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Tlie Review
A WEEKLY MAGAZINE.
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED
ARTHUR PREUSS.
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Boob No.
Accession No
VOLUME X
1903.
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St. Louis, Mo., U. S. A
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Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., January 8, 1903.
No. 1.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
FTER Bandelier and his school had effectually rewritten
the history of the Spanish pioneers on the American
continent, it remained to rewrite the beginnings of the
Thirteen Colonies, and especially the Revolution, from the origi-
nal sources. This important work is now being accomplished by
Mr. Sydney George Fisher and a few other scholars, who have
taken for their motto : "The truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth," no matter if it redounds to the glory of our people
or to their disgrace.
Previous histories of the Revolution have treated the desire for
independence on the part of the colonists as a sudden thought ;
have assumed that every detail of the conduct of the British gov-
ernment in its dealings with the colonies was stupid and unjust,
and that the loyalists (derisively called "Tories," and "traitors,"
though they comprised practically the whole conservative and re-
spectable element of the population, were right in principle, and
suffered the most horrible cruelties for their loyalty) were few
in number and their arguments not worth considering.
Mr. Sydney George Fisher, himself a descendant of an old and
prominent colonial family, in his 'True History of the American
Revolution,' recently published,*) candidly and with a full knowl-
edge of the original sources, in which he has burrowed persist-
ently for years and found much new material, describes the men
and times, not as hero-worshippers might wish to see them and
as our foremost historians, from Bancroft down, have sought to
color them, but as they really were.
The new facts brought out by Mr. Fisher are chiefly these : that
*) The True History of the American Revolution, by Sydney
George Fisher. Philadelphia and London, J. B. Lippincott Com-
pany. 1902. (Price $2.)
4 The Review. 1*;>03.
the British gfovernment. np to the summer of 1778, used extremely-
lenient and conciliatory methods in dealing- with the revolted col-
onists ; that the Whig- General Howe could have easilj' suppressed
the rebellion if he had meant to do so ; that the Revolution was a
much more ugly and unpleasant affair than most of us imagine ;
that the lo3"alists were far more numerous than is generally sup-
posed : that they were treated by the "patriots" with outrageous
cruelt\' ; in a word, that the Revolution was reallj' unjustifiable
and digraceful.
"Before I discovered the omissions of our standard historians"
— saj's Mr. Fisher in his Preface — ""I always felt as though I
were reading about something that had never happened, and that
was contrary to the ordinarj^ experience of human nature." (We
confess to having had the same feeling). ""I could not understand
how a movement which was supposed to have been such a deep
uprooting of settled thought and custom — a movement which is
supposed to have been one of the great epochs of histor}' — could
have happened like an occurrence in a fairy-tale. I could not un-
derstand the militar}- operations ; and it seemed strange to me
that they were not investigated, explained, and criticized like
those of Napoleon's campaigns or of our own Civil W^ar.
"I was never satisfied until I had spent a great deal of time in
research, burrowing into the dust of hundreds of old brown
pamphlets, newspapers, letters, personal memoirs, documents,
publications of historical societies, and the interminable debates
of Parliament which, now that the e5^e-witnesses are dead, con-
stitute all the evidence that is left us of the story of the Revolu-
tion
"I understand, of course, that the methods used b}^ our his-
torians have been intended to be productive of good results, to
build up nationalit)', and to check sectionalism and rebellion.
Students and the literary class do not altogether like successful
rebellions ; and the word revolution is mereh" another word for
a successful rebellion. Rebellions are a trifle awkward when
you have settled down, although the Declaration of Independence
contains a clause to relieve this embarrassment by declaring that
'governments long established should not be changed for light or-
transient causes.' The people who write histories are usually of
the class who take the side of a government in revolution ; and as
Americans the\' are anxious to believe that our revolution was
different from others, more decorous, and altogether free from the
atrocities, mistakes, and absurdities which characterize even the
patriot part\' in a revolution. They do not like to describe in their
full coloring the strongAmericanism and the doctrinesof the rights
of man which inspired the party that put through our successful
No. 1. The Review. 5
rebellion. They have accordingh' tried to describe a revolution
in which all scholarly, refined, and conservative persons might
unhesitatingly have taken part ; but such revolutions have never
been known to happen. The Revolution was a much more ugly
and unpleasant affair than most of us imagine. I know of many
people who talk a great deal of their ancestors, but who I am (juite
sure would not now take the side their ancestors chose. Nor
was it a great, spontaneous, unanimous uprising, all righteous-
ness, perfection, and infallibity, a marvel of success at every
step, and incapable of failure, as many of us very naturally be-
lieve from what we have read.
"The device of softening the unpleasant or rebellious features
of the Revolution does not, I think, accomplish the improving and
edifying results among us which the historians from their exalted
station are so gracious as to wish to bestow. A candid and free
disclosure of all that the records contain would be more appre-
ciated b}^ our people and of more advantage to them." -
And it is such a candid and free disclosure that Mr. Fisher
offers us in his book. We shall present some of his facts and
conclusions to our readers in later issues of The Rf:view.
ar ar ^r
THE CASE OF FATHER. McGRADY.
Commenting on the forced resignation of the "Socialist priest,"
Rev. Thomas F. McGrady, the Catholic Transcript (l^o. 28) says:
"The news will come as a relief to the Catholic editors of the
country'- who have been repeatedli^ called upon to explain his
course. Letters to that effect have come to this office, but we
passed them on to the waste-basket, with the reflection that it
was the Bishop's business to deal with the man. We do not rec-
ognize that we have any obligation to vindicate Catholic doctrine
as against erratic theorists who should hire a hall and propound
their social nostrums from the platform and not from the pulpits
of the Catholic Church. Meanwhile we have our own opinion of
the wisdom of the Catholic reformers who quit the sane teachings
of the great body of the clergy and pin their faith to the irre-
sponsible outgivings of men of the McGrady type."
Our view of the office of Catholic journalism is wider ; we con-
sider that it includes, of duty, not of privilege, public criticism
of errors and heresies publicly proclaimed, no matter by whom or
where. If Fr. McGrady or any other individual goes about, try-
ing, in public lectures, to seduce our good Catholic people by So-
cialistic or other fallacies, Thp: Review will expose and denounce
him with all the energv at its command, even at the risk of
6 The Review. 1903.
wounding- the delicate susceptibilities of those of its contempor-
aries who prefer to throw all responsibility in such matters on
the bishops.
Poor McGradj- himself, meanwhile continues on his downward
course. We see from the Catholic Columbian (vol. xxvii, No. 52)
that he is bitterly attacking- Bishop Maes and all the authorities
of the Church, including the Pope and the cardinals, — to the un-
utterable distress of his family and friends. "I wanted to stay
in the Catholic priesthood," he said the other day. "My parents,
friends and relatives all are Catholics. My first fondest recollec-
tions are of Catholic associations. I have three sisters in the con-
vent, and they begged me on bended knees not to take the step I
have taken, but I said to them that humanity is above fraternal
affection and sentiment. This very morning one of my sisters,
a Sister of Charity, came to my study and implored me with tears
in her eyes not to come here to-night and deliver this lecture."
Poor man ! May the prayers of his pious sisters preserve him
from the fate — si ;parviijn licet coin:poiierc magiiis — of Bollinger
and Lamennais !
SP 3? 3f
A PROTESTANT LAYMAN ON THE DECADENCE OF THE
PROTESTANT RELIGION.
A friend of The Review sends us a clipping from the Detroit
Evening- Nevjs, of Dec. 22nd, containing the text of a lengthy and
spirited address delivered by Mr. Clarence Black, a well-known
capitalist and alderman-elect, before the Business Men's Club of
the First Congreg^ational Church. We are not surprised to learn
that this address "created no end of furore," for Mr. Black did
not mince his words. We quote a few of his remarks to show
what at least one intelligent Protestant layman thinks of the
causes of the evident decadence of the Protestant religion in
twentieth-centur}' America :
"We, to-day, boast of our democracy, of our culture, our re-
finement and our civilization. We are forever and a day pointing:
with pride to our marvelous record. Our churches grace the
finest corners on the finest avenues. Our dress parade on Sun-
day is the most important display of dresses and milinery and
tailor's models in the entire week. Our Easter procession
to church puts the vaunted horse-show to shame. We g-o in
for the most artistic coloring, and our cushion^ and pew
frames are marvels of harmony. Our music appeals to our more
or less cultivated ears, largely in proportion to the cost. There
is as much wire-pullin;^- and heart-burning to get into a fashion-
able choir as there ever was among the Jews for the best places
No. 1. The Review. 7
in the Temple. Our churches are clubs, more or less exclusive,
with the animating- spirit of outdoing- their rivals. We are as
much the creatures of style and fashion as was ever the greatest
Pharisee in Jerusalem of form, ceremonial, and custom.
"We talk largely of the lower classes. We patronize them,
have charades and theatricals and bazaars for their benefit, be-
cause it flatters our vanity. We smother our remnant of con-
science with the claim that it is all for charity. We preach the
story of Christ and his humanity to a congregation of scribes
and Pharisees, who think love of humanity was all right a couple
of thousand years ago, but the world has progressed, and the
fact has become a theory now, to be discussed at clubs. If a
known Mary Magdalen or a roughly garbed fisherman should oc-
cupy a front seat in one of our fashionable churches, the general
opinion would be that really our church needed a better neigh-
borhood.
■"When a new site is being selected for a big church, you all
know that the question is not 'Where shall we locate to do the
most good?' but 'Where shall we find a place on the avenue in or-
der to keep our congregation?" The money chargers are as much
in evidence now as they were in the Temple.
"The spirit of commercialism is rampant. Our churches bend
the knee to the captains of industry quite as meekly as does the
man in business, but without his excuse. A popular preacher is
as much in demand and his services are bid for as openly and with
a spirit equal to that shown by rival baseball magnates in secur-
ing a good pitcher.
■'In discussing the merits and qualifications of the minister of
God, one hears much of the fine edifice he erected when pastor
at such a place, and the signal ability with which he canceled
debts in another, but little, very little, of the work he has done
in bringing souls to Christ. We are so busy discussing deficits,
that the question of bringing sinners to repentance is quite over-
looked. It is a wise pastor in these days who knows the preju-
dices of his congregation and does not offend the best-paying
parishioners.
"I have been in a church in a far western cit)^ the largest and
most fashionable in the place, in which service is invariabh^ closed
by the minister making an announcement to this effect : 'If there
is an3^one in this congregation who thinks he would like to join
with us, he will please step up to the desk at the close of service
and enroll his name.' If he had only added: 'The annual dues will
be so many dollars,' the illusion would have been complete."
■'We are worse than the Jews in Christ's time. They had blind-
ly followed custom. We have had the light for nearly 2,000 years,
8 Thk Rbview. 1903.
and we are no nearer the king-dom of Christ on earth than we
were at his birth."
"Over in the police court 3^ou will find little children, dirty,
forlorn, helpless tots. Some of them have never known what it
was to have enough to eat. Some know warmth only in the sum-
mer. Most of them know Jesus Christ as the Christmas Santa
Glaus. 'Suffer little children to be taken care of by the county
agent,' is our modern creed."
"We Christians of to-day are a race of shirkers."
"Church and society crucified Jesus Christ for espousing the
cause of the people. We do infinitely worse. We enlist under
his banner, we take our place in his army, and then we deliber-
ately betray the Captain and his cause. The Jews of Christ's time
had no light, we have had its radiance for two thousand years,
and we prefer the companj^ of the Scribes and Pharisees to that
of the Lowly Master."
PHILANTHROPY vs. CHRISTIAN CHARITY.
Our friend Tardivel is a stickler for accuracy in translation,
and we often forego the pleasure of Englishing his thoughts on
current topics for fear of missing some of his fine points; for his
knowledge of the French idiom is as exquisite as ours is super-
ficial and defective. We can not, however, deny ourselves the
gratification of reproducing some of his timely and pungent re-
marks in No. 16 of his Vcritc, even at the risk of seeing them a
bit deteriorated by such English dress as our modest shop
affords.
"Philanthropy," he saj^s, "as its name indicates, has for its sole
object man. Christian charity, while it labors for the profit of
man, springs from the love of God and has for its object his
greater glory. Philanthropy busies itself with the material body,
with the present life. Christian charity, without neglecting the
real necessities of the body, provides also, and in an especial
manner, for the infinitely more important needs of the soul. Phil-
anthropy makes big pretences, lots of noise, and advertises itself
as much as possible. Particularly the women who are its de-
votees, love to see their names in the newspapers, to appear in
public, to have people talk about them. If you see them act and
hear them speak, you would think that no one outside of their
narrow circle takes the least interest in the well-being of his fel-
low creatures. Christian charity, on the other hand, labors noise-
lessly, in silence and secrecy, in the depth of convents, monas-
teries, asylums, hospitals, orphanages, and charitable institutions
of every description ; and in the outside world through the ad-
No. 1. The Revikw. 9
rail-able Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Those who devote them-
selves to works of Christian charit5% do not seek publicity, they
do not pose before their contemporaries as the sole benefactors
of humankind. Do you often see in the newspapers the names of
our hospital sisters? No. And yet there are among- us numer-
ous religious communities of women, each of whose members
performs more deeds of real charity in a week than certain prom-
inent ladies, who fill the papers with their doings, addresses, and
reports, do in a year.
Mr. Tardivel illustrates his remarks by examples, taken from
Canadian public life, of w^omen who hold meetings and discuss
philanthropy like modern heathens, without the slightest refer-
ence to the true principles and aims of genuine Christian charity.
We have plenty of the same sort among us in this country, and
if these lines should come to the notice of any of them, we hope
they wall ponder the radical distinction which obtains between
philanthropy and Christian charity, and devote their energy and
talent to the latter instead of the former in future.
It seems to us that the neg-lect among our "society" people of
true Christian charity, and the growth of "philanthropy," is an-
other indication of the firm hold Liberalism has laid upon twen-
tieth-century Catholics.
3? 3f 3f
THE EDUCATIONAL SITUATION IN CVBA.
A correspondent of the International Catholic Truth Society
(we find his letter in No. 11 of the Providence Visitor) writes from
Cuba :
"The public school methods here are copied on the lines of the
system in vogue in the United States, which prohibit the teach-
ing of religion to the children attending the schools. At the same
time, however, in all the schools of the Island, there is, relatively
speaking, neither pupil nor teacher who professes any religion
other than Catholic ; yet the teaching of the doctrines of the faith
accepted both by teachers and pupils, as well as the recitation of
Catholic prayers, are forbidden as a thing not in keeping with
the fantastic ideas of what a free Church in a free State implies.
Meanwhile the present generation is growing to womanhood with
all the spiritual disadvantages that an educational system of this
sort contributes.
The work of the Christian Doctrine Society, inaugurated by
Bishop Sbarretti, and conducted under the auspices of several
devout ladies of Havana, is doing excellent work in supplying the
religious deficiencies of our public schools by gathering the child-
ren on Saturdays in convenient points of centre, where they are
10 The Review. 1903.
instructed b}' competent persons in the essentials of their faith.
But at best this is but a temporarj'^ arrangement, which in no way-
solves the educational question for the Catholic Church in Cuba.
It is sad to contemplate what the next generation will bring forth,
unless the little ones be provided with an education in which their
religion is accorded a place of prominence."
And he concludes :
"The Lotus Waifs, to whom so much publicity was recently-
given through the energetic efforts of the Geary Society at the
port of New York, is only a specimen of the methods by which
the Cuban homes are being exploited. While it is far from the
purpose of the writer to class all the humanitarian guilds inter-
ested in Cuba on a plane with the notorious Tingle^" school, still
the one fact remains undisputed, that all, without exception, suc-
ceed in removing the children of their charge from the sphere of
their religion. Fortunatel}' the Catholic Church in Cuba is awake
to her duty and responsibility in this regard. It is fully realized
that the radical political changes effected in the island in passing
from a colonial dependency of the Spanish monarch}^ to a repub-
lic, has placed upon the Church and her ministers new responsi-
bilities, to effect which is the object of the Apostolic Delegate
( Msgr. Chalpelle). It is reasonable to hope that within a brief
period of time the Catholics of Cuba will awaken to the needs of a
religious training for their children and insist upon the fulfil-
ment, even though it should entail a personal sacrifice of main-
taining a system of parochial schools."
3f sr sr
MSGR. D. J. O'CONNELL AND THE KECTORSHiP OF THE
CATHOLIC VNIVERSITY.
There is apparently an underhanded movement on foot to put
Msgr. Denis J. O'Connell into the rector's chair of the Catholic
University, vice Msgr. Conaty, "whose great talents," his friends
say, "should be devoted to active episcopal work, for which his pre-
vious training and tastes eminently lit him" (Washington letter
to the Freemanh JotirnaL Nov. 22nd) — clearly insinuating that his
previous training and tastes did not and do not qualify him for
the position he now holds. While they are keeping their eye on
possible vacancies in the hierarchy (of which there are two just
now, Los Angeles and Buffalo, not to speak of the possible coad-
jutorship cum jure in St. Louis) they are coverth^ advancing the
cause of Msgr. O'Connell. Says a writer in the Freeman'' s Jou?--
7/rt/(Nov. 22nd ;: "The selection of Msgr. O'Connell as one of
these" ('candidates for the university rectorship) "gives general
No. 1. The Review. H
satisfaction. His labors as rector of the American College at
Rome are well remembered" (so is his deposition, for cause, by
the Holy Father). "He is a man imbued with the true university
spirit. He is liberal" (very much so !^ "urbane and a figure of
note in the world of learning. His scholastic attainments are
recognized throughout Christendom (?) and, above all, he is
gifted with that forceful but suave demeanor so necessary in a
savant who must meet and mingle with the host of sectarian
scholars who throng the schools of learning at the national cap-
ital(!). In the multitude and character of its scholars, Washington
may be compared to Rome itself. Here the agnostic searcher
for scientific truth directs the great forces and apparatus of the
government itself. At his elbow is a Jew, around him are infidels,
doubters and many Catholics. Before the Catholic University
can take its real place in the American republic of letters it must
meet these men frankly and honestly, evading nothing of their
scientific attainments, but sternly repelling in all charity their
error and erroneous direction of their finite wisdom against the
infinite. No ordinary parish priest," (like Msgr. Conaty ?) "be he
a saint on earth, understands the method of this work. It re-
quires some man like Msgr. O'Connell, who has met the scholars
of all creeds, who is of the world polite and of the church holy,
who can establish truth with charity for transient error or mis-
take. It is believed here" (in Washington) "that Msgr. O'Connell
has been completely exonerated from an erroneous charge made
against him in the heat of a clamorous dispute. At the time he
could not produce evidence to repel the charge, but time has
shown him guiltless. Since 1895, Msgr. O'Connell has been a
canon of St. Mary Trans Tiber, Cardinal Gibbons' church in
Rome. He has labored modestly, but his pious efforts to clear
himself of a mistaken charge have been successful."
Those who followed up the controversy which ended with the
solemn condemnation of "Americanism" by the gloriously reign-
ing Pontiff, know very well that the charge referred to was
neither "erroneous" nor "mistaken." Not only was Msgr.
O'Connell one of the chief champions of the condemned doctrines,
but he precipitated the acrimonious controversy by his address
at the Catholic Congress of Fribourg : 'Americanism According
to Father Hecker, What It Is and What It Is Not. ' For the drift
of this address, the role it played in the Americanism polemics,
and Msgr. O'Connell's unsuccessful attempt to escape the ter-
rible indictment found against him by Rev. Dr. Charles Maignen,
see the latter's famous 'Studies in Americanism : Father Hecker
—Is He a Saint?' English edition, pp. 190-l<n-192, 203-204, 206,
and Appendix.
12 The Review. 1V03.
^^ e can not for a moment suppose that Rome will Inflict upon
the struggfling- Catholic Universit3% which in its various trials and
misfortunes has had no deeper sympathy than that, so frequently
expressed and clearly proven, of The Review, and whose future
welfare and success we have even more at heart, a rector whose
past career has not only made him odious to a large element in our
Catholic population, but which has also given him the reputation,
with the public at large, of a bold and strenuous champion of that
Liberalism which good Catholics abominate, while the enemies of
the Church fondle and nurse it with a well-defined and all too
transparent purpose.
^ ^ ^
SHRINKAGE OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY.
While the Holy Father was congratulatingArchbishop Bruchesi
of Montreal upon the very large number of children raised in
the fear of God by so manj' good parents in French Canada,
Harper's Bazaar was loudly lamenting "the shrinkage of the
American family," meaning the family as it exists here in the
United States, especially among the native-born population.
Four is an unusually large family circle, now-a-days, in our
country, according to this authority. The inevitable ultimate
consequence of the present tendency is self-extinction of the
"best American stock." There is, unfortunatel3% too much truth
in the remarks of our contemporary. But what are you going to
do about it?
"Unless the prevailing fashion of childless marriage goes out
and something more wholesome comes in to take its place," right-
ly says the Monitor {^o. 35), "the future of the United States
must depend very largely on foreign immigration. The origin
and cause of the evil against which the Bazaar lifts its voice, is
not far to seek. It doesn't go into that phase of the question,
however. Loss of religious faith and indifference to the code of
Christ, are producing their natural fruits. Matrimony, outside
of the Catholic fold, with rare exceptions, is no longer regarded
by Americans as a sacred institution. The Christian idea and
ideal of marriage is discarded. Its sacramental character is not
generally recognized, even among a majority of non-Catholics
who profess to be followers of our Savior. The very end for
which marriage was instituted, according to Christian teaching,
is deliberately ignored.
Under the new order of things marriage is considered in the
I'ight merely of convenience, a social convention which the con-
tracting parties feel bound to observe and respect only so long
No. 1. The Review. 1^
as it pleases them to do so. Its obligations and responsibilities
are limited by the will and desires of one or both partners during
the life of the union. The contract is soluble at the pleasure of
either. The poor esteem in which Hs terms are held, is manifest
from the trivial causes on which decrees are ground out by the
endless number of divorce mills in constant operation throughout
the country. It is perfectly safe to say that no couple desiring
the connubial knot untied by legal process, whether or not legal
grounds for the action really exist, need go unsatisfied. The
failure of the 'American family' or any other family, in such cir-
cumstances, is of necessity a foregone conclusion.
That these conditions are not without baleful effects on a cer-
tain contingent of Catholics themselves, is not to be wondered at.
Environment and association are powerful factors in shaping life
and conduct. In the case of Catholics of weak faith, moral con-
tamination from this source is by no means remarkable or un-
common. Catholics who affect social 'smartness,' speedily yield,
as a rule, to the benumbing influence which pervades the circle
in which they move. They are prone to adopt its guilty custom
to escape the inconveniences of parenthood. Unfortunately, how-
ever, those who suffer themselves to transgress the laws of God
and nature in that way, are not confined to any particular social
sphere.
There is small chance of reformation among the unchurched
masses in this important matter. It is difficult to see how tHey
can be effectually reached, since they profess neither religious
nor patriotic scruples. The impotency of Protestantism as a
vital force for the correction of grave moral and social disorders,
is too patent to warrant a hope of better things in that quarter.
So far as prevention of the spread of the crime of childless mar-
riage among Catholics is concerned, a great deal depends on the
vigilance and prudence of those whose business it is to safeguard
the faith and morals of the flocks over which God has appointed
them."
14
MINOR TOPICS.
A burden of moral responsibility is lifted
Physical Reason for by Dr. Winthrop T. Talbot, who says :
Falsehoods. "It may be stated fairly that every moral
obliquity and mental deficiency in a boj^
rests upon some physical cause and basis. If the boy's cir-
culation is slug-gfish, lying' becomes habitual — all because of
poor circulation, which those in charge of hiqi have not been dis-
cerning enough to trace as the cause of mental and moral defects."
How many lapses from truth in early life, which brought remorse
to the lapsers and the flush of humiliation to their cheeks, might
have been excused if we had only known more about the venous
system. The alarming thing about it is that scarcelj^ anybody's
circulation appears to be absolutely healthy. George Washing-
ton's must have been ; but David in his time could not enumer-
ate one. An imperfect circulation has been, then, the real cause
of most of the calamities and misfortunes of human society. To
purify the soul we must purify the blood.
Should this view be generally adopted, it promises to encourage
the sale of certain patent specifics said to improve the circulation.
But an old-fashioned method of correcting the habit among boys
of lying may still be safely resorted to, viz.: application of the
slipper or the paddle. Its effect in accelerating the circulation
and thus stopping mendacity has long been noted.
Some Protestants, especially the Baptists,
The Title "Father." object to call, even in a social way, a priest
by his ordinary title of Father, giving as an
excuse the fact that the New Testament says, "Call no man
Father." In this connection the following story, told by the
Rev. Editor of the Laredo Church Bulletin, is both instruc-
tive and amusing'. "We happened to be near a Baptist meet-
ing house not long ago, when we heard some one calling
'Father, Father.' Turning around, we were very much sur-
prised to see that it was the numerous offspring of a Baptist
preacher, who were thus addressing their illustrious papa. Of
course, it is none of our business, but we do not see or under-
stand why such gentlemen do not teach their children to obey
Scripture, for example's sake only, if for no other, and if it is
wrong to address priests as Father in the same way that a phy-
sician is called Doctor, no matter whether or not we believe in
medicine, we would really like to know by what name Baptist or-
thodox children address their mothers' husband?"
Speaking of the theses for the doctorate
P. Holzapfel and His recently defended by Rev. P. Holzapfel, O.
Theses. F. M., at the University of Munich, (see No.
48 of vol. ix of The Review), /.a Vcritc Fran-
false, quoted by the Quebec Verlte iS^o. 17), enquires : "Does this
No. 1. Thk RE\^KW. 15
Pere Holzapfel really exist in the flesh? And were his theses
really formulated thus?"
We are in a position to assure both of our doubting contempo-
raries that Pere Holzapfel really exists, that he is a very learned
and pious 5^oung- Franciscan, and that he victoriously defended
before the Catholic theological faculty of Munich such theses as
that St. Dominic neither instituted nor propagated the Rosary,
that it can be demonstrated by papal bulls that the translation of
the Holy House of Loretto is nothing but a legend, that the legend
of the virginal marriage of St. Henry H. is improbable, etc. Nor
are these propositions so unusual as to create any extraordinarj'
degree of surprise or doubt in the minds of those who are cm coiir-
«;// of the latest historical researches by Grisar and others on
these and kindred subjects. The Holy Father has shown himself
fully aware of the importance of the subject by instituting a com-
mission for the revision of the historical portions of the Breviary.
Rev. Father Meifuss writes us :
The scheme of the Honorable Mayor of Fort Wayne for the
solution of labor troubles (Cfr. The Review, vol. ix, No. 49) has
but one flaw ; it attributes to the State a right that it does not
possess. What is called "eminent domain" is nothing else but a
sequel of the universally admitted principle: "In collisione jurium
jus majus praevalet," where there is collision of rights the greater
right prevails. Thus, lands may be condemned for the construc-
tion of roads, waterworks, canals, fortifications, etc., because the
right of the commonwealth is greater than the right of the in-
dividual owners. The same principle holds good for an individ-
ual in extreme necessity. A famishing man may take a loaf of
bread where he can, one in danger of losing his life may make
use of the first horse he finds to save himself — all because the
right of self-preservation is greater than the property right of
others. Hence, if a case should arrive where evidently the com-
monwealth must own the coalfields, they may be taken from the
present owners by judicial proceedings. But so far, I doubt
whether a single court in the U. S. would listen to such pleading.
Most of our readers will remember the case, repeatedlj^
referred to in this journal, of certain Catholics of Williams,
la., against Archbishop Keane, to recover a sum of money
which they had subscribed for the building of a church, on
condition, agreed to by the then Archbishop Hennessy, that
a priest speaking both German and English would be sent to
Williams. This condition has not been complied with and the
plaintiffs demanded their money back. We see from the daily
papers of Jan. 1st that Judge Dyer of Sioux City decided that they
are entitled to recover the amount of their subscription with in-
terest. We need not remind our readers that this decision is in
accord with our view of the judicial aspect of the case. Nor do
we believe that an appeal will result in anything else but a con-
firmation of Judge Dyer's opinion. It is to be regretted that such
cases have to be carried to the civil courts for adjustment.
16 Thk KioviKW. 1903.
The Continental Catholic Christian name of Marie for men,
says the AthoKPuni, is always a source of dang-er to the British
catalogfuer ; but we have seldom come across a more amusing-
blunder than one which we discovered in a miniature catalog of a
g^reat London firm, concerning" a sale by order of the executors
of Alderman Baker. No doubt it is the worthy deceased alder-
man who is responsible for the entr}' : "'Marie Andre Chenier, the
poetess (1762-94) in white robe with a shawl over her shoulders."
Now there were two poets of the name, both Maries — brothers.
Who the lady of the portrait may be, we know not, but it may be
confidently asserted that she was not Andre Marie nor Marie
Joseph.
The NortJnvest Reviezv does not credit the rumor, recently ad-
verted to in these pages, that Leo Taxil has become a Jesuit.
"He would not," says our excellent contemporary (No. 10), "be
admitted into any order that has dealings with the outer world.
Whether or not he is converted, is one of those things it would
take the most rig^orous tests to verify. His first 'conversion' was
trumpeted abroad some fifteen years ago, and we know that he
afterwards declared he had only been playing a part. It is hard
to take the lie out of a born liar."
Leo Xni. has appointed a commission for the revision of the
historical portions of the Breviar3\ This commission is to make
its report to the Congregation of Rites, with whom the final de-
cision rests. According to the Vcrilc Fraiicaisc, it is intended,
in order to spare the privileges of the present publishers, to
make the revised edition obligatory at first only upon the younger
clergy, and to allow the priests who have the old one to use it as
long as they live.
With each month's issue the Catholic World Magazine sends
out puff-sheets, prepared by the editor for the use of busy brother
editors. In the December batch there was an item on the "Project
of the A New Catechism." The Freeman's Journal copied it ver-
batim, 'cutely omitting the source from which it was taken. The
wiser editor of the Western Watchnian (Dec. 10th) copied it from
the Freeman's Journal ?iXi(S. credited it to Father Lambert!
»
In his 'Foreword' for 1903, the editor of the Catholic World
Magazine (No. 453 ) says among other <iueer things:
"But while we are Catholic we are American, and our efforts
will be expended to making the two words synonymous."
If this is not rank fol-de-rol, what is it?
It is aggravating to see in an otherwise well-written and accu-
rate sketch of "Tetzel,the Indulgence Preacher," by Rev. John
Corbett, S. J., in the December Messenger^ the great German
Catholic historian Janssen persistently referred to in the text
and in the notes as ""Jannsen."
11 tUbelRcview. ||
^-^^'^-^-^"^
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., January 15, 1903. No. 2.
IS COMPULSORY ARBITRATION THE HALFWAY HOUSE
TO SOCIALISM?
HE North American Review fof November tiad an article'
on "Compulsory Arbitration," with the sub-title : "A
Half-way House to Socialism ?" The author points out
the trend of public opinion to grant the State a right to settle
strikes and lock-outs by law, since, as a rule they are connected-
with riots, which the State is bound to suppress ; other innocent-
industries suffer in consequence of such strikes or lockouts,
and they have a right to claim the protection of the State ;
lastly, the consuming public fares worst in being deprived by
such strikes or lock-outs of even the necessaries of life, as was
evident in the coal-strike. This public interest, he claims, gives
a certain right to the government.
The author adduces also some Supreme Court decisions, in
which the doctrine is laid down that property-rights are not ab-
solute, but subject to certain public regulations. Hence he
thinks that the State has a right to interfere and considers com-
pulsory arbitration as the least objectionable method.
However, he sees some formidable objections. One of them he
formulates thus : "If the State is empowered to settle the price
which the operators shall pay for labor power, and in other ways
to determine the cost of producing the commodities they sup-
ply, it may so damage the 'freedom' of industry and so impair
the profits of capital, as to crush industry." "If it is the business
of the State to secure a 'living wage' for labor, it must also guar-
antee a living profit for capital." And he continues : "This sounds
only fair. But if the State may thus fix the whole cost of pro-
duction, it does in fact dictate selling prices ; and if it does this
for one trade, it must soon be called upon to do it for other trades.
So we shall soon be brought to a condition in which the State will
18 The Review. 1903.
be fixing wages, interest, and prices all over the field of industry.
It will then be found that State-fixture of prices is invalidated in
one or two ways ; either it is met by generally adopted methods
of evasion, or, if rigidly enforced, it inhibits altogether the adapt-
ation of supply to demand in the market." And from this the
conclusion is drawn that either the well-equipped establishments
will take in enormous profits, r the poorly equipped will go to
the wall.
"The logic of these objections," he says, "maj^ sound invincible,
but the advocates of compulsory arbitration tell us that industry
is not run by logic ; 'the half-way house to Socialism,' they aver,
"is proved bj^ experience to be tenable.' "
He adduces as evidence the compulsory arbitration law of New
Zealand, which has satisfied both the operators and the laborers
and practically freed that island from labor troubles. Well known
sociologists from England and France who have studied the sys-
tem on the spot, pronounce it a perfect success.
American and English laborers are not yet much in favor of it,
but the author thinks the "revolt" of the public, in its capacity of
consumer, will bring about such compulsory laws also in the
United States. "The logic of the thin end of the wedge, though
it may deter during the preliminary stages of reflection, never
finally prevents the adoption of an obvious method of escape from
an intolerable predicament. Nor will any speculation as to
possible future perils be likely to prevent the consumer-citizens
of modern industrial States from seeking the experimental shel-
ter of this half-wa3^ house to Socialism."
Had the author been acquainted with the encj'clical "Rerum
Novarum" of Leo XHI., the greatest living sociologist, he would
not have tried to solve that specious objection in a round-about
way, but from simple principles. The Pope points out that, al-
though the State has to care for the common welfare of all its
citizens, in the protection of private rights it must occupy itself
in a special manner about the weak and indigent. The wealthy
classes use their wealth as a bulwark, as it were, and need little
public protection, while the poor on the contrary", having no
riches to protect them against injustice, depend largely on the
protection of the State. Hence the State should in a special man-
ner make itself the providence of the workingmen, who generally
belong to the poor class.
As to strikes, the Pope lays down these clear rules for the
guidance of the State :
"Not seldom, where working hours are too long, labor too hard,
and pay thought too scanty, the laboring men willfully and con-
certedly quit work, and we have what is called a strike. To this
No. 2. The Review. 19
common and at the same time so dangerous wound, the public
authority is in duty bound to apply a remedy ; for strikes hurt
not only the operators and the workmen, but they obstruct com-
merce and injure the general interests of society, and, since they
easily degenerate into violence and riots, public tranquility is of-
ten disturbed. It is more conducive and proper that the evil be
prevented by the authority of the law from making its appearance,
which can be done by wisely removing the causes which from
their nature seem to bring about these conflicts between employ-
ers and employes."
Surely no one will accuse Leo XIII. of leaning towards Social-
istic doctrines, yet he plainly recommends the remedy which the
North American Review is pleased to style a "Half-way House to
Socialism." No, there can be no question but that public author-
ity has a right to legislate for the prevention of strikes and lock-
outs, though, under our American conditions, it is not so easy to
decide what part Congress and what part the diverse State legis-
latures should take in the solution of the labor question.
There is always danger, of course, that laws be framed which
interfere immoderately with the legitimate rights of private
property ; wherefore, Leo XIII., in the same Encyclical, wisely
adds : "Lest in questions such as the length of a day's labor and
protective measures against danger to life and limb in factories,
public authority interfere unduly, in view of the temporal and
local circumstances, it seems very advisable to have such ques-
tions examined by special committees. . . .or to devise some other
way to protect the interests of workingmen, with the co-operation
and under the guidance of the authorities."
From the context this clearly includes the question of wages.
Hence, while the State is not called upon to fix selling prices,
profits on capital, etc. ; it has a d uty to see to it that justice be done
to the workingmen. As just wages maj'^ be divided into lowest,
middle, and highest, we do not see how it follows that the State,
by compelling the operator to paj' at least the lowest equitable
wage, thereby fixes the price of commodities, which depend on
so many diverse factors and influences.
To pass just laws for the protection of workingmen and the
prevention of labor troubles is the plain and urgent duty of every
government, and can in no wise be called a "Half-way House to
Socialism."
^
20
THE ELKS AND THE CATHOLIC CLERGY.
A newspaper clipping- which reaches us from Hoboken (unfor-
tunateljT^ without indication of its source) tells of Rev. John D.
Boland, a Baltimore Catholic priest, participating in a memorial
service for the departed members of Hoboken Lodge No. 74 of
the Elks. In an address he is quoted as praising- "the great good
done by the Elks in this country," and of saying verbatim : "Pol-
itics and religion do not enter into the standing of an Elk, he
simply has to believe in the Supreme Being. One of the most
beautiful and ennobling features of the Elk is the spirit of chari-
ty. If the principles of the Elks were observed b^- all men, there
would be fewer women wronged and fewer homes wrecked, for
the spirit of brotherly love in the sacredness of the home is the
foremost thought of everj^ man in the order."
At a memorial service of another Elk Lodge, the B. P. O. E.
No. 4 of Minneapolis, on Dec. 7th, the Rev. Roderick J. Mooney,
of Morris, Minn.? (also, we are assured, a Catholic priest, though
we can not find his name in the 1902 Catholic Directory) was the
chief speaker. The Mmnea;poIis Journal oi Dec. 8th, in which we
find a glowing account of the celebration, together with a picture
of Rev^ Mooney, describes the ceremonj' somewhat in detail : "In
the center of the stage was an altar draped with silken stars and
stripes, upon which reposed the lodge bible, supporting the metal
elk's head with spreading antlers To the left of the stage
reposed a large floral clock, the dial of which was made of white
carnations, with purple hands pointing to the hour of eleven,
when the toasts to the absent ones are drunk. The letters 'B.
P. O. E.' were woven in purple on the dial, and rim of which was
of smilax. A cluster of electric lights glowed behind the emblem,
casting a purple and white glow in the immediate foreground.
Combined with the decorations and attitude of the of&cers
of the lodge, the event was highly dramatic in that it played
strongly upon the emotions of all who were gathered there
To those who sat in the audience it was not conventional ritual
for the dead that was going on before their eyes, but something
that carried them along on the current of its emotion, reaching
its climax when the name of a departed brother was three times
called, echoing throughout the auditorium, with no response, the
candle typifying life was reverently extinguished."
What are we to say of the conduct of these priests, participat-
ing in the ofl&cial ceremonies of a society whose very existence
such a liberal thinker as Father Phelan of the Western Watc/mian
(June 25th, 1899) has justly declared to be an infallible symptom
of the reversion of Protestantism to paganism ; a majority of
No. 2. The Review. 21
whose members belong- to no church, most of them not even being
baptized, and all of them having for their patron and model, not
a hero or a saint, but that proud beast of the Western hills which
has come to be regarded as the symbol of animal prowess and
good cheer. "Not one in five hundred," said the Waic/iman,
speaking of the Elks' convention which had just then taken place
here in St. Louis, "had any valid title to the name of Christian.
But they were men ; great, strong, fearless men. They were
Elks in human form, with all the instincts, all the passions, all
the hopes of Elks "
"He who has seen a band of these human Elks together and has
observed where and how they 'celebrate,' " we ourselves wrote,
with the memory of their convention still vivid in our mind
(The Review, vol. vii. No. 181), "will agree with Father Phelan
and us when we see in their order the apotheosis of passions, the
exaltation of natural virtues at the cost of the supernatural, such
as we beheld it in the days of Rome's and Greece's decline."
Is such a society worthy of priestly sympathy and succor? Is
it an organization which can be safely recommended to our Cath-
olic people?
ar ar 3?
THE REWRITING OF ENGLISH HISTORY.
When John Richard Green wrote his History of the English
People, it was a great improvement upon Hume and Macaulay,
not as a work of literature but as a statement of facts. So far
as the Catholic Church was concerned, Hume took not the slight-
est trouble and Macaulay very little to ascertain the truth of any
charges made against her. Green did better. At least he did
not pretend that the English people accepted the Reformation
with joy ; he showed that only by the aid of foreign mercenaries
was the Protestant Church upheld in the reign of Edward VI ;
and he painted the character of Elizabeth in darkest colors.
But there are historians since Green who have gone as far be-
5^ond him in fairness of treatment of religious questions as he
went beyond Macaulay. There is W. W. Capes, for instance,
whose English Church in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centur-
ies, has latelj?^ appeared. A widespread belief still exists in Eng-
land and America that the monasteries of this period were hot-
beds of corruption, that the parish priests were buried in ignor-
ance, that the people were not allowed to read the Bible. To every
one of those notions Canon Capes deals a knockdown blow, bring-
ing forward documentary evidence on each occasion. Unlike
Green, he has no enthusiasm for John Wycliffe and no tears for
22 The Review. 1903.
William Langland, though he is scarcely willing to admit that
those worthies were simply anarchists ahead of their time.
Where Canon Capes leaves off, James Gairdner's latest book-
begins. Its title is, The English Church in the Sixteenth Century,
from the Accession of Henry VIII. to the Death of Mary. The
position of the writer as Keeper of the Public Records has given
him a knowledge of historical documents such as is possessed by
very few. He is fully able to estimate the value of a work like
Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which shares with the Pilgrim's Prog-
ress the esteem which the average Protestant Englishman gives
to what he considers literary treasures. John Foxe has probably
done more than any other writer to convince his countrj^men even
to this day that Catholics were cruel persecutors. Even Green
could not overcome the prejudices in favor of the Book of Martyrs
imbibed in early childhood, and speaks of it as "a tale of Protes-
tant sufferings told with wonderful pathos and picturesqueness."
Gairdner calls it the product of credulity, misrepresentation, and
prejudice, — just what Catholics always held it to be. To John
Foxe, more than to any other one man, is it due that Englishmen
to this hour call the first queen regnant of England "Bloody
Mary." Green writes of her "fierce bigotry" and "revengeful
cruelty." Gairdner asserts that "history has been cruel to her
memory," and that "her conduct showed the most genuine sym-
pathy with the poor and suffering when she herself must have
been suffering, enduring great mental anxiety." One of Foxe's
martyrs is William Tyndale. Mr. Meiklejohn says in his school
history that Tyndale was imprisoned and put to death at Ant-
werp by Church authority. If he had even consulted an encyclo-
pedia he would have learned that the Church had nothing to do
with it. Henry VIII. requested the civil authorities of Antwerp
to oblige him by burning Tyndale, and they did so. And Henry
was a Protestant at that time. Meiklejohn lauds Tyndale's
scholarship and attaches great importance to his translation of
the Bible. Gairdner sets a high value on neither, nor does he re-
gard the pseudo-martyr as a man of whom English Protestantism
has any reason to be proud. Having occasion to refer back to the
Lollardism of the reign of Henry V. and previous reigns, Mr.
Gairdner clearly discerns its anarchistic tendencj'^ and speaks of
its spirit as a "spirit that prompted the violation of order and dis-
respect to all authority."
Some of those who were obliged in their school days to study
the History of the British Empire written by the picturesquelj'^
untruthful William Francis Collier, LL. D., may remember his
intense enthusiasm for the martyred heroes of Scottish Protes-
tantism in particular. In this Dr. Collier merely represented the
No. 2. The Review. 33
spirit of his time. But much has been written on the subject by
other Protestants who do not by any means share Collier's en-
thusiasm. It is many years since Buckle represented the Scot-
tish Reformers as the most intolerant disciples of an intolerant
creed. And Professor York Powell of Cambridge University,
writing in the Fortnightly Review, for August, 1900, says that,
"The whole story of the Scottish Reformation, hatched in pur-
chased treason and outrageous intolerance, carried out in open
rebellion and ruthless persecution, justified only in its indirect
results, is perhaps as sordid and disgusting a story as the annals
of any European country can show."
We do not mean to say that all the historical literature now be-
ing produced is a correction of the errors of former writers. The
old lies are being continually revamped, and it is to be feared that
they still find a majority of readers. — [Adapted from the Casket
(No. 45.)
3* 5* tg
RELIGIOUS FEATVRES OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Our worthy French-Canadian contemporary, the daily Indc-
fendantoi Fall River, Mass., recently (Dec. 19th) printed an edi-
torial note to this effect : "The constitutional convention of New
Hampshire has not sat in vain. Among other things it has
erased from the constitution of that State the clause relative to a
'religious test,' which favored the Protestant religion to the ex-
clusion of other cults. This clause should have been eliminated
long ago from the constitution of New Hampshire, but 'better
late than never.' "
We have seen no report of the proceedings of the constitutional
convention of New Hampshire referred to by the Ind^petidant.
The constitution now — or until recently — in force, was, we believe,
the old one adopted in 1792 by the Concord convention. It guar-
anteed, in the sixth article of its first part, equal protection of
the law to "every denomination of Christians, demeaning them-
selves quietly and as good subjects of the State," and ordained
that "no subordination of any one sect or denomination to an-
other shall ever be established by law," but nevertheless made
Catholics ineligible to the offices of representative, senator, and
governor.*) However these restrictions were eliminated by
amendment as long ago as 1877,t) and we fail to see which "re-
*) Constitution of ^'ew Hampshire of 1792. part ii, sections 11, 29, and 42. (The Federal and
State C onstitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the United States, by Ben
Perley Poore. Second Edition. Part II.)
t) Ibidem, p. 1308. Amendments to the Constitution of New Hampshire.
24 The Review. 1903.
lig-ious test" the Independant refers to as hsiving been only lately
done away with.
Readingf over this old and quaint constitution, by the way, we
came upon the following" clause in article 6 of Part i : "The people
of this State have a right to empower, and do hereby fully em-
power, the legislature to authorize, from time to time, the several
towns, parishes, bodies corporate, or religious societies within
this State, to make adequate provisions, at their own expense,
for the support and maintenance of public Protestant teachers of
piety, religion, and morality," providing-, however, that "no per-
son, or any one particular religious sect or denomination, shall
ever be compelled to pay toward the support of the teacher or
teachers of another persuasion, sect, or denomination."
Has the recent constitutional convention modified this clause
or was it ever put into practice ?
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
2. Early Conditions and Causes.
Before attempting to summarize the results of the researches
and studies of the new school of American historians, especially
of those of Mr. Sydney George Fisher, as contained in his inter-
esting and valuable book 'The True Historj^ of the American
Revolution,' we must warnour readers that thej' are apt to shake
a great many people out of long-cherished beliefs and to make us
all less boastful with regard to the beginnings of our mighty
Republic.
The conditions which brought about the American Revolution,
according to Mr. Fisher, who bases every one of his statements
on contemporary sources, were chiefly "the presence of the
French in Canada and the extremely liberal governments, semi-
independence, and disregard of laws and regulations which Eng-
land in the early days, was compelled to allow to the colonies"
(P.17.)
The colonies had been granted extremely liberal charters, be-
cause the British government desired to rid itself of rebellious
and dissatisfied Puritans, Quakers, and Roman Catholics.
Several of them had more freedom than any British colony to-
day, electing their ovi^n governors and enacting whatever laws
they pleased. Connecticut and Rhode Island, in particular, were
'"semi-independent commonwealths under the protectorate or
suzerainty of England. Massachusetts too, enjoyed a most lib-
eral charter, until 1685, when the governrtient saw itself com-
pelled by her disregard of British authority and the killing.
No. 2. The Review. 2a
whipping-, and imprisoning- of Quakers and Baptists, to annul
this charter and appoint a royal governor, "which, after her pre-
vious freedom, was very galling." Virginia also had an extreme-
ly liberal government. The other colonies never had so much
freedom, but "they had all had a certain measure of their own
way of doing things, and had struggled to have more of their own
way, and had found that England was at times compelled to yield
to them" (p. 22.)
The reason of England's yielding lay in the fear of the French
in the North, while the colonists themselves, needing the help of
England's army and navy to withstand France, and detesting
the thought of becoming subject to a Catholic nation, held their
desire for independence in check until France was removed from
the continent. "Thus France occupied the peculiar position of
encouraging our independent spirit and at the same time check-
ing its extreme development" (p. 32.)
It was not until the French were driven from America, that
England and the colonies, each pursuing her real purpose more
directly, got into conflict with one another.
The true causes of the continual quarrel between the governors,
acting under instructions from England, and the representatives
of the people in the colonies, are brought out luminously for the
first time by Mr. Fisher. Under the system under which all
those colonies that did not elect their own governors were ad-
ministered, the governor got his salary by vote of the legislature
out of the taxes which the latter had the power to levy, while he
couldveto all legislative acts. In this condition of mutual de-
pendency the salary question threw the balance of power into the
hands of the legislature. If the governor would not assent to
their measures, the legislature simply withheld his salary until
he became pliable. "The people, through their legislators,
bought from the government, for cash, such [laws as they needed"
(p. 23.) Hence the interminable squabbles throughout the col-
onies. Hence also the determination of the people to retain a
system which gave them power. "So long as they controlled the
governor's salary they felt themselves freemen ; once lose that
control, and they were, as they expressed it, political slaves" (p.
25.) The same thing held good of the judges.
This condition of affairs explains why those acts of Parliament,
seemingly so fair and just, by which the money raised from taxes
in the colonies was to be used for "defraying the expenses of
government and the administration of justice in the colonies,"
was highly objectionable to the colonists ; they were calculated
to put "a fixed and regular system" in place of the practice, which
the Americans considered their fundamental constitutional prin-
26 The Review. 1903.
ciple, that executive salaries must be within the control of the
people.
Add to this the confused and irregular state of affairs in the
colonies, brought about by Britain's free and easy methods : the
depreciated colonial paper currency, which made the Revolution
look to Englishmen very much like an attempt of debt-ridden
provincials to escape from their just obligations; the great
amount of smuggling, the colonists even supplying the French
fleets and garrisons with provisions under flags of truce during
the French war ; and rioting and revolt against British authority.
In 1774 so many British ofi&cials had been driven from office by
"tarand-feather parties" that the laws could no longer be en-
forced until the army restored authority.
The first settlers were largely adventurers and criminals, and
as for the younger generation, it was a well known fact that from
ten to twenty-five thousand convicts (the number is estimated
differently by different writers) had been transported to America
and some of them employed as school-teachers. "We may be-
lieve," justly observes Mr. Fisher, "that this had no demoralizing
effect upon us, and perhaps it had not ; but English people would
naturally think that it had tinged our population, and they would
exaggerate the evil effects, as we would ourselves if we should
hear of twenty thousand convicts dumped into Japan or Cuba, or
England itself" (p. 30.)
THE GOAT IN FREEMASONRY : A POST-SCRIPTVM,
Rev. Vincent Brummer writes us :
In No. SO of the last volume of The Review a subscriber feels
himself forcibly impressed that my article (in No. 44) on "The
Goat in Freemasonry" borders on the deistic or rationalistic.
The only argument upon which he bases so grave a suspicion,
seems to be my discordance with Loch and Reischl and the holy
fathers whom they cite, on the explanation of the word "scirim"
in II. Chron. XI, 15. Whilst the unanimous consensus of the
Fathers is undoubtedly the standard by which to interpret
Holy Scripture, any single father individually taken is, according
to the dogmaticians, not an infallible exponent of it, nor in fact of
divine tradition in general. (Vide : Hurter, ed. oct., I, p. 141.)
About the explanation of the word "scirim" there seems to be no
consent of the Fathers, or else how could Loch and Reischl dare
(Ss. XIII. 21) to suggest the rendering of it by "monkeys" instead
of the demons "or satyrs" of the Fathers? Or are they also bor-
dering on the deistic or rationalistic, after having being approved
No. 2. The Review. 27
by nearly all the bishops of Germany and Austria, and recom-
mended by Pope Pius IX. in a special Brief?
My anonymous opponent seems to place a child-like confidence
in the infallibility of Arndt-AUioli. Has he never heard that
many questions concerning Holy Writ are open to discussion
and thereby a vagt field is left to individual speculation? If he
vindicates, in the solution of these questions upon which the
Church has not decided, for Arndt-Allioli or for anyone else the
claim to be regarded as an infallible interpreter of divine tradi-
tion, he is himself not bordering on heresy, but actually incurr-
ing it ; and he proves himself to be in opposition to the tenets of
our Holy Father's recent Encyclical on the Scriptures in which
he proposes anew the principles that have always guided the in-
fallible magisterium of the Church in this matter. Allow me to
quote a few lines from a summary of it drawn up for the London
Tablet: "The many passages which the Church has not definitely
explained, are left to the judgment of individual scholars to inter-
pret as they please, as long as they are faithful to the
standard of the analogy of faith and Christian doctrine. The
keenness of the discussion, however, should not lead to breaches
of mutual charity. It will be the duty of the commission to regu-
late the chief questions in dispute among Catholic schodars, and
decide them as far as their judgment and authority can reach."
I am afraid that neither my anonymous opponent nor myself
will live to see the day when our point in dispute will be decided
by the Bible Commission instituted by our Holy Father. Too
much time has been wasted on that trivial affair and I would feel
guilty of an imposture on the time and patience of the readers,
to give it a further mention, if such irresponsible provocations
like the communication in No. 39 of The Review, were not some-
times so disastrous in their consequences, as has been evidenced
by the Diana Vaughan swindle of happy memory.
My anonymous opponent continues to use, the text of the
sacred writings for advocating his fantastic dream. He alludes
to the prophecy of Our Lord foretelling the horrors of judgment
day, and says : "In Matth. xxv, 33, the reprobates are compared
with goats, i. e., evil spirits." In psalm xxi, in which, according
to the unanimous interpretation of the Fathers, the suffering of
the Messiah is announced, the reprobates are compared with fat
bulls, calves, roaring lions, dogs, unicorns. If one wanted to
"seared the Scriptures," perhaps there would not be a mouse left
from Noah's ark which the Circe staff of my opponent could not
change into a representative of Satan and an idol of the devil-
worshippers. His interpretation: "goats, i.e., evil spirits," is
rather novel and reveals to me a new dogma.
28 The Review. 1903.
I have to confess that I feel deeply humiliated in seeing myself
compelled seriously to combat with misconceptions and phantoms
so grotesque, amongst adherents of my own religion. Luckily the
controversy has so far passed unnoticed by the secular press.
Had it been carried on in Germany, the anti-clerical papers would
have served it with delight to their readers. Any Catholic who
has ever moved in academic circles, knows how embarrassing
such insignificant ridiculous trifles can prove. A discouraging
aspect of the affair is that my anonymous opponent does not
stand alone, but is a type of a certain class of Catholics, and I am
sorry to say, of priests, that is altogether too numerous. Whilst
I am entirely opposed to those so-called Liberals who will not ad-
mit anything supernatural except the naked dogmas of the
Church, I consider the other extreme, an excessive faith which
generally includes the corruption of some dogma, incomparably
more harmful in our times. Perhaps the via media, like in most
other things, is also here the golden one and in following it we
but imitate the example of Our Lord and Master, who, whilst
acknowledging the authority of the Mosaic Law, kept Himself at
a distance from the hyperorthodox Pharisees as well as from the
freethinking Sadducees, although from the gospel-narrative it is
quite clear that the former were especially loathsome to Him.
My anonymous opponent accuses me of whitewashing the
Freemasons. In all sincerity, I could devise no more effective
means to advance their interests than by misrepresenting them.
And a misrepresentation I call it when he, on premises that are
hardly possessed of a slight degree of probability, builds up a cer-
tain conclusion, from which he jumps, gratuitously, without any
connecting link whatsoever, to an insinuation so formidable as
Satanolatry. I have often wondered how the Masons could acquire
in South-America and other countries so complete a control of
public affairs. As long as the nature of Freemasonry is so gross-
ly misunderstood, we can never hope to witness a change in the
situation. You can not dispose of a difficulty unless you know
the nature of it, is an approved maxim. Whilst I entertain the
lowest possible opinion of the lodges in the Catholic, especiallj''
Latin countries, and reserve my opinion about those in Protest-
ant countries, I have to admit that in our country I have met more
than one Mason who could lay a just claim to the title of gentle-
man, and no matter how far he may have deviated from Christian
truth, he was familiar enough with the code of honor of natural
honesty, that he would never make an anonymous attack on the
good name of a fellowman.
29
MINOR TOPICS.
Scarcely had Father Kent written of
Newman' s' Essay on the Newman's 'Essay on the Development of
Development of Chris- Christian Doctrine' as "undoubtedly his
tian Doctrine' Not most important contribution to Catholic
a Catholic Book. ^ theology," and "from a literary point of
view a masterpiece of luminous exposition,"
"in some respects .Nevi^man's chief work," when Mr. Her-
bert Williams in the Dublin Reviezv of recent date (we have mis-
laid the number and quote from a note) severely condemns its
being- considered a Catholic work at all. Rather is it a matter of
considerable regret that there is a prospect of its becoming the
best known of his works, his representative work. For while ex-
pressing Catholic ideas it does so from the standpoint of Protest-
antism and with lingering Protestant inadequacy. He points
out that while Newman himself drew attention to its being issued
without Catholic "authority," it is in many expressions and some
thoughts Protestant, The very title Mr. Williams considers a
misuse of words, the book being not a proof of development, "of
any process of doctrinal accretion, of the gradual building up
through successive ages of the fabric of the faith," but a proof of
the identity "with primitive Apostolic teaching of the body of
doctrine known at this day by the name of Catholic." Again, the
Catholic ethos is essentially different from the Protestant ethos.
"Outside the Church the speculations of an honest mind may be
assisted by the free operation of divine grace. Within the Church
the entire nature is under grace according to the Covenant,
grace habitual, grace direct, and through appointed and effective
channels." The 'Essay,' Mr. Williams insists, labors under the
want of this Catholic ethos, and it is, therefore, "not the work of
a Catholic, nor written within the Church at all."
According to the PhiladelphiaiP^^^rfi^CDec.
Our Colonial Policy. 28th) Martin Traviesco of San Juan, a
nephew of the Chief Justice of Porto Rico
and now a Senior in the Cornell Law School, is not verj^ enthusi-
astic about the American "colonial" polic3^ He scores Governor
Hunt and his party unmercifully. He says that the so-called
official reports of conditions there were "utterly false and that
the island was prostrated because of the baneful effects of a policy
more tyrannical than any Spain dared to impose."
If his statements are correct, Governor Hunt enjoys a princel}^
existence, regardless of the sufferings of the people, while his
favorites rule the land. Even the courts are corrupted, and crimes
committed by membersof the governmental party go unpunished.
The so-called elections appear to be a farce, being so manipulated
that the minority rules, and politically as well as from a business
standpoint, conditions there are far worse than they ever were
under Spanish rule.
To quote again : "Life for honest people is becoming impossible
30 The Review. 1903.
in Porto Rico, because they see that the government protects the
criminal and punishes the law-abiding citizen." He closes with
a strong- appeal to the American public for an honest, economical,
and peaceful government, so that the natives may learn to love
not curse the stars and stripes, as is the case now.
Porto Rico is comparatively close to the shores of the United
States. Presuming the facts to be correctly stated, what kind of
a "government" may be expected to exist in our far distant "de-
pendencies."
Rev. Barnabas Held, O. S. B., in the Texas
The Question of an Ac Katholische Rundschau, which, he edits with
curate Catholic such vim and originality, makes a strong
Census. plea for a general and accurate Catholic cen-
sus. He suggests that it be taken up along
the lines laid down by Rev. Dean Waibel, of Jonesboro, Ark., who
counts all the Catholic people in his missions, but classifies them
in the returns as "practical" or "non-practical" Catholics, the lat-
ter class comprising all those who, though baptized in the Church,
for some reason or other have ceased to live up to their faith. In
gathering the statistics, it would prove interesting, and at the
same time furnish valuable material, to ferret out as closely as
possible the reasons which led the lost sheep to stray out of the
herd.
Father Held fears that this suggestion will fall upon barren
ground because the official and reliable returns of a census taken
up in this manner would tend to pale many a shining ecclesiasti-
cal light. It can hardly be assumed, however, that there is any
considerable number among our bishops who would oppose a
census on this ground. The whole question would seem to be
one which might fitly be considered by the archbishops in their
annual conferences, or, better still, by the forthcoming fourth
plenary council.
"The greatest failure of the nineteenth
The Failure of Modern century has been the failure of education.
Secular Education. The eighteenth century closed with a belief
in the efficiency of education, and the best
minds of the day seem to have had dreams of universal education
and called it a panacea for the social ills. We have largely rea-
lized those dreams, and have also discovered that an education of
the head alone has not kept the promises which the philosophers
of the eighteenth century believed it would keep. Education has
not decreased the criminal classes, but has made them more
dangerous. Our public schools may give an idiot mind, but they
do not give him character. It gives him the power to do harm
without the moral force and will to restrain him from using that
power. In edu;ating the head and not the heart and soul the
public schools are failing at a crucial point." — Rabbi Dr. Emil
G. Hirsch, quoted in the Chicago Tribune Dec. 7th.
The Berlin Literarisches Echo announces that a wealthy man
who does not desire his name to become public, has donated the
No. 2. The Review. 31
sum of ten thousand marks for the distribution of free copies of
Houston Steward Chamberlain's 'Grundlagen des neunzehnten
Jahrhunderts' among educational institutions which have not
been able to purchase the expensive work at all, or not a sufficient
number of copies. Chamberlain is a university professor of
Vienna and wrote this book to show that the Catholic Church is
foreign to the German national spirit and ought to be crushed.
■'Who will imitate this example?" queries the German Catholic
press. "If a Maecenas furnishes the means to spread this
brilliantly written attack upon the Christian religion among the
masses of the educated, may we not hope to find also among our
well-to-do Catholics some man who will donate large sums to the
Goerres Society, the Bartholomaus Verein or some other effective
agency of Catholic literary propaganda?"
We trust our German brethren will find their Maecenas quicker
than we our "Catholic Carnegie."
Under the heading: "Pope Leo's Wonderful Recovery Ex-
plained," we find in a number of daily newspapers (theN. Y. Sun
of Dec. 14th, for instance) a patent medicine ad., which contains
this alleged statement from Dr. Lapponi :
■"Last July I visited the U. S. to investigate the Goat Lymph
Serum treatment. After thoroughly satisfying myself as to its
virtue, I returned to Rome and began administering to His Holi-
ness Pope Leo Xni., who was suffering from senility and nervous
fainting spells. It is gratifying for me to state the fainting spells
have been very few in the last year, and I think to a great extent
the Goat Lymph Serum has renewed Pope Leo's Life."
This looks like fakery on the face of it, and we reproduce the
statement here to bring it to the notice of the Pope's physician,
who is probably not aware how is name is used to puff patent
medicines in America.
The 'Catholic Workingmen's societies and clubs in Rome
solicit the support of Catholic workingmen all over the world
for the erection of a monument in the vicinity of St. John
Laterau's, in commemoration of the twenty-fifth year of the
pontificate of His Holiness Leo XIII. , who is not inaptly
called "the Social Pope." This monument will be a statue sym-
bolizing labor as sanctified by Christ, with three bronze tablets
on the base, commemorating the three great encyclicals of the
Pontiff on labor and the rights and duties of workingmen. Offer-
ings may be sent to Cav. Francesco Seganti at the Vatican or
Msgr. Pezzani, Via Monteroni 79, Rome.
Many Protestant sects use "wine" at their communion ser-
vices ; not wine as ordinarily understood — fermented grape-juice
— but "unfermented grape-juice," so-called, offered commercially
in large quantities. Any one acquainted with the nature of
grape-juice will ask, How can it be? Dr. Wiley, in his statement
before the United States Industrial Commission, explains the
32 The Review. 1903.
riddle : "Grape-juice," he says, "such as is used in churches for
communion service, is now generally made of salicylic acid and a
little of g-rape-juice. It can very seldom be found composed of
pure fruit-juice." (Report of Ind. Comm., vol. XI, page 104. j
We have received this note from a Franciscan Father •. Re-
cently I read in one of our Catholic weeklies that a certain Catho-
lic Knight of Columbus in a toast at a banquet referred to Jesus
as "the ideal Knight." Now, perusing a treatise on Freemasonry
(in Herder's Kirchenlexikon) lately, I came across the statement
that, in an essay in the 'Maurerisches Taschenbuch auf das Jahr
1802-1803,' edited by the Grand National Lodge of Germany, Jesus
is termed the first Grand Master of their Order. Does this not
look like an association of ideas?
For downright impudence commend us to the Independent.
Time and again it has attacked the action of the Catholic Church
as being too warlike ; now it solemnly calls upon that same
Church to encourage all Catholics to join the State militia. It sees
society dishonored by the resolution of the Illinois Federation of
Labor, forbidding its members to belong to the militia. Surely
the Catholic Church will always be found on the side of law and
order, but hardly in the way the Independent recommends.
According to the Catholic World Magazine (.December number,
page 313), the inscription on the tomb of the Venerable Bede reads:
"Hac sunt in fossa Baedae,
Venerabilis ossae."
That is XXth century summer school Latin, of the "Convictus
sum" style. The Latinist of the "Dark Ages" probabh' wrote:
"Hac sunt in fossa
Bedae Venerabilis ossa."
Rev. P. Ildephonse, of St. Anselm's College, Manchester, N.
H., writes to correct a false impression we have gained about
Mr. Murphy, the Governor of New Jersey : "He is not a Catholic,
though he has an Irish name. His family attends a Protestant
church in Newark, N. J., and he himself, before his election, was
very prominent in Protestant church circles. Mr. Murphy, how-
ever, seems to be fair in things Catholic."
It is pitiful to see even such Catholic papers as claim to be in the
first class, nay at the very top, (e. g., the Catholic Citizen^) fill up
their Christmas "special editions" with cheap boiler-plate matter
and flimsy cartoons. Why publish a "special edition" at all if
you have not the means or the intention to make it special also
with regard to quality?
11 XCbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., January 22, 1903. No. 3,
THE GERMANS IN COLONIAL TIMES.
^jNa recent,verv interesting volume*) Lucy F.Bitteng-er has
attempted to bring" within the compass of a single rapid
narrative, aresumeof all that local annalists, in different
parts of the country from Maine to Carolina, have brought to light
concerningthefirst German settlements in the different colonies.
The book, while it is not without its errors of interpretation and
statement — among which may be cited the claim made on page 247,
that David Rittenhouse, who was of Dutch stock, w^as a German,
and the assertion made on page 256, that Dr. John Connolly, who
was exchanged in 1780, was kept a prisoner until the close of the
Revolutionary War, gives many facts which, while not of special
significance so long as they remain isolated, go to justify, when
collated, the author's view that a mistaken emphasis is put upon
the purely English element of the American people.
Among the not uninteresting facts given are that United States
Senators Frye and Fessenden were offshoots from the German
settlement of Fryeburg, in the eastern foot-hills of the White
Mountains; that John G. Saxe, the New York poet, whom Mr.
Stedman strangely excluded from his recent anthology, was an
offshoot from a German settlement in Massachusetts, the poet's,
grandfather being one Daniel Sachs ; and that the Waldo family,,
from which Ralph Waldo Emerson took his middle name, was of
German origin, von Waldow being converted into Waldo. The
founder of the German settlement of Waldoboro in Maine, by the
way, seems to have been guilty of deceiving his colonists ; and
we hope the author is not entirely exact when she says that he
became a typical American, for Gen. Waldo failed to provide for
his settlers the shelter and church which he had promised them
*) The Germans iu Coloaial Times. By Liicy | Rev. J B. Bittenger' and of 'The Forney Fam-
Forney Bittenger, author of 'Memorials of the | ily of Hanover, Pa. Philadelphia: J. B. Lin-
pincott Company. ' '
34 The Review. 1903.
and he abandoned them to a condition of life in which they were
without clothing-, chimneys to their houses, mills to make flour,
or ovens to bake bread — the colonists whom Waldo had deluded
into coming- to America living through their first winter upon rye
bruised between stones and made into broth. These Germans
participated in the siege of Louisburg.
The records made by the colonial Germans of New York, Penn-
sj-lvania, New Jerse3^ Mar^dand. Virginia, the Carolinas, and
Georg-ia: is an honorable one. In all these colonies the Germans
at an early day had important settlements, towns, schools,
churches, and industries, and from these colonies sent contribu-
tions of soldiery to our early wars, statesmen to our early coun-
cils, and men of high character and learning to many walks of life.
3r 3? Sf
FRENCH-CANADIANS AND ANNEXATION.
The Quebec Vcritc (No. 16) declares, against the Fortnightly
Rcviczi\ that the loyalism of the French-Canadians is not a myth
but a reality, as they have more than once proved at the price of
their blood. It adds, however, that, while this loyalism is real,
solid, and well-reasoned, it is not b^- anj' means over-enthuaiastic,
especially of late, inasmuch as many things have happened which
have tended to disgust the French-Canadians with everything-
British. In the East, the official use of their tongue has been
abolished ; in Manitoba, the Catholic separate schools have been
done away with; the representative of the royal famil}- who
AMsited Canada last year, openly showed his contempt for the
French language, the present Governor-General has not the sym-
pathy of the French-Canadians, and his presumptive successor,
Lord Milner, is still more unpopular. In a word, the French-
Canadians believe that the English government and people are
"francophobes." Nevertheless, they are not yet by an3^ means
i'eady to advocate annexation to the United States. "Us rcdoutent
toujoiirscctahimc,'' declares Mr. Tardivel ; but at the same time he
expresses his belief that in case of a war between Great Britain and
the United States, the French-Canadians now naturalized in this
country would succeed in inducing a considerable number of
their brethren within the old Dominion to support the American
government against England.
As we see it, the annexation of Canada to the United States is
an iridescent dream. The Dominion will not, of course, in the
long run. remain a British colony. "No communitA' of people,
naturally separated from others geographically, or by race, trade,
or any strong circumstance ever willingly remains a colony'.
No. 3. The Re^^ew. 35
The instinct to set up housekeeping for itself and resent outside
interference, is as natural and as strong as the same instinct in
the individual. The stronger the manhood in the community,
and the more effective the occupations of the inhabitants in devel-
oping primal manhood, the stronger will be the tendency to inde-
pendence, and the stronger and more desparate the patriot par-
ty." Thus Sydney George Fisher in his newly published and
absorbingly^ interesting book, 'The True History of the Ameri-
can Revolution' (J. B. Lippincott Company, 1902). And in another
place he says : "Every British colony is now held down to.... a
severe condition by a military and naval force so overwhelming
that there is no use even of discussing resistance or change. The
patriot party must remain quiescent, and adopt, like our ances-
tors, the phraseolog}^ of loyalty until some distant day in the fu-
ture wh6n England's power shall wane."
That distant day will probably see the rise of two northern re-
publics : a British-Canadian commonwealth and a "New France,"
such as it exists in the dreams of so many of our French-Canadian
Catholic brethren to-da^'.
COWARDLY EDITORS.
There is scarcely one among the better class of our Catholic
American newspapers (we speak of those printed in the English
language"* which does not now and then profess the most pro-
found admiration for fearlessness and independence in a Catholic
editor. Only the other day the Nezv Century of Washington
(quoted in the Catholic TrcDiscript, Dec. 11th) served notice upon all
concerned that it was heartily tired of the bombastic Catholicity
of certain organs and of the clouds of incense wafted upward
from the sanctums of platitudinous weeklies and the rostrums of
pandering public orators.
The Transcript (1. c.) on its own part confesses to a hearty rel-
ish of sound and spicy criticism coming from Catholics and
directed to the public good : "If we can not stand a little rasping,
we are weak and degenerate indeed. It may be also that we are
altogether too well-pleased with one another. The Catholic press
is expected, as a matter of course, to break forth on every poss-
ible occasion in paeans of praise of every man who stands forth
in prominence and pride of place. It takes cognizance of nothing
but the perfect. This is a habit and a bad one, too We need
criticism, and criticism which will bite and inflict burning
wounds. If dealt out consideratelj', it will serve to spur us on-
ward. When we shall have become saturated with the vile and
degrading platitudes of sycophants, we will be in a bad way, in-
36
The Review.
1903.
deed. The churchman who counts upon such insubstantial and
insincere vaporings, is in jeopardy and needs a liberal allowance
of well directed and stoutly administered criticism. The public
good requires that he be pulled down to earth and given such
ballast as will make him cling to safe waters and never seek to
sail forth upon the fog."
That is all very well and fine in theory. But when it comes to
putting their sound critical principles into practice, these stout-
hearted champions of "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing
but the truth," fail most lamentably, especially when "the church-
man" who clearly "needs a liberal allowance of well directed and
stoutly administered criticism," happens to be an evangel of their
own ecclesiastico-political gospel. Then they invariably forswear
their sound critical principles and hasten to increase the thick
cloud of incense and fulsome flattery that rises from the sanc-
tums and the rostrums. And if The Review should happen to
step in to do the needful but neglected work and to remind them
of their own amissness, they either raise a terrible howl or crawl
back into their holes and pull the holes in after them.
How can the Catholic public and the public at large respect an
editorial profession that is too cowadly to practice what it
preaches?
qe qo qo
JfS ^o ^&
"CATHOLIC DEPARTMENTS" IN "DEPARTMENT STORES."
Among the new departures of the big general merchandise
bazars called department stores, are "Catholic departments," ca-
tering with a special display to the trade of the Catholic public.
It appears from a protest by Mrs. Margaret M. Halyey, in the
November Rosary,*) that these displays are often offensive.
"The Catholics know," writes Mrs. Halvey, "that the Rosary
as it hangs suspended above a store counter, is no more than any
ordinary string of ordinarily pretty beads displayed for the mul-
titude to handle and admire, though one shrinks from the spec-
tacle of the crucifix so utilized I They know that the 'Madonnas'
and 'St. Anthonys' for whose occupation a little corner has been
filched from the mechanical toys and Punch and Judy exhibitions
of the season, have no religious significance whatever in this con-
nection
"As befits its estimated monetary value, the 'show' is usually
attended by the young recruits of the counter — girls just old
enough to consider funny the would-be witticisms of the embryo
*) We do not receive the /Rosary
and quote from the Portland
Catholic
1902.)
Sentinel (Dec. 18th,
No. 3. The Review. 37
dude making his rounds of the holiday attractions. In his up-to-
date equipment is now included a refined jest or two respecting
St. Anthony's position as patron of the 'Lost and Found Depart-
ment'— St. Joseph's reputation as a matrimonial agent, etc., and
with these he considers himself irresistible to the custodian of
the Catholic (?) corner.
"Now of course, if sales were the primary object (not enter-
tainment) this line of trade would be catered for as are the mul-
titudinous others which constitute the modern hodge-podge
known as a department store. Articles would be intelligently
bought in quantities large enough to allow selection — they would
be intelligently shown in quarters where refined folks might be
likely to discu ss such personal matters as religion, and they would
be intelligently advertised in the columns of a Catholic newspaper
and magazine Instead these mediums are consistentlj'^ ig-
nored and in the columns of the sensational 'dailies,' sandwiched
between 'Temptations in Tinware,' 'Sacrificed Suspenders,' and
ten cent editions of popular novelists, you may read the announce-
ment that 'Objects of Catholic Devotion Can Be Had Here.'
"It is not long since one of our magazines exposed editorialh" a
scheme which for a time flooded the cheap jewelry market with
brassy trinkets bearing the inscription : 'Jesus, Mary, Joseph,
pray for us !' It is not wonderful to hear that these were manu-
factured by Jews, but is it not most wonderful that Catholics
were found to buy them ? On this gullible minority, the exist-
ence of which is thus proven, our holiday' exploiters depend
Is it not time for Irish and Catholics to let it be known that they
consider nationality and religion insulted by this flagrant 'using'
of them for revenue only ?"
" the 'Catholic Corner' may eventually erect its altar as
an object lesson in the artistic drapery of laces and other details.
Prevention and remedy are in our hands ; it onh' remains for us
to discountenance parodies and insist that if Catholic trade is
an object, it shall be treated with the consideration, it deserves
— proper advertisement, fitting environment, and intelligent at-
tendance."
In all our large cities, where the department stores flourish,
there are Catholic book-stores where objects of devotion can be
procured from responsible dealers. If the Catholic public would
patronize these, as they ought, the big department stores would
soon cease to display rosaries, holy-pictures, etc., in an offensive
manner.
38
ON THE INFERIORITY OF OVR CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS.
A Catholic laymen who g-ives his support to many religious
newspapers, writes :
The Review is justified in its standing complaint that the great
majority of our Catholic American newspapers are not edited by
men of competence. After having subscribed to several of these
periodicals with the sole purpose of giving my support to the
Catholic press, I must say that I am grievously disappointed with
both their religious and literary standard and tenor. One of the
best of them is the Catholic Columbian, of Columbus, Ohio, which
I recently added to my list. Yet in the very first number (49)
which I perused with a critical eye, I found deplorable traces of
a slovenliness of thought and style which is simply appalling.
Not in the news columns alone — for this there may be some ex-
cuse— but in the editorial columns as well.
In the first editorial item I am told : "Make use of now — there
is no other time." Besides being trivial, this is inaccurate. And
what would you say of such English as this : "'The nearest we
can get to happiness here below is peace"?
Here is another specimen of Columbian English : "How
pleasant is the home in which all the members of the family re-
ceive the sacraments often ! Christ rules all hearts. There is
love, with mutual forbearance, gentleness, and help. It is a fore-
taste of Heaven." Do you know any Catholic "home in which all
the members of the family receive the sacraments often"? If you
do, it must be a home of invalids. Ordinary Catholics, in good
health, go to church to receive the sacraments. "Christ rules all
hearts." This is a general proposition, evidently meant, in this
connection, to be particular : "There Christ rules all hearts."
But even if form ulated in correct language, it is not true. We all
know Catholics who receive the sacraments often and yet do not
let Christ rule their hearts.
Again : "President Eliot has acquired the Iiabit of being a
knocker." What execrable English !
One more specimen : "Every young man who is at work should
hire a seat in a pew in church and assist at the high Mass on Sun-
days." No young man can hire a seat while he is "at work." It
is something he will have to do in his leisure hours, because it in-
volves a call upon the pastor or some one delegated by him.
"That," the Columbian continues, "is the parochial Mass. That
is the Mass at which the most instructive sermons are preached.
That is the Mass that every member of the parish, not prevented,
should attend." The high mass is sometimes called the parochial
mass ;par excellence. But every mass said for a parish is a parochial
mass. Nor is it generally true that the most instructive sermons
No. 3. The Review. 39
are preached at high mass. In the church which I attend the
pastor and the assistant change off in preaching. One Sunday
the pastor preaches at the early mass and the assistant at high
mass, and on the following Sunday this order is reversed. Since
the pastor is far and away the abler preacher, we get "the most
instructive sermon" alternately at early and at high mass. Nor
is the proposition enunciated in the last sentence generally true,
even if, by a stretch, we concede it to be passable English. There
are many large parishes where the size of the church makes it
physically impossible for all members to attend high mass.
To make a long story short : What edification are we of the
laity to extract from such Catholic journals as the Columbian,
whose editor notionly fails lamentably in his use of English, which
is to him evidently a foreign tongue, but almost as egregiously
in his theology? And I have said that the Catholic Columbian is
considered one of the best Catholic newspapers of the country !
A writer in the American Ecclesiastical Rez'iexv, some months
ago, took the ground that the Catholic press has no right to de-
mand the support of the Catholic public unless it makes itself
worthy, in tone and tendency, of the sacred cause it endeavors to
serve. Was he right ? And if he was right, can we not all safely
absolve ourselves from the duty of subscribing for our Catholic
newspapers so long as they are managed and edited by incompe-
tents?
The question is addressed to The Review ; but we prefer to
let the Catholic Columbian and the rest of the so-called Catholic
newspapers of the countrj^ answer it to their own satisfation and
that of our critical correspondent.
3^ 5^ ^
AN IMPORTANT POINT IN THE REORGANIZATION OF
ASSESSMENT MVTVALS.
We have received this enquiry :
In regard to the fraternal insurance problem, permit me to ask:
How shall we provide for the evident deficit of these organiza-
tions, resulting from the too low rates paid by the present mem-
bers? Aside from the reserve fund, this is what I mean. A
member has been paying a monthly assessment of eighty cents
to cover an insurance of $1,000. Now, according to standard
rates, he should be paying more. His portion of the reserve fund
with compound interest will not cover the monthly deficit.
Therefore, it is clear that for future safety not only must rates
be adjusted to standard rates, but we must make provision for
40 The Review. 1903.
the already existing- deficit, and for present members rates must
exceed standard rates after adjustment till the deficit shall have
been covered — and after this only may they drop to standard
rates. It will evidently not do to provide only for the future de-
ficit and adopt standard rates, but for the present deficit provis-
ion must also be made. IHence more than standard rates will have
to be paid for some time bj^ the old members, and standard rates
can with safety be adopted onh' after ample provision has been
made for past mistakes. Either this must be done, or death-
benefits must be lowered provisionally. Is any other way poss-
ible out of these clutches of unsound finance? So far I have not
seen this point discussed, and shall thank you for any light on it.
(Rev.) Francis L. Kerze.
This enquiry has been to a limited extent already discussed in
our comments on the Family Protective Association of Wisconsin,
on pag-e 596 of last 5^ear's Review. What Rev. K. desires to know
is, briefly, how to provide, in the reorg-anization of an assessment
mutual into a life insurance company' on the level premium plan,
for the deficiency existing through insufficient payments bj'^ the
members in the past. There is but one safe way of doing- it.
Assuming that the assessment companj^ had 1000 members of
equal age at entry, 25 3'ears for example, who after 5 years' mem-
bership wish to reorganize as a level premium company and
agree to pa^^ the regular premium on the basis of the American
Actuaries table of mortalitj^ with 4 per cent, interest earnings
and a small addition for expenses; the net annual premium for
life would be $14.72 per $1,000, for age 25 ; making due allowance
for expenses, $16.46, as charged by the best American regular
life insurance companies, should be sufficient.
Had the company commenced operations 5 3'ears ago, it would
have to show for every $1,000 policy outstanding- on a risk 25
years old at entry, after 5 years' membership, $40.58, making for
1000 members a reserve of $40,580, which is the deficiency under
existing circumstances. As it is not likely that the members are
in a financial position to pay in cash their share of this deficit,
the next best thing to do is to charge it against each polic}^ as a
loan, lien or advance, whatever it may be called, subject to an in-
terest payment of 4 per cent, a year b}' the insured, until he is
able to cancel the debt. In case of death before liquidation of
the charge, the same must be deducted from the face of the bene-
fit, and in case of lapse the surrender values of cash, paid up or
extended insurance, must be based on the amount of the reserve
remaining after the lien was deducted from the proper amount.
In other words, the members willing^ to pa^- the standard rates
No. 3. The Review. 41
in future for their policies, must gret it figured out how much re-
serve should have accumulated for each $1,000 of outstanding- in-
surance, according- to age at entry and duration of membership ;
whatever reserve fund is on hand, should be divided in propor-
tion among the members as a credit item for the reserve on the
new basis, and the deficit thus ascertained for each member
must be considered as a debt due the organization. He could
give a note for same, bearing 4 per cent, interest annually, with
the understanding that the same be carried as an asset by the
company, to be deducted from his policy at time of settlement.
The interest should be paid in cash with the annual premium.
In the case illustrated above, the "old" members (age 25 at en-
try) would pay $16.46 a year, plus 4 per cent, on $40.58, making a
total premium of $18.08 a year, while new members joining at age
25 would have to pay but $16.46. In the case of death the older
member would have a claim of $1,000, less $40.58, making $959.42
insurance, while the policy of the new member would yield $1,000
an full. Is this clear?
THE IMPORT OF THE MARIAN MOVEMENT.
The Katholik, of Mayence, publishes in its November number
a sympathetic account, from the pen of P. Augustine Rosier, C.
SS. R., of the International Marian Congress held last summer
in Fribourg, Switzerland, A distinctive feature of this, the fifth
gathering of its kind, was that it marked the beginning of the
true internationalization of the Marian movement, which, until
recently, bore a French and Italian stamp. On the import and
raison d'etre of these congresses in honor of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, P. Rosier says :
The giant battle of intellects in our day has its last ground in
the negation or misconception of the supernatural in the life-
mission of the individual as well as of the entire human race.
Materialism and Naturalism proudly rise up against the religious
acknowledgment of this vital element, which everywhere forces
itself upon the mind and exerts such a powerful influence in
practical life. Hence the champions of the Christian faith are
bound to defend all the more strongly the power of grace and
dogmatic truth, and the divinely ordained necessity of the super-
natural in the purgation and perfection of human nature. The
Founder of Christianity tells us expressly, His Apostles unani-
mously af&rm, and the history of the Church through all the ages
testifies, that victory depends precisely upon the courageous
affirmation of the supernatural faith, in science and still more in
life, not on weaklj' compromises with a civilization that has es-
42 The Review. 1903.
tranged itself from God. Now, the attacks of itilidelity unite as
in a focus 'against the third article of the Apostolic Creed, —
the birth of the Saviour of Mary, ever virgin. His extraordinary
knowledge of Christian antiquity and its literature serves the
foremost leader of a large portion of German Protestants, Prof.
Dr. Harnack, only to conceal the incredible superficiality of
modern infidels in their combat against this portion of the gos-
pels. Thus the Virgin Mother of God, who, as such, is insepar-
ably united with her divine child, becomes literally the sign of
contradiction for one party and the sign of victory and courage
for the other. And herein lies the justification and meaning of
the Marian congresses, which have spontaneously sprung up
from the conditions of the times. That the cult of the Blessed
Virgin is intimately bound up with the Catholic faith and has
gradually developed, in the organic evolution of the Church, into
a spiritual power, is acknovk'ledged both by her enemies in their
abuse and blasphemy, and by Catholics of every station in life in
their praises from generation to generation, as predicted by St.
Luke (i, 48). Therefore no earnest and sincere Catholic can fail
to be interested in the spontaneous rise of the Marian movement
with its international congresses, which must needs exercise an
influence upon theological science, ecclesiological art, and ecclesi-
astical and social life.
3f 3f 3f
THE KNIGHTS OF COLVMBUS.
There is no denying the progress made during the past year
by the "Knights of Columbus." Our own view of this order and
the causes of its present prosperity are too well known to require
reiteration. We note, a titre dc cnn'ositc, that a staff writer of the
Denver Catholic (No. 17), who signs "Credo" and who has on var-
ious occasions shown his sympathy for this order, sees the real
strength of the "Knights" not in their insurance feature (in which
he says only one-fourth of the members participate) nor in the
secret features ( which he considers "valuable" only "as a means of
discipline," and "to a certain extent attractive"), but in their social
feature, which, he declares, "has already made the other features
subordinate."
He intimates that this "social feature" will gradually become
predominant and "the others sink into insignificance."
If "Credo" speaks for the "Knights," his utterance denotes
that they are wisely shifting their ground. It is not so long ago
since we were advised by prominent members, publicly and in pri-
vate, that the "secret features" were their main raison d'etre
and point d'appui. Possibly they feel that these "secret feat-
No. 3. The Review. 43
ures," if they do not gradually "sink them into insignificance,"
will, eventually, prove the undoing of the whole order.
So far as the "social feature" is concerned, we for one do not
think it justified the creation of a new national body. The exist-
ing Catholic societies, which, in the opinion of many, already split
up the Catholic body more than is good tor the cause, could have
been so developed, without danger to their integrity and separate
objects, as to supply as much opportunity for social intercourse
as their members might reasonably desire. There is even made
against the "social feature" of the Knights of Columbus this ob-
jection— as our regular readers know from previous articles —
that it leads many members into "society" oftener than their so-
cial necessities, and especially their purses, warrant.
In the opinion of Rev. Father Rosen, who, as our readers may
remember, was instrumental in bringing about the condemnation
by the Roman authorities of the Odd Fellows, the Knights of
Pythias, and the Sons of Temperance, Rome will not condemn
the Knights of Columbus unless it can be proved 1. that their
ritual is an-Christian and based on paganism, new or old, and,
2. that the order is apt to prove dangerous to the Church by caus-
ing a division among its members.
Both these points can, we believe, be clearly and fully estab-
lished. Fori, the ritual of the Knights of Columbus is at least
in part based upon rituals of the average present-day secret so-
ciety, which are all more or less pagan ; and 2. the Knights of
Columbus are undoubtedly creating division by setting them-
selves up as better Catholics than others, making membership in
the K. of C. the standard of enlightened Catholicity.
*
* *
As for certain utterances of Msgr. Falconio, recently quoted
in the newspapers, we may be permitted to remark that they in
no wise constitute a formal approbation of the Knights of
Columbus.
ar ^ 3f
HOW OVR DEPENDENCIES ARE BEING "AMERICANIZED. "
This is prettily exemplified by the following incident, for
which we have the authority of the extremely respectable and
reliable N. Y. Evening Post correspondent at Honolulu. We
condense his account in the Post oi Dec. 13th :
Judge Gilbert F. Little of Hilo spent a considerable part of
Thanksgiving Day in going about the town stopping men whom
he found at work. His efforts were directed particularly at the
men employed on contracts for street work. Taking Police Cap-
44 The Review. 1903.
tain Lake with him. Judge Little made the rounds of the streets,
ordering- all men he found at work to knock off and take a holiday.
The presence of the police officer had a coercive effect, and the
men quit work. The contractor made complaint to Engineer
Gere of the Public Works Department, under whose supervision
the contract is being carried out, and Mr. Gere protested to
Judge Little, He represented that the contractor was behind
with his contract, that the men were being paid for overtime,
and were in consequence anxious to work.
■'It don't make anj'^ difference," replied Judge Little. "There
are only two American holidays. One of them is the Fourth of
July and the other is Thanksgiving Day. President McKinley
and President Roosevelt have both spoken tome personally about
doing all I can to Americanize the islands, and it is my duty to do
what I am doing. They can not work on this American holiday.
If they want to catch up with the work or run the steam roller
when there is no traffic to interfere, let them a^ply to the sheri_f for
a permit to zuork on Sunday. But I can not let men zvork on an Am-
erican holiday. These islands must he Americanized. " (Italics ours!)
^ S^ ^
NEW LIGHT ON LOUIS KOSSUTH.
Modern historians are continuing their work of fierce icono-
clasm. The Lippincott's are getting out "true biographies" of
our own revolutionary heroes, and now comes a pamphlet from
Pittsburg which shows up Louis Kossuth in his true colors. We
take over the following interesting summary of its contents from
the January Messenger :
"When Kossuth came here in '51, nothing was too good for him.
He was considered to be a sort of an unsuccessful Hungarian
Washington. He was everywhere feted and feasted and honored
in every possible manner. Congress even invited him to the
Capitol and great demonstrations were made in his honor ; and
the world has been afflicted with Kossuth hats ever since. Yet
this pamphlet, which is made up of extracts from writings of dis-
tinguished Hungarians, describes him as a thief, a coward, an
embezzler, a traitor and what not else beside. The Hungarian
text is given for those whom it may attract. The peculiar thing
about it all is that Kossuth was not even a Hungarian. He was
a Slovak. The Slovaks were pining for liberty as much as the
Maygars were, but Kossuth not only deserted, but oppressed his
own race, whereas, if he had united Maygars, Croats, and Slovaks
in one federation he might have made head against the Hapsburg
dynasty and freed them all. But according to the writer, Kossuth
was out for Kossuth and no one else."
45
MINOR TOPICS.
In Omaha, Neb., the other day, at a ban-
Some Remarks of Msgr. quet given to Mt. Rev. Msgr. Keane, Arch-
Keane. bishop of Dubuque, this voluble prelate, ac-
cording to the Western Watchman (Dec.
18th), speaking of the Parliament of Religions, said :
"I am glad it was my privilege to represent Mother Church in
that convention, v^^here men of all beliefs met to protest against
all forms of disbelief. ..."
Which is rather a remarkable confession after the Holy
Father's well-known condemnation of that much-talked-about
parliament, and his express prohibition of all Catholic participa-
tion in such assemblies in future.
Archbishop Keane is also quoted as saying :
"I have been practising my teachings ever since I began to talk;
and think mj' dinner agrees with me as well as the dinner agrees
with those who wash their food down with whiskey and beer."
If America, as His Grace continued to say, is really the one
countrj^ "where God has given to humanity the chance for its
highest development," there is perhaps some hope that those who
do not use spirituous liquors at their own meals, will develop a suf-
ficient degree of gentle tact and good manners to refrain from
insulting men who prefer to make a moderate use of these gifts
of God after the example of Christ himself, who not only conse-
crated wine by changing it into His precious body and blood, but
also encouraged the guests at the wedding of Cana "to wash their
food down" with a liquor which contains an even greater percent-
age of alcohol than our ordinary beer, by miraculously converting
the "ideal temperance drink" (clear water) into a fluid which
Msgr. Keane would fain make it a crimefor any Catholic to drink
or sell.
The "Italian problem" in this county grows
The Italian Problem, in importance with the increasing tide of
immigration from sunny Italy. Thomas F.
Meehan, in the y¥£:5S(T;/^cr (No. 1), gives appalling statistics re-
garding Protestant missionary propaganda in New York citj^
among Italians of all classes. He shows how the poor immigrant,
the moment he lands on Ellis Island, is met by agents of these
organizations, and how their influences, all tending to rob him of
his faith, encompass and permeate his daily life after he has
settled down among his countrymen. Something must be done,
but what? "No more difficult problem," rightly says Mr. Mee-
han, "has ever confronted the bishops of this country than that
of providing our Italian immigrants with the means of practising
and preserving the religion to which they all belong, and the onl}^
one which they will ever profess." There are some twent}^
churches in New York which look after the spiritual welfare of
the Italians, and Archbishop Farley has lately organized a miss-
ionary band for their particular benefit. But it seems they are
latterly coming over in such vast multitudes that more effective
. 46 The Review. 1903.
and concerted efforts oug"ht to be made in their behalf, especially
in view of the active Protestant propaganda, organized ostensibly
to help and uplift, but in realitj' bent on robbing of their faith
these poor people whom a godless government has driven from
their countr3^
Referring to a circular letter (without
Uncertain Gambling. date) recently sent out bj^ a local "security
company," it will be sufficient to quote one
section thereof, as follows :
"Our principal source of income is from our operations and in-
vestments in the grain markets in St. Louis and Chicago and the
stock markets in St. Louis and New York. In dealing in the
grain or stock markets we operate under a plan or system that
we have found most reliable in the past, and one that has always
produced good results."
This concern invites "deposits, "upon which it promises interest
at the rate of 6 per cent, per month ! !
Is it hardly conceivable that an^' subscriber of The Review
could think of "investing" his monej^ in such an institution. It
is plainly stated in the above quoted letter that the expected
profits are to come from "operations" on the grain and stock
markets, in other words, from gambling. Well, some gamblers
are successful — may be able to pa}' for borrowed money 6 per
cent, a month and still have some profits left. As a general prop-
osition for the investment of savings, however, an old-fashioned
poker game between friends should offer greater attractions,
since in that case the player has a chance to know what hand he
is betting on, instead of "going it blind" as in this misnamed "se-
curities" company.
^«
In the Philadelphia 7?^<:c'rrt' of January 4th,
Education and Crime. Dr. Arthur McDonald, specialist in the
United States Bureau of Education, is quoted
as beginning an official report to Congress as follows :
"It ma}^ be said, with few exceptions, that within the last thirty
or forty years there has been an increase, relative to population,
in crime, suicide, insanit3% and other forms of abnormalit3^"
Discussing the connection between increased crime and grow-
ing luxury, the Doctor says, statistics show that in our country'
the group of States which show the greatest education and in-
telligence, as the North Atlantic, North Central, and Western,
also exceed in insanit5% suicide, nervous diseases, juvenile crim-
inals and almshouse paupers.
It goes without saying that the States referred to have compar-
atively the best equipped and best developed public schools.
Thirt}' or forty 3'ears may, moreover, be considered as a suffic-
ient space in which to give our present system of public educa-
tion a thorough trial. And now the result, as given out from
official sources, spells such dismal failure !
Is it not about time for those of our non-Catholic fellow-citizens
who stiil believe in the merits of an old-fashioned, but Christian
education, which not onlj^ develops the mind but also forms the
No. 3. The Review. 47 .
character of children, to take steps for an improvement of mod-
ern methods in that line? Or do they prefer to wait, until the
majority of voters have been "educated" in the modern fashion
and every chance for a change of system is hopelessly gone?
The trials now going" on of different army officers for cruelty
in the Filipino war, deserve watching on the part of the public,
since the defendants seem inclined tolef'the cat out of the bag,"so
that the American people may gradually get some very interest-
ing if humiliating information regarding the methods employed
by the United States army, from the highest officers down.
Major Edwin F. Glenn, Fifth Infantry, is charged with killing
seven prisoners of war and in defense desires the presence of
General Chaffee and other high officers as witnesses for the pur-
pose of showing, by the orders received, that such severity was
peririissable. A force of "insurgents" clad in American uniform
had greatly annoyed the American troups, and Major Glenn
claims that General Chaffee had telegraphed as follows : "The
division commander directs that, no matter what measures be
adopted, information as to the whereabouts of this force must be
obtained." (Philadelphia Record, Jan. 6th.)
This order was his authoritj' for the application of the "water
cure," and it is claimed that officers generally so understood it.
What does the War Departmen t say ? Here may be the explana-
tion of the unwillingness of the Washington authorities to venti-
late the "heroism" of our army.
In the latest nuijiber of his Historical Researches (vol. xx, No.
l) Mr. Martin I. J. Griffin, to-day indisputably the leading au-
thority on American Catholic histor^^ reiterates his oft-expressed
conviction .
"You need never expect Catholics of prominence during col-
onial times to have Catholic descendants. That's very excep-
tional. The grandchildren of the prominent Catholics of to-da^^
will not be Catholics very generally." (P. 10.)
Why not? Mr. Griffin will doubtless answer: On account of
the mixed marriages.
But why do our "prominent" Catholics, like those of colonial
and revolutionary times, so generally contract, or allow their
children to contract, mixed marriages? Is there not something
wrong with their boasted loyaltj' to their religion?
The Germans have a proverb about painting the devil on the
wall. In a recent Rome despatch the devil of Cahenslyism was
painted on the wall in lurid colors. We wondered whence the ar-
tist derived his paint. Now we read in La Veriic Francaise (No.
3446): '' M. Cahensl3% a member of the German Reichstag and
President of the St. Raphael's Society, had a long audience Satur-
day with the Holy Father. The Pope discussed with him the
constant harmony of the Centre party and the good work done
by the Society of St. Raphael, expressing to M. Cahensly his
sovereign satisfaction." And here all the while we believed Ca-
48 The Review. 1903.
hensly plotting a new coup against the American hierarchy,
which it is his notorious endeavor (teste Western Watc/wian et al.) to
Teutonize. Our anti-Cahenslyites ought to apprize His Holiness
of this man's wicked intentions !
The Committee of the New York Catholic School Board who
report in the January Catholic World Magazine on the status of
the parish schools of the city of New York, make this good point :
"The parish school is a factor in the public educational work
of the United States and should not be classified under the head-
ing of Private Schools, in which large tuition fees are charged
and social distinctions recognized to favor the children of the
wealth}". No such limitations are met with in the Parish Schools,
founded and supported, with few exceptions, by representatives
of the common people."
In justice to Catholics, parish schools should be everywhere
classified by census takers and in the reports of school super-
intendents, under a proper heading of their own.
There is one Catholic clergyman at least who regrets the im-
pending excision of unhistorical legends from the Breviar5\ It
is Rev. D. S. Phelan of the Western Watchman. '*We like the old
Breviary stories, improbable and often impossible as they are,"
he declares (No. 9), because "thej^ do not relate facts, but attest
to the piety and faith and poetic faculty of the past ages of the
Church. People in those days lived in touch with the saints;
now they seem to hold communion more with the laboratories and
libraries." Nevertheless, the truth must rem'ain supreme. And :
"lex credendi, lex orandi.'" Perhaps Father Phelan will be able ta
get permission to use the old Breviar}^ after the revision.
A subscriber writes :
Would it not be a good idea to display at the St. Louis Exposi-
tion a summary of Catholic school work in the United States, to-
gether with samples of the work of pupils? Each diocese should
have the number of its schools tabulated, attendance given, grad-
ing explained, showing the number of pupils, teachers, value of
buildings and annual cost of maintenance. This would be an
"eye-opener" to the advocates of the public school system and
might help Catholics to obtain more consideration from "the
powers that be."
j^
The figures on marriage in these United States which Census
Director Merriam has recently given to the press, contain, be-
sides the divorce statistics already commented upon, certain
other returns which are by no means inspiring or hopeful. For
instance, it is shown that there are 667 boys and 3,785 girls under
fifteen years married. The "infant widowers" under the age of
fifteen number 33, the "infant widows," 126. There are 7 divorced
boys under fifteen and 30 divorced girls, g
^^^^^^^i^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^i^
fSr Ti<r Tsr T?r t?r »> tjc tt -♦ic tjc^ ts^ '♦!«■ Tic tt tf tjt tjt tc tt tt »i
II Ube IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., January 29, 1903. No. 4.
LEO XIIl. ON THE TRAINING OF THE CLERGY.
HE latest papal encyclical to the bishops of Italy on the
training of candidates for the priesthood, is a new proof
of the deep interest which the Holy Father takes in
the work of the seminaries. It was called forth by special cir-
cumstances of the country. Young priests in different parts of
Italy who have thrown themselves with zeal and ardor into the
Christian Democratic movement which has taken such a hold of
the country, have at times overstepped the bounds of discretion.
Fascinated with the sense of leadership of the people, stirred
with the excitement and bustle of organizing, speech-making,
and dashing contributions to the press, the more audacious
amongst them have ventured to call for a fundamental remodel-
ing of the training for the sacred ministry. The changed condi-
tion of the times, the new era in which we live, they have said,
demand it.
Nobody can accuse the Sovereign Pontiff of being out of sym-
pathy with the times, and in the course of this weighty document
he allows tdat attention to the present needs of the people is
requisite in any plan for the proper mental equipment of aspirants
to the priesthood. But at the same time he gravely points out
that the essential preparation of those who are to be sealed with
the character of the priesthood can never undergo any change.
He goes to the heart of the matter by showing what the priest-
hood means, and from this source he draws the principles which
should govern the training of those who are to be sealed with its
sacred character. He begins his letter by remarking that any
project for the revival of Christian life among the people is hope-
less, unless the sacerdotal spirit flourishes in the ranks of the
clergy. He can not conceal his anxiety at seeing the insidious
growth of the desire for ill-advised y*5*tSRWl^/ft5t^kr^Sard to
50- The Review. 1903.
the formation and the many-sided ministrj^of priests. It is easy
to see what deplorable consequences would result, unless such
innovating- tendencies were promptly checked. It is to preserve
the Italian clerg-y from the pernicious influence of the times that
he sets forth the true and unchangeable principles which should
reg-ulate ecclesiastical education and the whole of the sacred
ministry.
The Catholic priesthood, divine in its origin, supernatural in
its essence, unchangeable in its character, can not be subject to
the fluctuations of human opinions and systems. As a partici-
pation of the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ, it must perpetu-
ate till the end of time the same mission that was entrusted by
the Eternal Father to His Incarnate Word : "As the Father hath
sent Me, so I send j'^ou." The eternal salvation of souls is its
momentous charge, and for its faithful fulfilment we must ever
have recourse to supernatural aids and to those divine standards
of thought and action which Jesus Christ gave to His Apostles
when He sent them forth to convert the world. St. Paul repre-
sents the priest to us as the ambassador, the minister of Christ,
the dispenser of His mysteries? raised to a sublime height as the
intermediary between Heaven and earth, to treat with God con-
cerning the highest interests of the human race. This high idea
of the priesthood whichlwe find in the sacred writings, shines
forth clearly in the works of the Fathers, in the instructions of
sovereign pontiffs and of bishops, in the decrees of councils, and
in the unanimous teaching of the Doctors and of Catholic schools.
The whole tradition of the Church proclaims with one voice that
the priest is "another Christ," that "the priesthood, though it is
exercised on earth, is rightly classed among heavenly orders ;
for to the priest is given the ministry' of heavenly things and a
power which God has not entrusted even to the Angels" (St. John
Chrysostom).
The Church has alwaj^s regarded the education, studies, mor-
als, and whatever else appertains to the discipline of her priests,
as a thing apart, not onlj' distinct, but separate from the ordinarj"
standards of secular life. This distinction and separation must
remain unchanged even in our times, and anj^ attempt to reduce
to a common level or confuse the life and education of clerics with
that of laymen, is condemned not only by the Christian tradition
of ages, but by the teaching of the Apostles and the ordinances
of Jesus Christ. We must, indeed, take into consideration the
varying condition of the times and adopt whatever changes maj^
make the work of the clergy more efficient in the society in which
we live, but any innovation which ma}' prejudice the essential
qualifications of the priest must be rejected. The priest is above
No. 4. The Review. 51
all thing's the teacher, physician, and pastor of souls. As such
he must be versed in the sacred and divine knowlege, imbued
with the spirit of piety which will make him a man of God, who
confirms his teaching by the ef&cacy of his own example, accord-
ing to the admonition of the Prince of the Apostles — "Forma
facta gregis ex animo." Every other natural or human equip-
ment may be useful or advisable, but in regard to the priestly
office will only have a secondary and relative importance. If it is
only right and just for the clergy to adapt themselves to the
needs of the present age, it is also a matter of duty and necessity
for them to resist its depraved tendencies with all their strength.
The taint of naturalism threatens everj- part of society, breeding
intellectual pride and rebellion agaihst authority, depraving the
heart, by fixingit on temporal things to the neglect of the eternal.
There is reason to fear that this spirit may have its influence on
the clergy, at least on those who are inexperienced. The saddest
consequences would be the result : — the loss of priestly gravity,
the easy yielding to the spell of innovation, a presumptuous and
indocile attitude towards their elders, the lack of that balance
and moderation in discussion which is so necessary especially
in matters of faith and morals ; but more deplorable than all, be-
cause of the harm done to the faithful, the ministry of the sacred
word would suffer from a tone out of all harmony with the char-
acter of a preacher of the Gospel.
The Holy Father goes on to point out the studies to which
ecclesiastical students should devote their attention, namel^^
philosophy, theology, and kindred subjects which will fit them
for the work of preaching and of hearing confessions. Their
studies are to be carried on in the tranquil home of the seminar^^
apart from all external agitations and aloof from the companion-
ship of laymen who are not aspirants to the priesthood. To-
wards the end of their course they are to receive suitable instruc-
tions on the text of the pontifical documents that treat of the so-
cial question and Christian Democracy', taking care, however, to
abstain from all part in any outside movement. He recommends
that, when their seminary course is over, and they are engaged in
the ministry, they should still continue to take part in academic
exercises and attend periodical conferences in order to mature
their studies. He warns them that anj' work for the people
which prejudices their priestly dignity or the obligations of
ecclesiastical discipline, must be severely condemned. "To you,
ministers of the Lord," he says finally," we appeal with more
reason than St. Paul did to the simple faithful in his daj^ — 'Obse-
cro vos ego vinctus in Domino, ut digne ambuletis vocatione qua
vocati estis.' "
52
A HISTORIC SIDELIGHT ON THE QUESTION : CAN THE
POPE DESIGNATE HIS SUCCESSOR ?
The paper "Can the Pope Designate His Successor?" contrib-
uted to the last volume of The Review by an able canonist,
aroused such lively interest among our readers that we have
taken the trouble to adapt from the last and best history of the
papacy in the early Middle Ages*) an authentic account of the
designation by Felix IV. of Boniface II., and the immediate con-'
sequences of this unusual measure.
When Pope Felix IV. was seriously ill and nearing his end,
fearful of the danger o£a split, he took a measure unheard-of un-
til then, in order to secure as his successor on the pontifical
throne the man whom he considered the fittest. He surrendered
his episcopal pallium with the right of succession to his confiden-
tial friend and devoted Archdeacon Boniface, a native of Rome,
of Germanic descent. A letter signed by the Pope's own hand
was posted in all the titular churches of the city, informing the
clergy, the Senate, and the people of the novel appointment,
which, Felix declared, was necessary for the preservation of the
peace, especially in view of the impoverished condition of the
Church. He added that in case he should recover, Boniface was
to return the pallium. He trusted that they would receive
in the fear of God and with Christian piety a decision which he
had taken after long prayer, which had brought him light from
above. Whoever would undertake to create factional disputes,
would no longer be a son of the Church and was to be deprived of
holy communion. He also informed them that he had apprized
the rulers, i. e., the Gothic court at Ravenna, of "this his will."t)
Felix IV. died soon after, probably on Sept. 22nd, 530, and
Boniface was consecrated forthwith. At the same time, however.
Dioscorus was consecrated pope, in the presence of b}^ far the
larger portion of the Roman clergy, in the Basilica of the Lateran,
while the consecration of Boniface took place in one of the halls-
of the Lateran Palace, the so-called Julian Basilica.
So little effect did the designation of Boniface by Felix have
that the Roman Church was torn asunder by a new schism.
Fortunately, Dioscorus died within a month, and his large
party, with rare moderation, was wise enough to submit to Boni-
face. No less than sixty Roman presbyters, in a letter to Boni-
face, condemned and anathematized the memory of Dioscorus
■ ■•j(ieschichte Roins und der Paepste im Mit-
telalter. Mil besomierer Beruecksichtigung
von Cultur und Knust nach dun Qnellcn dar-
t) Text edited by Mom7iisen in the Neues
Archiv U(l■'^8<■>). 3(J7: previously by Duchesne,
Liber pont. 1, 2H2. note 4 etc. The title reads:
gestellt von Hartmaun Grisar. S. J. Vol. I.
Rom beim Ausffange der ant:ken Welt. Pp.
49-1-.501. (B. Herder, Freiburg and St. Louis.)
"Incipit praeceptum papae Felicis." and in
conclusion the Pope says: "Quam ordina-
tionem mcam. banc volnntatem meam etc.'
No. 4.
The Review.
53
and gave his surviving: opponent the satisfaction of addressing
him as "beatissimus pater" and "papa venerabilis."
We can hardly assume that these presbyters, constituting, as
they did, an overwhelming majority of the Roman clergy, had
acted against their conscience when, as legitimate electors, they
opposed the consecration of Boniface. It is more probable that
they did not wish to approve the new mode of filling the holy see
by designation. However, after the death of Dioscorus, Boniface
succeeded, we do not know by what means, in inducing them not
only to recognize his claims, but to promise expressly that they
would not oppose a possible future designation of his successor
by the Supreme Pontiff.
Boniface was fully convinced of the necessity and usefulness
of such designation and held the abrogation of the old mode by
election, to be the only correct expedient under the prevailing
circumstances of the time.
Therefore, after the declaration of the presbyters had been
duly signed and deposited in the archives of the Church, he
called a meeting of the clergy in St. Peter's and declared that he
had designated Vigilius, the Deacon, to be his own successor. The
announcement was listened to in silence and the meeting dis-
persed. Gradually, however, such strong opposition developed,
that the Pope decided to recall his decision, which he did public-
ly, at the grave of St. Peter, in the presence not only of the cler-
gy, but also of the Senate. He admitted that he had made a
mistake in designating his successor and publicly consigned his
previous decree to the flames.
Until recently we had very little knowledge of these remark-
able occurrences. Pope Felix's designation of Boniface was only
cleared up in 1882 through the discovery of three documents in
the capitular archives of Novara.*)
Boniface H. was succeeded by John H., who after a very brief
pontificate, was followed by Agapetus I., a member of the faction
that had supported Dioscorus and now harbored keen regrets
for having allowed itself to be prevailed upon to anathematize its
former leader. One of Agapet's first acts was to take the declar-
ations of the Dioscorian presbyters from the archives and to in-
stitute fa new enquiry into the whole affair. Then he called
the clergy together and had the documents burned before
their eyes. This act had a more than personal significance.
Dioscorus had received the votes of those numerous members of
the clergy who had opposed the new mode of designation, and
*) This importaut discovery was made by
P. Amelli, at that time librarian of the Am-
brosiana, now Prior of Moute Cassino, and the
documents were first published by hifii in
the Scuola Cattoliea of Milan, vol. 21, No.
122.
54 The Review. 1903.
now this mode was strongly condemned by Agapet's indirect dec-
laration that the anathematization of Dioscorus had been un-
just. The defeat which Boniface had suffered with his candidate
Vig-ilius, wasi now inflicted upon the principle of designation
itself.
In matter of fact, the designation by a pope of his successor
was henceforth practically excluded from ecclesiastical practice.
It was only in the ag-e of reform inaugurated by Gregory VIL,
that it again threatened to revive. In the earlier history of the
Church it can not be proved with any degree of probability, de-
spite the apparently contrary testimony of Eusebius, that any
pope rose to his high station by designation. Only in the case
of Hormisdas there is an indication in the writings of Ennodius
that his elevation may have been due to his predecessor
Symmachus.
The more probable canonical view of the question |) is that no
pope has a right to prescribe designation as the regular mode of
filling the Apostolic See, nor to adopt it as the ordinary one. The
usual mode is by free election, which has the advantage of being
a preventive of the possible erection of a papal dynasty. There
would otherwise be danger of arbitrary acts, all the more so since
popes often die at an advanced age, when it would be compar-
atively easy for ambitious and designing men to surreptitiously
obtain the favor of designation. In exceptional cases, however,
where it would be clearly and imperatively necessary for the
good of the Church, it is admitted by eminent theologians that a
pope could, by way of exception, suspend the rights of the elec-
tors and appoint a suitable successor by personal designation.
In the light of this canonical principle the conduct of Felix IV.
and Boniface II. is apt to be judged less severely than was appar-
ently^ done by that portion of the clergy which opposed them.
Both pontiffs probably believed to have sufficient reason for des-
ignating their successors in the dangers then threatening the
Church both from internal dissensions and external political con-
ditions. The strong opposition which arose against their con-
duct had this good effect that it limited the practice to one single
application.
I) This view was taken also by our recent contributor.
^^^^
55
THE ACHILLES HEEL OF SECRET SOCIETIES.
A correspondent writes :
Father Rosen, in my humble opinion, has hit the Achilles heel
of all secret societies in his recent communication to The Review
(Vol. IX, No. 45).
The mere exposure of their rites ought to result in depriving-
them of their tower of strength, their mysteriousness. It does
not require a keen sense of humor to see the ridiculousness of
their high-sounding- titles. Let up hope that Catholics will be
alert enough to give Rey. Rosen's book on extensive sale. When
flowery titles like "Most Worshipful Master,' "Prince of the
Tabernacle," "Supreme Commander of the Stars" (Egyptian
rite), etc., will have been given so much publicity that the boys
on the streets use them as nicknames, it will be seen whether
they contain intrinsic value enough to stand the test of public
ridicule, a test which our holy religion has many times most suc-
cessfully undergone. I subscribe to the wish of the Editor of
The Review that Father Rosen, in a third edition, add the rituals
of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Foresters. Not as
if I suspected them of conspiring against the Church or being
infected by naturalism or other grave errors ; on the contrary, I
honestly believe that the majority of the members of these
two societies are enthusiastic and devoted adherents of our
Church and by imitating to a certain extent the rites and organi-
zation of the non-Catholic secret societies they mean to be better
enabled to counteract their destructive influence. In giving full
credit to the good intentions of these Catholic knights and
brothers, it is for the mere sake of ordinary common sense and
for the dignity and representation of our holy Church, that these
ritualistic practices, which can neither boast of originality nor
of venerable age, should be confined to the shrovetide and the
vaudeville stage. — (Rev.) Vincent Brummer.
ar s* ar
A FORMER UNITED STATES SENATOR ON THE SCHOOL
QUESTION.
The Freeman' s Journal (No. 3629) publishes some interesting
extracts from an address recently delivered at Newark, N. J., by
former United States Senator James Smith, Jr.
"I know that men in political life usually keep silent on the
school question," said Mr. Smith. "But to my mind it is a ques-
tion so important to our national future that it is cowardly, al-
most a crime, to ignore it."
His own view of the question the Senator stated as follows :
56
The Review.
1903.
"It is said that to teach religion in public schools is un-Ameri-
can. On the contrary, it is thoroughly American, for in the
early schools of New England, where the germ of the public
school was nurtured, religious teaching was a main feature. It
is only within forty j'^ears that Newark appropriated money for
public schools, so they are not an old American institution.
"Now onl}-^ the Lord's Prayer is said and a passage of Scrip-
ture read in our public schools, and this is restricted to fifteen
minutes. And there is a cry for banishing all religion out of the
schools. This is Socialism of the kind that leads to anarchy. It
is objected that denominational schools are impossible in our
countrJ^ They are successful in England, Germany, and Russia.
Lord Balfour, Prime Minister of England, boasted of Great
Britain's denominational schools. The Chancellor of Germany
has said that the daj' when religion is banished from the schools
will mark the beginning of the end of the nation. Are Ameri-
cans less able than Germans, English, and Russians to solve the
school question?
"Catholics pay taxes to educate the children of other faiths, as
they also pay to educate their own children. Is that fair or just?
They believe it is not only a sacred duty to give their children a
Christian education, but that it is one of the most sacred duties
thej-^ owe to our beloved country. So do the Lutherans, who
support parish schools. The great increase of Immorality and
dishonestj^ and divorce in our country has caused leading non-
Catholics and their religious editors and college professors to
question that the public school system is so perfect as it is
claimed. Leading thinkers say there is something wrong in the
si'^stem, but prejudice is against religious instruction in the
schools. Why should not Catholics have some of the taxes they
pay to educate their children? The fathers of our Republic
gained the freedom of the land by fighting for the principle of no
taxation without representation" (?).
ar sr ar
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
3. Smuggling in the Colonies and the Stamp Tax.
In the third chapter of his book*) Mr. Fisher shows how
smuggling, rioting, and revolt against British control were wide-
ly rampant in the thirteen colonies long prior to the Revolution.
The navigation and trade laws under which the colonists
*) The True History of the
American Revolution. By Syd-
ney George Fisher. J. B. Lip-
pincott & Co. 1902. Price $2.
No. 4. Thk Review. 57
squirmed, were inspired by the desire which England harbored
in common with all other nations, to keep its colonial trade for
itself. Their beginnings may be traced to the earliest period of
the English colonies. The colonists never objected to them in
principle, because these laws favored them as much as the mother
country. The regulations which displeased them, (as f. i. the
clause of the act of 1663, which forbade any European commodities
to be taken to the colonies except in English-built ships and from
English ports.) they willfully and wickedly disregarded, and in
the latter half of the seventeenth century, most of our ships were
engaged in smuggling. Withal, "these laws were generally re-
garded by Adam Smith and other political writers as much less
restrictive than similar laws of other countries." (P. 39.)
So "the colonists did pretty much as they pleased for over a
hundred years." (P. 43.) The trouble arose when the British
government, after the French War, resolved on more reg-
ular and systematic control of commerce with a view to sup-
press smuggling. The attempt to enforce the "sugar act" of
1764, (which was intended as a favor to the colonists, but not ap-
preciated by them, as they could profit more by smuggling)
caused'quite a stir. When the officials occasionally succeeded in
seizing a smuggled cargo, it was apt to be rescued b}^ violence,
which the English j ustly regarded as unlawful rebellion. In 1767,
a Board of Customs Commissioners was created, which sent out
cutters and armed vessels to cruise for smugglers. "But they
rarely made a seizure ; and the colonists laughed in their bucolic
way and said that it was like burning a barn to roast an egg/'
(P. 47).
Since 1670 smuggling and revenue cases were tried in admiral-
ty courts, without a jury. The new acts made the same provi-
sion. Thiswas justifiable from the English point of view, because
no American jury would convict a smuggler, and because in Eng-
land itself stamp duties, e. g., were recoverable before two jus-
tices of the peace without a jury. But the patriots raised the
cry that Britain was depriving her colonies of the right of trial
by jury. Mr. Fisher reminds us in this connection that "by act
of Parliament the British government can at any time withdraw
trial by jury from Ireland, and in the year 1902 withdrew it by
proclamation in nine Irish counties." (P. 47-8).
"To Englishmen who reflected on the smuggling and piracy,
the thousands of convicts transported to the colonies, the thous-
ands of fierce red Indians by whom the colonists must be influ-
enced, and the million black slaves driven with whips, the with-
holding from such people of the right of trial by jury, or even of
the right of self-government, seemed a small matter." (P. 48.)
58 The Review. 1903.
Foi* ten years the g-overnment made special efforts to stop
smugg-ling in the colonies, but it seems without much success.
The people grew bolder and more aggressive. They formed as-
sociations pledging the members to cease importing manufact-
ured goods from England, to cease wearing British clothing, and
to violate the act against manufacturing, by starting manufactur-
ing of all kinds among themselves.
"When the year 1774 was reached the mobs and tar-and-feather
parties had driven so many British officials from office that all
attempts to check smuggling and enforce the trade laws were
necessarily abandoned until the army could restore authority."
After the passage of the "Sugar Act," which was a taxing
act, Parliament in 1765, passed the famous "Stamp Act." Mr.
Fisher shows how the taxation of the colonies was not
a new idea ; how they had always been taxed, according to a regu"
lar system, by which the British Secretary of State made a re-
quisition on the colonies through the colonial governors. The
difference was that the new taxation, contrary to the old, which
still survived in the colonies, though it had been abolished at
home, and which was voluntary, — was taxation by the modern
system. "Looked at in the light of all the circumstances," says
Mr. Fisher, "it was not necessarily an evil or tyrannical measure.
If we once admit that the colonial status is not an improper one.
and that it is no infringement of natural or political rights for a
nation to have dependencies or subject peoples, taxing them ia a
moderate and fair way seems to follow as a matter of course.
England still levies indirect taxes on India and the crown colon-
ies." (P. 52). Besides, the voluntary system, to which the col-
onies were so attached, as it permitted them to vote or refuse a
requisition, was evidently unequal and unfair; some colonies
voted supplies, others gave little or none at all ; whence there
arose jealousies and quarrels.
Mr. Fisher goes on to show with what tenderness the British
government went about this measure of the stamp tax, and how
considerately it undertook to enforce it. The tax itself was a
stamp tax on newspapers and all legal and business documents,
"the sort of tax which we levied upon ourselves during the Civil
War and again at the time of the war with Spain." "unquestion-
ably the fairest, most equally distributed, and easiest to collect
of all forms of taxes." (P. 56.) England sorely needed revenues,
for it was at that time groaning" under a war debt of over ^148,-
000,000, a heavy burden for a country of scarcel}^ eight million
people.
When the news of the passage of the Stamp A;t reached this
country, there was a general, though at first not violent, protest.
No. 4.
The Review.
S9
led by Virginia. The resolutions of the various assemblies ad-
mit that Parliament can tax them externally, or, as they put it,
reg-ulate their commerce by levying duties on it, and regulate
them, as in fact it always had done, in all internal matters, ex-
cept this one of internal taxes — a distinction which Mr. Fisher
declares to be "altogether absurd."
The resolutions of protest were soon followed by mob violence,
principally in Massachusetts, "the only colony which had per-
sistently, from her foundation, shown a disloyal spirit to the
English government and the English church."
The Stamp Act Congress, which met in New York in autumn,
marked the beginning of the rejection of all authority of Parlia-
ment. "It is to be observed," says our author, "that they did not
ask for representation in Parliament. They declared it to be im-
possible ; and Englishmen were quick to notice and comment on
this. Grenville, in his speech against the repeal of the Stamp
Act, called forcible attention to it and reminded his hearers of its
significance The colonists never changed their ground on
this point. They always insisted that the distance across the
ocean rendered representation impossible. It is quite obvious
that the distance did not render representation impossible ; it
merely made it somewhat inconvenient." (P. 59).
Mr. Fisher quotes Governor Bernard, of Massachusetts, as
saying, in his 'Select Letters,' "that at first the colonists were
willing to be represented in Parliament, and made their argu-
ment in the alternative that if they were to be taxed internally
they must be represented ; but fearing that representation might
be allowed them, and that they would be irretrievably bound by
any measure passed by Parliament, they quickly shifted to the
position that representation was impossible, and therefore inter-
nal taxation constitutionally impossible." (P. 60.)
ar 3r 3f
REFORM—TRUE AND FALSE,
By Bishop Keppler of Rottenburg.*)
I purpose to address myself to the consideration of a word
which has lately been much in the air in many lands, some-
times as a battle cry, sometimes as a party watchword, often as
a mere phrase of fashion. It is a word of great fascination, that
-) We think we owe it to our readers to ac-
quaint them with this remarkable address of
His l-ordship of Rottenburg, one of the most
cultured and most zealous members of the
German hierarchy. We use the translation
of the Tablet, which we have carefully re-
vised, corrected, and completr'd from the au-
thentic German text, published iu the form
of a cheap brochure by B. Herder (Zweite.
durchgesehene Ausgabe, 1. bis 5.:Tausend
Price 7 cents per copy net.) We understand
that the Messenger will bring out an Englsh
translation in pamphlet form with the ap-
probation of the distinguished author.
60 The Review. 1903.
alwa^'s finds ready ears and open hearts. I mean the word "Re-
form." The modern world is full of reforms and reformers, and
the latest accession to the number has come from the Catholic
camp. All "modern" movements and attempts at reform — not
excepting: the Catholic — have one common fault ; they are general,
vag-ue. indefinite. Their authors lack clearness and definiteness
of ideas and aims. Thej' neither know what they precisely wish,
nor how much they are able to accomplish. They sail in a fog,
and without sure compass. Herein lies their weakness, but also
th'eir danger to the man}'^ whose judgment is not ripe and compe-
tent. It is therefore high time to bring clearness into the mean-
ing of the word "reform," which is so constantly on all sides per-
verted, misunderstood, and misapplied. Our immediate concern,
however, is with the word only as applicable to Catholicism.
To begin with, there are two preliminary questions which re-
quire answering, but which will not delay us long. In the first
place, is a reform of Catholicism or of the Church possible
at all? Mostjcertainly it is. A. reform of the Church is possible in
all that is human in her, but not in that which is divine, as, for
instance, in her dogma, her moral law, her sacraments, her or-
ganism. A reform is possible — let me say it at once — in Catholic
character.
The next question is, Do we at present want a Catholic re-
form?'' There are many symptoms of disease and corruption,
man}' wounds and ulcers in the Catholic bod}' which require heal-
ing, and we must answer : Yes, a reform is necessary. The final
and burning question is, — How are we to reform ? Whatlare the
aims and signs of a true reform? In answering this question
we must guard against abstract theories and personal considera-
tions ; the question must be viewed in the concrete and practi-
cally and in the light of history. Here everything depends upon
clearness and frankness.
I.
A true reform is alwaj^s a reform that comes from within, not
from, without, a movement from within to without, not vice versa.
To reform means to form back. In order to reform a thing we
must go back to its kernel, its nature and essence, and examine
whether its outer growth and development is normal, i. e., in har-
mony with its nature and being. To reform Catholicism we shall
have to go back to its divine kernel and examine whether its hu-
man element is in conformity with the divine. If such conformity
be wanting in any part, the lever of reform must be applied. But
in doing this, the historical continuity of Catholicism must not
be ignored or broken, but preserved and continued. To thrust
No. 4. The Review. 61
Christianity or the Church back forcibly to the stage of develop-
ment which it had reached 1,500 or 500 years ago, would be a false
reform. You can not reform a man by forcing him back into the
clothes of his childhood. To pretend to construct a so-called or-
iginal Christianity or Church by ignoring the entire process of
historical growth and development, and then to present the re-
sult to the world as the purest form of Christianity and the
most thorough reform, is illogical, unscientific, and unhistoric to
the highest degree. Those who thus proceed do not reform the
Church, but set up a reform church of their own from a few
stones torn out of their proper foundation. The French Posi-
tivist Laffitte assigns the "infinite intellectual superiority" of
Catholicism over Protestantism to the fact that Catholicism "rests
on the principle of legitimate development within the principles
of original revelation, and thus renders possible an orderly devel-
opment, whereas Protestantism, by its everlasting boast of
primitive Christianity tries in reality to keep the Christian or-
ganism in its embryonic condition, or to reduce it back to that
state, contrary to the fundamental principles of necessary evolu-
tion." i^Les grands Types de PHumanitc, t. III. Lc Catholicisme^
1897, p. 376.)
Now let us come to our modern Catholic reformers. What are
they doing? Do they endeavor to reform the Church in the
aforesaid sense? Not at all. They pretend to regenerate Cath-
olicism, Christianity, by reducing it to what is essential, elimin-
ating what is non-essential. This we can never allow them.
Their views are too often schoolboyish and mechanical. What
they wish to brush away is often the very flower and sweetest
fragrance of Catholicism. These reformers, as it frequently
happens to mere bookmen and literati, lack true culture; they
are deficient in the finer perceptions and judgments, in the sense
of the historical, the spiritual and the divine. The man of true
culture will ever be in sympathy with all the rich and varied man-
ifestations of spiritual individual life welling forth from the inner
life of the Church. He knows that Catholic culture may and must
begin here. In the towering dome of the spiritual life of the
Church, in the grand world of medieval mysticism, we will point
out by way of example only a few prominent phenomena : Heli-
and, Thomas a Kempis, Dante, St. Hildegarde, all too little
known, St. Teresa, who surpasses Dante in personal grandeur
and whose works must be reckoned among the best literature of
the world. And in the garden of ecclesiastical art we will men-
tion only the splendid, unfortunately all too little known, old
Flemish school. Dante's colossal figure — let me add — can not be
justly claimed by the reformers. Dante fought with open visor ;
62 The Review. 1903
he did not write and speak, as they do, with half-hidden meaning,
He was a manh' man, a hero. He sharply criticized churchly
conditions ; but he was a faithful disciple of St. Francis and our
Blessed Mother. Herein modern reformers ought to imitate
him. His world-view and the three-storied structure of his life-
work are like the Rosary. He is mediceval through and through.
He is the man of courageous action, who sacrificed everything for
his belief. In this he should be our model.
Instead of the inner life of the Church, the false reformers em-
phasize the external intellectual life of Catholics. We must pro-
test against this. We require heart and soul, not only intellect.
The aim of Catholic culture is not onl}'^ that educated Catholics
should believe more, but also that they should know more than edu-
cated non-Catholics. But this knowledge shouldbe not somuchofan
intellectual, but rather of a spiritual kind. The education of aCath-
olic, therefore, will always be more mediaeval than "modern."
The mediaeval spirit is outwardly rough, but inwardly noble ; the
"modern" spirit is outwardly fine, but inwardly mean. Catholics,
therefore, will always fare better if they follow the former rather
than the latter. Whoever follows the blandishments of the
"modern" spirit, endangers his soul. We must beware of giving
the Devil a finger, lest he seize the whole hand.
Christianity and Catholicity can be reformed only in and from
the Spirit who has called both into existence. The Divine Spirit
must be the soul of every reforming movement within the Church,
which can only consist in an effort to ward off from her the anti-
Christian spirit, the spirit of hell, of the age, of the world.
If a reform comes not in the name of the Holy Spirit, but of the
spirit of the age, it must necessarily be a false reform. To call
in and admit the spirit of the age as a judge, corrector, and re-
former of the Church, is to degrade the Church. If, as Harnack
( Wesen des ChristentJmms, p. 5) has remarked, it is an insult to the
Christian religion to ask first of all what it has done for the prog-
ress of civilization, in order to decide its merits, how much more
insulting is it to drag the Church before so incompetent a judge
and so doubtful a tribunal as modern culture ? Those who do
this, understand neither the nature of the Church nor that of
modern culture.
It is the fashion with some to look upon Catholicism as anti-
quated, but they do not see how senile modern culture and hu-
manity is and that it requires to be renewed unto youth. Whence
is this renewal to come, except from Christianity and the Church?
To be worn out, old and decrepit, and yet to disport oneself as full
of vigor and youth, is a peculiarly modern feature and quite char-
acteristic of our present age. Its obstinate unbelief is a mark of
No. 4. The Review. 63
senility and the verj^ opposite of childlike youth. It has no fresh
red cheeks, it has a worn-out look, and a bald guilty head. To
reform means to make young again ; but Christianitj^ can not be
renewed by "modern" culture, which itself requires renewal
through Christianity. Mere intellect is old, and makes old.
Faith is young, and makes young. Youth believes ; old age
doubts.
It argues a poor view of Catholicity and a great want of political
sense to think that Catholicism ought to bu}- or obtain anyhow
the right of life and domicile in modern society by concessions,
compromises, or a periodical process of moulting. They who
give such counsel are not the representatives but the betrayers
of Catholicism. For the rest, no amount of concessions will ever
help them to escape the hatred and persecution of the enemies
of the Christian faith, unless they are prepared to give up their
Church altogether. The thing that the modern world chiefly ab-
hors in the Christian religion is, intellectually speaking, miracles,
and morally speaking, authority. What will it avail our Catholic
reformers to minimize the former and to withdraw themselves
as much as possible from the latter? They will never find favor
with "moderns," until they deny the one and renounce the other
altogether.
The hope of gaining"modern"intellects for Christianity and the
Church by means of compromise and concessions, is vain. For
those who are wrapped up in modern culture will not be gained ;
and those who have grown weary of it, will onlj^ be gained bj'
something totally different — by a loyal life of faith, by an unadul-
terated, undwarfed Christianity, not a modernized Christianity,
not a "margarine" Catholicity.
The history of conversions has proved it a hundred times that
the noblest acquisitions the Church has made in all ages have
never been due to what the Protestant Francis de Pressense
calls "a Catholicism for the lowest bidder," but to the illumina-
tive dogma, the loving severity, and the iron authority of the
Church ; they were due to the sincerity of souls that looked
straight at things. If our modern reformers think those who are
perfect strangers to the Church can be gained in anv other way,
they are mistaken. Far from attracting, they will but repel them
by showing themselves ashamed of the best qualities of their
Mother. They work against their own interest, against their own
intentions. "The way of discipline they have not known, nor un-
derstood her paths" (Bar. iii, 20.) They err and lead into error.
They have deceived even the well-meaning ; once also they de-
ceived me. But the consequences of the French Americanism
which they are now trying to import into Germany, must open
all eyes. Prevention must be our watchword.
{.To be continued.^
64
MINOR TOPICS.
The census of 1900 makes returns for
Callings of Women in 303 separate occupations, and in onl}"^
ihe United States. eight of these do women workers fail
to appear. None will be surprised that
there are no women among the soldiers, sailors, and marines of
the United States government, yet there are 153 women employed
as "boatmen" and sailors. Women have not yet invaded the ranks
of the city fire departments, still not less than 879 women are re-
turned in the same general class of "watchmen, policemen, and
detectives." There are no women streetcar drivers, though
there are two women "motormen" and 13 women conductors.
They have not as yet taken up the employment of telegraph and
telephone "line men," yet 22,556 of them are operators for these
companies. There are no women apprentices and helpers among
the roofers and slaters, yet two women are returned as engaged
in these employments. There are 126 women plumbers; 45 plas-
terers ; 167 brick and stone masons ; 241 paper hangers ; 1,759
painters and glaziers, and 545 women carpenters and joiners. No
women are returned as helpers to steam boiler makers, but
eight women work at this industry as full mechanics. There are
193 women blacksmiths ; 571 machinists ; 3,370 women workers
in iron and steel ; 890 in brass, and 1,775 women workers in tin.
Among other unusual women workers are 100 "lumber-
men and raftsmen;" 113 wood choppers; 373 saw mill em-
ployees; 440 bartenders ; 2,086 saloon-keepers ; 904 "draymen"
and teamsters ; 323 undertakers; 143 stonecutters ; 63 "quarry-
men ;" 65 whitewashers ; 11 well-borers, and 177 stationary en-
gineers and firemen.
Following are the large employments for women : Servants,
1,283,763; agricultural laborers, 663,209; farmers and planters,
307,706; dressmakers, 344,794 ; laundresses, 335,282; traders,
327,614 ; textile workers, 277,972. There are 3,373 women cler-
gymen ; 1,041 architects; 786 dentists; 2,193 journalists; 1.010
lawyers; 7,387 physicians, and 14 women veterinary surgeons.
The New York Evening- Post, after a careful study of the sub-
ject, finds (Jan. 13th) that while there is probably a greater
tendency to crime in the American negro of to-day than in the
American white man, the difference is much less than the statis-
tics of conviction of crime would indicate to be the case.
*r
We are pleased to learn on good authority that the Rev. Rod-
erick J. Mooney, of Morris, Minn., whom we recently quoted
(No. 2) as endorsing the Elks, is not a Catholic priest, but an
Episcopalian minister.
We have received $2 by postal money order (No. 16,783) from
Cleveland, O., without any indication of the identity of the sender,
who is requested to drop us a card, so that the amount can be
placed to his credit.
11 XLbc IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louls, Mo., February 5, 1903. No. 5.
THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION AND POLITICS.
EVERAL of our French'Canadian Catholic contemporaries
in the Eastern States have lately been congratulating
themselves upon having withheld their support from
the Federation movement, — on the strength of a Rome despatch
that the Pope, at the instigation of Archbishop Ireland, has con-
demned, or at least formally refused to approve (which refusal
in their view spells condemnation), the American Federation of
Catholic Societies, because it "mixes in politics."
The Holy Father, two of whose delegates have blessed the
Federation movement, has ;/o/ refused to approve the same, for
the simple reason that his approval was never asked. It is barely
possible that the matter has been brought to the attention of the
Supreme Pontiff unfavorably, by His Grace of St. Paul*] ; though
in view of the fact that some forty of his brethren in the hier-
archy have publicly expressed their sympathy for the Federa-
tion, it is hardly probable that he should have asked for a pontif-
icial condemnation — especially as the reason suggested in that
(apparently bogus) Rome despatch is clearly fictitious. The
Federation has nol "mixed in politics." Its leaders have time
and again declared that it was not intended to be a political
movement in any sense of the word. We ourselves have charg-ed
them with too great reserve and timidity on this very point, be-
lieving as we did and do, that the whole movement must in the end
prove abortive if, according to the original program, politics is
entirely and permanently excluded from its scope.
Our readers know that our original enthusiasm for the Feder-
ation was dampened by certain grievous mistakes on the part of
its leaders, one of which w^as President Minnahan's intemperate
attack upon the German Catholic press and his foolish "open
'] The Catholic Colmnbiau (No. 6) asserts it quite positively-
66 The Review. 1903.
letter," and another, the reelection of this somewhat choleric
gentleman to the supreme executive office. But we have not per-
mitted these incidental and perhaps unavoidable individual blun-
ders to blind our eyes against the necessit^^ and opportuneness
of the movement nor the indubitable good will and commendable
zeal of the leaders, from Mr. Minnahan down. And we can not,
for the good of a sacred cause, stand silent when these men are
accused of alleged errors of which they are guiltless and ulterior
motives which we are confident they do not harbor.
If, as we sincereh' hope, the Federation has "come to sta3%"
it will surely some da5\ despite the present views and intentions
of its officers, "mix in politics," because as a Catholic body it can
not stand idl}^ by when Catholic principles are attacked or the
rights of Catholic citizens trodden under foot, which is bound to
happen sooner or later in a land where godless State schools
are raising up a generation of infidels who despise and hate the
Church.
And when the da}' for combat comes, and the Federation of
Catholic Societies does its plain and bounden duty, by throwing
its powerful influence into the political arena for the cause of
right and justice, the Vicar of Jesus Christ will not disapprove,
but praise and bless, as he has time and again praised and
blessed the German Centrum and the Catholic political parties
in Belgium and Holland, that do not permit craven cowardice
or any other despicable motive to prevent them from proving the
faith that is in them in public as well as in private life.
FREEMASONRY vs. CHRISTIANITY.
To THE Editor of The Review. — S/?-:
The reason the writer, who is not a saco'dos but an advocatus,
wrote anonymously (anent Freemasonry in replj' to Rev. Vincent
Brummer, Vol. IX. No. 50) is, because he holds a public position
representing a population of about 30,000 inhabitants, the major-
ity of whom are non-Catholics. The Masons are numerous and
powerful where the humble writer lives, and hj not signing his
name under such circumstances, he simplj^ made use of our
divine Savior's advice. "Be wise as serpents."
The "attack" was not meant on Father Brummer, but on that
arch-secret society. Freemasonry, which, together with other
secret societies is rapidly gnawing away the foundations of
Christianity among all the Protestant sects. I feel sorry for
having wounded Father Brummer's feelings, and ask pardon.
It can not be denied that the spirit of so-called higher criticism
No. 6. The Review. 67
is infecting- Catholic circles in all lands; and the Bible Commis-
sion is indeed a timely institution. But that which was taught
by all (or nearly all) the Fathers, and since then by the teaching-
office of the Church, must stand as orthodox Catholic doctrine
until she gives a judgment to the contrary. Then, and not till
then, will it be time to depart from the old.
In this case it is not a question about a disputed point
within the Church. But the point at issue is, the evil
spirit pervading Freemasonry. This evil spirit working
through Freemasonry has been solemnly condemned — not
by conclusions drawn from the annotations of Loch and
Reischl, or Arndt-AUioli; but by the formal judgments of
many popes. Clement XII., in 1738, in his "In Eminente,"
made use of the following weighty words: "We strictly forbid
... -the faithful. .. .to dare or presume, under whatever pre-
text .... to enter said societies of Freemasons .... We absolutely
ordain that they totally refrain from such societies ... .under
pain of excommunication .... Further, we will, and order, all . . . .
to proceed against the transgressor. .. .of whatever dignity or
pre-eminence." The ban has never been removed. Pope Leo
XIII. in his two encyclicals (April '84 and Oct. '90) is no less
plain nor any more lenient than his predecessors.
