2 MARCH 1901, Page 23

CURRENT LITERATURE.

CHRISTIAN EGYPT.

Christian Egypt: Past, Prebent, and Future. By the Rev. Montague Fowler, M.A. (Church Newspaper Company. 6s. net.)—It will be seen from the title of this book that Mr. Fowler has endeavoured to put a great deal of inform .tion into it. There is a sketch of the history of the past; a review of the ecclesiastical polities of toe present; and a statement of future prospects. Probably it would have been better to have separated the historical portion Of the subject from that which concerns the present state of things. But we must not blame Mr. Fowler for cowing to a different conclusion. He wishes to attract readers of different tastes, and has probably, from the practical point of view, acted for the best. The historical sketch will serve its pur. pose sufficiently well, but it cannot be ranked as a permanent con- tribution to the literature of the subject. On the other band, filo information which is given us about nati ve and foreign Christianity is very valuable. It seems that after considel able opposition on the part of the authorities there is to be an Anglican bishopric in Egypt. Mr. Fowler is angry, not wi*hout cause, at the language of some of the missionaries. 'I hey absolutely ignore tile Coptic Church, and reckon the Christian numbers by th ir own little community. Of course. the Copts are ignorant So are we al). W hat seems a mountain here is but as a molehill viewed from the sun. On the whole, Mr. Fowler gives a hopeful account of " Christian Egypt."