p. 11 | BOOK NOTICES

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 6, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 39.

BOOK NOTICES

“Mountain Pathways.” By Hector Waylen, Sherratt and Hughes, London.

One would hardly suspect that “Mountain Pathways” was a Gospel book. He would more naturally think it was sketches of rambles in the Himalayas or the Andes or the Alps. But it isn’t; it is “A Study in the Ethics of the Sermon on the Mount, together with a Revised Translation and Critical Notes.” There are many excellent things in the little book. The author truly discriminates between man’s soulical and his spiritual nature, holding, Scripturally, that the soul is not immortal, but that if it lives it must be merged in the higher spiritual life, received through Christ. But we think he makes an awful mistake in holding that the soul consciously lives between the death of the body and the resurrection. This view lays the broadest foundation of Modern Spiritism, while the Scripture declaration is, “The dead know not anything;” “in that very day his thoughts perish.” Apart from this teaching, which forms a small part of the work, there are helpful suggestions and beauties in every turn in “Mountain Pathways.” It may be obtained of the author at Atlantic City, N. J., Box 283. Price $1.50.

“The Boy and the Church.” By Eugene C. Foster. Price 75 cents, net. The Sunday School Times Company, Philadelphia.

The book is written from the view-point of a Sunday-school man, and he deals largely with boys who are under some kind of religious instruction. The Boy Himself, The Boy and His Home, The Boy and the Sunday-school, The Boy and His Teacher, The Boy, the Church, and the Minister, The Boy and His Friends, The Boy and His Reading, The Boy and His Book, The Boy and His Vocation, From Boy to Man, are the chapter headings of the book, and the discussion of these subjects offers valuable suggestions to all who are truly seeking to help boys to nobler manhood and Christian character.

“Socialism Versus Christianity.” By Edward R. Hartman. Cloth, 250 pages, $1.50. Cochrane Publishing Company, New York.

This little book is a frank, open discussion of the radical differences which the author thinks lie between Christianity and Socialism. The aims of each, the part which evolution plays in the latter, the question of environment, the individual versus the mass, the spiritual and the material, the fruits of Socialism, and what the prophetic Scriptures have to say upon the subject, with other phases, are lucidly discussed. We believe a stronger plea could be made for the church, and we should have been glad to find a little more sympathy with some phases of the Socialist outlook; but the book shows clear and strong as to the unreconciling differences between Christianity and Socialism. It is certainly worth the reading.

“A Ministerial Misfit; or the Biography of Rev. Timothy Tanglefoot.” By Isaiah Villars, D.D. Published at $1.00. Press of Illinois State Register, Springfield, Ill.

This little volume of 250 pithy pages is a portrayal of character in the ministry, too often found, tho few proportionally. The author says in his introduction: “A sport should never be found in a Christian pulpit, nor should he be tolerated in a church choir. That particular character was unknown among the apostles, and is therefore not of apostolic succession. The church and its ministry need to read up on ministerial fidelity as portrayed by both precept and example in the Scriptures. This is the standard for which this story contends.” In the tale of Timothy Tanglefoot, with pungent, pithy, pricking pen, the author shows the inconsistencies, the worldliness, the covetousness, the policy versus principle, the worldly ambitions, the snobbishness, the questionable methods, which are coming into the church of Christ to-day; and strong, striking appeal is made for Gospel methods and principles. The book formerly sold for one dollar; it may now be obtained of Rev. I. Villars for 57 cents, postpaid. His address is New Lenox, Ill.

“Peru—Its Story, People, and Religion.” By Geraldine Guiness. Morgan and Scott, Ltd., 12 Paternoster Building and 30 Paternoster Row, E. C., London. Illustrated, 462 pages; price, 7s. 6d., $1.80.

Miss Guiness has written a book which is receiving wide attention. There is not an uninteresting page in the volume. The story of Peru’s history, customs, legends, problems, people, and religion—all is told in a manner unusually pleasing. As a study in missions, it is splendid; the conditions of the Indians are touchingly told; their needs and the opportunities for missionary labor with them are presented. One is impressed with the crying need of this long-neglected country in the “neglected continent.”

“The Continent of Opportunity.” By Francis E. Clark, D.D., LL.D. Fleming H. Revell Company, Chicago. 350 pages; price, $1.50 net.

In this volume are included brief histories of the South American republics, their resources and outlook, together with a traveler’s impressions of present-day conditions. Mr. Clark is the author of a number of books on travel in many lands; he has carefully studied the natural, political, and religious conditions, not only of South America, but of other lands, and writes with authority. The writer recognizes in South America a country with a future, with the present outlook promising. The book is entertaining and instructive.

“How to Tell the Children the Origin of Life” is a little pamphlet which can be secured only by sending to the publishers (The Vir Publishing Co., 99 Church Building, Fifteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia, Pa.) an addressed and stamped envelope for the return of the pamphlet. It is a chapter from “What a Young Boy Ought to Know.” Those who have not this book would do well to send for the pamphlet.