The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-27
Il Modern Wovel - a
! and Religious Faith.

n N<fA<
,a.r,s Of current fiction have called attention to
b So Of the religious motive in the novels both
fSn" and of England. The fact that the religious
3 soa dey read and discussed during generation
n0' ost invariably novels of "heresy" intoxicating
W. ss,.o,v in conflict with conservative religions
nv d an English writer, Miss Jane H. Findlater TO
gi- lar It is true that this kind OF reading under
'lo,s faith 1T is pity she says, "for nation
~, ridden to accept its beliefs too chdishly from
FFi' u even learned class of men but ii is much
pas Or a nation to give itself into the hands
NJ w. Tor religious instruction. She continues Gin
tr,fonal Review, March)
Characteristic of youth that il must always be in
W 4 revolt from authority when in its period of
necessity seems to be laid upon II to reject every
fah, heen brought up TO believe, and TO turn to new
N The influence of religious novels such readers
I'D nrofound, and very helpful for time. Later
W. nav outgrow these teachers, but in the present
| w ,hsy afford comfort and guidance They see all
st,s and despairs reflected here and take courage
w. s.se nassed the lions. The House Beautiful may
FL la and the Detachable Mountains may be gained
put the benefit of religious fiction to half educated
| Y. 4; much more questionable. The book which may
y IL doubter may easily torment the man who has
tn 10 doubt He is presented in an easy readable
* SORT of digest of modern thought, more or less
.;rslv mt These ideas hopelessly at variance
4. rreeds of his childhood, yet time and opportunity
M him to examine into their truth falsehood.
~ the inevitable and melancholy results of cheap edu-
IA and cheap culture--one more illustration of the
N AZ a little learning is dangerous thing
sw 10 meet this hunger for help and truth and guild
N vhch is such real want just now, only few really
n ,.irious novels have ever been written You might
n mem on YOUR fingers. The number of indifferently
ss = countless "'''' Of sorry ''''' mere IS end
II writer selects as types of the great religious novels
IL .pe George McDonalds Robert Faconer" Mark
E.tJu Mrs Hunaphry Wards Robert Elsmere" and
N I,ne Aliens The Reign OF Law" The hrst-named
In h treats as the spokesman of the earliest stage of
IN, II the Young thinkers mind-the stage in which
Intnp made reconcile the justice and omnpotcnce
GA with the origin of evil with the theory of
Ers,ts Of punishment. Mrs Humphry Wards famous
q all the world knows, deals with the question OF
En-, and the divinity of Christ. Mark Rutherford
n shn Lane Allen are known the opponents of agnos-
I'm in fiction the former voicne melancholy incerti-
IA he latter prophesyng that our religion will more
n more be what our science is, and day they will
i, same" Miss Findlater sees in all these writers
katr noyes reflection of the general of doubt
rises grows and takes possession Of the human mind.
comments
have considered is only the leader of his her
[ band of mitators, some idea may be obtained Of the
sAt,tons Of religious fiction. Not doubt but has
gtial peader not new faith but has its prophet
HE the faith the poorer the book that is pro
ha BY it, One has patience with the old classic
AH with his genuine scruples but the who
M fenounee their ehidhoods faith and with the utmos
EB replace il by OF electricity vegcaranism
Ephy Christian Science, not hold sympathies
ERNaa ana perhaps UNFAIR 10 say mat the new is never
III but for the purposes OF serious fiction it is safe ruiz
keep to the old pathSl No brand new ideas b.
y right material for building a book of. The sitting
|fH processes Of time are needed make ideas into
MI, beokstuH just as wood needs seasoning before
make sesworthy craft The shrinkage of ideas has
ilsved for--what seems to fill the public mind anC
krnat knowledge one year, may have shrunk into in
PFAtante before twelve months have Thi
~ a things, il practically adhered to- leaves rather
fl hfd for the religious novelist of the future. Thu
Fa have all been tod-an eminent authority tells us
kHay The doubts have all been expressed. Perhaps
sniy be called nowit is tipe--but the war of opinion
n still go on.'-The Literary Digest.