in Application is a sane idealism in every day judgments and affairs, and with this aim he touches upon certain points in education, politics, literature, and religion. It is no disparagement to his contributions on politics and public service to say that he is not yet as much at home or as authoritative as he is in the realms of literature. The literary essays in this volume are the best, and those which deal with education and religion come next. But the impulse of a literary man so distinctively as he to take vigorous hold upon such topics as Ruling Classes in a Democracy, and the Heritage of American Ideals, is a sign of promise and is prophetic of still greater service in these lines from the literary class. We commend to our readers the well balanced discussion of the perennial theme Is the World Growing Better? He strikes an optimistic note, well based in fact, and not blinded to opposing data. Readers of the RECORD will be especially interested in the essay on Christianity and Current Literature," and "The Church in the City." As essays, of course, one is struck by their style, but this style is not that of a stylist, intent upon literary fame; but the style is a rare blend of the dignity of the man of letters with the plain, familiar, and conversational quality of the talker. The passion of the preacher is sufficiently suppressed for a writer of essays, and yet the moral earnestness of the Christian and the ethical citizen pervades all the literary form and dignity of these helpful pages. Evidently, Dr. Van Dyke does not forget that he is the minister of Christ although he sits in the academic chair. (Scribner, pp. 282. $1.50.) A. R. M. Dr. S. H. Virgin, for so many years pastor of the Pilgrim Church in New York, has often been urged to publish his sermons. He has been accustomed to say that if they could not be found in the lives of his people, they could not be found elsewhere. He tells us that a handful of notes is all that is left to represent his years of extempore preaching. From these he has reproduced the volume just published. They doubtless suffer somewhat from a cold process of reproducing living messages of years ago. But they still retain such warm and vital impulses, and retain so strongly the pastoral touch, that the author's hope that they could be found in the lives of his people is one of ample basis. The sermons are largely experiential and practical in their range of themes, and are characterized by the title of the volume, Spiritual Sanity. The lines of thought are clear and Scriptural and the intent of the message earnest and practical. (American Tract Society, pp. 286. $1.00.) A. R. M. The Bible, especially the New Testament, is the book of a Person. The Person of the Book and the Person of Christianity are identical. This position is challenged today. "The accuracy of the New Testament is being questioned in most particulars save in the virtuous character of the life of Jesus. It is therefore declared, if the truth about Him is to be known, that He should be reconstructed from the experience of today. The records are not to be the test of experience; but, on the contrary, experience must be the test of the records. If we ask, whose experience, we are told that the common church's consciousne is intended. But who is to define this common consciousness?" Dr. G. Campbell Morgan feels deeply the insufficiency of this position, and makes an argument in The Christ of Today; What? Whence? Whither? to show that our faith is deeper in its foundations, and cannot be divorced from the historicity of its record. But in order to take the modern position, and use it as a basis for his contention, he shows what are the universal elements in such a "common consciousness" and thence argues to the historic basis as necessary to account for such a widespread consensus. He adduces four facts concerning Christ which cannot be disputed by any person of intelligence and honesty, he claims: facts imbedded in the consciousness of enlightened people. (1) Christ is the Revealer of the highest type of human life. (2) Christ is the Redeemer of all types of human failure. (3) Christ is Ruler over the most remarkable empire that has ever been seen. (4) Christ is demonstrated the Restorer of lost order, wherever He is obeyed. Dr. Morgan then passes to the question "If this is the Christ of today, He is not the product of today." Whence came He? He challenges a study of history to find when Christ is not all these four things. On a rapid survey of the centuries, he bases a proposition that “Whenever the Christian consciousness has been lost it has been because the Scriptures have been hidden. Whenever it has been restored, it has been because these same Scriptures have been rediscovered and given back to the people." Hence he argues that the Christ of today is the Christ of history, and the Christ of history is the Christ of the New Testament. If we grant that Christ is the Revealer, Redeemer, Ruler, Restorer, we may claim that he is the Christ of the Virgin Birth, the virtuous life, the vicarious dying, the victorious resurrection and no other. This is a brief outline of the "What and Whence" as the author argues. His book closes with a triumphant discussion of "Whither?" on the basis of his argument. The book presents a strong line of argument which ought to do great service in a time when there is so much haze cast over the Person and power of our Lord by certain schools of thought, which attempt to exalt the Christ apart from the historical basis of our faith. (Revell, pp. 63. 