By this
principle
he finds that the were originally written for an American
Regent's Park College is the library maturest Nonconformist we have yet public, and in their collected form show
presented by Dr.
Regent's Park College is the library maturest Nonconformist we have yet public, and in their collected form show
presented by Dr.
Athenaeum - London - 1912a
It marks, as Matthew Arnold master to instruct," sought for guidance Hudibras' rather as a survival of the
pointed out, the birth of modern English in French doctrinaire ideals. Now it is Elizabethan spirit than as touched by any
prose, of which Dryden himself, more not to be denied that our literature had French influence later than Rabelais. Butler
than any other, may be called the father. many things to learn from France, was whimsical, of the family of Robert
To the reader of our day, whether a and that Dryden and his age profited Burton, and like him full of out-of-the-
professed student of literature or no, greatly in these respects from their way learning, some of it at second-hand;
this is Dryden's chief claim to remem- lesson; but it is noteworthy that at no but his work is founded on direct observa-
brance. That through these forty years epoch which models itself on a foreign tion of life and still pleases,“ though
he was the representative writer of his literature has the fruit of its borrowing with a kind of Pain to the best sort of
time, its mouthpiece and its literary come to maturity ; time is needed for the Readers. ” Mr. Previté-Orton justly sums
dictator, is to-day a matter of small lesson to sink into the substance of our up the remaining satire of the period
moment, for there is probably no period thought.
in a way which will not encourage any
in the history of our language since the We remember, too, that this French one to enter on a fuller study of it. Mr.
Reformation the books of which are so ideal is not native even to its own soil; E. Grubb gives an interesting account of
rarely opened by the ordinary reader. that the French of France are not a Latin, the early Quaker publications and the
The few works written in those years but a Latinized race; and that, just as the gradual and short-lived appearance among
which still appeal to us are by men of a Latins had adopted this ideal at the cost them of a literary element. Three chap-
different age, and are rooted in quite of the destruction of their national poetry, ters on the Restoration Drama follow-
other sentiments and ideals than those so the price paid for it by the French is none too great an allowance for what
of the Restoration. Dryden and his that their poetry between Ronsard and was then the sole provision of fiction for
compeers have little or nothing to say the Romantic Revival (with the single the public. The first of them, by Prof.
to the man of to-day.
exception of La Fontaine) has lost its Schelling, takes us up to Wycherley's
For the first half of the seventeenth universal appeal. Happily our own lite- · Plain Dealer. ' The author does not
century our literature depended for its rature is so rich that we can well afford seem to have opened up any new ground,
vitality on the Elizabethan spirit, the to balance the loss of a century of barren and the Spanish influence on which he
influence of which died with the men of poetry by the gain to our prose in every lays stress is highly hypothetical, but
the Civil War. The new age began direction. Mere temporary absurdities, the chapter is useful. We only regret
afresh without the guidance of a con- as when Rymer applies to the study of that Etherege and Wycherley were not
tinuous tradition : it was materialistic, Othello' canons of criticism eminently in the province of Mr. Charles Whibley,
experimental, open-minded as to the applicable to documents in his Foedera,
' ' who follows, and carries on comedy
merits of all accepted rules of life and may well be passed by with little remark. to the end of the century in one of the
literature. There is no lack of explana- The chapter on Dryden by Dr. Ward, best chapters of the book. Mr. A. T.
tions of this change ; but they are all with which this volume opens, is an
Bartholomew reviews the whole period in
curiously incomplete. Politically, the appreciation of one of our greatest lite- the third chapter, with special reference
Restoration was a compromise which rary artists, worthy of the subject and to the lesser work of the day, principally
left unsettled most of the questions for of the skill of the writer. We have in tragedy — the works he has to deal
which the Civil War had been fought, but a suspicion that his admiration for with being usually too bad for praise and
which left both sides shaken in their Dryden's matchless prose blinds him too feeble for blame. Mr. Whibley follows
adherence to the ideals that had guided to the weakness of the tragedies with with a chapter on the Court Poets; and
them : doubtless the frame of mind their mock-heroics and cynical view of Prof. Saintsbury completes the first half
which this induced had its result on the life ; speaking for ourselves, we cannot of the volume with another on Seven-
literature of the day, but it did not cause count among dramatic masterpieces either teenth-Century Prosody in his usual
the change in its spirit. Nor can the comedies or tragedies as dead as even vigorous and convoluted style.
influence of the returned exiles be counted Don Sebastian All for Love. ' Re- Mr. Wheatley is better fitted than any
for much. Few indeed of the writers of membering Sarcey, we may
may count it other to give an adequate account of
this period had followed the fortunes of already sufficient criticism that Dr. Ward Evelyn and Pepys, and Dr. Ward is at
Charles, and the number of important judges by the standards of his own day his happiest in dealing with the lesser
persons in the Age of Dryden who could Dryden's plays and verse, instead of putting memoir- and letter-writers of the period.
be called returned exiles was very small. him beside the greatest. Such works as Mr. Bass Mullinger's chapter on Platonists
The personal influence of Charles II. is a Absalom and Achitophel' and
' Absalom and Achitophel' and 'Mac and Latitudinarians should be read with
factor of much greater importance; the Flecknoe,' in which his art is brought to that on Latitudinarianism and Pietism
literature of the Restoration, whether bear on life, will, however, bear com- in vol. v. of The Cambridge Modern
of poetry, of the stage, or of the pulpit, parison with anything of their kind in our History,' which it controverts in some
was a Court literature, and much of it literature. A critic is not a biographer, particulars. Archdeacon Hutton deals
was directly intended to gain his favour. but the question of Dryden's sincerity with the pulpit oratory of the period, and
He was an opportunist of sense and of must be faced in estimating the value seems rather severe upon Tillotson's style
taste, a lover of wit, and these are cha- of much of his work, and Dr. Ward has -"utterly without charm, or distinction,
racteristic of the writing of his day, and dealt with the matter at sufficient length, or interest. ” Prof. Hearnshaw's chapter
constitute its redeeming qualities.
showing him as what friends call " open- on Legal Literature gives an account of
Conditions of this kind do not mould great minded” and enemies arriviste—neither the subject which does not add much
literature; they affect the lesser authors of the vicious craftsman of Macaulay and detail to popular knowledge.
a period, while the more important are Green, nor the immaculate poet of his fame as a scholar among those who have
above their influence. The real cause admirers. Mr. H. B. Wheatley has con- worked at the original documents on
of our inability to feel any interest in the tributed a bibliography of Dryden which which he relies does not stand very high ;
Age of Dryden is that the imaginative contains much that is new to students, he owed much of his learning to Cotton
writers of the day sought their inspira- and it is perhaps a pity that he did not and some to Hakewell, who is not even
tion in literature instead of in life. They call attention in it to his suggestion that I mentioned in this chapter, while his
or
## p. 383 (#289) ############################################
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
383
we
as
knowledge of our records was far inferior to two such discourses for the Sunday, Stinton at once began to copy the manu-
that of Prynne, probably the most deeply besides conducting services during the scripts, but died too soon to complete his
read archivist in our history. As a writer, week, at each of which an address is task. The work then fell to Crosby, and,
on the other hand, Selden takes a high expected, visiting his congregation, and additional matter being obtained, it was
place.
working at the institutions associated completed by the publication of the third
With the exception of the preachers, with his church; and in addition, if a and fourth volumes in 1740, under the title
the subjects of these chapters have little popular preacher, he has frequent calls of 'The History of the English Baptists
essential connexion with the Age of from other churches. It is, however, sur- from the Reformation to the Beginning of
Dryden except in time. John Locke, on prising that among the country clergy the Reign of King George I. ' During that
whom Prof. Sorley writes an expository of the Church of England, who have period, Mr. Burrage tells us, a more
chapter, full of sound criticism and just some leisure, more should not have scholarly work was published by the Rev.
appreciation, is one of its best products. | been done in the way of research. We John Lewis, a clergyman of Margate;
His work is compact of unimaginative are glad to see that Nonconformists this was entitled 'Brief History of the
common sense applied to important sub- of recent years have shown themselves Rise and Progress of Anabaptism in Eng
jects, clearly and forcibly written-philo- desirous of collecting information con- land. Between 1793 and 1802 Dr. John
sophy speaking the language of every- cerning their early history, and our Rippon, who was the minister of the
day life. Dr. Shipley, writing on the readers may remember the welcome we church of which Spurgeon became pastor,
progress of science, deals with another have given to the publications of the edited four volumes of “The Baptist
typically Restoration movement, vivified Baptist Historical Society, as well as to Annual Register. ' In this work was first
by a constant contact with nature. The those of the Congregational Society. published Joshua Thomas's History of
instructions issued by the Royal Society Mr. Burrage, in the volumes the Baptist Association in Wales' from
at its foundation to writers of papers
are now reviewing, gives the story of 1650 to 1790. Mr. Burrage also refers
might well be reprinted and circulated early English Dissent complete in itself to Ivimey's history, the fourth volume
among scientific men at the present day. for the period treated, but he designs it of which was completed in 1830, as well
The volume closes with Mr. Arthur
the first section of a larger treatise,” | as to the considerable interest felt by
Tilley's account of the Essay and the for which he has been making investiga- English Baptists in the publications of the
beginning of modern English prose. In tions for a number of years, and biblio- Hanserd Knollys Society, two volumes
it he has dealt at some length with the graphers will be glad to hear that it is of which are composed chiefly of reprints
influence of French literature upon our proposed to print
of early Baptist works. America has, of
own during the second half of the seven-
course, quite a literature of its own on
teenth century. His view differs natur-
“an extended bibliography of between two the subject.
ally from that indicated in the early part been prepared as a supplement to Dr.
and three thousand items, which has already
of this article, but rather as respects the Henry Martyn Dexter's Collections toward Henry Martyn_Dexter's epoch-making
Among other works mentioned is Dr.
value of the literature copied than as a Bibliography of Congregationalism, but book entitled The Congregationalism of
to the use made of it. He shares with which will be chiefly concerned with the the Last Three Hundred Years as seen
Dr. Ward and Mr. Whibley the honours literature of the English Anabaptists and
in its Literature. This was, Mr.
of the volume.
