BOOK REVIEWS 35 Other That the Book Might Become Gles and Phases of Personal Psychology Required Reading in Every High School
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A Nation of Nations, by Louis Adam Puritanism and Democracy which re ic. New York : Harper and Broth echoes the slogan in the following ers, 1945. 3:99 pp., p.50. words : "The essential faith of America came into being in the cold, clear The book offers a ringing challenge headed, spacious world of Puritan New to some of our traditional theories England." concerning the origins of America. As a matter of fact, the present-day The particular theory which has population of America is more than aroused the author is the one which one-third non-Anglo- Saxon stock of the holds that this is a white-Protestant- first, second and third generations. country whose main Anglo-Saxon Thus, instead of there being one is infiltration stniggle against by "essential faith" of America, according "hordes of foreigners" and negroes to Perry, the author believes there are who persistently threaten to adulter a dozen essential faiths. "Diversity" is ate the stock and spirit. original the pattern of America and this has The author's plea is for a revision made her great. and rethinking of much of our history. It is the author's belief-his effort his contention that there is "an It is supporting it-that we are beginning to enormous mass of American history" "sense the distortions, the omissions, which has been suppressed. He sees the departure from reality, the chasm of the British in this an early scheme between what we think America is and American and to give ideology polity what it actually is." Increasingly we an and English aspect pro-English are realizing that the White-Anglo- direction. This became especially de Saxon-Protestant myth is not ade sirable after the colonies became free quate, is not true, and it is a prolific and independent. cause of frictions and strains in our There are two ways of looking at body politic. American history. The first has been He then proceeds in case-study indicated ; it is the view which regards fashion to recount the valuable services this country as Anglo-Saxon in origin, and contributions of many diverse institutions, culture and character. racial groups to the making of The second view holds that the coun America. It is an imposing list of men try is not essentially Anglo-Saxon in and heroic deeds which he gives in pattern even though the language is thirteen chapters, dealing with the English. It is rather a blend of cul significant contributions of non-Anglo- tures from many lands. The result is Saxons from earliest colonial days to that ours is a new civilization, owing the present. The list includes Ameri much to the Anglo-Saxons but owing cans from Italy, Spain, Mexico, much to other racial stocks as well. France, Holland, Sweden, Russia, Ger The author points out that nearly all many, Yugoslavia, Norway, Greece, our "historians, essayists, novelists, Poland, Ireland, and the negroes. short-story writers, and our editors" "Sir. Marcus Nalley of Tacoma, magnify the Anglo-Saxon heritage to Washington generously sent gift copies the dispargement or suppression of the of the book to many teachers in our other contributions. As a sample he colleges and other institutions. He quotes Ralph Barton Perry's book quotes with approval the wish of an- BOOK REVIEWS 35 other that the book might become gles and phases of personal psychology required reading in every high school. in the life of David that only the most It could as well be required reading deeply spiritual and penetrating stu for the clergy, social workers and dent of the things of God can observe. journalists, for it deals in a forth-right In one of his chapter divisions Dr. manner with a grave sociological pro Blackwood uses as a topic "The blem. Revival That May Follow War." In WILDER R. REYNOLDS this study the reader can see that Is Professor of Church History rael was ready for a revival of Jehovah Asbury Theological Seminary worship after the chastenings and pri vations of the i)eriod of war with the Preaching From Samuel, by Andrew Philistines. With prophetic and ac W. Blackwood. New York : Abing curate challenge Dr. Blackwood calls don Cokesbury, 1946. 