The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-10

Gladen. Published by MeClurg, Phillips X Co.,. November. 1905.
 It is a question. whether many of the articles appearing at the present time in journals and magazines on the question of social morality which are so largely of a sensational character, should be univer- sally read, that is whether this form of presentment of the question is the most salutary reading. Still, however. we may barley about the most desirable means there can be no question about the de- sirability or necessity of the end sought, and that Is the arousng of the public consciousness from the thralldom of me- teriality which seems to hold so many in bondage.
 The New Idolatry," by Washington Gladen, just issued from the press is one of the very finest pleas that has been written on this subject. It is volume of discussions in protest against the com mercializing of government, of education and of religion, against the growing tend ency in church and state to worship power and forget the interests of justice and freedom; against the dethronement of God and enthronement of Mammon." The key note of the book is expressed in these few lines quoted and the whole book rings with power and truth to this people and this country in no uncertain or equivocal
 That the author Is right in his premises may be seen from the following sentences: 'W hat is religion? In its most primary sense 1t is a conviction that the spiritual world is the real world, and that the material world Is the temporary and ephemeral, that the things which are un- seen, like truth, purity, honor, justice, in- tegrity, fidelity. unselfish love, are the only enduring realities, while the things that can be seen and handled and weigh ed and counted are phantasms and vain ities" of that spiritual universe whose unseen realities are such as have mentioned, God Is the Life and Light"
 The author then goes on to say of the New Idolatry' We must not say that it is universal, that would be a grievous err TOT. As in the days when idolatry cursed Israel there were thousands. unknown to the desponding prophet, who had not bowed the knee to Baal, so in these days there are hundreds of thousands who have not been debauched by the wor- ship of Mammon, but 1t Is the religion of multitudes. To very large extent the worship of Mammon has supplanted the worship of God. It is not a mere lip oOi NiNc, it iS d ilNiue dlltSldHCe. II IS b4 their works that the devotees prove their faith. We know that they believe in Mammon more than in God. for their lives give clear and abundant testimony. To what other cause can we attribute the evils that infest the government of our cities and that fill many of our state cap itals with the stench of rotten politics: that turn many of our railway systems into gigantic instruments of extortion, and hI1f1d m 7ci of with power to exploit the savings of a nation for the enrichment of a few?'
 These are not pleasant thoughts to ls- ten to but they bear in their logic the truth that this generation needs to hear. And In writing on the subject of "Tainted Money" the author explains why the wor- ship of Mammon is not always denounced as 1t should be from the pulpit and shows suggestively and conclusively the effect of the receipt of tainted money" The author further develops his thoughts by touching upon the Standard oil and Foreign Missions" and does it in such manner as only the fearlessly brave and honest could do His illustration of money raised by consecrated prayer by church and honest work and offering and sent to the missionary field, and money contri- buted to missions by gambler and sent to missionary fields affords an argument that is irrefutable, at least to any one who has even spark of spiritual intuition. "The one gift comes bringing love and hope and courage with 1t; every dollar the missionaries use reminds them of the true and tender hearts that are working with them and praying for them. The other gift brings with it the most painful and depressing thoughts, they may be glad they have the money to use, but they cannot help remembering how dreadful are the sources from which 1t has come, how many lies and perfides and cruel ties have gone into the gathering of it, how many souls have been ensnared and defled In heapng it up.
 One mans dollar as good as another mans dollar? No such thing as conse- crated money? No such thing as tainted money? Nobody says so who Is not desti- ute of moral imagination"
 One of the finest chapters in the book is "The New Century and the New Na- tion," with many fine, practical thoughts teaming with love.
 Such a review cannot give even the faintest suggestion of the real value of the work, for it is what we all need to know and ponder and then live up to. It pleads practical Christianity as living, loving demonstration and it is worth any dozen of the ordinary works on Social Eco nomics.'
 "A Corner in Women by Tom Mason Published by Moffat, Yard & Co.,, 19O5
 "A Corner in Women and Other Folles," is one of the handsomest books of the season and seems to be pre-eminently suitable as gift-book for the holidays The unusual title takes it's name from the initial story in the book-and after all the reader may very aptly remark that we have had corner" in almost every thing else, why not in "women?" A unioue idea to say the least
 The author, MT. Tom Mason so well known to readers. writes that some of the text is new. but most of 1t has already appeared in Life Puck and other popular journals. The cover design and fronts- piece are from the drawing of Charles Dana Gibson. The other illustrations are from the pen of number of our favor ite artists.
 An idea of the charming humor and jocular tendency of the stories may be gleaned from the preface, in which the author writes of the American Idea:' With pie for breakfast the American Idea was pious, but with rum omelettes and nesselrode pudding for dinner, 1t is now dyspeptic. The American Idea is of recent birth. having John D. Rockefeller for its godfather and being immersed in crude oil and in the Baptist church. It was graduated on San Juan Hill. and re- ceived part of its education in Wall street, and part in the senate chamber
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