Nothing so comprehensive, and at the same time in so condensed a form, has ever been attempted before, and it stands to reason that there are few scholars indeed, if there are any, who could have succeeded better than Mr. Aston has done, and it is almost certain that the book will maintain its place in the history of Shintoism.

The book contains fourteen chapters: The first chapter, entitled, "Materials for the Study of Shinto," contains an enumeration of the sources from olden times down to the present day, the number of which is comparatively limited. The three following chapters discuss "General Features" and among them first the personification of the powers of nature. This second chapter is mainly interesting for a study of comparative religion showing how in Japan natural agencies, such as the sun, the moon, the wind, etc., and especially definite objects and special spots, trees, wells, mountains, etc., were treated as living beings and finally deified. The third chapter is especially devoted to the deification of great men, such as the mikados. The fourth chapter, still continuing the topic "General Features," deals with the functions of the gods.

The mythology of Japan is treated in chapters V to VIII. We have here for the first time a clear presentation of the Japanese nature myths which in their totality are generally bewildering to the uninitiated. The several chapters are entitled: "Myth," "The Mythical Narrative," "Pantheon, Nature Deities and Man Deities."

The remaining chapters IX to XIV are devoted to the institutions, practices, established traditions, etc., of Shinto as follows: "The Priesthood," "Worship," "Morals, Law and Puriy," "Ceremonials," "Magic, Divination, Inspiration." The concluding chapter treats of the "Decay of Shinto and Modern Sects."

Shinto has become the official religion of Japan, and we might say that Shinto is practically not a religion in the Western acceptance of the term, but a kind of patriotic ceremonialism in which any one might take part to whatever religion otherwise he might belong. The educated Japanese naturally do not believe in their mythology nor are they expected to when taking part in Shinto rituals; and if this is to be called a decay, we must grant Mr. Aston that Shinto has lost its vitality. He concludes his book with these words: "As a natural religion, Shinto is almost extinct. But it will long continue to survive in folklore and custom, and in that lively sensibility to the divine in its simpler and more material aspects which characterizes the people of Japan."

Considering that the knowledge of native traditions is being reduced in Japan from day to day, that Western thought rushes in and the duties of the hour claim more and more the concentration of the Japanese themselves in all branches of practical life as well as in science and other theoretical studies, it is not too soon that this work on Shinto has been written, for it is not likely that a successor in this line of research will ever have better facilities than were accessible to Mr. Aston.

And we will further say that Mr. Aston, who has won a well-deserved reputation through his former labors, exhibits a thorough acquaintance with his subject, ranking high even among the most scholarly Japanese in his own line of work.

ON HOLY GROUND. Bible Stories with Pictures of Bible Lands. By William Worcester. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1904. Pp. 492. Price, $3.00 net. The frontispiece, which is a reproduction of Hofmann's "Suffer Little Children," is an appropriate indication of the spirit of this beautiful book. It consists of a series of nearly one hundred and fifty stories, giving the historical narrative of both Testaments from the creation to Christ's ascension. Each story is told in the simplest possible diction addressed apparently to children by one who knows how to interest them, and while each thus recieves its proper setting and historical connection, it is followed by the Biblical narrative of the special incident printed in small but clear type. The great charm and value of the book consists in the beautiful illustrations which are to be found on almost every page. The fine smooth paper which is used brings out these half-tones to the very best advantage. Mr. Worcester seems to have spared no trouble in collecting from every available source photographs which are illustrative of the country of which he writes. Though many of the pictures are very small they are remarkably clear and most admirably selected with reference to artistic effect. Six maps add to the usefulness of the book. There is no need for an index of the text as the preliminary table of subjects gives the titles of the narratives in chronological order, but the main original value of the book which lies in its illustrations, is increased by an index of illustrations arranged alphabetically by subjects rather than titles.

LUMINOUS BODIES. Here and Hereafter. By Charles Hallock, M.A. New York: The Metaphysical Publishing Co. Pp. 110. Price, $1.00 net. Mr. Charles Hallock, one of the contributors of The Open Court has published under this title an interesting little book in which he reprints among other chapters an article which appeared some time ago in The Open Court, and solicited a good deal of controversy pro and con. He proposes the interesting theory that man is possessed of an electrical body, which will serve him as the body of resurrection, and which is to constitute his personality in the great hereafter. At the time we published his views in The Open Court as an interesting theory without accepting his position, and we are glad to see Mr. Hallock's proposition put up in a neat form which presents his theories in a most attractive style. The book shows at the same time the personality of the author, and the sentiment with which he clings to his conception of the soul.

The book opens with a poem entitled "Invocation." A short introduction entitled "L'envoy" explains the spirit in which the author has written his book, whereupon follows the substance of his theory in the chapters entitled: Biology of the Cosmos, Vito-Magnetism and the Soul-Aura, Color Effects of the Emotions, Electrical Body of the Future Life, The Supreme Source and its Potential Agent, The Philosophy of Eternal Felicity, The Philosophy of Religion, The United Philosophies, Evolution and the Future Life, and Credo. A final chapter entitled "Antiphone" contains an inspirational prayer under the caption "Man to his Maker."

The appendix shows the interest which the author's theories have created, and contains letters received from different quarters, from a physician, a clergyman, a college professor, a poet, an astronomer, and also from the

Editor of The Open Court, whose criticism was perhaps the only dissenting one as to the tenability of the author's theory.

The book is adorned with a frontispiece representing the maakheru or transfigured body of the Egyptians.

DIE ENTWICKELUNG DES GOTTESGEDANKENS. Von Grant Allen. Jena: Costenoble, 1906. Pp. 360. 8 marks.

