English know what this means. On presuppositions such as these, why train a child to pray at all? There is less harm done by a Free-thought tract than by such encouragements to devotion as this new Doran book. G.

An Introduction to the Old Testament, Chronologically Arranged. Harlan Creelman, Ph. D., D. D. (Foreword by Frank Knight Sanders, Ph. D., D. D.) 383 pages.

Among the isagogical compends for the study of the Old Testament this book must be classified with those belonging to the school of historical criticism, which arrives at its interpretation of the Hebrew Bible and at its value-judgments of its varied contents by way of the historical conditions under which the writings of the Old Testament were produced, collected, and "edited." The divine origin of the Scriptures is not an

a priori fact with the representatives of this school, nor does it frequently come out as an a posteriori fact from their scientific labors, no matter how much of the spirit of religion, reverence, and devotion these scholars endeavor to inject into their learned research work. Dr. Creelman's work differs from that of his predecessors in two respects: 1. as regards method. "The customary method followed in 'Introductions of the Old Testament' has been to deal with the different books, following either the order in which they occur in our English versions (e. g., Bennett), or according to their arrangement in the Hebrew Canon (e. g., Driver), or grouping them together in such convenient literary divisions as history, prophecy, and poetry, etc. (e. g., Cornill). In distinction from such plans and methods this Introduction discusses and classifies the Old Testament literature from the standpoint of history and chronology, i. e., the different books, or sections, or chapters, or verses [!], as the case may be, are taken up in chronological sequence as they relate to definite periods of Hebrew history, either as the Old Testament furnishes the history of those periods, or as its literature had its origin in them." In a chronological index (pp. 353-358) the manner in which this plan works out in detail is exhibited with regard to every chapter and verse of the Old Testament. The author's effort represents the last analysis of "historical criticism" as applied to the Old Testament. 2. A distinct aim of the author is to codify the findings of scholars who have worked in this field before him. His list of reference literature embraces more than 300 titles, and among the names of authors it will not be easy to find a scholar of note that has been omitted; if any have been, they are Germans. He has embodied in his text 180 quotations of primary importance from 60 authors, not including "references either to passages where the substance of a writer's opinion is given or to different scholars' positions on critical questions," which are frequently referred to throughout the book. Thus this book becomes, at the same time, an introduction to the literature of historical criticism of the Old Testament, and any one looking for information on this subject will hardly find a compend that furnishes that information more readily and comprehensively.

A History of France. Victor Duruy. Translated by M. Cary. With an Introduction and Continuation by J. Franklin Jameson, Ph. D. New edition, revised and continued to 1919 by Mabell S. C. Smith, A. B., A. M. 791 pages.

Few that have had occasion to make a study of the history of France will disagree from the opinion of the late Andrew D. White that "of all the short summaries of French History this is the best." Frenchmen are good narrators, and Duruy's style and skill in exhibiting the nexus in historical events are thoroughly French. If there is any bias in his presentation of the rich and stirring scenes with which French history is replete, it is that of the patriot. Duruy loves France, and he writes the story of his country, but he is faithful to the facts of history, and has a marvelous grasp of them. The Reformation is almost a negligible quantity in French history, except in one brief period, and the treatment of it in this compend is therefore limited to a small space. The appendix, which brings the story down to the late World War till the armistice, is likely to prove premature. Excellent maps (13) are inserted in the book. Paper, printing, and binding are very good.

The American Bible Society, in commemoration of the Pilgrims' Landing at Plymouth, has issued a beautiful souvenir folder, In the Name of God, Amen! for Mayflower Universal Bible Sunday, November 28, 1920, a little tract, A Little Journey to Plymouth When the "Mayflower" Landed, and a libretto for "a dramatic service of the Bible designed to be used in the churches," entitled, The Pilgrim and the Book, by Percy Mackaye.

Vandenhoeck und Rupprecht, Goettingen, Germany:

1. Meister Eckhart. Von Walter Lehmann, Pfarrer. 312 pages. M. 10.50, plus.

2. Desiderius Erasmus. Ein Lebensbild in Auszuegen aus seinen Werken. Von Prof. D. Dr. Walther Koehler. 239 pages. M. 7, plus. These two publications, which, wonderful to relate, appeared amidst the nerve-racking experiences of the late World War, constitute, respectively, Nos. 14. 15 and 12. 13 of Gustav Pfannmueller's Die Klassiker der Religion, a serial publication, which so far embraces the following treatises: 1. Jesus, by Dr. Heinrich Weinel; 2. Johann Arndt, by Lic. Wilhelm Koepp; 3. Der katholische Modernismus, by Dr. Jos. Schnitzer; 4. 5. Die Propheten, by Lic. Gustav Pfannmueller; 6. Ignatius von Loyola, by Dr. Philipp Funk; 7. Paul de Lagarde, by Prof. Herm. Mulert; 8. 9. Kierkegaard, by Dr. Edvard Lehmann; 10. 11. Luther, by Dr. W. Koehler, and the two publications noted above. The aim of the editor is to acquaint the modern reader with prominent persons in the domain of religion directly by exhibiting them through their writings. Judging from the two titles submitted, the spirit of modernism in religion dominates the series, and becomes evident in editorial footnotes and judicial remarks, with which the volumes are interspersed. German thoroughness and exactness are in evidence everywhere in these portraitures of classic personages in religion by means of their own literary products.

Einfuehrung in das Alte Testament. Geschichte, Literatur und Religion Israels. Von Dr. Johannes Meinhold. 316 pages; paper cover. M. 10.

This book was written to serve in a theological course at German universities, and for private study of such as wish to be abreast of the times as regards Bible-study by the school of historical criticism. In particular, the author wishes to help university students who went to war to regain the time lost through military service. There is, accordingly, an endeavor made in this treatise to reduce the vast material of the historico-critical school to the narrowest confines, and the author is a master in the art of literary self-restraint, of perspicuous and judicial arrangement of his topics, and a splendid and fascinating talker. Isagogical treatises often prove dry reading; not so this book; there is not a dull line in it. But, we regret, this is all that can be said in its praise, and even this praise constitutes an element of danger. For what does the author purpose to teach applicants for the ministry regarding the Bible of the Old Covenant? "Holy Writ," "oracles of God," in the sense of a divine revelation by inspired writers, this is something which the original Hebrews did not know and did not care to have. "Holy Scripture" was produced by designing church politicians: the Decalog is a late invention, the deuteronomical law found in the days of Josiah a fraud, the entire Old Testament a congeries of documents, mutilated, reconstructed, edited and reedited a number of times to suit the purposes of a religious faction or school. How students who have been trained to believe all this can preach the Old Testament as the Word of God, passes comprehension. The Lord have mercy on the people on whom these ministers are let loose!

C. Ludwig Ungelenk, Dresden/Leipzig: Pastoralblaetter fuer Predigt, Seelsorge und kirchliche UnterHerausgegeben von Pastor Lic. Erich Stange u. a.

weisung.

62. Jahrg., 12. Heft. September, 1920.

This number closes Vol. 62 of a monthly for homiletics and pastoral theology that has served the better elements in the German evangelical church during two generations. Neither as regards contents or form does it meet the wants of an American Lutheran pastor, but it contains much that is suggestive and thus may prove helpful, even per contra, and its discussions of live issues that confront the pastor in his work afford an insight into the sorry conditions with which evangelical Germany is struggling.

In a pretty memorial Das Rauhe Haus of Hamburg ("the fountain room of Inner Mission") announces the death of its Director, Dr. M. Hennig, and pictures its almost hopeless future in impoverished Germany.. ("Deutschland ist ein armes, zertretenes Land.”) D.

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