4 DECEMBER 1915, Page 8

THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENCE.* Tins little book tells the story

of a spiritual experience, that of fellowship in silent prayer. Its, editor was a member of the Mission of Help to New Zealand in 1910. At Havelock, a small village on the Pacific Coast of the northern island of New Zealand, ho found established in the church to which ho was sent a meeting for silent prayer, originated by members of the Society of Friends by leave of the vicar and the Bishop, but joined presently by. Anglicans, and also by a little circle of Theosophists in the neighbourhood. The writer found that in this blending of silence and fellowship an atmosphere was .created which helped the sense of spiritual things. and enabled him more effectually to obey the Psahnist's injunction to " wait in stillness upon God." Accordingly he has put forth this book to commend his experience to others, and has introduced into it several papers by both Churchmen and Quakers giving their experience and advice. The late Thomas Hodgkin writes with the sanity peculiar to him of the success and failure of the Quaker meetings, and his daughter contributes several enthusiastic papers. The Anglican writers are the editor himself; the Rev. J. C. Fitzgerald, whose subject is the esoteric one of " the power of silence for healing and conversion " ; and Dr. Percy Dearmer, who deals with the problem of "outward signs and inward light," and has the boldness to say that when the Catechism declares Sacra- ments to be " generally necessary" to salvation, it must mean not " universally," but " necessary to mankind as a whole," without denying the possibility of " little aristocracies " such as that of the Quakers.

Plainly this is not a book for review ; but we call attention to it as an interesting contribution to reality in religion, and consequently to the growth of unity among Christians. In regard to the particular devotion recommended, a wise man will be content to say, Qui potent capers, capiat.