The Tree of Life. By H. J. Massingham. (Chapman and
Hall. 8s. 6d.)
MR. MASSINGHAM here departs somewhat from his usual line of country, and pursues a subject first suggested to him in a letter he received from a naval lieutenant: "I feel that the loss of the love of the land for its own sake and the loss of the Christian religion are the greatest tragedies this country has ever suffered." Confident that there was an essential link between these two " tragedies," Mr. Massingham set out on a search through history, from the days of Columba, when " religion, learning, the arts and crafts, agriculture and the contemplation of wild nature as the manifestation of God were integrated as aspects of one whole," to the present time when this integration, long lost under the influences of Hobbes and Descartes, would seem once more to be in process of achievement—" a right attitude towards Nature implies a right attitude towards God, and the attitude is being forced upon us by the revolt of Nature against the exploitation of finance and the machine." With lucidity of description and a plentiful sprinkling of apt quotations from all manner of sources, Mr. Massingham traces his journey for us: a spiritual exploration that will surely appeal to all who share the naval lieutenant's puzzled regrets.
Previous page
