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THE LITERARY GUIDE: A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D A N D R E V I E W O F I N T E L L E C T U A L P R O G R E S S . No. 1 12.] A P R IL i, 1895. [ P r i c e O n e P e n n y . N E W P U B L I C A TLONS. MR. BALFOUR’S NEW BOOK.* T he forthcoming issue of the Monist will contain an article on the late Professor Romanes’s “ Thoughts on Religion,” from the pen of Dr. Paul Carus. The editor of the Monist was in frequent correspondence with the Professor, and he may he expected to have something important to say concerning the Rev. Canon Gore’s gleeful announcement, that the deceased scientist, previous to his death, “ returned to that full, deliberate communion with the Church of Christ which he had for so many years been conscientiously compelled to forego.” M e s s r s . C h a pm a n & H a l l have published a book of a kind for which there has long been a demand among readers of Mr. Herbert Spencer, especially those readers whose leisure for study is limited, and who must rest content with a general knowledge of philosophical speculation. The book is entitled “ The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer,” and is intended as a guide to the study of bis numerous works on ethics, sociology, etc. It groups Mr. Spencer’s doctrines, and exhibits the relations between them all through the various fields of his speculation and research. In the introduction is given a biographical sketch of Mr. Spencer. The author, Mr. W. H. Hudson, is Professor of English in an American college, and was, we believe, formerly private secretary to Mr. Spencer. A mong Messrs. \V. Blackwood & Sons’ new publications are “ The Curse of Intellect ” (2s. 6d.) and “ The Elements of E th ics” (7s. 6d.). M e s s r s . S w an S o n n e n s c h e in & Co. will issue early in the Spring a valuable work from the pen of Dr. W. C. Coupland, entitled “ Thoughts and Aspirations of the Ages: Selections in Prose and Verse from the Great Religious Books of the World." M r . and M r s . A . & H. B r a d l a u g h B o n n e r have issued a new and enlarged edition of “ Speeches by Charles Bradlaugh ’’ (5s.), annotated by John M. Robertson. The additions consist of Mr. Bradlaugh’s most characteristic addresses on the Irish question, delivered at New York in 1873. The four speeches at the Bar of the House of Commons are now accompanied by a precis of the details of the Parliamentary struggle in the course of which they were made, so that the precise circumstances and bearing of each speech can be understood without resort to other records. Mr. Rohert Forder has issued in pamphlet form a verbatim report of “ The Hall of Science Libel Case ” (6d.), with a full statement concerning the alleged scandal at a Leeds hall. SECOND NOTICE. F l u s h e d with imaginary conquests, eager for fresh achievements, Mr. Balfour fares forth into PART I I I .— “ SOME CAUSES FOR BELIEF.” This section is the cleverest portion of a very clever book. If, under some convenient pretext, he could have halted here, Mr. Balfour’s philosophic reputation might have soared higher than it now actually does. Chapter I. “ Causes of Experience.” Naturalism, alias Agnosticism, Atheism, Positivism, has failed. Idealism has proved a broken reed. We must lift our eyes to other hills. We must seek for “ some more comprehensive, or at least more manageable, principle.” Very well; let us seek. Our ardour is yet unsated, and Mr. Balfour’s faith in himself yet strong. II. “ Authority and Reason.” At this point the author discloses his grand secret. The veil is drawn aside, and in the sanctuary beyond we behold a glittering altar set up to “ Authority.” It is true, says Mr. Balfour, a fierce rivalry has been waged between Reason and Authority. Shallow popular opinion inclines to the theory that Reason is the victor. But s tay ; are we so sure, after all ? Do we genuinely reason out all our motives, habits, customs, and purposes? Is our morality the fruit of reflection or the child of tradition ? As a matter of fact, most of us tread in the groove of Authority. We reverence the moral principles of our ancestors. And it is well so. Authority plays a beneficent part in the creation of ethical moods and beliefs. As to Reason, let us not be vainly puffed-up. It serves only a secondary function. Now and then, at a special juncture, we may apply our intellectual powers in the direction of life and opinion. But, at best, Reason can claim no more dignity than the boy who looked after the valve of the primitive steam-engine, and perhaps prided himself on being the supreme director of the machine, It is just as well that we do not all reason on our social practices and our familiar use and wont. “ The right of every man to judge on every question for himself,” remarks Mr. Balfour, with captivating humour, “ is like the right of every man who possesses a balance at his banker’s to require its immediate payment in sovereigns. The right may be undoubted, but it can only be safely enjoyed on condition that too many persons do not take it into their heads to exercise it together.” Mr. Balfour need not quake. The Bank of Reason will not be broken to-day, nor tomorrow, by a rush of the British public ! Then he goes on to illustrate, and quite legitimately, how the great social or religious dogmas of Authority have sought, from time to time, to dress themselves up in intellectual guises. Loyalty to government has been supported by such theories as that of Hobbes’s “ Leviathan” or the “ passive obedience ” of the Stuart clergy. The reasons vary with the age. The * “ The Foundations of B e l ie f : Being Notes Introductory to the Study of Theology.” By the Right Hon. Arthur James Balfour. (London: Longman, Green, & Co.) 356 pp.; 12s. 6d.

