LENTEN AND OTHER RELIGIOUS READING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22546, 13 April 1935, Page 4

LENTEN AND OTHER RELIGIOUS READING

" This Holy Fellowship." By Canon Peter Green. London: Longmans, Green. 4s. "The Gate of Life." By Dr W. R. Inge. London: Longmans, Green. 4s. "Hiram Golf's Religion." By Dr George H. Hepworth. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. 2s 6d. '* Christ and Tower Hill." By Donald Soper. London: Hodder and Stoughton. Is 9d. " Four Men Seek God." By C. Payne. London: Stockwell. 4s. Canon Peter Grjeen may be depended upon to write something worth reading, and in " This Holy Fellowship" he has given us a beautiful book of instruction in regard to the holy communion. He has gathered up the lessons of a ministry of over. 40 years. As a curate to the Leeds Parish Church he started a weekly class to help boys in their preparation for communion. This was successful in every way, and later he started a similar one for girls. He discusses the service itself, the preparation for it, worship, prayer, and thanksgiving. There is, in one sense, nothing new in the chapters, but he has made old truths and old knowledge shine with the freshness of springtime. No one with a spiritual sense can read this book without feeling glad that there are those amongst us who have treasures to bring out of things old yet ever new.

Dean Inge is another who is read by discerning people. He, too.Jias something to say which is worth while, and he expresses himself in sentences which bring with them the sense of life. The addresses which form the chapter of this little volume of Lenten reading were written at various times, and though not all are intended for the season of Lent they yet give to us thoughts which are fitting for this period of the Church's year. Life and death, human suffering, the justice of God, peace, and war are treated with the frankness and reverence which we have learned to expect from T)r Inge. Most of those who read " The Gate of Life" will, we feel sure, agree with the remark that it is " the Dean at his befit."

"Hiram Golf's Religion" is a little book of American origin which has neen republished by Messrs Angus and Robertson. It is a work of not unfamiliar type, which gives the views of life and religion of a village worthy. Cobblers are reputed to be deep thinkers, hence the reason for their being chosen to express wisely quaint ideas. The character of Hiram is drawn with care, and his thoughts are well worth setting down. There are many quotable passages, and this good shoemaker will make many friends and do much good. Dr Donald Sopor is one of those who regularly take a stand in a likely spot in London —Tower Hill in this case--froni which it is possible to translate the significance of the Cross of .lesus Christ into the lives of those who will listen. It is no easy task to stand before a crowd in the open air and preach (o them: to invite questions from them requires confidence beyond the usual; to offer to

the man in the street an understandable knowledge of Christianity requires wisdom; to urge a practical application of pacifist principles to national and international affairs requires foresight. This, as "A Regular" at his meetings testifies, D r Soper does, and one might add that his courage is the " real thing." We have a very interesting account of the meetings and the experiences at them —a story that will inspire every reader with a new vision of the sanity of the average man and his readiness to respond to a commonsense approach to him. The volume "Four Men Seek God is described as a "forceful reply to a famous author's book." Written in the form of a story, it endeavours to portray the mental attitudes of earnest men who desire to know God but are at a loss how to approach Him and are continually being led astray by misconceptions of one sort and another or hindered by a disinclination to take a line which appears hard and hazardous. The book is quite interesting to those who like this particular type of religious discussion. G. H. J.