LITERATURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 78

LITERATURE.

HOOK NOTICE. “Rome, St. Paul, and the Early Church. By W. S. Muntz, D.D. London : John Murray. (Cloth, 5s net.) • This useful and scholarly book sets forth in a clear and convincing manner the indebtedness of St. Paul and the early Christian Church to the great Roman law-givers and road-makers of old. He begins by showing how the way for the coming of the Christ was prepared by the steady centralisation of the Roman Empire, and the building of those splendid highways, even in remote provinces, by which was justified the boast that “all roads lead to Rome.” Before the time of Alexander the Great no such centralisation was possible; he had the idea, and. for the moment, seemed likely to carry it out; but on his death his great empire quickly fell to pieces. It remained for the Romans as a nation to take up the idea of a world empire, and steadily carry it towards completion. Every conquered province was incorporated into the magic circle. This incorporation included a common code of law and a common form of religion. Ur Muntz, however, is careful to point out that the. religion thus imposed did not make any appeal to the heart or the spirit; it was absolutely formal, consisting of certain prescribed rites and ceremonies, which did not aim at influencing the character and conduct of the so-called worshippers. It was the law which supplied the morals and ethics of the community. The laws were based on what was known as the Twelve Tables, which prohibited such crimes as those mentioned in the Decalogue of Moses, and were learned by school children in the same way that the catechisms of different churches are now learned. Thus it was the law rather than the religion of the land which was early instilled into the youthful mind and the study of which was encumbent on every person. This was the more necessary as there were no special legal practitioners such as we have now. Every citizen pleaded his own cause in the law courts. Such knowledge being the necessary equipment of every Roman citizen, St. Paul noA only possessed it himself but was able to appeal with certainty to its possession by his hearers. When, therefore, he spoke of such things as “The Family, Heirship and Inheritance, Adoption, Testaments, Slavery, Tutelage,” etc., he spoke or wrote to those who understood exactly what he meant, and were in no danger of confusing his meaning. Hie case is not so with us. Many of the words already quoted have changed their meaning or are now employed in a different or modified sense. Especially is this the case with the whole idea of “The Family,” which, among the Romans, occupied a position of the first importance, its integrity and continuity being provided for in every possible way. Thus “heirship ‘did not deoeud’ on death, but on birth.” A man’s son was of necessity his heir from the fact of sonshio and had an immediate interest in his property, its disposition and preservation, although he could not fully exercise that power until he came of age. It was, however, inalienable. If there was no son, one or more were adopted. This adoption was a legal business accompanied by binding ceremonies. It could never afterwards be set aside; the adopted son belonged absolutely to the new family, took the name and position of heir, and could never be reruidiated. The bearing of this on much of St. Paul’s teaching will be immediately apparent; and many difficult passages are at once simplified and rendered explicable. The Jaws relating to the manumission of slaves furnish valuable commentaries on the Pauline expression, “Slaves of the Lord Jesus,” etc. “Ye are not your own : ye were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians vi, 19-20) receives an entirely new signification. The method of manumission is thus described: During a lengthened period of Roman history the slave’s whole earnings were the property of his master. But gradually this* hardship relaxed, and it became a recognised custom to permit the slave to retain for his own use his savings, or whatever was given to him for any special service. These sums might accumulate until he had sufficient to purchase his freedom from his master. . . . The slave then paid to the Temple officials the sum which his owner had already agreed to accept. The master, having received the price, sold him to the Temple diety, not for the purpose of serving his new fictitious purchaser, but for manumission. Henceforth he was a free man, the god being his protector against any who might dispute his manumission. ... In numerous records of manumission the nature of the newly-obtained liberty is illustrated by the enfranchised person being expressly allowed henceforth to do “the tilings he will.” Numerous manumissions again expressly forbid, sometimes under heavy penalties, the