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THE LITERARY GUIDE:

A M O N T H L Y R E C O R D A N D R E V I E W O F I N T E L L E C T U A L P R O G R E S S .

No. 1 12.]

A P R IL i, 1895.

[ P r i c e O n e P e n n y .

N E W P U B L I C A TLONS.

MR. BALFOUR’S NEW BOOK.*

T he forthcoming issue of the Monist will contain an article on the late Professor Romanes’s “ Thoughts on Religion,” from the pen of Dr. Paul Carus. The editor of the Monist was in frequent correspondence with the Professor, and he may he expected to have something important to say concerning the Rev. Canon Gore’s gleeful announcement, that the deceased scientist, previous to his death, “ returned to that full, deliberate communion with the Church of Christ which he had for so many years been conscientiously compelled to forego.”

M e s s r s . C h a pm a n & H a l l have published a book of a kind for which there has long been a demand among readers of Mr. Herbert Spencer, especially those readers whose leisure for study is limited, and who must rest content with a general knowledge of philosophical speculation. The book is entitled “ The Philosophy of Herbert Spencer,” and is intended as a guide to the study of bis numerous works on ethics, sociology, etc. It groups Mr. Spencer’s doctrines, and exhibits the relations between them all through the various fields of his speculation and research. In the introduction is given a biographical sketch of Mr. Spencer. The author, Mr. W. H. Hudson, is Professor of English in an American college, and was, we believe, formerly private secretary to Mr. Spencer.

A mong Messrs. \V. Blackwood & Sons’ new publications are “ The Curse of Intellect ” (2s. 6d.) and “ The Elements of E th ics” (7s. 6d.).

M e s s r s . S w an S o n n e n s c h e in & Co. will issue early in the Spring a valuable work from the pen of Dr. W. C. Coupland, entitled “ Thoughts and Aspirations of the Ages: Selections in Prose and Verse from the Great Religious Books of the World."

M r . and M r s . A . & H. B r a d l a u g h B o n n e r have issued a new and enlarged edition of “ Speeches by Charles Bradlaugh ’’ (5s.), annotated by John M. Robertson. The additions consist of Mr. Bradlaugh’s most characteristic addresses on the Irish question, delivered at New York in 1873. The four speeches at the Bar of the House of Commons are now accompanied by a precis of the details of the Parliamentary struggle in the course of which they were made, so that the precise circumstances and bearing of each speech can be understood without resort to other records.

Mr. Rohert Forder has issued in pamphlet form a verbatim report of “ The Hall of Science Libel Case ” (6d.), with a full statement concerning the alleged scandal at a Leeds hall.

SECOND NOTICE.

F l u s h e d with imaginary conquests, eager for fresh achievements, Mr. Balfour fares forth into

PART I I I .— “ SOME CAUSES FOR BELIEF.” This section is the cleverest portion of a very clever book. If, under some convenient pretext, he could have halted here, Mr. Balfour’s philosophic reputation might have soared higher than it now actually does. Chapter I. “ Causes of Experience.” Naturalism, alias Agnosticism, Atheism, Positivism, has failed. Idealism has proved a broken reed. We must lift our eyes to other hills. We must seek for “ some more comprehensive, or at least more manageable, principle.” Very well; let us seek. Our ardour is yet unsated, and Mr. Balfour’s faith in himself yet strong. II. “ Authority and Reason.” At this point the author discloses his grand secret. The veil is drawn aside, and in the sanctuary beyond we behold a glittering altar set up to “ Authority.” It is true, says Mr. Balfour, a fierce rivalry has been waged between Reason and Authority. Shallow popular opinion inclines to the theory that Reason is the victor. But s tay ; are we so sure, after all ? Do we genuinely reason out all our motives, habits, customs, and purposes? Is our morality the fruit of reflection or the child of tradition ? As a matter of fact, most of us tread in the groove of Authority. We reverence the moral principles of our ancestors. And it is well so. Authority plays a beneficent part in the creation of ethical moods and beliefs. As to Reason, let us not be vainly puffed-up. It serves only a secondary function. Now and then, at a special juncture, we may apply our intellectual powers in the direction of life and opinion. But, at best, Reason can claim no more dignity than the boy who looked after the valve of the primitive steam-engine, and perhaps prided himself on being the supreme director of the machine, It is just as well that we do not all reason on our social practices and our familiar use and wont. “ The right of every man to judge on every question for himself,” remarks Mr. Balfour, with captivating humour, “ is like the right of every man who possesses a balance at his banker’s to require its immediate payment in sovereigns. The right may be undoubted, but it can only be safely enjoyed on condition that too many persons do not take it into their heads to exercise it together.” Mr. Balfour need not quake. The Bank of Reason will not be broken to-day, nor tomorrow, by a rush of the British public ! Then he goes on to illustrate, and quite legitimately, how the great social or religious dogmas of Authority have sought, from time to time, to dress themselves up in intellectual guises. Loyalty to government has been supported by such theories as that of Hobbes’s “ Leviathan” or the “ passive obedience ” of the Stuart clergy. The reasons vary with the age. The

* “ The Foundations of B e l ie f : Being Notes Introductory to the Study of Theology.” By the Right Hon. Arthur James Balfour. (London: Longman, Green, & Co.) 356 pp.; 12s. 6d.

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