BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

"As Tommy Sees Us." Under .the title "As Tommy Sees Us, a Book for Church Folk" (London: Edwin Arnold), the Ilev. A. Herbert Gray, M.A., C.l'\ (T.), endeavours to give the public some idea of tho views held on various religious questions by ■the British solid.ers at the front. From tho front, ho cells us, he has brought back a new faith in human nature. As I think of it now, that world (at the front) seems to bare been' overshadowed by a dark cloud composed of agonies, fears, brutal violence, bloodshed, dirt, waste, cruelty, and death. But the cloud is shot through and through by bright gleams of splendour—the coolness and devotion of officers, the courage and indomitable patience of men, the devotion and endurance of doctors and nurses, the invariable wit, cheeriness, and unselfishness of ordinary humanity in all ranks. Of a world with such men in it no man need despair. Mr. Gray tells us that our hoys will come homo "cured of much of their individualism, and fully aware of the joys and possibilities of life in fellowship. They , will want fellowship because of its power to lift and cheer tho soul." They will want, also, so Mr. Gray clearly thinks, a religion fr'eo from any suspicion of social. snobbishness. They will ask for a more hearty spirit of welcome and genuine fellowship from the Churches and the ministers— nnd tho congregations. They will havo to be convinced that tho Churches really do want the "common people." "Twenty years of experience havo produced in me," writes Mr. Gray, "tho conviction that the Church may have the people whenever tho Church really and sincerely wants them. But to want' thoni is a spiritual achievement of the highest kind, and tho Church has not yet attained it." As to tho best way of Attaining to this achievement, Mr. Gray writes both sensibly., and earnestly. There is much in this little book which should be profitable reading for Church authorities and laymen alike. . (Prico, Us. 6d.)