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374 Book Reviews Christian Unity in Effort--By Frank j. Firth. 273. pages. J.P. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, Pa. F. J. Firth, the author of this book, as president of the Erie & Western railroad, operating the Anchor Line fleet of steamers on the lakes, was a very well known figure on the lakes until his retirement a few years ago. He is one of the past presidents of the Lake Car- riers' Association. That he should pro- duce such a book as this in his reflect- ive moods is not surprising to those that know him. The book records some personal thoughts and beliefs and rep- resents a conviction that every man and woman should acquire by individual ef- fort such personal faith as is essential to a well rounded life. The purpose of the book is to help the sincere seeker after truth to rise to a purer life of intelligent faith. He epitomizes the law of religious develop- ment in the old teaching as summarized by Solomon, based upon fear: "Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man;" and the new teaching as founded in the new testament and illustrated in the parable which Christ related in answer to the question "Who is my neighbor," asking at its close. "Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" And the lawyer answered: "He that showed mercy on him." Then said Jesus unto him: "Go and do thou likewise." The law of development in things Spiritual is again exemplified in the ser- mon on the mount. The rule of fear had been replaced by the rule of love. The book presents a thorough study of both the old and new testaments and the development of the creeds. The concluding chapters are devoted to the great religious bodies and their numerous divisions. It is estimated that Christians number 400,000,000; Buddh- ists, 400,000,000; Mohammedans, 250,000,- 000; Brahmans, 150,000,000 and probably 300,000,000 Pagan or heathens. Mr. Firth briefly traces the history of these four great religious beliefs. Mr. Firth also devoted some attention to Unitarianism, with which faith he ap- parently is personally in great sympathy. His closing chapters are devoted to the history of the church in the United States. He puts the Protestant popula- tion of the United States at 65,600,000 and the Catholic at 14,600,000. He then defines the different theories of religious life. as followed by the denominations. Briefly it may be stated that the Protest- ant basis of membership is belief and conduct; the Catholic, belief and obedi- ence. Protestantism represent democrat- ic theory of government, while Roman THE MARINE KEVIEW Catholicism represents autocratic theo- ries. Mr. Firth briefly relates the his- tory of the various denominations such as the Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Desciples of Christ, Epis- copalians and Roman Catholics. The Catholic church, of course, occu- pies a unique position in this country. It is the only Christian denomination representing autocratic theory of religi- ous life; it is the only denomination not distinctly identified with this country in its early history and theory of govern- ment; it is the only religious organiza- tion in this country having its controll- ing central government in a foreign land. © The closing chapter offers a few re- flections upon the life hereafter. New Fabre Line Steamer The Fabre Line new twin screw steamship Sant Anna arrived at New York, Wednesday, Aug. 17, from Medi- terranean ports. She was built at the shipyards of Le Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranean, at Toulon, France. The steamer is 500 ft. long and 57 ft. wide, 14,000 tons, 10,000-horsepower. Her speed is about 18 knots. She ac- commodates eighty first cabin passengers in rooms for one or two only, with private bath and toilet. Besides the comforts and conveniences installed for the benefit of first-class passengers, the steamer is equipped with refrigerating plants, electric light, Mar- coni wireless, watertight compartments, steam heat, electric ventilation, laundry, etc. The first-class accommodations are situated on three decks and all rooms are outside, occupying a position amid- ships. Cabin accommodations are en- tirely isolated from all portions of the steamer, and all details are so perfectly worked out that this section comprises in itself a floating hotel of sumptuous luxury. The two promenade decks are of magnificent proportions and complete- ly encircle the superstructure and the forward portion is enclosed completely in glass, forming a veranda entirely protected in rough weather. The upper promenade deck is shaded by awnings and is particularly attractive for out- door dining. On this deck is situated the Parisian Outdoor Terrace Cafe, smoking room and the wireless station. Telephones have been placed in each stateroom. The dining saloon occupies the forward portion of the upper deck and is divided into three sections by transversal arches. Tables are provided for from two to ten persons each, with cr without a service a Ja carte. The chapel on board is available for religious services of all creeds and includes all necessities for the holding of Catholic services. There is on board an Amer- September, 1910 ican bar, barber shop, baths and lava- tories, servants' cabins and a dark room for passengers who may wish to per- sonally direct the development of the result of their cameras. The officials of the company state that the line has had nearly 30 years of suc- cess as Mediterranean carriers; and. in addition to this new steamer, it has ordered another one, the keel of which will be laid in a few weeks and which will be called the Canada. The enormous size of the Sant Anna and of the Canada has made it necessary for the Fabre Line to seek new docking facil- ities, and it has built a new pier foot of Thirty-first street, South Brooklyn, one of the largest steamship piers in the world. It is 1,476 ft. long and 150 ft. wide, and the slips are 275 ft. wide and 35 ft. deep. The new pier is al- most as long as eight city blocks. Rail- way tracks are to be laid the entire length of the pier. Monel Metal Propellers The four propellers for the battleship Florida, recently launched at Brooklyn, and which are to be cast in Monel metal by the Bayonne Casting Co., Bayonne, N. J., will be 10 ft. 6 in. diameter and will weigh approximately 8,000 lbs. each. The same company has a contract for 12 propellers for the two new Argentine battleships, which are under construction by the Fore River Shipbuilding Co., Quincy, Mass., and the New York Ship- building Co., Camden, N. J. These pro- pellers will be 15 ft. 6 in. diameter and will weigh approximately 16,000 lbs. each, and are said to be the largest ever made of this alloy. The contract for these 12 propellers is also said to be the largest for Monel castings ever placed. The trend of propeller practice with turbine-driven ships is evident from the fact that all these propellers are of the solid type, which makes a complete spare propeller necessary in case of dam- age, as will be noted from the fact that the Argentine ships have a complete set of spares. Some recent investigations carried on in the engineering laboratories of the University of Wisconsin with alloys of Monel metals and electrolytic iron, re- ported in The Iron Trade Review, indi- cate that remarkable results are to be looked for in the future from such mixtures, as, in addition to the high tensile strength and elastic limit, the mixture possesses high corrosion-resist- ing qualities. A municipal dry dock, 1,000 ft. long, which can accommodate the largest ves- sels, has been proposed for New York by the dock commissioner, Calvin Tomp- kins. i hap ARE eat