BOOK NOTICES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 10, 1911

BOOK NOTICES

By Editor

"The Companion Bible, Being the Authorized Version of 1611, with the Structures and Notes, Critical, Explanatory, and Suggestive." Price 4 shillings net. Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, London, New York, Toronto, and Melbourne.

This is the second part of the Companion Bible. The first covered the Pentateuch; this from Joshua to Job inclusive. Uniformly bound in cloth with the first volume the price at the New York house is probably $1.50. Limp leather, dark green or maroon, gold edges, 6 shillings, possibly in America $2.00.

The first part, 374 pages, has 52 appendixes, including chronological charts; the second part, 452 pages, has 10 appendixes; and the pages of text and the appendixes are numbered continuously with volume 1. Most of the appendixes pertain to the entire Scriptures, or present valuable facts to modern students. For instance, Appendix 53 gives a list of the sieges of Jerusalem, with the date and particulars of each. Appendix 54 is a description of the Moabite stone. We can say of this volume, as of the first, that it will prove to the Bible student a most excellent help. We know of no commentary we would prefer. One may not always agree with its conclusions; but he will be continually helped by its suggestions, and encouraged by its supreme loyalty to the Word of God.

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"Roman Catholic and Protestant Bibles Compared." The Gould Prize Essays. Edited by Melancthon Williams Jacobus, D. D., Dean of Hartford Theological Seminary. Cloth, $1.50. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.

This is the second edition of a work first published in 1905. Out of a correspondence between Miss Helen Miller Gould and a Roman Catholic priest, Father Early, Miss Gould was led to offer prizes for the best essays on the two topics, "The Origin and History of the Bible Approved by the Roman Catholic Church," and "The Origin and History of the American Revised Version." Three prizes were offered for three essays, in order of merit, of $1,000, $500, $250. Two hundred and sixty-five essays were submitted, several by Roman Catholics. Roman Catholics, however, refused to act as judges. The first prize was awarded to William Thomas Whitley, M.A., LL.M., LL.D., of Australia; the second, to Gerald Hamilton Beard, Ph.D.; the third, to Charles B. Dalton.

The book before us is the revised edition to which is added "Appendices Originally Accompanying the Essays, and a Composite Bibliography Covering the General Literature of the Subject." It is a book which ought to be in the library of every Bible student. It clearly shows that the Roman Catholic claim to the only true Bible is unfounded.

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"Pictures of the Apostolic Church: Its Life and Thought." By Sir William M. Ramsay, D.D., D.C.L., LL.D., Litt.D. Cloth, $1.50 net. Sunday School Times Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The greater part of the book was first written as comments on the International Sunday School Lessons for the Sunday School Times. Each section is complete in itself, tho all are in a way woven together as a composite picture of the early church. Most of the lessons are upon Acts, tho some of Paul's epistles are brought in, as also James and Hebrews. The book contains some good suggestions, but it is not strong evangelically. While the writer seems to believe in the supernatural, and admits belief in miracles, yet there is a half apologetic spirit manifest throughout the work. The ascension of Christ is made symbolic, regardless of the language; and one feels unedified and disappointed in its perusal.

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"The Steel Square As a Calculating Machine." By Albert Fair. Illustrated. Cloth, price 50 cents. The Industrial Publication Company, New York.

This little book contains simple directions for using the common steel square in solving complicated problems that constantly arise in the work of builders, carpenters, lumber dealers, plumbers, gas-fitters, engineers, electricians, tinsmiths, blacksmiths, masons, stone-cutters, and other mechanicians, illuminated with numerous illustrations. The best of it is that it is prepared for the ordinary workman and for the beginner. The author, too, to make it simple has frequently used the language of the shop.