enfranchised slave ever being “made a slave again”; thus emphasising the offence of those who “spy out our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they may bring us again into bondage” (Galatians ii, 4). What was called “The Law of Nature” al.O held a very important place in th l Roman teaching. “By it they taught that there was a code of Nature prescribing to every man in every nation the things which are right, prohibiting also that which is wrong: in a word, a law written on the heart.” And to this also >St. Paul frequently refers, either directly or indirectly. ' This lost code of Nature was said to have been rediscovered and restored from the Golden Age, the idea of which was so firmly implanted in the minds of most ancient sages. Even in St. Paul’s central doctri7ie of “Justification by Faith” Dr Muntz traces the influence of Roman thought and Roman law ; but here as much in contradiction as in argument, for while insisting on the argument of heirship and adoption he contravenes the Roman con-

ception of a God; as “a being of like passions with themselves, or as a sternly pure, being, extreme to mark what was done-amiss. ” A God outside his creation. A caricature or a merciless taskmaster. To men “with such impoverished and unworthy notions as these St. Paul tried to bring the noble conception of a Heavenly Father “whose love was inalienable from birth instead of from death, and whose protection was for ever assured.’’ At the end of the bonk Dr Muntz devotes a few pages to the evolution and position of the early Koman Church, showing how inevitably It took its code and structure from the civilisation on which it was engrafted: how “the Law” was literally “the schoolmaster to bring them to Christ.” That centralisation being the chief aim of the Roman civilisation, it naturally became that of a Church which found “ready to her hand the model furnished by the State,” and found in her own governing power the exact similitude of the growing State. “A kingdom without a head was unthinkable to the Latin mind, so the Church too must have a visible centre, and a visible circumference ; the terms of admittance and of refusal must be exactly defined; the nature of the powers delegated to its officers must bo explicitly determined; there must be conformity of practice and conformity of principle and of opinion; there must bo stringent methods of securing obedience and punishing insubordination.” Thus the mental attitude of the times permitted the development of the claims of the Papacy which to the modern mind seem so remarkable. Later on the fall of the Empire heralded the fail of the Papacy. It was then that “the spirit of nationalism, awakening after long sleep, refused to bro’ok any longer the interference of the Popes with the rights of independent princes and national Churches. It was then that the Pauline doctrine, eclipsed for centuries, at length emerged to throw light on religious problems, which came into prominence when Europe, awakened to freedom of life and thought, engaged in the controversies of the Reformation.” “ Sodger Sandy’s Bairn.” By A. Bathgate. Sydney: N.S.W. Bookstall Company. (Paper; illustrated; coloured cover; Is.) This story of “ life in Otago 50 years ago” will appeal greatly to all who can remember that period themselves or have received vivid descriptions from those who can. Mr Bathgate writes with ease and with a happy touch of the broad Scots dialect, which will most surely speak to the hearts of all North Countrymen and sons of North Countrymen. He begins his story in Scotland and brings the principal actors out to Otago, where they engage in farming and other pursuits. Among other incidents he gives a ’ most vivid description of the Shotover diggings, of the weird and awe-inspiring district in which the diggers’ work ,was carried on, and of the dangers from sudden freshets and falling rocks to which they were exposed. An attractive love-story and the mystery of “ Sodger Sandy’s Bairn” .herself give the necessary romantic interest, while the descriptions of the country; of the homely, kindly life of its pioneer settlers; of the famous “cob” cottages now so rarely seen; of the beautiful uncharted wilderness of Wakatipu and Central Otago; of the dangers and allurements of a “ tail race ”; and many other realistic touches will make the little book of value when more pretentious works are forgotten. Among the characetrs arc two delightful Scotch women whose “ pawky humour ” is irresistible, and a typical Maori, who, though a working digger, boasts of some of the “ bluest blood ” in the island, and severely criticises the “ pakehas ” who make money the test of worth:—“You. call Squatter Thompson, or any fellow with plenty sheep, big rangatira. He not rangatira. Not many pakehas rangatira in this country, Rangatira in the blood. 