318 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
tory of the Association during the introductory period, 1844-1855. Other volumes will describe the two later phases of the history. Chap- ters are devoted to the beginnings of the British Association, the American movement, the founding of the Continental Association, and the formation of the World's Alliance. C. R. HENDERSON.
The Attitude of the Church to Some of the Social Problems of Town Life. By W. MOORE EDE. Pp. 131. Imported by the Macmillan Company.
THIS book is made up of the Hulsean Lectures for 1895. The purpose of the work is to show how the church can perform its social function and yet not trespass upon the field of other institutions. The position taken is substantially that urged by Canon Barnett, that the church is to quicken social conscience and urge men to promote com- mon welfare in the line of their special knowledge or calling. The church ought not to have a specific programme. The author has been, as an English rector, in close touch with the poor and with various movements to help them. The particular problems discussed are the Unemployed, the Homes of the People, and the Vices of Towns. The definition of the church gives the author's standpoint: "The New Testament idea of the Christian church is that of a body of men bound together by their belief in the character of God and the laws of God for social service." Under such a conception the defense of a theo- logical system or an ecclesiastical organization occupies a secondary place, the service of humanity takes highest rank. The author urges that the education of the ministry should give large place to prepara- tion for this service.
C. R. HENDERSON.
The Expansion of Religion. Six lectures delivered before the Lowell Institute. By E. WINCHESTER DONALD. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1896. Pp. 298.
RELIGION is defined in a broad way as "sensitiveness and responsive- ness to the Divine." "It employs organization, it does not require it. It admits of statement, but lives without it. It welcomes the symbol, but refuses to be bound by symbol." In our age the doctrinal forms of theology may be neglected, forms, rites, and ecclesiastical institutions
