Welsh Journals

On the Editor's Table. The publishers' busy season is again upon us, and new works are pouring forth in an endless stream. A rich harvest seems to be in project, and already our table has upon it several books of considerable value. A book of real worth is Methodism and Modern World Problems, by R. W. Allen, with an Introduction by Sir Josiah Stamp (Methuen, 7/6 net). We are accustomed now to the application of Christian principles to all the problems of life; but to consider the question from the point of view of a single religious denomination is some- what of a novelty. The result, we believe, amply justifies Mr. Allen in the task which he has under- taken. His book is clear, outspoken, broad and yet loyal to his own denomination, and extremely well-informed. Except perhaps in the series of C.O.P.E.C. Reports, we do not know where the serious student could find a better introduction to the difficult task of the application of Chris- tianity to political and social problems. Mr. Allen justly points out that the Methodist Church, in all its branches, is numerically by far the strongest among English speaking peoples. In England the Church of England outnumbers it, but this advantage is far outweighed when America is thrown into the scale. Good use is made of this fact in the chapter on Reunion. The abfeprd arrogance of a minority Church seeking to impose its own particular view of ordination upon the majority is shown. Further- more, it is argued that, being so overwhelmingly strong in America and Great Britain, Methodism could, if it presented a determined front, solve many of the world's most difficult problems, and above all the problems of armaments and war. There are excellent chapters on-The Christian Sunday, Education, Money, Alcoholism, and Gambling. With some of Mr. Allen's judgments we should disagree, but his treatment is always fair and invariably illuminating. Mr. Allen is no timid apologist; he has a robust faith in Methodism, and is in no mood to lower its flag. For him it is not a spent force, but one of the true religions of the future. The issue now, he contends, is between Methodism and Catholicism, between experience and autho- rity. Which of these two forms is destined to triumph depends, he thinks, upon whether the world is going forward or going back. This view will, of course, be hotly disputed by Catholics. but it has behind it the authority of Dean Inge, who writes-" If the nations of the west are really progressing, not merely in wealth and scientific knowledge, but in intrinsic worth, moral and intellectual, their religion will become more ethical, more spiritual, more universal, less superstitious and less obscurantist; while on the other hand, if western civilisation has passed its zenith, and is now on the downward grade, we may expect to see a revival of magic, witchcraft, immoral superstition and narrow bigotry-in a word, of that kind of religion to destroy which Christ suffered Himself to be nailed to the Cross, though it has often flourished under His name." Which Jesus? By J. H. Howard (E. W. Evans, Ltd., 3/6 net). Mr. Howard is, we know, as eloquent in Welsh as he is in English, and he could, with ease, have given us this book in Welsh. He has, however, chosen to deliver his message in English. Many, no doubt, will censure him, but we, for our part approve his choice. In a book of this nature style is subor- dinate to matter. The important thing is to reach as wide an audience as possible, and by writing in English Mr. Howard has undoubtedly multiplied his readers. We are not, however, allowed to forget that Mr. Howard is a Welsh- man. His idiom is English, but his style is Welsh. It is this, we believe, which leads him to write, from first page to last, in a glowing rhetoric, which, translated into Welsh, and orally delivered, would be truly eloquent, but which in English, and in cold print, produces a not altogether pleasant impression on the reader. The book is a plea for the thorough and un- compromising application of the Gospel to all the problems of life. It is suffused with a glow of conviction which, if it does not always con- vince the reader, does certainly rouse him from apathy and raise his eyes to the noblest ideals. Good things abound in it. There are epigrams which throw floods of light upon dark places. On every hand there is ample evidence of wide reading, much anxious thought, and ripe experi- ence of life. The honesty of the author is trans- parent, and his courage unfaltering. He writes, evidently, as a convinced believer in the Labour Movement; yet he is never afraid of criticising some of the beliefs which find a home within that fold. The followng are some of his opinions:- The General Strike was an abortive attempt to hold a nation to ransom." No Christian can believe in a class war. A class war is worse even than an international war. For an English- man to hate a German is unchristian; but for a Britisher to preach hatred of other Britishers in addition to being unchristian is unnatural." Mobocracy might even prove worse than autocracy." We repeat that the spirit of Christ is no more behind a strike than in a lock-out; both methods are barbarous, waste- ful, and suicidal," etc. But while according our unstinted admiration to the book as a whole, there are specific points with which we canot agree. That must always be to a book's credit, for it proves it to be provocative and alive. Mr. Howard would, we feel sure, be much better pleased with us if we expressed disagreement than if we passed by with apathetic indifference. Resentment of criticism is always the badge of the fool.