The Evolution of the Idea of God belongs to Grant Allen's best writings, and we hail a German translation of this significant contribution to the history of religion, by H. Ihm. The translation is done faithfully and in good German. Paper and print are excellent as we may expect of so reliable a publishing house. The translator has modestly abstained from writing a preface or introduction, and has only added as his own contribution a few comments relegated to the appendix of the book. We regret to note that, according to the prevalent German custom the book lacks an index.

Germany is the home of comparative religion, but popular works on the subject, like the present book, are rare in the land of scholars and thinkers. For this reason the German translation of Mr. Allen's work will prove very desirable, and we may expect that it will do a good missionary service in the interest of a scientific interpretation of religion.

IN DER HEIMAT DES KONFUZIUS.. By P. Georg Maria Stenz, S.V.D. Steyl. Price, $1.25. For sale by the Society of the Divine Word, Shermerville, Illinois.

This book which is of considerable interest to all those interested in things Chinese has been issued by a publishing house of the Roman Catholic missions at Steyl, near Kaldenkirchen, Rheinland, Germany. It is a description of China and the Chinese and is illustrated with two colored plates, a number of half tones, and also some Chinese drawings. We will not dwell here on the onesidedness of the description in which the author is induced to be unfair to the Chinese, and which indicates also why European missions are not more successful. We will confine ourselves only to those features of the book that are of interest even to the scholar. The author, Father Stenz, has visited the tomb of Confucius and also his residence. We read his description with pleasure because there is in it a touch of the personal element, but it is especially noteworthy that the two Jesuit missionaries, Fathers Nies and Henly, were the guests of Father Stenz on the night when they were assassinated. The reverend Father tells us how the difficulty arose, how the mandarin was unable to protect them, and how on one night Father Henly and Father Nies visited the author in Chan-Cha-Chuang. The night was rainy and they could not continue their journey. They stayed up rather late and sang the Requiem and Miseremini. Father Stenz surrendered his bed to Father Nies and retired to the janitor's room. He had scarcely fallen asleep when he heard shouting and much noise, noticing that his room was lit up by torches. The door of his house was guarded by two men, and he heard a band of rioters start from the neighboring room shouting for the "Pater with the long beard." The sacristy was opened by violence and they passed into the church; whereupon quiet was restored and the rioters disappeared. At this time he heard groaning from the next room. At the same time the rioters returned shouting

to flay Father Stenz, but some Christians had made their appearance and drove them away. He now rushed into his bedroom and found his two coworkers, Henly and Nies, both on the bed, the one dying, the other presumably dead. All attempts to revive them were in vain and he administered to them the sacraments. Other Christians came in and surrounded the dreadful scene. On the morning after the catastrophe the mandarin appeared and wept at the sight. He had been a friend of the murdered missionaries and greatly regretted the deed.

It is well known how Germany retaliated with China for the assassination of the two Jesuits, but it is sad to relate that, as Father Stenz tells us, the actual perpetrators were not punished but left at liberty, since they were leaders of the boxer movement, whom the authorities did not dare to touch. In their place, some innocent, harmless individuals were captured, tortured, forced into a confession and executed, in spite of the remonstrances of Father Stenz and Eugen Wolf, who visited the place in company with the father proctor. The difficulty of rescuing the innocent wretches was increased by the change of mandarins, the new mandarin being a very learned scholar, but a weak and incapable man who allowed the guilty ones to escape, and did nothing to save the lives of the innocent victims.

The book contains other chapters of interest, for instance the chapter on the characterization of the Ta-tau-hui, the Society of the Big Knife, or Boxers, page 226.

THE BLOOD OF THE PROPHETS. By Dexter Wallace. Chicago: Hammersmark Press. 1905. Pp. 112.

The Blood of the Prophets is a collection of poems written by Dexter Wallace, and we do not hesitate to say that the first one "The Ballad of Jesus of Nazareth" is the best and will appeal most of all to the reader. We quote from it the following stanzas:

"But all the triumph of the Christ
That ever came to pass

Was when he rode amidst a mob
Upon a borrowed ass;

And this is all the worldly pomp
A genius ever has."

*

"I wonder not they slew the Christ,
And put upon his brow

A mocking crown of thorns, I know
The world would do it now;
And none shall live who on himself
Shall take the self-same vow.

"And none shall live who tries to balk
The heavy hand of greed.
And who betakes him to the task,
That heart will surely bleed.

But a little truth, somehow is saved
Out of each dead man's creed."

*

"And it matters not what place he drew,
At first life's mortal breath,
Nor how it was his spirit rose

And triumphed over death,

But good it is to hear and do
The word that Jesus saith.

"Until the perfect truth shall lie
Treasured and set apart;

One whole, harmonious truth to set
A seal upon each heart;

And none may ever from that truth

In any wise depart."

Other poems, such as "Samson and Delilah," "Samuel" and others do not reach the same pitch of fervor, and the same is true of secular poems, such as "America," "The Pioneer," "Filipinos, Remember Us," "Ballad of Dead Republics," etc. Sometimes the verses and thoughts will need a critical overhauling, such verses for instance as

"For this I hold to be the truth,
And Jesus said the same."

DARWINISM AND THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE. By Conrad Guenther, Ph.D. Translated from the third edition by Joseph McCabe. London: Owen, 1906. Pp. 428. Price, 12s. 6d.

This work has been translated from the German, because the translator considers the author's peculiar method as unquestionably wise and helpful in explaining the theory of evolution. He does not write for scientists, and does