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WATTS’S LITERARY GUIDE ■ I 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 I O N S . No. 102.] MAY 15, 1894. [P rice One Penny. N E W P U B L I C A T I O N S . Messrs. Watts & Co. are issuing, on behalf of the Rationalist Press Committee, a cheaper popular edition of Or. Bithell’s magnum opus, “ Agnostic Problems” (is.). The work is /ar and away one of the ablest and completest presentations of the Agnostic attitude towards the problems o f life and mind,’ and in its more expensive form it has been accorded a welcome reception in the higher circles of heterodox thought. The book covers 152 pages, and the enterprise of the publishers now places it within the means of all sections of the reading public. Mr. Charles Watts, who has of late been very active with his pen, has just published another pamphlet,'in which he deals with “ Secularism and its Relation to Social Problems ” (2d.). T he T ru th stik er (id.) is the name of a new monthly periodical, to be “ devoted to mental freedom and progress,” and which will mainly appeal for support to the Rationalists of the North of England. The editor is Mr. John Grange, and he has an efficient assistant in Mr. A. B. Wakefield. The first number has a bright and promising appearance, the contents being varied and meritorious. Messrs Swan Sonnenschein & Co. are about to bring out a companion volume to “ The Religious Systems of the World.” The book will consist of a collection of representative passages from the religious writings of the world. To borrow a name from Michelet, it is to be a sort of Bible o f Humanity. The writers and sages who are to be represented in it range from the authors of the “ Egyptian Book of the Dead ” to Lord Tennyson. Not divines and religious teachers only, but poets and men of letters, are to be levied upon for this new book. Browning, Tennyson, Matthew Arnold, Clough, Lowell, Whittier, Whitman, Emerson, Renan, Carlyle, and Schopenhauer will be freely quoted. The editor is to be Dr. W, C. Coupland. Mr. S amuel L aing’s publications continue in brisk demand. The twelfth thousand of " Human Origins ” is now being issued ; the thirteenth thousand of “ Problems of the Future " is in the press ; and the nineteenth thousand of “ Modern Science and Modern Thought” will be ready shortly. T he long-promised work by the Rev. Dr. Wace, entitled “ The Christian Faith and Recent Agnostic Attacks,” is announced for early publication. A new edition of Miss Gingell’s “ Aphorisms from the Writings of Herbert Spencer ” (3s.) is now going through the press. Mr. G. W. Foote has sent to press the second series of his “ Flowers of Frccthought" (2s. 6d.). The volume is marked by trenchant criticism and original treatment. T he seventh volume of Professor Huxley’s Collected Essays is entitled “ Man’s Place in Nature, and Other Anthropological Essays ” (5s.). The first three essays were published in 1863, the others are more recent. In a modest preface the author explains that it became his duty in 1854 to teach the principles of biological science, with especial reference to palaeontology. The first result was the discovery of his own lamentable ignorance in respect of many parts of the vast field of knowledge through which he had undertaken to guide others. The second result was a resolution to amend this state of things to the best of his ability; to which end he surveyed the ground, and, having made out what were the main positions to be captured, he came to the conclusion that he must try to capture them by concentrating all the energy he possessed upon each in turn. The position of the human species in zoological classification was one of the most serious of the many problems that came under his consideration. He studied the whole question of the structural relations of man to the next lower existing forms with much care, and embodied his conclusions in his teaching, which is reproduced in the early essays. They trace the physical analogies between man and apes. Several illustrations elucidate the text. The later essays treat of “ Methods and Results of Ethnology/’ “ Some Fixed Points in British Ethnology,” and “ On the Aryan Question.” T he Gifford Lectures for 1894, by Dr. Otto Pfleiderer, and dealing with “ The Philosophy and Development of Religion " (15s.), are issued, and will be found to be of absorbing interest to students and thinkers. O U R L I B R A R Y S H E L V E S . T he further progress of Biblical criticism may require certain minor modifications in Dr. A. Kuenen’s view of Hebrew history and literature; but, in its main character, it will for a long time hold a place as one of the most rational and sympathetic explanations of the course of Jewish develo|>ment. One can hardly hope to attain a clear insight into that development without a knowledge of Kuenen’s “ RELIGION OF ISRAEL to the Fall of the Jewish State ” (translated from the Dutch by A. H. May, 18 7 4 - 5 ; Williams & Norgate; 3 vols.; 3 is. fid.). The ordinary reader will have no difficulty in following the exposition. Events, reflections, and criticisms arc related and expressed in a straightforward and interesting style. The only point that is likely to puzzle the student at first is the chronological arrangement. Kuenen lays great emphasis upon the importance of the eighth century lt.c. (800-700) in the history of religion. He therefore makes that period his starting point, and shows how, in

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WATTS’S LITERARY GUIDE ■

I

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 I O N S .

