THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF RELIGION AND ETHICS. Da. JAMES HASTINGS and
his publishers, Messrs. T. and T. Clark, are much to be congratulated on the completion of their Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics (12 vols. 35s. net each), which is a truly great work. The full worth of such a book only becomes apparent in daily use. We can testify that the earlier volumes have repeatedly proved invaluable for reference in regard to questions that are not and cannot be treated fully in ordinary encyclopaedias. Many of the foremost British, American and Continental scholars have contributed articles, which are concise, lucid and dispassionate, the editor has done his part with great care, and the printing is excellent. We may give an idea of the scope of the work by mentioning some of the articles in the twelfth and last volume which has just appeared. It contains 876 pages, of double columns, and runs from " Suffering " to " Zwingli." " Suffering "—the problem of pain—is discussed in a thoughtful article of nine pages by Professor Kilpatrick of Toronto. Professor Paul Oltramaie deals temperately with " Theosophy " in eleven pages, while Mrs. Besant gives her account of the Theosophical Society in four pages. Professor A. E. Taylor contributes a masterly treatise on " Theism," filling twenty-six pages. The various religions or denominations coming in this part are competently handled by well-known authorities ; thus, Dr. Estlin Carpenter writes on Unitarianism, Dr. De Beaumont on Swedenborg, Mr. W. B. Brash on Wesley, Mr. A. A. Macdonell on Vedic Religion, the Bishop of Moray on Syrian Christians, Professor Patton on Sunnites, Mr. F. F. Urquhart on Ultramontanism, Father Thurston on Xavier, and Miss Jane Harrison on the Greek notions of the under-world. The attitude of man at different periods and under different religious influences towards the heavens is examined at length by twelve scholars, whose articles on " Sun, Moon and Stars " fill fifty-five pages. Cancn Glazebrook discusses Sunday Observance from the earliest times, and Professor Fulton has a long and excellent essay on Teleology and a compact history of the doctrine of the Trinity. Fourteen scholars deal with Worship in the principal religions, past and present. The examples cited will illustrate the wide scope of the work, and the thoroughness with which the subjects are treated by expert hands. The various countries and races are dealt with ; topics like Trade Unionism, Treaties, Tithes, Tatuing are included in the scheme. It is a wonderful hook, fascinating to read and of the greatest possible value for reference.
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