A CRITICISM once passed upon the hymn so much in favor with Christian Scientists, written by the Leader of this world-reaching movement, reminds us that there are two modes of judging. The true critic is, as the name implies, a judge; he intends to take the impartial view and to balance wisely the merit and demerit of the matter in hand, aiming to make manifest, if he can, the saving good. But there are critics who, like Apemantus, try to act the part of cynic philosophers and injure the reputation of the one whose production is being reviewed by them. The true critic has a standard, and makes wholesome decisions; the cynic is capricious, sometimes dyspeptic, and unduly magnifies the importance of his merely personal opinion.
Now there is a growing class of readers who prefer to read for themselves what is written, rather than depend upon the arbitrament of the critic, be he wise or foolish. They desire to be shown the good in that which is worth reading rather than to be informed of the tumult in the mind of one who saw no good. They want a friend who will lead them in the way of pleasantness, for, alas, the way of the troubled heart is too well known, and eruptions of human displeasure have desolated their own vineyards too often, perhaps, for them to find satisfaction in cynicism. Did not Walter Pater show himself just such a friend to many when he named his criticisms by the new name of "Appreciations"? In such a spirit we therefore ask permission to point out some of the pure and pleasant thoughts and beauties of expression in our Leader's hymn:—
Shepherd, show me how to go
O'er the hillside steep,
How to gather, how to sow,—
How to feed Thy sheep;
I will listen for Thy voice.
Lest my footsteps stray;
I will follow and rejoice
All the rugged way.
