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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 13.

MAY 1, 1S95.

[P rice One P enny.

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

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T he publication’ of the “ Collected Essays ” of Professor Huxley is now completed, there being nine volumes in all. It would be difficult to enumerate a series of books more useful and necessary to the library of a Rationalist student than are the works of this eminent scientist and thinker. We hope to review them at length in these columns.

Messrs. B ell & Sons will shortly issue Harriet Martineau’s translation of Comte’s “ Positive Philosophy,” in three volumes, under the editorship of Mr. Frederic Harrison.

T he same firm are about to publish a volume of selected essays from the writings of JohnStuart Mill.

Messrs. Watts it Co. are about to publish an abstract of the lengthy paper on “ Intellectual Liberty and the Blasphemy Laws ” that appeared in a recent issue of the Westminster R ev iew .

Madame Olga Novikoff will shortly publish, through Messrs. Williams & Norgate, a pamphlet entitled “ Christ or Moses, Which ?” The present pamphlet is a reprint, with additions, of one which Madame Novikoff circulated some years ago on the conception of the immortality of the soul that is expressed in the Old Testament. The pamphlet will contain a letter from Mr. Gladstone to Madame Novikoff.

M e s s r s . M a c m i l l a n & Co. have published a new and enlarged edition of Mr. Thomas Fowler’s “ Progressive Morality: An Essay in Ethics ” (3s.).

T he third volume of “ The Writings of Thomas Paine” (12s. 6d.)> edited by Mr. Moncurc I). Conway, is issued.

T he Rev. B. J . Snell, M.A., B.Sc., has published, through James Clarke & Co., a half-crown volume of five lectures delivered at Brixton Independent Church. This is an important book, in that the latest results of the Higher Criticism are popularised for the “ plain man of the pen.” It is useless, observes Mr. Snell, for this plain person to say, “ Oh, bother the scholars I" because what “ the specialists think to-day he will think to-morrow, without being able to help himself."

S e e l e y ’s “ Eccc Homo” and “ Natural Religion” are to be re-issued in the Eversley Scries, between May and August.

Mr. F r a n c i s E s p i n a s s e has issued through Mr. Walter Scott a “ Life of Ernest Renan ” (is. 6d.).

Messrs. W. S tewart & Co. have published a tastefully got-up volume entitled “ Social Evolution and the Evolution of Socialism ” (4s.).

A USEFUL abridgment of Mr. Edward Clodd’s well-known “ Story of Creation ” is issued, under the title of “ A Primer o f Evolution " ( is . 6d.).

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

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T h e r e is s c a rc e ly a m ore w onderful period in hum an h is to ry than that which R e n a n , in g low in g d ic t io n , sketches fo r us in his

“ MARCUS AURELIUS,

and the End of the Ancient World ” (Mathieson & C o . ; 372 pp.; 2s. 6d.). Strange it was that, just when Aurelius was demonstrating how a great soul could live without faith in Jesus, the religion of Jesus should be rising every year in influence and splendour. “ Marcus Aurelius was the most pious of men,” remarks Renan, “ not because he was a Pagan, but because he was an accomplished man. He was the embodiment of human nature, and not of a fixed religion. Whatever may be the religious and philosophical revolutions of the future, his grandeur will not suffer any reproach, for it rests entirely upon that which can never perish—upon excellence of heart.” To him and to his predecessor, Antoninus Pius, was due a great amelioration in the burden of the slave, and a softening of the old criminal law. Greek philosophy had attained its triumph ; posts of honour in the Roman Empire were held by men of maxims and by rhetoricians. In a certain degree the result was ethical progress. But aesthetic was beginning to fall into neglect. Sculpture showed signs of decadence. Even the horses on the Aurelian arch, says Renan somewhat fancifully, “ have tender and philosophic eyes,” indicative of mild sentiment rather than strong artistic capacity. It is true the Emperor permitted persecution of the Christians. First, let us bear in mind that Rome did not strike at Christianity out of pure devilment. The Gospel threatened the political fabric. Even to-day we should not allow the churches to venture as far as that. Next, Aurelius restrained the persecuting temper by his personal example. The very Christians called him wise and good. Meanwhile, the new religion was reaching outward dignity. Greek was the language of the Church, its liturgy, its preaching, and its propaganda; the Christian establishment in Rome was extremely rich.

Rapid, graphic, and illustrative reviews are introduced of the writings of the time—of the Pseudo-Clementine works, and Tatian “ Against the Greeks.” Then Renan glances at the position of Gnosticism, the mysterious system which opposed and yet leavened Christianity. The world even yet gaped at the imposing claims of the Valentinians to the possession of the true gnosis. Peculiar rites were practised by the Markosians, women acting as priests and offering the Eucharist. On the Oriental border of the Christian portion of the Empire the Ophites flourished. These Ophites had an awe-inspiring sacrament— loaves were placed before serpents’ cages: the serpents emerged and coiled over the holy bread. At the same time, they adored Jesus Christ, the dual divinity who combined the human Jesus with Christ the celestial ALon. Even Buddhistic sects joined and coalesced with Christian schools of speculation. Gnosticism was a confluence of thought, superstition, aspiration, folly. As Renan pro-