THE CHURCHES AND MODERN THOUGHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 81

THE CHURCHES AND MODERN THOUGHT.

AN INQUIRY INTO THE GROUNDS OF .UNBELIEF^ AND AN APPEAL FOR CANDOUR.

(Second «nd Be vised Edition.) By Philip Vivian. liondon. Watts and Co. Dunedin: R. 7. Stark and Co., Wbjtcombe and Tombs (Ltd.), a.ni Braithwaite's Book Arcade. (45.) It is v now some 18 months since I wrote a review notice of the first edition of this important book. That first edition of 1000 copies was so well received by both press and public that a second iesue, embodying fresh matter and consisting of 5000 copies, was promptly decided upon. The new volume is now to hand, and, though I am not prepared to go over its contents at length, I most emphatically commend it to the attention of all thoughtful people interested (as who of such is not ?) in the great matter of the evolution of religious, ethical, and scientific ideals. Change is eternal and universal, and only the narrowest of ininds can affect to ignore the great variations that are taking place now, as always; in the mental outlook of progressive humanity. It is not well with any community of men that, ostrich-wise, guards its eyes from the thought trend of the present day — the most important of all epochs for us. Better to see and to , know than to be blind and oblivious. 1 The restless mind of man, for ever grappling with the mighty problems of religion, science, ethics, and theology, crystallises eventually into books, and these become libraries, the workshops and fresh starting-points of scholars and philosophers of each succeeding generation. Only a very few of us can be numbered with these last, but the number of those others of restricted leisure, but possessed by a healthy desire to know the best that the best minds can offer, seems constantly on the increase. It is to this class that Philip Vivian's book is addressed, and its fitness as an exposition of the most important movements and achievements of the past and present has, , ac already stated, been amply endorsed by the press throughout the length and breadth of the English-speaking world, and beyond it. It is the book of a capable and sincere man who has looked into grave questions with a mind frank and clear and is well qualified to tell others what he found during his quest, l It is in the best sense a popular work : I written in a style that makes the reading of it a pleasure. ' Popular" books are not as a rule well thought of by scholars of distinction, but this one is certainly an exception. A number of eminent individuals have written to the author in terms highly appreciative of his performance. From among these I quote the opinion of J. S. Black, Hon. LL.D., F.R.S.E , assistant editor of ninth edition of " Encyclopedia Brittanica ' and joint editor of the great " Encyclopedia Biblica," who says :—": — " I regard it as a serious, able, and useful work." To all who desire to become cognisant of the- great streams and forceß of contemporary intellectual activity especially, the book should prove a reliable and useful guide. A large amount of new matter is included in a 30-page appendix,

and many additions and alterations have been made in the text proper. DINORNIS*