CONVENT LIFE UNVEILED by EDITH O’GORMAN. London: Protestant Truth Society, 31 Cannon Street, E.C.4. Price, 1s. 2d. post free—paper covers.
The Protestant Truth Society has reprinted this well-known book which tells the experiences of Edith O’Gorman, the Escaped and Converted Nun, at the low price of one shilling (1s. 2d. post free). It has had a remarkable circulation. It is now in
its 36th Edition (330,000 copies). The book is a terrible indictment of Convent life in the Church of Rome.
CHINA CALLING by Rev. FRANK HOUGHTON, B.A., Bishop-Designate in East Szechwan. London: Religious Tract Society, 4 Bouverie Street, E.C.4. Price 1s. 6d.—paper covers.
This is an interesting and informative book on the conditions prevailing in China. It gives a bird’s eye view of that mighty land with its teeming millions. Of its four hundred millions only five hundred thousand are professed Protestants and alas! many of these in name only. Unfortunately Modernism with its death-bringing effects on spiritual life has invaded the ranks of the missionaries and infected many of the converts who have come under its influence. The Church of Rome was first in the field and the Jesuits worked hard to bring over the natives to their corrupt religion. They claim to have $2\frac{1}{2}$ million converts. These with the Modernists will all need to be converted again before they can be reckoned among the true followers of Jesus Christ. The blood of martyrs has been freely shed in China and when one remembers that on its roll of missionaries there are such consecrated men as Robert Morrison, William C. Burns, Hudson Taylor and a host of others whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life how can one help but being impressed with this mighty nation which had a civilization when the Western nations were wild savages? The book is worth reading for the clear view it gives of the present condition of things in China and for its brief summary of events in the past. In speaking of the Nestorians (p. 103) the author, referring to their heterodoxy, uses a phrase—”which clings not altogether justifiably to the name Nestorian”—which is open to misunderstanding. Mr. Houghton, we are sure, would not accept Nestorianism even in the modified sense in which historians, such as Loofs, have presented it to the world. Besides, Nestorianism has a definite, accepted meaning ecclesiastically. It may be mentioned that the author is a son of the Rev. Thomas Houghton, Editor of the Gospel Magazine.
THE CHRISTIAN FAITH IN THE MODERN WORLD by J. GRESHAM MACHEN. London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. Price, 6s.
This is no ordinary book. It is the work of a theologian of eminence, a deep thinker and real defender of the faith. Dr. Machen’s simplicity of diction and the clearness with which he handles some of the great doctrines and profound mysteries of the Christian faith are apt to leave the impression on the mind of the reader that the book is not out of the run of ordinary books but this is an entirely superficial view. Its very clarity, like that of a limpid lake, misleads as to its real depth. The manner in which the case against Modernism is put is not a verbal volley against some of its outposts, though that is not wanting, but it is a masterly presentation of Bible truth, concerning the Scriptures, God, the Trinity, the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit so that when Dr. Machen reaches the end of his argument no doubt is left in the mind of the ramshackle state of the Modernist Citadel—its whole foundations are undermined and one sees it coming down with a crash. Dr. Machen has done a noble piece of work in defence of the faith once delivered to the saints and it is of special interest at a time when he is fighting as the leader of the new Presbyterian Church in America a determined battle against the Modernism that is honey-combing the Presbyterianism of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. While we thus pay this tribute to this excellent defence of the faith we are not to be understood as agreeing in one or two sentences used by Dr. Machen in reference to the A.V. and manuscripts of the New Testament.
THE HEART OF MODERNISM by LEONARD J. DUNNE. London: Christian Loyalty Foundation, 29 Paternoster Row, E.C.4. Price, 1s. 6d.
This is one of the most extraordinary books we have read for some time. It is an exposure of Modernism in the Church of England. Its sub-title—”A Startling Disclosure of the Truth concerning the Modern Churchmen’s Union”—correctly describes it. The traitors who are betraying the faith, unless they are
past all feeling, must wince under the sledgehammer blows of the author. He does not spare the Modernists and though we do not agree with every statement he makes and may feel out of sympathy with the American style of his onslaught at places yet we thoroughly agree with the sound pounding he has administered to the traitors. There are two thoroughly traitorous movements in the Church of England—Modernism and Ritualism—but while working along two distinct lines they both have this in common—that their promoters are anything but honest men. One could wish that some one would do for the Church of Scotland what Mr. Dunne has done for the Church of England. This is a book really worth reading and circulating even though as already said one cannot agree with everything in it.
WILLIAM TYNDALE, Theologian and Translator. London: Sovereign Grace Union, 31 Imperial Buildings, Ludgate Circus, E.C.4. Price, 2½d.
This booklet is issued in commemoration of the Quarter-Centenary of Tyndale’s martyrdom. In addition to the story of the martyr’s life it gives extracts from his writings. As a frontispiece there is a photographic reproduction of a page of Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament in quarto (1525). Altogether it is an excellent booklet and well worth the price charged for it.