Baptists before 1745.
Burrage
considers, “ the most learned work of the
Mr. Burrage modestly states that kind” up to that time (1880) produced
“ the present publication is not intended as by an American scholar; and in his
ENGLISH NONCONFORMITY. an exhaustive history of English Dissent opinion it
during even the period treated, but rather
THE first volume of Mr. Burrage's impor-
as an introduction to the study of that surpasses even to-day, in minute critical
detailed, and vast knowledge, anything that
tant work is devoted to ' History and history and its literature. "
has been done in this line either by his-
Criticism. ' In his Preface he states truly Wherever possible, primary evidence has torians of the Church of England or by
that
been sought, and second-hand sources English Dissenters. ”
In reference
even the best histories of the Church of used as little as possible.
adequate information relating to our subject, that it was as late as 1700 before any Shakespeare's little volume Baptist and
England have been noticeably lacking in to printed literature, it is curious to find To those who seek popular histories
Mr. Burrage commends the Rev. J. H.
while the average history written by Non- general work of importance was published
conformists is not unnaturally apt to be in defence of the Puritans,
in defence of the Puritans, or of any Congregational Pioneers,' and “a notable
somewhat partial in its treatment
branch of separatists with whom these posthumous work”-Dr. R. W. Dale's
and he maintains rightly that
volumes deal. “In 1702 Cotton Mather
History of English Congregationalism,
" English church history as a whole, how. brought out his now celebrated folio 1907, which was completed and pub-
lished by his son, Chancellor Dale.
ever, cannot be said to be satisfactorily entitled · Magnalia Christi Americana,""
studied, unless the story of Dissent is fully lishing his numerous writings concerning attention to
Strype pub- Mr. Burrage in his Foreword' calls
and fairly represented. '
the change of meaning
the Church of England, which contain which has taken place during three
Nonconformity has in the past had but
some references to the early English centuries in the words Nonconformist,
few historians, and the chief reason of this separatists. In 1732–8 Neale’s ‘History Dissenter, Independent, Congregationalist,
is the fact that its ministers, when com- of the Puritans, or Protestant Noncon- and Baptist. Î'o-day they are applied in
petent for such a task, have had too formists,' appeared; this work has been popular usage to persons who have
much to occupy them to spare time for several times republished, but up to that separated themselves from the Church
historic research.
time in England neither the Baptists nor of England; but the words have not
The sermon, it is well known, has always Independents had published any history always been so employed :-
formed an important part in Noncon of their rise and growth.
formist services, and the minister has
“ The earliest Nonconformists, for in-
Fortunately, however, some of the early stance, were not separatists, but often
to devote much time to the preparation of leaders of the Baptists in London had left learned clergymen of the Church of Eng;
behind them a few documents relating to land, who found fault with the clerical
The Early English Dissenters in the Light their early history; and these, after passing vestments, &c. , and yet remained in the
of Recent
Champlin Burrage. 2 vols. (Cambridge through several hands, came into the Church. The term Puritan appears to have
University Press. )
possession of Stinton, who succeeded been first used about 1566, and was correctly
History of English Nonconformity, from Wiclit his father-in-law, Benjamim Keach, as applied to Nonconformists as previously
defined. ”
to the Close of the Nineteenth Century pastor of the congregation at Horsely-
By Henry W. Clark. –Vol. I. From Wickij | down. Keach, it may be recalled, The word Dissenter appears to have had
to the Restoration. (Chapman & Hall. ) suffered the punishment of the pillory. I a history similar to that of the word
i
"|
## p. 384 (#290) ############################################
384
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
66
for a
66
Nonconformist, only it seems to have been Angus as Principal of the College. The and so he becomes “ the standard whereby
first employed after 1641 :-
Catalogue forms a handsome quarto the Nonconformist spirit, in all its sub-
“The first Englishman of strong intel- volume, of a copy of which we are the sequent manifestations, must submit to
lectual gifts to win distinction as a preacher
fortunate possessors.
be judged. ” By this same principle the
of separatism and as the bold author of
Mr. Burrage devotes his second volume author tests Church movements in the
works which directly encouraged separation to documents illustrative of the history Elizabethan age. He insists upon clearly
from the Church of England was Robert of early English Dissent. While he does discriminating between Puritans and Pres-
Browne, and from 1582 to the present time
byterians, and considers that the Puritans,
his name has been a landmark in English not claim for them
church history, known not only in England, “the dignity of forming
while accepting the organization of the
but also on the Continent and in America. ” | Corpus of the literature relating to the real Nonconformists, and that the Presby;
“the dignity of forming a complete English Church, were nevertheless the
Browne is well entitled to be called subject, they have been carefully selected terians, who protested against the Church
the Father of Congregationalism. Like from the mass of material now available for
Wesley, he had no intention of instituting to the reader a number of the more inacces at all. On the principle that, wherever
investigation. My aim has been to present constitutions, were not Nonconformists
any permanent separation of churches sible or historically valuable writings, many form is made compulsory, life loses its
from one another :-
of which have as yet been only imperfectly supremacy, and the Nonconformist spirit
or partially reproduced. Others have re- is lost, Mr. Clark finds that the true Non-
The idea of State Church seemed to mained entirely, or almost entirely, un-
him as desirable as to any other English noticed. ”
conformist theory was grasped by the
citizen. . . . he would undoubtedly have used
Independents, but that while they held
the parish church buildings, practically as Such a selection has long been needed for the theory, “they did not entirely exem-
they stood, for his congregational churches, students, who hitherto, Mr. Burrage fears, plify it. " He concludes that
as any Puritans of the time would probably
manifesting of life and ecclesiastical con-
have wished to do. ”
" have generally been much more familiar struction in their ideal relations, as two
with what has been said by writers and
He considered the Church to be “in a historians of different points of view con parts of a perfectly articulated whole, the
commonwealth,” and looked upon the cerning this literature than with the manu.
world has still to wait. "
power of the civil magistrate as one great scripts themselves, with resultant mis-
force which, when properly limited, might understanding, or only partial understand-
be used as a means of keeping the churches
ing. ”
under State control, and so of ensuring in We hope that these volumes will prove MODERN DEMOCRACY.
them a reasonable amount of unity in an incentive to the zealous writers who
belief and practice.
have already added much to Noncon- The crudity of expression in Mr. Frank
Mr. Burrage in his thirteenth chapter formist history through the publications Crane’s ‘God and Democracy'is the more
gives an exhaustive account of the of the Baptist and Congregational His to be regretted because it is marked by the
Gould manuscript preserved at Regent's torical Societies, and also that there may conception of beautiful ideals. This little
Park College. It contains a history of be an increase in their rolls of members, brochure will, we believe, serve to unify
the Independent Puritan congregation which have always appeared to us far and realize for many what is at present but
organized by Henry Jacob in London too small.
a vague idea of a God of Democracy who
from 1616 to 1640. Jacob considered We cannot praise too highly the in- will stand the test of an age of widening
that each church ought to have one dustry of Mr. Burrage, and we cordially our readers the standpoint from which we
spiritual outlook. In order to convey to
pastor at least, or more than one if means congratulate him on the result of his view the subject, we quote Mr. Crane's
allowed and the congregation was large arduous labours, which_must influence
definition :
enough to require it. The pastor was to all future histories of English Religion.
have absolute power over all the eccle- Nor can we close our review of his “The true oneness of a people depends
siastical affairs and government of the volumes without making mention of the upon the spirit in them, and not upon the
church. The following clause in reference modesty with which he puts forth his power over them. This now conception is
to marriage and burial is singular :- facts, and the anxiety he always displays called Democracy. Its basis is the mind of
to appreciate the efforts of other workers the whole people. It is humanity doing
“ Concerning making of marriage, and in the same field. The volumes also things for itself, and not having things done
burying the dead, we believe that they are
for it. ”
no actions of a Church minister (because they
contain beautifully executed facsimiles of
are no actions spirituall), but civill. Neither
title-pages and documents.
We held over our notice of Dr. Weyl's
are ministers called to such business : neither
'The New Democracy' in the hope that
is there so much as one example of any such The author of the History of English Mr. Percy Alden's would furnish us with
practise in the whole book of God. ”
Nonconformity' has given us
a fresh a comparison between America and
Our hopes are grievously
Mr. Burrage, after giving a complete list study of an old subject, surveyed and England.
of the various documents contained in presented by one who has consulted com disappointed. His book, with the re-
the Gould manuscript, says
petent authorities, and brought to their sounding title of Democratic England,'
consideration an original and discriminat- proves to be little more than a panegyric
that if the English
Baptists of to-day ing mind. Nonconformist readers may of the Liberal Government—its measures
have a greater knowledge of their history reasonably feel proud of their ideals.
and supporters.
