ORTHODOX AND OTHERWISE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21994, 1 July 1933, Page 4

ORTHODOX AND OTHERWISE

NEW THEOLOGICAL WORKS “The Religious Philosophy of Baron Friedrich von Hugel. By L. V. LesterGarland. London: Dent (5s net). "He That Cometh." By Geoffrey Allen. London: MacLehose. (5s .net). , " Not of Gennesareth.”. By A. M. D. Dlnneen. Dunedin: A. H. Reed (3s 6d net). " Christianity and Dogma." By Dr S. Angus. Sydney: Angus and Robertson (Is net). Von Hugel’s Philosophy Barori von Hugel is;one of those reli-, gious thinkers whose influence upon the thought of our generation has increased steadily since his death. This is due to the publication of his intimate correspondence in which his teaching, is ,presented in simple form with that personal touch which is’ so necessary. .It is to be regretted that his big books .present almost insurmountable diffifiulties of style as well as of substance to the reader who comes to them quite unprepared. The small .book in which Mr Lester-Garland outlines the Baron’s chief positions is one to be welcomed for the above reason. In Yon Hugel we have a writer in whom the facets of the mind and soul arc so combined that it is quite impossible to consider any one of them, apart'from the others. He is a thinker and a prophet and a contemplative and a father of souls. But these are operative always and at one and the same time. . It is, impossible to consider them apart. To try to do so is to fail to understand any one and all of them. Perhaps the safest phrase to use in considering'- .Von Hugel’s philosophic position is such- a ■ one- as “ a realistic passion for God.” That passion is at the heart of his devotion and it throbs no less certainly through his philosophy. Mr Lester-Garland. gives us a fine chapter on the Baron’s personal characteristics and then centres the thought on his theory of knowledge, which he built tip on a critical realism regarded by him more and more as the, only true and • valid basis of a theistic philosophy.. It is a pity that death prevented the completion of _his, Gifford Lectures, which- he entitled The. Reality of Finitcs and the Reality of God,” That title •is -in itself, revealing to anyone who is at all acquainted, with philosophic thought of to-day. Yon Huge] held that a genuine-religion did. not .deal with notions, but-with facts. Religion “is not merely- an interior life of the soul, but a reaching , out to something that is .other than (itself.”.:' .-Too, great clarity and too much of the idea contained in the term, “systems’, were .to -him matters -to cause distrust. There :is always far more in life than can be contained in any system, and “ the one tiling needful is to keep in touch with .Me. Thbse who have tried to read Von. Huge! are always aware of having received a stimulus from, the “ deeps of an experience which cannot be expressed in words. Mr Lester-Garland happily keeps us in continual remembrance of this truth. Hence we earnestly hope that his little book will bfe widely read and that ,it will take many more back to Von Hugel himself. -■■■'•

The Oxford Group The Oxford Group Movement has excited quite a considerable amount of. discussion and many are deeply impressed by its teaching and practice. Quite as many, on the other hand, wonder what there is that is really new in it, while some few. possibly ultra-orthodox folk, are doubtful of its theological implications. He that Cometh”- is a sequel to Tell John, which received wide commendation when it was published some , time ago. , This latter book was written as, in some measure, a.call to a “mood,of penitent expectancy ’’—the mood in which John the Baptist came preaching. The volume under consideration is a good statement of the convictions and methods of this movement. It is clear and simple, if keeps clearly in mind that the members of this “new” movement want to live up to the first standard of Christianity or, as they would say, they want to be truly Christian. The book reads well and will do much to make clearer what is the aim and worth of the Oxford Group. Certainly a Movement which has inspired so many books is alive and hence well worth investigation.

A New Zealand Missionary Miss A. M. D. Dinneem is a_graduate of the University of New . Zealand who has been a missionary of the Church Missionary Society for many years. The social customs of the higher grades of Chinese society, the distress,, unsettlement, suffering occasioned by the internal chaos of China, are all portrayed in her interesting “Not of Gennesareth." Miss Dinneen is an observant: woman, who pieces together the miental reactions of a land and environment full of strangeinterplay of forces and movements. The soldiers of the Inchims—local war-lords—-create a dreadful unrest and fear, and the endeavours of the emissaries of'the Soviet Republic to propagate Their views intensify the already difficult work of the Christian missionary until it would seem that the task is more than can be carried on. The whole story is simple fact, though the necessary transpositions to make a readable-story are made. But Ji Ken and Chih Dong—wife and husband—and the long and oft-times disheartening work of bringing them to Christian belief are real. It is sometimes asked: “ What is missionary work like, and how is it carried on? ” Misg Dinneens story is the answer, and anyone who reads “Not of Gennesareth” with sympathy will understand. The volume reflects credit from the production point of view upon those who were responsible for its publication;

Dr Angus Replies Some of our readers will have access to New South Wales daily, papers, and so will have some interest in the furore occasioned in Presbyterian circles over the charges of heretical teaching preferred against Dr S. Angus, professor of New Testament, and historical theology, St. Andrew’s College. Sydney, who .is widely known amoqg scholars by his two books, “ The Mystery Religions and Christianity” and “ The Religions. Quests of the Graeco-Roman World.” It must have been evident even to the casual reader that intense feeling had been aroused by the teaching given from the .New Testament chair, and quite clearly there was a group in the Church inspired by an intense antipathy to the professor. The debate in the assembly took an unusual turn, and Dr Angus was supported by a very decided majority of the 'members. The pamphlet before us is his address in reply, to his critics. It is a dignified utterance, and if it were .delivered in anything like an effective fashion the impression left on the hearers must have been very deep. Certainly it reads well, and even if one wonders exactly where Dr Angus stands on certain matters of soniewhat vital import it is abundantly evident that for him Jesus Christ- and His redeeming work are central. The booklet is well worth a quiet and thoughtful reading. G. H. J.