TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, MAY 23, 1920
(DIVINE REBIRTH PROVES GREAT PUZZLE BUT SIMPLE TRUTH
. . i ; 1 " "
Inscrutability of Life Adds to Difficulty of Statement of Jesus Which Is Translated in Awkward Form in English Language, Asserts Pastor of Congregational Church.
ET REV. W. T. McELVEEN. Ph. D.
Pastor First Congregational Church.
T IS a very difficult topic that we
are to consider this morning.
Nicodemus. the learned - Jewish
leader, who heard Jesus talk about
human beings being born from above,
was perplexed and puzzled. And well
he might be. Life is inscrutable. No
one as yet has given us a satisfactory
definition of life. There are either
many kinds of life, or life is exceed
ingly complex. There is mineral life
and vegetable life, and animal life
human life, and divine life. How are
these different kinds of life related?
Is all life basically one? God Is life.
He was once all the life there was.
All these many kindspf life are but
different expressions of his munifi
cent, opulent life. Life of any kind
Is wonderful. His biographer tells
us that a very eminent biologist
looked with awe akin to worship upon
a very low kind of life that he saw
hi his test tube. Life has miraculous
powers. It can reproduce itself. The
tiny cell can divide itself into two
cells and the two cells can easily be
come four cells. Thus life can double
and quadruple upon Itself. And it
can do more than grow. It Is improvable-
and educable. It can be
come not only more abundant, but it
can become finer. Jesus here inti
mates that a lower kind of life may
be "visited and permeated by a higher
kind of life. He indicates that a
lower kind of life may receive and
assimilate within itself some of the
qualities of a. higher kind of life. He
declares that animal man may be
spiritualized; that bis crude powers
may be moralized; aye, that he may
be bo divinized that he will become
so different from what he was that
he might with propriety be christened
all over again.
Art Is of God.
This impartation to, or Infusion of,
the divine life in human life is an
inscrutable, sovereign act of God. It
is most difficult to understand. We
cannot fully explain it- It is as
Jesus said to Nicodemus as myster
ious as the action of the wind whose
movement we can feel and sometimes
hear, but whose origin we cannot
trace and whose limits we cannot
Celine.. Thi3 birth from above is a
moral or spiritual act. It seemingly
does not plant in the mind or soul
any new faculties. It does not equip
them with any new capacities. But it
does enliven them all with a new vi
tality. The soul that was slumbering
or sluggish becomes alive and alert.
The conscience that was stupid be
comes discriminating. The intellect
that was dull becomes penetrating.
The affections that were lukewarm
become ardent. And the will that was
feeble or hesitant becomes energetic
with fine purposes and holy deter
minations. The change is not in the
man's physical appearance or In his
mental faculties, but in the quality of
his desires, his preferences, his loves,
his convictions and his loyalties.
This interpretation of the Human by
the divine; this communication) of di
vine quality to our human powers, is
a mystery. We can say considerable,
about it; we can cite illustrations of
something similar from other kinds
of life. Yet the method or process of
this spiritual generation is a secret.
But though the philosophy of regen
eration may elude us we can rejoice
in the fact that human life can be
lifted up and lise on higher levels.
The babe does not need to be an ob
stetrician in order to be born. We
don't need to understand the process
by which God quickens our soul with
his own life to be morally transformed
to a glory that we did not know
before. j
There are two other reasons why
this spiritual reality is difficult to J
understand. Both are due 'to the
awkwardness of our English lan
guage. "Ye must be born from above,"
said Jesus. That sounds like a com
mand. It seeing like a statement in
the imperative mood. It appears to
tell us of a personal duty, and to
impose upon us a definite obligation.
But really it does no such thing.
Jesus is bere stating a 'fact or truth;
he is not issuing a mandate. He is
here telling us of a blessing to be en
joyed; not of a behest to be obeyed.
The English word "must," eeems to
say that some necessity is laid upon
us. But Jesus is not laying down a
requirement; he is informing us about
a fine privilege. He is telling us of
the highest possibility of human life.
His thought might be more accurately
expressed by the phrase, "You can. or
you may be born from above." But
Jesus is here declaring not only a
possibility of human life; he is de
claring a principle of life; he is stat
ing a law of life. So our translators
use not the word may, but the word
must. This is the thought. If your
life is to begin to be complete; if you
are to start upon the long road which
leads toward perfection; if you are
to become all that it is possible for
you to become, you must be divinely
vitalized and transformed. Your na
ture will not come to fulfillment un
less your many powers are divinely
electrified. There are great splendid
spiritual possibilities slumbering in
every one of us. If they are to be
come actualities the faculties of our
minds and spirits must be quickened
and ennobled by the spirit of God.
The p-ulpit in times past has used
this declaration as if it were an in
junction that told men of something
that they must do. But it is a per
version of the thought of Jesus to
quote these words of his as if they
imposed upon men a task that they
must perform. We are no more re
sponsible for being born from above
than we are for being born of our
mothers. It is not anything with
which we have to do. No man can
"born" himself. To rint. to fnrsaka
our sins, to turn to God for forgive
ness, to believe in his fatherhood and
saviorhood, that is our duty. The
renewing of our spirits and the res
toration of our souls, that, is God's
task. And if we will do our part we
may rest assured that the good God
will gladly do his part.
Statement Not Imperative.
In days gone by good men and
women agonized over this reality.