Where Mr. Alden's
than they have had since Stinton's time,
honesty will not permit of whole-
it is to the Rev. George Gould of Norwich
Mr. Clark reviews the history down to hearted adulation, he either adopts a
that they are first indebted for preserving the Restoration. The remaining period patronizing tone towards great men and
the at present only known first-hand copy is to be treated in a second volume. The movements, or candidly avers his dis-
of this valuable and long-lost Stinton Nonconformist spirit is defined by him as quietude when approaching something
Crosby manuscript.
that spirit which exalts life above organiza- like criticism of his friends. His essays
Among other treasures to be found at tion.
By this principle he finds that the were originally written for an American
Regent's Park College is the library maturest Nonconformist we have yet public, and in their collected form show
presented by Dr. Angus (formerly a seen lived and died in the communion of
valued contributor to our columns), who the Catholic Church. This is the position God and Democracy. By Frank Crane.
for many years devoted much time to the assigned to John Wiclif, in whom Mr.
collecting of books and documents relating Clark finds the first emergence of the Non- Democratic England. By Percy Alden. With
(Chicago, Forbes & Co. )
to the history of the Baptists. One of the conformist spirit, and who is said to have
an Introduction by Charles F. G. Master-
conditions attached to the bequest was been not only in advance of his own time,
(New York, the Macmillan Com-
that a catalogue should be prepared. but. in advance of ours also. Wiclif
pany. )
This labour of love has been faithfully "wrought out his entire system round the The New Democracy. By Walter E. Weyl.
carried out by Dr. Gould, who succeeded ! central conception of the inner life,” (Same publishers. )
man.
## p. 385 (#291) ############################################
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
385
•
we
plainly their origin in the country ment in England' and 'The Land and the
where copyright injustice reigns supreme. Landless' oppressed by the thought that
Mr. Masterman, in his Introduction, the noble title of Mr. Alden's work will
RECENT VERSE.
speaks of Mr. Alden as having lived probably been precluded for fifty years
in an atmosphere charged with sym- from making a more worthy appearance. Storm Song, and Other Poems. By Pal-
pathy for those who toil - a reference
There is so much more to commend in lister Barkas. (Elkin Mathews. )—Here at
to his twelve years amidst the workers Dr. Weyl's The New Democracy' that least is a poet who, if his flights be some
of East London, not to their more recent care has to be exercised lest we overpraise clashes
times lacking in speed and height, yet
companionship in the rarefied air of the what after all has the faults inherent effort to fly. His slim volume of verse is
his wings vigorously in the
House of Commons. Such an explan- in a compilation of essays Mather than an somewhat confused in purport, unequal in
ation is rendered necessary by a certain elaborate work. Nevertheless, the author's achievement, defaced by false stresses and
looseness of sequence, consequent, no account of the progress of the American antitheses, prone to gaudiness, yet in
doubt, on the failure to revise proofs, people towards self-government does afford
some hardly definable manner, powerful.
to which may be attributed other mis-
a better reason for his title than Mr. Perhaps this heroic quality is less discernible
takes.
in the substance and texture of the verse
Alden's book.
than in the exaltation and liveliness of the
In the opening chapter of the book
are struck by the naive simplicity between American democracy and our own
The first differentiation to be noted spirit informing it. Much of Mr. Barkas's
storminess is but stage thunder, and his
of Mr. Alden's reiterated statement that is that of the more markedly individual expression is rarely felicitourire Yot because
opportunism is defunct—at least within istic tone adopted, which is largely, no
of his passionate feeling for life, his sense of
the Liberal ranks.
to us how such an enlightened Govern- doubt, due to the absence of such unifying of his inspiration, the poetic yeast is: in him,
ment has so far failed to distinguish, in any points of opposition as a ruling class with the ferment which creates and bodies forth
Another differen- the formless shapes of his conception.
a king at the head.
Ob-
adequate way, between wealth controlled
tiation arose from the fact that in such a viously he inherits a legacy from the great
by the individual in the public interest, vast continent the unexploited richness at pantheists, and in some degree he possesses
and wealth which is predominantly used
for personal pleasures and aggrandize the disposal of the early settlers did not
ment. The present industrial upheaval, encourage small attempts at co-operation, of which one of the most perfect examples
in the face of what, he would consider appropriation had occurred that American port, with its long, trailing rhymeless
and it was not until much wholesale
my spirit seal. ” His first poem, 'The Pass-
ample “ recognition
labour, must be a disturbing phenomenon democracy found an objective to unite lines, is strongly reminiscent of Mr. Edward
Carpenter in Towards Democracy. His
against.
to our author.
As his many admirers will doubtless Dr. Weyl states more plainly than is imagination is as yet insufficiently dis-
It moves in
expect, Mr. Alden's best chapter is that usually done one of the selfish arguments gusts and
swirls, and needs a steadier
and
on ' The Child and the State," though that can most reasonably be advanced more continuous impulse to make its driving
even here imagination is sadly lacking for the retention of our policy of a power less erratic. "Occasionally he reveals
à curious mastery over
Speaking of the
We find no other prospect dreamt of for limited Free Trade.
a particular key
which harmonizes with his own emotional
our offspring than that of taking their trusts, he says :-
tonality. Thus in ' Alone' he fuses matter
places in the blind competitive struggle, “Not only does the public pay the increase and form into a resonant, dignified, and
and the bald word
escape is con- (though not without humorous grumbling), firmly handled result, but at other times
sidered as suitable to mark the close of but it allows the trusts to sell their surplus he is ungainly, theatrical, and structurally
early tutelage as it is to designate the products more cheaply abroad than at home, loose. Mr. Barkas shows considerable
change which will mark their exit from to sell cheap abroad for the very purpose of promise, because he writes out of himself,
the workroom in after-life. The statistics selling dear at home. ”
and because a genuine and virile feeling is
reinforced by a certain visionary sense and
gathered by such a well-known authority Englishmen, we think, too often forget a power of sturdily presenting it.
as Dr. Leslie Mackenzie of Glasgow with that the purchase from our neighbour of
regard to the relative growth of children 258. worth of goods for a pound must
in the slum and in the garden city were make for increase in national wealth. The Iscariot. By Eden Phillpotts. (John
well worth reproducing. Confirmation of Unhappily, an increasing inequality of Murray. --Mr. Phillpotts is a better novelist
the conclusion-hitherto deduced from the distribution has militated against a proper than he is dramatist or poot. InThe
low percentage of female births during appreciation of the result just indicated. Iscariot' he has compressed the motif and
times of war and famine—that the female Another fact that Dr. Weyl emphasizes plan of a novel into something over fifty
of the species derives the greater advan- is the relative utility of trusts in serving not the deed, but the motives of Judas
tage from decent conditions of life, is the cause of progress; and an under in selling his master. He represents him as
found in the fact that it is not standing of the kinks in humanity leads a nationalist of intense and lofty ideals,
until we come to compare four-roomed him to express something akin to sym- whose desire to see the Romans evacuate
families with one-roomed, that girls show pathy for those self - deceptions the Palestine leads him to attempt to trick his
an even more marvellous improvement in perpetrators of which are playing a rôle master into assuming an earthly kingdom by
height and weight than boys. Mr. Alden's of altruistic complacence at odds with using the Pharisees as a pièce de résistance to
that end. The ingenuity of the idea is
succeeding chapters on Sweating,' 'Un- the real facts.
transparent. It leaves us with the impres.
employment, State Insurance,
There are points where we join issue sion that Judas was exceptionally foolish,
Age Pensions,' and 'Housing' need not
with our author and wonder whether and that his sincerity in the profession of
detain us. They may have satisfied our he too has not occasionally bowed the personal devotion to his master's self and
American cousins at the time of their knee to Baal, and the lack of dates nificance of his mission is hardly unim-
.
publication, but Englishmen will find in succeeding chapters is unnecessarily peachable. In fact, the conception leaves
little to add to the knowledge recently apparent ; but we feel the book is for the many crannies and fissures for criticism
extended by the press, whose usual in-
to penetrate.
articulateness concerning essential matters general reader, not for the specialist.
On the whole we think that Dr. Weyl's but somewhat bald.
The blank verse is resonant and dignified,
of industrial unrest has been at last
It has nobility of
overborne in some measure by their desire penultimate chapter, entitled The Social thought ; is without blemish of tasto or
to catch the halfpennies of an awakening Problem of Democracy, is the most to rhythm, but lacks the magnetic faculty of
public. The chapter on 'Municipal Owner-be commended. Indeed, it is so self- communicating its emotion to the reader.
ship’ is remarkable only for the fact contained that its republication in pam- It lies prone without the lively and serpentine
that Mr. Alden seems determined to limit phlet form would serve a useful purpose. flexibility that is inherent in blank verse
which is more than competent. There is a
the word “gain” to its monetary signifi-
powerful frontispiece by Mr. Frank Brangwyn
cance; and we read through the two re-
of Judas walking foverishly away from the
maining chapters on 'The Labour Move-
council of the Sanhedrin.
