BOOKS OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 44, 16 November 1918, Page 11

BOOKS OF THE DAY

"Thd Undiscovered Country." The greatly increased "interest taken, in psychical" research and in what _is "commonly known us Spiritualism, which has been one of. the results of the Great War, is responsible no doubt for an everaugmenting mass of literature dealing with the problem of the after-life. A recent, and especially interesting work dealing with ..the. subject is "The Undiscovered' Country: A Seqnsnco of Spiritine.ssagcs Describing Death' and the After-world, selected from, published and unpublished Automatic Writings, 1874T. 118" ■ (Cussell and Co., par S. and AV. Xlackvy). The selection has been made and the book edited generally by Mr.Harold Bayley, and an interesting preface is coniribnted by' Sir Arthur Couan Doyle, who, in recent years, lias made a special study'of psychical .phenomena and is an avowed and enthusiastic believer in Spiritualism. Many of these "spirit messages" are'of ii" purely mystical character, others deal with alleged happenings in the "spirit world." which go to show that the-after-life, if thesespirit messages are to be accepted as genuine, is"very largely a. duplication of, or supplement 10. quite prosaic every-day occurrences in the earthly existence of those from whom the messages emanate. Tlioi ground covered in (he r elections is very wide, ;tho book being divided into sections devoted to special phases of the liio after death. Certainly some of the evidence here put forward bears e.t least a,-very 'large' semblance of truth. The' editor, assures his readers that there is nothing in the selections "which will add to IU world's present load of sorrow,, •but, on the contrary, much, that will tend to alleviate it." Mr. Bayley claims that "it is difficult to believe that the communications quoted are otherwise than honest." "They ring true," he says,, "aod-in their totality offer a rational, consistent, world-wide and congenial philosophy which illuminates and in many cases explains the manifold phenomena of the■ supernatural." Sir Arthur Conan Doylo, in his brief but extremely interesting preface, claims that Spiritualism "is essentially a relifc'.ms movement," one that is destined, :n his oninion, to "affectjprofoundly the whole iutu.ro of the world;" He adds:

It is a new wavo rolling in from the.; dim immensity of the beyond, carrying cleansing and freshness to. the somewhat stagnant pools'into, .which, our preße;it religious systems have', settled. God's dealings with man -did not end in Judea 2500 yearsmgo, nor-does': any one book, however cacred,' contain all that, may be known' as to.our destiny. .'lt- would be dangerous to forecast the effects of so tremendous a phenomenon as a full/arid new revelation from the new wdrld, but there is reason to hopo that it is too, great a thing to bocome a mere sect,' and that it is' rather destined to leaven, all'human thought and to vivify' all the: creeds. ,It should not be destructive.save to,the materialist, but it should rather ; sustain the original inspiration 1 arid show that' it,can be confirmed in bo many points that it was undoubtedly in tho first instance of supermundane origin. . . The whole earnest world is looking for some religious revival which will, make, theology more human, which will' reconcile it -with, science and reason, and which will get such a spirit into the world as will make impossible fori, over such frightful relapses into the dark'ages' as that -which our generation bas witnessed. Jt is .1 movement which Beemcd beyond tho power of mortal mind, bpt it ia now clearly developing upon lines when the forces of two worlds can aid on its fulfilment.

Those w'ho believe that psychical research is a dangerous thing, that more barm than good can come out of obtain--injr real or supposed communications from those who have passed away from earthly life, may find in tho'section headed "Cautions,"-a certain amount of support for the theory above set forth. The chapter is prefaced by a quotation from Holy Writ (I John iv, 1); "Beloved, believe not. every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.", Some of the "cautions" quoted clearly' indicate the' value/Of guarding against the work of "evil" spirits, and some very wise counsel ;is given .as to the mischief ■which may arise from public "seances" conducted by persons primarily anxious for personal monetary sain. N The book is a rich-mine of information for those whoiare interested in the continuity of ' consciousness after death, and the most sceptical reader must admit the beauty of-thought and phrase which is)to be found in >so many of the "messages" quotecL '(Price, Bs.).

Some Useful Handbooks. Messrs. Ciissell and Co. continue to add to their excellent series of "Work" handbooks, a recent nccc-ssion being a little volume entitled "Motor Cycles': a practical handbook on their, building;..care, .and management." The editor. Mr. Bernard \'E. Jones, draws, attention to .the fact that- this handbook marks a new ■departure in cycle literature, in that it describes, for. the.first time, how to build n light motor-cycle fitted, w,ith a twostroke engine, and deals authoritatively but plainly with the electrical principles underlying the operation of ignition apparatus, notably tho universal but' little understood magneto. In addition, the book explains'how both four-strdko. and two-stroke/ engines work, and, gives a large amount of practical information on carburettor-and engine troubles, and on overhauling a niotor-eyelo and learning to ride. The illustrations .are numerous and of a' practical and useful character.

Lady Colin Campbell's guide to "The Etiquette of ,('!ood -Society" (Cnssell and Co., per, S. and AV. Maekay) is a book, the popularity of earlier editions of which is proved by the fact tha r t over 10,00(1 copies of the work have been sold. In. the now and greatly enlarged edition the advice given has been brought into consonance with the changed manners and customs of society.. The ground covered is very wide, counsel being given as to what to do and how to do it—and also, what is of equal importance—what should not be done in connection with various family and domestic functions •and ceremonies, from christenings to birthday parties, weddings, and presentations at-count down to the inevitable funeif.il. "(Price, 25.) "Incubators and. Chicken Bearers: How-to ' Make' and Manage' Them," is tho -itl"e" of one of the excellent "Work" Handbooks published by .Messrs. Cassell and Co. (Wellington', S. and "W.- .Maekay). ''Tho handbook replaces and supersedes a' pamphlet:entitled■■ "Incubators and Chicken Bearing Appliances," which -since;,its.'first publication upwards of fifteen years ago'has. sold in • enormous numbers, and has been used as a practicalguido ,to.-ihciibator matters -all the world oyer. -In the new work the information is brought up to date, and covers every possiblo phase of the subject dealt with by the various 'experts who have contributed to the work. ■ Amateur, poultry farmers should find the book very useful. (Price, 2s, Od.).

A recent addition- to their admirable series of Gardening Books is published by Messrs. Cassellnnd'Co. (per S. and Vi. iUackay). The new volume, : "The Carnation Hook, is. edited by that expert Jlritislt authority on floriculture, llr. V. If. Thomas, editor of "The Gardener," assisted by Aliss H. 'M. Kinfisford. Special attention is paid to the border ennin; lion, of which there areso many beautiful modern varieties. The editor says that the. villus of Jhe border carnation as a Inn perennial seems to be overlooked by most amateurs, yet the time will surely come \ylnjn they will }{ive (his splendid old flower rational cultivation, ami thus be able to appreciate its decorative value in ilie'border. Information is Riven as lo the best varieties of earnation Book," is edited by that expert sncciaT advice 'as to the •combalin;; of diseases and insect pests specially nfl'wlinj; carnations. The, buok is most liber(illy illustrated, and should prove,bojli useful and iiitereslinj; In.nil growers of one of the most beautiful and. popular of flowers.