Father Brummer's quotation from our Holy Father's Ency-
clical on the Scriptures refers only to a matter not adjudicated b}^
the Church. Hence it is not relevant to the point in dispute.
"In dubiis libertas" can never be brought in when it comes to a
question about Masonry. It is immaterial whether the evil
spirit inspiring the condemned societies be called "goat," "bull,"
or "unicorn." As a general rule the word "goat" is used in the
Bible as synonymous with "evil spirit" or "reprobate." It is the
evil spirit that inspires men to form societies whose aim
is to destroy the Church of Christ, to give children a purely
secular training, and to propagate anti-Christian principles by
means of the press. With reference to Masonry there can be
no middle ground — like the immutable law of contradiction in
logic: nothing can both be and not be.
I did not state that Arndt-Allioli are "infallible interpreters
of divine tradition." They are not infallible interpreters at all.
Such belongs exclusively to the teaching office of the Church.
They (A. -A.) simply reiterate, repeat, in their annotations, the
teachings of the Fathers, plus the decisions of the infaDible
Church, plus the consensus of the whole Church — in the latter
following the noted canon of St. Vincent of Lerins: "Id teneamus.
68 The Review. 1903.
quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus creditum est; hoc
est verc i>roi>riequc catholicum.''
The writer gladly admits that he has a childlike faith in Arndt-
Allioli. The more we study such annotated Bibles (and the con-
tinuation of the Bible — the Lives of the Saints), the more these
will indelibly impress upon us the fact that it is only on the ladder
of humility and childlike faith that we can ascend to Heaven.
Father Brummer further says: "I consider the other extreme,
an excessive faith which generally includes the corruption of
dogma, incomparably more harmful in our times." In this he is
greatly mistaken. The writer (who is forty-four years of age)
has never met an educated layman who had an excessive faith.
But he meets many educated Catholics whose faith is decidedly
lukewarm; they are tainted with an excessive lack of faith !
Father Brummer further says: "As long as the nature of
Freemasonry is so grossly misunderstood, we can never hope
to witness a change in the situation." Let us not worry about
this. The Church (the Holy Ghost) understands the nature of
Freemasonry thoroughly well, and it will never succeed in de-
ceiving the spouse of Jesus Christ. It is dangerous to tamper
with such a society. Its aim and spirit is substantially the same
the world over. Freemasonry, and most other secret societies,
lead inevitably to naturalism, which ultimately must end in re-
fined paganism. This is not a mere, opinion, but a statement of
facts taken from trustworthy sources.
I admit that there are gentlemen among Masons; I even go so
far as to state that some in the lower grades, who are ignorant
of the object and spirit of Masonry, belong to the anima Ecclesiae.
My authorities are: Father Miiller's 'The Church and Her
Enemies' (Benziger Bros.); 'Der stille Krieg der Freimaurerei'
(Herder, Freiburg); Father Rosen's latest work on 'Secret Soci-
eties'; 'Freemasonry Illustrated' (Ezra A. Cook & Co., Chicago),
etc. The Catholic Truth Society of Philadelphia has issued an
excellent little 5-cent pamphlet, 70 pp., on Freemasonry by D.
Moncrieff O'Conner. "Thousand and One Objections to Secret
Societies" by Rev. J. W. Book, R. D. (B. Herder) is also good.
Dilexeriint magis tenehras qtiain htccvi; crant enim eorum mala
opera. (loannes III, 19.)
Advocatus.
[This letter closes the controversy. — Editor.]
^^#%
69
REFORM— TRUE AND FALSE.
By Bishop Keppler of Rottenburg.
{Continued.^
Again, a reform of Catholicism must above all be a religious
reform. Hence the primary forces and principal means of the
movement must be religious, the supernatural means of grace,
faith, the sacraments. Mass, prayer, confession. The sacrament
of penance is the sacrament of reform. "Auricular confession,"
says Goethe, "ought never to have been taken from us." The
false reformers are beginning to see that these great religious
supernatural forces have no part in their movement. We should
therefore expect that, as they talk a great deal of "religious Cath-
olicism," they would press above all the religious forces of Cath-
olicism into their service and laj^ chief stress upon' the religious
duties of Catholics. But such is not the case. Their deeds do
not correspond with their words. And here lies the internal un-
truth, the Phariseeism of their endeavors. We refuse to accept a
reform with a double bottom. Though I feel tempted to mention
names, I will refrain, especially since the author of the catch-word
("religious Catholicism") is no longer among the living ; let him
remain nameless here, since he has for years, nameless or under
cover, injured the Church with his pen incalculably.*) St. Francis
preached and practised religious Catholicism. Why do not the
modern reformers follow his example? Let them spare us their
"religious Catholicism" which is neither religious nor Catholic.
Truthfulness is the first of all duties. Such reforms lack internal
truthfulness. Goethe says: "To ask others to do what you do not
do yourself, is mean." And Jesus says of the Pharisees, "Do accord-
ing to their words, not according to their deeds." Our modern
reformers constantly prate about "religious Catholicism," but in
matter of fact they set aside the religious element and dabble in
culture and politics. They are either incapable of clear thinking,
or liars, or both. St. John writes : "If we say we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we are liars, and the truth is not
in us." (1. John, 1, 6). These reformers demand a "religious
Catholicism," but in reality advocate a "cultured Catholicism"
which is the very opposite of it. That is a double game ; and its
strength lies in the power of its stock-phrases and catch-words.
They pretend that they are only concerned with Catholicism
from the point of view of culture, abstracting from its inner
ecclesiastical and spiritual side. But this is impossible ; Cathol-
*) The reference is to Prof. F. X. Kraus, of Freiburg, re-
cently deceased.
70 The Review. 1903.
icism indeed as a religious factor, is also a great factor in culture,
in the truest and highest sense. But this culture begins with
the spiritual power and influence of religion, and grows in pro-
portion to it. Religion is the highest culture. Our reformers
overlook this fact.
A reform of Christianit}^ of Catholicism, must take hold of the
inner man, and make him better. It must be a reform of the
whole man, of his soul, will, character, conscience, not merely of
his mind and intellect. The whole Catholic faith and all Catholic
life are matters of the heart. A reform of it must appeal, in the
first place, to the heart, not to the intellect. A true reform will
ever be above all a moral, and only secondarily, if at all, an intel-
lectual movement. It is in this way that our Lord and saints like
St. Francis and St. Bernard have reformed.
The common vice of all false reformers is Rationalism. Their
everj" second word is education, knowledge, culture, science.
Now these are all important and necessarj^ things, as long as
they are not pursued in the wrong fashion. But in a religious re-
form they are naturall}^ only of secondary consideration.
The opinion that mere training and knowledge will carry with
them an improvement in character, is contradicted bj- historj^
and experience. Kant says : "Art and science have cultured us
to a high degree; we are civilized to overflowing, but before
we can consider ourselves as moralized, there is still much want-
ing." The word of Kant was true then, and is even more so now.
Not intellect, but moralit3% is the decisive point in the life of
nations as well as of individuals. "In our da^^s the brain is tyran-
nizing the soul," truly says Verdaguer, the Spanish priest and
poet. And the Revue Occidentale, the ofiicial organ of French
Positivism (1902, II, 139), bears witness to the same truth by
sajnng that "morality will always claim the final victory over in-
tellectuality." Our common sense tells us the same thing. The
peculiar malady of our age is weakness and want of character.
Therefore, every true reform must be a reform of character.
The human race has now well-nigh made conquest of the whole
world ; but it has suffered damage in its soul, if it has not lost it
altogether. Is there anything so soul-less as "modern" society,
culture, science, literature, and art? A reform is most certainly
required, but not in the direction of intellectual attainments.
Both faith and reason tell us that.
Moreover, true reform is alwaj^s a popular reform, a reform of
the people. It begins below, and with the people, not vice versa.
So it was in the days of our, Lord and in the early days of Chris-
tianity. There is no other way possible. The message of all
true reformers sent by God into the world has alwaj^s been to
No. 5. The Review. 71
the people; they have never appealed first, much less exclusively,
to the educated, the higher or "better"' classes, but to the poor
and the simple. To them must also be preached the gospel of
reform. It would seem to be almost a law of history that cor-
ruption begins at the top and works downward ; but improve-
ment and reform begin below and work upward.
The reforms lately suggested are not popular reforms, nor do
they pretend to be. Their authors and prophets are the "would-
be cultured."
The reform upon which they have set their hearts, and for
which they labor, is a "cultured Catholicism." They look to the
educated. They consider it too hard for the educated to believe
and live like the common people. They wish to coat the bitter
pill of faith with the sugar of culture, and to substitute for the
faith of a child that of the learned. This a short-sighted and im-
politic undertaking. The reformer who would count solely upon
the educated, is strangely miscalculating his chances. Let us
suppose for a moment that our educated and half-educated Cath-
olics have entered the shallow waters of unbelieving modern cul-
ture and science. Do you think their downward course could be
arrested by any kind of Catholicism? No : the miracle and the
supernatural would always be an insuperable barrier.
We can not treat with indulgence the advocates of such errors.
Soft compresses of pity and forbearance are here of no avail.
They suffer from tan evil which can only be cured by an opera-
tion. They are blind, and very often proud. The cataract must
be removed from their eyes. We must show them that they
stand in even greater need of real simple faith than the common
people, and that they ought to be even more grateful for the
divine gift ; that they should not look with contempt upon the
faith of the people, but esteem and honor it, and pray that God
may give and preserve in them a simple, honest, sound faith, such
as the common people possess and practise. Our Lord was the
friend of the poor, and to the poor in spirit, not to the learned.
He has promised the Kingdom of Heaven.
Intellectual pride leads to contempt of the people. This is ex-
actly what we notice in some of our reformers. They regard the
faithful Christian people as misera contribuens plebs B-nA ignore.
them in their reformatory schemes. They decry their simple
life of faith as "paganism"; unlike Christ, unlike St. Francis and
all noble souls, they look down upon the children and the lowly.
They forget the words of Christ: "Become as little children."
They demand that the Church authority pay not too much atten-
tion to the "children," at the expense of the "adults." But if
adults forget the word of the Savior : "He that shall scandalize
72 The Review. 1903.
one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him
that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he
should be drowned in the depth of the sea,"— then it is the most
solemn duty of the representatives of that authorit}' to stand up
for the children against the adults. Contempt and neglect of the
lowly is, inteilectualh' and humanly, direct evidence of lack of
culture. Protestants too have protested against such conduct.
"The people have a sense of truth which the learned often lack,"
says Court Preacher Stocker, and we must agree that he is right.
Who ever is not impressed with the predilection and care of Jesus
or St. Francis for the little ones and the humble, or holds it to be
paganism, may consort with Goethe and Moltke, who have be-
tra5'^ed the same sentiment. In all the deeper questions of life
the culture of these "educated" reformers gives out. Their re-
form and their culture is as thread-bare as their "religious Cath-
olicism." They do not come from the right source, — the heart ;
they draw away from God. These reformers have no idea how
and where the heart of the Church, the heart of the people, beats.
The Catholic people and the Catholic Church have together but
one heart. But they will never be able to drown the beating of
this heart by the nois}' din of their ambiguous phrases and their
Pharisaic prattle of false reform.
Some there are among them who seem at least to realize that a
reform can not be brought about without the people ; but being
infatuated with the idea of culture, they fancj- that the onlj^ way
to reform is by lifting the people up to the level of the educated.
They do not perceive that such forced attempts at the education
of the lower classes can not produce more than a "half-education,"
with all its disastrous consequences to bodj- and soul. The words
of Treitschke are true, though severe : "Everywhere the streets
are now resounding with the cr5% Education makes free. Yes ;
but the experience we get in the streets shows us that man is the
mere slave of a phrase. All half-education is shameless." To
raise the people to the level of the educated or rather half-edu-
cated, is to destro}' the people. Its natural soundness and health,
its native vigor, its moral strength, would all be gone. Our faith-
ful people would become a herd of Socialists and Anarchists.
Modern Socialism is the outcome of half-education. Has the ad-
vancement of German popular education produced an improve-
ment in German morals? Every expert will tell you the contrary.
German morality has steadily gone down since the year 1870.
Criminality is rapidh' on the increase among school children.
Here is matter for deep reflection. It is for this reason that we
turn to the people with a double affection, seeing to how many
snares and dangers they are, often quite unawares, exposed. Ail
No. 5. The Review. '^^
good and honest Catholics should pour out the full stream of their
love upon the people, who are thirsting- for truth and justice. To
enlighten the mind is good, but to comfort hearts is more neces-
sary, more important, and more meritorious. Let all of us good
Catholics, and especiallj^ the shepherds of the flock, listen to the
call of God, "Comfort ye my people" (Is. xl, 1). When need is
g-reatest, God is nearest. There is a proverb among us to the
effect that "God never abandons an honest German." This is a
beautiful saying. But it is far more true to say : God never
abandons an honest Catholic. May our hearts be all one and
strong- in this divine faith and confidence. It is the heart that
makes the reformer. The man who does not look to the soul and
heart of the people may be a very learned man, but he is not a
reformer. The Schzuiihische Merkur has correctly prophesied :
"The entire movement (of the recent Catholic reformers) origi-
nated at the desk of the study-room, and it will never pass be-
yond it ; it will never be a movement of the Catholic people."
The select circle of unbelieving savants before whom the
Catholic reformers cringeland bow and scrape, know it equally
well. They shrug their shoulders at the compliments paid to
them from that quarter ; they neither recognize nor care for the
nev/ friendship ; they laugh in their sleeve at them. They have
far greater respect for the Pope and the Jesuits. If Leo XIII.,
in the midst of his magnificent administrative and organizing
work, has thought fit to single out as a means of reform the imi-
tation of St. Francis, the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Rosary of Our Lady, he has shown us the way of pru-
dence and simplicity. This is the ordinary way of the Holy
Ghost. Blessed he who follows it. Christ walked this way; we
should follow him. Jesus wrought for the people and against
the Pharisees. And even to-day it is the duty of Christians to
follow His example. Our modern reformers do not sufficiently
imitate Christ. We may also say: A true Catholic reform must
be undertaken under the banner of Mary, the holy Mother of
God, full of simplicity and wisdom. She was the first and best
of the imitators of the Master. A reform can be a central
reform only if it comes from the centre of religion and turns
back to the centre. This is the spiritual circulation of the
blood. Every true reform must reproduce the heavenly drama
of Bethlehem: A child in the manger, surrounded by men of the
people, born from the womb of holiness, and praised by choirs
©f angels. Fiat lux.
\_To he concluded.^
SOCIALISM IN THE UNITED STATES.
We have already animadverted on the constant growth of the
Socialist vote throughout the country.
Of the two chief factions into which the Socialists of the U. S.
are split, we read in the Independent (No. 2817):
The Socialist Labor party (known, from its uncompromising-
leader, as De Leonites) "is the oldest political organization in the
United States whose platform is the 'Co-operative Common-
wealth ;' it is a direct importation from Germany and is affiliated
with the Marxian movement. The rank and file are largely Ger-
mans. But the autocratic methods of the leaders and their vit-
riolic abuse of all those who differ with them has kept their
numbers comparativelj^ small. The Social Democrac}?^ is younger
and more truly American. In Massachusetts especially its in-
crease was phenomenal."
Besides forming the two political parties aforementioned, the
Socialistic movement in the United States bids fair to honeycomb
the trades unions. At the last annual convention of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor at New Orleans, it will be remembered,
nearly half of the delegates voted for a resolution in favor of
Socialism. The "Fabian movement" in this countrj" has prac-
tically died out and Communism and Bellamyism are now a mat-
ter of histor3^ Even Populism as a distinct political force has
had its da3^ Political Socialism, however, is growing among all
classes, and if the American Federation of Labor should ever re-
nounce its past and present policj' of working along economic
lines to the exclusion of politics, the Socialist movement would
then receive such an impetus as might disorganize our present
great political parties.
S* 1^ 15*,
(^T *a^t" -^v
THE ST. LOVIS COADJVTORSHIP.
"Why does not The Review speak out in the matter of the St.
Louis coadjutorship? It has not even mentioned the candidates.
Your readers are entitled to all the information 3'ou have on this
important question."
Oar impatient questioner ought to know that The Review is
not in any sense of the word a newspaper. Besides we do not
consider "bishop-making," to employ an apt Teutonism, part of
our journalistic mission. However, to gratify our friend, and a
few others who have sent on similar enquiries, we will sketch
the progress of the coadjutor matter, letting the "sources"
speak and the reader draw his own conclusions.
The episcopal consultors and irremovable rectors of this
No. 5.
The Review.
75
Archdiocese met on Epiphany day and, in accordance with the
rules of the Third Plenary Council, elected a tern for the office
of coadjutor-archbishop, the S. Congregation of the Propaganda
having refused Msgr. Kain's request for an auxiliary bishop and
insisted on the appointment of a coadjutor cum jure successtoms. )
They elected the following candidates: Rt. Rev. E. J. Dunne,
Bishop of Dallas: Rt. Rev. J. J. Glennon, Coadjutor-Bishop of Kan-
sas City, Mo.; and Rt. Rev. S. G. Messmer, Bishop of Green Bay.
The fact that only the first two names, which had been pro-
posed by Archbishop Kain himself, were mentioned in the next
number of the Western Watchman, seemed to indicate that Msgr.
Messmer, undoubtedly the best-known aijiong the three candi-
dates and a scholar of national reputation!), was persona ingrata
with at least one member of the diocesan clergy.
After the suffragan bishops of the Province had met, on Janu-
ary 13th, it was "semi-'officially" announced^) that the result of
their deliberations could not be given out, "as a request of abso-
lute secrecy was laid upon those present by the Archbishop."
This same "semi-official" report, after hinting that "Bishops
Dunne and Glennon, whom the Archbishop himself at the meeting
of priests designated as men acceptable to him, are believed to
be on the (bishops' list), concluded with these significant words:
"A third name was to be selected. More doubt hinges about
this one. The priests selected a German, Bishop Messmer, of
Green Bay, Wis. Perhaps the bishops have done so also, but as
was observed by a wise churchrnan after the meeting, 'the
names of Kain, Hennessy, Hogan, Glennon, and Cunningham'
(these except Hogan are the prelates who were present at the
meeting) " 'don't indicate as much.' "
On January 24th, the same newspaper, by an apparent viola-
tion of the Archbishop's "request of absolute secrecy," was able
to announce that the names of Bishops Dunne and Glennon had
been inverted by the suffragan bishops ; that the name of Bishop
•■•■■) In this connection, a note from the Cath-
olic Transcript, of Dec. 25th 1902, may prove
interesting: ''The fashion of appointing
auxiliary bishops has had its vogne, except in
dioceses where there is regularly work enough
for two bishops. Coadjutors with the right of
succession will henceforth be named. This
precaution will facilitate matters very much
in the event of the death of the ordinary. It
will get rid of the manifold difficulties which
grow out of the interregnum and do some-
thing to counteract the long delays which are
dictated by Roman prudence. Moreover when
a bishop with right of succession is selected,
due deference will be paid to the wishes of
those who are entitled to a voice in the selec-
tion. Then tliat uncomfortable personage,
the seeless bishop, will become rarer and
rarer. No doubt, the Roman authorities had
some of these things in view wlien they legis-
lated against the auxiliary "
While St. Louis is a large diocese, large
enough perhaps to afford work for two bishops,
our Mt. Rev. Archbishop's state of health Is
such that the .S. Congregation deemed it ad-
visable that a coadjutor cum jure be appointed.
t) Msgr. Messmer is one of the founders of I episcopate he was Professor of Canon Law in
the Federation movement and was until re- I the c'atholic University at Washington He is
cently Pres'dent of the Columbian Catholic ] a Swiss by birth and of the German race.
Summer School. Before his elevation to the |
t) In the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Jan. I port was intimated by the same newspaper in
Mth. The "semi-official" character of the re- its edition of .Jan. 21th.
76 The Review. 1903.
Messmer had been replaced by that of Bishop Hennessy of
Wichita ; and that the venerable Bishop Hog-an of Kansas City
had expressed his willingness to surrender his coadjutor, Msgr.
Glennon, — by which the latter's *'chances" had "increased ten-
fold." This was followed by a hint that the majority of the arch-
bishops would no doubt endorse Bishop Glennon, and the insinu-
ation that Msgr. Messmer's candidacy had "not been received
with any great enthusiasm even by the Germans, for whose sake
he was put on the list," because he "is (?; at the head of the
[Catholic] Summer School movement," which"has never met with
general approval from German Catholics," who, "especially in
St. Louis, are"not attracted by open air Chautauqua methods"; —
an insinuation which was promptly shown tobe without foundation
by the daily German Catholic Amen'ka.
As is usual in such cases, a great man\^ letters aregoing to Rome
in this matter, and it is impossible to forecast the final decision
of the Holy See.
sr 9«' 3?
LETTER BOX.
Enquirer. — No, I am not surprised at the apologia of the new
Mormon Senator from Utah, Reed Smoot, by the editor of the
Intel' mountain Catholic (No. 17), nor at the honor the same editor
does the "Apostle" by printing his portrait on the first page, as
if he were a leader in the Catholic Federation movement or a
Knight of Columbus. Our progressive Catholic papers, 3'ou
know, are "broad" and "liberal."
Rhode Islander. — The "certain deplorable" (Catholic) "journals,
published for the most part in the Middle West," whose advent
is "welcomed" with a "weekly chuckle" by so many Catholics in
the East that the Providence Visitor is getting green with envy
(No. 16), can't really be so awfully bad, since the T75//(?;' describes
their patrons as the former supporters of McMaster and Brown-
son, who were concededl^' very able writers and generallj^ ortho-
dox. I regret that I can not tell you which papers are meant,
as none such are on my exchange list. Apply to the reverend
editor of the Visitor, and when you have got them let me know;
for unlike that sedate and temperate gentleman, I dearly love to
hear "an editor speak out" and see him "hit his opponent in
the eye."
Perplexed Layman. — You enquire: "What is the primary object
underlying the creation of sodalities? Is the giving of euchre
parties one of their approved functions? Are balls given for the
benefit of the church permissible, and should the rector receive
the money raised by means of such social functions? Do you
deem it consistent with Catholic principles to invite avowed free-
thinkers and Freemasons to deliver orations at gatherings held
under Catholic auspices? An answer to the foregoing questions
will greatly relieve a mind which in its youth received instruc-
tions in Catholicity that seem to be diametrical^ opposed to
present-day tendencies."
I am afraid you a'-e an old fogy. The Catholic Citizen could tell
No. 5. The Review. , 77
you that the Church must advance with the age, even at the risk
of scandalizing "Scholastic night-owls" and others who are not
"up-to-date."
Amiga. — Why our Catholic press is so eager for "ads" and so
low in its standards? I will let Fr. Gerard, tlie able editor of
the Month (Jan. No.) answer: "More directly it is to advertise-
ments that a periodical has to look for its subsistence in these
evil times; but advertisements of the louder and more paying
sort depend ultimately on its spread among the gullible populace.
One thing is clear, that literary excellence and elevation of tone
are commercially unprofitable in journalism as in novel-writing."
Milwaukee.— 1 have always encouraged new ventures in the field
of Catholic journalism; but it is true that there is a reverse side
to the medal. "The cultivated section of the public is too scant
to support more than a small number of publications adapted
exclusively to its own standards; if this number is exceeded, the
style must be let down lower and lower in the measure that it is
needful to secure the support of the vast reading populace for
whose taste some of the best pens in the country find it more
prudent, if less glorious to cater."
Indiana. — I have made no mention of the Catholic I^ amity Friend,
by Father Toelle, because I recognize the reverend gentleman's
good will and do not like to discourage any man in a praiseworthy
undertaking. Your friend is not altogether wrong when he in-
sists that no one ought to be allowed to start an English Catholic
newspaper unless he masters the English language.
Kicker. — Do you know what Newman wrote to Percival, when
he was asked to put down the Tracts which began the Oxford
movement? "As to the Tracts," he said, "every one has his own
taste. You object to some things, another to others. If we
altered to please every one, the effect would be spoiled.. ..The
faults of an individual excite attention; he loses, but his cause
(if good and he powerful-minded) gains. This is the way of
things; we promote truth by self-sacrifice."
Quaerenfi. — Can't say whether it is permitted to sell a Catholic
church to Freemasons, who avowedly intend to change it into a
Masonic temple. It has lately been done in Elgin (according to the
Chicago Chronicle of January 25th), I presume with episcopal
approbation; though in these matters you know ah esse ad licere
non semfer valet conclusio.
Onkelos. — You are not the first one who has tried to get roe to
make a statement on the strength of "numerous and undeniable
proofs," which proofs, on closer enquiry, turned out to be few
and very shaky, if they existed at all outside of some one's fer-
tile imagination. Such experiences always remind me of the
countryman who once undertook to supply a Chicago hotel with
a carload of frogs daily. He came on the morrow with a dozen
tied up in a red handkerchief. The manager in amazement en-
quired if that was the whole supply. "Wall," he said, "I allowed
there was several carloads thar when I heerd 'um croakin' even-
ings, but when I come to ketch 'um thar warn't quite so many."
78
MINOR TOPICS.
Some years ag-o The Review published
What Becomes of Old several notes on the question of what really
Postage Stamps. becomes of the thousands of old postage
stamps which are collected ostensibly for
the purpose of buj'ing Chinese babies. The ensuing" correspond-
ence, and a symposium printed later in the London Tablet, led to
no satisfactor}' issue, because nobod}^ was able to g"ive anj^ intell-
ig^ible account of what was the ultimate purpose to which these
used stamps were applied. The following teleg^ram from New
York seems to sug-gest the usefulness of further enquiry : "The
arrest of a man, an inmate of the Sisters of the Poor at Newark,
New Jersey, for using washed postage stamps, was followed by
the discovery of 50,000 stamps soaking in a washtub. The Mother
Superior declared that these stamps are sent to China, where the
missionaries frequentl}^ use them in purchasing children for con-
version. The government has long suspected that stamps were
being rejuvenated in China and reshipped to the United States."
In the opinion oifho. Ave Man a {'^0.22) CzXh-
Canadian Catholics olic Canadians will postpone anj^ movement
and Annexation. looking toward annexation to the United
States, at least until their coreligionists
in this countr}' enjo}^ equal advantages with themselves. Upon
one of the chiefest of these advantages our contemporarj' remarks:
"A very large proportion of Canadians are Catholic, and they
have Catholic schools supported b}' the State. Does anj^ sane
man suppose that this moietj^ of the Dominion population are
anxious to become citizens of a country in which Catholics have
to support their own schools in addition to paying XhQ.\r pro rata
taxation for the public educational system ?" Perhaps it may be
said that the terms of annexation could provide for the mainten-
ance in educational matters of ihe status quo; but the Ave Maria
rightly opines that the chief American shouters for annexation,
e. g., the N. Y. Sim, would be among the strongest advocates of
Canada's accepting "all or none" of the Constitution ; and the
Constitution in their eyes is quite too sacred a document to be
tampered with upon so unimportant a question as education.
In the current number of the Political
"Authoritative Arbi- Science Quarterly, Prof. J. B. Clark publishes
tration." an article upon "Authoritative Arbitration,"
in which he expresses the belief that the
logic of events is driving us toward the adoption of some method
of settling labor disputes hy regular process of law. He con-
tends that strikes in large industries organized on a national
scale have become intolerable, because they deprive the public of
that continuous service which it has a right to demand. This
right, of course, should not be enforced in a manner that is un-
fair either to employer or employe, and the article is devoted
No. 5. The Review. 79
mainly to the question of the practicability of devising- and apply-
ing- some authoritative kind of arbitration. Professor
Clark seems to favor the creation of courts of arbi-
tration with power to investigate the merits of labor
disputes and to determine what should be considered a
just rate of wages. When such a rate is determined, employes
should be given the option of accepting- it or of yielding- their
places to other laborers. Under such conditions, he thinks that
public sentiment would compel the peaceful acceptance of the
terms of the arbitration tribunal. At present, he says, the com-
munity tolerates "a limited amount of anarch3s" because it is
feared that if employers are given unlimited power to break
strikes, wages may be forced below a just and proper level. His
scheme is called "authoritative" arbitration in order, probably,
to avoid some of the disfavor that attaches to all propositions for
compulsorj^ arbitration.
»
The recently published extracts from
Report of the Philippine the annual reports of Gov. Taft and the
Commission. Philippine Commission, give a gloomy view
of the condition of the Filipinos. Nothing
said by the "pessimistic" anti-Imperialists — those pitiful doubt-
ers of the ability of the United States to administer colonies bet-
ter than any other nation — can surpass these official reports in
the blackness of the picture the}^ paint. Wasted by war and
misgovernment, with industry and agriculture prostrated and
their finances upset, the islands are really in a shocking condi-
tion, many of the inhabitants being kept alive only by food sup-
plies purchased by the Commission with the insular revenues.
This is the report of Judge Taft and his fellow Commissioners,
four years after our undertaking a war of subjugation to prevent
the natives from "lapsing into anarchy"! And these are the same
islands about which President Roosevelt had nothing in his an-
nual message to Congress except unqualified praise of our great
success and wisdom !
Writing in the January Catholic World., Rev. Charles Warren
Currier expresses sincere regret that, through no fault of the
Congress itself, our own Catholic learning was not represented
at the recent International Congress of Americanists. "Its work
belongs pre-eminently to the Catholic Church, whose children
discovered and first colonized America. One of the best writers
to whom Americanists look up, was a Catholic priest, the renowned
Brasseur de Bourbourg. There is no reason why the present
generation of Catholics, especially American Catholics, should
not take a greater interest in a work that is eliciting the sympa-
thy of learned men all over the world." Father Currier suggests
that there ought to be a centre of Catholic Americanist studies in
Rome itself, or at Washington, which might serve as a guide for
similar studies in other portions of the globe.
This is indeed a kind of "Americanism" in which our Catholic
University could engage without opposition from any quarter
80 The Review. 1903.
and with great credit to itself and the cause of Catholic American
scholarship.
The Catholic Ncxvs (No. 13), reviewing- several new publications
on the holj^ shroud of Turin, says: '* We should expect that Cath-
olic authorities would welcome with something like gratitude an
ally from such a quarter (M. Vignon) in defense of a relic. Yet
the fact is that the verdict of Catholic expert authority on the
alleged relic is that it is spurious. This judgment is based on
the historical evidence available on the subject — evidence which
has not had due consideration from M. Vignon, who has been too
exclusively occupied with his scientific investigation."
We believe this to be a correct statement of the case.
Among the Catholic weeklies that have latterly joined The
Review in its life-long combat against unsound fraternal assess-
ment insurance, is the Cleveland Catholic Univers^e, which in one
of its recent issues (No. 1486), dissects the Catholic Benevolent
Legion, to which we already devoted some attention several
years ago. The condition of this society has steadily deterior-
ated. According to the Universe's figures, it had a deficit in 1901
ofSl78,566, with "net cash assets $20,892 less than nothing."
There was a loss in membership of 3,698. Time is a hard hitter
at inadequate insurance concerns.
We have been able tofind nobetterauthority for the statement
recently cabled across the ocean, that the Holy See had refused
to appoint the Abbe Klein bishop of Monaco for the same reason
that it declined to raise Msgr. Spalding to the archiepiscopal see
of Chicago, viz. : because of the taint of "Americanism" — than the
Paris i^c/a/r of January 7th (quoted at length \n La Vcritc Fran-
caise. No. 3454). The Eclair laoX^s, that "Americanism" does not
exist and that Rome is allowing itself to be led hither and thither
by its imaginings of an unreal phantom.
Rev. Dr. Charles Maignen shows in La Vcritc Francaise (No.
3447) that there is imminent danger in France of a serious
schism. Speaking in Scholastic phrase, he says that the matter
Cthat istosay, the elements)are already there in thecurrent desire
for innovations which Leo XIIL has pointed out. All that is re-
quired to produce a full-fledged schism is Vao. form.
According to a table prepared by Rev. Louis S. Walsh, Super-
visor of Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Boston, which we
find in the Sacred Heart Rcviezu of January 3rd, the Catholic free
public schools of Massachusetts are attended bj'^ 71,038 children
and save to the cities and towns of the State no less than 82,424.-
105,04 annually.
II trbe IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., February 12, 1903. No. 6.
FOR A CATHOLIC SCHOOL EXHIBIT AT THE WORLD'S FAIR.
ANY readers of The Review not only share the ideas
expressed by a subscriber in No. 3 ^page 48) on the ad-
visability of a Catholic school exhibit at the World's
Fair, but would willingly aid in making a display of Catholic
school work, if they only knew how. For the benefit of these we
translate from the Rtindschaii (Dec. 10th, 1902) a paper showing
what the Missouri Lutheran Synod expects fromeach of its 1844
parochial schools (1004 of which are taught by the pastors, 714 by
male, and 126 by female teachers), in order to have its educational
work duly represented at the Fair.
Besides three photographs (two of the school buildings and one
of the scholars), a few sheets of uniform paper for each child,
later to be bound in volumes, are all that is required. These
sheets shall record something of the everyday work of the
school. But what?
The pupils, divided into primary, intermediate, and grammar
classes, towards the end of the school year (Easter), are to hand
in their written work on these uniform sheets. It is examined
by the teacher, mistakes marked with red ink, then corrected by
the pupils and correctly copied.
I. German and English :
1. The primary class copies a few paragraphs from the reader
or language lessons.
2. The intermediate class works out some task from the reader
or language lessons.
3. The grammar class writes a letter or composition according
to a given disposition.
//. Arithmetic:
The problems for the different classes are copied and worked
out completely, corrected, and engrossed.
83 The Review. 1903.
///. Geography :
The teacher may dictate some ten or twelve questions for the
children to answer. Map drawings are particularly acceptable.
IV. United States History :
The teacher may proceed as in geography.
V. Penmanship :
The teacher may either send in all the copybooks of his class
or furnish a few samples.
VI. Drawing:
As many drawings as possible are desired.
VII. Religion:
1. Catechism. A few questions may be answered by the pu-
pils, or the teacher may let them write some texts by heart.
2. Bible History may be treated in the same way.
It is desired that every teacher send in three photographs,
two of the school building and one of the class, each 8x10 in. in
size ; one of the school views should be mounted, the other un-
mounted. The mounted photograph is to be placed in a wall-cabi-
net, the other will be bound with the written work of the pupils.
It is not necessary that each school exhibit specimen work in
every branch. The teacher may select a few and have the pupils
furnish samples of their proficiency in them.
The circular admonishes the teachers to have the work ready
by Easter 1903, because by December, 1903, at the very latest,
the space for the exhibit must be claimed. The cost of the pho-
tographs, the paper and binding of the pupils' work (possibly
10 cts. for each child), must be defrayed by each school; all other
expenses will be paid by the Synod.
The plan as outlined is simple, yet admirably calculated to
show what the schools are doing. It might well be imitated by
Catholics. A central committee ought to take the matter in hand
and arrange the work by dioceses. But as such a move is hardly
possible unless those in authority take the initiative, the bishops
ought to be interested in the matter.
!^ !^ "^
<9^ <WT <t^V
ON THE UNPRODUCTIVENESS OF AMERICAN CLASSICAL
SCHOLARSHIP.
The Independent {^o. 2825) bitterly bewails the unproductive-
ness of American classical scholarship. Even the most preten-
tious works of our philologians, such as Professor Fowler's His-
tory of Ancient Greek Literature, lack first-hand critical acumen
and deep insight into the real significance of the classic languages
and literatu res ; while the great body of them "consists of purely
No. 6. The Reviet\ . 83
pedag-ogical pot-boilers of a sort which in Germany are left to
teachers in the gfymnasia and are disdained by the eminent Pro-
fessoren whova. our faculties strive to imitate. Year after year
the presses turn out a flood of classical school texts (Horace,
Verg-il, Caesar, Homer, Euripides, — nothing startlingly new),
not one in a score of which is really superior to its predecessor,
or could offer any excuse for its existence — excuse, quotha, nay,
the excuse lies too patent on the surface. It was our sorrowful
experience once to look over the classical texts in the stack room
of a great college library. And as we examined one after another
of these modest American editions and observed their dates of
publication, malicious memory whispered: One year after pub-
lishing this Mr. X became Professor X in his own college ; two
years after publishing this Professor Y was called from a humble
fresh-water institution to lecture in a famed university by the
sea !"
Unfortunately, "the evil is not conlined to young instructors
seeking position. Esteemed professors in Harvard and Yale
and elsewhere swell the list with pot-boilers of the same kind,
driven thereto by the greed of money [the au7'i sacra fames., they
might say] or seduced by the inanity of a mind which must pro-
duce yet whose training has left it no true creative vitality."
The evil is undeniable, and greed of money is undoubtedly one
of its underljnng causes. No scholar who does not love and cul-
tivate learning for its own sake, but lets "the main chance" in-
spire his work, can create a truly great opus. But there is an-
other cause. It is the shallowness of our classical learning, the
superficiality with which our students are drilled, the lack of a
thorough fundamental training, which not even the largest meas-
ure of later reading and inborn originality can supply.
Let us cease to "produce" for a few decades, and learn; then,
with our vast means and original bent cf mind, we may be able
to undertake to enrich scientific literature — and not only in phil-
ology^— with contributions of solid worth and value.
We are undoubtedly suffering from what P. Kleutgen, S. J.,
has rightly called a curse — ignorance of and contempt for the in-
valuable scientific accomplishments of past ages and other coun-
tries than our own.
^4^^
84
REFORM— TR.UE AND FALSE.
By Bishop Keppler of Rottenburg.
i^Concliision.^
To summarize : The hope of lifting up Catholicism by a mere
increase of knowledge is doomed to failure. The idea has arisen
in the study-room and by the light of the reading-lamp, and wilt
disappear again when the lamp is extinguished. "Love science,"
says St. Augustine, "but love virtue still more." The first duty
of Catholics is to meet their adversaries, not so much with
the power of knowledge, as with the force of character.
That is the best Catholic policy. Purify, strengthen Catholic
character in a Catholic direction and a Catholic sense — that is
true reform. What we need in the first place is a living, active,
energetic Catholicism, paper-Catholicism comeslafter. The best
reform will be to educate Catholics to be men. That will anger
the Devil and please God.
The recents attempts at reform are abortive. In vain do we
wait for clear, concise, definite proposals on the part of the lead-
ers. Their aim is wrong, their means are obscure, and can only
be read between the lines of their utterances. They deny much
and contend that our present Catholicism is not cultured enough.
But this is a secondary thought with us. Our first question and
principal care must be : Are Catholics Catholic enough? That is
what the best of all reformers, St. Francis, would ask, were he
with us to-day. We greatly fear that this movement, if it does
not speedily correct itself, will end in utter confusion and deso-
lation, perhaps in apostasy. We would therefore address our-
selves to the leaders of the movement and beseech them sincere-
ly and lovingly to be mindful of their own soul and the souls of
the people. The road upon which they have entered ends in a
ail de sac. It is no shame to turn back from it.
But big words alone will not help to pull them out of it ; only
greatness of soul and high principle can do it. We await their
return, and we shall receive them with love, be they lead-
ers or led. We can not putOup with a so-called "German Cath-
olicism," whether new or old. The name and the thing are
equally bad. The old Catholics were once far superior in num-
bers, influence, culture, capacity, to our present-day pseudo-
reformers. Where are they now? Let us learn from history.
Let us remember the warning of the Apostle: "Shun profane and
vain babblings, for they grow much towards ungodliness." [2.
Tim. ii, 16.] We have "Reform-Jews" and "Reform-Turks,"
but do not let us have "Reform-Catholics" in addition. They are
of no use to us. What we do want, are Catholic men and soldiers
No. 6. The Review. 85
■of God, not reform simpletons. We leave these to the country
beyond the Vosg^es, the land of the phrase and the catch-word.
Let our guide be the word of God.
A true reform is urgently necessary. The tendency to reform
is innate in the Catholic Church. The history of her religious
orders as well as the history of the popes bears witness to it.
This innate tendency is living and active in the Church to-day.
The Church is always busy with reforming ; that is her mission.
Leo XIII. is a great reformer ; the bishops and priests are con-
stantly reforming. But there are times when the work of reform
•should be taken up by all classes of men, including laymen, and
should be aided and carried through with the utmost vigor.
Such times are now. On this point we agree with the authors of
the recent movement. There must be an end in the Catholic
camp to sleepiness, weakness of character, shallowness of cul-
ture, rationalisticjinfiation. This can only be accomplished by
strengthening the faith of Catholics. Who ever elevates the
morals of Catholics, strengthens their faith ; and who strengthens
their faith, improves their morals. This will require patient
labor, firm determination, fearless courage, on the part of all
truly Catholic men. The rock of Peter does not exist in order
that we may sleep on it, or hide behind it, but in order that we
may have a firm footing while we work and fight for God. Ecchsia
militans. The schism between faith and life must cease, the pride
of empty culture give way to Christian humility and modesty. In
obedience lies the safety of the Church and of the individual
Catholic character must no longer be emasculated by half-heart-
edness, cowardice, human respect, or vain fear of science and
culture, falsely so called.
The strength of the Church, of Catholicism, lies in its external
and internal unity. To try to disturb this external unity, in days
like ours, is madness or treason. To distinguish between politi-
cal and religious Catholicism, and to turn the distinction into a
wedge for splitting Catholic unity, is unjustifiable. Clearly it is
impossible to cultivate the one without the other ; religious and
political Catholicism, with the religious element always upper-
most, is the correct thing.
We do not deny that there are mistakes, faults, imperfections,
and defects on the Catholic side; but these can never justify a
division or a split or the establishment of factions in the ranks
of Catholics. They do but impose upon each individual the duty
of helping to remove them. But the right and capacity of re-
forming is acquired in each one by self-reform. The man
86 The Review. 1903.
who has a rig-ht and is fit for reforming- others is he who strives
to excel in character, in manliness of views, in loyal devotion to
the Church, in a life conformed to his faith, in ready obedience
to authority, in humility of heart, and, if possible, in clearness
of head. Let every one of us, including our reformers, examine
themselves whether they possess these necessary qualities. As
an example of a truly practical and Catholic reform, I would men-
tion the life and work of the Brethren of the Common Life, in
whom Thomas a Kempis took such an interest. The activity of
these charitable and profoundly pious servants of Christ is the
exact counterpart to the fault-finding:, criticising, strife, dissen-
sion, and uncharitableness of to-day.
Science is to be cultivated, culture to be striven for. But it
must be true science, true culture. True science is that which
respects faith, which recognizes that faith is the foundation of
man's life and salvation ; which keeps clear of all scepticism;
which is modest, and does not pretend to be "all in all" and the
only factor in culture and reformation ; which fights against the
tyrannous yoke of those who contend that knowledge, research,
and thought are onlj' prospering in the soil of atheism, infidelity,
rationalism, or sectarian hatred. True culture is that which
embraces the whole of man — mind and will, intellect and heart ;
which helps above all to form character ; which does not merely
instruct and drill, but educates ; which does not inflate the mind
with pride and vain boasting, but ennobles the heart by simplicit3%
purity, refinement of thought and feeling. A cultured Catholic will
never go to beg- at the door of "modern" culture, but will draw
from and make right use of his own treasure-stores, Catho-
lic philosoph3% theology, art, and poetry, mediaeval mysti-
cism and the incomparable lives of saints. Speculation stands
hig-her than research ; but higher than speculation is contempla-
tion. This is Jacob's ladder, upon which angels ascend and de-
scend ; this is the very marrow of Catholic culture. I need not
point out that the spiritual development and employment of those
means of culture which I have just mentioned, must be directed
by reason — in all clearness — and with the assistance of all in-
tellectual helps, critical and technical, which a truly progressive
science offers. It has justly been said that the life of Catholic
faith and culture must ever pass through the clarifying- basin of
reason. I have always taken this view and still adhere to it. No-
sensible Catholic can hold otherwise. However, we must not
forget that our Lord, while he was Reason itself, nowhere in his
personal teachings puts reason in the first place. Man needs
reason as necessarily as his breath ; but faith is higher than both.
Let us be guided by these truths.
No. 6. The Review. 87
We, who are Catholics, do not admit that the so-called reforma-
tion of the 16th century was a true reform of the Church. Never-
theless we are far from laying- any blame upon our Protestant
brethren of the present day. We recognize and esteem the good
faith [bona fides] of many among them ; we do not tolerate, but
love them with true charity ; we do not give up hope, but pray
continually to God that the day may come when we and they
shall unite forces in order to make front against false educa-
tion, false culture, and infidel science ; in order to reform and
save modern society and bring about the triumph of Christian
faith and Christian morality.
Half-education, far from bringing happiness to mankind, does
but make them miserable. Knowledge, indeed, is power, for
evil or for good. Faith is necessary to throw the balance on the
right side. The Supreme Judge of man does not ask how much
he has learnt, but how good he has been. This maxim holds
for C itholics and Protestants alike. Here both can walk and work
together. Both put faith above knowledge and charity above
pride ; both, too, admit that the older good is preferable to the
newer bad ; both condemn a progress in -pejiis.
Proposals of reform, to which every Freemason could sub-
scribe, are acceptable neither to Protestants nor to Catholics.
This must be our shibboleth. Between Church and Lodge there
can be no "reconciliation." It is silliness to attempt it, as even
the Freemasons will admit. The one means revelation and faith,
the other means reason without, or at least with indifference to,
revelation and faith. The one is light, the other is darkness ;
and there is no fellowship between these two. Those who attempt
to reconcile them can never deserve the name of Catholic re-
formers. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. Let them cease
to make believe that they are Catholic or Christian reformers,
which is not true. Let them serve the "goddess of reason "; we
do not envy them ; nor can we join with them. We are faith-
Catholics, not reason-Catholics. As against faith, reason is
worth no more than any bodily organ as against reason.
It is not so difficult as is commonly supposed to distinguish
between true and false reformers. The latter go with the world
and the spirit of the age, and work against ecclesiastical author-
ity ; whereas the former work with the authority of the Church
and against the world and the spirit of the age. That is the
whole test. A reform which is not founded above all in faith and
love, will ever be hopeless. But it can destroy souls ; therefore
it must be combatted. It is not every body's business to reform.
A reform in the Catholic Church can only be brought about with
the help of the bishops. "Amen, amen, I say to you ; he that en-
88 The Review. 1903.
tereth not bj^ the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up an-
other waj^ the same is a thief and a robber" [John x, i.] This
is the test of every reforming- movement in the Church. If the
reformer ever forgets the fact that, while Catholics may stand in
much need of reform, the Catholic religion can admit of no re-
form, he will begin by stumbling and end in falling. The recent
events in France are a warning to us,
Leo XIII. has wisely remarked : "One must give the learned
men time to think and to err." This is perfectly true, as long as
the learned keep their error to themselves, but when they set
out upon an organized campaign in order to impose their error
upon the simple faithful, the shepherds of the flock can not look
on like dumb dogs. For this reason I have spoken. For the
present it was necessary, on the one hand, in respect to Catholic
reform, to ward off a progress in i>ejiiSy on the other hand, to fix
the aims and conditions of a true reform. I will not speak to-day
of the various practical means and measures which lead to a true
reform. True charity does not hesitate to cut and burn where
it is necessary. To her belonged the first word. She has spoken.
She has pointed out and rectified the aim, in view of the many
proposals that have been made, partly in good and partly in bad
faith. It was necessary to speak in a voice which also the people
can understand. For the people have to be warned in the first
place. We cultivate no salon Catholicism, because Jesus preached
no salon Catholicism. A reform of Catholicism, to be true, must
move in an exactly opposite direction from that indicated by the
modern reformers. That is the teaching- not onlj^ of the histor3'
of the Church, but also of common sense, head and heart alike.
Do not forget it. Always keep the simple truth straight before
your mind that a Catholic must, above all, be and remain Catholic.
To see and to proclaim this, one does not have to be ultra-conser-
vative,— a word which is greatly abused b5^ our opponents, who
have put it in circulation because the old word "conservative" no
longer serves their purpose, which is to desig-nate those who
want to remain Catholic.
Character finds its fullest development and highest perfection
in Christianity. Christianity finds it fullest expression in the
lives of the saints. The life of the saints reaches its heig-ht in
the thorny crown of martyrdom. When Napoleon I. was asked
to found a new religion, he answered that the only waj^ to found
a religion lay across Calvary and Golgotha, for which he was not
prepared. I may say the same of a Catholic reform.
For this reason we can not do better at present than lay all our
thoughts, counsels, admonitions, anxieties, into the pierced hands
No. 6. The Revikw. 89
and heart of Him who must be the beginning:, centre, and end of
all true reform, the God-Man Jesus Christ. We beseech Him to
send us the Spirit of Reform, His own Spirit, the Spirit of God.
Emitte Spiritum tuum et creahuntur, et renovahis faciem terrae.
THE MYSTERIES OF CLAIRVOYANCE.
Under this caption ("I misteri della chiarovegrgenza") we find
in the Roman Civilta Cattolicaiqnsi^. 1258) a short paper in which
these "mysteries" are explained entirely by trickery. The sys-
tem was conceived in 1785 by Pinetti and perfected by Robert
Houdin. The Civilta describes the most approved modern mode
of its application as follows :
"The program is generally carried out by two persons, a man
and a woman. The man appears on the stage first and announces
that he is about to present a woman gifted with extraordinary
powers, as she can not only read the thoughts of any person
whose mind is in contact with hers, but also predict the future,
tell the whereabouts of lost friends or objects, etc. To demon-
strate the mysterious lady's powers, he requests those in the
audience who have questions to ask, to write them down secret-
ly. Strips of paper are distributed by attendants in waiting, to-
gether with lead-pencils and squares of cardboard to serve as a
support in writing. The questioners are particularly cautioned
not to let any one see what they write ; but simply to fold their
strips and keep them. They are furthermore advised that as soon
as the clairvoyante appears, they must concentrate their mind as
intensely as possible upon what they have written. Then the
pencils and cardboard squares are collected and after a pause the
second part of the program begins. The clairvoyante is intro-
duced, a handkerchief sprinkled with some absolutely harmless
liquid is placed upon her nose and mouth, in consequence of
which she pretends to fall into a cataleptic state, and begins
to describe minutely the appearance of some of those who have
written down questions, the exact place they occupy in the au-
ditorium, and the nature of the questions asked, answering them
one after another with a greater or less degree of plausibility."
Then our contemporary explains how the thing is done : "Some
of the cardboard squares distributed for the convenience of the
audience are made up of several sheets of a certain size, bound
together only at the edges. Underneath the topmost sheet there
is hidden a strip of carbon, by means of which the tracings of the
pencil are reproduced on the sheet below. These little blocks
are distributed by assistants who closely note the dress and ap-
90 The Review. 1903.
pearance of those who write out questions and report to the clair-
voyante when they hand her the question slips. She naturally
needs some time to memorize the questions, find plausible an-
swers, and fix in her mind the description of the various ques-
tioners. It is for this reason that she does not appear immed-
iately after the slips are collected. Of course it would not do to
distribute none but prepared cardboards. Most of them have
no carbon sheet, and we need hardly add that the questions
written upon them invariably remain unanswered. This is why
it is always impressed upon the audience that the clairvoyante
can read only the questions of those who are in spiritual sympa-
thy with her."
The editor of The Review, who has attended only one per-
formance of this kind, given by Anna Eva Fay a few 5'ears
ago here in St. Louis, considers the Civiltcfs theory quite in-
genious, though it can not explain two facts which have come un-
der his observation, namely that the Fay woman correctly told
two persons in the audience what had become of a lost New-
Foundland dog and some stolen jewelry. Both the dog and the
jewelry were subsequently found and recovered at the places she
had indicated. Nor could there have been any collusion, because
the questioners were well-known citizens of approved honesty
and good faith. I got the impression, though, that there were
several women in the audience who were paid by the alleged
clairvoyante to confirm the correctness of her replies to certain
very difficult questions. The question which I asked, written
upon a fly-leaf from my own note-book, with the note-book for a
support, remained unanswered.
Perhaps the one or other of my readers can shed some more
light on this interesting subject.
THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLVTION.
4. "No Taxation Without Representation." *)
The American colonists, who had always, to a greater or less
extent, believed in representative government and republicanism,
had cited the principle of "No taxation without representation"
on several previous occasions against the British government.
They claimed it was part of the British constitution, one of the
inalienable rights of Englishmen, as we would now put it. But
this claim was unfounded. It was as little a part of the British
*) We continue to present to our readers I borlied in Mr. Svdney George Fisher's True
me of the results of the researches of the History of the American Revolution (Lippin-
odern school of American historians, as em- | cott & Co. 1902. Price $'2.)
No. 6. The Review. 91
constitution then as it is now. It had been advocated in England
by liberals of different sorts and the colonists thought thej^ had
found two or three instances in which Parliament bad partially
recognized this doctrine. But Englishmen justly claimed that
these instances were purely accidental. In England itself, out
of eight million people, there were not at that time above three
hundred thousand represented in Parliament, which was largely
made up of pocket boroughs, having grown into that state from
the old feudal customs. So that, when Parliament declared,
in 1766, that they had the constitutional right to tax the colonies
as they pleased, "they were undoubtedly acting in accordance
with the long settled constitutional custom, and the decision has
never been reversed." (P. 66.)
"The sum of the matter in regard to no taxation without rep-
resentation is, that America, having been settled by the liberal,
radical, and in most instances minority element of English poli-
tics, accepted, and England, being usually under the influence of
the Tory element, rejected this much-discussed doctrine. We
went our separate ways. Although we were of the same race as
the people of England, the differences between us were as far-
reaching and radical as though we were a different people, and
the gulf was being steadily widened." (Ibid.)
It was the argument of Englishmen that, as more than seven
million people in England who had no direct representation in
Parliament, were virtually represented bj^ all the members of
that body, so were the colonists in America virtually represented.
Such full and direct representation, moreover, as we now have in
this country, giving each small district an approximately equal
number of representatives, was unheard-of in those times and re-
garded as a daydream of such philosophers as Rousseau.
When the colonists asked for direct representation in Parlia-
ment in proportion to their numbers and wealth, it was their ob-
ject to try to settle all disputes by a closer union with the mother-
country, instead of drawing away from her. But when they saw
that their ground was untenable, that they could not consistently
deny to Parliament, who could take away their life by capital
punishment, the right to take away their private property by
taxation, they were compelled to change their ground and deny
the authority of Parliament altogether. "The truth of the mat-
ter was that Parliament had the right to rule, and had always
ruled, the colonies without their consent. If a communitj' is a.
colony in the English sense, it necessarily is ruled without its
consent. The American patriot argument meant in reality the
extinguishment of the colonial relation." (P 75).
92
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
Lord's 'Beacon Lights of History.'
The firm of James Clarke & Co., of New York, is advertising-
^Beacon Lights of History,' bj'^ Dr. John Lord, "artist-historian."
The payments are made so easy that it is to be feared that Cath-
olics will be misled into buying a work that is not worthy of their
support. A Catholic Doctor of Divinity, in the Catholic Cohimhian
(No. 5), affirms with the utmost deliberation that 'Beacon Lights'
is not only unfit for Catholic readers, but also utterl}'^ worthless
as a history wherever the Catholic Church, Catholic persons and
things are concerned Dr. Lord, 'artist-historian,' utterly
fails in being even remotely fair to anything Catholic, as his pub-
lishers claim." He instances in proof of his criticism the articles
on Luther and Loyola. "I claim that from beginning to end the
article on Luther is a fulsome, disgusting panegyric of Luther
and not history at all." .... "Dr. Lord .... never misses the oppor-
tunity to refer to the Catholic Church after the first four cen-
turies of her existence as thoroughly corrupt within and without.
The few exceptions which he mentions only emphasize the cor-
ruption pervading her all through. In Luther's time, according
to Dr. Lord. .. .the Catholic Church had become a huge, horrid
Augean stable, and there was no remedy or redemption in sight
until the great and in every way divinely fitted Martin Luther
appeared upon the scene. Dr. Lord's sketch of Ignatius Loyola
and the Jesuits is on the same par The picture is awful
Is it honest to fill whole pages with the foulest charges after say-
ing 'they are accused,' and then after piling up these accusations,
to put on an air of fairness by saying, 'Perhaps these charges
are exaggerated,' yet immediately adding the author's own opin-
ion , 'There must have been some reason for these charges,
these persecutions by Catholic princes, etc' This is literary
dishonesty."
The editor of The Review, in reply to a favorable offer of
Messrs. Clarke & Co., has refused to take the 'Beacon Lights'
for any consideration, and it would no doubt prove very salutary
if all Catholics to whom the work is offered would do the same.
A few words like these will suffice : "I refuse to buy your 'Beacon
Lights of History' because I see from the Catholic press that the
author is very unfair to Catholics."
V Hiimanite de Jesus-Christ. Par M. G. Peries, D. D. Paper. 45
pages 8^. Lille, H. Morel. 1902.
A few months ago Dr. Peries published a monograph on the
dogma of the Most Holy Trinity, showing from the different
No. 6. The Review. 93
heresies what not to believe, and from the teaching- of the Fathers
and orthodox theologians what to believe about that august mys-
tery, without entering- into polemical discussions. He has followed
the same method in this new treatise on the Humanity of Our
Lord, which, like the former, is agreeable in style and convincing"
in its conclusions. We hope the Rev. Doctor will continue this
useful work, for which he is so well qualified, and publish mono-
g-raphs on all the Catholic dogmas, uniting them later on in a
large volume.
A General History of the Christian Era. For Catholic Colleges
and Reading Circles, and for Self-Instruction. By Rev. A.
Guggenberg-er, S. J., Professor of History at Canisius Coll-
ege, Buffalo, N. Y. Vol. I. The Papacy and the Empire.
St. Louis, Mo., B. Herder, 1900. Vol. H. The Protestant
Revolution. Ibidem, 1901.
It is quite a long time since we reviewed the third volume of
Father Gugg-enberger's history, which was the first to appear^
in 1899. The praise we g-ave it we are glad to be able to bestow
also on volumes I. and II. The now complete work fills a want
long felt in English-speaking Catholic circles, being- the first com-
plete general history of the Christian era, within reasonable
scope, well digested, lucidly written, penetrated with the true
Catholic spirit. "As Jesus Christ," says the reverend author, to
indicate his aim and spirit, on page 17 of his first volume, "the
God Incarnate, is the center of all history, so the divine institu-
tion of the Primac}^ of the Holy See and the Independence of the
Catholic Church is the center of the history of the Christian era.
Most of the great historical contests since the coming of Christ
were waged around the Rock of St. Peter. It is impossible to
understand and appreciate the course of human events in its
proper meaning and character without giving full consideration
and weight to these two central facts of history." The division
of the work into three parts : "The Papacy and the Empire,"
"The Protestant Revolution," and "The Social Revolution," is
based on a sound principle, which greatly aids the philosophical
understanding of modern history.
With its copious references and book lists the work must prove
a splendid guide for college students and those who seek self-
instruction.
It is to be regretted, perhaps, that the reverend author, in his
avowed endeavor to present as fully as possible the history and
development of the Teutonic race, has treated the purely Roman
history of the Christian era, especially that of the Byzantine em-
pire, rather cursorily. 'The two worlds, which appear his-
torically bound together by the City of the Popes, are the ancient.
94 The Review. 1903.
mediterranean, Graeco-Roman ; and the modern, Romano-Ger-
manic world of culture, which, taking- its beginnings in Western
Europe, has spread over all the world." *) In a general history,
both of these worlds ought to receive a somewhat proportionate
degree of space and attention, in order to give the reader a true
and complete view.
The Discoveries of the Noisemen in America, With Special Relation
to Their Earl}^ Cartographical Representation. By Joseph
Fischer, S. J., Professor of Geography, Jesuit College, Feld-
kirch, Austria. Translated From the German by Basil H.
Soulsby, B. A., Superintendent of the Map Room, British
Museum, Hon. Sec. of the Hakluyt Society. St. Louis, Mo.:
B. Herder. London : Henry Stevens, Son & Stiles. 1903.
Price, net $2.
This is a translation, excellently well done by one who masters
the subject, of Fr. Fischer's 'Entdeckungen der Normannen in
Amerika, ' which was reviewed by us a year or so ago. The work
summarizes the results of previous researches and adds some
new, hitherto unpublished maps and details of great value. The
English edition contains all the plates of the original and a great-
ly enriched bibliography. Its typographical make-up is really
splendid. In view of the growing interest which is manifesting
itself among our people in the early history of the continent, this
valuable book ought to find an extensive sale.
The Truth of Papal Claims. By Raphael Merry del Val, D. D.,
Archbishop of Nicjea. A Reply to the Validity of Papal
Claims by F. Nutcombe Oxenham, D. D., English Chaplain
in Rome. St. Louis, Mo. : B. Herder. London: Sands &
Co. 1902. Price, net $1.
The writing of this book, which contains the substance of five
lectures delivered in Rome by its well-known Anglo-Spanish
author, grew out of a controversy in the Church Times, in which
Msgr. del Val was prematurely shut off by the editor. The main
point at issue is : Did St. Peter hold the privileges of supremacy
and infallibility now claimed for him, and were those privileges
recognized by the Fathers of antiquity and the Doctors of the
Church, as the Vatican Council asserts and Leo XIII. teaches in
his encyclical on the unity of the Church? Msgr. del Val pre-
sents the old familiar arguments succinctly and in lucid language.
Of the spirit of the treatise let this, its last sentence bear wit-
ness : "May Dr. Oxenham reach the same conclusion, as he reads
'')"Rom — dasBindeglied zwei-
er Welten," a paper inspired
by Grisar's monumental Ge-
schichteRoms und der Papste
im Mittelalter, in the histor-
isch-politische Blatter, No.l31:l.
No. 6. The Review. ^S
the works of the Fathers, and let him rest assured that, if this
grace is bestowed upon him, he will have no truer friend than the
author of these pages."
The Review of Catholic Pedagogy. Vol. I, No. 1. Edited by the
Rev. Thomas E. Judg-e. Annually 10 numbers. Price $2.50.
Address, 637 S. Harding- Ave., Chicago, 111.
With genuine pleasure we hail the appearance of this new
Catholic pedagogical review. After reading and re-reading the
first number from beginning to end, we can not help wishing that
every one of our readers would procure a copy of it and j udge for
himself of its solid contents, its neat typographical appearance,
and its staunchly Catholic tone. The editor is sanguine of suc-
cess— we hope and wish that he will succeed, but the very solidi-
ty of his work will narrow the number of persons apt to under-
stand and appreciate his efforts. We fear he will have the ex-
perience of The Review. Subscribers will come, but slowly,
slowly, slowly.
The contents of the first number are : The Alphabet of Phil-
osophy by the Editor ; The History of Education (A plea for
Original Sources,) by Rev. Wm. Turner, D. D, ; [Co-Ordination
of Religious Teaching, by Rev. P. C. Yorke ; The Catholic Church
and Education, by the Editor ; Opening of the Institute of Peda-
gogy, Catholic University of America, by Margaret F. Sullivan ;
Individuality, The New Education, Prologue — all by the editor.
The Holy Family Sei'ies of Catechisms. No. 1. (For the use of first
confession and first communion classes.^ Edited by Rev.
Francis J. Butler, 212 pages Ib^".
Besides a complete prayer-book, this work offers, in three parts
of twenty chapters each, in catechetical and reading form, what
young children ought to know about their religious duties. It
seems the author had mainly Sunday-schools in view, as he has
put each chapter on the Procrustian bed, shortening or enlarging
it to five questions, to make it cover one page !of reading matter.
Each reading lesson repeats the substance of the questions
and answers on the preceding page.
Technical terms are avoided as much as possible, simple Saxon
words are used. Yet outside of those few enamored of the
Baltimore Catechism, hardly any pastor will feel inclined to
adopt this present manual. The Baltimore Catechism is a failure
<,see Catholic World Magazine for November, 1902) and any at-
tempt to patch it maj'^ be put down as a hopeless task.
96
NOTE-BOOK.
The following note, from Washing-ton, to the Catholic Tribune
(No. 212) is significant in several respects :
(The report) "is current here that the Order of the Knights of
Columbus is receiving serious consideration and investigation in
Rome. So far nothing has been presented to the Vatican au-
thorities which would commend it to their favorable considera-
tion, and it is looked upon as being on probation, with the hope
that it may yet take up some work which will give it a distinctive
character and by it gain the favor of the Church. At present the
Order is looked upon with leniency on account of its embryonic
state and its many influential friends who promise a great future
for it. The failure of the Knights, after several years of futile
endeavor, to carry out their project of endowing a Chair of Amer-
ican History at the Catholic University is pointed out as charac-
teristic of the do-nothing policy of this Society. Many individual
councils have responded nobly and some have done even more
than their share, but this very fact is urged against them as
demonstrating their incapacity for united action in any great un-
dertaking. A renewed effort has, however, been made lately and
better results are anticipated. In the meanwhile the sword of
Damocles is suspended over the Order in Rome."
Mr. Griffin explodes another historic fiction by showing, in the
January number of his admirable Researches^ that the Catholic
boast that the first amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing
religious liberty, was brought about through Catholic influence
or endeavor, and that Washington was so friendly towards
Catholics that their appeal was made to him, is all manufactured
bosh. "The amendment," according to his opinion, based on care-
ful study of the sources, "is due simply to Protestant jealousy
and fear of each other."
In an interesting volume on Spirit Slate Writing and Kindred
Phenomena (Munn & Co., Scientific American Oflice, New York),
William E. Robinson, — one time assistant to the late Herrmann,^
who, it will be remembered, publicly offered to do anything a
medium could do, simply by his sleight of hand, — demonstrates
by diagrams and descriptions how all these tricks and fraudu-
lent delusions are actually performed.
The lecture of Bishop Keppler of Rottenburg on true and false
reform, which we conclude in this issue, can now be had in pamph-
let form from the Messenger, New York City.
The lecture has brought its distinguished author a letter of
cordial approbation from the Holy Father through Cardinal
Rampolla.
^»
Wanted: — A Catholic servant girl, by a small Catholic family.
Fair wages and a good home. Apply to Mrs. Arthur Preuss,
3460 Itaska St., St. Louis. Mo.
^^^%%%%^%%%%^^%^%^%^^'^%%%4^
fSr Tfiir T«r TSr TSr TS^ TSr Tie TSr TV TST "»;C TiC TS^ TST TST Tjr Mr ii
II ^be IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., February 19, 1903. No. 7.
REWRITING THE MEDIAEVAL HISTORY OF THE PAPACY.*)
HE deplorable split between Rome and Constantinople in-
duced the successor of Pope Gelasius, Anastasius II.
(ruled Nov. 24th, 496. till Nov. 19th, 498), at the very be-
ginning of his pontificate to make the farthest advances possible,
w^ithin the limits of permissability, to bring about reconciliation
and reunion.
He sent tvvro bishops to Constantinople with a very friendly
letter to the Emperor, announcing his accession and requesting
recognition of the supremacy of St. Peter over the universal
Church, renunciation of the memory of Acacius (the father of
the Acacian schism), and the submission of Alexandria to the or-
thodox faith. He even declared his willingness to acknowledge
the validity of the baptisms and holy orders conferred by
Acacius.
These extraordinary advances went far beyond anything his
predecessor had ever done. Gelasius had indeed been willing to
recognize the validity of Acacius' orders, but for special reasons
had deemed it imprudent to inaugurate a friendly correspondence
with the Emperor. He had also avoided entering into any rela-
tions with the court Patriarch at Constantinople, preferring to
await further developments.
Pope Anastasius, on the contrary, began by sending a message
of peace — at least orally — to the Patriarch of Constantinople.
His legates even found an opportunity, while in the Greek capi-
tal, to approach the representatives of the schismatic Patriarch)
of Alexandria, who, on his part, informed the legates that he in-
*) This chapter, adapted for The Rrview I Quellen dargestellt von Hartmann Grisar, S.J.''
from the first volume of the 'Geschichte der | (B. Herder. 1901, pp. 457 sq.) shows how Oath-
Psepste im Mittelalter. Mit besonderer Berueck- I olic scholars are rewriting mediaeval history,
sichtigung von Cultur und Kunst nach den |
98 The Review. 1903.
tended to justify himself before the Pope by means of a document
which they were to take to Rome.
It appears that these tokens of good will to the separated Orient-
als greatly displeased a portion of the higher clergy at Rome, — a
phenomenon which is by no means rare in the history of the pa-
pacy. A new pontiff often seeks to heal ancient fissures, and the
frequent changes in the person of the incumbent of the Apostolic
See render such procedure easier in the government of the
Church than they would be in a secular monarchical government
with dynastic traditions. But it happens just as frequently that
the endeavors of a new pope in this direction meet with protest
on the part of the friends of the earlier policy.
To this was added, in the case of Anastasius, his approach,
quite unintelligible to many, to the highly suspicious see of
Thessalonica, where the Acacian schism had been passionately
favored and furthered especially by Archbishop Andrew. Now
this prelate's deacon, Photinus, comes to Rome, and the pontifical
court and the public are surprised to see him received with
honors by the Pope and readmitted into the communion of the
Church. They did not know, or failed to consider, that Bishop
Andrew had already given perfect external satisfaction to the
Holy See, by publishing in Thessalonica and the neighboring
bishoprics a conciliatory letter which he had received from the
Pope, and by formally anathematizing Acacius. His selection of
Photinus for his delegate was not very happy, for Photinus ap-
pears to have acted imprudently and to have given the Roman
clergy a false idea of the conditions under which the reconcilia-
tion of his bishop had been effected.
Consequently there began to arise, in the very midst of the
clergy of Rome, a strong party against the Pope. His enemies
believed that Anastasius had receded without reason from the
strong position of his two predecessors and was injuring the
Church by a false policy. It was even rumored that the all too
peaceful Pontiff was about to revoke entirely the condemnation
of Acacius.
His episcopal legates had hardly returned from the East,
when Pope Anastasius died, after a brief pontificate.
The cloud which hovered over his memory, lingered long in
many minds. Its shadow even appears in the Liber Pontificalis,
whose author formally accuses Anastasius of a secret purpose of
restoring the memory and honor of the schismatic Acacius, in
which purpose he was prevented only by an early death, clearly
a punishment from on high.*)
•) Liber pont. 1, 2.')8, Anastasius n. 75: I potuit; qui nutu divino pereussus est."
"Voluit occulte revocarc Acacium et non
No. 7. The Revie^^. 99
This statement of the Liber Pontificalis is clearly disproven
by official documents of which the author had no knowledge. His
insinuation that the sudden demise of Anastasius was a divine
punishment, probably agreed with the view of many of his con-
temporaries, though it is absolutely without foundation in fact.
The brief statement in the Liber Pontificalis had unlooked-for
after-effects. This book with all its faults later became a prin-
cipal source for the history of the papacy in the Middle Ages.
The charge against Anastasius was taken over as indisputable
by many writers, especially after Gratian had copied it verbatim
in his famous collection. The chroniclers of the thirteenth and
fourteenth centuries went even farther. A pope who had be-
trayed the Church must needs have died a terrible death. Mar-
tin Polonus, Amalric Augerii, and Bernard Guidonis therefore
evolved the legend that Anastasius had shared the horrible fate
of the arch-heretic Arius — that he was found dead with his bowels
burst out. Dante later on transferred the unfortunate Pope into
the Inferno, where an inscription above his place of torture de-
clared that "Photinus had seduced him from the straight way."
Later theologians based all sorts of theoretical speculations re-
garding the relation of the Church to her supreme head, upon the
presumptive treachery of Anastasius, putting him on a plane
with Pope Liberius, of whom they thought, misled by the Liber
Pontificalis and ©ther dubious sources, that he had sided with the
Emperor Constantius. Recent researches have shown both
opinions to be erroneous.
It is an honorable mission of modern history to clear away
these mediaeval fables.
It would certainly be foolish to deny that fables and legends in
great number obscured the picture of the past in a time which
did not cultivate criticism, but which, lacking critical means,
books and intellectual intercourse, fell a helpless victim to the
traditional errors of preceding ages. For the same reason the
historian of the present can not fortifj^ himself too strongly with
scientific caution, especially where he meets with unusual state-
ments which run through the parchment records of mediaeval
scholars.
Let it be said in extenuation of the past, however, that not even
those who are to-day delving in the records of the Middle Ages,
are altogether safe from comparatively modern forgeries which
have been saddled upon the past.
The very history of Pope Anastasius offers us such a forged
document, in the form of the letter, which thousands have read
with admiration and joy, alleged to have been addressed by him
to King Clovis, who was baptized in the beginning of his pontiff-
100
The Review.
1903.
cate. In this letter the Pope felicitates the Church upon the fact
that such a great king has entered with his people into the net of
the Apostolic fisherman, and, with a significant glance into the
future, expresses the hope that the nation of the Franks would
prove a special protector to the ship of St. Peter, through the
tempests of the ages. And yet it is now certain that this letter,
discovered among the papers of the Abbe Jerome Vignier, in the
seventeenth century, was invented and concocted by this scholar,
who had achieved a remarkable proficiency in imitating the an-
cient style. Vignier is also the author of several other forged
documents.
Historical research offers perhaps more surprises than any
other branch of positive science. In the year 1866 there was
published, for the first time, from a manuscript dating back to
the seventh century, an indisputably genuine letter of the same
Anastasius II., addressed to the bishops of Gaul, wherein he
very decisively condemns as heretical the opinion of those who hold
that the human soul originates in the act of generation, and not
by afree act of God. Up till then the fact that this much-dis-
cussed question had been finally and definitely decided by the
Holy See, was absolutely unknown. Even after the publication
of this letter the theologians, who had no knowledge thereof, con-
tented themselves with proving the theological certainty of the
doctrine of the immediate creation of the human soul by other
arguments.*)
3? Sf 3?
BOND INVESTMENT CONCERNS.
The explanation of the profits to be realized from an "invest-
ment" in a ten-year "bond" of the National Life and Trust Co.,
of Des Moines, Iowa, as furnished in a pamphlet of said concern
submitted to us by a reader of this journal, makes interesting as
well as amusing reading. To quote one passage : "The National
Life and Trust Co. has at last opened an avenue along which the
conservative man, as well as the man who is ambitious of secur-
ing large retm-ns on his investment may journey together and
each obtain the object of his quest.''' (Italics ours.)
How are these profits to be obtained? The Company sells
bonds, costing $100 a year per $1,000 for 10 years, at the end of
which the company guarantees to pay $1,000 (what was paid in)
plus the accumulated "profits."
•') Even that eminent theologian, Fr. Klent-
gen, S. J., in discoursing as late as 1887, in the
Innsbruck Zeitschrift fuer katholische Theo-
logie, "On the Origin of the Human Soi^l,"
was unaware of this decision, though he re-
ferred to another, by Benedict XII. (d. 1342),
which had up till then also been completely-
overlooked by the theologians.
No. 7. The Review. 101
According to description, these profits come :
First: "From interest earnings." As the Company has no
monopoly on investments, the returns from that source will
hardly exceed the dividends paid by other responsible cor-
porations.
Second : "Forfeitures under lapsed bonds." Since the Com-
pany takes special pains to explain that in event of inability to
pay a premium when due, a year is given in which to reinstate,
and further, that after three annual deposits the Company will
make a liberal loan, "sufficient to carry the bond through to ma-
turity," it is difficult to see how any profits could be made from
lapsing bonds, because such lapses would be confined to the first
2 or 3 years of the bond's life, when the payments made were
very small amounts.
Third: "Mortality Savings." "The death loss is reduced to a
minimum." So says the Company in its explanation, adding that
in case of death but one-fifth more than the amount paid in will
be returned to the beneficiary. There is apparently no special
provision made in the premium for meeting death-losses, so the
mortality, small as it might be, will not result in any profits to
the surviving members.
Fourth : "Profits that accrue by reason of policies surrendered
under loan or surrender privileges."
The Company claims to loan money enough on each bond after
three annual deposits, to "carry such bond to maturity." Again
no more chance for profit than is shown under the second item.
Fifth: "Miscellaneous sources." What are they? Expense
account? Agents' commissions? Nothing is said about these
important items, so the fifth "source of profit" may be passed.
In winding up its explanation, the Company invites applications
for its bonds with the assurance that there is "no possibility of
financial loss."
So, "heads I win, tails you lose," is the enviable position of such
a bond-holder. He can not lose under any circumstances, but
somehow, the "Company" will pay large returns on his ten-year
deposits.
Insurance Commissioner Dearth of Minnesota has made public
an examination of the National Life and Trust Co. of Des Moines,
made for his department by Actuary S. H. Wolfe, of New York.
It shows the Company to be solvent, that is, able to pay the
amounts guaranteed in its bonds. But the Commissioner criticizes
the management severely for writing these special bond con-
tracts, because the business was obtained through the influence
of extravagant estimates as to the amounts that could be real-
ized at the end of the endowment period. Mr. Dearth says, the
102 The Review. 1903.
claim of large gains from lapses is a "fallacy and that the earn-
ings from this source are insignificant."
Commissioner Dearth makes a number of other comments, as
published in the Insurance V^orld of December 16th, 1902, not
necessary to repeat here.
It should be sufficient for our readers to know that no respon-
sible company can offer extraordinary profits for short-term in-
vestments, and that all the alluring illustrations of the different
"bond" concerns, based on the alleged experience of regular life
insurance companies, are results of a lively imagination, to put it
mildly. The guaranteed results are the only figures that can
be relied upon.
• 3? ^ 3?
THE "NEW BLOOD" FALLACY IN FRATERNAL INSURANCE.
The Denver Catholic {Yo\. 4, No. 21) prints some comments on
the discussion now going on in several Catholic journals regard-
ing needed changes in the plans and management of Catholic
mutual insurance societies. The intention of the writer is un-
doubtedly good, but unfortunately he is totally ignorant of the
subject he writes about. For illustration he criticizes the ex-
penses of the regular life insurance companies as being too high^
saying, "most of these expenses are saved in Catholic fraternal
insurance societies." It may surprise him to learn that there are
Catholic (alleged) insurance societies, whose expense ratio in
proportion to income is higher than that of any of the leading in-
surance companies. Then again:
. "It is argued : as the years go by, the death rate must increase.
Not at all." To prove this assertion, the worn-out argument is
used that "by the constant introduction of new members below
the average age of the members of the societjs the average age
is lowered."
In other words, for the existence of the concern and the sure
payment of death losses, it is absolutely necessary to secure new
members of a lesser age than the average age of existing mem-
bership. How impossible that is for any length of time is shown
by the official records of the hundreds of assessment companies
and orders, that have reported to the different insurance de-
partments, so that their history can be traced from the time of
starting to the day of failure, or up to date, for the comparatively
few that have survived longer than twenty-five years, which is
taken as the time needed for establishing a normal death rate.
But even if new members could be secured, the average age of
the society, and with it the average death rate, is bound to in-
crease, as shown in the following :
A society of 1000 members, each 20 years old, will have an
No. 7. The Review. 103
average age of 21, 22, and 23 years after one, two, and three years
respectively, if no new members are taken in. Now let 1000
new members of age 20 join each year and note the result :
There are after one year :
1000 members 21 years old,
1000 new ones 20 years old,
giving an average age of 20/^ years.
The second year there are :
1000 old members of 22 years,
1000 last year's members of 20 years,
1000 new members of 20 years,
making an average of 21 years.
The third year there are :
1000 members of 23 years,
1000 " " 22 years,
1000 " " 21 years,
1000 " " 20 years,
making an average of 21}^ years.
So it will be seen that the average age, notwithstanding the
admission of new members, is slowly but steadily increasing.
To keep the average age at 20, the new members would have to
be of constantly decreasing age, as follows :
1000 members age 21 years,
1000 " " 19
giving an average age of 20. The next year there are :
1000 members age 22,
1000 " "20,
needing 2000 " " 19 or
1000 " " 18, for an average age of 20.
Even a layman in insurance matters will easily see that an in-
crease of membership after that fashion has its limitations re-
garding age and numbers, which positively make the continuous
performance impossible.
Yet life insurance must rest on a permanent basis if it is to
deserve the name. The Review has no space to spare to discuss
the mathematical side of this momentous question more fully.
But if the Denver Catholic will agree to publish them, our insurance
expert will furnish that journal a series of articles showing, step
by step, how much it will cost as a minimum to provide for the
death losses in an insurance society, regardless of expenses of
management.
Any replies published in the Denver Catholic will receive
prompt and polite attention, on condition that personalities or
general. attacks must be avoided and the discussion be confined
to facts.
104
AN ECHO FROM THE CATASTROPHE OF MARTINIQUE.
Havnng spent five years in the island of Martinique, mostly in
the city of St. Pierre, and providentially escaped its awful doom
by leaving" on the eve of the fatal day, and having, moreover, wit-
nessed and shared the anxieties, alarms, and distress of the peo-
ple during the volcanic period. Rev. J. M. Desnier, C. S. Sp., pre-
sents in the February Messenger his personal impressions and
some reliable details on the awful catastrophe. We quote a few
paragraphs of particular interest :
In order to explain the furj^ of the volcano, much has been said
and written by overzealous persons about the impiety' of the peo-
ple, which must have startled any one familiar with them. Now
this requires some explanation. There were, indeed, in Mar-
tinique, and chiefly in St. Pierre, a small number of men, mostly
Europeans and colored politicians, who aped their brothers in
France and showed bitter hostility to the Church ; true it is too.
that, a few days before the disaster a mere handful of roughs,
who called themselves Socialists, did go through the streets, on
one occasion, singing some impious verses of a Paris Socialist
song. This was at the hottest period of the election, when some
people are apt to lose their senses. Now it would hardly be fair
to hold a population responsible for the misdeeds of a few irre-
sponsible or wicked men. The truth is that Martinique forms
a striking contrast with some parts of France. The Lord's day
is well kept, the churches are crowded at everj'^ religious function,
and the sacraments are well frequented, especially on feast days.
It is needless to speak of religious demonstrations so cherished
by the people. Only a few weeks before the disaster a fine cort-
ege of 2,000 working-men could be seen wending its way, headed
by the Bishop, to Morne-Rouge, on a pilgrimage to the Sanctuarj^
of Our Lady, to whom there is in the island a great and heartfelt
devotion. As for me, I must admit that the contact with the
people in the sacred ministry has ever been attended with pleas-
ing recollections.
Some time after the catastrophe, when that most touching tes-
timony of universal sympathy and generosity was acting as a
soothing balm to our distress, we were startled by some wild re-
ports circulating in the foreign press about Martinique ; for in-
stance, the story of the sacrilegious parade of a pig, stated as
having taken place in St. Pierre on Good Friday and Easter Sun-
day, and of an assault on a convent by the mob, etc., the effect of
which was, in many places, to put a stop to collections so gener-
ously started in favor of the poor victims, driven from their
homes. Whatever may have been the intentions of the origina-
tors of the report, first published, I was told, in a German paper,
No. 7. The Review. 105
and so quickly taken up by the yellow press, the truth is that
none of the priests of the colony or the people of St. Pierre
spoken to had ever heard of it. Now, everyone acquainted with
the place knows well that, . had Alcibiades lived there, he would
liave had no need of cutting his dog's tail to get notoriety. With
respect to morality, statistics and men who have the experience
of the West Indian populations, can testify that the city of St.
Pierre was indeed no better nor worse than its neighbors. There
was a good deal of unvarnished looseness of morals among the
low class of the people, as often happens in seaports. As for the
vice of Lot's city, it is well known that for various reasons it is
rather scarce amidst the colored population and there was more-
over, very little unnatural crime. The great mischief, I regret
to say, was the number of illegitimate but most prolific unions
among the low classes. That state of things, not indeed special
to Martinique, the Church, had it been ever so little seconded by
the government, by means of such a thing as the marriage re-
quirements in America, would soon have suppressed.
But what of the volcano? Surel}'^ it was a judgment of God?
It may be, and if so, it was one not unmixed with mercy, for He
gave us eight days to prepare for death. Yet whatever may have
been written in the first panic produced by the catastrophe, it
would seem that owing to its position, St. Pierre was doomed, the
fury of the volcano having covered it several times since the fatal
day, and that, without miracle it could not escape its fate. No
miracle took place such as we read of in the life of Januarius in
his beloved city of Naples. We might perhaps find an answer to
this in the Gospel, where our Divine Lord, being asked what
crime they had committed on whom the tower of Siloe fell, or
those whose blood Herod had mingled with their sacrifices, an-
swered that it was not for any special guilt that they had been
struck, but that unless the questioners did penance they would
all likewise perish. Thunderbolts are perhaps necessary in this
material age of ours, but, under the new dispensation, are we to
believe they always fall on the most wicked heads? I think we
might perhaps safely, awaiting further information, suspend our
own judgment in the matter.
^^^^
106
THE "BOBTAILED " COLLEGE CVRRICVLVM.
Many of the readers of The Review have no doubt taken notice
of a new scheme proposed by President Butler of Columbia Uni-
versity in the City of New York, to bring- American education
fully up to the requirements of our times. It consists in short-
ening- the usual four years' college course to one half of its length.
One of his arguments — another will be mentioned further
down — is that the student needs more time to prepare himself
for professional studies.
In this matter there are certainly no better judges than the
professional men themselves, and among them, we dare say,
none are likely to be more impartial than the scientists. Now,
inconsequence of President Butler's utterances, the E/eclrt'cal
World and Engineer has given expression to its view in two short
but strong editorials (vol. 40, pp. 651 and 887), in which American
education in its present state is considered from the most Am-
erican of standpoints, the practical.
From the first of these editorials we quote only the following-
sentences: "The student who knows a few things thoroughly
when he enters college, is better fitted than he who has a smat-
tering of many. This is the secret of the German gymnasium.
Its graduates may be totally ignorant of the Italian Renaissance
... .but he knows his Latin and his algebra If the colleges
would get grimly down to work and force the elementary schools
to teach less and better, they would turn out men to whom the
professional schools would be no toilsome task, and with the time
thus saved we should hear no more wails of too much time spent
in education."
The second article is too spicy to be in any way shortened. It
reads as follows :
"We have already expressed ourselves very fully on the subject
of collegiate education, so far at least as engineering students are
concerned, but a recent pronunciamento from President Butler re-
minds us that there is still something left to be said. That dis-
tinguished educator is quoted as saying in effect, that he favors
the two-year college course because it is better for the students
to dawdle only two years instead of the canonical four. We
earnestly hope that be will take steps in our great metropolitan
university to avert dawdling for so short a term as two years.
Perhaps the same cogent line of reasoning may adequately ex-
plain the great doubts which have been expressed by noted busi-
ness-men as to the usefulness of any college course at all. The
fact is that the weakest point of our whole modern educational
system is a certain apparent incapacity to prevent dawdling.
When the cultured graduate of the kindergarten, the juvenile art
No. 7. The Review. 107
school, the infantile conservatory of music, and three or four
prenatal laboratories comes up to the college, he is very apt to
interrog-ate Nature as to the easiest way of sliding- through. The
whole field of classified knowledge and ignorance is open to his
choice in the elective system, and it would reflect discredit on
his previous training if it should give him no clue to the smooth
and easy path. Now to our mind the first duty of the higher in-
stitution of learning should be to take this victim of slip-shod
soul culture by the nose and lead him firmly up to the strenuous
life. It is not so much what he learns, as how he learns, that de-
termines his future capacity for serious work. And according
to our observation the average college needs considerably
more than two years merely to instill the fundamental principles
of mental activity. And from that point education begins."
ar s* sf
THE "CATHOLIC WORLD" AND OVR PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.
The Catholic World magaizine says in its February number,
page 708, editorially :
"There are many other reasons besides the mere magnitude of
the Parish-School system that will make ofi&cial recognition the
best policy. Not the least of these is the fact that when educa-
tors come to study our Parish Schools they will find that if there
he any side on zvhich they are weak it is the i>atriotic side. We have
been compelled for the sake of conscience to educate our child-
ren outside of the channels where tde highest patriotism is large-
ly taught. Yet Catholics do love their country and are eager to
absorb all that is best in its national life. It is a crime against the
nation for the ultra-American to steel his face against the child-
ren of the nationalities who do not speak English, and compel
them to seek their education outside those agencies that will ac-
celerate his absorption by and his assimilation with the civic
body. How much better it would be to come to them with the
olive branch and say to them : 'You are children of this common-
wealth, and it is our desire that you shall enjoy all that contrib-
utes to good citizenship. For this reason we shall make some
arrangement whereby you may participate in the advantages that
the Public-School system enjoys.' " (Italics ours.)
A month before the same liberalistic magazine had published a
report of a committee of the New York Catholic School Board,
containing this passage :
The parish schooP'leads to the highest type of citizenship, and
supplies a most effective antidote to false Socialistic theories."
In the editorial quoted above the Catholic World seems to take
108 The Review. 1903.
issue with the Catholic School Board of the great Archdiocese in
which it is published. We trust the gfentlemen of the Board will
take up the gauntlet and compel the Paulist editor to give a
straightforward and unequivocal answer to these pointed and
pertinent questions:
1. Are our parish schools weak on the patriotic side?
2. Is a higher patriotism taught in State than in parish schools?
3. Can not Catholics in parish schools absorb all that is best in
national life?
4. If not, why not ?
5. What does the Catholic Woj-ld mean by this underhanded at-
tack upon our parochial schools?
^ 3* 3*
BOOK REVIEW AND LITERARY NOTE.
Le Citoyeii Americain. Ses devoirs et ses droits. Par T. St.
Pierre. Paper 32 pages.
Mr. T. St. Pierre, editor of L'Opinion Puhliqiie, Worcester,
Mass., some time ago published a series of articles on the
rights and duties of the American citizen, which we now find
collected in the present pamphlet. Were it not for the considera-
ble immigration from Canada, the effete Eastern States would
show a decrease of population like France or England. The Cana-
dian influx has been so large that in certain quarters they form
more than a third of the population. Yet their political influence
has been small, chiefly because of their neglect to become natur-
alized American citizens. Hence at their last Catholic Congress
a resolution was passed to form naturalization committees every-
where. They were started in many places and began work at
once. No doubt the pamphlet of M. St. Pierre will be a power-
ful help to them.
Professor Egan, in the Catholic University Bulletin for
October (1902) defines literature broadly as "the expression of
the phenomena of life in the form of written words." Since our
Professor is high authority in his own particular line, we trust
the Paris Veriie will not again poke unliterary fun, as it did some
time ago, at such a piece of genuine literature as the recent order
of the French Minister of the Navy, M. Pelletan, that each mari-
ner should be allowed ten grams of oakum for a purpose of toilet
which is not usually mentioned in polite society.
109
MINOR TOPICS.
The Western Walc/iman (No. 12) says edi-
The Waichman and torially :
The Review. "In his laudable endeavor to show up the
delinquencies of English-speaking- priests,
especially of the St. Paul diocese, the editor of Thb Review made
the mistake a few weeks ago of ascribing a flamboyant endorse-
ment of the Elks recently delivered by the Rev. Roderick J.
Mooney to an Irish priest of Morris, Minn. Mr. Morris (sic \) is
an Episcopalian minister. But the best of us with the best in-
tentions sometimes make mistakes."
The Review said nothing about the Rev, Roderick J. Mooney 's
nationality, nor has it ever manifested or harbored the slightest de-
sire to "show up the delinquencies of English-speaking priests" as
against those of any other tongue or nationality. Moreover, Morris,
Minnesota, is not in "the St. Paul Diocese." In the case of the
Rev. Mr.lMooney we Icorrected our mistake promptly (No. 4,
p. 64), and but for our own correction the editor of the Western
Watchman would probably never have noticed the error.
One difference between The Review and the Western Watchman
is that The Review promptly and honestlj'^ corrects its own mis-
takes, while the Watch?nan, that journalistic Thersites in knick-
erbockers, doesn't care a tinker's Dam with a big D for the cor-
rections and remonstrances of those whom it, often wilfully,
wrongs or misrepresents.
Get the sawlogs out of your own eyes, brother, before howling
over the micrococci in the optics of others.
Rev. Dr. P. A. Baart, the eminent canon-
The Terna for Bish- ist, states positively "that there has been no
oprics. change in the manner of designating candi-
dates for a bishopric in the United States.
The old and time-honored custom of denominating them 'dig-
nissimus,' 'dignior, ' 'dignus,' still prevails. When some time
ago a report was started that Rome had authorized a change, so
that all three candidates should be placed on the list without
specific designation, all being equal, I had occasion to enquire
whether there was foundation for such newspaper report. I re-
ceived an official and authoritative reply that there is not a par-
ticle of truth in such a report, but that the old and time-honored
custom of denominating the candidates for a bishopric 'dignissi-
mus, ' 'dignior,' 'dignus,' still prevails."
The St. Vincent^s Journal {Feh.)po[atedly
Irish-Americans and the observes, in connection with Irish-Ameri-
Case of Co/. Lynch. can protests against the hanging of Col.
Lynch(since commuted into penal servitude
by the British government)that the twenty millions of Irishmen in
this country could have served the cause of their native isle and
110 The Review. 1903.
liberty far better if they had exercised their undoubted influence
on our government in favor of the Boers in the late war.
"It is now generally recognized that that war would have ended
•disastrously for England if this country had not been made a
base of supplies for her South African armies in the most essen-
tial and necessary element of army equipment in the veldts of
the Transvaal. And yet nothing was done by those twenty mil-
lions, or by the other fifty or more millions, to prevent the coun-
try from disgracing itself by helping in the destruction of two
small countries presenting many features of similarity to our
own political beginnings A priest in St. Louis has expressed
his determination to head a party of dynamiters to blow up every-
thing British on top of the earth, in case Col. Lynch should be
hanged. He will not be hanged, but it is a pity that this Missouri
Peter the Hermit's dynamiting crusade did not start with his
fellow-citizen, the Missouri mule, in camp at New Orleans."
A number of local "get-rich-quick" turf
Another Lesson to the investment concerns, most prominent among
Gullible. them E. J. Arnold & Co., went to the wall
last week. The Review had warned all
those of its subscribers who bad asked it for advice with regard
to these firms, because they were fraudulent on their very face.
Arnold & Co. originally paid five per cent, a week on all invest-
ments. When they cut the "dividend" to two per cent, recently,
other concerns of the same kind offered from five to seven, which
caused numerous withdrawals of subscriptions from the Arnold
Co. and the final ruin of the firm, involving nearly all the rest. It
is said that ten million dollars had been invested in these concerns
by people in all sections of the country. All of them advertised
•extensively. They claimed that they were engaged in the "busi-
ness" of racing their own horses and in operating books on race
tracks and pool rooms in various cities. The grand jury has
now taken the matter up. The worst feature about it is, in the
opinion of local lawyers, that the investors, being stockholders,
besides losing their money, will be liable for the defunct com-
panies' debts.
May we not hope that this experience will prove a lasting lesson
to the gullible?
We are indebted to a reverend friend in
A Crazy Yarn. Chicdigo ior di co^y oi Pea7'son'' s Magazine ior
February, containing a yarn about "the
blowing-up of the Maine" in Havana harbor, pretending to be
"revelations of an international spy." It represents that the
destruction of the Maine was brought about by a German police
agent, named Kehler, acting in the interests of the German gov-
ernment or a Chicago pork trust. This man is said to have been
a Bavarian ex-seminarian. In Madrid he disguises himself in the
dress of a priest and takes a Sister of Mercy from a convent
there by steamer from Cadiz to Havana. On their arrival in Ha-
vana they go to a hotel, where they remain together, occupying
separate rooms, until the Sister gets a situation as nurse on board
No. 7. The Review. Ill
the ill-fated battle-ship, which soon after "breaks like a bubble."
The whole story is a stupid fake on the face of it. Its anti-
"Catholic character ought to result in the withdrawal of all Catho-
lic support from Pearson's Magazine. We don't object to trans-
parent fiction, even if it presents itself under the cloak of sober
history ; but we do object most emphatically to sinister imputa-
tions ag-ainst our clerg-y and sisterhoods.
The Messenger, published by Jesuit fathers
Lay Trustees. and staunchly conservative in spirit and
tendency, has the following- remarks in its
January number :
"When a few months ago it was announced that Archbishop
Keane, of Dubuque, had decided to constitute laymen trustees
■of the Church in his Archdiocese, there was a cry of alarm in
many of our Catholic newspapers, and His Grace had finally to
declare that he had been misrepresented. What better arrang-e-
ment could he have made than that which to-day obtains in our
best organized dioceses? What more natural than to have men
of affairs co-operating with our pastors in transacting the busi-
ness inseparable from the management of a parish? For want
of such co-operation there is very poor management in many
places, and altogether too little interest oh the part of prominent
laymen in the welfare of our parishes and other institutions. It
is unfair to leave every burthen and responsibility to the priest,
and in not a few instances it has proved disastrous to all con-
cerned."
A reader enquires about the Mission of Our Lady of Pity and
the legitimacy of the methods it employs to solicit the support of
the faithful. We submitted the query with the chaplet and liter-
ature sent out by this Mission to one of our best-informed clerical
-contributors, who gives his opinion as follows :
The Mission of Our Lady of Pity is apparently a worthy object
•of charity, but its endless chain system of procuring help is a
nuisance. Furthermore the chaplet of the Holy Infancy is not a
recognized devotion. If the Archbishop of Cincinnati has ap-
proved it, the fact should be stated. The 'Raccolta' has nothing
about it, nor do we find any mention of it in the life of the Ven-
erable Sister Marguerite of the Blessed Sacrament in the 'Petits
Bolandistes.' The chaplet contains nothing contrary to Catholic
belief, but why introduce a thousand and one new devotions?
Our advice isj Help the Mission of Our Lady of Pity, if you feel
inclined, but throw the chaplet, the promises of a novena, etc.,
into the fire, or better still, tell the lady manager that she is over-
doing a good thing.
Tho. Intermountaiii Catholic, of Salt Lake, Utah, sympathetically
records, at the head of its editorial columns (No. 18) that "Rt.
Rev. Abiel S. Leonard celebrated the fifteenth anniversary
•of his consecration during the week. The event was one of joy
to his numerous friends, who hold the Bishop in high esteem.
112 The Review. 1903.
His onerous duties in his extensive diocese have been performed
with zeal and marked success. The [ntermotmtain Catholic unites
\vith his many friends in extending- greetings and hopes that his
useful labors will continue for many years."
To prevent mistakes we want to say that Rt. Rev. Lawrence
Scanlan, D. D., is still Bishop — the only Bishop — of Salt Lake.
Mr. Abiel S. Leonard, who has the hopes of this self-styled Cath-
olic paper for the continuation, "for many years," of his "useful
labors," is a sectarian dominie !
For a possible "Parliament of Religions" in connection with
the coming World's Fair we suggest the Interinoiintain Catholic{^}
as the official organ.
*r
Archbishop Bruchesi, of Montreal, our beau-ideal of an Ameri-
can bishop, is opposed to the acceptance by the city of Montreal
of a Carnegie librar^^ In an address delivered shortly after his
home-coming- from Rome (see La Seviaine ReUgieiise de Montreal^
No. 5), he declared that there were plenty of smaller libraries
open to the public in his episcopal city and added : "If the need
of a great public library should make itself felt, our grand and
beautiful city will be too rich, too independent, too leg-itimately
proud to ask it as a present from a foreign millionaire and to
submit to the conditions which he sets upon his gifts and favors."
Bravo !
The Chicago Record- Herald (Feb. 4th) publishes an obituary
notice of Professor E. Kitziger, "a noted Hebrew composer" re-
cently deceased in New Orleans. It says among other things :
"There is not a Hebrew congregation but sings the hymns which
he composed. Many of his compositions are also to be found in
the hymn books of the Roman Catholic Church of this country
and England."
Can this be true ? Are we allowing Jews to write our hymns ?
The Civilta Cattolica, which is giving particular attention to
the trust question of late, finds (quad. 1261) that in the United
States the Republican party represents capitalism, while the
Democratic party is becoming the exponent of Socialistic collec-
tivism.
And so we are, politically, between the Devil and the deep sea.
A correspondent writes to the editor of our St. Louis society
journal, the Mirror^ asking, "What is the most beautiful poem
ever written to a woman?" and receives the reply (No. 52) that
"this distinction belongs to 'The Litany of the Blessed Virgin,'
a part of Roman Catholic ritual."
Prof. Siugenberger, in No. 2 of his Ccicilia (No. 2), compliments
the comparatively small and poor Diocese of Belleville upon hav-
ing more churches in which true Church music is cultivated, than
any other diocese in the country.
II tTbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., February 26, 1903. No. 8.
"THE DOUBLE PERSONALITY OF ST. PATRICK."
NDER this title Mr. William J. D. Croke, Rome cor-
respondent of several American Catholic newspapers,
and reputed to be a man of scholarly attainments, —
though we must say these attainments never appear in his Roman
letters, — recently contributed to the Iris/i Ecclesiastical Record a
paper which has attracted some attention in the press and of
which we find what appears to be the full text reproduced in the
Monitor (Vol. Iv, No. 40.)
Mr. Croke advances the hypothesis that St. Patrick and Pal-
ladius, his predecessor in the Irish mission, are identical. The
following" is a fair summary of his argument :
While "the fact of the historical existence of St. Patrick will
have to be allowed," "it must be adjusted with outside his-
tory. Now, continental historians are silent about him until the
time of Alcuin, when he is mentioned by an act of conformity to
the statements of the Irish Church, while, on the other hand, he
is unmentioned in the historical documents of the North until
Bede, who has placed him in his Martyrology only. Again, in
the reco'-ds of the Irish Church, saving the writings of the apostle,
Patrick is mentioned most often with Palladius, while all traces
of the latter are wanting in the works of St. Patrick, which are
the supreme authority about the conversion of the country.*)
"On the reverse, general, that is continental, history, makes
mention of another person as the Apostle of Ireland, by express
description as the successful, and by implication as the sole
apostle. This is Palladius, who is unmentioned in Irish history
•'•0 The journey of St. Patrick to Rome is like-
wise not mentioned in the Saint's 'Confession,'
but as Alzog remarks (Manual of Universal
Church History, Pabish-Byrne, vol. ii, p. 53,
note) "the silence of the 'Confession,' in which
St. Patrick relates only those circumstances in
which he beheld an especial Divine Provi-
dence, can not be adduced as an authority
against this journey." (Doellinger, Church
mst, vol. ii, p. 21.) The journey to Rome is in-
deed generally accepted as an historic fact on
the strength of the testimony of Probus, Heri-
cus, and Blessed Aidan. — A. P.
114 The Review. 1903.
until the middle of the seventh century, when a vague and unsat-
isfactory account, presumably drawn in the main from continental
sources, is given in the Book of Armagh, and the foundation laid
for a new legend, which was never to be very vital, to take deep
roots, or to be wide-branching.
"The primary texts about Palladius are the following, from
Prosper of Aquitaine, an ear and eye-witness in Rome and in
Gaul of the continental side of the event recorded. First in his
Chronicle under 429, |he writes : 'On the initiative of Germanus,
Bishop of Auxerre, Pope Celestine sends Palladius the Deacon,
in his own stead, in order that he should overthrow the heretics,
and guide the Britons to the Catholic faith.'
"Next, under the year 431, he writes in the same work : 'For
the Irish believing in Christ Palladius is consecrated by Pope
Celestine, and sent as first bishop.'
"Thirdly, in the Contra Collatorem, he summarizes both the
passages quoted : 'Nor, indeed, did he deliver the Britains with
less speedy care from the same evil (Pelagianism), when he ex-
cluded even from that remote part of the ocean some enemies of
grace who occupied their native soil, and, having consecrated a
bishop for the Irish while he strove to keep the Roman island
Christian, made also the barbarous island Christian.' "
Mr. Croke then proceeds to establish the supposition of an
"accidental division of the personality of one apostle" (Patrick)
"into two" (Patrick and Palladius) "by a separation of names
and careers," by adjusting "all the testimonies and indications
extant under the view thus set forth."
"Muirchu Maccu Mactheni, the author of the principal biog-
raphy of St. Patrick, the first of those contained in the Book of
Armagh, states that the Scripta Patricii gave 'Succetus'as the
name of the Apostle, and, a little later, bespeaks of 'Patrick, who
was also called Sochet.' Tirechan, the next biographer in the
Book of Armagh, who is, perhaps, equal in authority, makes an
identical statement on the same authority: 'Succetus, that is
Patrick.' The same is asserted by the author of the Hymn of
Fiech, and in the Tripartite Life, in the preface to the Hymn of
Secundinus, the preface to the same Hymn in the Lebhar Brecc,
the ancient annotation on the Hymn of Fiech, the Homily on the
Saint in the Lebhar Brecc ; in a word by the majority of the Irish
majorities (?!?) who deal professedly or at length with the life
of St. Patrick.
"Now, if in his homeland and in his native language the Saint
was called by another name, when and why did the change take
place? It can hardly be doubted that the occasion of the impo-
sition of a Latin title was his apostolic undertaking, in its prepar-
No. 8.
The Review.
115
ation, at its inception, or during the early part of its successful
course. This is the opinion of the Irish Church, that is of the
only body of history which exists concerning him. Such an as-
sumption is natural and in conformity with the usages of the
time and other circumstances of a general order. But, bestowed
in connection with his apostolate, the second name would leave
room for him to have borne a forgotten name during the first,
and, more than obscure, mysterious period of his career. The
new name would also be a Latin, or a Latinized one, as belonging
by its origin to his contact with the churchmen of the continent.
On his arrival among these from the land of Britain, or a British
settlement in Gaul, the cleric, or aspirant to orders would have
his name changed, and most probably translated or rendered by
a Latin equivalent. The baptismal name assigned to Patrick
signified in the native language, 'strong in war,' 'glorious in
battle, ' something rather like an equivalent of the miles gloriosus
of Plautus.*) Now the name Palladius would be the equivalent in
turn of this, and the period of the life of St. Patrick in which he
might have received it corresponds to the career and standing of
Palladius as revealed in the passages quoted from Prosper."
Palladius, he goes on to say, was a favorite name for Christ-
ians in the fourth and fifth centuries. Monasticism was prob-
ably a principal means of making it so frequent in ecclesiastical
Gaul, especially among Gaulish bishops. Numerous examples
can be adduced to prove that "the translation or transformation
of a barbaric, or, at the least, foreign name, such as Sucat, would
be enacted preferably by the bestowal upon its bearer of a com-
mon name," "not at baptism, buton the occasion of contact and by
the person with the Latin ecclesiastical, or religious, world in the
Gauls" (? !); and that "in the parts of this world where the traces
of St. Patrick's life are traditionally discerned the name Palladius
was as familiar as its translation from Sucat was natural."
"This process of Latinization held good of the British churches
which were in more easily immediate contact with the great body
of central Christendom in the West. Thus — to speak of the
periods preceding and following that of St. Patrick — the advo-
cates of the view that the Apostle was born in a British settle-
ment on the Continent will find the full influence of this contact
in the surviving records. The name of Mallo varies in its trans-
lated forms ; Festcarius is identified in Festgean ; St. Felix is
also called Gaturbius, and so on."
"Moreover, the usage in force from the date of the introduction
of Christianity persevered for a verj'^ long time."
*) Does Mr. Croke blandly imagine that the
"miles gloriosus" of Plautus means "strong in
war" or "glorious in battle "? Or are we to un-
derstand that the baptismal name of St. Pat-
rick meant "a swaggering swashbuckler"?
116 The Review. 1903.
These propositions Mr. Croke elucidates by a number of in-
stances and concludes :
"Given the existence of such a usage, the possession by the
Apostle of a name corresponding pretty nearly with that borne
by the ecclesiastic mentioned by Prosper of Aquitaine as the
successful preacher of the faith in Ireland, becomes a matter of
moment; but it is of increased suggestiveness owing to the difficul-
ty attaching to the correlation of the life of St. Patrick with general
history ; to the equal difficulty attaching to the correlation of the
life of Palladius with Irish history ; to the natural similarity of
the careers attributed separately to the two; and to numerous
exigencies presented by the record of the conversion of Ireland."
The hypothesis propounded by Mr. Croke is neither original, as
some of our Catholic papers seem to think, nor scientifically demon-
strable. In his elaborate article on "Ireland" in the sixth volume
of Herder's Kirchenlexikon (2. ed.), published in 1889, P. Zim-
mermann, S. J., after an examination of the "arguments" adduced
by Mr. Croke, deliberately declared that "the attempts to identi-
fy St. Patrick v/ith Palladius, or to date the beginning of his mis-
sion in 440, are in contradiction with the historical sources."
A single glance at the sources will confirm this view.
Prosper of Aquitaine, who wrote his Chronicle in 434, is not
only a contemporary, but also a most reliable witness, whose tes-
timony can not be seriously impeached, even though we have
little information about the life of Palladius. Prosper, who wrote
his Chronicle for the Romans, by his simple reference to Palla-
dius as "the Deacon," shows that, though the name was not un-
common in those days, this Palladius must have been well known
in Rome as a deacon of the Church, at that time a very prominent
and important office, as every student of early Church history
knows.
The Book of Armagh relates*) that "Palladius landed at Hy-
Garrchon (now Wicklow in Ireland) and penetrated to the inter-
ior of the country, where he founded several churches, Tuach-
na-Roman, i. e., house of the Romans, Killfine, and others. He
was not well received by the people, however, and saw himself
compelled to voyage around the coast to the North, until he was
driven by a tempest upon the coast of the Picts, where he found
the church of Fordun, and there he is known by the name of
Pladi" (an abbreviated form of Palladius). The Vita secunda S.
Patritii t) adds : "The holy Pope Celestine consecrated Palla-
dius, the Archdeacon of the Roman Church, a bishop, sent him
*) Liber Armachensis, ed. by Petrie, Essay on Tara, Dublin 1854, p. 84.
t) Apud Colgan, Trias Thaiimaturga, p. 5. The Vita secunda was probably composed in the
.seventh centiiry.
No. 8. The Review. 117
to the island of Ireland, and g-ave him relics of Sts. Peter and
Paul and of other saints, together with the books of the Old and
New Testament. Upon his entry into the land of the Scots
(Irish), he first came into the district of Leinster, whose ruler
(clans) Nathi-mac-Garrchon, interfered with his activity. Others,
however, led by the grace of God to make adoration, received
baptism in the name of the most holy Trinity. In the same
neig-hborhood Palladius built three churches; one of them is
called Kill-fine and in it are preserved and venerated up to the
present day the books given to him by Pope St. Celestine and the
box containing- the relics of St. Peter, St. Paul, and other saints,
together with the tables on which Palladius used to write. The
other church was called Teach-na-Roman, i. e., house of the Ro-
mans, and the third, Domnach-Ardech, in which the saintly com-
panions of Palladius— Sylvester and Salonius — rest, who are still
being- venerated. Shortly after Palladius died at Fordan, and
some allege that he was there crowned with martyrdom."
St. Aileran,t) who wrote towards the middle of the seventh
century, says :
"After his arrival in the land of the Lageni, Palladius began to
preach the word of God. But since he was not predestined by
Almighty God to be the instrument of the conversion of the Irish
nation from the errors of pag-anism to faith in the holy and in-
divisible Trinity, || ) he remained there but a few days. Never-
theless, he converted a fevi^ to the faith and founded three
churches, one of which is called Kill-finte ; it has remained up to
the present time the repository of the books which Palladius had
received from Pope Celestine and of the case containing- the relics
of St. Peter and St. Paul and other saints, likewise of his writing
tablets, which are called Pallad-ir and are held in great venera-
tion. Another church was built by the disciples of Palladius,
and is called house of the Romans ; the third, which contains the
bodies of his two companions Sylvester and Solinus, (which were
later removed to the isle of Boethin, where they are still vener-
ated), is named Domnach-arda. But when Palladius saw that he
could not accomplish much good there, he resolved to return to
Rome and died on the return voyage in the land of the Picts.
Others, however, claim that he was martyred in Ireland."
The pious Irish Bishop Marcus, who wrote his History of the
Britons about 822, distinctly declares that Palladius was sent as
first bishop by Pope Celestine, and, after his death, Patrick.
The Annals of Ulster begin with the words : "In the year 431
t) Vita quarta S. Patritii, apud Colgan, Trias Thaumat. p. 386.
Ill Whence the Irish saying, that God gave the grace to convert Ireland not to Palladius, but
to Patrick.
118
The Review.
1903.
of the incarnation of our Lord, Palladius is consecrated bishop
of the Scots by Celestine, Bishop of Rome He is sent as the
first to Ireland in the eighth year of the reign of Theodosius, to
acquaint them with the faith of Christ {.ut Christum credere j>o-
fuissent.) In the year 432 Patrick came to Ireland "
We have furthermore the confirmatory testimony of the Leab-
harBreac, which is considered by such authorities as Petrie and
Curry to be the oldest and most reliable source for the ecclesiast-
ical history of Ireland. This venerable Gaelic record declares in
unmistakable terms thaf'Palladius was sent to Ireland in the year
401 after the crucifixion of Christ" (which the ancient Irish
writers date from the year 31 of our present chronology) "by
Pope Celestine, to be followed one year later by Patrick.*)
Mr. Croke quotes the Vita S. Patritii of Muirchu-Maccu-Mac-
theni. Is he aware that the first book of this valuable MS. dis-
appeared in a mysterious manner some time during the past two
centuries, and that among the titles of the chapters which it con-
tained and which are luckily preserved, there is this : "9. De or-
dinatione ejus (Patritii) ab Amathorege episcopo, defuncto Pal-
ladio." And has he never heard that the Vita S. Patritii of
Coenechair of Slane, called Probus t), is generally acknowledged
by scholars to be little more than the corrected text of the Vita
of Mactheni? Such is the truth, |) and we will close with a
weighty quotation from Probus, which may be held to embody
the lost testimony of Muirchu-Maccu-Mactheni, to the effect that
Palladius, "Archdeacon of Pope Celestine, the forty-fifth in the
line of the successors of St. Peter, was sent by him to Ireland,
because the man of God Patrick had not yet received episcopal
consecration."
=■•■) Quoted by Greith, Gesch. d. altirischen Kirche, p. 109.
t) Died 948.
X) Cfr. Moran, Essays on the Origin, etc., of the Irish Church, 77
snr la vie et I'oeuvre de S. Patrick, Paris 1883, p. 63.
Also Robert, Etude critique
$e 3g se
THE TRUE HISTORY OF^THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
5. The Paestt, Paper, and Glass Act.*)
The Stamp Act never went into effect. The colonists simply
refused to use the stamps. In fact no stamps could be obtained,
as the distributors were forced to resign and the stamps sent
back or stored away.
This was an act of flagrant disobedience to a well-considered
•■')We continue to give our readers some of the
main resultsof the researches of the new school
of American historians, as embodied in Mr. Syd-
ney George Fisher's 'True Historv of the Am-
erican Revolution' (T. B. Lippincott & Co. 1902.
Price S2.) We intend to complement them
later on by facts from 'The Loyalists in the
American Revolution,' by Mr. Claude Hal-
stead Van Tyne.
No. 8. The Review. 119
4
law. But the colonists went even further. They boycotted Eng-
land, so that trade almost ceased. Thousands of laboring men
in England were thrown out of work and many trading and man-
ufacturing towns petitioned Parliament.
Meanwhile the Greenville ministry made way for that of Lord
Rockingham. Under Whig influences the Stamp tax was re-
pealed within a year after its passage, but Parliament, in the
famous Declaratory Act, emphasized its right to tax the colonies
as it pleased, which is still the law of England.
The colonists rejoiced. Mr. Fisher rightly says that the Whig
repeal of the Stamp Act advanced them far on the road to inde-
pendence, inasmuch as they "had learned their power and beaten
the government in its chosen game." The repeal was certainly
not a token of a "firm and consistent policy," and we need not
wonder that the Tories condemned it as the source of "the in-
creasing coil of colonial entanglement."
He adds that "in one sense it made little difference whether
the policy was easy or severe. Whig conciliation encouraged and
Tory half-way severity irritated the patriot party into indepen-
dence. Independence could have been prevented only by making
the severity so crushing and terrible as to reduce the country to
the condition of Ireland." (P. 80).
In 1766 William Pitt formed his impracticable and short-lived
ministry, which was not his in any sense, but pursued a course op-
posed to his policy, which, being aged ar\d infirm, he could not
carry out. This constant changing of ministries helped to de-
velop the revolutionary spirit in America. There was no steady
and consistent colonial policy. It was not till 1778, when the
revolution had advanced pretty far, that the ministry carried out
a distinctly Tory policy.
In 1767 the government undertook, by laying a duty on paint,
paper, glass, and tea, to take the colonists at their word on the
distinction between external taxes (which they had admitted;
and internal taxes (which they had repulsed). Renewed vigorous
measures were also taken to suppress smuggling.
The paint, paper, and glass act caught the colonists in their
own argument. These taxes were external and therefore consti-
tutional. They could not be resisted as the stamp tax had been
resisted, by simply not using the stamps. The articles had to
be imported and the duty was collected at the sea ports by force
of the British navy and army.
There were remonstrances and petitions, but there was no
rioting. "Their petitions, letters, and public documents were
full of the most elaborate expressions of loyalty and devotion ....
Knowing what was in their hearts, it is most amusing to read
120 The Review. 1903.
the long-drawn-out humble submissiveness of their words.
There is no bold arguing- against the right to tax. . They merely
beg and beseech to be relieved from these new taxes." (P. 86).
They were simply nonplussed. But there was a sinister refer-
ence to "fundamental rights of nature" and a demand for the
rights and privileges enjoyed by the colonies before the French
War.
The most serious provision of the paper, paint, and glass act
was that the revenue raised from it was to be spent entirely on
the colonies themselves in maintaining among them civil govern-
ment and the administration of justice. "The old system of as-
semblies securing the passage of their favorite laws by withhold-
ing the governor's salary, and of controlling the judges in the
same way, was to cease. There was to be no more bargain and
sale legislation ; but in place of it orderly, methodical, regular
government." (P. 89). This struck at the root of their freedom
as they conceived it.*)
Dickinson's "Letters From a Farmer" waked the colonists to
the gravity of the situation. Though pretending there was no
change from the old line of argument, he took the new ground of
rejecting the authority of Parliament absolutely. In this same
year, 1768, British troops landed in Boston in consequence of the
seizure of the "Liberty." The situation grew more dangerous.
Parliament declared the colonies to be in a state of disobedience
to law and government, adopting measures subversive of the
constitution, and disclosing an inclination to throw off all obedi-
ence to the mother-countr5^ "This was unquestionably a true
description of the situation," says Mr. Fisher, "and I can not see
that any good purpose is served by obscuring or denying it by
means of those passages in the documents of the colonists in
which they declare their 'heartfelt loyalty' to Great Britain, dis-
claim all intention of independence, and acknowledge the supreme
authority of Parliament. Those fulsome expressions deceived
no one at that time, and why should they be used to deceive the
guileless modern reader? The patriot party made many such
prudent statements, which were merely the nets and mattresses
stretched below the acrobat in case he should fall." (P. 92.)
*; On the importance of this poiut see the second article of this series, page 25.
121
PATENT MEDICINES AND THE PUBLIC.
It is one of our national inconsistencies that we enact laws and
otherwise take pains to prevent incompetents from practising-
medicine, but allow any quack or swindler to advertise and sell
remedies for every ailment under the sun. In other words, we
assume that the mass of mankind are not capable of choosing-
their medical advisers in person, but are quite competent to do
so throug-h the columns of the newspapers. The consequences
of such laxity are that multitudes of ignorant people are cheated
out of both money and health.
A very sound report was made on this subject by the Depart-
ment of Health of New York City in the year 1898, embracing
reasons for the public regulation of the sale of drugs and pro-
prietary medicines. The latter are classed under three heads.
The first consists of prescriptions made by regular physicians
in their ordinary practice, which, having proved to be efficient in
particular cases, have been seized upon by business men, put up
in wholesale quantities for the trade, and extensively advertised.
Such things as headache drops, eye waters, asthma cures,
catarrh remedies, and other mixtures are sold and taken indis-
criminately. Even when the original formula has been faithfully
adhered to, the result is most commonly harmful unless the
remedy has been administered by a regular practitioner. But
the success of the original formula brings imitators into the field,
who use a cheaper and more deleterious compound, and perhaps
undersell the original.
The second class consists of nostrums which promote and in-
tensify the very condition which they pretend to cure. These
are composed largely of alcohol. Most of the so-called "bitters"
come under this classification. The annual report of the Massa-
chusetts Board of Health for 1896 is a classic on this subject. It
contains analyses of sixty-one kinds of bitters, tonics, and sarsa-
parillas then in vogue, some of the most notorious of which are still
on the market,and many of which have been advertised as"'purely
vegetable," "free from alcoholic stimulant," "not a rum drink,"
etc. Parker's tonic, "recommended for inebriates," was found
to contain 41.6 per cent, of alcohol. Ayer'sSarsaparilla contained
26.2 per cent.. Hood's Sarsaparilla 18.8 per cent., and Paine's
Celery Compound 21 per cent. A lot of "blood purifiers" were
found to contain iodide of potassium, which is classed among
poisons by nearly every writer upon toxicology. "It is not un-
common," says the Massachusetts report, "to find persons who
have used continuously six, eight, or ten pint bottles of one of
these preparations." They can usually be identified bj^ their
pale, sallow complexions.
122 The Review. 1903.
The third class consists of unmitigated swindles, as where
bread pills are sold for the price of costly drugs. An instance
of this kind was given in the Massachusetts report, where
"Kaskine, a much-vaunted remedy, which sold at one dollar an
once, was found to consist of nothing but granulated sugar."
Several bills have recently been introduced in the State legisla-
tures to regulate the patent medicine business. One of them, in
NewYork, prohibits the publication, asadvertisements, of pictures
or testimonials of persons alleged to have been cured, unless such
testimonials have been certified to by the board of health of the
place in which the person lives, and unless a tax of S25 has been
paid for the certificate. It provides also that every preparation
advertised for sale must be first submitted to the local boards of
health for analysis. Without questioning the intent of the fram-
ers of this bill, the N. Y. Evening Post (Feb. 5th) observes that
it would open the door to blackmailing operations, while it would
not lead to any good result. These testimonials are worthless
from the medical point of view. They are mostly signed by no-
bodies, and even when they are from persons of repute, there is
no means of testing the signer's knowledge of his own case.
Only a trained physician can do that. The signer may have
thought he was cured by So & So's sarsaparilla or compound^
when he was not cured, but only exhilarated for a short time.
He may not have been sick at all, but merely have thought that
he was. In short, a non-professional opinion about the effect of
a drug on one's self, or on a third person, is not worth a rush.
Is it supposed that the testimonial will be improved in value by
a certificate from the board of health of the place where the per-
son lives, and after a fee of $25 has been paid on it? Many of
these quackeries come from small towns where boards of health
do not exist ; but if the case were otherwise, how is the local
board of health to know whether old Mrs. Jones' rheumatism was
cured by Perry Davis' Pain Killer or not? Old Mrs. Jones did
not employ a physician. She doctored herself by reading the
newspapers. There is no medical man to whom the board of
health can refer in order to form a judgment on the case. It can
only take Mrs. Jones' word for it. Probably it would be stimu-
lated to do so for S25. The patent medicine man could well afford
to add something to the legal fee, since a certificate from a board
of health looms large in the public eye.
Yet something ought to be done to protect a long-suffering and
gullible public against the patent medicine vendors. Germany
has some effective laws on the subject to which our legislatures
might profitably devote some of their time and attention.
123
ONE LESSON OF THE COAL STRIKE ENQUIRY.
The follqwing: considerations are submitted by a contributor
who has closely watched the proceedings before the Coal Strike
Commission :
The hearing of witnesses before the Coal Strike Commission
is closed ; the lawyers for both sides have had their say, and the
decision of the Commission is anxiously expected not only by the
parties directly concerned, but the general public as well. The
testimony given under oath by reliable people, in spite of the
sharp cross-examination by the lawyers representing the miners'
organization, has shown a deplorable state of affairs in the coal
regions during the strike. Whatever grievances the miners may
have had, (and the evidence has not established that they are any
worse off than hundreds of thousands of workingmen in other
branches, who are peacefully making a living) there can be no
excuse for the reign of terror inaugurated by the Miners' Union
in that part of the State. Mr. Darrow, the able counsel of the
strikers, in his closing speech before the Commission, finding no
legal grounds for his contentions, speaks of the "moral rights"
of man and says among other things in an effort to define
these rights : "I have known lawyers to disagree as to legal rights
quite as much as moralists disagree as to moral rights, and per-
haps more. The whole training and education of the youth and
the man is to teach them the difference between right and wrong
in human relations, to teach them those relations which make for
the peace and the good order and well-being of society, and those
which are anti-social and tend to the disorder of society."
Unconsciously this brilliant lawyer, who has defended the poor
miners against the attacks of their employers, of the military
authorities, and even of the public at large, has in this one sen-
tence expressed the severest condemnation of the present Amer-
ican method of State education. Admitting that the relations of
capital and labor should be regulated by a higher standard than
the brutal law of supply and demand, where is it possible for the
average man to get acquainted with the "higher law," or "moral
rights," as Mr. Darrow calls it?
Certainly not in our public schools, where even the Ten Com-
mandments have no place in the plan of instruction ; nor in the
higher institutions and universities with their generally atheistic
tendencies; nor in the union meeting room with its utter con-
tempt for the outsider, commonly called "scab." Where is he to
go for instruction regarding his "moral rights"?
The speech of Mr. Darrow and the action of the unions prop-
erly interpreted, are a most important argument for the need of
a Christian education of the young, presented forcefully to the
American public. Will the lesson be heeded?
124
FOR A CATHOLIC SCHOOL EXHIBIT AT THE WORLDS FAIR.
The Review's financial contributor writes : «
The plan of the Lutherans for representing their educational
work at the St. Louis World's Fair, as outlined in No. 6 of The
Review, is excellent as far as it goes, but it will have to be sup-
plemented somewhat, so far as the exhibit of the Catholic
schools is concerned, if the show is to make the desired impres-
sion upon the American public. Dollars and cents have more
weig-ht with the averag-e man than any proposition in the abstract,
and for that reason the cost of establishing" and maintaining the
Catholic and other specifically Christian educational institutions
should be tabulated, figured together and compared with the ex-
penses of the States for the same purpose.
Therefore to the program of the Lutherans should be added
the following information :
1. Cost of each school building with equipment. fThis could
be shown on the photograph of each building.)
2. Cost of maintenance, including salaries of teachers, average
attendance, and average cost of teaching a child per year.
For Catholic schools each diocese should show the aggregate
number of schools, total value, cost of erection and maintenance,
average attendance these figures could be tabulated and com-
pared with the expenses of the public schools, as shown by the
reports of the departments; of education for the different States.
If each State, where the Catholic population supports schools
of their own, were fully represented at the St. Louis Fair, and it
could be shown, how much monej^ is expended by the Catholics
for their schools and how much is saved to the general public on
the basis of the published cost of the public school departments,
it would certainly make an impressive lesson for the average
mind, and would be of some help to a better understanding on
the part of the general public of the Catholic position on this im-
portant question.
If The Review's expert accountant could assist in working up
these figures, he would gladlj'^ for the sake of the good cause
render his services free of charge. ;
Rev. F. L. Kerze recently wrote to the Cleveland Catholic
Universe (No. 1488):
"Mr. Preuss, editor of the St. Louis Review, has for years
been disclosing the weak points of our fraternal organizations.
The Catholic press, on the whole, has taken little or only hostile
notice of the matter. Now that several Catholic fraternals are in
trouble, the American Catholic press can not afford to remain
silent."
125
MINOR TOPICS.
On February 14th and 15th a number of
Torturing Convicts. our daily newspapers printed a despatch
from San Francisco, from which we extract
these paragraphs :
"The Assembly Committee on Prisons has made a report on
its investigation of punishment in the San Quentin and Folsom
State Prisons. They find that the straitjacket and other methods
of torture are in use in both institutions. Two prisoners at San
Quentin were found to be permanently crippled by straitjacket.
At Folsom the exact number has not been ascertained as yet,
but it is larger.
"Sometimes a small jacket or vest is placed on first. This is
composed of hair, the straitjacket proper being placed on over it.
The man is now in a standing position, the jacket being placed as
tight as possible. The prisoner is then placed on his back, the
guards kneeling on him so as to bring the edges of the jacket
tighter across his back. He is then laid in his cell. Should they
wish to extract a confession, a short stick three feet long is used,
it being inserted in the lacing and worked on the principle of the
Spanish windlass. The lacing thus becomes as taut as ingenuity
can make it."
If the facts are as stated, there can be no surprise that the
"water cure" and similar acts of cruelty by the American troops
in the Philippine Islands have not aroused the public to greater'
indignation. Reports of cruelties in the public institutions of a
good many of ourStates have been published from time to time, but
they are seldom followed by any announcement of punishment of
the guilty parties. The art of "whitewashing" is understood to
perfection in political circles.
The Philadelphia i5/^ //£?//// of Feb. 14th a, c.
Protestant Indulgences, published a card issued by the American
Bible Society which contains this passage :
"Sabbath-Schooi. Charity Fund.
"Stockholders are guaranteed to receive one hundred times as
much as they put in (Matt. 19: 29), Those who continue to pay
into the fund as much as six cents a week for three years in suc-
cession to be a Life Member of the American Systematic Bene-
ficence Society. Those who do this for six years, to be Honorary
Members for life. Those who do this for ten years, to be Hono-
rary Vice-Presidents for Life. Those who do this (for Love of
Christ) while they live will have a free admission through the
gates into the Heavenly City, a Snow-white Robe, a Heavenly Harp,
a Crown of Gold, and a seat at the right hand of the final Judge."
Is it not curious that Protestants, who have based so many of
their attacks against the Catholic Church upon the alleged sale of
indulgences, should venture to promise "admission to Heaven,"
etc., for a weekly contribution of six (! !) cents during life? This
seems to be in line with the reported transaction of Protestant
126 The Review. 1903.
missionaries in Hawaii, of "buying" valuable plantations with
"certificates" guaranteeing- everlasting happiness in the next
world.
The National Securities Company, of this city, against which
we warned our readers in No. 3 of the present volume of The
Rf.view, is one of the several get-rick-quick concerns forced to
the w^all b}^ the grand \wry last week in consequence of the in-
vestigation instituted after the collapse of the Arnold and other
turf investment fakes. When the manager of this misnamed
"securities" compan5% Brooks, was arrested, it developed that he
did not own one share of stock in the concern of which he was be-
lieved to be the largest shareholder. He was unable to show any
investment made by the concern during its brief career. As-
sistant Circuit Attorney Fickeisen said, after cross-questioning
Brooks and Smith (the Secretary of the CompanjO: "I think
Smith's $25,000 (the money claimed to be in the treasury) is
mythical. They formed the companj'^ of air, constituted them-
selves the shareholders and went after the suckers." (Cfr. St.
Louis Glohe-Democrat, Feb. 18th.)
We have several times pointed out that if the Catholic gentlemen
now owning and editing daily newspapers in various sections of
this country, were Catholics of the right kind, "ultramontane"
instead of "liberal," we might have a Catholic daily press of con-
siderable size and influence, without going into special ventures
that promise little. A reader sends us this clipping from a re-
cent number of the Ave Ma7'ia (unfortunately he does not say
which number) in confirmation of our view :
"There are several daily papers in this country which are
owned and edited by Catholics ; and if these gentlemen onlj'^ had
a high sense of dut}^ the need of a Catholic daily would not be so
pressing. Neither of two such journals that we know of betrays
its religious proprietorship, either in the news columns or on
the editorial page. Their point of view is always purely secular,
never frankly Catholic."
We heartily agree with the Mi?'ror ^.No. 1) when it says :
"The erstwhile esteemed and even yet not wholly unestimable
Glohe- Democrat is going in ways that are not those of perfectness
and lead not unto salvation. The good old sheet's depart-
ure from conservatism and venture upon the course marked
by the shrieking headline and the 'leaded' introduction to
unimportant news is a sad symptom of jaundice. The Glohe-
Democrat should not allow itself to turn yellow as its pres-
ent age and stage." When Mr. Reedy adds that the Globe-
Democrafs "reputation for trustworthiness in its news was worth
more money than saffron journalistic stirrings can ever earn,"
we are not quite so sure he is right. Why have so many — nearly
all — of our American metropolitan dailies sacrificed their dignity,
if not for the purpose of gaining in circulation and advertising?
What other motive inspires their managers than to make money?
No. 8. The Revikw. 127
Father Baart's suggestion of "konigraphy" for wireless telegra-
phy and "konigrara" for a wireless message is good, though the
Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph's explanation of it needs some elu-
cidation. It is as follows :
" 'Koni' can be considered the two syllables of the name Mar-
coni, the k and c being unchangeable (?), and thus sufficiently ex-
presses the name of the inventor. While in Greek it is derived
from the verb 'konio,' which means, firstly, to strew or cover
with atoms or particles of dust, or ether, or secondarily, to make
great haste or speed."
Kovtw (xonaw) means to sprinkle with dust or ashes or lime, but
we recollect no classic passage where it is used in the sense of
making great haste or speed. KovlX^m and Koviia^ however, have this
latter meaning, and since the root of both verbs is the same.
Father Baart's idea is indeed a singularl}' happy one.
The Globe-Democrat (Feb. 6th) remarks in connection with
Dr. Parkhurst's plea to establish a "clean and wholesome daily
newspaper" to "elevate the masses," that the masses do not
want to be elevated, that they resent being elevated. "A two-
column account of a revival is clean to the point of spotlessness
and it is as wholesome as an ozone-laden breeze from the tops of
the Rockies, but a prize offered will not secure its being read by
eight out of ten purchasers of the paper. What are you going to
do about it?"
The same is true of by far the greater portion of our Catholic
reading public. They do not want to be elevated. They would not
read a clean Catholic daily. They dote on sensationalism. "What
are you going to do about it?"
A Committee of the Catholic School Board of New York gives
in a report published in the January Catholic World, the following
summary of attendance in the parish schools of the Empire State,
with an estimate of the Catholic population, according to dioceses:
Catholic
Pupils. Population.
New York 49,752 1,200,000
Brooklyn 34.161 500,000
Buffalo 22,712 171,000
Rochester 15,734 105,000
Albany 15,000 145,000
Syracuse 4,943 70,000
Ogdensburg 3,400 79,000
^«
Mr. Croke in Rome — he of the many initials and innumerable
fakes — gladdens the heart of the Liberalistic editor of the Catho-
lic Citizen (Feb. 7th) with the joyful tidings that "authoritative
opinion" (which means the lounging tatlers in the Vatican lobbies
from whom said Croke gets his "authentic" information) is run-
ningagainst the Catholic Federation movement. Clearlythe tatlers
have once again fooled the pompous Croke. The authorities are
128 The Review. 1903.
not against the Federation. They have not hitherto paid any at-
tention to the matter. Those of the cardinals who follow up Am-
erican occurrences are — with possibly two exceptions — heartily
in favor of the movement. This is official.
Speaking of the "Christianity of Harnack," the learned editor
of the Civilta Cattolica (quad. 1261) aptly remarks : "Strauss was
more consistent. He declared the gospels to be false because
they contain miracles. Harnack admits their authenticity in
every point excepting their miracles, which is even more arbi-
trary." And he concludes : "Harnack finds himself in the posi-
tion of a child who unfolds leaf by leaf the bulb of some plant to
find the kernel: — he finishes with empty hands."
When one of our distinguished statesmen eulogized the hog as
the great American civilizer, his utterance was set down by an
unfeeling world to Western bumptiousness. It may comfort us,
therefore, to learn that others too can take our quadruped
seriously. We read in a recent German book catalog the follow-
ing announcement : "Andree, L. Das Schwein in poetischer,
mythologischer und sittengeschichtlicher Bedeutung. Paris :
Verlag Ziircher Discussionen. (3 francs.)"
The Syracuse Catholic Sun has not been on our list for some
time ; but we see from the Catholic Union and Times {l^o. 43) that
it is still at its old game of pilfering the editorial paragraphs of
those of its contemporaries who are good enough to accord it the
benefit of exchange. The Stin is the only soi-disant Catholic news-
paper that thrives upon its neighbors' goods and glories in its
own disgrace. It is the mephitis mephitica of the American
Catholic press.
The Vera Roma (No. 5) confirms the strange news of the
appointment of Msgr. Denis O'Connell as Rector of the Catholic
University. It says that Msgr. Conaty will be appointed Bishop
of Los Angeles. But the clergy of that Diocese have declared for
"home rule" and refused to put Msgr. Conaty's name on their list.
Libcrtas, a Filipino Catholic daily published in Spanish at
Manila, editorially says that "the Aglipay schism is a religious-
political movemeni,and evil religiously and politically," adding its
firm conviction that it is inspired by American fanatics whoare
striving to create disturbances in the islands.
A friend of Thic Review in Texas writes :
"A census of fallen-away Catholics, with the necessary explan-
ations, would reveal many interesting facts. I think it would
show a big difference between diocese and diocese, and this would
lead toother conclusions."
fl TTbe IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., Makch 5, 1903. No. 9.
THE MYSTERIES OF CLAIRVOYANCE.— II.
UR reference (in No. 6) to Anna Eva Fay and her tricks of
alleged clairvoyance and mind-reading, coupled with a
request to our readers to help us shed some more light
on the subject, have brought to this of&ce, among others, an inter-
esting communication from Toledo, Ohio. A certain Mr. J. D.
Hagaman there,*) it appears, has undertaken to show up the var-
ious tricks of the Fays.t)
The so-called "cabinet tests" with which the Fays enliven their
performances, have often been explained, notably by Shaw in
his 'Magical Instructor. ' Not so the alleged feats of clairvoyance
which we described briefly in our recent article. In his elucida-
tion of these Mr. Hagaman confirms the correctness of the
Civilta Cattolica's theory J) of the use of prepared cardboards,
"Some of these cardboards" — he says — "have a corner cut off ; in
the center of these is concealed a carbon paper which transfers
all that is written to the inside of the board. These boards are
carried around to the back of the stage where they are examined
and answers prepared. The other cardboards are flung care-
lessly down on the steps leading to the platform, causing many
to believe that all of them are treated the same way."
But, as we had correctly surmised, there are other supplemen-
tary ruses : 1. "While the answers are being arranged, the little
vaudeville entertainment is going on. During intervals in the en-
tertainment, or even while it is in progress, many among the au-
dience talk over the questions they have written and make sur-
mises as to the answer. There is usually one of the many con-
federates ready to drink in every word and carry it to the rear.
*) His address is 15th and Missouri Streets, Toledo, O.
t) There are three of them : the original
Anna Eva, her son, and his wife, who also goes
by the name of Anna Eva Fay. [Cfr. Toledo
X) See our No. 6, p. 89.
Bee, Feb. 13th, for a copy of which we are in-
debted to our unknown friend, and which con-
tains Mr. Hagaman's explanations.]
130 The Review. 1903.
2. "The city directory plays a very important part in assisting-
Mrs. Fay."
3. "When Mrs. Fay comes on the stage, a covering is thrown
over her bead which reaches to the shoulders, after which a sheet
is thrown ever her. But, even if she had no covering over her
head at aJ] the mechanical contrivance could not be seen, as her
hair is dressed over her right ear and with curls falling on her
right shoulder to the front of her low bodice in such a manner as
to conceal the small receiver and the tiny wire which connects
the 'phone with her accomplices under the stage."
A reporter§) had noticed some odd movements by Mrs. Fay at
one of her performances. He related his experience as follows :
"A woman sat just back of me who seemed very anxious to have
her question answered. She had written it at home. I sat in the
front row to the right, where Mr. Fay usually takes up his post
during the readings. Mr. Fay noticed that the woman was un-
easy, so he stepped to her side and asked in a low voice if she had
written her question at home. She said she had. He told her
to let him see it, saying perhaps he could help her to get an an-
swer. 'Is this your son?' he asked. Her reply was in the affirma-
tive. 'How long has he been away?' 'Seven or eight months,' was
the answer. He told her he would see what he could do for her,
and took her slip in his hand, stepping back to his former position.
"I watched that slip of paper. He held it in his hand in an off-
hand manner for several minutes, then he made a notation on it.
After a little he began to fold it up, apparently without noticing
what he was doing. Then he went up to the steps on which were
thrown the pads and dropped that little paper, seemingly back
of the pads. After a number of questions had been answered,
he went back to the steps (this was all done in a casual manner),
and picked up a slip of paper. Almost immediatel}' the woman's
name 'came to' Mrs. Fay. And outside of what I had heard the
woman tell Mr. Fay, the answer contained no information ex-
cept: 'Of course your son will return.' Now almost any one in
the audience would have told that woman the same thing and felt
that two to one they were right, but she was fairly ecstatic over
it and repeated over and over again how wonderful it was that
Mrs. Fay could tell such things as that."
Mr. Hagaman ascribes Mr. Fay's being able to read this ques-
tion and tell how long the son had been away, to a small aperture
communicating with confederates under the stage, who copied
the note and the extra instructions of Fay, and after returning
the note, 'phoned the question, etc., to Mrs. Fay.
§) Sec Toledo Bee, Feb. 13th.