1 Rangatira. “ Parrot and Co.” By Harold MacGrath. Indianopolis : Bobbs-Mem’ll Co. (Cloth, illustrated, 3s 6d.) The author of the “ Goose Girl ” lias once more succeeded in presenting the public with ix romantic and fascinating Jove story. Most of the action of “Parrot and Co.” occurs in tl>e Far East on board a steamer in Burmah. Hero the outcast and unfortunate hero, who is devoted to a small gallah parrot from which he never allows himself to be separated, is introduced to the inevitable American heiress, this time travelling alone with a nurse-companion. E'sa G’hetwood, bored with the voyage and the lack of amusing companions, is attracted by the picturesque figure of “Parrot and C 0.,” and demands an introduction. In vain is she warned that the man is an outcast who dare not return to his own country —America. She trusts her intuition, and proves herself correct But the course of true love does not run smooth. Elsa is halfengaged to a young man who is the very image of the wanderer, but a somewhat “ faded image, Jess robust, and more conventional.” The reason of th : s mysterious likeness and the true story of the friendless man and his beloved parrot arc told with much dainty charm. LITERARY NOTES. Air Claude Graham White writes with reference to the illustrated edition of “The Romance of Leonardo da Vinci,” by Dmitri Mcrejkowski, published by Messrs G. P. Putnam’s Sons; “I have followed with great interest Leonardo’s observations and ideas in regard to flying, which, although crude, arc surprisingly apt in view of the progress in aviation tills last 10 years. 1 think it is wonderful to know that the principles upon which modern artificial flight is based were recognised and studied so far back as the fifteenth century.” Here is a typical bit of conversation from Air Charles Marriott’s clover art novel, “Subsoil” (Hurst and Blackett): “I was talking to a musical chap the other day, and he said that when rag-time was properly digested wo should grt a big national music. And Suffcry says that Bergson is only rag-time in philosophy —you ignore the regular boat of what is supposed to be, and catch on to the accent of what you really feel. In fact, the difference between the old end the new in art. science, morals, and philosophy i.s do or don’t you synco-

pate? Same old tunc. But the trouble is that it has got into the wrong hands; they exploit the novelty, but they won’t try to find the right expression for the impulse behind it. They see there's big money in it, but they don’t see that there’s big life.” Cornhill, a good story concerning Lord Macaulay on the occasion of his visit to Rome is recalled. Like all strangers, he went by moonlight to see the Coliseum, and, as was proper in an historian and a poet, that the spirit of the centuries might have full sway within his soul, he went alone! As he stood rapt and gazing in the shadow of the arches, a man brushed rudely by, jostling him roughly. With great presense of mind Mr Macaulay (as ho then was) felt at once for his watch. It was gone! The thief was still in view. Promptly the historian gave chase, and, taking the law into his own hands, as might one of the heroes of ancient Rome whoso deeds ho sot forth, ho promptly knocked him down and repossessed himself of his property! Fearing that other criminals might bo about, the Englishman at once returned to his hotel, to find, to his surprise, his own watch ticking comfortably on his dressing table, and a strange gold watch in his waistcoat pocket ! Horrified at his first successful coup as a footpad, he hurried off to the bureau de police to bivo up his booty, where he was confronted by an excited foreigner, vehemently describing the outrage of which, he had boon a victim ! r lho people of the United States have often reproached the people of Great Britain for . the supposed unfriendliness of their conduct during the Civil War. The facts which are disclosed in Lard Newton’s ‘‘Life of Lord Lyons’’ show what provocation Mr Seward, Lincoln’s Secretary of State, ottered to British susceptibilities. At the British Legation in Washington Mr Seward early in 1861 “went off into a defiance of foreign nations in a style of braggadocio which was formerly not uncommon with him but which I had not heard before from him since ho had been in office. Finding ho was getting more and more violent and noisy, and saying things which it would be more convenient for me not to.’have heard, I took a natural opportunity of turning, as host, to speak to some of the ladies in the room.” Lord Lyons warned the British Government of the dangerous belief then prevalent in the United States, “that on outrage will compel England to make war with the North.” Then afterwards lie disapproved of “the over-concilia-over-yielding tone of a groat number of English writers and public men,” because it invited aggressive and overbearing