Christian Thought. Second Series. Edited by Charles F. Deems, LL. D., President of the American Institute of Christian Philosophy. New York: Phillips & Sons, 80 Fourth Avenue. Pp. 476.
The "Institute of Christian Philosophy" is a society which holds stated meetings for the discussion of questions bearing upon the relations of science and the Christian religion, together with annual assemblies on the Chautauqua plan at some place of summer resort, where the same questions are formally considered with carefully prepared addresses before as large audiences as will attend. The present volume represents the sum of the year's work of the institution as embodied in the more important lectures and papers on philosophy, Christian evidence, and biblical elucidation, spoken at the monthly and annual meetings. These, as they appeared in the monthly numbers of the periodical "Christian Thought," were r varied with editorial remarks, briefer articles, paragraphs, and squibs, all having some bearing on the main question, which are also incorporated in the volume.
An Account of the Progress in Zoölogy in the Year 1883. By Theodore Gill. Washington: Government Printing-Office. Pp. 53.
Though no startling discoveries in zoology were recorded during 1883, the progress of the science was real. The two important events deemed worthy of special notice were the International Fisheries Exhibition in London, and the publication of Jordan and Gilbert's "Synopsis of the Fishes of North America." Mr. Gill's "account" is composed of synopses of the several papers and reports of the investigations of naturalists in the various countries in which science is systematically pursued.
Archæological Institute of America. Sixth Annual Report, 1884-'85. Cambridge, Mass.: John Wilson & Son. Pp. 48.
A new departure has been taken by the institute, in order to give it wider national scope and interest, in the division into affiliated societies, of which there are now three, those of Boston, Baltimore, and New York, each with its own roll of members and set of officers. Progress is reported in the exploration of New Mexico and Arizona by M. Bandelier, in the collation of the results of the excavations at Assos, Asia Minor, and in the publication of papers. An expedition was sent out last fall to Babylonia, under the charge of Dr. W. Hayes Ward, for the purpose of looking over the field and finding a favorable site for future thorough investigation. It has not yet made a report for publication. The institute collected and expended $46,150 between May, 1879, and May, 1885.
Proceedings of the Modern Language Association of America, 1884, Professor A. M. Elliott, Baltimore, Md., Secretary. Pp. 100.
The "Modern Language Association" was organized in the city of New York in December, 1883. Its object is the "advancement of the study of the modern languages and their literatures." The second meeting, of which this pamphlet contains the report, was held at Columbia College, New York, on the 29th and 30th of December last. A considerable number of papers, abstracts of which are here given, all instructive and suggestive, were read, bearing on the value of modern languages, the desirability of giving more attention to them and of putting them on an equal footing with the ancient languages, and the best methods of teaching them. A resolution was adopted expressing the opinion of the convention that the establishment of a classical course in modern languages, with special view to disciplinary methods, alongside the ancient classical course in our colleges is not only desirable but practicable.
Notes on the Literature of Explosives. By Professor Charles E. Munroe, U. S. N. A., Annapolis, Md. Pp. 32.
The title well describes the scope of the book. It is a collection of "notes," derived from various sources, covering the chief points of interest concerning explosives, their manufacture, the preparation and application of new ones, their use, and the precautions observed in their manufacture and transportation. It is a continuous publication, appearing in installments from time to time, as new information is brought to light and collected by the compiler.