Phillips Brooks was long kept out of
the gospel ministry In which he after
wards did so much, for God and for
man because he was cot sure that he
had been born from above. And he
was not sure because he could not in
dicate the exact day and hour when
he experienced that radical moral
change. But one day he noted that
this word of Jesus was not in the
imperative, but in the declarative
mood, he rejoiced in the good new
that God was a renewer and the
sharer of his life with men, and went
forth to preach and to live that great
gospel. And it is a gospel to tell men
that God is anxious to fertilize their
minds and spirits and thus to make
all their barren powers to rejoice and.
blossom like a rose.
Perhaps some of you have worried
over this matter of being born from
above. Perhaps you have sometimes
asked with a sharp accent of anxiety,
"Have I been born of the spirit?"
"How can I be certain that this es
sential moral event has occurred in
my soul?" Let me tell you frankly
that this is a matter about which you
need not be concerned. You need be
no more troubled about being born
from above than a rollicking baby
needs to be troubled about being
born. The facts that the baby coos
and smiles and cries and kicks is evi
dence plenty that the baby has been
born. The very fact that you are
anxious to be vividly conscious of a
friendly relationship with your heav
enly father is proof sufficient that
your life has some spiritual quality.
Spiritual vitalization is a gift from
God. God is more anxious to give you
this superb gift than you vare to re
ceive it. While he never coerces men
to accept .this enabling and enriching
life he does crowd it upon , them.
"Behold, he stands at the door and
knocks." He is solicitous to bless.
He will not compel us, but he would
constrain us to allow his life to be
come a determining and ennobling
life within us. God is good will. He
Is love. He is our father. And- he is
anxious to impart to us an awakening
energy that will qualify us to live a
life that is as much higher than the
human life as human life is higher
than animal life, and animal life is
higher than vegetable life.
Translation Obscures BfeanlnsT
There is another slight mistake in
our English translation that some
what obscures the significance of
this reality. The more familiar state
ment of our text is, "Ye must be born
agaim" But the Greek terms plainly
and unmistakably mean, "Ye must be
born from above." Indeed, that Is the
literal translation of the Greek
words. And that literal translation is
In full accord with the thought that
Jesus is pushing upon the attention
of Nicodemus. The contrast which
he is emphasizing is that there are
two levels of life; a lower and a
higher. He would have this author
ized JewiBh teacher think of the con
tent and flavor of his own life. He
would have him consider himBelf
qualitatively. He would have him ask
himself, "Am I living the life which
is from above, or am I living the life
which is from beneath?" The two
words by which Jesus indicates the
essential character of human life are :
the words, flesh and spirit. Human
nature is a combination of flesh and
spirit. In which sphere are you really
living? Where do you live; in your
body or in your spirit? Are you all
alive or only partially alive? Is your
life simply physical and mental, or
has vitality been awakened in un
dreamed depths of your soul? What
are your fundamental preferences?
What are your master desires?' For
what do you supremely care? Paul
described some folks as those who
"mind the things of the flesh." To
mind the things of the flesh is to
have ambitions, but not aspirations.
It is to look not upward, but forward.
It Is to live a life that is destitute of
reverence and faith and hope.
To mind the things of the flesh. Is
not necessarily to give free rein to
one's lusts. One might not give him
self to the gratification of unclean
passions and vile appetites and yet
live an animal life. His life may be
devoid of low vulgarities, but it may
also be devoid of high and heavenly
callings. . It may have breadth and
yet not have depth and height. Its
outlook may be horizontal, but never
vertical. A "life in which there is no
conscious affinity to God and no
commerce with the things of the
spirit is an animal life. One does not
need to be a cannibal to be an animal.
One does not need to live in the heart
of Africa to be a pagan. Nicodemus
was a man of culture and learning.
He was a man of high social standing.
He was an accredited Jewish teacher.
Yet Jesus Intimates that he is living
only half a life, and that half the
poorer and the transient half. He has
many things that are desirable and
valuable, yet he lacks the one thing
needful; he lacks spiritual life. And
so Jesus says to this ruler of the
Jews; this teacher of Israel, "Ye must
be born from above."
And so Jesus might speak to us.
The most respectable need regenera
tion. We may be cultured and yet
not be Christians. We may be citi-i
sens of this most progressive nation
and yet not be citizens of the king
dom of God. There is a superficial I
culture that gaily assumes that all
that is needed is the harmonious de
velopment of all our evident powers.
It forgets that our finer powers are
not .apparent and that they need di
vine quickening. If culture is
rightly denned it Includes conscious
companionship with God. True cul
ture does not neglect our very high
est capacities. It means the fullest
and freest self expression. But we
have not expressed all of ourselves
if our souls have not awaredly allied
themselves to God. Culture means
self-realization and self-realization
means the fulfillment of all our pos
sibilities. Apart from the indwelling
vitalizing life of God our natures will
never reach consummation. If all
our capabilities are to become abili
ties, God's spirit must vivify them.
If the human branch is to break
forth into buds and blossoms and
produce fruits and flowers it must
be thrilled by the energizing pulse
of the vine. We cannot reach the di
vine heights unless we are interiorly
enlivened. But God is far from being
hostile or even hesitant; he is friend
ly; he is grace. We can be born from
above because God Is anxious to give
us not simply his best gifts, but his
own animating life. The poet, Daniel,
uttered this thought when he said
"Unless above himself he can erect
himself, how poor a thing is man!
And Tennyson declared the same idea
when he prayed:
O, for the man ta arise In Tnft,
That the m&n I am may cease to be!
The cleansing, invigorating spirit
of God can so refine our Intellects, so
chasten our feelings, so enlighten our
consciences, so purify our affections
and so strengthen our wills that we
may become "new creatures in Christ
Jesus."
