LIFE. OF FATHER (*OREM
Life of Father Goreh. By the Rev. C. E. Gardner. (Longmans and Co. 5s.)—Nilakantha Goreh was a Brahman of high station, belonging to a family in which service at Court was hereditary. Probably no more distinguished convert, as regards descent and, indeed, personal ability, has been made in recent times. This fact gives a special value to the record of his life. We cannot say that we are much impressed by the way in which the story of his life is told. The biographer does not put himself forward, but he does make the S.S.J.E. (the Society of St. John the Evangelist, otherwise the Cowley Brotherhood) very prominent. As a matter of fact, Father Gore' never rose above the position of a novice in the Society, and did not find satisfaction in its rule of life. When he had actual experience of this by residing for a time at Cowley, he was not at all happy; nor, when he was away, were its customary observances to his mind. He was consequently given absolute liberty by the Superior (who edits this volume). Doubtless it was sound policy to keep up the tie with so distin- guished a man ; nor must we forget the wise liberality with which the Society continued its material help. This biography has certainly the merit of showing us the man as he was. From this point of view it is of the greatest value. We may learn much from it as to the hindrances which beset Christian work in India, and something of the way in which they may be overcome. Father Goreh himself held that an ascetic celibate clergy had the most hopeful prospect of usefulness. The difficulty here is,—Can the European accommodate himself to the life which is said to be a necessary condition of success? An associate of Father Goreh, Neill by name, made the attempt, but he died at forty-five, and died, it is evident, because he had attempted an impossible mode of life. The true evangelist will be ready to sacrifice himself. But it is impossible for a responsible authority to go on sending men to an almost certain death. And may it not be argued that the prospect would give a morbid tone to the missionary's mind? To keep a sane and sober mind, you must live under ordinary conditions. But so complex a problem cannot be dis- cussed here. Let it suffice for the present to say that this book is distinctly enlightening.
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