The Portland daily press., 1877-01-13

TennysoD need not share, for when he is real.s-
tic, his work is exceedingln fiue; and his genius
Is great enough to catch the poetic phase of
Common things. A lack of truth of detail is
sometimes shown in the inequalities of Mr..
Iennyson work, when the spirit of tragedy
tears aeunder the veil that covered the oldtime
suoJect Oh MS verse with soft illusory dimness
a more sharply defined outline of manners and
objects; careful study of bric-a 6rac even-for
the arms and utensils of one age are the bric-a-
6rac of the next, and the word is after all only
question of time-would be of advantage to
Mr. Tennyson His minute and delicate accu.
racy as to his own time is marvellous; and it
would be easy for him to attain similar traits in
MS medieval work, so fine is his perception and
SO retentive his observation. Tue Laureate's
genius IS magnificent in its wide and enllght-
ened scope; but in purely artistic and satisfying
treatment OF olden story, whether it be Gothic
Greek or legend of no place or time, he might
learn very much from Mr.. William Morris,
who is without an equal in this respect. His
range OF subject and manner is narrower
than is that of Mr.. Tennyson but
within the limits that he recognizes, his
work is perfect The studies of decoration,
which his first volume really must be consid-
cred, have been of incalculable aid to Mr.. Nor
ris in giving consistency and genuine quality to
his work. Another chief merit of Mr.. Morris's
poetry is its utterly impersonal quality. His
| identity is nowhere obtrusive he practically
| forgets for the time the latter centuries He
| belongs indeed to the school which is known as
Pre- -Raphaelite; but while adhering to its tradi-
tions of minute fsithfulnesa, his genius enables
him to rise above such of its conditions as
would weight its winging
In conclusion it may merely be said that no
one will perceive more readily than Mr. Tenny-
son wherein the conditions of great dramatic
poetry are unfulflled by his work thus far and
| with his superb tact which is as an armor-
bearer to his genius, he will adapt his work to
meet the high expectations that he has given
the world right to FORM
| MEDIEVAL AND MODERN SAINTS AND MIRACLES
Not Ab Uno Societate Jesu. New York: Harper
q Brothers. For sale by Loring, Short & Harmon.
1t is not yet know to whom is to be' assigned
the honor of having written this book. The
title page indicates only that no Jesuit need
| appl7 and the contents of the book itself indi-
| cate quite clearly that no Jesuit Is likely to
claim the honor. In fact Jesutism is the
bete NOR whose portentous blackness is here ex-
hibited. The book is written in the belief that
the American public is by far too favorably
| inclined towards the Romish church. and is so
only because it lacks information concerning
"the actual teachings of modern Romanism, the
intellectual, moral, social and political tenden-
cies of those teachings, and the real aims of the
leaders of the party which inspires and con-
trolls the policy of the Vatican He under
takes to supply that want. He does not pro.
pose to run tilt against Catholicism as re.
Egion; be even defends Catholics against un-
discriminating comparisons frequently in
| dulged in by Protestants. In a long residence
In Catholic countries he has found. among zeal
GUS Catholics in every social condition, not ex-
cluding even the priesthood, examples of every
moral virtue as brilliant as any known by him
in Protestant lands. Yet he believes that
Catholicism, as administered by the Church of
Rome is, in the main, hostile to culture and
social progress. The author has to deal, how
ever, with Romanlsm as polity. For that he
has neither defence nor extenuation; nor, on
the other hand, does it appear that he has set
down aught in malice. For the most part he
suffers history to speak for itself The book is
a book of history, constructed of materials be-
| yond ordinary reach. The arrogant claims of
| Romanism are here set forth, and the ridicu-
lous tales fraudulently imposed on the eredu-
lity of the ignorant. Full account is given of
some of the more conspicuous of the pretended
miracles wrought under sacerdotal superntend-
ence, and also of the revelations contrived by
intrigue. accepted by the cheated multitude
and giving rise to these curious revivsls or
spasms.of religion" known as pigrimages.
About one half the book is Appendix to
the other half and contains, besides sundry
Papal "bulls," extended notes on ecclesiastical
forgeries, suppression of learning, the Inquisi-
tion and other matters. In these notes and in
the treatise to which they are appended the
author shows apparent familiarity with the
springs and issues of Jesuitism, and describes
them in a bright and vigorous way. He will
probably not arouse the country by this note of
alarm; but the statements here made may
fairly claim consideration from the American
citizen. G. W. B.
The RELIGION OF EVOLUTION. By NJ. j. Savage,
author of christianity, the Science Of Manhood u
Boston: Lockwood Brooks g. Co. For sale by
| Dresser, Mcclellan g. Co.
The special topics considered under this title
are-Science and Re lgion, Theory of the
World, The God of Evolution, The Man of
Evolution, The Devil, or The Nature of Evil,
The Evolution of Conscience, Love in Law,
Prayer, Bibles and the Bible, The Doctrine Of
Atonement, Christianity and Evolution, I'm
mortality 1t will be seen that these are great
themes, and themes, too, which now command
much attention from thoughtful minds. A
popular treatise. on these subjects by compe-
tent hand is certainly thing to be eagerly
| welcomed. Is Mr.. Savage competent to the
labor he has undertaken? He is already well
known as strong and independent thinker.
His christianity the Science of Manhood,
published while as yet he was minister in
some Evangelical denomination, was favor
ably received by his dencminational brethren,
apd equally well in other circles, both before
and after his conversion to Unitarianism. He
is now minister of the Church OF the Unity in
Boston, in the place formerly occupied by Mr.,
Hepworth, and is master of his position. He
has recently given some. illustrations of his
quality in occasional public comments on the
famous Boston Monday Lectureship," in
which he has caught up a few of the eccen
tricities of argument scintiating from the
fiery mind of Rev. Joseph Cook.
The presumption arises that he has not un
dertaken this task altogether in vain He does
| not pretend that his work is conclusive, or even
that he has produced complete discussion Of
the subject in hand. He says-"This vol.
| ume makes no claim to completion. 1t is
only an essay in answer to the question, II
evolution is true, what have we left in the way
of relgon?" An important question-ir
view OF the probability that evolution may
eventually be establshed-a question for some
| one sometime to answer. Whether or not this
answer by Mr.. Savage will satisfy the readel
depends on-many things. Probably it will
not fully satisfy anyone. We should joir
issue with him on some positions taken, collat
eral to the principal theses; for example, on BIZ
treating of conscience as if it were kno'cinS
faculty, an error which, Notwithstanding its
chronological sanction, betrays him into some
inevitable confusion of thought We decidedly
object also to the statement that knowledge is
the devil-killer and extermnator of evil" an
nkLu