English and American authors. These selections are grouped under the following heads: "Colloquial," "Narrative," "Pathetic," "Humorous," "Smooth," "Grave and Solemn," "Gay," "Oratorical," "Sublime and Reverential," "Dramatic," "Abrupt," "Patriotic," "Miscellaneous."

The editor has shown a catholic, unexcluding taste in his choice of illustrative authors. For him (to parody Charles Lamb) Milton is not too lofty nor Chauncey Depew too low. On his roster may be found the names of Shakspere, Pope, Wordsworth, Coleridge, Shelley, Byron, Burns, Tennyson, Browning, Scott, Dickens, and Thackeray; of Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, Lowell, Emerson, Poe, Lincoln, Curtis, Blaine, Ingersoll, Trowbridge, Hay, Burdette, Riley, and Van Dyke. And yet, catholic as he is in his choice of authors, he is discriminating in his choice of specimens. He has admitted only what is worthy and representative.

The collection, it will be observed, is particularly rich in examples of American literature. This has been made possible by the permission of authors and publishers to print from copyrighted books.

In his purpose to provide selections " for the exercise of every kind of emotion," Professor Chambers has succeeded admirably. Although the work is intended primarily for use as a text-book in schools and colleges, it will be found most useful to the individual student who is ambitious to improve himself in reading and expression. In households blessed with children it will be eagerly welcomed; in supplying readings for public entertainments it will be found invaluable. C. ERNEST WAGNER.

MARCHING AGAINST THE IROQUOIS. By Everett T. Tomlinson. Boston and New York, Houghton, Mifflin and Company. Pages 388. Net $1.50. This story of the American Revolution, besides giving an interesting account of life in colonial times and some good character sketches, possesses considerable historical value in its description of General Sullivan's expedition into the Iroquois country and his punishment of the Six Nations. The trials of the settlers, the depredations of the Indians, the long and difficult march of Sullivan's forces northward from Pennsylvania and westward from Albany until they effected a junction and laid waste the villages, fields, and orchards of the Red Men, are set forth in glowing colors. The sketches of General Schuyler and the Indian Chief Brout are well done. And for those who like an exciting story, the adventures of Heber Otis and Susan Randall with the exploits of the inimitable Timothy Murphy will furnish entertaining reading.

J. S. STAHR.

The

REMINISCENCES OF Bishops AND ARCHBISHOPS. By Henry Codman Potter, Bishop of New York. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1906. Both in form and contents this volume is delightful. binding, paper and printing attract the reader. An excellent portrait precedes the account of each character. The author is prepared better, perhaps, than any one else in this country, to write on this subject. He has been connected with the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church nearly forty years. He has learnt to know the prominent bishops in this country and even in England by personal and friendly contact. Many incidents which the historian and biographer would fail to note are here recorded. They are by no means insignificant but throw light on the qualities of the men, who have not only been Episcopalians or bishops, but Christians and Americans, and are, therefore, related to us all. In his book the author speaks in his easy, graceful manner as he would around the tea table or before the blazing hearth. How a single incident sheds light on the peculiar nature of men is illustrated by a remark of Bishop Brooks. He was naturally not attracted by the dull routine of the House of Bishops. He was privileged to attend only one General Convention, and then, of course, as a junior bishop who was expected to be seen rather than heard. He was evidently bored by the proceedings. "When I passed his seat," says Bishop Potter, "he plucked my sleeve, and drawing me down, whispered in my ear, Henry, is it always as dull as this?" Reminiscences of ten of the American bishops and three archbishops of the English Church are presented. The biographies of most, if not all, of these men have been published. Their deeds are recorded in history but we venture to say that the author has thrown side-lights on these men which will illuminate the weightier writings. He has shown their lighter, more playful, and eccentric qualities which make them all the more human. and beloved. In general histories the barest outlines of men are given; for coloring, life and individuality one must have recourse to books like these.

GEORGE W. RICHARDS.

EXPOSITIONS OF HOLY SCRIPTURE. A Commentary on the Entire Bible to be Completed in Thirty Volumes. Alexander Maclaren, D.D., Lit.D. Sold only in Series of Six Volumes. $7.50 net. Second Series, Six Volumes: Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers; Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges and Ruth; Samuel; St. Mark (2 vols.); Acts. A. C. Armstrong and Son, 3 and 5 W. 18th Street, New York, 1907.

