The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-11
tions of the human mind.

Though religious truth Is absolute and per-
feet, our conception of that truth is necessa-
rily imperfect, because limited and one
sided. All religions are more or less true
One only is absolutely so, viz, the Christian
Churches ancient and modern, stand for
some aspect of Christianity, but none of
them represent it perfectly, or adequately.
Each age, however, is apt to seize upon the
truth most necessary to it, and so does each
denomination. But the truth held in trust
by each, is in danger of misrepresentation
through undue Importance being attached
to it, The proportions of the whole are not
preserved. SectS are but segments.
Now if they would only compare notes."
harmonic and unite the several parts which
they have appropriated. the sum would be a
church catholic not only in name, but in
deed, church more comprehensive and
Christian than the world has thus far seen.
The closing chapter of this interesting vol
ume is a candid survey of the religious de-
nominations in the United States. in which
the author courteously recognizes their le
spective claims to the character and consti-
tuition of a chnrch, but cogently argued in
favor of union of all their positive forces
to the end that the real American Church,
The Church of the Future, may surpass all
other national churches whether of the
present or of the past.
Bound Volume xxx. of The Century
comprises the numbers of this excellent
magazine from November, 1889, to April,
1890, inclusive. 1t contains 900 pages and
40 illustrations, of which % are full page
pictures, including frontispiece portraits of
Emerson, Duke of Wellington, Prof. James
Bryce, M. p, Edwin Forrest, Joseph Jeffer-
son and others. The contents include The
Autobiography of Joseph Jefferson, histori-
cal sketches and stories of travel and ad-
venture by such writers as George KEENAN,,
Mrs. Amelia B. Edwards, Edward l.. Will
son, Frederick Schwatka, Susan N. Carter,
F. w. Putnam, W. E. Grif1is, and Charles
Bryant; poems by Stedman, Boner, James
Whitcomb Riley, Walt Whitman, Louise
Chardler Moulton, Edith Thomas and 9TH
ers; art illustrated by w. }, Stillman, Mrs.
Van Rensselaer,, John La Fargo, Charles
De Kay, Brander Matthews; special papers
by William Cbauncy Langdon, Samuel W.
Dyke, Richard T Ely, George P. Fisher and
Theodore Roosevelt; completion of the Life
of Abraham Lincoln, by Nicolay and Hay;
articles on the Congo, by W. p. Tisdel and
E. j. Glave; fiction by the best known and
most popular authors. The various depart
ments contain interesting and valuable dis
cussiOns of the most important questions of
the day. The price of the volume in gold
cloth, gilt top, is $500, in green, $2.75 half
Russia, $40O
The Art of Authorship. Compiled and
edited by George Bainton New York ID.
Appleton d Co.; Portland: Loring, Short
d HARMONY. 1t is always interesting to read
an authors account of his own methods of
work, and of the experiences through which
he has passed. Advice from such source
is eagerly sought by those wishing to enter
on literary career. Mr.. Bainton sought
such advice originally to use in lectures on
the art of composition. The responses were
so readily given and proved so valuable that
he extended his inquiries, deciding to put
the results in more permanent form. The
number of personal testimonies given in his
book is nearly two hundred, and includes
those of scientists, essayists, ministers his
tOrians, nOyelists, poets and lecturers. Va
ried are the eXperit noes related and the
methods employed are widely different, but
tie advice to 'be true to ones SELF is gen
eral, and the plea for simplicity Of style IS
earnest