Essays of To-day : Religious . and Theological. By William Wilber-
force Newton. (Boston : A. Williams.)—Mr. Newton is a clergyman of the Episcopal Church in Boston, which may indeed be congratulated on its possession of so able a minister. These twelve essays are as good of their kind as anything that we have seen for some time. Their general character is sympathetic rather than positive. We finish the volume without gaining any clear idea what are the opinions which the writer personally holds, but at the same time we are quite sure that he can take a comprehensive view of the movement of religious thought, can appreciate very diverse schools of thinkers, and can bring to the consideration of all the questions which he handles a candid and intelligent judgment. Such a tone of mind makes it at least probable that the writer belongs to what may be called, if such names must be used, the Broad Church. And indeed Mr. Newton's language becomes somewhat warmer than that of sympathy and respect, when he has to speak of Maurice and Robertson. It would not be easy to select any of the essays for special praise. They are very level in the merit of execution. Per- haps those on "The Age of the Schoolmen," "Edward Irving," and Missionary Lives," are the best.
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