THE HIBBERT JOURNAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2662, 6 January 1916, Page 9

THE HIBBERT JOURNAL

SOME WAR ARTICLES. The October number of the "Hibbert Journal" operis with a striking article by tlie editor (Dr. Jacks) entitled "A Theological Holiday—And After." Dr. Jacks does not suggest that men "would do well to forget God, or their belief in God, even for a- day," but he thinks that the time is opportune for theologians to take a rest. Theological literature is showing siens of exhaustion after the flood of discussion which the modern mind lias let loose on the problems of religion, and the theologians want time to turn t.hem-jolves round. During the breathing -'space many-would come to realise "that the God in Whom we really believed' was not quite identical with the God whose existence wo had proved, that the Christ we actually loved and tried to fellow was not the Christ of our bcoks, lectures, and articles, that the morality by which we lived was of another order from that on which our philosophy had set its seal." The holiday might bring us back to a simpler faith, but it might place us in closer touch with the heart of things. Dr. M. Epstein, as-, sistanti editor of the "Statesman's Year Book," gives lis some interesting and instructive information regarding rccent German war literature. The war appears to havo thrown the German professors clean off their mental balance. Hate and fury have made them intellectually blind. No other l'f.tion, they tell themselves, can teach Ger.many anything worth learning. What the Greeks were among the Bnrbar'aus, and the Jews among , the Heathens, that Germany is to be. to-day. "The Germaa peoplo is the chosen race of this century." Whore is their sense of humour? Tho American point of view on tho war is stated by Professors Royce, C. P. Thwing, and E. B. M'Gilvary. Viscount Bryce's presdential address to the British Academy v- ill bo read with interest. In an article ontitled "A Quaker's Apology," Mr. J. W. Graham, Principal of Daiton Hall, Manchester, admits that the war has placed tho Quakers in a serious diiemma and has caused" them much marching of heart. Professor Hugh Walker, or ■St. David's College, Lampeter, contributes a fine article on "Triumph and Tragedy," and tho issue contains other interesting contributions. The outstanding feature of the review section is Professor Scott Holland's criticism of Dr. Ivirsopp Lake's book, "The Stewardship of Faith." The reviewer, after praising the lucidity of Dr. Lake's work, goea 011 to remark that "the book has explained everything except that, which it set out to explain —the origin and growth of Christianity in ilio form which it historically took." Dr. Lake'? explanation is altogether too simplo and too obvious. It strips the Personality of Christ of nearly all its mystery, and takes away tho deeper meanings of His groat sayings. "How then," asks Dr. Scott Holland, "if He meant so little, did His believers think that Ho meant so much?"