Now let us think of a few analogies
that will make this reality even
clearer to our minds. Almost every
where In this world of ours there are
potentialities slumbering that are
waiting for the knock on the door
mat win bid them soring Into life
and go forth and prow and do. Last
week our resourceful sexton planted
some seed in the warm earth of m v
small garden. What will awaken
those dormant seeds Into life and
growth? The fertility of the. soil will
do much. Continuous tilling will do
more. But the seed will not become a
plant and produce fruits or vege
tables unless it is celestially bap
tized with caressing sunshine and re
freshing rain. What crop there will
be will be due partly to th fertile
earth and partly to the careful culti
vation, but more to the downcoming
influences which emanated from
above. The impulse which aulckens
the seed comes not from the soil or
the hoe, but through the air from the
sun and the clouds. Many forces
will contribute to break the tiny cas
ings which guard the sleeping germs
of vitality in the seeds. But the
force which does more than all other
forces combined to excite the dumb
seed to respond to these forces is the
force of the far-away sun. The seed
is born from above. Here is an am
bitious youth. He is a graduate of
our high school. He matriculates at
one of our great universities. In his
plan of life there is the thought of
rollicking pleasure, material success.
His absorbing interest is devotion to
himself. But as he continues his life
at the university the spirit of the in
stitution touches him. He is gripped
by a passion to know. He is capti
vated by splendid ideal. He becomes
Interested in some holy cause. He
learns to perceive and' to apprehend.
Perhaps his musical ear is unstopped
or his esthetic eye is opened or his
conscience is enkindled. What awak- '
ened him? It was from above. Some
real educator spoke to his sluggish
mind. tome great truth appealed to
his careless conscience. He is
aroused, and aroused from above.
325
oy '
&r-Joseph Maocueen.
EK32Z1
Tb Voice of th Pturk, by Edison Mar
shall. Little, Brown & Co., Boston.
"To my father, George Edward Mar
shall of Mediord. Or., himself a son of
frontiersmen." So says the dedication
of this new Oregon novel.
"The Voice of the Pack" is a series
f magnificent word-pictures of life
in southern Oregon, comparatively of
our own day. The story recital is rug
ged, dramatic, daring. The reason why
one can discover that the action of the
novel is recent is the statement on
page 17 that the hero. Dan Failing, is
so delicate in health that the re
cruiting officer had refused to accept
him for the United States army going
to France. "He hadn't been able to go
to war. The recruiting officer had
been very kind, but most determined.
The boys had brought him great tales
of France. It might be nice to go to
France and live in some country inn,
until he died." Now, the United .States
declared war against Germany, April
6. 1917. Therefore, the action of the
story starts after that date.
Mr. Marshall is well known and es
teemed in Oregon. He began as a
freshman at the University of Oregon
In the year 1913 and left that Institu
tion in, 1915 to study economic prob
lems and to write. He has succeeded
wonderfully -well as a story writer.
and "The Voice of the Pack" will add
materially to his literary reputation,. 1
In style, Mr. Marshall resembles the
late Jack London, with an added tal
rnt in delineating wild nature and
wild animal life. The southern Ore
iron ho pictures is the wild life of
mountain folk, occasionally lawless
and the presence of old-time feuds
to the taking of human life without
punishment from the law. Sometimes
the action depicted is in the range of
tho improbable, but this fault, if fault
it be. is common enough with our best
story writers.
Dan Failing, the hero, is a young
man about 29 years old when first he
makes the reader's acquaintance. He
lived in a large eastern city disguised
as Gitcheapolis. He was tall, but
delicate. On page 3 an examining
physician says that, as Dan has lung
trouble, he has Just six months longer
to live. Dan's grandfather had been
a frontiersman in the w Hds or Oregon
v,nt ban's father had preferred to
live in the east. Though Dan did not
know it at first, by nature he had the
instincts ot a nunier ana uuuiu l m
suddenly freeze into one position, so
that the came should not be disturbed
He has an inborn love for the wilds
of nature and he determined rather
than cro to a sanitarium, he wouid
pass his last six months in the haunts
of his granaiatner in uresuu.
From heln lr. a map of Oregon
found in a library. Dan locates what
nrrji out to'be his future home. He
.n,lg a. message to the chamber of
i-nmmercn in a southern Oregon city
r-llino- of his contemplated trip and
siom name Dan Henry Failing 111
It so happened that the recipient of
ih telesrram was himself an old
frontiersman who had known Dan's
grandfather and that worthy discussed
the matter w ith a neighboring moun
i,in man named Silas Lennox. The
latter had been a crony of the grand
father and he was more than pleased
.o greet Dan.
I Lennox had his ranch in the farth-
7st reaches of the Umpqua divide.
Lennox has one son. Bill, who lives
miles away, and one daughter, Snow
bird, who has a position with the
forest service to watch out for and
rnnort forest fires. Dan lives with
Mr Lennox, to enioy fishing and hunt
ier for the summer. Dan has a bad
cough and wins his host's compas
sion. There are various mountain feuds
around the Lennox ranch, feuds
prompted by "'hill-billies" who used to
set secret tires among the timber to
destroy it. Snowbird, being a look
out young woman with a prompt habit
of telephoning to headquarters of
hart earned the anger of
the arson gang which was headed by j
an outlaw named Bert Cranston who
swore revenge. Cranston shoots and
shoots to kill, one Landy Hildreth.
supposed to be an informer.
