SOME RECENT FICTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1966, 24 January 1914, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION.

''THE CUSTOM OF THE COUNTRY."; Edith Wharton's latest not el, ' Th° Custom of the Country" (Maemillan and Co.), is a mordant satire upon certain phases of society life in America,, and an insidiously attack upon the divorce laws of certain American States. In "Tho House of Mirth,' 1 and, again, in "Ethan Frome," Mrs. miar* ton' proved herself a' consummate artist in literary form. In '"The Custom or tho Country" the stylo is broadened, tho "high lights" are, may be, a trifle stronger—cruder, so■ some.may think— but the truth, tho power, the convincing effect of tho novel is undeniable. Tlio, story gives tho life history of Uiidino Spragg, the only and much spout daughter of a successful- speculator, who lives in Apex, a Western city, and who, making money and seeking new fields to concjuer, comes to. New York. The, girl'is self-willed, coldly selfish, delib--eratclv greedy, half-educated—b«t_ sha has beauty. And beauty in New 'Vor'k,. as elsewhere, counts for much. Wmle still a mere girl she has ■ married, • so-, cretljj an impudent adventurer; . a local dentist named Elmer Mofiatt. the marriage being annulled, on the fiither'sinsistencc, in a 'fortnight!'- N<? w ' .York knows nothing of the Apex episode, and it is not long, before Undine ' marries; again, this tiqio a yoiing.man who^ belongs to one of the old, qtiiet-livitjK. cultured, and eminently ■ non-pushful, families of New York-. ' Soon, however, after tho birth of her boy, tho selfish heroine induces her husband, _ who, in. order to supply tho luxuries demanded.j by his wife, lias gone into business and ~ made himself a slave t-o. her whims, and extravagances, to let her go on a •trip,') to Europe. 'Vior \ an Degen, . r. typi-. cnl representative of tlie vulgar-"smitrt, set," who has Ions; paid.her attention,, despite the fact that he is a married man. supplicsher with money, gives M? i jewels, and would fain became her "pro-, tector." But Undine ( _ Sprajs'S; motto is luxury. plus . respect-, ability, respectability t according:,!! to "The .Custom of the Country," . and her plan is t-o secure her . desire •_ by; divorcing her husband, and persuading'' lier millionaire-.friend to similarly (lis-;, prised of his wife. Her own" share . in.: the plan she carries out. with aimrst-. brutally selfish cruelty to tho long--suffering husband, but ' when tho youngmillionaire., discovers.that she ha." ca!-, lohsly refused to return,to, the husband- j who has been stricken down with pneumonia, oven-' his "viciously self-indulgent nature revolts, and he fails to fulfil what Undine had too confidently expected ho would consider his rightful share of the bargain. The resourceful Undino has, however, another string to her bow, and soon marries another old admirer, a French Count, who intro-. duces 'her to really aristocratic society.. But tho Marquise do Chelles, the air,* bitious young lady who has graduated iir matrimonial experience out at - Apex C'ity, becomes unspeakably .bored, and so for tho third time slm avails honelf of the highly convenient divorce laws of America, follows once again the. "custom of the country," and finally settles down —as the duly wedded wife of the very adventurer, once the struggling dentist of tho Western town, but now ,-, j multi-millionaire, Elmer Moffatt...Even j how her ambitions arc not fully accomplished, for despite the stupendous I wealth of her husband, lie is prevented.-j from obtaining the Ambassadorship ho covets, bccauso his wife- is a divorecd woman. .