6
• Old
9
## p. 386 (#292) ############################################
386
THE ATHENÆ UM
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
66
or
a
literature who is familiar with the elements of study not only on the part of scholars,
London Windows. By Ethel Talbot. of philosophy. The great names are admir. but also of mere general readers. ” Often
(Stephen Swift. )-Miss Talbot's verse is ably troated, but they can take care of them. one of these brief official documents will
well known in various journals, and the selves. To do justice to the obscure is throw far more illumination on the actual
twenty-six pieces here published are best more difficult, but almost equally important. life of the Middle Ages than will whole chap-
described when one says that they are Here, too, Prof. Seth is generally successful, ters of formal history. Turn, for instance,
respectably meritorious newspaper verse on without adopting the attitude of those who to the index-references concerning Oxford
subjects such as London Stones, Summer exhumo a decayed system once in a decade, in the Patent Rolls of 1361-4. In April
Underground, The Pageant of Hyde Park, and spread the news that Adam Smith of the former year we find a commission of .
A Watcher in the Rain, and The Egyptian really had something to say about sym- oyer and terminer
Room at the British Museum. In each case she pathy, or that Price anticipated Kant.
says little that is not obvious and nothing on the subject of the moderns we find the
"touching, evildoers of Oxford and the parts
that has the sublime accuracy of great book less satisfactory; here its conclusions
adjacent who lately broke the manses of the masters
and scholars in the University of Oxford, killed
poetry. On the other hand, she can be are necessarily tentative, but the allotment some of the scholars and their servants, and chased
relied upon never to miss the obvious of seven and a half pages to Ferrier and five the masters and scholars from the University. "
thing ; whatever patent emotions to T. H. Green seems quite disproportionate.
æsthetic delights may lie on the surface of Our chief regret is that the connecting links Echoes of these town and gown riots come
dawn in London and rain in London she are so short, and that the relation of English throughout the volume. In June, 1363,
seizes and expresses in facile, pretty verse. to Continental thought is somewhat scantily
there is granted a
In phraseology she follows largely Swin treated. On the other hand, Prof. Seth
burne and Henley. An extract from 'Hyde wisely leaves the later writers to suggest suit for all
felonies and trespasses done by him in
"Pardon to John Buk of Oxford of the king's
Park' exhibits her characteristic qualities, the necessary criticism of the earlier, and the last dissension, disturbance, or quarrel (con-
good and bad :-
supplies abundant material for our literary tumelia) at Oxford between clerks of the University
judgments without erecting adjectival sign and laymen of the town";
Night
In the street
posts on his own account.
Innumerably blent, the noises beat
after which various “bochers,” cobblers,
Round the great lake
of silence, and the light
The second volume before us covers part masons, and the like are also pardoned.
Tread of the homeward feet
of the ground of the first, but with a different Those were brisk times in what a Cambr dge
Passes and dies, and leaves
Only the shuffling tread
end in view. Its purpose is " to shew that man has been heard to term “ that notorious
Of the grey forms that onward with bent head
Move, through the shadowy darkness that receives
the speculations of Locke and Berkeley University town. ” In the index to the
Each, without questioning,
contain within themselves the means of volume of Edward III. Close Rolls we even
Under the pitying shadow of her wing.
escape from the destructive criticism of find
And last,
reference to “ alien spies in
With golden lights and laughter and soft thud
Hume. ” The conclusion is similar to Prof. University of Oxford. ”
of powerful engines chirring through the mud,
Seth's, that Hume's scepticism is the out-
The latest motor's past.
come only of the empirical part of his pre.
Everywhere one comes across side-lights
decessors' philosophy, valid not against on the daily occupations of the common
idealism, but only against a sensational people, their interests, distresses, crimes,
ENGLISH PHILOSOPHY.
form of it. This is no secret, but the book humours — things that historians too fre-
should be of value to those who cannot i quently ignore. In 1417 William Lasyngby
Ir almost seems as if our English thinkers read Green's famous Introduction to Hume. and Robert Hull are ordered
have written too well to have philosophized It is, indeed, no mere analysis, but a fresh “to enquire into the report that a certain person
profoundly—as though the niggardly pro.
and lively study from the point of view of assuming the unusual name of Frere Tuk (Friar
vision of a stepmotherly nature had decreed
one whose anchorage is a qualified idealism. Tuck ! ) and other evildoers have entered parks,
warrens, and chaces of divers lieges of the king
that no man should excel both as a stylist Stock from doing justice to Green. Und in the counties of Surrey and Sussex, at divers
and a philosopher, and that a
of the learned and conversible worlds'
fortunately, the fact that · Siris' appeared rabbits, pheasants, and partridges, burned the
after the Treatise of Human Nature
must always be made at the expense
houses and lodges for the keeping of the parks,
of the former. But
need
compels him to leave it out of account. warrens, and chaces, and threatened the keepers. "
to apologize for English thought ; we view This curious work upon “The Virtues of
even an interest in the school of common
Tar-water and divers other subjects con-
In November, 1416, the substance of a
as no indication of an intellectual nected, together and arising one from an- romantic novel is concentrated in a re-
hiatus. On the other hand, we cannot join other” probably cost Berkeley more labour mission of taxes to the King's lieges of
with Mr. Stock in protest against the
than any of his other writings. With all | Northumberland
further Germanization of our thought his old hostility to," the corpuscularian
strange irony in the days of pragmatism, and mechanical philosophy,” he restates destroyed for no small time by sudden invasions of
Bergson, and a new realism-nor admire his his position in a serious attempt to think the king's enemies of Scotland, and deteriorated by
title, reminiscent of an English matter in
out the relation of ideas to the mind of God. great mortalities and losses sustained by great rides
English tongue for English men,” and a Hume's later ‘Inquiries' may be neglected for the resistance of the king's said enemies, and
challenge of the principles of free exchange, for his earlier writings ; but Sirisis of the county is situated on the frontier of the marches
of Scotland and the inhabitants are daily put to
laying an embargo on Kant, and prohibiting real importance to Berkeley, perhaps even unbearable charges.
Hegel for the fostering of a native product.
means of escape from the destructive
But if, in judging the speculative merit of criticism of Hume. Mr. Stock, of course, Outlawries and pardons for outlawry are
our writers, either extremity of view is doos not overlook this, but chronology puts terribly frequent ; under Edward III. many
consistent with sanity, to deny their literary
the work outside his self-appointed limits. of the pardons are granted at the request
quality is incompatible with taste. For
of Queen Philippa, whose merciful pro-
sheer artistic power Hobbes, with his “close,
clivities were not displayed at Calais alone.
naked, natural way of speaking”; Berkeley,
There is more even of amusement and
with his distinction of style and his mastery
STATE RECORDS.
entertainment to be got out of one of these
of the dialogue; Hume, with his Gallic
volumes than out of
GRADUALLY the vast stores of State docu- summaries.
many historical
polish and his sly humour, would be valuable
if their matter were valueless. Even the ments in the Record Office are being ar.
style of Locke has found admirers. Some ranged and published. The volumes of
The Fine Rolls are not so interesting exo
of the lesser and more academic writers Patent Rolls issued now number about fifty, cept to the student of land tenure. The latest
are pedantic or slovenly, it is true, but these and those of Close Rolls half as many; the volume (Vol. II. : 1307–1319) consists
blemishes are exceptional.
most recent volumes fill up three of what almost entirely of orders to escheators
are now the few remaining, gaps in the and justices concerning the resumption of
An estimate of our philosophy as series at present being undertaken, No estates at death by the king and the re-
channel of literature is the purpose of praise could be too high for the industry delivery to the heirs on performance of
Prof. Seth's book. It fulfils this purpose and devotion of the editors; both the pre- fealty. There is variety in the services
well. Written in a lucid style, clearly paration of the texts and the compilation done by tenants, amongst the things ren:
arranged, and provided with short chapters of the huge indexes must entail an enormous
connecting the various schools of thought, amount of drudgery.
dered being a crane or 58. yearly, a pound of
it should be useful to any student of
pepper, a pair of gilt spurs, 108. and a pound
As a matter of fact, these collections of of cummin, 38. 3d. and two pairs of gloves,
Rolls (Edward
English Philosophers and Schools of Philosophy. Patent and Close
III. materials for ale and bread and one pig,
By James Seth. (Dent & Co. )
1361-1364 and 1369-1374 --enrolments of a damsel to wait on the queen at the corona-
English Thought for English Thinkers. By St. miscellaneous letters issued under the Great tion, and spits for roasting the king's meat
George Stock. (Constable & Co. )
Seal and of all kinds of deeds--are worthy at the coronation.
we
see
no
sense
a
a
## p. 387 (#293) ############################################
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
387
The first volume of the Pocket Edition of vigour and frankness the origin and motives
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, edited of his conversion. “You imagine your
by E. V. Lucas (Methuen), should receive search is for truth, happiness, and liberty,"
he cries to the young Danish Nietzschians;
MR. G. W. E. RUSSELL’s autobiographic a warm welcome. The larger issue was a
memoirs One Look Back (Wells Gardner) are
little heavy in hand : this one is eminently “ in reality these are but pretexts to evade
facing seriously the problem of life. I have
companionable,” and has gained by re-
written with the ease and grace one expects
the
sought these things more passionately, than you,
from him, and should have their public. vision and a thorough insight into
but I oply found them the day I returned
The good stories are undeniably good, and research, which is always adding some fact to the Christian faith. ”
not the less so for that air of social and
or probability concerning one of the best. The book is written in a singular attitude
The Athenæum
political rightness which is characteristic of loved of English writers.
pointed out, the birth of modern English in French doctrinaire ideals. Now it is Elizabethan spirit than as touched by any
prose, of which Dryden himself, more not to be denied that our literature had French influence later than Rabelais. Butler
than any other, may be called the father. many things to learn from France, was whimsical, of the family of Robert
To the reader of our day, whether a and that Dryden and his age profited Burton, and like him full of out-of-the-
professed student of literature or no, greatly in these respects from their way learning, some of it at second-hand;
this is Dryden's chief claim to remem- lesson; but it is noteworthy that at no but his work is founded on direct observa-
brance. That through these forty years epoch which models itself on a foreign tion of life and still pleases,“ though
he was the representative writer of his literature has the fruit of its borrowing with a kind of Pain to the best sort of
time, its mouthpiece and its literary come to maturity ; time is needed for the Readers. ” Mr. Previté-Orton justly sums
dictator, is to-day a matter of small lesson to sink into the substance of our up the remaining satire of the period
moment, for there is probably no period thought.
in a way which will not encourage any
in the history of our language since the We remember, too, that this French one to enter on a fuller study of it. Mr.
