The Portland daily press., 1890-04-23
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY e. CAYAZZA

The Way Out of Agnosticsm. BY Francis
Ellingwo0d Abbot, Phi. ID. Late Instructor
In Philosophy in Harvard College. Ia this
very compact philosophical treatise upon the
truths of Free Religion, DIR. Abbot appears
to condense an elaborate and extensive
scheme Of original thought. 1t also seems
to be comprehensive preface to a larger and
more detailed exposition of his theories. He
notes that this century Is emphatically the
Age of Agnosticism, and that its leading
thinkers have abandoned the venerable ideas
of the universe which have been supported
by Christian theology for nearly two thous-
and years. They have destroyed, but they
cannot construct. They can declare faith
only in the Unknowable. Briefly, DIR. Abb
bot observes that the dilemma to which ag-
Mysticism reduces the human spirit is this /:
Men must either learn to think more pro-
foundry, or else uLlearn to feel. Yet, since
to noble natures insensbility is a means of
escape as impossible as it is undesirable /;
deeper thought and higher feeling is the only
way OF emergence from the torment of ag-
Mysticism. 1.-THE one objectionable sin of
the intellect" says DR.. Abbot, sis to despair
of itself; and he incites liberalism to fulfil
its supreme duty, that of the construction of
new theory of the universe. He sketches
in the ensuing chapters an outline of the
theory which he believes to be latent in the
scientific method, basing his arguments on
three special points which may be briefly
stated: That the universal results and the
common method of special sciences are the
only possible data Of philosophy; that the
universe is known as at once infinite ma
chine, infinite organism and infinite person,
the unity of the Absolute Real and Ideal in
God; that the universe itself is the Ethical
Realization of the Infinite Divine Ideal
Ideal as the sun in dewdrop.
DR.. Abbot then proceeds to trace the con-
nection between the beginning and end of
this philosophy, In order that the founda-
tions may be laid for its practicable compre-
hension. 1t may frankly be confessed that
the monograph is. of necessity, hard reading
for persons IMMERSED in the special terminol-
ogy of philosophic and theological science.
For this reason, the forcible arguments and
original theories of DIR. Abbot's work will be
mercifully spared the ubiquitous discussion
which has rendered the name of Roberi
Elsmere a WEAKNESS to hear; in these
grave, professional pages there is nothing
to attract the half-taught epithets of the
sewing circle; but instead, vigor, clearness
and above all, spirit of liberal faith, in the
presentation of theories which, once uttered
will form part of all succeeding discussion
upon constructive philosophy Boston
Little, Brown 81 Co.; Portland: Loring
Short & Harmony
Easter Cleans. By Lucy >Larcom. This
lisa dainty white and gold pamphlet of re.
ligious verse, which written especially fol
Easter Day, may well carry its cheerful
message the whole year round. AS always
Miss Larcom's poems are marked by sin
certify and warmth of sentiment and agree
able expression. Among the various poetic
| meditations upon the manifold feelings sug
| gested by the festival of resurrection. Sun
| rise has delicate and luminous color; Th,
Lamb that was Slain touches note of peni
teDce; The Blessed Company has lyri,
| quality, and Nightfall is soft In outline ant
atmosphere. Boston: Houghton, Miffiin &
Co; Portland: Loring, Short & Harmony
| Orations and After-Dinner Speeches. By
Chauncey NJ. Depew. A volume, bound ant
printed with excellent taste, contains fifty
two representative oratioDs and after-dinner
speeches by the versatile and genial Mr.
Chauncey M. Depew. The speeches have
been chosen from several hundred addresse;
delivered in different parts of the country
and are ably edited by Mr.. j. B. Glider, o.
the New York Critic Perhaps the first i'm
preston of the general reader will be that oil
surprise at the gravity and solidity of some Of
the orations upon patriotic and memoria
occasions, and the wide range of oratorical
effort in which Mr.. Depew has been success
full. His ready after-dinner wit is of course
famous; one always imagines Mr.. Depew
risen to his feet, amid smiles of general an
ticipation mirroring themselves in uncount
ed facets of cut glass down the length of q
sumptuously decorated table. New York
Cassell Publishing Co.; Portland: Lcring
Short & Harmony