Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-08-10
Book Notices.
ONE THAT EAT.
ouct Oh


TEN GREAT RELIGIONS: An Essay in
Comparative Theology, by James Free
man Clarke-pp 528. J. r. Osgood
| & 90. ... ..-.... -. p.
1t is pleasure to possess book like
this COMPOSED in part from articles pre-
pared the by author for the Atlantic Maya
zine in 1868, it is yet the ripe fruit of
more than twenty five years special
study. Twenty years ago we heard DIR.
Clarke deliver five lectures on the themes
treated in this volume, and as we subse-
quently heard them repeated by request
of the students at Cambridge, we can bear
testimony to the interest and worth of the
book and also TO the rare fitness and abil-
ity of the author for his work. With the
exception of one or two other works there
probably is no other book by an American
author to be compared with this.
DR.. Clarke is Christian scholar of
great learning aud unu4ual candor and
Cstholioity. He does not hesitate to look
at every side of question, and to go ont
of his way to understand and do justice
to others. Writing from decided Chris
tian standpoint, he yet thinks there is
some truth and some good in every relig-
ion, that every great religion of mankind
has n providential and useful mission,
aud would not exist and keep its place
unless it contained more of good than
30 s5na 81 +ha boo tbo1 ar be
prefers to call them, ethnic religions, is,
that they contain, no doubt, error and
evil. No doubt priestcraft has been car.
ried very far in them, though not further,
perhaps, than it has sometimes been car
ried in Christianity. But they partially
satisfied great hunger of the human
heart They exercised some restraint on
human artfulness and passion. They
have directed, however imperfectly, the
human conscience toward the right
They do not rest be contends, on human
fraud "but on the feeling of dependence,
the sense of accountability, the recogui
ton OF spiritual realities very near to this
world of matter, and the need of looking
up and worshippiug some unseen power
higher and better than ourselves"
In DR.. Clark's view it is neither true
nor just to say that all the religions OF
the world, except Judaism and Christian.
ity, are mere priestly Inventions and
corrupt superstitions. Such view re-
fleets dishonorably on hnman nature, God
and providence. 1t raises q suspicion
that even Judaism and Christianity may
not be all that is claimed for them. ButI
be shows that Jesus and Paul admitted |
that God had a care for the gentle world
and gave them of his truth, that Clement
of Alexander aud Nesnder, the historian,
with others, refused to consider the Jew.
ish religion the only divine preparation
for Christianity. |
According TO DR.. Clark, the religions OF
China, India, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome
and Scandinavia, were all partial, one
sided, imperfect, and were only adopted |
to the nations in which they grew and |
were cherished, while Christianity is the
fulfilling Of the truths which may be in
them all, as n universal catholic religion
adapted to all races and civilizations of
men and all arc preparations and pro-
phecies of it.
Whether these religions are all as one.
sided and imperfect as be Represents is
questionable. Some of them certainly
have endured through many centuries,
and appear to co-exist to-day with as
large measure of intellectual culture and
intelligence as christianity. We see no
reason why they will not continue to ex-
ist through generations to come.
DIR. Clark's conception of Christianity
is higher and more spiritual than three.
fourths of the Christian world will admit
to be true. Yet it is only as such that he
is able to make it compare to superior ad.
vantage with other religions. Perhaps
some will see danger in this book, but it
,au only be those who fear that facts will
'how their own theories to be had. Wei
believe in the merit of the book, and
,heerfully commend it. We think it CAL
'nlated to do immense goodbye we
hink it could have done no harm had the
author allowed little more for 6
UGH illustrations of Psganism as are to
'e found in writings Of Cicero and Epicte- !
us and Marcus Aurelius. We do not
etract from our own religion by a Just
of others. s-. J. ..sasa,f -.,..a ~
The book embodies the latest researches ;.
+ antiqaarians and linguistic learning, :
nd cannot fail to be standard authority :,
Or reference by the American people. i
AN. A.
Fairhavep, Aug. Sd, 1871. --s=.| r.
Chicagoans attend the theatre in their
hirt sleeves and keep their hats on. d