Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-11

CIVILIZATIONS, long buried, are
coming to light under the
passionate urge Of science to
~ know the truth about every
aspect Of life toward which 1t
turns ite engrossed attention. To dis
cover the truth about the earth Itself
Its resources, and powers, and posi-
hnittes, this Is the work Of the sci
enlist. To know the truth about man,
the present, this, too, is one Of the
prime preoccupations Of science. Every
branch Of knowledge. every department
Of learning, has come under the influ-
ence Of the scientific spirit Of research
seeking the unassailable truth Of what
ever matter comes under scrutiny.
As the archeologist digs through
layer after layer Of soil for the recovery
Of some great city, lost ages ago
through the unrestins change Of earths
soil, SO the historian has here dug
through the layers OF report and ac-
ceptance. report and denial that for
1900 years have served to obscure the
life Of Jesus. The historical Jesus, who
then actually lived In Nazareth and
roundabout, meeting life as the other
men Of that time and place met 1t,
looking out upon his own problems and
those Of his reighbors much as we to-
day wrestle with the things that face
US for solution or evasion.
As We read the New Testament
meeting constantly this man, Jesus
20 wise. so compassionate. 80 under
standing, so selfless, so far-seeing, so
heavenly kind-we can but regret that
the centuries intervening have In such
large measure removed this ready and
amazing helpfulness TO one side, o lit
tie out Of the way Of the immediate
usefulness for which IL Ii 80 clearly
designed. The dtsagreements Of men.
the disputations. the superfine threads
Of argument-Ai1 these have combined
to fnstitutionalise Christianity, to
create orders and sects hostile to one
another, to support, yes, and to pursue,
cruelties unthinkable in connection with
the name Of Him upon whom Christian
ity is founded. Science is the dark
specter before old bieotries. Yet II Is
that same science In its passion to
know, TO know beyond doubt. that is
recovering Jesus TO needy world TO-
day.
DR.. Walter Eundy submits for our
consideration his own historical re-
search into the life Of Jesus. Besides
this. he names other studies Of like
Steadily these scholars. all Of them.
delve backward through such reports
and rumors and arguments and sophis-
tries. as make up the bulk Of record
upon what subject? Upon jesus Not
wholly upon Jesus, but On the institu-
ton OF the Church as well. Carefully.
even reverently, this backward march
is made in q search for every true thing
belonging to the life Of that Man Of
Nazareth. A wonder book Of JOY. it
seems to me, this particular book Is
o. - L.
to meet Jesus on the street today
happy and helpful man. reaching out
his hand of succor here. giving the
kindly word there. believing the best Of
this human throng, going IL knows not
where. acting this way or that. It knows
not why. doubt II a greater service
could be rendered us than that Of this
little group Of students who are recov-
ering Jesus for all Of US through the
fundamentally Of the modern science
Of investigation. You may come upon
of scholarship, brought up to modern
efficiency Of purpose and achievement
but I greatly doubt 1t. Certainly. after
its study. the Bible itself will take on
different content. q larger meaning, a
more immediate thing In our own lives
by virtue Of this Recovery Of Jesus" to
the needs Of this turbulent and confus-
ing modern day. A great book! A new
inspiration comes with it; not the old
selfish What shall do to Be saved?"
I myself, to be saved? Instead. let US
In a common brotherhood welcome this
Recovery Of Jesus" in his own simple
way Of helpfulness. A great booklet
me say II again deeply religious book
as well.
THE FATE OF THE JURY: An Epi-
logue to Doomesday Book. BY Ed
gar Lee Masters. New York: D.
Appleton b Co.
NIITH 1.-THE Fate Of the Jury" II
w books nov stand to the account Of
Edgar Lee Masters. All but half a dozen
Of these are In verse. In effect, how
ever. they are the same-all prose or
all verse. as you will. To be sure, there
are pure lyrics here. But, on the whole.
these are narratives projected in the
manner Of the poet. And is not poetry.
primarily. . manner? Is it not mode
have thought that prose writers-now
and then one-possess the inspiration
that is commonly assigned to the poet
alone. The same deep insight, the
same human sympathy. an equal feeling
for beauty. the same subtle seizure Of
mysterious, far-of things. have
thought that the chief difference be-
tween them rests In the cadence beat Of
the one. in the less rhythmic advance Of
the other. Never mind. II is q matter
Of unending contention.
Here is a new book Of verse by this
American who stands high as both poet
and prose writer. And behind such
power Is q man who Is concerned with
Aa he Ell fhirOR n
mon life One who Is keen to the full
human content of existence. One who
is actively at odds with the innumer-
able hypocrisies of the day and hour.
Something Of preacher. too. this poet,
offering sermons upon fairness, sincerity,
honesty and brotherhood along the
plain ways Of mans journey. You re-
call the earlier poem. "DoomeSday
Book"7 From that Mr.. Masters has
drawn material for this "Epilogue."
Here are met the coroner and jurymen
of that earlier incident. Quickened by
their common partaking in that incl
dent. rendered franker by the intimacies
of that association. they fall to talking
together In a mood of complete self
revelation. The instructive gesture of
every human is concealment. There
fore, nothing else Is quite so useful as q
free out.stepping into the open OF frank
self-disclosure In respect to the essen
tial things Of life in which all have a
share. such disclosure takes place
here under the leadership Of this poet
and guide. BY way Of 1t Mr. Masters
himself stands clear In his outlook, his
attitude, his conceptions Of the mean
ing Of the common life Of men and
women. BY way Of 1t also Edgar Lee
Masters stands more fully confirmed In
the character Of American poet, whose
art and its essence Of actual life round
about are his own peculiar possession.
A possession already obiectified in the
songs Of Spoon River. in the dramatic