No. 9. The Review. 131
We should like to hear Mr. Hagfaman's explanation of the two
cases we mentioned in our recent article : where the Fay woman
correctly told two persons in her audience what had become of a
lost New-Foundland dog- and some stolen jewelry, both the dog-
and the jewelry being subsequently found and recovered at the
places she had indicated. As we remarked before : We do not
believe there was any collusion, because the questioners were
persons of honesty and g-ood faith. The jewelry case was related
in the writer's presence by the lady who had recovered the
trinkets, the story of the dog we have from a reliable friend.
The following communication from our venerable friend Mrs.
Elizabeth A. Adams, of Rockford, 111., will also prove interesting-
in connection with the above subject :
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sii-:
Apropos of the contention that clairvoyance is due to trickery
solely, it suggests that many counterfeits of the coin of a nation
fail to prove there is no real coin.
When mesmerism and clairvoyance and the dynamics of mag-
netism began to interest our United States populace, more than
forty years ago, I became interested in the subject, and it would
take many tricksters to convince me that clairvoyance is due
solely to the trickery of men. I saw too much before I was a
Catholic to permit such a conclusion.
That tricksters made money with the claim of exposing clair-
voyance was well known in this locality. An amusing instance
comes to my mind. The bogus affair, in the Congregational
church of the village, was well attended. A young man scarcely
out of his boyhood, encouraged by a companion, just for the fun
of it, asked to be told the name of the young lady he loved.
Quickly the name of one who was hardly reputable was given, and
a laugh from the house succeeded. The young man and his as-
sociates were angryjand, persuad ed that some one of the villagers
were conversing with the trickster, made close observations and
became assured that a young and respectable physician was aid-
ing the farce. The moment the meeting closed the boys darted
to the place occupied by the physician and in spite of that
worthy's efforts found and exposed the wires of communication
with the stage in the sacred place of Protestant worship, quite
regardless of the injury that might be done.
It would take too much space here to offer the proof which
suffices me of the reality of what is known as clairvoyance,
which evidently prepared the way for Spiritism. To mention a
single case : — The lecturer was a lady. No papers were given
132 The Review. 1903.
out. Those who wrote the names of deceased friends furnished
their own paper and folded it. The lecturer with the bundle
held close in her hand begfan casting one after the other aside
asking", "Is this one here?" By and bye one responded in the
affirmative. The lecturer opened the scrap of paper and read
the name within. But at once a voice from the audience pro-
tested. The invisible visitor was the husband of thie Irish woman,
who had protested the name had been written by her son. The
place and date of birth and death and burial in Ireland were
stated, and the son being ignorant of these appealed to his mother
to learn if they had been given correctly. She could not deny that
they were, but begged that the dead be left in peace. In this
case Spiritism was linked|with clairvoyance. That the spirits of
the air are not connected in their trickery with clairvoyance in
all cases is difficult to satisfactorily demonstrate.
On one occasion, under mesmeric influence, I was able not only
to identify two persons who were whispering in a distant room,
but also heard what they were saying, as they acknowledged after-
wards. They seemed to be near me. This personal experience
convinced me of what I had before strongly doubted.
* *
A contribution on the same subject from a clergyman of the
Diocese of Omaha was received too late for insertion in this issue
and will be printed in our next.
THE REFORM OF THE BREVIARY.
I. An humble lay reader of the Bombay Catholic Exa^niner, ably
edited by Jesuit Fathers, recently came across the following para-
graph in a Catholic paper :
"It is announced that the Pope has resolved upon important re-
forms in the historical lessons of the Breviary, and directed the
Congregation of Rites to appoint a special commission for the
purpose of bringing up these lessons to the level of the best re-
sults of modern historical and archaeological science. A very
far-reaching reform may be expected, etc., etc., etc."
From this he gathered "that modern research has already been
the means of exploding many an ancient tradition contained in
the 'Lives of the Saints' as handed down to us from the early
ages, and consequently of reducing such tradition to the low
ranks of 'tales'and fables,' which can, therefore, no longer be re-
lied upon as reasons for, or as the origin of, devotions sanctioned
by Holy Church and practised for centuries by her devoted
children."
No. 9. The Review. 133
And in laying- bare his perturbed spirit to the reverend editor
of our scholarly Bombay contemporary, he said :
"If my surmise is correct, it would naturally strike the humble
layman, such as myself, that here there is a splendid opportunity
for the enemies of the Catholic religion to attack the true faith
more vigorously than ever and to hold up to public ridicule these
old 'traditions' and 'historical facts' upon which some of the
Church's most cherished and popular devotions have, up to now,
been based, but which now, owing to this deep research and
minute examination, she herself, through the mouth of the Holy
Father, is forced to denounce as untrue and false, and as being
the pure invention of human minds. If this is to be — as I suppose
it is possible to be — then as years roll on the microscope of mod-
ern and scientific research is sure to be more keenly and more
closely applied to the Church's own 'historical legends,' and I ask
where will it stop, and where will all, or at least some, of our
dearest traditions go to? What grounds and reasons shall we
have for explaining certain deep-rooted beliefs and sincere devo-
tions, if the very foundations themselves are ruthlessly taken
away, and this by our own spiritual head, the Sovereign Pontiff
himself?"
The answer this troubled layman got from the editor of the
Examiner, deserves to be reproduced in The Review. Here it is:*)
II. Tradition in its active sense means the transmission of
some idea, fact or fiction from generation to generation through
the living mind of the community, instead of recording that idea,
fact or fiction once for all in writing. Sometimes, however, the
name stands for the idea, fact or fiction thus handed down, and
it is in this latter sense that the word is here used. A tradition
may actually come to be written down and transmitted to future
g-enerations by writing, without ceasing to be a tradition ; since
the two means of transmission are not incompatible with each
other. Tradition ceases where the only basis of a fact lies in the
records of contemporary documents. Yet even to contemporary
documents there can be attached a fringe of traditions. Again,
the history of a document may be traditional, though the docu-
ment itself may be contemporary. Still more is this true of the
interpretation of a document. For instance, the Jewish interpre-
tation of the Old Testament, and in many cases the Christian in-
terpretation of both Testaments, rests not on the clearly ascer-
tained meaning of ambiguous texts, but on the prevalence of a
uniform belief among- the ancient Fathers of the Jewish and
Christian Church, as to the force of that text.
*) We have condensed it somewhat.
134 The Review. 1903.
III. The Catholic Church recog-nizes traditional transmission
as a legitimate and valid means of securing truth, and maintains
that the original mode of transmission designed by Christ was
through tradition and not through the medium of a written docu-
ment. The advantage of this traditional method lies in the fact
that tradition embodies a living idea rather than a verbal propo-
sition ; and a living idea is its own interpreter, whereas a written
statement may become liable to conflicting interpretations. The
disadvantage of the traditional method lies in the possibility of
mutilation, accretion or corruption; not being subject to the
checks provided by a written code.
The argument chiefly urged against the Church's method lies
in the general unreliability of traditional transmission. Speaking
in general, tradition can be admitted to be a precarious organ of
truth; but such a generalization does not carry us very far. There
is tradition and tradition — and all tradition requires to be tested as
does any other kind of evidence. Bnt there are certain safeguards
by which tradition can be made secure; and, without at present ap-
pealing to the supernatural guarantees which Catholics believe
to have been given by Christ to His Church, there are certain
natural conditions attached to Catholic tradition which seem to
provide against disaster. The normal organ of transmission in
the Catholic Church lies in a collective body, consisting of the
Pope, the hierarch of bishops scattered throughout the world,
and the whole body of the clergy and faithful. And when we
consider the checks and counter-checks provided by so many
witnesses, as well as the keenness of all parties to cling to the old
traditional belief, and to suspect novelties and resist innova-
tion ; and still more when we remember that the bishops are
specially chosen for their fidelity to revealed truth and their or-
thodoxy in the faith, it seems as if no better precautions could be
devised for ensuring the correct transmission of the message
originally delivered to the Apostles.
IV. We are not, however, at present concerned with vindicating"
the Catholic principle of tradition, but rather with calling atten-
tion to a most important distinction not always sufficiently un-
derstood even by Catholics themselves.
The distinction we refer to is that between the four kinds of
tradition current in the Catholic Church.
There is first of all divine tradition, which comprises all those
doctrines of faith and morals which go to make up the sum of
Christian revelation. These are held to be constant and immut-
able except in the sense that their contents can, by the course of
time, be more deeply understood in their various aspects and
bearings — as happens when some point of doctrine is attacked
No. 9. The Review. 135
by heresy and requires a closer or fuller definition. The second
kind of tradition is called Apostolic, and includes dicta or ordi-
nances framed by the Apostles outside the range of revelation,
These may undergo change in course of time, as happened with
regard to the decrees of the Council of Jerusalem. The third
kind of tradition is called ecclesiastical, and refers to usages and
common beliefs relating to Church matters, some of which have
the express sanction of the official Church ; others prevailing for
a time and then falling into oblivion, or as sometimes happens,
even falling under official abrogation. Fourthly, there is a class
of what are known as :t>ious beliefs or legends, mostly referring to
real or supposed facts of Church history, which have no claims
to supernatural origin or official authority, but which find their
way into devotional sermons and even theological books, as illus-
trations, explanations or arguments, and for some reason or
other come to be widely believed by the faithful. It is with this
class of traditions that we have at present particularly to deal,
and so we might as well give a few examples. Thus there pre-
vailed among the early Fathers an idea that the Septuagint
(Greek) translation of the Hebrew Scriptures was inspired as
well as the original Hebrew text ; but this notion has been ex-
ploded for more than a thousand years. So likewise the Isidorian
Decretals were believed to be genuine from the ninth to the six-
teenth century ; but since that date they have come to be univers-
ally recognized as forgeries.
The point of importance, to be noted on the present occasion,
is that, whereas the Church holds herself responsible for the first
two classes — the divine and the Apostolic — and exercises official
control over the third, or ecclesiastical, she assumes no respon-
sibility— unless in a few exceptional cases — for the fourth class,
which are left to grow or decline, to be proved or disproved, ac-
cording to the natural workings of the human mind. The Church
interferes only when by the growth of some form of pious belief
the truths of revelation are in some way compromised. Other-
wise she is not responsible for the truth of every thing that ob-
tains currency among the multitudinous peoples which make up
her fold.
V. The object of the Historico-Liturgical Commission is in
part at least to reform the Breviary. The need of both this and
the Biblical Commission has long been felt among Catholic schol-
ars. An examination of recent results as regards Scriptural
science has been going on for a long time in an unofficial manner,
and many of the leading scholars in the Church have been tend-
ing more and more to embrace views broached by non-Catholics
and for a long time resisted by Catholic apologists. It has be-
136 The Review. 1903.
come possible to eliminate from these theories the peculiar hos-
tility to Catholicism which was attached to them by their pro-
pounders, and to regard the views themselves as contributions
of considerable value to our knowledge of the Bible. It is no new
attitude to acknowledge indebtedness to non-Catholic students
in the matter of scientific knowledge, whether of history or of
archaeology or of language ; and in all these departments the
Church is at present bent on assimilating all that is good in mod-
ern non-Catholic research. So far for the Scripture.
As regards the Breviary some of our readers may need to be
told that the Breviary is a collection of psalms, passages of Scrip-
ture, selections from the Fathers and excerpts from ecclesiastical
biography and historjs arranged in a certain order for recitation
in daily portions by the clergy. The compilation has undergone
considerable changes from time to time, and the reform of the
Breviary has been a matter frequently agitated in recent years.
It was in fact one of the much needed works of the age, which
now seems likely to be carried out by the new Liturgical Com-
mission. What the exact scope of the Commission will be, is not
yet clearly defined ; but we gather that part of its work will be
to revise the lessons — that is, to expunge from the historical por-
tions of the Breviary certain exploded legends and historic inac-
curacies, which the progress of modern research has detected
and exposed.
. [ To he concluded.^
s? sr 3?
CAN THE CHVRCH IMPOSE A TAX ?
A dean of an Eastern Diocese writes to The Review :
"In this happy (or unhappy) land of ours, in which the dollar
plays such an important part, even in religion, after all the many
schemes of raising funds for religious purposes, we now hear in
several dioceses of a taxation imposed by the bishop upon his
priests.
Now, I have neither in the seminary nor in the several years of
my priesthood, heard of any right of the bishop to impose a tax.
I could not find a syllable of such a right in any of my theologies,
and the chapter in Smith's 'Elements of Ecclesiastical Law,
No. 608, etc., convinced me more than the silence of my other
books and that of my seminary professors, that taxation in the
true sense of the word is a thing which the Church of God does
not, nor ever did claim as a right over any of her subjects. If I
speak of taxation, I do not mean fees for services of the chancery
of the bishopj nor penitential alms required from an individual
No. 9. The Review. 137
for the non-compliance with an ecclesiastical law, or any thing of
this kind, sometimes improperly called so, nor do I mean the
orders of the bishop requiring the priests to collect free gifts
from the faithful for the general wants of the diocese, nor even
the percentage demanded from the free collections of each church
for the diocesan government ; — for in all this the freedom of the
individual giver is left untouched; but I mean a tax properly
speaking, imposed upon the whole population of the faithful or a
particular class thereof [v. g., the priesthood] demanding of
them individually and irrespective of their free will, a certain
amount of money to be paid within a certain time all according
to the personal judgment or arbitrarj'^ will of the bishop.
1. How could the Church authority impose such a tax? a.
Taxation, to be binding in conscience, must be just and propor-
tionate to the means of the individual. Whence has the Church
authority the right to enquire into the personal property pos-
sessions of the individual? Without this knowledge just taxa-
tion is impossible, b. Taxation must be enforced. How will the
Church authority do that? by threatening with ecclesiastical
censure? — is that not opening the way to simony?
2. When or where did the Church ever impose taxes? What
■pope ever taxed the bishops, if they can tax their priests?
If the object for which the bishop asks contributions is worthy
of support, the generosity of the diocesans or their love and re-
spect for him must be considered to be at a low ebb if compul-
sion, which is inseparable from taxation, must be substituted
for an appeal to the former.
No, until some one gives me better information, I will hold that
taxation is the distinctive feature of the State power, while the
Church in her temporal needs relies on the faith and charity of
her children, and only where these are in the decline, such no-
tions as taxation in the Church will be fostered.— Desiderius."
*
Had our friend read the Council of Trent, he would not have
doubted the right of the Church to impose a tax. One example
will suffice to refute his whole contention. In session 23, ch. 18,
De reform., the Council enacts a tax for the diocesan seminary
on the bishop, chapter, secular and regular clergy, hospitals,
and other institutions ; and further lays down the method of as-
sessing such tax that it may be just and equitable.
Baart, 'Legal Formulary, 'No. 291, page 273, gives the form for
certifying the tax-roll and the assessment on each benefice.
Benedict XIII., in his letter '' Creditae Nobis,'' enforces the tax
for the seminary and makes regulations in order that it may be
ust, i. e., ''juxta qualitatem locorum." According to the ''Creditae
138 The Review. 1903.
Nobis,''' the tax may be from three to five per cent, of the revenues
of the various benefices subject to tax. S. C. Cone, Causa
Massen., Taxae Seminarii, gives a full exposition of this matter.
Lucidi, 'De Visitatione Sacrorum Liminum,' may also be con-
sulted.
*
* *
The above was ready for the printer when we received this
supplementary note from "Desiderius":
"I was somewhat disappointed not to find v(\y article in your
last number. Still if by this delay you can add the following, it
will please me the better.
After writing the above I came across Cone. Trid., Sess. 23.,
cap. 18, which gives the most extensive power and right to bish-
ops to procure the necessary means for the establishment of
seminaries by drawing on benefices and ecclesiastical revenues
of almost any kind and forcing the beneficiaries and preben-
daries to give up for that purpose a just proportion, even under
pain of ecclesiastical censure.
Now there is a great difference between these revenues in
Catholic countries, which 1st. often far surpassed the needs or
'honesta sustentatio' of the prebendary and brought with it the
obligation of spending the surplus for alms deeds and good
works; and for which 2nd. the beneficiary often, after providing
for the mass or choir-duty, did not render the Church any ser-
vice whatever. There is, I say, an immense difference between
these fixed and regular incomes and our uncertain collections
among the faithful here. The salary-allowance made to the
priests by the bishops is in itself not sufficient for our 'honesta
sustentatio' and pre-supposes a perquisite income from the free
gifts of the faithful. And as for our work, — I trust nobody will
think it self-praise if I say, there is not in the Church a body of
priests working harder and more faithfully and more deserving
of the support they receive than the priesthood in the United
States.
Now, concerning the perquisites, the difference between the
parishes is so great that a just assessment has so far never been
made here to my knowledge and is probably an impossibility ;
and therefore, I abide by my conclusion : the Church of God
knows of no taxation properly speaking and I subscribe to the
words of Smith, 'Elements of Ecclesiastical Law,' page 328:
'These offerings, whether of the faithful or clergy, should as far
as possible assume the form of voluntary contributions and not
of taxes.' "
t?esi,d£xj.u.s..J,§. jtgain wrong. The principle of taxation is in-
herent in the Church. It holds for the United States as well as
No. 9. The Review. 139
Europe. From his reading of Church history he should know
that incomes from benefices were not fixed, but varied from year
to year, depending for the most part on crops and fruits. Fixed
interest on bonds and money loaned was scarcely known, and
hardly tolerated as an investment for Church property. He
should also know that comparatively few beneficiaries at the time
of the Tridentine Council received a revenue equivalent to the
salary of our pastors in the United States.
With us the receipts from pew-rents and ordinary Sunday
offerings remain about the same from year to year ; certainly
they rarely suffer a decrease. There are dioceses in this coun-
try where assessments are made for diocesan purposes based on
the ordinary revenues of the various parishes. An adjustment
is made at least once in five years. The method has proved sat-
isfactory to bishops, priests, and people.
Surely the taxable income of churches and churchmen is not
as changeable as the taxable property of the State, wherein
changes are made from year to year.
* *
In conclusion we will quote a very apposite paragraph from the
newest text-book on Canon Law: Institutiones luris Ecclesias-
tici, quas in usum scholarum scripsit los. Laurentius S. J. Fri-
burgi Brisgoviae. Sumptibus Herder. MCMHI.— No. 892, p. 608:
"CoUationesnonrarostrictaobligatione sunt dandae. Obligatio
oritur ex conventione facta, ex voto vel testameuto vel le^rato aut
ex eo, quod divino cultui, subsidio pauperum, sacrorum ministro-
rum sustentationi aliunde non est provisum, praesertim si legiti-
ma consuetudo aut lex certas obligationes praescribit. Fideles
enim ad cleri sustentationem et reliquas Ecclesiae necessitates conferre
ipsa natura obligantur. Auctoritas vero ecclesiastica hanc ohliga-
tionem j)ro singulis detenninare potest. Ubi ergo, deficientibus
stabilibus fundationibus, contributiones necessariae sunt, eas
pro viribus et ex aequa episcoporum taxatione impositas fideles
tenentur solvere. (Concil. plen. Americ. Lat. deer. n. 829.)"
a^ ^ 5I-
A PROTESTANT ON PRAYERS FOR THE DEAD.
In a recently published book*] the Rev. Dr. Amory H. Brad-
ford writes :
"What is meant by prayers for the dead? Exactly the same
as prayers for those in the body. When the body dies the soul,
or the essential man, is not touched by death. The personality
*) The Ascent of the Soul. (The Outlook Co., New York.i
140 The Review. 1903.
is that which thinks, chooses, lives. Your mother is not the form
on which your eyes rested, or the arms which encircled you, but
the thought, the devotion, the affection concealed, yet revealed,
by the body, and which use it for their instrument. In reality
we never saw our dearest friends ; what we saw was color, form,
but never the spirit. That is disclosed through the body, but is
not identified with it. Now just as we have prayed for a mother
or a child, or a friend whose physical form is familiar, but whose
personality we have seen only in its revelations, so we continue
to pray for that loved one whom we do not see any more, or any
less, after what is called death. In other words, instead of think-
ing of any as dead, we think of all as alive, although many of them
are in the unseen sphere. Love and sympathy have never been
dependent on the body except for expression, and there
is no evidence that they ever will be. Sympathy and affection,
thought and will, are matters of spirit ; and why may not
spirit feel for spirit and minister to spirit when the body is
laid aside? Your hands, your feet, your lips, did not pray for
your child ; your spirit prayed for his spirit, and now that his
body is laid aside, like a worn-out garment, you may keep on do-
ing just what you did before. This is what is meant by prayers
for the dead."
The English Reformation had retained, up to Edward VI. 's
time, something of prayer for the dead ; but later all these re-
mains of the Catholic spirit were abolished : such prayer savored
too much of Purgatory. Now they are returning to the practice.
It is clearly a need of the soul. But how senseless and unsatis-
factory this new theory is ! And how unscriptural 1
"The existence of Purgatory," f] says Cardinal Gibbons, "nat-
urally implies the correlative dogma, — the utility of praying for
the dead ; for, the souls consigned to this middle state have not
yet reached the term of their journey. They are still exiles from
Heaven and fit subjects for divine clemency It is a doctrine
alike consonant with our reason, and eminently consoling to the
human heart."
From the Catholic view-point it is, therefore, — in the words of
Holy Scripture t], "a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the
dead, that they may be loosed from sins."
Protestantism, on the other hand, logically decrees an eternal
divorce between the living and the dead, and no such inane reflec-
tions as those of Dr. Bradford, above quoted, can restore the
golden link.
t) The Faith of Our Fathers p. 247.
I) 2. Mach. xji, 47.
141
MINOR TOPICS.
Father Julius Bessmer, S. J., in a schol-
Cardiognosis and Mind- arly paper in our excellent contemporary
Reading. the Stitnmen aiis Maria-Laach [LXII, 5],
["Die Herzenskenntnis der Heiligen und
das Gedankenlesen"] shows by the example of St. Philip Neri how
the cardiognosis [scrutatio cordium] of the saints differs from
modern "mind-reading-." After proving that, even if there were
no perceptible physical difference between the two phenomena,
the peculiar relation of the Saints to God would stamp their
knowledge of the thoughts and secret acts of their fellow-men
with a supernatural character, as against the scientific experi-
ments of inquisitive modern scholars, he cites a number of well-
authenticated instances of cardiognosis from the life of St. Philip
and shows that they differ from the phenomena of modern mind-
reading, so-called, by being, 1. definite and 2. certain. While
the Founder of the Oratory was no doubt endowed in an especial
manner with the natural gift of prudence and counsel, the his-
tory of his life shows that he also possessed cardiognosis, a true
knowledge of the secret thoughts of others, in the theological
sense [cfr. St. Thomas, 2, 2, 9. 171, a. 3 c], which invariably aims
at saving lost souls and at uniting those that are saved more in-
timately with their Creator. It is a gift of grace which the Savior
bestowed upon His church. He himself possessed it. We find
it again in St. Peter. It is included in the gift of prophecy which
St. Paul mentions among the gifts of the Holy Ghost.
Irenaeus tells us that many of the early Christians had it, and we
find examples of it among the Saints of nearly every age.
Manufacturers in this"Christian country"
American Idols. make idols and ship them to Asia. The
traf&c has horrified many who thought rum
was the only objectionable article shipped to the heathen from
America. For j'^ears Europe has been monopolizing the trade
in Buddhas, Krishnas, Sivas, Ganeshes, and Jumjums. The
American manufacturer has now succeeded in bringing: the trade
where it really belongs. His success was inevitable. His idols
are cheaper, do more work, and last longer. The heathen who
has once used an American idol, with self-closing eyes and auto-
matically wiggling toes, refuses to use any other. Besides, many
a poor heathen who could not afford to buy an expensive English
or German idol, is able to allow himself the cheaper American
article. Idols have been brought within the reach of the smallest
purse. Within a few years the most impoverished native of the
far East will find, thanks to the energy and ingenuity of the Am-
erican trader, that he need not deny himself the spiritual conso-
lations of his religion.
Some squeamish persons think that they see something a little
bit inconsistent in sending out a ship with a deckful of mission-
aries and a holdf ul of idols.
After all, though, it is — as the Chicago Tribune observes (Feb.
142 The Review. 1903.
17th) — a mere exchang-e of idols. They get Buddhas and Krish-
nas ; we g-et dollars and cents.
The referee in the bankruptcy proceed-
Fellow-Partners or ing-s instituted in the United States District
Usurers. Court against John J. Ryan and C. W. Dep-
pler,*) last Thurday denied the application
of the petitioning: creditors for the appointment of a receiver.
Ryan and Deppler had filed an answer stating that the plaintiffs
were fellow-partners in a scheme to g-amble on horse races and
as such were not entitled to relief as creditors. The referee held
that the petitioners had no standing in court, and sustained the
claim of the defendants that shareholders in the Ryan Investment
Co. were equal partners. Ryan and Deppler further set forth
that if the shareholders are not partners, having- received from
the firm 5 per cent, a week, they are usurers and are g^uilty un-
der the criminal statutes, or if the petitioners are not partners
in a gambling enterprise, but have loaned their money to Ryan
to be used for gambling purposes, they have no standing in court
and are not entitled to enforce any claim in bankruptcy.
So either you are a partner in the concern, if you have invested
in it, and co-responsible for its debts, or you are a usurer guilty
under the criminal statutes. We hope no one among our readers
finds himself in this predicament.
It is pretty generally believed that the as-
Italians and Regicide, sassins of princes and other rulers in the
course of the last century were mostly Ital-
ians. The Civilta Cattolica (quad. 1263) furnishes statistics
which disprove this opinion. From a table which it publishes,
we see that of the 73 assassinations attempted (55) or committed
(18) against ruling statesmen throughout the civilized world,
from 1801-1903, only four were by Italians ; all the rest of the as-
sassins or would-be assassins belonged to other nationalities.
"Whence it clearly appears that the noxious plant of regicide is
not indigenous to Italy, but grows everywhere." Its germs the
Civilta rightly finds in the principle of modern Liberalism : "Ni
Dieu, ni maitre."
The name of the celebrated Russian priest,
"Father John" of Father John, came prominently into notice
Cronstadt. in the European press in 1894, when this
highly venerated man, who is held in rever-
ence throughout the Russian Church, was summoned to Livadia
to attend the dying Czar, Alexander III., with whom he remained
till the end. A Benedictine, P. Stark, O. S. B., has lately pub-
lished a French translation of a small ascetical treatise by this
Father John, who is archpriest of Cronstadt {Le Pere Jean de
Cronstadt, Archit>retre de V Eglise Russe. Premiere fartie, son as-
citisme et sa morale ou ""Ma vie en Jisus- Christ." ) The book bears
•) A truf Investment concern of the J. E. Arnold stripe.
No. 9. The Review. 143
evidence on every page of the orig-inal identity of the doctrine of
the schismatic Greek Church with that of the Catholic Church
on the means of sanctification and salvation. Prayer and the fre-
quentation of the sacraments, love and devotion to the Mother of
God, the necessity of contrition and confession, asceticism, and
the principles of moral theology, as taught by Father John, bear
witness to his profound spirituality and religious earnestness.
Father St^rk promises in a second book to give a fuller account
of the personality of this interesting man, who is somewhat of a
phenomenon in the present condition of the so-called "Orthodox"
Church.
"Money is not worth six per cent, these
Gambling Enterprises days and you can not make it in any legiti-
and the "Western mate enterprise. Any safe mvestment that
Watchman." can promise four per cent, can command a
thousand millions of the most cautious cap-
ital in the country. Any concern that promises anything beyond
six per cent, is a gambling enterprise, and people who put their
money in it must be prepared to lose it. There are new, broad,
and smooth ways of getting rich, but only fools walk therein.
The way to wealth is narrow and difi&cult, like the way to Heaven,
and few are able to find it."
Thus sagely the Western Watchman (No. 11), which was, we
believe, the only Catholic newspaper to advertise the turf invest-
ment swindle concern of E. J. Arnold. How much respect and
regard the reverend editor has for his readers may be judged from
his further observation : "We try to exclude from our columns
every wild-cat enterprise ; but if any wild-goose prqspectuses
get into this paper, we warn our readers, once for all, that we
publish the notices at so much a line and make no charge for our
readers' credulitv."
What gives promise of being one of the
Jerusalem in St. Louis, most interesting features of the coming
World's Fair is a reproduction of the City
of Jerusalem. A concession of ten acres of ground has been
made for the purpose. This concession is in the very center of
the available space, commanding a good view and easily access-
ible. The location has admirable fitness for its purpose in the
lay of the land and in the elevations it includes. It is proposed
to spend about one million dollars installing the exhibit. Those
parts of the ancient city which are less interesting will be con-
densed into smaller space, so as to leave room for an exact repro-
duction of all the points of greatest interest and historic value.
Of course this will include the two principal mounts, the mosques,
the walls and the gates and noted streets. All of these will be
in proper location and relation, with reproduction of houses and
walls and fountains. A large corps of artists and architects will
be employed to photograph every inch of the Holy City as it now
stands, so that a correct view can be given.
144 The Review. 1903.
"Nikola Tesla, His Work and Unfulfilled
Tesia and His Unful- Promises." This is the title of the leading-
filled Promises. article in the current Electrical Ag^e by Mr.
Lawrence A. Hawkins. It is, on the whole,
a judicial setting forth of this "wizard's" claims and his achieve-
ments, and it must be admitted that the proportion of the former
to the latter is overwhelming. It is generally recognized now
that the one invention for which Tesla deserved credit is the
polyphase motor. Yet Mr. Hawkins is not willing to concede
even this. He declares that "engineering to-day owes Tesla no
more [for the motor] than it owes Ferraris, Deprez, or Bailey,
for Tesla never produced a commercially successful motor."
But we have it on good authority that Ferraris himself acknowl-
edges that much credit for the idea belongs to Tesla. Beyond
this, it must be admitted that the credit side of the scales con-
tains nothing that is of value to science or to future generations.
On the debit side are fantastic theories, grandiloquent boasts,
unfulfilled promises, sensational Sunday-newspaper articles, and,
latterly, sneering criticisms of the work of others.
The Civilta Cattolica is printing a series of scholarly papers on
trusts. In the latest instalment, in which he also quotes our re-
cent article : "Shall the Government Operate the Coal Mines?"
(The Review, vol. IX, pp. 675 sq.), the writer demonstrates that
Collectivism or State ownership can never solve a question which
depends on so many essentially variable elements, such as the
human intellect and will, the natural production of raw materials,
the fluctuation of the markets, etc. He thinks the true solution
lies in a system of government control which would keep the trusts
within bounds without destroying them. This he intends to out-
line in a concluding article, which we await with great interest.
A reader of the Catholic Universe (No. 1488) complains : "I no-
tice that I. C. T. S. furnishes regular communications to some
Catholic weeklies in this country. Although some of his extracts
are readable enough, still it seems to me that it is ridiculous to
treat of Manila questions this week, next week to move to Aus-
tralia, to reappear shortly in Lapland ! Kindly take a pleasant
view of the matter — but the fellow has been irritating me for
some time."
Naturally the editor took "a pleasant view of the matter," ex-
plaining that the initials I. C. T. S. stand not for an individual
who covers ridiculous distances, but for the International Catho-
lic Truth Society, which has a corps of correspondents stationed
in various parts of the world.
A country exchange says : "William Hentico last Wednesday
evening at the Lamb restaurant ate 28 bananas, smacked his lips
and declared the last one tasted just as good as the first." That's
nothing. Porcus Sus of East St. Louis ate 14 ears of corn, two
pumpkins, and a bucket of swill, and was still able to rub his
Ijristles against the fence and grunt.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., March 12, 1903. No. 10.
HAS PALMISTRY A SCIENTIFIC BASIS?
iTHiN tbe last six or seven years many works on palmistry
have made their appearance, but none of them can-
claim so elaborate and exhaustive a treatment of the
subject as 'The Laws of Scientific Hand Reading,' by William G.
Benham, lately published. This is a volume of 635 pages, with
some 800 illustrations.
That the author and his book have been endorsed by prominent
persons — among- them are the president of a college and a well-
known biographer — is another sign indicating the countenance
palmistry is receiving from "enlightened" people.
But the anticipations aroused by his ambitious title are doomed
to disappointment.
The author makes the common error of mistaking empiricisms
for science. He serves us, for the most part, with a collation of
the contributions of other authors, without, however, giving any
of them any credit whatever. No author on the hand is so much
as mentioned, not even Sir Charles Bell, whose well-known work,
'The Hand : Its Vital Endowments as Evincing Design, 'is in the
library of every student of the subject.
Benham doubtless aimed at a scientific presentation ; his
achievement is, however, a mere compilation. The title of the
book is therefore a misnomer.
Notwithstanding this, it must be admitted that he endeavors
to employ the scientific method ; that his two theories to account
for the existence on the palm of a preliminary map of future
events are very interesting, and that he seems to be original and
a specialist in basing his classification of types of character, not
on the hand as a whole, as all other palmists do, but on the
"mounts" at the base of the fingers.
In vindication of the scientific nature of his results, the author
146 The Review. 1903.
claims to have spent twenty-five years in the investigation of the
subject ; that as one preparation for his work he studied medi-
cine ; that in the prosecution of his task he gained entree to
"State institutions for the imbecile, insane, blind, and deaf ; the
almshouses, jails," &c., and that he examined the hands of the
most prominent "doctors, lawyers, ministers, speakers, actors,
singers, musicians, literary people, hypnotists, spiritualists,
murderers, forgers," &c.
The book evinces painstaking labor, but the proofs furnished
by Mr. Benham for his many dicta are no more scientific than
those furnished by other writers, who simply assert that thus
and thus are to be interpreted as having such and such a mean-
ing. Like them he indulges in oracular utterances and dogmatic
statements. Thousands upon thousands of his dicta could be
cited that are neither preceded nor followed by scientific induc-
tion. In other words, the interpretation of the phenomena pre-
sented by the details of the hand is too often stated dogmatically.
For example, like all other palmists, he declares, without show-
ing why it must be so, that the size of the first phalanx of the
thumb will indicate the amount of will, and that of the second the
amount of logic. The evidence given by him and others on this
point is empirical ; that is, it is based on individual observation
and experience, and is not deduced from the ratio of the factors
involved, which ratio should entitle the statement to be called
scientific. It is not shown, for example, why the positions of
logic and will could not possibly be reversed. Then, to take one
of the "mounts"— that of mercury, at the base of the little finger
— what is the scientific proof for the assertion that it indicates
the degree of shrewdness, industry, scientific and business ca-
pacity, quickness, &c.? Again, why are the fingers to each other
normally of a certain proportionate size ; the little finger (mer-
cury,) for instance, being normally smaller than the others? He
makes no attempt whatever to explain this fact, nor the multitude
of similar facts. Is such procedure scientific? Further, how
does he know that the line of mercury indicates the condition of
the stomach and liver? Why not the condition of the lungs or
nerves? For the art of hand-reading the author gives us empirical
guides, suggestions, but no "laws." No instance of a single "law"
is discernable in this book, and we lay it aside with stronger
doubt than ever if palmistry can really claim to have a scientific
basis.
147
FREEMASONRY IN GERMANY AND AMERICA.
Dietrich v. Oertzen published an article on the subject of Free-
masonrj' in No. 37 of Die Reformation, which that eminent Cath-
olic journal the Colog^ne Volkszeitung (No. 1124) reproduced, in
part at least, with full and unqualified approval. We quote :
"Formerly, and frequently even to-day,"— thus Mr. v. Oertzen
— "Freemasonry made grreat pretensions. According to the
country in which it happens to work, it strives to replace by a
better relig^ion the Catholic Church and the Christianity repre-
sented bj' her ; while to German Evangelical countries it offers
a higher unity in which all denominations, confessions, and po-
litical views may meet on neutral lodge ground."
"When the Pope or the bishops raise their voices against Free-
masonry in Latin coiintries"-comments the Volkszeitnng-" cz\X\Vi%
it an anti-Christian sect, the non-Catholic press raises the cry that
Catholic prelates calumniate Masonry ; Freemasons being by no
means the enemies of the Church, etc. But even v. Oertzen
acknowledges that they intend to replace the Catholic Church
and Christianity as represented by her. Hence it can be rightly
said that in France, Italy, and Spain they Represent formally an
atheistic anti-church. On the other hand, we German Catholics
must beware of applying to our own Freemasons, what Catholic
writers say about Freemasonry in Italy or France. In the pure-
ly Protestant provinces of Prussia, we have learned of instances
where confessional attacks against Catholics by Protestant theo-
logians were not encouraged by the lodges ; but we are fully
aware that in those districts the confused interdenominational-
ism, formulated in Lessing's fable of the Three Rings, is popular,
and, thus, Hr. v. Oertzen says quite correctly that Freema-
sons try to oppose to denominationalism a 'higher unity,' name-
ly the current religious Liberalism, although not of the fanatic
brand prevalent in Latin countries.
"Next V. Oertzen asks the question, whether Freemasonry has
obtained its aim, and pointedly remarks that hardly any one
acquainted with the history of Freemasonry would have the
courage to assert this without qualification on the strength of
that history, which, in reality, is but an uninterrupted fight over
the problem what truly and really constitutes the ends and aims
of Masonry.
" 'In France and Italy,' says the author, 'Freemasonry has de-
veloped radically, in close connection with political revolution ; in
the northern countries of Europe, it has striven to build up a so-
called Christian system, which in practice led to the exclusion of
the Jews. In Masonic Germany, for the last few decades, two
tendencies have been striving for supremacy : the so-called
148 The Review. 1903
Schroeder system of the Hamburg Grand Lodge, and the Swedish-
Christian system, particularly advocated by the Berlin Grand
Lodge. Before the beginning of this Peloponnesian war, there
existed an alliance of all the grand lodges of Germany. Delegates
met and discussed common interests, seeking to deceive them-
selves with regard to the existing fundamental differences.
" 'The truce lasted as long as war was waged in words only.
Even the extreme controversial attacks of librarian Findel, of
Leipzig, against the Grand Lodge and its historical foundation,
were silently ignored, although he accused it of deliberate false-
hood and attempted stultification of the people. But a merry war
broke out when it came to actions Since then, the fight has
been incessant and nov;^ threatens to disrupt the allied grand
lodges. Recently the grand masters of the old Prussian
grand lodges directed a letter to the managers of the German
Grand Lodge Alliance, full of complaints and controversy, men-
tioning also the 'unlawful' foundation of an annex to the Ham-
burg Lodge in Copenhagen and ending with the words : 'Only
when the principle of mutual esteem of the Masonic convictions
of others is recognized, when unworthy attacks upon opponents
are excluded from the lodges, and the honor and esteem of the
lodges is carefully guarded on the outside, are we interested in
preserving the German Grand Lodge Alliance. But this shall
not disturb the old Prussian grand lodges in their fraternal in-
tercourse with all those grand lodges who are ready to co-operate
with them in fostering and favoring Masonry in Germany. That
means the end of the Grand Lodge Alliance. The fight will go
on. And one may reasonably doubt if a union, disrupted and
at odds within, is apt to procure the blessing of peace to a peace-
less world. One good effect the fight might produce would be, if
the lodges would make it the pretext for giving up their secrecy,
standing up in future, like any one else who has good ideas to
spread, openly and frankly for their principles. 150 or 200 years
ago there might have been reasons for secrecy, to-day there are
none. He who has an original thought to-day, should not bury
his treasure in a napkin ; neither will he jeopardize anything if
he makes known his ideas of reform.'
"These statements," — adds the Cologne Volkszeitung,—''v^^
know to be correct, and it will be wise to stick to them in judging
the inner fights of Masonry and not be misled by fairy-tale-
writers. It is possible that, at least in Germany, the Masons will
break with secrecy, which notoriously spells humbug. Of course,
they will have to stand all manner of ridicule when their moun-
tain gives out its ridiculous little mouse ; and they will also have
to sacrifice those members who were drawn to them by the secret
No. 10. The Review. 149
feature. , Practically, with us in Germany, the whole 'order' is
very small potatoes, but the case is quite different — we repeat
it — in the Latin countries where Freemasonry represents a power
that controls governments, as e. g"., the French of to-day."
Mr. von Oertzen's statements, together with the remarks of
our eminent Cologne contemporary, are submitted to us by a
contributor in an English translation, with the remark that it
might be well to publish them in an American review, inasmuch
as our American Freemasons are harmless Masons after the
German stripe, and it would be wrong to classify them with the
fierce haters of Christ and His Church who control the lodges in
France, Spain, and Italy.
Any view expressed by the Cologne Volkszeittmg^ which is uni-
versally acknowledged to be the foremost Catholic daily newspa-
per in Germany, if not on the Continent, on a subject of such
general interest as Masonry, is deserving of space in The Review,
and President Roosevelt's recent address at thesesquicentennial
anniversary of the Philadelphia Grand Lodge of Free and Ac-
cepted Masons, is a proof among many that American Masonry is
generally considered in this country to be of the innocuous
German brand.
However, we remember that Rev. Father Charles Coppens, S.
J., showed in the American Ecclesiastical Revieiv as late as May,
1900, that there is greater solidarity between Freemasonry here
and in the Latin countries of Europe than most of us are inclined
to think. And right here before us we have an "Account of the
Reception of the Heart of Our Martyred Brother Ex-Gov. Ygnacio
Herrera y Cairo, etc.," by Gethsemane Chapter No. 5, Rose
Croix, of the A.*. & A.'. S.*. Rite'of Freemasonry at the Masonic
Temple, Oakland, Cal., on April 24th, 1893. The addresses de-
livered on this occasion by "brethren" with such distinctively
Anglo-Saxon names as Whyte, Sherman, Cogswell, Bishop, Holli-
day, are so full of hatred against the Catholic Church, her ser-
vants, beliefs, and ceremonies, that we might imagine them to have
been uttered by the most violently anti-Catholic Masons of Italy,
France, or Spain. We shall quote a few passages in illustration:
Bro. Whyte said : "In the language of the letter of last month
from the Grand Orient of Rome to Bro. Sherman — 'It is but too
true that priestcraft, from its nest, the Vatican, is endeavoring
to extinguish with the icy breath of Reaction the sacred fire of
Science and of Liberty, which our brotherhood lighted at the
cost of enormous sacrifices, and in the face of dreadful dangers,
and now keep alive in all parts of the world.'" Again: "I see
that inevitable conflict approaching, between the forces of freedom
and the usurpations of that terrible tyranny that has its throne
150 The Review. 1903.
in Rome. Some of you may be called to bear arms in defense of
that freedom you now possess."' In conclusion a verse from a
Masonic hymn which we find on page 23 of the aboi^e-mentioned
pamphlet : ("Hail Masonry Divine." Tune — America.)
"We'll build thy Temples sure ;
Thine Altars here secure
From Rome's foul hands.
We'll build them strong and great,
Bulwarks of Freedom's State,
Against the blows of Hate
And Pope's Commands.
In view of such authentic facts, and others which we might
adduce without venturing on slippery ground — for our readers
know that we have never taken any stock in "revelations" of the
Taxil stripe — we fear we can not unhesitatingly exonerate Am-
erican Freemasonry from some essential connection with that
Masonry which persecutes Christ and His Church in the Latin
countriesof Europe and in Spanish America and smarts under the
stigma of oft-repeated and most solemn pontifical condemnation.
jMT ar jT
THE OBLIGATION OF SINGING THE "PROPER" AND "COM-
MON" OF THE MASS.
The Caecilia (No. 1) gives for easy reference the numbers, in
the old (in brackets) and new editions of the Decreta authentica
S. C. R., of the decrees regarding the obligation of singing the
•'Proper" and "Common" of the mass :
2424 (4233), 15th April, 1753. Must the Gloria, Credo, the whole
Gradual, Offertory, Preface and Pater noster always be sung in
a conventual mass? Yes, according to the precept of the Caere-
moniale Episcoporum.
2959 (5118), lUh September, 1874. Can the custom of omitting
the Introit, Offertory, Communion, and, when it occurs, the
Sequence in sung masses be tolerated? No.
2994 (5166), 10th January, 1852. In a certain church there was
the usage that when the organ was played, the Offertory and
Communion were recited by one of the choir in a low voice [sub-
missa voce], or altogether omitted, especially on ferial days.
The Congregation decided that these texts might be said sub-
missa voce, but must not be omitted.
3108 (6315), 7th September, 1861. The Tract must be sung
entirely, when the organ is not played.
3624 (5929), 29th December, 1884. In the Diocese of Lu^on
there was the usage that in singing masses on week-days for the
No. 10. The Review. 151
intention of individual faithful, the choir omitted the Gloria, the
Gradual or Tract, and the Sequence, or Creed, when these were
to be said, for the reason that the one chanter alone available
found it very difficult to sing all the chants of the mass, and the
people did not care for long: masses on week-days. It was asked
whether this usage might be retained. The Congregation an-
swered that the usage was to be considered an abuse, and alto-
gether to be eliminated.
3994, 25th June 1898. Must organist and choir sing, or recite
in an audible tone, all the texts, as given in the Roman Gradual,
in a mass sung without deacon and subdeacon? Yes.
ae af sw
THE MYSTERIES OF CLAIRVOYANCE.-III.
We are indebted to a clergyman of the Diocese of Omaha for the
following communication :
Some four years ago, in a Sisters' academy at Omaha, there
was a normally developed pupil, who, when blindfolded, was a
pretty good clairvoyante. Archbishop Ireland, at that time a
guest at the institution, mistrusting the girl, who appeared at an
entertainment, tested her ability. Leaving the audience, he went
through a few apartments to a distant room. Finding there an
atlas, he concentrated his mind on an odd island in the middle of
the book, noting well the name, place, and page. Returning to
where the blindfolded girl was, she took him by the hand and
led him to the room whence he had come. He purposely tried
to pull her in a wrong direction, in order to mislead her, but
she insisted. Arriving in the room, she found the atlas, and
turning the leaves, put her finger exactly on the name the Arch-
bishop had in his mind. As soon ashegot distracted or purposely
thought of something else, and did not concentrate his mind on
the subject, the girl seemed to lose the track. She could not ex-
plain what enabled her to do such strange things.
Some school Sisters in Wisconsin had a similar experience.
Among others they had a Sister who never cared for needlework
or music. By accident she lost her eyesight, and as she was a
good clairvoyante, she could perform the finest embroidery and
became a teacher of music.
No doubt, there is as much fraud in clairvoyante productions
as in hypnotism, and often a sinister power has something to do
with it; but the above illustrationsgo to show that some individuals
possess a natural and so far unexplained clairvoyant power. B.
9( >^ »
152
THE REFORM OF THE BREVIARY,
{Concltided.)
VI. To people of a certain habit of mind the whole affair stated
in these terms will seem nothing- short of shocking. They natur-
ally feel a devotional attachment to the beliefs in which they have
been brought up from childhood ; and on the other hand they
have made no study of modern scientific research. Hence their
only impression is that there is a conspiracy going on to sweep
away all belief, to which it would be moral suicide to yield. If
they are told that this destructive criticism has proceeded as
much from Catholic scholars as. from non-Catholics, they only re-
gret the more that Catholics should also be infected with the
modern spirit of unbelief. ;We do not intend these remarks to
savor of disrespect; but circumstances make it imperatively
necessary that the question should be publicly faced. The letter
we published last week represents a phase of mind which is com-
mon and ever}'^ day increasing among intelligent Catholics ; and
it is in view of this demand for an explanation that we feel it in-
cumbent on us to make clear the facts of the case and the prin-
ciples underlying the movement represented by the Biblical and
Liturgical Commission.
VII. The insistance of certain progressive Catholic scholars
of undoubted orthodoxy on the need of publishing the results of
destructive criticism is often met by an argument from expedi-
ency. "We concede," it is sometimes said, "the truth of your
modern view ; or at least without conceding its truth, we acknowl-
edge that the new view is compatible with the faith, and even go
so far as to incline to the new view ourselves. But why publish
to the whole world results which only give a handle to our ene-
mies to taunt us with acknowledging that our old beliefs were
myths, and besides serve to upset the minds of the simple and
ignorant."
While acknowledging the practical wisdom of this argument,
we conceive that there are circumstances in which such a policy
would only serve to defeat its own laudible end. There is no
reason for flouting new discoveries in the face of people whose
minds are unfit to receive them, so long as still more important
issues are not at stake. But what is to be done when educated
Catholics are already in possession of the new view, and are de-
manding an explanation ? The policy of ignoring the state of the
case would not only serve no useful purpose, but would involve a
criminal neglect of one ofthe most important duties of the clergy,
viz. — to supply proper instruction to those who need it, and to
meet fairly and squarely the current difl&culties raised against
No. 10.
The Review.
153
the Church. This seems to be the policy actuating the present
Sovereig-n Pontiff, who has constantly encouraged modern work
and has declared that the Catholic Church has nothing to fear
from history — insisting on the importance of Catholics not being
behind others in their knowledge of sacred and profane science,
as far as it bears on matters connected with the Church.
VIII. It has always been understood that the historic lessons
in the Breviary stand on their intrinsic merits or fall with their
intrinsic demerits. The lives of the saints as there recorded, as
well as the historic accounts connected with various feasts, re-
flect the ideas of the time in which they were first compiled and
possess no absolute guarantee of their accuracy. As the prog-
ress of historical knowledge went on, these accounts were found
in various particulars to be inaccurate, and from time to time
committees of reform were formed under the patronage of the
popes. Among these, the best known are those which took place
in the 17th century and in which Bellarmine and Baronius took
so prominent a part. The occasion leading to this reform was
the strong revival of historic studies which took place as part of
the Renascence movement. Outside the Church historians were
actuated by a spirit of hostility ever eager to convict Catholics of
errors ; the spirit of Catholic writers such as Bellarmine in the-
ology and Baronius in history was to vindicate the truth by using
the weapons of the enemy — in this case by a deeper historic re-
search. In the points attacked these scholars, as was only nat-
ural, were not too ready to accede to innovation, and were exact-
ing in their demand for proof. But as far as this was forthcom-
ing, it mattered little whether the truth came from a friend or
an enemy ; and those points which seemed to be established,
were embodied in great part in the reformed Breviary.
IX. It may be of interest to our readers to go somewhat into
detail on this historic point. The first of a series of attempts to
reform the Breviary was initiated by Pope Leo X. (A. D. 1525),
the main object being to improve the literary style. This effort
was followed by that of Clement VII. a529), and was carried on
by his successor Paul III. in 1535. Nothing however was actually
done to the Breviary until the Council of Trent took the matter
up, and Paul IV. began by ''suppressing all lessons from Origen
and other authors not approved as being thoroughly orthodox—
and wishing to remove all narratives of martyrdoms which were
without authority." [Batiffol, History of the Roman Breviary,
p. 258. For most of our references on this subject we are in-
debted to this eminent Catholic author.]*) The activity of the
*) See also P. Suitbert Raeumer, O. S. B , Die
Geschichte des Breviers (Herder, 189')). especi-
ally III. Book, chapters 11. 12, and 10; aad
Probst ia the Kirchen-Lexikon. s. v. "Bre-
vier." ir. 12=iTsq.— A. P.
154 The Review. 1903.
Council of Trent was in answei* to a demand of innumerable
synods during the previous twenty-five years. One of these
synods had declared that "in the lapseof time, many things have
crept into the Breviary which are silly, apocryphal, and by no
means accordant with pure worship." The Council handed over
the work of reform to the care of the Pope in person. When
the Council was over, Paul IV. began the undertaking; and in
five years (1568) a new edition appeared, accompanied by a papal
bull entitled Quod a nobis, dated the same year (p. 269;. The
work however had only partially been done ; and Gregory XIII.,
Sixtus v., and after him Clement VIII. applied themselves to the
same task. A committee was formed by the last named Pontiff,
in which Cardinal Baronius was president and Cardinal Bellar-
mine a prominent member. This was in 1592. A number of
legendary stories were expunged, dates were corrected, apocry-
phal extracts were rejected. Bellarmine urged the removal of
many other parts which "could not be retained without offence,"
as for instance quotations from the false decretals. Had he been
listened to, much that now remains to be expunged by Leo XIII.
would have disappeared in the sixteenth century. But Baronius,
compared with Bellarmine, was a little behind his time (pp. 277-
279). The last of this series of six revisions was carried out by
Urban VIII., to whom we owe the present form of the Breviary
(1632). The work, the difficulties of which many of our readers
must fail altogether to realize, was as yet only half done. And in
the following century a largetscheme was organized by Benedict
XIV. (1741), part of which was to eject a number of legends still
surviving, as being "uncertain, unconfirmed by other authorities,
contested bv the critics, apocryphal, fabulous, spurious, or full
of difficulties." The death of Benedict XIV. unfortunately
brought the process to an untimely end. Thus the legacy of
labor was left to posterity. 'We have never had," writes Batift'ol,
"that 'onesta correzione del nostro breviario'*) which the firm
and loyal genius of Benedict XIV. would have given us, and which
only his death prevented him from giving. Shall we have it some
day, and will the world see those materials once more taken in
hand which the great Pope collected for the correction of the
blemishes of the Breviary?" (p. 351). Batiffol wrote thus in
1893. Ten years have since elapsed, and Leo XIII. has just an-
swered the question.
But to resume our history. In 1870, at the Vatican Council,
the question was raised once more, the greatest agitation coming
from scholars of dangerously advanced views, foremost among
*) "Honest correction of our Breviary."
No. 10.
The Review.
155
whom was Dr. Dollinger, whose 'Janus' contains a bitter and
scathing- criticism of the Breviary lessons. Again it mattered
not whence the movement came^ — and except for the untoward-
ncss of political events, the reform of the Breviary might now be
an event of the past. It is well known that Leo XIII. long cher-
ished the idea of carrying out the projected work, and now that
it is about to take place, no one conversant with the history of the
Breviary feels the least surprise, since it is just what Catholic
scholars and a large part of the clergy have long expected and
hoped for.
9t Hi ^
**BABEL AND BIBLE."
Prof. Delitzsch's much-discussed lecture before the German
Emperor, on 'Babel und Bibel,'in which he endeavored to twist
the well-known results of Assyriological research into a weapon
against Holy Scripture, has provoked a number of replies, five of
which*) we find reviewed in the November issue of Der Katholik,
of Mayence. The writers all take ground against Prof. Delitzsch
and vindicate, each in his own way, with more or less scientific
acumen and knowledge of the sources, the originality of the
Biblical record. The Katholik's reviewer adds the interesting
fact that, at the recent international Congress of Orientalists, at
Hamburg, an eminent authority. Prof. Dr. Merx of Heidelberg,
strongly opposed the tendency now so popular in the scientific
world which is characterized by the catch-word "Babel and Bible,"
and which extols Babylon at the expense of Holy Writ. There is
much talk about the indebtedness of the Old Testament to the
Babylonians and Phoenicians, but largely without recognition of
this fundamental difference, that the latter were materialists and
evolutionists, while the Jews were theists and creationists.
Obviously, Assyriology has not spoken its last word in the
rhetorical ebullitions of Delitz^ph, which, unfortunately, have had
the effect of lessening active interest, among believing Bible-
Christians, in the researches carried on by dint of so much labor
and sacrifice in Mesopotamia. This is to be regretted. Mistakes
and errors have their source in the difficulty of deciphering and
explaining the ancient cuneiform texts and in the philosophical
and theological preconceptions of individual scholars. As a rule
science itself in the course of time provides the necessary cor-
rections, as the very history of Assyriology goes to show.
Therefore the warning of Kaulen— himself an Assyriologist
•) Bftbel und Bibel br Prof. Ed. Koenig
(Berlin. Worneck), Der Kampf um Babel und
Bibel. by Prof. Dr. S. Oettli (Leipsic, Deich-
crt). Babel nnd israelitisches Relisioneiregen.
by Prof. Barth (Berlin. Mayer &. Mailer), Bibel
und Babol, El und Bel. t-ine Replik. by IC.
Knieschte (Berlin, Academ. Buchhandlung),
and Babel und Bibel oder Babel geg en Bibel?
bT Dr. Rosenthal fBerliu, Israelii. Wochen-
schrift]
156 The Review. 1903.
of no mean repute— can not be too often repeated : "For
such a purpose (to study Assyrian literature solely with a
view to enriching: Biblical apologetics) enthusiasm without
sufficient scholarship and the applause of the periodical press,
are resources of doubtful value ; the process of examination
is too easily directed in advance by the desire to succed."t)
It is to be deplored as an aberration of sphenography (the study
and description of cuneiform writings) that late writers attempt
to represent the statements of the Bible as reflexions of Baby-
lonian myths. Assyriology so-called, which has hitherto, in
Germany, unobstructedly taken a systematic course, has now
arrived at a rock which may easily endanger its scientific
character.''^)
THE CATHOLIC MVTVAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATION.
The Denvei- Catholic, of February 14th, printed a large display
"ad" of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association with the modest
heading: "The oldest, cheapest, largest, safest and (^^s/ Catholic
Mutual Benefit Association." (Italics ours.) On the editorial page
the title"Supreme Recorder's Report" does not exactly fit the fol-
lowing dialog between "O. T." and "Ind." (whatever that may
mean) in which "O. T." combats the objections of "Ind." with
some show of success, predicting for the organization the most
flattering future.
Well, it must be admitted that for an old-established society,
working on the assessment plan since 1879, the C. M. B. A. has a
fairly good record. The best feature is its small expense account,
the total expenses of management being remarkably low, in-
creasing from $10,689 in 1898 for 46,832 members, to $27,489 in
1901, for 56,684 members. There was a slow but steady increase
in membership, which kept the apparent death-rate fairly uni-
form, or rather prevented a marked increase for some time. But
lately the ratio is slowly increasing, and unfortunately the re-
serve fund is entirely out of proportion with the steadily increas-
ing liabilities, as will be seen directly.
The society began business in New York State, and about one-
half of its present membership is located there. So the New
York Insurance reports are used as authority for the following
statements.
Until 1893 the number of members only was given, not the
amount of insurance in force. Since 1893 both these items ap-
pear in the reports, therefore the following table will show the
t) Assyrieu und Babylonien, 5th edition, p. 187.
Ibidem, p. 19G.
No. 10. The Review. 157
annual death losses paid, reduced to cost per member and per
$1,000 of insurance respectively.
Death losses paid yearly costing each member —
1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892
$15.59 $14.85 $17.41 $16.29 $16.94 $15.00 $16.02 $16.72 $18.89
Death losses paid yearly per $1,000 of outstanding- insurance —
1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901
$9.78 $10.71 $10.79 $10.66 $9.45 $9.71 $11.16 $10.89 $11.66
A gradual increase in the last years will be noted, especially
when the unpaid losses on December 31st, 1901, amounting to a
total of $191,500 or $2.18 per $1,000 of outstanding insurance, are
added to the $11.66 reported paid, making it $13.84 for the year
1901-the last for which an of&cial report is at present obtainable.
The reserve fund shows a steady but very slow increase as fol-
lows, taking only cash as reported on hand, and reducing the
total amount to each $1,000 of insurance in force :
1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901
$2.63 $3.19 $3.83 $4.17 $4.69 $5.88 $7.03 $8.32 $9.32
The society commenced business in 1879 and on the 31st of
December, 1901, twenty-two years after organization, it has ac-
cumulated a reserve fund of less than ten dollars for every $1,000
of outstanding insurance. It stands to reason that this amount is
not sufficient. True, by getting new members, pushing business
in States where it was formerly unknown, the C. M. B. A. may
postpone the day of reckoning. Yet, unless the increase of the
reserve fund can be made to correspond with the yearly increas-
ing liabilities, the C. M. B. A. is bound to have the experience of
the numerous other assessment life insurance concerns, that
flourished for a time, only to sadly disappoint the surviving mem-
bers in the end.
sp sp ar
The Vera Roma [No. 5] announces a new Life of Luther in
three volumes, by the illustrious P. Denifle, [O. P., sub-archi-
vist of the Vatican. We should like to know when P. Denifle will
complete his learned work on 'The Universities in the Middle
Ages.'
7lt is announced [Catholic Mirror, No. 7] that the New In-
ternational Encyclopaedia, which has been condemned as anti-
Catholic, is in process of revision under the direction of our friend
Dr. Conde B. Pallen. This should purge later editions from the
errors which now disfigure the work.
158
MINOR TOPICS.
Much has been said on the subject of
The U. S. as a Mission- officially declaring' the United States, for
ary Country. the present still a missionarj^ countrjs of
full canonical stature. There is one point
of view, however, emphasized by the Hartford Catholic Transcript
(No. 28), which deserves more attention than it has hitherto re-
ceived.
"Were we to be no longfer numbered among the missionary
countries, we could not, in our dignified maturity, afford to apply,
to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith for the sinews of
war. A fine sense of honor would moreover suggest that we be
contented to remain in missionarj^ swaddling-clothes till we shall
have succeeded in paying back, in great part if not in full, the
charitable millions which have come to us from Europe. But we
shall be told that we have been contributing liberally to the propa-
gation of the faith. True. But how much in comparison to what
we have received ? A few figures xdTiy prove illuminating : The
Diocese of Detroit has contributed to the Society of the Propa-
gation of the Faith $15,263, and received $113,398 ; Dubuque has
contributed $22,255 and received $113,368; Galveston has contrib-
uted $8,585, and received $249,210 ; Indianapolis, $13,698 as
against $237,978 ; Little Rock, $4,817, as against $105,120 ; Nash-
ville, $449 as against $100,767 ; Richmond, $4,988, as against
$126,823; St. Augustine, $3,813 ; as against $107,330; St. Louis,
$25,307, as against $196,155 ; Savannah, $7,340 as against $100,-
497 ; Santa Fe, $14,416, as against $167,000 ; Vancouver, $97, as
against $141,400 Up to 1900, the total amount contributed
through the various dioceses of the United States by the Society
for the Propagation of the Faith, was $5,290,801 The returns
from the whole country reached, at the same date, $1,120,430.
These figures would seem to indicate that we are hardly labor-
ing under a crying: injustice because we are still counted as a
missionary country. Let us pay our honorable debts and then
urge for admittance to the company of the full-fledged."
In our recollection of the Chicag-o Parlia-
Tht FaiB of Swami ment of Religions in 1893 — who but the few
¥i¥9kananda. that attended remember it now? — there
stands out the figure of an apostle from
Hindoostan— a young man, exquisitely dressed and groomed,
with smooth, rounded face, a glorious saffron robe, a prodigiously
impressive turban, a voice in which his captivated auditors heard
all the wonder and depth, all the solace and solemnity and pas-
sion of the pristine faith of India. The Chicago assembly was
carried away by the orange-clad messenger from the East. Later
he traversed the States, followed everywhere by eager disciples
and women not a few. He unfolded the inwardness of the Yoga,
spoke of the universal soul, of freedom from the toils of the flesh,
of the liberation of the soul — that is, the divinity within — by the
No. 10. The Review. 159
pursuit of perfection according: to the methods of those who, in
the dim dawn of things on the high lands of northern India, had
followed the way. Vivekananda returned to India after a few
years of lecturing in the West, and India gave him a triumphant
welcome. In Bombay, in Madras, in Calcutta, the people turned
out to greet the man who had interpreted their ancient creed to
the nations of the West and forced, as they thought, the arrogant
occidental to acknowledge the supremacy of the Indian sacred
knowledge. There were processions and triumphal arches, mu-
sic and acclamations ; the country rang with the yogi's praises
the native press was full of his movements and addresses.
Then suddenly a change befell. Some of his western disciples,
by whom he was accompanied to India, fell away. It was said,
that one or two who had placed large sums of money at his dis_
posal for various philanthropic schemes left him in disgust.
Scandal was busy and soon ruined this religious teacher with
women associates. The other day he died in comparative ob-
scurity.
According to the American Catholic His-
The Father of Ameri- turical Researches (No. l),"the father of Am-
can Shorthand. erican shorthand" was Thomas Lloj^d, a
Catholic Philadelphian, a soldier of the Rev-
olution, official reporter of the House of Representatives at its
sessions in New York and Philadelphia, and an early Catholic
publisher. Lloyd had been educated by the Jesuits in Flanders
and there learned the principles of stenography which he after-
wards practised with much skill. His "system" was first pub-
lished, in 1793, by John Carey, of Philadelphia. Lloyd was then
in prison in England. In 1819 he published the system himself.
He is buried in St. Augustine's burial-ground at Philadelphia,
and the National Shorthand Reporters' Association has recently
determined to place a memorial tablet upon his grave.
The University of London has once again
The Charging of bestowed its rarest degree, that of Doctor
Interest. of Literature, on a Catholic and a Jesuit,
Mr. (not yet Father, for he is still preparing
for the priesthood) Henry Irwin, S. J. The work that won him
this unique distinction is an essay on interest, which is practic-
ally a history of usury in the past. It "traces the practice of in-
terest," says the Tablet, "from the dawn of history in Egypt and
Babylonia down through the Grecian and Roman empires, and
shows what a terrible and universal scourge it was in every stage
of civilization. The conclusion towards which his facts point is
that the action of the theologians and of the statesmen of the
Middle Ages was in the main as economically sound as it was
morally justifiable."
"This conclusion," says the Northtvest Revietv (No. 18), to
whose scholarly editor we are indebted for this item, "is diamet-
rically opposed to the declamations of Bentham, Mill,'and the
whole laisscz /aire school of economists who swayed English
thought in the first three-quarters of the nineteeth century, and
160 The Review. 1903.
who had nothing but abuse and contempt for what they called the
economic folly and the moral injustice of the theologians, canon-
ists, and rulers, lay or ecclesiastical, who condemned the charg-
ing of interest as practised in those times. Yet the University
of London, founded, and for a long time ruled, by the Bentha-
mite school, crowns with its highest approval an essay that
directly controverts one of the leading doctrines of that school.
This is at once a noble example of impartiality and a strong tes-
timony to the argumentative skill of Mr. Irwin."
The C. K. of A. Journal, official organ of the Catholic Knights
of America, prints (vol. 6, No. 7) this editorial note :
"The Review, of St. Louis, so ably and fearlessly edited by
Arthur Preuss, brings, in its issue of February 19th, quite a con-
vincing article on The 'New-Blood' Fallacy in Fraternal Insur-
ance. In view of the erroneous impression that still prevails
among many, that in order to keep down the cost of insurance,
new members are the essential necessity, it is well that papers
and periodicals not strictly identified with fraternal life insur-
ance, seek to enlighten the masses. The time has passed when
the young seeker for fraternal benefits prefers the cheap to the
good. He understands better than ever before that a society is
not made secure merely by an influx of young members, but that
the collection of sufficient funds is the prerequisite to final suc-
cess. The Review deserves the hearty commendation of every
well-meaning member of Catholic fraternal societies. May it con-
tinue to shed light upon a subject which affects so intimately the
future welfare and purse-strings of hundreds of thousands of
Catholic fraternalists."
The Review will continue to shed light, the clear white light
of truth, upon the important subject of fraternal insurance.
But it will do no good unless the "fraternalists" open their eyes
and do their duty. Cease the "charity" prattle, brethren, and
reorganize your societies on a sound business basis, or The Re-
view will some day in the near future be compelled sorrowfully
to record their demise.
^«
Rev. Francis Verhein, a Catholic missionary at Randers, Den-
mark, and a subscriber to The Review, requests us to print the
following :
■'Missionum Europaearum septentrionalium missionarius
(Germanus) et pater orphanorum et magister scholarum, infimis
precibus petit, ut hujis ephemeridis reverendi lectores ei stip-
endia pros ss. missae sacrificio mittant. Confratres reverendi mis-
sionem, quae ad extremam inopiam venit, eo modo valde adjuvare
possunt."
Those willing to comply may address Fr. Verhein directly or
through his Bishop, Rt. Rev. Msgr. d'Euch, Copenhagen, K.,
Bredgade 64.
^«
The next time you feel like complaining of being overworked,
think of the time you waste.
II ITbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., March 19, 1903. No. 11.
PARISH SCHOOL STATISTICS.
friend of The Revikw in Texas recently wrote : **A cen-
sus of fallen-away Catholics, with the necessary ex-
planations, would reveal many interesting facts. I
think it would show a big difference between diocese and diocese,
and this would lead to other conclusions." (See our No. 8). In
the absence of such a census, (the difficulty of compiling which
is obvious,) the Southern Messenger thinks, some practical advant-
age may result from a careful study of the parish school statis-
tics. "The 'fallen-away Catholic' "-says our esteemed contempo-
rary (No. 2)-"is usually a poorly instructed Catholic. The differ-
ence between diocese and diocese in the matter of educational
facilities is sufficiently marked to afford food for serious re-
flection."
The Sotiikern Afessen£^er has "taken the trouble of comparing
the number of parish schools in each diocese with that of churches
having resident priests, considering that the percentage of the
former to the latter may be taken as a fair index to the status of
parochial school education in the diocese."
Following this rule, it finds that there are in the entire coun-
try— according to the Catholic Directory for 1903 — 7005 churches
with resident priests and 3978 parishes with schools, — the per-
centage of schools to churches being 56.78. In twelve dioceses
the percentage of schools is over 75 ; in thirty-seven dioceses and
vicariates the percentage is over 50 and less than 75. In forty-
one dioceses and vicariates the percentage is less than 50.
The following table, which we take over from the columns of
our Texan contemporary, contains the actual figures for those
dioceses in which the proportion of parish schools to churches
162
The Review.
1903.
with resident priests is 50 per cent, or over,
ranged according- to their percentage :
The dioceses are
CQ O
o o
37
39
0)
Little Rock 31 37 119
San Antonio 41 39 95
Savannah 12 11 92
Belleville 78 67 86
Mobile 33 28 85
Nashville 22 18 82
Indianapolis 123 100 81
Newark 125 100 80
St. Louis 179 141 79
Baltimore 121 95 78j
Cleveland 204 156 76
Milwaukee 194 148 76
New Orleans. .. 121 90 74
Indian Territory 35 26 74
Kansas City.... 55 40 73
St. Augustine. .. 15 11 73
Covington 50 36 72
Cincinnati 147 103 70
Fort Wayne.. .. 110 77 70
Leavenworth. .. 50 35 70
Grand Rapids... 72 50 69
New York 282 193 68
Natchez 28 19 68
Buffalo 109 73 67
La Crosse ! . 114 77 67
It would be interesting to figure out the proportions for the re-
maining forty-one dioceses and vicariates where the percentage
falls below fifty. Perhaps one of our readers, with more leisure
than the editor, will take the trouble to complete the Southern
Messenger' s table.
Probably the most striking fact revealed by the figures com-
piled by our Southern confrere is that so many of the smaller
and poorer dioceses make such an excellent showing in compari-
son with populous and wealthy ones.
Compare, for example, Belleville, San Antonio, or Savannah,
with Philadelphia. St. Paul, or, better yet, with Boston or San
Francisco, which have no place in the Messenger'' s list, the pro-
Galveston
Chicago
Concordia
Natchitoches . .
Green Bay
North Carolina.
Dallas
Harrisburg. . . .
Louisville
2 Omaha
Oregon City. . .
Manchester. . .
Brownsville. . . .
Pittsburgh. . . .
St. Paul
Erie
Dubuque
Wichita
Rochester
Detroit
Peoria
Sioux City
Philadelphia. . .
Columbus
42 28
253 166
30 19
19 12
135 84
13 8
39 24
49 30
98 58
90 53
43 25
60 34
14 8
187 102
167 90
77 42
154 82
47 26
82 43
129 66
125 64
84 43
224 113
73 37
Hi
67
66
63
63
62
62
61j
61
59
59
58
57
57
55
54
54
53
53
52
51
51
51
50
50
No. 11. The Review. 163
portion of parish schools being- only 46 per cent, in the former
and 43 per cent, in the latter diocese.
For us in St. Louis it is gratifying- to note that our own Arch-
diocese, if it does not head the list, stands first at least among
the archdioceses of the country in the proportionate number of
its parochial schools.
3* S^ ^
THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass being the great act of religion,
the continuation in an unbloody manner of the Sacrifice on Cal-
vary, the source of every blessing, grace, and favor bestowed on
man, the Church has, from the very dawn of Christianity, sur-
rounded the performance of this supreme act of worship with all
the splendor and glory at her command. The adornment of the
church edifice, the altar and the sacred vessels, the rich robes
of the priest, the elaborate ceremonial, the accompanying music,
and, above all, the incomparably sublime poetry of the liturgy, —
all these ourHoly Mother combines with a most loving attention to
every minute detail, with a most marvelous instinct, nay, rather,
with inspired wisdom.
Why all this external pomp and circumstance? "God is a
spirit." That which is pleasing to him is the consecration and
offering of the Immaculate Victim. It is this which He has or-
dained and accepted in the Sacrifice on Calvary and in the perpet-
uation of this Sacrifice by the Church throughout the world.
There are two reasons for the use of material adjuncts in wor-
ship, and both originate in the nature of man. Man is defined as
a rational animal. He is a being in whose nature two elements
unite, the spiritual and material, the soul and the body. The
union between these elements is essential, that is, it is of
the nature of man ; so that, while the two elements are to be
distinguished, they can not be separated. Every act of the mind
is accompanied by some change or motion in the material organ-
ism, and man must combine the material with even the most
supra-sensuous of his acts. God having thus united the body
and soul of man, it is fitting that the body and soul should unite
in rendering homage to the Creator, and this is the first reason
for external form and ceremony in religion. But this is not the
chief reason, for while outward worship is due the Almighty, it
is not worthy of Him, and in no way adds to the acceptableness
of the Holy Sacrifice which is in itself infinite. No, the Church,
guided by the Holy Ghost, adopts these outward manifesta-
tions chiefly for the assistance and instruction of her children.
"When God created man, framing "in a wonderful manner the
164 The Review. 1903
dignit}^ of the human substance," He made him perfect. His
body was the perfect expression of his soul. Made to the image
and likeness of God, he materially reflected that image and like-
ness in the most fitting, the most intimate manner, since God
Himself made his body and his soul and united them. There
was also a union between spirit and matter in the whole universe,
made to declare the glory of God to man, and man saw "all the
works of the Lord praise the Lord," and through the channel of
the senses and their objects he knew God. "Nothing is in the
mind which is not first in the senses."
It is, then, of the very nature of creation that the operations of
the spirit be externally expressed. This fact is the source of
symbolism and of art. Now man before the fall spontaneously
perceived the relation between the invisible and the visible. It
was natural to him to unite thought to the fitting expression —
to be true. Sin broke this relation in breaking the relation be-
tween God and man. Henceforth truth was to be stammeringly
expressed. "Art was only a recollection and an anticipation," as
says a French philosopher, not a realization. But God not only
wonderfully constituted the human substance. He still "more
wonderfully reformed it." "Another Adam to the fight and to
the rescue came." The Sacrifice on Calvary is the means which
makes the reestablishment of harmony possible. Man retains
the impediments caused by his fall, but has now the means grad-
ally to overcome them. The Church guards and dispenses these
means. She is the Immaculate Bride and is infallible, being pre-
served from error in defining the faith. That is, she expresses
in the most exact, the most fitting, the most intimate form the
truths of faith. And who will say that the Church confines her-
self to the use of language for the expression of these dogmas?
Is it not because they are also illustrated, set forth and taught to
the faithful by the other accessories of her ceremonial, that she
has such loving care for these accessories ? She chooses her own
music, her own colors and materials, and even prescribes the
postures and motions of the priest at the altar, and this because
she knows the most fitting expression for every truth. Of her
the Bridegroom says, "Thy speech is sweet." When her rules
are followed, the truth is most directly presented to the faithful,
and every deviation from those rules weakens the expression,
loosens the bond between the invisible and the visible. These
outward ceremonies, these "clothes of religion," especially those
belonging to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, are the Church's
lessons. The humblest and most limited worshipper, the old
woman who says her beads and watches the action of the priest,
is roused to devotion according to her capacity, while the man of
No. 11.
The Review.
165
profound learning and mighty intellect can never exhaust the
depth of meaning- in a single prayer.
It is not astonishing, then, that the ceremonies and liturgy of
the Mass have been for ages the study of the devout and learned,
and that many books have been written elucidating and com-
menting upon them. It will always be so, for the subject, besides
being the most profitable, is inexhaustible. One of the best, if
not the very best work on the Holy Sacrifice, Gihr's 'Messopfer,'
has lately been translated from the sixth German edition."^) It
treats of the subject in a most thorough manner. The first
part is a treatise on the nature of sacrifice, on the Sacrifice of the
Cross and on the Sacrifice of the Mass as a real sacrifice and the
continuation of the Sacrifice of the Cross, the victim being one
and the same. The second part deals with the mass liturgy, un-
folds its meaning, where possible traces its origin, and points out
its beauties. This work, being standard, is probably on the
shelves of most priests. The possession of the book by the laity
would certainly be of great benefit, even if it were used only as
a book of reference. Any aid such as this to a better understand-
ing of the meaning of the Mass, should be welcomed as a power-
ful means of becoming imbued with the spirit of Catholicity, for
in the ceremonies and liturgy of the mass this spirit finds its
fullest and freest expression.
ARE WE A SHALLOW PEOPLE?
This question is suggested to' the editor of the N. Y Indepen-
defit (No. 2831) by the fact that it is not possible in this country,
as for instance in England, for an educated man who chooses to
do so, to lead the intellectual life, supporting himself, aye indulg-
ing himself in luxury, from the proceeds of serious literature.
"With more than twice as many millions of men and women
that can read and write in the United States as in England," —
says our contemporary — "no man can lead the intellectual life in
America unless he has inherited a competence, or has by a few
years of successful business activity provided for his future."
How is this ? Why is there "practically no sale in America for
really serious books by American authors, however important
the subject matter and however well written they may be"? Why,
instead of increasing, is the demand for such works noticeably
*) The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: Dogmati-
cally, Liturgtcally and Ascetically Explained.
By Rev. Dr. Nicholas Gihr. Translated from
the sixth German edition.
Louis, 1902. Price S4.
B. Herder, St.
166 The Review. 1903.
less than it was ten years ago, and very much less than it was
twent3^-five years ago ?
The. Independent cons,i6iQ.rs this fact a "conclusive proof that
the American people at the present time have not the habit of
reading thoughtful studies on any of the great subjects in which
an intelligent community might be expected to be interested."
The suggestion often made, that Americans depend for serious
literature upon the public libraries, is dismissed by our contem-
porary with the remark : "If as many as one in ten of the free
public libraries of the United States did as a matter of fact pur-
chase one copy each of every really thoughtful work written by
an American author, every author so favored could live in securi-
ty and comfort. The melancholy fact is that you may go into
almost any public library in this country and ask for almost any
serious book that you may happen at the moment to think of and
learn to your complete satisfaction, not only that the library does
not possess it, but that the librarian never heard of it."
We are a nation of readers beyond a doubt. "But" — says the
Independent — "our reading is hasty and it consists for the most
part of newspaper headlines, stock quotations, sporting news,
'woman's columns,' 'household hints,' five and ten cent magazines
and 'the best selling novels.' As a people we are intellectually
bright, intellectually quick and intellectually — lazy. We will not
take the trouble to apply our minds to what is really worth while
and to be really well informed.
"The worst of all this is that no people can be both intellectually
clever and intellectually lazy without becoming vulgar, and no
careful observer of the American manners in the last ten years
can deny the melancholy fact that as a people we have rapidly
been becoming vulgar. Were we really a refined people, we
should not tolerate for a day the billboards of our cities, the ad-
vertisements in our street-cars, the headlines of our newspapers
or even the advertising pages of our most reputable magazines.
Bad, however, as all these are, they are but the superficial exhi-
bitions of a popular mind whose real intellectual degeneration is
far more clearly revealed in that crowning exhibition of imbecili-
ty and vulgarity, the weekly or monthly list of 'the best selling
books,' which has become a feature of all our alleged 'literary'
periodicals. Never by any possibility does this list contain the
titles of any 'books' that would be called books by a man fully
conscious of the real value of words. If these journals would
now and then give us a few actual lists of the best selling books
that really are books, we venture to say that some people who
flatter themselves that we are the people and that wisdom shall
die with us, would be surprised."
167
INVESTING IN RAILROAD STOCKS AND BONDS.
[Many of our readers are thankful to The Review for its repeat-
ed timely exposure of wildcat investment schemes. By following
our warnings they have saved the subscription price of the paper
many times over. We shall continue to deserve their gratitude.
The Final Report of the U. S. Industrial Commission contains an
abundance of material that offers food for serious reflection, not
only to the sociologist but also to the practical business man and
small capitalist. Where can I invest my savings safely and at
the same time draw a fair interest? is a serious question for many.
Railroad stock has been very alluring in the last few years. We
shall condense a few chapters from the Industrial Report on
Railroad Finance, and the reader may judge for himself whether
such investments will satisfy him.]
I. Present Capitalization.
According to established usage, railroad capital includes stocks,
bonds, and other funded indebtedness of every kind. Current
liabilities, however, are excluded ; that is, railroad capital means
railroad securities. Stocks and bonds are considered railroad
capital, because they represent the amount of the investment to
build the road ; current liabilities, such as bills payable, wages
due, etc., do not form a part of such regular investment.
Although bonds are classed with stocks as railroad capital,
they differ from the latter in important respects. Bonds are cer-
tificates of indebtedness issued to persons who have made loans
to a corporation ; stocks are certificates of ownership issued to
persons who have made investments in it. The stockholders are
the owners of a corporation ; the bondholders are the creditors.
Bonds represent a claim to an annuity and may be extinguished
by payment of the principal ; while stocks, being the legal evi-
dence of proprietorship in railroad equipment, must, in the na-
ture of the case, be perpetual. It is more difficult, other things
being equal, for a railroad to float stocks than bonds. Only a
company known to be on a good paying basis can dispose of ad-
ditional stock. It is much easier to get credit for new bond is-
sues. This is because the bond presents a prior lien on the prop-
erty. Interest on bonds has to be paid before dividends on stocks
can be declared. The proportion of bonds to stock, therefore,
is one index of the financial status of an enterprise. In general,
an increase of stocks at the expense of bonds is a healthy sign
from the standpoint of the financier.
The total amount of United States railroad capital outstanding
June 30th, 1900, was $11,491,034,960. This represents an average
capitalization per mile of line of $61,490. This total includes $5,-
168 The Rkview. 1903.
845,579,593 of stock and $5,645,455,367 of funded debt. Current
liabilities not included in the capital amounted to $594,787,870.
Of the capital stock, §3,176,609,698, or 54.34 per cent, of the total,
paid no dividends. This fact appears to show that American
railroads, as a whole, are heavily, if not indeed excessively, capi-
talized. Over 83,000,000,000 of railroad securities brought no re-
turns to the investors. This could not have happened, had not
stock been issued far in excess of the actual value or the earning
capacity of the railroads. And yet, respecting the proportion of
railroad capital now in receipt of regular dividends, returns were
far more satisfactory in 1900 than at any preceeding time. The
New England group of railroads pay dividends on more than 80
per cent, of their stock, while the Southern and Western groups
pay the least. From 60 to 91 per cent, pay no returns whatever.
There are as wide differences in capitalization between the
different individual railroads as between the territorial groups.
The amount of capital per mile ranges from less than $10,000, in
the case of numerous shortlines, to $653,846, in the case of the
Philadelphia and Reading. The heavy capitalization of the latter
and other anthracite roads is explained by the fact that they are
large owners of coal properties.
The amount of capital per mile, it should be observed, can not
be taken as a sure index of the financial condition of a road. By
itself it means little. A high capitalization per mile does not
necessarily indicate over-capitalization. Over-capitalization is a
purely relative question. In order to determine whether the
capitalization of a road is excessive, we must know something
about the value of the equipment and the terminals, the nature
of the territory served, and the interest and terms of funded
debt. A road with valuable holdings, having a large and growing
volume of traffic drawn from a prosperous territory, and borrow-
ing at low rates, can maintain, without injury to the public, a
much higher capitalization per mile than a road in opposite cir-
cumstances. The latter may not be able to earn anything on a
small capital, while the former may pay good dividends and yet
give the public comparatively low rates. Thus, for example, the
Chicago and Northwestern, in 1900, had an average capitaliza-
tion of 837,929 per mile, while the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe
is capitalized at 857,251. The latter road, however, cost less per
mile to build than the former, and earns $1,747 per train mile,
while the Chicago and Northwestern earns only $1,646. All the
New England roads are heavily capitalized, but most of them own
valuable terminals and have an expanding business. The Kansas
City, Pittsburg, and Gulf has a capitalization of only 859,000 per
mile, yet this is without question excessive, as the road runs
No. 11. The Review. 169
through a comparatively barren region. In some cases, then, a
small amount of capital per mile represents actual overcapitaliza-
tion, w^hile in other cases, a very large amount of capital repre-
sents conservative financiering.
The relative character of this question appears clearly from a
comparison of the Lake Shore and Nickel Plate. These two par-
allel roads had in 1899 practically the same capitalization per
mile, the former $102,000, the latter $98,000 ; yet the Lake Shore
earned $15,300 per mile, the Nickel Plate only $12,000. The
earnings of the former per mile are about 25 per cent, larger than
those of the latter upon substantially the same amount of capital.
Compared on a basis of cost, the Lake Shore earnings are vastly
greater.
The capitalization of the American railroads, in the opinion of
the Industrial Commission, compares favorably, in point of con-
servatism (vv^hatever that may mean), with that of industrial cor-
porations and also with that of the British railways.
The average capitalization of British railways is about four
times that of American roads. In the year 1898, the amount of
capital per mile of the British railroads was $261,875. British
railway companies make a practice of charging expenditures for
improvement to capital rather than to revenue. The fact, how-
ever, that the British railways are capitalized far more per mile
than the American, can not, of course be assumed, without fur-
ther enquiry, to prove that the capitalization of the former is ex-
cessive and that of the latter conservative. But it does indicate
that the policy of the American railroads in this respect is not so
exceptional as it has sometimes been represented to be.
In another paper we shall treat of "stock-watering"— a subject
on which every investor, large or small, ought to be well informed.
SPURIOUS PIOUS LEGENDS.
The question of the reform of the Breviary, as we saw last week,
has occupied the attention of the Church for over three centuries,
and from the nature of the case must be an ever-recurring work,
so long as progress in historic knowledge continues. We shall
now give some indications of the kind of revision the Breviary
has undergone in the past, so as to understand the kind of re-
vision it is likely to undergo in the future.
I. In the reform of 1568 the lessons of SS. Thecla, Eustace, and
Ursula were suppressed ; but certain spurious legends relating
to St. Bartholomew, St. Stephen, St. Mary of the Snow, and several
others were retained. The reformed Breviary of 1632 was ex-
170 The Review. 1903.
purg-ated of several apocryphal sermons, as well as legends con-
nected with SS. Martin, Ambrose, Gordian, and Epimachus, etc.
Some omissions advocated by Baronius were not carried out, e. g".
a legend of the Dedication of St. John Lateran and the story of
St. Alexis. Bellarmine also failed to secure certain expurga-
tions : e. g. the story of St. James having traveled through Spain;
the mistaken identity of St. Denis the Areopagite, Bishop of
Athens, with St. Denis, Bishop of Paris ; also statements drawn
from the False Decretals, the apocryphal Acts of St. Thomas,'
St. Donatus, and St. Catharine.
The scheme of Benedict XVI. comprised the removal of forty
questionable narrations of the saints still extant in the present
Breviary, among which Icome the doubtful identity of St. Mary
Magdalen with the sister of Martha iand with the sinful woman,
and the story that St. Lazarus was a bishop. There were other
changes proposed ; but to enumerate them would only weary the
reader with a list of incidents, most of which he has probably
never heard of. The idea that the Emperor Constantine was
baptized by Pope Sylvester, and the Donation of Constantine,
need only be mentioned in passing.
II. Besides this accumulation of matter for correction, our ac-
count iwould bel incomplete without adding certain questions
which have come to the fore in more recent times, thanks to the
growth of historic studies among Catholic scholars. Of these we
enumerate a few — those which have been the subject of recent
literature and controversy, and which have therefore become
familiar to reading Catholics. We may say once for all that we
take no sides on these matters, confining ourselves to stating the
controversy as it exists, in order to show the kind of questions
the Liturgical Commission may be called on to discuss.
Readers of the Month will be familiar with Father Thurston's
articles on the Rosary. That writer considers that historic evi-
dence disposes of an old and venerable tradition, to the effect that
the Rosary as we use it was instituted by St. Dominic under the
influence of a definite revelation from Our Lad3^ With this view
we gather that some Dominican Fathers agree, and the negative
thesis was recently maintained at Munich ; but the idea has been
strongly opposed by others, who are not at all satisfied with the
proof. The acceptance of the destructive view would involve an
expunction in the lessons of the feast of the Holy Rosary. (Dom.
1 Oct. J In any case the merits of the question would have to be
discussed.
The ancient legend of St. Lazarus and of Martha and Mary at
Marseilles formed the subject of a learned investigation by the
eminent Catholic historian Duchesne. His conclusions were un-
No. 11. The Review. 1^1
favorable to the authenticity of the whole story. As far as we
remember without references, the legend^ — of which we suppose
comparatively few Catholics have ever heard — seems to have
arisen from some romancing- based on the mistaken identity of a
genuine St. Lazarus of a later century with the St. Lazarus of the
New Testament. These critical results, which seem to have
g-ained wide acceptance among- Catholic scholars will, we pre-
sume, be put forward by their author — who is one of the most
prominent members of the Liturgical Commission appointed by
the Pope himself— and will be thoroughly discussed in view of
making: an expunction from the Breviary lessons of June 29th.
Then there is the case of the Holy House at Loreto, the au-
thenticity of which has been seriously attacked ; and whatever
may be the truth of the matter, it is a question which must be
faced. Many Catholics may have been startled to learn recently
that among the theses defended by a Minorite Father for his
doctor's degree at the University of Munich, one occurred to the
effect that "It can be proved clearly from the bulls of the Popes
that the translation of the House of Loreto is not a historic fact."
Now it is sincerely to be hoped that so beautiful a story as that
of Loreto may not come to be discredited by investigation. Its
authenticity has, of course, always been denied by those who re-
ject all post-Apostolic miracles. But no Catholic has ever at-
tacked the tradition merely on the ground that such a miracle is
impossible or even unlikely. As far as the story has been
doubted, it has always been on the scientific ground of historic
evidence. The arguments that have been issued against it were
reviewed last year in The Review.
All these instances have been familiar to Catholic students
long ago ; and if the faithful in general have remained ignorant
of them, this is not due to any falsity in the position of the clergy,
but simply to the fact that they do not form any part of the
Church's teaching, and therefore are left to their own fate— to
be heard of or not heard of as the case may be. And if any
Catholic feels surprised to find any of his cherished ideas rudely
shaken, let him remember that it was not from the teaching au-
thority of the Catholic Church that he first derived this belief,
but because such a story happened to be current among Catholics,
and found in unofficial devotional books. Let him remember also
that the stability of the Church's authority would not suffer,
even if every page of— say Butler's Lives of the Saints contained
a historic blunder— which, needless to add, is not the case.
{.To be concluded.^
^ 'SIS 3S
172
MINOR TOPICS.
The legislative investigation into the
Moral Aspect of "Get- "get-rick-quick" concerns was none the less
rich-quick" Swindles. advisable and salutary because there is
little room for sympathy for those who
were duped. Really, very few of the people who invest in enter-
prises that promise a return of from 5 to 10 per cent, a week are
dupes. Most of them take, knowingly, the risk of being the
lucky one who will benefit by the misfortune of some one else.
This is true more particularly of such concerns as turf invest-
ment companies, where the transactions are founded on betting,
than in the case of "home" companies, in which a catching phrase
appeals to the best impulses of persons of moderate means.
There have been so many exposures of all such alluring devices
that, as a rule, the people who go into them know they are taking
a "long chance," and usually hope that they will "get ahead of the
game" before the crash comes. This was illustrated in the case
of the St. Louis turf companies. The very day that it was pro-
posed in the Missouri legislature to investigate their methods of
doing business, there began a "run" of investors to withdraw
their money. The "victims" felt instinctively that the transac-
tions could not stand the light of day, and it is worthy of note
that the companies went to the wall before any definite step of
investigation was taken. Their collapse from the very height of
their apparent prosperity was brought about by the fear of pub-
licity on the part of the "dupes."
But the fact that there is this prevalent cupidity — the gamb-
ler's desire to get something for nothing — furnishes all the more
reason for exercising a jealous watchfulness over the various
schemes promoted. It is just as essential to guard against an
immoral tendency among the people as it is to protect innocent
investors from loss.
Colonel Pratt is no longer head of the
Pratt and the Carlisle Carlisle Indian School. The cause of true
Indian School. Indian education and civilization will not,
the Sac?'ed Heart Review is safe in saying,
suffer much from his retirement. As the chief of this establish-
ment he posed for years as the great and only Indian civilizer and
educator, but, as the Washington correspondent of the New
York Evening Post expresses it, "no two things are more dis-
similar than the Pratt of real life and the imaginary Pratt built
up in the minds of the multitude who neither know him, nor have
made any study of comparativelndian education." In common with
other Catholic papers, the Sacred Heart Review hdi^ been obliged,
more than once, to rebuke the bigoted, anti-Catholic spirit of Pratt
as displayed in the pages of the Red Man— a. sheet published at the
Carlisle School. The Colonel did not like criticism, particularly
when it came from a Catholic source, and so he was extremely
annoyed. The correspondent whom we quote above explains
that this is a peculiarity of Pratt's. He says : —
"The trouble with the retiring principal of Carlisle School is
No. 11. The Review. 173
that his self-consciousness made him purblind. He could never
distinguish between candid friends and back-biting- enemies, and
has often fought the former more bitterly than the latter."
Of late the Colonel has mellowed out, somewhat. The Red
Man has been comparatively inoffensive, and we are informed
that through the influence of the Rev. Father Ganss, Colonel
Pratt recently formulated rules governing the giving of religious
instruction at Carlisle which are quite fair to all creeds, Cath-
olicism included. — Sacred Heart Review (No. 9).
The Pittsburg Despatch relates an interest-
The Polite" Dago." ing incident, the scene of which was a
crowded street-car, and the principals: a
society woman, who regarded with disdain all foreigners, and an
Italian workman, who, despite his rough clothes and unkempt
appearance, exhibited a true spirit of chivalry, which showed
he had a large heart. The dame, gorgeously attired, sat direct-
ly underneath the hole in the roof of the car, which is used as an
exit for the stove-pipe. She was talking to a companion as
fashionably dressed as herself. The Italian held his dinner pail
in one hand, while he grasped a strap with the other. The strap
hung just above where the society lady was sitting.
A heavy rain commenced soon after the car left its terminal,
and the windows were all closed. The people crowded in from
the platforms, filling the car to its limit. When the conductor
began to collect fares, the society woman asked him to move the
Italian from her neighborhood. The conductor requested him,
rather roughly, to "move up."
"Me no wanta move," he said: "spoila de nicea lada's hat." The
rain was coming through the hole in the roof, and the band of the
Italian was preventing the water from dripping on the expensive
piece of headgear. The woman who had wanted him moved, was
profound in her apologies and offered the man a piece of money
for his service, but be would not accept it.
The N. Y. Evening- Post thinks that "if a
Our\Col/eges and the few of our American colleges would stand
Classics. firm upon the traditional course in Greek,
Latin, mathematics, and philosophy, teach-
ing each student the elements of one natural science and of two
at least of the modern languages," what might seem a wholly re-
actionary experiment would be fulh' justified by its practical re-
sults. Because "it seems best for the average American student
to browse at random through an elective schedule, it by no means
follows that it is not good for some American students to follow
an austerer way. And this is better done in a college where the
genius loci is steadfastly favorable, than attempted amid the con-
fusion of tongues of a modern university." The small colleges
should look well to it before they sacrifice the strength of their
traditional curricula and engage in the hopeless competition with
the "American'plan" menu now offered by the "universities." For
174 The Review. 1903.
our Catholic colleges, fortunately, there is no need of such advice.
The}' stick to the classics and keep up the old Catholic tradition.
A highly esteemed readers writes us :
The "Mysteries" of "I may be able to throw some light upon the
Clairvoyance. mystery connected with the performance of
Anna Eva Fay. Shortly after her appear-
ance in St. Louis, when every person was talking of her wonder-
ful powers, the lessee of the theatre in which she appeared ex-
plained to me the manner in which a diamond brooch or some
piece of valuable jewelry lost by a prominent St. Louis lady had
been located. She was present at the performance, and missing
the jewelry mentioned, reported it at the box office. The lost
article had already been found and returned to the box office.
The lady was told to ask Anna Eva Fay the following evening,
where the lost article might be found. Upon enquiry she was
told that the article could be found at the Planters' Hotel or some
other place where it had been deposited by the lessee of the
theatre, who in the mean time had notified Miss Fay. The mys-
tery does not seem to be so much of a mystery now."
In the British Contempoj'ary Review (Oct.)
The Danger of Hypno- F. W. Edridge-Green and E. G. P. Bous-
iism. field write on "The Abuse and Control of
Hypnotism." They demand that the prac-
tice of hypnotism should be restricted, like that of vivisection, to
qualified persons, in whose hands it may be used for the good
of humanity, and not for mischievous objects. At all events, per-
sons who desire to practice hypnotism should be required to take
out a license. The writers discuss the assertions made by the
present advertisers of hypnotic cures, and state certain guid-
ing facts. Hypnotism, they declare, is bound to prove more
or less deleterious. It is possible to hypnotize a person
gradually without his realizing the fact. It is not true to say that
any one who is hypnotized has done more himself to induce the
condition than the operator has done.
The Life of Joseph Salzmann, D. D., by V. Rev. Joseph Rainer,
Rector of the Seminary of St. Francis de Sales, has been trans-
lated from the German by Rev. Joseph Berg, Pofessor in the
same Seminary. This translation is ready for the printer and
will be published as soon as a sufficient number of subscribers is
obtained to defray the expense of publishing. Dr. Salzmann was
one of the pioneer priests of the Northwest ; he founded the St.
Francis Seminary, (which will celebrate its golden jubilee in
1906,) the Normal School of the Holy Family, and Pio Nono Col-
lege. His name is inseparably linked with the early history of
the Church in the Northwest and certainly deserves to be per-
petuated both for the historical interest that attachestohis lifeand
deeds and for the noble ideal that his career affords of unselfish
and strenuous activity for the Catholic cause. This translation
No. 11. The Review. 175
will fill a gap in Catholic historical literature. The original life
in German by Fr. Rainer, is considered a model biography, and
those that have read the translation praise it highly.
The subscription price of the translation is one dollar ; no
payment required until the book is received. The book will be
ready within two or three months, if the number of subscribers
will warrant the expense of publishing. We hope this notice
will bring Fr. Berg a number of subscriptions.
In his recently published two-volume 'Memories of a Hundred
Years,' Dr. Edward Everett Hale mentions a well-known
French physicist — so well known that he is not named — who re-
membered seeing the nurse raise the curtain of his room when
he was six hours old. But Dr. Hale's own memory goes farther
back. It is only through excess of modesty that he calls his book
'Memories of a Hundred Years.' A century does not exhaust
their scope. His explanation of his title is that he remembers
people who remembered the beginnings of the nineteenth cen-
tury. He remembers some whose memories go back a good deal
farther, and he remembers books that take him back another
stretch of quite indefinite extent. Here is a device the working
of which has no assignable limit, and it would not be strange if
some ingenious writer should better Dr. Hale's instruction and
publish his 'Memories of a Thousand Years.'
The Catholic PFt>r/(f Magazine (No. 454), in advertising Rev. G.
M. Searle's 'Plain Facts for Fa'r Minds' (indisputably a good
book) addresses this enquiry to its clerical readers :
"Did you ever think of spending some of the church funds for
the distribution of Catholic literature ? You spend a couple of
hundred dollars for Candelabra or Stations of the Cross, or on a
new pulpit. Why not put a good book into the hands of every
parishioner?"
"I am ready to do this," writes a reverend friend, "but have I
the right to use church funds in this way?"
Not, it would seem to us, without the permission of the Bishop
and the consent of the congregation.
The American Ecclesiastical Review h.ci.'& at last condescended to
admit to its pages an article in defence of the Philippine friars.
Hitherto, the only time it spoke on the matter, it condemned
those who had presumed to doubt the guilt of the persecuted
padres.
The Rev. J. A. Prevost, of Fall River, Mass., is planning to
settle a number of French-Canadian Catholics from the factory
towns of New England on farm lands in South Carolina. The
daily newspaper organs of our French-Canadian brethren in Fall
River, Lowell, Worcester, etc., are slow to approve the scheme.
They seem to think that the agricultural districts of the Prov-
vince of Quebec offer a far more suitable and promising field for
176 The Review. 1903.
such colonization than our own Southern States, especially since
that part of the great Northern Dominion is clearly the provi-
dential home of the French-Canadian race. We are inclined to
share this opinion.
A good man}' years ago, if a man gave a girl "the shake," she
pined, accumulated a lot of hectic flushes, gre"w frail, and finally
faded away, to reappear later in poetry as standing at heaven's
gate. At Paterson, N. J., the other night, the groom didn't show
up for the wedding. Instead of fainting away, the bride-to-be
fixed up a dummy of a man with straw and old pants, put it at the
head of the table and proved a gay hostess. Isn't the change
a relief? And, to forestall any suffragist about to make the re-
mark, isn't the straw in old pants about as good a man as most
girls get?
In Razon y Fe for January P. Villada gives the restime of a book
recently published by the Bishop of Adrianople on the teachings
of the Church with regard to Liberalism, — defining what Liber-
alism means, showing what are its principal errors, and present-
ing its absolute and irrevocable condemnation "in various docu-
ments of infallible authority, among which must be mentioned
the Syllabus."
J*
It appears from a document found at Santa Fe and transcribed
for the Historical Resea7'ches (No. l) by Rev. P. Zephyrin, O. F.
M., the well-known author of several historical works, that the
Franciscan Fathers had a school at Santa Fe, New Mexico, as
early as 1717.
^*
Harvard College, which now fills so large a space in the public
eye, had not yet been founded when Rene de Rohaut, a Jesuit
priest, commenced the erection of a college in Quebec. — American
Catholic Historical Researches, (No. 1.)
Apropos of Rev. M. F. Foley's fulsome panegyric on the late
Father Magnien, S. S., in the March Catholic World, — won't some
one now please give us "the true Father Magnien"?
The modern novel is bounded on the east by blood, on the west
by thunder, on the north by gossip, on the south by inanities,
and is surrounded by advertisements.
The supreme test of greatness is to be able to get the plati-
tudes one utters, printed on the front page of the daily newspa-
pers under scare heads.
Be cheerful in your afflictions, and all the credit you get is that
you are too stony-hearted to care.
If XCbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., March 26, 1903. No. 12.
MSGR. D. J. O'CONNELL AND THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
HEN the rumor went forth from Baltimore last November
that Msgr. Denis J. O'Connell would |be appointed rec-
tor of the Catholic University at Washing-ton, we ex-
pressed the hope that Rome would not inflict on that strug-g-ling-
institution a rector "whose past career has not only made him
odious to a large element in our Catholic population, but which
has also given him the reputation, with the public at large, of a
bold and strenuous champion of that Liberalism which good
Catholics abominate, while the enemies of the Church fondle and
nurse it with a well-defined and all too transparent purpose."
(The Review, No. 1, p. 12).
For once we were disappointed. The nomination has been
made. At the same time, however, the University has been placed
under the direct supervision of the Sacred Congregation of
Studies, whose Prefect, His Eminence Cardinal Satolli, formerly
Delegate Apostolic to the United States, writes to The Review,
in reply to a query, under date of February 23rd : "The election
of Msgr. D. J. O'Connell to the rectorship of the Catholic Univer-
sity of Washington is authentic, as well as its subordination to
the Congregation of Studies. You may rest assured that Msgr.
O'Connell will do his best for the success of the institution and
to acquire for it universal esteem and satisfaction."
It is not for us to criticize any pontifical measure. On the
other hand, however, the immediate effect of the appointment of
Msgr. O'Connell has not been such as to enable us to throw off
the incubus of our previous apprehensions and to share the opti-
mism of His Eminence, Cardinal Satolli.
In the first place, the appointment has been, as we had feared,
widely heralded as a "Liberal" triumph, aj^e, what is worse, as a
178 The Review. 1903.
practical reversal of the Holy Father's solemn condemnation of
"Americanism."
Thus the St. Louis GIohcDcmocrat on January 14th said :
"In the Vatican world the appointment of O'Connell to the rec-
torship of the Washington Catholic University is considered a
revolution. O'Connell was the trusted authoritative lieutenant
of Ireland in Rome. His loyalty to his leader in the support of
the so-called Americanism secured him persecution, led especi-
ally by Cardinals Ledochowski and Ciasca, both dead. O'Connell
was dismissed from the rectorship of the American College
and lived seven years in Rome without an appointment The
present appointment of O'Connell shows decidedly which side
the Pope favors. Old hands at the Vatican say the real inward-
ness of the appointment of O'Connell is that Ireland will soon en-
ter the Sacred College."
And the New Orleans Picayune^ on January 19th :
"The change in the control of the University is supposed to
mean that the liberal element in the Church has at last triumphed
and that the institution will hereafter be conducted more in the
spirit of American institutions and less according to the ideas of
the Church abroad."
And the leading Protestant church paper in the United States,
the N. Y. Independent i^^o. 2830):
"His (Leo XIII. 's) relation to the United States has generally
been worthj'^ of the growing strength and wealth of the Catholic
Church here ; and if he were misled for a little while as to the
danger of Americanism, his error was not of long continuance
and the criticised ecclesiastics are again in favor."
The same widely circulated and influential paper said in its
edition of March 5th :
"The whirligig of time is now avenging the men who were con-
demned for 'Americanizing' the Catholic Church. Monsignor
D. J. O'Connell was the rector of the American College for the
education of priests in Rome Monsignor O'Connell made a
famous address at the Catholic Congress in Fribourg nearly ten
years ago, in which he expounded the liberal views of Father
Hecker, under the term 'Americanism.' He was bitterly assailed
for it as a Protestantizer, and removed from his position as rec-
tor, and retired to a nominal position in a church in Rome, while
the Pope issued a long allocution against 'Americanism.' Arch-
bishop Ireland and Monsignor O'Connell were for a while in dis-
credit, but lately the 'Americanists' have come into influence
again."
About the same time the Record- Herald oi Chicago said :
"Msgr. O'Connell's appointment to the rectorship of the great-
No. 12. The Review. 179
est theolog-ical school of the Catholic Church of this country is
significant in its bearing- upon the educational policy of the Vati-
can. There has long- been a struggle for its control between the
Liberals and the Conservatives. It was started as a Liberal in-
stitution. Archbishop Keane, its founder, is one of the most
liberal of all the prelates in the United States, and was removed
from the rectorship some years ago because of his liberal views.
Msgr. Conaty, his successor and the present rector, is ranked as
a conservative, although he is a broad-minded and progressive
man. By the appointment of Msgr. O'Connell, however, the au-
thorities of the Vatican permit the University to return to the
control of the faction of the Church which established and has
sustained it, and under him its original progressive policy will
be resumed."
The Liberal wing of the Catholic clergy and press chimed in
with such paeans as these :
The Rev. Joseph R. Slattery of Baltimore, who had just re-
turned from abroad, declared that the appointment of Msgr.
O'Connell "was a victory for the Liberal element in the Church
and for the party of which Archbishop Ireland is the recognized
leader." (Quoted in the Catholic Cohmihian of Jan. 31st).
"This proceeding looks like an act of restitution for the
outcry against 'Americanism.' " — (The Catholic Citizen, No. 11.)
Again : "Msgr. O'Connell was, if not the head and front, at least
one of the leaders of the so-called 'Americanist' element against
whom the papal letter on Americanism seemed to be directed.
He it was who identified the term 'Americanism' with some of
the lessons of Father Hecker's life. He read a much-heralded
paper before a Catholic International Scientific congress in Ger-
many, and in this paper he expatiated on the excellence of the
American system and its harmonious workings with the Church.
Msgr. O'Connell has always been classified as a 'Liberal' in the
Church controversies which have been carried on over prefer-
ments in this country {sic!). The letter on'j 'Americanism,' which
was somewhat of a surprise to American Catholics, was interpret-
ed in some quarters as placing Msgr. O'Connell, Archbishop Ire-
land, Cardinal Gibbons and any number of good churchmen in a
position very close to that of a censured class. However, it ap-
pears that those who gave the letter such a significance did not
understand Rome
"' It is quite natural that all those who -particifate in the so-called
''Americanist^ or ''liberal'' view of Church ^natters, should see in
Msgr. O'' ConnelV s selection a certain apj)roval and conimeiidation.
.... The French abbe who helped to make the trouble by writing
180 The Review. 1903
a book with the title, 'Father Hecker : Is He a Saint ?'t) may j^et
be answered affirmatively by Rome." — {Catholic Citizen, No. 14.)
All of which ranting- led a number of quietly conservative
Catholic newspapers, including- pretty nearly the entire non-
English portion of the Catholic press, to the sorrowful conclusion
that — as the Catholic Columbian (Jan. 31st) put it — "the hope of
making the Catholic Universitj'^ a success has been abandoned,
for 'the liberal element,' so-called, is not able by itself to keep up
the institution."
It may mitigate the painful impression made by the appoint-
ment if we are assured by those who claim to know that it came
about in the ordinary way and absolutely lacks the significance
given to it by the "Liberal" press. When the trustees of the
University balloted for a rector, their first and unanimous choice
was Bishop Conaty.*) Their choice for second place by a vote
of six to four was Msgr. O'Connell. The third choice was Pro-
fessor Shahan.
According- to the well-informed Rome correspondent "Vox
Vrh'is" oi the jFf'ee?)ian^s /ot/rnal, (No. 3632) the appointment of
Msgr. O'Connell was "due principally to Cardinal Gibbons, who
warmly recommended him, and secondaril}^ to Cardinal Satolli,
Prefect of the Congregation of Studies, who acted on the recom-
mendation."
It is furthermore explained that "in the years since Msgr.
O'Connell was removed from the rectorship of the American
College in Rome because of his identification with the so-called
'Liberal' element and in the period since the papal letter on
'Americanism,' the Monsignor has become an older and a wiser
man."
All of which is probably true. Nor will the appointment of
the ex-Liberal Monsignor shake any educated and well-informed
Catholic in the conviction that the famous doctrinal Brief on
"Americanism" stands, that its bearing and consequence has
never been exaggerated. But it is a fact that the majority of our
people "see in Msgr. O'Connell's selection a certain approval and
commendation" "of the so-called 'Americanist' or 'Liberal' view"
(vsords of the Catholic Citizen, see quotation above), and the more
conservatively minded, who form the vast majority, are less
than ever inclined to give the Catholic University that active and
enthusiastic support which alone can save it from the fate, pre-
t) Our readers will recollect that this book, directed largely against Msgr. O'Conuell, was
publicly approved and praised by Cardinal Satolli.— A. P
'') Msgr. Conaty, it appears, desired to be re
lieved, chiefly because "his heart was more
ia diocesan work than in college curriculums"
(J. R. Randall in the Catholic Columbian, No.
41 and because he felt himself unequal intell-
ectually and as a financier, to the task of keeping
the University afloat. (Speaking of both Msgr.
Keaneand Msgr. Conaty, Mr. Randall [ibid.] ex-
presses his conviction that "there was some-
thing lacking in their executive faculties.")
No. 12. The Review. 181
dieted for it in the San Francisco Leader {.'^o. 3), of being aban-
doned as a university and converted into a seminary.
In an apparently inspiredletter addressed to the Baltimore Sun
from Rome and quoted in the Louisville Record of Feb. 26th, we
read :
"There are hopes cherished here that the new Rector will be
able to meet the financial burdens that still bear upon the Univer-
sity and also to provide for the increase of expenditure which the
fulfillment of the new projects for the amelioration and enlarge-
ment of studies necessarily implies. This will be obtained by
the generous contributions of the many friends of Msgr. O'Con-
nell, who have the deepest interest in him and the work in which
he engages. It has been one of his special gifts and most notice-
able qualities that the sincerity and devotedness with which he
gives himself up to his work have inspired his friends with great
confidence in him. There is good reason, therefore, to trust that
in this new of&ce his numerous friends, lay as well as ecclesiast-
ical, will see to it that the requisite financial resources shall not
fail him."
We shall see what we shall'see; but we shall certainly not see at
Washington a great Catholic University after the heart of Leo
XIII., 'so long as the institution is looked upon with even a shadow
of justification as a bulwark of that "Americanism" which was
first formally proclaimed on Aug. 20th, 1897, at the Fribourg
Congress by the glib and resourceful prelate who now succeeds
Dr. Conaty as Rector.*)
•t For a historically correct sketch of the I we refer the reader to a paper in the Grenz-
Catholic University, its present status, and boten of Leipsic (iv. 1902.)
well-meant suggestions for its improvement, |
3f 3r 3F
Mr. Joseph Schafer, 9 Barclay Street, New York, sends
us the first number of the Christian Mother, dated April 1903,
published by himself with the approbation of the late and the
present Archbishop of New York and edited by Mr. P. J. Cole-
man. The subtitle declares it to be "a Catholic magazine for the
improvement of home education." Mr. Schafer's success with
the German i!>e?«(^ri;«/ of this periodical, Die christliche Mutter, is
suf&cient guaranty that he will keep up the standard of this first
number of the Christian Mother and make it a powerful factor
among English-speaking Catholics for the sanctification of the
home and the elevation of the standard of American Catholic
motherhood. The new magazine, which will serve as the official
organ of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers in the
United States, is to appear monthly at $1 per annum.
182
SPURIOUS PIOUS LEGENDS.
( Concluded. )
III. Far from the recent commissions giving the enemies of
the Church "a splendid opportunitj'^ to attack the Church, and to
hold up to ridicule those old traditions on which the Church's
most cherished and popular devotions are based" — it seems to us
precisel}' the contrary-. Those "most cherished traditions" have
already been held up to ridicule by our enemies ; and our attach-
ment to them has been taken as a proof that the Church is hostile
to modern science and afraid of history. The history of the
Breviary and its various reforms, including the one in prospect,
are a standing refutation of this charge. And if it be urged that
the Church has only taken up this policy because forced by non-
Catholic opinion, we answer that even if this were true, the
Church (as already remarked) does not care where the truth
comes from, so long as it is the truth. But it happens that in the
matter of the Breviary, the movement is a purely Catholic one,
and one which has been going on for the last three centuries ;
and if public opinion has been the moving force, it has been Cath-
olic and not non-Catholic opinion that has made itself felt.
Nor does the existence and legitimacy of Catholic devotions
depend on maintaining popular beliefs as to the origin of those
devotions ; so that the explosion of the history, or the reduction
of their sources to the invention of the human mind, would reflect
discredit on the Idevotion, or even deprive it of all support.
The strictest line must be drawn between a devotion and the
dogma on which that devotion rests ; and again between a
devotion and the historic facts connected with its origin.
Dogmas are permanently ascertained truths of revelation ;
devotions are the workings of human feeling consequent
on the appreciation of a dogmatic truth. Devotions may come
and go without affecting the doctrinal source whence they
spring. Again, devotions rest not on the supposed history of
their origin, but on their intrinsic excellence and suitability to
the minds of the faithful. Thus the Rosary remains the same,
no matter whether St. Dominic invented it or not ; devotion to
the Sacred Heart is the same devotion, even if, as some have pre-
tended, its first germinal idea is found in the writings of an An-
glican divine. TheChurch in patronizing such devotions, attaches
her infallible authority to nothing except the assurance that the
devotion in question is consonant with Catholic theology. The
story currently believed about its origin may betaken for granted
in papal documents issued in favor of the devotion, without there-
fore committing the Church to any thing thus taken for granted.
No. 12. The Review. 183
Even a claim to private revelation, on the part of the founder of
a devotion, remains generally a matter resting- on the merits of
natural evidence; and a devotion true to Catholic doctrine requires
no extrinsic bolsterings to justify its existence.
IV. "Where w^ill this process of destruction end ? Will it not
pass gradually from the outworks into the inner wards, and ul-
timately take even the citadel of revelation itself by storm?" We
answer, this alarmist cry ought not to be heard from any one
who has once grasped the essential difference between the de- .^
posit of divine revelation and matters of historic fact concern^ *'
with ecclesiastical history. The criteria of the two departments
are altogether different. The truths of divine revelation are
guaranteed by the Church, and can not come under re-consider-
ation without tacitly abandoning the fundamental principles of
Catholicism. Historic facts outside this line are not as a rule
guaranteed by the Church, but rest oa,purely intrinsic evidence.
And we can be perfectly assured that, when the Church in one
age is prepared to reject any story currently believed in another,
this will be only because it is well known that nothing detri-
mental to Catholic truth is involved in the case.
Besides, it is of the utmost importance to realize the difference
between the beliefs disturbed by the Liturgical Commission and
those which form the foundations of Christian revelation. The
historic apologetics of Christianity have been before the world
ever since the days of Christ. The fact of Christ's existence has
never been questioned ; but short of this, there is not a single
point, doctrinal or historical, which has not been the object of at-
tack from the earliest times, beginning with the Jews of the first
century, Celsus in the second, Julian the Apostate in the fourth,
and so on through the ages till we come to our own times. Of
recent years the attack has perhaps been more scientific; but
modern discovery has on the whole greatly strengthened the
cause. Thus the restoration of the epistles of Ignatius estab-
lished the Apostolic origin of episcopal authority beyond ques-
tion, the recovered fragments of Clement strengthened the claims
of the papacy ; the unearthing of Tatian's Diatessaron has re-
stored the Gospels to the first century ; and so on through the
list. There never was a time in which the historic side of apolo-
getics was so strong as it is at the present day ; nor is there the
least need to fear for the future. With the legends we are now
discussing, the case is quite different. Mostof them are bio-
graphical details about individuals ; all of them are stories which
have obtained currency on the strength of mediaeval documents
of untested authority ; none of them touch the substance of
Christian belief or practice. No wonder if among the mass of
184 The Review. 1903.
historic matter accumulated through the ages there should be
much that will stand the test of investigation and also much that
will not. Nor are those who realize the spurious character of
certain current beliefs, to be looked upon with suspicion, if they
are anxious to bring matters to a head, and to thrust into dis-
credit notions, however pious, which are not based on the facts
of history. Those who object to this policy — those who wish to
maintain the old belief, may devote themselves to producing ar-
guments in its favor. But the Holy Father recognizes that argu-
ment and not sentiment is the criterion of historic truth.
V. But is not the Church in some way responsible for the ex-
istence of such legends as those whose continuity is threatened
by the Liturgical Commission? To af&rm thiswould be little
short of unreasonable.
The question really worth asking is: Why in the name of com-
mon sense should everything Catholics believe or say or do be
made a matter in which the Church is to be held responsible?
The Church properly speaking has no positive commission to
teach either science or history ; and has no more to do with the
stories current among the pious than she has to do with the
clothes they wear or the food they eat. The Church's business
is to deliver what she has received of divine revelation, and to
endeavor as far as she can to persuade her members to keep the
commandments. We do not mean to say that the Church is
limited to this narrow range. Under all circumstances she can,
and under some circumstances she must do more. But to imagine
that she becomes responsible for every erroneous notion which
happens to obtain footing is really too absurd. Nor does it import
much if the clergy themselves share these erroneous beliefs. For
the clergy are men of their own age, and not of any other ; and
can not be expected to hold court-martial on every legend of his-
tory or error of science. Their work is a practical one, and
t:ritical studies must be left to the select few. Nor are specialists
under any obligation of making a crusade against the prevalence
of such beliefs. If a Catholic likes to believe the exploded legend
of SS. Paul and Thecla, or the quest of the Holy Grail, no relig-
ious principle can be said to stand in the way of his liberty. It
is a question of fact in no way connected with the faith. So like-
wise if he thinks that St. Dominic was the institutor of the Ro-
sary, why should the clergy interfere, since it does not make the
slightest difference where the Rosary came from, so long as it is
a good thing in itself?
But of course it will be objected that the clergy introduce such
stories into sermons and devotional books, and even shake their
heads if they are called into question. We reply that as soon as
No. 12. The Review. 185
it is clear that such stories are not true, no preacher ought to up-
hold them. But many are still unconvinced of their falsity, and
they have a right to their opinion still. The Catholic people
are not sujh fools as to fancy that everything they hear from the
pulpit is infallible or part of the Gospel. They know that a ser-
: mon is a human work, and are ready to criticize its contents as
far as they think themselves able. The idea that things outside
the range of doctrine are foisted on the credulity of the masses
by a domineering clique, is one which is so far from the truth,
since, as a rule, the clergy are only restrained from exploding
pious legends rejected by themselves by the fear lest simple
minds should be disturbed and demoralized by the sudden re-
moval of long cherished beliefs. What others are thus afraid of
doing, Leo XIII. can well afford to do, and the Liturgical Com-
mission is the means by which it will gradually be done. -(Adapted
from the Bombay Catholic Examiner^ vol. liv. No. 5.)
sr s? sf
CONSTANCY vs. EVOLUTION.
"Classis et ordo est sapientiae,
species naturae."— Linnaeus.
In his latest essay ("Constanztheorie oder Descendenztheorie,"
Stimmen aus Maria-Laach, LXIV, 1) Rev. P. Wasmann, S. J., im-
putes to the anti-evolutionists a kind of paralogism. He con-
cludes his introduction somewhat in this fashion :
"As you can not explain to an ignorant peasant the Copernican
system, according to which not the sun crosses the firmament,
but the earth rotates upon its axis ; so the anti-evolutionist can
not be convinced that new species may be evolved from old."
Now we have all due respect for the great authority of this
learned Jesuit. Moreover, we agree perfectly with all he says
in the above-quoted article.
We do not deny evolution. What we deny is the evolution of
one species into another species. And we maintain that, at least
so far as his present article runs, P. Wasmann himself has
neither attempted to prove, nor succeeded in proving, such a
transition. If any one is guilty of a paralogism, it seems to us,
it is the learned entomologist himself, by perpetrating, what the
Scholastics call an "ignoratio elenchi." He first sets up an
"anti-evolutionist," as he supposes him to be, and then takes' up
the gauntlet against the straw man.
"What is a species?" he asks. And the answer is, that we
must distinguish a two-fold species :
1. Morphologically, a species is the aggregate of those individ-
ual groups whose members agree in the so-called "essential
186 The Review. 1903.
marks" and are thus disting-uished from other individual groups;
2. Biologically, a species is a chain or series of organisms of
which the links or component individuals are parent and off-
spring, or "the totality of beings w^hich have come from one
stock."
This latter definition coincides perfectly with A. L. Jussieu's :
"A species is the perennial succession of similar individuals per-
petuated by generation."
P. Wasmann admits the fixity of species (in its double
sense), for the present time at least, in general. But he asserts
the mutability of species in the past, and gives as his proof,
that also at present there are a few species still in the process
of evolution and showing great variability and adaptation to sur-
rounding conditions, e. g., the little myrmicophilous Dinandra
varies in size and color, according to the host whose guest it is.
It is largest as D. Maerkeli and reddish-brown in color when with
Formica rufa, but much smaller as D.^Hagensi Wasm.,and of much
higher color when harbored by Formica exsecta. As D. dentata
it is again dark-red-brown and in size between the former two,
if it takes up its abode with the Formica sanguinea. Finally, as
D. pygmara, when found with Formica fusco-rufibarbis (a small,
dark-colored ant") it is smallest and very dark.
That these four groups are only stations of adaptation appears
from the following facts :
1. There are regions where all four species (?) are found with
their respective hosts.
2. There are regions where onlj'- the Formica sanguinea and F.
rufa harbor guests-i.le., the D. dentata or Maerkeli, respectively.
3. There are regions in which these latter two kinds have their
own guests as above, whilst F. exsecta and fusco-rufibarbis have
Dinandra guests in a transitional stage; i. e., in the former case a
medium between D. dentata and Hagensi, in the latter an interme-
diary between D. dentata and pygmara.
"You may answer," says the learned Jesuit : "This is evolution
within the species. But what do you understand by species?
Systematically (i. e., morphologicallyj they can not be grouped
within the same species. Still worse for you ! There are African
species of D. nigrita, which differ so much from our species that
of late Casey has elevated them to the rank of a genus (Chitosa);
and yet they may be and very likely are but modifications of our
Dinarda."
P. Wasmann is right, if by species we understand the "sys-
tematic species." But when we speak of the "constancy^ of the
species," do we really mean the systematic? Let us first answer
another question. How great must the difference of two groups
No. 12. The Review. 18*^
be, that the compiler of a system of classification may group
them as different species? To a student of botany, e. g., there
is nothing- more surprising than the fact that in analyzing a plant
according to different authors, he will find it often very differ-
ently grouped. By one author it is declared to be a mere varia-
tion ; by another, a species ; and every now and then he may
even find, what is a species with one author elevated to the rank
of a genus by another. Whence this confusion? Because the
systematizers still disagree on the question what is to be called
an "essential mark".
The term "species," morphologically, is very vague, for whether
a "mark" is to be called "essential" or "non-essential," depends
much upon the individual notion of the systematizer. The terms
"genus" and "species," as the systematizer uses them, are like
"classis et ordo," which, as Linnaeus says, "sunt sapientiae." No
anti-evolutionist understands the term thus in fighting for the
constancy theory.
When we employ the term species, we use it in the sense of
Jussieu. To explain : "Procreation of offspring is the touch-
stone of species." Let us give an example from the vegetable
kingdom.
If the pollen of one plant be brought upon the pistil of another,
three cases may ensue :
1. No embryo is produced ; then the two plants belong to dif-
ferent genera.
2. An embryo is produced, but the plant from this embryo is
sterile ; then the plants belong to the same genus, though differ-
ing in species.
3. The embryo produced grows into a new plant capable of re-
production ; then both plants belong to the same species, though
perhaps widely separated by so-called "essential marks" of the
systematizer.
This species it is of which we claim with Linnaeus that "est
naturae" and therefore immutable. Such was the definition of
species as we heard it from the mouth of Germany's greatest an-
atomist, Prof. Virchow. It must also have been Flourens' under-
standing of species when he claimed : "The note of species is un-
limited fertility, the note of genus is limited fertility." Such
was also the notion of species entertained by most of the great
naturalists who fought against the doctrine of the "mutability"
of species, notably Cuvier, P. de Candolle, Bloinville, Milne
Edwards, de Quatrefages, Deshays, Forbes, Owen, Murchison,
Agassiz, Joh. v. Mueller, Rudolf and Andrew Wagner, K. E. v.
Baer, etc.
But, once we accept the biological species, what does the con-
troversy amount to? Has the learned P. Wasmann really turned
an evolutionist? We think not. Not any more than any one of
us who believe in the immutability of the species, not the system-
atic species of course, but the biological. U. F. M.
ISS
THE DEGENERACY OF THE STAGE.
While the Rev. John Talbot Smith and a few other optimists
profess to see signs of an improvement in modern theatricals,
such close observers as Michael Monahan perceive in the decline
of the Shakespearean drama and the growing popularity of inane
comedies and immoral problem plays, indications of increasing
degeneracy.
In a recent paper in the St. Louis Mirror (No. 4) Mr. Monahan
says: "The truth seems to be that Shakespeare is hopelessly an-
tiquated for the present-day theater-going public Above all
things, this public wants to be amused, and beyond all things, it
wants to be titilated with the sight of female beauty, more or less
undraped. Any one of the numerous theatrical absurdities now
on view in New York is better calculated for these purposes
than a play'of ;Shakespeare's."
The modern methods of theatrical exploitation lend themselves
easily to this form of degeneracy. A look at the bill-boards of
almost any large city during the theatrical season tells the whole
story. "Evidently the stage is ruled to-day by the Venus of de-
sire. In Shakespeare's time the female parts were commonly
taken by young boys. To-day, there is small hope for any sort
of play in which a woman of conspicuous beauty or notoriety is
not exploited."
Mr. Monahan thinks that we owe this change and perversion
of public taste to the Semitic genius which is to-day in control of
our stage. Making the largest allowance for the public indul-
gence in this regard, he deplores the extent to which it is, so to
speak, "worked" by the astute persons directing these amuse-
ment enterprises. "The hunt is always for a fresh beauty, and
as soon as she is secured, the managerial efforts are bent on ex-
ploiting her in the most piquantly scandalous fashion. To these
efforts the yellow newspapers (he speaks more particularly of
New York) cheerfully lend their potent aid. They have formed
a close commercial alliance with the business managers of the
contemporary 'drammar, ' and the result seems to be an all-round
demoralization, in which, perhaps, the innocent public suffers
most. It is extraordinary how the managerial Semites work upon
this feminine idea and what profits they draw from it. All kinds
of plays are infected by it, from a chorus spectacle to a 'high
class' society drama. Pruriency is no less successful and pro-
vocative en dccolleiee than in the fleshings of the ballet. There
is a woman now playing at a New York theatre who might well
be called 'Madame La Cantharide,' though the piece in which
she displays her wantonness is presumed to deal only with per-
sons in correct society. The lady would probably take this as a
No. 12. The Revie^v. 189
high tribute to her 'art' — and if art be subtle indecency, then
she is entitled to no less a compliment. There is perfect and un-
ashamed modesty in an undraped statue of theold Priapus, com-
pared with the mincing lubricity of this gowned Aphrodisiac.
"If the stage to-day refuses to honor Shakespeare and turns
his bust to the wall, it at least justifies in the fullest degree the
ethics of Schopenhauer."
But what are you going to do about it ? The managers of the
theatres, like those of the daily newpapers, are the panders and
procurers of the public. They furnish the public what it de-
mands, provided it pays them, and both the yellow stage and the
yellow press pay handsomely. It is the public taste and morality
that has got to be reformed if the press and the stage are to be
elevated.
3? ^ sr
"THE DEVIL IN ROBES. "
An Interesting Correspondence.
The following letters are self-explanatory. We publish them
in reply to many queries, to show that it is not our fault if 'The
Devil in Robes' still circulates through the mails.
St. Louis, Mo., March, 16, 1903.
Hon. Postmaster General,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir : — Some months ago Postmaster Baumhoff promised
me to investigate a complaint made by myself and several other
Catholic editors regarding the transmission through the mails,
from here, of a scurrilous and indecent pamphlet entitled 'The
Devil in Robes' and directed against the Catholic clergy. The
Rev. editor of the St. JosepJi's Blatt at Mt. Angel, Ore., just in-
forms me that this pamphlet is still going through the mails.
Permit me to ask you if any investigation of the matter has been
made and to what results it has led.
Thanking you in advance for the courtesy of a reply, I am,
Very respectfully yours
Arthur Preuss,
Editor and Publisher The Review.
Mr. Arthur Preuss, Washington, March 19, 1903.
Editor and Pub. The Review,
St. Louis, Mo.
Sir : — I return your letter in reference to the advertising cir-
culars entitled "The Devil in Robes" sent out by the Continental
190 The Review. 1903.
Bible House of Saint Louis, and have to advise you that about a
year ago this matter was brought to the attention of His Emi-
nence, Cardinal Gibbons, and he concurred in the opinion of this
Department that to take any action toward excluding the circu-
lar from the mails would be to give the publication further adver-
tisement and increased sales. For that reason it is |not thought
expedient to take such action.
Very respectfully,
J. J. HOWLEY,
Acting First Assistant Postmaster General.
sr sp 3?
WAS INGERSOLL A PLAGIARIST ?
We find in the San Jose Daily Mercury of March 10th a state-
ment by Sue M. Farrell, with a letter written by the late Col.
Robert G. Ingersoll, in which he indignantly denies the charge
that he plagiarized his famous "temperance address" from an al-
most forgotten Methodist preacher, John Stamp. We had re-
produced this charge in our edition of Dec. 25th, 1902, from the
Methodist Magazine (vol. VHI, No. 2), and when Rev. P. Joseph
Sasia, S. J., communicated our article to the Mercury (Feb. :^2th),
it brought out the statement from Mrs. or Miss Farrell.
In the undated letter of Col. Ingersoll which she submits, and
whose authenticity we have no means of judging, the late pro-
phet of infidelity avers that a temperance lecturer stole some-
thing he had said on intemperance in the course of an argument
in the Munn trial at Chicago in 1876, and hitched on to it the now
famous passage from Stamp,*) as if all were original with the
lecturer. Then, he alleges, some half-informed friend claimed
the whole thing for him (Ingersoll), and it was printed in Rhodes'
and McClure's collection of his sayings, whence it has passed into
numberless books, pamphlets, and newspapers. When Mr. J.
H. Odell last October showed in the Methodist Magazine^ from
the files of the Old Methodist Revivalist, that the picturesque in-
vective forming the substance of that address was written by a
Methodist minister in 1841, he was fully justified in charging
Ingersoll with plagiarism, and we were equally justified in giving
the charge the benefit of our circulation.
Mrs. or Miss Farrell alleges — a circumstance of which The
Review was not aware — that Colonel Ingersoll repeatedly
denied the charge and explained how the passage had come
to be attributed to him ; that he furthermore informed
*■) Quoted in full in The Rkview of Dec. 25th. 1902.
No. 12. The Review. 191
Rhodes and McClure that the second part of the temperance
speech was not his and requested them not to publish it as
such, aye, that he went so far as to "commence suit to enjoin
them."
What became of this suit and where and when Col. Ingersoll
published his denial of authorship, now posthumously brought
forth by Mrs. or Miss Farrell ; whether he came out with it be-
fore or after the real source of the quotation had been discov-
ered,— are points which will have to be more fully explained in
order to clear the memory of Ingersoll from the apparently well-
founded charge of plagiarism.
sf 3f 3?
MINOR TOPICS.
Abstracting from the phase of its consti-
The Bible in School, tutionality, the crux of the question of read-
ing the Bible in the public State schools
is its impracticability. We quote the Indefendent (No. 2832) :
"The Catholic Truth Society recently asked the New York
State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Skinner, if the Roman
Catholic version of the Bible might be read by Catholic teachers
in the public schools, where the reading of the Bible was re-
quired, and was told that it might. Of course Superintendent
Skinner was right ; but this illustrates the blundering policy of
those strict Protestant religionists who insist that the Bible be
read in the schools as a daily religious service. It can breed
nothing but quarrels. If the Protestant version is read it will
be regarded as a Protestant service which Catholics will object
to, and conversely if the Catholic version is read. It is better to
have no religious service than to have a quarrelsome one. In an
institution for all the people, like the public schools, there is no
right or justice in imposing the religion of one fraction of the
people, no matter how large, on the other fraction. There have
been cases in which, in a school where the children were mostly
Jews, they were required to learn and sing Christmas carols.
The true rule is, no religious service of any sort in the public
school. To say that reading the Bible or repeating the Lord's
Prayer is not a religious service, is to say what is not true. Give
over the care of religion to the Church."
This is a correct if blunt and incomplete statement of the case.
Father Burke, the new editor of the Cath-
Pafriofism and ihe olic World Magazine, in the March number
Parochial School. of that periodical endeavors to undo the
harm which may have been caused by the
uncalled-for attack of his predecessor. Father Doyle, on the pa-
triotic side of our Catholic parochial schools. Without mentioning
the article which has met with such severe strictures in several
Catholic papers. Father Burke declares that "the parish schools
192 The Review. 1903.
are far more patriotic and more in accord with American ideas
than the public schools." He adds :
"The institutions. . . .that cultivate the great deep principles
of relig-ion do contribute more to the enduring nature of our
American institutions than any other, and the school that teaches
the child these same principles is the great saving factor in our
American life. In point of view, therefore, of the highest patri-
otism the parish schools are away beyond the school that teaches
no religion and brings up the child without a knowledge of his
God or his duty to his fellow-man."
We wonder what those readers of the Catholic TF^r/t^who knew
nothing of the change of editorship or the protest of The Review
and other journals, thought of this sudden reversal !
Our esteemed friend and confrere M. J. P. Tard'vel of Quebec
regretfull^'^ announces that he is compelled by ill health to sus-
pend the publication of his staunchly Catholic weekly review
La Veritc for at least six months. La Vh'ite is now in its twenty-
second year, and the terrible grind incident to getting out a week-
ly "/o«r;/rt/(^£' cc'Wf^rt/" single-handed has worn out M. Tardivel's
robust constitution to such a degree that his body physician has
enjoined a long period of absolute rest as the only means of res-
toration. M. Tardivel has The Review's sincerest sympathy
in his affliction, and we hope and pray that six months of thorough
repose will restore the full measure of his old-time vim and vigor.
The number of "fighting editors," bomnn certamen certantes, on
this Western Continent is so small that we can not spare him of
of La Vcrite, who has spent the best part of his life in the defence
of truth and justice, and who will, we trust, be spared for many
years ytt to continue the good work.
Mrs. Margaret Lisle Shepherd, the notorious anti-Catholic
lecturer, who falsely claimed to be an escaped nun, died the other
day in Harper's Hospital, Detroit, during an operation for mal-
ignant cancer of the bowels. Though she knew she was going to
die, she did not ask for a priest or spiritual consolation of any
kind. Nor did she reveal the mystery of her life. Her last wish
was that her body be cremated, which could not be fulfilled, be-
cause she did not leave money enough to paj^ the costs. Mrs.
Shepherd was a gifted woman, but she prostituted her talents to
the service of the Devil. Her lectures were not only anti-relig-
ious but immoral as well. We have always thought that she
pandered to the lowest instincts of the masses out of pure greed
for mone3^ If that was the case, she failed, for it appears that
she died penniless.
Dr. Lyman Abbott says he wants to know everything that is
going on in the world, so he reads the daily newspapers ; but if he
makes no distinction between newspapers, he will know a great
many things that are not going on.
II XTbelReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., April 2, 1903. No. 13.
THE FINAL VERDICT OF THE COAL STRIKE COMMISSION.
HE "Strike Commission" appointed by President Roose-
velt for the settlement of the differences between the
"Miners'Union" and the owners of the mines in the an-
thracite coal region of Pennsylvania, after five months of pa-
tient and thoroug-h investigation of all the conditions in that sec-
tion of the country, has rendered its decision, which is binding
upon both parties to the controversy until March 31st, 1906.
As a matter of business policy, the verdict will be considered a
"victory" by the miners as well as by the operators, and in order
to get a clear understanding of the results accomplished it will
be well to summarize the original demands made in comparison
with the concessions granted, and also note the comments of the
Commission in its report on certain claims made by both sides in
the statements submitted.
The Miners' Union demanded :
1. Contract mine workers to get 20 per cent, advance in prices.
2. An eight-hour day for employes paid by the hour, day or
week.
3. Mining of coal to be paid for by weight.
4. Recognition of the United Mine Workers of America.
The Strike Commission awarded :
1. An advance of 10 per cent.
2. A nine-hour day to company men ; an eight-hour day to en-
gineers, pumpmen, and firemen.
3. Rejected.
4. Rejected.
The Commission also decrees that, where the miners demand a
check weighman, the company shall employ one and he shall be
paid by the miners ; also that a Board of Conciliation shall be
provided to settle all disputes arising out of the interpretation of
194 The Review. 1903.
the award of the Commission, and that the miners' organizations
shall have the right to select one-half the members of said Board;
that there shall be put into operation a sliding wage scale to in-
crease wages according to output and price at tidewater ; that
there shall be no discrimination in the employment of men ; that
the advance in wages shall date from Nov. 1st, 19o2, and shall be
paid on or before June 1st, 19o3.
Such is in substance the decision of the Strike Commission,
generally recognized as impartial and fair-minded. That an
increase of wages would be granted, was a foregone conclusion,
in view of the high prices for coal and corresponding high cost
of living, and that the Commission, in spite of these facts, granted
but half the miners' original demands, shows clearl^^ how exor-
bitant was the increase desired. The 9 hour day was practically
in operation throughout the region, and enforcing an 8 hour day
for certain branches amounts really to a nullification of the pro-
posed advance in wages. The"boneof contention"and main cause
of the strike were demands No. 3 and 4 made by the miners, and
the flat rejection of both of them fully justifies the stand taken
by the mine owners, that neither of these could be granted with-
out serious injury to the properties involved.
The Commission is very plain and emphatic in its statements
regarding the rights of miners' unions to enforce their dictates up-
on the management of collieries; the "boycott," violence employed
against non-union men, restriction of production, etc., are severe-
ly condemned. The sentence of the report : "The contention that
the majority of the employes in an industry, by voluntarily asso-
ciating themselves in a union, acquire authority over those who
do not so associate themselves, is untenable," is a fair notice to
union labor that it must respect the rights of the non-union man
and also of the employer, — a reminder very much needed at the
present time.
The Commission finds the social condition of affairs in the an-
thracite field not essentially different from social conditions in
other industrial districts, and that the average daily earnings of
the coal miners for 19ol compare favorably with the average earn-
ings of laboring men in other occupations requiring substantially
the same skill and training.
That disposes of the claim, set up by the miners'organizations,
that the children in that region are compelled to work for wages
because their parents can not earn enough to support the family.
In short, the thorough investigation of the Strike Commission
has pretty well established the fact, known to unprejudiced ob-
servers but not to the public before its report was published,
that the condition of the mine workers in the anthracite fields was
No. 13. The Review. " 195
not any worse, but rather better, than the condition of in-
dustrial workers elsewhere in the U. S. It also shows that the
recent strike, with its consequent losses to miners and operators,
to the State, to all sort of industries the whole land over, not to
speak of the serious dangrer to life and health of untold thousands
caused by lack of coal, could have been avoided if the workmen
had met their employers in a spirit of fairness, instead of insist-
ing upon "'recogfnition of the union" and making- war on every
man who, independent of the union fetters, desired to exercise
his right of working when he had a chance.