- Probably, if Mrs. Wharton, were, to give us her future history we | should find Mrs. Moffatt appealing,' a i fourth time, to the Divorce Courts ,of her country. Such is a rough outline of a story' which is at onco _aforeehil indictment of an utterly | rotten svslem of divorce laws, and ; a scathing and brilliant- satire j upon certain' phases of. American life. "The Custom of the Country" is decidedly a novel to be read. The.' character drawing is specially strong, the only weak part in the being, the curious inability of. the author to inako clear to her readers how it comes about that such a comparatively commonplace and unattractive creature—outside her ' more physical beauty— : as Undine Spragg could ever have ias- j cinated two men oi' good birth, ■" goodeducation, and really outstanding intel'i-J gencc and refinement, as were two of her-j husbands, Ralph Marvel] and the Mar-;-" quis de Chelles. 1 "THE SPOTTED PANTHFR.' ( Jiimcs Francis Dwycr is an American:': author who bids fair to rival Jack LOll- j don as a clever spinner of weird and j evciting yarns of white men's adventures in little-known lands, where tin-, tivo' humanity is of brownish tinge. His ''White Waterfall" was a good specimen of this, sort of story, and in"The Spotted Panther" (Doubleday, Pago and Co.; per George KobortSon', and Co.) he improves upon his first effort. The story deals u ith the adventures of t-hreo men, two 'Englishmen 1 and an American, who meet in the Eastern port of Bannerjassiu, and depart thence to Borneo,, where, they seek to. recover, from a wild i)yak trine, the wonderful Pa'rong, of Buddha, a., sacredand legend-haunted sword of priceless workmanship. The "Spotted Panther,", from whom tho story takes its title, is a. mysterious savage, of giant, pro- j portions and strength, subtiv .cruel—j and .a;leper! Also there are two very j romantic female figures in the drama, ] Evelyn Courtney, the daughter oL aii j opium-sodden Englishman, and Nao';..j tho lovely descendant of one- of the old | Portuguese explorers. The story sim-i ply reeks with' exciting incidents^and I the local colour is agreeably picture esque. :J :-Ni-iri? "WHEN WILLIAM CAME , ' | William, of course, is the Lord _ of j Potsdam, but the witty author of.:,"Tlie. Unbearable . Bassington" and ."The | Chronicles . of Clovis" -spares us any i wearisome details of tho sudden con-;.j quest of England by the Teutons^/Mr:'i Monro (or "Saki," to quote his nom.de. plume) -gives us. in . his ■ "When Willium Came" • (John Lain;'; per Whitcoiiitjo ■ and . Tombs),. an: imaginary, but most aninsiug.'and--iiot a little. suggestive picture, ot how j England, especially "society" England;::; settles down,.for a time «t- least','siiilo; a state uf quite pliilos-ttpliicnl' .ss(<jirit>scenco in, and acceptanco oS',-'■ (>itiiihn rule. Tlie superiority . of the- 1 ' German/ air lleet secures the Teuton's ■ victory,;.j the King retreats .to Delhi ui . iei-;u l as Emperor of India, the liower ol tiie.nation emigrates in despair, 1 nmimer-ji ciul England accepts the position.'with: astonishing calmness, and as -'lor■ ciety" lOnglatid—well, it is of ;the; alii':; tude of this latter that- the/jsatiristj has most to say. And some -.very l ..bi.l'-; 1 ter tilings lie says, all in rf veil: o!. quiet irony. Tho. bilingual booby'-.vhp/ warns you off the grass in Hydo'Parkr'j and on the offence being repeated, hiinself pronounces the sentence-—and-.colrj lcct-s the penalty—the German Court--], which replaces the English ditto tbe'j Toutonifing of tho Pall Mall Clubs—all:j these things do not much trouble the ]

