is to see that the critic does not contradict a definite teaching of faith; but with criticism as such he should interfere as little as possible. The chapter on the Virgin Birth is a criticism of Father Tyrrell's statement that we can imagine an Incarnation without a virgin birth. It is a futile controversy, of course; though the theologically-minded will be diverted by Dr. MacDonald's attempt to wrest St. Thomas from Father Tyrrell's side to his own. In conclusion, we would repeat our good wishes to this. sturdy and fearless writer, and trust that we shall have the pleasure of reading other volumes from his pen. NOTES ON CHRISTIAN By Bishop Bagshawe. About forty years ago Bishop Bagshawe delivered a course of lectures on Christian Doctrine to the pupils of the Hammersmith Training College, London. The notes which he used are reproduced in this volume. The notes constitute an explanation of the Creed, the Decalogue, the Sacraments, the Holy Sacrifice, and the chief forms of devotion. The instructions, clear and concise in statement, are sufficiently copious to constitute a presentation of doctrine sufficiently detailed for the laity. Presumably in his lectures the bishop pointed out to his pupils the dividing line between matters of obligatory faith and mere theological opinions more explicitly than this distinction is indicated in the printed reproduction. A non-Catholic studying this book would have no reason to suspect that the mystery of the Incarnation or the Trinity. stands on a very different footing, as far as Catholic belief is concerned, from the statement that Eve was tempted by Lucifer under the form of a serpent. It is hard to believe that the pupils of a training college were dismissed into the world laboring under the impression that the Catholic Church pledges herself to the teaching that, besides the limbus of the Fathers, "there are three other prisons within the earth," viz., Purgatory, the limbus of unbaptized children, and the hell of the damned. The systematic arrangement and clearness of the book ought to render it very helpful to Sunday-school teachers. Notes on Christian Doctrine. By the Most Reverend Edward G. Bagshawe, D.D. London: Kegan, Paul & Trench. CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. This volume is a reprint of a series of instructive leaflets, couched in epistolary form, that, in the past few years, appeared in a popular magazine of the Jesuit Fathers in England. The object of the Letters is to furnish to grown-up Catholics a knowledge, more ample and minute than is contained in the catechism, of the scope of the duties imposed by the Decalogue and the precepts of the Church. The tone is that of an affable, kindly, experienced director of faultless taste, addressing Catholics of intelligence and good breeding. Blending exhortation with exposition, and not disdaining to enliven his serious mood with an occasional touch of playfulness, the instructor expounds the whole content of Catholic duty. Wherever occasion requires it, he is careful to show the reasonableness of the demands which the Church makes upon us. Almost all the ordinary questions on difficulties submitted to a confessor are anticipated. Doctrine is laid down with theological accuracy in everyday language. In matters dogmatic, Father Zulueta leans almost invariably to the side of strictest interpretation. One rubs one's eyes, however, and readjusts one's glasses, on reading that, in order to constitute heresy, an error "must concern a doctrine contained or revealed in the Scriptures, and also proposed as such by the Church to our belief." In the text italics are employed as above; apparently to emphasize the statement. As the Church teaches that Revelation may be contained not only in the Scriptures, but also in Tradition, sine scripto, we must presume that the author has, in the above sentence, inadvertently omitted an important phrase. In the interpretation of purely moral, as distinct from religious precepts, Father Zulueta is guided by the spirit of benignity which shuns the danger of aggravating unnecessarily the burden of the law. When authorities differ, he usually follows those who concede the most to human weakness. Only in one instance, however, does he carry benignity to a point where one may legitimately inquire whether it does not begin. to deserve a harsher name. Under the head of scandal we find the following passage: "The publican also has no duty to retire from his trade for the reason that some of his customers *Letters on Christian Doctrine. By F. M. Zulueta, S.J. New York: Benziger Brothers. choose to get drunk on the premises, on account of the serious loss such a step would entail. Neither, for a similar reason, does he commit scandal by selling more liquor to one who has already taken as much as is good for him, since the handing of drink across the counter is not in itself a part of the sin of drunkenness" (p. 233). The first of these statements, certainly, can be defended by the authority of eminent theologians. But, none the less is it in flagrant opposition to the spirit of the teaching and legislation of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore concerning liquor selling. The second statement, we respectfully submit, salva reverentia, is perniciously lax, and ethically, if not also theologically, indefensible. The handing of drink across the counter to a man on the verge of intoxication (for this we take to be the meaning of the euphemism, "who already has had as much as is good for him "), is, indeed, no part of the sin of drunkenness. But it is immediate, direct co-operation in that sin. The handing of a dose of chloral across the counter is no part of the act of self-destruction. But if I furnish this drug to a man, when I know he will