SO AS BY FIRE.*
THIS is a collection of papers, all marked by Dr. Holland's quality, but not all of equal interest and value. In all there is the accustomed torrent of fine rhetoric ; and in all some intellectual position, which the rhetoric, by attack or defence, is seeking to make good ; so that the reader has always the sensation of being at the centre of forces hurrying him along to a goal. But while some of the essays produce conviction, others, it may be through the reader's fault, fail to do so. "He under- stands a fury in the words " ; but the whole discussion seems remote from actuality. To give an instance of each kind. The problem of n National Penitence" and the diffioulty of inducing such a state of mind, owing to the insignificant share of each member of the nation in the whole responsibility, is admirably discussed, and illustrated by reference to the Gospel parables of the King's Marriage Feast and the Foolish Virgins; and no living commentator approaches Dr. Holland in his power of applying those ancient stories and translating their lessons into terms of to-day. But in some of the papers which deal with the war and its moral causes there appears a disposition to put people in the wrong upon just those decisions in which their conscience tells them they did right. It would have been quite easy for Britain to keep out of the war. And therefore it is not true, except in some very general and remote sense which has little practical meaning, to say "it is not Christ's Gospel that has brought this war about. It Is the refusal to believe in Peace and Goodwill that has plunged US into this diagrace. If only we were healed of our sin . . we ' should find ourselves at peace." If " we " means the whole people of Europe, there is no doubt a truth in what is said ; but that is not a truth which is very helpful to the people of Britain. They know that for them the war is not a "disgrace," and that it was not disdain of peace but love of righteousness which drove them into it.
Besides the papers on the war, the volume contains one of those biographical sketches for which Dr. Holland is unequalled. It is on Gilbert Talbot. There is also a review of the Poet Laureate's anthology ; Which is a fine piece of appreciative criticism, redeemed from being rhapsodical by ROISO delicate touches of humeur.
• So af by lire : Motu on the war. Second Series. By H. 8, Rolland. Londoa: Wells Gardner and Co. 12s. net4
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