Welsh Journals

to all the assembled bishops acting conjointly, and as declaring the faith taught everywhere and at all times. 5.-Having erected his pyramid on its apex, Mr. Hirsch Davies proceeds to ask two questions which are worthy of inclusion in "Alice in Wonderland." "(a) What would a return to the old faith mean to-day to Wales? (b) Is Wales likely to return to the Catholic fold?" If he were to substitute "Nonconformity" for "Wales" his questions might have some snow of reason and logic. But as they are set forth they have neither. For Wales has never left the "old faith." And she cannot return to a position she has never abandoned. There is to-day a "Church of Wales" as there was in the time of Saint David, whose son he is. There has never been a time, amid all the political and ecclesiastical upheavals and fights for supremacy, when she had not repeated her creed: "I believe in the Holy Catholic Church." That a question of primacy is a mere bagatelle is seen in the recent removal of that of Canterbury. The Church of Wales is not affected in the slightest de- gree. She still keeps her three orders of the Ministry, her creeds, and her sacraments-the indis- putable marks of a branch of the "Catholic" Church. Canterbury (like Rome earlier) both in its coming and going was an incident that had not the slightest effect on her Catholicity. 6. — May I, in conclusion to these slender notes and rapid observations, ask Mr. Hirsch Davies that Reviews ON THE EDITOR'S TABLE. The full tide of new spring books is now upon us, and it is difficult to know where to begin our survey of the ground. Uudoubtedly the most im- portant work is Colonel House's Intimate Papers,' and that is dealt with fully in our pages. Next to House's book, and in large measure supplementing it, is the third volume of Ambassador Page's Life and Letters (Heinemann, 25/- net). All students of history and politics may be deemed to have read the former two volumes, which con- stitute, perhaps, the most striking political biography published since Morley's Life of Gladstone! This supplementary volume, if less in- teresting on the personal side, is even more interest- ing in the light which it throws upon hidden corners of war-time diplomacy. Page is as fresh as ever, and as acute and amusing as ever, in his comments upon British ways. There is a little of the American air of superiority, but it loses its offensiveness through being so thoroughly mixed with admiration. His estimates of British statesmen are, naturally, of great value. He gives the first place to Lord Grey, and the second to Lord Balfour. He cherished no high regard either for Mr. Asquith, or for Mr. Lloyd George; but he evidently believed that the latter was the better war minister of the two. The big question which arises from the book, as well as from House's volumes, is whether peace could, and ought, to have been made in 1916 or 1917. The evidence seems to favour the affirmative; and it is difficult now to believe that those who stood for the "knock-out blow" policy were not blind to the highest interests of mankind. It is good to have a memoir, though not a good one, of Frederic Harrison,-Frederic Harrison: by Austin Harrison (Heinemann; 10/6 net). Of all the great Victorians, Harrison was, perhaps, the most typical. His culture was broad, his knowledge vast, his sympathy with all the down-trodden unfailing He was a liberal of liberals, the intimate friend of in controversy he should utterly avoid the use of equivocal or unkindly terms. They serve no purpose of enlightenment, but rather tend to unseemly rec- rimination. He speaks of the primacy of Canterbury as the "Old man of the sea." Doesn't he see how supremely easy it would be to counter that by calling the Roman Church "The Scarlet Lady on the Tibur!’’­Yours etc., Lewis Davies. NEO-CATHOLICISM. Sir,­One cannot but be aware of strange ideas among the youth of Wales with regard to religion. Fresh minds necessarily need fresh worship. The Church should be the fount of all inspiration, since it exists for Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. My idea of a church is a community of people who try to express themselves, whether in poetry, archi- tecture, or music, in the best possible manner. Experiments like Dr. Orchards', etc., are surely worth considering. If worship is not vital, then there can be no religion. Newer forms must arise to suit the temperament of modern needs. The milieu of the contemporary Church in many cases does not foster this aesthetic sense. It should. And I sincerely believe that Wales is steadily creat- ing a New Catholicism, and that the best that has been thought and said shall be honoured in this Church. New paths need pioneers, and the way of a pioneer is not particularly inviting nowadays! I am, yours sincerely, JAMES T. WILLIAMS. Aberystwyth. men like John Morley and Leslie Stephen. It is unfortunate that the son in writing this memoir should, apparently, have suffered from the delusion that the public are more interested in him than in his father. Nevertheless, the all too unfrequent glimpses which the volume gives us of Frederic Harrison himself will amply repay its perusal. Space will allow only of our naming the other books which lie on our table. They include:- Lord Birkenhead: Fourteen English Judges (Cassell; 25/- net). The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 3 (Cambridge Press; 35/- net). Coulton: The Mediaeval Village (Cambridge Press; 25/). Weale: Why China Sees Red (Macmillan; 12/- net). Platonov: History of Russia (Macmillan; 14/- net). Bell: The Origin of Islam (Macmillan; 10/6 net). Cole: A History of the British Working Class Movement, Vol. I. (Labour Publishing Co.; 6/- net) Mackail: J. L. Strachan-Davidson (Oxford; 7/6 net). Buchanan: Sahara (Murray; 21/- net). Walker: William Carey (Student Christian Move- ment; 5/- net). Turner: A Voyage in Space (Sheldon Press; 7/6 net). Phillpots: Lodgers in London (Butterworth; 7/6 net). Dowdall: Manners and Tone of Good Society (Black; 5/- net). RECENT S.C.M. PUBLICATIONS. "The Heart of Israel." By George H. Thorn. 4/ 2/6, paper covers. An approach to the book of Psalms. The author deals with it as the Hymn-Book of the Jewish and the Christian Church, traces its growth, examines its poetry, values its religion, personal and cor- porate. He gathers together all that is best in the Psalms around such headings as these: "The Glory and Grace of God," The Sacrament of Nature," "The Nature and Need of Man," The Divine Purpose in History," "Ideals Prophetic of Christ