When Snowbird meets Dan. she
pities him as a sick man who has not
long to live and from pity she passes
to, love. Dan, who loves her. lives
much in the open and develops as
a dead shot and natural hunter. He
becomes an incarnation of his grand
dad. Cranston hates Dan as being
Snowbird's favored suitor and. in a
fight, gives him a severe beating.
Dn would have been killed had not
jKuivhird come up in time with her
''v.. Revolver.
The howls of wolves suffering rrom
the pangs of hunger is finely de
scribed almost after sympnony iorrn
and it is from them that the story
tol-ea i t i name.
A cougar chases fcnowDira ana sue
is rescued by Dan.
For mere revenge. Cranston burns
fh Lennox ranch house at a time
hon Mr. Lennox was recovering from
severe injuries sustained from . fail
ing log. Mr. Lennox manages to pull
timif free from the path of the
flames and Dan and Snowbird arrive
to help him. The party was in a
plight. Provisions and firearms had
been destroyed' by the fire. Dan de
cided to place Mr. Lennox on a sleigh,
to seek medical aid, and that he
would then even up matters wi'h
Cranston.
The journey over the hills for sur
gical help, with wolves disputing the
path, and no large firearms handy
are lurid pictures that hold the read
ers' imagination. Wolves or Cranston
the ending is sufficiently exciting.
Dr. Horatio W.
Crowell Co., New
dency. The author is a well-known
newspaper man, widely acquainted in
Washington, D. C. 228 pages.
The Open Vision, by
Dresser. Thomas Y.
York City.
Twenty-two chapters on studies on
psychic phenomena, a science that is
of vast health-giving and general
beneficial benefit, if the investigator
is ruled by common sense. Dr. Dresser
is an industrious author, and what he
writes along these health lines meets
with a large audience.
Topics discussed are:
The new awakening, psychical ex
perience, psychical research, methods
of communication, the awakening of
psychical power, spiritual speech, re
cent literature, the seven purposes,
principles of Interpretation, the hu
man spirit, difficulties and objections,
personal experiences, direct impres
sions, inner perception, how to know
inner guidance, a doctrinal objection,
to a mother, the future life, the book
of life, the inward light, positive values.
The New Cermany, by George Tounn. Har-
couru 13ra.ee ex. Howe. .New lorK city.
Mr. Young was a soldier of the Brit
ish army during the late war and also
has served with distinction in the dip
lomatic service of Great Britain.
After January. 1919, our author re
gned his army commission and
toured through troubled cities of Ger
many, making investigations as to
political and social conditions, etc
This thoughtful, optimistic book of a
new Germany, with a "glve-us-an-
i ' i
o' Ltota? , afftv& V.2- & JU
Mary Marie, by Eleannr H. Port-r. Illus
trated. Houghton, Mifflin Co, Boston.
Here Is a sterling, common -sense,
amusing novel character-study that
the American reader should be
pleased to have the opportunity of
reading not only once, but once again
for good measure. It is a story of a
troubled home that at first is shat
tered on the rocks of stormy matri
mony. It also is a study of divorce.
The story is told In the first person
singular by Miss Mary Anderson the
at first 13-year-old daughter of
Dr. Charles Anderson, an austere
man, eminent astronomer, and presi
dent of a college in Massachusetts.
Our heroine's parents are divorced
and for six months she lives with
her mother in Boston (when our
heroine is Marie) and for six months
with her father in Andersonviiie
(when she is Mary).
Mary Marie finds out that various
lovers wish to marry her pretty,
spoiled, foolish mother; and when
Mary Marie lives with her father, she
discovers that various widows and
maids angle that one of them may
be Mrs. Anderson No. 2.
Mary Marie goes to school and finds
that certain girls shun her because
her parents don't live together.
The conclusion is a sudden surprise.
Guess what It is?
The publishers of "Mary Marie"
send this notice:
A priza contest for llarr Marie'
readers. After you have made the
acquaintance of Mary Marie, tell us
In verse form what you think of her!
ror the best poem of not over eight
lines, we will give one hundred do
lars worth of books, to be (-.elected
ny the winner irom our catalogue.
For the second best poem we will
give fifty dolliri' worth of books
Iars' worth of books. And for the next
five, five dollars' worth, each. This
offer is open to everyone. . The only
conditions are that the poem should
be not more than eight lines long (it
can be shorter, if you prefer), and that
the subject should be " Marie," the
heroine of Eleanor H. Porter's new
story.
Here is a chance to build ua your
library without cost and to enjoy
ycurseir while doing it: send your
poem some time before September 1,
1920 (the date on which the contest
closes), to Houghton. Mifflin com
pany, 4 Park street, Bos-.on. putting
the word 'Mary Marie' prize contest
on the lower left-hand corner of
your envelope."
flying boats for anti-submarine oper
ations, has a thrill all its own. It is
a picture of industrial and inventive
America that is worth while reading.
Commander Westervelt's story is
the interesting one of the planning
and preparation, his story revealing
that the N. C type was the outcome
of a plan to build airships that would
carry thomsslves to France, cud save
cargo space. Commander Bead tells
the whole story of his epic flight In
the "Lame Duck," the N. C. 4. Com
mander Richardson tells how the N. C.
3 kept the pace up to two hours'
flight from tho Azores, and although
badly crippled, made her landing and
proved to the world tho durability
of these American-built "ships,"
ItldLveretion of the Navel Censor, by Rear
Aamtrai sir uoueias KrownrlRjr. iiiuS'
trated. George li. Uoran Co.. New York
City.
Really an astonishing and diverting
book, because just as readers think
they have read all books connected
with the late war, and know it all
here comes this eye-opener.
