p. 12 | LITERARY NOTICES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 14, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 28.

LITERARY NOTICES.

“The Christian Gentleman! A Series of Addresses to Young Men,” by Louis Albert Banks, D.D. Cloth, 12mo. Price, 75 cents. New York and London: Funk & Wagnalls Company.

The addresses which make up the above book, ten in number, were delivered to men only in Association Hall, Cleveland, Ohio. They take in the following points in the development of the character of a true Christian gentleman: “In the Temple of the Human Body,” “In the Secret Chambers of His Imagination,” “As One of the World’s Workers,” “In the Pursuit of Ideals,” “In His Relation to Women,” “With His Friends,” “In the Treatment of His Enemies,” “In Prosperity,” “In Adversity,” “As a Knight of the New Chivalry.” These addresses are full of inspiration and courage to young men, and must prove helpful to workers among that class. We bid it Godspeed.

Parasitic Wealth or Money Reform, a Manifesto to the People of the United States. By John Brown. Charles H. Kerr & Co., Chicago.

The author makes a striking presentation of rapidly separating classes which wealth is differentiating. By successive and striking diagrams and tables, he shows the rapid increase of wealth and its aggregation in the hands of the few, and the no less rapid increase among the masses, becoming more and more a dependent , needy, indigent, discontented class. It is from such as these that anarchists are recruited. Mr. Brown thinks that the remedy of all this evil is political. Politics might help matters if all reforms were united, but political reforms devour one another. There can be and will be no lasting reform until there reigns in the hearts of men the Golden Rule; but this will not be till Christ reigns by faith in the hearts of all His subjects, and He appears again to reign in everlasting glory. The author sustains his charges against the present conditions of society, and we are glad of the agitation it may raise, but his remedy is inadequate. The source of the difficulty lies deeper than bad politics; its source is sin and selfishness, the only eradicator of which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book is well written and printed, but chapter headings and sub-titles would have helped it.

“The Old Testament and the Critics,” by the Rev. John Milton Williams, D.D., author of “The Empire of the Pulpit,” “Rational Theology,” etc. Charles H. Kerr & Co., Chicago. 100 pp.; neatly bound in cloth; price, 50 cents.

This is not designed as an exhaustive treatise on the subject title, but is a frank, candid, devout endeavor to assist in clearing up some of the doubts in the minds of Christendom which false but professed Christian teachers have thrown in the way. The author discusses the subject under the following heads: “The Difficulties of the Old Testament,” “The Old Testament Corroborated by the New,” “Old Testament Inspiration,” “Allegorical Interpretations,” and “Are the Two Testaments Identical in Spirit?” With the writer’s ideas of inspiration we do not agree. The Book tells us God gave the words, not merely the truth. How could God give the thoughts for hundreds of years in the future, to one who knew not of what would then be? But, notwithstanding the writer’s view of inspiration, which is a thousand times better than others extant, the book is worthy of circulation, suggestive to the devout, and helpful to the honest doubter.

“A Study of the Pentateuch for Popular Reading: Being an inquiry into the age of the so-called ‘Books of Moses,’ with an Introductory Examination of Recent Dutch Theories, as Represented by Dr. Kuenen’s ‘Religion of Israel,’” by the late Rufus P. Stebbins, D.D., Professor of Theology in the Meadville Theological School, and Lecturer on Hebrew Literature; with a preface by H. L. Hastings, editor of the Christian. Third edition. Nearly 300 pages, manila cover. Price, 40 cents. Scriptural Tract Repository, 47 Cornhill, Boston.

This work is No. 48 of the Anti-Infidel Library. Beside the trenchant review of Kuenen’s “Religion of Israel,” it discusses the authenticity of the Pentateuch from the viewpoints of external evidence, evidence from the historical writings, Biblical and apocryphal, from the poetic books, from David to Moses, from the style and language, from contents and structure, and from undesigned coincidences. Beside this mass of matter the book contains 14 tractlets, entitled “Grapeshot.” The volume is an arsenal of weapons, and well worthy of circulation.

“Instruction Relating to the Principles of Healthful Living,” compiled from the writings of Mrs. E. G. White. Published by the Medical Missionary Board, Battle Creek, Mich. Nearly 300 pages; cloth, 50 cents; paper covers, 25 cents.

This little work, composed of extracts, presents the very basic principles of healthful living from a Christian standpoint. It is not exhaustive; it is a seed book. These extracts are arranged in forty-two chapters, among which are the following: “Our Bodies Temples of the Holy Ghost,” “Duty to Study the Laws of Life,” “The Great Decalogue,” “Natural Law Part of the Law of God,” “The Consequence of Violating Natural Law,” “Health Reform,” “Disease and Providence,” “Influence of Disease upon Mind and Morals,” “Heredity,” “Causes of Disease,” “Ventilation,” “Diet,” “Flesh Foods,” “Stimulants,” “Dress,” “Exercise,” “Prayer for the Sick,” “Drugs,” “The Missionary Nurse,” etc., etc. It is a compendium of wisdom on healthful living.

“The Science of Health, Holiness, and Happiness. A Complete Treatise on the Practise and Principles of Divine Healing. How to Get Well and Remain Well, in a Divinely Natural Way. The True Plan of Salvation.” By Samuel Grant Shroyer. Oklahoma City, O. T.

This is the tremendous title of a good-sized pamphlet of 206 pages. It is a succotash of the corn of truth and the beans of error. The assumption of its author is shown in the designation, “A complete treatise.” He only can give complete instruction who is infinite in knowledge and wisdom.

“Looking Within; the Misleading Tendencies of ‘Looking Backward’ Made Manifest,” by J. W. Roberts. A. S. Barnes & Co., New York. This is a work of romance done up in the usual style of 25-cent works of fiction, and in a way modeled after “Looking Backward.” Tho not as easily readable to some minds, perhaps, it contains a thousand times more truth and common sense. It is hardly to be hoped that it will have as wide a circulation as “Looking Backward,” but it ought to be read by every one who was carried away by Mr. Bellamy’s scheme of making the world better by law.

The “Patriot” No. 3 has come to our table. It is a series of American character studies, published by the University Association, Association Building, Chicago. This number deals with James Otis, and is written by the historian, John Clark Ridpath, LL.D. Illustrated. Price, 15 cents.

“The Credibility of the Christian Religion, or Thoughts on Modern Rationalism,” by Samuel Smith, M.P. Scriptural Tract Repository, 47 Cornhill, Boston. Bound in manila boards, 25 cents. To one who desires a candid discussion of the above subject from the standpoint of a layman, we commend the above work. Mr. Smith is a native of Liverpool, England, member of Parliament, a business man, and an intelligent, cultured gentleman.

The well-known firm, Geo. P. Rowell Advertising Company, 10 Spruce Street, New York, sends us a neatly-printed, well-classified pamphlet, illustrated with maps on “Newspaper Advertising in the United States, a Complete Catalog of Papers Printing over a Thousand Copies.” Just the thing for advertisers, and interesting to many who are not.

“Remarks on the Mistakes of Moses,” by H. L. Hastings, 47 Cornhill, Boston. With paper covers. Illustrated; price, 15 cents. This has already had a sale well up toward 300,000. It is a trenchant review of Ingersoll’s “Mistakes of Moses.”

“Report of Fifty Cases Illustrating the Successful Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis,” by W. H. Riley, M.D., of Colorado Sanitarium, Boulder, Colo. Reprinted from Modern Medicine and Bacteriological Review. Dr. Riley is having large and successful experience in treating those afflicted with this dread disease. Are you afflicted?—Write him.