A large element of the population of the coal region profess to
be Catholics. During the fight, we are sorry to say, there was
little evidence that the teachings of our holy Church guided the
striking miners. Now that the Strike Commission, of which a
Catholic Bishop was a prominent member, has decided the ques-
tion against the union, will the lesson be heeded?
3f 3? 3?
THE ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES OF CATHOLIC MVTVALS
Compared With Those of the "Regular" Mutual Life
Insurance Companies.
In criticizing our remarks in The Review (No. 7) on the "new
blood" fallacy in fraternal insurance, the Denver Catholic {Y&h.
28th) confesses that its former editorials referred exclusively to
the C. M. B. A., though that society was not named and the ar-
ticles were couched in general terms. The editor also admits
that he knows little of other Catholic insurance societies and in-
dulges in the usual attacks on regular life insurance companies,
claiming that the "insured" pays the "costly offices, excellent
salaries, the solicitors, dividends to stockholders," and so forth.
All these expenses are not incurred by Catholic societies, he con-
tinues, and for that reason alone, if for no other, the "insurance"
furnished by them must cost the policy-holder less than insur-
ance in "old-line" companies.
The Denver Catholic is referred to the official report of the
Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania for the year 1901, the
latest out. There is a list of 14 insurance companies, each over
25 years old, with no stockholders, owned and operated by policy-
holders, for their own exclusive benefit. Said report shows the
income and expenses for 1901 to have been as follows :
196 The Review. 1903.
Forpren^iun^s. l^l'^tc^'.^^Z. ^^P—
Penn Mutual 9,682,902.33 2,350,231.09 2,350,239.76
Presbyterian M. B.. .. 200,969.53 66,310.04 29,670.72
Connecticut Mutual.. 5,109,053.53 3,073,420.33 1,391,204.63
Massachusetts Mutual 5,137,291.63 1,170,289.26 1,190,026..53
Michigan Mutual 1,303,114.80 372,098.57 466,466.51
Mutual Benefit 11.006,984.89 3,646,239.03 2,483,313.63
Mutual Life 51,446,787.73 14,177,517.78 13,772,936.60
National Vt 4.307,486.10 1,000,783.58 1,150,452.05
New England Mutual. 4,231,685.08 1,396,812.75 1,002,540.50
New York Life 56,412,619.31 14,389,931.56 13,373,494.21
Northwestern 22,619,068.08 6,852.715.94 4,498,455.68
Phcenix 2,647,988.39 724,328.67 739,070.39
State 3,360,514.28 819,462.73 793,132.30
Union 1,733,308.26 361,833.68 669,124.28
Total, - - 50,401,975.01 43,910,127.79
Even the Denver Catholic will see from these official figures
that in all but five of these companies the income from interest,
rent, and other sources (not paid for insurance) more than
covered the expenses of management (including "costly offices,
excellent salaries, solicitors," etc.) and taking the aggregate, not
only were all expenses paid by the miscellaneous income exclu-
sive of premiums, but a profit of over six million dollars was left
without touching the premium income at all.
Certainly the policy-holders in these companies had little rea-
son to complain of the expense account.
The same report shows the experience of the members of 11
Catholic "insurance" organizations for the same year to be as
follows :
(The percentage given shows the ratio of the deficiency of ex-
pense account to amount paid by members.)
Paid by members. Other income. Expenses. Per cent.
Am. Cath. Union.... 27,925.46 478.99 11,279.17 38>^
Cath. Ben. Legion. . . 1,355,336.34 12,030.79 30,609.30 1
Cath. Knights of A.. 798,885.81 26,650.76 37,943.47 4
Cath. Order For.. .. 868,028.12 35,911.15 88,498.21 6
Cath. R. & Ben. Ass. 74,987.20 780.38 18,703.82 24
Cath. W.Ben. Legion 97,039.09 2,620.71 9,407.12 7
Knights of Columbus 406,564.78 25,232.44 74.417.21 12
Ladies C. Ben. Ass. . 463,216.68 31,065.62 64,151.80 9
Pa. C. Ben. League. 3,921.86 272.17 330.67 1>^
Polish R. C. Union.. 81,897.25 3,023.63 8,742.29 7
Womens'C. O. F.... 394,072.79 8,010.31 30,767.90 6
Total, - 146,076.95 374,850.96
Deficiency, 228,774.01
No. 13. The Review. 197
In unpleasant contrast to the aggregate profit of over six mil-
lion dollars shown above for the policy-holders of regular mutual
life insurance companies, it cost the members of the 11 Catholic
mutuals $228,774.ol of their hard-earned money to pay the run-
ning expenses for 19ol — having besides used every cent of mis-
cellaneous income for the same purpose.
Besides paying death losses, the regular companies also paid to
living members matured endowment, annual incomes, dividends,
cash values for surrendered policies, and made more or less
liberal loans on policies in force, all of which trouble the man-
agers of Catholic mutuals happily escaped.
To lay aside part of the income for future need and properly
care for such accumulations, is a duty both systems have in com-
mon, though on a widely different basis, and the relation of re-
serve fund to insurance in force may be of interest.
Condition of companies on December 31st, 19ol:
. , „„ Assets per $1,000
Assets. Insurance in force. of Insurance.
Penn. Mutual 48,631,975.17 242,051,662 $200,91
Presbyterian M. B. . . . 1,385,868.70 6,415,350 216.00
Connecticut Mutual.. 65,277,179.21 163,680,144 398.82
Massachusetts Mutual 28,340,016.12 146,106,721 193.97
Michigan Mutual 7,272,697.26 39,760,202 182.90
Mutual Benefit 78,385,815.16 291,290,244 262.23
Mutual Life 352,838,971.67 1,241,688.430 284.16
National Vt 22,384,263.37 108,573,050 206.17
New England 32,775,785,22 126,172,422 259.76
New York Life 290,743,386.46 1,365,369,299 212.94
Northwestern 151,944,756.96 574,705,000 264.39
Phoenix 14,423,413.50 65,872,834 218.96
State , 19,755,468.64 87,424,149 214.54
Union 8,991,038.34 52,945,044 169.82
Total, - - 1,123,150,635.78 4,512,054,551 Average.
Aggregate all life - 1,957,686,404.37 7,864,402,975 $234.68
companies in Pa. - 58 per cent. 58 per cent.
Of all the regular life insurance- companies operating in Penn-
sylvania in 19ol, the "mutuals" represented 58 per cent, in assets
and over 58 per cent, in insurance in force, so we may judge that
more than half the life insurance business of the Union was not
done for the benefit of stockholders, but for the profit of the
assured themselves. For every $l,ooo of outstanding insurance
these "mutuals" held $234,68 securely invested.
The Catholic mutuals held assets for insurance in force on
December 31st, 19ol, as follows :
Insurance
Assets per 91,000
in force.
of insurance.
1,329,500
$12.93
59,198,500
0.03>2
35,134,000
17.14
100,497,900
3.00
5,690,850
5.15
8,104,250
9.48
33,073,000
17.40
60,959,000
1.16
252,000
19.41
6,344,750
6.77
38,455.000
3.46
198 The Review. 1903.
Assets.
Am. Cath. Union. .. . 17,185.45
Cath. Ben. Leg-ion.. . 2,108.19
Cath. Knig-htsof A.. 602,252.55
Cath. Order of For.. 300,122.43
Cath. R. & Ben. Ass. 29,330.10
Cath. W. Ben. Legion. 76,825.89
Knights of Columbus. 585,471.62
Ladies C. Ben. Ass. . 70,927.87
Pa. C. Ben. League. 4,893.31
Polish R. C. Union . . 42,983.33
Womens'C. O. F 133.183.24
Or, on an average, they have $8.72 (less than $10) for every
$1,000 of outstanding insurance on hand I
The C. M. B. A. does not operate in Pennsylvania, and as a
short history of that organization has already been submitted,
nothing further about it need be said here. Since its advocates in
the Denver Catholic evidently do not wish to study the principles
of life insurance, why not enlighten their opponents on the sys-
tem of the C. M. B. A.? Let a membership of say 1,000 men be
illustrated from year to year, showing death losses and cost of
insurance and how to provide for the last man, but without tak-
ing in new members. An insurance company can not be
conducted permanently on the "endless chain" plan, since the
supply of victims is sure to run short sooner or later.
^ ^ -IS
CLERICAL AIDFVNDS.
A reverend dean in the East writes to The Review :
"For whom does the Priests' Relief-Fund exist? It seems in
several dioceses it helps only those who have made themselves
unfit for priestly work, while the honest priest who has lost his
health in the priestly service, must expect no assistance as long
as it can be proven that he has just enough to eat. Is it not queer
that these questions arise more in dioceses in which money is
plentiful than in those where bishop and priests are all alike poor
missionaries, but well united by the bonds of filial love, respect,
and confidence on the priests' side and a truly fatherly love on
the side of the bishop?"
Our reverend friend would do well to read the instruction of
the S. Congregation of the Propaganda on the title of ordination
(See Third Plen. Council of Bait., Appendix, page 204). Accord-
ing to that instruction, every priest is to receive his becoming
support from the title of his ordination. As that title, with us,
No. 13. The Review. 199
as a rule, is that of the mission for which he is' ordained, it fol-
lows that the mission must furnish that support to every deserv-
ing-priest who may be in need. And by "deserving" is meant
not only the priest in g-ood standing-, but also the delinquent
priest, ""dummodo non sit contumaw" Hence the bishop who has
accepted candidates for the priesthood tiiulo misswms, is bound
to provide them with the necessary support. The usual method
is to appoint them to a mission, but in case of inability to serve,
he is bound to provide in some other manner, suited to the cir-
cumstances. Every indigent priest is entitled to that support,
although not all in the same degree : the indigent priest in good
standing is entitled to a sustentatio honesta, the delinquent, to the
stistcntatio necessaria.
Such, as far as we have been able to learn, is the law laid down
by the Church. Outside of this diocesan aid-fund, there may be
another. In many dioceses, voluntary funds have been formed
among the clergy for mutual protection. After the manner of
accident insurance, the members oblige themselves to pay a sick
member in g-ood standing a certain amount per month, or an old
ag-e pension. In such cases the society is, of course, bound to
keep what it promises. Now, if the monthly allowance of the so-
ciety, together with what the priest may have in his own name,
is sufficient to furnish a becoming sustenance, the diocese may
not be held to furnish more. For, as stated above, by their mis-
sion title only indigent priests have a claim upon the diocese.
Hence the ordinaries do well to encourage and favor such
organizations, independently from the diocesan aid-fund. How-
ever, to be of any permanent service, they must be carried on as
a business on a business basis. If, on an average, each member
is sick for 4 days in a year and a dollar a day is stipulated as sick
benefit, it is evident that each member will have to pay at least four
dollars per annum into this fund ; if, moreover, old age pensions
are to be paid, these must evidently be provided for by a corres-
ponding- premium, or the society will soon become bankrupt. Yet
nowhere in theU. S., so far as we know, has an attempt been made
to place these priestly aid-fundson asound basis. They are run
as loosely as our Catholic lay mutuals. In some dioceses, clergy-
men without regard to age, are assessed $10 a year, and if that is
not enough, they are called upon for another ten dollars, etc.
Again we have dioceses where each priest is expected to pay a
certain percentage of his salary, etc. The nearest approach to
dividing the assessment burden equally among the members,
may be found in the statutes cf the Diocesan Aid-Fund of India-
napolis, where members are assessed according to age, but even
there the assessments are not in proportion to the need.
200 The Review. 1903.
Hence the small degree of satisfaction hitherto obtained from
these aid-societies. As long- as applications for aid are rare, the
thing may work smoothly, but if by chance they multiply, there
is trouble. Some one not absolutely sick is told by his physician
to take a rest; he applies for aid and obtains it. Another, serious-
ly ill, applies later and is told there is no money on hand. The
society has no legal standing-, he gets nothing-, although he may
have paid all his dues. Hence dissatisfaction.
That dissatisfaction increases where the diocesan aid fund
and the voluntary aid fund are run under the same management.
In such cases a delinquent priest may seem to obtain undue
favors, while the deserving priest is apparently neglected.
Usually, in delinquencj^ the case is clear to the bishop. Either
he must take care of the culprit, or the culprit is lost. Hence he
must be provided for. But is the evidence as plain in other cases?
And until the need is evident, the bishop is not bound to act.
The officers may plead lack of funds and hence no relief is
obtained.
What to do about it ? Let the diocesan aid-fund be kept strictly
separate from any voluntary aid-fund. Let the voluntary aid-
funds be duly incorporated and managed on a sound business
basis. Then the member in g-ood standing will obtain relief ac-
cording to the statutes, and no odiumcau fall on the ordinary, as if
be favored delinquents at the expense of those who have faith-
fully done their duty.
Nor is it at all queer that in dioceses where bishops and priests
are equally poor, such quarrels do not occur. There, all know
the circumstances and are satisfied. Where wealth accumulates,
on the other hand, it is bound to create the passions that are
inseparable from what Juvenal already so aptly branded as
"funesta pecunia."
3? 3f 3?
INVESTING IN RAILROAD STOCKS AND BONDS— II.
Stocks Versus Bonds.
While in 1890 the amount of stock was less than that of the
funded debt, being only 46,73 per cent, of the total capitalization
(including at this time the floating- debt), bonds made 48.47 per
cent. In 1900 the stock exceeded the funded debt, having- in-
creased to 50.87 per cent, of the total capitalization (excluding
the floating debt), bonds being 49.13 per cent.
The first railroads in the U. S. were built on stock. All the
bonds that were issued were debentures, as is still the practice
in England. The total amount of stock issued up to 1855 ex-
ceeded the bonds by 42 per cent. This condition existed every-
No. 13. The Review. 201
where except in the West, v«here the bonds were in excess. The
proportion, however, was reversed in the next decade (1855-1865),
when speculation was rampant and railroads were extended
rapidly without regard to economy of construction. Baildingf
upon bond issues prevailed. Then came the panic of 1873, with the
result that nearly $500,000,000 of bonds were defaulted. Bonds
continued to preponderate until after the reorganization of rail-
road properties in the years 1893-1897, which aimed at reducing
fixed charges by substituting stocks for bonds. 57 companies
reorganized during the period and effected a reduction of
fixed charges to the amount of $19,600,000. Thus stocks
increased and bonds decreased, so that in 1897, there were
more stocks than bonds. In 19oo, the increase in stocks was
more than two and a half times greater than the increase in
funded debts ; but this, according to the statistician of the In-
terstate Commerce Commission, can hardly be interpreted as a
healthy tendency, since the increase in indebtedness alone ex-
ceeded the probable cost of railroad construction during the year.
The policy of railroad managers has been of late, in general,
to secure new capital by issuing additional stock, instead of in-
creasing funded indebtedness, or as the Union Pacific and
Baltimore & Ohio did, by debentures convertible into common
stock. Very recently, however, some roads have substituted
bonds for stock at exceedingly high valuations, as compared with
previous standards. According to estimates made by the Com-
mercial and Financial Chronicle, $367,000,000 of stock have been
withdrawn recently and replaced by $559,000,000 of bonds. On
an average, more than $150 in bonds has been substituted for $100
in stock. This substitution not only increases railroad capitali-
zation at the rate of 50 per cent., but necessitates payment of in-
terest on the bonds issued, if the companies are to keep out of
the hands of receivers.
Distribution of Stockholdings.
Whilst the majority of securities in the case of some roads are
held by a few large holders, the remainder is widely distributed
among small investors. The entire amount of stock of some
roads is held in small blocks. The largest stockholder of
the Boston and Albany owns only 3,000 shares ; no fewer than
4,645 persons own less than ten shares each. The share owners
of the Eastern Trunk are reported to number 99,826. In the case
of one road, 50 per cent, of the share owners are women. In 1897
the late George R. Blanchard estimated the number of railroad
stockholders in the U. S. to be 950,000, of bondholders, 300,000.
According to the 2''ale Review for November, 1900, on Jan. 1st,
202 The Review. 1903.
1899, England held about $2,500,000,000of our railroad securities,
Holland $240,000,000, Germany $200,000,000, Switzerland $75,000,-
000, France $50,000,000, the rest of Europe, $35,000,000. The
heavy balance of trade in our favor may have caused some drain
of American securities from Europe, but on the other hand,
there have been recent large investments of European capital in
this country, so that the amount of foreign holdings of our rail-
road securities may be still in the neighborhood of $3,000,000,000.
THE PARTIAL REPEAL OF THE GERMAN ANTIJESVIT LAW.
On February 4th, when in the debate on the budget in the
Reichstag, the salary of the Chancellor was reached, Dr. Spahn,
leader of the Centre-party, rose and demanded to know from the
Chancellor why the Bundesrath had never taken any action on
the bill passed by the Reichstag for the repeal of the law against
the Jesuits. The inaction of the Bundesrath amounted to an in-
sult against the Reichstag. The Chancellor immediately replied
and amid dead silence read the following statement : "The fed-
erated governments will not consent to the granting of Jesuit es-
tablishments in the empire, for the same reasons that led to the
enactment of the law of July 4th, 1872, dissolving such establish-
ments. On the other hand, I believe that the religious situation
in Germany has undergone such changes that there is no further
necessity of subjecting individual German citizens to exceptional
laws for the sole reason that they are members of the Society of
Jesus ; or of giving the authorities of the empire the power of ex-
pelling foreign Jesuits. I shall therefore use my influence with
the Prussian members of the Bundesrath for the repeal of this
second part of the law."
Dr. Spahn replied that while thej^ would never cease demand-
ing the repeal of the entire law as a matter of simple justice and
equal rights, they were grateful for this first instalment, and in
the name of the Reichstag, of the Centre-party and the Catholic
people, he thanked the Chancellor.
The Socialists said that they could not join the Centre in this
expression of thanks ; that all this rubbish of exceptional laws,
to which they were absolutely opposed, should be swept out of
existence, and that the government was very short-sighted in
leaving in the hands of the Centre this weapon of the unrepealed
remnant of the law. The other parties, too, as well as most of
the papers, were of the opinion that the whole law might as well
have been repealed at once — a repeal which could not be delayed
long in any case.
The promised repeal means that while the Jesuits will not be
No. 13. The Review. 203
allowed to establish in Germany colleges and other houses in ac-
cordance with their constitutions, they will be enabled to live to-
gether in small residences, and above all, they will be free to give
missions, retreats, apologetic conferences, and undertake other
works of the ministry, without let or hindrance, whenever and
wherever they are invited to do so by the bishops. It is significant
that foreign Jesuits are included in the promised repeal. It has
been said, rightly or wrongly, that the Emperor was personally
opposed to the return of the Jesuits. Be that as it may, anyone
who has followed the' trend of political affairs in the empire,
must have seen for some time that the repeal of this odious law
could be delayed no longer. If the tariff bill had miscarried, the
Chancellor would have been asked to resign. Now, it was the
Centre that passed the bill, and the position of the party is
stronger than ever. Then there are certain imfonderabilia which
have much weight with the Emperor, who is a man of imagina-
tion. The French government has just expelled the Jesuits,
among whom there are many Alsatians, Frenchmen by choice.
They may now, by favor of the German government, return and
live and labor in their own country, at least as foreigners. The
Crown-prince will visit the Holy Father early in the spring, and
the Emperor himself a little later. The actual repeal of the law
will pretty nearly coincide with these visits. How very gracious
then will be the reception of these Protestant princes at the
.Vatican!
The Jesuit law reads as follows: "§ 1. The Society of Jesus
and affiliated orders are excluded from the territory of the em-
pire. Establishments of these orders are prohibited ; those ex-
isting must be closed within six months. § 2. Members of the
Society of Jesus and affiliated orders, if foreigners, can be ex-
pelled from the territory of the empire ; if citizens, their sojourn
in certain districts and localities can be forbidden to them, or a
residence assigned to them." It is the second paragraph which
will be repealed.
We may recall here the nature and make-up of the Bundesrath.
The Bundesrath represents in the legislature of the empire, the
sovereign princes or their governments. Fifty-eight votes are
cast — seventeen by Prussia, six by Bavaria, four each by Saxony
and Wiirttemberg, three each by Baden and Hesse, two each by
Mecklenburg and Braunschweig, one each by the other small
states and the three Hanseatic towns. The votes of a state can
not be split, that is to say, they are cast as a unit for or against
a bill. The Chancellor of the empire is President of the Bundes-
rath. In the present case, the Chancellor, as Prime Minister of
Prussia, will instruct the Prussian members to vote for the re-
204 The Review. 1903
peal; most of the others, perhaps all, will follow suit. And thus,
after thirty years of exile, the hunted Jesuits will re-enter the
German empire. — Messenger^ No. 3.
[Unfortunately, there again seems to be a hitch, and the Cath-
olic press of the Fatherland is anxiously enquiring: Why does
not the Bundesrath act? Meanwhile the enemies of the Jesuit
order, who are the enemies of the Church, are trying by hook
and by crook to stir up a wave of public indignation against the
repeal of the infamous law.]
3P 3? 3P
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
The Whole Difference. By Lady Amabel Kerr. London, Sands
& Co. St. Louis, B. Herder. Price $1.60.
In this novel the unhappy consequences of a mixed marriage
and the many snares and pitfalls encountered by Catholics
whose associates are not of the faith, are vividly pictured. The
heroine comes perilously near marrying a non-Catholic herself,
but is true to her principles and reaps, at the close of the volume,
the reward which novelists owe to the virtuous creatures of their
imagination. The essential difference between the Catholic and
those outside the fold is well brought out in the discussions
between the hero and heroine. The Catholic is "free under the
law," while the non-Catholic is bound and trammeled by the de-
spicable bondage of his pride-ruled will. The story is full of in-
terest and the characters are well drawn. This and the sincere
purpose of the book make it a welcome addition to the Catholic
library of fiction.
j^
Hail! Full of Grace. Simple Thoughts on the Rosary, by Mother
Mary Loyola. Edited by Father Thurston, S. J. St. Louis,
Mo., B. Herder, 1902. Price $1.35 net.
Mother Mary Loyola, to whom we are already deeply indebted,
comes to us with a new volume more full than ever of solid and
inspiring piety. The purpose of 'Hail ! Full of Grace' is to help
us in our meditations on the mj'steries of the rosary, so that we
may "imitate what tluey contain and obtain what they promise."
He must be hard-hearted indeed who would not say his beads
with more attention and devotion after reading even one of these
little meditations. Not the least among the benefits to be derived
from the writings of Mother Mary Loyola flows from her truly
remarkable knowledge of the Scriptures and of the liturgy.
Familiarity with the language of the Church is a great safeguard
against self-deception and sentimentality in prayer and a very
No. 13. The Review. 205
sure means of becoming-|permeated with the spirit of our Holy
Mother. This language is the most exact, the most unmistak-
able expression of the mind of the Church. The spiritual writer
who remembers this fact, is possessed of a powerful means of
feood to his readers. The saints knew this well and unconscious-
ly made the Church's tongue their own. Mother Mary Loyola
has learned their secret. May 'Hail! Full of Grace' find its
way into the hands and hearts of many to the strengthening and
purification of their piety.
Beyond the Grave. From the French of Rev. E. Hamon, S. X,
by Anna T. Sadlier. Second Edition. St. Louis, B. Herder,
1903. Price, $1 net.
We are perhaps accustomed to think that very little is known
of the life after death, and to find hell, purgatory, and heaven
most difficult subjects of meditation. A little time spent in read-
ing this book would destroy the delusion. From the Bible, the
liturgy, and the writings of the Fathers, the saints, and the great
theologians, enough has been gleaned to afford a very dis-
tinct idea of the life for which we are preparing. At this season,
when the Church follows Our Lord through His passion and
death, making ready worthily to celebrate His resurrection, a
book like the present one is a timely and welcome aid to devotion.
Anchoresses of the West. By Francesca M. Steele. (Darley Dale).
With Preface on Mysticism by the Very Rev. Vincent Mc-
Nabb, O. P. St. Louis, B. Herder. London, Sands & Co.
19o3. Price $1.
The author has collated from various authoritative sources,
accounts of the many holy women who chose, as fitting their vo-
cation, the life of solitaries. A great deal of valuable and inter-
esting historical matter is contained in the book, which closes
with a description of the remains of anchorites' cells in England.
These remains constitute the only shadow of foundation for that
pleasing fiction which has found its way into literature, begin-
ning with Marmion, and which ascribes to the Church the prac-
tice of punishing certain sins by the immuring or walling up alive
of the culprit. A study of these pages would demonstrate to
those who may give it credence how baseless is the calumny.
206
MINOR TOPICS.
In No. 108 of the American Catholic Quar-
The Public School in terJy Rcviezv, Lorenzo J. Markoe gives ex-
Minnesota. tracts from the published annual reports of
Minnesota State school superintendents,
from 1860 to 1900, in which the complete failure of the public school
sj'^stem in that State, both under Protestant and secularist su-
perintendents, is made manifest. "Thus we find," the author
says, "on the admission of our last State Superintendent, that,
far from advancing- the interests of the community, our State
school system has actually retarded and impeded them. The tes-
timony from start to finish, has all pointed to the facts that ele-
mentary English branches are not learned in our public schools,
that the scholars are not fitted for commercial or business
careers, that they are positivel}' unfitted for agricultural pur-
suits, that simple reading and writing are not learned by them
so as to make a 'plain serviceable use of the English language,'
and that no progress worth noticing has yet been made in devel-
oping in them such a moral character and intellectual vigor as
will make good citizens and noble men and women ! And — bear
it well in mind — these are the conclusions of our school oflB.cials,
without one word from any Catholic source, or a single charge of
our own." (Page 810.)
No Catholic need be surprised at this. According to the testi-
mony of Mr. Eiselmeyer (Cfr. The Review, vol. IX., page 775)
300,000 of the 400,000 public school teachers of this country have
received no professional training whatever ; what can be the re-
sult of their teaching but failure? And yet these very persons
claim that no one but them has a right to a share in the public
school funds, and that what they receive is not enough ; that
their salaries should be increased and old age pensions added.
'"With the unfortunate appointment of
The "Inquisition- monks to preside over the royal council of
Monks." • the Inquisition, religion was made a cloak
to cover many acts of tyranny in Spain" —
such is the verdict pronounced publicly in the Catholic church
at 32d St. and Benton Boulevard, Kansas City, Mo., by Rev. Fr.
Dalton, Pastor. (Vide A'. C. Journal, March 'l3th;.
The reverend lecturer — writes one of our occasional con-
tributors— whose theme was the Spanish Inquisition, seems
to have forgotten the historical fact that, from the very be-
ginning of the Inquisition, a Dominican — who, by the way,
are generally called, friars, not monks, — Torquemada had been
appointed Grand Inquisitor of Castile. Whence it would natur-
ally follow from the sentence quoted, that religion was, from the
very beginning, made "a cloak to cover many acts of tyranny,"
and that the Dominicans were responsible for the "many acts
of ; likewise that, in the course of centuries, the Domini-
cans were the sole perpetrators of a great deal of bloodshed.
No. 13. The Revikw. 207
That a Catholic priest can hurl such an accusation ag-ainst an
illustrious order, can only be explained on the supposition of
either egregious ignorance or malicious aversion against religious
orders in general. To sheer ignorance we must attribute also
the following sentence. "The various popes, Nicholas V., Inno-
cent VIII., and Leo X., pleaded constantly for mitigation of sen-
tences and abolishment of the cruel features of the Spanish In-
quisitioil." Now the first tribunal of this Inquisition was erected
in 1481 at Seville, whence it follows that Nicholas V., who reigned
from 1447-1455, could scarcely know anything of said Inquisition.
As to Innocent VIII. (1484-1492) history tells us that by his
Bull of February, 1485, he confirmed the approbation of this state
machinery granted by Sixtus IV. About Leo X. we know little
concerning his attitude towards the Inquisition. These are his-
torical data which even an"interesting historical lecturer" should
not disregard.
Those of our readers who have read the
Newman's Essay on note in our No. 2 (current volume), "New-
Development. man's Essay on the Development of Chris-
tian Doctrine Not a Catholic Book," will learn
with interest that the Dublin Review's estimate of this work, as
there quoted, is shared by Msgr. Turinaz of Nancy, one of the
most eminent theologians among the bishops of France. "There
is throughout this book a lack of clearness and precision," he
says, in a recent pastoral letter (text in full in La Veriie Frangaise^
No. 3494,) and "those who so frequently and persistently invoke
the authority of Cardinal Newman in the question of the develop-
ment of faith, carefully omit to mention the fact that he wrote it
while yet an Anglican."
The Missouri State Board of Mediation and Arbitration has
issued its first report, covering the period from May, 1901, (its
beginning) to December, 1902. The Board succeeded in settling
strikes in twelve cases ; its ofi&ces were refused five times ; only
twice it failed to bring about a settlement. In one instance, a strike
was called off before the Board had given its decision.
The three members constituting the Board complain that.lack
of funds prevented them from taking up smaller labor troubles.
That should not be. Missouri can well afford to appropriate
sufficient money for such a good and noble purpose.
A clerical contributor writes :
"Both in the old and the new world certain disgruntled Cath-
olics have fallen into the evil habit of employing the liberal press
to air their grievances against ecclesiastical persons and institu-
tions in a manner that is absolutely provoking. In Bavaria the
abuse had grown to such an extent that the clergy of Wuerzburg,
at a recentlconference, adopted the following resolution :
" 'We deplore as one of the most shameful outgrowths of pres-
ent-day polemics, as open treason against the sacred rights of
our Holy Church, and as a degrading surrender of the priestly
208 The Review. 1903.
honor, the fact that Catholic priests forget themselves so far as
to make use of the enemy's press to vent in a spiteful manner
their dissatisfaction with ecclesiastical persons and institutions,
thereby causing confusion and scandal to the faithful, and giving
joy and aid to the enemies of the Church.' — Salzburg Katholische
Kirchenzeitung O^o. 8.)
"It were well if some of our own Liberal clerics pondered these
words seriously before again using the yellow sheets or the New
York Independent as weapons against their Church."
Rev. Fr. Eggenstein writes to us from Marine, 111., under date
of March 21st :
"Not finding the Diocese of Alton in your list of dioceses having
5o per cent, or more of parish schools in proportion to churches
with resident priests, I referred to the Catholic Directory for
19ol, the latest at hand. It states : Churches with resident
pr'ests 9o, parishes and missions with schools 65, which makes
72 per cent. Is it possible that the percentage has fallen below
So in two years?"
It has fallen slightly, according to the Directory for 19o3, which
gives the number of churches with resident priests at 94, while
the number of parishes and missions with parish schools re-
mains at 65.
Nevertheless, the Diocese of Alton is entitled to a place in the
table compiled by the Southei'n Messenger and reproduced in No.
11 of The Review, and we thank Fr. E. for calling our attention
to the fact.
There are, in practice, two mistakes which uneducated Catho-
lics make concerning the anointing of the sick. One is, shrink-
ing from the administration from the fear that if anointed they
must certainly die. The other is precisely opposite — people
wanting the holy oils when there is nothing the matter with
them. Our separated brethren, who are so prone to carp and
criticise and find fault with us, will at least allow that Rome has
always retained and practised the Sacrament of Extreme Unction
which they have lost, and which some of them desire to revive.
"Next to religion we know of no word so sadly abused and
made to cover so much rascality as this word 'American' or
'Americanism.' "-L. J. Markoe in ihe American Catholic Quarterly
Review, No. 108, p. 801.
What about "patriot" and "patriotism"?
In the words of the Jewish novelist Zangwill, the modern play
is nothing Ibut "snivel, drivel, and devil"; Father Tabb in the
American Catholic Quarterly Review (No. 109) shows all modern
literature to be little more than "dirt, doubt, and despair."
11 ilbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., April 9, 1903. No. 14.
LOYALISTS IN THE AMERICAN REVOLVTION.
\
E are indebted to Mr. Claude Halstead Van Tyne of the
University of Pennsylvania for a valuable contribution
to our knowledge of certain important features of our
national history which only in quite recent times have be-
gun 'to receive due attention. In the volume entitled 'The
Loyalists in the American Revolution' (Macmillans), we have
an account of the formation of the Tory or Loyalist party
in the years immediately preceding- our Declaration of Inde-
pendence ; of its persecution by the Whigs during a long
and fratricidal war, and of the banishment or death of over
100,000 of the most conservative and respectable citizens.
The author does not undertake to trace the political and social
consequences of their banishment, which has been compared
with the expulsion of the Moors from Spain or the exile of the
Huguenots from France, but he suggests that the youthful errors
of the American Republic in the matters of finance, diplomacy,
and politics might have been in part corrected or prevented by
the presence of that conservative element which had either been
driven out of the country, or, if permitted to remain, was long
deprived of political and social influence because of an unremit-
ting intolerance. Mr. Van Tyne leaves to others an exposition
of the results of the compulsory Tory exodus, and confines him-
self to setting forth the story of the origin and evolution of the
Loyalist party. In his quest of materials he has gone for the
most part to the original sources. He has examined the laws of
each of the thirteen colonies during the whole period of the revo-
lution and he has learned from the "Transcript of the Manu-
script Books and Papers of the Commission of Inquiry into the
Losses and Services of the American Loyalists," whether the
laws were really carried out in all their ostensible severity. The
210 The Review. 1903.
process of verification has been furthered by an inspection of the
public records of the origfinal States. The newspapers of the
day have also been consulted, including Rivington's Gazette, the
foremost newspaper advocate of Loyalism from 1774 until the
close of the war. The letters and journals of such Loyalists as
Hutchinson, Curwen, Van Schaack, and John Murray, and the
pamphlets of Galloway and others, have likewise proved of much
utility.
What elements of American society were loyal to the British
Crown before the passage of the Boston Port bill and the occupa-
tion of Boston by a British garrison ? Our author thinks that,
before the coming of the British soldiers, the elements of the ac-
tive Tory party may be fairly enough distributed in a few well-
defined classes. There were, in the first place, the ofl&ce-holding
Tories, whose incomes depended on the existing regime. Closely
linked with these were those gregarious persons whose friends
were among the ofi&cial class. Doubtless many of the Anglican
clergy had motives similar to those of the Crown officers. With
these men drifted the conservative people of all social grades.
Another type of man who listened and yielded rather to meta-
physical considerations than to concrete facts, was the dynastic
Tory, the King-Worshipper. Others who were convinced that
Parliament had a right to tax are defined by our author as legali-
ty-Tories. Both these last-mentioned types were reinforced by
the religious Tory, whose dogma was "Fear God and honor the
King." Finally, there were the factional Tories, whose action
was determined by family feuds and old political animosities.
Thus, in New York, the De Lancy party was forced into opposi-
tion to the so-called patriots, because the Livingston party, its
ancient enemy, had embraced the Whig principles. It is sug-
gested that in Massachusetts the antipathy of the Otises to Gov-
ernor Bernard aided the formation of the Revolutionary party.
With the actual outbreak of war came new accessions to the ac-
tive supporters of the British ; especially when issues arose on
the subjects of the Continental Congress, the Declaration of Inde-
pendence and the French alliance. Particularly important is it
to remember, what is too often overlooked, that contentment
with the old order of things was the normal state, and that men
had to be converted to the Whig or Revolutionary views, rather
than to the Tory or Loyalist position.
Mr. Van Tyne holds that, in failing to prevent the assembling
of delegates to the Continental Congress, the Tories lost their
last political opportunity. Instead of taking an energetic part in
the colonial politics of the period, they remained for the most
part impassive. Joseph Galloway, for instance, testifies that, in
No. 14. The Review. 211
the election of delegates to the second Continental Congress from
Pennsylvania, very small proportions of the people turned out to
vote. In one place, he said, two men would meet and one would
appoint the other a delegate to the Congress. In many districts
a decimal part, and in some not a hundredth part, of the voters
were present. Gov. Martin of North Carolina wrote Lord Dart-
mouth that ten of the thirty-four counties of that State sent no
representatives to the provisional convention called for the pur-
pose of appointing delegates to the second Continental Congress.
In some of the districts that were represented committees of ten
or twelve men would take it upon themselves to name the dele-
gates to the provincial convention. In still other districts the
Representatives were chosen by not a twentieth part of the peo-
ple, "notwithstanding every act of persuasion had been em-
ployed by the demagogues upon the occasion." In Georgia the
Loyalist influence was so strong that only five out of twelve par-
ishes sent deputies to a provincial convention which met for the
purpose of appointing delegates to the Continental Congress.
Notwithstanding the fact that they represented only a minority
in the provinces, these five parishes elected delegates, who, how-
ever, from fear or modesty, refused to serve, and sent a letter of
explanation to Philadelphia. In New York the Loyalists were
more active, and in some Long Island districts the records show
heavy majorities against sending representatives to a provincial
convention which was to appoint delegates to the Continental
Congress. In spite of such adverse majorities, delegates were
sent from these districts by small bodies of patriots who relied
upon outside support to secure admission for them to the con-
vention. Lieut. -Gov. Colden asserted that in Queens County not
six persons had met for the purpose of choosing delegates to the
convention. In New York city a desperate attempt was made to
arouse the conservative forces against the proposed congress.
The attempt failed, but our author thinks that the New York
delegation to Philadelphia felt restrained by the consciousness
that they represented only a minority.
The opinion is expressed in the book before us that in 1768
Samuel Adams probably stood alone in the belief that America
must become independent. Even as late as 1775 many of the
leading patriots had not gone so far on the road to rebellion.
Washington, for instance, was not sure that the war was to be
one for independence when he took command at Cambridge.
Jefferson denied that armies had been raised with a desire of
separation from England. Franklin would willingly have pledged
his private fortune to compensate the East India Company for
its losses through the Boston Tea Party. Not long before the
212 The Review. 1903.
close of 1775, a delegate to the Continental Congress said with
horror that he had heard of persons in America who wished to
break off with Great Britain, and that "a proposal had been made
to apply to France and Spain." He threatened to inform his con-
stituents, and added, "I apprehend the man who should propose
it would be torn to pieces like De Witt." In a word, the respon-
sible statesmen of America were slow to advocate the doctrine of
independence, until, in the winter of 1775-76, obscure songwrit-
ers and newspaper humorists set the idea buzzing in the minds
of discontented men. Among the agencies which told powerfully
for independence, the publication of Paine's 'Common Sense'
was conspicuous.
We are reminded that John Adams asserted many years later
that in the early part of 1778 "New York and Pennsylvania were
so nearly divided — if, indeed, their propensity was not against
independence — that, if New England on the one side and Virginia
on the other had not kept them in awe, they would have joined
the British." Timothy Pickering called Pennsylvania "the
enemy's country," and Curwen thought that the Quakers and
Dutchmen had too great regard for ease and property to sacrifice
either on the altar of an unknown goddess of rather doubtful
divinity. Mr. Van Tyne has no doubt that in that colony "the pro-
prietary government was able to wield a powerful opposition. It
was reenforced by the Quakers, who wished to avoid war on any
terms. In convention they denounced the putting down of kings
and governments, asserting that such action was God's preroga-
tive and not men's. They proclaimed a horror of measures tend-
ing to independence. This gentle and peaceable disapproval, en-
forced by the conservatism of the Pennsylvania Germans, de-
layed favorable action by that colony until the mass meeting at
the State House in the middle of May, 1776, denounced the act of
the Pennsylvania Assembly, which had instructed its delegates
in Congress to oppose independence. This event simply meant
that the party favorable to independence, failing to control the
legally elected legislature, had now resorted to extra-legal
means to defeat the evident wish of the legal majority." It is
pointed out in a footnote that this majority wasonly of the limited
number to whom the suffrage had been restricted. The people
at large were appealed to by the Whigs, and late in June the ex-
tra-legal convention called by them falteringly pledged the colony
to independence.
In Maryland, so great was the popularity of Governor Robert
Eden, that the Tory party possessed great strength. Nothing
but the active campaign carried on by Samuel Chase and Charles
Carroll in every county won that colony to the side of independ-
No. 14. The Review. 213
ence. In Virginia there had been a very even balance of forces,
but the action of the Governor, Lord Dunmore, gradually
estranged the loyal people of the colony. He first threatened to
free, and then freed by proclamation, all the negroes and inden-
tured servants who should enlist for the purpose of reducing the
colony to subjection. Subsequently, his relentless burning of Nor-
folk, the principal seaport of the colony, gave Virginia as good a
reason as Massachusetts for wishing independence.
The varying fortunes of the war greatly influenced the strength
of both parties. From this fact our author draws an inference
that has often been lost sight of. "It is just that great mass
of the Americans which was always ready to move toward the
point of least resistence, that has been least regarded by those
who have sought to frame a theory of the American Revolution.
That mass has never been an inviting object for the contempla-
tion of either the Whig or Tory sympathizers. As a result, one
student has pronounced the Revolution the work of 'an unscrupu-
lous and desperate minority ;' while another has declared that it
was 'the settled conviction of the people that the priceless treas-
ure of self-government could be preserved by no other means.'
A study of the political struggle between the Whig and the Tory
seems to show that at both extremes of political thought there
was a small body of positive and determined men, while between
them lay the wavering, neutral masses, ready to move unresist-
ingly in the direction given by the success of either Whig or
Tory. Leagued with the positive Tory minority was the British
government, while the Whig minority began the struggle with
the aid of the great natural advantages of a field vast and far-
removed from the resources of the enemy. Then the aid of for-
eign alliances turned the tide steadily and irresistibly toward
Whig victory, and, as the trend of events became evident to the
mass of neutral Americans, they also joined the favorable flood,
and assured the ultimate success."
In view of this state of facts, Mr. Van Tyne declines to recog-
nize the deserter as necessarily a rascal. In many cases, no
doubt, he might be induced by the "difference between doubloons
and rags" to quit an unprofitable service for one more beneficial.
Many a deserter, however, had a more laudable motive. He
might be only a thoughtless fellow who had been carried into re-
bellion by the enthusiasm of other men possessed of more posi-
tive convictions. Then some terrible calamity to the American
cause, some real suffering and privation, or a proclamation con-
taining a terrible threat or a fearful reminder that he was a
traitor, brought him to a realization of the true situation. A re-
vulsion of feeling brought back all his natural conservatism, and
214 The Review. 1903.
he made the best of his earliest opportunity to join the cause to
which his conscience bound him. Our author points out that the
Tories understood the nature of this neutral body of men far
better than did the British, and constantly urged the British
commanders to send skeleton regiments into the neutral dis-
tricts with arms to be distributed among the loyal men, who
would at once flock to the King's standards. Joseph Galloway,
the most active of all the Loyalists, pleaded earnestly for such
an experiment, but his advice, like most other counsel offered to
the British by the Tories, was unheeded.
To what extent did the Loyalists render the British military
service during the Revolutionary War? Our author estimates
that "New York alone furnished 15,000 men to the British army
and navy, and over 8,000 Loyalist militia. All of the other col-
onies furnished about as many more, so that we may safely state
that 50,000 soldiers, either regular or militia, were drawn into
the service of Great Britain from her American sympathizers."
We should bear in mind, moreover, that, even when the Loyalists
failed to join the British troops, their known presence in large
numbers among the inhabitants of a given region prevented the
Whig militia levied therein from joining the American forces.
The British soldiers were greatly aided, also, in the matter of
supplies by the Tory inhabitants.
The assistance given them by the Loyalists was but ill appre-
ciated by the'British troops. The officers and soldiers treated
the Tories with a cold tolerance and never gave them a warm and
sincere reception. From their point of view the loyal as well as.
the rebellious Americans were "our colonists," not equals. Gallo-
way, who did the British more service than any other genuinely
American Loyalist, always smarted under Howe's neglect.
These two men, the greatest of the Loyalists and the commander
of the British forces lived side by side for seven months in Phila-
delphia, and Howe called on Galloway but once in all that time.
It is probable enough that this low estimate of the Tories cost
the British dearly. In the judgment of a contemporary Tory
writer, much of Cornwallis' early success was due to the fact
that he treated a Loyalist like a friend embarked in the same
cause. What the Tories might have done was shown at the
battle of Camden, where it was Tarleton's Cavalry and Rawdon's
Volunteers of Ireland, raised in Pennsylvania, that carried the
day. Nearly 2,400 Tories took part in that terrible defeat of
Gates. Nor was mere neglect the only injury which the Loyal-
ists suffered from the British armies. Although, for political
reasons, the British officers sought to shield the Tories from
plunder, the common soldiers, who held all Americans in con-
No. 14.
The Review.
215
tempt, were hard to restrain. Galloway said that Loyalists had
come to him with tears in their eyes, complaining that they had
been plundered of everything in the world, even of the pot to boil
their victuals.
Of course, the news of the treaty of peace, a treaty which did
not guarantee the restoration of their property or even assure to
them protection from acts of violence, threw the Tories into the
depths of despair. It will be remembered that the British pleni-
potentiaries had contented themselves with a mere promise that
Congress would recommend to the States a conciliatory policy
with reference to the Loyalists. It was not surprising that chiv-
alrous Englishmen as well as Loyalists denounced as shameful a
peace which proclaimed the British as beaten cowards incapable
of safeguarding the adherents to their wretched fortunes. There
is no doubt, however, that England got for the Loyalists the ut-
most attainable in the treaty, and that later she showed herself
honorable and generous in the highest degree by compensating
the Loyalists out of her own treasury. Large land grants were
given to Tory refugees in Nova Scotia and in upper Canada, and
some nine million dollars were expended for the benefit of the
refugees in those provinces before 1787. The total amount of
compensation granted by the British government to their Amer-
ican adherents is computed at thirty millions of dollars.
The purport of this interesting volume is summed up in a few
-words : "The cause of the Loyalists failed, but their stand was
reasonable and natural. They were the prosperous and contented
men, the men without a grievance. Conservatism was the only
policy that one could expect of them. Men do not rebel to rid
themselves of prosperity. Prosperous men seek to conserve
prosperity. The Loyalist obeyed his nature as truly as the pa-
triot, but as events proved, chose the ill-fated cause, and when the
struggle ended his prosperity had fled and he was an outcast and
an exile."
» 9g »
THE PERCENTAGE OF CATHOLICS IN THE STATES
OF THE UNION.
Some time ago several Catholic papers published a Washington
letter,*) purporting to show that Catholics form the majority in
fourteen of our States, claiming, e. g., for Massachusetts 71%,
New York 58%, Michigan 51%, etc. A friend of The Review in
Southern Illinois called our attention to these figures, stating
that they were entirely wrong. So we compared the census
*) Written by one Scharf. who has estah-
lished a CathoUc news agency there, and whom
Dr. Lambert in last week's Freeman's Journal
justly censures for trying to use the Catholic
press as a brush for whitewashing the admini-
stration in the Philippine question.
216 The Review. 1903.
reports for 1900 with those of the Catholic Directory for 1903, and
found the following- :
States. Population. Catholics. Per Cent.
Alabama 1,828,697 24,075 1 per cent.
Arkansas 1,311,564 12,000 1
California 1,485,053 373,000 25 "
Colorado 539,700 70,000 13
Connecticut 908,355 270,000 30
Delaware*) 184,735 26,000 14 "
Florida 528,542 7,000 1
Georgia 2,216,331 21,000 1
Idaho 161,772 12,000 7
Illinois 4,821,550 1,248,500 25 "
Indiana 2,516,462 182,495 7
Iowa 2,231,853 170,000 8 "
Kansas 1,470,495 76,860 5 "
Kentucky 2,147,174 184,164 9 "
Louisiana 1,381,625 407,000 30 "
Maine 694,466 100,000 14 "
Maryland and D. C. 1,468,768 250,000 17 "
Massachusetts 2,805,346 910,000 30 "
Michig-an 2,420,982 377,195 16
Minnesota 1,751,394 367,000 21
Mississippi 551,270 21,840 1^ "
Missouri 3,106,665 285,000 9 "
Montana 243,329 50,000 20
Nebraska 1,068,539 93,138 9
Nevadaf)
New Hampshire. .. 411,588 104,000 25
New Jersey 1,883,669 378,000 20 "
New York 7,268,012 2,207,000 30 "
North Carolina 893,810 4,600 X "
North Dakota 319,146 30,000 10 "
Ohio 4,157,545 531,000 12 "
Oregon 413,536 40,000 10 "
Pennsylvania 6,302,115 l,000,i500 16
Rhode Island 428,556 275,000 66 "
South Carolina 340,316 8,500 ^3 "
South Dakota 401,570 49,000 12 "
Tennessee 2,020,616 29,000 1
Texas 3,048,710 214,000 7 "
Utah 320,074 9,500 3 "
Vermont 343,641 70,000 20 "
Virginia 1,854,184 30,000 2 "
Washington 518,103 50,000 10 "
West Virginia 958,800 25,000 3 "
Wisconsin 2,069,042 595,861 29
Wyoming 92,531 7,000 8 "
Arizona 122,931 40,000 33 "
I. T. and Oklahoma. 790,341 21,288 3 "
New Mexico 195,310 133,000 68 "
•) The Diocese of Wilmington embraces the
State of Delaware and the eastern shore of
Maryland and Virgrinia. As the Directory does
not say how many Catholics live in Delaware,
we had to take the figures for the Diocese of
Wilmington. Hence the percentage is too high.
t) The State of Nevada belongs partly to the
Diocese of Sacramento, partly to Salt Lake
City ; as the greater half belongs to Salt Lake
City we have added Nevada to Utah.
No. 14. The Review. 217
The foregoing' table shows at a glance how false the statement
of that Washington correspondent was. Instead of 14 States,
there are but two with Catholic majorities : New Mexico and
Rhode Island. One-third of the population is Catholic in Arizona,
and nearly one-third in New York, Louisiana, Massachusetts,
and Wisconsin. One out of four inhabitants is Catholic in Cali-
fornia, Illinois, and New Hampshire. And further on Catholic
minorities decrease, down to North Carolina, where our corelig-
ionists form only one-fourth of one per cent, of the population.
s« s« ts
"WHY CO-EDVCATION IS LOSING GROUND."
This is the title of a long essay by Henry T. Fink in the/ndepen-
dentoi Feb. 5th and 12th. The author assumes as a fact that co-
education of the sexes is losing ground, nor is that fact disputed
by Prof. E. E. Slosson, who tries to answer the arguments of Mr.
Fink in the Inde-pendent of Feb. 12th. Mr. Fink accounts for the
reaction against co-education by these reasons :
"1. The growth of population and wealth in the West, which
makes the cost of separate school houses and teachers a matter
of secondary importance and brings to the front more strictly
educational reasons for or against mixed schools than economy
and the tax-rate ;
"2. The concentration of the population in cities, where all
classes are mixed, and the growing aversion of thoughful par-
ents to a system of education which encourages imprudent early
marriages and distracting flirtations, and exposes young girls,
in their most impressible years, to the danger of daily associa-
tion with boys who have the manners and morals of the slums ;
"3. The 'hoydenizing' of the girls, due to Amazonian leadership
and the natural girlish tendency to imitate the ways of boys.
The most important conclusion reached was that while co-edu-
cation is alleged to be for the special benefit of girls, it is to them
that it is particularly detrimental."
4. The aversion of the boys to compete at the same examina-
tions with the girls.
5. The fact that only about 10% of the women are workers and
these mostly from classes that have no college education. Hence
parents ask themselves more and more frequently : "Shall our
educational system continue to be adapted to the ten per cent, of
the women that do not marry, or shall it be adapted to the ninety
per cent, who do marry?"
From all these considerations the author concludes: "It is prob-
able that the vast majority of co-educational institutions will
218 The Review. 1903.
gradually disappear as such within two or three decades. The
ones likely to survive longest are those now least frequented —
the annexes or co-ordinate schools represented by RadclifEe
(Harvard) and, Barnard (Columbia). These are graduate schools
whose students are usually of mature years and therefore able to
take care of themselves. For the most part they are students of
special subjects who are eager, and should be permitted, to bene-
fit by the instruction of eminent specialists in men's universities.
And yet it is probable that even the annex will ultimately be
given up, and that women will have their own universities as well
as their grammar and high-schools and colleges. For while it is
quite true that, as President Thomas says, 'when women are to
compete with men in the practice of the same trade or profession,
there should be as little difference as possible in their preliminary
education,' it is also true that the question is being asked more
and more insistently: Should the ten per cent, of the women
who have to earn their living compete with men in their fields, or
should they not rather, in each case, try to find a womanly side
to man's work and do that in a womanly way ?
"The two professions which women most afi^ect — teaching and
medicine — illustrate this point of view," says Mr. Fink. "If, in
addition to kindergarten, nursing, hygiene and domestic science,
young women are to be taught the natural sciences in the modi-
fied womanly way (preparing them for motherhood) that I have
suggested, then their teachers will need a training different from
that of the teachers of young men. In medicine, female practi-
tioners are now, and always will be, chiefly specialists in women's
diseases, which can not be taught in mixed classes. The Chicago
Medical College for Women came to grief just a year ago after
thirty-two years of existence because it was organized on the
theory that women should have exactly the same training in med-
icine and surgery as men. The most sensible of the graduates
found the womanly side of medicine in spite of their mistaken
training."
As the Inter-Ocean lately remarked, they "drifted naturally to
the sick room to perform duties quite as important as those of the
surgeon and physician. The appearance of a trained nurse in a
crisis of illness came to mean as much as the call of the physician,
and in a good many cases the nurse was as well paid as the
doctor."
The lesson thus taught in the field of medicine, Mr. Fink thinks,
should be applied to all the professions and their occupations.
Women will surely fail if they try to compete with men in manly
lines ; just as surely as they will succeed in womanly lines. What
these womanly lines are is one of the most important problems to
No. 14. The Review. 219
be solved in the twentieth century. When it is solved, women
will no longer be trained in co-educational schools, for manhood ;
they will be trained in separate schools, for womanhood.
sp sp s?
INVESTING IN RAILROAD STOCKS AND BONDS— III.
Nature and Methods of Stock watering.
By stockwateringf is understood the issuing of securities that do
not represent money invested in the property. "Water" includes
all that is put into the property, except actual money. The ob-
ject of such watering- is either to secure initial profits by selling
new stock to investors, or to conceal the regular profits of an un-
dertaking by reducing the nominal rate of dividend. The latter
motive is more frequent. When a road is doing a profitable and
expanding business and paying large and growing dividends, its
stock rises on the market, the advance registering the increasing
value of the property. Under such circumstances they can, by
issuing additional stock, keep down the rate of dividend, prevent
the stock from going up excessively, and thus cover up the true
extent of the road's profits. Thus a company with a capital stock
of $5,000,000, paying 12 per cent, dividends, can, by doubling the
capital stock, reduce the rate to 6%. As the plant is worth but
$5,000,000, the new capital pays for the old, yet the old stock-
holder continues to draw his 6 per cent, dividends as if he really
had this amount of money invested.
That is one profit derived from watering stock ; but it also
helps to keep up or to increase passenger and freight rates and
to keep down the wages of the laboring men.
Methods of inflating capitalization vary from downright fraud
to "conservative financiering." Thus between 1868 and 1872 the
share capital of the Erie was increased from $l7,ooo,ooo to $78,-
000,000 for the purpose of manipulating the market. Again the
actual cost of building the Southern Pacific was only $6,Soo,ooo,
although it is a matter of record that $lS,ooo, 000 were paid a con-
struction company, and the bankers' syndicate which financed
the road received $4o,ooo,ooo in securities, or an average of $6 in
bonds for each dollar actually invested in the road. The same
happened with other Pacific roads. It was also not uncommon for
directors of railroad companies to buy up cheaply the property of
another road and sell it at excessive prices to their own company.
Again, stock has been given away by railroads simply as a bonus
to bait purchasers of bonds which the concerns were trying to
float. These flagrant methods of stockwatering have been large-
ly superseded by less flagrant ones. Now-a-days stocks are
watered :
220 The Review. 1903.
1. By so-called stock dividends to share-holders. Either an
outright bonus of new shares of stocks or bonds is given the old
stockholders, or an opportunity is offered them to secure the new-
stock at less than market price ;
2. By a surreptitious inflation of stocks when several roads are
consolidated. It oflfers an opportunity to float new stock "for the
betterment" of the consolidated roads; or by sharing in the sur-
plus of the successful road, the other may increase its dividend
rate and both show only^ a low rate ; or again by combining, a
weak road, whose shares are quoted, f. i., at 50, may be merged
into another company whose shares stand at par. The latter
may then issue stocks at par for the whole.
3. Sometimes stock is issued for funded debt. The substitu-
tion of 8 per cent, stock for 4 per cent, bonds facilitates the ab-
sorption of increasing earnings and permits even the cessation
of dividends during times of depression.
4. Another expedient is the funding of contingent liabilities.
Large amounts of such liabilities in the form of bills payable,
wages, salaries due, etc., may be covered by issues of interest-
bearing scrip.
An excellent example of stockwatering may be seen in the re-
cent reorganization of the Chicago and Alton Railway Company.
The old Alton management had never watered its stock and its
capitalization of $3o,ooo,ooo ($22,ooo,ooo in stocks and about $8,-
000,000 in bonds) presented a sum smaller than that required for
duplication. It had a net earning capacity of $2j9oo,ooo a year,
paying regularly from 7 to 8 per cent, interest on its common
stock. In 1899 the road was bought by a syndicate, who paid $175
for the common and $2oo for the preferred stock, making a total
cost for the purchaser of $4o,ooo,ooo for the $22,ooo,ooo of stock.
The road was recapitalized for $94,o0O,ooo, or$54,ooo,oooof bonds
and $4o,ooo,ooo of stock. The new bonds were floated at 2/4 per
cent. The fixed charges of the road as reorganized amount to
$1,963,000 per year. On the basis of the former earning capacity
of the road, which averaged considerably more than $3, 000 a mile
net, it is estimated that the Company will have no difficulty in
earning its fixed charges and paying a dividend on its preferred
stock. The increase of capitalization in this case is defended on
the ground that the road will not have to earn any more than
formerly, in order to pay interest and dividends on the new capi-
tal. It seems clear, however, that the doubling of the capital and
the increase of the bonded debt nearly sevenfold, must impose a
burden upon the rates that will tend to prevent any reduction
which might otherwise naturally take place, and afford a conven-
ient reason for refusing to advance wages.
221
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
The Psalms and Canticles in English Verse. By the Right Rev.
Bishop Bagshawe. St. Louis, B. Herder, 1903. Price $1.25.
We have here a careful rendering into English verse of the
Psalms of David. The object of this work, which certainly rep-
resents a great deal of time and labor, is to encourage the laity
to a study of the Psalms and furnish them with the means of be-
coming familiar with these songs of the Prophet King which the
Church has adopted as her own, and which form so very consid-
erable a part of her incomparable liturgy.
^«
The Rev. John Talbot Smith's latest novel, 'The Art of
Disappearing' (New York : Wm. H. Young & Co.) is too liberal
even for the broadminded Paulist critic of the Catholic World
Magazine, who says (No. 457): "When the hero, whose wife still
lives, falls in love with a Catholic girl, the author presses into his
service the Pauline privilege in order to give the story a satisfac-
tory ending. As he might just as easily have killed off the incon-
venient wife, we presume that it has been his intention to give
his readers some help in repelling the charge made against the
Church that, notwithstanding her professions, she does after all
sanction the marriage of divorced persons — sometimes. Al-
though there may be something justifiable in this motive, still
the introduction of the topic is open to fair criticism. And
certainly, when he did broach the subject. Dr. Smith ought
to have explained much more thoroughly than he has done, all the
conditions exacted by the Church in recurrence to this plea for
dispensation. His readers are very likely to receive from him
the false impression that this way of escape from an unhappy
marriage is widely available and invitingly easy."
Dodd, Mead & Co. 's New International Encyclopaedia is
not only objectionable from the religious view-point of the Catho-
lic, it is also unscholarly. In a three-column review of the first
four volumes the learned critic of the N. Y. Eveniiig- Post O^n.
3rd) shows this by numerous quotations. His final judgment is:
"There can be no doubt that the blame for all this lies primarily
with the editors. Excellent contributors have been found for
many subjects, and could be found for all. But all contributors
require to be kept up to a certain standard ; their work requires
to be proportioned, concatenated, polished, which is the sphere
of the editor. In these volumes the editors have not filled their
sphere. From planning to proofreading their work has been
slipshod."
222
MINOR TOPICS.
Apropos of our recent article (No. 10) on
h American Freenta- "Freemasonry in Germany and America,"
sonry Anti-Christian ? Rev. P. Rosen sends us this pertinent quota-
tion from Albert Pike, who has been called
the Father of American Freemasonry. Mr. Pike said at the an-
nual meeting of the Masonic Veteran Association, January
9th, 1888, (reported on pag-e 333 of the ofl&cial Bulletin of
that year) : "The Church of Rome possesses an immense
power and has immense resources, and its policy is shaped
by the subtle intellects of Italian prelates. Its forces are
united, are welded together, under the control of a single will.
And it is increasing its influence and enlarging its power
in this country every day. All men see that. Such an antagonist
is not to be encountered without peril, nor escaped from by in-
ertness. Freemasonry will need to strengthen its defences and
husband its resources. It has troops enough, nearer six hund-
red thousand than half a million ; but for a conflict with the pa-
pacy it is totally unprepared. There are ways enough in which
it can make the Roman Church regret its temerity. It can ob-
struct its way of advance to power, can countermine and blow
its ramparts into the air, can expose its sinister purposes, resist
its encroachments, and cripple and weaken it in various ways;
can insist on its property being taxed, can resist and defeat its
attempts to destroy free schools and to obtain donations of the
public fund for the maintenance of schools under the control of
Jesuits. In all the Latin countries of the world Freemasonry
has placed itself at the head of the armies of the people, and is
prepared for actual war, if forced to that extremity. Here it is
in no danger of that, and papal aggressions are to be resisted by
other methods "
[We shall soon publish an elaborate series of papers showing
from Masonic sources how and why American Freemasonry, no
less than its continental parent, is essentially anti-Christian.]
In the Denver Catholic of March 21st, "O.
The C. M. B. A. Once T." discusses with "Ind." The Review's
More. article of March 12th on the C. M. B. A.
Unfortunately for the readers of the Catholic,
said article is not quoted verbatim, as the tell-tale figures evidently
would not suit the members, who must be kept in the dark re-
garding the weak points of the concern. "O. T." is forced to ad-
mit that the figures are correct, but in order to "make a show-
ing," he sets up the claim that the "average age" of the members
does not increase, without, however, proving the assertion. To
show his "reasoning," we will quote a few of his statements :
"I don't pretend to solve the problem. I haven't the data at
hand and I haven't studied it sufficiently for that."
"Figures can be made to mean so many things. I do not mean
to say that I have mastered them."
No. 14. The Review. 223
This is clearly enough to show that "O. T." does not wish to en-
ter into an arg-ument, as he is not equipped for it. His idea is ex-
pressed in the answer to "Ind.'s" query: "Are you then perfectly
satisfied that the present rates of the C. M. B. A. will always be
high enough?" "O. T.": "I think it is likely, they will be."
(Italics ours.)
In view of these undisputed facts : that the rates have slowly
but steadily increased from year to year and that counting in the
unpaid losses the increase was quite marked for 1902, O. T.
"thinks" the rates will always be high enough. He simply figures
on the willingness of new members to pay for the deficiency
caused by the insufficient contributions of the old members.
This is the principle of the get-rich-quick concerns, and no re-
• liable life insurance company can be established on such a basis;
least of all does it become a Catholic organization to canvass for
new members under such conditions.
In a very readable paper in the Indefen-
Bra'in Development and dent TNo. 2834) Dr. Livingstone Farrand,
Menial Capacity. Professor of Anthropology in Columbia
University, who enjoys the reputation of a
specially competent anthropologist, discusses the question, how
far the size and complexity of the brain can be regarded as a
mark of the intellectual capacity of its owner. He bluntly de-
clares that "inspection of a brain, no matter how minute, will not
permit a legitimate inference as to the intellectual status of its
owner," and his further conclusions utterly cut the ground from
under those who assert that there is a plain physical basis for
the superiority of the white race over all other races, and that
other races are so naturally and essentially inferior in their brain
structure that they can never be expected to equal the white race
nor to be competent for self-government. Since the time of Nott
and Glidden this fable has been repeated and gladly believed by
those who sought a justification for their subjugation of less de-
veloped races. But there is absolutely no physiological basis for
it so far as the best studies of brain structure go. It is interest-
ing to observe that the brain weight of Laplanders and Eskimos
is somewhat greater than that of Europeans. The arrogance of
Anglo-Saxon and Caucasian supremacy must find its justification,
if anywhere, in the bare will and brute power to have it so, rather
than in any conclusions of science.
Some time ago we read in a French paper a serious refutation
of a new version of Christ's life and passion, said to have been
found in Egypt.
Something similar has turned up in India, and this is the way
the Bo7nbay Catholic Examiner {.Z^l-q.. 31st) treats the affair:
"A fantastic Leaflet. — A curious leaflet has for some time past
been circulated abroad, telling the public that the tomb of Christ
has just been discovered in Cashmere ; that Our Lord did not die
on the cross but swooned away ; that after showing himself to
His Apostles, He did not ascend into heaven, but fled in quest of
224
The Review.
1903
the lost tribes of Israel, and settled in the North of India ; that
He died and was buried there ; that consequently the founda-
tions of Christianity are destroyed ; finally that the promised
Messias (the real one"* has at last arrived — despite the increduli-
ty of the Bishop of Lahore — and is to be seen in the person of
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, at Quadain, India. The paper is full of
mis-prints. For instance, ought not the name of the new Messias
— Mirza Ghulam Ahmad — be spelt "March-hare-Gull'em-ah I
Mad" ?
This Hindoo way of disposing of a perennial fake is far ahead
of the French I
According to the Denvc?' Catholic of March 19th, the Knights
of Columbus are actively engaged in canvassing for new mem-
bers in Colorado. It may interest members of certain
other mutual benefit societies to learn that this order
also had its troubles, caused by too low rates, but engaged
professional talent for adjusting the charges, and while
the new premiums are higher than formerly, the members are
perfectly satisfied. Yet the improved schedule is really an ex-
periment, because, while the rates are scientifically correct,
they were arranged on the step-rate plan, increasing at stated
periods, and becoming highest and then level in old age. Whether
this system will be more popular than the level premiums adopted
by others, remains to be seen.
A patent medicine concern puffed its wares by means of a let-
ter from a nun, accompanied by the picture of said nun. The
Catholic Colmnbian discovered that there was no such nun. Now
it receives fulsome praise from the editors of several Catholic
papers.
We do not covet our neighbor's praise, especially if it is well
deserved ; but can not help remembering that, when The Review
a few years ago disapproved of a Catholic Bishop's recommen-
dation of just such a quack nostrum, these same editors stood
aghast at the boldness of its "little" editor. Not one dared to
support us.
Voltairean ethics in the Western Watchman
"A lie is like a blow. All de-
pends on why and how it is
struck. It may be an act of
charity ; it may be murder. A
lie may be a duty or a kind-
ness ; it may be a calumny or
a treason." — Westerti Watch-
man^ March 1st, 1903.
"Lying is a vice only when
it works evil; it is a very great
virtue when it works good." —
Voltaire to his friend Thierot,
Oct. 21st, 1736.
'%'?f??f??f?
II XTbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., April 16, 1903. No. 15.
THE YEARS OF PETER.
^)Jhere has been much talk recently, on the occasion of the
jubilee of His Holiness Pope Leo XHL, of the years of
Peter, — most of it, we fear, based on erroneous notions.
The pontificate of St. Peter dates from the ascension of our
Lord. "After the ascension of Jesus," says the Liberian Catalog-,
which is part of a collection of historical documents made in 354,
^'Blessed Peter assumed the episcopate and there was formed the
succession as described in the following pages."
Now, if we take A. D. 30 as the year of Christ's death (our
present chronology is not quite correct) and assume with Bene-
dict XIV. that the ascension took place on May 5th of the same
year, St. Peter having been executed on June 26th A. D. 67, the
years of his pontificate would number thirty-seven, plus one month
and twenty-four days, so that the ancient legendary prophecy,
which is said formerly to have been addressed to every pope up-
on his coronation: "Non videbisannos Petri" (Thou shalt not see
the years of Peter) would have come true.
It must be remarked, however, that neither the date of the as-
cension of Christ nor of the martyrdom of St. Peter is absolute-
ly certain. So long as it is impossible to fix the exact day when
our Savior expired on the cross, the date of the ascension must
also remain a matter of conjecture. And with regard to the year
of the death of St. Peter, opinions also vary widely. The Liberian
Catalog of Popes gives A. D. 55, which can not be correct ; for, ac-
cording to Eusebius, he died in the fourteenth (which, according to
St. Jerome, was the last,) year of the reign of Nero, which would
put his death between Oct. 13th, 67, and June 9th, 68. The calcula-
tions of modern authorities vary from 64 to 68. Knopfier (Kirch-
engesch., 2. ed., p. 44; and Erbes (Die Todestage der Apostel
Petrus und Paulus, etc., Leipsic 1899) believe that the Prince of
226 The Review. 1903
the Apostles died "at the very beginning of the Neronian perse-
cution," which was the summer of 64 ; Kirsch (Hergenrothers
Kirchengesch. 4. ed., p. 89) decides in favor of the year 67, while
Hoberg (Kirchenlexikon, ix, 1864) wavers between 67 and 68.
The 29th of June as the day of his death is first found in the Lib-
erian Catalog, which records the Roman tradition. In an old
Gallic calendar of 448, the 22nd of February is noted as the day
of the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul.
The general assumption that St. Peter ruled for twenty-five
years can be referred to his administration of the Church of
Rome, the duration of which is indeed put by the Liberian Cata-
log at twenty-five years, one month, and one week. Eusebius
tells us in his history that St. Peter came to Rome in the reign
of Claudius (41-54). His advent can not, therefore, have antedated
the year 42, since his imprisonment by Herod, recorded in the
Acts, did not take place before Easter 42. After his liberation
"he went to another place." This place is believed to have been
Rome, and the reason it is not expressly mentioned, Kaulen sur-
mises (Einleit. p. 229), is that "Theophilus, who lived there, knew
it well enough." But it is by no means certain that Theophilus,
to whom the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts were addressed, re-
sided in Rome. In St. Jerome's edition of the chronicle of Euse-
bius, which is only partially preserved, we read that Peter went
to Rome in tlie second year of Claudius (Jan. 25th, 42-43). It is
impossible to ascertain whether St. Jerome found this date in
Eusebius or figured it out for himself. But even if it could be
traced to Eusebius, it remains doubtful whether it embodied a
tradition already existing or was simply his own calculation.
Eusebius records the statement of an older writer, Appollonius,
(about 200 A. D.) otherwise unknown, which says that, according
to an ancient tradition, Christ commanded his Apostles not to
leave Jerusalem for twelve years after his ascension. Thus
Eusebius may have been led to figure the year 42 as the one in
which St. Peter undertook his journey to Rome. Tradition like-
wise holds Peter to be the founder of the church at Antioch,
which he is said to have administered for seven years. In the
present state of research these conflicting traditions and state-
ments can not be harmonized.
If St. Peter really arrived in Rome some time in 42 or 43, there
can be no doubt that he again left the city during the expulsion
of the Jews by Claudius (49 or 50). He presided over the council
of the Apostles (A. D. 51) at Jerusalem, spent some time in An-
tioch (Galat. ii, 11), and preached in Pontus and other provinces
of Asia Minor (cfr. I. Petr.), possibly also in Corinth, returning
to Rome some time between 54 and 57. Many Protestants admit
No. IS. The Review. 227
only this second stay in Rome, rejecting the first as mythical. It
is possible that between his first coming and his death there in-
tervened a space of twenty-five years ; but we have no certain
proof of this and ought to be very cautious in making positive
statements.
Sf 3? 3?
THE "AMERICAN CATHOLIC UNION."
Under this title there Operates in the State of Pennsylvania an
organization which, chartered as an assessment company, does
not comply with the laws enacted for the supervision of regular
life insurance companies, yet claims, among other things, in its ad-
vertising literature "semi-monthly premiums, ""no assessments,"
and further : "that its rates are based upon mortality tables
which have for years demonstrated their safety. Great precau-
tion was taken by the founders of the A. C. U. to arrange the pay-
ment of a certain yearly premium for insurance, that will main-
tain a mortality fund sufficient to meet its death rate, and also
provide a Reserve Fund to meet all future mortality, thereby
avoiding the necessity of increasing your payments as you gro^
older."
So far, so good. But are the rates sufficient ? And is the man-
agement of the "Union" competent to fulfill the promises so con-
fidently made? A correct answer to these questions is certainly
of great importance for the Catholic men who are asked to con-
ftribute their hard-earned dollars in the hope of thereby safely
providing for their families.
A comparison of the rates of the A. C. U. with the net pre-
miums for corresponding ages according to the actuaries' table,
with 4% interest, shows clearly that the premiums of the A. C.
U. are not high enough to cover even the mortality, without
making any allowance for expense account.
To prove this assertion, age 50 is herewith figured out on the
basis of original membership of 1000 men of equal age at entry,
counting in no new members, taking death losses from year to
year according to the American table of mortality. To simplify
matters, the semi-annual rate of $1.24 per $1,000 is figured for a
year as $30 paid in advance, and death-losses for the current
year are deducted from the income, leaving the balance, at inter-
est of 4% per annum, also in advance.
The following table shows in the first column the year, second
column number of surviving members, then annual death-rate,
followed by income from membership, paid-for losses, surplus,
interest income, and total reserve fund or deficiency ; cents are
omitted.
21
J8
The Review.
1903.
Year
Surviv.
Memb.
Death
, Paid by
' Members
Paid-for
Deaths.
Surplus.
Interest
4 per cent.
Reserve
Fund.
1
1000
986
14 $30,000
15 29,580
$14,000
15,000
$16,000
14,580
$ 640
1,249
dt 16000
5> 640
2
32,469
[3
971
15
29,130
15,000
14,130
1,864
48,463
4
956
16
28,680
16,000
12,680
2,446
63,589
5
940
16
28,200
16,000
12,200
3,031
78,820
6
924
18
27,720
18,000
9,720
3,532
92,082
7
906
18
27,180
18,000
9,180
4,050
105,312
8
888
19
26,640
19,000
7,640
4,518
117,470
9
.869
20
26,070
20,000
6,070
4,942
128,482
10
849
21
25,470
21,000
4,470
5,318
138,270
11
828
22
24,840
22,000
2,840
5,644
146,765
12
806
23
24,180
23,000
1,180
5,914
153,851
13
783
24
23,490
24,000 "
Hinus 510
6,134
159,475
14
759
26
22,770
26,000
3,230
6,250
162,495
15
733
27
21,990
27,000
5,010
6,299
163,784
16
706
28
21,180
28,000
6,820
6,278
163,242
17
678
30
20,340
30,000
9,660
6,143
159,725
18
648
31
19,440
31,000
11,560
5,926
154,091
'19
617
32
18,510
32,000
13,490
5,624
146,225
20
585
33
17,550
33,000
15,450
5,321
136,006
21
552
34
16,560
34,000
17,440
4,742
123,308
22
518
35
15,540
35,000
19,460
4,164
108,002
23
483
36
14,490
36,000
21,510
3,460
89,952
24
447
36
13,410
36,000
22,590
2,694
70,056
25
411
36
12,330
36,000
23,670
1,855
48,241
26
375
35
11,250
35,000
23,750
980
25.471
27
340
35
10,200
35,000
24,800
27
644
28
305
34
9,150
34,000
24,850 '_
$108,958
Deficiency.
29
271
33
8,130
33,000
24,870 "
24206
49076
30
238
31
7,140
31,000
23,860
72,936
31
207
30
6,210
30,000
23,790
96,726
32
177
28
5,310
28,000
22,691
119,416
33
149
26
4,470
26,000
21,530
140,946
34
123
24
3,690
24,000
20,310
161,256
35
99
21
2,970
21,000
18,030
179,286
36
78
18
2,340
18,000
15,660
194,945
37
60
16
1,800
16,000
14,200
209,146
38
44
13
1,320
13,000
11,680
220,826
39
31
11
930
11,000
10,070
230,896
40
20
8
600
8,000
7,400
238,296
41
12
12
360
12,000
11,640
249,336
This table should be instructive. Up to the 15th year the re-
serve fund is steadily increasing, reaching- for 706 living mem-
No. 15. The Review. 229
bers the respectable amount of $163,784. This is enough, may
think a good many people who "don't figure." But if the concern
is limited to the original membership, after 13 years the premium
payments are no longer sufficient to meet the death losses, and
the reserve fund must be drawn upon. For 3 years more the in-
terest income stops the decay, but after the 16th year the money
on deposit gradually gets less, and at the end of 28 years it is ex-
hausted.
Then there are still 305 members living, each 78 years old,
each having paid $840 : — where is their insurance???
The addition of new members might have supplied funds to
pay death losses as they occurred. In that case the original class
of 1000 men would have furnished a total deficiency of almost
$250,000, which was paid by the new members. That may be
charity, but it is not business.
In this illustration, no allowance is made for expenses, every
cent of money paid by members being used for payment of losses.
In matter of fact the expense account is quite heavy, as shown
by the official report of the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
The A. C. U. commenced business in 1900. According to the
Insurance Commissioner, income and expenditures for 1900 and
1901 were as follows : (1902 is not yet published)
Income. 1900. 1901.
Membership fees, assessments and exam.
fees $19,966.79 $27,925.46
Interest 128.94 268.20
All other sources (supplies, benefits, etc.). . 439.92 210.79
Total income, - - $20,535.65 $28,404.45
Expenditures.
For death losses and in 1900 returned to
members $ 6,515.00 $10,500.00
For expenses 4,293.34 11,279.17
Total outgo, - - $10,808.34 $21,779.17
For the 2 years the expenses are :
$ 4,293.34 in 1900.
11,279.17 in 1901 and unpaid bills for
995,82
$16,568.33, so that
of an income for 1900, of - - $19,966.79
and for 1901, of - - 27,925.46
i. e., a total paid by members of - - $47,892.25
more than one-third was spent for management.
230 The Review. 1903.
Summing-up, it were very desirable to have the A. C. U. operate
under the regular insurance laws, since in that case the insur-
ance department would see to it that the rates charged would
lower the liabilities assumed and that the required reserve fund
be properly kept ; under existing circumstances no Catholic
looking for reliable insurance should be advised to join the A. C.
U. because the concern is bound to come to grief, "burning the
candle at both ends," by not charging enough for safety and
spending too much for expenses.
Sf 9f 3?
OVR HIERARCHY AND MIXED MARRIAGES.
Our friend Martin I. J. Griffin has for many years pleaded
strongly and incessantly for the abolition of the custom of bish-
ops adding dignity and seeming sanctity, by their presence and
cooperation, to mixed marriages, which the Church condemns
in principle. In the very latest number of his Researches (No. 2)
he declared that the clergy will preach and editors write against
the evil of mixed marriages in vain, so long as high dignitaries
publicly participate in or assist at their solemnization.
The ink was hardly dry on his note, when the daily papers
printed this despatch from New York :
"Owing to the reception of orders from the Propaganda at
Rome, it became known that Archbishop Farley would not, as has
been asserted, officiate at the wedding of Reginald Vanderbilt
and Miss Cathleen Neilson. The order is not for this specific
case, but is general in its character. Positive instructions have
been received by the Catholic hierarchy of the United States for-
bidding them to officiate at any more weddings in which one of
the contracting parties is a non-Catholic. This applies to bishops,
archbishops, and the only American Cardinal. This rule is not
generally known, and will come somewhat as a surprise to many
spring brides contemplating an imposing ecclesiastical function."
If it is true, as the despatch adds, that Msgr. Ireland is the on-
ly archbishop in the United States who has never consented to
officiate at a mixed marriage, that otherwise liberal prelate de-
serves particular credit. But we believe there are others ; we
have never heard, for instance, that Archbishop Katzer of Mil-
waukee officially assisted at a mixed marriage.
As for that reported order from the Propaganda, we sincerely
hope it has been issued. It certainly was sorely needed.
231
THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST CREMATION SUMMARIZED.
We are requested for a brief summary of the Catholic argu-
ments against cremation. Such a summary could easily be drawn
up from the various articles which have appeared in The Review
in the course of the last ten years, treating- some of the subject
in genera], others of different phases thereof. In order to oblige
the questioner, however, and because the theme is one which
ever recurs, we will reproduce here the arguments in the form
in which the Bishop of Middleborough marshalled them in a letter
which he wrote in 1889, when Ithe town council of his episcopal
city planned the building of a public crematory :
1. No necessity whatever, whether on sanitary or economical
grounds, has yet been proved to justify so violent and revolution-
ary a change in our religious and natural customs.
2. The present mode of burial in the earth is the most natural,
the most economical, the most ancient, and the readiest method
of disposing of the untenanted human body. Science with all its
pretensions can not here improve upon nature, for the earth,
when not unduly impeded in its operations, is the best dissolvent
of decomposing matter.
3. Inhumation has an additional claim on the reverence of a
Christian people, as it is par excellence the Christian mode of
burial ; whereas cremation is known to be pagan in its origin,
arising as it did out of the exigencies of military discipline before
the Christian era. It was never accepted by the Christian Church.
Indeed it became a subject of reproach to the early Christians
that "they detested cremation" and "condemned the burial of
fire," as they termed it. As Christian civilization advanced, cre-
mation receded, and in the fourth century entirely disappeared.
4. The history of the attempt to revive cremation after a lapse
of nearly l,4oo years can never recommend its adoption by a
Christian people. It arose (in the year 1794) amidst the horrors
of the French Revolution, and its chief recommendation was that
it ran counter to Christian sentiment and modes of thought. In
spite of the aberrations of the age, it proved an entire failure.
Nothing daunted, however, the Italian revolution, after the fall
of the temporal power of the Roman Pontiff, made a fresh effort
to restore this relic of the pagan world ; for the credit of Catholic
Italy be it said, it has proved an ignominious failure. Out of a
population of 26 millions an average of 100 cremations per annum
can not be regarded as a success, financial or otherwise.
5. The doctrine of the resurrection is not and can not be
affected by the mode of disposing of the human body. No effort
Of man can stay the execution of a divine decree. Nevertheless,
232 The Review. 1903.
inhumation has the sanction of the Old and New Testament, and
may truly be said to be in harmony with the spirit which inspires
both. As to the practice, the Jewish and Christian catacombs
in Rome, dating' back to the period when cremation was at its
height, abundantly show that the Jews and Christians at least
preferred their own traditional mode of burying the dead
Reverence for the dead is a sentiment which lies deep down in
the human heart, and has its roots in the natural as well as in the
supernatural. He would be a shallow philosopher who would
ignore its existence.
^ ^ ts
CERTAIN QUASIMIRACVLOVS PHENOMENA IN THE LIGHT
OF MODERN SCIENCE.
In a brochure, 'La Science de Tlnvisible ou le Merveilleux et la
Science Moderne,'*) Rev. P. Hilary de Barenton, of the Capuchin
Order, considers certain quasi-miraculous phenomena in the
light of modern science as illumined by the faith. They are
chiefly these : 1st. A young Syrian girl of Beyrout, fifteen years
old and a pious Catholic, sees throug-h earth or stone with per-
fect ease, and has been of great service in revealing the location
of subterranean water-courses. 2d. Frere Arconce, of the Petits-
Freres de Marie, has discovered more than 1,300 sources of
water by means of an iron rod, and recently, having been sum-
moned to Rome by Msgr. Gracci, repeated the phenomenon
there, and was made the subject of a report to the Pontifical
Scientific Academy. 3d, The ability universally accepted of the
Spanish Zaboris, to see through opaque substances — e. g., into
the interior of the human body, or toa depth of thirty feet under-
ground.
In discas«iing these curious physical phenomena. Rev. P. de
Barenton presents us with a well compressed treatise on the
Rontgen and allied rays of light ordinarily imperceptible to the
normal eye. He shows by a table that no substances are abso-
lutely opaque, each being penetrable by some one of the sets of
rays now known to science. Normal insensibility to these rays
must be ascribed not to the retina — which seems really to detect
them when in contact — but to the defective transparency of the
crystalline lens. The brochure discusses the possibility of our
sometime coming at a means of rendering all these rays percept-
ible by means of instruments.
•) Paris : Librairie Blond et Cie. We have I summary of its contents from the Catholic
not read the brochure but adapt the above | World (No. 457.)
233
INVESTING IN RAILROAD STOCKS AND BONDS— IV.
1. Who Benefits by Stockwatering ?
Surely not the public at large. To meet the fixed charges and
obtain something in the shape of dividends, passenger and freight
rates must be kept up or increased ; the wages of the employes
are lowered rather than raised. Neither is the small investor
benefited. For solid cash he buys very "soft" goods. In pros-
perous times he may draw interest or even profit by the market
value of his stock, but as soon as depression sets in, his divi-
dends are nil, and he loses even of the capital invested.
Who, then, profits by stockwatering? The promoters and
bankers. Says the Final Report of the U. S. Industrial Com-
mission :
Heavy capitalization is, without question, injurious to the in-
terests of investors and the public at large ; but to promoters
and bankers it opens opportunities for great gains. The pro-
moter is a person who formulates the plan for the formation of a
new corporation or combination and induces the different com-
panies concerned to accept the terms proposed. The practice
is generally the same in the case of industrial corporations and
combinations as in the case of railroads. The ordinary method
of procedure is for a promoter to secure from the various com-
panies which are to be consolidated options of purchase at fixed
sums upon each plant. Then a new company is organized with a
capitalization of possibly double the amount of the options. The
companies are paid either in cash or in preferred stock of the
new corporation, with perhaps some common stock thrown in as
a bonus. The remainder of the capital stock then goes to the
promoter as pay for his services in effecting the consolidation.
In a word, promoters' profits come from watered stock. The
extent of the promoter's gains in such a case depends upon his
success in selling the new stock to the investors. Here the banker
comes to the assistance of the promoter. The latter induces
some financial interest to underwrite the stock of the new com-
pany. The underwriter agrees to negotiate the sale at a given
price for a certain amount of stock. If the banker succeeds in
selling all the stock within the specified time at a price as high
as that fixed in the contract, he has no further responsibility in
the matter ; if not, he is obliged to take the unsold stock himself.
In some cases, again, underwriting takes the form of a guaranty
by a banking house of the payment of bonds issued by a company.
The banker, of course, demands large pay for his services, either
in the form of commissions or of stock. Often the work of both
promoter and financier is performed by the same individual or
firm.
234 The Review. 1903.
2. Effect on Investors.
The operations of promoters and financiers have introduced
an element of speculation into the dealingfs in new securities, and
from this source have arisen serious evils. The two classes
named secure their profits from the first sale of the stocks rather
than the future earning-s of the combination. It is for their in-
terest, accordingly, to induce investors to buy the stocks at the
highest possible prices. The larger the amount of stock which
they can get, the greater are their profits. In order to create a
demand for the stock, the condition of the business may be mis-
represented in the prospectus issued.
3. Methods of Protecting Investors.
The existence of these evils raises the question whether some
measure can not be devised for the protection of investors
against the speculative manipulation of railroad and industrial
properties. One remedy might be found in legislation similar to
the English Companies Act of 1900. This act aims to secure
publicity and to enforce responsibility in the organization and
management of corporations. It provides that a copy of every
prospectus issued by any intended company shall be signed by
every person who is named as a director, or proposed director,
and shall be filed with the registrar of corporations. The pros-
pectus, moreover, must state the nature and extent of the inter-
ests of the holders of the property, the salaries to be paid to
directors, the names of the vendors of the property, and the
amounts payable in cash, shares, or debentures ; the amount pay-
able to any promoter as commission, and the nature and extent
of any interest of any director in the property and the amount to
be paid to him for this interest for its promotion. Furthermore,
a statutory meeting of the stockholders must be called at a time
not less than one month and not more than three months after
the company is entitled to commence business, and seven days
before such meeting a report must be sent to every member of
the company, stating the number of shares allotted, the amount
of cash received for them, and sundry other particulars as to the
condition of the company. No company is allowed to commence
business until every director has paid in cash, on each of the
shares taken or contracted to be taken by him, a proportion equal
to that payable on allotment on the shares offered for public sub-
scription. It is also required that within one month after allot-
ment a statement shall be filed with the registrar, giving particu-
lars of any contract under which shares are to be given for any
consideration except cash. Finally, if any person in any report,
balance sheet, or statement to shareholders, makes a willful mis-
No. 15. The Review. 235
statement, he is declared guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to
imprisonment not exceeding two years. These are the main
provisions of the new act for regulating the formation of corpor-
ations in Great Britain. It is appropriate to consider the ex-
pediency of similar legislation in the United States as a remedy
for abuses connected with promoting and financiering.
3f 3?
HOW EVOLUTIONISM DESTROYS SCIENCE.
In the second fascicle of the Stimmen aus Mai'ia-Laach^ Father
Victor Cathrein, S. J., discourses luminously on the final conse-
quences of evolutionism. Among other things he shows how it
destroys science.
According to the evolutionistic doctrine, man, like everything
else in the world, is in a flux of constant development. There are
no eternal truths : "Jlavra pet," as old Heraclitus put it many cen-
turies ago. It follows that under this theory science is impos-
sible ; for science is based on necessary and immutable truths.
It was believed among some ancientpeoples that the earth rested
like the shell upon a turtle. Was that truth? Was it science?
The disciples of the relative-genetic method must affirm that it
was. They have no criterion by which to judge the truth or false-
hood of the beliefs harbored by various nations at various times.
The ancients believed one thing to be true ; we believe an-
other ; the men of a later age will hold still other views. That
cuts the ground away from under all science. True science
never ages. What it has proved to be certain, remains certain
for ever and anon. Nor will it help the evolutionists to except
mathematics from their dictum. For mathematics rests largely
on metaphysical notions and principles. It is necessary, there-
fore, either to accept immutable, eternal truths for all sciences,
or to destroy the very concept of science. Utter annihilation of
truth and certainty, the "bankruptcy of science," as Brunetiere
calls it, — such is the necessary consequence of evolutionism.
"Thus," says Paulsen, "at the end of the nineteenth century, af-
ter all the experiences of history and in the fullness of nature,
we stand under a strong impression of ignorance, darkness, emp-
tiness of intellectual life. We work — work — and do not know for
what." Which recalls the words of the prophet : "They have
forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and have digged to
themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water."
(Jer. ii, 13.)
236
CARDINAL GIBBONS AND 'THE DEVIL IN ROBES."
In our No. 12 we published a letter addressed to The Review
by the acting First Assistant Postmaster-General, Mr. J. J. How-
ley, wherein that gentleman said in reference to the advertising
circulars entitled 'The Devil in Robes,' sent out by the Conti-
nental Bible House of St. Louis, that "about a year ago this mat-
ter was brought to the attention of His Eminence, Cardinal Gib-
bons, and he concurred in the opinion of this Department that to
take action toward excluding the circular from the mails would
be to give the publication further advertisement and increased
sales," and that "for that reason it is not thought expedient to
take such action.
The editor of the Church Progress forwarded a copy of Mr.
Howley's letter to Cardinal Gibbons, enquiring if he had really
thus advised the Post Office Department. Here is the reply
( Church Progress^ No. 52) :
"Baltimore, Md., April 3rd, 1903.
"Editor The Church Progress:
"Dear Sir : — In reply to your letter asking information about
the action of His Eminence in the "Devil in Robes" publication^
His Eminence directs me to say that he has no recollection at all
of ever having had any communication with the Postoffice au-
thorities about it. Very truly yours,
P. C. Gavan, Chancellor."
The Review has written to the Postmaster-General for further
explanation.
sp 3* ar
TheInternationalCatholicTruthSociety,ArbuckleBuilding,
Brooklyn, N. Y., has brought out, in pamphlet form, 20 pages, a
Symposium of Views on the Friar Question in the Philippines,
It contains three papers : 1. "Protest of the Filipino Catholic
Centre Party," as addressed to the Catholic press and all the
Catholic faithful of the United States. 2. "Father San Julian's
Statement." 3. The admirable essay by Stephen Bonsai, origin-
ally published in the North America^i Review for October, 1902.
It may interest the philosophers among our readers to
learn that Rev. P. van Becelaere, O. P., is publishing at present
an instructive series of papers on the history of "Philosophy in
America" in the Revue Thomiste, 222 Faubourg S.-Honore, Paris.
The priting-officeof the Propaganda has just issued volume
XI. of the splendid Leonine Edition of the works of St. Thomas
Aquinas. It contains quaestiones i — lix. of the third part of the
Summa theologica.
237
•LETTER. BOX.
Henry. — Their stomachs will stand anything- — if it but have a
religious trade-mark blown in the bottle.
A. — He was a real and live dean, but not of your neighborhood.
Am glad to hear that the Bishop of your Diocese cultivates the
useful virtue of burning his own smoke.
Sac. St. L. — We can't say how he stands on Liberalism. We are
in the fix of the Idaho baggage man who had a dog in his car.
The dog looked well, and when some one asked the baggage man
where it was going, he replied : "I don't know ; he don't know;
he's eaten his tag."
P. P. — It may not be entirely false that "only the fool defies pub-
lic opinion," but your own Bishop Spalding says (Socialism and
Labor, p. 89) that "those who have best insight have a fine scorn
of public opinion. They are able to do without its approval, and
they end by receiving it."
Bait. — Never mind. I'm used to being calumniated. Can say
with Napoleon (si magno licet componere parvum): "La calomnie
a epuise tons ses venins sur ma personne ; les pamphletaires, je
suis destine a 6tre leur pature, mais je redoute peu d'etre leur
victime : ils mordront sur du granit.^'
Falstaff. — Yes, poor Thorne is coming to realize his shortcom-
ings. The last Globe shows a better spirit. I do not want to
disturb his peace of mind again. Let us leave him under the im-
pression that he has demolished the Review man. It may be a
stupid but it is certainly a very useful virtue not to know when you
are licked.
Amicissimo. — You are right, unfortunately. Any sort of adver-
tising seems to be acceptable to some Catholic newspapers. Like
the pious editor in the Biglow papers, their publishers, if hard
pressed, would have to confess :
"I don't believe in princerple,
But oh, I du in interest."
Querent!. — There are all kinds of newspapers. There is the
one that seeks to please its readers by extraordinary devotion to
ordinary details ; and it does please its readers and has many
thousands of them. If it chooses to display the portrait of an in-
fant covering half of the first page with some such headlines as
"Horrible Smashup — Baby Throws Its Bottle Out of Cradle — Lies
Weltering in Its Contents on the Floor"-it should not becriticised
from the standpoint of the journal that devotes its first page to
some cracked-up international muss. Myriads of readers will en-
joy the baby story to the bottom of their hearts, where they would
consider the perusal of ten lines about our diplomatic relations
with Germany as melancholy "wading" through something very
dry and dusty. There are all kinds of people and all kinds of news-
papers. You are supposed to purchase and read the one that
appeals to your intellect and — to have charity for the others.
238
MINOR TOPICS.
The Sun of April 5th quotes a number of
Definitions of Chris- Protestant preachers as defining Christiani-
fianity. ty with liberalistic breadth as the religion
which includes all others. We all believe in
one God. Get to Heaven by any road you like, and you are a
good Christian — such is apparently the essence of modern Prot-
estant teaching in America.
Christianity would never have been preached and propagated
if it had not been offered to mankind as the one and only means
of Isalvation. Except for that belief, there would have been
no missions to the heathen. If Buddhism and Christianity
are substantially identical, as one of these preachers claims, why
have thousands of missionaries for hundreds of years been seek-
ing to convert Buddhists to Christianity? Are the millions still
expended annually on the support of Christian missions in India,
China, and Japan contributed by Christians on any other theory
than that the Gospel alone points out the way of salvation for
men in a future state?
"If the views we have quoted are sound" — says even the "broad-
minded" editor of the Sun — "that all the great religions are the
same in essence and men can get to heaven by one as vvell as by
another, 'by any road you like,' the history of Christianity has
been a long record of waste of energy, enthusiasm, and material
resources."
Father Herbert Thurston, S. J., concludes
T/}e Holy Shroud a review of the arguments pro and con in
of Turin. the controversy on the so-called Holy Shroud
of Turin, thus (Tabled, No. 3276):
"Consoling as it would assuredly be to all of us to venerate the
actual linen which wrapped our Saviour's body in the tomb, and
to look upon the imprint of His own divine countenance, myster-
iously preserved through eighteen centuries, we nevertheless
can not accept the papal documents of a later and uncritical age
as by themselves establishing the authenticiti'- of the disputed
relic. To whatever conclusion for or against individual scholars
may incline, it must be admitted that the compromising evidence
marshalled by Canon Chevalier in 1900 remains unshaken to the
present time, and it is to be hoped that a thorough scientific ex-
amination ot the incriminated cloth will be permitted before it be
again exposed to the solemn veneration of the faithful in the
Cathedral of Turin."
An Episcopalian paper has unearthed a
/I Roman-Protestant "Roman-Protestant" conspiracy. "The Ro-
Conspiracy f man-Protestant alliance to compel this (the
"Protestant-Episcopal") church to retain its
present name, is one in which it is difficult to tell which party to
the alliance — of course an unintentional but quite an effectual
No. 15. The Review. 239
alliance — is most anxious," says the Living Church (P. E.) of
Milwaukee and Chicago (quoted in the N. Y. Evening Post,
March 7th). "Week by week the Roman papers advert to the
subject. It would appear incredible that intelligent men of our
Protestant section, who claim to be bitterly anti-Roman, could
so completely play into the hands of Rome as, on this issue, they
do, and as any one can see they do if he will look over the Roman
papers. If we Catholics (?) were thus in complete agreement with
Rome as to some projected movement within this church, we
should be bitterly assailed as 'Romanizers,' as past history
shows. We can not and do not use this epithet upon the Protest-
ant section to-day ; yet the fact that they and the Roman propa-
ganda are both actively working for the same end — that of re-
taining the Protestant title to this church — is notorious, week by
week, as the Roman papers come to our desk."
The "semi-teetotalers" in England are
"Semi-Teetotalers." those who bind themselves to abstain from
liquor except at the midday and evening
meals. The London Daily News plays agreeably upon the word:
For some days we have been pondering anxiously over the
new word which has been added recently to our forgiving mother-
tongue. Perhaps if we could meet a semi-teetotaler in the flesh
we should better understand the name he gives himself. A tee-
totaler is, we take it, a man whose consumption of alcoholic
liquor is nil. A semi-teetotaler must therefore be half a man
whose consumption of alcoholic liquor is nil. But which half ?
Of course it would be affectation on our part to ignore what
seems to be the intention of the philologists who have framed the
new substantive. They would say with us that a teetotaler is a
person who is supposed to consume no liquor. But a semi-teeto-
taler they would define as a whole man who consumed half no
liquor. We are thus reduced to the old controversy, which has
already been thrashed out in our long-suffering letter-box, as to
what is the precise result obtained by multiplying nothing by a
half.
A clerical subscriber in New England writes to us regarding
our recent reference to the legend of Sts. Lazarus, Mary, and
Martha at Marseilles:
"Should the Breviary be reformed by the Commission to which
you have several times referred, I shall be among the pleased and
shall make effort to procure the new, even though allowed to use
the old, as it is said old priests may. But I do most earnestly
hope that the Commission may leave us the sweet legend of Prov-
ence as it is briefly referred to in the ofiB.ce of St. Martha, no ref-
ference being made to it in the ofi&ce of St. Mary Magdalen. If
you will go back to the Dublin Review for July, 1878, article :
The Legend of Provence,' I believe, you will find some very in-
teresting reading which does not agree with the conclusions of
Duchesne. And I have just been reading for the second time an
article of Dr. Shahan's on the Bollandists, in which he uses the
following words, which it seems to me apply to the matter in
hand: 'To men of faith it is a thrilling thing to tread forever in
240 The Review. 1903.
the vicinity of the Saints and Paradise, and to so treat of the
glories of Catholicism that the latter shall not be robbed of her
titles, nor the claims of truth suffer violence, nor the humble
faithful receive scandal at seeing" some pious local belief relegated
to. the shadowy land of legend and illusion.' "
A reader in New York City writes to The Review :
"Strange to say, here in the East the music in Catholic churches
is going down, down, down. The true music, interpreted in ac-
cordance with the spirit of the Church and the requirements of
her ceremonial and liturgy, is not introduced, yea, it is even ridi-
culed by organists. Why, here in New York there is a Catholic
church in which on Palm Sunday a piano and the organ are
played during divine service and some star singer fperhaps not
even a Catholic) sings the 'Palms,' or 'Ad majorem Dei gloriam.' "
All we can do to better this deplorable condition of affairs is to
point out again and again that the Church has her own music
which she wills to be used in her liturgy, and that the young can-
didates for the priesthood should be imbued in the colleges and
seminaries with a profound realization of the importance of this
subject and with the ability and desire to obey the laws.
By purchasing the Marion-Sims Medical College and incorpor-
ating it with St. Louis University as its medical department, the
Rector of the last-mentioned institution has taken up anew the
work of his predecessors in the forties, interrupted by the Know-
nothing-movement, of developing the great Jesuit college of the
West into a real university in the European sense. The exten-
sion of the theological course and the addition of a law school, al—
read}" in contemplation, will give the University all the four fac
ulties ; and in this profitable and altogether necessary undertak-
ing we trust Rev. Fr. Rogers and his brethren will have the cor-
dial and active co-operation of every Catholic in the West.
It appears that Rt. Rev. J. J. Glennon, Titular Bishop of Pinara
and Coadjutor to Msgr. Hogan of Kansas City, has been appointed
Coadjutor-Archbishop of St. Louis with the right of succession.
Msgr. Glennon is a comparatively young man, not much over
forty, of Irish birth and training, whose career in this country
has been quite meteoric. He was the choice of Archbishop Kain,
and in cordially saluting him as our next Archbishop, we sincere-
ly hope that he will prove himself worthy of the great confidence
which Rome has placed in him and rule this important Diocese
with the vigor of a Kain combined with the gentleness of a Kenrick.
When Father Brandi and Msgr. Schroeder some years ago de-
tected Neo-Pelagianism in Catholic America, they were accused
of calumny. Now comes Bishop Spalding and declares : "As a
people we have been, and probably still are, believers in the fun-
damental error that denies the original taint in man's nature."
(Socialism and Labor, p. 34.)
11 ^be IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., April 23, 1903. No. 16.
COMPULSORY ARBITRATION IN NEW ZEALAND.
iw Zealand some years ago adopted a law providing for
compulsory arbitration in labor controversies.
One of the greatest enthusiasts on the benefits of com-
pulsory arbitration is Mr. Henry Demarest Lloyd, a political
economist of considerable renown, from whose lately issued book,
'A Country Without Strikes,' are compiled the following inter-
esting particulars.
Compulsory arbitration, says Mr. Lloyd, proceeds on the
teaching of experience that in labor troubles it is better to have
committees than mobs to deal with, even mobs of one. Of all
mobs there have never been any more dangerous than an individ-
ual beside himself with passion and greed, defying all laws of
God and man that he may have his own way.
Everything that can be done by the New Zealand law to en-
courge these organizations is done. Manufacturers sta}' outside
the organization of their associates in the hope of escaping arbi-
tration, only to find themselves as easily brought before the bar
as others. Organizationsofworkingmen which are not registered
under this law can not hold land for their collective purposes and
can not sue defaulting members. Of course, they can not vote
for members of the Boards of Conciliation and Courts of Arbitra-
tion, and yet, when any disturbance arises in their trade, they
find themselves brought before these boards and put under the
same terras of employment as their fellows who have registered.
These are powerful inducements for organization and registra-
tion, both by employers and workingmen, and there are others.
There is not a detail of any grievance a workingman may have
which can not be brought out before the arbitrators and the pub-
lic, if he is a member of a registered trade-union. For working-
men so organized there is no more "refusal to receive commit-
242 The Review. 1903.
tees,' no more insistence upon "dealing- with individuals," no
more talk from the co-working capitalists to them of "my busi-
ness." "When the member of the registered trade-union asks to
be given some of the profits, there is no more putting him off with
sweeping- statements that "the business would not stand any in-
crease in wages," statements which elsewhere have to be ac-
cepted, because there are no means of either challenging them or
verifying them.
Loose allegations of that kind are not safe before the Court of
Arbitration, for it can compel the production of books and papers
and the attendance of witnesses to make them good. Public
opinion in a dispute, where a registered union of labor or capital
is concerned, does not have to get its information from one-sided
newspaper accounts of the grievances of either employers or em-
ployes.
From the first, through all its decisions, the Arbitration Court
has given trade-unionists, wherever possible, the right to be em-
ployed until they have all obtained work, before it permits the
employment of non-unionists. Various reasons have been given
by the court to sustain this policy. They have, for instance, held
that the "advantages which were procured by unions for their
members were obtained at some expense, and therefore it was
but right, provided entrance to the union was not prohibited,
that preference should be given to unionists, and if non-unionists
would not pay the small fee and contributions to entitle them to
the advantages, they had nothing to complain of."
Nowhere is the conservatism of the people of New Zealand and
of the judges who have the compulsory arbitration law to admin-
ister better shown than in dealing with that part of the law which
relates to penalties. This has been the last chapter in the de-
velopment of the administration of the law, and the demonstra-
tion of the ability and determination of the judges to enfore pen-
alties, when necessary, has given the crowning touch to the sta-
bility and dignity of the court.
The penalties for violation of an award were obviously intended
by the law as first passed, to be fine or imprisonment, or both,
but, through some defect in the drafting-, the onh^ penalty which
could be enforced was imprisonment. Undoubtedly, the fear of
so harsh a punishment had its influence in keeping those subject
to the award in line, but the workingmen and their friends feared
that some case of obduracy might one day occur which would
have to be punished, and that if anything so severe as committal
to jail were inflicted for the breach of a law so novel, there might
be a revulsion of public opinion, and possibly all that had been
achieved might be overthrown. By common consent, the law
No. 16.
The Review.
243
was so amended that fines as originally contemplated could be
levied and enforced. That done, the judges show a firm hand in
dealing with ofi'enders.
Compulsory arbitration, according to Mr. Lloyd, has stood the
test of actual experience. It is liked by all classes of people in
New Zealand. It has hurt neither commercial, nor industrial,
nor financial communities. It has made for peace and good will,
and not led to what the London Spectator feared it would lead —
industrial slavery.
Mr. Lloyd suggests that Americans can not possibly do better
than by putting upon their statute books a law embodying all the
essential features of the New Zealand arbitration provisions.
While we favor such an experiment, we are not so sanguine as
to its successful issue as Mr. Lloyd seems to be. For in the first
place. New Zealand, compared to the United States, is a very
small commonwealth, about the size of the State of Colorado, and,
secondly, its much-vaunted plan of compulsory arbitration has
not stood the test of industrial depression, having been inaug-
urated and applied in the flooding tide of a new prosperity. It
would be well, therefore, before trjnng it on a large scale in this
vast country, to wait a little while longer to see how it will stand
the test of "the lean kine."
3? 3? ap
THE "CATHOLIC LADIES OF OHIO."
This mutual insurance society, about which we have an en-
quiry, does not report to any insurance department, not even to
the Insurance Commission of Ohio ;*) so there are no official
figures on hand to enable one to form a correct opinion regarding
its present standing. A careful reading of the constitution and
by-laws, in connection with the official organ of the order, will be
of some assistance in forming a judgment about the value of the
"insurance" promised by said concern.
Summarizing from the constitution, it can be said that the asso-
ciation is doing business on the assessment plan. The rates of
assessment are apparently ..low, but the oumber of assessments
is unlimited. At present there are 8 calls provided for, with the
reservation that the State Secretary shall have authority to call
extra assessments to meet emergencies. Under this system no-
body can tell beforehand how much a member may have to pay in
any given year. This is certainly a very objectionable feature,
*) The Insurance Commissioner of Ohio, Mr.
A. I. Vorys, writes to the instirance editor of
The Review in reply lio an enquiry, under
date of April 4th, 1903: "The Catholic Ladies
of Ohio is not licensed by this Department to
transact business in this State, and I am un-
able, therefore, from the Department's records,
to furnish you any further information what-
ever respecting it.' '
244 The Review. 1903.
since no member on joining the society can form an estimate re-
garding the amount of j^early taxes thus assumed, and whether
he will be able to meet them.
The promised benefits are classified in 4 grades, $250, $500,
$1,000, and $2,000, limited by the condition in the certificate, that
the amount paj^able on the death of a member shall be "for the
first grade the proceeds of one full assessment, provided the
sum does not exceed $2,000 ; for the second grade half the sum
of one full assessment, provided said half does not exceed $1,000;
for the third grade one-fourth the proceeds of one full assess-
ment, provided said fourth does not exceed $500 ; and for the
fourth grade, one-eighth the proceeds of one full assessment, pro-
vided said eighth does not exceed $250.
In other words, the benefit payable depends entirely upon the
results of one assessment, independent of any cash on hand ;
whatever is collected in response to the assessment call, becomes
available for the payment of such benefits, and not even all of it.
Under rule No. 28, on page 17 of the constitution, it must be as-
sumed that, if an assessment made for a $250 loss should bring
in $250 cash, not the full amount, but only one-eight, or $31.25
would be paid to the beneficiary.
No member of this order can tell at any time with any degree
of certainty, either how much he will have to pay each year, or
how much his family is likely to get as benefit in case of his death.
This is such a staggering proposition that only Barnum's well
known remark can explain any apparent temporary success of
this concern.
In the absence of reliable data, the ofl&cial organ of the C. L. of
O., of date March 18th, 1903, may furnish some interesting infor-
mation. Therein is shown the State Secretary's "annual" report
for the period January 1st to September 30th, 1902 (9 months.)
Total receipts, .... $10,052.23
Paid for expenses, ... 2,435.52
So the expenses of management were over 24 cents, for each
dollar received I !
Under the heading of "Benefit Fund" is specified a list of pay-
ments to different parties, including trustees of the C. L. of O.,
in amounts of from S370, as the lowest, to $1,200 as the highest
figure. But two of the items (paid to trustees) correspond in
amount to the face value of SI, 000 certificates. So it is reasonable
to suppose that in all other cases no certificate was paid for the
full amount.
The balance in depository Oct. 1st, 1902, was $2,307.64. Neither
the number of members nor the amount of outstanding certifi-
No. 16. The Review. 245
cates is shown in said report, so there is no chance for any com-
ment regardimg- the prospects of the C. L. of O.
Under the circumstances it is to be sincerely regretted that
neither the State Insurance Department nor the church authori-
ties have power to stop such organizations from victimizing peo-
ple who are ignorant of the first principles of life insurance.
That the C. L. of O. have obtained the recommendations of several
Catholic dignitaries is under these circumstances positively
surprising.
5* tS ■5'S
THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAVL IN THE CATHOLIC
DIRECTORY.
A few weeks ago The Review published a table showing the
ratio of parochial schools to parishes with resident priests as
given in the Catholic Directory for 1903. That these figures are
not entirely reliable appears from a verification of the data fur-
nished by the archdiocesan secretary or chancellor of St. Paul.
St. Paul claims about 24,000 young people under Catholic care,
but to get that total several thousand very old people, Magdalens,
and a number of hospital patients had to be counted in. Of
course, death is the birth for a new life, and an octogenarian
facing that event may be counted among the young for eternity.
However, the Directory is not written in figurative language but
should furnish cold facts. And taking the facts as given for the
Archdiocese of St. Paul we find :
Number of students in Theological Seminary, - 163
" St. Thomas College, - 230
" " young ladies in 10 academies, - - 2,350
" " orphans in asylums, - - - - 290
" " foundlings in institute, - - . 60
" " pupils in parochial schools, - - 16,740
Total, - - 19,833
We are more than 4,000 short of 24,000. Where did the com-
piler get them? Evidently by counting in the inmates of the
hospitals (2,220) and of the home for the aged poor (290), which
two items immediately precede the total of "young people under
Catholic care about 24,000." But we are still short. The deficit
is supplied by the inmates of reform schools, of the House of the
Good Shepherd (380), and the pupils of the Christian Brothers'
commercial schools (460.)
We did not take the trouble to verify the number of pupils in
the parochial schools. We have done that two years in succes-
sion, finding for one year that the number was underestimated,
246 The Review. 1903
and for the other, that it was overestimated. We shall leave that
as it is, but beg- to call the reader's attention to other prominent
vagaries in the summary for the St. Paul Archdiocese as found in
the directories for 1901, 1902, and 1903.
1901 1902 1903
Orphans 287 290 290
Foundling-s 73 60 60
Aged poor in Homes 264 290 290
Inmates of Reform School and
House of Good Shepherd 380 380 3S0
Baptisms, 1899 ] I/^^^^^^^^' ^'^^^ [Total, 6,745.
Baptisms, 1900 ]^°J^^4^;^'^«^ [Total, 6,745.
These same figures are given for 1903 and the same number of
burials is reported for each of the three years (2,040).
Whilst the natural increase (excess of baptisms over deaths)
amounted annually to more than 4,000, the total Catholic popula-
tion in three years increased by only 5,000 — from 220,000 in 1900,
to 225,000 in 1903.
We pointed out the same inaccuracy in last year's Review,
page 257 ; but neither the diocesan compiler nor the editor of the
Directory seems to have taken tde slighest notice of it. Year
after year the same foolery is carried on, and yet some Catholic
editors delight in showing the remarkable growth of the Catholic
Church in the U. S. from the pages of this J/?5-directory.
Sf 3? S?
A WORD OF CRITICISM ON THE SUBJECT OF HISTORICAL
TRADITIONS.
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
I hope you will not regard as unfriendly a criticism on the pa-
pers adapted from the Botnbay Catholic Exmniner^ in Nos. 11 and
12 of The Review. The heading "Spurious Pious Legends" ap-
pears needlessly offensive, inaccurate, and superfluous. "Spur-
ious," in its usual meaning, implies falsehood proved to be such
and indeed generally intentional fraud. Its application to many,
if not all the legends referred to in the articles in question, is not
warranted by even historical criticism. The stories of St. James
having traveled in Spain," or of St. I^azarus having been a bishop,
may be unsupported by sufficient evidence, but they are not there-
fore spurious in themselves. It would be needful before styling
them so, to have direct evidence of their untruth, which I am not
No. 16. The Review. 247
aware exists. To use a needless offensive term for the beliefs of
others seems hardly consistent with Christian charity.
The distinction familiar to Catholic writing since the Middle
Ages between "legends" and "beliefs," legenda et credenda, seems
to be ample for modern use. The legends are to the history of
men in the Church much what historical romance is to scientific
history. They may embody real fact though not claiming scien-
tific proof. Walter Scott's novels are in a sense true history as
much or more so than Gibbon's or Robertson's, You would
hardly describe them as "spurious history" in any event. It
seems that at least the same treatment should be given to the
"Golden Legend" or the "Fiorette."
It hardly seems that the existence of ill authenticated histori-
cal traditions among Catholics needs special branding above
others. The staple of human history of all nations is lacking in
scientific proof from Livy to Froude. Historical traditions among
Catholics are subject to the same law of fallibility as other human
traditions. So are the evidences sometimes brought against
them. The thesis alluded to in the article in No. 11 : "That it
can be clearly proved from the bulls of the popes that the trans-
lation of the House of Loreto is not a historical fact," is not nec-
essarily a historical truth because it was defended recently at
Munich. The twentieth century has no special infallibility above
the nineteenth or thirteenth, and Archbishop Kenrick is as
weighty an authority prima facie^ as a Franciscan doctor to-day.
It would be interesting to know what "the bulls of the popes" are
that establish clearly this historical negative. Did they exist
before the present century or were they only unknown before its
commencement? Are the bulls in question authentic, inauthen-
tic, or spurious? We know that bulls are named of all three
classes. It is well to remember in this connection that it is only
within the last two centuries that the Bullarum Romanum has
an official sanction. Many of the documents in it of earlier date
have merely the authority of the source from which they were
taken by scholars. The famous Bull of Adrian to Henry II. is an
example. Did the Minorite doctor prove the authenticity of the
bulls he quoted as well as their existence? — Bryan J. Clinch.
sp 2^ sr
A Catholic mutual has been founded in France with a view of
supplying the salaries of clergymen deprived of their income by
the government. The entrance fee is about $3, and the annual
premium 2% of the sum insured. Evidently enthusiasm has
carried away the well-meaning organizers. They should remem-
ber that fine promises butter no parsnips.
248
THE STEEL TRUST'S PROFIT-SHARING PLAN.
Walter Wellman has an article in the March number of the
Reviezv of Reviews on profit-sharing in the American Steel Cor-
poration, under the heading- : "The Steel Corporation Points the
Way." The Steel Corporation needed more money. Its shares
had been a drug- on the market. A scheme was hatched out to
get money outside of the usual channels. Says Mr. Wellman :
■'An occurrence of tremendous and far-reaching importance is
the success of the United States Steel Corporation's wage-earn-
ers'investment and profit-sharing plan. When this plan was
announced, January 1st, every thoughtful man in the country
gave it close attention. Here was an experiment which any one
could see drove straight at the roots of the interwoven problems
which have been brought acutely to the front by the development
of modern industrialism in America, — the problems of actual
ownership of the great industrial corporations, of the relations
of such corporations to the predominant opinion of society and
therefore to the lawmaking power, of the relations of labor and
capital, and the bearing of all these upon the rise of Socialism.
To many lips came the expression : It is a clever, an artistic, an
ingeniously contrived plan ; but, will it work? Will the wage-
earners take hold of it in earnest ?
"We have not been compelled to wait long for the answer. The
directors of the Steel Corporation offered 25,000 shares of stock
to their 168,000 employes. The books were to be kept open
thirty days. No one dared believe that within this month, while
the plan was so new, while all sorts of prejudices or fears might
deter subscribers, and while the great mass of employes would
still be studying and thinking about the offer which to them must
have seemed somewhat novel and complicated, all or even one-half
of the proffered stock would be taken up. Yet, when the books
closed Saturday evening, January 31st, it was found that the 25,000
shares offered had been subscribed for more than twice over.
Twenty-seven thousand six hundred and thirty-three employes
had subscribed for 51,125 shares. This was success, — success
complete and surprising. Almost exactly one-sixth of the vast
army of employes of the corporation had declared that they
wished to become owners of the securities of the company for
which they work. Best of all, the very men who, it had been
feared, would not take kindly to the project, — the men who stand
bare-bodied in front of the furnace-fires, or like magicians handle
the glowing rails or bars of molten metal, or delve in the gloomy
mines, or watch the myriads of machines, or keep the books in
the offices, — have most eagerly responded to the company's offer.
Those who thought that the real workingman, the man who
No. 16. The Review. 249
works with his hands for daily or weekly wages, would not par-
ticipate in this plan, must be agreeably disappointed by the re-
turns. Look at the facts :
"Fifty per cent, of all the subscribers (14,260 men), taking
nearly 60 per cent. (29,013) of all the shares subscribed for, be-
long to Class E, which is composed of men who receive salaries
of between $800 and $2,500 a year each.
"Forty-four per cent, of all the subscribers (12,170 men), tak-
ing nearly 30 per cent. (15,038'> of all the shares subscribed for,
belong to Class F, which is composed of men who receive salaries
of less than $800 a year each.
"Ninety-four per cent, of the subscribers earn from $2,500 a
year downward, and their subscriptions amount to nearly 90 per
cent, of the total. Only six per cent, of the subscribers, taking
only about 10 per cent, of the shares, belong to the classes of em-
ployes in which may be found managers, superintendents, and
the higher-salaried officials of the company. These men wanted
many more shares, but, under the limitation set, were unable to
get them.
"When the directors of the corporation met early in February
to receive the reports of the success or failure of their project,
they found themselves embarrassed by the opulence, not annoyed
by the meagerness, of the results. Gratified beyond measure,
they voted to allot a total of about forty-five thousand shares
among the subscribers."
Magnificent, eh? And how was it brought about? Mr. Well-
man tells us : Employes subscribe for stock, one or two shares
apiece. The shares cost $82.50, or less than the market value
(face value?) Each employe pays in monthly installments,
taken from his wages, and he may have the payments made small
or large, as he likes, save that not more than 25% of his wages
may be so used in any month, and he may not be more than three
years in completing payment. Dividends at the rate of 7% a year
go to the subscriber from the date of his first payment. Interest
at 5% is charged on the deferred payments. In other words, the
corporation sells stock below the market price, on credit, and
pays the holder 2% a year in dividends more than he has to pay
in interest. But this is not all. Inducements are ofifered the
employe to complete payment for his stock and to hold it. As
soon as he has fully paid for it, the certificate is issued in his
name, and he is free to dispose of it. But to make it worth his
while to hold it and, at the same time, keep his place as a working
partner in the company's service, the corporation says to him :
"If you hold your stock, and beginning with January next year
you show it to the treasurer of your company, and present a let-
250 The Review. 1903.
ter from the proper official that during the preceding year you
have been in the employ of the company and have shown a proper
interest in its welfare and progress, and you do this each January
for five years, we will give you, in addition to the dividends paid
you, a bonus of five dollars per share for each year. During the
second period of five years, we will pay you a further yearly
bonus, as a reward for your continuous faithful service." The
amount of the second bonus can not now be fixed, but it will
doubtless be larger than the first one. Ample provision is made
for the protection of subscribers who from one cause or another
are unable to complete payment. Subscribers who discontinue
payments get their money back and keep the difference between
the 7% dividends and the 5% interest. In the case of subscribers
who die or are disabled while faithfully serving the corporation,
after having paid for their stock, the five dollars per share yearly
bonus is not lost, but is paid over to them or to their estates.
In the case of a rolling-mill worker who subscribed for, say,
two shares of stock and undertook to pay for them in one year,
the shares would cost him $165 ; his monthly payments would be
$13.75 ; five per cent, interest on these deferred payments would
be about $3.75. At the end of the year he would own his stock
outright, and get the $14 in dividends, or $10.25 over the interest.
If he remained in the service of the company for five years, he
would in that period draw in dividends $66.25, and $50 in yearly
bonuses of $5 a share. His total outgo for the five years would be
$165 ; total income, $116.25. And he would then have, as his own,
free of all charges, an investment bringing him perpetually $14
a year, and at least $24 a year as long as he remained in the ser-
vice of the Steel Corporation.
It is the announced intention of the corporation to make an-
other offer of stock next year, and the outlook is that the shares
will be subscribed for many times over. "The broad-viewed
men who are guiding the destinies of this, the greatest corpora-
lion in the world," we are told, "have caught the spirit of the
democratization or 'peopleizing' of our industrial combinations.
At the present time, there are about ninety thousand holders of
Steel Corporation shares. It is probably safe to predict that
within five years there will be a quarter of a million stockholders.
Ultimately, the great bulk of these securities will be diffused
among the people."
The article winds up thus :
"By giving its employes opportunity^ and inducement to save
their earnings and invest them in the shares of the company, by
making even the humblest workman an indirect participant in
the profits of the concern for which he works, by setting aside a
No. 16. The Review. 251
share of the profits for annual distribution among the men whose
skill and judgment, whose yes or no, enter so largely into the
economics and successes or failures of the giant organization,
and by taking the public into confidence through full and frank
reports of all operations, the United States Steel Corporation has
pointed out the path which it is believed many other industrial
companies will be glad to follow."
This, then, in the eyes of the writer, seems to guarantee the
solution of the labor question. We should agree with him if fine
promises buttered parsnips. Hundreds of insurance mutuals
promised big returns for a song, how many have kept their
promise ? Big concerns like the Steel Trust, in time of prosper-
ity may redeem their pledges on greatly watered stock, but when
depression sets in, the promises can not be kept. When that
time comes, as it is bound to come, we fear the men holding shares
for which they paid with their sweat, will come to grief and find
that it was a Ste«l Trust.
sr sp a?
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
"Aux Canadiens'Frangais — Notre Brapeati.''' Cadieux & Derome,
Montreal Canada. 1903.
This pamphlet is the outcome of a discussion carried on in the
French-Canadian press for many months past, regarding the
propriety of adopting a flag symbolical of the aspirations of that
young but promising people.
A great many views have been expressed and, as usual, some
of them have excited violent opposition. The anonymous author
of this pamphlet reviews the state of the question and gives the
reasons why a distinctive flag should be adopted by French-
Canadians, and that the old flag of Carillon, so nobly sung by
Canada's best and most beloved poet, Cremazie ; a flag which vi-
vidly recalls the glorious days of New-France under Montcalm
and Levis.
The writer puts aside the flag of the French republic, so fre-
quently recommended by a certain class of men in Canada, show-
ing that it has no meaning to the Canadian and that the unsavory
conduct of the present government of France renders it totally
undesirable. This flag originated towards the end of the First
Empire and has been the emblem of revolutionary governments
ever since. Besides, it is the official flag of a government to which
Canadians owe no allegiance in the present order of things.
Again, it might, if officially adopted by the race in Canada, create
distrust and animosity on the part of the British government.
252 The Review. 1903.
The flag of the Province of Quebec is also disposed of for the
reason that there are French-Canadians living- in the other prov-
inces and also in the United States.
There is need, then, of an emblem that will appeal to the minds
and the hearts of all French-Canadians, no matter where
they may, now or hereafter, choose to live. Such would be the
lovely old flag of Carillon, with its background of blue and its
white cross extending from the center to the four 'edges, and
with the traditional yieur-de-/ys of the old French monarchy orna-
menting the four corners.
An earnest appeal is made to all true patriots to rally about
this flag and to make of it the national emblem of the French-
Canadian race ! The purpose is to effect this at the com-
ing celebration of the national holiday, the 24th of June, 1903,
when an exceptionally fine program will be carried out in Mon-
treal, for the dedication of a monument to the great and patriotic
Bishop Bourget, of saintly memory. If the plan be successful,
that date may yet prove an important mile-stone in the annals of
French-Canadian history.
-According to the April Messenger^ Richard Bagot's latest
novel 'Donna Diana' is mean and nasty throughout and deserves
severe censure, though the author loses no opportunity of declar-
ing himself a Catholic. Since the publishers, Longmans, Green
& Co., when they were apprized of their mistake in selling such
a book, expressed their regret that anyone "should have thought
that there was an occasion for a protest," the Messenger is justi-
fied in advising Catholic readers to look closely into the publica-
tions of this firm in future before purchasing them.
The Diocesan School Board of Philadelphia, to whose
splendid annual reports The Review has repeatedly adverted,
has undertaken to get out qudirterXy Edticational Brief s. The
first is a reprint of 'M. Gabriel Compayre as a Historian of Peda-
gogy,' by the late Brother Azarias. "To us Catholics it is a mat-
ter of profound regret," he says among other things, "that the
field of pedagogy in the United States should be so neglected. It
is our fault. The past is ours, but we treat it shamefully. We
let its sacred memory be enveloped in a growth of rank weeds
that hide and efface noble records; we permit its deeds to be mis-
represented ; its honor to be stained ; its glory to be tarnished ;
and scarcely, — or if at all in feeble accents do we enter protest.
We allow our enemies to usurp ground that by every right and
title should be ours."
253
MINOR TOPICS.
The recent developments in wireless
Ancient Long-Distance telegraphy recall the fact that long: before
Telegraphy. the dawn of the Christian era wireless
methods of communicating- intelligence to
a distance were employed — not electric teleg'raphs,as the term is
generally understood, it is true, but wireless they certainly were.
Polybius, the Greek historian, describes a telegraph system
for military purposes, 300 B. C, in which torches were placed on
high walls in pre-arranged positions to correspond to letters of
the Greek alphabet, and by a suitable manipulation of the torches
messages were thus transmitted to a distance. The Gauls, too,
were wont to transmit important intelligence to a distance by a
cruder but simpler method. A messenger was sent to the top of
a hill, where he shouted his message, apparently to the winds.
Soon from afar a remote voice answered him, and this voice re-
peated the message to another listener further on, and thus,
from one to another, a message sped, and it is recorded that in
three days a message calling all the tribes of the Gauls to arms
traveled in this way from Auvergne to the banks of the Rhine.
Later on came another wireless telegraph system — the sema-
phore telegraph — and this was in operation all over Europe prior
to and for some time after the introduction of the electric tele-
graph. This semaphore telegraph employed arms on posts akin
to those seen to-day along every railway in the world, and a cer-
tain position of the arms, like the torches in the Polybius system,
corresponded to certain letters of the alphabet, and by varying
the position of the arms as required, experts were able to trans-
mit messages from one station to the other at the rate of two or
three words per minute. The towers on the top of which the
semaphores were erected were often 50 to 60 feet high, and were
placed on eminences about six or eight miles apart. In Russia
alone there was a string of these towers from the Prussian
frontier to St. Petersburg, a distance of 1200 miles or more.
The question has frequently been asked
Insuring Against Bad of late : Almost every kind of catastrophe is
Debts. now shorn of its full powers of destruction
by means of insurance of one kind or an-
other ; why not deal with insolvency in the same way ?
When a firm fails, everybody unsually wants everybody else to
settle, and thus one large failure often brings on a considerable
panic.
As an antidote there is now provided "credit insurance." Sup-
pose a man is insured against losses from bad debts. Suppose
that one of his debtors fails. Without insurance his credit might
be badly shaken and his creditors, thinking that he was in a
dangerous financial condition, might begin to demand a prompt
satisfaction of their claims. Being insured, he is not exposed to
any such embarrassing attack. He is able to show that he has
254 The Review. 1903.
been insured ag-ainst loss from bad debts, and that the credit in-
surance company stands ready to reimburse him to the full ex-
tent of his loss.
The Idea is not entirely novel. The first attempt to use credit
insurance was made in England and in France about 200 years
ago. Perhaps because they lacked the information which is now
furnished by mercantile agencies, the credit insurance companies
of century before last did not succeed. Of late years the credit
insurance idea has been revived and has met with better luck.
Its application to ordinary losses from ordinary insolvenc3^ and
to the extraordinary conditions resulting- from extraordinary
failures, can not but be of interest both to the professor of politi-
cal economy and to the practical business man.
The N. Y. Evening Post uses the case of
"The Tyranny of the late Charles Godfrey Leland, who is al-
Humor/' most universally known by his 'Hans Breit-
mann's Barty,' and but little known by his
charming- works in folk and g-ypsy lore, as the text for an article
on "The Tyranny of Humor," in which it sets forth that as a peo-
ple we have pushed humor to the extreme and that "a nation rid-
den by humor may be as pitiable as one dominated by priestcraft
or panic."
While it may be true that humor survives longest, it is fortun-
ate, perhaps, that this is so, for while the extreme of humor may
be tiresome, in reasonable deg-ree it is a blessing-. It has saving-
grace. The Post says "we can not always be grinning through a
horse-collar." That is not necessary, for g-rinning throug-h a
horse-collar is not necessarily an expression of humor. Rather
it is that low order of buffoonery which is not humor at all. The
intense forms of effort, even of enthusiasm, may not be in conso-
nance with humor, but, as the Chicag-o Tributie sagely observes,
humor is an excellent preparation for these forms, and it is a pity
that wild-eyed reformers and hysterical apostles of progress do
not have a higher appreciation of it, for it makes the monotony of
life more endurable. It is a physical rest. It stimulates activity
when the humor is genuine. It clears away the cobwebs, purges
the mind of prejudices, and establishes the proper human per-
spective. It is a relief from painful tensions and, as George
Meredith insists, implies "a sane and true criticism of life."
You may see Archbishop Ireland puffed
Archbishop Ireland—for in the newspapers these days and public
Framing ! attention called to a new engraving of His
Grace, printed on plate paper for fram-
ing ; the subjoined letter will show you the reason :
"Battle Creek, Mich., April 6th, 1903.
"To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
We are sending you under another cover an early proof of an
engraving of Archbishop Ireland, which will be furnished with
The Pilgrim for May as a supplement. The drawing from which
this engraving is made is a sketch in colored crayon by J. M.
No. 16. The Review. 255
Gaspard, a leader in his profession in this line of art work. The
portrait which is printed on plate paper, for framing, accom-
panies a character sketch of Archbishop Ireland by Prof. Maurice
Francis Egan, professor of English literature at the Catholic
University at Washington, who is as you know one of the fore-
most literary men in the United States. We shall be pleased to
have you accept this proof and will be grateful for any notice you
might give of the feature in your publication. Yours very truly,
Willis J. Abbot."
We have received the engraving. It is beneath criticism. We
hope Mr. Egan's "character sketch" in the May number of the
Pilgrim — a journal of which, by the way, we never heard before
— will show the "Pauline Prelate" in a better light.
The Ch urch Calendar of the Holy Family
Catholic Schools as Parish. Chicago, vol. xvi, No. 1., quotes
Models for the State ex-Postmaster James, a non-Catholic, as
Schools. follows :
"Every employer of clerks will verify
what I say on this point. The majority of the applicants for sit-
uations in the banks, the offices of the big transportation compa-
nies, the mercantile houses and other business concerns are un-
able to write proper letters of application. Their handwriting
is bad ; often they can not spell. The old thoroughness of
elementary training, the hard digging at the work of laying the
foundation of education, in the mastery of English and arithmetic
and the acquisition of a clear, legible handwriting, have been
abandoned in too many schools. There are exceptions, for which
the country should be thankful, and a surprisingly large number
of these exceptions are found among the elementary schools con-
ducted under the auspices of the Catholic Church. In them the
former thorough teaching of the 'three R's' seems to have per-
sisted ; and while no one can be more sensible of the great work
that the public schools are doing than myself, I must commend
the elementary methods of the Catholic schools to the public
school authorities in many cities."
Professor Wagner, who lectures on politi-
The Romanic Element eal economy in the University of Berlin, de-
in Civilization. livered an address the other day in which
he ridiculed the Monroe Doctrine as an
empty pretension of no stability. Incidentally he paid the follow-
ing tribute to the Latin races :
'As a member of the Germanic race I do not want to see the
Romanic element pressed to the wall, because it is indispensable
to the world's civilization and is a necessary complement to Ger-
manic culture. This applies to Italy and France and even to
Spain. What do we Germans owe to them ! What would our
civilization be without Italy and without France? They are as
indispensable to us as the classic peoples were Aside from
some technical and business spheres, what has the United States
done of importance for the real civilization of the world ? What
256 The Review. 1903.
has it done that has deserved to be named in the same breath
with the achievements of Italy and France?"
This utterance has been severely criticized in the American
press, but that can not blind the unprejudiced student of history
to its truth.
We note with great satisfaction from
Compulsory Vaccination the Catholic Union and Times (April 9th),
and Parochial Schools. that Attorney-General Cunneen of New
York has officially given it as his opinion,
in a letter to the City Attorney at Dunkirk, that there is not in
the statutes of the State of New York, any justification for pro-
hibiting" unvaccinated children from attending private or paro-
chial schools.
A later despatch says : "This is a sweeping victory for the
Catholic schools, emphasizing their distinction from the public
school system and freedom from the public school laws. It
settles a long fight between the local and State health officials
and the Dunkirk parochial schools."
The Review sincerely congratulates the Catholics of Dunkirk
on this splendid victory and hopes their example will induce
others to resist the insufferable tyranny of deluded "health-
boards."
The Boston Pilot (No. 15) advertises Heyse's "Mary of Mag-
dala, as "a great religious drama," and says : "The widely dissem-
inated criticism of the Rev. John Talbot Smith, who regards the
play and Mrs. Fiske's impersonationon the whole very favorably,
is warrant that there is nothing in it to offend Christian suscep-
tibilities."
We have not seen Mrs. Fiske's English version of "Mary of
Magdala," but if it is "faithful to the spirit of the original," as the
Pilot tells us, we must deplore its recommendation in the columns
of a Catholic newspaper. The Catholic press of Germany, where
the play originated, has unanimously condemned it, and the gov-
ernment censors, as our readers may remember from the des-
patches in the daily papers, would not permit it to be produced,
even privately, in Berlin.
The Catholic Columbian recently suggested that Thanksgiving
be elevated to the rank of a universal Church holyday. "We al-
ready have a universal holyday for thanksgiving," observes P.
Bede Maler, O. S. B., in the Paradiesesfrilchtc (No. 4). "It is the
feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Really, the whole ecclesiastical
year is one grand thanksgiving day. Moreover, various nations
already have their own thanksgiving day — the last day of the
year, which they celebrate with solemn divine service, which is
the chief feature, not the turkey that is uppermost in this coun-
try. We are quick to set up as originally American that which
is old and has been practised by other peoples in a much nobler
manner. The annual thanksgiving proclamation of our Presi-
dent represents for most of us little more than a formality."
II XLhc IRcview. ||
"^ti J*^ ^*^ J:!* JL€^ J»l^ Jii^ JL*^ ^4^ Jii_ J»*_ Ji* Ji* J»' ->» ^* Jt* . t:« . ki ■*# >* ^1* "^^l ** '•l# -A.^
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., April 30, 1903. No. 17.
THE DANGERS OF CREMATION.
E have repeatedly pointed out the dangers incident to cre-
mation. The British g-overnment has now attempted
to neutralize these dangers by a series of exceedingly
minute and specific regulations.
They provide that every crematorium must haye the authority
of the Home Secretary, and that no body shall be burned against
* the expressed wish of its original possessor. Moreover, no body
may be burned before registration of death, except on a coroner's
certificate, or without official application for a permit on the part
of executors or relatives after filing the requisite statutory dec-
larations. Further, no cremation is to be permitted unless (a)
certificates be given by a registered medical practitioner who
can certify definitely as to the cause of death, and by a medical
referee ; (b) unless a post-mortem examination has been made
by a medical practitioner, expert in pathology, appointed by the
cremation authority, or, in a case of emergency, by the medical
referee appointed by such authority ; or (c) unless an inquest
has been held. The written authority of the medical referee,
who must be a medical practitioner of not less than five years'
standing, must also be produced.
Attention has been directed to the whole matter by the recent
trial and execution of a publican who poisoned at least three
women. He could not have been convicted if the bodies of his
victims had not been forthcoming.
These new regulations are expressly framed to meet the ob-
jections of those persons who fear that this method of disposal
of the dead will help the concealment of crime, especially that of
the poisoner.
It remains to be seen if the English government will succeed
in carrying them out.
In our own land of laxity and official corruption, it is to be
258 The Review. 1903
feared, the most stringent regulations with regard to cremation
would not have the desired effect ; but they might deter many
from disposing of their dead by cremation, since the average
person dreads post-mortems and inquests.
As the practice is spreading, our authorities ought at least to
follow the example of Great Britain in making an attempt to
minimize the dangers of cremation.
3P Sf^ sr
THE "INDEPENDENT" AND THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL
QVESTION.
The Inde-pendent (No. 2836y says :
"The rebuke of the Vatican to the Bishop of Treves, who re-
fused absolution to parents sending their children to the German
public schools, is quite in line with the ecclesiastical rule here.
Priests here may use all their persuasive power to put the child-
ren in the parish schools, but those who send them to the public
schools must not be put under ecclesiastical disabilities."
This statement, like tiearly every other one which the Indepen-
dent has ever made in regard to Catholic matters, is false.
1. The Bishop of Treves did not "refuse absolution to parents
sending their children to the German public schools ;" there was
question only of two institutions, the only undenominational
(which means Protestant) ones in the Diocese, forced upon the
Catholic people in the Culturkampf : a training-school for lady
teachers and a high-school for girls.
2. The Bishop of Treves was not rebuked by the Vatican for
"his stand in this matter. He simply revoked his order at the
suggestion of the Pope, after the government had promised to
remedy matters.
3. There is a decree (1%) of the III. Plenary Council of Balti-
more which says : "We not only admonish Catholic parents with
paternal love, but we command them with all the azithoi'ity which
•we possess, to give their children a truly Christian and Cath-
olic education and to defend them throughout their youth from
the dangers of a merely secular education ; they must, therefore,
send them to parochial or other truly Catholic schools ; unless
the bishop in a particular case give them permission to do other-
wise." In a number of dioceses this decree is enforced by epis-
copal mandate prohibiting the clergy to give absolution to such
parents as, without grave cause, insist on sending their children
to the godless State schools.
259
A NEW HISTORY OF THE SOCIETY OF JESVS.
Within the last decades, historical research has received more
attention, perhaps, than ever before, also among Catholics. Nor
are the exertions of Catholic v^^riters barren of great results ;
the names of Janssen and Pastor alone suffice to prove that Cath-
olic scholarship has produced some of the most important his-
torical works of the nineteenth century.
Naturally Catholic historians cultivate preferably those per-
iods which, for centuries, have been most misrepresented: the
latter part of the Middle Ages and the Reformation period.
Another important chapter is the history of the religious orders.
Every student of ecclesiastical history knows what part they
played in the propagation and preservation of the faith and in
the regeneration of moral and religious life in times of degeneracy.
There exist many histories of the different religious or-
ders, but none that come up to the requirements of modern his-
torical research and satisfy the critical demands of our age.
As the history of the Middle Ages, of the papacy, the Refor-
mation and couiter-Rsformation have been, or are being written
at present, more directly from the original sources, so it is ne-
cessary to re-write the histories of the religious orders. It is ne-
cessary to sift carefully the vast material which, in the course
of the last century, has been amassed in monographs or in
new editions of valuable documents. In many cases it will also
be an indispensable task critically to separate true and well-attest-
ed facts from legendary accretions to the lives of the great
founders of religious orders.
