Personal Confession Research Articles

The Means of Grace: A Personal Confession

The Means of Grace: A Personal Confession

Thomas Mann's Treatment of the Marked Man

It is doubtful whether even in so highly subjective a literature as that of modern Germany can be found an example of more consistent concern with the writer's self and his own particular problems than is furnished by the recently published ten volumes that comprise the collected works of Thomas Mann. From the first volume, Buddenbrooks, for which the author's own family's life and home-town quite frankly furnish setting and subject matter, to the last volume, Bemühungen, whose characteristic title would imply to what pains its author has been put to present his personal reaction upon the world and its problems, there is scarcely a page or paragraph that does not treat situations or sentiments which Mann experienced in his own life. Thus, Volume IX, Rede und Antwort, shows how ready Mann is to expose himself to public scrutiny, to give an account of himself and his ideas—“Rede und Antwort zu stehen.” Similarly, Volume VIII, Betrachtungen eines Unpolitischen, is a personal confession of faith, wrung from his heart by the untoward incidents of the war, attempting to define his relations, as a man and an artist, to his native land. And, finally, the five remaining volumes contain short stories or novels, which, when analyzed even cursorily as here, show themselves to be endless variations on the same theme, which is in its essentials the problem of Thomas Mann's own life.

FROM ISLAM TO CHRIST (The Spiritual Experiences of a Persian Convert)

Foreword. The writer of this narrative became a Christian about thirty years ago, and was one of the very first Moslems in Persia to accept the Gospel. His life has been a varied one, for at different times he has been artisan, steward, attendant in the Parliament during the stormy days of the first constitutional government, city detective, and a trusted an days of the American Mission in Teheran. He is largely self‐educated, but is surprisingly Well‐informed, and spends much time in thought and meditation. Keenly observant, he has contributed to a popular Persian magazine a series of articles on conditions in Persia which have been full of wit and satire, and have created much comment.During thirty years of Christian experience, this man has been remade by the power of Christ. He is now senior elder in a Persian church, and has power in prayer, his wisdom, independence and common sense are invaluable in the church's growth, In his study of the Bible he has had the help of scarcely any of the with of commentaries and spiritual books which we tike for granted, but his conception of Christianity is remarkably broad and comprehensive His life is above reproach, and his quiet efficiency and thoughtfulness are an example to the missionaries with whom he works.As I write we are on an evangelistic trip together to one of the smaller cities which is solidly Moslem. He makes a capital traveling companion, and his unending supply of stories and wise observations fill up any empty hours in OUT days t ether. He is perhaps at his best when he Dresents the Gospel of Christ to Muslims who have never before heard it. Fanatics who come to annihilate us with their arguments find that he skillfully disarms their prejudices, and won they are listening quietly to the old story of the Messiah who was witnessed to by the prophets, taught eternal spiritual truth, and died for our Sins. In these discussions he is always entirely fearless in his personal confession of Christianity, though it is still the law of the land that anstate from Islam shall be killed like a dog by anyone who hears his blasphemy. Surely God has a future for the Persian Church with such men among its founders.]