BOOK EE VIEWS. 



237 



" The Influence of the Conception of Evolution on Modern Philosophy," 

 by Professor Hoffding (Copenhagen). It is sincerely to be hoped that 

 every clergyman of every denomination will read, mark, and inwardly 

 digest this valuable article, but we give up any attempt to review it. 



"Darwinism and Sociology." Professor Bougie (Paris) shows how 

 writers holding the most different opinions all refer to Darwin for proof 

 of their very various conclusions and have all been stimulated by the 

 evolution theory. 



" The Influence of Darwin upon Eeligious Thought," is by P. N. 

 Waggett, M.A., S.S.J.E., who considers that it has been of value in three 

 ways. These are : Encouragement of the Evolutionary Method in theology, 

 Kecoil of Christian Apologetics towards the ground of religious experience, 

 and Restatement of the doctrines of Creation and Divine Design in 

 Nature. Cambridge is still, we suppose, a seminary of religious education 

 and it seems curious that no other Anglican Theologian has been asked 

 to contribute to this volume. 



"Darwinism and History." Professor J. T. Bury shows the in- 

 sufficiency of general laws to account for historical development. He 

 describes Lamprecht's theory regarding ages of changing "psychical 

 diapason " (Spirit of the Times ?). There is also an elaborate analysis of 

 the effect of Darwin on historical study. 



"The Genesis of Double Stars," by Sir George Darwin, K.C.B. 

 This is one of the most interesting contributions ; the story of the 

 evolution of a planet is put so clearly that it becomes, as the author 

 claims, a fascinating study which leads the reader to the very confines of 

 our present knowledge. 



" The Evolution of Matter." Mr. W. C. D. Whetham succeeds in 

 explaining the new discoveries in radio-activity so clearly that the 

 " educated layman " can not only understand these complex questions but 

 is sure to realize their importance. 



From these various extracts it will be seen that this book is an 

 extraordinarily valuable one and ought, as it is intended, to appeal to the 

 "educated layman." One should also mention that in the event of the 

 volume being a financial success, the Syndics have agreed to hand over 

 the profits to a University Fund for the endowment of biological 

 research, which of course makes one hope that it will prove very successful 

 indeed. 



It would be prudent to venture nothing in the way of criticism, for 

 obvious reasons. 



Nevertheless it is surely the duty of a reviewer to be brave and 

 to omit nothing which ought to be mentioned. 



We wish that several of these articles did not so much remind us of 

 the sermons of those ministers who, in bygone years, believed implicitly 

 in the plenary inspiration of the Bible. Darwin would undoubtedly have 

 vigorously objected to this manner of using his work. Nor can we pass 

 over altogether " The Influence of Darwin on the Study of Beligions " by 

 Miss Jane Ellen Harrison. There is a valuable Science of Religions, 

 but it requires in the student a serious and broad-minded spirit. 



We find in this essay such remarks as " religious phenomena result 

 from two delusive processes." We have failed to discover any proof that 