The Jesuits have just begun the publication of such a history.
For many years most important documents have been published
by Jesuits in different countries. The German Fathers Pacht-
ler, Duhr, and Braunsberger have edited a great amount of his-
torical material about the labors of the Jesuits in Germany.
Most active in this regard were the Spanish Jesuits. During
the last twenty years they published the letters of St. Ignatius
(Cartas de San Ignacio, 6 volumes), important documents con-
cerning St. Francis Xavier, the correspondence of Nadal and
other distinguished Jesuits of the early period of the Society.
The huge collection Monumenta Historica Societatis Jesu, pub-
lished in Madrid in monthly instalments, has at present reached
the number 112, each fascicle containing 160 pages. This col-
lection is a most valuable source for the history of the religious,
educational, and social conditions of the sixteenth century ; but
above all, these publications of ancient documents are, as it
were, the stones for a history of the Society on a larger scale and
in full accord with the requirements of modern criticism.
260 The Review. 1903.
As is well known, the Society of Jesus is divided into provinces,
which, according to tongue or other close connections, form so-
called assistancies. They are five: Spain with Portugal, Italy,
France, Germany, (with Austria, Galicia, Belgium, and Holland),
England with North America. The history of the Society is to be
written accordingto these assistancies, the Jesuits evidently believ-
ing, and correctly so, that specialization is necessary now-a-days,
and that it would be almost impossible for one man to attempt to
write a history of the whole Society, as Sacchini, Jouvanc}", and
other Jesuits did in former centuries. Naturally, the beginning
must be made with Spain, as the founder of the Society and most
of his early companions were Spaniards. The first volume of the
historj'^ of the Spanish assistancy, by Father Antony Astrain, ap-
peared a few months ago. This volume is practically a new and
critical life of St. Ignatius.*)
Space does not permit us to enter on a detailed description of
this interesting and instructive volume ; we wish to dwell only
on a few points which present new material or treat of questions
that have frequently been discussed. It has often been stated
that a man like Ignatius could never have written such a mar-
velous work as the Constitutions of the Society. Some writers
maintained that Lainez, the second. General of the Society, was
the real author of the Constitutions. This has often before been
refuted, but in the present work it is shown once more in the
clearest possible manner that Ignatius is the sole author of the
Constitutions, and that, while writing them, he did not avail him-
self of the rules of any other religious order. This also explains
the many departures from all older religious orders introduced
by Ignatius, v. g., the absence of the choir and of a distinct re-
ligious habit. Ignatius absolutely refused anything in dress and
outward appearance that differed from "the customs of good
secular priests." On p. 225 a document is given, according to
which the Saint did not even wish the appellations "Father" or
"Brother" to be employed with reference to members of the So-
ciety ; he wanted the Christian or the family name to be used
without any additional title. lOnly towards the end of his life did
he allow such titles, and after the death of the founder this be-
came the custom, as in all other religious orders. On the same
page it is stated that Ignatius, for the same reason, never wore
the rosary in his cincture, in spite of his great devotion to the
Blessed Virgin. Consequently those painters who represent the
*) Historia de la Conipania de Jesus en la Asistcncia de Espaiia^
por el P. Antonio Astrain, S. J. Tome 1, San Ignacio de Loyola^
1540-1556. Madrid, 1902.
i
No. 17. The Review. 261
Saint with the rosary in his cincture, have been guilty of an ar-
tistic license which is contrary to historic truth.
The life of St. Ignatius foreshadowed in many points the
history of the Order, particularly the persecutions on the
part of some and the enthusiastic admiration on the part
of others. Even Catholics who did not grasp the real aim
and character of the new order, as Melchior Cano, the famous
theologian, were bitterly opposed to the Society. It is also
well known that Ignatius had to suffer much from the
Spanish Inquisition. On the other hand such famous Saints,
or saintly persons, as the Augustinian St. Thomas of Villanova,
the Dominicans St. Louis de Beltram and Louis of Granada,
Blessed John de Ribera, Blessed John of Avila, St. Teresa, and
others, were enthusiastic in their admiration of St. Ignatius and
of his Constitutions. The same diversity of opinion has con-
tinued throughout the history of the Society.
The establishment of the early colleges of the Society in Spain
is also related in this volume. Special interest attaches to the
college of Gandia, founded by St. Francis Borgia, later on General
of the Society. The genealogical table on page 280 may not be
uninteresting to our readers. It reads thus : Rodrigo de Borgia
(Alexander VI.) — his son Juan, second Duke of Gandia — his son
Juan, third Duke of Gandia — his son Saint Francis Borgia.
Father Astrain observes that the name Borgia calls forth quite
different impressions and mental associations in Spain than
outside that country. In Spain it is pronounced with relig-
ious veneration, as reminding, above all, of the great Saint
with whose descendants, even at this date, the principal
aristocratic families in Spain claim relationship, whereas
outside of Spain it is associated chiefly with Alexander VI.
and his next descendants, and consequently with the worst fea"
tures f'las mayores ignominias") of the false Renaissance. We
may add another reflection : Holy Writ says that God "visits the
iniquity of the fathers upon their children unto the third and
fourth generation" (Deut. 5, 9). But here we see a Christian hero
of the third generation voluntarily taking it upon himself to atone
for the sins of his ancestors. For, as a distinguished Jesuit of
our own days has said, the almost frightful penitential severities
of St. Francis Borgia seem to have been undertaken to atone for
the crimes of his family.
It may, at first blush, appear to the reader that a Jesuit,
writing the history of his own order, can not be sufficiently im-
partial. However, to judge from the present volume, such ap-
prehensions are unfounded. The author has carefully examined
the historical documents and rejected whatever is not borne out
262 The Review. 1903.
by solid historical testimony, even where some cherished tra-
ditions about St. Ignatius had to be sacrificed. Thus the author
considers some miraculous incidents related about Ignatius in
most biographies, as later legendary accretions. Of course, Fr.
Astrain is not a rationalist who denies the supernatural element
in the life of the Saint, but he is a conscientious historian and
critic. He accepts only such miraculous incidents as are based
upon trustworthy documents. He practically rejects some appari-
tions which figure in nearly all the lives of St. Ignatius, namely
the apparition of St. Peter in the castle of Loyola, and the appari-
tion of the Blessed Virgin to Ignatius while he (wrote the Spiritual
Exercises. Father Astrain says in regard to the first (p. 22.):
"This apparition is not sufficiently proved by documents. Neither
Lainez, nor Nadal, nor Polanco (Ignatius 'secretary), nor Camara,
say a word about it. The omission by Lainez is not very strange,
as in his relations he omits also other important things. How-
ever, the silence of the three other witnesses is not easily ex-
plained. They all speak of the devotion of St. Ignatius to St.
Peter and expressly say that he was cured through the inter-
cession of the Apostle. It is incredible that, while speaking of
this fact, they should have left out the apparition if Ignatius had
ever mentioned it." Father Astrain then shows that the tradi-
tion probably originated from an ambiguous expression used by
Ribadeneira. This writer says : "It is not certain that St. Peter
appeared to Ignatius, but it is conjectured or piously believed."
This timid assertion of Ribadeneira is the only source for the
story of the apparition ; but, as the three earlier witnesses are
silent, Ribadeneira's statement is of little historical value. Father
Astrain therefore concludes : ''Salvo meliore Judicio, I think we
must either not admit the apparition of St. Peter, or, at least,
express it with that doubt with which Ribadeneira relates it."
The other tradition concerns the apparition of the Blessed
Virgin, when St. Ignatius was writing the Spiritual Exercises.
This wonderful book contains so much heavenly wisdom that it
is almost evident that the soldier of Pampeluna, unlearned as he
was at the time of the composition of this book, could not have
written it without some special grace and illumination from above.
This is also the opinion of the early companions of the Saint.
Considering the mental attitude of former ages towards such
phenomena, it is to be expected that in the minds of some
pious persons this divine assistance should gradually take the
shape of an apparition. In fact, the tradition sprang up that the
Blessed Virgin had appeared to Ignatius at the time he wrote the
Exercises. A famous picture represents the Saint writing, the
Blessed Virgin being visible in the air and appearing to dictate
J
No. 17. The Review. 263
the Exercises. This picture, painted in the seventeenth century,
naturally contributed much to spread the belief in the apparition.
But the historian has to ask : On what authority are we to accept
the story? Father Astrain says : "For almost a century after
the conversion of St. Ignatius there is not a single document that
proves a special aid of the Blessed Virgin in the writing of the
Exercises. Lainez, Nadal, Camara, Polanco, Ribadeneira, know
nothing of it ; nor do the historians of the Society that follow, as
Orlandini and Maffei; nor does anyother document of the sixteenth
century, in reference to the origin of the Exercises, contain any
trace of a special intervention of Mary in their composition. The
first mention of it is made in de Ponte's Life of Father Balthasar
Alvarez, written in 1615. But the statement of this writer is not
based on any historical document, but on the assertion of a pious
person whose name is not given in the passage (it is Maria da
Escobar), who is said to have received it in a revelation from the
Archangel Gabriel. Now, what have we to think of it? We can
not deny the intrinsic probability, that is all ; but so far, there
exists no historical evidence for it. Consequently it can not be
said to be a historical fact." (Astrain, p. 161). In view of these
conclusions it is to be regretted that in one of the latest lives of
St. Ignatius, by Father. van Nieuwenhoff, S. J., the story of the
apparition of the Blessed Virgin is stated as an indubitable fact.
"According to his own (St. Ignatius') words, the book of the Ex-
ercises, as far as it was written at Manresa, was often literally
dictated to him by the Blessed Virgin." (Leben des heiligen Ig-
natius, 1901, vol. I, pp. 88 sq.) This assertion is chiefly based
on a manuscript history of the College of Barcelona, but Father
Astrain shows that the whole story, as related there — St. Igna-
tius is said to have told the apparition to some Spanish layman —
can not be taken seriously, but is refuted by its own improbabil-
ityland contradicted by the whole line of conduct followed by St.
Ignatius with reference to heavenly favors, (p. 121).
These few specimens may suffice to prove that the new history
is written in a truly critical and historical spirit. Love for the
Society and its holy Founder has not prevented this son of Saint
Ignatius from being a careful and critical scholar. The greatness
of the saints does not consist in miracles — some of the greatest
of them have wrought no miracles during their whole life — nor
in apparitions, but in their heroic sanctity and their labors for
the glory of God.
Here we may be allowed to add a few instructive remarks
on the writing of lives of the Saints. They were made but a
short time ago by a well-known writer of .ascetical works,
P. Meschler, S. J. In an article : "Reflections on the Composition
264 The Review. 1903.
of the Lives of the Saints," {Sti7nmen aus Maria-Laach,^o. 2,
1903), this distinguished Jesuit says among- other things : "The
lives of the Saints are historical v^^orks, which deal with facts, not
with fiction and conjectures. Their object is the edification of the
faithful. But how can this be accomplished without truth? The
slightest deviation from historical truth is all the more fatal
here, as any error would bear upon the religious life. How
can untruth be the foundation and basis of what is good? What
is doubtful must be represented as doubtful, what is probable
and certain, must be stated as such. It is not enough to relate
what others have narrated ; it is necessary to show the value of
the source from which the narrative is derived. In other words,
it is necessary to exercise sound criticism, at least not to over-
look it, but to take into account its established results. . . .There
is a danger for historical truth in the foolish passion for dressing
out the Saints with all sort or extraordinary happenings, mir-
acles, apparitions and other phenomena of the mystical order.
These things need not and should not be suppressed, because
they are of the supernatural order ; yet they belong to the acci-
dentals of Christian life But what about the legends? In
the strict sense of the word, legends are traditions and narra-
tions of the deeds of the Saints, current among the people or pre-
served in writings, which, however, are not sufficiently attested
by historical evidence. For this very reason, they do not, strictly
speaking, belong to the lives of the Saints, which are history and
truth. Legends are poetry and should not be presented as his-
torical truth. . . .But must the legends be left out altogether? By
no means. Whatever is true and good in them should be pre-
served; the legends are the lovely flowers that are twined around
the pictures of our Saints. But it is an indispensable requisite
honestly to separate poetry from history, and to call each by its
right name."
The new history of which we have spoken, and the principles
laid down by the distinguished writer referred to in the last para-
graph, may serve as a lesson to all those Catholics who still seem
to think that modern historical criticism, even as practisedby ap-
proved Catholic writers, contains an element of disloyalty to Catho-
lic principles, or at least a shocking irreverence towards the saints
so dear to the Catholic heart. There is nothing of the kind to be
feared. A burning zeal for historical truth can well be united
with fervent loyalty to all that is truly Catholic, and especially
with tender devotion to the dear saints. After all, is not truth,
in every line, in every regard, and in every sense of the word, one
of the essential characteristics of our Holy Church ? She is "the
house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar
No. 17. The Review. 265
and ground of the truth." (1. Timothy 3, 15). For this reason,
the new critical history of the Society of Jesus and all similar
works must be hailed as evident tokens of the truth-loving spirit
of the Church and her children. All those who are acquainted
with the Spanish language may profitably take up Fr. Astrain's
book and study it ; and we may confidently say that, if the whole
work is carried out in the same spirit and with the same sober
criticism which distinguishes the first volume, it will be a most
valuable addition to historical literature and a brilliant specimen
of Catholic scholarship.
OJp Qj/p &0
OVR NATIONAL DISGRACE.
The N. Y. Evening Post of April 16th had the following: timely
remarks :
"Under the caption, 'Innocent Negro Lynched,' we read this
morning: that the poor black man who was killed and burned at
Shreveport, La., for the murder of Miss Alice Matthews, was as
g-uiltless as a bahe unborn. This is the 'unerring justice' of
Judg-e Lynch, of which we hear so much ! Yet the news should
astonish no one. It is in a sense not 'news' at all, for this wrong-
ing- of the innocent goes on all the time. When the blood of the
mob is up, it seeks merely the victim, never the proof. Its con-
tempt for law and order had a fresh illustration in yesterday's
horror at Joplin, Mo. Here the crowd hang-ed a negro while the
Mayor and City Attorney pleaded for his life, and assured their
fellow-citizens that justice would take its course. But the mob
desired not [justice, but license. It obtained the freedom of a
desperado, who had assaulted a negro, thereby serving- notice
that the negro is fair game to any one. Charging the negro sec-
tion, the crowd showed the moral and intellectual superiority of
the white race by burning six or seven houses, firing others,
breaking- in windows and doors right and left. 'At 11:15 o'clock
the whole city was in uproar,' the account concludes. What
abuse of the colored race would have been heard if this saturnalia
had been the work of black men ! Would it not have proved that
the entire negro race is beyond the pale of law, that it is bestial
and blood-thirsty, and that it must be kept down by bloodletting-,
as Tillman recommends?"
It is indeed an everlasting- shame. And must we not fear that
the blood of the countless victims of lynching cries to Heaven
for vengeance ag-ainst this nation which prides itself upon being-
"most Christian"?
266
"THE NEW SAHARA."
From a paper on "The New Sahara," by Jean C. Bracq, in No.
2829 of the Independent^ we cull a few highly interesting- data:
A few 3'^ears ago France and England made an agreement where-
by the colonies of Algeria, Tunis, Senegal, French Guinea, the
Ivory Coast, Dahomey and the Congo were united on their hin-
terland, through the Sahara, into a vast African France, terri-
torially some fifteen times larger than the. mother country. Some
journalists maintained that the Sahara was worthless and by
its climate and soil was unfit as a connecting link between these
colonies.
Unimportant sections only of the Sahara had been visited by
explorers, until M. Foureau recently crossed the Sudan. His
expedition consisted of from 1,200 to 1,300 camels, and 15 ofl&cers
and civilians, while the escort numbered about 275.
M. Foureau has summed up his experiences and his observa-
tions in a large volume, entitled 'D'Algerau Congo par le Tchad.'
From it and from articles in several magazines and newspapers
we can now guage some of the results of this remarkable enter-
prise. From these data it would seem that the "limitless sea of
sand" is a myth. The records and illustrations show us the pre-
dominance of high ground, many high ridges and plateaus, large
quantities of quartz and granite rocks, impressive gorges and
canons. The point of the divide where some of the waters run
toward the Mediterranean and some toward the Atlantic, has an
altitude of about 4,000 feet. There are high plateaus where the
temperature for some months of the year would be quite tolerable
for European residents. The reader is astonished at the variety
of vegetable life, which could be made to sustain many large
flocks and thereby a much larger population. Numerous varie-
ties of herbs constitute sufficient fodder for the camels which
cross the Sahara in different directions. The date-palm grows
in some parts without the least culture. Wood is spoken of very
often as in sight, and there are parts where it is quite common.
The fauna is not more deficient than the flora. Foureau mentions
many animals which he saw and killed. Goats and sheep, enor-
mous crows, bold vultures, flocks of pigeons, zebus and other
animals are frequently reported. He speaks, once or twice, of
game as abundant. Water is not so rare as commonly supposed.
He speaks quite often of rains and of places where water is in
sufficient quantities for all needs of beasts and men. In some
parts it is abundant, in one place it is permanent and contains
fish. The great need is wells, so protected that they will not
gradually fill in.
We have also thought of the Sahara as an uninhabited territory,
No. 17. The Review. 267
yet there are numerous oases which are centers of a permanent
population, and parts where it would not be difficult to find a pas-
toral population of 25 persons to the square mile. The total pop-
ulation is not far from two to three million. This region, gener-
ally considered trackless, has well established paths, over which
travel many caravans. The greatest obstacles in the way of
Saharan progress are not so much the barrenness of the soil, nor
the inclement forces of nature, as men. The Arabs and Berbers,
and chiefly those known under the name of Tuaregs, create a
social state which makes progress impossible. The explorer has
observed traces of coal and of iron, and believes that in some of
the rocky parts will be found rich mines of some kind like the
phosphates of Tunis, which are the gold mines of North Africa.
The two great desiderata for the Sahara are water and peace.
The water is there, but it must be made easily available. The
French have done much in the way of boring artesian wells in
Algeria, resulting in the cultivation of large tracts of land hither-
to untouched. Whole belts of such wells have been dug in the
most southern zones occupied by French militarj^ posts.
The best way to put an end to the barbarismof the whole coun-
try is to build the Trans-Saharan Railroad. It would put an end
to permanent local warfare and insecurity within a wide terri-
torial sweep of its course. It would check the slave trade. It
would make the rule and ascendency of such black Caligulas as
Rahab and Behanzin, not to speak of fanatical Mahdis, impossible.
It would bind the French colonies to the mother country, keep
up an inland telegraph service of great importance, lessen the
administration and military expenses as well as the danger to
French colonists, and would transport much African produce.
At Lake Tchad it would connect with the British Niger, the Ger-
man Kamerun, the Congo Free State, and, eventually, with still
more Southern African parts.
5* S^ 5^
"lOCA MONACHORUM."
Catechetical instruction in the Middle Ages frequently took on
a humorous turn. A number of waggish questions and answers
have been handed down to us under the title of "loca monacho-
rum." We find some interesting particulars on this subject in
Adolph Franz's recently published, absorbingly interesting
work, 'Die Messe im deutschen Mittelalter. jBeitrage zur Ge-
schichte der Liturgie und des religiosen Volkslebens' (Herder,
1902.)
This form of instruction, which was designed for the three-
268 The Review. 1903.
fold purpose of examining- the pupils as to their knowledge,
sharpening: their wits, and making catechism classes interesting-,
dates back, it appears, to the seventh century. We have a fair
sample of it in the "loca monachorum" published from a Schlett-
stadt manuscript of the year 1093 by Bethmann and later, in a
corrqK:ter recension, by Wolfflin-Troll. This edition contains
eig-hty-six questions and answers,relating- mostly to Bible history.
We quote a few :
"Quid primum ex deo processit ? Fiat lux."
"Quis est mortuus et non est natus? Adam."
Another booklet of the same kind, dating- from the ninth cen-
tury, and published by Willmanns from a manuscript found in
Teg-ernsee, contains, among- others, these pleasantries :
"Quot filios habuit ipse Adam? 30 filios et 30 filias excepto
Kain et Abel."
"Quis dedit quod non habebat et non recipit quod dederat?
Sanctus Johannes baptismum et Eva lac."*)
Though he is not a monk, we are tempted to suspect our own
renowned catechist Father Farber of borrowing some of the
amusing "Rathselfragen" of his 'Katechetisches Allerlei, ein
Find- und Fragebiichlein als Hilfsmittel Ifiir den katechetischen
Unterricht' (Herder, 1901) from these ancient "ioca monachorum."
We can imagine we see a kindly medieval mook wink behind such
questions as these :
"On what day have all children their nameday ? On Nov. 1st."
"Which good Christians can not receive ecclesiastical burial?
The living."
"What is there in Heaven made by human hands? The five
wounds of our Savior."
"When can holy water be blessed? Never; it is already
blessed."
"Who was not born, yet died? Adam and Eve."
"How can you write Abraham without an a? Abraham with-
out an a?"
"In what month do people usually pray the least? In February
(28 days.)"
"Who was born, but did not die? Enoch, Elias, all of us."t)
*) The questions and answers which were
edited for the use of bishops in examining the
clergy or candidates for the priesthood, also
came to be called "ioca," ("Ioca episcopi ad
t; 'Katechetisches Allerlei,' p. 71. sq.
sacerdotes"), but they lacked the broad humor
of the "ioca monachorum." Franz gives a se-
lection of them on page 343 of his learned
work.
^%#^
269
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
The Toimg Christian Teacher Encouraged: or Objections to
Teaching Answered. With an Introduction bv the Right
Rev. John L. Spalding, D. D., Bishop of Peoria, 111. By B. C.
G. St. Louis, B. Herder, 1903. Price $1.25.
This book takes up one after another the causes of discourage-
ment and the trials which beset the path of the Christian teacher
of youth, and shows how they may be set aside or overcome.
It contains many valuable excerpts from spiritual and peda-
gogical writers, and is for the most part as suitable for the
everyday Christian as it is for the disheartened teacher. The
struggle against the spirit of the age and the blindness and in-
difference of parents, makes the Catholic teacher's task a hard
one, and encouragement most needed and welcome.
Discourses on Priesthood with Panegyric of St. Patrick. By Rev.
W. J. Madden. Edited with Additions by Rev. Ferreol Gir-
ardey, C. SS. R. St. Louis, Mo., 1903. B. Herder. Net 50 cts.
This little volume contains four discourses on the priesthood
by Father Madden, two discourses on the "Vocation to the
Priesthood" and on the "Celibacy of the Clergy" by Father
Girardey, and a Panegyric of St. Patrick. Father Madden's dis-
courses present in a pleasing style thoughts on the priest-
hood which form very practical and inspiring reading Ifor
priests and seminarists, and which may profitably be preached
to the people. In particular the fourth discourse, "The Priest in
Our Time," contains many beautiful reflections, which deserve
to be pondered by all, especially by those who are so opti-
mistic about the progress of the Church in this country. The
panegyric on St. Patrick pictures the greatness of the Apostle
of Ireland all the more convincingly, since it abstains from the
one-sided exaggerations so frequently found in that kind of ser-
mons. The same can not be said of Father Girardey 's "Thoughts
on the Celibacy of the Clergy." It is not free from exaggera-
tions. The author's opinions may be quite correct, but we think
his rhetoric, at times, carries him away. It is certainly mislead-
ing to say : "The priest can not be the husband of a wife ;" mar-
ried clergy "exercise the priesthood as a mere trade;'" they are
""-wholly engrossed with the cares of their family, and these cares
quench all ardor and zeal in them. They know not what it is to
be disinterested^ mortijied, or self-sacrificing. They neither prac-
tice exalted virtue nor attain any eminence whatever." We itali-
cize the expressions to which we object — there are more like
them in the discourse. Setting aside the fact that the Church
allows the clergy of Oriental rites to live in the married state, we
270 The Review. 1903.
ask : Are there no married people who are zealous for the glory of
God, disinterested and self-sacrificing? Have we not many saints
in our calendar who practised the most heroic virtues in the mar-
ried state? The celibacy of the clergy rests on such solid grounds
that there is no need of defending it by any exaggerations. Nor
are the author's expressions vindicated by the appeal to his words
of St. Paul (1 Cor. 7, 32. 33): "He that is with a wife is solicitous
for the things of the world," etc. No obligation or necessity oi
clerical celibacy can be deduced from this passage, but only — and
this is quite sufficient — that clerical celibacy is most ^ro/er and
expedient. As Father Knabenbauer says on this passage : The
Apostle speaks of what happens ordinarily, without denying that
married people can be holy both in soul and body. But it is
easier to serve God exclusively in the virginal state, etc.
Why do we make so much of the inaccuracies referred to? Be-
cause they harm the Catholic cause. But two years ago the
arch-rationalist Harnack asserted that the Catholic Church con-
sidered no one but the monk a true and perfect Christian, and
rated all others, no matter how saintly, as "second-class"
Christians. Every Catholic knows that this is a gross slander,
as the Church has raised tolher altars not only monks and nuns,
popes, bishops, and priests, but men and women of all classes
and conditions ; kings and beggars, empresses and servant-girls,
soldiers and peasants, married men and women. Expressions
like those we have censured, are apt to be misunderstood and to
furnish a pretext for misrepresenting Catholic dogma and Cath-
olic practises. Let us be scrupulously correct in stating our doc-
trines. However, the few flaws contained in a portion of this book
do not prevent us from heartily recommending it.
Here is a clipping from a late issue (No. 23) of that sprightly
and thoroughly Catholic Manitoba weekly, the Northwest Review.,
which well deserves reproduction :
"The charming Life of Mother Mary Baptist Russell, by her
brother, Father Mathew Russell, S. J., incidentally gives the lie
to the exaggerations and hypocrisy of the Prohibitionists.
Arthur Russell, father of Lord Russell of Killowen, the greatest
lawyer England has seen in a generation; of Rev. Mathew Russell,
S. J., one of the brightest poets of the day ; of Mother Mary Bap-
tist, everlasting superior and pioneer of the Sisters of Mercy in
California, — Arthur Russell, whose younger brother Charles be-
came the celebrated President of Maynooth, to whom Newman
confessed his indebtedness in the history of his conversion, —
Arthur Russell, all of whose daughters became saintly nuns, —
kept a brewery 1"
271
MINOR TOPICS.
The Catholic city of Colog-ne has an in-
Municipal Insurance surance fund for workingmen who are
Againsi Enforced forced tc be idle in winter. According- to
Idleness. the report for 1902-3, of 1355 workmen in-
sured (skilled, 1044, unskilled, 311), 89 had
withdrawn before they were entitled to help. The weekly con-
tributions amounted to 14,536 marks, of which 126 marks were
returned to widows of deceased members or such as had become
permanently unfit for work. Of the remaining 1266 insured, 993
claimed support. Iq all cases where work could be assigned
them, it was done. Moreover, 26,000 marks were distributed in
benefits. Some attempts to obtain benefits by fraud the mana-
gers resolved to prosecute before the courts.
Despite a deficit of 12,000 marks, which is paid by the munici-
pality, the managers resolved to regulate the statutes of this in-
surance in such a vv^ay that every workman in the city may have
a chance to insure within the stated time from April 1st to July
5th!against want of employment in the coming winter.
Evidently the authorities of Cologne are not animated by a
miserly spirit.
^«
The London Tablet thus enumerates the
The True Conception criteria by which an infallible judgment
of Papal Infallibility, may be known :
"From the very nature of the question,
three elements present themselves : first, the pope ; secondly,
the making; thirdly, the judgment. Hence three plain condi-
tions— one on the part of each. On the part of the pope, it is re-
quired that he shall speak in his capacity z.'s> siii>reme teacher oi all
Christians. On the part of the making, it is required that it
shall be an ^zt oi doctrinal definition. On the part of the judg-
ment, it is required that it shall be a matter concerning _/flz'M and
morals. "
Here we have a true conception of the Catholic doctrine of papal
infallibility, which all Catholic writers ought to be careful to
observe.
Mr. E. L. Scharf, Professor of French and German literature
at the Catholic University, Washington, D. C, requests us to cor-
rect the statement made in The Review, No. 14, that in one of
his syndicate news letters he had claimed a Catholic majority in
fourteen States of the Union, while in fact he only said that the
Catholics in these States outnumbered all Protestant denomina-
tions combined. In proof of it he sends us his original letter and
a diagram issued by the Census Bureau, purporting to show by
sectors the strength of the various denominations. While we
admit that he originally did not claim a Catholic majority in the
States named, we can not admit, from his own materials furnished,
the accuracy of the figures given in his statement. It is well known
that the government did not ask any questions on religion when
272 The Review. 1903.
the census was taken. Besides, Mr. Scharf 's figures differ widely
from those of the Catholic Directory. The of&cial diagram shows
but eleven States in which Catholics form a majority over the
combined sects, yet according to his previous statement there
are fourteen ; Minnesota shows half, Connecticut a little less
than half, and Michigan much less, yet in his report the Catholics
there are credited with 53, 53, and 51% respectively.
Yet Mr. Scharf assures us that he never makes any statement
in his news letters that can not be substantiated. We should be
glad to learn where he found his figures and what authority he
can bring forward to show them reliable.
The war upon the stage Irishman continues. The Catholic news-
paper organs of our Irish brethren appear generally to favor the
rotten-egg campaign. Only the Hartford Catholic Transcrift (No.
45) ventures a word of mild protest: "It is wise not to take too seri-
ously or to applaud too vociferously those who are bent upon
driving from the boards the monkey-faced and green-bewhiskered
caricature of the Irishman. If they were wisely in earnest in
their enterprise they could protest, just as effectively and with
infinitely more dignity were they to remain at home and refuse
to pay for seeing their countrymen held up to the ridicule of the
vulgar."
We need hardly add that this is the sane and sober view.
Rev. Dr. P. A. Baart calls attention to the fact that the latest
edition of the 'Ceremoniale Episcoporum,' in its instructions for
the mass of Holy Thursday, contains a change which will prove
acceptable to many priests :
"Permittitur in missa adhibere organa ad cantum comitandum
et sustinendum."
The organ may, therefore, be used not only to the Gloria, but
during the Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and the Proper; not,
however, for voluntaries and such like.
A Rome despatch to the N. Y. Herald^ dated April 9th, an-
nounced that the Pope has approved 'Ben-Hur.' This is not true.
His Holiness has simply thanked Prof. Salvadori, the translator
of the book into Italian, for the courtesy of a complimentary
copy. Besides, if we are correctly informed, this Italian edition
is not a full translation, but rather an adaptation of the original
text after the manner of P. Bonaventure Hammer's well-known
German version, which is entirely unobjectionable.
Why do certain Catholic newspapers (e. g. the Catholic Tele-
graph) persist in calling Mr. Peter F. Collier of New York "the
well-known Catholic publisher"? What Catholic book has he ever
published? And since when does Collier'' s We e i- ly runk among
Catholic papers? Honor to whom honor is due ; but if Mr. Collier
deserves the title of Catholic publisher, we are utterly unaware
of the fact.
^#%^^%%%%%^%^%%%^%%^^^%%^4^
■ysr TS" TiC' ^iS' if^ tst ~fiC Tic is" Tic ~»i
I ^belRcview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., May 7, 1903. No. 18.
THE SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Manila, Philippine Islands, March 20th, 1903.
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
take the liberty of bringing to your attention the sad
condition of affairs in these Islands, and to ask you to
use your influence as a Catholic journalist in behalf of
the rights of the Church and of the rights of a great number of
fellow-Catholics who are deprived of their pastors and are in
great danger of losing the faith. If the faith is to be kept alive
in the people here, it will be necessary for the Catholic people in
America to take immediate action. I do not wish to be pessimis-
tic, but, unless heroic measures are taken, in less than five years
half of the people of these Islands will be lost to the Church.
Vain regrets are useless. Still it may not be too late to arouse
the American Catholics to the fact that one of the greatest crimes
is being perpetrated in these Islands by the enemies of our holy
faith in denying to so many people the consolations of religion.
Let me state the case as definitely as I can :
1st. There is not more than one priest to every ten thousand
people in these Islands at present ;
2nd. Some priests, even in the immediate vicinity of Manila,
have twenty thousand or more people to attend to ;
3rd. There are many parishes without priests.
Finally, when the poor people want the Friars back, and come
here to Manila from distant points of the Islands, they find to
their sorrow and regret that their requests are denied and their
spiritual wants not attended to. While so many of these people
were and are deprived of their spiritual guides — without mass,
without sacraments, without the consolations of our holy religion,
living or dying — hundreds of priests were and are here in Man-
ila, willing to return to their flocks, willing to brave any danger
274 The Review. 1903.
(if there were any) in order to feed the little ones of Christ with
the bread of life. But, you ask, if the Friars were willing to re-
turn to their flocks, why were they not sent ? Well, let me recall
some of the reasons — though it ought not to be necessary.
There is an anti-Catholic party here. The leaders of this party
do not want the Friars. The American government, through its
representatives here, is playing into the hands of this party.
The great number of the people of these Islands want their
priests back, but when they send a petition to the Church au-
thorities here to that effect, the Federal Party, which is not onli^
anti-Friar but anti-Catholic, gets up a counter-petition to the civil
authorities, and the ciyil [authorities can then claim that the
"return of the Friars would endanger the public peace."
Let me give you an illustration : Supposing that in the time of
the Kttow-Nothing days in America some inhabitants of New
York were without priests, and the bishop said, "Well, I have
some Irish priests here, and will send them to you." In the
mean time some anti-Catholic bigots — joined with some nominal
Catholics, if you will — go to the mayor of the city and say, "We
do not want these priests." Supposing the mayor was of the same
way of thinking, and sent a petition to the governor of New York
saying, "If these Irish priests are sent here, we will not be re-
sponsible for the public peace," and the governor in turn said to
the bishop, "Here is a petition from such a parish. You see how
dangerous it would be to the lives of the priests to go there, and
the public peace would be disturbed." This of course could not
happen to-day in America ; but it is happening here. And were
it not for the pressure brought to bear on the Catholic authorities
by the American government in these Islands, you would not
have the spectacle of good religious priests huddled together in
the convents here in Manila, while hundreds of thousands of
Catholics are without clergy. Yes, they have been practically
prisoners here in Manila for over four years, but they are com-
mencing to go. This morning twenty-five priests left these
Islands, never, I fear, to return. Some of them I know personalis',
and I can tell you that while you may have as good priests in the
United States, you have no better. And still, owing to this anti-
Catholic combination, they are going away from the people they
have served so long and well. Who is to take their places ? How
long before you can get enough American priests to come here?
How long before you can train up enough native or foreign
priests to take their places? Not for six or eight years at the
least, and by that time there will not be muc hi use for priests. A
new generation will have grown up without religious education
and without faith, for the result of purely secular education on
No. 18. The Review. 275
these people, without any, or at least without efficient, religious
training-, will be a generation without religion. Instead of
lessening the number of priests here, they should be increased
four-fold in order to keep the people in the faith. For the people
here are more in need of spiritual instruction and spiritual
guides just now than at any time since they first became Chris-
tians, on account of the demoralizing influence of the past six
3'ears of war and the unsettled conditions of social life.
Do you suppose, if we had the same liberty and protection that
you enjoy in the States, that the Church authorities would allow
these priests to leave? Would they not rather send them back
to their flocks? If some defender of the government's policy
should say, "They would be mobbed by the anti-Friar element,"
I might retort that the American authorities here, if they were
so disposed, could easily prevent all that. Some of the Friars
have gone to China, In this, a pagan country, they have not so
far been molested. Is it not humiliating for an American Catho-
lic or Protestant to have to admit that a priest can not have as
much protection under the Stars and Stripes as he has in a pa-
gan country^? But, some Catholic upholder of the government's
policy might say, "Why should we interfere? Is it not presump-
tion in us Catholics to agitate this question?" Let me ask them
in return if at the time a former pope was forced against his will
to sign the suppression of that noble army of soldiers in Christ,
the Jesuits, it would have been disloyal to the Church to try and
expose the anti-Catholic machinations of the secret societies and
politicians of the time and to unite in upholding the sacred dig-
nity and liberty of our Holy Mother the Church? But, further,
I could answer that if the Spanish Friars were ordered Ito-mor-
row by our Holy Father to leave these Islands, they would obey ;
but they have not been so ordered, and until they are, it is the
duty of the American government to afford them the same pro-
tection that any minister or any clergyman of any nationality or
faithhas a right to demand under the American 'flag as long as
he does not violate the laws of the land.
I hope that my feeble words may help to arouse the American
Catholics and all fair-minded Americans, to demand for the
Church in the Philippines the liberty she ought to enjoy by divine
right, to work for the salvation of these children of the faith un-
trammelled by any political influences. O'M.
^^^^
276
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERICAL FVND SOCIETY
OF NEBRASKA.
This society was incorporated in August, 1900, in the State of
Nebraska as a "charitable" organization for the purpose of ex-
tending "assistance to its members in case of disease, infirmity,
disability ; also to adopt means for the endowment of schol-
arships for students for the priesthood of the Roman Catholic
Church intended for service in the State of Nebraska."
Such an object should make the Society very popular among the
Catholic clergy of Nebraska, and it may be of interest for the
clergy at large to learn how the Society expects to accomplish its
purpose.
A careful perusal of the Constitution and By-Laws discloses a
somewhat remarkable program. Any Roman Catholic priest of
Nebraska may become a member by paying^at least $5 a month.
Such membership gives him the right to vote for the "Board of
Trustees," but practically nothing more. The Board of Trus-
tees is the absolute dictator in the organization, even to the elec-
tion of the secretary and treasurer, who hold office "during the
pleasure of said Board."
No member is entitled to any benefit, but must apply for "aid"
to the secretary. Such application will be referred, to if he needs it,
the "Board," who may grant or refuse the petition, as they see fit.
No definite benefit is stated anywhere. According to Section
8 of the Constitution, "No person shall, by reason of membership
in this Society, be entitled to any special dividend or benefit out
of the funds thereof, except as may be granted by the Board of
Trustees in the manner provided by the By-Laws." Article IV,
Section 1, of the By-Laws provides that whatever benefit the
Board of Trustees may grant, will depend upon the amount of
money paid in, irrespective of the merits of the case.
According to article VI, section 5, "only the interest accruing
from the fund of the Society [shall be used for the benefit of its
members." So the question naturally arises : What are the funds
paid in by the members for?
This is explained by Section 3, Article VI, which authorizes
the Board of Trustees to insure the life of some members in a
regular life insurance company approved by the Board for the
benefit of the Society, paying the premiums out of the general
fund. For some unexplained reason the endowment plan of in-
surance is especially provided for. The proceeds of such policies
are to be divided, one-half to go to the general fund of the Socie-
ty, the other half "to be applied in establishing, in institutions
selected by the Roman Catholic Bishop (which of the two Nebras-
ka bishops?), scholarships for ecclesiastical students for service
No. 18. The Review. 277
in the State of Nebraska" (.Section 4, Article VI, of the By-Laws.)
This looks like an excellent plan for the benefit of some favored
insurance agency. As the "Board" has full power to make the
necessary arrangements, including the selection of company and
applicant, the insurance agents of Nebraska will not fail to ap-
preciate the opportunities thus offered. The question of "insur-
able interest" does not seem to trouble the promoters of the
Society.
Beginning at page 16, the pamphlet containing the Constitution
and By-Laws of this remarkable enterprise illustrates the work-
ing of its "plan." In table one it is stated that 17 endowment
policies of $10,000 for 20 years each "will pay $259,420"! This
means an average of $1,526 per $1,000, which no responsible com-
pany in the land will guarantee on a $1,000 policy, unless the
premiums are made so heavy that in case of death during the
latter years of the contract the premiums paid with interest
thereon far exceed the amount receivable. Tables 2 and 3 give
similar illustrations on the basis of the same estimated returns
without any reference to the fact that those figures are not
guaranteed.
Table 4 is the most misleading of the lot. It conveys the im-
pression that a member having paid his full contribution of $1,200
"will be allowed $600 a year"; for lesser contributions benefits to
be reduced in proportion. If the concern has agents in the field
convassing for members, there is no doubt that this table can be
used for pretending that an investment of $1,200 will produce an
annual income of $600 for life. Such an offer might induce many
clergymen not familiar with financial matters to apply for mem-
bership without close investigation.
Attached to the copy of the Constitution and By-Laws received
by The Review, was a printed card with the following :
R. C. C. F. S. 1903.
Happy New Year.
Are you a member of the R. C. C. F. S.? Is your friend one?
What are a'^ou waiting?
Life insurance carried $30,000.00
Scholarship fund 1,000.00
Permanent fund 1,000.00
Interest fund 118.85
General fund, April 1903 820.98
In last line "January" was crossed out and "April" substituted
in pen and ink, and the figures were changed from 530.48 to 820.98.
If this card states the facts, then the "working of the plan "can
be approximately estimated. It is significant that no showing of
income or expenditure is made nor the number of members
278 The Review. 1903
given. Still, $30,000 of life insurance on the 20 years endowment
plan means an annual premium of about $1,500. (There was a
good commission for somebody!) These $1,500, together with
$820 cash on hand, makes over $2,300 cash paid in by some con-
fiding members, as a result of which they now have an interest
fund of $118.85 available for benefits, provided the Board of Trus-
tees sees fit to grant any "applications for aid."
Summing up : The Society does not assume any obligations,
but the members for any benefits obtainable depend entirely upon
the good will of the Board of Trustees. Said Board can grant or
deny any and every application, can fix the amount of benefit ac-
cording to its own sweet will, can cancel at any time benefits al-
ready allowed, even discharge secretary and treasurer of the So-
ciety for no reason whatever, as under the constitution they hold
their positions "during the pleasure of said Board."
As a charitable (?) society the concern is not under the super-
vision of any State department and under the terms of the Con-
stitution and By-Laws no member has any legal claim on the So-
ciety, should his "application for aid" be refused by the Board.
Will the Catholic clergy of Nebraska give encouragement to
such "organized charity"?
sg* sr 3?
IRELAND'S DEBT TO GERMANY.
John Joseph Dunn devotes in the Catholic University Bulletin
for April, a sympathetic paper to the founder of Celtic philology.
Professor Johannes Caspar Zeuss, whose 'GrammaticaCeltica, 'first
published in 1853, is "the basis on which the new science has since
his time been developed." Zeuss was born July 22nd, 1806, at Vog-
tendorf in Upper Franconia and passed his best days as teacher
of history at the lyceum at Speyer, whence for many years he
annually made a journey to London, Oxford, St. Gall, Milan or
Wiirzburg, to collect manuscripts which contained Celtic glosses.
Mr. Dunn tells us that it was chiefly in order that he might be
able to use his savings for gathering material for his Celtic gram-
mar, that he remained unmarried. He died November 10th,
1856. Besides his famous 'Grammatica Celtica' he produced
other learned works, such as 'Die Deutschen und ihre Nachbar-
stamme,' which, unable to find a publisher, he printed at his own
expense. "The 'GrammaticaCeltica,' " says Mr. Dunn, "ranks
as one of the greatest monuments of erudition and its author as
one of the first scholars of the century." His researches were
popularized by Windisch's 'Kurzgefasste irische Grammatik, '
(1879), which, translated into English, first acquainted a larger
number of Irishmen with the philological principles of their an-
No. 18. The Review. 279
cient mother-tongue. Of Zeuss, John O 'Donovan wrote : "Ireland
ought not to think of him without gratitude, for the Irish nation
has had no nobler gift bestowed upon them by any continental
author for centuries back than the work which he has written on
their language."
Mr. Dunn subjoins a brief account of the progress of Celtic
philology in Germany since its foundation by Zeuss, whence it
appears that "'it is mainly through the efforts of German scholars
that our knowledge of Celtic grammar has been advanced," and
that in spite of all the progress that has been made on the conti-
nent and in Ireland itself, Zeuss' 'Grammatica Celtica' is not yet
superseded.
3? 3f 3^
HARNACK ON THE PAPACY.
The celebrated German theologian, Dr. Harnack, whose name
has lately been so prominent in connection with Delitzsch's
"Babel and Bible" lecture and the Emperor's criticisms, has re-
cently delivered four lectures on the papacy in Frankfort on the
Main. The subjects were : "Rise of the Papacy in the Second
Century up to 380 ;" "Development of the Papacy and Struggle
for Universal Power, up to the Climax of its Power, 380 to 1216 ;"
"Contest of the Papacy with the Nations, with the Absolutism of
Princes, and with Efforts at Reform and Freedom, 1216 to 1648;"
"Contest with Sciefatific, Political, and Religious Enlightenment,
1648 to the Present Day."
The titles of the lectures are sufficient to indicate their ten-
dency ; and as everybody knows, for Harnack the papacy is a
purely human institution, bearing upon it, like all earthly things,
the stamp of mutability and decay. Nevertheless (says the
Kolnische Volkszeitung) the lecturer spoke in an objective manner,
with appreciation and admiration of the institution of the papacy,
and in words of enthusiasm concerning certain of its representa-
tives, such as Nicholas I., Leo the Great, Gregory the Great,
Gregory VII., and Innocent III. He passed over the history of
the papacy from the tenth to the fifteenth century in a dignified
manner, and with but few remarks. The spirit was the same as
that of Macaulay in writing his review of Ranke's 'History of the
Popes in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries,' but with the
difference that Dr. Harnack offered a similar tribute of admira-
tion to the papacy from its entrance into the history of the world
up to the present day.
"Of course we do not mean that occasionally rash theories
were not broached and judgments uttered which certainly will
not be able to stand before the judgment-seat of history ; but we
280 The Review. 1903.
can not in the slig-htest degree refuse our warm acknowledgment
of the objective and dignified manner of the eminent professor ;
and any Catholic who followed these lectures with attention, and
more particularly' his vivid pictures of the crises and dangers
through which the papacy has gone in more than eighteen cen-
turies, and out of which it has ever come with even renewed
strength, will have been inevitably tempted to paraphrase the
saying of St. Augustine regarding the spread of Christianity,
and to say : 'If the papacy were not of divine institution, then its
continued existence would be the greatest miracle in the world.' "
No less appreciative was his treatment of modern history.
Pius VII. was described as a "mild and loving father of Catholic
Christendom," and his Secretary of State, Cardinal Consalvi, as
"the greatest diplomatist of the nineteenth century before Bis-
marck's time." The papacy, he said, had shown a growing
strength all during the nineteenth century. He explained the
significance and extent of the dogma of papal infallibility in pre-
cise and correct terms ; and concluded that, although he claimed
to be no Daniel with reference to the future of the papacy, Ger-
mans should particularly show respect to the convictions of their
Catholic fellow-citizens who recognize in the Pope the Vicar of
Christ. He ended with a strong appeal for mutual tolerance and
respect in a country of mixed religions.
s^ s*
FRANCISCAN STUDIES.
Father Cuthbert, O. S. F. C, writes in the Tablet (No. 3272)
that one of the signs of the times is undoubtedly the new cult of
St. Francis amongst non-Catholics. During the last few years
there has been a continuous stream of literature dealing with the
Saint's history. Catholics and non-Catholics are working with
ever-increasing activity to unravel the early history of the Fran-
ciscan movement by the study of contemporary documents.
It may be asked : What is the net result of all this literary and
critical activity? At present, says P. Cuthbert, it is too early
in the day to expect any very definite result from the labors of
the critics. They are unearthing ancient documents so that the
historian of the future may have genuine materials upon which
to base his history. Early Franciscan literature was until late
years in the position of a buried city, about which people talked,
but which nobody had investigated ; and whose site even was
largely disputed. Now the excavations have begun, and the
work is proceeding rapidly enough. But much work yetlis re-
No. 18. The Review. -281
quired before the historian can sit down and sum up results with
any sense of finality in his conclusions.
Meanwhile we have learned sufficient to prove that the Fran-
ciscan movement was, to use a hackneyed phrase, a "world-
movement"; that it had its origin not merely in the brain of an
individual, but in the religious consciousness of the Catholic
world.
The documents justify the Catholic view of the relations be-
tween the Order and its Founder, as opposed to what we may
term the Sabatierian view ; M. Sabatier and his school are con-
stantly setting- St. Francis as a bright figure against the dark
background of his Order. The Order is said to have betrayed
the Saint because, in its development, it did not reproduce ser-
vilely the cruder forms of its earliest organization. And the Ro-
man Church, we are told, betrayed St. Francis too, because the
popes approved the developments ! But with the broader view
which the study of the documents opens out to us, M. Sabatier's
theor}'^ as to what the Order should have been, will find its his-
torical refutation. As the Franciscan movement belongs to the
stream of Catholic life, not merely as the creation of a Catholic
sain but as the expression of a Catholic need and Catholic ideal,
so it must develop on broader lines than any individual could en-
compass within the sphere of his own personal life. The Fran-
ciscan friar therefore has not to be a mere servile imitator of the
external life of his Seraphic leader, but the interpreter of his
spirit and principles.
But w^hilst leading us to appreciate rightly the history of the
Franciscan Order, the recovered documents are helping us to
realize better what sort of man the Saint himself was, and what
was his ideal.
The revival of interest in Franciscan history is of importance
to the Catholic body in several ways. It is opening up to study
a period of Catholic history too little known by Catholics; a period
whose problems were in a marked manner similar to those which
face us to-day. To understand how the Church of that time
dealt with the difficulties which beset her, will, undoubtedly, be
of assistance to us in dealing with our present difficulties.
Again, the revival of Franciscan studies is impelling the non-
Catholic world to consider a period of Catholic history and the
heroic personality of a Catholic saint, and is so bringing non-
Catholics within the influence of a Catholic atmosphere of thought.
It is difficult to believe that men's minds can be constantly turned
upon St. Francis without being in some way affected by his
Catholic spirit.
It is to be regretted that the Society for Franciscan Studies,*)
282- The Review. 1903.
instituted by M. Sabatier at Assisi, and of which a branch is es-
tablished in England under Anglican patronage, has drawn upon
itself the censure of the Minister-General of the Order. The
first program of the Society appeared with the name of the Cus-
tos of the Sacro Convento on the list of promoters ; and this in-
duced many Catholics and even members of the Franciscan Or-
der to favor the Society and become members. But it became
evident that the spirit of purely scientific and critical study
which was supposed to animate the promoters, was not altogether
free from anti-Catholic bias ; and that the formula "St. Francis
belongs to humanity, but not to the Church" was too evident in
the utterances of some of the most prominent members.
Meanwhile it is needful that Catholics should not stand by idle.
It is for us to make known the deeper, supernatural content of
the Saint's life, whilst we avail ourselves of the opportunities
given us by documentary evidence to obtain a fuller knowledge
of the Saint and his times.
*) Mentioned recently in The Review.
sr sr 3?
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
History of the German People at the Close of the Middle A^es. By
Johannes Janssen. Translated from the German by A. M.
Christie. Volumes V. and VI. B. Herder, St. Louis'. 1903.
Price $6.25 net.
These two volumes comprise the third of the German original^
in a translation which, barring a few unimportant inaccuracies,
is so well done that you would think the work were originally
composed in English. The period treated of is the thirty years
lying between 1524 and 1555. Our only regret in looking over
these as well as the previous four volumes of the English version
of Janssen's classical work, is that the wealth of foot-notes gath-
ered together by the learned author has not been more freely
utilized b}- the translator, though this would, of course, have ren-
dered the English edition still more voluminous and expensive.
We hope Janssen's history will find a large sale among English
readers and induce some competent scholar to get out a revised
and up-to-date edition of Lingard's half-forgotten and antiquated
History of England.
Success. An Address by Rev. Patrick Dillon, D. D., Rector of St.
Mary's Church, Peru, Illinois. For sale b}- the author.
Price ten cents.
In this address, delivered to the students of St. Bede College at
No. 18. The Review. 283
Peru, Ills., on January 15th of the current year, Rev. Dr. Dillon,
who commands a highly oratorical style, shows the hollowness of
the false notion of success so widely current in twentieth-century
America and with a wealth of illustration sets forth the true con-
cept— that happiness which is based on a true knowledge of one-
self, a reverence for human nature in oneself and in others, self-
denial, assiduous labor, and — last, not least — trust in God and
fear of Him. He aptly closes with the words of Addison's Cato :
■' 'Tis not in mortals to command success ;
We'll do more, Sempronius, we'll deserve it."
Our Roman contemporary l^ox Urhis publishes in its No.
vii an interesting sketch in pure Latin of — Phineas Barnum and
his famous circus. It calls him "rex ille praeconum" (which we
would translate : the king of humbuggers) and tells how he was
led to launch upon his career thus :
"At brevi primo occurrit miraculo, quo viam novam ingressus
est ad gloriam et fortunam. Haec posse dedit anus nigrita forte
centenaria, quam emitwix ac audivit quemdam haec iocantem :
'Adeo anus haec senescit, ut Washingtonio nutrix ei esse licuisset. '
Proh stupor ! lurat Barnum secreto : 'Erit quod tu dixisti ;'
statimque eam, rite eruditam, vulgo proponit ubique, ut Wash-
ingtonii nutricem ipsam ! Audentem fortuna iuvat ; inde similes
ausus similiaque mendacia moliri indefessa mente ille non
destitit."
The great Catholic publishing house of B. Herder have
founded, in connection with their well-known Biblische Studien, a
new Biblical review, QniiiX&A Biblische Zeitschr if t, which, is to ap-
pear quarterly under the editorship of Dr. Gottsberger of Freis-
ing and Prof. Sickenberger of Munich (subscription $3.50 per an-
num). The first Heft contains a salutatory by the Bishop of
Passau, a programmatic introductory paper by Prof. Paul
Schanz of Tubingen on the principles, tendencies, and problems
of nineteenth-century exegesis, a very timely article by Dr.
Nikel of Breslau on the exegetical problems arising out of the re-
sults of modern Assyriological research, etc., etc. The Biblische
Zeitschrift purposes tq cultivate the entire field of Biblical studies
in accordance with the directions given by the gloriously reign-
ing Pontiff in his encyclical "Providentissimus Deus." May we
not hope that it will find at least a few hundred subscribers
among the Catholic scholars of the United States?
- — The Maryland School for the Blind has just gotten out th e
first general dictionary ever published in any English-speaking
country for the use of the blind. It contains 40,000 words in
eighteen volumes, with complete diacritical marks and defini-
tions. The system used is that known as New York point.
284
MINOR TOPICS.
The latest contribution on this subject is
The Holy Shroud of by the Abbe Mallot of the Church of S.
Turin. Luig-i de' Francesi at Rome in the well-
known French Catholic review Le Corres-
pondant. Abbe Mallot shows that the shroud now at Turin is
identical with the one which was formerly preserved at Lirey, in
the Diocese of Troyes, Champagne. It was presented to the
colleg-ial church of Lirey by Geoffroy de Charny in 1353, and all
the earh' documents respecting it prove that the donor, his son,
the prelates, and the Pope of that time (Clement VII. j never re-
garded the shroud as being other than a "'representation." In
the elaborate special regulations issued for the veneration of the
shroud it was expressly set forth that the ecclesiastic showing
it to the faithful was "to proclaim, in a loud and distinct voice,
in order that there might be no misunderstanding, that he did
not show the real sliroud of Christ, but a figure or representa-
tion of the said shroud." The veneration was, of course, author-
ized in the same way as that of a crucifix, a statue, or a picture is
authorized, but it was no guarantee of authenticity. For the
rest, those interested in the controversy will do well to read
Abbe Mallot's learned and instructive article.
"Father" Puller, an Anglican divine in
Anglican Advocacy of England, at the close of his fourth and last
the Riie of Unction. lecture on "Unction," said he thought it
very desirable that the bishops of the Angli-
can communion should now either collectively or individually
sanction and regulate the revival of the rite of unction for the
purpose set forth by St. James in accordance with the practice
of the primitive Church. He thought action urgent, in view of
the spread of Christian Science and similar movements, and felt
sure that revival of the practice of unction on wrong and inde-
fensible lines would spread if the authorities of the church did
not take the matter into their own hands. He would not, however,
revive the formula of the Prayer-Book of 1549, because it was
based on medijev-al and not primitive teaching. He would prefer
forms modelled on the lines of the Rituale Romanum.
The Denver Catholic of April 18th took another "shot" at
The Review for not appreciating the cheap "insurance" fur-
nished by the C. M. B. A. The theory that there will be no last
policy-holder to pay because there will always be found new
members willing to pay the insurance of the old members, is the
only argument used, and as that is the basis of the "business" of
the "get-rick-quick" concerns, no more need be said on the
subject.
But one mis-statement should be "nailed" right here, and then
the discussion will be closed, so far as this journal is concerned.
No. 18. The Review. 285
The Denver Catholic charg-es us with ignorance and misrepresen-
tation. Here is an example : "Well, then, he don't always see the
truth. For one thing, he says the C. M. B. A. does not do busi-
ness in Pennsylvania, when we have thousands of members in
that State."
The Insurance Commissioner of Pennsylvania, Mr. Israel W.
Ducham, writes us over his signature, in a letter dated April
28th, 1903 : "Permit me to say that the Catholic Mutual Benefit
Association is not registered in this office, nor authorized to
transact business in Pennsylvania."
There is no dispute about the fact that the existing orthogra-
phy of the English languag^e is less scientific and more cumber-
some than that of almost any other modern tongue ; yet little
seems to be accomplished towards amending- the evil. Mr.
Brander Matthews thinks that one reason for this public lethargy
is that the more ardent spelling-reformers frighten the average
man by asking too much, which is indeed mere foolishness. Our
spelling will never be radically reformed, but it can be gradually
simplified. And it is idle to wait until there is general agreement
upon the advisable simplifications. Each writer, Mr. Matthews
suggests, should do his share in the matter by adopting such
simplifications as he individually prefers. The Review has
adopted a few, such as "program," "catalog"," "dialog," etc. The
Independent writes "tho" and "altho." This is the quickest
method of breaking up the apparent uniformity which now im-
pedes progress and of bring-ing about that condition of orthogra-
phic chaos which must precede any real improvement in our
spelling.
We are in receipt of the first numbers of a new Catholic weekly
just started in Montreal, Canada, and named La Croix. It is a
good name, and our new contemporary will have to aim high in-
deed to prove itself worthy thereof. The chief object of the
publishers seems to be to counteract the pernicious influence of
"la mauvaise presse," which in Canada, unfortunately, comprises
several daily newspapers sailing under the Catholic flag. A
weekly antidote will, we fear, not accomplish much, if the poison
is administered in daily doses. But perhaps the idea is to develop
La Croix into a staunch Catholic daily, after the model of its re-
nowned Parisian namesake. If this be the case, we wish it god-
speed ! It will surely have the support of Montreal's model Arch-
bishop, Msgr. Bruchesi, who has repeatedly shown that he takes
a deep interest in the daily press, but who has so far had but
little success in reforming the two would-be Catholic French
daily newspapers of his episcopal city, La Presse and La Patrie.
Rev. P. John Wynne, S. J., editor of the Messenger, recently ex-
pressed himself as follows to a Stin reporter on the political as-
pect of the Catholic Federation movement :
"With the opportunities afforded by federation for developing
and expressing sound Catholic sentiment, there never will be
286 The Review. 1903.
any need of a Catholic part}', nor will it ever be possible to re-
peat in this country the outrages heaped on the Church in France.
What is needed here is not a Catholic political pSLrty or machine,
but a Catholic sentiment, which is necessarily^ enlightened, sound
and conservative, so expressed that it must necessarily be heeded
without political intermediation or interference." {St(fi, April
12th.)
That is an optimistic view to take, and we hope the future will
bear out Father Wynne's prediction. If it does not, well, then
we shall need a Catholic political party, and the Federation will
form a splendid basis upon which to build it.
The Manila Times, which has staunchly supported the admini-
istration through thick and thin, speaking of the situation as it is
to-day, now frankly declares that the Filipinos are little less hos-
tile to the United States now than in 1899, when the insurrection
began, and it endorses the sentiment of an American who believes
that a large part of the $3,000,000 appropriation to relieve the pre-
vailing destitution in the Islands will be used to bu}' arms with
which to attack the Americans. It will be remembered that Gen.
Chaffee, in a recent speech, stated that nearly all, if not all, the
Filipinos were against us, but that none the less we should ex-
ploit the islands. The N. Y. Evening Post rightly, therefore,
sums up the Philippine undertaking by sajnng that, in addition
to all the slaughtering hitherto, we are still forcing a government
upon a wholly unwilling people, for purposes of self-aggrandize-
ment.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., finds it necessary to deny the press
report that he distributed gold coin promiscuously to beggars on
his recent trip to Mexico. Those who know that Mr. Rockefeller
has been trained in the strictest school of modern philanthroph}-,
never for a moment believed that he "left a golden train" in
Mexico. His method of procedure was, of course, to insist that
each applicant fill out a blank form, giving name, age, height,
date of marriage, number, sex, and ages of children, trade, usual
wages when employed, and reason for being out of work. Then
a special agent carefully verified the statements, found out
whether the applicant was in sound health, and whether he used
tobacco or drank. If the case proved deserving, Mr. Rockefeller
kindly promised that if the friends of the needy man would raise
$1 by January 1st, 1904, he would give another dollar.
The protests against the article "Blowing up of the Maine" in
Pearson'' s Magazine for February (cfr. No. 7 of The Review)
have borne fruit. We reproduce the substance of a letter written
by the editor, Mr. F. V. Warner, under date of New York, Feb.
5th:
"I beg to assure you that in publishing the article, 'Blowing up
of the Maine,'not the slightest discourtesy was intended toward
the Roman Catholic faith. The article was, of course, written
No. 18. The Review. 287
by a man ignorant of the discipline and regfulations that exist in
the Roman Catholic religious orders. I might add that the ar-
ticle in question was not written by an American. We are
obliged to you for calling our attention to the errors and shall en-
deayor to avoid similar ones in future. It is very far from our
intentions to publish anything that will wound the religious sus-
ceptibilities ot the members of any faith."
The scholastic disputation held last week Wednesday at St.
Louis University was a unique and memorable event. Father
Vilallonga, the defendent, bravely and successfully held his own
against his learned opponents and fully deserved the praise ac-
corded to him by Cardinal Gibbons and President Roosevelt, who
came in late in the afternoon and replied briefly to Rector Rogers'
happy address of welcome. It was undoubtedly the first time
that any president of the United States assisted at a "grand act"
within the walls of a religious institution. It is worth nothing
also, as a contemporary remarks, at a time when every cheap
Socialist may have his fling at Jesuit methods of teaching, how
tenacious the Society can be of what is best in the past history
of pedagogics, while it shrewdly reaches out with the most revo-
lutionary among us to seize what is really effective in the present.
M
The talk of another Parliament of Religions in connection with
our Louisiana Purchase Exposition finds no sympathy in the
Catholic press of the country. Even such a "broad-minded" pa-
per as the Catholic Transcript s,diy^ (No 44): "Have the promoters
forgotten the Chicago experiment? In these days when promi-
nent preachers are devoting their energies to attacks upon the in-
spired word and assailing the fundamental doctrines of Chris-
tianity, it may be well for the representatives of crumbling creeds
to get together and register their opinions of their former beliefs.
Catholics can afford to stand by and listen, for they have become
accustomed to the babble of the sects. The preachers can have
the parliaments. Rome is content with practising religion."
A certain "publisher, bookseller, and importer," in Fulton St.,
New York, has the audacity to mail to Catholic priests and re-
ligious a circular advertising obscene books together with holy-
picture samples which are a positive fright artistically. He is
also agent for a consolidated coal company in the far West, and if
you do not want any holy-pictures and do not care to invest in
scortatory and cecisbeistic novels or "talks on nature," you are
blandly requested to give him a few thousand dollars to sink in
mining stocks. Fie on such brazen impudence and on the laxity
of a postal system which permits an unconscionable scoundrel to
flood pure homes and pious monasteries with indecent circulars
mailed in open envelopes ! ! !
It is strange to see a Catholic priest advertising a lecture on
"The Duties of Man Towards Irrational Brutes," For sound
288 The Review. 1903.
philosophy teaches that there are no such duties. Man has duties
towards God, towards himself, and towards his neighbor. Among-
his duties towards God is this that he does not abuse any of
God's creatures. It is desirable, of course, that the irrational
brutes be protected against the cruelty of men who rebel against
the laws of the Creator ; but before addressing ourselves to this
task, would it not be well to undertake the solution of so many
other more important problems which appertain to the protection
of raf/o;ia/ crea.tures against irreligion, immorality', against in-
tellectual, moral, and social misery?
Life ridicules the modern fad of "child study" very amusingly
as follows :
Child Psychology.
One hundred children were handed each a hot iron.
Thirty-three boys and eighteen girls said "Ouch !"
Twenty-five girls and ten boys said "Oouch !"
Of the girls who said "Ouch!" seven had pug noses and toed in.
Thirteen boys born of foreign parents said ''Oouch !"
The conclusions to be drawn from this interesting experiment
will be embodied in a book and published in the Practical Science
Series.
By decree of the S. Congregation of the Index, dated March
30th, 1903, the following books have been formally condemned:
Ferdinand Buisson. La religion, la morale et la science : leur
conflit dans I'education contemporaine. Paris, Fischbacher, 1901.
Jules Payot. De la croyance. Paris, Felix Alcan, 1896.
Jules Payot. Avant d'entrer dans la vie. Paris, Armand Colin,
1901.
P. Sifflet. Cours lucide et raisonne de doctrine chretienne.
Les sept mysteres Chretiens, etc. Lyon, Librairie St. Augustin
et Librairie Delhomme et Briguet.
Speaking of a Catholic historical review, Newman wrote years
ago : "Unless one doctored all one's facts, one would be thought
a bad Catholic."
That this is true to-day, our friend Martin Griffin, publisher
of the Ame?'icaii Catholic Historical Researches, can testify.
It is even true of reviews that are not ex profcsso historical.
Unless you doctor your facts, many — among them some who
should know better-consider and publicly call you a bad Catholic.
It is rightly pointed out in a current magazine that the "society
column" of our daily newspapers is one of the chief feeders of
Socialism and anarchy. All sorts and conditions of men nowa-
days read the papers and if they see there continuously set forth
the doings of the idle rich with particularity of detail and wealth
of rhetoric, it must arouse emotions in the poorer classes that
tend to make them dissatisfied and rabid.
II tlbe IReview. . ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., May 14, 1903. No. 19.
A FRENCH VIEW OF RELIGION IN AMERICA.
N the United States, all the churches, Protestant, Jewish,
and independent, have something- in common. They
approach each other more closely than any one among
them approaches its mother-church in Europe ; and the ensemble
of all religions in America constitutes what one might call the
American religion." With this affirmation M. Henry Bargy
opens his new book on religion in the United States,*") and it is
the key-note of the entire volume.
We do not know AI. Henry Bargy, but from his book we judge
him to be neither a believing Christian nor a sectary, rather a
man who sees only the utilitarian and social side of religion and
does not elevate it above the level of a purely human institution.
His opinion of Catholicism in the United States betrays an illu-
sion which is unfortunately shared by many European Catholics.
M. Bargy is acquainted only with the most noisy, but by far the
least numerous, portion of American Catholics. The two chap-
ters which he devotes to what he is pleased to call "Catholicisme
sociologique" and "Catholicisme anglo-Saxon," are littered with
quotations from the Life of Father Hecker and the discourses of
Msgr. Ireland. The Catholic Church in the United States has
other representatives besides these. The majority of the Amer-
ican episcopate, the bulk of the clergy and especially of the laity,
do not hold or practice a Catholicity different from that held or
practised by the Catholics of any other country.
M. Bargy's observations are, therefore, inexact if applied to
the Catholic Church in the U. S. as a whole ; restricted to the
school and party who call themselves "Americanists" and who
*) La Religion dans la societe aux Etats-Unis, par Henry Ba rgy
12^. XX.-299 pages. Paris: Armand Colin. "^903.
290 The Review. 1903.
have been condemned by the Pope, they are remarkably, not to
say terribly, true.
"The American religfion has two characteristics," he writes.
' It is social and it is'positive; social, inasmuch as it devotes more
attention and care to society than to the individual ; positive, so
far forth as it is solicitous for that which is human rather than
for that which is supernatural."
This is not exactly a feature upon which one feels like congfrat-
ulating- any religfion. But, "religion is perhaps the most original
thing: in the United States. It is born of colonization, it is a
daughter of the soil." No wonder if a religion which is "a daughter
of the soil" can not lay claim to being supernatural!
From this positive character of American religion, we are told,
flows religious peace. There is no conflict between religion and
science, because "in the positive or social order, facts are so
strong that they modify beliefs, and a civic and moral religion
can not, like one that is dogmatic, set aside science or defy
reason."
For this reason, M. Bargy tells us, the criticism to which Holy
Scripture has been subjected, has not particularly impressed
Americans, because to them the Bible is nothing more than a
moral inspiration. And they have religious peace, because "the
positive spirit has severed morality from dogma."
It is a pleasure to read a book whose author masters his sub-
ject so thoroughly. Though we can not share his admiration for
"the American religion," we must admit that M. Bargy has
grasped its essence and defines it correctly.
"The union of the churches among themselves," he tells us, "is
preparing the way for an understanding between them and Free-
thought. . . .which has come to light under shelter of their altars,
even as the liberal sects were conceived noiselessly in the womb of
the orthodox denominations." On the other hand, the American
spirit "has pressed all of the churches into the service of Ameri-
can society serving the same cause, they appear to each
other as colaborers rather than riv^als."
These declarations, unfortunately all too well borne out by
the facts, imply an absolute dogmatic indifference. There re-
sults from this amalgamation of creeds a new sort of religion, if
we may so term it :
"Thus," says M. Bargy, "there has arisen and continues to
grow, developing more self-consciousness from day to day, an
American religion, embracing all forms, orthodox and independ-
ent, ecclesiastic and lay, of the evangelical spirit Beyond the
sects, to whose diversity they are quite indifferent, they are or-
ganizing a religion which permeates all society and tends to be
No. 17. The Review. 391
nought but the social spirit itself in those of its features which
are most evang-elical. In the days of the Puritans, it was a race
creed, even as religion among: the ancient Jews was a tribal relig-
ion ; but as the concept of race is growing larger, extending even
to the entire human race, it is becoming a religion of humanity.
All denominations, from their different points of view, are grad-
ually becoming merged in a cult of human virtue and progress :
patriotism has consummated the moral unity of the nation."
M. Bargy affirms and attemps to prove that this "moral unity is
altogether a religious and a Christian unity," and that "American
Positivism is nothing but an evolution of Christianity."!
We submit the subjoined passage from his book to the atten-
tion of those who are interested in the progress of Liberalism
and religious Americanism :
"Positivism in America has its temples, its clergy, its faithful
adherents, who are none other than the members of the various
Christian denominations ; we can conceive a Positivism with a
god, even as we can conceive a republic with a king ; it is sufficient
that the king be a servant of the people and that God be the ser-
vant of humanity ; it is sufficient that sovereignty be vested be-
yond the king in the people, and that, devotion, beyond God, wor-
ship humanity. By a half-conscious evolution the cult of humanity
is being installed in America without displacing the cult of God."
We do not think that religious Americanism can be character-
ized more accurately in its origin and tendencies than it is des-
cribed in the above passage by M. Bargy, who is quite right in
concluding that this religion is not Protestantism ; nor is it ne-
cessary for us to add that it still less resembles Catholicism.
"It does not protest against anything, because it is sprung
from a soil where nothing grew before it. The name 'Protest-
antism' recalls controversy too strongly to fit it. It needs a title
which the polemics of Europe have not staled. 'Christiani-
ty,' in its evangelical sense, is the only one large enough to des-
ignate it. American Liberalism has its roots in American history
rather than in the reform of Luther ; it is the religion of coloni-
zation ; it has flourished in Catholic Maryland and Anglican Vir-
ginia no less than in the Puritan settlements; it is as much at
home among the Jews and in the Catholic Church as in the re-
formed sects ; it is a product of the soil. The American religion
is alive and fruitful because it is a national religion. It is born of
three centuries of common effort for the organization of a society
and the creation of a civilization upon a bare soil. It has for its
aim the progress of humankind, because its origin is in human
labor. It is a religion of humanity grafted u-pon Christianity.'''
We have italicized the final conclusion for the reason that it is
2':»2 The Review. 1903.
of very great importance and appears to us entirely well-founded.
M. Bargy, we repeat, is wrong in confounding the Roman
Church with a faction which divides and imperils it ; but aside
from this mistake, his remarks betoken a clear and penetrating
mind and may serve, against his will and intention, to further the
cause of Roman orthodoxy against the pretensions and the fas-
cinating spell of the Liberal school in both hemispheres.
Charles, Maignen.
3f Jg Sf
DISSATISFACTIONQWITH THE COMPVLSORY ARBITRATION
SYSTEM IN NEW ZEALAND.
We were prudent in indicating recently our distrust in the final
success of compulsory arbitration as practised in New Zealand."^)
Already we learn from Australian newspapers that the much-
lauded Arbitration Court system is not working so smoothly as
was hoped and expected. In several recent labor questions its
decisions have caused much dissatisfaction, and in some instances
open rebellion among the affected workmen.
In the latest case the Court decided that Is. 4d. an hour was
the proper wage for carpenters. The men had demanded Is. 6d.,
and, when the award was made, held an indignation meeting.
The chairman said the judge had not taken into consideration the
increased cost of living and rent in the district ; and a resolution
was carried to the effect that the award given by the Court was
entirely contrary to the weight of evidence adduced, while the
Court itself, as at present constituted, was unworthy of the con-
fidence of the workers.
The meeting was practically unanimous in carrying this reso-
lution, there being only one dissentient. The seconder of the
motion went so far as to charge the Court with having deliberate-
ly set aside more than one-half the evidence, and even hinted that
in some way the judge had been broaght over to the other side.
Other speakers demanded an immediate strike, but they were
overruled for the time.
It seems plain that the existence of the whole arbitration
scheme, in its present shape, is exceedingly precarious. The
whole subject is receiving the anxious consideration of the gov-
ernment. There is very little doubt that the Court is overworked
and that some vexatious delays have been due to this fact. It is
probable that the judge will be provided with assistants. But
the most ominous thing is the disj)osition of workmen to denounce as
unjust any decision contrary to their wishes.
') See No. 16 of The Review, of April 23rd, 1903.
293
"CLERICS AT THE BAT."
Under the title, "Clerics at the Bat," the Catholic Union and
Times reproduces with much gusto in its No. 4 from the Chicago
Tribune of April 22nd, what it calls "a sprightly report of a ball
game between the faculty and students of St. Vincent's (Lazar-
ist) College in that city."
We quote a few particularly edifying passages :
" 'Get out. I'm not out — I beg your pardon, Father. I mean
that I don't think you touched me with the ball.'
'Tut, tut, boy. Why, I had you a mile. Run on back to the
bench.'
'His reverence is right. The runner's out. Next man up.'
This last from the umpire, and the baseball game between a team
of former college athletes who now wear priestly robes and the
student nine of St. Vincent's College went on. The spectator,
who expected to see the long black cassocks flitting about the
diamond at St. Vincent's College grounds in Webster Avenue
yesterday afternoon, was disappointed, for the clergymen, with
one exception, turned out in a motley array of baseball uniforms
saved from college days. The one black suit and Roman collar
to be seen on the diamond was worn by Father Joseph Carney,
who played first base for the priests.
Before the game was well started the student team began to
suspect that Father Carney had eschewed a uniform with a pur-
pose. Whether by chance or design, the handicapping effect of
the clerical garb was seen in the indifferent base running of the
students."
"While the priests in baseball suits were showing the young-
sters what real old time college baseball was like, some of their
confreres in conventional garb were in the grandstand and along
the side lines. It was plain that more than one of them would
have felt at home on the diamond, and, although the wind was
chill, their enthusiasm was warm.
'Go it, Joe ; you can take three,' shouted one enthusiastic priest,
when Father Carney found the ball for a long drive to center.
The tall young priest made an effort to obey the coach, but was
caught off third base.
'You're losing your steam, Joe,' said the enthusiast, consoling-
ly, when the priest returned to the bench. 'I remember when
you could have made that easy. Do you remember the game we
played — . ' But Father Timothy O'Shea at that moment made his
third ineffectual attempt to 'kill' the ball, and the priestly nine
trotted out into the diamond."
All of which may be very amusing. It may also be conducive
to seminary discipline and to the respect which laymen, young
294 The Review. 1903.
and old, are expected to cherish for the sacerdotal dignity and
the persons of those who wear it. But, old fogy-like, we can not
help noting with pleasure at the end of the Tribune's report that
His Grace Archbishop Quigley, who "had been invited to um-
pire," had "declined that honor (?)," and contrary to previous ad-
vertisement C7>/3/^;/^ of April 21st), had not even appeared to
"witness the contest from the grandstand."
sr 3r sr
THE2TYRANNY OF NATURAL LAW.
We reproduce the following timely observations from No. 15 of
our esteemed Canadian contemporary the Casket:
In a recent number of the International Quarterly there is an
article by Professor Shaler, containing some statements which
will surprise the average reader of such periodicals. He shows
that the natural laws which fifty years ago were supposed to be
universally valid, are in reality valid only within a limited range
of observation ; and that even the law of gravitation, which has
been regarded as the most isolated law of nature, is now believed
not to be in force throughout the universe, inasmuch as there are
indications that it can net be made to account for the motion of
certain stars. A similar protest against the tyranny of natural
law as promulgated by scientists, was made by the Rev. Martin
S. Brennan of St. Louis in his book 'The Science of the Bible,'
published by Herder of St. Louis five years ago. As Father
Brennan was only a humble priest and his book came from a
Catholic publishing-house, his protest did not receive the atten-
tion which Professor Shaler's is likely to receive. Nevertheless
it is a book well worth having and keeping at hand to soothe one's
mind when alarmed by the startling arguments which scientists
set forth in contradiction with revelation. At the same time it
must be admitted that week-kneed Christians are not quite so
ready to surrender at the first demand of "hands up" made by
some old member of the once famous Huxley-Tyndall gang of
freebooters. It is a healthy sign when we find the following
words in the editorial columns of such a journal as the Indc
f>endent :
"The sense metaphysics on which dogmatic naturalism has al-
ways built, has been pretty thoroughly discredited ; so much so
that it is a mark of philosophic illiteracy to rest in it. Science
has become a description, classification, and calculation of phen-
omena without any properly explanatory character. Whatever
lies beyond this, including the whole problem of causality, be-
longs to philosophy. And the progress of criticism has shown
the baselessness of the naturalistic metaphysicsV
295
MODERN PROTESTANTISM JUDGED BY A PROTESTANT.
Protestant papers, in particular our Independent, were very
loud last year in boasting numerical increase of Protestants over
Catholics in the German Empire. They drew their claims from
Protestant sources, to which we Catholics had nothing to oppose
except the well-known but too often overlooked fact that in Ger-
many any Christian may pass for a Protestant who is not a Cath-
olic, while Catholics count no one a Catholic simply because he
says he is no Protestant. The ofl&cial statistics now issued by
the Imperial Census Office show that there has been, during the
last ten years, a greater increase among Catholics than among
Protestants.
The Protestant press ignores these figures, as it ignored the
Catholic rejoinder to its false claims last year. We can even
quote men of their own persuasion to refute them. Dr. Karl
Frank, councillor emeritus of the Prussian Consistory, in a little
book: 'Wie wird es sein?' (How will it be?) says (seconded.,
page ISOsq.):
"From the beginning the Evangelical church chose a more
moderate role than her Roman sister. She fled under the pro-
tection of the State. The State rules and governs her. The
ruler of the State appoints her officers. He appoints the members
of her governing board (Kirchenregiment.) The will of the
worldly ruler is her supreme law. This condition has frequently
brought her rich blessings. But the power and judgment of
even the best rulers constantly wavers. And this wavering tells
upon the church. The church is tossed to and fro by changing
views on high, by the shifting of political parties, or even by the
sentiments of the senseless (urtheilslosen) unchurchly masses.
It matters little whether her officers are filled with the spirit of
Christ, but much whether they are responsive to the wishes of
the government and acceptable to public opinion.
"It ^was no pleasant picture that I beheld. (Dr. Frank
writes as one peering far into the future.) I saw how the gov-
ernment of the Evangelical church was carried on exactly like a
worldly government I saw the rights of the congregations
wither away to almost nothing ; instead, unprincipled office-seek-
ing in the administration of the church. The favor of the super-
iors was the leading view-point. The church is for her ministers
frequently no longer a sanctuary, but a milch-cow that provides
them with butter. They enter the service of the church for the
sake of advancement or lucre. Only in the second place, they
will cast a look upon Jesus, the beginning and perfection of our
faith. Hence energetic Christians are considered 'unfit' for the
government of the church ; men with the courage of their con-
296 The Review. 1903.
victions are disagfreeable Thus more and more bureaucracy
rules instead of Christocracy (Christusherrschaft) .... The spirit
of Jesus, His likeness and word, are silently discarded. On the
other hand, the outward forms are observed with the utmost
care. And thereby it is attempted barely to keep together the
threadworn garment in which Protestant church authorities like
to appear. In caleidoscopic change one decree follows the other
to keep up the appearance of church life, where life has fled long
ago The statistical tables of births, baptisms, weddings,
burials are accepted as proofs of religious life. A lot of old
ecclesiastical formularies are collected for the divine service and
ecclesiastical functions. . . . New pericopes are continually drawn
up by which to preach in the hope of filling the empty churches.
"I saw the bitter fruits of all this appear in the congregational
life and the official activity of the clergy There is a machine
by which the outer affairs are systematically disposed of, but no
new impulse of life is developed In all these 'communities'
there is no consciousness of union or united action. A terrible
spiritual void and drought is upon the administration and reaches
deeply into the discussions of the synods.
"By their office as presidents of the church vestry, clergymen
became more and more officers of the State administration, to
which they turned for recognition and promotion .... I saw the ris-
ing youth confirmed with a splendor as if that sacred function
were a theatrical exhibition. It was but an ecclesiastical form,
performed over all, no matter how their hearts were disposed.
In funerals, ecclesiastical honors were awarded also to those who,
during their life-time, had naught but mockery for religion. In
mixed marriages, souls were sought, not to gain them for Christ,
but for the official church. Thus I saw the church made worldly,
secularized, as the woman in the scarlet mantle, 'gilt with gold
and precious stones and pearls.' (Rev. 17 ^3.)
"As the most shameful effect of this degeneracy of the church
I felt her impotence. What a sorry, unworthy rdle she plays at
present ! She would be all-powerful in Him Who makes her
mighty. But without Him, by dint of State help or statutes
and dead formulas, by ecclesiastical decrees or ordinances, she
can do nothing. With deep sorrow I felt it : 'The church can
no-longer speak either to the heart or to the conscience of the
people.' "
Significant is also the conclusion with which our author winds
up his judgment :
"It shall not be forever thus. I saw it plainly. I saw a light
flash and heard the voice of a mighty angel : 'Babylon, the Great,
is fallen, is fallen ; and is become the habitation of devils and the
No. 19. The Review. 297
hold of every unclean spirit.' For whom were these words ut-
tered ? For which church? The future will reveal it. But this
much I understood clearly : it is possible some members may be
renewed by the spirit of Christ, but the whole degenerate
church will not be converted and do penance, will not be brought
to a new life. She will not be destroyed or annihilated by external
force, but collapse by her own hollowness and emptiness. Such
is the judgment passed upon her. And for those thus fallen, no
tear of sorrow shall be shed. She has deserved it neither for the
sake of humanity nor that of Christianity."
"The explanations of Dr. Frank," says the Stimmen aus Maria-
Laach^ from which we have quoted, "need no comment. But
attention may be called to one point. Since the days of Luther it
has been a favorite practice to hold up to us the Catholic Church
as the 'woman in the scarlet mantle.' It is certainly a novel ex-
perience to see one of her own members paint the Protestant
church in the imagery of the sacred text, as is done here in such
palpable manner."
ar 5^ ar
THE DANGERS OF HYPNOTISM.
J. Edward Herman, M. D., writing in the Chicago Tribune of
May 3rd, adds his testimony to the many we have already col-
lected from both American and European sources, to the dangers
of hypnotism. He says among other things :
"That hypnotism has an injurious effect, both physical and
moral, is now generally conceded by all well qualified men who
have seriously considered the matter. Medical authorities all
over the world have pointed out its dangers.
One writer on the subject, whose experience qualifies him to
express an opinion, states that the risk of mental deterioration
from the frequent induction of the hypnotic state, especially for
those of a nervous temperament, is distinctly dangerous. For
this reason alone there is good cause why there ought to be
passed a law in the United States to restrict the practice of hyp-
notism to the medical profession.
In France its use is forbidden even for therapeutic purposes in
the military and naval hospitals. Charcot, the great French
neurologist, who was largely responsible for the revival of the
hypnotic form of treatment, almost completely abandoned its
use during the last years of his life. At present it seems destined
to be regarded more as a medical curiosity than as a useful form
of treatment.
Bernheim, a medical man with an enormous experience with
hypnotism, once had the misfortune to lose a patient whom he
298 The Review. 1903
had put under hypnotic influence. The man he was treating was
suffering- from pain caused by some inflamed veins of one leg,
and he was put to sleep to relieve the distress which this trouble
caused him. The man died in two hours.
Lombroso reported the case of an ofl&cer who had been hypno-
tized at a public seance and who later on was accustomed to fall
into the hypnotic condition at the sight of any shining object.
One night, on approaching an advancing carriage which carried
a lamp, the officer became unconscious and would have fallen and
been crushed to death had not a comrade rescued him.
A young woman who had been hypnotized by the aid of a gong,
subsequently developed a tendency to go into spontaneous trance
when she heard any regular or monotonous sound. One day,
crossing a crowded street as the church bells were ringing, she
staggered and fell under the wheels of a passing vehicle and was
killed.
As hypnotism is beneficial only in those functional diseases
which rarely endanger life, and for which many other well-known
and less dangerous and simpler remedies may be employed, it
would seem as if hypnotism as a means of cure has a restricted
field in which it must be used by medical men ; and as its mani-
festations are pathological rather than physiological, there is
every reason to demand that a law should be enacted to prevent
its indiscriminate use by the laity."
Dr. Herman has not, however, found much evidence that hyp-
notism is of practical use in the commission of crime. He claims,
first, that only persons with evil tendencies can be used as tools
(but have we not all evil tendencies slumbering in us by virtue of
original sin ?); and, secondly, "many people can not be hypnotized,
and of those whom it is possible to get under influence, some
may, and many often do, awake when the experimenter least ex-
pects it. Besides, complete loss of memory of what takes place
during hypnosis is not universal."
A still further drawback he finds in the fact that "the hypno-
tized person would act like a machine without regard to surround-
ing conditions and would take no precautions to avoid detection.
He would blindly follow the instruction given, but his actions
would surely attract the attention of people who would see him.
To avoid the mechanical movements of the hypnotized person, it
would be necessary to give suggestions to him covering every
possible combination of contingencies, and this would present
difficulties so great as to hardly warrant the risky attempt." The
danger of detection, in his opinion, is so great that a less practical
method of obtaining accomplices in crime could hardly be selected.
This latter view of the Chicago doctor, as our readers are
aware from previous quotations in The Review, is not by any
means shared by all students of the novel and difficile subject.
299
COLUMBVS AND THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA.
Mr. Henry Vignaud, in his much-discussed book on the Tos-
canelli case, discredits the traditional story of Toscanelli's letter
and map, which was brought forward so opportunely by the
family of Columbus when it was alleged that he was led to under-
take his famous voyage to the West through confidences made
him by an old pilot, who had once been driven by a storm to the
islands of the Western sea. Vignaud points out that Toscanelli
and his learned friends, whose correspondence abounds, never
spoke elsewhere of the ideas contained in letter and map ; there
is no mention in Portuguese documents of any such ideas or of
consultation about them on the part of the King, or of Toscanelli,
or of any Canon Fernam Martins; Columbus himself never spoke
of letter or map, so far as we know ; their contents are improb-
able from a man like Toscanelli, but agree with speculations
familiar to Columbus and his brother Bartholomew. He thinks
that "Columbus' great project had an origin wholly unconnected
with any suggestions or counsels from Toscanelli." In this con-
nection it may be interesting to note that a contributor to the
Dublin Review of January, 1898, basing almost exclusively on
Danish sources, showed that Columbus visited Iceland fifteen years
before his voyage to America, that there he found records of the
early voyage of the Hiberno-Danish, lying unhonored and neg-
lected, until they found favor in the eyes of a kindred genius who
was quite capable of benefiting by the information he received
from them.
The 'Landnamabok' (which is the Doomsday book of Ice-
land) gives the name of Ari Marsen, the great-grandson of
O'Kiarval (O'Carroll), King of Dublin, as the first European who
landed in the New World ; he was wrecked on the coast of Flori-
da in 983, and called the country Great Ireland or Whitemen's
Land. The same authority mentions that when the Norwegians,
Lief and Ingolf, discovered Iceland in 795, they found there
"Irish books, bells, and croziers, which had been left behind by
some Irish Christians called Papae." It is now held by many
that Irish Christians had settled in the southern part of North
America, and had introduced Christianity centuries before Co-
lumbus planted the flag of Spain on that Continent. The author
of 'Antiquitates Americanae'andSchudi ('Peruvian Antiquities')
both prove this fact, and Professor Rask, the Danish philologist,
in his book 'Samlide Aphaulinger,' b. i., p. 165, deals with the
early voyages of the Irish to America and the similitude between
the Hiberno-Celtic and American-Indian dialects.
It is still more remarkable that the Arabian geographer, Ab-
dullah Mohammed Edrisi, who was born in Ceuta in 1099, wrote
300 The Review. 1903.
at the invitation of Roger II., King of Sicily, a work bearing the
title 'Mushat al Mushtati i Arhtirak Alafak' (that is, Wonders of
the Curious in the Exploring of Countries), in which the New
World is described and called Great Ireland ; there are transla-
tions of this work in the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, and two
other manuscripts of the original work of Edrisi are preserved
in the Bodleian Library at Oxford (Cod. Graves, No. 3,837, and
Cod. Pocock, 375). A silver globe, perhaps the first ever known,
made for King Roger by Edrisi, was lost, but there is !a plani-
sphere inserted in one of the Bodleian manuscripts which gives an
idea what it was, "Magnae Hibernae" being distinctly marked.
The Icelandic annals prove that intercourse was kept up from
Ireland with the American Continent as late as 1347, yet it is sur-
prising what ignorance prevailed in Europe respecting it in the
time of Columbus.
3f af ar
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
Coiirs Frani^ais de Lecture, par I'Abbe J. Roch Magnan. C. A
Beauchemin & Fils, Montreal. Two volumes.
The intimate friends of Rev. J. R. Magnan,pastor of St.John the
Baptist church, Muskegon, Michigan, were aware of the fact that,
for years past, he had been devoting all his leisure moments to the
preparation and compilation of a set of readers for the French
parochial schools of the United States. They rejoice in the an-
nouncement that two of the readers are already on the market,
bearing the approval of, the Ordinary, as well as of the School
Board, of the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The two volumes are of neat appearance and gotten up by the
old and reliable firm of C. A. Beauchemin & Son, of Montreal,
Canada. The illustrations, so important in order to excite the
imagination and the attention of the children, are numerous
and well-done. Each lesson is followed by a set of questions, re-
lating to the subject-matter treated of in the previous chapter.
The object is to form in the pupil the habit of trying to under-
stand well what he has been reading. All teachers will be thank-
ful for a system so far superior to the old ways, under which
children of the fifth grade were frequently unable to give the
least account of what they had read.
The characteristic feature of the work, however, is the spirit of
Christian faith and morality which pervades all its pages, from
cover to cover. Love of God and of home and country, together with
the greatest respect for parents and all c nstituted authorities,
as well as the keenest sense of justice to neighbor and charity to
No. 19. The Review. 301
the afflicted, is the key-note of the series. It is with the liveliest
sense of pleasure that we stop to consider what an amount of
good maj' be done to the young- and pure souls of children,
by placing such good books in their hands, that they may bring
them to their homes and there imbibe all the great principles
and the beautiful lessons they contain.
Another feature of the work is a sensible and very practical pre-
face to each volume, in which the author addresses himself to the
parents and the teachers, and even to the children themselves, ad-
vising all of their respective duties in the difficult matter of edu-
cation. We do not recollect ever having seen anything so com-
plete and so full of practical hints.
We notice with pleasure that Father Magnan's efforts are be-
ing appreciated and that the French press, both in Canada and
in the United States, has given great praise to these text-
books. Let us hope that practical encouragement will be lent
the author in the purchase of bis works and that he will thus be
enabled to complete a series so well and so successfully begun.
Abbe L. Winterer, in a very readable essay on German So-
cialism in the February number oi La I^evtie Generale^ points out
that the present danger from the Socialist movement in the
Fatherland (as, we suppose, everywhere else,) lies not in the
theories of Carl Marx, but in the workings of the Socialist party,
which is daily gaining new adherents by means of the "social
hatred" with which it inspires the masses. The only effective
antidote against that social hatred is justice and charity. Salva-
tion lies in reorganizing society according to the Decalog.
We gather from the Tablet that the great enterprise of
Migne in the publication of the Greek and Latin patrologies is to
have a rival, or rather a sequel, in an edition of a Syriac Patrolo-
gy on an equally large scale. It is the well-known Orientalist of
Paris, Dr. J. B. Chabot, who is projecting this Syriac Patrology
in something like a hundred volumes, having the Syriac text and
the Latin translation on opposite pages. He has secured the co-
operation of several distinguished patrologists and orientalists
for this imposing undertaking.
In her biography of Chateaubriand, recently published by
Kirchheim of Mayence, Ladj'^ Blennerhasset conclusively shows
that the brilliant author of 'Le Genie du Christianisme,' who was,
before his conversion in 1800, a fanatic enemy of Christianity,
drew his fine descriptions of the Mississippi Valley and the
Southeast of the United States, which were considered by his
contemporaries true to nature and the work of an eye-witness,
entirely and exclusively from his fertile imagination.
302
MINOR TOPICS.
At the meeting of the alumni of the Am-
Why is the Catholic Uni- erican College at Rome, held last Wednes-
versity a Failure? day in New York City, Msgr. Denis J.
O'Connell, the new Rector of the "Catholic
University of America," said among other things :
"Just before my departure from Rome Pope Leo sent for me
for another interview. He showed me then how deeply his heart
is in the great work before us. 'O'Connell,' he said, 'I send you
to the university from which I have expected so much in 3'^oung
vigorous America, but it has not responded to my expectations.
O'Connell, I send you' — and then the Holy Father seemed to drop
into a reverie as he added, 'and my name is in it.' " — (Quoted from
a special despatch to the St. Louis Globe- Democrat, May 7th.
Italics ours.)
Here we have it on the authority of Msgr. O'Connell himself
that the Holy Father is disappointed because the University is
not up to his expectations. Whenever The Review made this
statement, it was ridiculed and denied by the Liberal organs, and
attributed to ill will and antagonism. Msgr. O'Connell's frank
avowal is therefore apt to help clear the ground. The Holy
Father is disappointed. The University has not responded to
his expectations. Now all depends on the making of a correct
diagnosis of the case by the new Rector and his friends. Why
has the University failed so far?
Their advocates and admirers say they
Are the Public Schools are, but what of the Bible reading and the
" Non-Sectarian" and prayers with which, in most, if not all of
Undenominational? them, every day's work begins? To be
"undenominational" in reality there should
be no religion in any shape or form, not even the mention of God
in a text-book. A demand for "non-sectarianism" to this extent
would be entirely fair on the lines of the public school system, as
its approvers proclaim it to be. They say it is "for all creeds"
and therefore that creeds and religions are absolutely excluded
from its scheme. But is this so? Do you not bring in a "creed"
when you bring in the Bible ? Does not a prayer or the name of
God mean or imply a creed? There is good ground for suspect-
ing that it is one religion and one only that is objected to for the
school by most of the "non-sectarians." — N. Y. Freeman'' s Jou7'naU
No. 3574.
The historical writing of the period (in
The Literary Historian the English language) does not wholly
of the Future. commend itself to a reflective corres-
pondent of the Dial. "Some day," he
says, "there will set in a movement to co-ordinate the re-
sults of our specialized effort, and then may be expected
to appear once more the literary historian. Scholarship will
No. 17. The Review. 303
not be less valued, nor truth less highly regarded, but
the art of presenting truth will be given more attention. Noth-
ing short of a transcendent genius, however, can ever again fill
the place of the genuine literary historian. From our conscien-
tious devotion to truth in the minute we shall never wholly re-
cover ; and of all historical writing we shall continue to demand
absolute accuracy of detail — a standard which was unknown to
Herodotus, Livy, Carlyle, and Macaulay. Thus the necessities
which the literary historian of the future will have to meet grow
greater with every passing day."
The Catholic Columbian (No. 18) declares that, if the new
chapter in the history of the "Catholic University of America,"
which has been opened by the installation of Msgr. D. J. O'Connell
as Rector, "is to be different from the two that have preceded it
— if the University is ever to be made a success — the influences
that have been alienated from it must be won back to its support.
They have been designated as 'the Germans and the Jesuits.'
But that title is not wide enough — there are others, who should
be attracted. Nevertheless the favor of the Germans and the
Jesuits, if it could be won, would be a mighty force for good. The
Germans were being conciliated and were even planning to en-
dow the German chair, when they were again driven away by the
treatment received by Msgr. Schroeder. The Jesuits have been
badly treated from the start."
Without the active co-operation of both of these important ele-
ments, says our confrere, the University can not hope to succeed,
and he concludes : "The Germans and the Jesuits should be so-
licited to support the University and .... any influence that keeps
them away from it should be promptly and permanently side-
tracked."
A writer in the Civilta Cattolica makes the startling announce-
ment that on the occasion of the conclave which elected Leo XIII.,
Prime Minister Crispri was only prevented from introducing
jtalian officials into the Vatican by a fierce telegram from Bis-
marck, who was particularly anxious that a pope should be elected
a- bout whose legitimacy no question could ever be raised. The
Rome correspondent of the N. Y. Freeman' s Jour^ial says that the
present temper of the Italian authorities there aJBfords only too
much ground to fear that a similar outrageous attempt to violate
the freedom of election may be attempted. Under the circum-
stances he thinks it is not at all impossible that the next conclave
may be held outside Rome — possibly outside Italy.
A Benedictine Father, professor in a western college, writes to
The Review :
I was greatly interested in the remarkable instance of "clair-
voyance" given in a recent number of The Review. I refer to
Archbishop Ireland and the girl at the Sisters' school. This gift
of clairvoyance seems to be general, I mean in a lesser degree, for
I have on several occasions made similar experiments. It can be
304 The Review. 1903.
done by any three persons, perhaps also two. Let two persons
blindfold a third, then hide an object (pocket knife, etc.); then
let the two guides take hold of the blindfolded person's wrist and
make up their will that the "claivoyant" shall find it, and the lat-
ter will after some trials become aware of a force leading him to-
wards the object. All persons are not equally good "media." In
one case we merely touched a boy on his shoulders with our
fingers. Experiments may bring out media that respond with-
out physical contact. I know not how to explain the phenomena,
but I know such a force to exist, since I have actively and pas-
sively participated in many such experiments. Fixed attention
on the part of the guides is required.
Writing in the fotirnal of Theological Studies on the "Code of
Hammurabi," Mr. Johns, of Queen's College, Cambridge, a very
competent cuneiform scholar, pays a handsome tribute to the en-
ergy and scholarship displayed by Father Scheil, O. P., in editing
this truly remarkable discovery. Hammurabi was King of Baby-
lon, or of the territory about Babylon, about 2285 b. c. He drew
up a code of laws dealing with a number of the common occur-
rences of life and had his code carved on great stone monuments
and set up (probably) in every city of his empire. For nearly
two thousand years this code formed the basis of Babylonian and
Assyrian law, and several fragments of copies of various dates
have for some time been known. But now one of the original
monuments has been found almost intact, and the picture it gives
of Babylonian civilization and law and life in the third millennium
B, c. is as interesting as it is wonderful, and we feel that Father
Scheil does not exaggerate when he claims Hammurabi's Code as
one of the most important monuments of universal history.
It may interest the Rev. Father John Talbot Smith, the editor
of the Boston Pilot, and other Catholic American publicists who
have advertised and recommended Heyse's "Mary of Magdala"
to the Catholic public, (see our protest against such advertise-
ment and recommendation in No. 17 of The Review), that His
Lordship the Bishop of Briinn, Austria, Dr. F. S. Bauer, has pub-
licly and officially protested in the Briinner Vatcrland, above his
signature, against the production of that "great religious drama"
(Boston Pilot, No. 15) in his episcopal city. He brands it as "a
scandal to the Christian sense" and declares that its production
ought not to be permitted in any Christian community.
Is the Cincinnati Catholic Telegraph aware that it is helping to
"poison the wells" when it advises its readers (No. 19) to buy and
study the Encyclopaedia Britannica?
Andrew Lang declares that "no translation in verse is worth
the paper on which it is printed.".
11 Ube IReview. H
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., May 21, 1903. No. 20.
A GREAT MONUMENT OF A GREAT COUNCIL.*)
HK history of the Council of Trent — a history which will
satisfy modern requirements, Catholic no less than
Protestant — has yet to be written, and the time for
writing it has not yet come, though it is rapidly approaching. No
serious scholar or student pretends that the work of Fra Paolo
Sarpi is other than a partisan production, marred not only by
great bitterness of feeling and a reckless imputation of the worst
motives, but also by an extraordinary perversion of facts. One
would as soon think of learning history from the pages of Froude
(who also made an excursion into this particular region) as from
those of Fra Paolo. Pallavicini's 'Istoria del Concilio di Trento,'
on the other hand, while it corrects many of Sarpi's errors and
did good service in its day, is not a critical ihistory in the modern
sense of the term. Indeed by the author's own admission or pro-
fession its aim is primarily apologetic or controversial rather
than simply historical. But why, it may be asked, seeing that
nearly two centuries and a half have elapsed since the appearance
of Pallavicini's first edition, has the history of the Council never
been comprehensively treated by any scholar, whether Catholic
or non-Catholic ?
The reason is not far to seek, and was stated clearly enough by
Hefele, in the preface to the seventh volume of his 'Concilienge-
schichte.' It was impossible, he said, to undertake the history
of the Council until the authentic acts of that assembly had been
made public. Incredible as it may seem, these all-important
documents had been known only from fragmentary quotations
down to the time when Hefele wrote the words to which we have
-1 Concilium Tridentinum, Diariorum, Ac- I Commentarius. Angeli Massarelli Diaria. I.
torum, Epistularum, Tractatuum Nova Collec- | IV. Collegit edidit illustravit Sebastianns-
tio. Edidit Societas Goerresiana Tom I. I Merkle. Friburgi Brisgoviae. Sumptibus
Diariorum Pars Prima. Herculis Severoli | Herder.
306 ' The Review. 1903.
just referred. It is true that in the very year in which Hefele
wrote those words, the Acta of the Council, edited by Theiner,
but published after his death, were given to the world. But even
these, supposing them to have been published in their entirety
and with that critical exactitude which befits such an enterprise,
were far from constituting- the whole of the documentary mater-
ials available, and more or less necessary, for the elucidation of
the history of the Council. Apart from various sources of indirect
and incidental information, two other classes of documents,
known to be extant but heretofore for the most part unpublished,
are indispensable to the historian, viz. 1. the diaries kept by
more than one of those who in one capacity or another took part
in the proceedings of the Council, and 2. the correspondence of
the legates and others with the Holy See and with the European
courts, or with personages of importance in the ecclesiastical or
political world. As the Acta, or official records of the conciliar
proceedings, serve to explain the genesis and throw light on the
decrees in which these proceedings issued, so the diaries and
letters in their turn throw light on the Acta, as revealing in many
cases the motives and intentions of those who took part in the
public discussions.
All this is, of course, well known to historical scholars, nor
were the years which followed the publication of Theiner's Acta
altogether barren of attempts to bring these secondary but moat
important materials to light. The late Dr. Bollinger, as many of
our readers will be aware, brought out in 1876 two volumes of
'Ungedruckte Berichte und Tagebiicher zur Geschichte des Con-
cils von Trient' (Unpublished Narratives and Diaries Illustrative
of the History of the Council of Trent), which were intended to
be the first instalment of a collection bearing the more ambitious
title, 'Sammlung von Urkunden zur Geschichte d. C. v. T.'
(Collection of Sources, etc.) The larger project, however,
remained unaccomplished, and the published volumes left
much to be desired. And, as DoUinger made a beginning
of editing ^the Idiaries of the Council, so portions of the cor-
respondence relating to it have been published by Drufifel
('Briefe und Acten zur Geschichte des 16 Jahrhunderts'), Drufifel
and Brandi ('Monumenta Tridentina'), Friedensburg, ('Nuncia-
turberichte aus Deutschland'), and others. It is, however, plain
from the event that no one of these scholars has made, or even
undertaken to make, the researches necessary for the compila-
tion of a complete 'Corpus Diplomaticum Concilii Tridentini.' In-
deed such researches, together with the publication of their re-
sults, if not altogether beyond the powers of a single man, would
be the work of half a lifetime ; and the world might have waited
No. 20. The Review. 307
a century or more before anyone would have cared to undertake
it, or have succeeded in the undertaking-.
But now that powerful and learned body, the Gorres-Gesell-
schaft, one of the glories of the Catholic Church in Germany, has
seriously taken the matter in hand, and it is with something very
different from merely complimentary expressions of pleasure
that we welcome the first volume of a monumental work of quite
first-class importance. The full title of the entire work is, 'Con-
cilium Tridentinum : Diariorum, Actorum, Epistularum, Trac-
tatuum, Nova Collectio. ' It will consist of twelve or more volumes,
of which three will contain the diaries, vols, iv.-ix. the Acta,
properly so-called; the tenth and succeeding volumes will give
the letters ; and the series will close with a single volume con-
taining various theological tractates written on occasion of, and
in connection with, the Council. For the immense undertaking
the libraries and archives of Southern Europe have been thor-
oughly searched, as the following very inadequate list may part-
ly serve to show. Dr. Sebastian Merkle, the editor of the first
and succeeding volumes of the diaries, has himself made a dili-
gent search in half a dozen collections in Rome, besides of course
the Vatican Archives, and in one or more libraries at each of the
following places, viz., Naples, Florence, Camerino, Sanseverino,
Bologna, Modena, Parma, Mantua, Venice, Bergamo, Madrid,
Toledo, Seville, Granada, Jaen, Salamanca, Valladolid, Paris,
Munich, Vienna, Innsbruck, and Trent itself. And although it
is too much to hope that even the diligence of a Merkle will leave
absolutely nothing to be gleaned by future investigators (since
in some cases manuscripts known or believed to exist in certain
libraries were not forthcoming), there are good grounds for
thinking that nothing of importance has escaped detection. It
is a very inadequate expressionof the truth to say that the 'Nova
Collectio' will far surpass in completeness anything that
has hitherto been attempted ; and it is perhaps more to the
purpose to affirm that it will put the future historian of the
Council in possession of abundantly adequate material for
his work. We rejoice that so great a monument of a
Council should be the work of Catholic hands, and (by contrast
with Theiner's work) should be issued with the full and most
cordial approval of the Holy Father. The first words of the com-
mendatory Brief, "Hand mediocri animi oblectatione," addressed
to the President of the Gorres-Gesellschaft, sufficiently indicate
the mind of his Holiness on the subject of this great undertaking.
7F
308
PROHIBITION.
Our good friend Mr. Martin I. J. Griffin, the clever and deserv-
ing editor and publisher of the American Catholic Historical Re-
searches^ of Philadelphia, has, we regret to learn, taken offence at
a note which we reproduced from the Northwest Review of Win-
nipeg in our No. 17. This note was as follows :
"Here is a clipping from a late issue (No. 23) of that sprightly
and thoroughly Catholic Manitoba weekly, iho. Northwest Review^
which well deserves reproduction : 'The charming Life of Mother
Mary Baptist Russell, by her brother. Father Mathew Russell,
S. J., incidentally gives the lie to the exaggerations and hypocrisy
of the Prohibitionists. Arthur Russell, father of Lord Russell
of Killowen, the greatest lawyer England has seen in a genera-
tion ; of Rev. Mathew Russell, S. J., one of the brightest poets of
the day ; of Mother Mary Baptist, everlasting superior and pio-
neer of the Sisters of Mercy in California, — Arthur Russell,,
whose younger brother Charles became the celebrated President
of Maynooth, to whom Newman confessed his indebtedness in
the history of his conversion, — Arthur Russell, all of whose
daughters became saintly nuns, — kept a brewery !' "
This is Mr. Griffin's protest, dated Philadelphia, May 2nd :
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
The item about the Russell brewery may merit "reproduction"
as a curious item, but the Northwest Review is wholly ignorant of
what prohibition is, its principles and policy, when it thinks that
a brewer having sons and daughters, lawyers, priests, or nuns
"gives the lie to the exaggerations and hypocrisy of the Prohi-
bitionists."
Catholics who are anti-Prohibitionists can no more state cor-
rectly anything about Prohibition than non-Catholics can rightly
tell what are Catholic doctrines or practices.
I am a Prohibitionist. It is one of the things I thank God for..
My three children who have left my home have entered upon a
religious life — one as a priest, two as sisters.
The Northzvest or any other review that prattles about "the ex-
aggeration and hypocrisy" in that manner may be "sprightly, "^
but they are not "thoroughly Catholic," because they speak ill
and unjustly of their neighbors. God alone knows whether all
the Russell judges, priests, or nuns have made full reparation for
all the evil that came from their father's traffic. But their great-
ness, celebrity, or sanctity has nothing whatever to do with Pro-
hibition. Respectfully,
Martin I. J. Griffin.
The Northzvest Review is well able to take care of itself, and in.
No. 20. The Review. 309
handing- over Mr. Griffin to the tender mercy of its doughty edi-
tor, we shall confine ourselves to one or two obvious remarks.
Catholics who are anti-Prohibitionists may speak or write as
correctly of Prohibition as a Catholic theologian who is anti-Prot-
estant can correctly state and criticize Protestant doctrines. If
none of us, particularly in the journalistic profession to which
Mr. Griffin belongs, could intelligently judge and discuss ideas
or doctrines to which he was opposed, there would be an end to
all intelligent controversy and criticism.
From long experience we know the Northwest Review^ which is
edited by orthodox and learned clergymen, to be a "thoroughly
Catholic" journal ; we would still insist that it had a claim to this
title even if perchance it were to make k faux pas or on one occa-
sion or other so far forget itself as to speak ill and unjust of its
neighbors, — an accusation against which, in the present instance,
it will no doubt be able to defend itself victoriously.
As for our own views on Prohibition — which must by no means
be confounded with Temperance — they are too well known to our
readers — among whom we are pleased to count Mr. Griffin — to
need reiteration. We hold such alcoholic beverages as wine, beer,
and good whiskey to be gifts of God which, used in moderation,
contribute to the well-being of humanity. The Encyclopedia of
Social Reform, which is generally considered to be an authority
in these matters, defines the object of Prohibition to be "to obtain
laws prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors,
except for the purpose of manufacturing industries, science, and
art." Mr. Griffin, as a loyal Catholic, would probably include
among the exceptions the sacramental use of wine ; but the bulk
of non-Catholic Prohibitionists, as the above definition clearly
indicates, oppose the use of alcoholic liquors as a beverage
in any shape or form. Mr. Griffin himself will have to con-
fess that this is one of the "exaggerations" of Prohibition as
generally understood and advocated. He is likewise too well-in-
formed a man to deny that many who of those who preach Pro-
hibition in public, indulge in alcoholic drinks privately and in
secret.
A consistent Prohibitionist must hold a brewer who deliberate-
ly manufactures beer to be a depraved man. It was evidently with
the purpose of disproving this false and unjust view in one, and
that a very flagrant case, that the Northzvest Reviezv mentioned
the example of Arthur Russell.
%%'^^
310
THE "CATHOLIC LADIES OF OHIO" AND THE REVIEW.
The Catholic Ladies of Ohio have favored The Review with a
long" statement signed by the President, and a long letter from
an ex-secretary and charter member, intended to disprove the
remarks made by this journal regarding the quality of "insur-
ance" promised by the societ5^ As our space is too limited to
print these communications in full, and as moreover, unfortunate-
ly, the contents practically corroborate the views expressed in
our No. 16 on that subject, we shall confine ourselves to quoting
onl^^the most important sentences, placing them alongside of the
comments of The Review and leaving our readers to judge for
themselves.
The organization claims to comply with the linsurance laws of
the State (so says its President), but does not report to the insur-
ance department, because as a "benevolent, charitable, religious,
and mutual society," under a special provision of the law, it is ex-
empt from such reports. The charter member adds that the C.
L. of O. were organized as a social auxiliary of the Catholic
Knights of Ohio. Now, according to the report of the Ohio State
Insurance Department, the Catholic Knights of Ohio, the Catholic
Knights of America, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the
Knights of Columbus, and even the Women's Catholic Order of
Foresters all report to said Insurance Department, and for the
Catholic insurance editor of The Review it is incomprehensible
wherein these orders differ in purpose from the C. L. of O. Are
they not one and all "benevolent, charitable, religious, and
mutual"? Why should the C. L. of O. take advantage of some
special law exempting them from the supervision of the Insurance
Department, if the society is so anxious to "comply with all the
insurance laws of the State"?
The President says regarding the number of assessments :
"The societj' in council at Cleveland provisionally fixed the
number of assessments at 8 subject of course to the pro-
visions of the State Law for assessment societies, viz : that no
assessment be levied unless there be a death to correspond and
that the 7mmher of assessments can not he limited^ but must he gov
erned by the number of deaths.'' (Italics'ours). The Rewew stated:
"Under this system nobody can tell before-hand how much a
member may have to pay in any given year."
In section 3 of her reply the President verifies the grading of
the benefits as stated by The Review and excuses the limitations
regarding the payment of but one assessment as described there-
in with the regulations of the law. The fact remains, however,
that the returns of one assessment is all that is available for the
payment of the loss for which the assessment is levied. At pres-
No. 20. , The Review. 311
eut the total income is about $1,400 for each call. So a $2,000
claim gets but 70% cash, and others in the same proportion. The
President adds naively : "It is morally certain, however, .... that
within a very few years one assessment will reach over $2,000, in
which case the full limit of $2,000, $1,000, $500, will be paid for
the respective grades," which statement does credit to her hope-
fulness; what will happen if the membership should decrease,
is another question.
The Review claimed that "no member of this order can tell at
any time with any degree of certainty, either how much he will
have to pay each year, or how much his family is likely to get as
benefit in case of his death." The President replies that any
member "can now figure very closely the cost of her protection
and the amount of her benefit, and she can also estimate the same
for the future with almost the'same accuracy, //"(italics ours) she
is familiar with the law of progress, by which the society is gov-
erned,"— but fails to enlighten us as to the way to ascertain such
progress in the absence of insurance reports.
The President further wishes to reduce the ratio of expenses
to income by claiming that medical examiners' fees should not be
included. Some fault is also found with The Review for taking
up the 9 months' report of the retiring treasurer and omitting
the last 3 months of that year, given by the new treasurer. So
here the correction :
Income. Expenses.
Report from Jan. 1st, to Sept. 30th, 1902. - $10,051.73 $2,435.52
" Oct. 1st, to Dec. 30th, 1902. - 3,320.64 794.21
Total, - - $13,372.37 $3,229.73
Hence the expenses represent over $24 for every $100 received.
As doctors' fees are paid by the members and are handled by
by the society, it is perfectly proper to include that item in the
expense account.
In conclusion. The Review exceedingly regrets to find that the
"facts" submitted by the President and the charter member for
the purpose of correcting the statements made in our issue of the
23rd of April, have only strengthened our belief in the unsound-
ness of the business of the C. L. of O. as at present conducted.
There is no intention of questioning the honesty of the manage-
ment or the integrity of any one connected with the society. It
is only the so-called "insurance" feature which we criticize, be-
cause the system practised is not reliable and the experience of
the past exemplified by numerous societies, (Catholic and others),
who were formerly doing business on similar lines and came to
grief, should be a warning to the C. L. of O.
312
THE ORGAN ON HOLY THURSDAY.
We received the following query : "Where did Father Baart
find the permission to play the organ during the entire mass on
Maundy Thursday ? (No. 17 of The Review). And why did he
not give page or number of the 'Caeremoniale Episcoporum'?
Please enquire, for without investigating I venture to say that it
is not so. (Rev.) Charles Becker."
We enquired, and this is Father Baart's reply :
"I would not like the reverend gentleman to take my word re-
garding the 'Ceremoniale 'Episcoporum.' If he wishes some
nearer authority — official for some — he can find the same state-
ment given in the Ordo for the Provinces of Toronto and King-
ston, in Canada, for 1903, published by the Hunter Rose Co. with
the imprimatur of Archbishop O'Connor. On page 13, the
clergy are instructed regarding the organ and the fact that it
may be used during the Mass of Holy Thursday. — P. A. Baart."
By the way, Mr. Wra. F. Markoe points out in the N. Y. Free-
man's Jom-nal {'^o. 3644) that this permission is "a sad comment-
ary on the incompetency of many of our Catholic choirs which
has made so undesirable a concession necessary." "Nothing" —
he says^"marks so sharply the grief of the Church at the ap-
proaching Passion of her Lord, even in the midst of her rejoicing
over the institution of the Holy Eucharist, as the sudden silence
of the organ after the 'Gloria in Excelsis' on Holy Thursday. At
the same time nothing reveals more strikingly the weakness,
poverty, and nakedness of an incompetent choir. When deprived
of the support of the organ the utter unfitness and impropriety
of the kind of music too often selected also stands out in bold re-
lief. That the new concession may prove acceptable to choirs of
this kind can readily be imagined. But that it will prove accept-
able to priests who enter into the spirit of the Church during
Holy Week, and have deeply at heart the proper performance of
these sublime and significant ceremonies, is not easy to believe.
It is my firm conviction, based on years of experience, that when
suitable music, whether plain or figured, is selected — suitable I
mean both to the occasion and the abilit}^ of the singers — the
weakest choir, even children, can be trained to render it proper-
ly, and that if it really is suitable it will sound much better with-
out the organ than with it."
Mr. Markoe has hit the nail squarely upon the head.
Qgy d0 d9
The ^c<?/l'-Zor'^?- relates that a wag, having witnessed an un-
usually villainous performance of Hamlet, observed : "Now is the
time to settle the Shakespeare-Bacon controversy. Let the graves
of both be dug up and see which of the two turned over."
313
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERICAL FUND SOCIETY.
[We have received the following- letter in reply to our recent
paper on the above society and gladly publish it because the sub-
ject is timely and of great interest to many of our readers. Of
course we reserve to the author of the article in our No. 18 the
right of retort.]
Though sick in bed, I hasten to reply to your article on the Ro-
man Catholic Clerical Fund Society, of which I happen to be the
President.
Ad initio — a few general remarks : Frequent attempts to care
for sick, disabled, and unfortunate priests have been made in the
past. Having- been interested in this most necessary and useful
work of charity for 26 years: having identified myself — head,
heart, hand, and purse — with the noble but unsuccessful estab-
lishment, by the Fratres Misericordiae St. Joannis de Deo, of
an Infirm Priest's Home, in Lancaster, Pa., in 1879, and having,
by written and spoken word, worked unceasingly for many years
for the care and comfort of our invalid and veteran priests, I
may justl}'^ claim to have some experience.
Various plans of assisting the poor, self-sacrificing" priest,
when sick or old, have been tried, by prelate and priest, in various
dioceses, not only in America but all over the world. We have no
-established 'homes' as in other countries. I am not concerned at
present with the question why the words of the Council of Balti-
more regarding the care of infirm priests have remained a "dead
letter" to a large extent. Suf&cient it is to know that it is advis-
able for us priests to provide the necessary means of living in-
dependently and comfortably in sickness, during disability, and
at old age. This we, of the Diocese of Omaha, are trying to do in
and by the "Roman Catholic Clerical Fund Society," founded
August 9th, 1900. It is not a life insurance society, hence not
under the supervision of any State department ; it is a purely
charitable conception, incorporated, for good reasons, under the
laws of the State of Nebraska providing for the incorporation of
charitable societies. Its final and principal object is to extend
assistance in case of disease, infirmity, disability or other neces-
sity ; its present and pressing object is to get the "fund." It is
well known that most of the clerical mutual relief societies here-
tofore established have ceased to exist simply because they lived
from "hand to mouth." Certain sums of money assessed annual-
ly, or when a member made application for relief, were collected
and disbursed. As soon as the number of applicants grew, dis-
satisfied members dropped out ; and that was the end. Now, our
society does not propose to give a stipulated sum, to be paid alike
under all circumstances, at least not for the present, until a large
314 The Review. 1903.
fund has been accumulated. We aim at one hundred thousand
dollars. We are already sure, at this time, even if the member-
ship does not increase and the society keeps up the payment of
its premium on $30,000 insurance, of a fund of $60,000 after seven-
teen years, for though the figures in tables 2 and 3, given in
"illustration of our plan," are not guaranteed, as we well know,
yet we have good reason to expect a return of about $40,000 from
our three $10,000 policies. In the meantime we are endeavoring
to increase our permanent fund by donations and legacies, of
which about five thousand dollars are now assured, so that the
above stated fund of $60,000 is not so far distant. We want a
"fund" in our R. C. C. "Fund" Society. Not having such fund at
present, we can not obligate ourselves to pay a quid ^ro quo, un-
der the present circumstances, to each applicant, hence the ex-
tent of the assistance must be determined by the Board of Trus-
tees. We, the present members, are well aware of the impossi-
bility of paying at present $600 per annum to a member who has
paid the full amount, namely $1,200. Table 4, which the writer
of The Review article calls "the most misleading of the lot," does
not state any such thing. It says : — "7/ the Board has decided
that the maximum benefit is $600 a year, the member who has
contributed the full amount of membership, $1,200, will be al-
lowed $600 a year." The Board may decide the maximum under
the circumstances to be but $100 or $200. The object of that table
is to illustrate what is meant by "such proportion of the maximum
benefit as the amount paid in by such member bears to the
amount required to be paid for full membership." If the interest
fund realized from the invested permanent fund becomes suffic-
iently large, the maximum benefit may be $600.
There must be some authority, delegated or constituted by the
whole membership, to decide, first, whether an applicant be real-
ly entitled to benefits, and secondly, what the maximum benefit
shall be during a certain time. This authority is given in our
constitution to the Board of Trustees. This Board, consisting
of at least 11 members, is elected annually, therefore is a crea-
ture of the society, to which it must account ; why, then, call it
the "absolute dictator in the organization"? Fault is found be-
cause this Board elects and directs the secretary and treasurer ;
is there anything wrong or unbusinesslike in the rule ? Can not
eleven members, elected by the Society at large, be trusted with
the selection of a capable secretary and treasurer ? That the
board of trustees, presided over by the president, who is elected
by the members, shall have the general management of the
affairs of the Society, is, it seems to me, demanded by good busi-
ness policy. No personal animosity can prevent benefit as long
No. 20. The Review. 315
as there are eleven men to decide the question. This Board must
have the right to grant or refuse the petition of an applicant in
order to protect the society against possible fraud. And cer-
tainly whatever benefit the board may grant, must depend upon
something tangible, and that is — the amount of money paid in.
The endowment plan of insurance on the lives of some members
is provided for as one of the means to raise the "fund," because
thereby we are sure of receiving the face value of the policies,
and most likely, in case of the survival of the insured members,
a handsome sum in addition.
I will pass over at this time the other very commendable fea-
ture of our society, namel}^ to procure "means for the endow-
ment of scholarships for students for the priesthood of the Ro-
man Catholic Church intended for service in the state of Nebras-
ka." Justly you say "that this two-fold object should make the
society very popular among the clergy of Nebraska." The dio-
ceses of Nebraska are to be credited with their share of the
"Scholarship Fund" in proportion to the membership from each
of the respective dioceses, and consequently the Bishop of Omaha
is given the right to select the institution to which the society
will pay the amount credited to the members affiliated to the
Diocese of Omaha, while to the institution selected by the Bishop
of Lincoln the amount will be given which the membership from
that Diocese show they are entitled to. You say, "this looks like
an excellent plan for the benefit of some favored insurance
agency." [I will tell you, we had offers from four of the best com-
panies when we insured our three members, and you may rest
assured that we watched "our own interests." We have also
troubled ourselves about the question of "insurable interest" and
settled that so that no such "interest" can bother us or our suc-
cessors. For obvious reasons I can not divulge the secrets of our
management of this part of our work.
On the card received by The Review the income during our
business year, up to January, is shown to be $530.48, and (I take
it because the card was sent you in April) was changed to $820.98
because the secretary had received $290.50 from the members, as
dues, between January and April. Now, that shows part of our an-
nual income. A show of expenditure can not be made because
there was none.
The dues paid by our members reach the sum necessary for
the annual premium on $30,000 of life insurance, and this premium
is the only expenditure we have ; we pay no salaries, no travelling
expenses or commissions, no office rent. We are all guided by
the desire to procure as large a "fund" as possible during the
first 20 A^ears, and anxious to lay a good foundation upon which
316 The Review. 1903
others may build. Convinced that ours is a good "plan," in order
to raise such a "fund" for our "Fund Society," most of our mem-
bers gladly sacrifice five dollars per month, knowing- well that
they will not get any "aid" in return. It is charity that prompts
us, having always in view the "fund" to be created before amended
by-laws will establish "justice and rights."
It would take too much of your valuable space to enlarge upon
the motives and objects of this charity. I am sure the clergy of
Nebraska and other States will give "encouragement to such
"organized charity" if well understood. Some 15 years ago the
Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America was established by
Bishop O'Connor. It was misunderstood at first, but to-day
about sixty dioceses and many religious orders insure all their
buildings against fire and windstorms in this organization.
Bishops have found it to be a "good thing." May not the Roman
Catholic Clerical Fund Society also become a "good thing" for the
care and comfort of our invalid and veteran priests, not only in
Nebraska but in all the States of the Union, and for the education
of our candidates for the priesthood ? I hope so.
West Poestt, Neb. (Rev.) Joseph Ruesing,
May 10th. President R. C. C. F. Society.
^& .Sff ^P
••s rfj© ^s
FR. VATTMANN'S "MISSION TO ROME/'
Mr. E. L. Scharf, of the Catholic University^, sent his "Wash-
ington News Letter No. 24" to every Catholic paper in the land
with a "personal" note, offering the use of it free with the only
cond'tion that copies of the papers containing it be mailed to his
address.
The chief object of the letter is to divest"Father Vattmann's mis-
sion toRome"of the official character which has been falsely attrib-
uted to it. As our readers will remember, a news item was recently
published in the daily secular press and in a number of Catholic
papers, that Father Vattmann, a United States army chaplain,
had made a report to the Secretary of War and to the archbish-
ops, at their recent meeting at the Catholic University, concern-
ing conditions in the Philippines, and that he had been commis-
sioned to go to Rome and submit his report to the Church au-
thorities.
Mr. Scharf declares that Father Vattmann made no report, as
a report implies a commission, and Father Vattmann held no
commission either from the War Department or from the arch-
bishops. Father Vattmann, after returning from his eleven
months' tour in the Philippines, on his own motion, made a
written statement of his views and findings to the War Depart-
No. 20. The Review. 317
ment, and a verbal one to the archbishops who were recently as-
sembled in Washington, and Mr. Scharf has "it on good authori-
ty that the archbishops listened to his remarks with close atten-
tion and were deeply impressed by them."
The editor cf The Review spent an afternoon with Father
Vattmann immediately upon his return from the Islands and list-
ened to his remarks with as close attention as did the arch-
bishops at their late meeting, though he was not, perhaps, so
"deeply impressed," for the reason that these remarks con-
tained very little information that was absolutely new, and for
this other reason that they were evidently colored to some extent
by Father Vattmann's friendship for the late President Mc-
Kinley and the Republican party to which he belongs.
If Mr. Scharf intimates in the "personal" letter wherewith he
accompanies his gratis contribution — which is not personal at all,
being printed throughout, down to the signature, and sent broad-
cast over the land — "there is more behind" Father Vattmann's
mission "than I am at liberty to state," does he mean to in-
dimate that the archbishops who favor and approve the adminis-
tration's Philippine policy intend to use Father Vattmann's "re-
port," though it be unofficial, as a means to bring over the Roman
authorities to their way of thinking?
PROGRESS AND TRADITION IN EXEGETICS.
Such is the heading of an interesting article in a late number of
the Etudes^ by Father Prat, S. J. In the present war between
the two, it is his opinion that modern progress should not oblit-
erate Catholic tradition, nor should tradition stand in the way of
real progress. He thinks a modus vivendi may be found in the
following four propositions, to-wit :
1. The domain of revelation and that of science are distinct.
They will rarely touch, more rarely still will they intersect each
other. They can come in contact only on the field of philosophy;
but if theologians and scientists stay each within his own limits,
avoiding to give out for known and certain what is not so, all
danger of conflict is removed.
2. The first end, the essential raison d'^Hre of an inspired book,
is not, and can not be, to teach science. There is no science re-
vealed except so far as it is necessary to the salvation of man and
the economy of faith. Hence, the pretended scientific explana-
tion of the Scriptures is an error and dangerous : an error, be-
cause it misconstrues the proper end and dignity of the sacred
• 318 The Review. 1903.
books ; dangerous for the reason that it imprudently draws the
Bible into questions with which it has no concern.
3. The religious character indispensable and sufficient for a
sacred book, gives its author the right to use a language not
strictb' scientific when describing the laws and phenomena of
nature. What is not judged to be an error in a secular work
which does not pretend to teach science, can not be judged to be
an error in a sacred book.
4. Nevertheless, the role of science in exegetics is consider-
able. In a purely scientific matter, where a text admits of several
interpretations, no explanation should be adopted which science
rejects. When the proper and natural meaning of a text admits
of no doubt, it must be maintained as the true sense of the Scrip-
ture until proof to the contrary is given ; yet it is not impossible
that a later discovery may force us to give it up and have recourse
to the figurative sense.
These propositions are respectfully submitted to the newly
created Roman Bible Commission, from whom we may justly ex-
pect a settlement of many of the difficult questions which have
agitated Catholic exegetists in the last twenty-five years.
3^ 3^ 3^
LITERARY NOTES.
The Sacred Heart, The Teacher of Mankind. Sermons by the Rev.
R. A. Halpin. 8«. 28 pages. Price 25 cents. Jos. F. Wagnerj
New York.
Whoso writes about the Sacred Heart, should have a clear un-
derstanding of the difference between the corporal and the
spiritual heart of our Savior, and also of the difference between
the heart and the person of Jesus Christ. The author of these
otherwise commendable sermons makes light of these distinc-
tions and, consequently, one does not know at times whether the
sermon treats of the Sacred Heart or of the person of our Savior.
The much-admired line on the changing of water into wine
at the marriage feast at Cana : —
"The conscious water saw its God and blushed,"
is falsely attributed by many to Thomas Campbell, The Noi'th-
-zvesi I^eviezv points out that Campbell was utterly iacapable of
writing anything like that, for the reason that he was an alien to
the Christian faith ; that the line was written by Richard Cra-
shaw, a pious Catholic, two hundred years before Campbell's
time ; and that, admirable as it is, it is, after all, nothing but a
poor translation of the Latin original in the 'Epigrammata Sacra:'
"Nympha Deum vidit et erubuit," which is almost untranslatable
on account of the double meaning of "Nympha" (a n5'^mph and
water). Our contemporary suggests this rendering :
"The virgin water saw its God and blushed."
219
MINOR TOPICS.
The controversy, sans practical need
The Name "Caiholic." or utility, whether we Catholics ought to
style ourselves "Roman Catholics" or "Cath-
olics" simply, is one which will not down. In the Tablet (No.
3282) we find Cardinal Vaughan's contribution to it, in the shape
of a lecture recently delivered by His Eminence at Newcastle.
His advice to the Catholic people of England on this subject can
be summed up in four plain directions :
1. Use the term "Roman Catholic," provided always it be in its
true and Catholic sense.
2. You can use the terms "Catholic" or "Roman Catholic" just
as you please, for they mean the same.
3. Use habitually the simple word "Catholic." Stand upon the
old way and hold to the old name. It is important in this country
that we should call ourselves "Catholics" rather than "Roman
Catholics."
4. For legal purposes — (for instance, when in your will you
make a bequest to the Church) — use the term "Roman Catholic,"
for then no one else will dare to claim it.
That is sufficiently explicit and decisive. The Tablet, editori-
ally, elucidates the practical bearing of the Cardinal's solution
thus (always apart from the lawyer who comes to make one's
will): "What have you drawn with those compasses?" "A circle."
"You mean a 7'ojcnd circle with every point in its circumference
equidistant from the centre?" "Of course ! All circles are round
like that. I do not know of any circles that are not." Apart:
"Of what religion are you?" "I am a Catholic." "You mean a
Roman Catholic." "Of course. All Catholics are Roman, and I
do not know any Catholics who are not. " That is to say, our noble
and historic Catholic name is all-sufficient. But if certain people
— people with a purpose — insist upon styling us Roman Catholics
— with an emphasis on the Roman — and on thus courting ex-
planations, we cheerfully accept the name, but in its true and
Catholic sense, and they have only themselves to blame if they
elicit at the same time our explanations, and as abundantly and
as explicitly as they are likely to desire them.
If modern "theology" has abolished the idea of punishment af-
ter death, the modern labor union has quickly supplied the
loss ; and those who feared that the foundations of Christian
character have been undermined can pluck up courage
again. At Derby, Conn., the other day, according to a special
dispatch to the N. Y. T?-ibune, union workmen refused to drive
a hearse because the coffin was non-union. Union grave-diggers
are, as we all know, extremely particular on such points ; they
demand both union coffins and union hackmen. It will be easy
to extend the principle, and insist upon union-made carriages
and union-grown flowers ; and then the step is a short one to a
boycott of "scab" clergymen, doctors, nurses, and druggists.
320 The Review. 1903.
Were Alexander Pope alive to-day to write "The Dying Chris-
tian to His Soul"' he would pitch his song- to quite a different
note. The
"Vital spark of heav'nly flame,"
instead of speculating about the concepts of an obsolescent the-
olog3\ would apply itself to the great practical question of this
life and the next — whether everything and everybody have been
properly unionized.
Speaking of the Catholic Columhian''s suggestion (see our last)
that the authorities of the Catholic University make friends of
the "Germans and Jesuits" by complying with their reasonable
and legitimate wishes, the St. Paul Wanderer (No. 32) remarks t
''Pia desideria! How often have not the German Catholics extended
a brotherly hand and sought for harmonious co-operation. In or-
der to reward them for trying to forget the insults which they had
suffered, their opponents continue the chase : Rule or ruin seems
to be the leitmotiv of certain circles." In corroboration, our con-
temporary mentions Mr. Scharf 's activity in the press and Prof.
Egan's odious and uncalled-for attack upon the German Catholics
in the May number of the Pilgrim.
In a lecture before the American Oriental Society at its 115.
meeting, held recently in Baltimore, a curious link between the
Middle Ages and the present was suggested by the former Am-
erican Consul at Bagdad, Dr. Sundberg, who gave from personal
experience an account of the Salibiyeh, a little known tribe of the
Arabian desert. Dr. Sundberg made friends with them years
ago. He reports that they are the only tribe whose music is
European in character, and what they call their "mark" is the
cross, though they attach no meaning to the symbol. Their tra-
ditions point to their being aliens who came from afar, and Dr.
Sundberg believes that they are the last remnants of stranded
Crusaders.
M. Jules Huret. writing to Figaro of his experiences with Am-
erican Puritanism, does the Pilgrim Fathers too much honor
when he speaks of "the blue laws which the passengers of the
Mayflower implanted when they disembarked upon American
soil." The freight of the Mayflower is constantly swelling as the
good ship herself becomes more legendary, but everybody still
remembers that whatever credit or discredit attaches to the cre-
ation of the blue laws (a much-mooted question) redounds to the
Connecticut offshoot of the Boston colony.
Wm. M. Handy, in an article in the Booklovers' Magazine (No.
4) declares it as his conviction that the New Englanders are con-
sidered the bravest and most brilliant of America's sons only for
the reason that they write our historical books and all the rest
of us read these and accept them as gospel. There is some truth
in this.
II ^be IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., May 28, 1903. No. 21.
STVDIES IN AMERICAN FREEMASONRY.
1. Introductory Remarks.
HY does the Catholic Church forbid her children to become
Masons?" is a question daily put us. "Why are Catholics
cut off from the benefits that affiliation with such an
organization would bring them ? There is no harm in Masonry.
It is a mere social and benevolent institution. It admits all re-
ligions in a spirit of universal tolerance. No atheist can be a
member. It teaches brotherly love and universal benevolence.
It requires a man to be moral ; enforces respect for authority ;
assists its associates in life, and when death calls them to a
glorious immortality, consigns dust to dust with appropriate cer-
emonies and provides with tender and solicitous care for the
widow and the orphan. Why then does the Catholic Church, and
the Catholic Church alone among all the religions of the world,
stand forth uncompromisingly and say to her children : — 'If you
wish to embrace Masonry, you must choose between Masonry
and me ; to belong to both, to be true to both, you can not.' Is
this fair? Is this just? Is it even politic to provoke a quarrel
when harmony is to the interests of everybody concerned ? Why
not rather join hands with Masonrj' for the upbuilding oi human-
ity, that all the forces of good may be united in a common cause,
instead of being disunited and antagonistic as they now are?"
In words seemingly so fair and dispassionate is the cause of
Masonry pleaded and the fault of opposition charged against the
Catholic Church. The innocence of Masonry is assumed as a
fact beyond dispute, and the whole difficulty consists in discover-
ing the Church's motives for acting as she does. Some find a
ready solution in the Church's ignorance of the inner nature of
Masonry ; for, they argue, as Masons are oath-bound not to re-
veal their secrets, and as these secrets are imparted by word of
322 The Review. 1903.
mouth, what can the Church know about them? Others less
friendly to the Church, attribute the condemnation of her pontiffs
to bigotry and prejudice ; to priestly tyranny and pettiness,
which would enslave minds and fetter the just liberties of our
race.
Ignorance, bigfotry, prejudice, priestcraft are, outside the
Church, the commonly accepted theories of an opposition to
Masonry as firm as it is unvarying. We readily grant that if
there be nothing wrong in Masonry, it is hard to give a reason-
able explanation of the Church's action; that if Masonry be a
mere social and benevolent organization, moral in its character,
though prescinding from any definite religious form or estab-
lished dogma, a society established merely for mutual material aid
and assistance, as so many other societies around us are estab-
lished, the Church's discrimination in the matter of Masonry is
harsh, to say the least.
But here precisely is a point for careful investigation. Is there
NOTHING WRONG IN Masonry ? And when we say nothing wrong,
we mean from a Catholic standpoint, for it is from this standpoint
that the Church must judge. We are seeking for a reason of the
Church's condemnation. If Masonry fosters in its bosom any
•thing un-Christian or anti-Catholic, the reason is evident. The
Church must, in such circumstances, forbid her children to join
the organization, no matter what temporal advantages they might
otherwise reap from it. Her opposition, moreover, in that case,
is not to be laid at her door as if she were in fault ; it is based
upon the very nature of things. It is not ignorance, it is not pre-
judice, it is not bigotr5% it is not priestcraft; it is the impossibili-
ty of reconciling the Christian and the un-Christian, the Catholic
and the anti-Catholic, that calls forth her condemnation.
Masonry will have been found to be something quite different
from what it pretends to be, namely a social organization that has
no direct bearing upon religion, and as an un-Christian, anti-
Catholic society, it will be condemned. It will not be mere bene-
volence, as the world at large understands the term ; it will not
be the mere material care of the widow and the orphan; it will be
something quite different, with a different end in view, artfully
concealed though it may be under the borrowed cloak of charity.
Is Masonry in its origin, its nature, its tendencies, its prin-
ciples, its aims, such that from a Christian and Catholic stand-
point the Church can approve it, or at least passively permit that
her children embrace it?— these are the questions that shall oc-
cupy us in the following papers, and we hope that when we shall
have finished, we shall have given to candid minds outside the
Church and wavering minds within, a sufficient answer to the
No. 21. The Review. 323
question : "Why does not the Catholic Church allow her members
to become Masons?" Neither will others, we are confident, those
namely for whom the Church's word is enough, peruse these pa-
pers without profit, for it is desirable that Catholics may not only
be able to defend the Church and her decisions by those general
arguments that establish her authority in matters of faith and
morals, but that they may also have at hand some of the reasons
which, in special matters, guide her or force her to action.
And, first of all, allow us to remark that, in order to be good, it
is not sufficient for Masonry to have some good or seemingly
good points in it. There is nothing so absolutely bad that there
is not in it, at least apparently, some good ; for even the spirit of
darkness comes to us under the appearance of an angel of
light. To be good and desirable and deserving of approval,
all moral evil must be absent ; since it is only then that a
human individual or a human organization can be styled good.