50 cts.) A. R. M. A volume of sermons by Dr. David J. Burrell, designed to set forth the teachings of Jesus in his conversations with individuals and groups of men, is entitled Christ and Man. The "sermons are clear, simple, direct, practical; abounding in affluence of thought and illustration. The themes are upon the ranges of thought and experience that appeal to the most common needs of daily life. Nearly all the sermons are based upon conversations, and consist of questions and answers. One distinguishing characteristic of the sermons, as published, is a brief statement of the practical problem involved in the sermon, placed after the title, before the text, and containing a brief summary of the contents of the sermon. The kind of sermon exemplified in this volume, is the kind of preaching much needed and much demanded today, and we wish to commend this volume as one of the best of this category. (Revell, pp. 288. $1.20.) A. R. M. One sermon blished in a small volume entitled The Redeemed Life After Death presents to us Dr. Charles Cuthbert Hall's rich contri bution to the grounds of belief, and the content of faith in the eternal life. Nothing in the preface indicates it, but several things in the text suggest that this sermon was preached in his India sojourn, or that he had in mind the attitude of Eastern peoples toward the Christian conception of the hereafter. The author brings out more fully than the pulpit is wont to do, the ante-Christian beliefs in immortality; and points to the fuller and more indubitable claims of Christ's gospel. "The revelation of Jesus Christ is the confirmation of this universal assumption of immortality." He is disposed to base our hope upon ground quite independent of the Resurrection, and quotes with apparent approval the position of Harnack. The loves and affections of earth, and the conception of "Eternal life in time; to be a part of Eternity" furnish the author with the chief data for his line of thought. The continuance of personal identity after death is developed as one great element in the Christian conception, based upon the Resurrection of the Body. The sermon is full of rich and ennobling thought, and suffused with the glow of personal experience which characterizes all that Dr. Hall writes — that warm pastoral touch which gives him such power and adds heat to light in all his intellectual equipment. (Revell, pp. 58. 50 cts.) A. R. M. In A Story of the Red Cross Miss Clara Barton briefly but very effectively describes the work of one of the most beneficent philanthropic agencies of modern times. To Miss Barton more than to any other person belongs the credit for all that the Red Cross has accomplished for humanity. The slight undertone of personal grievance which the reader encounters here and there detracts somewhat from the pleasure which the book is otherwise so well calculated to afford. (Appleton, pp. 199. $1.00 net.) S. S. THE CUT SHOWS THE EXACT SIZE. To Seminary Record Subscriber s FOR NINETY DAYS ONLY. We have closed a special contract with the SELDEN PEN MFG. Co., of New York, whereby, for a short time, we can supply a guaranteed $2.00 GOLD FOUNTAIN PEN "The Celtric Model 1" to every subscriber, old or new, who sends us A YEAR'S SUBSCRIPTION and FIFTY (50) CENTS additional. The pen will be forwarded immediately upon the receipt of the money. The pen is made of the best quality of hard rubber in four parts, and fitted with a guaranteed irridiumpointed 14-k GOLD PEN. The "fountain" is throughout of the simplest construction and cannot get out of order, overflow or fail to supply ink to the nib. A Fountain Pen is a necessity of the Remember the pen bears the manufacturer's guarantee that it is solid GOLD 14-k fine. If it does not prove satisfactory in every way we will exchange it for another, or return the fifty cents additional on return of the pen. THIS This is an unusual opportunity to secure, at a very low price, an article of superior quality that is coming to be essential to the comfort. and convenience of every one vi o writes REMEMBER THAT THE OFFER IS FOR NINETY DAYS ONLY HARTFORD SEMINARY RECORD, Hartford, Conn. Founded 1834. BOARD OF INSTRUCTION. CHESTER D. HARTRANFT, D.L., HONORARY PRESIDENT. WM. DOUGLAS MACKENZIE, D.D., PRESIDENT . Systematic Theology New Testament Music and Liturgics -Early Church History Apologetics Old Testament Semitic Languages Biblical History and Theology Medieval and Modern Church History Librarian American Church History Foreign Missions Presbyterian Polity Comparative Religions THE SEMINARY AIMS (1) to develop a vigorous spiritual life as the only sound basis for scholarship and service, (2) to train in scientific methods of exegetical and historical research, (3) to discover the truth of God as revealed in the Scriptures and the leading of his Spirit in history, and to apply that truth in the realms of thought and endeavor, so as to meet the present needs of the world and promote the spread of his Kingdom. THE CURRICULUM is arranged in accordance with a system of Grouped Electives. It is thereby adjusted to the needs of students wishing either. balanced course, or one rather closely specialized. It is also fitted to Un.. versity students prepared to acquire advanced standing. THE MISSIONS COURSE, on the Lamson Foundation, provides opportunity for thorough Mission study. THE SCHOOL OF RELIGIOUS PEDAGOGY affiliated with the Seminary supplies an invaluable supplement to the instruction in this department. GRADUATE STUDY is strongly encouraged. The degrees of S.T.M. and Ph.D. are given under carefully defined conditions. Two fellowships are offered, each for two years of foreign study. THE APPARATUS includes a rapidly increasing library of about 80,000 volumes (excluding duplicates), museum, reading-room, gymnasium, music room, etc. TERMS OF ADMISSION. Candidates for admission must be members of some Christian church and graduates of some college. Those who are not college graduates may, after examination, be admitted on probation during the first term. All courses are open to women on the same terms as to men. EXPENSES.No charge is made for tuition, rooms, furniture, and bedding, except a nominal fee of $25 for use of steam and for supervision. Board is provided under the care of the Students' Association, at about $4 per week. Scholarship aid is provided for those needing it in addition to the grant from the Education Society. CALENDAR.The seventy-third year begins September 26, 1906, and closes May 29, 1907. Address inquiries to the DEAN. |