AMONG THE BOOKS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2689, 27 September 1905, Page 80

AMONG THE BOOKS.

MAN'S RESPONSIBILITY. By Thomas G. Carsox.

!flew York and London: Gr, P. Putnam's Sons. The title is one that scarcely appeals to the ordinary reader — it foreshadows a fliscussionon one of the inevitable drearinesses which are being continually forced Ijpon every man, willing or unwilling. The 'sub-title, "How and Why the Almighty Introduced Evil Upon the Earth?" would probably interest a wider section of readers, since here one touches the religious section -of the world communities — a folk who take their pleasures seriously 'and find one of their staple excitements • land " interests in ' religious controversies. ,To such Thomas G. Carson, vrhoyer he Bis, or wherever he dwells, has written a message, honest, faithful, as one man te'ls , .to, another tho results of his 'own mental 'and spiritual wrestlings, and for his satisfaction-, and: theirs we, would it had been clotKeot more briefly, labelled more wisely. ' i-'^ah's' Responsibility"— the bugbear- of the ~a"ge : the sad, importunate undertone 'of aU piur mdder.ll trend of thought; the "encompassing fetters which threaten to iileave.to each of us /none, of that free individualism which" was the very "workkngf yeast," the informing spirit of earlier 'days and years, but weights us all under "!tlme tedious burden of insolvable cosmic iburdens. v "How" and Why the Almighty Intro - Wed Evil Upon the Earth?" That /is ' 'the question which Mr Thomas Carson sets himself to solve for all the troubled millions groaning under the mysteries of T3od and the injustice of Man, who suffer in silence and rebellion. In 23 painstaking monologues the author 'endeavours to enlighten, convince, and ' comfort his troubled fellow millions. Beginning with "The First Principles of Creation," he progresses through the introduction of the eyils of violence and aggression onwards! to "Consciencj : What It Is, and How It Acts ; How It Is •An Antidote to Evil." Thence he proceeds to a dissertation on "The Reasoning Faculties : What They Are and 3Eow They Act." Thence through all the progressive steps of mental and spiritual evolution— as they appear to him ' — the writer advances to "The Rudder of the Mind," "The Anchor of the Mind," and thus to the supreme which he -seeks lo solve— "How and Why Was .Evil Introduced Upon the Earth?" » From ' the individual aspect and result of such a tremendous question grows tne uational aspect, embodied in Chapter XXI and -dealt with under the headings of -•'Principles of Mind Affecting Governments, Despotisms, and Constitutional .Governments," with the illustrations naturally occurring to an American, of .'American aspects and forms. Chapter &XII embodies "An Appreciation of the -Science of SEhd," illustrated of course by references to Darwin, Huxley, Spencer, and others; and from this with its attendant issues we emerge upon the concluding suggestions on the whole topic offered by the author in the" final chapter, ■ wherein he deals with "Improvements of jSociety and Government," with a few of the direct issues embodied therein. There .is much that is true, wise, and redolent of commonsense and good judgment in Mi Carson's theories, and this especially ' applies to his views on Indian Government, as well as some kindred topics. At the same time he does not possess the gift of dramatic brevity which makes for effective presentation. For this reason, aided by the weighty tedium of the title, it is scarcely probable that ''Man's Responsibility" will attain any wide popularity.