We noticed the first series of these Expositions in the Review for October, 1906. Our favorable opinion then expressed has not been changed by an examination of the volumes of the second series. On the contrary the admiration for the author and his

ability as an expositor of the Bible increases as one reads these unique and unparalleled comments. He seems to be equally at home in the Old and the New Testaments. His knowledge is not that of a philologist, archæologist and critic. He uses the results of their researches, and shows wide reading and a liberal spirit. Yet he does not attempt to present a work for scholars nor can he be classed with the progressive or aggressive theologians. He has the keen insight of one who walks in the Spirit. He correlates the vision of the prophets and the message of the apostles with the needs, aspirations and problems of the present day. His knowledge of the Scripture is commensurate with his knowledge of the human heart. Knowing man, he is able to interpret with so much life, color and warmth the word of God. His ministry of fifty years was spent largely in the preparation of this material. Much of it was printed in periodicals and, after careful revision by the author, is now submitted in final form. However, a fair proportion of the contents is published for the first time.

One is impressed by the excellence of the expositions in all the volumes. The chapters are rarely disappointing. The style is clear, vivid, suggestive and attractive. He has an original way both of stating his topics and of treating them. The reader will at once find in many of the discussions suitable themes for sermons and talks for prayer meetings. Since Dr. Maclaren has for years written notes on the International Sunday School Lessons, these volumes are a valuable commentary for the Sunday School teacher. The lessons for the last and the present quarter, for example, are expounded in order. From the material so far published, we are safe in assuming that there will not be many lessons in the international course that are not explained in one or the other volume of the series.

We are pleased to find a special effort made by the Publication Board of the Reformed Church to sell this publication to the readers of the Messenger. We heartily commend the volumes, which have appeared, to the preachers, teachers and laymen of the Reformed Church, and trust the purchasers will take advantage of the liberal offer of the Publication Board.

GEORGE W. RICHARDS.

THE

REFORMED CHURCH REVIEW

No. 4.-OCTOBER-1907.

I.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ELEMENTS IN RELIGIOUS FAITH.

BY THE REV. H. M. J. KLEIN, PH.D.

The study of the religious life from a psychological point of view is important both for psychology and for religion. Men have had their deepest psychical experience within the religious sphere, hence general psychology cannot afford to ignore the material coming to it from religion. Neither can religion be understood in its inner relations until it is interpreted as a real experience in the human soul. Psychologists on every side are making an honest attempt to understand the phenomena of the religious life. The first real effort to place the study of religion on a psychological basis was that made by Schleiermacher.

Is the psychologic method of thought as applied to religious phenomena justified? There are those who oppose it on the ground that the emphasis on psychology in religion tends to the denial of objective realities at the price of subjective explanation. They refer us to the attempts of Feuerbach and Edward von Hartmann* at constructing religion out of psy* Hartmann only partially gives his adherence to the view that religion is a psychological illusion. "Die Religion des Geistes," pp. 16-18.

chological elements and making of religion but a psychological illusion. The best answer to this objection is to remember Kant's distinction between the regulative and the constitutive use of science in religion. The use of psychology is regulative. It claims to analyze and explain; but is not causal. That which causes religion in the human soul is objective. Psychology only attempts to explain the subjec tive reactions to objective stimuli, or rather the subjective laws and processes at work in the spiritual life.

Another objection which comes with much force is that raised by those who contend that the very nature of the religious life precludes every attempt at exact investigation. We admit that life does not consist in lifeless elements, that faith does not exist in abstracts and that in a sense the subtle life of the soul shuns all close analysis. We hope to give due force to this objection in that part of our argument which treats of the element of the unconscious in religious experiWhile acknowledging the vast limitations of knowledge in the study of the religious life of the soul, realizing that neither a psychologic nor a dialectic analysis of the religious consciousness can fully interpret its inner secret, we maintain nevertheless that there is a part of the life of the soul of which we are fully conscious, and that there are phenomena of the religious life which it is possible for us to interpret in the light of psychic experiences.

ence.

The study of the religious side of the life of the soul by the psychological method has not only suffered violence at the hands of its opponents but might well ask to be delivered from the excesses of its friends. There are those who have expected too much of it. Its subjective and formal character has frequently been overlooked. Induction by the questionnaire method has been carried to a ridiculous extreme. Individual psychology has frequently been blind to the fact that it can be fully understood only in the light of social psychology. As Ritschl puts it: "The complete religious life can be interpreted only in the light of the indi