30 JANUARY 1909, Page 13

Fonts and Font Covers. By Francis Bond. (Henry Frowde. 12s.

not.)—This is a very elaborate work, of which we must be content to give a most inadequate notice. Part I. supplies a sketch of the rite of baptism historically considered. What was the form? Was it immersion or aspersion? The question is too large to be considered here. Theoretically, if we are to conclude from the term itself, we must decide for imnersion. To this, also, the symbolism appears to point. Yet the evidence is adverse. There we seem to see allusion. (It must be remembered, however, that this form lends itself to artistic representation, while immersion does not.) It is, again, a noticeable fact that the ancient baptisms are mostly of such dimensions that immersion would be impossible. Mr. Bond, as he proceeds with his subject, has much to say on the symbolism, accessories material, position, &c., of fonts. In Part III. he gives a fully illustrated list of fonts chronologically arranged.