The Equinox (Volume III, Number I)

THE EQUINOX most pious and pig-headed agree that these are the ‘last days’? Are we not come through much tribulation to the latter end of the Apocalypse, and shall we not cry with the Apostle, “The spirit and the bride say: come.”? “Yea, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.” Joun Sr. Joun. On THE THRESHOLD OF THE UnsEEN. An Examination of the Phenomena of Spiritualism and of the Evidence for Survival after Death. By Sir WiL- LiaM F, Barrett. E. P. Dutton & Co. Srp WiitraM Barretr’s book is decidedly well worth reading by those who im- agine that there is nothing in spiritualism and kindred subjects. Sir William Bar- rett has marshalled his facts and fictions in a very creditable manner. It is quite surprising how much he knows, and how clever he is, considering the limitations imposed on him by the fact that, like most psychical researchers, he has no sort of initiation, and has therefore no organized but only haphazard material at his disposal. He exhibits quite remarkable intelligence in dealing with the problems which he discusses. It is a very marked advance upon the absolutely blithering balderdash which characterizes most writing on spiritualism, ‘new thought,’ and the like. Sir William Barrett is critical, without being skeptical in the bad sense of the word, and his judgment is excellent for an amateur. Of course, all psychical re- search without initiation reminds one of art criticism by a blind man or an art critic. Apart from this, however, Sir William Barrett has written a very clever book, and I hope that these few well chosen words of approval may encourage him to further efforts, perhaps not so much in this line as in one for which he might have more original talent. A.C. From tHe Watcu Tower. By Srpney T. Krern. E. P. Dutton & Co. Price, $2.50. Wuen I had the pleasure of reviewing Mr. Sidney T. Klein’s Science and the Infinite in Number IX. of the First Volume of Taz Equinox, I remember asking him for a second part to his book dealing with the means of attainment. Mr. Klein has not exactly done this in his new volume, but he has gone a long way on the road. He is still somewhat handicapped by infelicity of expression, but a more serious drawback still is the confusion of thought caused by his early train- ing. He is a sublime initiate, but he is trying to put his quart of Champagne into the pint pot of the language of Christian Mysticism. He has not seen the neces- sity of discarding this deuce and trey. He stands pat on his three aces instead of trying to catch the fourth or maybe a pair of kings in the draw. The language of Christianity, particularly Pauline Christianity, is hopelessly mired in the slough of the idea of original sin. Mr. Klein disavows this idea with noble boldness as freely as we ourselves of 304