The Portland daily press., 1868-08-17
RICOLA.


The WESTMINSTER REVIEW, for Juiv fra
print ofthe Leonard Scott Pub. Co.. contains
several articles Of more than ordinary interest.
Theologians will be strongly attracted by the
able review of "Davidson's Introduction to the
New Testament; students of history will en-
JOY the papers on ''The Ineas," and on 'fThe
Character of British Rule in India" and the
scientific will be interested in what a well in
formed writer has to say of nitro Glvcerine.
the New Explosive" Important social prob-
lens are discussed in the papers on "Co-opera-
ton applied to the Dwellings of the People,
and on 1.-The Marriage Laws of the United
Kingdoms" aud George Elliot's Spanish
Gypsy is reviewed in a spirit at once gener-
GUS and severe. The article however of most
vivid present interest is that on "Church and
State" The writer distinctly admits that the
attacks upon the Irish Church establishment
are but the first steps in movement which
must ultimately sweep away the Anglican
State Church; he declares that this is a nee
essary result of the spirit of the age, and ex-
horts people not to be frightened There may
be some incidental, and temporary evils aris-
ing therefrom, but the benefits will be inf
nately greater. Freedom is an absolute good.
In refutation of the argument that the divorce
OF Church and State would expose the com
munity to the baneful influence either of o
fanatical Ultramontanism or fanatical
Professionalism, the writer quotes the example
of the United States:
Nowhere (he says) is there SO much free
dom and so little ianaticism. The question of
religion is left rightly to be settled at the tr-
bunal of a mans own conscience The Presi-
dent may be Episcopalian, Presbyterian or
Unitarian; the public never ask to what sect
he belongs any more than whether he smokes
or not. What is the case in England where
the State church is supposed to form so strong
barrier against the violence of zeal? 1t is mo-
torlons that in every party conflict the religi-
GUS views OF the party leaders on every side
are dragged into the open day to exacerbate
discussion and in1ame the fercest passions.
That Lord Palmerston favored the Evangelical
| clergy, and that Mr.. Gladstone has ritualistic
| tendencies, are charges which, truly or falsely,
nave been made against the eminent men re-
| ierred to and have been discussed with much
| temper in newspapers. Such charges would
be looked on with utter astonishment and con-
tempt in the United States.
The resume OF Contemporary Literature il
as interesting and complete as usual
THE EDINBURGH REVIEW, for July, is also
at hand. Its articles, ten in number, cover a
great variety of subjects. The opening paper
is review Of Mr., Upham's history of the
Salem Witchcraft. This is followed by papers
on English Dictionaries on "The Apocry-
phal Gospels" "Lytton's Chronicles and Char
acters;" "Wellington's Correspondence" )" "The
Modern Russian Drama" the "Letters and
Spe sches of Leon Faucher;" "Prirce Henry
the Navigator" "New Germany" and ''The
NJ rrI-
takes strong ground in support of the Estab-
ment, and earnestly de2reeates any interfer-
ence with the existing order Of things.
Reprinted by the Leonard Sect Publishing
Company, 14O Fulton Street, New \ 'rk.