Reformation the books of which are so ideal is not native even to its own soil; E. Grubb gives an interesting account of
rarely opened by the ordinary reader. that the French of France are not a Latin, the early Quaker publications and the
The few works written in those years but a Latinized race; and that, just as the gradual and short-lived appearance among
which still appeal to us are by men of a Latins had adopted this ideal at the cost them of a literary element. Three chap-
different age, and are rooted in quite of the destruction of their national poetry, ters on the Restoration Drama follow-
other sentiments and ideals than those so the price paid for it by the French is none too great an allowance for what
of the Restoration. Dryden and his that their poetry between Ronsard and was then the sole provision of fiction for
compeers have little or nothing to say the Romantic Revival (with the single the public. The first of them, by Prof.
to the man of to-day.
exception of La Fontaine) has lost its Schelling, takes us up to Wycherley's
For the first half of the seventeenth universal appeal. Happily our own lite- · Plain Dealer. ' The author does not
century our literature depended for its rature is so rich that we can well afford seem to have opened up any new ground,
vitality on the Elizabethan spirit, the to balance the loss of a century of barren and the Spanish influence on which he
influence of which died with the men of poetry by the gain to our prose in every lays stress is highly hypothetical, but
the Civil War. The new age began direction. Mere temporary absurdities, the chapter is useful. We only regret
afresh without the guidance of a con- as when Rymer applies to the study of that Etherege and Wycherley were not
tinuous tradition : it was materialistic, Othello' canons of criticism eminently in the province of Mr. Charles Whibley,
experimental, open-minded as to the applicable to documents in his Foedera,
' ' who follows, and carries on comedy
merits of all accepted rules of life and may well be passed by with little remark. to the end of the century in one of the
literature. There is no lack of explana- The chapter on Dryden by Dr. Ward, best chapters of the book. Mr. A. T.
tions of this change ; but they are all with which this volume opens, is an
Bartholomew reviews the whole period in
curiously incomplete. Politically, the appreciation of one of our greatest lite- the third chapter, with special reference
Restoration was a compromise which rary artists, worthy of the subject and to the lesser work of the day, principally
left unsettled most of the questions for of the skill of the writer. We have in tragedy — the works he has to deal
which the Civil War had been fought, but a suspicion that his admiration for with being usually too bad for praise and
which left both sides shaken in their Dryden's matchless prose blinds him too feeble for blame. Mr. Whibley follows
adherence to the ideals that had guided to the weakness of the tragedies with with a chapter on the Court Poets; and
them : doubtless the frame of mind their mock-heroics and cynical view of Prof. Saintsbury completes the first half
which this induced had its result on the life ; speaking for ourselves, we cannot of the volume with another on Seven-
literature of the day, but it did not cause count among dramatic masterpieces either teenth-Century Prosody in his usual
the change in its spirit. Nor can the comedies or tragedies as dead as even vigorous and convoluted style.
influence of the returned exiles be counted Don Sebastian All for Love. ' Re- Mr. Wheatley is better fitted than any
for much. Few indeed of the writers of membering Sarcey, we may
may count it other to give an adequate account of
this period had followed the fortunes of already sufficient criticism that Dr. Ward Evelyn and Pepys, and Dr. Ward is at
Charles, and the number of important judges by the standards of his own day his happiest in dealing with the lesser
persons in the Age of Dryden who could Dryden's plays and verse, instead of putting memoir- and letter-writers of the period.
be called returned exiles was very small. him beside the greatest. Such works as Mr. Bass Mullinger's chapter on Platonists
The personal influence of Charles II. is a Absalom and Achitophel' and
' Absalom and Achitophel' and 'Mac and Latitudinarians should be read with
factor of much greater importance; the Flecknoe,' in which his art is brought to that on Latitudinarianism and Pietism
literature of the Restoration, whether bear on life, will, however, bear com- in vol. v. of The Cambridge Modern
of poetry, of the stage, or of the pulpit, parison with anything of their kind in our History,' which it controverts in some
was a Court literature, and much of it literature. A critic is not a biographer, particulars. Archdeacon Hutton deals
was directly intended to gain his favour. but the question of Dryden's sincerity with the pulpit oratory of the period, and
He was an opportunist of sense and of must be faced in estimating the value seems rather severe upon Tillotson's style
taste, a lover of wit, and these are cha- of much of his work, and Dr. Ward has -"utterly without charm, or distinction,
racteristic of the writing of his day, and dealt with the matter at sufficient length, or interest. ” Prof. Hearnshaw's chapter
constitute its redeeming qualities.
showing him as what friends call " open- on Legal Literature gives an account of
Conditions of this kind do not mould great minded” and enemies arriviste—neither the subject which does not add much
literature; they affect the lesser authors of the vicious craftsman of Macaulay and detail to popular knowledge.
a period, while the more important are Green, nor the immaculate poet of his fame as a scholar among those who have
above their influence. The real cause admirers. Mr. H. B. Wheatley has con- worked at the original documents on
of our inability to feel any interest in the tributed a bibliography of Dryden which which he relies does not stand very high ;
Age of Dryden is that the imaginative contains much that is new to students, he owed much of his learning to Cotton
writers of the day sought their inspira- and it is perhaps a pity that he did not and some to Hakewell, who is not even
tion in literature instead of in life. They call attention in it to his suggestion that I mentioned in this chapter, while his
or
## p. 383 (#289) ############################################
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
383
we
as
knowledge of our records was far inferior to two such discourses for the Sunday, Stinton at once began to copy the manu-
that of Prynne, probably the most deeply besides conducting services during the scripts, but died too soon to complete his
read archivist in our history. As a writer, week, at each of which an address is task. The work then fell to Crosby, and,
on the other hand, Selden takes a high expected, visiting his congregation, and additional matter being obtained, it was
place.
working at the institutions associated completed by the publication of the third
With the exception of the preachers, with his church; and in addition, if a and fourth volumes in 1740, under the title
the subjects of these chapters have little popular preacher, he has frequent calls of 'The History of the English Baptists
essential connexion with the Age of from other churches. It is, however, sur- from the Reformation to the Beginning of
Dryden except in time. John Locke, on prising that among the country clergy the Reign of King George I. ' During that
whom Prof. Sorley writes an expository of the Church of England, who have period, Mr. Burrage tells us, a more
chapter, full of sound criticism and just some leisure, more should not have scholarly work was published by the Rev.
appreciation, is one of its best products. | been done in the way of research. We John Lewis, a clergyman of Margate;
His work is compact of unimaginative are glad to see that Nonconformists this was entitled 'Brief History of the
common sense applied to important sub- of recent years have shown themselves Rise and Progress of Anabaptism in Eng
jects, clearly and forcibly written-philo- desirous of collecting information con- land. Between 1793 and 1802 Dr. John
sophy speaking the language of every- cerning their early history, and our Rippon, who was the minister of the
day life. Dr. Shipley, writing on the readers may remember the welcome we church of which Spurgeon became pastor,
progress of science, deals with another have given to the publications of the edited four volumes of “The Baptist
typically Restoration movement, vivified Baptist Historical Society, as well as to Annual Register. ' In this work was first
by a constant contact with nature. The those of the Congregational Society. published Joshua Thomas's History of
instructions issued by the Royal Society Mr. Burrage, in the volumes the Baptist Association in Wales' from
at its foundation to writers of papers
are now reviewing, gives the story of 1650 to 1790. Mr. Burrage also refers
might well be reprinted and circulated early English Dissent complete in itself to Ivimey's history, the fourth volume
among scientific men at the present day. for the period treated, but he designs it of which was completed in 1830, as well
The volume closes with Mr. Arthur
the first section of a larger treatise,” | as to the considerable interest felt by
Tilley's account of the Essay and the for which he has been making investiga- English Baptists in the publications of the
beginning of modern English prose. In tions for a number of years, and biblio- Hanserd Knollys Society, two volumes
it he has dealt at some length with the graphers will be glad to hear that it is of which are composed chiefly of reprints
influence of French literature upon our proposed to print
of early Baptist works. America has, of
own during the second half of the seven-
course, quite a literature of its own on
teenth century. His view differs natur-
“an extended bibliography of between two the subject.
ally from that indicated in the early part been prepared as a supplement to Dr.
and three thousand items, which has already
of this article, but rather as respects the Henry Martyn Dexter's Collections toward Henry Martyn_Dexter's epoch-making
Among other works mentioned is Dr.
value of the literature copied than as a Bibliography of Congregationalism, but book entitled The Congregationalism of
to the use made of it. He shares with which will be chiefly concerned with the the Last Three Hundred Years as seen
Dr. Ward and Mr. Whibley the honours literature of the English Anabaptists and
in its Literature. This was, Mr.
of the volume.