.p!onsurc-!oying, ."sj>.-:j!(-<■ riiko(l. liixuri'Ji: lq li li '" l I ill ll tiii x i'whenv^tiiefingtiM'ibus' ;>H'risuiuny«liicii.'S(i .many . had. cleared ~ '.von Jd jbe Cjeiif dreed J iji roni'tvi llyiyltjchi res-, ? .thiiiV. VUothl'ito,; take, 'up ;at;iii s""foi-c((>av!ii'S<lofoiioo,jtlie'.'; to h-ui.iiii ..li!at.;'iiation 01'.. shopkeepers which : they.'had soT: lon;;.*.'been.nicknamed—but 1 hat tliev would .be VjieciinlUvaml Ger-: .man-twni?snj)je(;l , s.:td , l dDfend;rthemV-'Jlr.'. Mnnro. works out.. 1 his satire in a very, .convincing way, 'and the ami-militarist .aiiayi.. find -the :: story.,irather - unpleasant.-. JJluti.'all'.i'higlishiiien'.are'iiot.of tlio type hnel/>U>y:,the diero ofjtho story-' in a rail--way carriage, "a patriot who had itevcr handled', a . rifle or mounted V horse, .or pulled nu./oar,. but who liad never fiinehedjiroin demolishing his country's enemies:', with , his ; tongue,'.- 'and ~-tbo storyftdoses "1 with 'the...suggestion of a new and .unexpectedly powerful influence .which "shall, save ■ .country's honour; and restore.'the.'national flag. -."When ..William, Came'.',-: is . a 'stingingly effective/satire;:? which to be. widely. read,;,.J'-'L -'Sv-'- , "THE UNWILLING ADVENTURER." ■ "As "good as, or,-even' bettor than, I Treasuro.,lsland' "EWas the verdict of a youthful ; - critic: upon - whom ./ "Liber" "tried"-' Mr. Austin.'Freeman's story, "The Unwilling Adventurer" (Hodder and Stoughton; per.S. and W. Mackay). 'Enthusiasm, being-. 1 catching, I sampled the- book' myself, and must agree—well, nearly agree—with- tlio'.abovo -verdict. "Tho .. Unwilling^'Adventurer,".- young Robert Hsvwke,;a..Kentish ;.young man of. good.family,-..has',.a rascally, cousin, • whois captain of a who manages to-have, liis youthful ■ relative, ;w.ho' stands iii .the Vay,of tlu'3-villainous 'cousin's-!.chance of a* baronetcy i "press,'ed"-- and packed,off :! toisea;jvAdventures, 'on'.tho. Guinea. Coast,'a marooning, en-CLimtcrs-.wit.h:pirates-and slave traders —all, these., and ...other, exciting, happenings faH : -to.,th<%!ot :^ of" young Hawke, w'm>, in the eiid/'it'goes without Baying, '..succeeds,.-,"in';' '.outwitting his., rascally -.cousin's.'plank 'and.-returning to England ■to inherit Y'title, .«• fortune, aiid to jnarry. a' boriny. Keiitishiniaid.'.'A rattling.good yarn of its kind. ..'.... ' "THE COVERNOH OF ENCLANO." Clever. Marjorie liowen, who made her first Milan,", 'and wiioso '!;ite'r : }J-.npyels. -.' dealt : with i-William of Orange; :an<! tho'-;history of . Cromwell. for the hcro.of.lier.,'new; story,. :''The Governor-of--England"-.-.(Jlethuen ; per Whitcombo;.-;'.an<rs.i.Tohibs).- ; ','. Miss jßoweii ''cleverly thedramatic '•'prologue ~!o.;tlie: Civil,; War, .the fall of Strafford.-and.his desertion:bv.tiie King, Soon .Oliveivhimself,..-"warts, and all, '. : hocomcs the principal figure in the story, ■ into which the many romantic, incidents rin. thej-Civil .War..' are skilfully, interWoven,'. tho-story.closing with the death "ofi.the Great,-Protcctorj. oll the anniversary of Dunbar. and Worcester. . A .'stirring, well-toidj historical novel. -.- AN ISLAND EDEN. Really,-it is high time some,-one expostulated ' quite 1 seriously ' with Mr. Hcrtram. Jlitford,.