New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-28

FANS Tspena:Iv in Relation to the History OF
isTac ami Of 'ne PTofessor Of Hebrew and Old
Testament Exegesis, rreet S coo g Arm
strong & SOM
TIE last few years have witnessed remai hto'1
uulckening Of interest in regard 10 the phy''Na'
CHARACTERISTICS and archaeological remains OF 'he
Holy Land. Among the Americans who have mace
Original researches IN thsse lines may be ihehuo'i
Robinson Smith and Lyn,h. Under the auspices %
the Palestine Exploration Fund, Great Britain mas
sent Wilson. Warren. Drake Tristram' COhuei,
Kitchener Mantell. Black and Armstrong nearly al
OF whom have added SOME valuable facts 10 the
sum of knowledge concerning Palestine But IN 'he
denartments OF art archaeology ana topography no
nation has surpassed France to which belong Nad-
dingtOn Renan. De Vogue De Saulcy. ClerInont-
Ganneau Rey and Gucrln. TO Germans especially
Ike Wetstein is due the recent advance in our
knowledge OF Palestine geography rs related to BIB
lical criticism. The more recent American writers
on this subject. Merrill Trumbull ana cay nave
in a measure popularized the facts and conclusions
of these great investigators but II still remains true
that TO the vast majority OF Intelligent Americans
TINT interesting but superficial book, DR.. Thomp-
sons THE Land ana the Book" remains the sole
authority the subject.
Professor Smiths painstakng volume is not In
tended by him to take the place of any existing
work on the subject. but TO supplement the de-
fec,s to be found in some of them The average
teacher or reader OF the Bible needs TO have
clear idea Of the main physical outlines of Pales-
tine. Not only that. but 10 understand FUZZY the
Biblical story. those who read 1t must be made 10
see a real background. and TO feel real atmos-
phere They must be able to discover the lay OF
tho land" why the story took certain lines. why
the prophecy and the Gospel were expressed IN
certain styles. what is the relation Of topography
10 Biblical criticism. and. above all. they must be
able TO discriminate between what physical en-
vironment and moral forces did for the people of
Israel Professor Smith clearly recognizes all these
requirements and ventures to hope that his book
will them; and we gladly record the fact that
his hope Is largely justified by the result II might
indeed be said Of his style that II ia n trhe
sober and lacking in that brilliant rhetorical color
ing that has made Canon Farrar's Life OF Christ
SO popular But while such rhetorical gift Is al
ways dangerous. II is especially so in a writer
who sets out to relate the results of hi. original
researches.
Though Professor Smith is brilliant. ne is
very seldom prosaic, and will seem dull only to
those who have no interest In the subject His ac
quaintance with the photography Of Palestine is
thorough: he has himself made careful study OF
the country. and from his reading and personal
investiga ton he is able TO give the reader In simple
language a clear and graphic picture Of Palestine
topography related to the Bible story. His
work is. indeed. of the best and at the same
time most concise of all the works the subject
accessible American readers The six fine folded
maps in the volume especially prepared for
1t by the eminent photographer John G orge Bar
tbolomew. of Edinburgh and of themselves do
much TO throw ligh: on the subject. In conclusion.
II may he said that the book is handsomely printed
and contains a good general index, and. in addi-
ton, index of authorities.
The Rev. DR.. Albert Z. Cummings Congregations
alists In America q. a. Hill & Co., New-Iork) is a
valuable record Of American Congrega tionalism. 1t
Is prefaced by two luminous introducilons one by
the Rev. Or. r. S Storrs and the other by General
o. o. Howard; and there special chapters by
many other eminent lights OF COngregationalism
DR.. Cumming brings to bear on his task compre-
hensive grasp Of the subject, and sympathetic I'M
Outstanding Of the various schools Of thought that
have successfully modified shaped the form Of
Congregational belief and opinion. The volume
be heartily commended to students of church his
tory
Another valuable book on the subject Is the
History Of the Congregational Churches in the
United States" by Professor Williston Walker, OF
the Hartford Theological Seminary. which is issued
by the Christian Literature Company as the third
volume in the American Church History series. II
Is embeshed by a copious index and a photography
for the Of those who may desire to make an
exhaustive study Of a religious poity that throws
much light New-England life and civilization.
THE Bishops Blue Book" by the Rev J. Sanders
Reed DANES Pott & Coz. gives in an interesting
form great deal Of out-of-he-way information
about bishops in all ages of the Church. how they
how laymen were sometimes raised TO this office,
and so on. Those who naturally interested in
such matters will find the book readable.
The Rev William Turner has prepared Hand
book Of the Bible (Thomas Whitaker. in which
he has given a number of curious facts about 1t, 4
very fun index makes its Information accessible TO
the student
The Rev. DR.. Mason Gallagher has written
book in answer the question, Was the Apostle
Peter Ever Rome?" After examining all the af-
ilrmative arguments found in Roman Catholic au-
thors he concludes that he not, and the Rev.
DR.. John Hall. who writes the introduction.
firms DR.. Gallagher's view Of the question true.
The volume is published by Hunt Eaton.
Light on the Bible and he Holy Land" being an
account OF recent archaeological discoveries
in the Eas, by Basil 7. A. Evetts. formerly Of the
Assyrian Department Of the British Museum. NJ.
Evetts has done his work with painstakng care.
and the volume is embellished with many handsome
Illustrations of recent archaeological finds that
throw light on the Biblical records
.'The Burden OF Ill Health: How to Bear It."
by Leila Lyon Topping az. p Dutton & Coz. con-
tains much excellent counsel for invaidg who are
hidden 10 look ior strength only in the consultations
OF religion.
John T Ashley, OF Brooklyn. writes and pub
fishes n little book entitled Hebrew Influences
Upon Civilization" which is a plea for the Hebrew
race against the injustice and prejudice of which it
has SO often been the victim.
New pubhfations.
NCTORER ATLANTIC