action. lightship crew in a gale exceed even those of a lighthouse-keeper. Mr Talbot, in his “Lightships and Lighthouses” (Heinoniann), gives an example of the havoc played by one Atlantic wave in the case of the lightship that guards the terrible rocky fangs known as the “Seven Stones,” which be between Land’s End and the Scilly Isles: “Once a wave tumbled aboard, crashed a man against the pump, knocked him half senseless; picked up the lifeboat and threw it against the deckhouse, and in so doing caught another member of the crew, mauling his thigh badly in passing. Two out of the seven men forming the crew ■wore thus put hors do combat bv a single wave.” Trinity House first stationed a lightship at this danger-spot in 1841. The lightship is a British idea, and the first ever used was placed in the mouth of the Thames in 1713. Scotland has six unattended Stevenson lightships it. use around her coasts. Miss Gertrude Ford, “the one fine poet of the co-operative' movement,” is a Lancashire lass. She was born in the Rossendalo Valley, and began her active work in the world as a telephone operator. But the great strain soon proved too much for her always delicate health, and for years she has supported herself by her pen. At the early age of 10 Mies Ford wrote her first story, and her gift for poetry found expression at 14. Her chief ambition, from her earliest years, was to be an author, and if possible a poet. “As a little child she used to pray ‘O God, make me a true poet!’ and most assuredly that prayer has boon answered.” Too delicate to attend school she managed without classes or teacher to study both English and French, until now she can write with the utmost fluency in cither language. She lias won literary recognition in the highest quarters. She ranks high as a dialect poet. Her verses, “Th’ End of An Owd Weyvcr,” arc considered absolutely true to Lancashire life as lived in the weaving sheds. When a certain hard-headed cotton manufacturer read the poem, be put it down with tears in his eyes, and said: “Had Miss Ford lived in a weaving-shed all her life she couldn’t have written a finer poem than that!” She has unfortunately been a lifelong invalid. and Basset Digby, we re told that at Stretensk the travellers bought a flagon of yellow liquor, bearing the Government alcohol stamp. They took it to bo a sort of flavoured vodka; “It came in very useful at Ooktecchcnskaia. The grandmother of the household in which we stayed was very crablied, and bated to cross the yard to the store shed for butter and milk, though she know wo would many times their value. As the time for every meal came round, she said she had no butter or milk; then we gave her a nip of this beverage in an egg-cup. She tossed it down, smacked her lips, and waddled off—to return with whatever we wanted. She got rid of nearly half a pint during our stay. . . . Then one night came a mining engineer to the ’post station of Ooktoochonsknia, a Russian bound east for Oust Kara. He saw grandmother take her customary night-cap and asked to look at the bottle, lie took a srrff at it to confirm his diagnosis, nodded his head, and told us that it happened to bo lavender water! A new issue—the ninth—of the “Home I niversity Library of Modern Knowledge” was made by Messrs Williams and Norgato on October 21. Three of the editors of the series—Mr Herbert Fisher, LL.D.. and Professors Arthur ’fhomson and W. T. Brewster —are already represented in the library; their colleague. Professor (filbert Murray, of Oxford, now contributes a longanticipated volume under the title “Euripides and His Age.” A poet and dramatist himself, as well as an eminent Greek scholar. Professor Murray may be expected to give us a living portrait of the great tragedy dramatist. It is understood that, in “Shelley. Godwin, and Their Circle,” Mr H. N. Brailsford has boon able to throw new light upon the sources of the poet’s inspiration, as wejl as upon the social and intellectual movement of the early nineteenth century. “Co-partnership and Profitsharing” is an account of the growth of

these forms of industrial association by one closely familiar with them, Mr Arthur Williams. Two volumes arc added to the science section of the library. Professor D. Fraser Harris, in “Nerves,” tells in non-technioal language of the wonderful mechanism of the nervous system, and its ailments. Forty years have passed since Sir John Murray, K.C.8., F.R.S., became naturalist to the famous expedition of H.M.S. Challenger; and no man living is better qualified to writ© of “The Ocean.” The value of this “general account of the ecience of the sea” is enhanced by its illustrations, which include a number of maps in colour. These books bring the list of the Home University Library up to 80 volumes; and it wi'l he seen that the level of authority and interest is fully maintained.