New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-14
universe a. tho progressive manifestation Of self

all existence and all change. To the ordinary man
there Is a sharp opposition between thought ana
things to him there II no reality but IN thihss'
The idealist philosophy explains to him that II Is
only his thought that makes things real TO him;
and further that only thought makes anything real
at oil The fact that 1t Is only by the ACTIVITY Oh
thought that OF the mere thrilling OF our nerves
OF sensation we realize the conception OF universe
ordered by law requires TO hold that thought OF
intelligence constitute the universe and is there
fore the ultimate reality. Materialism. Pantheism
and Ideallsm are the alternative PHILOSOPHERS. the
strength OF Ideasm Is in the fact which Professor
Bovine has recently demonstrated that apart from
It there is such thing as logical answer TO the
questions How do We know? and What can We
know?
DR. Watson's argument Is acutely reasoned. with
many a neat exposure Of fallacies. 1t leads up 10
this position: That the ideast philosophy clearly
evnces the harmony Of the Christian conception OF
God and man with the results OF modern science
and criticism; also, that the principle OF Chi's-
tanity thus acquires 4 defnteness and persuasive
ness not otherwise attanable. and missed by those
who are stalled in the traditional forms OF thought.
The freedom with which DR.. Watson criticikes GER
tain tenets Of the popular theology is noteworthy,
and so is his Affirmation as Christian thinker that
the principle OF evolution gives way at all points "
at any point II tolerates not one break In Its proc
ess Evidently this points though he does not say
So 70 a transformation OF tho Christian doctrine OF
the incarnation. extending II from the inoIVlouai
Jesus as the son Of God. to all mankind. as chill
dren OF God. To all Church teachers tho closing
words OF DR.. Watson are to be commended The
Christianity OF our day must free Itself from the
narrow conception Of life by which Protestantism
has tended to limit It's principle
1.-THE Age OF the Renascence" will always possess
a peculiar interest as the birthtme OF the modern
world Roughly speaking. It was the hfteenth cen
tury with the quarter century preceding ana inc
quarter century following. In this PERIOD as Dr'
Paul Van Dyke says. In The Age or the fenas-
cence" his contribution TO The Epochs OF Church
History Series" CThe Christian Literature Com
pany) a sort OF chemical change transformed tho
very elements Of thought and OF society This mace
the Protestant Revolution and the subsequent Cath
ole Reformation possible during tho sixteenth CEN
fury. The present work does not undertake. within
its brief compass. a full history Of period 30 ashr
with eventful movements. 1t aims rather Ito give
as graphic a view al possible Of single act IN the
great lie drama OF humanity. VIZ tho crisis OF tho
Papal Church in that period OF reconstruction Inc
division Of the actors In that crisis into tine men
Of institutions and the men OF IDEAS exhibited
an antagonistc characteristic OF every peroo OF
transition. and holds mirror TO the face OF our
own age OF shifting lights II was true then and II
ia true to-day that as DR.. Van Dyke says: Men
whose intellectual sympathies drew them TO tho
narty OF ideas we're bound by the deeper links or
character the party Of institutions The lesson
OF that period is that Ideas are above institutions
Certain passages in recent Church history add
fresh point to the old moral. that no appeal TO the
supernatural can avoid the searching tests OF reason
a,a Coincidence The accomplished brothers into
whose hands the story Of tho Renaissance has fallen
nresent II as mere sketch upon very narrow
canvas but II is admirably done
~. has,s Of the Rev James q Rennis's Chris
tan Missions and Social Progress (FGemns II.
Reve Company Is tho course OF lectures on the so
c,ological aspects OF foreign missions given by tho
suthor at Princeton and other theological semi
neres In their present form they have been recast
and largely expanded In one point OF view. tho
hook "a a treasury OF interesting and valuable In
formation concerning tho actual condition OF the
non-C Christian peoples. In another point, II IS an
impressive argument for the unique power OF CHRIS
,,anty as a means OF social regeneration so far
&C the book has argumentative value for Chris
.,anity It relies. though not exclusively on CON
,e,nnorarv evidence drawn from present facts and
conditions These such as to dispel many IL
lusions about the hopeful condition OF heathens as
IN no way appealing to the humane synnpathes OF
Christian1ed people
The New Testament portions Of Tho lnterna-
tional Commentary which have thus far appeared
abide by traditional views moro Closely than tho
nortions done in tho Old Testament Professor
Marvin r Vincent Of tho Union Theological Semi
nary the author OF "A Critical and Exesercal
Commentary on the Ep!stles 10 the Philippians ana
20 Philemon CHARLES Scrbners Sons Is IN agree
ment with tho majority OF learned critics IN 70
rarding It's text tho genuine work OF 81 raul
Thu Ep,stle TO the Philippians 10 with many 1heif
,ayo-,,. among the letters OF 81 Paul. Its present
axnoa,t,on and criticism are marked by complete
ness o, learning that will make Professor Vncehts
commentary also q favorite among students and
cIerrymen for whom II is specially designed IL 10
.pecially enriched by elaborate excursus on the
important points Of Church poity ana Chr'S'oiosJ
which emerge IN the text
rh.,. ideas as they grow to dominance. super
.ede the ancient dualism between the naturaI anu
m. supernatura the sacred and the secular. when
has bred so much irreligion and inhumany mo
Divine Life pulses throughout the creauon'
An secular interests are also sacred 40 tho inter
eats Of q world OF which God is the lie In this
view OF the Divine Fatherhood the truth OF human
brotherhood grows luminous. Christian law IL
.een 70 be the fuhlment of natural law christian
society is simply human society normally reah~eo
according TO the Divine ideal
p,.hon Weetcotts emnence as an English prela,e
and q scholar gives weight to the lessons OF warn
inn and hope which In Christian Aspects OF LILO
(the Macmillan Company. he draws from tho con-
trast between modern society and the primitive
Church In the rumphs OF individunnsm th'
ancient sense Of q separate life has been iArsey
lest To promote It's revival ana give Nc" suec.
70 the law Of human brotherhood La the task OF
present-day Christianity The faith in the Divine
inc arnaton, BY which men are constituted brothere
in the family OF God is the reguative principle OF
tho Christian life Tho dlscourses contained In tho
present volume apply this principle to the various
conditions Of the world The Bishops style. state
" and churchy as It Is. Il often characterized by
that lack Of directness and indulgence In general
tiles which have been criticised in the encycca OF
the Lambeth Conference. Not always however,
as upon the topic Of social service He declares
that every purchase which tends TO increase I'M
healthy production Is offence agains. our COM
mon brotherhood" Tho time" he says rs OPP
perfume for the establishment Of cooperative pro-
ductlon" There Is need. he believes. Of an Indus
trial organization In which. along with tho power
Of the feudalsm Of capital, shall be felt tho
obligations toward subordinates that were recog-
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