- a 'novelist, who, in liis .time, has written many quite interesting, if highly sensational stories, but of late seems to have deliberately descended into tho depths of cheap melodrama. Mr; -' Mitford's latest ■ >story, "An Island of Eden".- (Ward, Lock,-and Co. ;.per S. and W. Mnoksy), is tor-. I'ib'iv poor stuff: ' Thero "is,-an unknown 'island where^monstrous• snakes and great cuttlefish,- "plus? cannibalistic savages," and-hurricanes .compared with which the ordinary South Sea variety is a mero wphyr,i;§ horrify,.f- a.'}':, marooned couplc s ■■ and, : - as a"-, contrast-,':: there are pictures 1 ..of .English' rustic life.- But tile whole story- is so artificial,' so improbable both as to plot aiid characters, that, detailed ■ analysis would be sheer waste of.-time-and space. ■ ./ . L W BOOKS. .HE AT/rHs: THROUGH,.''BIF/P,-. by ■ K. G. ■a. -Ilarfi.'. Oil the'famous 'Free. •!>S"l)ret of:'AiiHars.;.-second edition, 55.; •••; > "jpostage • y-- ? ' : t>i;nHISTORIC■ TIMES, by■ '■ lord Avebury, 12.=. (id.; p-.istnges Gu.. ■. TT*F. STORY of the PANAMA CANAL. !; •bv Lindfav-Mabhail-'-Ts. - Cd.; pottase MODj l'\Ul \MI NTV T ti LIO ir«H QUEXCK, J)y;jEari;.CurOTn, 3s;; postTHE. Jf AXLMS'pi' 'NOAH; by Hie author -' of .'-'Maxims' l .of ./Methnppkh," 3s. Gd.; .' lK)st.-.:;e :lil. A bcnl; full 01 elmrkles ;smiles, - jspfeially..,.foremen.'. VA^riISTORY OF. .IAi'AX. by ITislio Saito, Lsvjs .illu^trated^'Cs;;;,pbstuscr'iitl!".; j l '. "WILD ANiMAT.S^'ATHOSIE/'' by iL. p,,;P. Thpilinson/Ss-toiVi - TG-rlscl.' !!CI! WCKEKSji ljy';-G/ ! K.' Cbef-P?«i%tertoit,'-'che!>i»'',cdition,:.;ls.'.3J.'; postage ■ ■: by'-f author 'of >iW{si<eavfs:,Froirt.; Gd.; post- ; -. nps ■ Gd^,:;i'y;',,gj'." ." :■' Tlli-; CTiESCENT: MOON;':ljy;E;-'Tagore/ , r is'.' ■' fid.-; "'posbase ■ RUSST.V;'-; Binelc'sf'-bcaiitifui colour books; ' 110; ts R O.J; Sd.. ■.. :PEAGMATTSMuAKD -IDEALISM, by W. . •. CaMwdl, Vs. G<l.; posSaje, 6d. ! SlfA KK*PEAR SHAW, -by C. -1 ; . .Vl. WHO'S U HO,-101-1. IS".; posta;s 'Is,' ' NO"ST 3 is.;;.. -■" ."iV-*' "l!y Kncniy. Jones,"'; l?y' liobert .Barr.J--.-■'Loot," hy.. H.;,- A.,: ■ "Thf> Golden Kcad;".'- by .L. M. Meat-p-'K*£g6mery:; f ';i;fsy^;ir. f ViJ.^ ! g r « :'v-l.s'-Tiie Harbourmaster,'-';by-T. G,.Roberts. ;,"Polly-Anna,'s;,by E; '."The World and Mr?. Frc-yn?,'- by Mr?. : v' : >.A.' -WinKßt^. t i ; ; r : } V'The' .by.-i.W-J Har-'-f--, .b 1 "The Wiuris : of : Priiie,"; by.L. K. Mabie. "The Years; ctjDifcretion,"' by ;F;.' Hatton; ."A 1 Hatcliiiieot,". by.Rß^C.unningkame-';-^:#wGrahani^:>;'3«;.,s j "'Simple. SiniDn;;"n>y(Av Keil Lyons..v : "The Paii her., "of ! : Port man Square, 'f by ji ftA; I! ;%% ■gf's. ■' ..'"i'lie' Witness. fi,r 'the DelVnt'e," by- A. \;:S-i-f K :'-W-S #. lii The 'llj! s t/^-i!>,fjAV. .C- ha nit : ' iV j' .'l'The'. Sorro\y: : ;St;j 11f■ U.\'.,>.r.; l ;Will lams. '!" Mll-( 011 ;iry.;.by \\ ....!. Eeeots. .y *.tlioiiV";!i;>nt?> Vori-i-s'of riiili-. I'i'i'feii. Aii-liu.;';.:;;; ji,S: -liiT-f 'ffi- \\ I'Ul ON/,I \M> IDMBS III), 1 SS s ,.Ktj.l.N'ii'1ON.,v0N. ,v;'■ ft r a i? i: iV'Ei). '( Al' i'A! N. Si ViT'l"S. .lOf IiXA l.'. vols. S'-'■■ v yiTl.)-!*M'.V-XI cili \i--111 a h.'' ■sS'jft"'.;'-' tidivi* POM (id /CM ' Tin: (ir i;ii-'i:j.n. w.-i ban;-M'^.bsr.4?-i':l?; :^lld;|, .;posted?.-'u;''-' ? '-'V':'*-''' ■ ' ;, . Green . njib tlieft y s'is pply.' : 't n' 1 Mas well's '"'?.sv?iGrent=ißoek.:^s;.;;';i,.'3i.. : r''«,'.'.'. ■; THE DEVILS GAR I) n\.' 3s!. lid.: sv>st«L S A vr MAClsli*, ■;:.S'%M|i;Laa'bton'y^ttqy;;.:.W«llii^

