Religion And Philosophy

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28559, 12 April 1958, Page 3

Religion And Philosophy

The Road to Happiness. By J. W. C. Wand. -Frederick Muller 192 pp. We talk glibly of happiness, but it is pot often that,sn attempt is made to’say in what it consists. In this book Bishop Wand has! undertaken to attempt thi< He; begins by showing that our desires may not be the same as our needs. It is in the illimitable realm of mind or spirit that the true purpose of life must lie. We live in a world of claims and counter claims. When we have to choose between them we should have conscience as our guide. But conscience needs guidance in itself and there are three. possible the Bible, the Church and reason, one or all of them. If we use these helps rightly we will attain wis-, dom and so learn that happiness, does not come by aiming directly ; at it, but is commonly found; when we are completely absorbed' in some worth-while occupation or some invigorating companionship. The Bishop then goes on to consider the obstacles in the way of happiness, social, physical, psychological, moral and spiritual. This leads on to a consideration of the place of home, marriage,' sex and politics, national and in-1 ternational, in life. The road to! happiness can run into false trails such as the unthinking pursuit of wealth or even of health. Bad religion is also one of these and the Bishop has some wise things to say on this subject. A chapter on the pursuit of success is full of discerning discriminations.

The last part of the book is devoted to demonstrating that the only worthy goal for our attainment is the glory of God and in this we can obtain the best happiness given to man. Bishop Wand has written an ex-; cellent book which has something helpful to say in all the main problems of human existence. Dig or Die, Brother Hyde. By William J. Hyde. As told to Harriet Harman Dexter. Published by Arthur James. 253 pp. In this book we have the autobiography of Dr N. J. Hyde, a pioneer preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. Dr Hyde was a Canadian who, at the age 22, went to Groton in Dakota as a deacon of the Methodist Church. There he found no churcty buildings of any kind. The Presiding Elder in charge of the Methodist Churches in Dakota, Dr Traveller, gave him his commission:— “Dig or Die, Brother Hyde.” Dr Hyde dug. He began from nothing, not even a guaranteed salary. He built a church and established a flourishing congregation. After he had been in Groton two years, he married a young Canadian woman and in 1888 was given charge of the , Methodist Church at Faulkton. From thence he went to Ohio and other places, and at last to Chicago where he built the Church of St. John Baptist. He retired at the age of 72 but still took an active interest in church affairs till his death at 90 years of age. His life story is not only an inspiring one, it is full of merriment. Wherever he went, he built churches and congregations to fill them. His story is one to interest not only Methodists, but anyone who can enjoy a tale of heroism. Beyond the Gospels. By Roderic Dunkerly. A Pelican Book. 170. pp. “What information is there about Jesus Christ elsewhere than in the Gospels?” It is to answer this question that this book is written. Dr. Dunkerly first of all examines the epistles of the New Testament, and then the witness of pagan writers such as Tacitus and Suetonius as well as Pliny’s well-known letter to the Emperor Trojan. Josephus, the first century Jewish historian, is then considered, and the author concludes “that there is a possibility but nothing like certainty” that we have in the Slavonic version of the “Jewish War” some firstcentury evidence regarding the historicity of Jesus. Similarly, the collection of Hebrew traditions called the Talmud, which acknowledges the historic existence of Christ without adding much to our knowledge of Him. The same is true of the archaeological evidence of which perhaps the most curious is .the Sator formula discovered at Pompeii and elsewhere. In Christian writers later than the New Testament there are agrapha or uncanonical sayings which Dr. Dunkerly examines in several chapters. The most famous of these sayings were found at Oxyhynchus in Egypt. Islamic traditions are examined and shown to contain reminiscences of the words of Christ. Though a small book, this covers a very wide field, and it is to be highly recommended to Bible students.

God Gave Me a Telephone. By Wilfred H. Bourne. Arthur James. 170 pp. The author of this book exercises an unusual ministry. He began his work by advertising in the local paper that anyone in trouble could ring his telephone and simply request “The Tonic Thought for Today.” The result was surprising, for many people, realising that they could remain anonymous, rang Mr Bourne and confided their troubles to him This book contains a long record of people to whom he was abte to bring help.

They Teach Us to Pray. By Reginald E. O. White. Arthur James. 204 pp.

The first 16 chapters of this book contain studies in prayer from the Old Testament from Genesis to the post-exilic period. The rest of the book contains two chapters on “Jesus: the Quality of Prayer.” and “Jesus: the Reward of Prayer.” Dr. Townley Lord points out in’ the foreword that Mr White’s exposition will be useful to preachers and teachers who want to understand and expound the Biblical teachings in prayer, and to those v. ho are on the lookout for helps in the devotional life.

Living Bible Stories. By Dr. John Kennedy. Elliot Hight Way Books. 189 pp.

There are 11 Old Testament stories for children in this book beginning from Abraham and ending with Nechemiah. The print is large * and the illustrations numerous. The stories are I told in the simplest way. and twill serve their purpose exceiilurtJjr.