Rear Admiral Brownrigg was for
four years British naval censor, and
much of what we read in newspaper
dispatches of that troubled time first
passed through his hands. His liter
ary style is fluent, entertaining, and
often humorous. The tricks he played
to fool the teutonic enemy are almost
unbelievable.
We read on page 127 that the
phrase "passed by the censor" was
never a guarantee of the truth. In
other words, if one could fool the
enemy in that manner, and hide much
in so doine- well and good.
The
Hannah Bye, by Harrison S. Morria.
Fena Publishing Co., Pbiladelpbia.
A moving, finely-fashioned picture
of Quaker church life, in a present
day American community.
The leading figure in the recital is
Miss Hannah Bye, Quaker, who at
first is without admirers or beaux.
Her mother, Mrs. Deborah Bye, is a
stern, exacting woman, who is con
scious of her moral rectitude and
spotless character quite different
from the common, sinful mortals
around her.
A lie is told against Hanah and she
is turned out from home by her moth
er. Hannah becomes a hospital nurse,
and then a surprise happens and her
innocence is established
There is no sentimental love in the
novel, so far as the heroine is concerned.
adorned with casual references to
such names as Mark Hanna and Gov
ernor Altgeld. Doubtless literary
London could better cope with allu
sions to Achilles and the Walls of
Troy; but undeterred by such obscuri
ties an English publisher has pro
duced a volume of Mr. Lindsay's
poems prefaced with a very laudatory
introduction by Robert Nichols, one
of our recent visitors from among
the young English poets. Mr. Nichols
quotes a letter frmo John Masefield
who gives his opinion that Lindsay is
America's first poet.
Joseph Hergshelmer says of his
own work: "I always write about
people, usually men, usually near 40.
who are not happy. The story at
bottom Is nearly always the same
a struggle between what is called
the spirit and what is called the flesh
the spirit is victorious. That is
why it seems to me my books are
happy books."
O! T.lttle ralsT Ashford!
Your style had grace and charm.
But just the same your sudden fame
Has done a world of harm.
A' million other children
Since Baxrie boosted you
Have loft thetr play, aad toil away
At novel-writing, too!
Jas. J. Montague In The World.
A suggestion! Shouldn't the Au
thors' League, now that it is growing
so big and powerful and drawing up
model contracts and branching Into
Dramatic Guilds and Illustrators'
Guilds and all that, shouldn't they, I
repeat, begin to think about enacting
some child welfare legislation limit
ing child literary labor employment?
F. Scott Fitzgerald is said to be the
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MAY GIVE WOMEN
RIGHT OF BEING ORDAINED AS MINISTERS
Equal Priyileges of Scr to Be Considered fcy General Assembly Now in Session Question Likely to Be Sub
mitted to Referendum Vote of Entire Denomination.
Tb Triumph of the X. VS. by Command
er is. v wten eit, toramatider j-i. 1".
Richardwn and Lieutenant-Commander
A. C. Read. Illustrated. Doubleday.
Pag & Co., Garden City, N". T.
With ths aid of C6 illustrations.
this story of 308 pages, telling the
wonderful account of the recent trip
I matfe from this country to Europe by
What Social Dsmm Ott tn Earh Other.
by William limham Sumner. Harper &
Brothers, New York city.
Professor Sumner's "Social Classes,"
it is stated, is a book that is esteemed
in Yale university for its wisdom and
sturdy, Rood sense in presenting the
advantages of individuality as op
posed to social meddling
The present book shows where true
liberty is and why individualism
should be cherished. It is an impor
tant pronouncement in political sci
ence for our America today.
In Miration of Kzrm Pound. Boni & Live-
right. New York. city.
A series of thoughtful, well-written
essays on a variety of literary sub
jects, including appreciations of
French poets, Henry James. Remy de
Gourmont, in the vortex; Genesis,
translators of Greek. 3S8 pages.
rt
izra Pound, author of "Inatlfira
tiona, a series of eways.
THE- LITERARY PERISCOPE'
other-chance attitude. Is the result.
Our author insists that the new. sane
Germany of 1920 ought to be recog
nized and helped, and ougrht to be ad
mitted into the league of nations.
THE boot
just he
, tion at
l"p the Seine to the BHttlefleMs. by Annn
bowman Lndd. 1 Uust rated. Uarper &
Brothers. New York City.
Both the past of old France and the
brilliant present of new France live
in the splendid descriptive work of a
tour recently taken by Mrs. Dodd
through historic French towns and
villages, now resting after the rav
es of the recent war. The writing
is easy and graceful, and of more than
usual reading value found in books
of this description.
The pages are 394. and Illustrations of .,. ...
in, eera.i ui iiiu iHLier ucmhk icric-
sentations of historic rulers of France.
BY ETHEL. R. SAWYER,
t Director of Training Class, Library As
sociation ol .fortiana.j
HE bookmen of the country have
eld their annual conven-
t Philadelphia. The key
note of the meeting was to be "build
ing Americanism through books." The
programme developed three fields in
which the book could-exercise a tre
mendous influence in creating a
greater America out of our present
confusion:
1. Its influence on the child in
whose bands will lie our country's
tomorrow.
2. Its influence on the thinking
Americans . of today, steadying and
forming their policies.
3. Its possibilities as the only ef
fective approach to developing, in
our resident alien population, an ap
preciation and . enthusiasm for the
Have "Hb in Maarbusttft. by Governor
c'oolidgc. Houghton. Muffiin Co., Boston.
r orty-three speeches, mostly on
politics and of notable interest and
informing significance, delivered by
Governor Coolidge of Massachusetts.
