Images de page
PDF
ePub

mind will never want to return to the misery of uncertainty and doubt which make him ask "Why has God done so to me?"

COBDEN, ILL.

F. PETSCH.

"HOW FAR HAVE WE STRAYED FROM CHRISTIANITY?" To the Editor of The Open Court:

Let me add my name to the list of those who hold that the name Chris tian is not to be withheld from a man of the spirit-and I will add of the faith -of the Editor of The Open Court, who I earnestly hope will not himself disclaim the name.

I hold firmly to the view of the Person of Christ, somewhat arrogantly denominated the "orthodox" view; but insist that in the thought of that great Teacher and of the apostles, real Christian faith was never identified with correct metaphysical speculation, important as that may be.

WILLIAM E. BARTON.

We take pleasure in publishing this letter from Dr. Wm. E. Barton, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Oak Park, Illinois, who is known as a leader among Congregationalists, a scholar, and a famous pulpiteer. We rejoice at the endorsements which come to us from so-called orthodox quarters, not so much for personal reasons as because they are a symptom that the life of Christianity is not extinct. So long as a religion is capable of growth; so long as it tolerates ideas, theories, philosophies that are not expressions of its doctrines in the narrow sense, it remains capable of a higher development. The question, which will be the religion of the future, must be solved by the religious leaders of mankind, and it seems to me that those religions only can endure which adjust themselves best to the new conditions; and in our present age that faith will survive which admits and stands critique and perfectly adapts itself to the scientific world-conception.

AN EASTERN VIEW OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION.

A severe criticism of the English policy pursued in China, has appeared under the title Letters from a Chinese Official, being an Eastern view of Western Civilization. The author is an Englishman, who assumes to be a Chinese mandarin, and we need not say that his representation is one-sided. He remains true to his part as a defender of Chinese culture, and so we must not expect him to state the other side at the same time. The most vigorous and truthful statement that occurs in his letters is a quotation from the famous Sir Robert Hart, who by long residence in China, and through the authoritative position which he held there, is certainly a trustworthy and reliable authority.

Sir Robert Hart says of the Chinese:

"They are well-behaved, law-abiding, intelligent, economical, and industrious; they can learn anything and do anything; they are punctiliously polite, they worship talent, and they believe in right so firmly that they scorn to think it requires to be supported or enforced by might; they delight in literature, and everywhere they have their literary clubs and coteries for learn

ing and discussing each others essays and verses; they possess and practice an admirable system of ethics, and they are generous, charitable, and fond of good works; they never forget a favor, they make rich return for any kindness, and, though they know money will buy service, a man must be more than wealthy to win public esteem and respect; they are practical, teachable, and wonderfully gifted with common sense; they are excellent artisans, reliable workmen, and of a good faith that every one acknowledges and admires in their commercial dealings; in no country that is or was, has the commandment 'Honor thy father and thy mother' been so religiously obeyed. or so fully and without exception given effect to, and it is in fact the keynot of their family, social, official, and national life, and because it is so 'their days are long in the land God has given them.' "

That the Chinese are as conceited as Europeans; that they are strongly convinced of the superiority of their own culture over Western civilization; that they have made grave mistakes in politics and in their diplomatic relations with Western nations, cannot be denied. Hence it would be wrong to think that the evil of the Opium War and all the faults committed by England and other Western powers are on one side only. The Chinese need contact with the Western world, and will be greatly benefited thereby in the long run. They need reforms in their political systems and especially in their criminal courts. Even those who do not favor the Christianization of China, will grant that Western influence will act as a leaven upon the religious notions of the Chinese, and benefit them in time. We suppose that the anonymous author of Letters from a Chinese Official will not deny this. but having made himself an advocate of the Chinese side of the question, he passes entirely over these counter-statements. The American edition, which lies before us, is increased by an introduction, which, however, would better have been omitted, for the author forgets his part, and instead of speaking as a Chinese mandarin, shows himself a man of the Old World, a true son of John Bull, who lectures Americans for pushing Western civilization to the utmost. He says:

