66 is kept this pledge. This is specially observable in chapter xvii., on Popular-isms." The chapter on " Spiritism" is full of interesting facts and anecdotes. After allowing for a good deal of fraud, Dr. Ricards holds that "Spiritism" is mainly due to the direct inquence of Satan. His reference to the "Evolution Theory brief and indefinite, too much so to enable us to see what precisely he holds with regard to it. The book is not, nor is it intended to be, a systematic controversial work. But it contains a great deal that will be most useful to all intelligent Catholics in discussing the difficulties which "Free-thought " is every day rendering more common. For this end the book deserves to be highly recommended. Fine writing or deep reasoning, the Bishop does not aim at, his object being to state his case in a plain matter-offact way, such as would bring his meaning home to readers of the most ordinary capacity. But while attaining this object, the book affords abundant proof that its learned and distinguished author can write and reason well. J. M. The Faith of Catholics. F. PUSTET & Co., New York and Cincinnati. This is a reprint with sundry corrections and additions of a very learned and useful book, written in proof of the Apostolicity of the Faith of Catholics. The work was originally compiled by Fathers Barrington and Kirk in the early part of the century; it was reprinted after much careful and laborious revision by Father Waterworth; and it is now published for the third time, the editor being the Right Rev. Monsignor Capel, who also writes a preface for the new issue of this much-esteemed work. The object of the work is to establish the Apostolicity of Catholic doctrine, to show that though particular dogmas, owing to special circumstances, have from time to time received more marked attention and fuller development, the truths of faith are the same now that were taught and believed in the first five centuries of the Christian Church. Nothing can be more simple than the plan of the work. The authors take up in order the great heads of Catholic Belief-such as, for instance, the Rule of Faith, the Church, Justification, the Sacraments, and so forth. The Catholic tenets comprised under each heading are expressed in a number of Propositions, worded in clear and precise language. Each chapter or section of the book opens with one of the Propositions, and then follow such quotations from Scripture as support it with the clearest evidence, and to the Scripture texts succeed copious passages from the Fathers asserting the self-same doctrine. The compilers confine themselves to extracts from the Fathers of the first five centuries for the obvious and all-sufficient reason that no Christian will call in question the truth and Apostolicity of a doctrine that was taught and believed by the Church of the first five centuries. We need hardly say that to the intelligent layman who has not been led astray by the zealous advocates of modern unbelief, and who takes an interest in the study of revealed truth, as well as to the churchman, this is both an interesting and highly useful work. It is particularly satisfactory to have the assurance on trustworthy anthority that the numerous quotations from the Greek and Latin Fathers have been made from the originals with much scholarly care. Fr. Waterworth tells us that he spent four years in preparing for his edition of the book, during which time be read the entire works of the Fathers and ecclesiastical writers of the first five centuries, and compared the extracted passages with the originals, making use of all the aids supplied by modern scholarship to secure the purest text and the most accurate rendering of it into English. E. D. Reasons why we should Believe in God, Love God, and Obey God. By PETER H. BURNETT. New York Catholic Publication Society, 1884. Mr. Burnett is already favourably known to Catholic readers; but "The Path which led a Protestant Lawyer to the Catholic Church" is an easier way than the course by which the Author travels in the volume before us. In the former, traces of dead or dying heresies were the only impediments to be met with, and these were easily brushed aside. But here the way is infested by hydraheaded monsters, whose name is legion-those odious "isms," that go by the general name of modern unbelief. If, therefore, we fail to find in this volume all that its title would lead us to expect, the vastness, the difficulty of the subject will be an ample apology for the Author. The book is divided into four parts, the first part treats of the great question of questions-the existence of God-and in establishing this great fundamental truth, the Author confines himself exclusively to the argument from design. This argument he puts at considerable length, and with acuteness and ability. But his readers will regret that he has left untouched the other proofs for God's existence, and by omitting them has lost to his thesis that cumulative convincing force which those proofs lend to the argument from design. In saying this, we do not for a moment insinuate that the proof from design is not conclusive. We believe it is so, fully. In the second part of the "Reasons," the Author treats of the Evolution Theory, as propounded by Mr. Darwin, and as Mr. Darwin's theory denies design and purpose in creation, we believe the Author's plan is, so far, logical. This theory he treats at considerable length, and though somewhat wanting in logical precision, the arguments adduced by him are amply sufficient to show how sandy is the foundation on which Darwin's extraordinary and extravagant system rests. He believes that the theory is "incompatible with a proper conception of the nature and action of 66 the Creator" (p. 79): that it is untrue "in itself" (p. 82); and yet he concedes that it " may not positively conflict with our religion" (p. 82). We believe firmly that the Darwinian theory does conflict positively with our religion," and we say furthermore that, since the theory deals with a subject on which we have a Revelation, a view thereon that is untrue in itself " must be also heretical. The third and fourth parts deal with the Old and New Dispensations respectively. The Author discusses at considerable length the internal and external evidences of credibility for both dispensations, and in doing so, he gives proof of very extensive