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY. THE KIKUYU CONTROVERSY. <>1 \l I,MIA! in HIE MMIUP OJ lGi\m JiLastViveek we published the views of the Bishop of Zanzibar (Dr. Weston) on the Kikuyu Conference, which, discussed .the question of a possible federation between the different missionary bodies working in British East Africa. Dr.' -Weston strongly condemned tho action

of the Bishops of Mombassa and Uganda in connection with this conference,. >ind accused- them of horesy in regard to their teaching ns to the meaning and value of episcopacy. Later English papers contain a statement of the position by the Bishop of Uganda (Dr. Willis), of which the following is a summary:—

'. It has been consistently made, clear that, from the Anglican point of view, wo could enter on no schomo of federation which had not the full consent of tho ecclesiastical authorities of the Church of England, or which comprised our (wsitioii as an integral part of theAnglican Communion. The setting up of an East African Church, independent of historic- Christianity, was never for a moment contemplated. At the same time it was felt that,, without- in any way comprising ,onr position, or asking others to compromise theirs, it might be possible ■so to agree together that the way may not be closed agailist a union which, if impossible for ourselves ill tho present day, might be possible to an African Church of the future.

It" is proposed,.in the first place, to recognise a "Comity of Missions," to divide British East Afriba- iiitn distinct missionary districts, and to leave each Church' free to dovelop its work within its own defined area. It is.manifestly impossible for the. Anglican Church, as at present represented, to occupy the entire-field. . . Under the. circumstances common sense would suggest 3.. working agreement by which unnecessary overlapping might bo avoided, and tho whole field occupied against a . 'common foe. What might well bo justified on tho ground of necessity finds a . further justification in the fact that in so much of essential doctrinal belief, there is a clear agreement between the - missionaries. Every member of the proposed Federation. would subscribe ts> a loyal' acceptance of the. Apostles' and Nieeno Creeds, a certain ■ necessary liberty as .to. interpretation being ' understood, and of those Holy Scriptures on which their faith, 110 less than our own, is built up. Within each missionary, district SO constituted-there would bo"autonoiiiy. - - . It is laid down iu the proposed scheme that "nothing shall he so understood. as' to prejudice tho Episcopal jurisdiction of ih-e Bishops over all members' of their own Corauiiinidn." ...

_ Starting, then, with the decision to recognise and mutually -to rcspeet missionary spheres-of influence, it.'must, at bnco:bo asked: What is to be the general attitude adopted towards memtiers uf one Church temporarily resident.-.in the district.of another-' .. ... . The .recognition oi -a "common'meui"ucrßhip' ! between tlio Churches of. the. Federation amounts to this". We ..do not. recognise in the eblivert from another Mission a. member of our own Anglican Communion, which So is not'; hut we do itcognise him, in virtue of his Baptism and his character, as a member or that Holy Catholic Church of Christ, winch is greater far than all our limited conceptions ot it, and as such \ve vokome him -among us. This recognition .of Baptism by another body involves, a clear understanding with that body to tlio conditions as to which inat. sacrament shall he administered. 13 therefore proposed. that tlio. conditions oi admission to, and the pel loci oi probation in, tlio Cattchifmeiiate shall be the same in all Missions; tnat lha _cotirse of preparation shall be similar, in its broad outlines. . that m ail eases the form "I baptise thco ni the Name of the .Father, and c ihe' Son, and of the Holv. Ghost," shall he used.

. A coiitcosedly moro difficult question arises in tiie ease cf a baptised member who .is also a .communicant in Jus own Cluireii. Here especially it is important to remember the fundamental uifieronc® between African-and European ambitions. . .I„ British Kasfc Ainca practically the ojiiy services, i'or fcuropca-ns throughout the greater part oi the Protectorate - are 'Uidso' held in connection with the Church.of England. 11l a township 'whbi't there is. an Epslisd church with regular services and celebrations there are living devout luinj'jpiscopalians. whose sole opportunity of communicating, perhaps for years at a time,. to bo met hi an Anglican church. They arc not confirmed, neither are they "willing and desirous" to be so, but they are recognised communicants in their own churches" at-home, .ami anxious to join with us in the highest act of Christian worship, lliey can communicate nowhere els?. . '. .' Tor myself, I feel that, if the responsibility of admitting liim is great, that of repelling him from a service which eonnotes so much is yet greater, ■ '■Still more -difficult is .the question of our relation to one who is not only a baptised member, nor oven only a communicant,, but a re'eoghised minister in his own Church. On the oiio hand, the the fourth' condition laid down in the Lambeth Quadrilateral (the Historic Episcopate),'apart from any other consideration, makes it clearly impossible, from tho Anglican point of view, to recognise. his orders as qualif.viug liim for .the. ministry of our Church,-.but it is impossible that he should be. granted that liberty which 1 is given 'to an honoured lay-reader among ourselves of preachinc. when invited to do so.

