LITERARY NOTICES | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 18, 1897

LITERARY NOTICES.

“MODERN SPIRITUALISM. A SUBJECT OF PROPHECY AND A SIGN OF THE TIMES.” By Uriah Smith. Illustrated, 156 pages, cloth, 50 cents; paper, without illustrations, 20 cents. Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

An unpretentious, but nicely bound and neatly printed volume of 156 pages, is the little book named above, but it deals with a tremendously important subject. An ism that began in its modern development about 1840, with heaven-high assumptions, and has since spread all over the civilized world, is worthy of serious consideration. It is treated in this work in the author’s well-known lucid, interesting style in seven chapters, covering in brief all phases of the subject. It presents the testimony of the Scriptures, and the confirmation of this by evidence from within and without the ranks of Spiritualists. It contains four well-printed half-tone illustrations. It is the latest and best book out on this important theme. Its low price should give it a large circulation.

“SKETCHES OF BIBLE CHILD LIFE. STORIES ABOUT SOME OF THE CHILDREN MENTIONED IN THE BIBLE.” By Mary Alicia Steward. Cloth, 142 pages, profusely illustrated; price, 50 cents. Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

This is a beautiful little volume, and tells in clear and beautiful language some of the charming, helpful stories of the Bible children and youth. It is nicely illustrated, containing twenty-two full-page pictures, besides illustrated chapter headings. The little book should be welcomed by all godly parents who have children to train.

“SELECTIONS FROM THE BIBLE FOR USE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.” Compiled by James G. Minnear, Kansas City, Mo. Bound in boards.

There are in this book 200 Scripture lessons and 18 hymns and songs, religious and patriotic. Of the Bible selections they are all good, and we do not know as any one could have done better than has Mr. Minnear. And yet we do not believe in the purpose of the book. We should be perfectly willing that our children should read the Word, but we are not willing that they should accept of man’s interpretation of the Word. Neighbor Jones might not be willing that his child should read the Bible at all, and I have no more right to force it upon him than he has upon me or my children the Book of Mormon, the Catholic Catechism, or the Koran. And yet we sympathize with men like the above. They see the need of Bible teaching. They know its lack in home and church, and they wish to supplement it in schools, taught frequently by teachers who do not truly believe in the Bible at all. Let Christians teach the Bible everywhere that men and women can be persuaded to listen; let them live the Word where men will not listen; but never let them blaspheme that word by compelling the mind or soul that God has left free. The Gospel method is win, not coerce. Its power is love, not force.

Good Health comes to our table this month in popular magazine form. While it is an old friend, and we had come to sort o’ like its form because of its matter, we are not at all disappointed in its new appearance. Its first number for the year is a little late, but he who gets such a magazine for one dollar a year can afford to have it late once in a while. And then its new dress and form is a good excuse. It is filled full of good things on health and food questions of interest to all. Good Health Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich., 39 Bond Street, New York.

Among the scientific medical journals which we from time to time peruse (and we take much interest in the subject), few, if any, it seems to us, a non-professional, would be of more value to a professional man than the Medical Record, William Wood & Co., publishers, 43, 45, and 47 East Tenth Street, New York. It is a weekly journal, and covers all phases of medicine and surgery. Its departments—Original Articles, Clinical, Progress of Medical Science, News of the Week relative to medical work from all parts of the world, Society Reports, Surgical Suggestions, Therapeutic Hints, Correspondence, etc. In fact, we do not see how a live physician and surgeon could do without it. The current issue before us contains 76 pages. Let the practitioner send stamp for sample copy to the above address. The Record will tell its own story.

The Pacific Health Journal for February contains most valuable matter for practical every-day use. Its departments—General Articles, Mother’s Helper, Editorial, and the Household—are well filled with interesting articles and profitable and helpful suggestions, worth many times, if reduced to practice, the price of the magazine. $1.00 per year, 10 cents a copy. Pacific Press Publishing Co., Oakland, Cal., publishers.

“Business Changes Hands, or the Rich Man and Lazarus. A Narrative, and Not a Parable. A Lesson on Doctrinal Points of the Highest Importance. The Outgoing and the Incoming High Priest. Touching the Resurrection of the Dead and the Glory of the Gospel, by James B. Logan, Washington, D.C.” Thus reads the title-page of a pamphlet, treating on the parable of Luke 16: 19-31, in an original and plausible way.

“First Report of the State Dairy Bureau to the Governor of the State of California,” from May 1, 1895, to Oct. 1, 1896, comes to our table. It is a neatly-printed document of 42 pages,

and the Bureau would, we should judge, be of practical benefit to the dairymen and consumers in the State, if properly and honorably conducted, kept out of politics, and special class control. William Vanderbilt, Secretary State Dairy Bureau, Sacramento, Cal.

“Fourth Annual Report of President Schurman,” 1895-96, of Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, is a pamphlet of 80 pages, with an appendix of 72 pages, giving a large quantity of information concerning this great university, showing its growth, etc.

Also the “Cornell University Register,” a volume of 328 pages, for 1896-97. It shows present attendance 1,763 as against 1,654 last year, and 175 professors as against 165 last year. There are now 22 graduate scholarships and fellowships at Cornell. The library numbers 186,680 volumes and 30,400 pamphlets. Its students come from 43 States and 16 foreign countries. D. F. Hooy, registrar.

It is not exactly a literary production, but it is in that line after all. We have received from the inventor a perpetual aluminum calendar, called the “Nevada Silver Pocket Souvenir Coin.” It is the size of a silver half dollar, with a perpetual calendar on one side with movable gold-plated center. It needs to be set once a year for ordinary years, and twice leap year. On the reverse side is the bust of Columbus, 1492, 1892. The retail price is fifty cents each, or four for one dollar. They are really a novel and useful little calendar. (Any one ordering kindly mention the Signs of the Times.) Address the patentee, W. W. Kitchen, 138 Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, N.Y.