This book belongs to a second edition
and is part of the 70th thousand.
The sentences in these speeches are
short and. have agreeable crispness.
The cultured literary style "is A good
model from which to copy.
The life of Leonard Wood. . by John G.
Holme. Illustrated. Iioubled&y, Para
& Co.. Garden city, ?. I.
An appreciative and yet kindly
critical account of the life and many
activities of General Wood, who now
looms large in the political horizon
one of the candidates for the preei-
The modern version of Jules Verne
probably the story tld by .Sir Ar
thur Whitten Brown-of his no-siop
flight across the Atlantic with Sit
John Alcock a few months ago. Sir
John has since been killed in an un
important land flight so fair Arthur s
account will be unique. This true
thriller" is promised soon by the
Stokes company and " will be entitled
"Flying the Atlantic iu Sixteen
Hours." Hail, sleet, fog and Irish bog
did their best to make this dash
across the black ocean a nightmare
venture and to earn for the young
fliers the title of heroes.
A book which should be very -in
teresting and undoubtedly illuminat
ing is the "war" book by fbiup
Gibbs, "Now It Can Be Told." Mr.
Gibbs was one of our most read war
correspondents. He now presents the
uncensored account of our war activi
ties and it might be very interesting
reading to compare what he formerly
said with what he is now saying in
order to determine just what sort of
news is not considered "for the- pub
lie" in time of war. Some, startling
revelations are promised.
W. Somerset Jlaugham, author of
"The Moon and Sixpence," which di
rected our attention to that eccen
trie genius Paul Gauguin, is about to
appear with another novel, "The Ex
plorer." Interest is a little tempered
with suspicion when we read that this
door was written some years ago
ty the autnor."
A new writer who has sprung from
an unknown into one of the mos
sought-fter writers of wild-life
stories is Edison Marshall, author of
The Voice" of the Pack." Mr. Mar
shall is the son of a '49er. and; has
lived 4n the mountains of Oregon and
Knows the animal life there.
. .
P. Adams, from his column' In
tne ftew rorit incline, says:
Everybody'. Doing It. -
Risinjr at an early bour.
Klrst I read The Conninff '.Tower.
Tben I don my pants and ihoon ' '
And scan the works of Hey wood Broun.
nen, or nourse. i nav to read
Bencbley's literary meed.
Alex 'Woolcott's play review.- . .' -'
The rhymes -of Jimmy Montague.
When my daily toil is dene
I read Don Marquis in the Sun.
And what 1 almost liko tbe most 1
la Old Kit Morley in tbe Post. i
As was anticipated Vachell Lindsa
has been puzzling the English critics.
in view oi nis proposed trip the Brit
ish literary capital has been lookin
him up. In the February "London
Mercury" appeared his poem on Brva
done in full-dress Americanese and.
oungest writer for whom the Scrib
ers company have ever published a
novel. He is now only 23 years old
nd this novel was written in epare
moments at an army training camp.
The title is "This Side of raradise",
nd the author calls it a novel "about
flappers written for philosophers."
Mr. Fitzgerald lays claim to a col
lection of 122 rejection slips, but
along with them must be some ac-
eptances as readers of the Satur-
ay Evening Post could testify.
Harry Franck. whose "Vagabond
Journeys" have brought him such
great popularity and the title of the
Literary Vagabond," is off again.
This time he is bound for the Virgin
islands. He left Porto Rico on a
two-masted schooner which was due
to arrive at our new possessions in
anywhere from 17 hours to three
days of sailing, schedule depending
upon the weather. The Century com
pany is to publish the literary re
sults of this trip some time next fall.
Stephen Graham is responsible for
the introduction to English readers
f a new Russian writer of short
torics. He says that Vaiery Brussof
belongs in the front rank of Russian
contemporary literature. The collec-
ion of short stories is called "The
Republic of the Southern Cross
In Russia," says Mr. Graham, "the
short story is considered of much
more literary importance than it is
here. It is the fashion to write short
stories, and readers remember those
they have read and refer to them, as
we do to the distinctive and memor
ble poems on our intimate book
shelves."
Mr. Graham will be remembered as
the author of the very popular book
on Russia called "The Way of Martha
and the Way of Mary."
It has been suggested in a re
cent number of a. popular magaxine
that we should endeavor to impart
cultural background to our movie
scenarios and as a beginning this
writer suggests a film version of
The Education of Henry Adams'
with the sub-title "Why Minds Go
Wrong.
Here is the big Roman scene: Cap
tion "Here, after a year's wandering
through the happy, emiling lands of
Europe, comes young Henry Adams
in search for education." (He is dis
covered sitting- on a rock among the
ruins of the capitol. thinking. The
shadows deepen, and he rises, pass
ing his hand across his brow.) (Flash
back showing the Latin verbs which
govern the dative case. Pianist plays
The March of the Jolly Grenadiers )
This is the climax and- the end. Cap
tion: God. have mercy on me
can see- it- all I nave never been
educated!"
Frederick O'Brien, author of "White
Shadows in the South Seas," returns
from his Asiatic wanderinrs to Glen-
dale, Cal.. "to continue to grow goats
and goldfish, beings which live in
amity and wag their tails at hu
manity." He says: "I return more
fixecl than ever in my belief that
my beloved cannibals of the South
seas are the only real philosophers
I have ever known. I saw whites in
Siberia destroying one another, while
the Japanese said 'Banzai.' which
means 'the more dead the more
space.' " I eaw religionists stopping
the marking and sweeping of th
path to heaven to clout one another,
while the heathen smiled in thel
long' sleeves. And I heard eminen
American prophets' of business
preaching the new war in the fa
east, the while the poppies are froze
in Flanders fields on the bosoms
uncounted dead!"
