Robert A. Proctor

Book Review: III. Practical Studies: A Hard Look at Adult Christian EducationA Hard Look at Adult Christian Education. By FryJohn R.Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 150 pages.

This book is a well documented history of giving in the christian church. Part one deals with giving in the church previous to the American period. Part two deals with giving in contemporary America. The stated purposes of the book are: “to trace the various motives and methods throughout the history of the Christian church and to examine them in the light of history, the Bible, and the highest standards of our time; and, second, to attempt to set forth some guiding principles for financing the church today.” The author has succeeded in his purposes. Any reader desiring to fill in the gap of his knowledge regarding procedures of church financing will find this book interesting and valuable. Especially helpful to many pastors and teachers wi l l be the treatment of stewardship practices in the early church. Joseph Stiles

3.50.

Criticism as a method of understanding and appreciating the message and worth of the written page ought to enjoy Browder and Poiriefs effort to bring literary criticism into the orbit of textual analyds. Just ‘‘how new” this effort is remains debatable; but the authors apply it in the study of many well-known literary works which those theologian8 and others “have been brought up on.” Thus, by offering a renewed acquaintanceship and a deeper appreciation of known works, this volume has much value for building a strong cultural background, as well as a carefully tilled field of illustrations for sermons and other types of religious address. On the other hand, it may be too much to assume that all of us have grown up on the selections treated by the two Harvard professors: Therefore, if “literature is the representation of life,” as some have contended, then many will profit from the dfscussian about, end the reeding of, selections contained in the fifteen essays comprising this book. This volume ought to be applicable especially to those of us who “sometime are going to read all those things“ that ~8 know are valuable in a cultural sort of way and would like to read. For one of the first points considered by the authors is that of encouraging and influencing the lifetime reading habit, by establishing one of “reading in slow motion rather than downing the classics of literature in p e a t gulps.” Charles k McGIm

Book Review: III. Practical Studies: Verbal Learning and Verbal BehaviorVerbal Learning and Verbal Behavior. Edited by CoferCharles N.McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York. 241 pages.

in an ecumenical spirit and thus he takes into account the varying views concerning the Church. Nevertheless, his own position, at times, comes through. Thus as an Episcopalian he writes, “. . . because the (Church is also a fellowship including baptized babies, there is no time when infants are excluded from the larger fellowship’’ (p. 127). There is a very helpful emphasis placed on the ministry of the laity. Here is a part of the Reformation that has not been completed even in our day. Yet the purpose of God in the Church cannot eyer be adequately accomplished apart from the ministry d the laity. The IChurch also has a ministry in the world and to the world. In a time of rapid swial change, the Church has not adequately met the world. Neither has the educational program of the Church met the needs and anxieties which people bring with them from the world into the Church. The author has chapters on teaching, worship, fellowship, pastoral care, etc. Here is a scholarly yet practical book, comprehensive yet with sufficient detail. It is an excellent contribution to a philosophy of Christian education. Findley B. Edge

5.95.

This is another of the “readings” type book which has become so popular in recent years. It is largely an outgrowth and expansion of the May, 1958, issue of Pastoral Psychology. Many wellknown names in the field of pastoral care appear with the editor’s as authors of the various articles. Two of the stated purposes of the editor are: (1) “To bring together in one volume the modest volume of literature” on the subject, and, (2) To point up the critical need for additional research in the field, Both of these goals would seem to have been achieved. This body of literature includes some reports of well-planned and executed research projects, articles which might be classified as “exploratory research,” and articles which present various hypotheses or “expert opinions” but which would not qualify as research papers. The book points up the need for additional research in two ways, first, many of the writers raise questions and suggest areas in which research is needed, and second, by showing how little research has been done in the field. This second point is brought into clear focus by Samuel Southard’s “overview of research on the mental illness of the minister.” This article also suggests that more research has been done than has been published. Unless the results of research are communicated through established professional channels, it will be of limited value. One of the best sections of the book is Part I, “The Healthy Minister.” This section presents an excellent discussion of factors contributing to the mental health of the minister, points out certain occupational mental hazards of the minister, and makes practical suggestions for fostering the minister’s mental health. These three articles are good systematic statements of opinion based on extentive experience of the authors in counseling with ministers. In another section Frederick R. Kling’s article on the value structure and purposes of the minister probably represents the most refined research reported in the volume. An article by James E. Dittes in which he points out many pitfalls to be avoided in research should be required reading for anyone planning to publish a research paper in pastoral care. A progress report of research being conducted a t the BowmanGray School of Medicine on the hospitalized minister by Albert Meiburg and Richard Young is most promising. Two articles by Samuel Blizzard discuss the roles of the minister. Samuel Southard summarizes a three-day conference on motivation for the ministry in another article. Part IV, “The Minister and His Family,” is probably the weakest section of the book. If the four articles in this section are representative of research in pastoral psychology, two observations seem warranted: (1) Research is mostly exploratory rather than definitive, descriptive, or experimental, and should be carefully labeled as such, and (2) One should be extremely cautious in the conclusions he bases on such studies. Other parts deal

Book Review: Evaluating Pupil GrowthEvaluating Pupil Growth. By AhmannJ. Stanley and GlockMarvin D.. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1959. 605 pages.

Every area of American lile has been affected by the C L K rent “space race.” One of the most lar-reaching effects has bee:i the new emphasis on science and research. This has resulted in an increasing number of college students majoring in the physical sciences and entering the various fields ol engineering. It has also been the stimulus lor accelerated research programs in many other areas such as the social and behavioral sciences. These (social and behavioral) are the basic sciences to which education, including religious education, looks for reliable information about needed progressive changes. Carty states that “government, industry, and education spend an estimated eleven or more billioil dollars on research”l per year. With these emphases, there has arisen a mystery and awe about research that have caused many persons “ta worship ;LL the shrine of science.” Scientists and “research workers” have come to be looked upon as a special breed ol human beings who live in an exciting, romantic, and almost iinreal world of experimentation and discovery. This folklore is not unlike that which has grown up around the work of ;1 detective, or even the life of a missionary. In all these cases, the romantic dreanis and visions quickly fade into long hours ol hard and sometimes monotonous work.

6.95.

author of this book has set forth the policies and procedure integral to the establishment and operation of such a school. Such matters as organization, curriculum, teaching staff, administration, finances, and others are fully presented. For everyone interested in increasing opportunities for the religious education of children during the week either on a single church or co-operative basis, this book is important reading. Sabin Landry, J r .