The herald., 1894-04-15

aaintroductfon by Prof. Richard 4, Ely
One volume, 10 mo-, cloth, gilt top, q
cents. Thomas Y. Cook & Co., New Yorh
For sale at Antiquarian book store.
The world is looking more and NOR
60 the church for solution Q! the grea
problems that each day are growing IL
Importance and in difficulty. But th,
church is naturally conservative body
and requires something like an electric
shock to gslvanizs it into progressive
action.
Such book as Prof. Commons Is we'll
calculated to have this awakening effect
he is himself church member, but he
is not blinded to the faults of the
church, and ne docs not withhold the
courge OF criti cism. 1t is not negative
criticism, but practical and positive and
constructive. From the thesis Ethat
"Cbristianity is the cause OF our social
problems," he deduces the argu-
ments that the church, if it is
to represent the cause of Christ,
must instantly grspple with the social
ills of the day. Marriage and divorce,
intemperance. crime, pauperism and
poverty, wealth and luxury, the rela-
tions of labor and capital, all come un-
der the great complex laws which regu-
late the duties of man and therefore are
OF equal Importance with the more dis
tinctively religious functions of church
as expressed in the worship of God.
SIT is the duty OF the hour" says this
new teacher in the realm OF Christian
science, mot to pick out Jew souls Tor
salvation, but gradually develop all that
10 highest in every son of man." The
divisions under which Professor Com
mons treats the great questions OF the
church as to political reforms, are:
What part have politics in the salvation
of the world? Why do politics fail in
the instruments OF social reform? and
what should be the attitude of the
Church toward political He shows how
their trsatmentshould be acientific and
and not sentimental and
empirical. Professor Commons arrsigns
ministers for their ignorance of sociol-
ogy aud penoloGy, and claims that they
should devote at least half of their
time to the science OF social ethics. He
thinks they hEVe failed to see their
vantage ground ss recognized leaders.
The present volume consists OF seven
essays, six of which were read originally
before audiences distinctively Christian.
The titles are: The Christian Min
lister and Sociqlogys The Church and
the Problem oil Poverty; The Educated
Man in Politics; The Church and Polit-
ical Reforms; Temperance Reforms;
Municipal Mpnopoliesi Proportional
Representations al Asa
The last mentionsd was read at the
worlds c0laefeHa on suffrage and is in
tended as supple eT3Eptary TO the essay on
"The Church fknd Municipal Reform"
Even these Who may differ from Pro-
fessor Commons . must admire the mans
earnestnees, courage and zeal. He for
Iifies hia Eesfkton aith 9 strong sffay of
facts, he argues 'Blp1eiy and logically and
pushes homs his Logic with practical
illustrations. 1t il. g book which ought
to be id tie hsndb ofsegery one con-
fronted with any phase of the labor
question or of social reform. As Profess
sor Ely says in his introduction: ''The
views here presented both afford an ex-
cellent stimulus to popular thought and
are calculated TO awaken men to the true
importance of popular questions OF the
day, and to help Ret us o1t of the ruts
into which we are SO likely to fall" He
adds: "It is a time when we need Wig :
orous thinking, clear thinking, and a
right spirit, and all these are found in
the works Of Professor Commons."
This work htly supplements an earlier
volume in several directions. The
volume which came out q few months
since was a contribution to economic
theory and entitled Distribution OF
Wealth, which is destined to exercise
decided influence upon the develop.
ment Of economic thought. This prea-
enttvplume is more popular in character
and 10 calculated to exercise a more i'm
mediate influence upon practical affairs.
But both are excellent in their way and
should be thoroughly read by all pro-
gressive thinkers.
%@x
COUNTESS oBERNAU, after the German, BY
JULIEN GoRDoN. Cloth, &l25; peper
edition, SO cents. P1blishsd by Robert
BOnner's SoIs, New York. For sale by An.
tiquarian book store.
Julien Gordon's novels possess superb
studies Of character and fresh and un-
hackneyed incidents, the inertia of
which have rendered them popular.
These qualities will also be found in
Countess Obernsu, which she has adapt
"a from the German, and which is
quite equal to any of her books. Count
ess ObernRu is woman who possesses
q rare charm ot individuality. She has
refinement and exquisite Hensibilities,
joined to an artistic temperament. There
is mystery in her life, and her inie-
pendent character and Bohemian ten
dencies invest all her movements with
interest to curious observers. The
charm OF her individuality iascinatee
all, and at least two are ready to die
for her. The interest Of tina novel is all
conferred in this character. the author
10 pleasing writer, rs the well known
novel. A Diplomats Diasy, shows. The
illustrations are By James Pagan. The
binding lie vsry neat.
80
LOVE, novel from the French Of RoNoRE
DE BALZAC, translated by Francis II. SheD-
pArd, q. s. II. Published by Robert Bon
ner's sons. For ss!e By Antiquarian nSok
store.
This is an admirable Translation Of one
OF the most refined aud spiritual books
ir sny language. IL deals with love, but
that great passion is embodied in the
souls Of men and women who suffered
tho ereat srials and sf1lictiens which
overlook tbs viotims Of the first French
revolution. The principal characters
belong TO the old arietoeracy of France,
who escaped only with their lives, to
enact the role Of ministers of charity ia
the very place where had stood the gull
lotine, and to the people who had clam
orsd ior their bleod. This novel should
be read 10 come with The Country
Doctor. as It lie written on tbs same gen
era iiHes, although 10 reaches a greater