Mr. O'Brien is at work on a ne
book, to be entitled 'Drifting Amon
the South - Sea Isles." chapters from
which are appearing in tne Century
'magazine.
PHILADELPHIA. May 52. Whether
women should be allowed to fill
the pulpits of Presbyterian
churches or to act as elders is one of
tho important Questions before the
132d annual meeting: of the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian church,
which opened here Thursday night.
This question will be submitted to a
referendum vote of the entire denom
ination in the United States if the
recommendation of a commission
which has been studying the subject
for the past year is approved by the
General Assembly.
A survey taken by the commission
on the official relation of women in
the church, in which the opinions of
leading ministers, elders and women
was obtained, led its members to these
conclusions:
"That the Scriptures did not forbid
either women elders or women preach
ers; that three other denominations
ordain women to the ministry, but
that few women avail themselves of
the privilege; that four other denom
inations did not have women preach
ers and are not inclined to have them;
that the evidence shown is favorable
to women as elders, but unfavorable
women as ministers; that of the
Presbyterians canvassed 60 per cent
favored women as elders, -48 per cent
favored women as ministers, while
li per cent opposed any change in
he present usage of the church."
Three Presbyteries In Favor.
An elder in the Presbyterian church
occupies a spiritual office, but does
ot preach. He assists the minister
n his religious duties and, .as a pres-
yter, is a member of the governing
ody cf the church, endowed with the
function, among others, of maintain-
ng denominational doctrine and ad
ministering discipline. For centuries
he office has been filled exclusively
by men.
Last year three presbyteries, it was
said, made overtures to the General
Assembly. One from the presbytery
f Columbia river asked that women
be made eligible to ordination both
as ministers and ruling elders. An
ther from the presbytery of Dallas,
Tex., asked that a committee be ap
pointed to investigate the whole
question of enlarged opportunities for
women in the church, and the pres
bytery of Saginaw. Mich., urged that
hey be ordained as ruling elders. The
moderator thereupon appointed
ommission to inquire and report.
composed of the Rev. S. Hall Young
chairman; the-Rev. Edgar W. Work
and Rush Taggart, all of New York
the Rev. William Barrett of Bellfon-
aine, O.. and John T. Manning of New
Haven, Conn.
The commission said It found that
the Methodist Protestant, the Congre
gational and the Christian churches
ordain women to the ministry, but
few availed themselves of the privi
ege. our other denominations, the
Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal and
Methodist Episcopal, it was said, ".do
not have women preachers, nor does
there seem to be any particular in-
ination in these churches to accord
them this office.
Groiring Tendency Found.
In practically all of these seven
churches," said the report, "women
are admitted to every other official
position in the church except the
ministry. They serve on official
boards, are trustees, deaconnesses,
etc, and there is a growing tendency
to admit them to official equality
with men in the matter of council and
oversight in the government and ser
vice of the church.
Those opposed to any change in the
present usage in the Presbyterian
church were quoted by the commis
sion as arguing that ordination of
women would lower the dignity of
the office, afford an excuse for men
to shirk their duties, retard or defeat'
the union of Presbyterian churches
in the United States, keep men from
church and countenance and acceler
ate a "dangerous feministic move
raent"
Arguments quoted in favor of the
change included statements that
would accord with the spirit of the
age and with women's civil equality,
that women and girls composed th
majority of the membership of th
church and did more work than th
other .sex and that they were "enti
tied to the honors as well as the la
bors."
The commission declined to express
any opinion on the merits of the
question, stating that it was divided,
"a majority having expressed them
selves as conservative,"
Jewish 13-aniErellBation TriedU
An efTort to evangelize Jewish peo
ple in Newark, N. J., Baltimore, Md.,
Brooklyn, N. Y.. and this city is being
made by the Presbyterian board of
home missions, according to its an
nual report.
The report, which was presented by
Secretary H. N. "Morse, said, tho year
closed with "much financial perplex-1
ity. but great spiritual advance." The
board, it was said, projected a budget
on the basis of a certain anticipation
through the New Era movement
which the facts have not austilied.
Total receipts, exclusive of legacies
and applicable to current work, were
said to be $978,622 and expenditures
for the year were tl. 219.223, leaving
a net deficit of $240,600, which, added
to the debt the board faced on Jan
uary 1, 1920, makes the total debt
$479,228.
"Our churches everywhere, how
ever," says the -report, "seem to have
caught the spirit of progress and the
year has been one of unusual fruit
fulness." The American mission work
is being carried on, it was said, in
1351 churches by 699 missionaries not
only in the cities, but in lumber
camps, among the Indians in Alaska
and among Spanish-speaking people
in the southwest- In addition con
siderable attention is being paid to
promoting the well-being of rural
churches and to taking care of immi
grants. Conditions In Cores Reported,
American mlsisonaries in Corea, de
spite the haraships and dangers inci
dent to reconstruction following the
quelling by the Japanese of tbe recent
uprising, are planning to "Christian
ize every district in the country." ac
cording to the annual report of the
Presbyterian board of foreign mis
Referring to the revolt, the report
says: "The result proved anew that
apan will not voluntarily grant
Corean independence, that the Coreans
cannot secure it by force and that
other governments, having long ago
recognized Japanese annexation of
he peninsula, will not interfere.