No one will say that he who treats his wife and children kindly,
is charitable to his neighbors and generous to his friends, is a
good man, a desirable companion, if he be at the same time an em-
bezzler, a drunkard, a blasphemer, a murderer. One act of rob-
bery will send him to jail, one act of murder will deprive him of
his life. He is a bad man despite his many virtues. The same,
rule holds good of human societies, for they are aggregations of
men and subject to the same laws of human nature. It is not
enough that this or that be good in them ; there must also be the
absence of all moral evil. If in anything Masonry errs, therefore,
the Church must condemn it, so long as that point remains un-
corrected ; she must forbid her children to join it regardless of
temporal consequences to herself or to them. In condemning it,
she does not condemn what is good or what appears to be good,
but what is evil. She approves and blesses what is good, but she
wishes that the good should part company with the evil, should
be woed for its own sake, and not by its companionship help to
render evil less hideous.
We do not purpose to write an exhaustive treatise, to follow
Masonry through all the devious windings of its system — this for
our present purpose will be found absolutely needless. All that
we are called upon to do is to show that there are in Masonry
things that are directly antagonistic to tne Catholic Church,
things that no Catholic can admit and practise without formal
apostasy from the Catholic faith. We shall need a good guide in
our investigations, one who knows whereof he speaks, and on the
truthfulness of whose word we can depend. We want a guide
that will inform us about American Masonry, an American guide,
lest we be told that what we say may be true of European Masonry,
324 The Review. 1903.
but that it has no place among ourselves. Certain and personal
kncwledg-e, candid truthfulness concerning American Masonry^
its practices and principles — these we seek and with these alone
shall we be satisfied. Fortunately what we seek is at hand — an
author thoroughly conversant with his matter, speaking not for
the world at large but for the private instruction of the American
Mason in his lodge. He will assure us in his preface that we can
trust him, as his book is a compendium of others already received
and approved, as he tells us, by an indulgent brotherhood.
The title page will introduce us to the work and its author:
Mackey's
Masonic Ritualist :
or,
Monitorial Instructions
In the Degrees from
Entered Apprentice to Select Master
by
A. G. Mackey, M. D.,
Past General Grand High Priest of the General Grant
Chapter of the United States, Author of a "Lexi-
con of True Masonry," "Manual of the
Lodge," "The Book of the Chap-
ter," "Cryptic Masonry,"
etc.
New York :
Clark and Maynard, Publishers.
Its preface is self-explanatory :
"The greater part of this work," says our author, "is not new..
It is composed of the 'Manual of the Lodge' and the 'Book of the
Chapter' which have already been submitted to the ordeal of
criticism, and received, I believe, a favorable judgment. To these
I have added a similar manual on the degrees of the council, so
that the present book embraces in its monitorial instructions alt
that can laivfully he taught in print of the degrees of the American
Rite.
"I can have nothing, therefore, to say of its contents that I have
not already said when the original books went to press. I have
not added or omitted a line. All that is in the larger works i&
here, and nothing is here that is not in them. But these works-
are, by their greater size and larger type appropriated to the
study; this by its portable form, recommends itself as a com-^
panion to the Masonic student in his journeys from home, or in
momentary relaxation from his daily vocation, when an hour or a
part of an hour may be profitably devoted to the refreshment of
his memory, or to the investigation of some point which may have
just suggested itself to him in the exoteric ritual of the Order.
"It is therefore as a vademeami, a book to be carried about by-
the Mason as a constant companion ready to be referred to at any
No. 21.
The Revikw.
325
moment, and as ready to be returned to the pocket as soon as the
reference has been made, that it presents its claim to the patron-
age of the fraternity.
"I have been told by some of my friends that such a form for
the ritualistic works that I had already printed was needed, and
that the book would be acceptable to the Masonic public. I have
followed their suggestions. Time will show whether they have
been mistaken or not. For myself, of course, I hope and am
rather inclined to think that the experiment will be successful.
The favorable reception already given to my labors by an indul-
gent brotherhood, saves me from despondency. To that brother-
hood the 'Ritualist' is most fraternally submitted, -A. G. Mackey."
(pp. 3, 4, 5).
Our author kindly at the very outset satisfies our minds on
most important points.
We can trust his k^iowledge, for besides having filled some of
the highest positions in the Order, he is one of the most prolific
of the standard authors on Masonic matters.*)
We can trust his t?'ufhfuhiess, for he is not writing for the pro-
fane world at large but for the instruction of the Masonic body.
His book is to be the Mason 's companion, the explainer of difficul-
ties, the solver of doubts.
We can trust his accuracy, for his book is a compilation of others
which have stood the test of the brotherhood's criticism.
We shall therefore take the Ritualist as o\ir vademectnn, our
companion, thanking it when it will speak its mind openly and
freely, and seeking by a collation of passages to understand its
meaning when it is purposely obscure. With its valuable assist-
ance we hope to successfully overcome the difficulties that beset
our path. Our readers must, however, have patience with us and
not expect us to prove everything at once or attack everything at
oace. Order will require that we take up one thing after another,
and clearness will demand that we go slowly. To judge a case
fairly, one must wait until all the proofs are in; earlier arguments
that may appear incomplete receive the fulness of their evidence
from those that are adduced later. All that we ask of the fair-
minded reader is that he peruse our argument in full, and we
have no doubt, in the light of the proofs that we shall adduce,
but that he will candidly admit that the Church is more than
justified in her condemnation of Masonry.
•) Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Bio-
graphy (iv, 135) says of A. G. Mackey' s works
on Masonry that they 'are considered authori-
tative," and Allibone's Critical Dictionary of
English and American authors (II. 1179) refers
to his Treatise on the Laws. Usages, and Land-
marks of Freemasonry as "the most important
Masonic Book of the age," which "is to Free-
masonry what the mariner's compass is to
navigation."
326
"THE DEVIL IN ROBES."
An Inteeesting Correspondence.
I.
[From the Editor of The Review to the Postmaster General.]
St. Louis, Mo., March 16th, 1903.
Hon. Postmaster General,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir : — Some months ago Postmaster Baumhoff promised
me to investigate a complaint made by mj'self and several other
Catholic editors regarding the transmission through the mails,
from here, of a scurrilous and indecent pamphlet entitled 'The
Devil in Robes' and directed against the Catholic clergy. The
Rev. editor of the St. Joseph's BlattzX. Mt. Angel, Ore., just in-
forms me that this pamphlet is still going through the mails.
Permit me to ask you if any investigation of the matter has been
made and to what results it has led.
Thanking you in advance for the courtesy of a reply, I am.
Very respectfully yours
Arthur Preuss,
Editor and Publisher The Review.
II.
[From the Acting First Assistant Postmaster General to the
Editor of The Review.]
Mr. Arthur Preuss, Washington, March 19, 1903.
Editor and Pub. The Review,
St. Louis, Mo.
Sir: — I return your letter in reference to the advertising cir-
culars entitled "The Devil in Robes" sent out by the Continental
Bible House of Saint Louis, and have to advise you that about a
year ago this matter was brought to the attention of His Emi-
nence, Cardinal Gibbons, and he concurred in the opinion of this
Department that to take any action toward excluding the circu-
lar from the mails would be to give the publication further adver-
tisement and increased sales. For that reason it is not thought
expedient to take such action.
Very respectfully,
J. J. HOWLEY,
Acting First Assistant Postmaster General.
HI.
[From Cardinal Gibbons to the Church Progress.'\
Baltimore, Md., April 3rd, 1903.
Editor The Church Progress :
Dear Sir : — In reply to your letter asking information about
the action of His Eminence in the "Devil in Robes" publication,
No. 21. The Review. 327
His Eminence directs me to say that he has no recollection at all
of ever having had any communication with the Postoffice au-
thorities about it. Very truly yours,
P. C. Gavan, Chancellor.
IV.
[From the Editor of The Review to the Postmaster General.]
St. Louis, Mo., April 11th, 1903.
Hon. Postmaster General,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir : — You will recollect that I wrote to you on March 16th
in reference to 'The Devil in Robes.' Enclosure No. 1 contains
my letter and your reply through Mr. Howley. The Church
Progf ess oi VoA's, Q\\.y now prints a note from Cardinal Gibbons'
secretary (enclosure No. 2), stating that His Eminence has ab-
solutely no recollection of ever having had any communication
with the Post Office authorities in regard to this matter.
In justice to yourself and the Cardinal, and for the information
of several million Catholics who are deeply interested in this
affair, will you please give me your authority for the statement
made in your previous letter per Mr. Howley?
Very respectfully yours,
Arthur Preuss,
Editor and Publisher The Review.
V.
[From the Editor of The Review to the Postmaster General.]
St. Louis, Mo., May 6th, 1903.
To the Hon. Postmaster General :
On the 11th ult. I wrote to you with regard to 'The Devil in
Robes' and the transmission of the filthy advertising circulars of
the Continental Bible House of St. Louis through the U. S. mails.
In a previous letter to me you gave as the reason for your non-inter-
ference your conviction, based upon an alleged consultation with
His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, that to forbid the transmission
of those circulars through the mails would result only in adver-
tising and spreading the book still more widely. I sent you a
printed copy of the Cardinal's declaration that he had absolutely
no recollection of having been consulted by the Post Office authorities
in this matter. All these statements having been published in the
Catholic press, the Postmaster General stands before the Catholic
public of the land as a man who, when hard pressed, makes asser-
tions which he can not substantiate. Permit me to suggest that
it is decidedly in your own interest and that of the Administra-
tion that you clear up this matter by a positive statement which
328 Thk Review. 1903.
I shall be g:lad to make known to the Catholic press and public
through the columns of The Review.
Very respectfully yours,
Arthur Preuss,
Editor and Publisher The Review.
VI.
[From the First Assistant Postmaster General to the
Editor of The Review.]
Washington, May 14th, 1903.
Mr. Arthur Preuss,
Editor and Publisher The Review,
St. Louis, Mo.
Sir : — I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
May 6th.
Under date of July 26th, 1901, Rev. Louis O'Donovan, "in the
name of Cardinal Gibbons and as Chancellor" forwarded a circu-
lar entitled "The Devil in Robes" to the Post Ofi&ce Department.
Upon receipt of the circular, and in reply to His Eminence, under
date of July 29th, 1901, the Department wrote to the Chancellor
as follows :
" It has occurred to me that in view of the fact that it is a
question whether there has been any violation of law the
better course to pursue would be to ignore the circular, as an un-
successful attempt to punish the party mailing it would give the
book the notoriety and advertisement which the publisher would
like to have.
"However, I will be pleased to have your views in the matter,
and if you think it would be well to take action, the case will be
submitted to the United States Attorney. Kindly favor me with
your views."
To this letter the following reply was made :
"Secretary's Office,
Cardinal's Residence,
408 N. Charles St.,
Baltimore, Md.
Mr. J. M. Masten,
Acting First Assistant Postmaster General,
Dear Sir : — In reply to your esteemed reply of July 29th, in the
name of Cardinal Gibbons, I beg to thank you for your prompt
and kind attention. After consideration your suggestion to ig-
nore the obnoxious circular and thus avoid giving it notoriety
seems wise, and we gladly would adopt the same as you suggest.
Again thanking you, I have the honor to be.
Very respectfully,
July 30th, 1901. (Signed) Louis O'Donovan."
I send you this correspondence so that you may make it part of
the printed record of the case if you feel inclined to further pur-
sue the matter. Very respectfully,
R. J. Wynne,
First Assistant Postmaster General.
329
•DER WAHRE JACOB/
A unique feature of market days in Germany, particularly of
village market days, used to be the "wahre Jacob," a peddler
dressed in fantastic clothes, auctioneering his wares ; but not
in the way of other auctioneers, waiting for higher bids begin-
ning with the lowest ; the "wahre Jacob" started at the highest,
swearing that the article was worth more than twice what he
asked, and when no one wanted it he came down gradually in
price until he found a simpleton who believed he could strike a
bargain, while in reality he was fleeced. Thus the "wahre Jacob"
— the true Jacob — got his name not from his telling the truth,
but from the contrary. Of late years this"true Jacob" had disap-
peared in Germany, no one could tell whither; now it appears
he has turned up in New York, opened a camp near the editorial
sa.actnm oi the Independent, and beguiled its editor into buying
his goods. He calls himself "Presbyter" and makes the Indepen-
dent (No. 2S33) believe that he is "a Roman Catholic of scholar-
ship and distinction and in unimpeachable standing in his
Church." The "wahre Jacob" always is in good standing, he
would be foolish if he were not. His pi^ce de resistance, which the
editor of the Independent could not resist buying, was the "Roman
Curia," in the shape of a "goat," "poised in mid-air upon the four
sticks of Canon Law, scholasticism, avarice and greed," and a
few others, notably the "religious orders" — "a strong prop but
not an essential one. The Catholic nations of Europe have dem-
onstrated it beyond cavil. The older of them have given their
names only to various kinds of beers and drinks, Augustiner-
brau (!), Dominikaner-brau (!), Franciskaner-brau (I), Kloster-
brau (!), Chartreuse, Benedictine And as for the Jesuits,
they have added to the lexicons of modern tongues the synonym
of every deviltry in the word Jesuitism."
What the Editor of the Independent had heard of the article so
far was worth a dollar a line. But like a wise man he waited till
the "wahre Jacob" should either come down in price or throw
something into the bargain. The "wahre Jacob" chose the latter.
Such a goat, standino^ in mid-air on four sticks, with side-props
that are of no avail, is a menace to every body — Christian, Jew,
and Hottentot. What is to be done? The "wahre Jacob" lets
the anxious editor into the secret. That goat, although statiding
on four sticks, "will in the long r«« come into agreement with the
thought and movements of our day. But it will do so only by
means of forces and tendencies at work outside her palie". (How
lucky it is paled in \^ "Perhaps the greatest will prove to be the
American Republic, whose constitution was the first to declare
330 The Review. 1903.
the total separation of Church and State. The Americanization
of the world spells the Americanization of the Church."
Spellbound by such prospects, the editor at once "coughed up"
two tens and a five and rushed into print with the good news, for-
getting, however, that the "wahre Jacob" had tied a little string
to his glorious prophecy by saying it would not come true in our
day ; but come true it must or "Presbyter" Jacob will lose his
precious reputation of being "der wahre Jacob."
^ >& 3P
ST. DOMINIC AND THE ROSARY.
In No. 48 (page 765) of the last and in No. 1 of the current vol-
ume of The Review, we adverted to a number of rather sensa-
tional theses defended by Rev. P. Heribert Holzapfel, O. F. M.,
in the University of Munich. One of them was : ''Rosarium a S.
Dominico neque instiiuttim negiie i)ropag'atum est,'' i. e., the Rosary
has neither been established nor propagated by St. Dominic.
His defense of this thesis is now published by P. Holzapfel, in a
separate pamphlet, under the title, 'St. Dominic und der Rosen-
kranz, ' in the Veroffentlichungen aus dem kirchenhistorischen Seni'
/war. No. 12. (Munich: Lentner, 1903. 43 pp.) We intend to
review it more at length in a later issue and for the present only
note the main conclusions of the reverend author. P. Holzapfel
shows that the received opinion concerning the Rosary is alto-
gether untenable, but that much remains to be done before an ex-
haustive history of this devotion can be written. It is certain
that the Rosary, like every other popular devotion, has developed
gradually. In some form or other it may have been prayed al-
ready in the first millennium of the Christian era. But we
have no reliable records dating back further than the twelfth
century. From the twelfth to the fifteenth century we know of
but few who cultivated this devotion, until the Dominican
Alanus a Rupe or Alan de la Roche undertook to propagate it
with great energy and enthusiasm. A hundred years later the
Rosary, chiefly through the efforts of the Dominicans, had become
a truly popuiar devotion. It is only in consequence of the faith
with which certain alleged visions and fables of Alan de la Roche*)
were widely received, that the name of St. Dominic became so in-
timately connected with this devotion.
•) '"The authenticity of the visions and writ- I Kirchenlexikon (X. 1278\ "has met with much
ingg of Alanus a Rupe ide la Roche)," says the | doubt " (Cfr. AA. SS. Boll., Aug. I, 364 sqq.)
-^
331
THE ANTI-STRIKE LAWS AND THE RECENT SOCIAL
CRISIS IN HOLLAND.
An American priest of Dutch birth writes The Review :
There have appeared of late in the press many erroneous state-
ments regarding the so-called anti-strike laws of Holland.
Some secular newspapers have editorially commented on these
laws as if they were a capitalistic conspiracy against labor. The
Catholic New Worlds misled by the inaccurate comments of the
daily press, said in its No. 32: "Holland certainly occupies a
unique position as a country where a man can not quit a govern-
ment job, once he accepts it."
Here is the whole law in a nutshell. Punishable is: 1st. Un-
lawful intimidation by employer or employe; 2d. Violation of
contract.
The first provision is certainly no encroachment upon labor.
England, since 1874, has a similar law, and it is even severer than
the Dutch. Yet, there is perhaps not a country in the world
where labor unions are in a more flourishing and prosperous
condition than in Great Britain.
The second provision of the new law, like the first, applies
to both employers and employes.
A violation of a just and equitable contract conflicts with the
natural law. The State has the duty to sanction and enforce
such contracts. "Laws should lend their influence and author-
ity to the removal of the causes which lead to conflicts between
the masters and those whom they employ." (Leo XHL, De Con-
ditione Opificum). Is violation of a contract not very often the
cause of these lamentable conflicts?
Tde present government of the Netherlands follows in social
questions very closely the principles laid down by Leo XHL in
the above quoted encyclical. The platforms of the anti-revolu-
tionary (Protestant) and the Catholic parties are in this respect
almost identical with the principles contained in the papal letter.
Now, think of it, a Christian Democratic government waging war
upon the organization of labor unions, as the editor of the Mil-
waukee Sentinel Q.^\\.or\z\\y proclaimed a few weeks ago. Think
of it, a Christian Democratic government violating the rights of
the laboring men and disregarding the primary principles of
sociology.
But what if a contract between employer and employe would
be really unjust or appear to be so to either of the parties con-
cerned?
If either employers or employes have real or apparent griev-
ances, they can bring them before an impartial arbitration com-
332 The Review. 1903.
mittee, that will decide after due investigation. This arbitration
is, however, not compulsory.
It is evident, therefore, that the Dutch anti-strike laws are
neither radical nor unjust. Strikes are not made impossible,
whether the laboring men be employed by the government o:r by
private employers. Unlawful intimidation is forbidden, in order
to protect capital and labor. Violation of contract is forbidden
for the same reason, but after the expiration of his contract any
workman can quit his job.
The editors of the daily papers may freely assert that the
Dutch anti-strike laws would not find sympathy in a country
■"where liberal views prevail;" but such an assertion can only be
the outcome of gross ignorance of the real nature and end of the
laws about which they hold airy discussions, at the same time
•drawing unwarranted conclusions, by which they would fain indi-
cate that labor cannot be so well protected in a monarchy as in a
republic.
In my opinion the monarchical or the republican form of gov-
ernment has little to do with the social question, and laws similar
to those recently enacted in Holland might likewise have favora-
ble effects in our country of strikes and boycotts.
*
The united activity of Catholics and Protestants has averted a
violent revolution in Holland. This fact, which cannot be denied,
makes me ask: When will there begin an organized Christian
Democratic movement in the U. S? There is some truth in the
assertion that Catholics and Christians generally should remain
members of the labor unions to oppose the Socialists and to pre-
vent them from dominating these organizations. Many Catholics
and Protestants of Holland defended the same opinion some
years ago. They endeavored to "convert" the Socialists, with
the result that the Socialists made more converts among the mis-
sionaries than the latter among the Socialists. Fine promises of
shorter hours and higher wages appealed very strongly to the
ordinary minds of the sons of toil. At last Catholics and Prot-
estants began to realize that they had to organize labor unions
based on Christian principles in order to save the people from
the dangers of Socialism. But Catholics and Protestants can
form a Christian Democratic league without leaving the ordi-
nary labor unions. Catholics thus organized and instructed on
the principles governing the solution of social problems, would
be able to oppose Socialism in the labor unions.
What would happen in this country, where there are no Chris-
tian labor organizations, if there ever would arise a crisis similar
to that in Holland? On such occasions workmen are inclined to
No. 21. The Review. 333
listen to the most radical reformers. As was the case in Hol-
land, the more moderate Troelstra, notwithstanding" his superior
ability as a leader, was overcome by the revolutionary Domela
Nieuwenhuis.
Of American Socialism Father J. A. Ryan writes: "Owing ta
the atheistic character of many of its leaders, and the kind of
literature that it disseminates and produces, the American
(Socialistic) movement seems to be largely if not predominantly
anti-Christian." {^Catholic Review of Pedagogy^ vol. I., p. 361.
It seems, then, imperative that American Catholics disseminate
and produce Christian social literature, not so much to check
the Socialistic movement as to move Christians, both Catholic
and Protestant, to social activity. Social action must be our
motto. Nothing will more effectively oppose the obnoxious ten-
dencies of an anti-Christian or atheistic Socialism. And since
social knowledge is absolutely necessary for social action, the
dissemination of Christian social literature and the organization
of a Christian Democratic movement seems to be an imperative
duty imposed by the conditions of the time upon American Cath-
olics and all those who glory in the Christian name.
"Every one must put his hand to the work which falls to his
share, and that at once and immediately, lest the evil, which is
already so great, may by delay grow absolutely beyond remedy.
Those who rule the State must use the law and the institutions
of the country; masters and rich men must remember their duty;
the poor, whose interests are at stake, must make every lawful
and proper effort; and since religion alone can destroy the evil at
its root, all men must be persuaded that the primary need
is to return to real Christianity, in the absence of which all
the plans and devices of the wisest will be of little avail." (Leo-
XIII.)
sr ae 3P
A NEW HISTORY OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
There has just beg"un to appear the most extensive history, or
rather collection of sources for the history, of the Philippines-
ever attempted in any language: The Philippine Islands, 1493-
1803: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the
islands and their peoples, their history, and records of Catholic
missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts,,
etc. Translated from the originals. Edited and annotated by
Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson, with histor-
ical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne.
With maps, portraits, etc, Cleveland, O.: The Arthur H. Clark
Company. This monumental work is to comprise no less than
334 The Review. 1903.
fifty-five volumes, of which the first two (volume I., 1493-1529 ;
volume IL, 1521-1569) are now ready. The series will end with
the year 1803 and aims to include only documents not otherwise
easily accessible.
Professor Bourne's introduction occupies seventy pages; with-
in those limits he gives us what even the severe critic of the N.
Y. Evening Post and of the Nation admits to be "the best consid-
ered essay on the Philippine history ever published in English."
One is especially impressed with his plea for fairness toward the
record of Spanish colonialism. Results speak for themselves,
and the fact is that Catholic Spain has left a far more benevolent
colonizing record than Protestant England. His extensive read-
ing in Philippine history has led Professor Bourne to side with
the traditional view of the islanders at the time of the conquest,
as a set of a savages, whose descendants owe almost everything
to their monastic preceptors. He delares that the Spanish con-
querors "preserved the essential features" of the Filipinos' social
organization, and that they introduced village life. His estimate
of the accomplishments of the religous orders in the heroic period
of missionary labors, the "Golden Age," as he calls it, is eminently
fair. He charges the decline from thenceforward on the retro-
gressive economic policy of the Spanish government, on its sys-
tem of trade monopolies, its inept governors, and corrupt prov-
incial administrators, and says that, nevertheless, "a corrupt
civil service and a futile and decrepit commercial system were,
through the friars' efforts, rendered relatively harmless, because
circumscribed in their effects."
OF THE "KNIGHTS OF COLVMBUS."
The quasi-approbation given recently by the Archbishop of
Dubuque to the "Knights of Columbus," elicits some noteworthy
remarks from the "official organ of the Archdiocese of Baltimore,"
the CaMo/zV i^/rror, which has always been very friendly to the
order.
"There are those in this country," — says our contemporary
(No. 19) — "loyal and zealous Catholics, who look askance at the
Knights of Columbus and fear for the Catholicism of the order
in consequence of manifestation of a certain trend, regarded as
too liberal to be safely Catholic. The incident at Belleville, when
the injunction of the Bishop was disregarded by the organizing
official of the order, is recent enough to linger in remembrance,
and it is not recalled that the supreme officials of the order took
»tep to disclaim the acts of their subordinate."
This is a refreshing admission, not only of a serious mistake
No. 21. The Review. 335
made by the "Knig:hts of Columbus," but also of the fact, hither-
to frequently and violently denied, that a man may be a "'loyal
and zealous Catholic" without hailing in this new order the non
plus ultra of perfection.
If the Mirroi' adds that "the Masonic-like ritual" of the order,
so "repugnant to some," is "a matter of minor import," it makes
light of a very serious and uncanny thing, which evidently rests
like an incubus upon its soul, since it adds the expression of a
hope, which we heartily share, that "the order will some day re-
vise its liturgy."
As for those "thousands of doubting Catholics" who hesitate to
approve the Knights of Columbus, we fear it will take more than
a laudatory utterance from Archbishop Keane to dispel their con-
scientious and well-founded doubts and apprehensions on a sub-
ject of such grave import to the welfare of the Catholic body in
this lodge-ridden and liberalistic countr3^
^^^^
The N. Y. Sun of May 17th, 1903, contains a two-column article
relating to Mr. Henry Austin Adams, formerly a Protestant
Episcopalian minister, who since his reception into the Church
has attained some prominence as a lecturer, speaker, and writer
in the Catholic cause. The appearance of the same matter "with
illustrations" in another paper (N. Y. Herald) on the same day
shows that the story, which reads sadly enough, has been ex-
ploited by the two newspapers as a choice bit of sensation with
which to regale their Sunday readers. Of the facts in the case
we know nothing, and, for the present at least, both prudence
and charity dictate that we should forbear expressing any opin-
ion. But we are startled to read in the Siuis narrative that the
letter from Mr. Adams — the groundwork of the whole article —
was "received by an archbishop" (not named). Assuming that
it was not purloined, how came such a letter to pass from the
possession of "an archbishop" into the offices of the newspapers?
The sensationalism of the whole performance, the resulting
scandal to the name of religion, and the maoifest effort to "work
the press" for some purpose not yet clearly to be seen, compel us
to disbelieve that any archbishop could have been so indiscreet as
to permit the publication of such a letter for any purpose.
We are thankful to the V. Rev. F. V. Nugent, C. M., Rector
of Kenrick Seminary, for calling our attention to two misstate-
ments contained in the article "Clerics at the Bat" in No. 19 of
The Review, for which the material was taken, with due credit to
the sources, from the Chicago Tribune and the (Jatholic Union and
Times of Buffalo. 1. The game of baseball referred to was not,
as asserted by the Catholic Union und Times, between the faculty
and students of St. Vincent's College, Chicago, but between the
students of the College and young priests of the city of Chicago.
336 The Review. 1903.
2. St. Vincent's College is not, as one might be led to suppose
from the wording of the Tribune's report and our own concluding
remark, based thereon, a seminary, but an ordinary day-school
college.
»
According to the Public Ledger (May 2nd), "Bi&hop" Fred-
erick Burgess (Episcopalian), of Long Island, has caused con-
siderable perturbation among Episcopalians of his diocese by
placing a ban upon the playing of euchre for prizes at church
functions. The raising of money by this means for the
church had become quite popular in Brooklyn and other Long
Island cities. The "Bishop" thinks harm is done thereby to the
morals of the people, and that money obtained by fostering the
gambling instinct in young parishioners is something which
every rector should refuse. His clergy are heartily supporting
him in this matter, though some of them had given tacit approval
to the prize euchres.
We have received several newspaper clippings containing a New
York despatch in which it is stated that three Catholic priests,
had been initiated into the "Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks."
At New Orleans, according to the Daily Picayune of May 16th^
the Elks were permitted to erect a booth at a Catholic church
fair, and one evening was devoted to them as "Elks' night" with
a program of their own making.
Those of our readers who know who and what the "Elks" are.
will be inclined to ask with deep sorrow: Whither are we drifting?
We read in the Western Watchman (No. 27): "The enemies of
the Catholic University are delighted that the Holy Father has.
admitted in an interview with Msgr. O'Connell that the institutiork
has not come up to his expectations. It might not rejoice them
to learn that the Pope knows who the enemies of the University
are, and told its new rector to avoid an encounter, if possible;
but if not. to walk over them."
Msgr. O'Connell was in St. Louis week before last. Are we to
take this blast of the Western Watchman for his reply to the peace
suggestions made by certain well-meaning Catholic papers?
Present methods and future prospects of insurance societies-
in general, and assessment or fraternal societies in particular,
are being scientifically treated from week to week by The Review
of St. Louis. Students of this live question will find Mr. Preuss*"
able little paper well worthy of perusal. — Catholic Union and
Times, No. 5.
There is a splendid opening for a good Catholic physician at
Shawneetown, 111. Apply to the pastor, Rev. F. Beuckmann.
II ^be IRcview. ||
^v xj v/ ■«!» \t -v* S4 >* >l ■%# >• ji« ^# ^'* jii*_ ji* 3i*_ .1- . iv ji'T ^* >*_ >t_ >*_ jX*^ Jfj^
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., June 4, 1903. No. 22.
A SIDELIGHT ON PHILIPPINE CONDITIONS.
R. James A. Le Roy, a non-Catholic, writes in the N. Y.
Evening Post of May 21st, in the course of a two-column
tl article headed "Conditions in the Philippines":
"The word 'Katipunan' is still one to conjure with, whether
among- the ignorant masses of the Filipinos or, often, with the
wilfully ignorant American newspaper writers of Manila. Secret
societies have been the order of the day over there since 1895, for
three years after which the real Katipunan had moral support
among the best of the Filipinos. Every little while, particularly
in the back districts, some person or persons organize an oath-
bound society for the purpose of preying on the easily fright-
ened and credulous masses and making them pay their pittances
each month to fatten the pockets of the conspirators. From 1901
on, these blackmailing organizations have constantly been un-
earthed here and there by the authorities. Sometimes they have
political objects, or allege to have them ; sometimes they are
bands of religious fanatics led astray after some 'Messiah' or
'Virgin' impostor. Once I saw in one jail the 'Holy Ghost,' the
'Virgin Mary,' and the 'Son Jesus' of one of these 'fake' organiza-
tions that had turned a whole district upside down. Quite as fre-
quently as not these movements assume the name 'Katipunan.' "
Of the Aglipay schism Mr. Le Roy says :
"Since last August the schism in Roman Catholic ranks has
been spreading in the islands. The seriousness and importance
of this movement have totally been missed in the United States.
It now counts almost half the Christianized population in its
ranks, and threatens the complete failure of Msgr. Guidi's mis-
sion as a conciliator. Let it be recalled that this 'Philippine In-
dependent Church' was organized and at first spread mainly un-
- der the auspices of men not in the past (some of them not now)
338 The Review. " 1903.
well disposed towards the American government ; that it began
with scenes of disorder and riot over the possession of various
churches ; above all, that it is really but a new phase of the anti-
friar movement, and touches therefore the question that is the
tinder of Philippine politics."
3f 3? ar
AMERICAN FREEMASONRY IS A RELIGION.
It will be news to many of those who scan these pages, to learn
that one of the main reasons why the Catholic Church condemns
Masonry is that Masonry is a religion. Her condemnations con-
stantly speak of Masons as a sect.
"Precisely," will the advocate of the craft exclaim, "did I not
tell you that the Church is ignorant? Masonry as has been as-
serted over and over again, is a mere social, a mere benevolent so-
ciety. Its objects are mutual help and assistance. And if you
want an authoritative statement on the subject, turn to page 190
of your Ritualist and you will find the express denial that Masonry
is a religion." Softly, friend, I answer in reply, let us go more
slowly and calmly in the discussion. The case of the Church will
not be found to be as bad as you would make it ; and though I do
not like to plunge at once 190 pages into Mackey's Ritualist, since
there are so many interesting things to be found earlier in the little
volume, I shall let you have your way and copy in full the passage
which contains the assertion that Masonry is not a religion.
It is the charge to the Grand Chaplain on his installation
(p. 190):
"Most Reverend Brother, the sacred position of Grand Chaplain
has been entrusted to your care, and we now entrust you with
the jewel of your office.
"In the discharge of your duties, you will be required to lead
the devotional exercises of our Grand Communications, and to
perform the sacred functions of your holy calling at our public
ceremonies. Though Masonry be not religion, it is emphatically
religion's handmaid, and we are sure that in ministering at its
altar, the services you may perform will lose nothing of their vital
influence because they are practised in that spirit of universal tol-
erance which distinguishes our institution. The doctrines of mor-
ality and virtue which you are accustomed to inculcate to the
world, as the minister of God, will form the appropriate lessons
you are expected to communicate to your brethren in the Lodge.
This profession which you have chosen as your lot in life is the
best guarantee that you will discharge the duties of your present
appointment with steadfastness and perseverance in well-doing.
The Holy Bible, that great light of Masonry, we entrust to your
care."
There is no one who does not see that, in the light of its sur-
roundings, the denial that Masonry is religion becomes remark-
No. 22. The Review. 339
ably weak and unemphatic. A grand chaplain, a most reverend
brother, sacred functions, holy calling:, devotional exercises,
ministering at its altar, the entrusting- of the Bible, instruction
in morality — all these things point evidently to something more
than a mere social and benevolent society as we generally apply
the terms.
And, in fact, in this very passage, we find coupled with the de-
nial, a remarkable admission : "Masonry is emphatically the
handmaid of religion." Of what religion is itlthe handmaid? we
ask. "What religfion does it "emphatically" serve ? It is certainly
not the handmaid of Catholicity, and as the emphatic handmaid
of any other religion, you certainly can not expect that the
Church will favor it or allow her children to belong to it. This
very admission, even if we had no others, would stamp Masonry
as an organization that Catholics can not patronize, since to em-
brace the emphatic handmaid of another religion is certainly to
jeopardize one's faith. The Church's condemnation of Masonry
is not, therefore, the result of ignorance but of knowledge, if
Masonry be, as it asserts itself to be, the "emphatic handmaid of
religion."
But of what form is it emphatically the handmaid? we again
ask, for the idea of Masonry as religion's handmaid is new to us.
We were told, and we long believed it, that Masonry was a mere
benevolent society. We objected to its oaths, we objected to its
secrecy, we had other objections, but we did not imagine that it
professed itself the emphatic handmaid of religion. Is it the em-
phatic handmaid of Prebyterianism, or Methodism, orQuakerism,
or any other of the Christian denominations ? For we suppose
that it at least makes pretence of Christianity, since it commits
the Holy Bible to its chaplain's care, and commissions him to im-
part in the lodge the same moral lessons that he imparts to the
world. And yet strang'ely, no Christian church seems to recog-
nize Masonry as an emphatic handmaid ; and Masonry, on its
part, thougd an emphatic handmaid, shows no disposition to
acknowledge openly any religious form as mistress.
It is not a handmaid, it is something more. And this indeed its
very name implies. It is i^r^^-Masonry, acknowledging-, as we
shall see later, no ties, religious or otherwise, save its own. It is
not the servant but the mistress. And truly she would be a
strange handmaid who, on the occasion of the solemn festivities
of the household, would insist on occupying- the place of honor.
Yet this is precisely what Masonry does in religious matters,
for when on Masonic feast-days, public services are held in a
Church, divine service must be performed by the lodge's chaplain.
"In every country where Freemasonry is encouraged," sa3^s
340 The Review. 1903.
the Ritualist, "its festival days are celebrated with great cere-
mony. These are the festival of St. John the Baptist on the 24th of
June and that of St. John the Evangelist on the 27th of December.
Thej" are days set apart by the fraternity to zuorshi-p the Grand
Architect of the Universe, to implore his blessings upon the great
familj^ of mankind and to partake of the feast of brotherly affec-
tion On arriving at the Church gate, the brethren uncover
and open their ranks to the right and left as far as the master,
who, followed by the brethren, passes between the lines, likewise
uncovered, into the Church .... Divine service must be performed
b3' the chaplain and an appropriate address delivered by some
competent brother appointed for the occasion. Hymns and
anthems adapted to the occasion shall be sung, and after service
a collection may be made at the Church doors, in aid of the char-
ity fund." (pp. 200, 201).
Our handmaid has certainly taken the whole matter into her
own hands. She institutes her own religious festivals, the breth-
ren unite in worshiping the Grand Architect of the Universe,
they meet in a public church, their chaplain celebrates divine ser-
vice, they sing appropriate hymns and anthems — all this at the
bidding and under the control of Masonry, and yet Masonry is
not a religion, but only its handmaid ! And allow us to enquire
what Church is selected for their divine services? Who commis-
sions the chaplain to perform them? Of what nature are the
sacred orders that he possesses, or has he any ? What is the
nature of the services performed and of the worship offered to
the Grand Architect of the Universe? Who or what is this
Grand Architect of the Universe ? The Church is assuredly not
Catholic, the chaplain is not Catholic, the worship is not Catholic,
so that even if the idea of the Grand Architect of the Universe
were Catholic, and in the Masonic sense it is not, the authorities
of the Church could no more permit her children to participate
in such services than in those of any of the numberless forms of
Protestantism that surround us.
Participation in a false worship for a Catholic spells apostasy.
By his act he cuts himself off from the spirit and soul of the
Church, and you can not in fairness blame iher for cutting
him off from her external communion as a dead member. It is
he and not she that is to blame. Masonry has therefore in it
harm and serious harm for a Catholic ; for even though, in places
where Masonry is not encouraged, it may not ask him to take
part in such public un-Catholic services, it is not from lack of de-
sire on its part, but from lack of opportunity. Its spirit is anti-
Catholic, for it vvould, if it could, prescribe to its Catholic members
acts which are necessarily for them acts of formal apostasy.
"But after all," it will be said, "you have not proved that
Masonry is a distinct religion by itself, for it uses the church of
No. 22. The Review. 341
some denomination or other, probably of that to which the ma-
jority of its members belong-."
To this we answer : 1st. that we have shown that Masonry is
not what it pretends to be, viz : a mere benevolent society, but is,
by its own admission, intimately bound up with religion, even
styling itself emphatically religion's handmaid.
2nd. We have shown that, while professing its intimate con-
nection with religion, it can show no affiliation with any of the
existing forms among us.
3rd. It is not so much the place as the special form of worship
that distinguishes religion from religion. Hence we frequently
find several Protestant denominations using the same church for
services, yet this does not prevent one denomination from being
distinct from the other. The selection of a Protestant church,
when convenient for Masonic worship is, therefore, no argument
against our thesis. Masonry professes itself emphatically re-
ligious, though it professes no subjection to any religious form.
It unites its members in divine services, in its own divine wor-
ship performed by its own chaplain. It is therefore a separate
distinct religion.
But let us put this arg-ument more clearly and fully, for the
more evidently we prove this, the more evidently will the justice
and necessity of the Church's condemnation shine forth. No
man can serve two masters in religion. If Masonry be religion,
the Catholic must necessarily choose between the Church and it
— "to belong to both, to be true to both he can not." Here then
is our argument:
That is evidently a distinct religion which has its own altar, its
own temple, its own priesthood, its own prayers, its own cere-
monies, its own hymns and anthems, its own ritual, its own wor-
ship, its own religious festivals, its own consecrations and an-
ointings, its own creed, its own morality, its own theory of the
human soul and the relations of that soul with the deity, its own
peculiar God. But all these things are found in Masonry. There-
fore Masonr5^ is a distinct religion.
We do not think that any man in his right senses will deny our
first assertion as to what constitutes a distinct religion, for
denial would naturally impose upon him the duty of indicating
some element omitted — a task clearly impossible. Indeed we
have enumerated many more things than are required for estab-
lishing an essential difference between religion and religion. The
Jew and the Christian worship the same God ; they belong", never-
theless, to different religions. Catholics and Protestants pro-
fess belief in the same Christ. A difference of creed and of wor-
ship creates an essential distinction between them.
The matter is so plain that we shall not waste time in proof.
342 The Review. 1903.
The main question then is one oi fact. Is it a fact that all these
things are found in Masonry? We beg the indulgence of the
reader's patience while we submit the proof. And pardon too,
we crave, for the copiousness, at times, of our quotations; for we
prefer to give a little more than is absolutely necessary, in order
that we may not be accused of taking expressions apart from
their context and wresting thera to our own meaning. We want
to know sincerely what Masonry says of itself. We are willing
to give it the utmost fair play.
As regards the existence of a ritual, the very book which we
are studying is a concrete proof ; though, as the fact has never
been denied, proof is not needed. The existence of special re-
ligious festivals, ceremonies, hymns and anthems, we have learned
from the preceding quotation (pp. 200, 201). Let us therefore
take up the other parts of the enumeration point by point.
The first thing that arrests our attention as we open our
Ritualist is the Masonic altar. It is apparently a block of
stone with three candlesticks around it. On it rests the open
Bible, and on the Bible are the square and compasses. A
dark wood, presumably of cypress, is in the back ground (p. 11).
This is the altar of the lower degrees, since Masonry has a dif-
ferent altar for the higher ones. On page 35 we are supplied with
a diagram showing how the lights should be disposed. The draw-
ing is accompanied by the following admonition :
"Errors are so often made in placing the lights around the al-
tar that the preceding diagram is inserted for the direction of
the Senior Deacon whose duty it is to see that they are properly
distributed."
And so the altar follows us throughout the whole book from
beginning to end. Its form, however, as we stated, changes.
"The altar in a council of Royal and Select Masters," says our
Ritualist (p. 532), "represents the celebrated Stone of Founda-
tion in the temple, a notice of which will be found in a subsequent
part of this volume. It should, therefore, unlike other Masonic
altars, be constructed to represent a cubical stone without other
ornaments, and on it should be deposited the Substitute Ark. As
the Masonic legend places the Stone of Foundation in the Sanc-
tum Sanctorum of the second temple, but immediately beneath
it in the first, and as that point is represented by the ninth arch
in a council of Select Masters, it is evident that during a recep-
tion, at least, the altar should be placed within the arch, and not
as is too often done, outside of it, or even in the center of the
room."
Masonry therefore has its own special altars, altars with a
special Masonic significance. The arrangement, material, orna-
mentation are all minutely specified.
343
THE REAL BOOKER WASHINGTON.
We have heard and read a great deal of late in praise of Mr.
Booker Washington, "the great negro philanthropist who is doing
more than any other living man or any agency to educate and ele-
vate the colored race in the South." Carnegie's recent donation
to Tuskegee Institute, of which Booker is the founder and prin-
cipal, is lauded by the newspapers as "the most sensible and
meritorious of ail his many gifts for the uplifting of humanity."
There is another side to this picture. Mr. Gordon McDonald,
a distinguished Alabama lawj^er, writes over his signature in the
Washington Post:'^)
"Now having demonstrated who is really responsible for the
negro appointments in the South, let me turn the searchlight of
truth on the renowned Booker and his doings — his real doings.
This wonderfully shrewd negro has convinced the naturally gul-
ible Northern people that his propaganda is of infinite benefit to
the negroes and whites of the South ; that the aims and results
of his Tuskegee performances are to give young negroes an 'in-
dustrial education' and not to incite them to dreams of social
equality with the whites ; having obtained ponderous words of
commendation from the sage of Princeton, and much more valu-
able cash from Carnegie, Ogden, et als ; really fools most of the
Southern newspapers I speak whereof I know, in saying
that for one genuine hardworking husbandman or artisan sent
into the world by Washington's school, it afflicts this State with
twenty soft-handed negro dudes and loafers, who earn a precar-
ious living by 'craps' and petit larceny or live on the hard-earned
wages of cooks and washerwomen, whose affections they have
been enabled to ensnare. The girls graduated at the school are
taught to scorn hard work, while their poor mothers toil over the
wash tubs and cookstoves that their daughters may be taught
music and painting — God save the mark I — and rustle in fine
dresses in miserable imitation of white ladies."
"What Washington teaches by precept is shown in its results
on his scholars. What he teaches by example is clear to any man
not an idiot by nature or blinded by preference. Example is
ever the thoroughest teacher of the young, and the example of
Washington is the most diastrous to the rising generation of ne-
groes that can be imagined. It teaches to his deluded pupils that
social equality is a possibility and that it is near. They hear of
him hobnobbing on terms of perfect equality with the president
of this country. They hear of him visiting rich Northerners as
a favored and petted guest. They hear of his getting his child
t) We quote from the Catholic Columbian^ No. 21.
344 The Review. 1%3.
into a fashionable school for -white girls in the North. Can any
of his friends deny these things with tru th ?"
The conclusion of Mr. McDonald is that the Tuskegee prin-
cipalis "leading his people to dream a dream of death and dis-
aster."
Mr. James R. Randall, also a distinguished Southerner, and a
good Catholic, says in his comments on this letter in the Colnm-
hian :
"Booker Washington is, I understand, more white than black,
just as Frederick Douglass, who posed as a negro, admitted, in
his last days, to a New England lady friend, that he did not have
a drop of African blood in his veins, his father having been a white
man and his mother an Indian. The smart colored man knows
how to 'piill the leg' of rich Northerners, philanthropically in-
clined. It is estimated that not more than three out of one thous-
and Tuskegee graduates follow the trades they have been trained
to and despise trades."
If this is the real Booker Washington, and if these are indeed
the results of his work, he does not deserve the sympathy and
praise he has received, even in Catholic circles,*) and it becomes
the duty of every honest newspaper to show him up in his true
colors.
*) Mr. Randall intimates that among his Catholic sympathizers
are such prelates as Archbishop Ireland and Bishop Conaty.
A CONVERTED SOCIALIST.
.The Boston Herald oi May 23rd publishes a remarkable letter
from Mr. David Goldstein, who has been prominent in the coun-
cils of the Socialist party in the city of Boston and State of Mass-
achusetts, and who has been a candidate for mayor of Boston up-
on the Socialist ticket.
Mr. G. declares that, "after a lapse of eight years of active
work upon the soap-box, on the lecture platform, in debate and
in the press in behalf of the principles of Socialism ; after
eight years of work as organizer, executive officer, and candidate
of Socialist parties ; after eight years of study of the alleged
scientific basis of Socialism, namel5^ Karl Marx's 'Capital,' " he
desires to terminate his connection with the Socialist movement,
because he has become convinced that "it is not a bona fide politi-
cal and economic effort, that it would gain political power to the
end of dissolving the social, religious, civic, economic, and family
relationship which now exists and which have cost man countless
ages in upbuilding."
His reasons are briefly : Socialism's attitude of negation to all
No. 22. The Review. 345
that is fundamental in human affairs, — its denial of God, its op-
position to the State, its attempt at the disruption of monogamic
marriag-e.
' We quote a few paragraphs verbatim :
"After close application to the doctrinaires, their philosophy
and their so-called science, I must conclude that the Socialism I
was preaching- had no basis in fact It is my conviction that,
were the philosophical doctrines applied to a given country, or to
the civilized world in general as promulgated by the founders of
^modern scientific revolutionary international Socialism,' namely
by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels, by Kautsky and Bebel of
Germany; Guesde and De Ville of France; Hyndman and Bax of
England ; Vandervelde of Belgium ; Ferri of Italy, and many
others upon the continent of Europe ; by Simmons, Herron, Lee,
Unterman and others in the United States — the economic justice,
even to the degree which exists to-day, would be unknown. That
is to say, I am convinced that Socialism as organized internation-
ally stands for the entire breaking down of the individual stand-
ards of moral responsibility ; that the Socialist philosophy of
"'economic determinism' stands for the substitution of religious
principles by social standards of ethics set up upon the basis of
mere physical satisfactions."
Mr. Goldstein announces that he intends to explain his exper-
iences and convictions more fully in a forthcoming book.
P. HOLZAPFEL AND HIS THESES.
In our No. 16 we printed, faithful to our principle "Audiatur
«t altera pars," "A Word of Criticism on the Subject of Historical
Traditions" from Mr. Bryan J. Clinch, of San Francisco.
Last week we received, in relation thereto, the subjoined com-
munication from an eminent prelate in Munich :
Mr. Clinch's communication is characteristic of the manner in
which laymen without historical training are apt to handle his-
torical problems. I shall pass over his comparison between the
late venerable Archbishop Kenrickof St. Louis and a newly-baked
Franciscan doctor. Msgr. Kenrick, with all his learning and
experience, was not a methodically trained historian, having such
a command of the offensi^-e and defensive weapons of modern
criticism as that possessed by any able young doctor of to-day
who has had the benefit of a thorough-going historical seminar.
Mr. Clinch's queries with regard to the papal bulls on which P.
Heribert Holzapfel's argument against Loreto rests, are so en-
tirely extra rem that I can not but express my surprise at seeing
346 The Review. 1903.
them proposed by a man who wishes to be taken seriously. If a
German doctoraiid defends such a thesis before a university
faculty and an audience consisting of from two to three hundred
scientifically trained scholars, Mr. Clinch, even though he did
not attend the promotion, may rest assured that the sources and
material employed in the demonstration were absolutely authen-
tic and unobjectionable.
It was my privilege to be present on the occasion of P. Heri-
bert's promotion, and Mr. Clinch will pardon me for saying that
the modesty of the defendent as well as his extensive knowledge
and cautious criticism afforded me most genuine gratification.
The last question : "Did the Minorite doctor prove the authen-
ticity of the bulls he quoted as well as their existence?" shows
Mr. Clinch has not even an elementary knowledge of the problem
as such, nor of the manner in which it requires to be critically
treated, nor of the sources to be considered.
P. Holzapfel's head professor in history was the renowned Dr.
Knopfler, the continuator of Hefele's 'Conciliengeschichte' and
the author of numerous monographs and a splendid manual of
Church history. Does Mr. Clinch really imagine that Professor
Dr. Knopfler neglected to inform himself with regard to such
elementary points as he adduces in his letter to The Review, in
the guise, as it were, of objections coming from the general lay
public? — MsGR. Dr. P. M. Baumgarten.
[As the reader will note on another page of this week's
Review, Dr. Holzapfel, O. F. M., has already published his thesis
on St. Dominic and the Rosary, and it is expected that his other
thesis on Loreto, against which so much criticism has been
directed, will also soon be put forth in book form, so that every
competent scholar will be able to judge of its valor for himself.
—A. P.]
WHY SHOVLD WOMEN INSURE THEIR LIVES ?
The last few years have developed a tendency' in some Catholic
circles to include women in "society" life, and the insurance re-
ports of New York show the "Catholic Women's Benevolent
Legion" and "Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Legion," those of Penn-
sylvania the "Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association" and the
"Womens' Catholic Order of Foresters" as organizations con-
fining their "beneficial" labors to women only. The "I/adies'
Catholic Benevolent Association" of Erfe, Pa., is also operating in
Massachusetts, while the "Catholic Ladies of Ohio," for instance,
are a purely local concern, not even reporting to the insurance
department, so that it is really impossible to tell how many Cath-
No. 22. The Review. 347
olic women may be interested in these different insurance
schemes.
According to present information, all these concerns are oper-
ated upon the assessment plan, virtually relying- upon the admis-
sion of new members to meet the increasing mortality among
the older membership, and the fate of most of them (unless radi-
cal changes soon take place for putting them on a reliable basis)
will not differ from that of so many other assessment companies,
"gone, but not forgotten."
However, in view of the comparatively large policies granted
by some of these associations ($1,000 or even more) the question
naturally presents itself : Why should women insure ?
The regular life insurance companies have within the last five
years devoted special attention to the insurance of women. Some
of the companies have even established special departments for
the cultivation of this field. Under their system, an investment
for life insurance becomes simultaneously a sort of savings bank,
since the regular policies provide for cash loans, cash surrender
values, and cash settlements at stated periods, which in case of
endowment policies may be quite a profitable return on the
money invested. So there the women may patronize the com-
panies in preference to placing money on interest, or taking
chances in building and loan associations.
The same argument does not apply to the Catholic organiza-
tions referred to above, who do not issue endowment policies nor
guarantee any loans or cash values on their certificates. The
"benefit" there is simply a certain (or rather uncertain) amount
of money payable to some beneficiary in case of death of the cer-
tificate holder. This suggests the question : Why should any-
one be financially benefited by the death of a woman ?
True, the funeral expenses should be provided for. Yet as a
rule, a few hundred dollars would cover that expense, and for a
small weekly payment the industrial insurance companies will
guarantee a "death benefit" cheaper and more reliable than any
"insurance" furnished by these women's associations. There may
be isolated cases, where a widow wishes to provide for the edu-
cation of her children, in case she should not live long enough to
complete the same herself, or a married woman may be the sole
support of her crippled husband or aged parents, and wish to pro-
vide for them by taking insurance on her own life, so as not to leave
the dependent ones helpless in case of her death. But barring
such cases, (and their number can not be large enough to form
even one successful insurance organization in a State), we still
wonder: Why do women insure?
Under normal conditions the father is supposed to be the bread-
348 The Review. 1903
winner for his family. As no man has a lease on life, it is but
proper that he should provide, by taking life insurance, for the
continuance of his work, if taken off before having completed it.
For that reason the amount of insurance carried should be in
proportion to the obligations assumed, (Size of family, etc.)
But women in the majority of cases do not need life insurance in
amounts exceeding- the cost of a modest funeral. The amount
expended for that additional insurance could be devoted more
advantageously" to other matters. In this article we refer to life
insurance furnished on the assessment plan, and if any one can
give us good reasons for having that practice extended, we should
be interested in knowing them.
*i& ^S. *!A
>^V t^V* s^V
MINOR TOPICS.
Those who read in the papers recently that the Catholic ordi-
nary of Sacramento officiated together with an Episcopalian
"bishop," in an Episcopalian church, at the funeral of a Protest-
ant and Freemason, will be interested in the Bishop's statement,
which we take from the Sacra7nentc Bee of April 29th. Msgr.
Grace saj^s above his signature :
"This is an answer to the question as to why and how I par-
ticipated in the obsequies of our lamented fellow citizen, J. B.
Wright. He was for many years the personal friend of the late
Bishop Manogue and all the Cathedral priests. After the great
strike,*) hundreds of Catholic men presented, through Bishop
Manogue, myself and other priests, to Mr. Wright, their demand
for justice, or plea for mercy, and thus many homes were saved
from ruin — many good citizens were retained in our midst. Mr,
Wright was ever faithful to the interests of the railroad com-
pany, yet had a boundless sympathy for his fellow workmen.
"Therefore, as a mark of my admiration for his noble qualities
and as a token of the gratitude due from my people whom he had
treated with justice or mercy, I was, through the courtesy of
Bishop Moreland and Rev. Mr, Miel, invited to offer a prayer
over the silent form of our friend. Bishop Moreland performed
the funeral rites according to the Episcopal Church and there
was no mixture of ceremonies,
"I participated in the services much the same as the many dig-
nified gentlemen of different beliefs who bowed their heads and
listened to the solemn words of Holy Scripture. The prayer I
said is the last of those that follow the Litany of the Saints and
is offered for the consolation of the living and the rest of the dead.
Catholics can and do, often, kneel at the coffin of their Protestant
neighbor, and say that same prayer.
"This is the first time in the history of our State that an Epis-
■■•=) On the Southern Pacific R. R.. of which Mr. Wright was Division Superintendent.
No. 22.
The Review.
349
copal and Catholic Bishop stood side by side, praying: over all the
precious mortality of a dear friend. But the occasion was a rare
one and may not occur again. However, if the action of all con-
cerned will beget kindlier feelings no one will thank God more
than I."
The Episcopalian "bishop," Mr. Moreland, in a statement pub-
lished together with that of Msgr. Grace in the Sacramento Bee,
says that "the meeting of two bishops of different communions
at the funeral of a prominent citizen, each with his attendant
priest, and each taking part in the religious service, is a fact of
much interest."
True. But that interest among Catholics, if one of the partici-
pating bishops is a real. Catholic bishop, and the other a usurping
schismatic, and the place of meeting a schismatical church, must
be decidedly of the mortifying and regretful kind.f)
■'We make no comment on the Bishop's explanation," says Dr.
Lambert in the Freejuan's [otirnal {_'No. ZM7), ''bxxX. we do not
think it will meet with general approval. The sight of a Catholic
prelate at religious obsequies being sandwiched in between an
Episcopalian Bishop and an Episcopalian minister is new to
Catholic eyes to look at without winking."
Even the Western Watchman (No. 29) protests : "We fear Bish-
op Grace, of Sacramento, has committed a serious breach of dis-
cipline in taking part with an Episcopal(ian) bishop in the ob-
sequies of a prominent citizen of his episcopal city The
Bishop should not have signed his letter : 'Bishop Grace.' He
should not have said that prayer for the dead in English. He
should not have said it at all in a Protestant burial service."
t) "Noverit (episcopus)," says the Second
Plenary Council of Baltimore, "se exemplar
esse in monte positum, id est, in loco alto ac
sublimi collocatum, ad cujus norman caeteri
homines mores suos vivendique rationem com-
ponant opportet." Tit. iii, cap. 2,
How deeply poor "Tom" McGrady has fallen, appears from his
fearful and wonderful invective against Bishop Brondel, published
in the American Labor Union Journal of Helena, Mont., No. 32.
He contemptuously refers to His Lordship as "Mr." Brondel,
calls him "a professional liar" who "lives on the fat of the earth
at the expense of poor Irish and German Catholics," prates of
Pope "Leo's mistakes" and alleges that "the Catholic Church is
the most despotic organization that ever cursed the earth." The
bishops in general he charges with having "completely repudiated
the teachings of primitive Christianity," with "haying been the
enemies of science" who "stood for darkness and ignorance and
crime," and who "have encouraged free love among the clergy"
and grown "wealthy on the imposition of taxes paid for the privi-
lege of sacerdotal concubinage."
The Review was the first, and for a while the only, Catholic
journal that fought this poor deluded man when he prosti-
tuted his priestly office in an unworthy cause. No one can regret
his terrible self-degration more sincerely than we. May God
give him grace to see whither he is drifting and what the end
must be of the career upon which he has entered.
From McGrady's article above quoted we are almost forced to
350 The Review. 1903.
conclude that the Rev. T. J. Hagerty, formerly of the Diocese o f
Santa Fe, who has also for several years preached Socialistic
errors in various Western cities, is g'oing the same way, though
his name still appears in the current Catholic Directory. A few
weeks ago we had an enquiry about this priest from Germany,
where his lectures are employed by Social-Democratic agitators
as weapons against the Catholic Centre party. As unfrocked ex-
priests such poor wretches can not do nearly as much harm as
they are able to do while "in good standing." It is to be sincerely
hoped for the good of the Catholic cause that they will either do
penance and strive to repair the harm they have done, or be forced
to doff the cloth and appear in their true colors, like poor McGrady.
A Scripps-McRae cablegram announces that Msgr. O'Connell
is going to go to Rome to complain to the H0I5' Father about the
hostility of the German Catholics of the United States against the
Catholic University. The Berlin Gernianiaihe other day reported
that Dr. von Funk of Tiibingen had refused a call to the institu-
tion presided over by Msgr. O'Connell. Are the German Catho-
lics of America to be held responsible for the fact that the Uni-
versity is unable, in consequence of the treatment accorded some
years ago to Dr. Pohle and Msgr. Schroder, to obtain the services
of anj^ Catholic scholar of reputation in Germany ? As for the
alleged hostility of the German element, we are sure it exists on-
ly, barring a few professional hotspurs of the Weste?-fi Watc/mian
kidney, in the imagination of the reverend gentlemanwho has lately
been sent here by the Pope to make the the University a success.
There is no hostility against the University among the German ele-
ment. If Msgr. O'Connell believes there is a lack of cooperation, it
is his business to ascertain the causes of such apathy and to make
an honest and energetic attempt to remove them. If, instead, he
would go to Rome to complain, this would simply prove that he
is incom petent to hold the important and difficult office with which
he has been entrusted.
Speaking of the new press law in Pennsylvania, about which
the daily newspapers all over the countrj^ have made such a fuss,
the Pittsburg Observer {^o. 51) says that there is nothing in its
terms which would prevent any honest and decent newspaper
from making such comments upon legislative measures or upon
the official acts of State, municipal, county or other officers, as
are proper for the information of the public or in the line of legit-
imate public discussion. No honestly conducted newspaper
need have any apprehension as to the effects of the new law. In
fact our contemporary declares that "Catholics would have gladly
welcomed a measure much more comprehensive in its scope.
They would have hailed with satisfaction the enactment of a law
which would effectively 'muzzle' the unwholesome, the degrading,
the baleful sensationalism which invariably characterizes the de-
liberately long-drawn-out accounts published with evident grati-
fication by the daily press of all sorts of crime, but particularly
of wrong-doing of an immoral (the Observer means to say inde-
cent or obscene) and of a murderous description."
A
No. 22. The Review. 351
At the sugigestion of Archbishop Bruchesi, the City Council of
Montreal has rescinded the resolution by which it had previously
accepted Mr. Carnegie's offer to establish a free library there.
Difficulties connected with the choice of a site and with the two
languages — French being "official" in the province of Quebec as
well as English — were made the excuse for finally rejecting the
offer. But the real reasons were, municipal pride which refused
to accept a present from a foreign nabob under conditions im-
posed by him ; and the refusal of the library committee to allow
the religious authorities a voice in the selection of books for the
proposed library. The majority of the City Council of Canada's
commercial metropolis have acted wisely in following the Arch-
bishop's advice to reject the Carnegie offer under the circum-
stances. We only wish some of our American cities had as much
civic pride as to follow Montreal's example.
3*
In a memoir of the late Bishop Amherst, just published, the
Bishop's views about ecclesiastical music are expressed with
much candor. Upon hearing Mozart's "Twelfth Mass" on Easter
Day, the Bishop exclaims : "How this kind of thing carries me
back to old times; and how infinitely I prefer the quiet, ecclesias-
tical, and devout manner of singing and kind of music at North-
ampton and Birmingham ! It is most distasteful to me to see the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass shattered, as it were, into fragments,
and made a succession of pegs on which to hang a series of musi-
cal performances. Number Twelve is not, it is true, so offensive
as some figured masses from its choral character, but still the
Holy Sacrifice has to zvait for it and the ministers to sit bored on
beaches, while the ears of the audience, heaven save the mark!
are tickled, and their concert-loving propensities gratified."
The Pope, to-day, would content himself with a slice of terri-
tory on the left side of the Tiber, which would give the Vatican
free communication with the port of Civita Vecchia. This terri-
tory is to be erected into a pontifical principality under the pro-
tection of five great powers : Germany, England, Austria, Rus-
sia, and the United States.
Such is, if we may believe La Veriie Francaise (No. 3572), the
program of the German Catholics, and the writer adds : "They
will carry it out because they are firmly determined. As for
Italy, it will be sufficient for the Kaiser to say to Victor Emman-
uel: Sicvolo! sicjubeo!''
A beautiful day-dream !
The Catholic Telegraphy which has recently been devoting much
valuable space to the doings of Catholic truth societies, complains
in its No. 20 that the Cincinnati branch "is doing absolutely noth-
ing practical." Will not the Telegraph give the members a good
example? So long as that delectable sheet helps to undp the
work of the Catholic Truth Society by liberally advertising a
work like the Encyclopaedia Britannica, which has contributed
k
352 The Review. 1903.
so much to poisoning the wells of public opinion with anti-Catho-
lic bias, we fear we need not expect much from Cincinnati.
Our Liberals don't even respect the monks if they are canon-
ized. We read in the Western Watchman of May 24th : "Prof.
Starbuck refers in the Boston Review to the gross slanders pub-
lished by St. Bernard on the great Saint William of York. This
good monk in his life of St. Malachy has a good deal to say against
the clerg}' of Ireland. St. Bernard was a dear saint and one of
the greatest souls the Church ever produced ; but he was an ag-
gravated case of monk turned statesman."
The Chicago Courier de /'6^«£'5/ announces that, beginning June
24th, it purposes to issue a daily edition entitled Le Petit Journal
de Chicago. If the Courier itself were a live and sound Catholic
newspaper, we should hail its development into a daily with joy.
As it is, we wonder why the number of inane and colorless French
dailies is to be multiplied. Surely it can not be with the hope of
great financial returns,
"It seems there is scarcely any via media between intemper-
ance and total abstinence in the United States. Perhaps it is
best so." — Western Watchman (No. 27).
The writer of these lines has made a false induction, as all are
apt to do who jump to general conclusions from limited observa-
tions within their own narrow circle.
Dom Fournier, of Solesmes, presents as the result of long-con-
tinued and deep researches, a catalog of canonized persons who
have practised the gentle art of healing. The list contains no less
than sixty-eight names, including several women, St, Luke, the
patron of the medical profession, heads the curious roster.
We are asked to publish that a Catholic applicant who possesses
the necessary qualifications would stand a good chance of obtain-
ing the position of superintendent of the Delphos (Ohio) public
schools. Salary about $1,200 a year. Let the candidate apply to
the Delphos Board of Education, Delphos, Ohio,
Marlier & Co, of Boston send us the first number of a new
monthh' magazine, Uamc francaise. The contents are not of a
character to convince us that it will either fill a long-felt want or
find a sufficiently large circle of subscribers to insure its future.
A further paper on the "Roman Catholic Clerical Aid Fund,"
by our insurance editor, had to be laid over for next week's issue.
i ^be IReview. j|
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., June 11, 1903. No. 23.
A PLEA FOR CATHOLIC FREE SCHOOLS.
HAT untiring- champion of the Catholic parochial school
system. Rev. Father G. D. Heldmann, of St. Paul's,
Chicago, made an impressive plea the other day before
the convention of the German State Federation of Illinois, for free
parochial schools.
By dint of great sacrifices on the part of parents, pastors, and
teachers, he said in substance, we have supported and are sup-
porting our parochial schools. The heaviest part of the burden,
however, is always borne by those parish members who have
children to send to school. There has been much just complaint
against the school money, which is indeed, in a way, an unjust
tax if levied solely upon the parents of school children. For the
Catholic parochial school is either an essential part of a parish, or
it is not ; if it is, then it becomes the duty of every member of
the parish to contribute his share towards its support. That
would give us what is generally called the free parochial school.
How quickly could the lukewarm Catholics be deprived of all
their alleged motives for sending their children elsewhither, if
free parish schools were universally established ! How much
could be done for the internal development of the parochial school
once it were free and therefore independent 1
Father Heldmann pointed out that free parochial schools have
already existed for years in various parts of the country, and
says that he has corresponded with interested priests and laymen,
who were unanimous in declaring that the system was a success
and that they would never return to the old mode. In some
parishes the school tax is put upon the pew-rent, in others it is
raised by special collections. But no matter which method is
preferred, the result invariably is that the expense is divided more
354 The Review. 1903.
evenly among all the members of a congregation and that the
burden is lifted from the shoulders of the poor.
In conclusion Father Heldmann expressed his surprise that so
little has been done towards endowing Catholic parochial schools
in an age when liberal gifts for educational purposes are the or-
der of the day. He said he considered the endowment of a free
parish school more meritorious than large donations or legacies
for mere perishable externals of religion.
These timely remarks deserve reproduction in everj^ Catholic
newspaper of the land. We trust the energetic Chicago rector
will not cease to champion the useful movement until every Cath-
olic school in the United States has become a free school, and its
future ensured if possible by permanent endowment.
5* -^ ■^
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CLERICAL FUND SOCIETY.
In replying to the comments made by the Rev. Joseph Ruesing,
President of the R. C. C. F. S., upon our article in No. 18, discus-
sing the plans of said society, it must be understood that The
Review did not find fault with the ostensible purpose of said or-
ganization. To assist sick or needy priests, to provide for the
education of candidates for the sacred ministry, are such com-
mendable objects that certainly no Catholic paper worthy of the
name could offer the slightest objection. It was the method for
accomplishing these purposes, as explicitly stated in the Constitu-
tion and By-Laws of the R. C. C. F. S,, which caused said article
published in No. 18 to be written, and our reply to the Reverend
President's letter will be confined strictl}^ to the modus operandi
of his association as explained in the constitution and corrobor-
ated by his letter.
In passing over the generalities of his leiter we quote the ex-
planatory sentence : "Its final and principal object is to extend
assistance etc ; its present and pressing object is to get the
'fund.'" In other words, before telling prospective members
what relief they may claim as a matter of contract or right, first
of all, they must create a 'fund.' For that reason the President
says further on : "Now, our society does not propose to give a
stipulated sum, etc." This verifies The Review's claim, that the
members are not entitled to benefit, but depend entirely for any
desired assistance on the good will of the board, regardless of the
merits of their case.
That the board was called "the absolute dictator of the organi-
zation" is objected to on the part of the Reverend President, be-
cause said board is elected bi' the members and therefore their
No. 23. The Review. 355
creature. That is true, as far as the election is concerned, but
since the members have only the right to vote and nothing-
more, while all other powers are delegated to the board,
we fail to see who could prevent the board from doing what it
pleased during its term of office. In most organizations respon-
sible positions like that of secretary and treasurer are filled by
election through members of the Board of Control. Yet in the
ordinary organizations such officials serve for stipulated periods
during good conduct, and are not subject to dismissal "at the
pleasure of the board." While the character of the members in
a society comprising Catholic priests exclusively should be above
suspicion, yet the President finds it necessary that "the board
must have the right to grant or refuse the petition of an appli-
cant in order to protect the society against possible fraud." Ap-
plying the same principle to the members of the board, why
should not an honest secretary or treasurer be protected against
sudden discharge for no other reason than that he is not pliable
enough to suit the desires of a president or majority of board-
members ? This is not said as a reflection on any member of the
present board, but merely as an illustration of how the powers of
said board could be abused.
To an insurance man the idea of investing monej" in endow-
ment insurance for the purpose of making profits seems absurd.
Life insurance does cost money, even if the assured lives to the
end of the endowment period, and whatever profit may be made
through the dividends on maturing policies, will be most likely
counterbalanced by the loss of interest on the premiums, when
some of the assured should die in the last years of the endow-
ment period, as in that case, no dividends will be paid. This,
however, is a matter of personal opinion, and if the R. C. C. F. S.
prefers speculation in life insurance to other safe investments,
'The Review will not complain.
Since the Reverend President has settled the question of "in-
surable interest" satisfactorily to himself in a manner that must
be kept secret. The Review has no further comment to make on
that score. Should the question ever come into court, the Presi-
dent may wish to have had this matter more thoroughly discussed
before dismissing it in such an ofl!-handed way.
Coming to the financial statement we regret the lack of frank-
ness on the Reverend President's part. He says that the card
we referred to in No. 18 shows "part of our annual income. A
show of expenditure can not be made, because there was none."
How about the $30,000 of insurance carried? Did the com-
panies furnish said insurance gratis for the past two years? The
President expects to realize at least $40,000 from these policies
is
356 The Review. 1903
after 17 years, (so he says on page 314 of The Review, No. 20),
consequently more than two years have gone since these policies
were taken. If the society "had no expenditures," who paid the
premiums?
Quoting- again from the letter, "most of our members gladly
sacrifice five dollars per month, knowing well that they will not
get any aid in return." The Review can justly claim that the re-
marks made in No. 18 are fully corroborated by the Reverend
President. Now, if the clergy of Nebraska are willing to estab-
lish a "fund" without expecting any benefit in return, said fund
to be invested and only the interest of it to be devoted to the re-
lief of members who may apply for it in time of need, but with
the understanding that the Board of Trustees has absolute con-
trol over the matter, can grant any amount of money it chooses,
and can refuse (without giving any reason for so doing) to pay
anything at all, The Review has nothing more to say about it.
But any priest joining the R. C. C. F. S. should know and un-
derstand .thoroughly that as a member of that association he has
no rights whatever beyond voting for members of the board,
must not expect any benefit for a number of years to come, and
according to the present constitution and by-laws at best can not
get more than a fraction of what money he paid in, since the "aid"
distributed is based solely on the amount of money contributed
by the member concerned, regardless of the merits of his case.
Sr 3^ SF
THE TEMPLE IN FREEMASONRY.
An altar is the natural accompaniment of a church or temple.
Hence, since they have altars, naturally also Masons publicly
call their buildings, temples. •
"The candidate seeks for light and truth," says Mackey's
Ritualist, "within the sacred precincts of the lodge" (p. 29): on
entering it, "as with Moses at the burning bush, the solemn ad-
monition is given, 'Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the
place whereon thou standest is holy ground' " (p. 23): and one of
the distinctions between the ancient temple, on which the lodge
is modelled, and the lodge itself, is that "The most holy place in
a lodge is its eastern end, that of the Temple was its western
end" (p. 29.)
But that no doubt may possibly remain in our minds, let us
attend the "consecration" of a lodge according to the manner pre-
scribed on pp. 145-149 of the Ritualist.
A Masonic hymn having been sung, a prayer by the Grand
Chaplain follows. Next there is an oration by a competent
brother ; followed in turn by a piece of music. The dispensation
J
No. 23. The Review. 357
for the erection of the new lodge and the records are then ap-
proved by the Grand Master, and the of&cers of the lodge to be
consecrated are presented to him. Then, says our Ritualist,
"The officers and members of the new lodge form in front of the
Grand Master, and the business of consecration commences.
"The Grand Master attended by the grand officers form them-
selves in order around the lodge — all kneeling.
"A piece of solemn music is performed while the lodge is un-
covered.
"After which the first clause of the consecration prayer is re-
hearsed by the Grand Chaplain."
Here follows a prayer to the Grand Architect of the Universe,
which, for brevity's sake, we omit.
Next, says the Ritualist :
"The Deputy Grand Master presents the golden vessel of corn
and the junior and senior wardens the silver vessels of wine and
oil to the Grand Master who sprinkles the elements of consecration
upon the lodge."
After another prayer by the Grand Chaplain comes the "dedi-
cation."
"A piece of solemn music is performed while the lodge is un-
covered. The Grand Master then standing with his hands
stretched forth over the Lodge, exclaims in an audible voice : —
"To the memory of the Holy Saints John we dedicate this lodge.
May every brother revere their character and imitate their vir-
tues. Glory be to God on high.
"Response. — As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall
be ; world without end. So mote it be. Amen.
"A piece of music is performed while the brethren of the new
lodge advance in procession to salute the Grand Lodge, with their
hands crossed upon their breasts and bowing as they pass. They
then take their places as they were."
Such is the consecration and dedication of a new lodge as set
forth for us by our vademecum. What are we to think of this
kneeling? this solemn music? these prayers? this pouring of
the elements of consecration? this extending of hands? this
dedication to the Holy Saints John? this crossing of hands upon
the breast? Granted that Masonry has its own secret meaning
for these things, and that the initiated will smile at our simplicity
in taking this dedication to the Holy Saints John seriously ; we
care not for the moment what the meaning may be ; to this we
shall attend later ; the words, the actions, the surroundings are
those of a religious consecration and as such we are justified in
taking it.
Our Ritualist, moreover, kindly comes to our assistance in this
matter, for on page 319 it defines the meaning of the word "dedi-
cation." "A dedication is defined to be a religious ceremony where'
by anything is dedicated o r consecrated to the service of God.'" Could
words be clearer?
358 The Review. 1903.
The dedication of Masonic halls is, as we would naturally ex-
pect, much more solemn. Our Ritualist, having arranged the de-
tails of the procession to be made and other preliminaries, comes
on p. 221 to the dedication proper :
"The lodge is uncovered and a procession is made around it
during which solemn music is played: —
"When the Grand Master arrives at the East, the procession
halts, the music is silent and the Grand Chaplain makes the fol-
lowing
Consecration Prayer.
"Almighty and ever glorious and gracious Lord God, Creator of
all things and Governor of everything thou hast made, mercifully
look down upon thy servants, now assembled in thy name and in
thy presence, and bless and prosper all our works ibegun, con-
tinued and ended in thee. Graciously bestow upon us wisdom in
all our doings ; strength of mind in all our difficulties ; and the
beauty of harmony and holiness in all our communications and
work. Let faith be the foundation of our hope, and charity the
fruit of obedience to thy revealed will.
"O thou preserver of men, graciously enable us now to dedicate
this house which we have erected to the honor and glory of Thy
name, and mercifully to accept this service at our hands.
"May all who shall be lawfully appointed to rule herein accord-
ing to our constitutions be under thy special guidance and pro-
tection and faithfully observe and fulfill all their obligations to
thee and to the lodge.
"May all who come within these consecrated walls have but
one heart and one mind, — to love, to honor, to fear, and to obey
thee as thy majesty and unbounded goodness claim, and to love
one another as thou has loved us. May every discordant passion
be here banished from our bosom. May we here meet in thy
presence as a band of brethren who were created by the same
Almighty Parent, are daily sustained by the same beneficent
hand, and are traveling the same road to the gates of death. May
we here have thy Holy Word always present to our mind, and re-
ligion, and virtue, love, harmony, and peaceful joy reigning tri-
umphant in our hearts.
"May all the proper work of our institution that may be done
in this house be such as thy wisdom can approve and thy good-
ness prosper. And finally, graciously be pleased, O thou So^-er-
eign Architect of the Universe, to bless the craft wheresoever
dispersed, and make them true and faithful to thee, to their neigh-
bor and to themselves. And when the time of our labor is draw-
ing near to an end, and the pillar of our strength is declining to
the ground, graciously enable us to pass through the valley of
the shadow of death, supported by thy rod and thy staff to those
mansions beyond the skies where love and peace and joy forever
reign before thy throne. — Amen.
"Response by the Brethren. — Glory be to God on high, on
earth peace, good will toward men.
"The Junior Grand Warden then presents the vessel of corn to
the Grand Master, who pours it upon the lodge, saying :• —
"In the name of the Supreme and Eternal God, the Grand
No. 23. The Review. 359
Architect of heaven and earth, to whom be all honor and glory, I
dedicate this hall to Freemasonry.
"The public grand honors are then given.
"A piece of music is then performed and the second procession
is made around the lodge. When the Grand Master arrives at
the East, the music ceases and the Senior Grand Warden presents
him with the vessel of wine which he sprinkles over the lodge,
saying : —
"In the name of the Supreme and Eternal God, the Grand Arch-
itect of heaven and earth, to whom be all honor and glory, I dedi-
cate this hall to Virtue.
"The public grand honors are then given.
"The music is resumed and the third procession is made
around the lodge. When the Grand Master arrives at the East,
the music ceases and the Deputy Grand Master presents him
with the vessel of oil, which he sprinkles over the lodge, saying :
"In the name of the Supreme and Eternal God, the Grand
Architect of heaven and earth, to whom be all honor and glory, I
dedicate this hall to Universal Benevolence.
"The public grand honors are then given.
"The Grand Chaplain standing before the lodge then makes
the following
Invocation.
"O Lord God, there is no God like unto thee in heaven above or
in the earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy
servants who walk before thee with all their hearts.
"Let all the people of the earth know that the Lord is God and
that there is none else.
"Let all the people of the earth know thy name, and fear thee.
"Let all the people know that this house is built and consecrated
to thy name.
"But will God indeed dwell on earth? Behold the heavens and
the heaven of heavens can not contain thee ; how much less this
house which we have built?
"Yet have thou respect to the prayer of thy servant, and to his
supplications, O Lord my God, to hearken unto the cry and to the
prayer of thy servant and thy people.
"That thine eyes may be opened towards this house night and
day, even towards the place consecrated to thy name.
"And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant and of
thy people; and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place; and
when thou hearest, forgive.
"For they be thy people and thine inheritance. For thou didst
separate them from among all the people of the earth to be thine
inheritance.
"Response by the Brethren : — The Lord is gracious and his
mercy endureth forever.
The Grand Chaplain pronounces a benediction, the lodge is
covered, the Grand Master retires to his chair and a Masonic
anthem is sung. Then follows an oration by one of the brethren,
then a Masonic ode is sung, a collection is taken up for the relief
oi distressed Masons, their widows and orphans. The grand
360 The Review. 1903.
procession next marches three times around the lodge and re-
turns to the place whence it set out (p. 230).
We have copied the ceremony, though somewhat lengthy, since
expression after expression confirms our contention that what
churches are to other religious bodies. Masonic lodges and halls
are to Masons. There they assemble in the name and in the pres-
ence of what they call God ; they dedicate a house which they
have erected to the honor and glory of his name ; the walls of that
house are consecrated walls ; there should his Holy Word be
ever present to their minds and religion reign triumphant in
their hearts ; there is all the proper work of the institution to be
done. And after a dedication in corn, wine, and oil is made in
the name of the Supreme and Eternal God, the Grand Architect
of heaven and earth, the sublime words of Solomon at the dedica-
tion of the temple are applied to the halls of Masonry and wonder
is expressed that if the heaven of heavens can not contain the
deity, he nevertheless should dwell on earth in the house that
they had built. After all this who will deny that the Mason has
his own religious temples?
A word of warning however to the wise. Do not be caught by
the apparent beauty and orthodoxy of Masonic prayers. The
voice is indeed that of Jacob, but the skin, the skin is that of
Esau. We shall prove at the proper time that all this Christian
and Scriptural language is hollow mockery ; a cunning imitation,
but nothing more. When we have proved Masonry a religion, we
shall devote some time to examining the nature of its creed.
We ask at present a prudent caution.
3f 3? 3f
WHAT CAN LABOR GAIN FROM STATE OWNERSHIP?
Socialists are untiring in their efforts to convince the world of
labor that the panacea for all its ills is State ownership of the
means of transportation (postal and telegraph service, and rail-
roads) and of the means of production (mines, factories, and
land.) Let us suppose for a moment that the State owned all
these means of transportation and production, what would be the
condition of the laboring man, the employe?
Evidently, the State, as owner, e. g., of the coal mines, would be
obliged to provide the public with sufficient fuel. Hence, it
would be in duty bound to prevent any strike of its miners, forbid
any coalition of miners for that purpose, inhibit the collection
of strike funds, and suppress all incendiary speeches or articles
aiming at the inauguration of a strike.
Again : to insure a regular delivery of the necessary coa
No. 23. The Review. 361
supply, the State, as employer, would have to insist that every
' miner remain in a certain designated place, like a revenue col-
lector or a policeman. What is necessary for an effective police
force or a reliable postal service, would be required, mutatis
7nutandis, for a proper coal delivery.
Consequently, the liberty of the workingman would be greatly
curtailed.
It is hard to see what the miner would gain in point of wages.
The State, as well as any private owner, would be bound, on the
one hand, to obtain sufficient revenue from the exploitation of the
mines to meet the interest on the money invested, to put aside
something for the amortization of the debt, and, on the other
hand, to meet the requirements of the public for cheap fuel. The
clamor for cheap fuel might grow so loud and strong that the
legislators would be forced to cut down wages, as the only pos-
sible means of providing cheap fuel, since the interest and debt
would have to be met on the terms agreed to.
During the recent anthracite coal troubles there was talk of a
general miners' strike in order to help the hardcoal miners in
the East. By chance, the writer met a young miner from the
central part of Illinois, a former pupil of his school. "Well,
John," we asked, "are the Illinois miners going to strike?" "I
don't know. Father." "Have the miners any complaint to make
about their wages ? What can a miner earn by a day's work?"
''$5.00, easily."
We doubt whether any legislature would allow the miners an
average wage of $5.00 a day. Thus the miner would by State
ownership gain neither greater freedom nor higher wages. But
might he not have steadier work ? The average working-days in
the mines are no more than 200 a year. Suppose the men wanted
-to work 300 days. Could the State grant them that number?
Manifestly the demand for coal regulates the number of working-
days in the coal mines. If the State were to employ its miners
for 300 days, when 200 were sufficient to produce the necessary
amount of coal, it would produce 50% more coal than required, or
it would have to discharge one-third of the present working
force. If it had more coal than it needed, who would foot the
bill? If it discharged one-third of its working force, what would
become of the men thus thrown out of employment?
We can see no possible benefit for the laborer by State owner-
ship of the means of production either in the mines or in the
manufacturing industries or in land. The Socialists are mis-
leading the workingmen.
362
"THE DEVIL IN ROBES."
We have received the subjoined communication :
Cardinal's Residence.
Baltimore, Md., May 30th, 1903.
To Mr. Arthur Preuss,
Editor and Publisher The ReviBw,
St. Louis, Mo.
My dear Sir : — My attention has been called to a correspondence
in your paper in reference to an infamous publication entitled
"The Devil in Robes." The letter sig-ned by me in that corres-
pondence was written by me at the dictation of the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Curtis, V. G., during the Cardinal's absence in Europe. His
Eminence had no knowledge of the correspondence until recently.
Respectfully,
L. O'DoNovAJsr.
*
According to First Assistant Postmaster General, R. J. Wynne,
(see his letter in No. 21 of The Review, p. 328), Rev. Father
Louis O 'Donovan, under date of July 26th, 1901, "/V/ the na7ne of
Cardinal Gihhcns and as ChanceUor,'"'^^ forwarded a circular en-
titled "The Devil in Robes" to the Post Office Department ; and
when the Postmaster General, under date of July 29th, same year,
suggested to him that it would I probably be better to ignore the
circular, Father O'Donovan replied, under date of July 30th :
" . . . . in the name of Cardinal Gibbons,'\) I beg to thank you for your
prompt and kind attention. After consideration your suggestion
to ignore the obnoxious circular and thus avoid giving it notoriety
seems wise, and we gladh' would adopt the same as you sug-
gest " (Cfr. p. 328 of The Review.)
The Postmaster General, therefore, was fully justified in stat-
ing, as he did, in his first letter to The Review (see our No. 21,
p. 326): "About a year ago this matter was brought to the atten-
tion of His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, and he concurred in the
opinion of this Department that, to take any action toward ex-
cluding the circular from the mails would be to give the publica-
tion further advertisement and increased sales."
And His Eminence the Cardinal was equally justified in inform-
ing the editor of the Church Prog-? ess (see our No. 21, p. 326) that
he had "no recollection at all of ever having had any communica-
tion with the Postoflfice authorities" on this subject.
His name and authority had been used without his knowledge.
It is not for us to further locate the responsibility. We have ac~
*j Italics ours. — A. P.
t) Italics ours. — A. P.
No. 23. The Review. 363
complished what we set out to accomplish : we have shown that
the Post Office Department can not justly fall back upon ecclesi-
astical authority in an attempt to excuse its non-interference
with the transmission of "The Devil in Robes" circulars through
the mails.
It is the general sentiment of the Catholic press and clergy that
something ought to be done in this matter, if possible. Will His
Eminence not please ask the Postmaster General to do what he
offered to do in his letter to Father O'Donovan, viz: submit the
offensive circulars together with the infamous book entitled
"The Devil in Robes" to the United States Attorney General, to
ascertain if this sort of literature can be lawfully sent through
the mails?
If that official declares that it can, the Catholics of the country
will know that they will have to bring pressure to bear upon
their representatives in Congress to remedy an insufficient law.
If he declares that it is unlawful to mail such matter, the Post-
master General will no doubt forthwith* proceed to do his duty»
and if he does not, President Roosevelt can probably be induced
to exercise the necessary pressure.
In case His Eminence the Cardinal refuses to comply with this
suggestion, it will become the duty of the Catholic press to pre-
vail upon the authorities to take such action as may be necessary
in the interest of justice and public decency.
We Catholics are no pariahs who can be abused with impunity.
All that is necessary for us to get our full rights is to assert
them vigorously.
aa> ^p ^p
INSTINCT AND INTELLIGENCE IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM.
Instinct and Intelligence in the Animal Kingdom. A Critical
Contribution to Modern Animal Psychology, by Eric Was-
mann, S. J, Authorized translation of the second and enlarged
German edition. 171 pp. Herder, St. Louis, 1903.
P. Wasmann is one of the leading biologists of the present day,
and, as Prof. W. M. Wheeler, of Texas University, justly re-
marks, "has undoubtedly done much, at least in Germany,
towards the exposure of (this) pseudo-psychology and a more
rational conception of ant behavior. His long familiarity with
these animals and their guests has given him a singularly lucid
insight into their activities." {American Natiir'alist, XXXV.
808).
It was, therefore, a happy thought to undertake a translation
of Wasmann's publications, thus not only to make English speak-
ing scientists acquainted with a vast number of valuable biologi-
cal discoveries, but mainly to correct the wrong notions of in-
364 The Review. 1903.
stinct and intellig-ence that fill the minds of even our best Ameri-
can biolog-ists.
The principal purpose of the present book is a thorough in-
vestigation into the true conception of instinct and intelligence.
After having contrasted popular and scientific animal psychol-
ogy, P- Wasmann with great skill attacks the fundamental error
of modern animal psychology, which mistakes sensitive associa-
tions for intelligence, and clearly shows by evident examples that
this notion of intelligence is untenable. Then he explains
intelligence and instinct according to the principles of sound rea-
son. Defining instinct as a sensitive impulse to actions that are
unconsciously adaptive, he shows that "unconscious suitableness"
must be considered as the essential criterion of contradistinction
between intelligent and instinctive actions. Moreover, since the
sensitive impulse may either "immediately spring from the in-
herited dispositions of the powers of sensile cognition and appe-
tite" or "from the same inherited dispositions, but through the
medium of sense-experience," two groups of instinctive actions
may be distinguished, the second of which coincides with the so-
called intelligence attributed by modern writers to brute animals.
These notions explained in the III. chapter receive further de-
velopment through the solution of the principal objections ad-
vanced by Forel, Ziegler, Wheeler, Emery, etc. Here we may
mention especially chapters V. and VI. They are directed
against Emery, of whose objections Wasmann himself remarks
^'that he never met with a more thorough and accurate criticism."
Emery's chief error, that "general sense images and general con-
cepts are essentially the same and represent only different de-
grees of the same power of abstraction," is refuted in a verj^ lucid
and convincing manner. The last reply of Emery shows clearly
how important was the task that Wasmann undertook when he
wrote this book. Having called the human soul a "mysterious be-
ing," Emery confesses : "It is to no purpose, on my part, to con-
tinue my controversy with Wasmann. The divergence of our
views is due to a totally different conception of the world and of
human nature. The main question, whether the human mind
presents only a higher development of a disposition found in the
animals, or whether, on the contrary, it is something quite apart,
additional, and wanting in all other living beings, is far beyond
the question of intelligence. An answer to that main question
would determine the whole trend of science and thereby influence
its results."
The VII. chapter answers the question, whether the psychic
life of insects can be compared with that of the higher animals.
Thus the author meets an objection, made not only by brain-
No. 23. The Review. 365
anatomists but by all who, like Bethe, assume evolution in its wid-
est sense as a foregone conclusion. At the same time he firmly
establishes the important truth that there is a uniform critical
standard for comparative psychologj^ and that we are therefore
entitled to apply the same to the "intellig-ence" of ants and of
higher mammals. In the last chapter Wasmann in a very original
manner derives from biological facts six forms of acquiring
knowledge and concludes that "no trace of (real) intelligence,
that is to say, of a spiritual power of abstraction, is to be found
either in higher or in lower animals that his sensitive-spir-
itual soul makes man the crown of the visible creation the
image and likeness of the Supreme, Uncreated Spirit, of God, his
Creator."
Finally Wasmann advises all modern naturalists "to subject
these theistic views and doctrines to a thorough study before de-
claring them untenable."
The translation has been done fairly well. The many observa-
tions and experiments, made mostly by Wasmann himself, and the
fact that all abstract discussions have been avoided, must render
the book agreeable to the taste of modern naturalists, as well as
interesting and delightful to any man of education, especially to
advanced students of our colleges.
3f 3f sf
WHAT CREMATION MVST CONSISTENTLY LEAD TO.
Professor Seidenberger, of the Berlin University, recently
published in Der Tag^') some very pertinent remarks and sug-
gestions on the subject of cremation, which will no doubt be re-
ceived with mixed feelings by the advocates and promoters of
this mode of disposing of the human corpse. The Professor
begins by showing that even if no serious objection could be made
to cremation from a <f^<:/r/wa/standpoint, it nevertheless is repug-
nant to Christian sentiment.
"Christian usage herein follows the bent of the human heart.
The personal respect for the living naturally clings also to the
lifeless body ; we shrink from touching it, we reverently deposit
it in the bosom of the earth. The tomb favors the notion that the
body continues its rest in the cofl&n beneath the ground, and this
helps us to endure more easily the first pain of separation."
The adherents of cremation look upon such remarks as an out-
^ growth of misplaced sentimentality or religious narrowminded-
*"> We quote from the Kolnische Volkszeitung^ (Wochen-Ausgabe
fur das Ausland) No. 19.
366 The Review. 1903.
ness. They point to the want of space for cemeteries, and adduce
hyg-ienic and aesthetic reasons for their fad. In answer to ecclesi-
astical objections they frequently call attention to the fact that
the human bod}'- differs not essentially from the carcass of an
animal. This manner of viewing the matter has, as Prof. Seid-
enberger pertinently remarks, the advantage of appearing to be
progressive and scientific. "But is it so in fact? If we view the
human bod5% with the eyes of the anatomist, as a mere animal
organism, thenjthe same rules must apply to the former as to the
latter." Until recently' animal carcasses have been unceremoni-
ously cast away ; now, however, technical progress has made
it possible to gradually abandon this method of disposing of
them ; nevertheless cremation was not resorted to, but they
were utilized in one way or another. Why, enquires Prof. Seid-
enberger, should we not pursue the same course in regard to the
human body ?
"Those who defend cremation, but reject the idea of utilizing
the human corpse, are as much prejudiced as those who adhere to
earth burial and oppose cremation. In fact they are more re-
trogressive because they revert to a civilization long effete. The
idea of utilizing technicallj^ the human body has at first, until we
have become accustomed to it, something g-rewsome about it ;
and it will probably not be realized very soon. Nor is econ-
omic utilization the only one; another use suggests itself more
naturall}^ and to this I wish principally to direct attention, viz :
the scientific use. Our medical colleges are sorely in need of
dead bodies and the anatomical studies frequently suffer from
want of them."
Prof. Seidenberger thinks the csprits forts, who have long ago
laid aside the universal dread which people have of a corpse as
something unworthy of them, and are no longer hampered by a
pious belief in its inviolability^ should place their bodies at the
disposal of science rather than cremation. He therefore recom-
mends as an amendment to every bill in favor of cremation, which
may be introduced into the legislatures, that a corpse destined
for cremation must first pass through the dissecting room of a
medical college.
"Either we look upon the lifeless body with reverential awe
and a feeling of intangibility as the abandoned habitation of a
departed soul, and in this case it will as a rule be deposited in
the maternal bosom of Mother Earth and nature be allowed to take
its course ; or we regard it solely as a chemical product, in which^
case we should deal with it as with thelanimal carcass, i. e., utilize
it, if not for technical, at least for scientific purposes. Cremation
appears as a stopping halfway and a useless waste of material."
367
MINOR TOPICS.
In the Outlook Dr. James H. Canfield, librarian of Columbia
University, says that for the special required reading" by the
students some 6,000 different works are reserved from general
circulation during each academic year.
This showing- is impressive. The books are reserved, and more
or less convincing- proof of the zeal of the student in reading them
is duly offered to the instructor. It is doubtful, however, whether
an account of the reading of students in their hours of leisure
would be equally edifying. Without much definite information
on which to base a conclusion, the N. Y. Evening Post, well in-
formed in college matters, hazards the opinion (issue of May 20th)
"that there is less "outside" reading than a generation ago. Col-
lege life is more complex, more crowded with other interests.
The pursuit of athletics is keener, more time and energy are
g-iven to training for the various teams, and to managing- them
and watching them practice. With the growth of wealth, the so-
cial side of coUeg-e life has developed ; there are more clubs, more
entertainments of one kind and another. And, finally, the very
•extension of the"collaterar' reading, which Dr. Canfield describes,
leaves the serious student less disposed to other reading-. Weary
of books, his mind naturally seeks a different outlet for its activi-
ty. The chances are that the colleg-e student who reads a daily
paper pays chief attention to the sporting- columns ; if he buys a
magazine it is more likely to be Munsey's than the Atlantic. His
poet is probably Kipling, his novelist the author of the last big-
seller, and he has no favorite essayist.
Mr. Otto A. Singenberg-er writes to us from Munich, under
date of May 25th :
"In your No. 17, Vol. 10, I read a notice by Rev. Dr.
JBaarth, concerning- the use of tha organ during the Mass of
Holy Thursday. As this information was new to me, I investi-
gated and was informed by good authority thus : First of all, the
newest Ceremoniale Episcoporum was printed something like
twenty years ago. There will not be any new Ceremoniale Epis-
coporum edited for some time to come — if ever.
No rule allowing the organ to be used at the Sanctus and Bene-
dictus during the Mass of Holy Thursday is in existence, but the
old rule is still the standard ; the organ may not be used after
the Gloria during the Mass of Holy Thursday, and is not to be
used until the Gloria of Holy Saturday, neither for the support of
the singers nor the voluntaries.
I would like you to publish this note, if possible, in order to
prevent more abuses of the rules of the Church concerning its
music."
At the present date, the Steel Trust's plan for raising capital
for working improvements seems to have resulted thus : The
company receives in cash only the bankers' syndicate's $20,000,-
368 The Review. 1903.
000. In return for this, it issues $20,000,000 bonds. But it also
pays to the s^^ndicate, as commission, 4 per cent, on the total
$150,000,000 bonds issued, whether for cash or for stock conver-
sion. The commission thus amounts to $6,000,000. The com-
pany's net receipts for the $20,000,000 bonds are, the refore, $14,-
000,000, or an average price of only 70. This result, in the opin-
ion of the best financiers of the land, has added no little weight
to the conviction that "old-fashioned and long-tested methods in
finance should be abandoned very reluctantly, and only on posi-
tive proof that a sounder and surer method has been discovered."
The Steel Trust's bonds have fallen to below 80. Clearly, all is
not well with the great corporation, and we can imagine with what
anxiet}'^ its man}" employes who have been inveigled into buying
bonds, are looking forward to future developments.
A priest of the Syracuse Diocese writes The Review :
"A prominent gentleman asked me the other day, why Catholics
are allowed to be members of the Knights of Columbus and not
Freemasons — and I could not answer him. Can you? This man
is a prominent Mason and thinks that he knows all about Masonry.
For this reason only he does not like the Catholic Church."
The gentleman referred to might be enlightened by the articles
on Freemasonry now appearing in The Review. His query
about the Knights of Columbus shows how the secret features of
this organization tend to confuse the minds of those outside the
Church.
*>•
The first number for the current year of ihe. Analcda sacri
Ordi'n is J^racd/cafof'uni, puhVished at Rome, contains a collection
of important documents bearing on the religious situation in the
Philippines. How the poor ignorant fiatives have been stirred
up against the "friars" is shown by a petition addressed by an
important parish near Manila to the Apostolic Delegate, from
which we will quote one exceedingly characteristic sentence :
"Send us for a parish priest a Dominican, an Augustinian, a
Recolleto, a Franciscan, a Jesuit, a Lazarist ; we shall gladly re-
ceive any one whom you may send ; but for God's sake, don't
send us a friar!'"
In the opinion of the Miri'or (No. 15), medicine kills more per-
sons in this country every year than any other single agency that
we know of. "If people paid more attention to diet and hygiene,
if they made more use of their senses than of drugs, they would
enjoy a greater degree of health and happiness, be able better to
stand the wear and tear of modern life, and not experience any
craving for the assistance of that treacherous guide to the sani-
tarium and the grave — the nerve-stimulant."
Mr. E. L. Scharf, manager of the Washington "Catholic News
Agency," informs us that he no longer teaches at the Catholic
University.
}l tCbe IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., June 18, 1903. No. 24.
DETERMINING THE DATE OF CHRIST'S CRVCIFIXION.
HK Gottingen Academy of Sciences publishes in its official
organ a paper by Professor Achelis of Konigsbergf,
wherein that learned scholar attempts to determine the
true date of our Savior's death.
Upon calculations made for him by the Royal Astronomical and
Mathematical Institute of Berlin, Professor Achelis has con-
structed the following ingenious theory :
Jesus was crucified on a Friday (Math. 27, 62 : 28, 1, Mark 15,
42. Luke 23, 54. John 19, 31.) According to St. John, it was the
fourteenth day of Nisan (the Spring month), according to the
synoptics, the fifteenth. Pilate was governor from 26 to 36 ; on
Easter day 36 he had already been deposed. From 26 to 36 the
fifteenth of Nisan never once fell upon a Friday, while the four-
teenth did, twice, in 30 and 33, which was the 6th and 3rd of April
33. Certain observations in the gospels of St. Luke and St. John
will now help us to determine the true date. According to St.
Luke, Christ entered upon his public career immediately after
the appearance of the Baptist, which took place "in the fifteenth
year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being gover-
nor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his
brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis, and
Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina ; under the high priests Annas and
Caiphas" (Luke 3, 1-2.) This must have been between August
19th A. D. 28 and August 18th A. D. 29. According to John, the
Jews said to Jesus shortly after his first appearance in public :
"Six and forty years was this temple in building," etc. (John 2,
20), which brings us to the year 27-28. Now, as Luke reports one
year of His activity and John two (or three), both evangelists
have evidently meant 30 to be the year of the Master's death.
This statement is confirmed by the fact that the 6th of April A.
370 The Review. 1903.
D. 30 was a Friday. Hence we may justly assume April 6th, 30,
to have been the first and original Good Friday.
So far Professor Achelis, in substance. It has been objected
to his theory that the leap-years were first introduced by the
Gregorian Calendar. But this objection is based upon a false as-
sumption ; the reckoning of leap-years dates back to Julius
Caesar. However, there is another, more serious difficulty. Ac-
cording to the Julian Calendar,ithe 6th of April, 1903, fell upon a
Sunday, ^ow since, according to this method of computing time,
the week-days invariably fall upon the same days of the month
every 28th year, going back 67X28 or 1876 years, we find the 6th
of April A. D. 27, to have been a Sunday. The year 28 having
been a leap-year, the 6th of April A. D. 30, must have been a
Thursday. If, bowever, we take the day of Christ's death to have
been the 3rd of April, 33, we find that it was a Friday.
S& !^ M
•^v ^v ^v
AN AMERICAN PROTESTANT PREACHER ON LEO XIII.
Rev. Dr. S. D. McConnell, in a paper on "Pope Leo XIII." in the
June Booklover^s Magazine, says among other things :
"The Venerable Joachim Pecci may be regarded from several
points of view, and he is an interesting figure from each of them.
He is probably the oldest clergyman living ; he is the Bishop of
Rome ; as Pope he is head of the most puissant world power in
existence. Besides these he has some claim to regard as a scholar,
and he ranks probably first among living diplomatists."
Leo as a scholar is characterized thus :
"As a scholar he is known best, indeed we might say solely,
for the possession of a peculiarly flexible and pure Latin stj^le.
This vehicle of expression he has used, so far as the public
knows, first in the composition of a number of encyclical letters,
wherein he has been able to convey the most uncompromising
papal assertion in the most gracious and winning form. In the
promulgation of these world utterances he has chosen times and
seasons with a singularly profound sagacity. Every one has ap-
peared at a time when its issue was best fitted to promote the im-
perium of Rome. He has also used his exquisite Latinitj' in a
few short poems which have the true classic flavor, and, like all
the Latin classics, owe their charm rather to their form than
their matter."
Of the Pontiff's personality Dr. McConnell says :
"Through all his words and actions shines a gracious and at-
tractive personality. As priest of an obscure mountain parish,
as bishop of an obscure see, as Apostolic delegate and nuncio,
and as pope, his personal life has ever been pure and winning."
371
THE "CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS. "
If the Catholic Citizen {M.diy 23d) is correctly informed, the "Cath-
olic Foresters" are getting alarmed over the increasing' mor-
tality in their organization. About two years ago they appointed
a committee to revise the rates and classify the risks. It is re-
freshing to learn that the chairman, "Mr. Kelly has devoted two
years of his time to studying out the problem," and that now
the report is about ready for submission to the convention to be
held next August in Dubuque, Iowa.
According to the Citizen this report provides for a material in-
crease of rates in one of two ways: Either on the "natural pre-
mium" plan, simply charging the actual cost of insurance from
year to year, which means a steadily increasing charge, becoming
practically prohibitive at age 65 or over. The other way is the
so-called "level premium" basis, on which all of the regular life
insurance companies are founded, charging a higher rate for age
at entry than the actual cost of insurance amounts to, but laying
aside the overpayment as a reserve drawing interest and thereby
maintaining a uniform or level rate during the member's life.
It is to be left to the convention what plan will be adopted. If
The Review has any opinion to offer, it is that the members may
promptly agree to readjust their insurance business on a perman-
ent basis, doing^ Justice to all alike. As the Catholic Citizen observes,
the "step rate" plan (steadily increasing rates) will have the effect
of forcing the old men out. What does that mean?
The Foresters commenced operations (according to the Penn-
sylvania Insurance Report) in 1883, about 20years ago. As usual,
the concern was started as an assessment organization, with a
scale of premium rates and benefits utterly regardless of scien-
tific principles. As a result, after 20 years' existence the
managers discover that the ever increasing mortality will
bankrupt the order, unless the charges for membership are
properly adjusted to pay for the liability involved. For j'ears the
members did not pay enough for the risk carried by the Order.
Undoubtedly there is a large number of members who, having
belonged to the order for a long time, are now advanced in years
and probably not fit to pass a satisfactory examination for insur-
ance in another company. Any adjustment of matters on a basis
which does not permit these men to continue their insurance at
a reasonable rate, would be rank injustice and should not be tol-
erated. These men have joined the society in good faith, relying
upon the promises of their officers about the quality of the insur-
ance furnished, and must not suffer now, because said officers
did not know what they were talking about. For that reason
the level premium plan seems to be the only equitable solution of
372 The Review. 1903.
the problem. In a nutshell, let the Order decide upon adequate
premium rates (almost an}^ "non-participating" rate table of reg-
ular life insurance companies will answer), let the members pay
the rate for age at entr}^ and charge the policy with the reserve
which should have been accumulated during time of membership.
Said charge could form a lien on the policy or death benefit,
must carry interest at at least 4 per cent, per annum, which
should be paid with premium every year. Any new members join-
ing would pay the regular rates for their respective ages, but
having no debts to make up, would escape the charge on their
policies and consequently escape interest payments also, thus
getting at once the full benefit of the insurance paid for.
On the 31st of December, 1901, the "Catholic Foresters" had a
membership of about 95,000, certainly enough to start a substan-
tial life insurance company, even if on account of increased rates
some members should go out. It is sincerely to be wished that
this important matter should not only be settled at the next con-
vention, but settled right. The way indicated above is the only
safe and eqiiitahle method.
This brings up another point. A short time ago The Review had
quite an animated argument with the Denver Catholic on dicconni
of the "Catholic Mutual Benefit Association," which is conducted
on a plan similar to that of the "Catholic Foresters" who have now
discovered their serious mistake. Although the C. M. B. A. was
plainly warned regarding the dangers of its system, The Review
in reply was charged with "ignorance, misrepresentation," etc.,
and up to date the C. M. B. A. is still obtaining new^ members
under virtually "false pretenses," because its members are led
to believe that the present low rates will remain so forever, which
is impossible. In a few years the C. M. B. A. will have to reor-
ganize or go out of business.
The same holds for the "Catholic Ladies of Ohio," about whom
The Review had some remarks in recent issues. In fact, the
list of such concerns could be considerably extended.
Only a short time ago the"CatholicProtectiveAssociation of Wis-
consin" was reorganized on the level premium plan. The Knights
of Columbus have also increased their rates, accepting the "step
rate" plan up to a certain age, when the premium becomes level
thereafter. The "Widows' and Orphans' Fund" of the G. R. C.
Central Verein is endeavoring to form a new organization on the
level premium plan and its secretar}' is publishing long articles in
the German Catholic papers showing the need of the change.
And so the good work goes on.
To an insurance man having the reputation of his business and
the welfare of his fellow-beings at heart, this progress is very
No. 24. The Review. 373
gratifying'. Yet he wonders why we have so many different or-
ganizations under different management, when all are working
for the same end?
Life insurance for Catholics in Wisconsin, other circumstances
being equal, does not cost more nor less than for Catholics in
Ohio, Pennsylvania, or any other State in the temperate zone.
There is no reason why the Wisconsin people should form an
insurance company of their own, independent of the "Foresters
or the "Widows' and Orphans' Fund." The premium rates
for all of them will be nearly alike, and could be made
entirely so, the terms and conditions of the policies could be
made to correspond ; by placing the whole organization under
one management, considerable money could be saved in the ex-
pense account and by concentrated effort more could be accom-
plished than under existing circumstances.
The Review is well aware that this is a delicate subject to
touch upon. But there is no use in mincing matters. In busi-
ness affairs this is a period of consolidation, and the management
of most of the Catholic societies"dabbling"in insurance has shown
in the past that if their of&cers were well-meaning men, they were
without any training for, or even knowledge of, the business they
so confidently undertook to operate. It took even the present
worthy secretary of the "Widows' and Orphans' Fund" (to-day
one of the best advocates of the "level premium" plan among
Catholic fraternity men) a comparatively long time to be con-
vinced of the errors of the assessment plan. Therefore, instead
of permitting so many different people to experiment in insur-
ance matters at the expense and risk of their constituents, it
were the best plan in the opinion of the writer, to form one great
life insurance company for Catholics, have it properly incorpor-
ated and amenable to supervision by the insurance departments'
of the different States, and then make a determined effort to
enroll in it the members of the present many mutual insurance
orders.
All Catholic insurance societies conducted on the level pre-
mium plan should be incorporated. The State insurance de-
partments would correct any errors in bookkeeping regarding
reserve and premium charges before much mischief could be done,
while the official reports would give a clear understanding of the
financial progress of the companies. That would inspire confi-
dence and assist in increasing the membership. But since all
such societies practically would be identical in purpose. The
Review thinks that one large corporation would be far preferable
to the many existing small ones.
374
MASONIC WORSHIP AND MORALITY.
An altar, a temple, a ritual, prayers, hj^mns, and anthems are
unintellig-ible except a^ accompaniments of a worship. On pages
199 and 200 of Mackey's Masonic Ritualist, we are told that the
feasts of the Holy Saints John are days set apart by the fraternity
to worship the Grand Architect of the Universe ; to implore his
blessing's on the great family of mankind ; and to partake of the
feast of brotherly affection ; that also the Chaplain is on these
occasions to perform divine service.
But Masonr}" has another and secret worship within the re-
cesses of its lodge, the fact of which is clearly stated by the Ritu-
alist, but the nature of which is not allowed in print. It would,
doubtless, not be edifying to other than Masonic eyes.
We are reading on p. 248 of Behavior in a Lodge. "You are
not," says our monitor, "to behave yourself ludicrously or
jestingly while the lodge is engaged in what is serious and solemn;
nor use an^' unbecoming language upon any pretense whatso-
ever ; but to pay due reverence to your masters, wardens, and
fellows and put them to worship."
This worship is called the lord's work, the rules for which are
given on the preceding page (247).
"The master knowing himself to be able of cunning shall un-
dertake the lord's work as reasonably as possible "
"Both the master and the Masons receiving their wages justly
shall be faithful to the lord "
"None shall discover envy at the prosperity of another, nor
supplant him, nor put him out of his work, if he be capable to
furnish the same ; for no man can finish the work so much to the
lord's profit "
"It is impossible to describe these things in writing (p. 245) and
every brother must attend in his place and learn them in a way
peculiar to this fraternity ; only candidates maj' know that no
master should take an apprentice unless he has sufficient employ-
ment for him, and unless he be a perfect youth, having no maim
or defect in his body that may render him incapable of learning
the art of serving his Master's Lord "
This is the worship for which the temple is consecrated ; it is
for this that in the consecration prayer we find the petition (p.
223): "May all the proper work of our institution that may be
done in this house be such as thy wisdom may approve and thy-
goodness prosper."
But what wonder that there should be worship when there is
in Masonry an order of priesthood, and that a high priesthood :
a priesthood restricted to Masons and conferred by Masonrj\
No. 24. The Review. 375
The subject is treated with considerable fulness on p. 420 and
the pag-es immediately following.
"The desig-n of this degree,'' says the Ritualist, "so far as it re-
lates to its symbolic ceremonies, appears to be to present to the
candidate the bond of brotherly love which should unite those
who, having been elevated to the highest station by their com-
panions, are thus engaged in preserving the landmarks of the
order unimpaired and in protecting by their high authority, the
integrity and honor of the institution. Thus separated from the
general mass of laborers in the field of Masonry and consecrated
to a sacred mission as teachers of its g-lorious truths, those who
sit in the tabernacle as representatives of the ancient high priest-
hood are, by the impressive ceremonies of this degree, reminded
of the intimate friendship and fellowship that should exist be-
tween all those who have been honored with this distinguished
privilege."
The penalty for unlawfully assuming the priesthood is then set
forth (p. 430) in the Bible account of the punishment of Core,
Dathan, and Abiron (Num.xvi, 1 — 35), clearly implying the parity
of Masonic high priesthood and Aaronic. Indeed the Ritualist
tells us that this passage of Scripture is "sometimes read in ex-
plaoation of an important part of the investiture" (p. 430).
After this warning not to assume this highest station in the
lodge, this consecration to a sacred mission as teachers of the
glorious truths ot Masonry, this sitting in the tabernacle as rep-
resentatives of the Ancient High Priesthood, we are allowed to
pass on to the Benediction, which should be recited at the anoint-
ing of a High Priest.
"When a High Priest is anointed, the following benediction
should be recited.
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Speak unto Aaron
and unto his sons saying. On this wise shall ye bless the children
of Israel saying unto them the Lord bless thee and keep thee,
and be gracious unto thee ; the Lord lift up his countenance upon
thee and give thee peace. — Num. vi, 22-26."
Our guide then continues :
"The ceremony of anointing with oil preparatory to the assump-
tion of any sacred office as that of king or priest, was practised
both among the Egyptians and the Jews. Among the monuments
of the former, many representations are to be seen of the per-
formance of this holy rite. The Scriptures mention three in-
stances particularly in which unction was administered ; namely,
in the case of Aaron on his introduction into the priestly office,
and of David and Solomon on their consecration as kings. The
anointing was in all these cases viewed as a symbol of santifica-
• 376 The Review. 1903.
tion, of a designation to the service of God or to a holy and sacred
use."
And as if this were not sufficient to impress upon us the sacred
character of the Masonic High Priesthood, the words of St. Paul
to the Hebrews, chap, vii, in which he speaks of the eternal
priesthood of Christ, "are," says the Ritualist, "read as explana-
tory of the ofl&ce of the priesthood. It may be very appropriately
used as a concluding charge : —
'For this Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of the Most High
God (who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the
kings, and blessed him ; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part
of all ; first being by interpretation King of Righteousness, and
after that also King of Salem, which is King of Peace ; without
father, without mother, without descent; having neither beginning
of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Sen of God) abideth
a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, un-
to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the
office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the
law, that is of their brethren, though they come out of the loins
of Abraham. For he testifieth. Thou art a priest forever, after
the order of Melchizedek. And inasmuch as not without an oath
he was made priest. For those priests (under the Levitical law)
were made without an oath by him that said unto him : The Lord
sware, and will not repent. Thou art a priest for ever, after the
order of Melchizedek. Heb. vii, 1-6.'"
We have quoted the text as it is found in the Ritualist. It in-
troduces parentheses where same are to be found in the original ;
introduces other verses than those contained between the 1st and
6th ; and sedulously omits all mention of Christ, the main theme
of the Apostle. But these things we merely mention in passing ;
the existence and nature of the Masonic high priesthood are to
us the direct objects of present interest.
The High Priest presides in a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons,
even the king being subordinated to him. "His title is Most Ex-
cellent (p. 343). He represents Joshua, or Jeshua, who was the
Son of Josedech and the High Priest of the Jews, when they re-
turned from the Babylonian exile. He is seated in the East and
clothed in the apparel of the Ancient High Priest of the Jews.
He wears a robe of blue, purple, scarlet, and white linen and is
decorated with a breastplate and mitre. On the front of the
mitre are inscribed the words 'Holiness to the Lord.' His jewel
is a mitre." i
A High Priest elect is installed as head of a chapter by the
Grand High Priest. This we learn from the ceremonies of the
No. 24. The RE\^Ew. 377
order, Section II, Annual Installation of the officers of a chapter,
p. 456 and those that immediately follow. His installation ends
with his induction into the Sanctum Sanctorum. "You will now
assume your seat in the Sanctum Sanctorum," says the Grand
High Priest, "and proceed to the installation of your subordinate
officers."
"The Hig-h Priest is then inducted into the Sanctum Sanctorum."
(pp. 463-464).
Now please do not overlook the fact that the priesthood in
Masonry is the governing body. The Grand High Priest pre-
sides in a Grand Chapter; the High Priest in an ordinary chapter.
"When the Grand High Priest is absent from the Grand Chap-
ter," (we are told, p. 495,) the chair shall be taken by the Deputy
(High Priest). If both be absent, the Grand King, or, if he be
likewise absent, the Grand Scribe must take the chair. If all
these officers are absent, the Senior Grand Past Officer present
must preside. If no such Grand Officer be present, the duty will
devolve on the High Priest of the oldest Chapter present.
"When the High Priest of a Chapter is absent, his duties must
be performed by the King and Scribe in succession. If they
should likewise be absent, the chair must be taken by a Past High
Priest of the Chapter ; but if no such Past High Priest be pres-
ent, the Chapter can not be opened" (p. 496).
The foregoing quotations have, we think, abundantly demon-
strated both the existence and the nature of the Masonic priest-
hood. It is, according to Masonry, a body of men segregated
from the common mass of laborers, consecrated to the sacred
mission of teaching the glorious truths of Masonry, representa-
tives of the ancient priesthood, clad in priestly robes and wear-
ing the priestly mitre, seated in the Sanctum Sanctorum, to whose
priesthood the words of the Apostle describing the eternal priest-
hood of Christ are applied, a body supreme in the affairs of Ma-
sonry. And this is the mere benevolent association that the
Catholic Church must approve ! this the organization which she
ignorantly condemns !
The creed of Masonry we are taught early in our little volume.
It is seemingly plain and simple'and perfectly elastic. "A belief
in God constitutes the whole creed of a Mason— at least the only
creed that he is obliged to profess" (p. 44). We take the word pro-
fess in the sense of exteriorly, for we shall see that the creed of the
Mason is more extensive. It would be hard to have special altars,
and temples, and a ritual, and a worship, and a priesthood, and
hymns, and anthems, and ceremonies, all thoroughly determined
and specially significative, based only upon this indefinite and
generic idea of some deity or other. This is not, however, the
378 The Review. 1903.
place for such discussion ; we are merely establishing' the fact
that Masonry has its creed.
We shall treat the subject of Masonic morality hereafter in an
article by itself. For the moment we are satisfied with what we are
taug-ht on p. 338, namely, that the Mason in his initiation "acq uires
the first elements of morality." He who acquires something", cer-
tainly lacked it. He who has not the first elements of a thing, was
assuredly utterly destitute of that thing. If therefore we have to
g-o to Masonry for the first elements of morality, if only the ini-
tiated possess them. Masonic morality is a morality peculiar to
Masonrj^ for the first elements of natural morality are received
not from Masonry but from nature, the first elements of Chris-
tian morality are received not from Masonry but from the Church.
That Masonry has its own special theory about both the human
soul and God, we learn from its own lips, at the very threshold of
the lodge. It is treating of the shock of enlightenment, a shock
in which we too participate, since the repeated assertions that
Masonry was a mere benevolent society had ill prepared us for the
revelation.
"The material light which sprung forth at the fiat of the Grand
Architect when darkness and chaos were dispersed, has ever
been in Masonry a favorite symbol of that intellectual illumina-
tion which it is the object of the order to create in the minds of
its disciples, whence we have justly assumed the title of the 'Sons
of Light.' This mental illumination — this spiritual light, which
after his new birth is the first demand of the new candidate, is
but another name for Divine Truth — the truth of God and of the
human soul — the nature and essence of both^ — which constitutes
the chief design of all Masonic teaching" K.P- 33).
This "enlightenment" is indeed a shock to us. It is only b}^ initia-
tion in Masonry that we. can learn the nature and essence of God,
the nature and essence of the human soul ; Masonry must create
this spiritual light in us and to do so is the chief design of its
teaching. Its God, therefore, is not the God that we revere, adore,
and love, for Him we know without having recourse to Masonry ;
our soul is not, according to Masonry, what we believe it to be,
but something else which Masonry' and Masonry alone can reveal
to us. Such is its contention. In plain words, therefore, it affirms
what we have asserted, namely, that it has its own theorj^ about
the human soul, it has its own theory about God. We abstain
from further comments here, reserving for our next article what
more we have to say. We are satisfied with establishing that
Masonry is a religion and not a mere benevolent society, as the
word is commonly used ; that it is a distinct religious society,
and not the mere handmaid of religion. We have proved point by
No. 24. The Review. 379
point that it has its own altar ; its own temple ; its own priest-
hood ; its own worship ; its own ritual ; its own prayers ; its own
ceremonies ; its own hymns and anthems ; its own religious fes-
tivals ; its own consecrations and anointings ; its own creed ; its
own morality ; its own theory of the human soul and the relations
of such soul to the deity ; its own God. These things certainly
constitute a religion, false though that religion may be. Denial
is useless. The fact is proven. The Church weighed well her
words when she called Masonry a religious sect. Such it is, and
as such she must forbid her children to embrace it. No reason-
able man can ask her to keep apostates in her bosom ; and every
Catholic who becomes a Mason, by that very fact embraces an-
other religion, becomes an apostate, has deserted the Church be-
fore she cuts him off as a dead member.
3r 3f 3f
THE "NINE FRIDAYS."
There has taken place lately in the columns of the Tablet ^.n
animated discussion of the devotion known as the "Nine Fridays."
In view of the fact that "there is a tendency on the part of some
critics to regard the Nine Fridays as if they were an essential
feature of devotion to the Sacred Heart, and were identified with
the organization of the Apostleship of Prayer," Fr. Thurston, S.
J., points out that the so-called Twelfth Promise of Blessed Mar-
garet Mary, that referring to the Nine Fridays, was only added
when the text of Blessed Margaret Mary's letters was printed
shortly after her beatification in 1864. At the same time, how-
ever, he declares that "there seems to be no reasonable doubt
that the letter of Blessed Margaret Mary (No. S3) which contains
the reference to the Nine Fridays is really authentic."
The objections that have been raised against this devotion may
be briefly summarized thus :
The Church desires that the faithful should, as far as is pos-
sible, receive Holy Communion on Sundays and especially on
solemn festivals. But the faithful have to a large extent given up
doing so wherever the devotion of the Nine Fridays is established.
The grand old custom of receiving Holy Communion on the first
Sunday in the month has almost entirely fallen into desuetude,
as a consequence of this new devotion.
Weak souls, knowing nothing, perhaps, about the Nine Fridays,
and seeing so few go to Holy Communion, are less likely to have
a desire for sacramental grace and therefore less likely to ap-
proach the sacraments than if the altar rails were crowded with
communicants on Sundays as of old.
The "Twelth Promise," printed and circulated without any ex-
380 The Review. 1903.
planation. is likely to lead to grave abuse of the Blessed Sacra-
ment. It is. moreover, a stumbling-block to those outside the
Church.
Many Catholics, not necessarily illiterate, are also led by this
alleged promise into the delusion that once they have made the
Nine Fridays, salvation is secure. This is a perfectly natural re-
sult of a too literal interpretation of this alleged promise.
As Father Tyrrell, S. J., so well says : "We always try the path
of least resistance We are ever the too-ready dupes of any-
one who pretends to have found out some trouble-saving method
of salvation ; something we can get through once and for all and
have done with ; some substitute for weary vigilance and tire-
some perseverance and bitter mortification .... We clutch eagerly
at a miraculous medal, a girdle, an infallible prayer, a scapular, a
novena. a pledge, a vow — all helps if rightly used as stimulants
to greater exertions, greater vigilance, greater prayerfulness ;
but if adopted as substitutes for labor, for the eternally necessary
and indispensable means, then no longer helps but most hurtful
superstitions." (External Religion, pp. 89 sq.)
!^ !^ M
<^V ^V ■J^V"
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
Short Sermons on Catholic Doctrine. By the Rev. P. Hehel, S. J.
51 sermons. 206 pages. 8*^. Price $1.25. Jos. F. Wagner, New
York.
The book contains some good material, but hardly enough to
offset its shortcomings. It pretends to be a plain and practical
exposition of the faith, but whether it be practical to devote thirty-
five discourses to the five principal truths every Christian ought
to know, and then to explain the whole Apostles' Creed in fifteen
short sermons, the reader may decide for himself. Each sermon
is preceded by a synopsis, but in several instances we are tempted
to believe that the synopsis was made by some one who had not
read the sermon. For instance, sermon XV. has a logical division
of proofs for a single subject, the unity of God, but the synopsis
tells us that "The third article of the Creed, etc.," which is not in
question at all.
The English is not devoid of Germanisms (cfr. pp. 13, 23, 17,
56 et passim). On page 23, e. g., the word "hyperorthodox" is
used to render St. Paul's words to the Athenians, that they were
rather superstitious — snperstitiosioreSy — which the German ver-
sion of Allioli translates by ''uherglduhig.'" On page 56 the trans-
lator uses the English version in quoting Ps. Ciii, 4 : "Thou
No. 24. The Review. 381
makest thy ang-els spirits, and thy ministers a burning fire," but
continues to translate from the German : "Observe well these
words : "Winds and fire ! The first is a symbol, etc." How can
he brings in "winds," when the text says "spirits"? Simply because
theGerman version of the psalm reads" W/nde" instead of "spirits."
We have on hand for review some more volumes of sermons
from the same house, which we shall notice as soon as time and
space permit.
De Carentia Ovarioi'tun relate ad MaU'inwniiim. Auctore N.
Casacca, O. S. A. Typis Jos. E. Wag-ner, Neo-Eboraci. S'',
paginae 35. 35 cts.
Tribus partibus, la argumentis propriis, 2a et 3a per modum
refutationis theseon contra suam tum a P. Lehmkuhl, S. J., turn
a P. Hild, C. SS. R., allatarum, carentiam ovariorum in femina
esse impedimentum dirimens matrimonium cl. auctor hoc libello
stabilire conatus est. Nimis probare nobis videntue gravissima
quae affert argumenta, quippe quae apta sint ad adstruendum
etiam in femina senili impotentiae proprie dictae impedimentum.
Admissa, argumenti gratia, veritate Vaesistheoreticd^ \.avs\en prac-
tice standum erit judicio legitimi legis interpretis, Congr. scil. S.
Off., quae adhuc nil aut ^/'o aut contra definiendum censuit, sed
in propositis sibi casibus non simul decrevit, matrimonium non
esse inhibendum. Quale quidem responsum etiam dehinc ex-
pectandum censeamus, quia extirpationem ovariorum totalem
sine ullo dubii discrimine stabilire testimoniomedicorum semper
difficile erit.
The eighty-third birthday of Mr. Herbert Spencer has
brought out, among other things, extracts from the anonymous
diary of a friend of his early days, when he was on the engineer-
ing staff of the London and Birmingham Railway. Spencer, ap-
parently, was neither companionable nor particularly popular.
Still he was human enough to enjoy, and even to perpetrate, a
practical joke upon a comrade, Hensman by name :
"He inserted a piece of tracing paper daily inside the leather
lining of Hensman's hat. In a few days the hat was a tight fit ;
remarks were made to the victim on the palpable enlargement of
his cranium, which he verified by stating that his hat gave evi-
dence of the truth of the observation by the gradual tightening of
the fit. Great sympathy was expressed on the alarming symptom,
and great fun was caused by Hensman's consternation."
The idea of Herbert Spencer playing practical jokes will prob-
ably be new and startling to most people.
382
MINOR TOPICS.
To suppress a strike on the State railways in Victoria, Aus-
tralia, Mr. Irvine, the Prime Minister of that colony, has intro-
duced in the Leg-islative Assembly a bill containing" provisions
which are thus described :
"It provides that any employe who left work without giving-
fourteen days' notice, will be assumed to have joined the strike
and to be guilty of an offence. The penalty laid down for a breach
of the act is one hundred pounds, or a year's imprisonment, and
oflFending employes become ineligible for future government em-
ployment in any capacity whatever. The bill further prohibits
interference of any sort with the employes, and under the terms
of the act any persons who collect or distribute strike funds or
act in a manner likely to encourage the strike, will be guilty of an
offense. The bill empowers the police to destroy printed docu-
ments encouraging the strike, and provides that the printers of
such documents shall be regarded as offenders. It further de-
clares all strike meetings unlawful and empowers the police to
arrest persons attending them. Such meetings will be unlawful
if four strikers are present, and a refusal to disperse renders all
persons attending them liable to arrest without warrant."
To which the Freeman''s [ournal {yid^y 30th) adds :
"Mr. Irvine would make an ideal Dublin Castle ofi&cial in coer-
cion times in Ireland."
Will Father Lambert kindly tell us what Mr. Irvine should have
done under the circumstances? We can not help thinking that
when transportation is nationalized (some say "peoplelized") it
must serve the common welfare ; the people expect uninterrupted
service ; how can the government furnish such uninterrupted
service and at the same time permit strikes, or whatever leads to
strikes? We should be thankful to the reverend editor of the
Freeman for a candid explanation.
Leon Mead notes in the Booklover^s Magazine (I, 6) that many
words generally accepted as new are really old. For instance,
most people fancy that the word "cj'^clone" came from Kansas or
some of those Western States where the atmospheric eddy, often
a thousand miles in diameter, rises in all its terrible fury. But
he says it was first used in 1848 by Henry Piddington, President
of the Marine Courts of Enquiry, Calcutta, in a book published
in London. The author wished to distinguish by some specific
term the great rotary storms of the tropic seas — "typhoons" in
the East Indies, "hurricanes" in the West Indies — and wanted a
convenient word to describe these storms as a whole. Tornado
would not answer ; for a tornado is a local rotary disturbance,
often only a few hundred feet in diameter. Piddington suggested
that "we might, perhaps, for all this last class of circular or high-
ly curved winds, adopt the term 'cyclone,' from the Greek kuklos
— which signifies, amongst other things, the coil of a snake — ex-
No. 24. The Review. 383
pressing sufficiently the tendency to circular motion in these
meteors."
Blizzard, too, he says, is an older word than many persons may
suppose. Mr. Albert Matthews, of Boston, has found it in the
Virginia Literary Museum for 1829, where it was defined as "a
violent blow— perhaps from Blitz (German), lightning-." The
famous Davy Crockett seems to have used it, once in 1843, in the
sense of shooting, as of a gun ; and again, in 1835, in the figurative
sense of an extinguisher, a "squelcher." The word in its now
familiar sense first appeared in 1876.
We are glad to be able to credit the Rev. P. C. Yprke with the
subjoined emphatic remarks on what he is pleased to call bastard
Americanism:
"Here in America we are not secure from the same danger.
Once upon a time Pope Leo was compelled to send us a Testem
benevolentiae, and we needed it. We were so full of pride and
vanity that we thought we were a pattern to all the world, when, as
a matter of fact, like the angel of Laodicea, we were wretched
and miserable and poor and blind and naked, without a particle
of influence on the affairs of our nation, without a rag of organiza-
tion to hide our shame, without the courage of a chicken to stand
by our principles. This bastard Americanism has many forms,
but no form is more dangerous than that which strives to elim-
inate the laity from the Church. Indeed the most exquisite piece
of sarcasm is the claim that there is anything American about
it. America stands for democracy. Americanism stands for
the rule of a clique. Wherever it was begotten and by whomso-
ever named it is as alien to the spirit of the American people as
it is to the spirit of the Church and to the prescriptions of Leo
XIII. The Church will never be governed by the ballot box or
popular majorities, but she will never consent to see her children
of the laity made strangers in their Father's house." (Quoted in
the N. W. Reviexu, No. 35.
The Berlin <9^n;za///a (No. 197, iii) prints a letter from its British
correspondent on the Catholic press in England. The writer
says that the Catholic press question in England moves in a vicious
circle. The Catholic papers can not compete with the non-Cath-
olic, because they are too poor. Most Catholics do not read Catholic
newspapers, because their contents do not come up to the standard
of their secular contemporaries; and they do not advertise in them,
because advertising in Catholic newspapers does not pay. While
the bishops and the clergy continually exhort the Catholic people
to support the Catholic pressmen, in order that they may be en-
abled to improve their journals, the people are waiting for the
Catholic press to offer them more and better reading-matter before
giving it their support. Meanwhile the secular and anti-Catholic
press is putting in its nefarious work with great success among
the Catholic population.
Does this description not also, in a measure, fit the situation in
the United States?
384 The Review. 1903.
It has been generally known that paper was originally an inven-
tion of the Chinese and was first brought to Europe by the Cru-
saders, finding its way to Germany as early as 1190. It has now
been the good fortune of Sven Hedin to furnish the ocular proof
of this historic fact. According to the Nation^ he found, on his
recent journeys, Chinese paper that dates back to the second
half of the third century after Christ. This lay buried in the
sand of the Gobi desert near the former northern shore of the
Lop Nor Sea, where, in the ruins of a city and in the remnants of
one of the oldest houses, he discovered a goodly lot of manu-
scripts, many of paper, covered with Chinese script, preserved
for some 1,650 years. The date is Dr. Himly's conclusion. Ac-
cording to Chinese sources, paper was manufactured as early as
the second millennium before the Christian era. The character
of the Gobi desert find makes it probable that the making of pa-
per out of vegetable fibres was already an old art in the third
Christian century.
There is an alarming growth of the gambling craze. Gambling
is in a fair way of becoming our national vice. It is in evidence
on the stock-exchange, on the race track, at church-fairs, at
charity bazaars, and in elegant parlors. The Mirror (No. 17)
thinks that love of wealth and luxury, and a certain perversion of
the moral sense lie at the bottom of it. "The fashionably dressed
lady who participates in a euchre game to win prizes is doing the
same thing that the negro crap-shooter is doing. She is gambling.
Because the taking of chances at church-fairs has a charitable
purpose, the vice is not necessarily metamorphosed into a virtue.
It is still plain, common, reprovable gambling. Undoubtedly,
euchre-parties and 'charitable' chance-taking have done much to
spread this abominable vice. They are responsible for many a
wrecked and wasted life."
In reference to the "Holy Shroud of Turin," a member of the
Congregation of the Holy Ghost, Brother J. F. Regis Butler, now
stationed at Sierra Leone, Africa, assured a correspondent of
the 7!r/(^/6/ (No. 3280) that after the death of some members of
the community, from yellow fever, at Trinidad, he noticed a
striking representation of the deceased on the sheets enclosing
the corpse. The brother is an expert photographer. His state-
ment is that the representation or image of the corpse impressed
on the sheets in delicate lines of a green shade, was an excellent
likeness. Perhaps some medical correspondent might be able to
give some information as to the effect of yellow fever in produc-
ing such a representation of the human bodj^ after death.
In the course of a discussion as to the value of college educa-
tion, Emerson happened to remark that most of the branches
were taught at Harvard. "Yes, indeed," interjected Thoreau,
"all the branches and none of the roots," at which Emerson was
vastly amused.
II tTbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., June 25, 1903. No. 25.
LEO XIII., CAHENSLY, AND THE SOCIETY OF ST. RAPHAEL.
N December 28th lastlthe President of the German Society
of St. Raphael for the protection of emigrants, Mr.
Peter Paul Cahensly, was received in private audience
by the Holy Father.
Before giving an account of this audience, let us sketch briefly
the history of the Society during the past two decades.
Already in 1882, when Mr. Cahensly, at that time Secretary of
the Society, was received for the first time by His Holiness, he
was able to submit a ver^^^ gratifjnng report on the work accomp-
lished by himself and his zealous colleagues. LeoXHL, who had
endowed the Society with rich indulgences as far back as 1878,
expressed on this latter occasion his particular gratification and
the hope that the Society might also be introduced in Italy.
Cahensly thereupon called on the Cardinal Secretary of State
and the Prefect of the Propaganda, then Cardinal Simeoni, and
with the approbation of both set to work to make the Society in-
ternational if possible. With a letter of introduction from Cardi-
nal Simeoni to Archbishop Corrigan, he came to this country in
1883, and succeeded in establishing here a branch of the St.
Raphael Society under the presidency of the late Bishop of New-
ark, Msgr. Wigger. Later, the Society extended to Belgium,
Ital}^ and Austria.
In 1890 the chief representatives of the Society met in Lucerne
and agreed upon the famous memorial which was to be submitted
to the Holy Father by the Marquis de Volpe-Landi and Mr. Ca-
hensly. The Marquis de Volpe-Landi being prevented by illness
in his family, the memorial was, in 1891, presented by Mr. Ca-
hensly alone. It referred, as our readers will remember, to the
pastoral care for Catholic immigrants in the United States, and
contained none of the foolish allegations or demands which were
later ascribed to it and so fiercely denounced by misinformed or
386
The Review.
1903.
malicious persons as "Cahenslyism." It did not demand "national
bishops" for the different nationalities represented in the
Church in this countr}-, but merelj' sug-gested that it would be in
the interest of the Church at larg-e if the various elements of the
population were represented in the hierarchy/'')
In view of the misrepresentations that were spread in the Am-
erican press at the time, it is not surprising- that the Cardinal
Secretary of State deemed it well to address in the name of the
Holy Father a letter to His Eminence Cardinal Gibbons, wherein
he declared that there was no intention to change the present
mode of appointing bishops for the United States. At the same
time, however, or shortly after, the President of the St. Raphael's
Society was assured b}' the same eminent dignitarj^ that the Pope
was fullj' convinced of the noble motives of the Society and trusted
it would continue its good work.
In 1895, Mr. Cahenslj^ again visited the Vatican as the repre-
sentative of the German St. Raphael's Societ}' and obtained for it
the papal benediction. The Holy Father said upon this occasion:
"The aims of the Society of St. Raphael are commendable ; it is a
good thing- to have such an organization."
Since then immigration to the United States has steadily in-
creased, graduall}^ assuming, however, quite a different complexion.
Since the middle of nineties the stream of northern Protestants
has decreased, while Italians and Slavs are coming- here in greater
numbers than ever before. The following table shows that, while
in 1889 only about one-fourth of the immigrants were Catholic,
during the liscal year 1901-1902 two-thirds of the entire number,
professed the Catholic creed.
1889.
1901—1902.
Immigrants.
Englishmen \ 68,503 /
Scots "( 18,296 \
Irishmen 65,557
Germans 99,538
Austro-Hungarians 34.174
Frenchmen 5.918
Italians 25,307
European Russians 38,838
Swedes & Norwegians. . . 78,805
Hollanders 6,460
Spaniards & Portuguese. 583
Belgians 2,562
Other Europeans 18,278
Catholics
Catholics
(Estimateci.)
ImmigTants.
(Kstimated.)
\ 3,500 t
( 1,800 \
13,575
900
52,000
29,183
23,200
35,500
28,304
9,500
27,000
171,989
136,000
5,900
1,739
1,700
25,000
178,375
178,000
20,000
107,347
30,894
55,000
2,400
1,785
600
500
4,589
4.500
2,500
1,196
1,100
2,800
79,767
9,800
462,819 178,900 648,743 420,300
•] The memorial said verbatim, in paragraph
7: '"It is very desirable that the Catholics of
every nationality, wherever possible, be repre-
sented in the hierarchy of the country into
which they have immigrated by some bishops
of their own L-xtractiaa. It would seem that
this would contribute to making the organiza-
tion of the Church perfect. Every nationality
in the country would thus be represented ia
the meetings of the bishoiis. the councils, etc.,
and have its interests and needs protected."
No. 25. The Review. 387
The Holy Father has taken a particular interest in this increase
of Catholic immigration and made special provisions for the pas-
toration of the Italians. Bj- his request, in 1902, the honorary
President of the Italian St. Raphael's Society, Bishop Scalabrini,
visited the United States, in order to examine the condition of
Italian emigrants in loco.
While the principles laid down in the famous Lucerne memorial
are thus being more and more appreciated by the Vatican au-
thorities, it is refreshing to note that the prejudice against the
noble Society of St. Raphael and its charitable aims is decreasing-
in the American press.
Upon the death of the first President of the Society, Prince
Isenburg-Birstein, in 1897, the Secretary, Mr. Peter Paul Cahens-
ly, member of the Prussian Landtag- and the German Reichstag,
a man of most exemplary character, who devotes much of his
great income as a merchant-prince to charitable ends, succeeded
as chief executive officer of the German branch.
On December 28th, 1902, he was once more received by the
Holy Father in private audience and explained to him in a speech
of some length the great importance of providing for the many
thousands of non-English speaking Catholic immig-rants in the
United States. His Holiness listened very attentively and re-
ferred to the Society of St. Raphael as '"a grand work."
Mr. Cahensly further protested that at the time when he had
submitted theLucerne memorial, political motives had been attrib-
buted to him, which was not true, since in all his endeavors for
the Society of St. Raphael he had had in view only this one end :
to save souls. "That is well," said Leo XIII., "if you save the souls
of others, it is a pledge of your own eternal salvation." There-
upon he pronounced his Apostolic benediction upon all the mem-
bers of the St. Raphael's Society, upon the Society as such, and
in particular upon the zealous President of its German branch,
Mr. Cahensly, on whose head he paternally laid his hands.
Whence it clearly appears that the object of Mr. Cahensly 's re-
cent visit to Rome vi'as to call the attention of His Holiness to the
extraordinarily large number of Catholics now settling: in the
United States, and not, as has been alleged in certain newspaper
despatches, to plead for the appointment of German bishops i-m
those American dioceses in which the German element is in the
majority.
