductory notes, giving personal experiences as a hearer — all conspire