New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-21
VIEWS AND REVIEWS
OF CURRENT FICTION
c.,,o. Moores The Brook Kerith'-Sanue Mervin in
Greenwich Village-A Remarkable First Novel
from the South-Mr. Locke in Brantome

more materlallstic Sadduceeism, the
Greek interpretations or dissolvings OF
Hebrew doctrine, the day dreams of
lowly circles Of piety where apocalyp-
TIC vislons-those OF Daniel and others
were stirring the Imagination and
giving a political cast TO religious long
ing, the teaching Of the Essences, whose
rigorous Gscetic communities were TO
be found here and there in Palestine
all these are brought beneath the scru-
tiny OF the young inquirer, who learns
also Of Heraclitus and the supremacy
Of chance and change. A day comes
when Joseph meets an Essene shep-
nerd, a travelling wonder-worker come
down from a northern village, peas
ant without knowledge OF the world.
He has a pale. bony, olive face, lit up
with brilliant eyes, and when the shep-
herd speaks IL is in a voice tenderer
than his "scrannel peacock throat"
would have led one 20 expect. The lin
itations OF Jesus's mental horizon are
apparent, but Joseph has himself at
this juncture returned from philosophy
to the love of God, and his soul is soon
knit with the soul of the Nazarene.
Overt discipleship is, however, out Of
the question. because of Joseph's belief
that IL would be unhlial not to stay
When in due time Jesus incurs the
hatred of the priesthood for having
taught that religion is no more than
personal aspiration and that the king
dom Of God is in our own hearts, he
pays for his temerity on the cross.
Learning of the crucifixion, Joseph OF
Arimathea hastens TO his acquaintance,
Plate, for permission TO bury the body
that has been but three hours on the
beams. Before Joseph rolls the stone
that is effectively 10 shut the newly
built sepulchre he pauses for fare
well glance az the body OF his friend.
He fancies that a tress OF hair has
fallen across the face OF Jesus. Con-
WINGED that life is not extinct, he waits
for the shelter OF nightfall and then
stealthily conveys Jesus 20 the house.
where an old serving-woman is the only
one admitted 70 the secret. Here the
Essene shepherd is tended; strength at
last returns, but the mind long remains
confused and dull.
After an extended period, and with
clearing consciousness. Jesus taxes
leave Of his host. wends his way TO the
Brook Kerith. 70 the Essene monastery
Of which he is member. Here ne re-
sumes mis- old occupation as master
that avail. in a few seasons, 10 raise
the quality of the sheep 70 something
Of its former excellence. Years 90 by,
and there arrives, one day, AZ the herith
community a stranger who tells the
Essene brethren that he has travelled
widely, preaching salvation through
Jesus Christ our Lord, the risen Re
teemer. Thus Jesus, In the monastery
and now well past his fftleth year, IS
listening 20 the aged Apostle Paul. Inc
relicionists appear 10 have little IN
common. for the Essene shepherd can
nor recognize himself in the Jesus
whom Paul has preached. 81 believe
Jesus answered. chat the Jesus thats
make 10 thee out of a cloud never lived
in the flesh; ne was a Lord Jesus ChrisI
of thv own Imagination" As the VS.
tor leaves the monastery Jesus accom-
pauies him for g distance. Ihey sII 70
vether under q rock IN sight OF tne sea
Jesus describes the stages OF advance
-,er+ in his religious ideas, partlcu-
.arly showing how completely ne mas
outr-own the notions held and tnoughl
IN ne bvgone DAYS Of his public min
istrv. With the parting OF the TWO
gideri, men the story comes 70 an end.
a romance, we may remind our
-eIves. is not the same thing as an
AFFIDAVIT. To adapt a phrase OF Albert
psr~al's. Not without Imagination are
ronances written; not without lmagl-
rs-ior NAV they be understood. When
a oroved artist like George moore
gives Us a Syrian story, must !. DC
subiected 20 inuuisitiOn as II u were
= theological document deserving 20
- rnauIed BY Philistine hsts7 Is II
rot a commonplace Of art that some
-;c+-~es are best eft in a half-light -!
In "Tha Brook Kerith" we have a book
Anil OF verbal felicities; pages OF rare
beau-v such as those detailing tne
Essene shepherds quest Of the young
ing ram. and the exquisite passage
descriptive Of Joseph's first meeting
with Jesus; happily mediated archeo-
loo-cal lore with occasional cocksure
uncertainties, when, for instance, the
Tssene shepherd and mis- associates
are denied any knowledge OF the
Greek language: bits Of generous IN
sight, done in intaglio;
The same high-shouldered hsh-
er as % yore, Joseph SAID 70 MN
self, and he sought 20 read IN
Peters face the story OF Feter
transference from one master 70
another. IL WASH NAO NfF
OF the Great Day, he said for
Peter never could see beyond MS
calls and the fms Of fish; and
IL Jesus we're able 20 lift his
thoughts beyond them ne had ae-
complished a no less miracle than
turning water into wine.
II the way Is not clear FOR treating
ais syrian story Solely as work OF
art il Is because Mr.. Moore has ordered
otberwise and has himself seen NJ 70
urn his novel into a rostrum whence
20 set forth his naturalistic negations;
Reverence toward the half-lghts and
re reticences Of the Evangel would
snnarently embarrass his delivery
xibereas the chief significance OF the
ANTS would seem 70 be in the foil
taey provide for our preacher. Ihat
ne should be ready 70 whistle down
he wind any belief such as the Cath
olie ages have cherished concerning a
-;sen Saviour Is inevitable for one OF