In view of the fact that of the 420,000 Catholics who came
to the United States during the past fiscal year, no iess than 180,-
000 were Italians and 190,000 Slavs, Mr. Cahensly declares in the
St. RathaeVs-Blatt (No. 70) that it would be arrogant on his part
to make anv such demands in the interest of the eight to ten thous-
388 The Review. 1903.
and German Catholic immigrants who now arrive in this country
annually and who are nearly all of them moderately well provided
for. He adds that he would be particularly gratified if his recent
representations to the Holy See would result in an ofl&cial census
of all the non-English speaking Catholics residing within the
various American dioceses.
sp sr sp
A USELESS "KEY TO AMERICAN HIEROGLYPHICS."
Prescott says in a note to the fourth chapter of his first volume
of the Conquest of Mexico, that no lucid record of the significance
of Mexican hieroglyphics remained down to the middle of the
eighteenth century. Boturini, who then travelled through every
part of Mexico, carefully investigating its history and conditions,
could not meet with a single person who could afi'ord the slightest
clue to the mystery of the Mexican hieroglyphics. So far as the
natives are concerned, every vestige of their ancient language
seemed to have been swept away from their memor3\
But, Prescott adds, there was, according to Bustamante, a lost
manuscript somewhere in Spain which would unravel the secrets
of the hieroglyphics. This work was written, he says, by one
Borunda, and he refers to Borunda as the "Mexican Champollion"
— after Champollion, the French savant, who succeeded in deciph-
ering the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Prescott knew nothing more
or could learn nothing more of the manuscript than that it had
been deposited with Father Mier, the head of the Abbey of Guada-
lupe, and that, in proceedings of the Archbishop of Mexico against
him, in 1795, Father Mier had carried off the manuscript to Spain.
The Duke de Loubat, after a systematic search lasting several
years, has recently succeeded in finding this manucript, not in
the European libraries, where he first looked for it, but in Mexico,
whither a happy instinct finally prompted him to turn — curiously
enough in the same place from which it was supposed to have
been taken in 1795, namely the convent of Guadalupe, where it
slumbered peacefully in a stack of long forgotten manuscripts.
Unfortunately it is not what Prescott and Bustamante supposed
it to be. Its system of explaining hieroglyphics is entirely in-
correct. But as a literary and historical curiosity the Duke be-
lieved it ought to be printed, and at his own expense he has had
an edition de luxe of two hundred and fifty copies published by
the printer to the Vatican. The work is entitled, according to
the words of its author: Clave General De Jeroglificos Americanos
(General Key to the American Hieroglyphics) par Don Ignacio
Borunda. The Duke furnishes a brief original introduction.
389
WASMANN AND EVOLUTION.*)
Those who are acquainted with Rev. Eric Wasmann's (S. J.)
latest essays on evolution were certainly surprised at reading- the
criticism by a contributor of The Review, published in No. 12,
pp. 185-187. According to this critic, Wasmann, in spite of all
his assertions, has "neither attempted to prove, nor succeeded in
proving, the evolution from one species into another species."
He merely "sets up an anti-evolutionist as he supposes him to be,
and then he takes up the gauntlet against the straw-man." This
seems to be somewhat strange, indeed ! Wasmann alludes to the
Copernican system and its history, speaks of rare exceptions,
makes long introductions, weighs most carefully every expres-
sion he uses, studies and observes with indefatigable zeal for
years and years, and creates such alarm in Germany, — and af-
ter all has only committed the mistake of a tyro in philosophy.
*" Partiiriunt montcs: nascetiir ridiculiis miis!
Let us shortly examine Wasmann's real proposition and prin-
cipal proofs.
I. According to the essaysof Father Wasmann, only one of two
different theories can be chosen as to the origin and nature of the
present species. We have either to advocate the immutability of
species or defend the opinion that the species of the present day
are derived from other species existing in former geological pe-
riods. In the first case the immutability of species is absolute;
for variations occur solely within the rigid limits of the
species. In the second, it is relative only. The species
change and are constant according to different periods of
time (1, p. 302). In either case the doctrine of creation remains
untouched. For, as also Conn and others confess : "Even
if evolution be admitted to its fullest extent, it does not explain
creation (the first origin of life); it only proves continuity."
('Evolution of To-day,' p. 15). Only the number of acts of crea-
tion (and destruction) is different in the two assumptions.
Now, the species here in question Wasmann calls throughout
his essays the "systematic species" ("systematische Arten.")
True, he speaks also of "natural species" ("natiirliche Arten"),
that should be distinguished from the "systematic" (1, p. 304.)
*)LlTERATURE : —
1. Stimnien aus Maria-Laach, vol. 63. E. Wasmann, S. J., "Ge-
danken zur Entwicklungslehre."
2. Biologisches Centralblatt, vol. 21. E. W., "Giebt es thatsach-
lich Arten, die heute noch in der Stammesentwicklung begriffen
sind?"
3. Stimmen aus Maria-Laach, vol. 64. E. W., "Konstanztheorie
Oder Descendenztheorie?"
390 The Review. 1903.
But this distinction supposes the theory of evolution. For by
"natural species'' Wasmann designates the moi*e or less limited
number of primitive organisms that were not evolved from other
organic forms, but directly produced by Almighty God, whilst
from them the species of all subsequent ages have originated by
differeatiation. Those, consequently, who deny the theory of
evolution, would identify Wasmann 's natural species with his
systematic species, since both would signify one and the same
thing. Wasmann, however, very clearly points out the distinc-
tion and maintains it throughout his essays (1, p. 304; 3, pp. 20, 39).*)
What, then, does Wasmann understand by the term"systematic
species"? He means the so-called "well-defined" species ('"gute"
Arten) of the systematists, the same which Linnee, "the father of
the theory of constancy," understood when according to his views
he formulated the proposition : "Tot species numeramus, quot ab
initio creavit infinitum ens;" the same, finally, whose number is
estimated to be at present about 800,000 (3, p. 31 ; 1, p. 302, 304).
This systematic species of the present day may according to
Wasmann be considered morphologically and biologically. Mor-
phologically it represents, according to our best sj'Stematists, a
group of individuals that agree in their so-called "essential" marks,
by which they constantly differ from individuals of other groups.
Biologically it forms, according to the same authorities, a genetic
totality of individuals, that repeat the very same processes of
embryonic development, metamorphosis and reproduction, and
that are at the same time perfectly fertile onlj^ when crossed, with
each other (3, p. 59 sq.) It is characteristic of this "well-defined"
systematic species ("gute" systematische Art) that, as long as
the period of constancj^ lasts, it is so distinct from all others as
not to be connected with them by intermediate forms [3, p. 31 ; 2,
p. 703.] All the variations, therefore, produced by the interfer-
ence of man [domestication], do not constitute systematic species,
nor are they of any argumentative value for the theor}' of evolu-
tion. For not a single change in development is of a lasting na-
ture. If left alone, the various domestic races return by and by
in structure and mode of life to their wild parents from which
they descended [3, p. 33].
Now Wasmann's proposition is to show that in nature, and solely
in consequence of an intrinsic principle and under the guidance
of biologically important exterior circumstances, there occur
mutations whose results are constant [3, p. 33sq.; 2, pp. 692-694].
In other words, he intends to prove that in the present period of
*] This flistinotioQ, moreover, is of groat 1 the theory of constancy in order to do away
■practical value, since it serves to silence some with the doctrine of creation,
fcdveriaries, who, as e. g., Prof. Plate, attack |
No. 25. The Review. 391
constancy, there are a few groups of animals that itave not yet
completed their systematic development, but are still on the way
of becoming true systematic species.
From these explanations the following assertions are evident :
1. Wasmann's "systematic species" is one and has a fixed mean-
ing ; it may, however, be considered in two different ways or re-
spects, viz., morphologically and biologically. It is contradistin-
guished from "natural species," which has likewise a fixed mean-
ing. When, therefore, his critic makes Wasmann "distinguish a
two-fold species," viz., one morphological £>r systematic, the other
biological, he states Wasmann's teaching incorrectly.
2. Moreover, Wasmann's proposition means, and his distinction
of systematic and natural species implies, the evolution of some
species from others. Hence he really maintains and "attempted
to prove the evolution of one species into another species." His
critic, therefore, denies this quite arbitrarily. Besides, after
having emphatically denied it, he grants it explicitly in these
words : "P. Wasmann admits the fixity of species [in its double
sense] for the present time at least, in general [should be : for the
present time, at least in general]. But he asserts the mutability
of species in the past, and gives as his proof that also at present
there are a few species still in the process of evolution "
II. From the preceding remarks it is already clear, that the
points in Wasmann's argumentation are not based on the fact
that there are certain species "showing great variability and
adaptation to surrounding conditions." No, as we shall see pres-
ently, everything rests on the special character and final result
of this adaptation.
Wasmann's argument substantially contains the following steps:
According to experiment and observation the four ant-guests
Dinarda dentata Grav., D. Maerkeli Ksw., D. Hagensi Wasm.,
and D. pygmaea Wasm., present themselves as four different adap-
tations [Anpassungsformen] of one and the same generic type to
the four ants : Formica sanguinea Ltr., F. rufa L., F. exsecta Nyl.,
and F. fusco-rufibarbis For. respectively [3, p. 36 ; 2, pp. 629 sq.]
Now these different adaptations of one and the same generic
type clearly point to. the actual differentiation of this generic type
with results that are stable, and thus to a true specific evolution.
For, as comparative zoogeography shows, in different regions the
deviation of the four forms from the original type of Dinarda and
their specific development is not yet completed, but has reached
different degrees of perfection. Whilst in the central and nothern
part of Europe the adaptation of D. dentata and D. Maerkeli is
completed, it has scarcely commenced in others [3, p. 38 ; 2, pp.
704 sq.]
392 The Review. 1903.
In other words. D. Hag-ensi, but especially D. pygmaea, repre-
sents a drastic example of a specific evolution still going on before
our eyes. By way of varieties and races it has at different points
of its geographic distribution reached different stations of per-
fection.
Moreover, b}' the same process of evolution we are to explain
the differentiation of all the other groups of Dinarda and finallj'^
also the formation of the systematic genus to which they belong.
For also for this differentiation no other factors are required save
those that actually account at the present daj' for the development
of Dinarda pygmaea [2. p. 702].
The objection that the four Dinarda are not to be regarded as
four different species, does not affect the force of the argument.
For if they are only races, the}' are by no means equivalent or co-
ordinate races, but such as have reached different stations on the
wa}' of specific development and differentiation [Rassen, die auf
verschiedenen Entwicklungsstufen zur Speciesbildung stehen]
[2, p. 699 ; 3. p. 39.]
This is Wasmann's way of reasoning, evidently very much
different from the resume given by his critic, who, in fact, seems
not to have seen the real point of the argument. Of course, there
can be a difference of opinion as to how much certainty or proba-
bility is to be attached to Wasmann's argumentation. But this
question is of minor import and could only be answered after a
most minute stud}- of the numerous facts from which the argu-
ment has been deduced. This, however, is be3'ond doubt, —
1. That Wasmann really advocates the evolution of species ;
2. That he has endeavored positively to prove it, standing on
the firm ground of actual observation ; and
3. That no one can censure him for the stand he has taken in
this question, unless by offering a better explanation for the
numerous facts advanced by the learned scientist than the prin-
ciples of the theory of evolution actually furnish.
Fr. Wasmann is, to our knowledge, the first who has given a
direct argument for the truth of evolution in the animal kingdom,
whilst, on the other hand, he is most careful in avoiding prema-
ture generalizations and prompt in disclosing and denouncing the
unwarranted fictions and exaggerations of modern ultra-evolu-
tionism. H. M.
3? 3? 3?
Rev. Jeremiah J. Harty, Rector of St. Leo's Church, in this city,
has been appointed Archbishop of Manila. He is a very worthy
priest and makes a great sacrifice in going to the Philippines to
lay down his life for the Master. The Review, of which he has
been for several years a subscriber, wishes him God's blessing.
393
THE NEW ENGLISH EDUCATION LAW AND AMERICAN
CATHOLICS.
The New Eng-lish Education Law was extensively reviewed in
the Januarylnuraber of the American Catholic Quarterly Reviezv, by
Mr. John J. O'Shea. According to him it is a poor makeshift that
can hardly satisfy the Catholic people. Under the former law the
State subsidies to voluntary schools were rather small, but the
schools were nearly independent. Now they will have more money
but at a great loss of self-control. Says Mr. Shea :
"Althoug-h the managers of Catholic schools were crying- out
that Mr. Balfour had betrayed them, by yielding everything that
the Nonconformists demanded, the path of duty still seemed to
point in this direction [of voting for the bill.] As these schools
could not have increased financial support unless at the cost of
abandoning some control, it was deemed best to secure that sup-
port at the present and trust to time and a more favorable oppor-
tunity to bring about a redress of the unequal balance.
■'To sum up: it is plain that, though the British government, by
the introduction of such a bill, has acknowledged the necessity of
religious instruction, and thereby paid tribute to the principle
which the Catholic Church never abandoned, it has, for the sake
of victory in the fight, gone nearly as far to taking away with one
hand what it gave with the other as any disciples of the rule of
expediency possibly could."
As an excuse for the acceptance of the bill by the Catholic bish-
ops the author says [page 124] :
■'Of all the voluntary schools, those belonging to the Roman
Catholic system were the most woe-begone. Members of that
system in England for the most part belong to the poorest section
of the population. Teachers' salaries depend on the number of
school attendants. Poor parents are unable to send their children
with the regularity of the well-to-do ; hence in some districts the
results' fees of the board-school teacher might be nearly double
those of his fellow in the Catholic voluntary school. It was not
merely the monetary loss which affected the unlucky teacher :
his professional standing was injured by a low attendance as well.
Irregularity in attendance meant also retrogression to the pupil :
and when the inspector came around he made two unfavorable re-
marks on the character of the school, and this meant a double loss
to the helpless pedagog. Catholic voluntary schools were,
therefore, conducted under the most disheartening conditions :
their standard was low, many parents sent their children to the
Board schools in preference. More than one thousand of the vol-
untary schools, notwithstanding these depressing conditions,
continued to exist, in some sort of fashion, and it was this fact
394 The RE^^Ew. 1903.
which moved Cardinal Vaughan to take the bold course of address-
ing a letter to Mr. John E. Redmond, as chairman of the Irish
Parliamentary Party, soliciting- the help of those representatives
in the passage of the bill."
This may excuse the bartering away of one's rights, but have
%ve here in the United States similar conditions? The steady in-
ternal and external development of our school system says no.
Hence we can not be justified in clamoring for an Educational
Bill like the English in this country, as has been done by Catholic
papers so frequently of late. We may point to England or Ger-
many to show our opponents that religious education is not dan-
gerous to the commonwealth ; but to make them believe that we
are willing to part with our rightsover our schools for a consider-
ation, is apt to do mischief. We are not asking favors, we simplj^
demand the justice that is due us. Nor are we willing to pa}' by
concessions for what is ours by right.
The school funds and the school taxes raised from all the citi-
zens should be used to foster and encourage education among a/l
the children of the citizens of each State. It is nobody's business
whether a child learns, besides the secular branches deemed
necessarjr now-a-days, its catechism or Bible lessons. The State
has no more right to make enquiries about these than to ask me
whether my shoes are union-made. As the matter stands, the
narrow, intolerant bigots, infidels and Protestants, have it all to
themselves. Some of our Protestant fellow-citizens understand
and acknowledge the necessity of religious instruction in school,
yet, for fear that the Catholics might get the lion's share for f/:e/r
schools, they side with the infidels rather than with us.
All that Catholics ask is a "fair field and no favor." They ask
that the school funds be distributed on the basis of actual results
obtained in the secular branches upon examination bj' State
officials or examiners. And as under our laws Jews and Masons,
Catholics and Protestants are placed on an equal footing, we won-
der whence the State officials assume the right to make a distinc-
tion when it comes to a division of the school fund. But they will
do it as long as we stand it. Were we united, particularly in those
States that show a large percentage of Catholics, all fair-minded
citizens would side with us and we should obtain simple justice
without any such compromises as our brethren in England or
Germany have unfortunately been compelled to enter into.
54- S^ ^
The latest proof that Japan is assimilating Western "civiliza-
tion," is found in the fact that she has a big bribery scandal on
band.
395
A BISHOP ON STRIKES.
The Denver Catholic publishes in its No. 12 the text of a splen-
did address delivered the other day in his Cathedral by Rt. Rev.
Bishop Matz.
The Bishop shows how Socialism is false and condemned by
the Church, who has been and is the staunchest friend of labor,
inasmuch as her Founder was a workingman and called and
gathered about him the laboring- classes, from whom he selected
the princes of His Church. He promised unto the poor, whom
he called blessed, the possessions of His kingdom. True to his
teaching, the Church has ever protected labor from the ruinous
power of competition and the oppression of the usurer. True to
His teaching, she condemns Socialism, which is a most pernicious
error and at best but an irrealizable dream.
His Lordship's remarks on the subject of strikes were of par-
ticular interest. We shall quote them more at length :
■'A strike is a concerted and simultaneous cessation of work
till some demand is granted. It is justifiable only when it aims
at some equitable benefit for the workman which can not be ob-
tained in any other way. In itself it is an evil, working injury to
national wealth and entailing a cruel hardship on many innocent
third parties, it furnishes occasion for grave disorders and cre-
ates a source of bitter enmities.
It stands to reason that a remedy of such serious consequences
can be resorted to only for the redress of evils commensurately
great. It is evident, also, that responsibilities of the very gravest
character rest upon those that provoke a strike, whether they be
employers or employes, because of the financial losses it creates
and the sufferings inflicted on the community.
On general principles a strike is lawful when you have just rea-
sons to stop working. If I make a contract with a man to build
me a house for a stipulated sum to be paid as the work progresses,
and I fail to furnish the money as agreed to by contract, I break
the agreement and the contractor may not only cease from work
but sue me for damages. But if I do pay as per agreement and
the contractor fails to comply with his part of the contract, have
I no right to compel him to work or seek redress? Certainly,
that is justice.
But now supposing that both parties to this contract, the builder
and myself, have stood by our agreement and both are perfectly
satisfied, a third party appears on the grounds and orders my
men to stop work and threatens violence unless they comply with
his orders ; is that right?
Our agreement was mutual, entered upon with perfect free-
dom, and carried out accurately. I am paying the regular wages
396 The Review. 1903.
and there is no cause for complaint. No man with any sense of
equity in his conscience will hold that this is just: There is your
sympathetic strike.
S^^rapathetic strikes are unjust because they imply the break-
ing-of a just contract freely entered upon between contracting
parties. They are the ruin of industry and commerce, bring
hardships on the people and create disorders endangering the
welfare of the commonwealth."
3? as* a?
XENOPHON'S ROVTE TO THE SEA.
In a new map of Asia Minor which he has recently published in
the Geographical JournaU and which contains much original in-
formation, Prof. W. M. Ramsey, who has spent his best years in
studying the topography of Western Asia in connection with
what we know about its history, points out a curious and import-
ant little valley, which, he explains, until recently, was a sore
trial and puzzle to the explorer. Filled with the desire of con-
stantly traversing new routes and endeavoring always to avoid
ground which he had previously explored, Ramsey did his best,
but in vain, to keep out of the valley. Year after year he found
himself in the most annoying way doing the treadmill up and
down the glen.
This is what he discovered at last. The lofty mountain range,
starting from Trojan Ida in the West, and known by the names of
Temnos and Dindymos in its different parts, extends to the south-
east and closely approaches the central Phrygian mountains.
Between thecentral range and the long range coming from the west
there is only this narrow glen. Among the mountains there is
not a single path which may be used as a highway. There is no
place where traffic can get over the mountains, and the only thing
to do is to use this narrow path between them.
The glen, in fact, forms a funnel, up or down which travelers
going in different directions must necessarily pass. All roads in
that part of the countr}'" converge at one end of the glen and
diverge again at the other. For about twelve miles persons going
from South to North travel side by side with others who are going
from East to West.
It has always been easy, even with our imperfect maps of Asia
Minor, to trace the route of the Ten Thousand, according to the
lucid description in Xenophon's Anabasis over the plains of Asia
Minor. But a gap has existed in this route as laid down on our
historical maps. This mountain region had never been thoroughly
studied by explorers, and the question was how the army got
over the mountains. Prof. Ramsey has sdown that there need no
longer be any doubt on this point.
397
A PLEA FOR DISHONESTY
is the article on "Business Honesty and Honesty," by O. K.
Stuart in No. 2833 of the Independent. The writer, by way of
introduction, reports a case of stern honesty which he admires
but does not approve. The old heathen said, "Video meliora pro-
boque," the modern heathen has no approval but reasons plenty
why the honesty "prescribed by the strict moral codes, the codes,
e. g., of Socrates and Christ,"' can not be the guide for business
honesty.
In general "there has crept into the consciousness of men the
idea that oath-truth is not essential in the ordinary intercourse
of every-day life. When we face the jury and our wives (?), we
will speak the absolute truth, but to friends and acquaintances
we can approximate the truth ; and for those we meet in trade,
exaggerations more or less mountainous, will answer. We have
one moral code for the court-room and the home, and another
for the market. And our competitors and customers do not con-
demn our exaggerations: they simply discount them "
"The ultimate object of business is the creation of wealth ; but
this object is attained through the exchange of values ; and it is
in this exchange of values that the whole of business honesty
consists. The man who does not pay his just debts is brought
up 'with a round turn' by his creditors ; and the man who sells
one thing under the pretense that it is another is brought to, with
a turn just as round, by his debtor. Moral or unmoral, this is
the business code ; for it is essential to the safety of business and
of society that value be exchanged for value. Whatever means
facilitate this exchange facilitate the creation of wealth, and from
the standpoint of business alone are proper. Whether such
means are, speaking with rigid accuracy, also right, is a question
wholly outside the domain of business, in the realm of morals.
So far, then, as the object of business is concerned, trade trans-
actions are neither honest nor dishonest, neither right nor
wrong, neither moral nor immoral — that is, they are ?/«moral.
The sole question to be asked concerning them is, 'Do they facili-
tate the exchange of value?' [If they do, they are proper, and
are the result of good business polic3\ If they do not, they are
improper, and are the result of bad policy." (Italics not onr^.)
The author admits that wealth might also be created by strict
business honesty, but when"individualism has developed competi-
tion to the point where the attention must be riveted upon the
sale of the product," "when the supreme necessity is to sell the
goods," then, "if exaggeration will not do it, prevarication may,
if prevarication will not, falsehood must."
Thus we have seen Voltaire, the Western Watchman, and the
1^. Y. Independent ^l^diAing the cause of prevarication. "Tres
faciunt collegium."
598
MINOR TOPICS.
Rev. F. G. Holweck, in the St. Louis Pastoralbhitt (^o. 5), dis-
cusses the reform of the Breviar}- from the coign of vantage of an
American priest. After laj-ing- down, by way of introduction,
the principle that a reform of the Breviarjs like every other true
reform, must consist in going; back to the nature of the thing and
so directing its development that it be entireh^ normal, i. e., in
harmony with the essence, he proceeds to show how the Breviary
has in the course of centuries been forced out of its old traditional
mould ; that its development has been one-sided. The recitation
of the psalter and Bible readings on the one had, and the pres-
ent elaborate sanctorale with its Officium Commune Sanctorum
can not well be combined. The question is how to retain the
essence of the one without entirely sacrificing the other. Father
Holweck thinks that the Commune Sanctorum will ultimately
have to go.
Another point is the application of modern historical criticism
to the lessons of the second nocturn. Positive errors ought to
be eliminated, while such pious mediaeval legends as can not be
shown to be unhistorical, might for the present be retained.
Thirdly Father Holweck remarks that the fact that the Breviary
has in our day become the private prayer-book of the priest,
ought to result in modifying its contents somewhat. Some of the
responsoria and antiphonia might be discarded and the Saturda}'^
and Sunday recitations shortened, after the example of St. Charles
Borromeo.
However, "Rome holds tenaciously to her traditions," and
Father Holweck fears that, in spite of the creation of a special
liturgical commission, the reform of the Breviary will never be
accomplished.
About Father Vattmann in Rome we read in a Roman letter of
"Vox Urbis" in the N. Y. Freeviaii's Journal (No. 3651):
"The reverend chaplain had not (on June 3rd) received a pri-
vate audience with the Holy Father, but Father Vattmann is
something of an optimist evidently, for he was quite satisfied, he
said, to have been admitted with a group of Americans. What
happened, as far as he was concerned, at this audience was this :
The worthy father was introduced to His Holiness by Msgr.
Kennedy, who said that he had just come from the Philippines.
Pope Leo asked after the health of Governor Taft ; Father Vatt-
mann said the Governor was all right, and the Holy Father said
that he sent him his greetings. The chaplain rose from his knees,
made way for the next, and it was all over. But Father Vattmann
was very pleased, and at once telephoned for the correspondent
of the Associated Press announcing that he was preparing for
nim an account of his audience 'with the Pope. About his inter-
views with Cardinal Rampolla, Father Vattmann was mysterious.
He had presented 'his report'on the Philippines to His Eminence,
a wonderful man ; he had told him that things were going on very
nicely indeed in the Philippines, 'which he had traversed from
^^"o- 25. The Review. 399
one end to another.' Asked b^- me if he had any special authority
to report on anything- he looked awfully solemn, but a little later-
declared that he had merely given the 'Cardinals' the benefit of
his experience. He must be a very kind-hearted man. Finally
he assured me that he was sure that his 'work in Rome would re-
dound to the advantage of Church and State !'
■'And so much for Father Vattmann !"
Vox Urhis, of Rome, contains in its No. xi, a paper in classical
Latin on so modern a subject as our Monroe doctrine — "De Lege
sive Regula Monroviana" — whose import and underlying motives
the author, Mr. Herbert A. Strong, though an Englishman, states
with great fairness as follows :
■'Apud Americanos constat ante omnia ipsorum interesse. ne
gens ulla ex iis quae Europam incolunt terram in continente Am-
ericana sitam sibi acquirere velit, neque novas cuiusvis modi col-
onias in solum Americanum deducere. Id autem duobus ex causis
praecipue illis curae: primum ne in gentium alienarum res et dis-
cordias vel nolentes trahantur et in bellorum longinquorum peri-
cula ; delude quod maxime ipsorum referre statuerunt Araeri-
canorum populis omnibus liberum cursum dari ad suas res suo
ipsorum arbitrio administrandas."
He adds, however :
"Neque tamen pro dubio habendum est quin g-entes illae, quae
Europam veterem incolunt, fastidio quodam et odio hanc prohibi-
tionem observent : ut quibus nimis exiguum terrae spatium detur
ad iuventutem suam, nimis abundantem, alendam ; tum etiam
quia spes et ambitio fines exiguos in longius extendere suadeat.
Inde nescio an futuras lites et discordiarum causas augfurari
liceat inter populos Anglo-Americanos atque nostrae veteris con-
tinentis incolas. Quae discordia ne in bellum populos ducat,
avertat Deus !"
When de Candolle, in 1882, wrote his book on the origin of culti-
vated plants, he declared that no case was known to him where a
grain of wheat from the ancient tombs of Eg-ypt had ever germi-
nated, adding, however, in his cautious way, that this did not
prove that the thing was absolutely impossible. Since then it
was several times reported in the newspapers that such Phara-
onic grains had actually been made to sprout. We now learn
from the Civilta C<7//^//V« (quad. 1270) that Prof. E. Gain, a French
botanist, has recently proven, by careful chemical and microscopial
analysis, that the embryo in the wheat kernels brought to light
by Egyptian archeeological research, is not dormant but abso-
lutely and irretrievably dead, and that it is therefore impossible
that the}^ should germinate under any conditions. Mr. Gain's
reports are printed in the Conites rendus of the French Academy
of Sciences, t. cxxx, p. 1643 and t. cxxxii, p. 1248.
We read in the San Francisco Chronicle of June 6th that ""ia
order to keep in touch with the modern trend of thought in a
great university, the sisters of the College of Notre Dame in San
400 The Review. 1903.
Francisco have arrang-ed with five members of the University' of
California faculty to give five lectures each during the month of
July at the school on special subjects."' The following- is the pro-
gram scheduled : Five lectures each by Professor Irving String-
ham, head of the department of mathematics ; Dr. Frederick G.
Cottrell of the department of chemistry ; Professor Chauncey W.
Wells of the English department ; Professor W. S. Ferguson,
whose special field is ancient history, and Professor Leon J.
Kichardson of the department of Latin.
It does not speak well for the Catholic spirit of these sisters
that they go to Protestant sources for higher instruction.
Lipsanography — the scientific study of relics — is a compara-
tively modern science. Its results in some instances are sur-
prising. Rev. P. L. Helmling, O. S. B., in the Mayence KathoJik
(S3, 1) tells of an examination made of a reliquiary in a city parish
church, presumably in Germany, which showed that a number of
treasured relics kept in a glass case were chips of wood chiseled
into the semblance of bones and decked out in g-littering tinsel.
He promises to give a detailed account of his findings. Lipsano-
graphy is cultivated especially in France and Switzerland, where
Dr. Stiickelberg Hast year published an epoch-making work on
the subject of Swiss relics {^Die ReUquien in der Schzveiz. Zurich,
1902.)
^•
Some time ago we told of a French bishop re-introducing the
old custom of the Church to administer confirmation to children
before their first communion and the Pope's approval of the inno-
vation. In No. 1772 of Les Missions\Catholiques, Msgr. Granjon,
Bishop of Tucson, Arizona, states that among- the old Spanish
settlements of our Western States and Territories the custom of
administering confirmation to children, even babies, is still extant.
How Masonic phraseology, if not the Masonic spirit itself, is con-
taminating some of our Catholic societies, we had occasion to note
anew the other day when we were shown a set of resolutions
adopted by a branch of "Catholic Knights" upon the death of
their spiritual director. They began with the words : "It has
pleased the great Architect of the Universe "
II tube IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., July 2, 1903. No. 26.
BISHOP SPALDING ON EMERSON.
N a rather Delphic letter to Senator Hoar,*) Rt. Rev.
Bishop Spalding of Peoria said of Ralph Waldo Emer-
son:
"Emerson is the keenest, the most receptive, the most thought-
ful mind we have had ; and whatever his limitations, his failures
to get at the profoundest, and therefore the most interesting
truth, he is and probably will continue to be for a long time the
most vital force in American literature. His influence will out-
last that of Carlyle and Ruskin. His sanity, his modesty, his
kindliness are greater ; he is more hopeful and consequently
more helpful than they. He himself says we judge of a man's
wisdom by his hopefulness ; and so we may give him a place
among the world's wise men."
We must deplore such utterances because they mislead our
people, especially the young. God knows too many of us study
Emerson and other Protestant writers at the expense of our
Catholic classics.
"What kind of keenness, thoughtfulness, and receptivity is that
which leads to error?" — justly queries Mr. W. H. Randall in the
Catholic Columbian (No. 24). — "To outlast Carlyle and Ruskin is
only the survival of one heretic beyond another. The false pro-
phet of Mecca will outlast the modern false prophets. Is mere
natural hopefulness the test of wisdom ? Is there a greater fool
than the man who uses his so-called wisdom to enter the path to
perdition? Did Emerson follow in the footsteps of the Son of
God who laid down the fundamental principles of salvation ? If
Brownson was a wise man, what was Emerson ?"
"No man," says the Christian Brothers' excellent Manual of
*) Dated April 14th, 1903, and printed by a number of newspa-
pers. We quote from No. 24 of the Catholic Columbian of Colum-
bus, Ohio.
402
The Review.
1903.
English Literature (New York, O'Shea : p. 420), "however great,
can expect to have society salute him who dares assert that
Christianity shows 'an undue devotion to the person of Christ.'
'This was Emerson's fatal mistake, his fundamental error. Years
shall go by, Emerson will be forgotten, but the Christ whom he
failed to recognize will be adored by loving? hearts and worshipped
by loving minds."
It is true that Emerson's writings, both prose and verse, teem
with an exquisite sense of beauty and that he was a master of
pellucid and epigrammatic English ; but these qualities tend to
render his bad philosophy and want of religion all the more dan-
gerous.
Of course, we are well aware of the truth of Pliny's famous saw,
that "no book is so bad that it is not of some use ;" what we de-
precate is simply the more or less unqualified praise, by those
who should be arbiters of public taste as well as morals, of writers
who have little to recommend them beyond a facile style, and who
have not only conferred no lasting benefit upon humankind, but
rather helped to imbue men's minds with false principles and
pernicious errors.*)
This view imay run counter to that apocalyptic beast called
public opinion ; but has not Bishop Spalding himself taught
us that "those who have best insight have a fine scorn of public
opinion," inasmuch as "they are able to do without its approval
and end by receiving it"? (Spalding, 'Socialism and Labor.' p. 89).
And was it not the same Msgr. Spalding who told us, not so
very long ago, that "a man is not necessarily visionary or weak in
mind, because he does not run with the crowd"? (Ibid., p. 67.)
3* S^ 3*
"THE DEVIL IN ROBES" AND THE POLICY OF NON-
INTERFERENCE.
Referring to the correspondence recently published by The
Review on the subject of 'The Devil in Robes, 'the Hartford Cath-
olic Transcript (No. 1) observes :
"Cardinal Gibbons has consulted with the postal authorities at
Washington, and the first Assistant Postmaster General and His
Eminence agree that there is no redress in sight. It seems that
the mails can be legitimately used for the distribution of the
'scurrilous and indecent pamphlet.' To try to stop the wretched
traffic would be to advertise it the more— so suggests the Acting
*] "It is diflicult forus to understaud the ful-
some laiulatioa given Emerson by Catholics
and even by some Catholic bishops. The
Sage [?J of Concord is very much over-rated as
a poet; and a? a philosopher he is nearly al-
ways hazy, while his principles are anti-Chris-
tian, if not distinctly pantheistic." — Catholic
Columbian, editorial. No. 25.
No. 26. The Revtew. 403
First Assistant Postmaster General. So acquiesces Cardinal
Gibbons. Good authorities both, yet fallible like the rest of
mortals.
It may be temerity to disagree with the gentlemen in question,
but this policy of non-interference and utter silence has been
tried for years and found wanting. Margaret Shepherd was a
name to be conjured with as long as the individual who bore it
was suffered to attitudinize as an escaped nun. But when it was
proved to the satisfaction of all reasonable men that she was an
escaped baud with the evidences of her lewdness as clear as the
zenith sun, her profits waned and her admirers and supporters
vanished. Only the base-born and the indecent clung to her in
her shame.
The evil-minded and the suspicious, while ready and willing to
believe all manner of dark things of the Catholic Church and her
ministers, are not prepared to be cozened by a professional and
proved impostor. They have a little human respect, in this point
at least. And so it happens that when the creeping creatures
who wallow in the mire created by their own filthy fancy are found
out to be what they are, their dupes vanish and they are left to
seek other avenues for their ambition.
Last season the Catholic Truth Society of England republished
an article from the pages of the Month. It was the story of one
who had escaped, not from a nunnery but — for sake of variety —
from a hospital conducted by nuns. The pamphlet of the Truth
Society with footnotes reflecting somewhat upon the truthfulness
of the 'escaped' fell into the hands of the heroine in question.
She brought suit againstlthe Catholic Truth Society, and rather
than fight the matter in court, the managers of that institution
closed their mouths and opened their coffers to the amount of
several hundred pounds. They were afraid of notoriety and
courted the policy of silence.
The enterprising woman, elated no doubt over her easy suc-
cess, had the good fortune to fall in with a copy of the Month con-
taining the original issue of the article in question. She at once
prepared for a second haul. But the Month didn't happen to be
published by the managers of the Catholic Truth Society. The
claim of the 'escaped' was brought to court. She and her charge
were laughed out of doors. The costs, borne by herself, prob-
ably diminished notably the handsome allowance which she had
received as a peace-offering from the Catholic Truth Society of
England.
From this we see that there is more than one manner of dealing
with professional slanderers. We confess that we incline to the
policy adopted by the Months
So does The Review.
404
LIFE INSURANCE IN GERMANY.
From aa iateresting article on this subject in the Cologne
Volkszcitung (No. 1008) we extract the following :
Before the last stringent law on life insurance went into effect,
on Jan. 1st, 1902, 23 foreign companies withdrew from the fields
among them the Caisse Generale des Families of Paris, which
went into bankruptcy during the year. Despite the general busi-
ness depression, all home companies made substantial gains,
thus showing that they have the confidence of the public in their
financial operations. Their funds are mostly invested in mort-
gages (towards the end of 1901, 80.1%), next in loans on policies
and bonds (9.4%), but none in speculation papers, whilst, accord-
ing to the latest insurance report of Switzerland, foreign com-
panies follow the opposite practice. Thus of the foreign com-
panies operating in Switzerland the French have only 5.9% of
their funds invested in mortgages, the English 17.8%, the Ameri-^
can 15.9%. More than one-half of the French and American funds
were invested in commercial papers (of the American 47% were
in railroad and industrial stocks). Thus in 1901, 23,000,000 marks
of the 26,700,000 marks surplus of the New York Life, were
gained by a rise in the market price of these shares. As a matter
of course, market prices of stock may also fall and the security
of the insured be thereby seriously affected.
The sum total insured in German companies at the end of 1901
was 6,700,000,000 marks, a net increase of 295,000,000 over 1900.
The net increase of receipts amounted to 22,000,000 marks.
After pajnng all expenses, there was a balance of 64,700,000 marks.
This surplus was due to higher interest and decreased mortality
and administration cost. Interest rates are nearly alike in all com-
panies, but cost of administration and mortality vary greatly-.
On an average, the administration of German companies con-
sumed, in 1901, 9.1% of their total receipts, while the decreased
mortality amounted to 8.1% of premium receipts. One of the
youngest stock companies showed an expense budget amounting
to 184.5% of total receipts ! Of the 64,700,000 marks surplus, 90%
were paid back to the insured in the shape of dividends, viz. 33,-
700,000 by the mutuals and 24.400,000 by the stock companies.
Shareholders in the stock companies received 4,900,000 marks as
interest on their shares, or an average of 13.5%. The rates, of
course, vary in the different companies; whilst the youngest paid
nothing, the Atlas allowed 2% ; Berlin^ sof-i % ,• Victoria 40% ; Janus
in Hamburg 46yi %,• Liibeck 62%%.
Let the reader draw his own conclusions.
405
MASONRY'S OWN ADMISSION THAT IT IS A RELIGION.
Masonry has all the accompaniments, all the elements of a re-
lig-ion : ritual, worship, altar, priesthood, God. It is therefore a
religion, at least as to external form, deny the fact as loudly as it
may. We have shown that it does not deny its religious character
even while asserting that it is not a religion ; and we have proved
that its very name of Freemasonry is consistent with its practice
and scouts the idea that, in religious matters, it is or can be a
"handmaid." Its aim is not to serve but to rule. We would there-
fore willingly turn to some other interesting theme, were not the
subject so vitally important. This established, and the Church's
case is as clear as daylight — she must oppose Masonry or prove
false to her duty. No one can serve two gods in religion ; no one
can, at the same time, pay homage to Baal and Jehovah ; a choice
must be made between them. Thus the fuller that we prove that
Masonry is a religion, the fuller we answer the question : "Why
■does the Church forbid her children to become Masons?"
The religious idea is the most prominent in the lodge, and
Mackey's Ritualist, true to its nature, will never allow us to for-
get it. From the very first page, it prepares us for what it is go-
ing to tell us. We have only to listen and thank it for what, with
blunt frankness, it will reveal to us in instructing the Entered
Apprentice or candidate for the first degree. The opening lines
are a preamble to a defense of ceremonies in the lodge.
"The necessity of some preparatory ceremonies of a more or
less formal character, before proceeding to the dispatch of the
ordinary business of any association, has always been recognized.
Decorum and the dignity of the meeting, alike suggest even. in
popular assemblies called only for a temporary purpose, that a
presiding of6.cer shall with some formality be inducted into the
chair, and he then, to use the ordinary phrase, 'opens' the meet-
ing with the appointment of his necessary assistance, and with
the announcement in an address to the audience explanatory of
the objects that have called them together" (pp. 11, 12). This
premised, let us listen to the argument.
"If secular associations have found it expedient, by the adop-
tion of some preparatory forms, to avoid the appearance of an un-
seeming abruptness in proceeding to business, it may well be
supposed that religious societies have been still more observant
of the customs, and that as their pursuits are more elevated, the
ceremonies of their preparation for the object of their meeting,
should be still more impressive" (p. 12).
"It is a lesson that every Mason is taught at one of the earliest
points of his initiation that he should commence no important un-
dertaking without first invoking the blessing of Deity. Hence
406 The Review. 1903.
the next step in the progress of the opening ceremonies is to ad-
dress a prayer to the Supreme Architect of the Universe. This
prayer although offered by the Master, is to be participated in by
every brother, and at its conclusion, the audible response of 'So
mote it be ; Amen,' should be made by all present.
"The Lodge is then declared in the name of God and the Holy
Saints John, to be opened in due form, on the first, second or
third degree of Masonry, as the case may be" (p. 16^.
Note well what immediately follows :
"A Lodge is opened in the name of God and of the Holy Saints
John as a declaration of the sacred and religious purposes of our
meeting" (p. 14). And a little lower on the same page we are in-
formed that a lodge is opened on, and not in, a certain degree, to
indicate that the members of a lodge "are met together to unite
.in contemplation on the symbolic teachings and divine lessons, to
inculcate which is the peculiar object of that degree" (p. 14).
The argument of our Ritualist is perfectly plain and simple
and can be understood by all. If secular societies united for tem-
porary purposes demand the use of ceremonies, much more do
sacred and religious ones whose purposes are divine and eternal ;
but Masonry is a religious society whose purposes are divine and
eternal, for it is opened in the name of God and the Holy Saints
John for the peculiar purpose of uniting its members on the con-
templation of the divine lessons which it inculcates ; therefore
should Masonry use ceremonies.
But what interests us most is not the plainness of the argument,
but the clearness and openness with which from the very begin-
ning. Masonry tells its members that its purposes are sacred and
religiotis. It teaches them to pray ; it joins them in prayer with
the Master and exacts an audible response from all present that
they may thus declare outwardly their internal participation.
But who, we ask, has composed this prayer with which the
lodge is opened? Masonry. Whose response is that which all
the members are to make ? Masonry's. Whose are the dogmas
expressed in that prayer? Again the answer is. Masonry's. Do
the prayers sound orthodox and even Catholic? Thej' do. Are
they orthodox and Catholic? They are not. Are they even
Christian? No. But they sound Christian. They do.
What are the arguments for such a decided assertion?
First, Masonry claims to admit on an equal footing the mem-
bers of all religions, Jews and Gentiles, Christians and Pagans :
it requires all to join in its prayer and express their concurrence
in its worship. It must therefore attach such a meaning to its
words that, sound as they may, all its members can unite in the
sense. This is evidently impossible, if the meaning be so re-
No. 26. The Review. 407
stricted as to be Christian. Jew and Buddhist and Mohamma-
dan and Agnostic, would be immediately up in arms and refuse
to join in the prayer, for they are not Christians.
This our author himself will tell us in express words in his En-
cyclopaedia of Freemasonry, under the heading- "Christianization
of Freemasonry." Here are his words : "If Masonry were simply
a Christian institution, the Jew and the Moslem, the Brahman
and the Buddhist could not conscientiously partake of its illumi-
nation.'' . The pra^^ers, therefore, are not, and can not be, dis-
tinctively Christian; else, as our author tells us and as everybody
plainly sees, "the Jew and the Moslem, the Brahman and the Bud-
dhist could not conscientiously take part in them."
Secondly, we shall presently show that in the idea of Masonry,
Christianity as professed by the world at large, whether Protest-
ant or Catholic, is the grossest error and ignorance. Masonrj'^
pretends to emancipate its members from all this humbugry. It
can not, therefore, as a solemn and sacred action in its lodge, ask
the concurrence of its disciples in any such superstition.
Masonry's prayer is not, therefore, Christian ; it can not be, as
w^e, outside Masonry, understand the term Christian. And yet
who, ignorant of Masonry's inwardness, would suspect a prayer
so beautiful to a Christian eye as this ?:
"Most holy and glorious Lord God, the Great Architect of the
Universe, the giver of all good gifts and graces : Thou hast prom-
ised that ['where two or three are gathered together in thy
name, thou wilt be in the midst of them and bless them.' In thy
name we assemble, most humbly beseeching thee to bless us in
all our undertakings that we may know and serve thee aright and
that all our actions may tend to thy glory and to our advancement
in knowledge and virtue. And we beseech thee, O Lord God, to
bless our present assembling and to illuminate our minds that we
may walk in the light of thy countenance, and when the trials of
our probationary state are over be admitted into the Temple 'not
made by hands, eternal in the heavens.'
"Response by the Brethren. — So mote it be. Amen" (pp. 15-16).
It would be a waste of time at present to comment on the prayer
at length, for it is so artfully constructed on the model of Catholic
prayers that it seems to breathe their very spirit. Our words
would seem exaggerated, for our reader's mind is not yet schooled
in Masonic ideas and methods. We have shown that the prayer
can not be Christian ; and this will become plainer and plainer as
our study advances. For the moment, we insist merely on the
evidence afforded us by this prayer, that Masonry is a religion.
The prayer is addressed to the deity of Masonry ; its members
assemble in his name ; his blessing is invoked ; a petition for
408 The Review. 1903.
knowledg-e is made ; service to his glory is promised ; hopes of
immortality are expressed. This assuredly is religion, at least as
regards external forms and the outer shell. And this is a prayer
not made rarely or on extraordinary occasions ; it is the opening
prayer to be recited at every assembling of a Masonic lodge.
Every meeting of Masons, therefore, is, as the Ritualist says, for
sacred and religious purposes.
34 5* »
THE TRANSFORMATION OF A CITY.
It has been stated, and we believe without exaggeration, that
one of every five of the inhabitants of the old City of New York
(Manhattan Island) is a Jew. That is to say, in a population num-
bering over two million, there are 400,000 Jews. Some of their
champions indeed go further and claim that the Jewish popula-
tion more nearly approaches 500,000.
Less than thirty years ago the population on the lower East
Side was largely Irish, and a half dozen churches were not too
many for the spiritual needs of the English speaking people.
There was also a sufficiently numerous body of German Catholics,
who generously supported the two churches of the Redemptorists
and the Capuchins which were established for their use. Then
the Jew was the rare exception in that district, which comprised
several of the most populous wards of the City ; but since that
time the thrifty and prolific children of Israel have been arriving
year by year in increasing numbers, until now that section holds
more than one-half of the whole Jewish population. Correspond-
ingly the people of all other races have been giving up their homes
and associations to go "up town," and the former Catholic popu-
lation has been so reduced that two or three churches would now
suffice, where formerly seven or eight were not too many. In-
deed the extinction of one parish by the taking of the church
property by the City for public use (East River Bridge approach)
proves to be an acceptable solution of the problem what to do
with a Catholic church without a congregation or an endowment.
The Italian immigration is undoubtedly planting itself close to
the lines of the Jewish settlements in. this congested district ; but
passing over the question of the Italians and their isolation from
the Church in New York, about which there is much to be said
(see the Messenger, January, 1903), the fact remains that in this
former stronghold of Catholicity the Jews have practically sup-
planted the Christians. There are in the City to-day about fifty
synagogs, at least twenty of them in this district. The language
spoken is almost exclusively the Yiddish jargon. Beginning here
No. 26. The Review. 409
in the sweatshops or as street peddlers, housed in tenement bar-
racks holding: some of them as many as twenty-six families, the
Jewish immig-rants live and multiply and toil and accumulate.
With their conditions improved they find a more comfortable res-
idence in another part of the City, and the second generation,
proud of its public school education, (for the Jews are the g-reat-
est patrons of the system) pushes itself into the professions, into
politics, and into the higher walks of mercantile life. In the
courts the Jew lawyers outnura ber the Christians ; Jewish physi-
cians' signs may be read all over the City, while in politics it has be-
come the practice for the several parties to yield a fair proportion
of the places on the ticket to representatives of the race and thus
"catch"the Jewish vote. Everywhere the Jew is in evidence, and the
New York Ghetto may truly be said to be the greatest in the world.
We are moved to these observations by reading in the N. Y.
Times (June 12th) the remarks of Mr. Edward Lauterbach, a
prominent Jew, lawyer and politician, who occupies the import-
ant position of President of the Board of Trustees of the College
of the City of New York. The occasion was a dinner complimen-
tary to a young Jew lawyer who had just received a political ap-
pointment. Mr. Lauterbach said : "It is a great thing to see
young men of the Jewish race almost penniless working their
hardest for an education. The College of the City of New York
is the place where we see it. What a proud edifice that is. What
'•a proud edifice the new City College will be with its steeple.
Thei'e are out of 2,100 -ptipils in the City College 1,900 of the Jewish
faith, eager and earnest aspirants for an education." (Italics ours.)
That College, which seems to exist wholly for the education of
the Jewish youth, is maintained at an expense of about $300,000
annually, paid by the taxpayers of the city. The precise amount
appropriated for the current year is $298,362. (See Official Bud-
get for 1903). The College was formerly the "Free Academy,"
but as this title advertised the fact that its students were receiv-
ing their higher education wholly at the expense of the taxpayers,
the "Free" Academy was dropped and the more pretentious title
of College was assumed. Without any educational institutions of
their own, the Jews have, year after year, thronged this City Col-
lege, until now their spokesman boasts that its students are near-
ly all Jews, and at the recent commencement 190 of these were
graduated and sent forth as the finished product of New York's
vaunted system of State education. The Normal College, also
free, which furnishes the higher education to several thousand
girls, is attended by Jewesses in the proportion of fully seventy-
five per cent, of the total number. This College in like manner is
maintained at an expense (for the current year) of $220,000. ('See
410 Tee Review. 1903.
Official Budget). The students in both these colleges are re-
cruited mainly from the public schools.
The N.Y. SiDi, usually well informed, (June 20th), after speak-
ing editorially of the preponderance of Jewish names in these
two colleges, adds : "And in the list of the aptest pupils of the
public schools generally the Jews are more numerous thau any
other race On the East Side in the region of the Ghetto the
names of the school children are almost exclusively Jewish of
course, but we observe that in the schools of parts of the town
where the Jewish population is still relatively small, those names
are many and proportionately are more than those of any other
race."
For the year 1903, the appropriation for the common school fund,
to be spent in the City of New York, apart from the expense of
the two colleges above mentioned, reaches the enormous sum of
$20,063,017.77, of which the Catholic taxpayers must and do pay
their proportionate share.
Schools and educational systems, especially in communities that
are wealthy and highly civilized, as the phrase goes, are a sure
sign of either true progress or of moral decay, according to the
character of the instruction which is imparted and the standards
set for guidance of the lives and conduct of the individuals who
come under the influence of such schools. When, therefore, we
find the metropolis of the country spending annually about twen-
ty-one million dollars in educating their youth according to a
system which wholly forbids religious instruction, which ignores
conscience, which substitutes mere human law as the only
monitor to be obeyed or feared, — it is easy to understand the
widespread and growing spirit of irreligion, of commercial dis-
honesty, of disregard of the duties of the domestic relations, and
of other forms of immorality of which there is such abundant
evidence. When, in addition, we observe that most of this money
is spent upon the advancement of a race whose instinct is hatred
of Jesus Christ and contempt for His teachings, we wonder
whether the Catholicity of the Archdiocese of New York will al-
ways be as triumphant as it now claims to be.
That the Jew everywhere should gravitate toward New York,
is not surprising, considering the opportunities presented to him
there. Indeed the Zionists may "go further and fare worse."
That New York has already become a great Jewish encampment
is unmistakably manifest. What the results will be as affecting
the Church and society at large, remains for history to tell.
fifi) Qg &0
411
HEROISM TURNED AGAINST ITSELF.
Dr. William Bacon Bailey, instructor in statistics and sociology
in Yale University, publishes in the rale Review the results of
his researches with regard to the increase of suicide in the United
States. The years covered, or partially covered, by the study
are 1897-1901. Eleven of the papers examined were from New
England. On account of the fragmentary character of the sta-
tistics it was impossible to find any suicide rates for the entire
country. For purposes of comparison the unit of 10,000 was
taken. Out of 10,000 suicides, 7,781 are males and 2,219 are
females. In Maine the ratio is roughly 3 to 1 ; in Rhode Island
3/^ to 1, and in Connecticut 4 to 1.
Altogether, the conclusion drawn by the St. Louis Republic
f June 1st) from Dr. Bailey's statements seems to be well war-
ranted : "Suicide increase in America rapidly approaches a
mania."
How are we to account for a phenomenon which has in itself
the elements of contradiction?
The men and women of to-day live only in and for the present.
They have lost faith and hope in eternity. Nevertheless, they
contemn this life which they adore. They quit it capriciously
and they quit it sorrowfully. Whether he choose the dagger or
the pistol, poison or the rope, the self-murderer sacrifices all his
chances of happiness — for to him there is no other happiness be-
yond that of this nether world — subjects himself to pain and his
family and friends to disgrace.
Truly, suicide is what Hello called it : "Pheroisme a Penvers,''
heroism turned against itself. It is the substitute for heroism
of Satan, whom Tertullian has called "the ape of God." It is ab-
solute negation in deed. The Devil to-day strives to bury the
world in absolute negation. Formerly, he contented himself with
a partial negation ; he was satisfied with spreading heresy.
Heresy implies a choice between truths. It spells a rejection of
only the one or the other. To-day, Satan inspires atheism and
absolute negation.
We are assisting at the gradual extermination of the things
which have hitherto stood between complete truth and absolute
error. It is for all of us more than ever and in the fullest sense
of the word, a question between life and death. Which will you
choose: life or death? If you choose life, then in the name of
God set your face against negation, return to the truth, such as
it is incorporated in all its plenitude in the Catholic Church and
in her alone. Sustain those who stand on her ramparts and de-
fend her citadels.
412 -
FISHEATING, LEPROSY, AND THE LAW OF ABSTINENCE.
A reader in New York some weeks ago sent us a clipping from
the Mail and Express of that city, dated May 25th, in which it was
stated on the authority of Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson, former
President of the Royal College of Surgeons in London, who re-
cently returned from investigation in India, that fish-eating is a
cause of leprosy.
"Wherever Catholic missions are successful," Dr. Hutchinson
was quoted as saying, "leprosy increases. My calculation is that
the risk to a Catholic convert is twenty-fold that of one who re-
mains in the Hindoo faith. If I dare trust my figures it may
possibly in Bengal reach ninety-fold."
We did not see Dr. Hutchinson's original lettei* to the Times,
in which it is alleged he made the surprising statement that Cath-
olic'.abstinence is responsible for the spread of leprosy. But he
has since written another letter to the same newspaper (quoted
in the N. Y. Evening- Post of June 9th) in which he says that "all
sound fish, fresh or cured, is perfectly wholesome. It is only
after decomposition has set in that it is dangerous."
Now the Catholic Church compels no one to eat decomposed
fish. And if fish-eating of itself were the cause of leprosy, why
is this scourge unknown in countries where millions of Catholics
eat their fish on days of abstinence?
Besides, there are other victuals that can be taken in lieu of fish
on days of fasting and abstinence.
The Church, in making and sustaining her disciplinary regula-
tions, is not impelled by hygienic or medical reasons. But her
faithful children may rest assured that they will not suffer in
their bodily health while advancing their spiritual welfare in
accordance with her laws.
Being the central truth, as an eminent French philosopher has
put it, the Church finds herself on the right side in every ques-
tion, theoretical and practical. She does not, it is true, occupy
herself specifically with men's health ; but because she provides
for all things like a loving mother, she provides also for this.
Standing in the very centre of things, her wise ordinances extend
in every direction. The physical and the moral laws are so closely
and mysteriously interlocked that the Church, while she seems
to have in view only the well-being of the spiritual man, pro-
vides also for his material welfare in a far greater degree than
appears on the surface or than most of us imagine.
Abstinence is most assuredly one of the laws of physical life.
It holds a more important place in human life that we are aware
of ; but the eye of our mother penetrates to the essence of things.
Her laws and institutions, beyond their direct and apparent aim,
No. 26. The Review. 413
reach a multitude of other ends which we can not in our present
blinded state perceive. They seem oftentimes to be unimportant
and trivial, but if j^ou disturb them, you violate a thousand physi-
cal laws which are grouped about them and which promptly
avenge themselves whenever 5^ou touch the centre around
which they gravitate.*)
SP 3f|- 3P '
WHY IRISHMEN ARE TRVE TO THEIR FAITH.
The Archbishop of Tuam in a recent sermon spoke of the affec-
tionate relations which existed between pastors and people in
Ireland. Those outside the Church marvelled at it. They were
jealous of it, and could not understand it, and attributed it to every
cause but the right one.
When they looked around in the past and in the present, they
might ask why it happened that the Catholics of England, and of
Scotland, and of Denmark, and many other northern countries of
Europe, had almost lost their faith, while the people of Ireland,
in the face of the greatest persecutions, had not lost the faith.
That was a problem that had engaged the attention of many his-
torians who had not, as might be expected, hit on the right solu-
tion. In his opinion, the explanation was that in obedience to the
teaching of St. Patrick they in Ireland had never forgotten their
loyalty and obedience to the See of Peter. In the Book of Armagh
they found amongst the sayings of St. Patrick : "As you are
Christians and followers of Christ, be ye also Romans"; and it
was laid down by St. Patrick that if any religious questions of
difficulty arose in Ireland, they were to be referred to the Pope
and settled by him.. There was the secret of the perseverance
of the Irish people in the Catholic faith, and that was the great
lesson inculcated by their national Apostle — that they could not
be Catholics except they were Roman Catholics, and that they
could not keep their faith except they were loyal and obedient to
their Holy Father the Pope. Everything else was gone almost
in Ireland, but the faith of the people here in that old town of
theirs. Six or seven hundred years ago they had an English
colony, and now they had the Bermingham Castle dismantled,
and the walls of what was once a stronghold were in ruins. The
old towers that guarded the castle were empty ; the proprietors
were gone with the beautiful Dominican church that they built ;
the material edifice was gone ; but the faith of the people was not
gone. The Catholic faith had not gone from the hearts of the
'-) See Ernest Hello, Le Sitcle^ XVIII.
414 The Review. 1903.
people, and was it not true that to-day it was as strong and as
fervent indeed as ever it was ? They had triumphed over untold
trials and dang-ers because they had listened to the voice of their
supreme pastor. So it was in the past, and so it would be in the
future, for they had the same loyalty to the successor of St. Peter
and the same devotion to their pastors as their fathers had. It
was not human power that kept the faith alive in Ireland. Let
them not imagine for a moment that no dangers awaited Catholics
in the future, and that, so to speak, everything would go on
smoothly, and that they would have everything their own way.
Those who looked before them and could read the signs of the
times, saw that they would have to be loyal to their pastors in the
future as their fathers had been loyal to them in the past. There
was the great question of education, and he knew of his own
knowledge that there were people in Ireland who were extremely
jealous of the fact that the education of the people, as they say,
is so much in the hands of the clergy, and who would take it out of
their hands if they could, and win the young away from their devo-
tion to their pastors if they could, and who would separate religion
from education if they could. Those dangers were before them.
How were they to overcome them ? By listening to the voice of
their pastors, and by being obedient to their counsels, and if they
were united in that obedience and loyalty, not all the powers of all
the English ministers could shake the Catholic faith one single
iota or deprive them of their rights as Catholics and as Christians
to educateltheir children according to their consciences.
^ ^ *^
t^V* ^v ?^v
MINOR TOPICS.
Time and the sound arguments so often made in this journal
are gradually convincing all the Catholic mutual benefit societies
that they will have to raise their rates if they do not want to go
under. The Buffalo Courrier of June 15th informs us that the
Catholic Mutual Benefit Association purposes to increase its in-
surance rates.
"In common with many other fraternal insurance orders, the
Association is discovering that the rates during its youth and be-
fore the members began to die off in great numbers, are too low
to insure it perpetual life. It now costs men joining, between the
ages of 40 and 45, $1.45 an assessment on $2,000 insurance, and
from 45 to 50 years, $1.65. These assessments can not be made
oftener than twice a month. One assessment yields with the
present membership about $47,500 .... During the last few months
the death rate has been so large that even two assessments for
March and April, yielding for each month $95,000, did not bring
No. 26. The Review. 415
enough money to meet the losses. For March the demand on the
treasury was $113,000 and for April it went up to $115,000, leaving
a shortage for those two months of $38,000. This deficit can only
be made up from future assessments which produce more funds
than called for to pay death losses. In other words, unless the
rates are increased, the officers of the Association will have to rely
upon a low death rate to enable them to catch up with recent
losses. As the society is now twenty-seven years old, it having
been organized at Niagara Falls in 1876, it is anticipated that the
deaths of the oldest members will come faster and faster up to
a certain point. In order, therefore, to place the Association on
a solid business basis, the officers and members are now discus-
sing the question of what the increase shall be."
Rev. Dr. Baart writes to The Review :
Regarding the use of the organ during the whole mass on Holy
Thursday I would quote the following from the 'Caeremoniale
Episcoporum,' lib. I, cap. 28 : "I. In omnibus Dominicis et omni-
bus festis per annum occurentibus, in quibus populi a servilibus
operibus abstinere solent, decet in ecclesia organum et musicorum
cantus adhiberi. 11. Inter eas non connumerantur Dominicae Ad-
ventus etQuadragesimae, excepta Dominica tertia Adventus, quae
dicitur Gaudete'i'n J?ojnino,et q\ia.rt3iQua.dra.gesima.e, quae dicitur
Laetare Jerusalem^ sed in missa tantum — item exceptis festis et
feriis infra Adventum ad Quadragesimam occurentibus, quae
cum solemnitate ab Ecclesia celebrantur, ut in die SS. Mathiae,
Thomae Aquinatis, Gregorii Magni, Josephi, Joachim, Annuncia-
tionis, et similibus — item Feria V. in Coena Domini^ ad missam
tantum, et Sahhato Sando ad missam et vesperas — et quando-
cunque occurerit celebrare solemniter et cum laetitia, pro aliqua
re gravi."
From this quotation you will be convinced that the organ may
be used during the whole mass on Holy Thursday, but not dur-
ing other services on that da5\ This will also be a sufficient reply
to several correspondents.
It is true that De Herdt, pars 5, n. 11, says : "Infra Gloria pul-
santur omnes campanae majores et minores, et deinceps cam-
panae et organa silent usque ad intonationem ejusdem hymni in
Sabbato sancto." But he quotes no authority whatever for his
assertion about the organ in this place. In fact he here overlooks
or contradicts the 'Caeremoniale Episcoporum' to which in his
pars I, n. 40, he had referred regarding another matter, that of
playing the organ during the consecration of the mass, which is
mentioned in No. IX. of chapter 28 of Book I. of the 'Ceremoniale
Episcoporum.' P. A. Baart.
An article in the Outlook calls attention to one feature of our
army's work in the Philippines, of which comparatively little has
been known — the establishment of schools taught by soldiers
shortly after the occupation of towns and villages, out of which
grew, in a way, the present elaborate school system. There were
479 such schools in Northern Luzon, 89 in Southern Luzon, 210 in
Panay, 59 in Negros, 23 in Cebu, and 45 in Mindanao. The in-
416 The Review. 1903
structors were in only a few cases trained teachers, yet we are
assured they gave the native teachers a smattering of English,
which made the work of the permanent American teachers easier
than it would otherwise have been. Under the military govern-
ment $104,251.87 was expended from the public civil funds for
the purchase of school-books and supplies. The N. Y. Evening
Pf>5/ (June 2nd) thinks the Outlook article will arouse in many
people's minds a desire to know more of what is actually being
accomplished by the elaborate school system now established
throughout the archipelago. "We have heard President Schur-
man's denunciation of the attempt to force an alien language up-
on the Filipinos, and we get at rare intervals a glowing report
from official sources. Beyond this and the news of the occasional
killing of a school-teacher little is heard — a state of affairs char-
acteristic, by the way, of most of our rule in the archipelago."
A harrowing tale of "three men in a boat" comes out of the East
(N. Y. Sun and N. Y. Herald oi June 16th). The men were three
clerics of the New York Diocese and the boat a 90-foot yacht at-
tending a race on LonglslandSound within twenty miles of the Me-
tropolis. The affair may not be said to have gone on swimmingly,
for a rude blast from old Boreas capsized the yacht and our three
"sky pilots," drenched and clinging to the overturned boat, were
in no small danger, until they, with all hands, were happily res-
cued by other boats from their watery predicament. Yachting
is said to be a noble sport, but was it prudent in our esteemed
friends thus to expose themselves to the perils of the deep, or
weVe they in training to become chaplains in the navy?
^« ■
In a review of Rev. W. Turner's new History of Philosophy,
Rev. L. G. Deppen writes in the Louisville Record^ which he so
ably edits (No. 26):
"The second part is on the Philosophy of the Christian Era,
and deals with Patriotic philosophy, Scholastic philosophy, and
Modern philosophy, and their several schools." — (Italics ours.)
Dr. Turner, we believe, teaches in the St. Paul Seminary un-
der Archbishop Ireland, who is the phrophet of patriotism ; but
that he should devote a chapter of his book — which we have not
seen — to "Patriotic philosophy" (with a capital P), is more than
we can credit. Ordinarily the first chapter on the philosophy of
the Christian era treats of the Patristic school.
In view of the mass meetings that have been held in the U. S.
to express sympathy for the persecuted Jews in Russia, it is in-
teresting to observe that negro malefactors in the State of Ala-
bama are practically sold to legal slavery. If the newspaper re-
ports can be believed, the treatment of these unfortunates in
many cases has been cruel in the extreme, so that the courts had
to take up the matter. But such cases do not seem to arouse
public indignation or sympathy ; all the American criticisms for
wrong conduct being reserved for foreign governments.
II tTbe IRcview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., July 9, 1903. No. 27.
ST. DOMINIC AND THE ROSARY.
1
HB Rev. P. Holzapfel's much-discussed brochure, which
we have repeatedly mentioned in these columns, is at
length before us.*) It forms No. 12 of the "Publica-
tions of the Munich Seminar of Church History," edited by the
eminent Prof. Knopfler, and bears both the JVil ohstat of the
reverend author's immediate superior and the Imprimatur oi the
Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Munich.
I.
P. Holzapfel introduces his preface with an expression of sur-
prise at the sensation which his thesis on St. Dominic in his rela-
tion to the Rosary f] created, not only in Germany but through-
out the Catholic world, despite the fact that it really contained
nothing which had not already been said in substance by the Bol-
landists, the Month, the Revue du Clerge fraiiQais, etc.
He next proceeds to refute the objection that the discussion of
such questions is inopportune, an objection made even by some
of those who are aware that certain traditional legends can no
longer be sustained.
"This objection," he says, "would be well taken if it were in-
tended to throw these things without any preparation upon the
common people who are incapable of judging. Not that the truth
should be withheld from these, but because the masses of the
people are often best instructed in some matters by no longer
teaching them in word or writing what is untrue. But this is not
the question here? Shall Catholic Science be prevented, once
doubts have arisen in such questions, from discussing them crit-
••••-) St. Dominikus und der Rosenkranz. Von
P. Heribert Holzapfel, O. F. M. No. 12 der
"Veroeftentlichungen aus dem Kirchenhistor-
t) See No. 48, vol. ix. of The Review.
ischen Seminar Muenchen." Muenchen, 1903.
Verlag der J. J. Lentner'schen Buchhandlung.
418 The Review. 1903.
icall}' before universities and in scholarly publications which are
read only by the educated?!) Shall and can these themes remain
forever a 'Noli me tangere'l Have the gigantic labors of the BoUand-
ists been performed solely for the benefit of non-Catholics? If
not, when is it opportune to debate such questions calmly and
objectively? Can it ever be opportune to continue to teach
legends which we know to be spurious ? Is it better that Catholics
calmly concede what can not be denied, or that they have to be
compelled thereto by their enemies with a mischievous reference
to their 'backwardness' and 'credulity'? No matter how low an
opinion we may have of Catholic Science, we surely do not want
to degrade her to the ignoble role of one who allows the enemy to
get the best of her in all historical questions and who contents
herself with repeating, under compulsion, what has been proved
against her with scorn and ridicule. But if Catholic Science
justly refuses to entertain any such proposal, if she endeavors to
tell the truth even at the risk of speaking, here and there, to un-
willing ears, she is convinced that by such procedure she does
not injure the interests of the Church, but advances them. Of
course, the Church must do her best to prevent the scandalizing
of the weak; wherefore, I repeat it, themes such as these are not fit
for the general ; but, being the pillar of truth, she surely can not
desire that orthodox scholars teach an5'thing against their better
knowledge or close their eyes to untenable legends which have
nothing to do with the divine character of the Church. If this
were the case, outsiders and even some Catholics of weak faith
might be tempted to believe that the Church has reason to fear
the destruction of such legends and that, if she does not desire
nor possess the truth in minor points, she does not desire or
possess it in those that are essential. These are no thoughts of
mine, but such as you can hear expressed daily in any large city.
"Therefore I say, it is decidedly in the interest of the Church if
those within her pale who cultivate learning, honestly seek the
truth and (excepting, of course, the chronique scandaleuse) as
honestly profess it. Really, it ought not to be necessary to dwell
on this point, since our Holy Father Leo XIII., upon the occasion
of the opening of the Vatican Archives, spoke the memorable
words : 'Primam esse historiae legem, ne quid falsi dicere audeat,
deinde ne quid veri non audeat.'''\) Can we blame the Catholic his-
torian if he chooses this sentence for his lodestar and motto?
P. Grisar's observation really appears superfluous : 'That noth-
ing is more unfounded than the idea which the one or other might
X) Such we may justly claim The Review to be, and therein lies oub justification.— A. P.
t^ "It is the first law of History that she dare not say what is false, and that she have the
courage to profess the whole truth without concealment."
No. 27. The Review. 419
possibly harbor, that such critical work, performed purely in the
interest of the Church's honor, has got to fear a conflict with the
ecclesiastical authorities.' His other remark, however, is en-
tirely to the point : 'This (critical) work may not always meet
with becoming" recognition ; there may arise at times objec-
tions of foolish and excessive zeal, branding the negative results
of criticism as crimes against the sanctuary. But this is to be
accepted calmly. Science must expose herself to the storms of
life and not yield before opposition like a nervous woman.'*)
"We are aware that discussions of this kind may prove un-
palatable to some, but there is no disputing about sentiments ; we
have a right however, to expect from those who are displeased,
that they do not set up their qualms as a scandal in the Biblical
and theological sense. Else every volume of the Bollandists, in
fact every critical treatment of ancient legends would deserve the
epithet 'scandalous.' Even if a few of those who are entirely
ignorant in religious matters, would take offence, this would not
go to prove the duty of suppressing the truth or, what is worse,
of continuing to teach error. The Church knows no censure
' Ignorantiae offendens.'' This was also the opinion of Benedict
XIV., as appears from a passage in his remarkable letter of June
7th, 1743, to Cardinal de Tencin, minister of the King of France,
in which he tells those who might be inclined to censure him for
diminishing the devotion shown to the saints by his contemplated
reform of the Breviary : 'But such a criticism appears to us to be
of less significance than the inevitable reproach that we allowed
apocryphal or doubtful facts to be read in the name of the Church.
It matters not if those who look upon all things related in ancient
legends as so infallibly certain that they are ready to suffer mar-
tyrdom for the truth thereof, — it matters not, I say, if such per-
sons raise a hue over the pruning of these legends.' "|]
P. Holzapfel expressly disclaims any animosity on his part
against the Dominicans, calling attention to the fact that as long
as 150 years ago an eminent member of that Order wrote : that
the Dominicans could well afford to bear with equanimity the at-
tacks of the Bollandists upon the traditional origin of the Rosary,
since neither the merits of their illustrious founder St. Dominic,
nor the rights conferred upon the Order by the supreme pontiffs
with regard to the devotion of the Rosary, could thereby be in
any wise diminished.
For the benefit of "timid souls" he adds that the Rosary looses
=■■) See the Acts of the V. International Catholic Congress at Munich, 1901, pp. 139, 142. (Fr.
Grisar's lecture was reproduced in full in The Rkview, vol. viii. No. 9.
I) Dr. P. A. Kirsch, Die historischen Brevierlectionen. Wurzburg, 1902, p. 15.
420 The Review. 1903
naugfht either in import or value even if it can be proved that we
do not derive it from St. Dominic.
II.
Our author's demonstration of his thesis, ["Rosarium a S.
Dominico neque institutum neque propagatum est"] is divided into
two parts, — one negative, the other positive.
The negative argument is to the effect that we have no contem-
porary authority whatsoever to prove that St. Dominic instituted
or propagated or even knew the Rosary. Of the eighteen
biographical sketches or notices published by the Bollandists,
all of which undoubtedly date back to the thirteenth cen-
tury, two or three were written by contemporaries of the
Saint, several others received the approbation of the first General
Chapter of the Dominican Order, while one, the ^ Viiae I^rah'tim^
of Gerard of Fracheto, consists of reports submitted to the su-
periors of the Order by command of the General Chapter of 1256.
Not one of these eighteen sources contains a word about the
Rosary in relation to St. Dominic. They tell us all the details of
his laborious and meritorious life, about his successful activity
against the Albigenses, about the visions which were vouchsafed
to him ; but they say nothing at all about the Rosary. How can
this be explained in the light of the generally accepted legend
that the history of the Rosary is so intimately connected with St.
Dominic that we can hardly picture his life without it?
More than that : in 1233 nine intimate friends of the then al-
ready departed Saint were examined by the inquisitors at Bologna
by order of Pope Gregory IX., and although they were exhorted
to tell, and did tell, under oath, whatever they knew about his
person and his habits of life, including the smallest details, e. g.,
his manner of praying, his bearing and deportment, etc., they
made not the slightest mention of the Rosary.
The same inquisitors later received the depositions of 300
witnesses in France, where St. Dominic had battled so success-
fully against the Albigenses. We have this testimony in the
'Epistola authentica qua subdelegati inquisitores Tolosani ex-
ponunt ea, quae circa virtutes et miracula S. Dominici ex testibus
oculatis ac juratis audiverant."^) Among these three hundred
witnesses were clerics and lay people, men and women, who all
of them related many things in praise of the Saint and especially
of his merits in fighting the heretics. Now if his victory over the
Albigenses were attributable to the Rosary, and if St. Dominic
had publicly proclaimed this devotion amid thunder and light-
ning, as the legend has it, surely the one or other of these many
*) Acta SS., Aug., Tom. I., pp. 645—47 ; 527—28.
No. 27. The Review. 421
witnesses would have referred to such a remarkable event. Yet
not one of them did. Nowhere in all their testimony is there any
mention of the Rosary.
Add to this the fact that the contemporary historians of the
Albigensian wars are silent on the subject, as are also all the
Dominican pulpit preachers of the thirteenth century whose ser-
mons have come down to us. Nor do the oldest constitutions and
decrees of the Dominican Orderf] contain any reference to the
Rosary, which would be absolutely inexplicable if it had really
been a devotion introduced and recommended by the holy founder.
The obvious conclusion from these and other facts which we
leave the reader to look up for himself in P. Holzapfel's brochure,
is, that there is no trace in the sources of the thirteenth and four-
teenth century of any relation of St. Dominic to the Rosary ;
hence, that such a relation did not exist. It is indeed an argu-
ment ex silentio, but it derives special valor from the fact that
the above mentioned witnesses to the events which are supposed
to have been intimately connected with the origin of the Rosary,
were contemporary witnesses who could not possibly overlook
any such important event and who were moreover bound under
oath to tell the Church authorities what they knew about it. As
they told absolutely nothing, no historian will accuse him of tem-
erarious judgment who asserts : The legendary relation of the
Saint to the Rosary must be denied so long as it is not clearly
proven by authentic testimony from the thirteenth or at least the
fourteenth century.
III.
"We come to the second argument, which shows how the Rosary
legend really originated. Up to the middle of the fifteenth century
it must have been unknown, else the Dominicans Thomas Antony
de Senis [d. after 1430], St. Antoninus [d. 1459], and John Lopez
[d. after 1470] would have surely mentioned it in their biographies
of St. Dominic.
The origin and spread of the popular legend is intimately con-
nected with the name of one Alanus de Rupe [Alan de la Roche].
We know little about him beyond the fact that he was probably
born in Britany, entered the French province of the Domini-
can Order, and received the bachelor's degree at Rostock in 1471.
He died probably on September 8th, 1475.
It is not absolutely certain whether Alan is the author of the
writings which are attributed to him and which are of such a na-
ture that already in the eighteenth century an eminent critic de-
t) Cfr. the Monumenta 0. Pr., edited by P. Bened. Reichert.
422 The Review. 1903.
Glared it were better they had never been published.*] This
much is certain, however, — that, being: an ardent devotee of the
Blessed Virgin, he was not only very active in spreading the Ave
Maria and the Rosary, but also began to preach the "miracle of
the Rosary" such as it has come down to us.
Alan, t] while attributing the genesis of the Rosary to St.
Bartholomew the Apostle, declares that it was through St. Domi-
nic that the devotion entered upon the most important period of
its history. Already as a boy, he tells us, when ten years of age,
the Saint had an apparition of the Virgin, who taught him to
carry and recite the Rosary. He relates at length how St. Dominic,
at Toulouse, in the midst of the great battle against the Albigen-
sian heretics, prayed to Mary, and how she appeared to him, sur-
rounded by fifty-three luminous virgins, and advised him to
preach the Rosary if he would be successful ; whereupon he pro-
claimed this pledge of victory amid thunder and lightning and
trembling of the earth. f]
Alan concludes his strange and wonderful account with the as-
severation : "Et haec omnia piissima Dei Genitrix V. Maria cui-
dam, quem desponsavit perannulum et psalterium mirandum, ex
crinibus ipsius virginis Mariae, in coUo sponsi pendens, narravit
visibiliter et sensibiliter, esse verissima."
This "sponsus" is none other than Alan himself, who relates
that once upon a time, when, on the verge of despair in consequence
of temptations, he was about to commit suicide, the Mother
of God appeared to him, arrested his arm and boxed his ears.
Soon after when he lay grievously ill, she again appeared and
made him her "sponsus novellus." "Post multa divina colloquia,"
he relates, "Virgo Lacte suo purissimo lethalia daemonum vul-
nera plurima perfudit et mox integerrime consanavit. Simul
hunc famulum suum (Alanum), Domino Jesu Christo praesente,
multisque Sanctis circumsistentibus, Sibi desponsavit : addiditque
ei Annulum Virginitatis suae Virgineis de crinibus ipsiusmet
Mariae concinne factum. Qui annulus gloriae est inexplicabilis,
et inaestimabilis ; quem indutum digito gerit desponsatus modo
mirabili sic, ut a nemine videatur. Ipse autem persentit in eo
certa adversus omnes diaboli attentationes auxilia. Pari modo
Benedicta Virgo Dei Genitrix simul iniectam ei e collo suspendit
•) H. Schuetz, S. J., Comment, criticus de
Scriptis et scriptoribus historicis. Ingolstadii
et Monachiil761. p. 51: "Varia quidem sub ejus
t];Fr. Holzapfel leaves the question undecid-
ed whether the author of the works under con-
sideration was really Alanus de la Roche or
\) J. H. Coppenstein, 0. P., B. Alanus redivi-
vus, Coloniae 1G24, pp. 90-95. P. Holzapfel
quotes the passage in the original Latin. Some
portions of it are untranslatable, e. g., this:
•'Quem (S. Dominicum) ilia (B. Virgo) in vir-
nomine prodiere opuscula, quae tamen melius
latuissent."
some other writer — a question of minor import,
since the legend originated in writings which
have come down to us under this name.
gineos acceptum amplexus Osculo fixo dis-
suaviabat: et apertis castissimi pectoris Uber-
ibus appressum Lacte suo potavit, iotegreque
restituit."
No. 27. The Review. 423
Catenam ex Crinibus Virgineis contextam : in qua insert! haerent
centum et quinquaginta lapides pretiosi, ac quindecim iuxta num-
erum Psalterii sui Post haec eadem Suavissima Domina
Osculum ipsi impressit ; dedit et Ubera sugenda Virginea. De
quibus ille sugens avide, videbatur sibi cunctis in membris, ac
potentiis irrigari, et transferri ad coelestia. Et saepius postmo-
dum Alma Parens eandem ipsi gratiam contulit lactationis."
Nor did Alan intend all this to be understood in a mystical or
metaphorical sense, for he gravely undertakes to explain in his
apologia : "Quomodo lac Virginis Mariae tam gloriosum bibere
potuit?" and "Quo ea modo decapillare se potuit, cum ad gloriam
ejus capilli et decorem pertineant?"
P. Holzapfel quotes more of this stuff, which we will spare
our readers.
Such are the contributions of Alan de la Roche to the history
of the Rosary. The reader may judge for himself of the probable
authenticity of such visions and revelations. As for the sources
which he frequently pretends to quote, viz: the works of Johannes
de Monte and Thomas de Templo, whom he represents as having
been intimate disciples of Dominic and eye-witnesses of the mir-
aculous events at Toulouse, they were admitted already two hund-
red years ago by an eminent Dominican writer to be "entirely
fictitious,*) and the Bollandists bluntly declare that Alan not only
invented the story out of the whole cloth, but that the two alleged
authors are creatures of his fertile imagination, t) The mildest
judgment that can be passed on Alan's visions and revelations, in
the opinion of Fr. Holzapfel, is that they were hallucinations ; and
if we are inclined to believe him to have written in good faith, we
must assume that he allowed himself to be shamefully imposed
upon with regard to his alleged authorities.
A reconstruction of the legend, which sets up St. Dominic as the
father of the Rosary, must have taken place in the first decades
of the sixteenth century. Our author has gone carefully into this
question and come to the conclusion that the Rosary, as we know
it, does not date back farther than the twelfth century.
The rest of P. Holzapfel's brochure is devoted to' the victorious
refutation of certain objections that have been raised against his
thesis.
His final conclusion is : "Our investigation has shown that the
commonly received opinion with regard to the origin of the Rosary
is luntenable ; but it has also shown that much remains to be
done before a complete history of the devotion can be writ-
ten. The following propositions may be taken to be well es-
•■•) Echard, Scriptores O. Praed.. I, -173 sq.— Acta SS., 1. c, p. 362.
t] ActaSS., 1. e.,p. 366.
424 The Review. 1903.
tablished : The Rosary, like every other popular devotion, has de-
veloped gradually. In some form or other it may have been re-
cited before the j^ear 1,000. We have no more definite reports
dating^ back farther than the twelfth century. From the twelfth
to the fifteenth century we meet with but few who cultivated this
devotion, until the time of Alan de la Roche, who propagated it
with great zeal. His activity was successful ; one hundred
years after his death, mainly through the efforts of the Domini-
cans, the Rosary had become a truly popular devotion. It is to
be regretted that the fables of Alan were gradually received in
good faith and that in consequence the person of St. Dominic has,
withoutany historical warrant, become intimately connected with
the Rosary."
^ 3* 54-
"THE SHOCK OF ENTRANCE" IN AMERICAN FREEMASONRY.
Let us now knock at the door of Masonry as "Entered Appren-
tice" and seek more information on the subject of religion. We
had heard that religious matters were sedulously excluded from
the lodges. This, however, from what we have learned, we know
is not true, since the purposes of Masonry are essentially religious.
Religious quarrels are excluded [p. 249] but not religion.
Mackey 's Ritualist opens the portals to us and allows us to assist
at the Entered Apprentice's lecture [p. 22]:
"The first section of the Entered Apprentice's lecture," it says,
"principally consists of a recapitulation of the ceremonies of initia-
tion. But on this account, a knowledge of it is highly necessary
to every Mason, that he may be the better enabled to assist in
the correct performance of the ritual of the degree. It is, how-
ever, introduced by some general heads which qualify us to ex-
amine the rights of others to our privileges, while they prove our
claim to the character we profess.
"It is of course impossible in a monitorial work to give a full ex-
planation of the various symbols and ceremonies which are used
in the inculcation of moral and religious truths ; but an allusion,
in even general terms, to the most important ones, in the order
in which they occur, will be sufficient to lead the contemplative
Mason to a further examination of the subject."
We sincerely regret that at times we must be content with
mere allusions in the explanation of the symbols that are used to
inculcate moral and religious truths in Masonry ; but we thank
our Guide for advising us beforehand of the fact. We shall take
advantage of allusions to look more carefully into them than we
night otherwise have done. In no allusion, however, but in clear
English, he tells us of the inculcation of religious truth in
No. 27. The Review. 425
Masonry. For this we thank him ; and we thank him for more,
"In the symbolic science of Masonry," he tells us [p. 22], "the
Lodge is oftenrepresented as the symbol of life. In this case. Lodge
labor becomes the symbol of the labor of life, its duties, trials, and
temptations, and the Mason is the type of the laborer and actor in
that life. The Lodge is, then, at the time of the reception of the
Entered Apprentice, a symbol of the world, and the initiation is
a type of the new life upon which the candidate is about to enter.
There he stands without our portals, on the threshold of this
new Masonic life, in darkness, helplessness, and ignorance. Hav-
ing been wandering among the errors and covered over with the
pollutions of the outer and profane world, he comes enquiringly
to our doors, seeking the new birth and asking for a withdrawal
of the veil which conceals divine truth from his uninitiated sight.
And here, as with Moses at the burning bush, the solemn admon-
ition is given : 'Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is holy ground'; and the ceremonial pre-
parations surround him, all of a significant character, to indicate
to him that some great change is about to take place in his moral
and intellectual condition. He is already beginning to discover
that the design of Masonry is to introduce him to new views of
life and its duties. He is indeed to commence with new lessons
in a new school. There is not merely to be a change for the future
but a total extinction of the past ; for initiation is, as it were, a
death to the world and a resurrection to a new life. And hence
it was that among the old Greeks the same word signifies both
to die and to be initiated. But death to him that believes in im-
mortality is but a new birth. Now this new birth should be ac-
companied by some ceremony to indicate symbolically and to im-
press upon the mind, this disruption of old ties and formation of
new ones. Hence the impression of this idea is made by the
symbolism of the Shock at the entrance. The world is left be-
hind— the chains of error and ignorance which had previously
restrained the candidate in moral and intellectual captivity are
broken— the portal of the Temple has been thrown widely open,
and Masonry stands before the neophyte in all the glory of its
form and beauty, to be fully revealed to him, however, only when
the new birth shall be fully accomplished" [p. 23]
"The Shock of Entrance is then the symbol of the disruption
of the candidate from the ties of the world, and his introduction
into the life of Masonry. It is the symbol of the agonies of the
first death, and the throes of the new birth" [p. 24].
No wonder that the candidate is "shocked" when he "begins to
discover" the real design of Masonry. He is discovering what
perhaps he never imagined before, what certainly he did not know,
"^26 The Review. 1903.
for else there would be no "discovery." He thought that he was
joining- an association which was purely social and charitable,
whose purposes were material help and assistance, and he be-
gins to find out that its design is quite a different one. It aims
at effecting a great moral and intellectual transformation in him.
It tells him that all the old ties that bound him must be disrupted.
"All?" he asks. "All," it answers. "You must die to the past to
receive the Masonic birth. It is not 'a mere change for the future,
it is a total extinction of the past. ' You have wandered up to the
present time in error and pollution. You stand at my door in
darkness, helplessness, and ignorance. Divine Truth is hidden
from your eyes and you are asking now that the veil that hid it
from your uninitiated sight be withdrawn." "But," stammers
the candidate, "I-I-didn't come exactly for that. I thought that
being a Mason would help me to obtain office or to keep my em-
ployment. I was also told that Masons were a companionable lot
of fellows, and that therelwould be no harm in joining them. I
have always tried to be a moral man — and, as regards divine
truth — I thought that that belonged to the domain of religion and
that religious discussion was excluded from the lodges. Besides,
having been brought up a Catholic, I-I-thought that I possessed
divine truth. I knew that I was going against the will of myChurch
in joining Masonry, but I never thought that I would have to
change my faith. I was'nt told that." "These," answers Masonry,
"are only the agonies of the first death, and the throes of the new
birth. They are only proofs of your darkness, helplessness, and
ignorance. I must change your mental and moral condition.
When the veil that conceals divine truth from your uninitiated
eyes will be removed, you will know this truth in the fulness of
Masonic light."
This, therefore, is the design of Masonry, plainly enunciated, to
impart to its candidates what it calls divine truth, and according
to this divine truth to fashion their intellectual and moral nature.
This is evidently the work of religion. To Masonry, all outside
itself is the profane world. The ties that bound the Mason to
this world, all the ties, must be disrupted, that the new birth may
be accomplished and the new moral and intellectual and religious
or irreligious Masonic life be lived.
Does the conscience of the candidate rebel? Does his reason
tell him clearly that before disrupting the ties of the past and
blindly committing his eternal destinies to the uncertainties of
the future, he should first closely examine the credentials of
Masonry to be the teacher of divine truth? — that before binding
himself to believe and practise a religious S3'stem, he should have
a clear knowledge of that system in all its parts? "These," he is
No. 27. The Review. 427
told /'are but the agonies of the first death and the throes of the
new birth. This is no time for qualms of conscience; there is
now no turning back ; the die is cast and the Entered Apprentice
must bear the shock and abide by the result. Are not the declar-
ations made to the Senior Deacon in the ante-room of the lodge
and in the presence of the Stewards still upon his lips?" — :
"Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that unbiassed by
the improper solicitations of friends, and uninfluenced by mer-
cenary motives, you freely and voluntarily offer yourself a candi-
date for the mysteries of Masonry ?"
"I do."
"Do you sincerely declare, upon your honor, that you are
prompted to solicit the privileges of Masonry by a favorable opin-
ion conceived of the institution, and a desire of knowledge?"
"I do."
"Do you seriously declare, upon your honor, that you will
cheerfully conform to all the ancient usages and established cus-
toms of the fraternity?"
"I do." [Mackey's Ritualist, pp. 21-22.]
With such declarations has Masonry already bound him. He
has freely and voluntarily offered himself as candidate ; he has
expressed his favorable opinion of the institution and has asked to
be instructed; he has promised blindly to conform to the customs
of the fraternity— the shock of entrance will be more or less rude,
according to the moral and intellectual condition of the candidate,
but having given his word of honor he can not recede.
The "Shock of Entrance" is, however, but a symbol. It repre-
sents what we have already touched upon, viz : "The Shock of En-
lightenment." Of this next week.
sf a*& ^
AN IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE V. S. COVRT OF APPEALS
in re MVTVAL BENEFIT SOCIETIES.
A recent decision of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, (re-
ported in the Philadelphia Inquirer of June 16th, 1903) is of vast
importance not only to the members of the Legion of Honor
directly concerned, but also to the many thousands of members
of fraternal assessment "insurance" societies holding similar
contracts.
The facts are given as follows : Hugh W. Black held since
March, 1883, a certificate of the Legion, providing for a payment of
$5,000 in case of his death, conditioned upon his responding to as-
sessment calls. Some time after the corporation adopted an
428 The Review. 1903.
amendment to the by-laws, providing "that $2,000 shall be the
highest amount paid by the order on the death of a member, upon
any benefit heretofore or hereafter issued."
Black did not assent to this, and having complied with all the
terms of his contract, brought suit to recover all the money paid
into the concern, together with accrued interest. Judge Dallas,
after hearing testimony and arguments on both sides, decided in
favor of the plaintiff.
The Appellate Court, after reviewing a number of similar cases,
finds that the defendent corporation had lawful authority to make
the contract. It had also the power, though not the right, to re-
pudiate it and this it, did by the amendment to its by-laws.
A decree was issued by the same court affirming the judgment
of the lower court in the case of Wm. H. Henderson against the
Legion. The same points were involved and decided.
The American Legion of Honor started as an assessment in-
surance company, regardless of scientific principles, and had the
usual experience of such concerns. When the income was no longer
sufficient to meet the ever increasing losses, the benefits were re-
duced by amendment to by-laws. The result is shown above, and
as the concern is not prepared to return to all its members the
money paid in, let alone accumulated interest, the outcome can be
easily foretold. Unfortunately a number of Catholic insurance
societies are now, or will soon find themselves, in a similar situa-
tion regarding income and death losses. The "scaling" process
was very popular up to date, since the members for some reason
were more easily satisfied with a decrease of expected benefits,
than with the only other alternative, an increase of contributions
while from a legal point of view much depends upon the wording
of the contract, (certificate of membership) and the rule applied
to the Legion of Honor may not apply to all of the Catholic socie-
ties. Yet the principles involved are the same in all such cases,
and in view of the court's decision it were onlj^ common prudence,
not to speak of justice, for all our Catholic insurance societies
not already established on a permanent basis, to promptly reor-
ganize without "scaling" the benefits promised to members.
429
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
Ne Ohliviscaris. A Daily Reminder of Our Dead. Compiled by
Florence Radcliffe. London: Sands & Co. St. Louis: B. Herder.
1903. Price 75cts. net.
It used to be the fashion, (and is still for ought we know), to
keep a "birth-day book" containing a quotation from some great
writer for each day in the year, in which the autographs of
friends were set opposite the day of their birth. The Church
does not celebrate the birth-days of her favorite children. She
chooses rather to commemorate the days of their deliverance
from the trials of this mortal life and their joyful entrance into
Paradise. So she sings the praises of the saint on the day when
he finished his course in triumi)h and i"laetus meruit beatas
scandere sedes." This little book follows the plan of the birth-
day book. We are to set opposite the date of their deaths the
names of our loved ones departed, so that we may remember to
pray for them. For each day there is a sentiment relative to the
holy souls, — sometimes quoted, sometimes original. A more
practical, effective, and at the same time tender method of culti-
vating devotion to the souls in purgatory we have yet to learn. 'Ne
Ohliviscaris' is certain to be most acceptable and will be a boon
to the poor souls.
Rambles Through Europe, the Holy Land and Egypt. By Rev. A.
Zurbonsen. B. Herder, St. Louis. 1903. Price $1.
A description of an extended trip taken by the author. Tour-
ists will find therein useful information, while the stay-at-
home, who must see the sights of the great world through the
eyes of others, will find much to interest him and excite his won-
der and admiration.
A Daughter of the Sierras. By Christian Reid. B. Herder, St.
Louis. Price $1.25.
The scene of this story is laid in Mexico, and the author has so
vividly pictured the wild grandeur of the mountainous region of
which she writes, as!to make a most attractive back-ground for
the exciting incidents of the tale. For the rest, the writer is too
well known to Catholic readers to need introduction or commen-
dation.
In the Shadow of the Manse. By Austin Rock. London : Sands
& Co. St. Louis: B. Herder. Net $1.
A bright little controversial story, which will furnish the every-
day champion of the faith with many sound arguments. The
430 The Review. 1903.
didactic element is too pronounced to admit of an artistic develop-
ment of the plot, and the form, being- that of the romance, forces
the instructive part of the work into second place. Strange to say,
this warring- of elements does not mar the interest of the book,
which is lively from first to last.
Lecture on The Signs of the Times, by the V. Rev. Aloysius M.
Blakely, C. P., Vicar General of Nicopolis, Bulgaria.
This lecture was delivered by V. Rev. Fr. Blakely at the Phila-
delphia Cathedral on Palm Sunday of the current year. It shows
the alarming growth, in our present-day society, of infidelity,
which, unless checked, is bound to lead to the overthrow of legiti-
mate government and the destruction of religion.
The proceeds go towards the erection of a seminary for the
Bulgarians. Nicopolis has been in charge of the Passionist
Fathers since 1780. Address : Au Tres Rev. Pere A.M. Blakely,
C. P., Ev6che|Catholique, a Roustchouk, Bulgaria.
The Civilta Cattolica (quad. 1269) discusses "a new way of
writing the lives of the saints," giving special attention to the
Joly series ("The Saints") and in particular criticizing the re-
cently published life of St. Gaetan by R. De Maulde La Claviere,
whose work is declaf ed to make the Saint out as much more prone
to human weakness than is compatible with his real character
and with his canonization by the Church.
The Stimmen aiis Maria-Laach (No. 4) express certain reserves
with regard to the introductorj^ volume of the "Saints" series,
'The Psychology of the Saints,' by the editor, M. Joly, and
severely criticize Pingaud's 'Saint Pierre Fourier, ' which "is a
pamphlet parading under the colors of the biography of a saint"
and "must inspire us with cautious reserve towards the whole
series."
We are indebted to His Eminence Cardinal Satolli for a
copy of the new French edition of his 'Conferenze Storico-Giuri-
diche di Dritto Pubblico Ecclesiastico,' published by the Abbe
Aug-. Lury, I>. D., V. G., under the title : 'Etudes Historiques et
Juridiques sur les Origines du Droit Public Ecclesiastique.'
(Paris : H. Oudin, Editeur. 1902.) We shall give the book a more
extended notice later.
^^^^
431
MINOR TOPICS.
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
I find in your No. 22 a letter from Msgr. Baumg-arten of
Munich, on a communication of mine in No. 16 on the subject
of Catholic legends and their true character in history. I have not
the article before me now, as I am on my way across the continent
to Europe, so will ask excuse if my memory fail to accurately
bring back its details. However, I believe, I only called attention
to the fact that things "unauthenticated" are not necessarily
"spurious" and suggested that Catholic charity seems to call on
Catholics not to use needlessly offensive terms in discussion
among themselves, or indeed with anyone. I think I also pointed
out that the staple of all history which has passed into literature,
is made up of traditions, most of which have not been submitted
to strict judicial investigation and in fact are incapable of it.
This fact seems to be often overlooked by writers on historical
criticism. Cardinal Wiseman, e. g., in one of his works mentions
how a distinguished German scholar searched for years for the
legal proof of the reason for the transfer of the Council of Trent
from one Italian city to another in the course of its history. The
transfer itself was a matter of true history for over two hundred
years before the medical certificate on which it was based was
published to the outside world. In the mean time it might be
called "unauthentic." but it would be incorrect as well as offen-
sive to term it "spurious."
I tried to illustrate the same principle by calling attention to
the fact that Scott's historical romances contain much of true
historic fact in their own way and that Catholic legends may do
the same. If the eminent prelate differs with me in either of
those points, I shall be open to conviction of my errors ; but he
gives no indication of his opinion in his communication.
IzXlwdedi en passant to the thesis of Father Holzapfel (whose
name I did not mention nor even know) on Loretto, to ask one or
two questions on its arguments, I did so in perfect good faith,
and as far as I recollect, I only asked the names and dates of the
particular "bulls of the Popes," somewhat clumsily described as
"the bulls of the Popes"g-enerally, which established conclusively
that the long received Catholic traditions on the subject of the
Holy House were without historical basis. The 'eminent prel-
ate' does not answer this question. He merely treats it as an im*
pertinence on my part, laments my lack of historical training,
and expresses his surprise that any man who wished to be taken
seriously should make them. Now, as a matter of fact, there are
numerous alleged papal bulls which are more or less doubtful in
a historic view, and it does not seem to me unwarrantable for even
a layman to ask the name of those relied on by P. Holzapfel to es-
tablish his thesis. The eminent prelate assures me, my question
shows I have "not even an elementary knowledge of the problem
as such ;" I must own I fail to see why, pace prcelati dictt.
Even though only a layman, I must confess I am not prepared
to accept the fact that a thesis for the doctorate maintained be-
fore a German university faculty must therefore be an absolutely
authentic and unobjectionable demonstration. I fear human falli-
bility may attach even to the learning of a German university,
432 The Review. 1903.
as well as to the best of mankind in its ordinary condition. I am
not prepared to pin faith on the accuracy of Dr. Bollinger or
many others who have attained the doctorate in such institutions,
much as I respect German scholarship as such.
The last question addressed to my humble self : "Does Mr.
Clinch really imagine that Professor Knopfler neglected to inform
himself respecting such elementary points as he adduces?" — I
can easily answer. I never imagined anything on the subject,
never knew that the Doctor in question had anything to do in the
matter, and to my shame must confess, had not even heard of his
name in the connection. I can hardly then have thrown any dis-
credit on his name. I shall read P. Holzapfel's thesis with much
pleasure and must disclaim the title of its critic in the mean time.
It seems to me what I have written in The Review can not be
affected materially in its conclusions. If the Munich eminent
prelate thinks otherwise, I shall be most thankful if he will point
out how. — Bryan J. Clinch.
Archbishop Fischer of Cologne, in a recent circular to his
clergy, recommends to them greater simplicity and moderation
in building. He says that to erect splendid and luxurious rec-
tories, veritable palaces, creates a bad impression. The spirit of
poverty which should distinguish the clergy from the laity,
should appear also in their residences, which ought to be commo-
dious and well-furnished, but not luxurious. Highly ornamental
and expensive priests' houses, he says, "are a scandal not only to
the poor who hardly dare to eater them, but also to well-to-do
Catholics who justly expect their shepherds to cultivate sacerdo-
tal simplicity and moderation ; they diminish and undermine the
spiritual influence of the clergy, often lay a heavy burden on the
parishes, and challenge the criticism of malicious outsiders." He
adds that he will in future refuse to approve the building of rec-
tories if the plans do not accord with these principles.
Msgr. Fischer also disapproves of splendid church edifices in
poor parishes where the money must be raised by house collec-
tions. He does not even like to see comparatively wealthy congre-
gations spend large sums upon the decoration of their churches.
"It is quite true," he says, "that for the service of God :per se
nothing is too precious. But I must confess — and I believe I speak
the Master's mind — that my heart bleeds when I see here and
there how for a single piece of church furniture, such as a com-
munion railing, sums of money are expended which would almost
suffice to build a small church ; and when I consider, on the other
hand, how many of our Catholic brethren living scattered among
non-Catholics, have no place of worship or are compelled to hear
mass in a public hall or an old barn containing little more than a
table for an altar, no communion railing, no pulpit, vestments
threadbare and sacred vessels of the poorest and cheapest."
These common-sense reflections are applicable everywhere,
even here in the United States where thousands are used for mere-
ly ornamental purposes which could be far better employed in
assisting poor, struggling parishes in the North, West, and South,
and in establishing missions where they are sorely needed.
i tCbe IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., July 16, 1903. No. 28.
THE LYNCHING MADNESS.
ISHOP Butler once speculated on the possibility of a whole
people going- mad. That the general brain may suffer a
lesion resulting in what looks like popular insanity, it
might, indeed, be argued with a good deal of force. The early
stages of lunacy in the form of "fads" and "crazes" often manifest
themselves in whole communities ; and, as we are unhappily see-
ing just now in the outbreak of barbarous lynchings, East and
West, North and South, the thing sometimes mounts to acute
mania.
An alienist might easily detect in the bearing and actions of the
frenzied mobs many of the symptoms of dementia. There is the
wild obsession, the insensate fury, the cries, the howls, the "fixed
idea," the rage knowing no bounds. It is a point at which the
psychology of the crowd most strikingly reflects the mental con-
dition of the individual maniac. But the madness of the mob is
worse than that of the single man, because it is infectious.
One crazy band bent on murder incites another to bloody-mind-
edness. In these days of quick communication, impulses pass
swiftly from one section of the land to another. It is like the in-
mates of adjoining padded cells in an asylum stirring each
other up by the example of shrieking and foaming at the mouth.
A mob at the South bellows, and presently another in Belleville,
111., takes up the hoarse cry. Thence the mania passes on to In-
dianapolis, only to break out later with redoubled fury and with
every refinement of cruelty at Wilmington and Evansville. We al-
most seem to be beholding the fancy of Butler come true, and an
entire nation losing its reason.
This conception of the passion for lynching as a vast wave of
madness, inundating people by the thousand, is one, it seems to
us, which is fitted to heighten our sense of public peril, as we con-
434 The Review. 1903.
front the startling: phenomenon. Where it will declare itself next,
no man can tell. It is the instant and urgent duty of all sane men,
and of every community not yet bedlamized, to gather up all the
resources we possesss against this threatening evil which has al-
ready become a stinging national disgrace. For there is method
in this madness. It takes its origin, as everybody can see, in the
notion that there is one class of men beyond the pale of the law.
Mind, we say class of men, not class of crimes. Not all bestial
outrages or ferocious murders are punished by mob law and with
every circumstance of atrocity, as was the horrible crime by the
more horrible lynching in Delaware. The trembling brute who
was burned to death spoke the simple truth when he told his tor-
mentors that he would not have been dealt with in that savage
fashion had he not been a negro. Not all monsters of depravity
ara black ; yet where do we hear of the red fury of the mob turn-
ing upon white fiends? No, the idea is abroad that "niggers"
may be hunted like wild beasts. Beginning by attempting to de-
citizenize them, we have passed on to considering them de-human-
ized. We deny them the inalienable rights of every human being
under our laws. For the white criminal the orderly processes of
the law, the court, the sentence, the noose ; but for his fellow in
crime — that is all he is — the colored man, there is nothing but the
howling of the mob and the leaping flame.
This is the first and great warning which the lynching mania
speaks to every man who will hear. Class prejudice is at the
bottom of these ferocities. In Bessarabia it is the Jew who is the
outlaw, and who may with impunity be massacred because he be-
longs to a hated class ; in America it is the negro for whom the
most sacred guarantees of the law simply do not exist. Discrim-
ination against a man because of his race or color shows us, in the
insensate mob at Wilmington, into what wild animals it turns hu-
man beings when it does its perfect work. And we have not the
slightest security that such class prejudice, erected into the con-
trolling passion of the mob, will stop with any particular race or
color. Any day it may suddenly be declared, and adopted in prac-
tice, that other classes of men, other races, other colors, are fit
only for lynching. When once you depart from the principle
that all men as such have fundamental and equal rights, or from
the duty of doing justice even upon the vilest under the strict
forms of the law, you can not tell to what fearful and bloody con-
sequences you may be driven.
That is really the alarming aspect of th's invasion of old com-
munities by the lynching habit. It threatens to burst the social
bond itself and make us all cave-men again, every one taking jus-
tice into his own hand. "Rough justice" lynching has been called
No. 28. The Review. 435
by its apologists. We perceive the roughness, but not the justice.
Society exists at all only because individuals agree to put their
private griefs into the hands of the ministers of the law ; and
every attempt by individuals or by mobs — be they "mobs of
gentlemen" — to wreak vengeance on their own account, is a stab
at the life of society. How deep our shame as a nation should be
at these awful barbarities, no one perhaps can fully perceive who
does not read the foreign newspapers. The story of our lawless
ways is telegraphed to them in all its ghastliness. Englishmen,
Germans, and Frenchmen were thinking of Americans, at their
breakfast tables the other morning, just as we were thinking a few
weeks ago of the murderous Russians in Kishenev. The stain
has come upon our country's name at the very moment when we
were loudest in protesting against the atrocities of others. It is
like the French writer Linguet, declaring that the stories told by
Tacitus of the cruelties of Tiberius were incredible, since they
did "dishonor to human nature"; only to go out shortly and fall a
victim himself to the more cruel September massacres. What a
crushing hi qiioque Russia can make to the President's petition,
if she chooses !
* *
*
We have nothing to add to these timely and not altogether inept
observations of the N.jY.iS'z^^w/w^ 7^(95/ (June 25th), except the re-
mark that a paper which daily proclaims it as a part of its mission
to "inculcate just principles in religion, morals, and politics,"
ought to probe deeper in such questions as this, which affect the
moral character of our people. What is it that is thus brutalizing
us? Were such degeneration possible if we were indeed what we
pretend to be : a Christian nation?
The Po5/ calls upon ttie nation to "gather up all the resources
we possess against this threatening evil which has already be-
come a stinging national disgrace." What are these resources ?
Is there any one more powerful than that which we, as a people,
most flagrantly neglect : the training of our youth in the prin-
ciples of religion, which is the only sound basis of morality ?
It is a poor philosophy of correction which does not penetrate
to the root of an evil.
S^ ^S So
In reply to a pastoral letter of the Archbishop of Bogota, the
government of the United States of Colombia has by official decree
consecrated the republic to the Sacred Heart and ordained a
special holyday in its honor, together with a collection, the pro-
ceeds of which are to go to the fund which the Archbishop is
gathering for the erection of a great Sacred Heart church in the
national capital. Colombia is what we claim to be — a Christian
country.
436
TRADES UNIONISM vs. STATE OWNERSHIP.
This important question, which has already been discussed by us
in a brief and academical way, is now a practical and burning one
in Australia. In Victoria, the railroads are owned by the govern-
ment, and in consequence of the recent labor troubles, the govern-
ment forbade its railway employes to ally themselves with the
"Trades Hall," which is for Victoria what the American Federa-
tion of Labor is for the United States.
Mr. Benjamin Hoare, who is on the spot, describes the result-
ing situation substantially as follows :
On the part of the men they say, and say quite truly, that they
are members of a great trades union, and that unionism is the
salt of industrial organization. Trades unionism is now recog-
nized as a potent engine for raising and sustaining the status and
dignity of labor. Why should these engine drivers and firemen
of the Victorian railwaj^s be debarred from affiliation with the
Trades Hall, which is the centre and focus of all labor organiza-
tion in the State ? To the men it seems that the very perfecting
of their strength and influence demands that their individual
bodies shall be connected with the central bodies. And the men
ask, with no feigned indignation : "Are we to be slaves, that in
our own time and leisure we can not dispose of ourselves as we
think fit?"
That is one statement of the case. It is a strong one ; but it is
only an expaj'tc presentation. The government position is not less
formidable. The government railways are a national asset, on
which rests the stability of the State. Those railways belong to
no section of the people. They belong to the whole people. They
must be governed and managed for the whole people. They stand
in this respect in quite a different position from that of any pri-
vate industrial enterprise. Even a private firm has relations with
so many people that its failure or collapse brings down many for-
tunes. But this government ownership of the railways, with its
responsibility for paying ^{^120,000 a month in interest, and with
all the daily interests of the people dependent on its service, is a
far more important thing. No single body of men may be per-
mitted to hold the working of these lines at their will. Six months
ago the engine drivers of Victoria let us all know that they held
this power in terrorem over us. Some of them threatened to "stop
the wheels going round." They did not carry out their threat
because of public opinion being at the time overwhelmingly
against them. But they left the public in no doubt that they re-
frained only for the time, and that they still hold the power of
paralyzing the State at any moment when they may think their
interests demand it.
I don't think the men themselves will demur to this statement
No. 28. The Review. 437
of the facts as they exist. At the present moment they have made
it known that they have taken every precaution and thought out
every eventuality for making themselves masters of the situation.
They are quite sure, they say, that a general strike of the or-
ganized railway servants will paralyze all train running, which
means the stoppage of State trade. They may be right in this,
or they may be wrong. They assert it. The Minister denies it.
It is not for me to .pronounce as to this fact. What I am dealing
with here is the contention of these public servants that they hold
the power. They say they do hold it. They say that at any time
they please, that is when they think they have sufficient motive,
they can almost ruin ^40,000,000 worth of State property, and
jeopardize a hundred millions' worth of private interests. Of
course they hold that they will never use this power except in
self-defence, and that thus the power is safely resting in their
hands.
But here again the government's view must be recollected.
Ministers, representing not a few thousands of servants, but the
whole body of the people, say this power ought not to reside in
the hands of a small minority. It must reside in the majority alone,
or the government which represents the majority. The Minis-
ters point out that six months ago the railway men threatened to
strike because of certain percentage reductions made in their pay
by decree of the whole State electors. There was a case in which
this small body thought for a time they had full warrant for put-
ting their power into operation contrary to the interests of all other
men. The Ministers therefore say that any such power, if held
by railway servants, would be a perpetual peril and terror to the
State. It might, if possessed, be used unjustly or capriciously at
any moment. The many would be subordinate to the few. The
servants of the State, in every great emergency, could become the
State's masters, and responsible government would be at an end.
The people would not govern themselves. They would be gov-
erned by a small minority of their own people.
That is what the government asserts when it says that it will
not permit the railway men to affiliate with the Trades Hall. And
let me say here|that this view is not at all academic.
It must be plain, if we in Victoria permitted a body of 2,000
railway servants to obtain such a mastery of the railways that at
any time they pleased they could "stop the wheels' going round,"
the integrity of our self-government would be gone. The Minis-
ters would have to perform their functions and conceive their poli-
cies, not in obedience to the whole people, but at the will of their
masters, the railway servants. —
Would not the same situation develop in the United States if the
government assumed the ownership of the railroads?
438
EVOLUTION OF THE SALOON.
The saloon of to-day is so essentially a product of modern life
that the memory of men who have been in the business of selling"
liquor at retail for twenty-five or thirty years, goes back over the
whole story of its growth. The change from the old-fashioned
tavern, with its tap-room and parlor, to the modern saloon, with
its bar and little shut-off back room, is one not only of form, but
of reputation and standing in the community.
In the old tap-room there were always a large fire and a number
of little tables, while the bar at one side was generally fenced in
by a kind of wooden railing, something" like that in a bank, and
what was sold across it was drunk at the tables or standing be-
fore the fire, for there was not enough room for both serving and
drinking in front of the bar itself. The tap-room was a kind of
lounging-room in town as well as in the country, particularly for
the poorer customers ; the better class were more apt to stay in
the front room, where their drinks were brought in to them.
Gradually the bar grew, and the rest of the tap-room shrank,
while the hotels drew off the richer class of customers. As the
life of a town grew more strenuous, and the sense of pressure
and lack of leisure became more pronounced, the habit of "per-
pendicular drinking" and of tossing off a drink in front of the bar,
and then hurrying out, put an end to the old habit of lounging at
a table and taking one's liquor slowly.
In our day the bar has become the main and practically only feat-
ure of the long narrow room of which most saloons in our large cit-
ies consist. The more respectable saloon-keepers regret this state
of affairs. Of late years a number of them have put in little tables,
and they encourage customers to sit down. This is not done at all
in imitation of the beer-gardens, which have grown up beside the
saloons and occupy quite a distinctive field, but because the saloon-
keepers think, many of them, that it gives a more respectable tone
to their establishments, and they would rather have tables iu front
in plain sight than shut off in a little room. Modern saloons had
some time ago lost most of the old tap-room character of social
meeting-places, and had become essentially a place for drinking;
to this some of their proprietors attribute the fact that it has
come to be considered by many people a disgrace to go into a bar,
whereas in former times no such sentiment existed. The honor
in which taverns were held in the early colonial times, not as
drinking-places, but as places of social re-union, where distances
in the almanacs were frequently stated from tavern to tavern, in-
stead of from town to town, is familiar to every student of Amer-
ican history. Then, indeed, the amount of liquor to be drunk by
one man at the inn was carefully regulated, and the tavern itself,
No. 28. The Review. 439
as a club, a hotel, and even on occasions a meeting-house, was un-
der the close supervision of the authorities.
The constitutional objection of Germans to drinking on their
feet has been one cause, among others, of the growth of beer-
gardens here, but these have not essentially affected the charac-
ter of saloons. The bar with a passageway in front of it, into
which the saloon has developed, is thoroughly American, and as
much the result of our life here as is the quick-lunch counter,
which is its counterpart. The revival of some of the old sociable
tap-room features would unquestionably raise the general tone of
saloons, but many people who are interested in the question feel
that a more effective improvement would be made by the substi-
tution of something else for the saloon. The cafe, as it exists in
France, particularly the sidewalk cafe, never seems to have taken
root in this country, even in that season of the year to which it is
adapted.
A prominent retail liquor-dealer says that one reason why
many people go into saloons, particularly on Sunday morning, is
because of the lack of public toilet conveniences. It has been ob-
served that nearly 50 per cent, of those who drop in at a saloon
for this reason stay or have a drink. If our large cities were not
worse provided in this respect than other cities of one-quarter
their size in the world, a great many drinks would be lost to the
saloons.
3^ M ^
^Pir ^^r ^FT
IS THERE NEED OF A NEW CATECHISM ?
There is no dearth of catechisms, old or new, yet a clerical
critic in the Providence Visitor (No. 35j complains that we have
no catechism suitable for a working-boy who comes a few weeks
before Corpus Christi to be prepared for his first communion on
Corpus Christi, and is then more or less left to himself.
The reverend editor of the Visitor agrees with his critic on the
defectiveness of the Baltimore Catechism, "hastily prepared
nearly twenty years ago, during the last sessions of the Third
Plenary Council of Baltimore ;" but he questions the need of a
new catechism, "though, of course, we should welcome anything
that made for precision, simplicity, and clearness in the manuals
to which we are accustomed."
The F/5//or thinks, catechisms are exceedingly difficult to write.
In the first six centuries they were left to intellectual giants such
as Cyril of Jerusalem, Clement of Alexandria, Athanasius, Augus-
tine. In Reformation times the learning of a Blessed Peter
Canisius supplied the want. His little manual has seen more
than a hundred editions and is still used in many places in
440 The Review. 1903.
the Fatherland. "There were many who regretted that it was
not ofl&cially enjoined as a model by the Fathers of the Baltimore
Council "
"What is really needed, almost, if not quite, as much as a new
catechism," he thinks, "is a new order of catechists and a new
spirit in their work. We are getting- beyond the period when any
exemplary young man or maiden, who has reached the years of
discretion in a parish, is considered good enough to impart Sun-
day school instruction to the young. The whole business of cate-
chetical teaching is growing to such proportions that it may well
be doubted whether an hour or two on Sunday can be accepted as
meeting its needs. The excellent Manual of Instruction prepared
by Father Spirago and translated by Bishop Messmer for use in
this country is a much wiser step towards reform, it seems
to us, than any attempt at multiplying the catechisms at present
in use. No printed page, no cut-and-dried formulary can ever
dispense with the living teacher where Catholicism is concerned.
Everything that tends to stimulate fertility and inventiveness in
the catechist, while lessening the drudgery of unintelligent mem-
ory-work on the part of the taught, is a step in the right direction.
As for the special difficulty created by the circumstances amid
which the modern working-boy is condemned to prepare for his
first communion, we are of the opinion that not even a new book
would remove it. He must be brought back to the Sunday school
for at least three years after his confirmation ; some would make
it five. If such subsequent attendance can not be secured, we
shall be obliged to confess that we are in the habit of admitting
whole classes to the sacraments who are morally certain to fall
away after their initial grace. That is a problem for Church
councils to meet ; but meanwhile we must enlist the services of
the working-boy's family on our side ; we must compel his par-
ents, his grown-up sisters, his sweethearts, even, to make com-
mon cause with the Church ; and do everything in our power to
make the first communion class something more than a beautiful
episode in a difficult and otherwise menaced life."
Thus far the Visitor. As for ourselves, we should have pre-
ferred to distinguish from the outset between a catechism as a
help in oral religious instruction, and a manual of religion. A
catechism in its formal questions and answers, even if they are
very precise, simple, and clear, can not impart warmth and edifi-
cation; these qualities must come from the teacher. It is quite
different with a manual of religion. And in that line Spirago's
'Katholischer Volkskatechismus' or Spirago-Clarke's 'Popular
Catechism,' published by Benziger Brothers, will answer in full.
All the objection that can be raised against the English edition,
No. 28. The Review. ' 441
is the price, $2.50. A cheap edition at a dollar or a dollar and a
quarter is needed. The Benzigers publish some very commend-
able books, such as the Little Life of the Saints and Goffine's Ex-
planation of the Epistles and Gospels at a moderate price, why can
they not oif er Spirago-Clarke at a reasonable figure ? If they will
not or can not, we suggest that a new translation be made and
printed by some other Catholic publishing house.
sr 3? 3f
THE "SHOCK or ENLIGHTENMENT" IN AMERICAN
FREEMASONRY.
"The material light which sprung forth at the fiat of the Grand
Architect, when darkness and chaos were dispersed, has been
ever, in Masonry, a favorite symbol of that intellectual illumina-
tion which it is the object of the Order to create in the minds of
its disciples, whence we have justly assumed the title of the Sons
of Light.' This mental illumination, this spiritual light, which
after his new birth, is the first demand of the new candidate, is
but another name for divine truth — the truth of God and the soul
— the nature and essence of both — which constitutes the chief de-
sign of all Masonic teaching. And as the chaos and confusion in
which 'in the beginning,' 'the earth, without form and void' was
enrapt, were dispersed and order and beauty established by the
supreme command that established material light ; so at the
proper declaration and in the due and recognized form the in-
tellectual chaos and confusion in which the mind of the neophyte
is involved, are dispersed, and the true knowledge of the science
and philosophy, the faith and doctrine of Masonry, are devel-
oped" (Mackey's Masonic Ritualist, p. 33).
Here then you have a clear statement of what Masonry pre-
tends to do. It pretends to create a spiritual light in the mind of
every candidate. It pretends to impart divine truth — the truth
of God and of the soul — the nature and essence of both. This
spiritual light, this divine truth is found in Masonry alone. You
must enter its portals to know God and his essence, to know the
nature and essence of your own soul. Are you shocked by the
enlightenment? So proportionally was the world of material
darkness and chaos when material light was created. Every
man who is not initiated, cleric or layman, bishop or pope, is in
intellectual chaos and darkness as regards the true nature of God
and of the human soul. This is Masonry's benevolence which
would free minds from religious error and substitute for ignor-
ance divine truth.
Wonderful benevolence ! But what are its proofs of the profound
442 The Review. 1903.
ignorance of everybody else, and of its own transcendant wis-
dom? Its own unsubstantiated ''Ipse dico'' — I say so — that is
enough. Truly a great intellectual change must be operated in
a sane man to swallow all this without evident proofs. He must
deny his own reason ; for reason has demonstrated to him the ex-
istence and nature and attributes of the Supreme Being ; he must
deny every form of divine faith which he has hitherto professed ;
for according to Masonry every form outside its own is ignorant
of divine truth — the nature and essence of God and of the human
soul. This is a fundamental Masonic dogma. He must blindly
accept all that Masonry will tell him, for all repugnance must be
attributed to the errors and helplessness and ignorance of the
past, to the chaotic confusion that reigns in his intellect. He
must die to the past to be born into Masonic life. And this is
what contains no harm for Catholics! This is what the Church
must countenance in her children I She must permit them to
turn their backs upon her and insult her ; she must let them call
her an imposter, since she presents herself to the world as "the
pillar and ground of truth," when she does not even know, accord-
ing to Masonry, the nature of God or of the human soul ; she must
permit all her work to be undone; she must permit another to sup-
plant her .in their affections ; and while they on their part are
dead to her, since they have cut every tie that bound them to her;
while they seek in their hearts to extinguish the past, to live an-
other life not her's ; while they press forward to an eternity
which she reprobates, worship a god whom she abhors ; she,
their mother, must stand by indifferent, or to avoid the accusa-
tion of ignorance and bigotry and superstition, must approve all
this for at best a doubtful transitory advantage.
She will not, she can not do it ; nor will any fair-minded man,
understanding the case, ask her to do it? The shepherd gives
his life for his sheep when the hireling flies ; and the Church is
more than a shepherd, she is a mother.
And here, as the eye of a Catholic priest roams over these pages,
let him realize more fully why it is so difficult, even on a death-
bed, to reclaim a Catholic who has been a Mason. The difficulty
is not a mere moral one, it is an intellectual one. It is not merely
disobedience to the Church and the neglect of her sacraments ; it
is a formal and complete apostasy in which the very God of Chris-
tianity is denied, as well a€ the very nature and essence of the
Christian soul. What is there to work on? Without a miracle
of divine grace, nothing. Were it passion or interest or other
worldly and temporal motives that had led the heart astray, while
leaving at least the roots of faith intact, the nearness of eternity
and the fear of an offended God might again revive what long had
No. 28. The Review. 443
lain dormant and as dead ; but when the very roots of Christian
faith have been cut and all past ties are broken, when the great
intellectual change of Masonry has produced its baneful effects,
and not one single dogma, but the whole Catholic system has been
cast aside as error, helplessness, and ignorance, the case, as
Masonry knows and as it has cunningly planned, is wellnigh
hopeless. If there be any human hope it will be in understanding
the source whence springs the lack of responsiveness in one who
should be a Catholic ; and in seeking to recall what has been so
sedulously banished, the truths of divine faith that he had
learned at his mother's knee.
What we say of the anti-Christian nature of Masonry, on the tes-
timony of Masonry itself, should also open the eyes of every Prot-
estant that loves his church, to the dangers that threaten it from
Masonry. Methodism, Presbyterianism, Episcopalianism, and
all the other Protestant forms are, in the eyes of the craft, as de-
void of divine truth as is Catholicity. Only in Masonry are we
taught the nature and essence of God, the nature and essence of
the human soul ; outside the lodge all is error. The various
Protestant churches have, therefore, if they are sincere in the
faith which they profess, the very same reason for condemning
Masonry that the Catholic Church has. Masonry will indeed em-
brace them all, as the wolf will embrace every lamb that it comes
across, with the inevitable result of all wolf and no lamb. The
Catholic Church knows the danger ; the Catholic Church, regard-
less of consequences to herself, fearlessly proclaims the danger ;
let sincere and candid Protestants compare her action with the
supineness of their own clergy in reference to Masonry, nay with
the too frequent positive connivance, and then decide themselves
where is the true guardian of the faith of Christ.
s^ a* 5*
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
St. Edmund, Archbishop of Canterbury. His Life as Told by Old
English Writers. Arranged by Bernard Ward, President of
St. Edmund's College, Old Hall. St. Louis: B. Herder. 1903.
Price $1.60.
This life is a compilation from old Latin chronicles. In trans-
lating the extracts the author has adhered as closely as possible
to the originals, and the style of the book has in consequence a
quaint simplicity, a flavor of antiquity, which contributes in no
small degree to the life-like impression produced on the reader's
n444 The Review. 1903
imag-ination. The reality of the portrait is further heightened
by the numerous |well-chosen illustrations, which are fully ex-
plained in the appendix. Altogether Msgr. Ward has presented
a unique life of one of England's greatest saints, a saint who
played an important part in the history of his times and inspired
for centuries the fervent devotion of his countrymen. When
England slew her prophets and stoned those that were sent unto
her, St. Edmund continued to be honored and invoked by the faith-
ful in France. Now that the Church in England has risen from
her ashes, the Saint has come unto his own again, and will be once
more the great patron and lofty model of the Catholic'scholars of
"Mary's Dowry."
Catholic London Missions fi'oni the Refoi'mation to the Year i8oS'
By Johanna H. Harting. London : Sands & Co. St. Louis: B.
Herder. 1903. Price $2.
An account of the chapels in which the faithful met in London,
surreptitiously for the most part, during the long years when
Catholic worship was proscribed in England. Most of these
chapels belonged to the embassies from foreign countries, and
for a long time it was under foreign protection that the London
Catholic managed to perform his religious duties, if indeed he
managed it at all. The book can not fail to be of interest, but
this interest would have been enhanced had .the matter been
arranged in a more orderly way.
— — -Realizing the pernicious influence which Socialism exercises
in so many spheres, the German Catholic Districts- Verband oi Chic-
ago last February inaugurated a series of lectures in that city, to
show the masses that modern Socialism is the most absurd remedy
yet suggested for existing social evils and that the Catholic Church
alone teaches the only true and sure way to social happioess, as
she has always done. Rev. Dr. Heiter of Buffalo lectured in
Chicago, and the force of his arguments was remarkable. The
Priester-Verein has now published his lectures in pamphlet form
and is endeavoring to spread them far and wide, appealing es-
pecially to Catholic societies to enourage the reading of this liter-
ature. An English translation is contemplated for English speak-
ing Catholics. The pamphlet is entitled 'Sieben Vortrage gegen
Socialdemokratie' and sells at 10 cents per copy, $7 per 100, $25
per 500. Address : Secretary of Deutscher Katholischer Priester-
Verein, Rev. Ed. Berthold, 247 Le Moyne St., Chicago, 111.
445
MINOR TOPICS,
It is unfortunate that the Denver Catholic, this self-constituted
champion of the faulty "insurance" system of the C. M. B. A., in
criticizing our comments on the business methods of the Catholic
fraternals, does not confine itself to a calm discussion of the facts
presented, but prefers to go about hair splitting- by taking up
unimportant matters without touching the real question involved.
For the information of our readers and the Denver Catholic we
wish to emphatically state that all the figures given in our insur-
ance articles are obtained from official sources, and we usually
quote our authorities. Now here is an example of the way the
Denver Catholic (No. 15) misinforms its readers :
"The Review asserted that the C. M. B. A. did not do
any business in Pennsylvania. Now, the fact is, as the Denver
Catholic asserted, that next to New York, Pennsylvania has the
greatest number of members of the C. M. B. A. of any State in
the Union. Thereupon The Review quoted some insurance re-
port. Now, this did not really deny what the Denver Catholic
said, but it did give the impression to the uninformed that the
Denver Catholic was wrong."
The C. M. B. A. is a regularly chartered fraternal organization
under the laws of the State of New York. The insurance laws
of Pennsylvania provide explicitly under what conditions such
outside corporations can do business in the State, and one of the
conditions is to obtain a license of authority for doing business from
the State Insurance Department. Detailed reports of the business
done and the financial standing of the concerns are also required,
and these are published in the Insurance Commissioner's annual
report for the information of the proper authorities and the
public at large.
Such being the case, it was natural that, in order to answer the
Denver Catholic'' s claim of the large Pennsylvania business of the
C. M. B. A., The Review wrote to the Pennsylvania Insurance
Department, not to "some" department, but to the Insurance
Department of Pennsylvania. The reply was that "the C. M.
B. A. is not authorized to do business in Pennsylvania, and the De-
partment is in ignorance regarding its financial standing."
The "Catholic Benevolent Legion" does business in Pennsyl-
vania, is properly authorized, and its annual reports are regularly
published by the Department. The C. M. B. A. can not he found
in the Department's publications, and therefore The Review did
say that it had no standing in Pennsylvania. Officially it has not,
and if \.\^^ Denver Catholic'' s claim is correct,(and we have no further
means of testing it, official authorities prove the contrary^, we sin-
cerely regret that a Catholic order is deliberately doing work in
the State of Pennsylvania in utter disregard and direct violation oi
the laws of that State passed for the protection of members.
To the members of Catholic fraternals in general, and to the C.
M. B. A. and th.Q.\Denver Catholic in particular, we recommend a
mr^y?^/ study of the report of the Committee on Revision of Rates
appointed by the Catholic Order of Foresters and published after
446 . The Review. 1903.
two years' study of the subject of fraternal insurance, on May
1st, 1903. We quote a few passages as conclusion of our remarks
for the benefit of all concerned :
"Two things were, however, shown to the satisfaction of the
committee by the history of fraternal organizations on their in-
surance or protection side, namely:
"a. That notwithstanding oft repeated assertions and opinions
of many advocates that rates once in vogue were high enough to
mature their contracts, the course of short time proved that they
were not ; and
"h. As far as the history of insurance goes, that any and all plans
which failed to provide for payment in advance yearly or monthly,
of a sufl&cient sum, which, properly invested and increased, would
accumulate enough to meet the contracts when due, failed in their
final outcome."
Once more "the organ on Holy Thursday":
We have received this note from the Rector of the Provincial
Seminary of St. Francis, at St. Francis, Wisconsin :
Allow me to refer once more to the controversy raised in your
columns on the use of the organ on Holy Thursday. Rev. Dr. Baart
(No. 26) tries to prove from the wording of the Caeremoniale Epis-
coporum that the organ may be used during the whole mass. His
argument might be considered convincing if the plain words of a
late decree of the S. C. of Rites would not state the contrary. As
the latter is the case, I suppose we have to apply the rule that gen-
eral decrees may be and are modified and limited by particular de-
crees. I quote from the latest edition of Gardellini's "Decreta
Authentica": "Ad Dubium VH. Quum in variis ecclesiis etiam in-
signibus iuxta immemorabilem consuetudinem pulsatur Organum
per totam missam in Feria V. in Coena Domini ; quaeritur : Num
servari possit talis consuetudo hand facile abrumpenda? Resp.
Invectam consuetudinem esse eliminandam. In Urgellensi, die 30.
Dec. 1881, No. 3535." — From this I would infer that the words of the
Caeremoniale "/« missa" are to be understood in the sense of the
above decree, i.e., that the organ should not be played during the
whole mass, but only to the end of the Gloria according to the
rubrics and another decree of the same Congregation, No. 3515 ad
IV.— J. Rainer.
Prof. J. Singenberger submits the following : In the Caeremon-
iale Episco-poriim, Editio typica, iSS6, and Editio :l)rima -post typi-
cam 1902, I read : "Item feria quinta in Coena Domini ad Gloria
in excelsis Deo et Sabbato sancto ad Gloria in excelsis Deo."
So it must have been an antiquated edition of the Caeremoniale
Episcoporum from which Rev. Dr. Baart quoted in our No. 26.
During the recent strike in the anthracite coal region, much
sympathy was created for the striking miners by the plea that,
owing to the insuf&cient earnings of the fathers of families, their
children were compelled to work in the mines. The Philadelphia
legislature came to the rescue by passing a law prohibiting the
employment of minors under sixteen years of age in work under
ground. While intended only for the anthracite region (so the
No. 28. The Review. 447
miners thought) the law actually applies to any and all coal
mines in the commonwealth. Strange to say, now trouble is
threatened all over the State, because the officials of the Depart-
ment of Mines purpose to enforce the law (see Philadelphia Record^
June 27th).
The bituminous coal miners were the first to protest and are
greatly encouraged by a majority of the miners in the anthracite
region ; there is talk of getting a test case before the Supreme
Court in the hope that said body will find the law unconstitu-
tional.
But what becomes of the objection to child labor in the mines,
so effectually used during the great strike for creating sympathy
and getting financial aid in the struggle for better terms? It
looks as if the miners did not want other people's children to
work, only their own.
According to the Chicago Tribune there were 2516 lynchings
from 1885 to and including 1900, and there are now but four States
(Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Utah) left
in which no such crime ever took place. The mistaken impres-
sion that "lynch law" is gradually dying out, is corrected by the
Tribune's tables. There were 90 lynching in 1881 and 135 in 1901.
Between these years the number shifted back and forth, going as
high as 235 in 1892.
The apologists for "lynch law" claim that the regular process
of justice is too slow and the result too uncertain to suit the
masses in case of certain crimes ; so they propose to make sure
of the criminal's punishment. If there is any truth in this asser-
tion, it seems to us that the laws should be changed and more
rigidly enforced. Whatever the cause, it is a sad reflection on a
government "of, by, and for the people," that these very people do
not trust the laws of their own making, nor the law officers of
their own choosing, to punish criminals as they deserve. There
would seem to be a large field here for missionary work by those
who are so anxious to educate the Christian Filipinos to the stand-
ard of "American civilization."
"And still they come." Now the order of United Workmen is
framing a new schedule of insurance rates, largely increasing the
present figures. (Cfr. Philadelphia iP^cc'rc?, June 21st.)
The proposal to send Plymouth Rock on a triumphal tour of
the country, though it be only a product of journalistic imagina-
tion, is full of suggestion. If this rock is moved from its firm
base, others will follow its example. It would be but common
courtesy for Bunker Hill monument to return the recent call of
the Liberty Bell. It is large, to be sure, but could doubtless be
divided into sections and put on the cars. The problem of carry-
ing the Washington monumentwest for inspection by the farmers
of Iowa and Nebraska differs from this only in degree. Such
things have been done. Libby prison was taken bodily to Chicago
some years ago. It used to be accepted as a matter of course
448 The Review. 1903.
that every one would go to his grave without having seen some of
the interesting objects even in his native country. But the found-
ers of the new'*movements"appear to insist that if John Smith can
not go to see the famous and historic objects, they shall be
brought to him. —
Meanwhile we Catholics, who are accustomed to being ridiculed
as "relic-worshippers," are wondering what this latest craze
among Protestant and infidel Americans will lead to.
Cardinal Kopp, Prince-Bishop of Breslau, has issued a rule re-
quiring all newly-ordained priests to spend six weeks in a Prus-
sian normal training college before entering upon the duties of
the ministry, in order to obtain a practical insight into the whole
S5^stem of primary education. *"This,"says the Catholic Telegraph,
(No. 26) "is a capital idea. Those who are to have charge of pa-
rochial schools, should have as much knowledge of practical peda-
gogy as possible. Diocesan school boards, teachers' institutes,
and the requirement that every teacher shall undergo an exami-
nation, has done much to raise parochial schools in many parts of
the United States to a splendid position of efficiency, but, alas ! a
large number of dioceses and some archdioceses are backnumbers
in the educational line."
A subscriber in Rochester, N. Y., writes : To the reasons
given in No. 25, "Why Irishmen Are True To Their Faith," allow
me to add the following : Because in Ireland the introduction and
propagation of Protestantism was attempted by a foreign power
very odious to the people ; whereas in England, Germany,
Sweden, etc., this was done by the home governments of those
countries. This, humanly speaking, is the most potent reason
why Irishmen are truer to their faith than other nations; the fact
is a political one.— Fr. H. Sinclair, D. D.
In the light of our late article on"The Transformation of a City, "
contributed by a scholarly New Yorker, the following paragraph
from an editorial in the N. Y. Sun of June 23rd will prove inter-
esting : <™3
"The old Christian demand that the secularization of education
should not go to the extent of excluding the reading of the Bible
in schools, has been succeeded by a Jewish demand for their de-
christianization. New York can no longer be regarded as a
Christian city."
We learn from Rev. P. Heribert Holzapfel, O. F. M., through
the courtesy of our esteemed friend Rt. Rev. Msgr. P. M. Baum-
garten, that the material for the thesis which asserts the unten"
ableness of the legend of the Holy House of Loreto has been
gathered by Professor G. Hiiffer of the University of Munich and
will soon be published by that scholarly writer. P. Holzapfel re-
grets that, being bound by a promise to Professor Hiiffer, he can
not furnish us this material before the publication of the latter's
book.
II XLbc IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., July 23, 1903. No. 29.
TME B¥LL XA^DABILITER."
HE Boston Pilots which considers itself the Irish-American
organ ^ar excellence^ says editorially in its edition of
July 11th :
"After a controversy of seven centuries, it has been reserved
for an American Protestant scholar, Oliver Joseph Thatcher, of
the Chicago University, in his paper, 'Studies Concerning Adrian
IV,' to discredit finally and forever the long-lived, over-worked
myth" (of the alleged bull of Pope Hadrian IV., "Laudabiliter,"
conferring Ireland on Henry II. of England to hold in fief.) "Pro-
fessor Thatcher has spent a year in study in the Vatican
Library, going over innumerable documents, sources of twelfth
century history, and as a result of his investigations declares :
'Laudabiliter can not have been written by one who knew what
was essential to such a document. It is merely a Latin exercise
of some twelfth century student, who was practising in the art of
composition, and for this purpose chose to impersonate Hadrian
IV. It must be rejected as entirely worthless.' "
The Pilot calls this "a momentous discovery," which vindicates
the wisdom of Leo XIII. in openingi the Vatican archives to the
scholars of the world.
It is surely not to dispute the wisdom of the late Pontiff, or the
importance of any new discovery made by Professor Thatcher,
that we take up this subject here. Not having seen the Chicago
Professor's paper, we simply wish to ask, — Has he really made a
new discovery ?*)
Having devoted some study to the alleged bull of Hadrian IV.
more than thirteen years back, we never had the slightest doubt
■-) From a review in the Wanderer (July I Thatcher. University of Chicago Press. 1903.
15th), which comes to hand as we are reading | Price SI. 10) contains .nothing new on the
our proofs, we see that Prof. Thatcher's book I subject.
(Studios Concerning Adrian IV., by Oliver J. |
450 The Review. 1903.
that it was a forg-ery, for very obvious reasons : 1. It lacks all ex-
ternal credentials, not even containing the name of the monarch to
whom it is addressed ; 2. It bears neither date nor signature ; 3.
We know Hadrian's true sentiments on the subject of transferring-
sovereignties, from his authentic letter to Louis VII. of France ;
they are in full harmony with the traditional policy of the Holy
See and could not be made to tally with any such conduct as that
imputed to Pope Hadrian by the "Laudabiliter;" 4. The bull was
not published by the King until 1175, twenty years after its
alleged date of issue, when Hadrian was already dead ; 5. The
first historian who makes any mention of it, Gerald Barry, is un-
reliable ;*) 6. The testimony of John of Salisbury has been proved
to be worthless ;t) 7. It has also been established that up to 1177
no one in Rome knew the bull ; 8. The confirmatory letter
of Alexander III. is unauthentic ; 9. Hadrian IV. had no love for
Henry Plantagenet, and it is highly improbable, considering the
character and antecedents of both, that the Pope should, in the
very first year of his pontificate, turn over Ireland to a monarch
whom he had more than one reason to mistrust : 9. The silence
of the Irish annals, which go back to the time of Henry II., also
speaks strongly against the authenticity of the bull.
It is true that up to about the middle of the last century, the
"Laudabiliter" was pretty generally held to be authentic by
Catholics and Protestants alike, including such critical scholars
as Macgeogan, Lanigan, Bossuet, Fleury, DoUinger, and Hergen-
rother. But this very fact is apt to inspire us with a degree of
suspicion against Prof. Thatcher's statement quoted by the
Pilot. Can we imagine that a spurious bull would have misled so
many and such acute scholars if it were merely "a Latin exercise
of some twelfth-century student"? Or can we believe that Henry
II. was so short-sighted as to entrust the forgery of an important
State paper to the hands of a school-boy tyro "just practising in
the art of composition"?
