The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-07-17

body, the powers of observation, the reflect
i've powers, the intuitional nature, the imag
nation, the conscience, the affections ant
social nature, reverence, will, hope, and tn
other phases Of human life. These chapter
are really practical and helpful, for they arr
the outgrowth of wise observation ant
study of life on all its many sides. This il
undoubtedly the best book on the subject
since Combe's "Constitution of Man," and
it deserves to be as widely known and studied
as that work has been.
And now 1 wish to say word about DR..
Clarkes last book, volume of his practical
sermons, which he calls Everyday Relig-
ion." The title fully describes the book, and
the contents are made up of the plainest and
most direct sermons the author has preached
during the last few years. Some of his titles
are suggestive and appetizing, as these: "How
to Make the most of Life" Emphasis in
Religion and Life" s'The Heavens and Hells
| of the Present Life,' "Moral Mechanics and
Dynamics." On such subjects as these DR..
Clarke is always fresh and full of illumina-
ton, ample in illustration, and rich in wis
dom. He has, it seems to me, very remark
able gift of literary, biographical and histor-
ical illustration, and very expert use of apt
quotations and anecdotes. These enrich bis
sermons, make them always entertaining,
and they help to drive home his thought with
great power. know of no preacher among
the living in this country who has anything
at all like his gift in this direction, and it al
ways makes his sermons enjoyable to me in
a rich degree At the same time he is sim
pie in his style and direct in his thought, aim
ing straight at the mark, and hitting it fairly.
His practical sermons are models for all to
initiate and to profit by; and they carry some
home truth straight to heart and mind.
To my mind DIR. Clarke has published no
better book than this on Everyday Relig-
ion." 1 am often inclined to quarrel with
him about the teachings of his more theolog-
ical sermons, sometimes on the radical and
sometimes on the conservative side; but I
can do nothing but admire his more practical
discourses. The religion which can be put
into daily practice finds one of its very best
expressions in this volume, and many of its
phases are defined and illustrated as he only
among liberal preachers can do it. 1t is evil
IDENTIFY designed in some degree as a compan-
ion volume to 'Self-Culture;" and it does
illustrate the more moral and religious side
of life in a fuller measure than is done in
that book. 1t has not the same continuity
of purpose, however, and it does not make
SO distinct and complete an impression.
For the high spiritual range of DR.. Clarke's
thinking one must turn to his "Ideas of the
Apostle Paul. but for his direct, simple,
forcible and helpful Interpretation of the re-
ligion of daily living this is the book one
must read. AS turn over its pages again
feel more and more their worth and the
grand power which lies embodied in the per-
feet simplicity of statement. These sermons
will sweeten, ennoble and strengthen what
ever life they touch with their wholesome
teaching. GEO. WILLIS Cooke.
OUR PENAL MACHINERY AND ITS VICTIMS. By
John p. Altgeild. Chicago; A. G. McClurg
g. Co.
This is in many respects an able and orig
inal discussion of a very important subject.
The discussion is timely and should be care
mand for this book, and philanthropists,
statesmen, and reformers will find in its
pages an array of facts that will greatly aid
them in their Investigations of our criminal
code in its practical application to society,
and the results of our present method of
dealing with criminals.
The author shows by facts and figures that
onr Of To- ~, sf-
practical application is failure-it does not
prevent crime, reform criminals or protect
society. He shows that the crime producing
conditions are poverty, orphanage, no home
life, or bad home life, ignorance, and the
want of such business knowledge and habits
as would enable them to make living.
He shows that prison life itself is fearful
cause of crime, and demonstrates by facts
that few who are brought under its influence
are ever reformed, and shows that the great
majority of criminals grow worse under pris-
on discipline. This reveals the fact that our
penal system is not reformatory and does
not reduce the amount of crime or lesson the
number of criminals. The remedies sug-
gested by the author are wise and timely.
l. Make the object of imprisonment the
protection of society, and not the punish
ment of the prisoner.
2. Imprison those only who are dangerous
to society.
3. Preserve, cultivate and develop the self
respect of prisoners.
4. Make the treatment kind and not cruel.
5. Bring the higher moral motives to bear
on them, appeal to their better nature.
6. Pay them wages and charge them with
cost of keeping and lay aside the overplus for
to give them start when their term expires.
We cordially commend the book to all who
desire to be Informed on this subject.
10 the July number of Mind in Nature
Professor A. Cuthbertson of Rutgers College,
contributes paper on 1.-THE Correlation be-
tween Mental Work and Physical Force"
R. N. Foster, M. D., reviews the case of
"Faith Healing" reported by DIR. Hutchin-
son in the May number. Professor Lewis
Stuart, of University of Chicago, gives a
sketch of the late Professor John Fraser. R,
W. Shufeldt, M. D., in "a Study of Plan
chette," gives an account of his experiences
and experiments with this little puzzle. R.
W. Conant, M. D., in "Wanted-The Soul"
offers some suggestions toward finding it.
U. N. Gestefeld reviews a recent sermon of
DR.. @. A. Bartols, on ''The Common Ground
in Spiritualism, Mind Cure, Theosophy and