Baptists before 1745.
Burrage
considers, “ the most learned work of the
Mr. Burrage modestly states that kind” up to that time (1880) produced
“ the present publication is not intended as by an American scholar; and in his
ENGLISH NONCONFORMITY. an exhaustive history of English Dissent opinion it
during even the period treated, but rather
THE first volume of Mr. Burrage's impor-
as an introduction to the study of that surpasses even to-day, in minute critical
detailed, and vast knowledge, anything that
tant work is devoted to ' History and history and its literature. "
has been done in this line either by his-
Criticism. ' In his Preface he states truly Wherever possible, primary evidence has torians of the Church of England or by
that
been sought, and second-hand sources English Dissenters. ”
In reference
even the best histories of the Church of used as little as possible.
adequate information relating to our subject, that it was as late as 1700 before any Shakespeare's little volume Baptist and
England have been noticeably lacking in to printed literature, it is curious to find To those who seek popular histories
Mr. Burrage commends the Rev. J. H.
while the average history written by Non- general work of importance was published
conformists is not unnaturally apt to be in defence of the Puritans,
in defence of the Puritans, or of any Congregational Pioneers,' and “a notable
somewhat partial in its treatment
branch of separatists with whom these posthumous work”-Dr. R. W. Dale's
and he maintains rightly that
volumes deal. “In 1702 Cotton Mather
History of English Congregationalism,
" English church history as a whole, how. brought out his now celebrated folio 1907, which was completed and pub-
lished by his son, Chancellor Dale.
ever, cannot be said to be satisfactorily entitled · Magnalia Christi Americana,""
studied, unless the story of Dissent is fully lishing his numerous writings concerning attention to
Strype pub- Mr. Burrage in his Foreword' calls
and fairly represented. '
the change of meaning
the Church of England, which contain which has taken place during three
Nonconformity has in the past had but
some references to the early English centuries in the words Nonconformist,
few historians, and the chief reason of this separatists. In 1732–8 Neale’s ‘History Dissenter, Independent, Congregationalist,
is the fact that its ministers, when com- of the Puritans, or Protestant Noncon- and Baptist. Î'o-day they are applied in
petent for such a task, have had too formists,' appeared; this work has been popular usage to persons who have
much to occupy them to spare time for several times republished, but up to that separated themselves from the Church
historic research.
time in England neither the Baptists nor of England; but the words have not
The sermon, it is well known, has always Independents had published any history always been so employed :-
formed an important part in Noncon of their rise and growth.
formist services, and the minister has
“ The earliest Nonconformists, for in-
Fortunately, however, some of the early stance, were not separatists, but often
to devote much time to the preparation of leaders of the Baptists in London had left learned clergymen of the Church of Eng;
behind them a few documents relating to land, who found fault with the clerical
The Early English Dissenters in the Light their early history; and these, after passing vestments, &c. , and yet remained in the
of Recent
Champlin Burrage. 2 vols. (Cambridge through several hands, came into the Church. The term Puritan appears to have
University Press. )
possession of Stinton, who succeeded been first used about 1566, and was correctly
History of English Nonconformity, from Wiclit his father-in-law, Benjamim Keach, as applied to Nonconformists as previously
defined. ”
to the Close of the Nineteenth Century pastor of the congregation at Horsely-
By Henry W. Clark. –Vol. I. From Wickij | down. Keach, it may be recalled, The word Dissenter appears to have had
to the Restoration. (Chapman & Hall. ) suffered the punishment of the pillory. I a history similar to that of the word
i
"|
## p. 384 (#290) ############################################
384
THE ATHENÆUM
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
66
for a
66
Nonconformist, only it seems to have been Angus as Principal of the College. The and so he becomes “ the standard whereby
first employed after 1641 :-
Catalogue forms a handsome quarto the Nonconformist spirit, in all its sub-
“The first Englishman of strong intel- volume, of a copy of which we are the sequent manifestations, must submit to
lectual gifts to win distinction as a preacher
fortunate possessors.
be judged. ” By this same principle the
of separatism and as the bold author of
Mr. Burrage devotes his second volume author tests Church movements in the
works which directly encouraged separation to documents illustrative of the history Elizabethan age. He insists upon clearly
from the Church of England was Robert of early English Dissent. While he does discriminating between Puritans and Pres-
Browne, and from 1582 to the present time
byterians, and considers that the Puritans,
his name has been a landmark in English not claim for them
church history, known not only in England, “the dignity of forming
while accepting the organization of the
but also on the Continent and in America. ” | Corpus of the literature relating to the real Nonconformists, and that the Presby;
“the dignity of forming a complete English Church, were nevertheless the
Browne is well entitled to be called subject, they have been carefully selected terians, who protested against the Church
the Father of Congregationalism. Like from the mass of material now available for
Wesley, he had no intention of instituting to the reader a number of the more inacces at all. On the principle that, wherever
investigation. My aim has been to present constitutions, were not Nonconformists
any permanent separation of churches sible or historically valuable writings, many form is made compulsory, life loses its
from one another :-
of which have as yet been only imperfectly supremacy, and the Nonconformist spirit
or partially reproduced. Others have re- is lost, Mr. Clark finds that the true Non-
The idea of State Church seemed to mained entirely, or almost entirely, un-
him as desirable as to any other English noticed. ”
conformist theory was grasped by the
citizen. . . . he would undoubtedly have used
Independents, but that while they held
the parish church buildings, practically as Such a selection has long been needed for the theory, “they did not entirely exem-
they stood, for his congregational churches, students, who hitherto, Mr. Burrage fears, plify it. " He concludes that
as any Puritans of the time would probably
manifesting of life and ecclesiastical con-
have wished to do. ”
" have generally been much more familiar struction in their ideal relations, as two
with what has been said by writers and
He considered the Church to be “in a historians of different points of view con parts of a perfectly articulated whole, the
commonwealth,” and looked upon the cerning this literature than with the manu.
world has still to wait. "
power of the civil magistrate as one great scripts themselves, with resultant mis-
force which, when properly limited, might understanding, or only partial understand-
be used as a means of keeping the churches
ing. ”
under State control, and so of ensuring in We hope that these volumes will prove MODERN DEMOCRACY.
them a reasonable amount of unity in an incentive to the zealous writers who
belief and practice.
have already added much to Noncon- The crudity of expression in Mr. Frank
Mr. Burrage in his thirteenth chapter formist history through the publications Crane’s ‘God and Democracy'is the more
gives an exhaustive account of the of the Baptist and Congregational His to be regretted because it is marked by the
Gould manuscript preserved at Regent's torical Societies, and also that there may conception of beautiful ideals. This little
Park College. It contains a history of be an increase in their rolls of members, brochure will, we believe, serve to unify
the Independent Puritan congregation which have always appeared to us far and realize for many what is at present but
organized by Henry Jacob in London too small.
a vague idea of a God of Democracy who
from 1616 to 1640. Jacob considered We cannot praise too highly the in- will stand the test of an age of widening
that each church ought to have one dustry of Mr. Burrage, and we cordially our readers the standpoint from which we
spiritual outlook. In order to convey to
pastor at least, or more than one if means congratulate him on the result of his view the subject, we quote Mr. Crane's
allowed and the congregation was large arduous labours, which_must influence
definition :
enough to require it. The pastor was to all future histories of English Religion.
have absolute power over all the eccle- Nor can we close our review of his “The true oneness of a people depends
siastical affairs and government of the volumes without making mention of the upon the spirit in them, and not upon the
church. The following clause in reference modesty with which he puts forth his power over them. This now conception is
to marriage and burial is singular :- facts, and the anxiety he always displays called Democracy. Its basis is the mind of
to appreciate the efforts of other workers the whole people. It is humanity doing
“ Concerning making of marriage, and in the same field. The volumes also things for itself, and not having things done
burying the dead, we believe that they are
for it. ”
no actions of a Church minister (because they
contain beautifully executed facsimiles of
are no actions spirituall), but civill. Neither
title-pages and documents.
We held over our notice of Dr. Weyl's
are ministers called to such business : neither
'The New Democracy' in the hope that
is there so much as one example of any such The author of the History of English Mr. Percy Alden's would furnish us with
practise in the whole book of God. ”
Nonconformity' has given us
a fresh a comparison between America and
Our hopes are grievously
Mr. Burrage, after giving a complete list study of an old subject, surveyed and England.
of the various documents contained in presented by one who has consulted com disappointed. His book, with the re-
the Gould manuscript, says
petent authorities, and brought to their sounding title of Democratic England,'
consideration an original and discriminat- proves to be little more than a panegyric
that if the English
Baptists of to-day ing mind. Nonconformist readers may of the Liberal Government—its measures
have a greater knowledge of their history reasonably feel proud of their ideals.
and supporters.