kill himself with it, though he means, not to commit suicide, but to enjoy a pleasant sensation, then in the eyes of God, and even before the civil law, I am guilty of a crime. True, I cannot plead that to refuse the customer would mean a considerable pecuniary loss to me, while the publican may truthfully claim that to refuse to serve half-drunken, or more than half-drunken, men would be seriously to diminish his revenue. But the casuistry which would accept this defense would make for the degradation of our moral standards. We question whether any member of the American hierarchy, after his attention would have been drawn to this paragraph, would grant an imprimatur to this otherwise excellent and serviceable book, which, we trust, will meet with a wide circulation in a corrected edition. THE MIRROR OF ST. After St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury, had been driven from his See, and while he was living in exile at a monastery in Pontigny, he found time to write, for the instruction of some simple nun whose name we shall never know, a little treatise on spiritual perfection. It is this which has come down to us with the title The Mirror of St. Edmund, and which, in pleasant, readable English, is now presented to the public as a sort of summary of Catholic ascetical teaching. Broken up into little chapters, sometimes no more than a page or two in length, written in simple and fervent but, at the same time, masterly style, the booklet possesses particular attractions for a class of readers to whom larger or more recondite treatises would appeal in vain. There is abundance of matter in it, nevertheless, and he who will peruse it slowly and meditatively will find therein precious nuggets of holy wisdom. The translation has been made from the old edition published by Mr. Horstmann in the Library of the Early English Writers; and we are glad to say that the translator has done her work neatly and well. LIGHT FOR NEW TIMES. The name of Margaret Fletcher has become so closely identified with the forward movement in the education of Catholic girls, that a new publication with her name attached may pretty safely be taken as an indication that the tide of progress is still rolling steadily onward. The reappearance of her latest book † in more durable form is therefore an occasion for encouragement. Possibly there is something of truth in the criticism recently made that her writing shows considerable thoughtfulness and a tendency to be somewhat philosophical. And it may be true that we badly need simpler writings for the more juvenile reader. But Miss Fletcher really meets a serious want. There is a public for just such books and articles as she is writing; and whether or not lighter and more amusing publications be needed, it is certain that a great army of girls will profit immensely if they are made acquainted with the existence of her works. It would be unmerited and unmeaning praise to affirm that she has given to all of us exactly what we desire; or that there is no room for improvement in the work that she has put forth. But her work is of a high order; her aim is in the *The Mirror of St. Edmund. Done into modern English by Francesca M. Steele. With a Preface by the Very Rev. Fr. Vincent McNabb, O.P. New York: Benziger Brothers. Light for New Times. A Bcok for Catholic Girls. By Margaret Fletcher, Oxford, EngWith a Preface by W. D. Strappini, S.J. New York: Benziger Brothers. land. right direction; and she is assisting a class which, in the past, has had to rely principally on writers who are not of the Catholic faith. Given a lively, intelligent, good-hearted girl, just loosed from the restraining influences of her convent school, a group of associates typical of the ordinary world in which girls usually find themselves to-day, and an opportunity for a little reading or reflection on the facts which are challenging such a girl's attention from hour to hour, and one has a situation where the book before us would perhaps play a very significant part in determining the bent of a fine spirit. It is full of plain, intelligible talk about subjects which ought to be taken into account by any such girl, and, as a matter of fact, are taken. into account, with more or less success, by many such girls. The use of liberty and the nature of responsibility and the whole difficult question of attempting some sort of modus vivendi for a Catholic in a world which is far from being Catholic in theory and still farther from it in practice; these are matters which must be considered and studied, if the present situation is to be dealt with successfully. For suggestion, aid, and guidance in this, Light for New Times is to be recommended to our Catholic girls and to those who have their well-being at heart. May it find its way into the hands of the many who have been awaiting it. It will, perhaps, fail to help some readers- so might a retreat- but that it will do good to many there can hardly be any reasonable doubt. DIPLOMACY. * If somebody were to open this A HISTORY OF EUROPEAN book without looking at the title, and, after the wont of a saunterer around the shelves of a library, cast an eye over the table of contents, or dip into its pages here and there, he would probably fancy that he had come across an able history of the temporal papacy. And it is not unlikely that a subsequent inspection of the title would suggest to him the propriety of reconsidering the meaning which he had hitherto attached to the word diplomacy. For the author of this highly interesting volume assumes that a history of diplomacy means a great deal more *A History of Diplomacy in the International Development of Europe. Vol. I. The Struggle for Universal Empire. By David Jayne Hill, LL.D. New York: Longmans, Green & Co. |