"What is at stake in the development of the American Republic is nothing less than the success or failure of Western civilization...... Animated by a confidence almost religious in their own destiny, the American people are called upon, it would seem, to determine, in a pre-eminent degree, the form that is to be assumed by the society of the future. Upon them hangs the fate of the Western world. And were I an American citizen, the thought would fill me, I confess, less with exultation than with anxious and grave reflection. I should ask myself whether the triumphs gained by my countrymen over matter and space had been secured at the cost of spiritual insight and force; whether their immense achievement in the development of the practical arts had been accompanied by any serious contribution to science, literature, and art; whether, in a word, the soul had grown with the body, or was tending to atrophy and decay.... Or are we to fill our belly with husks of comfort, security, and peace? To crush in the dust under our Juggernaut car that delicate charioteer? Are we to be spirits or intelligent brutes; men or mere machines? That is the question now put, as it has never been put before, to the nations of the West, and pre-eminently the people of these States."

We agree with our "Chinese Official" that mere material advance is insufficient and should be accompanied by artistic, scientific, and ethical culture, and this is decidedly one of the highest aims of typical Americanism. That the West is still lacking in this particular development of the ideal side of life is true; and it is most strongly felt in America, although the expression of this want is the best evidence that it is aspired to and appreciated. At any rate we may say that Europe is not in advance in this regard except in the possession of the great authors and artists of the past, who, however, must be considered as a common heritage of the Western world.

In spite of its onesidedness the book is good reading and considering the fact that we mostly hear the other side, we sincerely hope that it will be much read and its arguments considered.

BOOK REVIEWS.

NAAR CALIFORNIE. REISHERINNERINGEN. Door Dr. Hugo De Vries. Haarlem: Tjeenk Willink & Zoon, 1905. Pp. VIII, 438.

When Dr. De Vries, the learned author of Species and Varieties: their Origin by Mutation, returned to Amsterdam in the autumn of 1904 after having spent the summer in the United States, he wrote this large volume describing his travels and experiences. The opening lines of the preface state in complimentary terms the purpose he had in view: "On my journey I became acquainted with so many conditions which were previously unknown to me, and saw so much that excited my admiration that I shall be glad to familiarize my countrymen with whatever differs especially from the existing state of things at home."

Most of his visit was spent in California, and the greater part of the book is devoted to the consideration of that part of the Union, especially in relation to its botanical and horticultural aspects. The land and its people, fruit cultivation, new varieties of fruit, irrigation, mountains, trees and flowers are extensively treated in turn, while the last seventy-five pages comprise an appreciative chapter on personal reminiscences. Here Dr. De Vries gives incidents and impressions of his travels both on the way to California and on the return trip. The immensity of the country and its resources, our educational system and its higher institutions elicited his warmest approval and constant enthusiasm. He spoke at the Commencement Exercises of Columbia University immediately upon his arrival in New York, and at the autumn convocation in Chicago, and was an interested guest of honor at many of our largest universities and smaller colleges, besides the more specialized institutions directly connected with botanical interests.

The book is profusely illustrated with photographs which are well fitted to give the Hollanders a pretty accurate idea of the buildings and streets of our cities, vegetation and scenery in general and more especially the exuberant profusion in California, as characterized by climbing roses, California poppies and redwood trees.

GOETHE'S PHILOSOPHIE AUS SEINEN WERKEN. Her. von Max Heynacher. Leipsic: Dürr. 1905. Pp. viii, 428. Price, 3 marks 60.

The enterprising publisher, Herr Dürr, of Leipsic, has requested Dr. Max Heynacher, the principal of the Gymnasium at Hildesheim, to compile a companion book to Kühnemann's Schiller, and the present volume is the

result. It contains expositions of Goethe's philosophical development and his relation to Schiller, his standpoint as to the personal immortality of the soul, and a great many questions from "Truth and Fiction," "Faust," "The Metamorphosis of Plants"; his many expositions as to natural science, his "Doctrine of Color," essays, and such poems as "Prometheus" etc., letters to Schiller, Carus, d'Alton, etc., proverbs and kindred topics.

It is a diligent compilation which will be welcome to the innumerable admirers of the great poet.

SPHAERA. Neue griechische Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der
Sternbilder. Von Franz Boll. Leipsic: Teubner, 1903. Pp. xii, 564.
Price, 24 marks.

