Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
Le Symbolisme de la Croix by René Guénon
Review by: L. R. Lind
Books Abroad, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Jan., 1932), p. 78
Published by: Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
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78 FrenchReligion BOOKS ABROAD FrenchArt
"the expulsive power of a new affection"and by M. Britt and a prelude by F. Warrain.It
in "friendship, the master passion." is a short discussionof the relationof music to
These two volumes contain the complete astrology and mystic numbers, accompanied
text of the Introductionto a Devout Life, with by numerous and fearsome diagrams.Chap.
a biographicalsketch of St. Francis.The work Ill is devoted to the "Sideral and Musical
of a series of meditations and instructions, Scales." There are various remarkson Greek,
divided into five sections, upon different as- Hindu, Persian and Chinese music, too brief
pects of the soul's quest for a true and solid aud esoteric to be more than tantalizing to a
piety. As a whole, it is a masterpieceof psy layman. The book might interest a physicist
chology, of practical morality and of moral with a theosophicalturn of mind. It is sump-
sense. -
tuously printed and decorated. L. R. Lind.
St. Francisde Sales was one of the creators University of Illinois.
of the modern French language.He possessed
a rare charm as an orator as well as writer. • Louise Lefrancpis-Pillion.Les Sculpteurs
After 300 years, his writings can be reprinted Frangaisdu Xlle siecle.- Les Sculpteurs
as originally written and have a great appeal Franqaisdu XLlle siecle. (and edition, revised
to all who prise good literature as well as to and corrected). Paris. Plon. 1931. 25 francs
those who are seeking practicalhelp in attain* each.- These two books, each complete
in itself, form a part of the collection Les
ing the good and completelife.- GeorgeEmer*
son Barnes.Philadelphia. Maitres d'Art published under the pat-
ronage of the French Ministry of Public
• H. Goiran. Une Action Creatrice.Paris. Instruction and Fine Arts. Although well
"Je sers." 1931. 14 francs.- This is a illustrated, they predicate some knowl-
study of the activities of the FrenchProtestant edge of the monuments discussed and, to
Mission in South Africa for seventy-fiveyears study the books thoroughly, a collection of
(1833-1008).The author draws heavily upon casts such as that of the Trocadero, or a
the study of Sir Godfrey Lagden The Basutos reasonably good collection of photographs,
and Mac TheaPs Historyof South Africa, but is needed.
he has also carefully studied the voluminous Eachof the volumesis of coursean apprecia-
collection of documents Basutoland Records. tion of the sculpture of the period indicated,
The monographscan be recommendedas an but the titles are justified by the care with
interesting addition to the existing publica- which the author takes up workshop prob-
tions on the work of the Societe des Missions lems, craftsmanship,atelier relationship and
cvangeliques de rans. - M. J. Uemiashf{evich. similarconditions. This she does interestingly
George Peabody College for Teachers. and well without obscuringthe main develop-
• Rene Guenon. he Symbolismede la Croix. ment of her book. Her ideas have a practical
Paris. Vega. 1931. 30 francs.- Here is basis, so that her words on the spiritual and
an author who, like Keyserling, has wrapped esthetic aspects of the masterpiecesshe treats
come as a properly balanced part of the de-
up his thoughts in such a tight system that
he virtually requiresus to read all of his books scriptions, and have no traces of that empty
before we attempt to understand any single effusiveness which is so offensive to serious
one of them; at least most of his foot-notes students.
refer to his own books. This volume is a meta- The tone of the books is moderate and
physico'theosophicalstudy in the symbolism they may be taken as representingup-to-date
of the cross, traced through all the esoteric opinion in France,although they do not enter
cults known to the author, from Hindu mysti- into controversialpoints.Naturallythe question
cism to Rosicrucianism.Not only the cross of the ambulatorycapitalsof the abbey church
itself but allied forms of it- the tree of life, of Cluny is discussed, and the author's treat-
the swastika- are discussed with a wealth of ment of it is typical. She rejects the well-
reference to the occult lore of many lands.- supported but over-conservativeopinion that
L. R. hind. University of Illinois. the capitals date from the second quarter of
the twelfth century; she does not consider
• Ernest Britt. La Lyre d'Apollon. Paris. Mr. Porter's date of before 1095 as proved.
Vega. 1931. 30 francs.- Here is a book Now it so happened that the writer of these
on the music of the spheres, prefaced by a lines, who is in chargeof the excavationsof the
hymn to Apollo written in the Dorian mood Mediaeval Academy of America at Cluny,
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