The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-13
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

THOSE who believe that religious problems
- have been banshed from the modern world
are unduly optimistic. Hitler is attempting to
revive the primitive mythology of the Germans,
while even IN Russia the attack on one type of
religion has been accompanied by vast increase
in the power and enthusiasm of another brand,
namely, Communism.
Professor A. c. McGifert was a distin-
guished student of Adolph Harnack, the fore
most authority on the history of Christian
thought. Doctor McGiffert easily was the out
standing American scholar in this field. He had
planned a long series covering the entire his
tory Of Christian thought. His death prevented
him from carrying the task beyond Erasmus CA
History of Christian Thought by Arthur >Cush-
man McGiffert. Volumes l and @ Scribners.
So The two volumes he was spared to finish
are remarkable for both clarity and scholarship.
fortunately, earlier works of his on modern re-
Eglous thought will enable the reader to carry
the story down to date in reasonably satisfactory
fashion,
Mr.. Lpsky begins where DR.. McGifert
leaves of and gives us a very satisfactory intro
ductory biography of Luther. Martin Luther.
Germanys Angry Man. By Abram Lipsky.
Stokes, $50. There are no novel or revolutionary
contributions made by the volume, but the au-
thor has familiariZed himself with the leading
works on the field and he writes in Illuminating
and intelligent fashion.
D ELATIONS between church and state are
Az bound to remain important for many years
to come. Hitler's difficulties are indicative of
this fact. Therefore DR.. Walshs study of the
Concordat Of 1901 is not only fine piece of his
| torical scholarship but timely contribution to
the study OF one of the most important of all
historic adjustments between church and state
| CThe Concordat of 1901. BY Henry R. Walsh
Columbia University Press. $500.
George SeldeS has made a very important
contribution to religious and social history in
his comprehensive study of the pope and the
Vatican as it exists today (The Vatican: Yester-
day. Today, Tomorrow. BY George Seldes.
HarperS. $3.50. 1t is frank thorough and
nonpartisan picture of the capital of the Roman
Catholic world in our day. 1t could be read with
profit by protestants who have developed all
sorts of curious notions concerning the papacy
and the life and activities of the pope.
Those who confidently expect a great revival
of supernatural religion turn back quite natural
ly to the oxford movement of century ago
There have been several good studies of the
religious aspects of the oxford movement, but
it remained for DR.. Peck to provide us with the
first thorough study of the social background
and consequence of this important revival led
by Newman, Keble, Froude and Manning (The
Social implications of the oxford Movement.
BY William George Peck. ScribnerS. $3.50. The
volume is valuable contribution to English re-
ligiouS and social history.
The practical fiscal aspect of religion is ex-
| empfed in the vast extent of religious and
charitable property exempt from taxation. This
is ticklsh subject and, hence, we may welcome
Mr.. Saxe's thorough financial and legal analysis
which shows that in the city of New York about
$4,65000 900 worth of property out of $2500O,-
100000 worth is exempt from taxation Char
liable Exemption From Taxation in New York
State on Real and Personal Property. BY John
Godfrey SAKE. Lincoln Engraving and Print
ing Corporation. 81.
LONE of the outstanding English free thinkers
" of the nineteenth century was Charles Brad
laugh. volume celebrating the hundredth an
niversary of his birth has been brought together.
1t is composed of appropriations by many emil
nent. Englishmen, addresses of Mr.. Bradlaugh
and articles on his contributions to social and
! intellectual progress by men well acquainted
with his work. champion Of Liberty Charles
Bradlaugh. Bradlaugh Centenary Memorial
Volume. Freethought Press. So. 1t is vaua-
able body of information on an Englshman
whose thought and activities should be better