No. 102.]

MAY 15, 1894.

[P rice One Penny.

N E W P U B L I C A T I O N S .

Messrs. Watts & Co. are issuing, on behalf of the Rationalist Press Committee, a cheaper popular edition of Or. Bithell’s magnum opus, “ Agnostic Problems” (is.). The work is /ar and away one of the ablest and completest presentations of the Agnostic attitude towards the problems o f life and mind,’ and in its more expensive form it has been accorded a welcome reception in the higher circles of heterodox thought. The book covers 152 pages, and the enterprise of the publishers now places it within the means of all sections of the reading public.

Mr. Charles Watts, who has of late been very active with his pen, has just published another pamphlet,'in which he deals with “ Secularism and its Relation to Social Problems ” (2d.).

T he T ru th stik er (id.) is the name of a new monthly periodical, to be “ devoted to mental freedom and progress,” and which will mainly appeal for support to the Rationalists of the North of England. The editor is Mr. John Grange, and he has an efficient assistant in Mr. A. B. Wakefield. The first number has a bright and promising appearance, the contents being varied and meritorious.

Messrs Swan Sonnenschein & Co. are about to bring out a companion volume to “ The Religious Systems of the World.” The book will consist of a collection of representative passages from the religious writings of the world. To borrow a name from Michelet, it is to be a sort of Bible o f Humanity. The writers and sages who are to be represented in it range from the authors of the “ Egyptian Book of the Dead ” to Lord Tennyson. Not divines and religious teachers only, but poets and men of letters, are to be levied upon for this new book. Browning, Tennyson, Matthew Arnold, Clough, Lowell, Whittier, Whitman, Emerson, Renan, Carlyle, and Schopenhauer will be freely quoted. The editor is to be Dr. W, C. Coupland.

Mr. S amuel L aing’s publications continue in brisk demand. The twelfth thousand of " Human Origins ” is now being issued ; the thirteenth thousand of “ Problems of the Future " is in the press ; and the nineteenth thousand of “ Modern Science and Modern Thought” will be ready shortly.

T he long-promised work by the Rev. Dr. Wace, entitled “ The Christian Faith and Recent Agnostic Attacks,” is announced for early publication.

A new edition of Miss Gingell’s “ Aphorisms from the Writings of Herbert Spencer ” (3s.) is now going through the press.

Mr. G. W. Foote has sent to press the second series of his “ Flowers of Frccthought" (2s. 6d.). The volume is marked by trenchant criticism and original treatment.

T he seventh volume of Professor Huxley’s Collected Essays is entitled “ Man’s Place in Nature, and Other Anthropological Essays ” (5s.). The first three essays were published in 1863, the others are more recent. In a modest preface the author explains that it became his duty in 1854 to teach the principles of biological science, with especial reference to palaeontology. The first result was the discovery of his own lamentable ignorance in respect of many parts of the vast field of knowledge through which he had undertaken to guide others. The second result was a resolution to amend this state of things to the best of his ability; to which end he surveyed the ground, and, having made out what were the main positions to be captured, he came to the conclusion that he must try to capture them by concentrating all the energy he possessed upon each in turn. The position of the human species in zoological classification was one of the most serious of the many problems that came under his consideration. He studied the whole question of the structural relations of man to the next lower existing forms with much care, and embodied his conclusions in his teaching, which is reproduced in the early essays. They trace the physical analogies between man and apes. Several illustrations elucidate the text. The later essays treat of “ Methods and Results of Ethnology/’ “ Some Fixed Points in British Ethnology,” and “ On the Aryan Question.”

T he Gifford Lectures for 1894, by Dr. Otto Pfleiderer, and dealing with “ The Philosophy and Development of Religion " (15s.), are issued, and will be found to be of absorbing interest to students and thinkers.

O U R L I B R A R Y S H E L V E S .

T he further progress of Biblical criticism may require certain minor modifications in Dr. A. Kuenen’s view of Hebrew history and literature; but, in its main character, it will for a long time hold a place as one of the most rational and sympathetic explanations of the course of Jewish develo|>ment. One can hardly hope to attain a clear insight into that development without a knowledge of Kuenen’s

“ RELIGION OF ISRAEL

to the Fall of the Jewish State ” (translated from the Dutch by A. H. May, 18 7 4 - 5 ; Williams & Norgate; 3 vols.; 3 is. fid.). The ordinary reader will have no difficulty in following the exposition. Events, reflections, and criticisms arc related and expressed in a straightforward and interesting style. The only point that is likely to puzzle the student at first is the chronological arrangement. Kuenen lays great emphasis upon the importance of the eighth century lt.c. (800-700) in the history of religion. He therefore makes that period his starting point, and shows how, in

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