Book Notices by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jun 10, 1908

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 34, No. 24.

Book Notices.

By Editor

"Our Misunderstood Bible; Common Errors about Bible Truths and Texts." By H. Clay Trumbull, late editor of the Sunday School Times. Price, $1.00, net. The Sunday School Times Company, Philadelphia.

The scope of this suggestive little work may be well indicated by some of its chapter headings: "Bible Words Not Always a Safe Guide;" "Principles Rather Than Rules in the Bible;" "Love in the Old Testament, Law in the New;" "The Holy Spirit's Mission to and thru Believers;" "Needless Worry As to Being Born Again;" "Bearing the Cross, Not Bearing Crosses;" "Clergymen Not the Chief Preachers;" "Mizpah a Barrier, Not a Bond;" "Love Not A Matter of Feeling." The author points out that there are words of Satan in the Bible as well as words of God. We should discriminate. Angels are shown not to be young women, and cherubim are not babes. The reader may not always agree with the author, but he will find the book a tremendous thought-sharpener and plenteous in good things.

"The Spirit of American Government." By J. Allen Smith, LL.B., Ph.D., Professor of Political Science, University of Washington. Half leather, $1.25, net. The Macmillan Co., New York and London.

This is one of the latest numbers of the Macmillan Co.'s "Citizen's Library of Economics, Politics, and Sociology." The special subject of this volume is the study of the Constitution, its origin, influence, and relation to democracy. The purpose of the author is to trace the influence of our Constitutional system upon the political conditions which exist in this country to-day. He thinks that there are features in the Constitution which are not in harmony with the present enlarged ideas as to democracy, and that it has been the practise of political writers for the most part to pass very lightly over these undemocratic features of the Constitution, leading the general reader to believe that universal suffrage, under our system of government, insures the rule of the majority.

The English government of the 18th century is outlined; the American government of the Revolutionary period, the Constitution as a reactionary document to limit the power of the majority; the significance of the amendment feature of the Constitution; the Federal judiciary, which he considers in some of its aspects as a monarchical survival, especially in its veto power; the checks and balances of the Constitution; the party system; changes in State Constitutions; municipal government; individual liberty in the Constitution modified by the economic system; the influence of democracy upon the Constitution; effect of the transition from minority to majority rule upon morality; and the democracy of the future are all fairly considered. It has also a copious index; the citation of various authorities can be easily found. Dr. Smith believes that the democracy of the future would raise government to the rank and dignity of a science; a thing which certainly is to be wished, but which one can hardly hope for in the light of present conditions. Some of the very evils which exist and which he points out in connection with the arbitrary power of the Supreme Court, and kindred evils, seem to us to be a drifting away from the basic principles of the government, rather than the application of them, and that there was more of real democracy in the early days of the Republic than is manifest at the present time. The spirit of monopoly is essentially monarchical or aristocratic. And while we have many organizations talking democracy, the trend of nearly all is to the government by the few or by the class which assumes to be the people. The publication, however, presents an excellent study of its subject, and should be read by those who wish to get a better knowledge of American institutions.

"Christian Theology in Outline." By William Adams Brown, Ph.D., D.D. 468 large octavo pages. Price, $2.50. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.

The author of this work is Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology in the Union Theological Seminary, New York; and the work itself is the outgrowth of the author's experience as a teacher of theology. The book is the attempt to meet a definite need, which his experience shows exists; a brief handbook, in which the subject-matter of Christian theology should be treated from the modern point of view. The work is divided into six parts, exclusive of Introduction and Appendix. These parts are as follows: The Postulates of Christian Theology; the Christian Idea of God; the Christian View of the World; of Man and His Sin; of Salvation thru Christ; the Christian Life; and a Classified Bibliography. It is a brief theological compendium, and is probably as good in its condensed form as many more elaborate works; and it is as conservative a view of modern theology as can be found. One feels as he scans the pages of modern dogmatic theology that it lacks in both authority and life, the two things which are found preeminently in Christianity.

"Races and Immigrants in America." By John R. Commons, Professor of Political Economy, University of Wisconsin. Illustrated; price, $1.50, net. The Macmillan Company, New York and London.

Mr. Commons attempts to describe class conditions as they are in America and not as idealists would like to have them. He thinks there are castes now, and that "there is lacking but one essential to the East Indian system; namely, a religion which ascribes to God Himself the inequalities contrived by man." The thought is that democracy is passing, and mighty problems are before the republic, and Mr. Commons states these. Whether we agree with his suggested remedies or not, we may learn much of the problems in the negro, the various alien races of so many different types, the questions of labor and city life, and political conditions. Here is an array of problems at the present time which may well stagger the statesman. The book contains index and a valuable reference list.

"The Gang of Six." By Horace M. DuBose, editor of the Epworth Era. Price, 50 cents. Publishing House of the M. E. Church, South. Smith and Lamar, agents, Nashville, Tenn.

Mr. DuBose in this interesting little work has pictured a typical gang of youngsters, just forming in one of our large cities. A young lawyer, with a heart burdened for boys, becomes acquainted with them, enters into their hearts and plans, joins the "gang," and thus working, brings them to Christ and starts a decided reform movement for boys. The little book is full of hints, helps, and inspirations.

From Chas. H. Kerr & Co., of Chicago, we have received the following: "Evolution, Social and Organic," by Arthur M. Lewis, cloth, 50 cents; "Human, All Too Human," by Friedrich Nietzsche, cloth, 50 cents; "The Common Sense of Socialism," by John Spargo, cloth, $1.00, paper, 35 cents; "Stories of the Struggle," by Morris Winchevsky, cloth, 50 cents; "Karl Marx—Biographical Memoirs," by Wilhelm Liebknecht, translated by Ernest Untermann.

Tremendously prolific in literature are the Socialists; some of it political, presented properly within political bounds; most of it based on the doctrine of evolution, and not a little of it positively irreligious and infidel. The first of the above works is along the line of pure human and creature evolution, with God left out of the question. The second of these is in perfect harmony with its title, "Human, All Too Human." From beginning to end it is human speculation, a cry of an unsatisfied human who could have found a solution of his perplexities in the revelation of God. The third, however, is a series of letters to an inquirer, in which the author has endeavored to clearly and simply define the principles and objects of political Socialism. In this small volume one can get a good idea of what political Socialism teaches. The fourth is composed of sketches and stories bearing upon the Social struggle. The last is a sketch of the life and personality of the great Jewish-German Socialist, Marx, written by one who worshiped at his shrine.