Prof. Franz Boll, formerly of Munich, now of Erlangen, has devoted this voluminous work to a discussion of the Zodiac, which in its names and other details is an inheritance that has come down to us through Greece from ancient Babylonia. Professor Boll has collected a number of pertinent Greek texts on the subject, and reproduced so far as we know all the materials and monuments that throw light on the subject. It is a branch of the history of science which is not commonly known, but which throws much light on the development of religion as well as astronomy, and will be welcome as a final work on this important subject.

RELIGION ODER REICH GOTTES. Eine Geschichte. By Heinrich Lhotzky. Leipsic: J. C. Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung. 1904. Pp. v, 402.

This book is very original in its conception and the execution of its plot. It comes to us as a story and may be classified with historical novels. It is the biography of St. Paul the Apostle and breaks off at the same place where the Acts of the Apostles stops. The story of St. Paul's death is not told, and the author himself feels that the conclusion is as abrupt as are the sources in the canonical writings of the New Testament. The details, however, are worked out with faithfulness to the author's ideal who uses this representa tion of the figure of Paul to explain his conception of the kingdom of God on earth which he contrasts with religion as actualized in the several denominational churches. He concludes with a few contemplative thoughts in which he regrets that the kingdom of God has not come out victorious for survival. In its place mankind has accepted religion, or as we would prefer to call it, ecclesiasticism. "Nevertheless," says the author, "the victory of religion over the kingdom of God is like a victory of nothingness over truth. It is no joyous and clean victory. Mankind cannot and will not ever forget Jesus and Paul. All the several religions will fall into decay, even the churches of Christianity, but the kingdom of God on earth will finally conquer and become a saving power."

A SONG OF THE LATTER DAY. By Frederick Peterson. New York. Privately printed. 1904.

This little book of philosophical poems is written in the spirit of Omar Khayyam and may be characterized as a Neo-Pantheistic Rubaiyat. It contains the following poems: Evolution and Pantheism, The Stream of Life, The Procession of the Retreating Gods, The New Faith, The Apotheosis of Dust, Love, The Prophecy of Evolution, Changelessness and Change, The Quest, A Glimpse Behind the Veil, Courage, camarade, le diable est mort, The Years that Bring the Philosophic Mind.

We quote from "A Glimpse Behind the Veil" the following lines:

"Ah, life were but an hour of bitter grief
Between eternities, if this were all-

To wake to know-to sleep, whate'er befall,
Among these wonders-'twere beyond belief!

"Shut in by night and death and blinding doom
One glimpses still the fitful shimmerings
Of light amidst the tangled Woof of Things-
The Spirit of the World beside the Loom!

"Up, from the deeps of the sub-conscious mind
What dim penumbrae of ideals rise,
Haunting suggestions of realities
Beyond the vision of our eyes half-blind!

"The visible world is but a chrysalis

Closed in for wintry æons till the Spring
Lay bare the glamour of the splendid wing-
Its soul's triumphant metamorphosis!"

HANA, A DAUGHTER OF JAPAN. By Gensai Murai. Tokyo: The Hochi Shimbun. 1905. Pp. XLVII, 298. Price, $6.50.

This elegant book is a specimen of modern Japanese novel writing, typog-raphy, and the art of illustrating and book-making. The story, which is written in English, is naïve and perhaps too simple for Western taste. Hana is a beautiful Japanese girl, the daughter of a physician, who meets an American from Chicago by the name of Connor and a Russian officer, both of whom fall in love with her. She prefers in her own heart the gallant young American, who had saved the life of her pet dog; but during the complication of the story the war begins, and the Russian officer makes his appearance as a wounded prisoner of war whom she discovers when performing her duties as a red-cross nurse. At this time the Japanese government is very anxious to get some information concerning Makaroff, at Port Arthur, and this information Hana's Russian suitor offers to give her conditionally. After much hesitation she finally surrenders her scruples to her patriotism, promising either to marry him, or at least to marry no other during his lifetime. When the young American learns of her promise he volunteers at once to go himself to Port Arthur to gain possession of the required information, with the understanding that if he did not return within a definite time, she would then obtain it directly from the Russian. The young American enters Port Arthur, but does not return until after the Russian officer has claimed the fulfillment of her promise. When Hana, however, still hesitates to grant it. he pulls out a revolver to shoot her, but her lap dog jumps at him and makes him drop the revolver which, when touching the ground, goes off and kills him, thus relieving her of her untoward promise. The catastrophe is thus

« PrécédentContinuer »