New-York tribune., 1873-12-12

and The one revelation especially OF tue in-
teleciual character OF the Deity and only imperfecty
OF his moral nature The reveals his thoughts, the
other his will The the divine textbook of truth,
especially physical truth the other s the divine text
book Of conduct aud OF moral truth. Now argues
Professor Le Conte, Of these two BOOKS Nature
Is the elder born, and in some sense, ~
least, the more comprehensive and perfect. ~
is great error, he maintains TO regard the Scrip
ture scientific treatise, demanding OF 1t sciennnc
accuracy OF language and statement. The result OF hs
misconcepton IL to throw dscredit the Scriptures
when their teachings are supposed be contrary to tho
teachings Of Nature But the Bible Is not, and cannot
be a scientific book. Any attempt to teach science
would show s human origin. IL cannot be TOO strongly
insisted on thatthe Bible was never Intended To teach
ply steal truth. 1t only alludes 70 physlcai phe-
nomcna, because 10 is necessary 10 clothe moral anu
spiritual truth in u scnsuous garb.-But by far the
greater portion Of work devoted to the discussion
Of reisious doctrine in orthodox point. OF view,
~ set forth in the teachings Of the Bible. IL
belongs in fact to the province of theology rather than
of science II should be greeted as valuable aid 10 the
study of the Scriptures the basis OF the cardinal doe
riues of the Church. The tendencies OF the work are
decidedly conservative. While the author Is earnest
advocate of progress IN science ne strongly protests
against unov alton iu religion. His book had Its origin
in conrse of lectures to Bible class OF young men,
and # might doubtless be used to advantage with the
more adv anced classes OF Sunday Schools.
THE WOMEN OF THE ARABS b F,Ry HAMS JEAsrr D. D.
l2mJ pp. $50. Dodd Mead
In this compilation by an American mission
ory in SYRIA it is purposed 10 give account Of the
dton of woman among the Arab races, with historical
sketch of ne operations OF the Syrian mission during
the last ty years The Syrian women OF the present
dav altho Ugh superior some respects to the women
of barbarous nations, stl greatly deficient In the
simplest rudimens Of education. They are IN position
between the barbarous and the civilized. Few of them
are able TO read. Every alusion to women Is
avoided IN the conversation OF men, or they
ar. srokcn Of as II they animals.
lut change is now going Oh in Syrian public sentiment
with regard 10 the education Of women and the abolition
Of snpersous social usagcs This, however, does not
,,riy IA the Bedouin Arabs Among them the mission
ary work has made httle or no progress As the true
sons OF Inael they lead rough and yagrant liie de-
voted To robbery and murder business. Books ana
read1n, are quite unknown among them the Bedoun
cseeIus boy better than girl, because the boy may
fse 10 hOuOr but tie gr has notng TO expect O h't
husband but cuT,ing and abuse. \ man may marry
four wyes Thc girls anu women have no more religion
than the mon. They never pray nor Iaat' nor
make a pilgrimage To Mecca. The entire population
of the East set low estimate upon the life OF woman
Untn recently IN syria women were poisoned thrown
f wells Deatcu to death, cast into the with No
interference the part or the government Nomans =
night To lie has not yet been guaranteed under the
Turkish empire Much information on several other
uoints connected with tbe condition OF Oriental women
is presented the volume, forcihiy appealing to the
synpahes oil American phianthfOpiss for their reiiei
The authors method, however is no, ihe nost elective
Tie materials are crowded together IN crude form,
without having been reduced 20 symmetrical narr-
i've The title OF the book is more tempting than as
execution ana readers will probably rise from It's
perusal win a SENSE Of disappointment.
..u TIM ftgF u.
PLrsit d. %, Ii u. limo r- o5l haipe b"''''''
The popular character of this work gives 1t
m interest beyond Tie limits OF the cerca pfJie'son'
IL embraces cyary point relating to the ron'ho
OF paroshia duiy, bat pays no attention TO theories
aud distractions Everything is considered IN
practical polnt Of view and illustrated by examples
from real life. But its abundance OF anecdote
does not impair its didactic power. The tone OF
the work Is 20 serious aud weghty as TO admit
q great variety of familiar narrative without thihg
from the dignity Of the composition. The suggestions
OF the author regard TO the studies or minister are
often original aud always valuable. lie protests against
:he excessive time which certain preachers IN the
habit OF dey0ting TO their books Some rash expert
have undertaken TO study sixteen hours day
But this running the thing into the ground. Few
endure IT long. 1t viii certainly bring on premature
old age perhaps softenng OF the brain. Most men
would make much progress in a term OF years with
six or eight hours study, as with more. IL ls
a bad plan for minister TO give his chief
attention to studies for which lie mas no
special calbug and TO read too many magazines and
novels on other hand. it is a'great mistake to sup
pose those studies which the most dsagreeable
are the most profitable. When the mind is really
wearicd with any matter, il j. best 10 drop H. Secular
pursuits with view to making money, great enc
mes study. So the cbang OF bad empers
No class Of have need to for quiet aud
peaceaDle life than Christian students. Some Of the
author's practical coun,cs wise in spirit they
arc pungent in expression. Among other sound pre-
ceps he insists not plungng the people into debt by
building expensive churches or larger than those
req quired by the ordinary congregations. He also
explicit against trying to have the last words Church
courts and rJiust ecclesiastical pugnaciiy.
4 Midsummer Nights Dreom, by WILLIAM
sHAKEsPEARE with illustrations by ALFRED FRLDERICks
ID Appleton Co 10 among the choicest Of books for
The holiday season. The text - beautifully printed
paper, and every page bears illustration IN
the highest style of wOodengaving. Mauv OF the pie
lures are nearly fullpage, and The bOo abound in
qusitc initial and Vgnctte designs. The fairy
are very beautiful Bottoms wonderful " translation"
represented eight nine graphic and most hnmor
delineations Ut Athens and IN the wood
superb pieces OF landscape; and the entire