New-York tribune., 1918-06-01
Ethical Miscellany
Christianity, Platonism. Mysti-
cism and Logic

A theological testament which will go
far to maintain the authors memory as
a sagacious helper of those who would
live in the spirit is available in the
Cunningham Lectures for 1917, "The
Christian Doctrine of Reconciliation"
(the George H. Doran Company, by
the late Principal James Denney. In
sistent scholarship, frmness Of style.
elan of conviction, the qualities which
won way for his earlier writings, are
more fully evident in this crowning
work of useful life. Among modern
expositions Of the reconciliation as the
fundamental truth OF Christianity, if
not of all religion, the volume stands
out as uniting a completely moralized
conception of the atonement with fidel-
lty to the facts of mans nature
The cordial reception accorded to Sir
George Adam Smith, principal and vice
chancellor of Aberdeen University. who
Is now touring the United States under
commission from his government, is
such welcome as is due to one so
widely known as the biographer of
Henry Drummond and as the author of
the commentaries on Isaiah and the
BOOK OF the Twelve Prophets. At the
time when public attention was being
drawn to the deliverances of Biblical
criticism there was no popular lecturer
o. or writer able so successfully to con-
vince nee p,erplexed inquirers that the
spiritual 81 treasures enshrined in the
Hebrew Scriptures were enhanced
rather than deprecated by the better
understanding Of the facts of their
composition. Sir George has been a
frequent visitor to this country, Be-
sides preaching, at D. L. Moody's in
vltatlon, at Northfeld, he has had lect-
ureshlps at Johns Hopkins, at Berkeley,
at the University of Chicago and at
ale. lt is said that on one of his
Journeys to the West fellow tray-
eller, having first made summary dis
posal OF some tobacco juice, accosted
Sir George with the inquiry. "Be YOU
the teller that says Isaiah was born
tWlns?" Mr.: Moody's method with his
d1stlngulshed guest was characteristic.
But, Smith" said he, "what's the use
OF taking about two Isaiahs when mo st
people don't even know there's one? %
The body of solid criticism built up
by Mr.. Paul Elmer More in the nine
volumes of his Shelburne ESSAYS has
placed him at the forefront of our in.
terpreters of literature, so that when
the English bookman, Mr.. Thomas Sec
ccomDe' calls our critic "the American
st. Beuve," the opinion finds ready an.
proval on this side the sea. In his III.
erary estimates Mr.. More's ethical and
metaphyslcal prepossessions haye never
eeen pee, much IN abeyance, but they find q
1uller scope IN the lectures delivered on
the Louis Clark Vanuxem Foundation
at az Frlnceton University in the fall of
s4srcs sasr year ana now forming the sub
lPrlnceton University Press. While
the analysis of the platonic nsvcbo o1oov
ana cosmogony and Ideenlehre will not
be neglected by scholars. Mr.. Mora,s
chapters will give competent and stin-
ul,ating guidance to the simple student
who, would get at the moral and sn;rs
ltual significance of Socrates as PIato
revealed him. That Classification Of
splrltual, insight at the bar of reason
when the author calls the platonic
quest'fs equally quest of his own,
In "Mysticism and Logic (I,ono-
ma mans, ! Green & co.. Mr.. Bertrand Rus
sell has collected essays published in
various journals since 1901. The LIST
includes the diverting discussion Of
mathematics and metaphysicians and
the more serious article on "The Study
OF Mathematics" 1t is pleasant to see
a, reprint of the noble essay. "A Free
Mans worship" although we wish Mr.,
hussell could raise a more cheerful
tune. for even within the limits of the
naked reason his contemporaries have
found religion of more upbuildjno
and solacng value than that wh;cb l. 8
describes. n .'l re nc