Holiday Papers : Teetotalism. By James Maltman. (J. Gemmell, Edinburgh.)—Mr.
Maltman collects in this volume a number of tracts or pamphlets, written, as he explains, in the intervals of ministerial work. Their object is to expose the unreason and in- consistency of teetotalism, a theory which has, as he shows, asceti- cism pure and simple for its logical outcome. These tracts are well written and vigorously argued, though when collected in this massive volume of six hundred pages, they have a somewhat overpowering appearance. The Scriptural argument of teetotalism is criticised with much force and penetration. It would be rash to predict that it must fall before such attacks, for error is long- lived. But that men should go on gravely restating it, is certainly wonderful. The treatment of the story of the Rechabites is par- ticularly good. Mr. Maltman writes :—" The story tells against teetotalers [rather] than otherwise : they cannot abstain from drunkenness as a plain Christian duty ; but they will do it on other grounds which clearly prove how little power religion has over them." This reminds us of the reasoning with which St. Paul turns the story of Hagar and Ishmael against the Judaisers.
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