New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

TIE UNKNOWN GOD. OF INSPIRATION AMONG
PRECHRlSTiAN RACES. by C.. Lorng Brace.
:. svo, Up. 800. A. G.. Armstrong Co.
The aim Of this volume is sufficiently indicated
In the title II is attempt to trace the en-
istence Of belief in Supreme Being back 10 the
earliest historical period ,lIow far the author is
warranted in applying the term inspiration Z"
these archaic beliefs readers will no doubt judge
for themselves. It's employment at all in snch
an inquest may be thought by some 10 involve
. certain begging OF tho question: gratntous
extension 10 pagan theories Of that source Of
authority which Christians hold TO pertain solely
to their own religion. Mr.. Braces representation
of the old faiths and in especial Of the esoterc
phases OF them, is in most cases careful. and rs
accurate as is compatible with the Imperfect
knowledge which has come down 10 us concern
ing many Of thosc matters. His treatment of the
Great Mysteries however. is less trustworthy and
illuminativc the differences drawn being seldom
warranted by such facts as arc known No DOUBT
the subject is an obscure one, and possibly no ono
understands il we'll enough 20 venture positive
,pinions The only solid ground for Mr.. Brace :
general view may he said To be the conclusion
which the study OF comparative religion ana
ancient philosophy suggests. namely, that the
postulaton of monothcism was the fnaI word o'
all the deeper speculatiOns of antiquity.
Mr. Braces treatment OF the Indian religions,
and esnccially buddhism indicates careful en-
animation Of the hest authorities. In more IMAM
ono narticular il is much more accurate than SIT
Monjer Williams's recent pretentious hut slngu-
larly narrow volume that religion. liz
does not follow the vulgar error into which 30
many writers upon Buddhism have faleh' o'
identifying Nirvana with annlhllatloh' No oFn-
minded, dilgent student could make such mis-
f,,,. nf,VtIIn - l.
mindedness continues 10 he quite rare as schol-
arly thoroughncsS in matters OF the Hlnd' MI
Brace has more trouble with the Stoics. who
x.,s so nearly AgnosticS that the utteranccs OF
their philosophers must almost have belief in a
Sunrcme Being read into them before il can I've
foupd there Their conception Of Iens was IN
deed much like Matthew Arnold's power, not
ourselycs that makes for righteousness "
was n high and worthy conception, beyond
doub, hut il was mingled with ideas about
DESTINY which seem TO combine the karma OF
the uindoos with the fatalism Of the MosIcm'
As demonstrating the tendency 81 the human
mind at its best toward simple and pure re-
Iigion. their evidence is certainly of value, ana
the same may he said OF III" inner or es"''ric
crrc,ls Of most Of the nations OF antqu'N-
nearly all Of whom acted upon the theory 'hat
the truth was not for the ignorant masses. aad
that they must he given highly colorcd mythoio-
gies. imposing rituals. and >uiiicicncy oil th"t
ceremonial which as regards the unihinkIng III
all ages NAV he said 10 stand in the stead OF those
exalted conceptions of Divinity whose very elc-
walton repels aud discoura2cs the uncducafrd
mind Mr. Brace has written a useful and suG-
gestive book, and he might push hIs researches
further with profit. and in a second volume taat
of the religions. both eNoieric and eso'rrc. OF
undeveloped and savage or barharons races b"'h
In ancient and modern times