WATTS’S LITERARY GUIDE: B E I N G A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D O F L I B E R A L A N D A D V A N C E D P U B L I C A T IO N S .
No. 8 1 .]
AUGUST 15 , 1892.
[Price One Penny.
N E W P U B L I C A T IO N S .
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Mr. A rthur B. Moss’s forthcoming work, entitled “ Christianity and Evolution,” is now completed, and will be published by subscription. Accompanying the present issue of the L it e r a r y G u id e will be found a full synopsis of the contents, and it is hoped that the responses to the circular will warrant the publishers in putting the book to press immediately.
O U R L I B R A R Y S H E L V E S .
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E ven those who reject the conception of a life beyond the grave cannot fail to take some interest in the speculations which the various races of mankind have developed on so mysterious a subject. Very ample accounts of such speculations will be found in the Rev. W. R. Alger’s huge compendium, “ A Critical History of the
DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE ”
Mr . F . J . Gould has been entrusted with the editing of “ The Rationalist’s Handbook.” He will be assisted by one or two of his colleagues on the Press Committee, as well as by other well-known contributors to the heterodox press. The work will probably extend to three volumes, and it is not expected that the first volume will be completed much before the end of the year.
T he forthcoming issue of “ The Agnostic Annual,” which will be ready about the end of next month, will contain papers from several new contributors. A litte ra teu r of world-wide reputation will write the opening paper, and several o f the other contributors may fairly claim eminence in their special fields of thought. A full list of the contents will be published in our next number.
M r . S amuel L aing’s new work, “ Human Origins” (3s. 6d.), which, according to the critics, surpasses even “ Modern Science and Modern Thought ” in fascinating interest and wealth o f scientific knowledge, has already reached a second edition. The demand for copies, on publication, was so great that it was impossible to execute all orders to hand. No higher testimony could be afforded of the increasing popularity of the distinguished writer.
I t has been decided by the Press Committee to issue a series of propagandist leaflets. The experiment, at first, will be limited to about half-a-dozen ; but, if the project meet with support, a further series will immediately follow. Each leaflet will consist of not more than 800 words. MSS. will be received and considered at a special meeting to be held on the last Wednesday in September.
M r . F rederick M illar is engaged upon a “ Rationalist Bibliography.” The brochure will be confined to a list and description of about one hundred of the best books, and is intended as an aid to young students in the selection of their reading. We understand that Mr. J . M. Wheeler, author of “ The Dictionary of Freethinkers,” will later on issue a more complete bibliography, which will include ancient and modern works, and be an index to heterodox literature of all ages and nations.
M r . G. W. F oote has issued two new pamphlets— “ Ingersollism Defended Against Archdeacon Farrar” (2d.) and “ My Resurrection” (2d.).
(Roberts Bros., Boston, U.S.A., tenth edition, 1880 ; x,oo8 pp., including Bibliography of 4,977 works compiled by Ezra Abbot; price in this country about 18s.). The book is too large. Mr. Alger introduces copious observations by way of comment, and sometimes whole chapters of his personal views. Frequently what he says is readable enough. Occasionally it borders on spread-eagleism, as when he borrows a metaphor from the shipwrecked mariner, and applies it to the question of a post-mortem existence : “ So, perhaps, when the body is shattered on the death-ledge, the soul will be tossed into the fragrant lap of eternal life on the self-identified and dynamic plank of personality.” The lenient reader will pardon Mr. Alger’s discursiveness, being much too grateful for the wealth of information afforded to bear grudges against so industrious an author.
In the six parts there is an amount of repetition, and one cannot always clearly see why certain facts should be collected under one head more than another. Ignoring faults of arrangement, however, we have presented to us an enormous mass of facts bearing (x) on general and special ethnic doctrines, and (2) on Christian doctrine as exemplified in the Bible, mediaeval ideas, and modern eschatology. The sections on the teaching of Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John are not of conspicuous value to the intelligent student, who can easily form his own judgment. More useful are Mr. Alger’s description of patristic beliefs, the gross superstitions of the Middle Ages, and the ameliorating tendency of theology since the Reformation. Most useful of all are his summaries of the doctrines of the Egyptians, Persians, Hindoos, Buddhists, Greeks, Romans, and Mohammedans concerning death, resurrection, heaven, hell, and purgatory. These researches naturally lead to a study of metempsychosis, or transmigration of souls, as worked out philosophically by Plato, or more crudely by Asiatic imagination. We rather think Mr. Alger is borne along too far by enthusiasm for his leading theme when he makes the doctrine of a future life the central point of the ancient “ Mysteries,” Egyptian, Mithraic, Syrian, Indian, Phrygian, Eleusinian, Bacchic, Norse, Celtic, and American. In any case, he collects a very interesting series of pictures of these secret societies and their ceremonies of initiation. Against the accusations of pious writers, who denounce the “ Mysteries ” as impure associations and practices, Mr. Alger very cogently protests that such organisations would not have been countenanced by Plato Sophocles, and C icero ; though evil-minded men may have sometimes prostituted the “ Mysteries ” to foul purposes.
In a very relevant chapter Mr. Alger raises the question, “ What difference should it make to us whether we admit or
