The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
~Ihe PgChOIog Of IaSpiratiea "

By George lansing Raymond of George Wash
lnEton university Published hy Frnk 4
AaF@alS COMPANY. New York Price $40.
An opportune. thoughtful and essen
tally sane book is the Psychology Of
Inspiration" By George Lansing Ray
mond. professor in the phiIosophfc de-
partment OF George washington uni
versity. It is the result OF a lifetime
OF observation and careful revision OF
faithfully collected data and impress
sious and is an attempt to distinguish
between religious and scientific truth
and 20 harmonize Christianity with
modern thought Something Of the at
utude IN which the author has pre-
sented his subject may be understood
from the following excerpt
One who mingles much with edu-
Gated men IN our country viii find large
numbers OF them doubling whether a
modern mind, trained 10 observe scien-
t1ccially and to reason logically, can
Without bias accept as true the form
CT religion most prevalent in our times,
OF indeed any religion. and yet honestly
weigh al the arguments that can be
brought against It There must be
some reason for their doubling this
To attribute the reason 10 the false
working OF their minds. as cOutrasted
with the right working OF the minds OF
other people, would be mznifestly un-
charitable and illogical"
Searching for the reason OF this
mental attitude Of brilliant men DIT.
Raymond rsmbles with his eyes and
ears open into the widest possible
realm Of research He considers what
the Christian bible has 10 offer. what
. is 70 be found in the writing OF the
Vedas. the Koran and even The Mormon
-
and mems conception OF II. he deTOtes
considerable space to the occult inffu-
ences recognized and admitted by many
thoughtful people, and while suggest
ing possible explanations does not es-
say TO define the things he sees but
does not understand =
Lovers Of animals and those who be-
heve that there IS more than the so
called instinct in dogs understanding
Of people and things viii ind particular
interest in what DR.. Raymond has 10
say OF the subconsciousness OF animals.
There IS scarcely a phase OF the
Christian churches. their creeds and
doctrines that is not passed in the ex-
haustiTe review given by DR.. Raymond.
The hearing given each is impartial
The expressed and underlying ples
throughout this work is for rational
conception OF The real truths Of re-
Igion- Dr. Raymond expresses the con-
viction that there is no place within
the orthodox circles for the man who
does his own thinking. He speaks of Z
certain gathering.
Not one OF those present was con-
gidered BY himself or others 10 be
what is conventionalIy termed re-
Igious- Yet IN the unselfsh, untirfng
and well nigh unrewsrded labor that
every one or these seemed performing
for the advancement Of the knowledge
the health and the comfort OF his fell
lows I recognize such devotion. con-
scientlcuSness and charity as could
not be rightly designated frrelfgious.
About the same time my attention was
called 70 q meeting OF ecclesiaStfcs-
All who took part IN ii were presum-
ably considered By themselves and by
others 20 be religious IN an eNcep-
tionsi degree Yet no reported speech
of any of them happened TO be devoid
81 q certain selfish. intolerant and un-
magnauinous disregard OF the feel
ings and thoughts OF others.
The book viii provoke adverse
criticism from some Of the people who
come under the designation religious
II contains material for endless ser
mons and viii get the commendation
of liberal thinkers everywhere, but all
SIDES Will have 70 admit that the au-
thor has approached his work in the
spirit OF the philosopher. the man who
70 striving to solve one Of the great
problems Of the day.