NOTES AND NOTEBOOKS
No two brethren would agree about the best method of recording what we learn. One of those who helped with this chapter, whose scriptural learning is very great, declined to consider this section on the ground that he had never kept notebooks. But he would certainly agree that this is not generally to be recommended. Any system which puts our information concisely where we can lay our hands on it will serve our purpose, and the one which follows is suggestive rather than final. Those who have already adopted their own will not change in its favour, but it is better than none.

(a) Bible. The desk Bible is the " Two Version " (A.V. 50 text, R.V. in side columns) with wide margin. In the margin are placed brief notes of the cross-reference type, of meanings of original words, of references to places where fuller information can be had-as in fuller notes elsewhere, in pages of The Christadelphian or in books. Pencil is indicated until we are sure: it is a pity to spoil good Bibles with heavy handed confidence in the wrong answer. Generally, another Bible is used for reading and travelling (this time the " Interlinear "), largely so that the mind shall not become fixed by reading one's own previous notes too often and so automatically thinking on the same lines. In spare pages at the back of the Bible are longer notes', such as lists of passages on a given theme, which can be useful in taking time by the forward top for first thoughts on new addresses. In addition to these a pocket notebook to be carried everywhere will serve to garner stray thoughts and information which might be irrevocably lost.

(b) Brief Notes and Bibliography. A large loose-leaf binder (the actual description is " Twinlock 2½ CB ") of robust design, holding about 200 sheets of quarto paper, serves as a mine of information. It is, first, an index of books and articles on all useful themes (it has an alphabetical thumb index), with information where the book can be obtained if the writer does not possess it-or where it should be returned if he has borrowed it. An illustration might be given: hebrews, Epistle to (See also sacrifice),

1. W. H. Boulton " The Epistle to the Hebrews" (Christadelphian) (1)
2. J. Carter " The Epistle to the Hebrews" (Christadelphian) (1)
3. F. W. Farrar " The Epistle to the Hebrews" (Cambridge Bible) (2)
4. Kay "Speaker's Commentary" (1)
5. W. P. DuBose " High Priesthood and Sacrifice " (6)
6. Edwards " The Epistle to the Hebrews" (Expositor's Bible) (2)
7. Bullinger " Companion Bible," p. 1,823 (for authorship and date) (2)
9. W. M. Ramsay " Date and Authorship of Hebrews," The Expositor, 1899, 5-9, (2)
401 ; 5-10, 154
9. Westcott "The Epistle to the Hebrews" (1)
10. W. F. Bullock Smith's "Bible Dictionary," 1, 771-777 (2)
11. Alford Greek Testament, IV1, 1-273 (2)

The numbers on the right indicate the ownership of the books, whence they could be obtained if needed, or where they should (let all borrowers note this!) be returned when used. It would be hardly fair to the owners themselves to disclose the code! It is not intended to approve all the works listed under this, or any other heading. They are noted as they are met with for reference as required.

The file serves its second purpose here. In the case of many books it is possible to make a short review of the contents which will be a useful guide when the matter is required again, or even to extract or abstract its most significant features. An increasing number of such items appears in the file in question, and it is valuable not only because of the information which it makes available later, but because it ministers to careful reading. Trivial books cannot survive discriminating note-taking, and weighty ones are not forgotten if it is used.

It is used for a third purpose also. In preparing many matters for lectures and other addresses, it is desirable to have synopses of all the relevant Scriptural material on which to draw, more usefully arranged than a mere concordance could give it. Accordingly, there appear in the file such classified lists on The Atonement (accompanied by a bibliography, too, and quite a range of extracts); The Devil (classified under the alternative terms used: Diabolos, Satan, The Evil One and others); The Second Coming of Jesus; The Kingdom of God ; Pre-existence ; Repentance and others. These lists are invaluable as later time-savers; they are sufficiently free from comment not to close the mind to development; and they have the advantage that, being compiled by the one who will use them, they are not too uncritically wedded to the views of others who may have prepared and published their own.

This can be illustrated by the selection on The Kingdom of God. Our published works were in the main developments of the necessity to confute those who held ephemeral views of the Kingdom as something in the heart, or in the church, or in the skies, and so they devote themselves, soundly, to showing that the Kingdom was a material one on a part of the earth, and will be again on the whole of it. This is a very large part of the truth, and two of the three sections into which the list is divided show this. But it is not quite the whole: there is a sense in which the Kingdom of God is frequently spoken of as having a present significance, not as against the other two but as supplementing and completing them, and the third section is devoted to this. A controversial work could not have supplied this thought, and it would have been loss not to have received it.

There is no need further to specify, or to limit, the uses to which such a file can be put, other than is necessary to observe that, from its very nature, it can only be a source-book, an essence too concentrated to swallow neat, from which our proper diet can be elaborated. Unless we have memories unusually good (and count on keeping them as good throughout life), or unless we are content to live from hand to mouth, we need longer notes also.

(c) More Detailed Notes. The writer files his under appropriate headings in folders designed for quarto (10 by 8 ins. -the most commonly used despite a bewildering variety of sizes available) paper. The folders themselves he stocks in filing-boxes designed for them, and he aspires to possess some day a cabinet in which he can classify them better and which will give him less excuse for his present untidiness. The files are arranged in two groups (1) those having expositions of books of Scripture, which are arranged in the order in which the books appear; (2) those dealing with other matters, which are arranged alphabetically.

And that is all the detailed description which will be given. Everyone to his taste, providing our taste is not too much inclined to leave well alone. Choose a system and use it as a servant; let it be loose-leaf for choice so that ideas can flow through it to where they belong-their proper docket within the file, or the waste-paper basket without, and so that others' thoughts can filter in and mellow our own achievements. Be not over-worried about the consistency of the system, provided it works for you. Step over the traces if it menaces as a master, and rebel. But be systematic enough to know where to find what you want, and proceed to put it to use.