Costly, too, was the movement to the
Japanese, for it reinforced their crit
ics, disheartened their friends, alien
ated the sympathy of allied nations
and brought upon the ruthless mm-
arists the opprobrious name of 'the
Huns of the Orient.' "
Regarding the attitude of the
American mossionaries toward the
Coreans revolt against the Japanese.
the report quotes Bishop Herbert
Welch of the Methodist Episcopal
church of Corea as saying: "It. is no
evidence of unfriendliness to the Jap
anese government, but only a testi
mony to the deep humanity of their
feelings and to an indignation against
wrong doing which was worthy of all
praise.
Outrages Committed In Corea,
"There is a general disposition to
give the new administration in Corea
a fair chance to remedy the undoubt
ed abuses that exist," continues the
report. "Amerfcana," it says, "should
distinguish between the civil and mil
itary parties among the Japanese. The
former is composed of enlightened
and progressive men, who feel as we
do about the outrages that have been
committed in Corea, The latter in
cludes a large number of men who
are thoroughly Prussian in their tem
per and conduct. .
Americans should bear in mind
that there is a considerable element
among the Japanese themselves who
are greatly disturbed by the stern and
iron-handed policy of the military
party in dealing -with the coreans and
who favor a wise and humane poliev
in dealing with them. It would oe
not -nly unwise, but unjust to make
indiscriminate condemnation of the
whole Japanese nation."
Declaring that "China is in a state
of chaos," the board says "it has been
gratifying to read the reassuring
statements of several eminent Japan
ese as to the intentions of their gov-
eminent, adding, however, that
something more than words, however
sincere, is required to remove mis
giving and distrust." Creed and al
truism, democracy and militarism, it
says, are struggling for the mastery.
During the past year, the report says.
Chinese churches connected with the
Presbyterian, Congregational, United
Brethren and London Missions have
formed one organic Christian body
All other evangelical denominations
have been invited to join.
Presbyterian foreign missionaries
increased in 1919 from 1364 to 1428
and the native workers from 6806 to
6S56. In order to meet the high cost
of living, which in some fields, like
Japan, has increased over 300 per
cent, the living allowances for the
Presbyterian missionaries have been
increased from the former standard
of J1250 a year to J1500.
New methods of dealing with sedi
tion is declared to have made mission :
activities in India more difficult, "all
non-British subjects desiring to en
gage in philanthropic, educational,
medical or missionary work being re
quired to obtain a license." This was
modified for the missionaries provided
they declared due obedience and re
spect to the government and carefully
abstained from political affairs. Re
inforcements "are called for "to check
the growing power of Mohammedan
ism" in West Africa.
A serious discussion i3 anticipated
Ion the measure of the continued par
ticipation of the church in the inter
church world movement.
The New Era movement, the inter-
church movement, an organized union
of Christianity, the relation of church
to industry and the killing of Chris
tians by the Turks are the most im
portant subjects to be discussed.
The 100th anniversary of the Pres
byterian board of education, which
now is combined with the college
board in the general board of educa
tion, and the 50th anniversary of the
women's boards of foreign missions
will be observed in connection with
the meeting.
Dr. James Gray Bolton, chairman of
the publicity committee, points out in
connection with the New Era and in
ter-church movements that from 1690
to 1919 the Presbyterian church has
grown from 10 ministers. 18 churches
and 1000 communicants to 9918 min
isters. 9805 churches and 1.603,033
members. The communicants, who are
those on the roll in good standing,
represent a Presbyterian constituency
of 6.000.000. including baptized chil
dren and adherents who are not mem
bers. Benevolent Work Great.
In 1789, the year in which appears
the first record of benevolence for
work outside the Presbyterian or the
individual church, there was $852 de
voted to this purpose. In 1919 the
amount contributed for benevolence
Was $1 1,485,327.
Dr. John McDowell, secretary of the
board of home missions and director
of the department of social service in
the New Era movement, will submit
an exhaustive report on the relation
of the church to industry. This is in
accord with directions given at the
preceding general assembly.
Dr. McDowell has conferred with
employers and employes. His effort
has been to reconcile ainerences along
Christian lines. Establishment of
schools for foremen is one suggestion
he makes, in the belief that foremen
are frequently the cause of clashes.
WIFE GIVEND1ME DAILY
Judge Thinks Husband Should Be
Tried for Manslaughter. ,
SAN" FRANCISCO. Any man that
would limit his wife to lO.cents a day
to pay the household expenses should
be tried for manslaughter, according
to an opinion expressed by Judge
Graham when he granted a decree of
divorce to Elizabeth Thomas, 1342
Minna street, from John Thomas, iron
worker.
During the eleven years tbey lived
together, Mrs. Thomas said, her hus
band allowed her but 10 cents a day
to maintain herself, her husband and
their son.
"A man who would attempt to limit
his 'wife to such a sum ought to be
tried for manslaughter, because it
could only mean starvation and
death," said the court. "I will grant,
the decree and allow $50 a month
alimony."
WOMEN!' "DIAMOND DYES"
DON'T STREAK, FADE, RUN
Beware I Don't -Risk Your Material in a Poor Dye
Each package of "Diamond Dyes"
contains directions so simple that any
woman can diamond-dye a new, rich,
fadeless color into worn, shabby gar
ments, draperies, coverings, whether
wool, silk, linen, cotton or mixed
goods.
Buy "Diamond Dyes" no other kind
then perfect results are guaranteed
even if you have never dyed before.
Druggist has color card. Adv.
- nn i lo.o '