256 pp. us to believe that the minds and hearts f2.00. of men today are ready for revival. He that these are in which Dr. Andrew W. Blackwood has been suggests days to expect a return to and a professor of homiletics at Princeton religion, period of spiritual awakening. Seminary for sixteen years. His book. From Samuel is divided From Samuel will interest Preaching Preaching into three sections. The first he calls every lover of great Bible teaching, but "The Pastor Who Guides in Rebuild it should be particularly instructive ing." In this division he deals with and inspiring to ministers because Dr. the leadership of the great prophet Blackwood is both a specialist in the during the judgeship of Eli, during the presentation of the Word, and an ex period of the misrule of his and cellent teacher in Biblical exposition. sons, the end of the period of the One is impressed with the of judges. accuracy Part Two he calls "The Ruler Who his scholarship and with the vividness Failed in Rebuilding." This section is of his spiritual imagination. a of the and shadows in ministers from the study lights Many preaching the of Saul the first of Old Testament take their audiences reign king Israel. In the third division Dr. back into the early bible times, and Blackwood presents David as the after certain textual and historical "Man Who Leads in observations leave them there. Dr. Rebuilding." David possesses the true "Spirit of Blackwood with dramatic ac presents Reconstruction." He becomes the ideal curacy the life of the ancient prophet leader, the anointed of the God's Samuel and the turbulent times that Lord, chosen one. Much in the life and mark the end of the of the spirit period of David is made to show us the judges and the reigns of Saul and nature of true spiritual leadership in David ; and then he lifts up before our this age, and in every age. eyes a certain timeless and timely To a person who believes that God trutlis that reveal the nature of is speaking to us today, in the Old similarly dangerous and disturbing Testament as well as the New; who conditions in our modern society. believes that "all scripture is . Dr. Blackwood shows us in the profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for of Samuel characteristics leadership correction, for instruction in right of the and successful man good pastor eousness," this book will not only of God. He sees in the character and confirm that faith, but will be useful l>ehavior of King Saul certain prin enlightenment to his total sense of that to ciples might apply leadership divine truth and teaching. in our He makes David age. King JAMES FLINT BOUGHTON seem to be a We are contemporary. Professor of Philosophy and Religion given insight into some of the strug Asbury College 36 BOOK REVIEWS Revelation and Reason, by Emil Brun system is, Dr. Clark contends, its ner (translated by Olive Wyon inability to come to grips with man's from the German edition of moral situation. This grows out of 1941). Philadelphia: The West the fact that in the Judeo-Chiistian minster Press, 1946. xii, 440 ethic springs from a positive belief in pages. $4.50. an eternal Lawgiver, with respect to whose mandates acts are or This volume is reviewed editorially right wrong. in this issue. See pages 3 and follow ing. It is probable that most of the readers of this review would be in agreement with our author at these A Christian Philosophy of Edwation, points. It is difficult to avoid the feel by Gordon H. Clark. Grand Rap ing, however, that he promises much ids : Eerdmans, 1946. 217 pp. |3. more in the fir-st half of the volume than he succeeds in in the From the time of Plato until uow delivering latter part. While he makes thoughtful men have pondered the many pertinent observations in the second relation of education to the pre-sup- half at the of the weaknesses of positions basic to human culture. Dr. point American he seems Clark, professor of Philosophy in But public education, to succeed in offeriu" as a solution ler University, has reopened the little more than a renewed stress question, this time by route of an upon the 'Three a depreciation (doubt examination of our Zeitgeist done in R's,' less of mixed academic and the light of historic orthodoxy. deserved) vocational and a defense of Welcome of Professor Clark's in training, the of Christian to sistence, all too seldom made since right people pro vide and James Orr's Christian View of God separate primary secondary for their children. and the World, that Christianity in schooling The under title "The volves a distinctive manner of viewing chapter, Chris tian of Education" the whole range of human investiga Philosophy prom ises at last to us we so tion. In the light of newer trends, he give what need. While it is no means assays to state the characteristically sorely by Christian understanding view of God, trivial, it seems inconclusive. The deal of man, and of human destiny. This thirty pages sketchily with Chris is made instrumental to a treatment of tian Apologetics, the place of reason the larger question of the "religious in education, the question of aims in neutrality" of our secular educational education, the relation of emotion to system.