Welsh Journals

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Civilisation in the Melting Pot." By G. A. Greenwood. Headley Brothers. London. Is. net. Pp. xi, 99. The author, who hails from Ystalyfera, is young and assertive. Mr. Ponsonby, who honours him with an interesting preface, acknowledges the reck- lessness and impetuosity of his youth, and guardedly suggests that his vision of the problems he tackles is not final and all-embracing. Dealing with the War and its allied problems, the book is interesting and readable, and is written in a spirit of ardent earnestness. But the author is too much obsessed with the economies and diplomaties of the war. There is far more than mere economic significance in this war­t here is a decided spiritual significance, which the author seems to have ignored or insuffi- ciently realised. However, on the whole his attitude is fair-if it savours of harshness, it is against our- selves. That is a refreshing fault nowadays, and not one, seemingly, which the Germans are likely to commit. We like best the chapter on the Future of Palestine, which has an eloquent interest. The author is courageous. His views are not popular. We would suggest that his dogmatism and ex cathedra attitude are occasionally irritating, and might with advantage be tempered. The Two Gospels (" Y Ddwy Efengyl a Phethau Eraill It). By Gwili. Carmarthen: W. M. Evans & Son. Pp. 140. Is. net. In this little volume Gwili has brought together three sermons, one paper on the Rights of Man, two literary pieces and three fragments dealing with some aspects of an American trip. The most ambitious and longest item is the address which was delivered before several Labour Societies during 1909-10: there he reviews rapidly the various conceptions of human rights which have prevailed from Old Testa- ment times to Burke, whose enumeration of the fundamental rights of man provides the author with an opportunity of setting forth his own views on a varied number of current topics such as Mr. Lloyd George's budget, the faults of the intermediate school system, and the relation of the Labour Movement to organised Christianity. Of the ser- mons perhaps the first is the most satisfying, and the second, which is a straightforward piece of work, will reassure those who feared for the ark of ortho- doxy in Gwili's keeping. The final sermon, if it be rightly so called, is quite informing on a subject which may seem remote to many (" The Christ- Myth "), but, even so, Gwili will appear as a fine slayer of dead horses. Of the literary pieces that on James Howell, the author of the Familiar Letters, is almost exclusively annalistic the writer could have done much better work had he acted in some degree on his own suggestion in the concluding paragraph, where the works of James Howell are said to present an excellent field of research for some Welsh Univer- sity graduate. In many respects the paper entitled The Two Quests," reveals the author in his most characteristic mood, and here those who have a right to judge would agree that his touch is surest. He examines the relative influence of the mental or intellectual and of the spiritual outlook under various forms on Welsh life and literature, and the paper concludes with a plea for a deeper fusion of the two elements in our present life. Many readers will find much in this little book, and all will find something to please and to help them. Perhaps some will say that a remark of the author about the poet-preacher finds its justification in this volume, and others might have been more satisfied with a book which possessed a greater unity of theme. In any case every reader will acknowledge that the book is the work of one who has clearly a zeal for true religion and sound learning and a burning sympathy with the people in their social and spiritual aspirations. It remains to add that the book is well printed, though a better cover would be a great improvement. Perhaps it is necessary to assure English readers that the mysterious term Gwili does not represent a syndicate or fellowship of workers as the variety of the volume might lead them to suppose. It is simply the bardic name of a lovable and versatile author, who is a shining light in the literary and religious life of Wales. And this little book will be welcome as an indication of the author's quality, not as a representation of its full measure. "The World in Conflict." By L. T. Hobhouse, D.Litt. T. Fisher Unwin, 1915. Pp.104. Is. net. This little book is a republication of a series of articles which Professor Hobhouse contributed to the Manchester Guardian in the spring of this year. It comprises a discussion of the causes of the war, and an attempt to see what kind of a world will be left for an upbuilding when the work of destruction is over. One can only wish for it the widest circula- tion throughout the length and breadth of these islands-it is so sensitive, so just and so humane, and yet so directly in touch with the hard realities of the international situation. We all of us believe that Europe is faced with the gravest of devices. But it may be doubted if we realize how appalling the possibilities are. I do not think that Professor Hobhouse has exaggerated the severity of the alternatives when he makes us