The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-03-02
Rev. Henry M. Simmons, For
nerly of Kenosha, Issues a
New Book of Sermons.
BOOK ATTRACTS ATTENTION
The Former Pastor of the Unitarian
Church Assumes Leading Place
Among the Writers of Theo-
logical literature.

The Rev. Henry NJ. Simmons, for
mer pastor of the Unitarian church in
this city and man deeply beloved by
many people of Kenosha, has just is
sued new book under the title, ''New
Tables of Stone and Other Essays"
The DO ok is published by the James
H. West Company, of Boston, and it
will undoubtedly find place on the
shelves of many of the libraries in
Kenosha.
This book of sermons without texts
is the child of the authors old age,
but we hasten to add that it contains
no traces of senility; rather is it the
evening reflection of a well spent life.
Its serene and cheerful tone. will COM
mand the admiration even of those
whose habit of mind and religious
training will lead them to dissent
from many of his conclusions. Mr..
Simmons reminds one of Emerson's
remark about Voltaire, that he was
an apostle of Christian ideas to whom
the names only were hostile; like the
vine-dresser in the Gospel, he said
nay, but went loyalty to his work.
The book comprises fifteen essays
on religious subjects, all treated with
a daring freedom both of style and be-
lief or non-be1ief, according to the
readers point Of view. The moral is
never pointed, there is no "haec
fabula docet, no personal appeal in
direct terms, but both are there for
| him who seeks to find them, and one
rises from a perusa1 of the volume
with his love of nature and of his
brother-man quickened and informed
| by its ai-peryading sweetness and
light. Only in his hatred of into1er-
ance does the author become, now and
then, bit intolerant himself. The
days of intolerance, like the days of
persecution are about over, the theo-
| 1ogians are learning that whatever
dogmatism gains by insistent minute
ness it loses in Catho1icity and In
spiritual power. Men now see love
and light breaking through the Divine
law and are made happy without be-
ing instantly reminded that it is only
justification by faith. The living
church of today spends little time on
dogma, but much on character, places
less emphasis on belief, but more on
faith, between which there is a wide
difference not always apprehended.
Mr.. Simmons seems to us, in this re-
gard, to be fighting battle already
won. Forty years ago Renan closed
his fascinating biography of st. Paul
with the statement that Christianity
would soon turn from the Pauline
theology to rally around the personal
ity and the teachings of Jesus. The
prediction is already verified.
Space does not allow a resume or
even an allowance to the separate es-
says. Not the least interesting is that
entitled "The Book of Jonah. +" It is
treated as an categorical tale intended
to teach forgiveness and charity not
merely to chosen people, but to all
mankind; in short, that the writer of
this puzzling story which has proven
such stumbling block to many an
anxious sou1-intended to inocu1ate a
moral lesson by parable IN exactly
the same manner as Jesus so often
did. This theory is not new, but we
have not elsewhere seen it argued so
clearly, or p1ausib1y maintained.
The authors persistent optimism
and love of nature appear upon every
page. His illustrations are largely
drawn from natural science and ex-
hibit wide reading as well as a te-
nacious memory. His friends will
gladly welcome another volume from
the full storehouse of his ospitab1e
mind and will hope that he may live
to realize that
sAs the evening twilight fades away,
Stars shine out invisible by day.
The book is well printed on good
paper and noticeably free from mis-