reading, and of much sound judgment in the arrangement of his materials. The book consists largely of extracts, but it is due to the Author to state that those extracts are taken from the very best authorities, are well selected and well arranged. The volume is beautifully got up, but its usefulness is marred a good deal by the want of a general index. If we fail to find in this book that rigid logic with which we should wish to see the sneering sceptic confronted, it must be admitted that it contains a great deal that intelligent Catholics will find useful and entertaining and edifying, and as such we can cordially recommend it. The following passage will convey a fair idea of the spirit in which the book was written: Whatever may be the nature and number of opposing theories, I am well assured that Christianity will be amply able to meet them all. In such a contest, from the very nature of the system itself, the Christian religion has no apologies to make—no compromise to offer, none to accept. I believe that the Catholic Church can neither die nor change, but that she will always firmly maintain the unchangeable faith once delivered to the Saints."(Pref. p. x.) J. M. 14 Lett's Chart of the Principal Forms of the Earth's Surface. In the subject of Geography it is extremely difficult for a teacher to convey to his young pupil a correct idea of the different formations of land and water by mere definitions or descriptions. Cannot most of us recall how curious were our school-boy notions of an iceberg, or a glacier, or a water-shed, and many other objects in our geography task, which were perfectly familiar by name? How different would have been the result if we had good maps, or picture lessons to aid us in forming our conceptions of such things? To meet this want, felt alike by master and pupil, Messrs. Lett have published a chart, beautifully printed in oil-colours, in which are depicted the different formations as they appear in nature (over sixty in number), the correct name of each appearing in a key at foot. We can highly recommend this chart as a very useful and even necessary addition to the school-room. THE IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL RECORD. FEBRUARY, 1885. RELIGIOUS INSPECTION OF SCHOOLS. AVING in a previous article been permitted to offer some remarks on religious instruction in colleges, convents and other places where the pupils are resident and entirely under the control of those who are engaged in their education, I propose in this paper to make some observations on the other division of pupils, who attend day schools, and who are, therefore, only during the hours of their attendance, and that with some restrictions, under the care and control of their teachers. What can be done to ensure for these a thorough and practical knowledge of their religion? We must have religious inspection-we hear it saidas they have elsewhere. But what do we mean by religious inspection? For it may mean two things that are very different both in their working and in their effect. Religious inspection may mean that the Bishop of the diocese, having the responsible care and oversight of the religious instruction of his flock, should select a man of judgment and experience in the management of schools, and the teaching of young children, to represent him in this matter, and should give him vicarial powers, as far as the schools are concerned, to visit them as he sees fit, and examine whether in each school the children are adequately instructed. This system of religious inspection to be effective would imply, I say, a power to visit schools at any time, as a Government Inspector in England may, at any time, pay a visit to any of the schools in his district, or as a Bank Inspector may at any time step in to one of the banks under his direction, and examine the actual VOL. IV. F state of the books, and the way the work is being carried on. So in schools a knowledge is needed, not of what sort of an appearance can be put on under due notice for a holiday or an examination, but how the school is carried on as an institution-how the machine is doing its daily work-how the teachers and children go on upon working days and in working clothes. Yet, while in this way the Episcopal Inspector comes to know what is the real and actual condition of the school, it is not necessary, and it is surely most undesirable, that his visits to the school should be made in any spirit of hostility, or as a spy to pick holes, and discover faults, and catch teachers napping. This is to suppose that he has not the spirit of the part he is appointed to fill,-that of a fatherly and kind-hearted superior, who desires to encourage and appreciate good work, and not "to come down" even on that which is indifferent and unsuccessful, but to advise and assist in getting it done better. The Vicar's work will not always be smooth and pleasant any more than is that of his master, yet it comes to be understood in what spirit a man is acting, and manipulation may be gentle even though it is strong. soon We suppose that under this system the Episcopal Visitor might, in the first instance, have to pay a lengthened visit, or one repeated more than once, in order to be acquainted. with the real character of the school and its work, and to avoid the risk of mistaking what was occasional or accidental for what was the normal condition of things. For he would have to take note of a good many points before he could safely draw his conclusions on the religious education of the children. What time is set apart for instruction in religion? Does it seem a well-selected time, when the children are sure to be all present and not over weary? Is it a sufficient time for what has to be done? and is it conscientiously adhered to? During this time is any definite course followed in the different classes, so that the subject. is taught progressively, and according to the age and capacity of the children? or does the teacher give a general instruction to the whole school? Different systems nay fairly be admitted according to the circumstances of the locality, but each teacher should have some system What is it in this particular school? The Visitor might watch this system during the hour when it was in operation, and after listening to the teaching as it is ordinarily given, first in one class, then in another, he might next take |