. It must frequently happen that our own converts will be-called upon to live for more or less long periods in a district whero a widely different. tvDO of Christianity prevails. Wo should expect- our converts there to meet with no less n welcome than wo would ourselves extend to oho from another mission. . But lie would find a type of service with which lie was totally unfamiliar. The inevitable tendency of this .would be to estrange him from that corporate life and worship 011 which the spiritual welfare of an African so largely depends. To lessen as much as may be .this sense of strangeness it is proposed to adopt in all federated Churches :"a cert?,in amount of form' eonunon to all." This does, not mean tho abandonment of the use of our'own Prayer Book, or any impoverishment of our own services." . .' . It is ' proposed to use

.:" ; with' sufficient frequency to enable the .members of nil. the Churches io become 'familiar" with.its.use, a common order. That- order is such as might he used in a .Church of'-England mission-ball service <>i-llome; in its essential features• itfollows She familiar Furm of our Prow 'Book. ■

As.we woul.l aim at it common I'orsii ..of '.service, the ettrnc.M oi a united wor> ..sliip lierenl'lei-, sn we would, seek lo se-iUii-e "a eimiiiioi! form of (.'iinreli. nrstaii.isalion," ,ilK' .Ijeginiiiu'gs of a I'ulnre

Cliurr-li polity. • In main outline it, consists of the formation of "pat- .- kites" : or small sub-disiriets, the parish being ihe unit of Ciiim:h oi'iinnisatioii, and hnvinsr.its own "Pareeliial Cluive!) '•Couiiril," the groupihg of these parishes inio district*, with' its own."District Church Council." The members of these ■ Parochial District Church Councils would be, according'lo-tho proposed constitution.; members only of the Church occupying tlw district for which' that council is responsible. - ft is also proposed to form _ a 'TJepreseptativc Church Council," linking- together the District Church Council, and itself the prreursor of the. Synod of n future Church. . The eelsbration of the Heir Cotuintm-.

ion at"the close of the conference stands .apart., from any general sclie-mo of federation..* That it was celobtated in a 'church .belonging to th« Established Chinch of Scotland was due in a sense to the accident of place, no Church of .England building: being available. The |service, itself followed throughout tho order in the Book of Common Prayer. The generosity was on tho part of tho Scotch Mission' in lending their Church for' an English service. The admission of-Nonconformists was certainly not without ample precedent. It was an exceptional occasion, an occasion which no one present is ever likely to forget. To repel at such a moment from a common participation might b« justified by riilp and dictated by a stern sense of duty; but would it have been in a sense to nullify tho whole spiirt of the conference? We cannot but feel that- in the circumstances the Master Himself would have justified the action, as His Presence beyond 1 all question hallowed tho scene. HARNACK ON St, PAUL. A MOVING INCIDENT. 'Adolf Harnack, tho famous'-Berlin professor of-ecclesiastical history,, .roj contly delivered t-lir-ee lectures oil St. Paul before overwhelming audiences containing the-elite of the intellectual world of tho German capital," says tho Berlin correspondent of tho "Christian World." '"Tlio, lectures. wero delivered in the groat liall of . tlie Prussian' Diet, and the .vast space was filled-from floor to roof-with an'audience of which any man might be proud; "Berlin is' probably the most irreligious. certainly the most agnostic, city in Gerntaiiy; but- when ' Harnack■-is; annoueed.to speak-tho Borliners only remember him as the'greatest scholar of tho day, a : man who adds to his' vijst, erudition' all tho graces of style and perfect sympathy with liis audience"." Oh Uie,-occasion of these lectures, he Wore the decoration of the high - .Prussian order Pour h Merite, the gift of a rtiler, himsejf . a siucere' believer, who finds in Harnack t-ho most'brilliant scholar' bi his veign: "These three lectures contained, nothing, tliat was now. Tliey merely summarised the'work, the teaching,'and the life of Paul, and gave in popular form a most fascinating outline of a. man whom Harnack has no hesitation in declaring to bo one of tls-o most. supreme spirits that ever lived.