Where Mr. Alden's
than they have had since Stinton's time,
honesty will not permit of whole-
it is to the Rev. George Gould of Norwich
Mr. Clark reviews the history down to hearted adulation, he either adopts a
that they are first indebted for preserving the Restoration. The remaining period patronizing tone towards great men and
the at present only known first-hand copy is to be treated in a second volume. The movements, or candidly avers his dis-
of this valuable and long-lost Stinton Nonconformist spirit is defined by him as quietude when approaching something
Crosby manuscript.
that spirit which exalts life above organiza- like criticism of his friends. His essays
Among other treasures to be found at tion.
By this principle he finds that the were originally written for an American
Regent's Park College is the library maturest Nonconformist we have yet public, and in their collected form show
presented by Dr. Angus (formerly a seen lived and died in the communion of
valued contributor to our columns), who the Catholic Church. This is the position God and Democracy. By Frank Crane.
for many years devoted much time to the assigned to John Wiclif, in whom Mr.
collecting of books and documents relating Clark finds the first emergence of the Non- Democratic England. By Percy Alden. With
(Chicago, Forbes & Co. )
to the history of the Baptists. One of the conformist spirit, and who is said to have
an Introduction by Charles F. G. Master-
conditions attached to the bequest was been not only in advance of his own time,
(New York, the Macmillan Com-
that a catalogue should be prepared. but. in advance of ours also. Wiclif
pany. )
This labour of love has been faithfully "wrought out his entire system round the The New Democracy. By Walter E. Weyl.
carried out by Dr. Gould, who succeeded ! central conception of the inner life,” (Same publishers. )
man.
## p. 385 (#291) ############################################
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
385
•
we
plainly their origin in the country ment in England' and 'The Land and the
where copyright injustice reigns supreme. Landless' oppressed by the thought that
Mr. Masterman, in his Introduction, the noble title of Mr. Alden's work will
RECENT VERSE.
speaks of Mr. Alden as having lived probably been precluded for fifty years
in an atmosphere charged with sym- from making a more worthy appearance. Storm Song, and Other Poems. By Pal-
pathy for those who toil - a reference
There is so much more to commend in lister Barkas. (Elkin Mathews. )—Here at
to his twelve years amidst the workers Dr. Weyl's The New Democracy' that least is a poet who, if his flights be some
of East London, not to their more recent care has to be exercised lest we overpraise clashes
times lacking in speed and height, yet
companionship in the rarefied air of the what after all has the faults inherent effort to fly. His slim volume of verse is
his wings vigorously in the
House of Commons. Such an explan- in a compilation of essays Mather than an somewhat confused in purport, unequal in
ation is rendered necessary by a certain elaborate work. Nevertheless, the author's achievement, defaced by false stresses and
looseness of sequence, consequent, no account of the progress of the American antitheses, prone to gaudiness, yet in
doubt, on the failure to revise proofs, people towards self-government does afford
some hardly definable manner, powerful.
to which may be attributed other mis-
a better reason for his title than Mr. Perhaps this heroic quality is less discernible
takes.
in the substance and texture of the verse
Alden's book.
than in the exaltation and liveliness of the
In the opening chapter of the book
are struck by the naive simplicity between American democracy and our own
The first differentiation to be noted spirit informing it. Much of Mr. Barkas's
storminess is but stage thunder, and his
of Mr. Alden's reiterated statement that is that of the more markedly individual expression is rarely felicitourire Yot because
opportunism is defunct—at least within istic tone adopted, which is largely, no
of his passionate feeling for life, his sense of
the Liberal ranks.
to us how such an enlightened Govern- doubt, due to the absence of such unifying of his inspiration, the poetic yeast is: in him,
ment has so far failed to distinguish, in any points of opposition as a ruling class with the ferment which creates and bodies forth
Another differen- the formless shapes of his conception.
a king at the head.
Ob-
adequate way, between wealth controlled
tiation arose from the fact that in such a viously he inherits a legacy from the great
by the individual in the public interest, vast continent the unexploited richness at pantheists, and in some degree he possesses
and wealth which is predominantly used
for personal pleasures and aggrandize the disposal of the early settlers did not
ment. The present industrial upheaval, encourage small attempts at co-operation, of which one of the most perfect examples
in the face of what, he would consider appropriation had occurred that American port, with its long, trailing rhymeless
and it was not until much wholesale
my spirit seal. ” His first poem, 'The Pass-
ample “ recognition
labour, must be a disturbing phenomenon democracy found an objective to unite lines, is strongly reminiscent of Mr. Edward
Carpenter in Towards Democracy. His
against.
to our author.
As his many admirers will doubtless Dr. Weyl states more plainly than is imagination is as yet insufficiently dis-
It moves in
expect, Mr. Alden's best chapter is that usually done one of the selfish arguments gusts and
swirls, and needs a steadier
and
on ' The Child and the State," though that can most reasonably be advanced more continuous impulse to make its driving
even here imagination is sadly lacking for the retention of our policy of a power less erratic. "Occasionally he reveals
à curious mastery over
Speaking of the
We find no other prospect dreamt of for limited Free Trade.
a particular key
which harmonizes with his own emotional
our offspring than that of taking their trusts, he says :-
tonality. Thus in ' Alone' he fuses matter
places in the blind competitive struggle, “Not only does the public pay the increase and form into a resonant, dignified, and
and the bald word
escape is con- (though not without humorous grumbling), firmly handled result, but at other times
sidered as suitable to mark the close of but it allows the trusts to sell their surplus he is ungainly, theatrical, and structurally
early tutelage as it is to designate the products more cheaply abroad than at home, loose. Mr. Barkas shows considerable
change which will mark their exit from to sell cheap abroad for the very purpose of promise, because he writes out of himself,
the workroom in after-life. The statistics selling dear at home. ”
and because a genuine and virile feeling is
reinforced by a certain visionary sense and
gathered by such a well-known authority Englishmen, we think, too often forget a power of sturdily presenting it.
as Dr. Leslie Mackenzie of Glasgow with that the purchase from our neighbour of
regard to the relative growth of children 258. worth of goods for a pound must
in the slum and in the garden city were make for increase in national wealth. The Iscariot. By Eden Phillpotts. (John
well worth reproducing. Confirmation of Unhappily, an increasing inequality of Murray. --Mr. Phillpotts is a better novelist
the conclusion-hitherto deduced from the distribution has militated against a proper than he is dramatist or poot. InThe
low percentage of female births during appreciation of the result just indicated. Iscariot' he has compressed the motif and
times of war and famine—that the female Another fact that Dr. Weyl emphasizes plan of a novel into something over fifty
of the species derives the greater advan- is the relative utility of trusts in serving not the deed, but the motives of Judas
tage from decent conditions of life, is the cause of progress; and an under in selling his master. He represents him as
found in the fact that it is not standing of the kinks in humanity leads a nationalist of intense and lofty ideals,
until we come to compare four-roomed him to express something akin to sym- whose desire to see the Romans evacuate
families with one-roomed, that girls show pathy for those self - deceptions the Palestine leads him to attempt to trick his
an even more marvellous improvement in perpetrators of which are playing a rôle master into assuming an earthly kingdom by
height and weight than boys. Mr. Alden's of altruistic complacence at odds with using the Pharisees as a pièce de résistance to
that end. The ingenuity of the idea is
succeeding chapters on Sweating,' 'Un- the real facts.
transparent. It leaves us with the impres.
employment, State Insurance,
There are points where we join issue sion that Judas was exceptionally foolish,
Age Pensions,' and 'Housing' need not
with our author and wonder whether and that his sincerity in the profession of
detain us. They may have satisfied our he too has not occasionally bowed the personal devotion to his master's self and
American cousins at the time of their knee to Baal, and the lack of dates nificance of his mission is hardly unim-
.
publication, but Englishmen will find in succeeding chapters is unnecessarily peachable. In fact, the conception leaves
little to add to the knowledge recently apparent ; but we feel the book is for the many crannies and fissures for criticism
extended by the press, whose usual in-
to penetrate.
articulateness concerning essential matters general reader, not for the specialist.
On the whole we think that Dr. Weyl's but somewhat bald.
The blank verse is resonant and dignified,
of industrial unrest has been at last
It has nobility of
overborne in some measure by their desire penultimate chapter, entitled The Social thought ; is without blemish of tasto or
to catch the halfpennies of an awakening Problem of Democracy, is the most to rhythm, but lacks the magnetic faculty of
public. The chapter on 'Municipal Owner-be commended. Indeed, it is so self- communicating its emotion to the reader.
ship’ is remarkable only for the fact contained that its republication in pam- It lies prone without the lively and serpentine
that Mr. Alden seems determined to limit phlet form would serve a useful purpose. flexibility that is inherent in blank verse
which is more than competent. There is a
the word “gain” to its monetary signifi-
powerful frontispiece by Mr. Frank Brangwyn
cance; and we read through the two re-
of Judas walking foverishly away from the
maining chapters on 'The Labour Move-
council of the Sanhedrin.