"I noticed the aged Bombard Weiss on tho piat.forni taking copious notes, and just • behind tlio lecturer sat. the renowned' Assyriologist Dclitzsch,' of 'Bebel and Bible' fame, mid tho Kaiser's favourite preacher, Dr. Bryander. "Perhaps tho most moving incident in nil tlireo lefct,ures was when Itarnaek spoke of. Paul's .teaching about charity. It *vas-here, he said, that Paul shows us his very heart. He shows it in those wonderful words in. his first epistle to tho Corinthians, words which' form the most n.ohfo poem in tho world. And Harnaok, to bring the nobility of the words homo to his deeply-moved audience, lifted his hands liigh over his head and recited in' vibratingfoiios— "'Though .I speak, with tho fondues <if men and of ailgels, arid have not charity, I anr become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.' "Tho third lecture, dealing with' tlio life, character, and personality of Paul, drew an enormous throng. -. Hundreds wore turned away from tho door. The. lecturer"-sketched in vivid' sentences all tliat we know on the subject." FAITH AND TAXES. An analogy between movements . of religious thought and the laws of political economy is about tho last thine; for which one looks, but the unexpected has a way of happening. As everybody knows,': the ' prospect of an enhanced duty on ' any > article..of imparl, or ,'ex;_ port necessarily-resMis in aii i isiiSravofif ,i to (jet "every possible pound "of Ave goods affected through the Custom House before the new tariff conies into operation. Unmindful of this 01-oinent-arv'trutb, tho Prussian authorities.hare bean threatening to raise the fee 10rniired bn declarations of withdrawal from tho State Church. Hence a s?kl- - rush of secedm froinJthe Lutheran-, C'alvanisi Establishment which a paternal Government st) thoughtfully organised, for its subjects—without much gratitude from earnest adherents of either the Confession of Augsburg or "the platform of Geneva.!' Recently over four thousand persons signed the declaration, professing to have been won by the arguments of the Mouists who have been carrying ob a vehement anti-religious propaganda. Why, if a man wishes to. leave, the Establishment he should lie required to go ilirohgh any special form, and also be.-taxed in connection-, therewith,. ire entirely fail to understand. Probably it. is a survival of the. old spirit of compulsion in, such'.matters, as to which there is really no position .worth .maintaining between downright persecution and complete freedom.—"Guardian." EDUCATED MINISTERS. Sir Rchvard Russelj spoke at, Liverpool recently in support of tho Imikling fund of Chcshunt College. It was, he said, the business of every institution so- to modify its powers as b-st to serve the generation 111 'which it. found',itself. It' was impossible, to exaggerate tho -importance, of an educated ministry. It was a very great necessity of the times', Tho path of safety to-day was the path of knowledge; jt was-not the path of. obscurantist or blind-adhesion"to what had been told us for generations. The: Church had to face the fact that men were intelligently informed in criticism, history; and the philosophy of religious, and intellectual mutation. . •' This fact, could be met and coped' with only by cultivated men. who appealed' to cultivated men and also to uncultivated men. Tho best way of'.appealing- to uncultivated moll' was only to address to them what they would not bo ashamed to address to cultivated men, ■ It was quite, possible that the high education of- the Christian ministry would protect ministers against some of their own. dangers. He could well understand the temptation, arising from difficulties and exigencies, to descend from . .the high level which the pulpit'ought nhyays, to take.- He .went about in-a wry.catholic spirit to the preaching of very -various denominations. and if lie woro to say it was cqual'.in dignity to, the preaching ho remembered ill . his childhood, lie would not bo saying what, in liis opinion, was not tho fact. The progress of 1 education was not.always excellent in its first results. It created a clientele prepared to be dealt-with by speech owl- by eloquence. but it did not immediately give them tho best- taste or the faculty of insisting'upon that which, was best- from those who addressed, thorn. JT<iw, the more a man was educated tho less he found it .possible) to df'seend. and be trusted that at some time in the .future the educated ministry would restore and increase the dignity with rfliich the ('ismi.i'Mi Church '«ught always to. address the world, These wen* the ideals in which th" future of.the Church .and of the world was bound up, and religious people could not better serve their Master than bv encouraging every endeavour to make tlic education of the ministry all that it emitd be to meet the interests of a groivingly intelligent community. ...