6
• Old
9
## p. 386 (#292) ############################################
386
THE ATHENÆ UM
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
66
or
a
literature who is familiar with the elements of study not only on the part of scholars,
London Windows. By Ethel Talbot. of philosophy. The great names are admir. but also of mere general readers. ” Often
(Stephen Swift. )-Miss Talbot's verse is ably troated, but they can take care of them. one of these brief official documents will
well known in various journals, and the selves. To do justice to the obscure is throw far more illumination on the actual
twenty-six pieces here published are best more difficult, but almost equally important. life of the Middle Ages than will whole chap-
described when one says that they are Here, too, Prof. Seth is generally successful, ters of formal history. Turn, for instance,
respectably meritorious newspaper verse on without adopting the attitude of those who to the index-references concerning Oxford
subjects such as London Stones, Summer exhumo a decayed system once in a decade, in the Patent Rolls of 1361-4. In April
Underground, The Pageant of Hyde Park, and spread the news that Adam Smith of the former year we find a commission of .
A Watcher in the Rain, and The Egyptian really had something to say about sym- oyer and terminer
Room at the British Museum. In each case she pathy, or that Price anticipated Kant.
says little that is not obvious and nothing on the subject of the moderns we find the
"touching, evildoers of Oxford and the parts
that has the sublime accuracy of great book less satisfactory; here its conclusions
adjacent who lately broke the manses of the masters
and scholars in the University of Oxford, killed
poetry. On the other hand, she can be are necessarily tentative, but the allotment some of the scholars and their servants, and chased
relied upon never to miss the obvious of seven and a half pages to Ferrier and five the masters and scholars from the University. "
thing ; whatever patent emotions to T. H. Green seems quite disproportionate.
æsthetic delights may lie on the surface of Our chief regret is that the connecting links Echoes of these town and gown riots come
dawn in London and rain in London she are so short, and that the relation of English throughout the volume. In June, 1363,
seizes and expresses in facile, pretty verse. to Continental thought is somewhat scantily
there is granted a
In phraseology she follows largely Swin treated. On the other hand, Prof. Seth
burne and Henley. An extract from 'Hyde wisely leaves the later writers to suggest suit for all
felonies and trespasses done by him in
"Pardon to John Buk of Oxford of the king's
Park' exhibits her characteristic qualities, the necessary criticism of the earlier, and the last dissension, disturbance, or quarrel (con-
good and bad :-
supplies abundant material for our literary tumelia) at Oxford between clerks of the University
judgments without erecting adjectival sign and laymen of the town";
Night
In the street
posts on his own account.
Innumerably blent, the noises beat
after which various “bochers,” cobblers,
Round the great lake
of silence, and the light
The second volume before us covers part masons, and the like are also pardoned.
Tread of the homeward feet
of the ground of the first, but with a different Those were brisk times in what a Cambr dge
Passes and dies, and leaves
Only the shuffling tread
end in view. Its purpose is " to shew that man has been heard to term “ that notorious
Of the grey forms that onward with bent head
Move, through the shadowy darkness that receives
the speculations of Locke and Berkeley University town. ” In the index to the
Each, without questioning,
contain within themselves the means of volume of Edward III. Close Rolls we even
Under the pitying shadow of her wing.
escape from the destructive criticism of find
And last,
reference to “ alien spies in
With golden lights and laughter and soft thud
Hume. ” The conclusion is similar to Prof. University of Oxford. ”
of powerful engines chirring through the mud,
Seth's, that Hume's scepticism is the out-
The latest motor's past.
come only of the empirical part of his pre.
Everywhere one comes across side-lights
decessors' philosophy, valid not against on the daily occupations of the common
idealism, but only against a sensational people, their interests, distresses, crimes,
ENGLISH PHILOSOPHY.
form of it. This is no secret, but the book humours — things that historians too fre-
should be of value to those who cannot i quently ignore. In 1417 William Lasyngby
Ir almost seems as if our English thinkers read Green's famous Introduction to Hume. and Robert Hull are ordered
have written too well to have philosophized It is, indeed, no mere analysis, but a fresh “to enquire into the report that a certain person
profoundly—as though the niggardly pro.
and lively study from the point of view of assuming the unusual name of Frere Tuk (Friar
vision of a stepmotherly nature had decreed
one whose anchorage is a qualified idealism. Tuck ! ) and other evildoers have entered parks,
warrens, and chaces of divers lieges of the king
that no man should excel both as a stylist Stock from doing justice to Green. Und in the counties of Surrey and Sussex, at divers
and a philosopher, and that a
of the learned and conversible worlds'
fortunately, the fact that · Siris' appeared rabbits, pheasants, and partridges, burned the
after the Treatise of Human Nature
must always be made at the expense
houses and lodges for the keeping of the parks,
of the former. But
need
compels him to leave it out of account. warrens, and chaces, and threatened the keepers. "
to apologize for English thought ; we view This curious work upon “The Virtues of
even an interest in the school of common
Tar-water and divers other subjects con-
In November, 1416, the substance of a
as no indication of an intellectual nected, together and arising one from an- romantic novel is concentrated in a re-
hiatus. On the other hand, we cannot join other” probably cost Berkeley more labour mission of taxes to the King's lieges of
with Mr. Stock in protest against the
than any of his other writings. With all | Northumberland
further Germanization of our thought his old hostility to," the corpuscularian
strange irony in the days of pragmatism, and mechanical philosophy,” he restates destroyed for no small time by sudden invasions of
Bergson, and a new realism-nor admire his his position in a serious attempt to think the king's enemies of Scotland, and deteriorated by
title, reminiscent of an English matter in
out the relation of ideas to the mind of God. great mortalities and losses sustained by great rides
English tongue for English men,” and a Hume's later ‘Inquiries' may be neglected for the resistance of the king's said enemies, and
challenge of the principles of free exchange, for his earlier writings ; but Sirisis of the county is situated on the frontier of the marches
of Scotland and the inhabitants are daily put to
laying an embargo on Kant, and prohibiting real importance to Berkeley, perhaps even unbearable charges.
Hegel for the fostering of a native product.
means of escape from the destructive
But if, in judging the speculative merit of criticism of Hume. Mr. Stock, of course, Outlawries and pardons for outlawry are
our writers, either extremity of view is doos not overlook this, but chronology puts terribly frequent ; under Edward III. many
consistent with sanity, to deny their literary
the work outside his self-appointed limits. of the pardons are granted at the request
quality is incompatible with taste. For
of Queen Philippa, whose merciful pro-
sheer artistic power Hobbes, with his “close,
clivities were not displayed at Calais alone.
naked, natural way of speaking”; Berkeley,
There is more even of amusement and
with his distinction of style and his mastery
STATE RECORDS.
entertainment to be got out of one of these
of the dialogue; Hume, with his Gallic
volumes than out of
GRADUALLY the vast stores of State docu- summaries.
many historical
polish and his sly humour, would be valuable
if their matter were valueless. Even the ments in the Record Office are being ar.
style of Locke has found admirers. Some ranged and published. The volumes of
The Fine Rolls are not so interesting exo
of the lesser and more academic writers Patent Rolls issued now number about fifty, cept to the student of land tenure. The latest
are pedantic or slovenly, it is true, but these and those of Close Rolls half as many; the volume (Vol. II. : 1307–1319) consists
blemishes are exceptional.
most recent volumes fill up three of what almost entirely of orders to escheators
are now the few remaining, gaps in the and justices concerning the resumption of
An estimate of our philosophy as series at present being undertaken, No estates at death by the king and the re-
channel of literature is the purpose of praise could be too high for the industry delivery to the heirs on performance of
Prof. Seth's book. It fulfils this purpose and devotion of the editors; both the pre- fealty. There is variety in the services
well. Written in a lucid style, clearly paration of the texts and the compilation done by tenants, amongst the things ren:
arranged, and provided with short chapters of the huge indexes must entail an enormous
connecting the various schools of thought, amount of drudgery.
dered being a crane or 58. yearly, a pound of
it should be useful to any student of
pepper, a pair of gilt spurs, 108. and a pound
As a matter of fact, these collections of of cummin, 38. 3d. and two pairs of gloves,
Rolls (Edward
English Philosophers and Schools of Philosophy. Patent and Close
III. materials for ale and bread and one pig,
By James Seth. (Dent & Co. )
1361-1364 and 1369-1374 --enrolments of a damsel to wait on the queen at the corona-
English Thought for English Thinkers. By St. miscellaneous letters issued under the Great tion, and spits for roasting the king's meat
George Stock. (Constable & Co. )
Seal and of all kinds of deeds--are worthy at the coronation.
we
see
no
sense
a
a
## p. 387 (#293) ############################################
No. 4406, APRIL 6, 1912
THE ATHENÆUM
387
The first volume of the Pocket Edition of vigour and frankness the origin and motives
OUR LIBRARY TABLE.
The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb, edited of his conversion. “You imagine your
by E. V. Lucas (Methuen), should receive search is for truth, happiness, and liberty,"
he cries to the young Danish Nietzschians;
MR. G. W. E. RUSSELL’s autobiographic a warm welcome. The larger issue was a
memoirs One Look Back (Wells Gardner) are
little heavy in hand : this one is eminently “ in reality these are but pretexts to evade
facing seriously the problem of life. I have
companionable,” and has gained by re-
written with the ease and grace one expects
the
sought these things more passionately, than you,
from him, and should have their public. vision and a thorough insight into
but I oply found them the day I returned
The good stories are undeniably good, and research, which is always adding some fact to the Christian faith. ”
not the less so for that air of social and
or probability concerning one of the best. The book is written in a singular attitude
The Athenæum
political rightness which is characteristic of loved of English writers.