The Pilot should not have hailed the Chicago Professor's essay
on Hadrian IV. as "a momentous discovery" before it had made
sure that he had added some new documents of real value and im-
port to those marshalled years ago in the/m/; Ecclesiastical Record
(III. s. vi, 503, 579, 624,) by Fr. Morris, of the Oratory, who laid
the "Laudabiliter" myth for good.
It is perhaps necessary to observe, in this connection, that the
question of the authenticity of the "Laudabiliter" has no particu-
'"I Brewer says In his edition of the 'Expug- land Dimock, in his new edition of Barry's
natio Hibernica.' that Gerald "regarded his I minor writings: "To prove their unfairness
subject rather as a great epic, . . . .than a sober I would need a large volume."
relation of facts occurring in his own day;" |
tJ Cfr. Bellesheim, Ge.sch. d. kath. Kirche in Irland, Vol. I. (1890), p. 375.
No. 29. The Review. 451
lar apolog-etic interest for Catholics. For, as an eminent German
Protestant savant has pointed out,*) "whether the bull be authen-
tic or not, it remains a fact that the Holy See, in view of the con-
ditions then existing in Ireland, approved or favored the English
occupation, and it is irrelevant whether Hadrian IV., Alexander
III., or Urban III. took the first step in the matter. But if the
bull is authentic, it can not, viewed in connection with the circum-
stances of the time, cast the slightest shadow upon the sublime
figure of Pope Hadrian." Hergenrother has brought out this
point more fully in his famous work 'Katholische Kirche und
christlicher Staat,' vii. No. 13 sq.
"It appears from the contents of the papal letter," says Belles-
heim, "that Henry II. had signified to the Pope his intention to
subdue Ireland for the purpose of arresting the decline of morali-
ty and religion. Under the public law then obtaining in Europe,
he could not possibly have chosen a better way to prove his right
to undertake this Irish expedition, than by procuring the consent
of the Supreme Pontiff. The occupant of the papal see was con-
sidered to be the spiritual head of the European family of nations;
he had authority to decide finally all questions of international
import. Furthermore, Ireland was counted among the islands
transferred to the Pope by the so-called Donation of Constantine,
a forgerj'^ manufactured in Gall in the course of the eighth cen-
tury. Under these circumstances the leaders of ecclesiastical
politics in England thought they were sure of success in Rome.
We need scarcely add that, even admitting the authenticity of
both the royal petition and the papal bull, Henry had long before
made up his mind to undertake this expedition to Ireland and
would have carried out his purpose even if his petition had been
refused ; while Hadrian, on the other hand, could not possibly
have foreseen that, after such solemn promises of a Christian
government, English rule in Ireland would degenerate into
tyranny. "t)
*] H. Zimmer, Preuss. Jahrb. 1887, p. 52.
t) Bellesheim, op cit., I, 370-371.
*
The Boston Pilot recently published sketches of certain Maine
legislators who profess the Catholic faith. In one of these sketches
K,Pilot, Feb. 21st) we find this passage : "Mr. McFaul is a mem-
ber of the Knights of Pythias, I. O. R. M., and Knights of Colum-
bus." We suppose the Knights of Columbus are very proud of this
eminent member of the Maine legislature and Knight of Pythias.
He is another living proof of their carelessness in ascertaining and
watchingover the Catholic loyalty of those whom they receive into
their organization.
452
MASONRY CLAIMS TO BE THE UNIVERSAL RELIGION OF
MANKIND.
Having learned that Masonry is a religious institution, we are
not surprised that so much insistence should be put on prayer.
We are told on p. 14 of Mackey's Ritualist : "It is a lesson which
every Mason is taught at one of the earliest points of his initia-
tion, that he should commence no important undertaking without
first invoking the blessing of Deity." The same information is
imparted to us ten pages later : "As Masons, we are taught
never to commence any great or important undertaking without
first invoking the blessing of Deity" (p. 24). And lest we per-
chance forget the admonition, we are again reminded of it on
page 44 : "As Masons we are taught never to commence any great
or important undertaking without first invoking the blessing and
protection of Deity, and this is because Masonry is a religious in-
stitution and we thereby show our dependence on and our trust
in God."
Who or what this God of Masonry is, we are not at present pre-
pared to discuss. He is evidently not the God whose existence
we know from reason; for, not having been initiated in the craft,
our reason, according to Masonry, lacks the spiritual light neces-
sary to know Him. He is not the God of Christian revelation, for
He is not known outside Masonry. Content, therefore, for the
present, with this knowledge, we shall hasten on, grateful for be-
ing told so plainly that Masonry is a religious institution.
Confirmatory evidence, however, is not lacking. Turning to
p. 56, we find mention made of the Blazing Star. Listen to what
our monitor has to say upon the subject : 'The Blazing Star' is
said by Webb to be commemorative of the star which appeared
to guide the wise men of the East to the place of our Saviour's na-
tivity. This, which is one of the ancient interpretations of the
symbol, being considered as too sectarian in its character, and
unsuited to the universal religion of Masonry, has been omitted
since the meeting of Grand Lecturers in Baltimore, in 1842"
(p. 56.)
Note well, kind reader, that it is the reference to Christ and
Christianity in general that is too sectarian and unsuited to the
religion of Masonry ; and such it must necessarily be in a system
which welcomes Buddha and Confucius and Mohamet and Christ
and Adonis on the same level ; nay which gives the preference to
the last named. But of this point later. Masonry's contention
that it alone possesses divine truth, that it alone can give the
spiritual light and life, necessarily excludes Him who said, "I am
No. 29.
The Review.
453
the way, the truth, and the life." The "Blazing Star" of Masonry
does not light the way to the chaste cave of Bethlehem.
The claim of Masonry, also, to be the universal religion of man-
kind is another necessary consequence of its claim to be the sole
possessor of divine truth. If men can learn from it alone "the
truth of God and of the soul — the essence and nature of both" — to
it alone for light and guidance in religious matters must our whole
race look. And so firmly is this point fixed in the mind of
Masonry that it does not hesitate to apply to itself the name of
Catholic religion. "Therefore," says the Ritualist, p. 249, in
speaking of behavior after the lodge is over and the brethren not
yet gone, "therefore no private piques or quarrels must be
brought within the door of the lodge, far less any quarrels about
religion or nations or State policy, we being only, as Masons, of
the Catholic religion above mentioned."
Our reader will perhaps be surprised to learn that, with the ex-
ception of this last quotation, all the others have been taken from
the lowest degree of Masonry, the degree of Entered Appren-
tice. The revelation of the religious nature and purposes of
Masonry is not withheld from the candidate ; and this revelation
once made and accepted, he is prepared to receive as truth from
Masonry's lips whatever in succeeding degrees it will tell him of
God and of the human soul.
3? 3f ar
THE OLDEST LAWBOOK IN THE WORLD.
Under this title Dr. Johannes Hehn*) lately published in the lit-
erary supplement of the Kolnische Volkszeitiing ^n instructive ar-
ticle upon the recent remarkable publication of Father Scheil, O. P.
We have now (he writes) not only a Babylonian Nimrod, "Gil-
games," and a Babjdonian Noah, "Ut Napishtim," but also a Baby-
lonian Moses — "Hammurabi." His law-book is the oldest corj>us
juris in the world. It was found in the Persian capital Susa by
the French excavations undertaken there under the direction of
J. de Morgan from 1897 to 1899, Whilst formerly we only knew
the history of Elam, the mountainous country east of Babylon,
*) This talented young priest has just had
the rare distinction for a Catholic ecclesiastic
of winning his degree as Doctor of Philosophy
in the University of Berlin. Dr. Hehn, who
had already obtained his D. D. degree, belongs
to the Diocese of Wurzburg, and after a short
experience of parochial work, obtained per-
mission to devote himself during three years
to the study of Semitic languages, and especi-
ally of Assyriology, at the Berlin University,
obtaining for this purpose a travelling schol-
arship awarded by the Bavarian government.
In Berlin he studied chiefly under Delitzsch
and Sachan. For his degree he presented a
dissertation entitled: "Hymns and Prayers to
Marduk, with an Introduction on the Signifi-
cance of Marduk in the History of Religion."
He copied a number of Babylonian tablets in
the British Museum and edited them for the
purpose of this dissertation. The appearance
of the candidate in his priest's cassock at the
examination caused a certain degree of sur-
prise in the University, and it was remarked
with some amusement that the Doctor to whom
fell the duty of conferring the doctoral degree
upon him was the pronounced Protestant his-
torian, Dr. Lenz, the biographer of Luther.
434 The Review. 1903.
through occasional remarks, numerous monuments have now been
found which open out to us the past of the country. "Ici com-
mence I'histoire du pays d'Elam," — such are the first words of
Father Scheil in the preface to the second volume of the Memoires
published by the direction of the French expedition. The fourth
volume, which appeared in 1902, is immeasurably more important
than the three preceding- ones. It contains, almost complete, the
Code of Hammurabi, of which a few fragments were formerly
known from the library of Assurbanipal. Father Scheil, O. P.,
the Assyriological member of the French expedition, has merited
the gratitude of the entire scientific world both for the rapidity
with which he has made the text accessible to scholars and also
by his own successful first version of the same.
Hammurabi, as is known, was a Babylonian king. How comes
it then that his law-book was discovered in Elam, the later empire
of Persia? The s/e/e on which the code was inscribed was evi-
dently carried off to Susa by some Elamite conqueror and never
carried back by the Babylonians. The time at which it came to
Elam can only be determined in a very general way, since from
the middle of the second millennium b. c. the Babylonian plain
was often harried by plundering raiders from the mountains of
Elam.
Hammurabi, long ago known to us under the name of Amreph-
el. King of Sennaar (Gen. xiv.), as a contemporary of Abraham,
lived about b. c. 2250. His laws were therefore published more
than 700 years before the legislation of Sinai. He united the
small states of the Babylonian plain into one large kingdom, and
thus became the founder of the Babylonian-Assyrian Empire.
Great as a warrior, he was greater still as a statesman and leg-
islator. His code of laws gave his kingdom the internal vigor for
a life of wellnigh two thousand years. He has thus merited for
himself a position of importance in the history of the world : he
claims one of the first places in the history of civilization.
The stele on which the Codex Hammurabi appears, was discov-
ered in December, 1901, and January, 1902, in the acropolis of
Susa, broken into three very large fragments. On the top, the
fine diorite block, nearly 7/^ ft. high, has a bas-relief of Ham-
murabi receiving, in humble attitude, his laws from the Sun-God.
The Sun-God, Samas, is the dayyami^ the QtO^oiZw&Wco. far excel'
lence. He sits on a throne, having on his head a tiara, pointed at
the top and formed of four rings like horns ; two sets of rays pro-
ceed from him ; in his right hand he holds a rod and a circle. We
are in the presence of a fine carving, indicating a high level of art.
The code of laws is engraved on the stone in Old Babylonian
cuneiform characters. It contains nearly 282 paragraphs in 16
No. 2'9. The Review. 455
columns on the front and 28 columns on the back. Columns 17 to
21 have been cut away, probably because the Elamites wished to
engrave an inscription of their own upon it, so that nearly 40 par-
agraphs are missing.
The laws of Hammurabi are of quite special interest for esti-
mating the Mosaic legislation in Exodus xxi. to xxiii. That Moses
himself -msiy have given his people a code of laws is self-evident.
That the Biblical laws in many points coincide with those of Ham-
murabi, is evident at the first glance. But Hammurabi's code ex-
tends to a much wider range of conditions, and goes into far more
details than the laws of the Bible. The latter, moreover, have a
special stamp of their own, owing to the fundamental character of
the Mosaic system. The parallelisms are to be explained partly
by the natural law, partly by historical and cultural connections ;
the differences, chiefly by the very different religious conceptions
of Israel, as well as by differences of time and place. Herein, too,
it appears that the divine revelation and regeneration were com-
municated to men not immediately, but in connection with natural
relations, so as to take the latter into its service.
Hammurabi's kingdom can be called a legal State in the best
sense of the word. All civil relations are accurately regulated,
with wise precautions, in his code. The laws are distinguished
by brevity and precision, just as Babylonian contracts are models
of brief, clear juristic formulae. By these laws we obtain a clear
insight into the whole Babylonian life and activity, and so into the
cultural circumstances of the third millennium b. c. The laws
treat of all possible cases occurring in life : false accusations, cal-
umny, bribery, theft, receiving stolen goods ; the laws of fiefs,
property, and hire; ordinances affecting fields, gardens, meadow-
lands ; dispositions regarding trade and monetary transactions ;
regulations for tavern-keepers, with threats of severe penalties ;
laws of debt, arrest (slavery for debt) restitution ; marriage laws,
inheritance laws, adoption ; corporal injuries ; marine law ; buy-
ing and selling. Matrimonial legislation occupies much space.
Marriage is all along regarded as a bilateral contract ; if one party
break the contract, it is thereby dissolved, or the party in ques-
tion is liable to punishment. The man has, however, many more
rights and privileges than the woman, although the latter is
treated in an altogether human manner and is by no means with-
out her rights. In addition to the chief wife a man may have
subordinate wives. Every piece of legal business must be con-
cluded by a written contract before witnesses, otherwise it is in-
valid (sec. 123). Divine judgment (ordeal) is repeatedly men-
tioned ; also in difficult cases an oath is decisive.
The penal enactments are severe. We read nothing of impris-
"^56 The Review. 1903
onment, althoug-h the Assj^rian knows the word well enough. In
reference to many crimes, e. g-., robbery, burglary, it is simply
said : "He shall be put to death, he shall be buried in the place
where he has broken in." In many cases the delinquent was
thrown into the water ; burning to death is also mentioned as a
punishment. The tongue was cut out of those who said to their
foster father or mother : "Thou art not my father, thou art not
my mother" ("sec. 192). A son who strikes his father has his
hands cut ofif (sec. 195); in another case, his eyes are plucked out
(sec. 193). The same punishment occurs in two other cases
(sees. 218, 226.) Adultery and murder of a husband are punished
by impaling; incest, in the worst cases, by burning alive the
guilty parties. Here we meet the strict lex talionis of the Old
Testament : If any man destroy the eye of another, his own eye
shall be destroyed (sect. 196); if any man break the bone of an-
other, his bones shall be broken (sec. 197); if any man knock out
the teeth of one of his fellows, his teeth shall be broken (sec. 200).
If any man strike one higher in rank than himself, he shall receive
sixty blows with an ox -hide whip (sec. 202) ; to strike one's equal
costs only a monetary fine. A blow followed by death costs >2
mana, if the one slain be a free-born man (sec. 206, sq.); if a freed
man (?;, only ^i> mana. Sees. 210 and 230 are curious : according
to them the daughter of a man is put to death for a free-woman
that the latter may have slain ; the son of the architect, for the
son of the proprietor of the house that, owing to its faulty con-
struction, may have killed the proprietor's son by falling in.
We can not but recognize and admire the elevated legislative
ideas of Hammurabi. He gave his laws, as he tells us, "to bring
about justice in the land, to destroy wicked people and criminals,
so that the strong may not oppress the weak, and in order to en-
lighten the land like the Sun." "The oppressed who hath a case
to plead shall come before h's statue, the statue of the King of
Justice ; his inscription shall he read, his precious words shall he
hear ; his inscription shall enlighten him ; his rights shall he
find ; his heart shall become glad, for he shall say : Hammurabi
is a Lord who is like a true father for his subjects ; the word of
Marduk his Lord [the city god of Babylon] he hath made to be
feared, the triumph of Marduk he hath secured above and below;
the heart of Marduk his Lord he hath rejoiced ; he hath prepared
good auguries for his subjects for ever, and hath brought the land
into good order."
^
457
THE TEACHINGS OF GEOLOGY IN REGARD TO FLYING
REPTILES.
The pterodactyles were neither reptiles, birds, nor mammals,
but to some extent a mixture of the three, in which each has lost
its identity. More than a dozen genera have been discovered, in
sizes rang-ing- from a couple of inches to twenty feet in spread of
wing-s. They flew like birds or bats, but, unlike the case of bats,
the skinny flying membrane was stretched from the body to a
single much elongated wing finger. Theirs was true flight, not
mere sailing like that of flying squirrels, or the so-called flying
lizards and frogs. Their geological record begins below the Lias
in the Rhaetic, or possibly in the Muschelkalk, and continues to
the Upper Chalk of the Secondary Rocks, where it is lost.
Throughout their course the pterodactyles were little affected by
evolution or even by degeneration, unless it may be in the loss of
the tails or of the teeth in some of the later genera. The enorm-
ously developed wing finger characterized the group from the
first ; its ancestral history is unknown. According to our present
knowledge, the pterodactyles had no ancestors and left no de-
scendants. They are related to the birds as a parallel, not a tran-
sitional, group between them and the reptiles ; their relations to
the Mammalia are such as to bring them more nearly than the
birds intermediate between mammals and reptiles. Before the
wing finger was developed, in all probability the ornithosaur was
a four-footed animal, with affinities such as might have come
from some progenitor of the Dinosauria, an extinct group com-
monly placed betyteen birds and reptiles, or by some said to rep-
resent a common ancestral stock.
From the teachings of geology on the subject, as expounded by
Prof. Seeley, one of the best living authorities,*] the relations of
the great groups of animals are parallel, like the rays of the solar
spectrum or the fingers of the hand, rather than successive ;
there is no evidence of approximation of mammals to birds, and
birds give no evidence that their ancestors were reptiles such as
now exist on the earth. Nature does not by transition pass one
type of animal into another group by slow accumulation and sum-
ming up of differences ; the occurrence of mammals, birds, and
reptiles, distinct early in the secondary epoch, favors parallelism.
The cause of the start into existence of the Ornithosauria was
the patagial membrane, which in turn may have been the cause
of the chief skeletal differences separating the pterodactyles
from birds. The type ceased to adapt its organization and modify
its structures to suit the altered circumstances forced upon it by
458 The Review. 1903.
revolutions of the earth's surface ; consequently it became ex-
tinct.
Some of these ideas do not favor the building of genealogical
trees, but, if growth of the vital organs modifies the distinctive
form of any vital organ, brain, or lungs, and, as a consequence of
modification of the internal structure due to changes of food and
habit, brings a new group of animals into existence, as the author
holds, he has not made the necessity of parallelism in evolution
or origin of the great groups from the same stock about the same
time sufficiently obvious.
*) Dragons of the Air : An Account of Extinct Flying Reptiles.
By H. G. Seeley, F. R. S. D. Appleton & Co., 1901.
^ 5I, 51
A NEW VIEW OF PATRIOTISM.
There is a healthy, though somewhat radical reaction among
sober-minded Americans against the twaddle of Fourth-of-July
orators who celebrate the "Glorious Fourth" all the year round
and know of no higher virtue than what they are pleased to call
patriotism, which is in truth chauvinism of the most pronounced
type.
By way of contrast, Mr. John C. Havemeyer presents this "new
view of patriotism":
In these days of patriotic fervor I venture to make the follow-
ing assertions suggestive of the true character of what we call
patriotism.
1. There is not in any part of the Bible even a sentence that re-
quires or justifies "patriotism."
2. The sentiment called by this name, like the word which ex-
presses it, is probably of heathen origin.
3. The usual definition of patriotism is "love of country." The
man who seeks to learn what this phrase means and to carry out
its teachings in his life attempts a hopeless task.
4. It is an exaggerated form of selfishness and is one of the
Devil's most successful devices to deceive and mislead the human
race.
5. It is, in fact, a delusive method of inducing a violation of the
commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," and is practically in oppo-
sition to the spirit of the other nine.
6. Ministers and others who teach the coordinate obligation of
religion and patriotism have no warrant in reason or Scripture,
and the practice largely accounts for the diminished moral tone
and tendency to skepticism among the people.
7. The religious organization which sends missionaries to for-
No. 29. The Review. 459
eig-n nations to preach the gospel of peace and good-will and the
duty of self-surrender and obedience to God, and rests its claim
for support on the value of the human soul and at the same time
approves of and advises its members to enlist for war, occupies a
position so absurd as to be essentially grotesque.
8. No man has a right to risk his own life, which is a trust for
which an account must be rendered, except in the effort to benefit
his fellow-men.
9. The claims of the State are inferior to the claims of God, and
should be regulated by our relations and obligations to Him.
10. The continued life and prosperity of nations depends prim-
arily and indispensably upon righteousness.
11. No government has a right to make a training for war a
fixed employment for its citizens, and every man who thus devotes
his life violates divine law and jeopardizes his happiness for
eternity.
12. The maintenance of a navy, except for police purposes, such
as may be required to suppress piracy or other open violations of
human and divine law, can not be justified.
13. It follows that the study of the art of war in military and
naval academies has a demoralizing influence, and that the ten-
dency is to blunt the moral perception and unfit the men who pur-
sue it for useful lives.
14. It is a disgrace to Christian people that men who have ex-
celled in the deceptive arts and brutal destruction of life, limb,
and property involved in war, should be hailed as benefactors,
treated with exceptional honor, and often placed in high of&cial
positions.
15. This high estimate of the merit and proper reward for mili-
tary service disparages self-denying men and women who conse-
crate their lives to the effort to lift up and save their fellow-men,
and makes a false standard of excellence.
16. It places brute force above moral worth, fosters worldliness
and low ideals, and ignores the fact that a man is to be judged by
mind and heart, and that what he thinks and how much he loves
is the true test of worth.
17. A nation that maintains a great army and navy to be indis-
pensable for protection, disregards the Bible requirement of trust
in and dependence on God and eventually will reap a harvest of
disappointment and humiliation.
18. The teaching of "patriotism" in public schools is illogical
and harmful, and will lower the tone of citizenship with the com-
ing generation. The salutation offered a piece of bunting called
the flag is a form of idolatry.
19. The true patriot interprets "love of one's country" to sig-
460 The Review. 1903.
nify love for the people who are in it. He will express this feeling-
by a special interest in their welfare and effort to make them the
purest, noblest, and happiest among the nations of the earth.
This love will necessarily expand into a world-wide love, for all
men have a common origin, need, nature, and destinv.
IMPORTANT NEW PAPYRVS FINDS.
We have before us in the London Times the report of Messrs.
Grenfell and Hunt on the fresh discoveries of papyri which they
have made at Belmesa, the ancient Oxyrhynchus. These papyri
have recently reached Oxford, and the results of a brief examina-
tion of some of the more important finds will no doubt interest
The Review's readers.
The first place in the collection is claimed by a third century
fragment of a collection of sayings of Jesus, similar in style to
the so-called "logia" discovered at Oxyrhynchus in 1897. As in
that papyrus, the separate sayings are introduced by the words,
"Jesus saith," and are for the most part unrecorded elsewhere,
though some which are found in the Gospels (e. g., "The King-
dom of God is within \o\i" and "Many that are first shall be last,
and the last shall be first") occur here in different surroundings.
Six sayings are unfortunately preserved in an imperfect condi-
tion ; but the new "logia" papj^rus supplies more evidence con-
cerning its origin than was the case with its predecessor, for it
contains an introductor}^ paragraph stating that what follows
consisted of "the words which Jesus, the living Lord, spake" to
two of His disciples, and, moreover, one of the uncanonical say-
ings is already extant in part, the conclusion of it, "He that wan-
ders shall reign and he that reigns shall rest," being quoted by
Clement of Alexandria from the Gospel according to the Hebrews.
It is, indeed, possible that this Gospel was the source from which
a]l this second series of "logia" were derived, or they, or some of
them, may perhaps have been taken from the Gospel according to
the Egyptians, to which Professor Harnack and others have re-
ferred the "logia" found in 1897. But Messrs. Grenfell and Hunt
are disposed to regard both series as collections of sayings cur-
rently ascribed to our Lord rather than as extracts from any one
uncanonical gospel.
Latin papyri from Egypt have been so rare that a Latin his-
torical text of some length is as unexpected as it is welcome.
This papyrus, which is of the third century, proves to contain
part of an epitome of Livy, covering books 37-39 and 49-55. Of
Livy's history all books later than the forty-fifth are lost ; but an
No. 29. The Review. 461
epitome of them is extant, from which, however, the papyrus
differs very largely in respect of the events selected for mention.
The back of the Livy papyrus was subsequently used for writing
a text of the Epistle to the Hebrews, of which a considerable por-
tion is preserved, being much the largest piece of the New Tes-
tament on papyrus that has yet been discovered. Another inter-
esting Biblical fragment comes from the Septuagint version of
Genesis, and is probably a century older than any of the extant
vellum manuscripts.
Among the numerous fragments of lost Greek classics, the
most noteworthy that Messrs. Grenfell and Hunt have hitherto
deciphered are, 1. a first century b. c. papyrus containing on one
side an epinician ode or odes by a poetess, who may perhaps be
Corinna, the rival and reputed instructress of Pindar, and on the
other several new epigrams by Leonidas, Antipater, and Amyn-
tas ; and 2. part of a philosophical dialog, in which the tyrant
Pisistratus is one of the speakers, and which is concerned with
Periander, Solon, and other historical personages. We may also
mention a long second-century papyrus containing an elaborate
invocation addressed to a goddess, of whose titles both in Egypt
and throughout the civilized world a detailed list is given, while
on the back is an account of a miraculous cure effected by Imho-
tep, who is identified with the Asclepius of the Greeks. Both
compositions seem to be productsof the later Alexandrian school,
to which belong the writings known under the name of Hermes
Trismegistus,
All these papyri will be published in Part IV. of the 'Oxyrhyn-
chus Papyri,' which Messrs. Grenfell and Hunt expect to issue
within a year.
The mounds of Oxyrhynchus cover an area which is surpassed
by that of few ancient towns in Egypt ; and two or even three
more seasons' work will be required to exhaust the more promis-
ing portions of the site, which has proved itself far richer than
any other in opportunities for the discovery of lost classical and
early Christian literature.
^^^^
Total abstinence, says the Messenger {'^o. d)^ is most com-
mendable when practiced for the sake of self-denial and mortifi-
cation ; when it springs from a Manichean warp of the mind
which regards certain things as essentially evil, it is reprehensible.
462
MINOR TOPICS.
A Polish bishop recenth' informed the S. Congreg-ation of Rites
that there obtained in his Diocese the custom *'ut in missis so-
lemnibus, praesertim diebus per annum solemnioribus, canant
Gloria^ Gradtiale^ Credo, et in choro super majorem ecclesiae por-
tam, ubi org-anum est, constitute, mulieres ac puellae sive solae
ipsae cum organista, sive juvenibus et viris conjunctae, in quibus
cantorum choris mixtis vocem soprano exequuntur puellae ;" and
enquired, "I. An mos supradescriptus licitus sit et conformis legi
et sensui Ecclesiae? II. Et quatenus neg"ative ad I, an saltern
tolerari possit."
The repl}'^ of the S. Cong'reg'ation, dated February 19th, 1903,
is : "Negative ad utrumque et Decretum n. 3964, De Truxillo, 17.
sept. 1897, ad hunc casum extendi."
The decree of Sept. 17th, 1897, was in answer to this duhium:
'"An servari possit mos in aliquam ecclesiam, etiam cathedralem,
invectus, ut mulieres ac puellae intra vel extra am bitum chori
canant in missis solemnibus, praesertim diebus per annum sol-
emnioribus," and read as follows : "Invectam consuetudinem ut-
pote apostolicis et ecclesiasticis praescriptionibus absonam, tan-
quam abusum esse prudenter et quam primum eliminandam, co-
operante capitulo seu clero ipsius ecclesiae curae et auctoritate
Rmi sui Ordinarii." (Text from the Rev. Eccles. de ValleyiieJd,
vol. xiv, no. 1.)
The Ami du Clei'gi (June 4th) is no doubt right when it says
that both these decrees are to be interpreted strictly, i. e., that
women and gii'ls may under no circumstances he i>erinitted to sing at
solemn high mass, especially on the great feast-days of the year.
The "abusus" is quite common in this country ; it should be
"prudently" abolished "as soon as possible," because the S. Con-
gregation says that it is contrary to Apostolic tradition and the
Church laws and can not therefore be tolerated. — A. C.
Umberto Gnoli, the art critic, has published an essay in which
he makes it appear highly probable that Titian's famous painting
called "Sacred and Profane Love," to which four centuries have
paid profound admiration without knowing its subject, really rep-
resents "Venus Persuading Medea to Follow Jason," one of the
best-known mythical episodes of the 'Argonautica' of Valerius
Flaccus and the 'Metamorphoses' of Ovid. Venus appears to
Medea and urges her to follow Jason and save him. Medea at
first indignantly repels the proposition, which offends in her at
once the virgin, the daughter, and the queen. The seductive ar-
guments of the Goddess of Love, however, lead her to forget
father and country and duty, supplanting all with a burning love
for Jason, who will die unless aided by her magic charms. She
decides to follow Venus : "Te ducente sequor." But before set-
ting out, not content with her poisons — "nee notisstabat contenta
No. 29. The Review. 463
venenis" — she g-irds her belt, and takes the portentous, never-
fading- herbs, then goes to overtake Jason in the wood nearby.
This, briefly told, is the myth which has so numerous illustra-
tions in Greek and Roman literature, and it was from literature
rather than from art, we must believe, that Titian received the
inspiration for the Borg-hese picture, in which he seems to have
wished above all to illustrate the famous words of Medea, w^hen,
after a fiery strug-g^le between duty and love, she decides to follow
Jason and exclaims :
"Video meliora proboque,
Deteriora sequor." (Metam. vii, 20-2].)
Mrs. Lucy Baltazar, who says she belonged to the late Charles
Chiniquy's parish before he fell away from the Church, in a letter
to the Portland Catholic Sentinel 0\x\y 9th) makes some interest-
ing statements. She says that Chiniquy "was apparently a good
priest for so many years that his people believed in him thor-
oughly," and "when he was expelled from the Church two-thirds
of the people followed him, and, though most came back after a
time, many remained with him." Little by little the apostate
priest then introduced changes in his church. First he "threw
down the confessional," then "he stopped saying mass and
stripped the altar." Finally "he had the stations of the cross re-
moved" and went so far as to have "the cross on top of the church
sawed off." When he had been at length forced out, he got two
of his followers to go to confession to his successor. Father Bur-
nell, and then had that defenseless priest imprisoned for slander.
Mrs. Baltazar declares that for a long time she went to confession
to Chiniquy twice a week, but never heard anything wrong, and
adds : "It was not until twenty years after he was expelled that
Chiniquy started to say there was scandal in the confessional."
The Nation thinks LeoXIIL will be longest remembered as the
promoter and patron of studies, especially those of philosophy
and Church history : "An enthusiast for St. Thomas Aquinas, he
has not only spread the study of the great schoolman throughout
the Catholic world, but has founded and endowed in Rome an
academy which bears his name and, at a personal expense of about
$60,000, brought out a new and splendid edition of his works. In
1883 he took the almost revolutionary step of throwing open to
students the Vatican Library and archives. Pope Leo maintained
that the Church would not suffer by the publication of documents,
and so far his faith seems to have been justified. This action ren-
dered possible the most important additions to our knowledge of
Church history. The combined impartiality and authority of
such a work as Pastor's monumental history of the Popes would
not have been possible without the freest use of the Vatican ar-
chives. It is not too much to say that the name of Leo XIII. will
remain connected with the Vatican Library along with the great
Maecenas-names of Nicholas V. and Sixtus IV." (Quoted from
the N. Y. Evening Post oi July 9th.)
464 The Review. 1903.
With the passing of Leo XIII. the world looses a personage of
no small literary interest. This is one reason why newspapers
and periodicals that would not otherwise have taken a particular
interest in his death, now devote more or less lengthy articles to
him. "'Almost since his school days," says a scholarly writer
in the Post of New York (July 9th), "'he has been an industrious
writer of Latin verse. His productions in this line may not take
rank as great poetry, but they are at least pleasing, and are in-
variably models of scholarly elegance. Even more than his Latin
poems, his encyclicals have given him an enduring name as a
writer. The long series of great State papers he has given out
since his accession to the papacy, have commanded attention and
influenced current thought to a degree which his authority as
head of the Catholic Church did not at all explain. Even those
whom he did not convince still recognized that they were import-
ant contributions toward the solution of present-day problems
and masterpieces of prose style as well."
Archbishop Ireland is reported to have sent an officious
Fourth of July message to Gov. Taft, expressing his "hope
that the land negotiations with the Papal Delegate will soon
be closed," and a no less officious cablegram on the same day
to the Papal Delegate, Msgr. Guidi, in which he said : "How is it
that there is so much delay in the negotiations relating to the
monastic lands? Here people are rapidly becoming impatient."
"If these messages have been sent," observes Dr. Lambert in
the Freeman'' s Journal, "it is evident that the Archbishop and the
other 'impatient people' are in a great hurry to get the friars out
of their property, if not out of the islands. Who are the other
itnpatients?"
The fanatic Protestants, the Church-bating infidels, and, per-
haps, that entire group of American Catholics who love to call
themselves "liberal."
-**
At the twenty-first biennial convention of the Christian En-
deavorers at Denver, on July 13th, "Rev." Dr. Sherman Doyle of
Philadelphia said, according to the Associated Press report :
"Our foreign problem at home is a very great one. We must
Americanize and Christianize them (the foreigners) or they will
Europeanize and unchristianize us. In this work the church must
bear a prominent part."
By "church" Mr. Doyle meant, of course, the Protestant sects.
But are "Americanize" and "Christianize," and "Europeanize" and
"unchristianize" really synonymous terms? Whence did we in
America derive what little Christianity there is among us? And
whence came the ancestors of those who now haughtily look down
upon poor "foreigners" and declare they must be "Americanized"?
^%'%%%^%%^%%^^^%%%'%^ij^^%^%^4^
II ^be IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., July 30, 1903. No. 30.
THE GERMANS AND THE "CATHOLIC VNIVERSITY."
T the annual convention of the German Catholic State
Federation of Ohio, on June 8th, a resolution was adopted
to reviv^e the project of establishing' a chair of German
language and literature in the "Catholic University of America"
at Washington, and a committee appointed to present the matter
before the Centralvereio at its next convention. Archbishop
Elder declared that the resuscitated project had his unqualified
approval and bade it godspeed.
In moving the resolution. Rev. Father A. H. Walburg, of Cin-
cinnati, said that the establishment of the chair was of vital
consequence to the best interests of Germandom in the United
States.
"With the German tongue," he said, "stands or falls German-
dom. Language lost, all is lost. If we would preserve German
ideas and manners, we must continue to speak the German lang^-
uage ; without that the rest disappears. The man who ceases to
speak German, g-ives up the German habit of thought and feeling-.
He is no German and wishes not to be. This chair will be estab-
lished for the German tongue ; not for the speech of everyday
parlance, but for the higher, nobler languag-e of German thought
and fancy and the wealth of German art and science, for the cul-
tivation of German literature, this legacy of German blood and
feeling. It will stand as a beacon light of all that the German
mind has accomplished in this country in the domain of the beau-
tiful and great, and hand down the message from g^eneration to
generation. By the establishment of this chair we shall best pro-
vide for the welfare of Germandom. Our coreligionists of Irish
blood, the Hibernians, have already given $50,000 for a Celtic
chair in the University. We should take pride in emulating- their
example."
Father Walburg further declared that the accusation that the
466 The Review. ■ 1903.
Germans were dissatisfied with the management of the Universi-
ty and held back from supporting it, was a calumny and a slander,
"We have always shown ourselves true and obedient sons of the
Sovereign Pontiff, we have in all our conventions declared our
love and loyalty to the Holy See and stood up always for the
temporal power. The Catholic University was founded in 1889 by
Leo XIII. It is his work, his darling project for the well-being of
Catholics in this country. Can we be indifferent to a work that
bears the honor of his name? Can we afford to oppose it? Against
this presumption we protest most energetically both in word and
act, by calling into life once again the project of founding a chair
of German language and literature in the University."*)
Father Walburg offered to head the subscription list with a
personal donation of $1,500, and assured his hearers that Bishop
Horstmann would renew hislsubscription of $1,000, and perhaps
increase it.
If the Wes/eni Watchman (No. 32) and a few other newspapers
conclude from this, that "the Germans (are) rallying to the Uni-
versity," it is plain to any one who knows German sentiment inti-
mately and who has no desire to misrepresent it, that such is not
the case. We have not learned how much money was subscribed
for the German chair at the Ohio convention, nor has the list
been passed around anywhere outside of that State. The position
of the German American Catholic press remains partly apathetic,
but for the most part distinctly hostile.
We may as well face the facts, for a true insight into the actual
situation will do more than fine phrases to remedy existing evils
and bring all the Catholics of the country together in support of
the University. Now we state a fact when we say that the Ohio
resolution can not in any sense of the word be said to have been
favorably received by the German Catholics of the country. On
the contrary, their mouthpiece, the German Catholic press — we
quote as its representative here the St. Paul Wanderer, which is
well-meaning, reliable, and conservative — takes this opportunity to
reassert, positively and deliberately, that a large proportion of
the German American Catholics, without prejudice to their deep-
rooted devotion to the Holy Father, have turned their back upon
the Catholic University. When Msgr. Schroder some years ago
inaugurated a movement for the endowment of a German profes-
sorship, they enthusiastically took up the idea and many contribu-
tions flowed into the coffers of the Central Verein. Why and how
this enthusiasm was extinguished, dampened beneath the freez-
ing point, is a matter of history.
Bitter attacks were launched from the halls of the Catholic
'■•■) We rjuote Fr. W.'s remarks as printed in the CiQcinaati Volksfreund of June 9tli.
No. 30. The Review. 467
University, and the Germans were igfnominiously kicked out of its
portals. Their contributions were welcome enough, but outside
of that the authorities of the institution had no use for them. In
view of the position which the University took on decisive public
questions!), and the ill will which it showed towards the German
element, no reasonable man can blame them for withdrawing
their sympathy and support — not because they were in any wise
opposed to the favorite project of the Holy Father fer se, but be-
cause, not having the slightest influence to raise the institution
up to his high ideal, they did not wish to play the role of a drum-
mer who reenters at the back door after he has been kicked out
in front.
In spite of all, however, their interest in the University
never died out entirely, and they would willinglj^ forget, as
they have long since forgiven, the injuries which they have
had to suffer in the past, if there were the slightest indi-
cation on the part of the authorities to ease the sacrifice and
meet them at least part of the way. Instead, one professor
of the institution calumniates the "Germans and Jesuits" in a non-
Catholic periodical ;*) the non-ofl&cial conduct of others is any-
thing but apt to restore the shattered confidence,!) while the
newspaper organs that pose as the special representatives and
champions of the University ( Catholic Citizen^ Western Watchman,
et al.) continue to jeer and defame the German Catholics on ac-
count of the position into which they have been forced.
So long as those things continue, the great mass of German Am-
erican Catholics, who stand second to none in their devotion to
the Holy Father and in their readiness to make every reasonable
sacrifice, can not be blamed for.ref using to make themselves ridic-
ulous for a second time in the eyes of the general public. If the
new Rector is in earnest about carrying out the admonitions of
the Pope, let him do his best to make it possible for them to re-
vive their active sympathy for the institution over which he has
been placed for the purpose of correcting past mistakes and clear-
ing the way for a peaceful and strong development.
Inasmuch as absolutely nothing has so far been done in this
direction, it appears to us that the time is not yet come for a suc-
cessful renewal of the agitation in favor of a German chair. The
Central Verein, which, up to two years ago, had bother enough
with refunding the contributions which had originally been gath-
X) The school question, for instance, and "Americaj^lsm."
*) Prof. Egan's recent venomous article in the Pilgrim.
t) E. g.. Prof. Scharfs newspaper correspon- the University, after a conference with Rector
dences on the Philippine situation and the O'Connell, that the Pope had told that gentle-
statement of the Western Watchman (No. 27), man "to walk over" the German* and Jesuits,
which poses as a liind of semi-official organ of
468
The Review.
1903.
ered for this purpose, can surely not be expected to take the mat-
ter up anew, and if it would, the prospects are that the second
failure would be far more pronounced than the first ; while the
State federations have already too many irons in the fire, being
hardly able to hold their own.
But these considerations are after all secondary. If the new
Rector will reform the University ; if he will call the offending
professors sharply to order ; if he will prove his willingness to
treat the German Catholics al pari, and not as pariahs, the Catho-
lic University will have no more enthusiastic friends nor stauncher
supporters than these same German Catholics. Then it will be
time enough to deliberate whether their active support had best
take the shape of an endowment for a German chair or show
itself in some other practical way.
Thus far the Wanderer.X) which is a competent exponent of
German Catholic thought and sentiment, and whose above-quoted
article, moreover, has been endorsed by several of its best and
most influential German contemporaries.
It is clearly a condition, not a theory, which confronts Msgr.
O'Connell, whose realization of the gravity of the situation is gen-
erally believed to have induced him to return so promptly to
Rome, where, however, he arrived when Leo XIII. was already
on his death-bed and utterly incapable of receiving his report or
giving any further directions.*)
That Msgr. O'Connell is deeply interested in this German
chair project — though he has done nothing so far, to our knowl-
edge, to approach or conciliate the German element — appears
from a glowing letter which he addressed on June 27th to the
Catholic Columbian, which had commended the movement revived
by Father Walburg. Therein he said {Catholic Columbian, ^o.
27):
"Before my departure for Rome. I wish to write you and ex-
press my appreciation and my thanks for your editorial notice of
'The German Chair' in your issue of the 20th inst. In that notice
you have struck a chord that found an echo in hundreds of thous-
ands of hearts, because every honest man recognizes that you
have spoken the truth and stirred the noble sense of Catholic uni-
ty. It is, I feel, an answer to the words and inspiration of our
t) No. 38. We have given the substance of its remarks.
*■> With what expectations the Rector set
out, can be seen from the remarks made short-
ly before his departure by the Washington cor-
resijondent of the Freeman's Journal (letter
dated July 2nd, printed in No. 3653J: "Msgr.
O'Connell will have an audience with the Holy
Father himself while in Rome and the great-
est dignity will be thrown around the event.
It is purposed on this occasion to make Msgr.
O'Connell the herald of the papal purpose.
Hereafter the American Catholics will be ex-
pected to support the Catholic University not
perfunctorily, but loyally. It is mooted that
HisfHoliness will express a behest to the hier-
arcny to diligently foster the interests of this
institution, and the laity will be exhorted most
fervently to greater zeal in the support of the
University, which is intended to be the focal
point of Catholic educational effort". . . "Msgr.
O'Connell will return before the autumn with a
decided papal plan, which will be obligatory
upon the members of the hierarchy. . . .'"
No. 30. The Review. 469
Holy Father, and when you wrote those words the spirit of the
Pontiff was throbbing in your bosom."
All this in spite of the remark made in the very same issue of
the Columbian, of June 20th, that the Catholic Univ^ersity ''zvill
never succeed, nor -will the laity be satisfied with its success, zvhile it
is conducted in an un- Catholic, factional, lop-sided manner."
In an interview published in the N. Y. Sun, July 5th, a few days
after the Monsignore's departure, he was quoted as saying,
among- other things :
"The Jesuits and the German party have also shown a change
of attitude." (Which is not true !)
"The Central Verein of the West, at a recent convention, came
out strongly in favor of the University, and it has pledged itself
to collect $50,000 for the endowment of the chair of German liter-
ature." (Which is absolutely and utterly false !)
"The Catholic Columbian, a German organ, has pledged itself
to the cause of the University and promises that the Germans
will be second to none in their loyalty and cooperation." (Which
is also very wide of the mark, for the Columbian 'itself has declared
(No. 28) that it is not "a German organ," and it has not pledged
German support to any cause, because it has too much sense to
pledge anything which it does not control.)
Again Msgr. O'Connell said :
"For the first time since its inception the University has the
unanimous support of the hierarchy and Catholic laity of Ameri-
ca." (Which all the world knows to be untrue.)
In conclusion a few more paragraphs from the Sun interview :
"There is a rumor to the effect that Cardinal SatoUi has been
advised to induce Msgr. O'Connell to award the vacant vice-rector-
ship to a German professor in order to make more complete the
conciliation of the Germans. The archbishops considered the
suggestion most unwise, saying that if the University is to escape
the pitfalls of the past, if it is to be kept above all race and party
prejudices, then the administration must have a free hand to
guide and direct it on lofty academic principles.
"Msgr. O'Connell, when asked about the rumor and the stand
of the archbishops, replied : 'The question of the vice-rectorship
has not been decided. However, the position of the archbishops
is the only possible one for a university. The Catholic University
is too big to be hampered by questions of race prejudice or party
considerations.'
"The suggestion was made to Msgr. O'Connell that, to com-
plete the conciliation between the University and the German ele-
ment, it would be wise to award the vacant vice-rectorship of the
University to some German professor. This was not approved
470 The Review. 1903.
by the hierarchj', following the note struck by Msgr. O'Connell,
whose first asserted policy was conciliation, to accomplish which,
it was argued, all race and party questions must be done away
wuth.
If the man for the position be German,' said Msgr. O'Connell,
'he should receive the appointment, not because of his nationality,
but because he is the best man for the place. My policy is to feed
the University from its own offspring. These will be attached to
the different faculties as instructors, then as associate professors,
and, finally, as professors. Thus, Dr. Healy of New York has
just been made instructor in history, and Dr. Melody of Chicago
professor of moral theology, to succeed the illustrious Dr.
Bouquillon.' "
It is to be hoped that the successor of Leo XIII. will appoint a
new rector not identified with "Americanism" or any other offen-
sive movement or ism, with positive orders to effect a reconcilia-
tion among the warring factions and a united support of the Uni-
versity by all elements of our Catholic population, which is an in-
dispensable condition of its ultimate success. And succeed it
must, not only because Leo's name is in it, but because twentieth-
century America needs a good and up-to-date Catholic University
sf sr sr
THE RELIGION OF AMERICAN FREEMASONRY, AS REVEALED
BY ITS SECOND OR "FELLOW CRAFT" DEGREE.
Let us pass on to the degree of "Fellow Craft," the second in
American Freemasonry, and learn from it what it has to say
about the religion of Masonry.
"Speculative Masonry, now known as Free Masonry," says
Mackey's Ritualist, — (note, p. 75), "is therefore the scientific ap-
plication and the religious consecration of the rules and principles,
the technical language, and the implements and materials of oper-
ative Masonry to the worship of God as the Grand Architect of
the Universe, and to the purification of the heart and the inculca-
tion of the dogmas of religious philosophy.
Religion, therefore, according to Masonry, enters into its very
definition. It unites its members in the worship of its deity,
which it calls the Grand Architect of the Universe ; it proposes
to itself the purification of the heart and the inculcation of what
it believes to be religious philosophy. The art of the stone masoa
will be taken as a figure of that secret art to which it devotes its
disciples. It will take the instruments, the rules, the language,
the materials of the builder and use them as types to symbolize,
and as expressions to cover, what it would teach its votaries, and
No. 30. The Review. 471
conceal from us, the profane. It calls all this a religious philoso-
phy and the worship of its God. It defines itself a religion.
"In the investigation of the true meaning of every Masonic
symbol and allegory," says the Ritualist, p. 99, "we must be guided
by the single principle that the whole design of Freemasonry, as
a speculative science, is the investigation of Divine Truth. To this
every object, every thing is subordinated."
The speculative science of Masonry is that part which deals
with Masonic theory and principles, and of which Masonic life
and practice is the natural outcome. As, therefore, all of its
speculation is directed to religious truth, all its practice must be
directed to the carrying out in action of what its theory has
taught it. The one naturally and logically leads to the other.
Religious speculation leads to religious life and action.
Doubtless, reader, you are beginning to think with ourselves
that Masons must be very pious men, since thej'^ spend so much
time in the investigation and contemplation of divine things, and
wonder with us at their modesty in so cleverly concealing the
fact from the eyes of the world. But perhaps our wonder arises
from our forgetting that their divine things are not our divine
things ; their piety is not our piety ; the lily of Christian purity
is not that of Masonic indulgence ; the holiness of Masons is
not supposed to be measured by Christian standards. We must
be on our guard, wandering as we are in our errors and destitute
of spiritual light, not to presume to judge those who are so much
more enlightened than ourselves. We have indeed the light of
reason, we have the doctrine of Christ, we have the results of the
profound and life-long studies of the best minds of the ages, but
we haven't alas ! the benefit of Masonic instruction, which throws
open the sacred portals, and presto ! a spiritual light is created,
and the farmer, the carpenter, the man engrossed in money mak-
ing and in politics, becomes presently a profound theologian,
knows the essence and nature of God and of his own soul, is freed
from helplessness, error, and ignorance, and becomes a follower
of the "Angel of Light"! We confess that to the sane, common-
sense reason by which Masons as other men guide themselves in
the affairs of this sublunary sphere, such pretensions are the
grossest impostures ; but as in religious matters a great intellec-
tual change is required of Masons, we must not be too strict per-
haps in applying the rules of sane, sober sense to Masonic
theories.
But let us return to our author, and now that we are within the
portals of the lodge, let us mount with him the "Winding Stairs."
The "Winding Stairs" consists of a number of steps, which
number has varied at various times. In the United States it is
472 The Review. 1903.
fifteen. "As a symbol of discipline and instruction," says the
Ritualist, p. 101, "the Winding Stairs teaches him (the candidate)
that here must commence his Masonic labor — here he must enter
on those glorious but difficult researches the end of which is to be
the possession of divine truth." And a little later on, p. 106:
"It will be remembered that a reward was promised for all this
toilsome ascent of the Winding Stairs. Now what are the wages
of a speculative Mason ? Not money, nor wine, nor oil. All these
are but symbols. His wages are truth or that approximation to
it which will be most appropriate to the degree into which he has
been initiated. It is one of the most beautiful but at the same
time most abstruse doctrines of the science of Masonic symbol-
ism, that the Mason is ever to be in search of truth, but is never to
find it. And this is intended to teach the humiliating but neces-
sary lesson that the knowledge of the nature of God and of man's
relation to him, which knowledge constitutes divine truth, can
never be acquired in this life. It is only when the portals of the
grave open to us and give us an entrance into a more perfect
life, that this knowledge is to be attained."
Truly, the "Winding Stairs" of Masonic instruction are as
devious as the ways of Bret Harte's famous Celestial I Masonry
has asked from the first a total surrender of our whole nature,
intellectual and moral, the severance of every tie that bound us
to the past, and has promised us as a reward what everj^ serious
mind should yearn for — the knowledge of God and of our soul, —
for from the knowledge of these evidently springs the knowledge
of the relation that subsists between them. And now when the
time comes for Masonry to begin to fulfil its promise, it shirks
the difficulty and remits its disciples to those shores from which
we are separated by the gulf of death, and consoles them with
the "beautiful but humiliating" assurance that it can give them
but an approximation of truth.
The doctrine is neither beautiful nor abstruse. It is not beau-
tiful, because it is not true. It is not abstruse, because it is but
a particular application of the principle of physicians who would
free themselves from cases that they can not cure — they recom-
mend a change of climate. Masonry can with all confidence direct
its disciples to a future life for knowledge; no one doubts that
they will get it fully there ; but how, is another question : mean*
while the harm is done here, for the principle of intellectual and
moral license is firmly rooted, since this is the necessary outcome
of ignorance of God 's nature and our relation to Him.
Do not take things so much to heart, says our guide, "All this
pictorial representation of an ascent by a Winding Staircase to
the place where the wages of labor were to be received, was an al-
No. 30. The Review. 473
legfory to teach us the ascent of the mind from ignorance through
all the toils of study and the difficulties of obtaining knowledge,
receiving here-a little and there a little, adding something to our
stock of ideas at every step, until in the middle chamber of life — in
the full fruition of manhood — the reward is obtained, and the puri-
fied and elevated intellect is invested with the reward, in the direc-
tion how to seek God and God's truth — to believe this is to believe
and know the true design of speculative Masonry, the only design
that makes it worthy of a good or a wise man's study" (p. 107).
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
Earth to Heaven, by Monsignore John S. Vaughan. Net $1. B.
Herder, St. Louis.
The book treats of the great problem of man's end here below,
in a practical, original, captivating, and up-to-date manner. "Be-
ginning with the merely natural gift of the right use of our reason"
— we quote from the preface written for the book by the Bishop of
Emmaus — "he [the author] has shown that by simple force of
looking on the world into which we are born, we must perceive
tdat all which we see, either by our bodily or by our mental
powers, invariably has a cause ; so that when we see the effects
of whose cause we are ignorant, the conclusion which ensues is
not that such effects have no cause, but that the cause, if un-
known, is so to us by reason of our ignorance."
Having firmly established the necessity of a Supreme Lord, the
author in three* beautiful chapters, entitled: Who? What?
Whither? enquires into the nature and the end, temporal and
eternal, of reason-gifted man. Our attention is then called to the
struggles and difficulties which our high destiny involves against
the world, the demons, and the flesh. Again we are told of the
helps by which we may ensure our victory and prepare ourselves
to face the dread ordeal of a severe judgment. A glowing de-
scription of the Ascension of Our Lord, and a vivid picture of the
glories of the risen body and of the celestial joys, invite us to
strain every nerve towards obtaining the glory, never wearying
and never fading, of our eternal home.
While the author tells us nothingnewon the great topics which
he treats — and what indeed could he have found out? — every-
thing he has to say is put before us in a new and attractive form.
474 The Review. 1903.
He does not carry on stiff and formal argumentations, but appeals
to our practical sense and converses with us in an easy, familiar
tone. Still most of the staple proofs which faith and reason
afford us in this important matter, are brought to bear on us with
such thoroughness and clearness that we can not but feel and
confess their crushing force. The book, on that account, will
commend itself highly to people who shrink from the stiffness of
schoolmen. Even the most ordinary Christian will relish Mon-
signore Vaughan's treatment of the subject and peruse the book
with real pleasure and ample profit. It is written with a deal of
unction ; illustrations are very numerous and aptly chosen from
the Scriptures, from history, modern and ancient, as well as from
every-day life.
For a preacher who finds it difficult to make his sermons inter-
esting without sacrificing force and solidity, Msgr. Vaughan's
little treatise is a godsend. From it he may learn how to put
life, color, and action into the naturally dry and untoward sub-
jects which he is often called upon to handle.
Christianity and Modern Civilization, being Some Chapters in
European History, with an Introductory Dialogue on the Phil-
osophy of History. By William Samuel Lilly. London : Chap-
man & Hall, Lt. St. Louis : B. Herder. 1903. Price $3.25 net.
This is practically a new edition, more or less rewritten, of Mr.
Lilly's Chapters on European History, published in 1886, of which
th.^ Saturday Review said at the time that they were remarkable for
"copious learning and wealth of varied illustration, graphic style
and luminous handling of a great theme." New chapters on The
Nascent Church, The Inquisition, Holy Matrimonj^ and The Age
of the Martyrs have been added. The introductory dialog on
the Philosophy of History is the weakest thing in the book, which
aims to illustrate the supreme importance of the Christian revela-
tion as forming the substratum of the whole fabric of European
society and civilization. Mr. Lilly is a thought-compeller, and
even where we may not entirely agree with him, we read his
luminous periods with genuine pleasure and profit.
The Life and Life- Work of Pope Leo XIIL Vicar of Jesus Christ
and Bishop of Rome, etc. Endorsed by the Catholic Hierarchy
of America (?). By Rev. James J. McGovern, D. D., Lockport,
111. Author's Edition. Monarch Book Company, Chicago and
Philadelphia. 1903.
An incompetently wrought cheap-John publication in lurid red
covers, bristling with errors and tinged in spots with liberalistic
No. 30. The Review. 475
bias. Some of the illustrations (« non illustrando!) notably the
repulsive blotch defacing- pag-e 240a, are enough to give one the
shivers.
We only regret that Rev. Dr. Selinger, by writing a brief intro-
ductory note (evidently without having seen the contents !) has
put his good name in imminent danger of being used as a bait by
the publishers of this unsightly and unscholarly lihrone.
Index to the General History of the Christian Era, by Gtiggenherger.
B. Herder. 1903. 52 pag-es. Price 25 cents net.
By the publication of this booklet Rev. P. Guggenberger has
restored our wavering confidence in his literary noblesse, which,
according to old Pius Gams, obliges every author to add a com-
prehensive and correct index to his book. The second edition of
the third volume, which is in preparation, will contain this index
as an integral part, but those who have the original first edition
can purchase it separately.
The Pofe and His Election. By Ferdinand Brossart, V.-G. Cov-
ington, Ky. For sale by Fr. Pustet & Co., Cincinnati, O. Price
15 cents.
This brochure bears the earmarks of hasty preparation : it is
inaccurate in its statement of facts and slovenly in its style.
Rev. W. Devivier's 'Christian Apologetics,' edited, aug-
mented, and adapted to English readers by Rev. Joseph C. Sasia,
S. J., will soon be published in two volumes at San Francisco.
450 pages of additional matter have been inserted by the editor
throug-hout the work, to adapt it to the English public. Entire
articles have been added on the following important topics: evolu-
tion, hypnotism, miracles, the supposed vicious circle. Christian
Science and faith cure, Agnosticism, Theosophy, the destiny of
the human soul after death, etc. The two volumes constitute a
complete treatment of the theological treatises de religione et
ecclesia, explained in a popular form and highly useful to the
clergy and particularly to seminary students. The work is
written especially for the benefit of the students of the higher
classes of our Catholic colleges, with a view to furnish them a
rational exposition of the tenets of Christian Catholic faith and
to enable them to answer the chief objections advanced against re-
ligion. With a view to extend their usefulness, the price of the
two volumes (not sold separately) has been made as reasonable
and low as possible ($2.50), consistently with the considerable
expense incurred in the publication.
476
MINOR TOPICS.
4 Modern Electric Alarm-Clock Described in Classical Latin Phrase. —
One should think that such a new-fangled invention as an elec-
tric alarm-clock with phonograph attachment would be a subject
wellnigh impossible to describe in scholarly Latin phrase. The
subjoined extract from our clever Roman contemporary Vox
Urbis (No. xi. ) will prove that it can be neatly done and that
Cicero's pliable tongue has stronger claims upon our recognition
as a possible and practical universal language, than most of us
are apt to imagine.
Horologia expergefacientia, iuvante electride. — Pulcherrima nunc
narrantur de electridis applicatione, melius de phonograph© hor-
ologiis adiuncto. Rei seriem narrabo. Multiplex usus. Prima
itaque machina additur idonea iis, qui exigua quamvis luce, si
haec in cubiculo sit, requiescere nullimode possunt, ac tamen
dum expergiscuntur horam scire desiderant. Est ad manus, —
ne phosphoreis cereis, periculo certe non carentibus, ii utantur, —
est, inquam, ad manus laqueus sub pulvillo latens. Ubi nodum
extimulaveris in nuce latentem, horologium in tenebris fatur, et
horam annuntiat faciente phonographo. Amplius. Constituta
indicibus hora, qua e lectulo surgere decrevisti, prout elegeris,
horologium, amotoillostridore tintinnabuli molestissimi, humana
penitus te voce compellat, et : — Age, — exclamat — , age ; surgendi
hora est ; — [puta, hora septima], neque a clamando desistit nisi
surrexeris et machinulam exclamantem cohibueris. Est et amp-
lius. Apposito portae laqueo, si quis, te inscio, fur, latro, carnifex
noctu vim vel insidiam portae fecerit, phonographus ab horologio
te vocibus appellat, apparitores vocat, et probra et vituperia simul
in latronem impingit, ea tamen arte, ut plures tecum esse homines
videantur. Dicitur eiusmodi horologia, seu "phonorologia" grand-
iuscula nunc esse ; posse in bulgis deferri ; quae autem in peris
ferri possunt magni nimis aestimari, et vix pecuniosissimis ea
comparare licere.
-^
A Plea for the Rod.— In "A Plea for the Rod," Rev. C. Clifford says:
"Seriously, we have overdone the business of child-worship in
America ; and for proof we find ourselves surrounded with about
the worst-mannered generation it has ever been the lot of un-
trammeled democracy to produce. In every other section of the
civilized world, even in France and in Italy, where he is all but
spoiled by overindulgence of every sort during the first five or
six years of his existence, a growing boy is taught the elements
of decorum. He is trained to defer to his elders on no other
ground than the fact that they are elders. Years connote exper-
No. 30. The Review. 477
ience ; and courtesy is the tribute he is habitually encouraged to
bring in testimony of the older world's regard for it. He will
rise instinctively and uncover to a woman ; he will not lightly
venture upon a familiarity with a grown man. He may be a 'muff'
in a hundred other points ; (and, if he comes from the Latin dis-
tricts of the continent, we fear there is no defending him on that
score), but in the rudiments of civilization, the things that refine
one and mark him as unconsciouslj^ urbane, city-bred in form, if
not in reality, with the boorishness, which is the inevitable after-
growth of isolation, rubbed off — in these things, we say, America
with all its magnificence of equipment has nothing like him to of-
fer. We are poor in such jewels as Cornelia is said to have had the
bad taste to parade. They began to disappear some thirty years
ago, when a number of soft-hearted ladies and gentlemen up and
down the country declared against the 'barbarism' of using the
birch-rod in the schools. We are reaping a whirl-wind harvest
for that thin crop of sentimental folly to-day. Let us carry our
sheaves with such dignity as we can. The American child is
mostly what his public school teachers have made him. We have
spared the rod where it would have done the nation most service,
and spoiled a brood of citizens singularly in need of self-discip-
line."
Msgr. O'Connell Opposed fo Msgr. Conaty's College Consolidation Plan.
Msgr. Conaty's pet plan as Rector of the "Catholic University
of America" was, as our readers will remember, to bring all the
Catholic colleges of the country in some measure under the con-
trol, to make them "feeders," as it were, of the University. This
scheme has been dropped by Msgr. O'Connell, if we may believe
the Washington correspondent of the Freeman'' s Journal, who
writes (No. 3653) :
"Some well-wishers of the University thought to further its in-
terests by making all other Catholic schools directly subordinate
to the central head. A scheme was proposed by which the Cath-
olic University was to become the censor of the degrees issued
by other colleges and universities under Catholic control. Much
pressure was brought to effect this end. Msgr. O'Connell pointed
out that many of the Catholic institutions were older, had exper-
ienced faculties, their standing in the educational world had r\ever
been questioned, and the greater of these would be loathe to sub-
mit their work to the approval of any censor whatsoever. He is
a man in close touch with the 'university spirit,' as it is called,
and pointed out the intrinsic evils of the scheme. It was aban-
doned. The present program has been substituted by Rome."
And what is "the present program," pray?
One great trouble with the University has been that each new
rector has had a new program, which was promptly reversed by
his successor.
What wonder, then, that, as the same writer complains, "the
hierarchy was lukewarm" and "it has been hard to arouse en-
thusiasm among the laity," even outside of the "Germans and
Jesuits"!
478 The Review. 1903.
Leo XIII. — Just as we went to press last week, the news reached
us of the death of His Holiness Pope Leo XHI. With the whole
Catholic world we mourn over his departure. It is not necessary
for us to print a biog-raphj'^ of the departed Pontiff or to write his
eulog-y ; for more than three weeks the papers have teemed with
information about him and praise of his long" and splendid pontifi-
cate. We of The Review have ever loved and honored him as our
father and shaped the course of this journal according to what we
honestly and pra5^erfull3^ understood to be his directions. Our
heart is too full now to allow us even to sketch his long career or
to estimate the import of his life-work. "Great Pontiffs there
have been in the past; greater the universal Church will see again
before the last soul be baptized into open communion with her ;
but a Pontiff more suited to his time it would be difficult to im-
agine. We American Catholics are debtors to him, if we only
knew it, in more ways than we can define." Have we not, there-
fore, an added reason for praying that his indomitable soul may
rest in peace ? Oremiis p)-o Pontijice nostro defuncto Leone; Doni-
inus non tradat eiim in vianus inimicoriim ejus, sed det ei requiem
aeternam !
Against Luxurious Churches and Parish Houses. — Rt. Rev. Msgr. A.
Adolph writes to The Review from Williamsville, N. Y.: "I was
greatly pleased to see in your paper (No. 27; the recent remarks
of His Eminence Cardinal Fischer*), on the subject of wasteful
luxury in churches and parochial residences. I remember that
his predecessor on the archiepiscopal throne of Cologne held the
same healthy views. When I was in Rome last winter, another
eminent Cardinal asked me about the luxury which he had heard
American priests indulge in with regard to their parsonag^es.
Cardinal Fischer's censure applies to our clergy in a larger
measure than to his own, for the way money is wasted in this
country upon parochial residences is more scandalous than in the
Archdiocese of Colog-ne ; it is an abuse that causes many to fall
away from the faith, and I think it high time that the authorities
forbid the erection of churches and parish houses which exceed
the means of the people. All honor to His Eminence Cardinal
Fischer for having the courage to speak the truth!"
According to the celebrated bibliographer Jacquin Garcia Icaz-
balcetta, the first printing press was set up in America not later
than 1537. It was the Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza and his con-
temporary,the first Archbishop of Mexico, Fray Juan de Zumarra-
ga, who were responsible for the establishment of this first print-
ing house in Mexico. A printer in Seville, of the name of Juan
Cromberger, and said to have been very celebrated in his day, was
given the order, and he either sent or brought the outfit about the
-j Who, by the way, we are proud to say is a faithful reader of The Rkview.
No. 30. The Review. 479
date mentioned. The press was set up in the residence of the
Archbishop of Mexico.
A work entitled 'Escala Espiritual para Uegar al Cielo' was
among; the earliest books printed in Mexico, the date of its publi-
cation having been set by some authorities as far back as the year
1532, but more probably issued in 1535 or 1536.
We read in the Pittsburg Observer (No. 6) :
"The Jesuit Colleg-e of Santa Clara, California, has honored
Charles F. Lummis, editor of the Outlook, with the degree of
Doctor of Letters. The honor is well deserved, as Mr. Lummis,
a non-Catholic, is a talented writer and an able defender of Catho-
lics and Catholic interests."
We do not covet our neighbor's honor, and as for Mr. Lummis,
our readers know how highly we esteem him ; but the thought
naturally suggests itself in this connection : who ever heard of
an American Catholic college thus honoring a Catholic journalist
who devoted his whole life and all his energy to the defense of
Catholic truth? Outsiders reap the reward and glory, while the
children of the household are fed mainly with rebuff^
By the death of Msgr. Katzer of Milwaukee, who departed this
vale of tears on the same day with Leo XIIL, the German Catholics
of this country have lost their only representative in the council
of the archbishops. He always stood up valiantly for equal rights
for all nationalities and distinguished himself as a courageous
champion of Catholic education in the Bennett school law fight. In
the controversy on Americanism he threw the weight of his in-
fluence upon the side of strict orthodoxy and conservatism.
Archbishop Katzer was a friend of The Review since its estab-
lishment, though the assertion, at one time widely current, that
he was its real founder and subsidized it, had no foundation what-
ever in fact. R. I. P.
The New York Tf(?r/<i recently published a symposium regard-
ing the word "obey" in the marriage service, made up of opinions
from well-known "strong-minded" women and prominent brides-
elect. The "strong-minded" women, of course, repudiated the
word, and all of the brides-to-be announced decidedly that they
did not intend to have it used in the ceremony.
It would be superfluous to comment on these opinions. They
are enough to make the grandmothers turn in their graves and
the grandfathers rise up in indignant protest.
Says Father Phelan in the Western Watchman (July 12th):
"We feel towards apostate priests very much as Southerners
feel towards a certain class of negro criminals."
But you wouldn't go so far as to lynch them, would you ? We
480 The Review. 1903.
A subscriber in Southern Missouri sends us this clipping from
a local newspaper :
"A new game called 'Christianity' is being played in certain
parts of the city. The girls get on one side and are the Chris-
tians. The boys get on the other side and are the heathens.
Then the heathens embrace Christianity."
And that's about all the "Christianity" most of them ever em-
brace.
President Eliot of Harvard has defined the new ideal in univer-
sity education as the effort to teach a student one or two subjects
thoroughly, and to give him a familiarity with as many other
branches of learning as possible. The growth of knowledge ren-
ders no other course possible.
It has been discovered that the ancient Grecians used automo-
biles. In the 'Knights' of Aristophanes (verse 26) two slaves are
debating how they can best escape, and one of them suggests :
MdAwjuev avTO, /aoAco/acv avTO,
Let US take the auto.
The editor of The Review deplores the recent demise of Rt.
Rev. Henry Muehlsiepen, Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of
St. Louis, as a personal loss and solicits for the repose of his
gentle soul the ardent prayers of all friends and subscribers.
on our part can not help seeing even in the apostate priest the
"sacerdos in aeternum," and believe that he if any one is entitled
to the benefit of St. Augustine's charitable counsel: "Interficite
errores, diligite errantes.'"
11 XCbe IRcview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., August 6, 1903. No. 31.
CHURCH MUSIC REFORM IN THE EAST.
N June 7th last several church choirs of New York, Brook-
lyn, and Newark, N. J., respectively, united for the pur-
pose of performing some works by Witt, Haller, Stehle,
Thiel, Wiltberger, Ebner, Kothe, and Hillebrand, the latter one
of the conductors of the occasion. 'I'he performance took place
in St. Peter's Church, Newark, N. J., in the presence of Rt. Rev.
Bishop O'Connor of the Newark Diocese, Msgr. Doane, several
priests, and a large congregation of laymen. The reproduction
of the several compositions is reported to have been successful.
Rey. Fr. N. M. Wagner, of Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn,
improved the occasion by delivering a vigorous address, in the
course of which he set forth the laws of the Church regarding the
use of music in her cult and also uttered a severe but well de-
served indictment against those who ignore or violate the laws
and wishes of our Holy Church. He showed that the quality of
the music performed in the vast majority of churches in New
York and vicinity is not only unliturgical, but also devoid of ar-
tistic value. Father Wagner names those whose compositions
dominate most organ lofts in the Metropolis, among them Wieg-
and, Lambillotte, Millard, Giorza, Diabelli, Dachauer, La Hache,
Mercadante, Farmer, Stearn. He might have added many other
names such as Rev. Ganss, who in particular has done unspeakable
harm with his trivial and frivolous musical settings of sacred texts.
Nothing which Father Wagner said in his sermon, no matter
how severe, adequately expresses the nausea and disgust a
musician worthy of the name experiences on hearing the frivoli-
ties and inanities by Millard, Giorza, Ganss, Marzo. and all the
others. If a program consisting of works by the above mentioned
so-called composers were to be performed before an audience
such as usually attends the New York Philharmonic concerts, or
482 The Review. " 1903.
the performances of the New York "Oratorio Society," the au-
dience would either demand its money back or laugh the perpe-
trators off the stage. And that which is too insignificant, silly, and
frivolous to be performed in a respectable concert hall (I defy any-
body to prove that a composition by any of the above named com-
posers has been performed at a first-class concert in New York)
is year in and year out produced before the Blessed Sacrament
in some of the most prominent churches in the Metropolis.
It is therefore gratifying to hear that priests are beginning to
raise their voice in protest against the shameful or rather shame-
less invasion of the sanctuary by pseudo-musicians, who not only
throw liturgical regulations to the wind, but whose elucubrations
have absolutely no artistic raison d'etre.
It has been pointed out before in The Review that, if we except
a few German churches and St. Francis Xavier's in 16th Str., the
best and only place in New York to hear the great masters of
Church or Cecilian music properly performed is Carnegie Music
Hall on some evening when the Musical Art Society — composed
mostly of Protestants and conducted by a Hebrew — gives one of
its concerts. Excluded from the sanctuary which gave them
being and for which they were destined, — by the indifference,
ignorance, and neglect of those in authority, the immortal works
by Palestrina, Lassus, Gabrieli, Lotti, Croce, and others find
adequate interpretation at the hands of aliens in a secular temple
of art. Is it not high time that the traffic in meretricious vulgari-
ty be banished from our churches and that heed be given to the
many, many decrees on the matter of Church music issued by the
Holy See ? Joseph Otten.
3^ »- 3<&
SHOULD LABOR VNIONS INCORPORATE?
In view of the many recent proceedings against trade unions by
way of injunctions and suits for damages, the National Civic
Federation addressed enquiries to a number of representative
men, asking for a statement of opinion regarding the proper
course for trade unions to take in the matter of incorporation.
Attention was called to the Taff Vale decision in Great Britain
and to several cases in the U. S., where members of unincorpor-
ated unions have been held personalh^ responsible for damages
and costs of prosecution. The question was asked whether, in
defending such suits, the unions would be placed in a better or
in a worse position if they were incorporated, than they are at
present when unincorporated. Enquiry was also made as to
whether a special law should be enacted for the incorporation of
No. 31. The Review. 483
unions, differing- from the law for business corporations, and if
so, what should be its terras.
The answers were published in the monthly bulletin of the Na-
tional Civic Federation. Although they are all very interesting,
space does not permit us to give more than a synopsis. The
reader will readily understand that with such a discrepancy of
views, it is next to impossible to frame a law, national or State,
settling- the above query to general satisfaction.
With the apparently increasing power of trade unions it is to
be expected that a demand should arise for their proportionate
responsibility. The grounds of this demand vary, but they usu-
ally turn on different meanings of the word responsibility. Some
ad^'oc^te incorporation, in order to hold the unions responsible
for violation of contracts ; others do so with the intention of fix-
ing responsibility on them for unlawful acts — known legally as
"torts." The latter group is again to be subdivided accordingly
as the members have in mind the acts of different parties in vary-
ing conditions — some contemplating the acts of officers and mem-
bers authorized by the union ; others the acts of members unau-
thorized by the union ; and still others the acts of sympathizers
not members and not authorized by the union.
Certain of the legal contributors to the' symposium hold that
for illegal acts — "torts" — such as trespass, intimidation, boycott,
violence, etc., authorized by the unions or their officers, the unions
can already, even though not incorporated, be held legally re-
sponsible to the extent of their treasuries, and also that each
member of a union can be held legally responsible to the extent
of his private estate. They also hold that the incorporation of
the union would not relieve the individual member of legal re-
sponsibility for illegal acts. Incorporation "would not in the least
protect individual leaders and members from being 'joined' as de-
fendants in suits for damages for conspiracies and other 'torts.' "
Incorporation "will not relieve the individual members of the cor-
poration from responsibility likewise." According to these views,
incorporation of a union would not increase its responsibility for
illegal acts of its members.
One of the employers, however, seems to hold that by incorpor-
ation the union could be held for illegal acts done by sympathizers
in the prosecution of a strike. Other contributors hold exactly
the opposite view, that incorporation would relieve the union of
liability for damages inflicted in its interests, and the only answer
received from an incorporated union cites this as the main advant-
age gained by incorporation. Extending responsibility of a cor-
poration to cover the unauthorized acts either of members or non-
members, does not seem to be advocated by the legal writers.
484 The Review. 1903.
and they hold that an unincorporated union would not be held in
damages for the unlawful acts of members or non-members com-
mitted in S3'mpathy with the union's cause, but without authori-
zation from the union or its officers. This does not apply to the
acts of officers themselves, since their acts are held to be those of
the union. One employer holds that what society and employers
want is not damages from unions for injuries unlawfully inflicted,
but restraint from committing these unlawful acts, and this, he
says, can be had through the injunction.
The other kind of responsibility is for violation of contracts.
Those who desire it hold that employers can not enter on con-
tracts with unions on fair terms, because, while the employer is
financially and legally responsible, the union is only morally re-
sponsible. Here, again, two very different kinds of responsibility
are in view. The one responsibility is for individual members,
the other for joint action of all the members. One contributor
seems to maintain that the union should be held financially liable
for a violation of contract by a member who, for example, leaves
his work without consent of his employer. This would seem to
be a kind of responsibility which very few unions would care to
assume, and it is a misapprehension of the whole nature of a union
agreement with employers. Ey such an agreement the union
would become a contractor to farm out labor. Certain unions,
such as the Garment Workers and the Longshoremen, agree to
furnish what labor is required by the employer, but they relieve
themselves of the usual responsibilit}' of a contractor by a proviso
that the employer may hire non-members if the union can not
supply the force required. But this class of union contracts is
exceptional. Union agreements are not contracts to furnish labor;
each laborer makes his own labor contract directly with his em-
ployer. The union agreement is simply an understanding by
which the parties represented agree to make similar contracts
respecting hours, wages, and work. The employer enforces his
side of the agreement through his right to discharge the work-
man, and the union enforces its side by its right to strike. One
employer fears that should the unions thus become contractors
to farm out labor, as do the Chinese companies, their greatly in-
creased power would be productive of more harm than good, and
would not tend to improve the character of the working men ;
and, on the other hand, if they should not become contractors for
labor, their responsibility could be easily evaded, even though they
were incorporated.
Other contributors hold the customary view that the union
should be held responsible onlj^ for the joint action of its mem-
bers., such as a stoppage of work by a strike, or the support of a
No. 31. The Review. 485
member who violates his agreement. Here the question arises.
Would incorporation of unions lessen the number of strikes in
violation of agreements not to strike? Answering this in the
affirmative, several writers refer to the probable added feeling of
responsibility on the part of leaders and members which would
come throug-h incorporation. Others, replying in the negative,
point out the very small funds in the union treasuries. But more
g'enerally it is held that incorporation is not necessary in order
to promote the observance of contracts. Several union represen-
tatives assert that unions do not violate their agreements and that
only employers do. Others do not go so far. One employer, a
prominent member of the National Founders and the Stove
Founders' Association, argues that where employers free them-
selves of sentimental opposition to trade unions and then deal
with their ag-ents on a business basis, the unions are in a better
position to be held accountable. Other contributors strongly
urge that the trade agreement is the proper substitute for incor-
poration. A statistician asserts that nearly all violations occur
in the field of agreements with individual employers, and that
there have been very few violations of trade agreements made
between associations of employers and associations of workmen.
Certain union representatives admit the lack of discipline within
some unions, but hold that all are g-radually being educated to
higher standards and that this education will be the more rapid
as employers show a greater willingness to make and observe
agreements.
Supposing- it is not necessary to have incorporation in order to
compel unions to abide by their contracts, the converse proposi-
tion is presented by a union representative, who contends that
unions, even if incorporated, can not secure damages from em-
ployers who violate their contracts with the unions. Referring
to the experience of the Garment Workers, who have brought
suits on bonds given by employers, he argues that the employer
can raise in defense the plea of duress, since he was compelled,
in view of the alternative of seeing his business ruined, to agree
to the terms laid down by the unions. On the other hand, a rep-
resentative of another branch of the clothing industry, whose
union is incorporated, states that the legality of their contracts
has been sustained in the courts ; but a former counsel of this
union thinks the uniqn would have fared better if it had given up
its corporate organization.
Among the objections raised to incorporation by the unions is, of
course, first of all, the liability of exposing their treasuries to at-
tack. But if the trend of legal answers is correct, as stated, these
treasuries are already liable for unlawful acts even without incor-
486 The Review. 1903.
poration, and there is even an intimation that they are also liable
for violation of contract.
If this be true, the danger which the unions may meet through
incorporation must be found elsewhere. Several writers contend
that the real danger lies in the internal affairs of the union. The
union must have almost arbitrary control over its members in the
way of discipline, and were it incorporated, its constitution and
by-laws would be subject to judicial enquiry, and it would be con-
tinually in court on suits brought by dissatisfied or expelled mem-
bers, oftentimes instigated by employers. It is pointed out that
the New York Stock Exchange, under advice of the ablest legal
talent, avoids incorporation in order that it may enfore complete
discipline upon its members without interference by the courts.
Some of the writers fear also that judicial interference would
operate against the democratic character of union management,
would do away with the initiative and referendum and would
make the directors and officers powerful and oligarchic. This
result would stand in the way of growth in membership, which
would be unfortunate both to the unions and to society. To in-
corporate the unions would drive them into politics and a crude
form of Socialism.
There is a curious contrast in the opinions regarding the atti-
tude of the courts. The union spokesmen in general speak of the
hostility of the courts to unions and their bias towards the em-
ployers, mentioning the interstate commerce and anti-trust laws
as having been perverted from their original object to the injury
of unions. Yet some of the employers speak of the whole machin-
ery of justice in our State courts as paralyzed by fear of the union
vote. Not more law is needed, they say, but more honest and
courageous enforcement of the laws as they are, and incorpora-
tion would not add responsibility, since prosecuting attorneys,
judges, and juries would, through their sympathies with the
unions, temper the laws even more than now.
Other contributors, while not emphasizing the attitude of the
courts toward either side, believe that their tedious processes
place the unions at a disadvantage. At present there is a disparity
between thfe treasuries of unions and corporations, the latter
having an unlimited call on high-priced legal counsel.
Of those who answer the question as to the need of a special law
for the incorporation of unions, the legal writers all agree that
such a law is necessary, but there is only one writer who offers
suggestions as to its necessary provisions. One union officer
would have the benefit funds separated from the other funds
and would have the union exempt from responsibility for the per-
sonal acts of members in violation of law. It is pointed out that
No. 31. The Review. 487
the federal law providing- for the incorporation of unions exempts
members as well as the corporation itself from liability for "the
acts of members or others in violation of law." Other contribu-
tors think it would be difl&cult and .even impossible to frame a
special law making the union responsible for authorized acts and
not responsible for unauthorized acts.
Compulsory incorporation is rejected by all who refer to it, one
legal writer pointing out that it would be equivalent to prohibiting
workmen from enjoying the liberty of the citizen, the freedom of
contract, and the right of free assembly.
Finally, several union representatives dismiss the whole sub-
ject by boldly asserting that, whatever the arguments presented,
the unions 7f///«o/ incorporate. This assertion is hardly vital,
since it is conceivable that a special law could be so framed that
the unions would choose incorporation as an alternative to increas-
ingly drastic decisions against them when not incorporated. One
writer suggests that under a compulsory arbitration law, like
those of New Zealand and Australia, the unions would find a
decided advantage in incorporation.
The symposium as a whole seems to indicate that the custom-
ary arguments for and against incorporation of unions are invalid,
since they turn on the responsibility of unions for unlawful acts.
Incorporation would not increase or decrease their responsibility
in this respect. Both the treasury of the union and the property
of the members are liable in damages on account of such acts,
whether the union is incorporated or unincorporated.
As regards the enforcement of contracts, the opinions in the
symposium are at wide variance, both from the standpoint of the
union in enforcing the agreement upon employers and from the
standpoint of employers in enforcing the agreement upon the
workmen. That existing laws governing corporations are not
adapted to the needs of labor unions, is generally admitted in the
suggestion that special laws should be enacted for the purpose.
3P 3P 9P
What Ails France ? — Thirty years ago Mme. Julie Lavergne pun-
gently put it thus : "^ire broke out in the room of a drunkard,
who opened the window and cried for help. The neighbors came
running with buckets full of water. 'Stand back,' he cried, 'I am
afraid of water. Bring me wine or whiskey, or I won't open.' And
he barricaded his door and perished in the flames. Frenchmen,
you, who pretend to end the Revolution by riding its principles,
do not laugh at this drunkard." — Correspondence of Julie La-
vergne, letter of Oct. 24th, 1873.
488
AN IMPORTANT NEW BOOK ON EDVCATION.*)
With hardly an exception, our American and English non-
Catholic books on education give more or less a caricature of
Jesuit education. What wonder, then, that our educators rarely
display correct ideas of this educational system? Unluckilj^ they
are confirmed in their preconceived notions by a well-known
French author, whose work is translated into English and very
extensively used in this country. It is true, Rev. Thos. Hughes,
S. J., had written his 'Loyola and the Educational System of the
Jesuits' for the 'Great Educators Series,' published by the Scrib-
ners. But could not the bold and very positive statements of other
writers be correct in spite of Father Hughes' praise of the
Order's school system? Illogical as this position might be, the
opponents did not admit themselves refuted.
Nothing, therefore, could be more timely than a book on Jesuit
education from the pen of a Jesuit, which would add to an explan-
ation a direct refutation of the numerous objections made against
the much maligned system. Father Schwickerath's work, in
which this task was undertaken, lies before us, and after a care-
ful perusal we gladly give it unreserved praise. The writer has
done his work thoroughly, after long and careful studies ; and as
he has won for himself a place among authorities on education,
he has made it impossible for all fair-minded educators to
repeat in future from Compayre, Painter, or Seeley, the many
misrepresentations of the Jesuit educational system. With a
book like this in the market, President Eliot would certainly not
have followed blindly in his ill-timed utterances on Jesuit educa-
tion, authors of whom some are here proved to have been inspired
by direct enmity (p. 11) to distort the Jesuit system, and thereby
to have forfitted their right to be regarded as trustworthy au-
thorities (pp. 649 sqq.)
Father Schwickerath gives us a powerful apologia of the Jesuit
system both as a whole and in every one of its leading features ;
and this from the double standpoint of an earnest and learned
student of theoretical education, and a practical schoolman.
It will be impossible to give an exhaustive account of the many
questions discussed in each chapter. The student of the history
of education will find much new material in the first part, "History
of Jesuit Education." After reviewing the school systems in vogue
in various countries at the close of the Middle Ages, the author
briefly characterizes medieval education; then follows a survey
*l Jesuit Education, its History and Prin- I B. Herder, St. Louis. Price S1.75 net. The
ciples Viewed in tiie Li^ht of Modern Kduca- | book is neatly printed and bound and presents
tional Problems, by R. ■■^chwirkerath, H. .J., I a very attracti\e appearance.
Woodstock folle^e, Md (XVI. and fi87 pp.) |
No. 31. The Review. 489
of the influence of the Reformation on education. One more gen-
eral chapter on religious as educators, and we have the whole
broad g-round surveyed on which the Jesuit system was built up.
Being an offshoot of the then prevalent systems, — and not merely a
copy of the Protestant schools, as P. Schwickerath successfully and
convincingly proves (pp. 140-141), — it soon began its independent
career, which led in a short time to the first "'Ratio studiorum,"
that of 1599.
That neither this "Ratio," nor the second of 1832, which is dis-
cussed in the sixth chapter, had a narrowing influence on the
Jesuit teachers, is demonstrated by an extensive history of Jesuit
colleges and Jesuit writers. With great delight we read the para-
g-raphs where the men who are said to have become narrow by a
classical system including little else than Latin and Greek, are
shown to have been (pp. 148 sqq. 226 sqq.'table competitors at least,
if not the leaders, in all branches of learning ; including in the
earlier times geography and history as well as the study of the
mother tong-ue, and last but not least mathematics and sciences;
and in the nineteenth century the various branches of modern
learning (p. 124 sqq., 198-199).
After this minute research Father Schwickerath easily refutes
the many charges of his opponents (esp. pp. 223 sqq., 243 sqq.)
Not every thing that had to be discussed in the first part is new
to educators. But certainly new and interesting is the manner
in which these questions are discussed. Starting from the oppon-
ent's view, which is g-iven in full, our author offers us the
unique spectacle of seeing- the enemy refuted by more able ene-
mies, or at least by men who have no special sympathy for the
Jesuits. He then compares the Jesuit system with the school
systems of countries that are recog-nized leaders in education.
Finally he adds his own refutations, characterized by keen logical
reasoning.
A most powerful weapon in the hands of our author is the com-
parison between the Jesuit and the German school system and
the continual quotations from German authorities. These argu-
ments must go far to convince American educators, for whom up
to the present day Nagelsbach, Paulsen, Ziegler, Schiller, etc.,
were the oracles on education, for whom works like Schmid's
'Geschichte der Erziehung,' Baumeister's 'Handbuch der Erzieh-
ungs- und Unterrichtslehre fiir hohere Schulen, ' Kehrbach's
'Monumenta Germaniae Paedagogica,'and similar work were the
true sources of educational wisdom, and for whom Germany is
still the classical land of genuine education. Both sarcastic and
convincing then is Father Schwickerath's question (p. 10), whether
or not President Eliot would have dared to tell in his charges
490 The Review. 1903.
against the Jesuits system, that it is essentially the same as the
official system of Prussia, where, after a short trial of the reform
of studies advocated by Eliot, the old system was reenforced (pp.
280-291.)
The second part, "Principles of the Ratio Studiorum," is abund-
antly rich in the discussion of the educational problems of all
times, but especially of those that are now most hotly agitated.
From the vast Jesuit literature which the writer masters to an
astonishing- extent, he shows the soundness of the Society's stand-
point with regard to the elective system, the question of expur-
gated editions, coeducation, etc.
Undoubtedly the best chapter of the book is the sixteenth on
"The Method of Teaching in Practice."
What Father Schwickerath has to say in the seventeenth and
eighteenth chapters on the moral and religious scope of every
true, and in particular of the Jesuit, educational system, should
be earnestly considered by every teacher. For Catholics his
standpoint is the only true one, and it were nothing less than
treason to immortal souls to follow the modern educational sys-
tems in their utter neglect of a moral training based on religion.
The twentieth chapter we may sum up by saying that the Jesuit
as teacher strives always to imitate as perfectly as possible Jesus
Christ, the master-teacher.
We are sure, then, that the reader will agree with us thatFather
Schwickerath 's book will prove a strong weapon in the hands of
Catholic priests and teachers against false educational theories.
It is more than a defence of Jesuit education ; above all it is a
victorious refutation of the many false statements of men like
Compayre, Painter, Payne, and Seeley. We therefore recommend
the book especially to all the Catholic school teachers who were
taught in our State Normal Schools on the authority of the above
named authors. We assure every truth-loving non-Catholic teacher
that the author defends the system of his Order as a gentleman
and a scholar. He tries to convince you, and aims at nothing else.
There is nothing that will not make it a pleasure for the reader
to follow him from assertion to assertion till the end of the book,
where he gives a conspectus of his principal and auxiliary sources,
including among the latter, we are pleased to note, our own humble
Review.
491
THE C. M. B. A. ONCE MORE.
Under the beading-: "Clerg-y Please Take Notice," Chas. L.
Brown publishes in the of&cial organ of the Catholic Mutual Benefit ■
Association, the C. M. B. A. Nexvs, for July, 1903, an article which
is intended as a reply to our comments on the business methods
of that organization, and which is promptly reprinted in the Denver
Catholic (July 11th), that self-constituted champion of the concern
referred to. We can not for lack of space, reproduce this strange
amalgam of abuse of our journal,misstatement of facts, and error
in figures, especially as it is not an official statement of the
C. M. B. A., but simply an effort of some well-meaning: friend of
the society to defend it against our charges. In justice to the
readers of our previous remarks we will, for the last time, refute
the misrepresentations made on behalf of this society, and cor-
rect some of Mr. Brown's misleading figures.
To enlighten our alleged ignorance of the "true condition" of
the C. B. M. A., Mr. Brown informs us that the society has 216
branches "within the Grand Council of Pennsylvania." That they
do not figure in the official insurance reports of that State, he "ex-
plains" as follows :
"The C. M. B. A. was licensed to do business in Michigan and
Pennsylvania before laws were enacted calling for these reports,
consequently the society is exempt from making a report except
to the insurance commissioner of New York."
We submitted this claim to the State Insurance Department of
Pennsylvania and give its reply, dated July 15th, 1903, verbatim :
"jReplying to yours of the 14th inst. permit me to say that the
Catholic Mutual Benefit Association of New York is not now and
never has been registered in this office, or authorized to transact bus-
iness in this State.
"The Association can not legally transact business in Pennsyl-
vania without being registered or having a license from this De-
partment,and until it is licensed and the proper person designated
as its attorney for service of process, a member can not bring suit
against the Association in this State, \>Vi'i would have to go to the
home office of the company in order to commence or maintain any
leg-al proceedings agfainst the Association.
Respectfully,
(Signed) Iskael W. Durham,
Insurance Commissioner."
It follows that if the C. M. B. A. has any members in the State
of Pennsylvania, it is doing business there in direct disregard
and violation of the laws of the Commonwealth, and such members
have no standing in any court of Pennsylvania, but must gfo to
New York State for justice, if in need of legal action against the
corporation.
Mr. Brown charges The Review with "taking particular pride
in trying to shatter the hopes of mutual or co-operative societies,"
492 The Review. 1903.
and says that it "in every instance in its vaunting- way lauds Old
Line." He informs us that, "out of 822 old line companies char-
tered to do business in the United States, 725 are out of business."
Mr. Brown does not tell us where he found these figures, but we
assert on the basis of official returns (insurance reports) that of
all the mutual life insurance companies ever chartered on the old
line basis in the United States, not one ever failed, but all are still
doing business, and refer him to our article of April 2nd (No. 13)
of this years' Review, where we have given a partial list and a
comparison of their expenses with those of Catholic mutual socie-
ties, unfortunately not to the advantage of the latter.
Passing- over some unimportant claims equally incorrect, we
now come to Mr. Brown's table, alleged to give the nonparticipat-
ing rates of the Mutual Life. Mr. Brown takes the liberty of de-
ducting 20% from said rates, "to procure the net premium."
But there is no loading- of 20% on non-participating rates, and
any old line company doing business on the basis of Mr. Brown's
figures would promptly be stopped from issuing policies by the
State insurance authorities. 'Flitchcraft's Manual,' a standard in-
surance publication, gives the net annual premiums for the various
ages based on the American Table of Mortality, with reserve
accumulations earning 4% interest annually, and reaching face of
policy age 96, (a very liberal allowance), but without provision for
expenses.
To illustrate how unreliable Mr. Brown's way of figuring is,
we give below in the first column the net annual premium required
according to standard authorities for a straight life policy at ages
quoted in his article, (4% American experience); next the de facto
rates of the Mutual Life, then Mr. Brown's alleged rates, and last
the charges of the C. M. B. A. according to Mr. Brown's state-
ment. We do not know whether he has quoted the C. M. B. A.
rates correctly, but if so, the rates are much too low for safety.
MUTUAL LIFE
RATE.
$15.01
16.46
18.74
21.70
25.62
30.90
36.49
Since the "net premiums" in the first column are the money re-
quired for paying death losses and accumulating the needed re-
serve, with 4% interest income, to have $1,000 in bank at age 96,
without making allowance for expenses, it is easy to see how far
short the C. M. B. A. 's rates are.
Mr. Brown says : "The membership of this society has been
'^ TT
STANDARD
jHf*
NET PREMIUM.
20
$12.67
25
14.21
30
16.21
35
18.84
40
22.35
45
27.12
49
32.21
VIR. BROWN S
M. L. RATE.
C. M. B. A.
$12.00
$ 4.50
13.17
5.10
15.00
6.50
17.36
7.25
20.50
9.00
24.72
10.50
29.20
(50) 12.00
No. 31. The Review. 493
taught that the cost will not increase." We believe this to be one
of the few true claims made in his article, and it is the very-
reason why The Review has labored for years past to convince
the managers and members of this and other Catholic mutuals of
the necessity of studying- the subject before misleading still more
Catholic men in the vain hope that getting "new blood" will insure
permanency for companies which are conducted on a false basis.
In conclusion let us quote once more the result of the two years'
investigation made by the Revision Committee of the Catholic Or-
der of Foresters and published on May 1st of this year :
"Two things were .... shown to the satisfaction of the Commit-
tee by the history of fraternal organizations on their insurance
or protection side, namely :
"1. That, notwithstanding oft repeated assertions and opinions
of many advocates, that rates once in vogue were high enough to
mature their contracts, the course of short time proved that they
were not ; and
"2. As far as the history of insurance goes, that any and all
plans which failed to provide for payment in advance yearly or
monthly, of a sufficient sum, which, properly invested and in-
creased, would accumulate enough to meet the contracts when
due, failed in their final outcome."
So will the plan of the C. M. B. A. fail in its final outcome, un-
less its managers silence the Browns and disavow the Denver
Catholics^ and undertake the by no means easy task of reconstruct-
ing their financial system.
" Qui vivra veri'a!"'
9? Sf SP
RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF THE THIRD AND FOURTH DEGREE
IN AMERICAN FREEMASONRY.
The third or master's degree is interesting on account of its
religious symbolism. It is intended to teach the Masonic resur-
rection of the body and the immortality of the soul. This is cer-
tainly adding to the Mason's creed, which, we were told explicitly,
required only a belief in a deity (p. 44). However, as the candi-
date has already advanced in the Masonic life and is anxious for
higher degrees, he is not going to be particular about Masonic
consistency.
"It was,"says Mackey'sRitualist,p.l09,"the single object of all the
ancient rites and mysteries practised in the very bosom of pagan
darkness, shining as a solitary beacon in all that surrounding
gloom and cheering the philosopher in his weary pilgrimage of
life, to teach the immortality of the soul. This is still the great
design of the third degree of Masonry. This is the scope and
494 The Review. 1903.
aim of its ritual .... The important design of the degree is to sym-
bolize the resurrection of the body and the immortality of the
soul."
We may be excused for refusing to receive on the unproved as-
sertion of our author that the teaching of the immortality of the
soul was the single object of the ancient pagan rites and mys-
teries. The researches of the learned attribute, and justly so,
quite other objects to them. For us it sufl&ces that the degree
typifies religious truths, or the parodies of religious truths ; for
Masonic resurrection is as different from Christian as Masonry
is from Christianity.
In view, therefore, of the claims and the religious nature of
Masonry we can better appreciate the hymn that is sung in the
lodges:
"Hail Masonry divine !
Glory of ages shine,
Long may'st thou reign ;
Where'er thy lodges stand.
May they have great command,
And always grace the land.
Thou art divine."
There isn't much of the tone of a "handmaid" in the hymn —
"Long may'st thou reign" — "May they have great command" —
but we think that the theory of the handmaid has been long since
shattered.
From another hymn, on p. 219 of the Ritualist, we copy the
opening and closing stanzas :
"Hail universal Lord,
By heaven and earth adored.
All hail, great God!
Before thy throne we bend.
To us thy grace extend,
And to our prayer attend ;
All hail, great God I
To thee our hearts do draw,
On them, O write thy law,
Our Saviour God 1
When in this Lodge we're met
And at thy altar set,
O do not us forget,
Our Saviour God !"
The fourth degree, or that of Mark Master, contains an inter-
esting charge to the candidate, which, "with slight but necessary
modifications," as the Ritualist tells us, "is taken from the 2nd
chapter of the 1st Epistle of Peter and the 28th chapter of Isaiah."
The words of St. Peter are the interpretation of the words of
the prophet and are explicitly applied to Christ. Permit me first
No. 31. The Review. 495
to quote the charge and then to note "the slight but necessary
modification."
"If it be that ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom
coming as unto a living stone, be ye built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God" (p. 271).
In such shape does Masonry deck itself out in the borrowed
robes of Christianity to deceive the unwary ! But St. Peter was
too sectarian for Masonry and hence the slight but necessary
change. We quote the passage from the Vulgate :
"If so be you have tasted that the Lord is sweet. Unto whom
coming as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen
and made honorable by God : Be you also as living stones built
up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sac-
rifices, acceptable to God by Jesus ChrisV (1. Pet. II, 3, 4, 5.) The
slight but necessary change was to take out the whole pith of the
passage, that thus mutilated it might fit Masonry. The living
stone, according to St. Peter, is Jesus Christ, rejected indeed by
men but chosen and made honorable by God. In Him, as living
stones, are we to be built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God. Masonry, which
omitted all mention of Jesus Christ, omitted also, as a trivial mat-
ter, the word "spiritual" before sacrifices. "Wherefore," says
the Apostle, "it is said in Scripture The stone which the
builders rejected, the same is made the head of the corner" (ibid.,
6, 8.) Masonry rejects Christ, as we have proved by its funda-
mental principles and as the present and other instances show ;
but have we ever reflected how characteristically both St. Peter
and Isaiah have described its votaries, the one calling them men ;
the other, builders? The idol of Masonry is humanity in the
strong, healthy, physical man. Such is its type and the standard
of its perfection. And what does "Mason" mean but "builder"?
These builders, these men (for only the male sex can be Masons)
these men whose aspirations are limited to humanity, reject Christ
as the corner-stone of their lives to substitute what at present we
dare not breathe.
S^ "^ a^
LEO XIII. AND THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.
We read in the N. Y. Evening Post of July 31st :
One of Leo XIII.'s attempted services to humanity was his en-
deavor to avert the Spanish-American war. New and illuminating
details of his efforts on that occasion are given in an article pub-
lished in the Revue Historique for July-August. The writer, A.
Viallate, has had access to Spanish diplomatic correspondence,
and clearly brings out certain facts only suspected before, and
not at all disclosed in the official publications of our own govern-
496 The Review. 1903.
raent. For example, on April 2d, 1898, the Spanish Minister to
the Vatican telegraphed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs at
Madrid that he had just had a call from Cardinal RampoUa. In
behalf of the Holy Father, the Cardinal said :
■'The news received from the United States is very alarming.
The President is desirous of adjusting the controversy, but he is
dragged along [enfranie] by Congress. The difficulty is to find
some one who may request the suspension, of hostilities. The
President appears strongly disposed to accept theaidof thePope."
His Holiness thereupon asked if his intervention would be ac-
ceptable to Spain. The reply was favorable, and the result was
that moving offer of the Queen Regent, "at the request of the
Holy Father," to "proclaim an immediate and unconditional sus-
pension of hostilities in the island of Cuba." This was telegraphed
by Minister Woodford direct to President McKinley^ on April
5th, 1898, but the latter was by that time so much further dragged
along bj^ Congress that he did not even mention the critical des-
patch, nor was it deemed prudent to publish it at all until after
the lapse of three years.
The claim was set up that this government had not really de-
sired the good offices of the Pope. Another of M. Viallate's des-
patches, however, shows how close it came to asking papal inter-
vention. On April 4th the Spanish Minister in the United States
telegraphed that he had just had an interview with Archbishop
Ireland. That prelate had come to Washington "on the orders of
the Pope." He had seen the President twice, who "ardentl}' de-
sired peace," but was afraid that Congress would vote war, which
the helpless man would finally be obliged to yield iccder). A final
effort must be made, etc. All of which should somehow be com-
memorated in the McKinley monument. We suggest a bas-relief
showing the President dragged along by Congress into a war
from which he shrank, and which he might have prevented.
Sf 3P Sf
Peonage. — The Georgia legislature has adopted a resolution
which provides for a legislative investigation into the charges of
negro peonage in that State, and which declares :
"That a system of peonage is practiced in this Commonwealth,
persons male and female being held in bondage in violation of the
legislation, State and national, contrary to a healthy public senti-
ment and injurious to the body politic as well as grossly wrong-
ing and outraging those unlawfully held."
A similar state of affairs seems to exist in Alabama. The white
population of these two States is overwhelmingly native, the so-
called "foreign" element being hardly represented there. Are
these conditions samples of the "American civilization" which
according to the political leaders of this nation should be the
standard for the whole world ?
ii ^be IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., August 13, 1903. No. 32.
CATHOLIC WORSHIP AND PROTESTANT HYMNS.
HiLE the Holy Father was lying- seriously ill and in the
shadow of death, many kindlj^ expressions of sympathy
were heard from Protestant pulpits, and one minister of
an Episcopalian church, Rev. H. C. Swentzel, Rector of St. Luke's,
in Brooklyn, charitably asked his congreg-ation to pray for the
venerable sufferer. As if to justify so unprecedented an appeal,
the reverend g-entleman added (see Sun, July 13th): "The gen-
eral interest taken in Leo XIIL is, I think, a happy omen for the
future, as showing how the people come together. The old fur-
ious cries, 'No Popery' and 'Protestant heretics' will find no echo
to-day. The bitterness has been passing away. To-day Protest-
ant hymns m-e lustily sung in Roman Catholic churches.'" (Italics
ours).
Fas est et ab hoste doceri. Doubtless this Protestant clergyman
did not speak unadvisedly, and his statement, if true, that Prot-
estant hymns are in use ip our churches, instead of being- the
compliment he intended, is, in reality, a reproach to whomsoever
may be responsible for the practice. In discussing the matter
we may safely assume that the hymns thus referred to are in the
vernacular. Protestantism disavows the language of the Church
and has not, and can not consistently have, a single Latin hymn,
although we recall that Mr. Gladstone once tried his hand at
turning the "Rock of Ages" into classical Latin. But the Church
has her own, exclusive hymnody of ample range and variety, the
accumulation of centuries of Catholic faith and Catholic g-enius.
Passing the hymns and canticles which have been drawn directly
from the inspired writings, her Breviary hymns and sequences
are the work of men who were not only masters of the art of ver-
sification, but were at the same time profound theologians, men
of eminent sanctity, who devoted their lives to the study of the
498 The Review. 1903.
truths of relig-ion. Such names as St. Ambrose, St. Gregory I.,
Prudentius. and Sedulius in the fifth century, Venantius Fortun-
atus, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Bernard, Jacopone da Todi, Thomas
of Celano, (ii the "Dies Irae" be conceded to him), and many
others well known in Catholic hymnology, attest not only the an-
tiquity but also the distinguished sources of that matchless col-
lection of sacred poetry which the Church has incorporated into
her liturg-y.
Every hymn which the Church has thus adopted, has for its
theme one or other of the mysteries of religion, some dogma of
faith, some invocation to our Lady or to the blessed martyrs and
saints of God who confessed the faith of which the Church was
the depository. They ring out no uncertain note. Indeed manj'
of the hymns of St. Ambrose, who may be called the father of
Christian hymnology, were written to counteract the evil tenden-
cies of certain heretical hymns which were in use among the Arians,
just as in the Eastern Church at an earlier period St. Ephrem,
the Syrian, had written hymns against the heresies contained in
the hymns of the Gnostics Bardesanes and Harmodius. Thus
we find that from the earliest times the hymn has been employed
as one of the most effective methods of stating the truth of relig-
ion and of impressing it, through the medium of both sight and
sound, on the minds and hearts of the faithful.
And as we analyze and stud}'^ those great hymns of the Latin
Church, suited as they are to all the feasts and seasons of the
ecclesiastical j^ear, we find in each of them some one or more of
the immutable truths of Catholic theology, expressed in vigorous
and stately terms, whose meaning is unmistakable. And while
we admire the strength and effectiveness of the theological ex-
pressions, we are charmed with the skill and taste displayed in
the compositions and management of the verse. It is nothing new
to say that our Latin hymns have been the admiration of scholars
and equally the despair of translators who have attempted to
transfer their full sense and meaning into vernacular verse.
With the development of the English language, and following
upon the English schism, which rejected not only the doctrine but
also the language of the Church, our Breviary hymns were studied
with a view to their translation into English, and since then some
of the greatest scholars have employed their talent in this direc-
tion with varying suc(^ess. Notable among these of later times
was Father Caswall, whose "Lyra Catholica," appearing about
fifty years ago. comprised the entire body of Breviarj'^ and Missal
hymns and sequences. So well was his work done, that Father
Caswall's translations were at once adopted into the prayer and
hymn books which were supplied to the faithful in this country.
No. 32. The Review. 499
Since then many other faithful translations have appeared, made
by American as well as by English Catholic scholars, some of
them as, e. g:., Cardinal Newman, among the most distinguished
names in English literature.
When we turn to devotional, as contrasted with dogmatic,
hymns, the name of Faber naturally arises, as the writer who has
supplied the English speaking world with a collection of beautiful
hymns, which, while they inculcate Catholic truth, at the same
time appeal to the tenderest emotions of the Catholic heart.
Space does not permit us to enumerate the many devout and
scholarly Catholics, both of the clergy and laity, who have en-
riched the vernacular hymnody of the Church by their contribu-
tions. Enough to say that our treasury of Catholic hymns in the
vernacular is so ample that there is no office of the Church, no
public devotion, no pious practice or occasion at which the faith-
ful are assembled, but may find its appropriate hymns of un-
doubted Catholic character, written by Catholic authors, who, fol-
lowing the ancient admonition, believed in their hearts what they
sang with their mouths. "Vide ut quod ore cantas, corde credas et
quod ore credis,operibus tuis comprobes."
When, therefore, we are justly charged with the singing of
Protestant hymns in our churches, it argues either ignorance or
culpable indifference on our part. For this erroneous practice
the compilers of our so-called Catholic hymnals are in some meas-
ure responsible. In one such manual, which lies before us, pub-
lished with the Imprimatur of an Archbishop,*) out of about two-
hundred and fifty hymns recommended for congregational sing-
ing, we count nearly one hundred derived from non-Catholic
sources, including that staunch Methodist, Charles Wesley, and
the Independent-Presbyterian Isaac Watt. We readily concede
the poetic excellence of many beautiful compositions of Protest-
ant hymn writers which contain nothing contrary to Catholic
faith ; nevertheless we have no doubt that the use of such compo-
sitions in the public service of the Church is contrary to the spirit,
if not to the express letter, of its laws, which tolerates the singing
of hymns in the vernacular solely for the purpose of nourishing
the piety of the faithful, "pietatis fovendae causa." We can not
exchange hymns any more than we can exchange pulpits with our
Protestant brethren. On this point the learned editor of "Annus
Sanctus" states the principle that "intellectual gratification is not
to be secured at the cost of spiritual edification. For the use of
the faithful Catholics one requires in a book for devotional pur-
*) Catholic Hymnal, by Rev. Young, C. S. P. (Paulist). Cath.
Pub. Society, New York.
500 The Review. 1903.
poses, in the first and foremost place, unity of belief in both writer
and reader. This condition is essential."
Accordingly, when hymns are injected into our services which
have been written by men who denied the truth of Catholicity and
called our worship superstitious, and who have, some of them, al-
though professing Christianity, gone so far as to reject the divini-
ty of Jesus Christ, while on the other hand our own Catholic
hymns are thrust aside and discarded, we have good cause to feel
humiliated and ashamed.
One of the so-called hymns which is so "lustily sung in Roman
Catholic churches," as remarked by the Rev. Dr. Swentzel, is that
bit of pious sentimentality known as "Nearer My God to Thee."
No one who has read it will say that it contains any Christian
doctrine beyondlthe mere implication that there is a God, and it
would be hard to say what act of devotion it inspires or to what
object of faith it directs the mind. The composition is so barren
of all the elements essential to a Catholic hymn, that it is difficult
to understand how it could have attained such vogue as it has in
some of our churches. We are assured by respectable authority-
that it may be heard in many Catholic churches in New York, in one
at least during the very canon of the mass. This hymn was writ-
ten by an Englishllady, Mrs. Sarah F. Adams, who belonged to a
sect of Independentslwho first professed Unitarianism and finally
drifted into Rationalism. About 1856 it appeared in a Protestant
hymnal, compiled by the noted Unitarian minister, James Free-
man Clarke of Boston, and a Boston organist set the tune, which,
rather than the text, has carried the hymn into such popularity
as it has since obtained. The Moody and Sankey revivals gave it
prominence. It was sung at camp-meetings and at all assemblages
of the so-called Evangelical Christians. It may be heard to-day
at Masonic funerals, and in the public schools, where anything
savoring of religion is excluded by law, it is frequently sung after
the reading of the Bible and by Jewish children equally with those
of any other or of no faith at all. Its latest success was achieved
when it amused the habitues of the Brighton Beach (N. Y.) race-
track, as appears from the following extract from the N. Y. Mail
and Express, July 20th :
"Brighton Beach Race Track, July 20th.— The new band which
has been playing at Brighton Beach during the current week cre-
ated quite a sensation just before the first race by playing 'Nearer
My God to Thee.' The majority of the crowd was dumfounded,
as a few seconds before the musicians had been blowing away at
'The Wearing of the Green.' Some of the spectators, uncertain
just what it was all about, broke into applause. It deyeloped that
No. 32. The Review. 501
the hymn was played immediately upon the receipt at the course
of the news of the Pope's death."
In time we hope to see ecclesiastical music freed from the
abuses which now solextensively prevail.
Whatever may be said in extenuation for the time being of some
of the practises complained of, there can be no excuse for the con-
tinuance of the singing of Protestant hymns in Catholic churches.
aa QO <3ff
^fS ^S ^5
THE REORGANIZATION PLAN OF THE CATHOLIC ORDER
OF FORESTERS.
The Report of the Committee on Revision of Rates and Classi-
cation of Risks appointed for the Catholic Order of Foresters, sub-
mitted May 1st, 1903, and on which our opinion has been officially
requested, contains a great deal of valuable information and
sound advice for the members. Yet, from an insurance man's
point of view, it would be wise to disregard some of the sugges-
tions made therein, if it is intended to reorganize the order on a
permanently safe basis.
Instead of experimenting with the comparatively new and prac-
tically untried N. F. C. table of mortality, it were best to estab-
lish the order as a regular "old line" insurance company, proper-
ly incorporated under the laws and subject to the supervision of
the insurance departments of the different States in which it does
business.
As stated in the report, the natural premium or "step rate
plan," even if modified by making the rate level at a given age,
will make the cost prohibitive for the older members, who in
equity should' be taken care of. A game of "freeze out" may be
all right in certain branches of commercial life, but is really inde-
fensible for a Catholic life insurance society.
Even for new members such a plan would not be very attractive.
Ordinarily a man can afford to pay the larger premiums during
the earlier period of his life, but at age 55 or 60 he would rather be
relieved from heavy expense than find such materially increased
when his earning power is on the decline. No company of any
age or standing has made a success of the step-rate plan, and it
were best for the Foresters not to try another uncertain experi-
ment.
The "level fixed premium monthly payment plan" (so called in
the report) is the correct solution, but the^rates should be based
on the Standard American Mortality table, not on the National
Fraternity Congress table, which is at best but another experi-
ment. The actual difference in the rates caused by preferring
i
502 The Review. 1903.
the first named will be very small in each case, and will certainly
neither deter new members from joining, nor old members from
continuing- their membership. Yet this small difference may
mean the salvation of the company in years to come. It will en-
able the corporation to comply with the requirements for regular
life insurance companies, thus securing the help of the insurance
departments in computing liabilities, which will be an additional
safeguard.
The rate of interest can! safely bejfigured at 4% if proper al-
lowance is made for the loss of revenue by collecting premiums
monthly instead of yearly in a advnace. Gin case of death the un-
paid balance of the annual premium should be deducted from the
benefit, while for withdrawing members the accumulated reserve
could be returned eitherlin cash, less a fair surrender charge, or
in paid-up insurance for a correspondingly larger amount than
the cash value. No extended insurance should be granted (which
is a very risky and unsatisfactory business for both parties), but
provision for cash loans on the basis of the accumulated reserve
should be included in the policies. Such loans should carr}' 5% in-
terest and thus furnish a source of safe and profitable investment
for the society, while at the same time helping the members to
retain their interest in the company.
In taking over old members, the rule should be adhered to
that the rates are charged for |age of entry into the old society
and not for present age. The policy must be charged with the
reserve which should have accumulated during time of member-
ship. Such charge or lien could be deducted from the policy at
time of settlement (either as death loss or for withdrawal), sub-
ject to an interest charge of at least 4% a year, to be paid with the
annual premium.
In view of recent decisions of the courts it is imperative to have
the old certificates of membership taken up and replaced b}' regu-
lar policies in the new company. That will avoid legal complica-
tions. I
If reorganized on the basis outlined herein, conducted on busi-
ness principles, assisted by conscientious medical examiners
(who will not passlpeople unfit for membership), not admitting
dangerous occupations, as suggested by the committee's report,
there is no reason wh}', with God's help, the Catholic Order of
Foresters should not grow to be a large and permanent institu-
tion, furnishing reliable life insurance to its members as long as
this world in its present shape will last.
503
THE PHILIPPINE PROBLEM.
Aside from the tariff issue, to which the daily press devotes so
much space, the main question which now confronts Congress
and the administration is whether the Philippines shall be ad-
ministered in the interest of the natives or of the Americans who
by accident or design have found their way into the islands. Mr.
Riggs, the editor of the Manila Freedom, who unquestionably rep-
resents those whose doctrine is "the islands for the Americans,"
to whom the Taft administration is "nigger-loving" because it
grants "undue liberty" to the Filipinos, and because "practically
every Filipino who was identified with the insurrectionist move-
ment has since been given some government position," Mr. Riggs,
in an article in the z\xxr (tut Atlantic expresses his indignation, be-
cause a Chino-mestizo, a former revolutionist, has been voted
$3,500 in gold a year to obtain Filipino historical material
from the libraries of Europe. "Many an American and European,"
he explains, "was most anxious to have the place." Mr. Riggs
says it is the "anomalous position of the islands which does the
mischief." It is for Congress to say whether this anomalous posi-
tion shall continue. Mere humanity would call for the removal of
the numberless American restrictions, dictated by selfish labor
unions or by our still more selfish upholders of the tariff, which
throttle trade and industry.
How bitterly Gov. Taft is opposed in carrying out his policy of
giving the Filipinos a hand in their government, appears from a
series of letters sent to the Boston Transcript (quoted in the N. Y.
Evening Post of July 31st) by its able Washington correspon-
dent, Mr. Robert L. O'Brien, who has been spending some weeks
in the islands. Mr. O'Brien, too, has heard that Gov. Taft is a
"nigger-lover." The Governor stooped so low as to tell the Am-
erican "recalcitrants" in Cebu that the government "was going to
be a Filipino government," and that any white-skinned people
who could not tolerate that thought had better go back to the
States. Naturally, this inflamed a portion of the American com-
munity. This is what a prominent officer of the civil government
said to Mr. O'Brien about the American colony, when asked why
there was so much stealing gqing on among American officials :
"Don't quote me ; it sounds bad for an American to berate his
own people ; but since you ask, I will tell you the truth. We have
one of the biggest assortments of scoundrels right here in these
islands that is gathered on the face of the earth. Many of them
are bright and will pass a sufficiently good civil-service examina^
tion ; they are rapidly promoted, because we are short of material
here all the time. These men often left the States under a cloud,
but with the slate washed clean they begin life anew here, only
504 The Review. 1903.
under greater temptations and without the better restraints of
an old, civilized community."
This, says Mr. O'Brien, is the "universal opinion." He him-
self found the "Rev." Mr. Jernig-an, who recently swindled hund-
reds of people out of their savings by pretending to get gold out
of salt water, teaching English and morals to the "niggers" of
Ilocos Norte. The news that a lieutenant or a civil of&cial of one
kind or another has been arrested or punished for embezzlement
is so frequent as to have lost its novelty-.
As our New York contemporary points out, all this is nothing
new in the history of colonies. Had we sat down calmly to reckon
the cost of our venture in 1898. it would all have been counted in
as an inevitable accompaniment of a plunge into colonial govern-
ment. South Africa is not the only English colony to afford a
parallel. But, now that the expected has happened, the question
for Congress to decide is whether the desires of American adven-
turers or the wishes of the entire Filipino people are to prevail.
Mr. Riggs tells us that the Filipinos can be divided into two
classes — those who hate us secretlj' and those who hate us open-
ly. We have tried to buy their affections by various means — by
assuring them of our good intentions, bj' apphnng the water-cure,
shooting to pieces their government, then giving them schools and
civil government and a certain amount of liberty to choose their
local governments. Since all these means have failed, would it
not be well to try to conciliate them by assuring them autonomy
now and independence at an early date?
34- ^ ^
RELIGIOUS ASPECTS OF THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH DEGREE
IN AMERICAN FREEMASONRY.
The Fifth or Past Master's degree contains nothing- of special
interest to us, "for," says the Ritualist, "this degree was original-
ly— and still is in connection with Symbolical Masonry — an hon-
orary degree conferred on the master of a lodge" (p. 298). As,
therefore, it is not intended to impart religious instruction by
symbols, it bears no relation to our present matter, and hence we
pass on to its successor.
The Sixth degree is that of most Excellent Master. "In the
preceding degrees," says Mackey's Ritualist (p. 313), "the duties
of life have been delineated under various tj-^pes — the virtuous
craftsman has been laboring assiduously to erect within his heart
a spiritual temple of holiness fit for the habitation of Him who is
the holiest of beings. If the moral and religious precepts of the
Order have been observed, stone has been placed upon stone,
No. 32. The Review. * 505
virtue has been added to virtue, and the duties of one day have
been scrupulously performed, only that the duties of the next
may be beg-un with equal zeal. And now all is accomplished — the
spiritual edifice which it was given man to erect, that 'house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens,' upon the construction
of which he has labored da)-^ by day and hour by hour from his
first entrance into the world, has become a stately and furnished
building, and there remains no more to be done, save to place the
Cape-stone, death upon its summit" (p. 312). Having rejected
Christ, the capestone of every Christian life. Masonry offers its
votaries death as a substitute. Nothing remains for the Mason
but to crown his spiritual life with death. The outlook is cer-
tainly far from consoling. For the rest, to the ordinary eye, the
sentiments expressed in the quotation will, doubtless, seem very
plausible.
We shall make a great mistake, however, if we forget that the
Masonic web is purposely so woven as to show two sides : the
outer and plausible side to us, the profane ; and the inner and true
side to the disciples of Masonry, the initiated. Leaving therefore
for future discussion Masonic virtue and duty, we shall content
ourselves here with noting, as we have done elsewhere, the build-
ing of a spiritual temple of holiness by the observance of religious
precepts, the moulding of the moral and spiritual life of man,
works which Masonr}^ aims at doing and which evidently are the
works of religion.
In the Seventh degree or that of Royal Arch, we accompany
man beyond the grave. "In the preceding degrees," says
the Ritualist (pp. 338, 339), "we see the gradual progress of man
from the cradle to the grave depicted in his advancement through
the several grades of the Masonic system. We see him acquiring
at his initiation the first elements of morality, and when about to
represent the period of manhood invested with new communica-
tions of a scientific character and discharging the duties of life in
various conditions. Again at a later stage of his progress we find
him attaining the experience of a well spent life and in the joyful
hope of a blessed resurrection putting his house in order and pre-
paring for his final departure The great object of pursuit in
Masonry, the scope and tendency of all its investigations, is truth.
This is the goal to which all Masonic labor evidently tends. Sought
for in every degree and constantly approached, but never thor-
oughly and intimately embraced, at length, in the Royal Arch,
the veils which concealed the object of search from our view are
withdrawn and the inestimable prize is revealed.
"The truth which Masonry makes the great object of its inves-
tigations is not the mere truth of science, or the mere truth of
506 - The Review. 1903.
history, but is the more important truth which is synonymous
with the knowledge of the nature of God — that truth which is em-
braced in the sacred tetragrammaton or omnific name including
in its signification his eternal, present, past, and future existence
and to which he himself alluded when he declared to Moses — 'I
appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob, by the name
of God Almighty ; but by the name of Jehovah was I not known
unto them.' "
The reader is doubtless tiring of the constant repetition of the
same thing, the constant repetition of the true end, according to
Masonry, of Masonic study and investigation. Still each para-
graph adds its quota to our knowledge and multiplies our wit-
nesses in support of our assertion, that the object of American
Masonry is primarily and essentially religious, that American
Masonry is a religion.
MINOR TOPICS.
NOTICE.
In order to obtain an urgently needed respite of at least tzvo zueeks,
I shall not publish The Review on August 20th and 2'jth.
The next edition {No. ss) tv ill appear, Deo volente, o)i September
the third.
Caiholic Journalism and the Hierarchy. — The late Cardinal Vaughan
was something of a Catholic editor also. The London Tablet (Junef
27th), informs us : "Cardinal Vaughan had a high estimate of the
value of the press as a means of shaping and making public opin-
ion. Of his long and happy association with this journal there is
no need to speak. It suf&ces to say that his interest in its welfare
continued unabated to the end. It is less generally known that
before he was made Bishop of Salford he was actually the editor
of the Tablet for some years, and so acq uired by experience a prac-
tical knowledge of the inner working of journalism which after-
wards stood him in good stead. He became the proprietor of the
Dublin Review on the death of his life-long friend, Dr. W. G.
Ward. He was a constant contributor to the correspondence
columns of the Times, whenever public opinion was stirred by
any controversy in which Catholic doctrine or practice was in*
volved."
Understanding of the mission of the Catholic press and sympa-
thy for those who devote their lives to it, is sufficiently rare among
the members of the hierarchy, at least in English speaking coun-
tries, to make this note of the Tablet worth reproducing.
Our own new Coadjutor-Archbishop, Msgr. T. J. Glennon, by
the way, also seems to belong to the number of tbose prelates who
No. 32. The Review. 507
have a heart for the Catholic journalist. We noted the other day
that the editor of the Catholic Register of Kansas City, in penning-
an editorial "Farewell to Bishop Glennon," said :
"The editor of the Register will miss him. His frequent enquir-
ing- solicitude for the welfare of this paper and his hearty con-
gratulations on its steady improvement were bright lines in our
path."
Which moved a writer in the Catholic Columbian (No. 22) to ob-
serve : "Surely this is a great comment on the young Bishop's
life, and no greater praise could be bestowed than to say he inter-
ested himself in the Catholic press."
And he adds :
"There are many noble examples that throw into deeper shadow
those who imagine or seemingly do so, that the Catholic press is
merely an adjunct of Catholic life that can be dispensed with
easily, and that Catholic writers are merely people who love to
dictate, insinuate, and disturb. Once, a good many years ago, I
had occasion to write a note to a Catholic editor, who long ago laid
down the editorial pen for the more remunerative one of a novelist,
in which I had something complimentary to say of the position he
took on a then burning question of the day. His answer was that
he nearly fell out of his chair when he read it, because in the
same mail he had received a bunch of letters scoring him most
unmercifully for the same editorial. He added : 'Never be back-
ward in patting an editor on the back when you can conscientious-
ly do so; especially if he is the editor of a Catholic paper ; for I
assure you, he gets many a kick that leaves a sore spot, until
eventually he becomes so hard-skinned that he can be classed with
the tribe of pachyderms.' '
The Catholic University to Issue College Text-Books.— In the New
York Stin of July 5th, Msgr. D. J. O'Connell, in the course of a
long interview, is quoted as follows :
"One of the most practical aims of the (Catholic) University
just now — and one which will benefit the entire country— is the
work on which the faculty of the University are now directing-
their talents and energies. That is the preparing of manuals and
text-books which will be used in Catholic colleg-es, seminaries, and
universities throughout the country. We aim to give to the
United States authoritatively (Mc!) the position of the Church on all
matters of social, political, literary, scientific, and theological
questions. Dr. Pace is preparing a psychology. Dr. Shields a
biology. Dr. Shahan a history of the Church from the beginning
of Christianity to the present time. Dr. Shanahan a complete dog-
matic theology. Dr. Kirby a treatise on sociology, and Dr. Neill
another on political economy. This work is worthy of a univer-
sity, and is the fruit of years of labor on the part of the profes-
sors, who, after long study in the universities of the Old World,,
are giving the best of their lives to the up-building of a great
Catholic university in the United States."
This work may be "worthy of a university," but it is not exactly
university work as we understand it.
Besides, we already have good college and seminary text-books
in most of these branches, better ones, perhaps, than we can ex-
508
The Review.
1903.
pect from men like Professors Pace, Shields, Shahan, Shanahan,
Kerby, and Neill.
Again, of what use will such text-books be if our bishops follow
the example of one of their number in the far West, who has re-
cently made a contract with the American Book Company*) to
supply the parochial schools of his Diocese with all text-books re-
quired, barring- only the catechism and Bible history ; — of what
use. we say, will the finest manuals issued by Catholic University
professors prove, if the American Book Company will obtain for
its non-Catholic productions the monopoly in Catholic high-
schools, colleges, and seminaries, as it has already obtained a
monopoly in the parochial schools of one diocese?
The Beatification Process of Joan of /Ire. — We read in a Rome cor-
respoQdence : "In the last days, when the flame of intelligence
flickered up for a moment brightly, Leo the Thirteenth asked
anxiously about a Sunday session of the Congregation of Rites,
at which he was to preside. It was for the promulgation of the
Church's official judgment that Joan of Arc 'practised virtue in
a heroic degree.' The world, and probably the Devil, long since
gave the same verdict, reversing the sentence of those who burned
her in the flesh."
The process of beatification of the Maid of Orleans is well
under weigh. Some months ago it was asserted in a news-
paper despatch that it was "all off," for reasons which the
correspondent proceeded to give from the secret proceedings
of the Sacred Congregation. It now appears that these
precious reasons — the Lord only knows how a newspaper
reporter got hold of them ! — were nothing but the objections
made by the "Devil's Advocate," whose business it is to rake to-
gether all that can be said against the memory of the person
whose virtues, heroic or otherwise, are under discussion !
One of the objections was that the valiant Maid of Domremy
applied a cuss-word to the hated Britons. On this point we cull
from a secular contemporary this interesting explanation :
■'She was no linguist and was not obliged to know the deriva-
tion of the name which she applied to an English soldier during
her trial — 'Godamus quidam' the Latin report has it. The name
still remains in French use, where its primitive meaning is equally
unknown ; and the dismay of an honored British guest who heard
it for the first time at a Lyons banquet some years ago, is still re-
membered— a venerable ecclesiastic at his side had enquired with
polite intent — 'Vous etes un godani. Monsieur, n'est-ce pas?' All
which shows that through the centuries our race has been singu-
larly unimaginative and monotonous in it's profanity."
Physiological and Pathological Aspect of the Liquor Problem. — The fourth
of the series of sub-reports to the Committee of Fifty which is in-
vestigating the liquor problem has just been published, (Hough-
ton, Mifflin & Co.). This treats of the physiological and patholog-
ical aspect of the case. The best that can be said for alcohol is
*) We have a copy of this contract before us.
The American Book Company has had it re-
printed for free distribution, in order, no doubt,
to prevail upon other bishops and the mana-
gers of parocliiaJ schools generally to introduce
its books. Xo wonder a reverend reader of
The Review in the Northwest enquires : "Is
the Catholic text-book to be banished from
Catholic schools'?"
No. 32. The Review. 509
that, under very favorable conditions and in limited quantities, it
may be regarded as a food, and that the recognized pathological
changes which follow^ its free use as a beverage, short of pro-
nounced and continued excess, pass away when abstinence is re-
sumed. Moderation means nothing beyond three ounces of spirits
freely diluted, or four glasses of beer, taken with the last meals.
More than that is excess, and trouble follows. The food value is
exhibited practically only when disease or disability prevents the
assimilation of other nutriment, and it should be used as such
only by a physician's direction. The sub-committee holds that
mental work is impaired and physical effort lessened by the use
of alcohol, that it does not protect against cold or fatigue, and that
it diminishes resistance to infectious diseases ; and it admits
without reserve, and with no assembling of formal evidence be-
yond what is unfortunately common observation, that alcoholic
excess leads only to evil, moral and physical. The sub-committee
very justly condemns the degree and the kind of attention that
man5^ States require to be given to this subject in the public
schools. Not that it is unimportant ; a clear knowledge of the ac-
tion of alcohol is most important. But it should not be exalted
into a study by itself, nor be taught, as now is the case, with mis-
representation of many of the facts.
A very curious feature of the investigation is an analysis of
many proprietary medicines and some drinks, advertised as "tem-
perance," which range from 6 to 44.3 per cent, alcohol, whose sale
is large in prohibition and local-option States.
Fourth-of-Ju/y Accidenfs.-The Chicago Tribune, a newspaper which
makes a specialty of collecting statistics of crimes and casualties,
has published the record of accidents due to the celebration this
year of Independence Day. Returns are collected from some 200
cities, and the summary shows that 52 persons were killed and 3,-
665 injured in the "patriotic" demonstrations of the Fourth of July.
The loss of property by fire, moreover, amounted to $400,625. It
appears that the celebration this year was of an exceptionally
destructive character. The classification of accidents makes a
strong case against the toy pistol, which injured 559 persons, but
shows that gunpowder, as it is used in home-made bombs and
fireworks is a still greater source of danger, claiming 768 victims.
Fire-arms, carelessly handled, injured 562 persons, probably as
many as are hurt in hunting accidents during an entire year.
Sky-rockets caused 206 injuries, cannon 319, and runaways 81,
while "fireworks," unclassified, brought disaster to no less than
1,170.
If no other motive then this one of the preservation of life and
limb ought to induce our people to adopt a more quiet and digni-
fied observance of the "glorious Fourth."
Whaiihe Catholic University Wants. — What the "Catholic University
of America" needs most, is money, and since he can not get
enough of it through free contributions, the purpose of its pres-
ent Rector is to procure it by means of of&cial collections.
"Having given to the faculty and students that atmosphere of
tranquillity necessary for deep study and research," says Msgr.
O'Connell's interviewer in the N. Y. Stin, July 5th, "he has un-
SIO The Review. 1^03.
dertaken to secure the funds needed for current expenses and
future improvements. It is believed that the suggestion approved
by the hierarchy, to set aside one Sunday in each year to bring-
prominently before the Catholics of America the interest and
progress of the Uni-versity and for a special collection in every
church of the country to meet these, will be indorsed by the Pope
and Cardinal SatoUi. It is thought that before the opening of the
present scholastic year the Pope will order all the archbishops
and bishops of the United States to call this general collection.
In this manner several hundred thousand dollars would be aggre-
gated annually."
Now that Leo XIII. is dead, it is hard to say what will come
of these plans. So much is certain, however, — unless the discord-
ant elements are conciliated and the University shows a decided
improvement in tone and tendency, any ofl&cial collection, no mat-
ter how urgently recommended, is bound to fall short of the re-
sults expected by Msgr. O'Connell and his friends. You may get
the Pope to order a collection, but you can not force the people to
go down into their pockets and contribute. You depend entirely
upon their good will in these matters, and their good will you will
have to obtain by proving to them that you are doing your very
best to bring the University up to the ideal of its august founder.
Religion in Education. — At the National Educational Association's
annual convention for 1903, in which twenty thousand teachers
are said to have participated, the United States Commissioner of
Education, Dr. Harris, read a paper which was the cause cf an
expression of opinions as various as could well be imagined. Dr.
Harris held that religious instruction should be confined to the
church, and that it should be divorced entirely from the public
schools. Against this view, according to the Boston Ti'ansci'ipt^
"Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Indiana, and other States,
Methodists, Catholics and others, who did not give their denomi-
nation, rose in unison. The discussion was carried on in a very
careful manner, and anything like acrimony was lacking. In de-
fending himself Dr. Harris used a deep philosophical train of
thought, and though several attempts were made to put the dis-
cussion of religious education on a talkable level and were suc-
cessful. Dr. Harris was to be met on his own ground or none at all."
The admirers of Dr. Harris will be disappointed in hearing of
the attitude he assumed in this matter, — says the Messenger- {l^o.
2), whence we take this clipping — but the champions of religious
education will take heart from the mere fact that the subject was
brought up at all in so vast a gathering of teachers, especially as
Dr. Pace said, "it appeared to him that the majority were agreed
that there should be some sort of religious teaching in the public
schools. It is a great problem which is not insuperable, and the
fact that open discussion of it has begun, shows that it will be
settled in America." ^
We sincerely hope so.
The Birth-Rate in Fiction.— The Poi>ular Science Monthly calls at-
tention to the fact that, while families of a respectable size may be
found occasionally in Thackeray and Dickens, they scarcely exist
in Meredith, Hardy, and James. A calculation of the increase of
No. 32. The Review. 511
population in a typical modern novel shows only 0.43 of a child
per averag:e family. The Indei>endent (No. 2952) pleasantly dis-
cusses this "burning-" subject thus : "Many prophets have fore-
told the future disappearance of the novel from changes in public
taste, scientific tendencies, etc., but here is a new and more ser-
ious dang-er to this type of literature, for, accompanied as it is by
an alarming- death-rate, this low birth-rate threatens the exterm-
ination of the population of the novel. The question of causes and
possible remedies is now open for discussion. Evidently the law
of Malthus can not here apply, for it is just as easy to support a
larg-e family as a small one on paper, althoug-h the luxurj^ in which
most of the characters of the modern novel have to live, must re-
quire some effort on the part of the author. Very likel}' a heavy
poll-tax on all bachelors and bachelor maids left unmarried at the
end of the novel and a limitation of the number of divorces allowed
per volume, mig-ht check this decline in the fertility of the pen."
Pius X. — ""' Habemiis i>ontificeniI'' On August 4th the Cardinal
Patriarch of Venice, Joseph Sarto, was elected successor of Leo
XIII. of sainted memory and assumed the name of Pope Piux X.
The details of his life have been sketched in the dailj'^ press. In-
asmuch as thej'^ are vagae and in some points contradictory, we
shall have to look to the Catholic newspapers of Europe for a cor-
rect account of the career of the new Pontiff, who was not ere
this prominent in the public eye outside of Italy. It is clear
that he was elected as a compromise candidate between the Ram-
poUa and the Vannutelli factions in the Sacred College, and we
are told that Leo XIII., as long ago as April, 1902, pointed him out
to Don Perosi as his probable successor. The speculations in the
newspapers regarding his program and probable policy as Pope,
are worth about as much as the attempts of wiseacres to apply to
him the pseudo-Malachian epithet of "ignis ardens." With the
rest of the Catholic world, we of The Review hail Pius X. as suc-
cessor of St. Peter and vicegerent of Christ, promise him devotion
and obedience, and wish him a long and fruitful pontificate.
"Brass-Band Charity." — The Review has time and again pro-
tested against "brass-band charity," as it manifests itself
in "charity balls," "slum excursions," etc., and we are glad to give
the Catholic Universe (July 17th) credit for the subjoined pointed
remarks along the same lines :
"We do not believe in brass-band charity. Such charity workers
are generally after a reward in the form of a percentage of what
is placed in the box or kettle. They do their work so as to be
seen by men and thus lose spiritual merit and deserve no reward.
We hear of 'slum excursions,' 'children's picnics,' and
'summer outings' for the indigent. Many are encouraged to be
indigent pro tern, for a free lunch or a free ride. We do not deny
the existence of povertv or of distress, for the poor are always
with us, but we do not like the kettle and the drum method of post-
ing, publishing, and proclaiming distress linked with heroes or
heroines who demand 'publicity.' "
Secret Society Men Not Wanted. — Among the changes to its consti-
tution, adopted by the Texas State Federation of German Catho-
lic Societies at its recent convention in New Braunfels, was one
512 The Review. 1903.
prohibiting the holding- of office by any one who is a member of
an}" secret societ}^ whatsoever, no matter whether it be nominally
forbidden by the Church or not. A similar clause has already
existed for some time in two of the societies affiliated with this
"Staatsverband," prohibiting the admission into their ranks of
an}' one belonging to a secret society, and providing for the ex-
pulsion of any member who joins any secret society. The Staats-
verband also adopted a clause providing that in future no member
of any secret society shall be invited to deliver any public address
at its meetings.
These provisions are wise and timely and might be profitably
adopted b}'^ the great American Federation of Catholic Societies.
In No. 2 of the current volume of his always interesting and
valuable Historical Researches^ Mr. Martin I. J. Griffin relates how
h6 and Fr. Gillespie, S. J., were abashed by the result of a pro-
test they made against an article in the Philadelphia BtiUetin upon
the Immaculate Conception. The article contained ten heresies,
and Mr. Griffin wrote to the BtiUeti)i to advise its editor to submit
Catholic matters to a Catholic before printing them ; while Fr.
Gillespie was so shocked that he not only mentioned the article
and the paper in a sermon, but wrote to another morning paper
condemning it. The comical outcome was that both Mr. Griffin
and Fr. Gillespie were made aware that the reporter who had
written the objectionable article was a graduate of a Catholic col-
lege and a member of the sodality in Father Gillespie's parish.
The same reporter afterwards made the astonishing blunder to
speak of an afternoon mass. "So when next we rail," con-
cludes Mr. Griffin, "we better be sure some one of ourselves is
not the blunderer."
We reproduce the following standing notice of the Roman Vox
Urhis as likely to prove of interest and perhaps of direct benefit
to some of our subscribers among the reverend clergy :
"Sociispluribus morem gerentes Idib. Novembr. an. MDCCCCII
apud commeritarii Vox Urhis administratorem officium institui-
mus, quod de negotiis ecclesiasticis sit ; de expediendis scilicet
rationibus omnibus, quae apud Romanae Ecclesiae 'Congrega-
tiones' aguntur. Itaque si quis procuratione nostra uti velit,
profecto temperantiam in pretio, studium atque alacritatem in
opere inveniet."
We read in a reoort of the proceedings of the thirty-fifth annual
convention of the American Philological Association, recently held
at New Haven :
■'It is worthy of note that all these Latin men (the scholars who
lectured on subjectsof Latin philology) speak Latin in the Roman
fashion. The 'English system' of pronouncing Latin in Ameri-
can colleges is dead."
This is good news indeed, and it is sincerely to be hoped that
the few Catholic colleges in which the "English' system" is still
tolerated, will hasten to abolish what in their precincts is really
an insufferable abuse.
i TTbe IRevtew. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., September 3, 1903. No. 33.
THE QUESTION OF A CATHOLIC DAILY.
NDER the title "That Catholic Daily," the Church Progress
of this city printed in its No. 10 an editorial article to
which time and space have hitherto prevented us from
devoting- the consideration which for several reasons it deserves.
We now purpose to take it up sentence by sentence.
1. "There are few subjects," begins our contemporary, "on
which more time and space have been wasted than that of a Cath-
olic daily."
To waste means to squander, to throw away uselessly. Now,
is space devoted by Catholic periodicals to the subject of a Catho-
lic daily newspaper wasted? We are very decidedly of opinion
that it is not. For, in the first place, the subject is a good one and
worthy of attention and consideration, and, secondly, it would re-
main so even were the discussion purely academic, without rea-
sonable prospect of practical results.
2. "With some of our contemporaries it has become a hobby,
and with others a good text to sermonize about, in the absence of
any text whatever."
We are not aware that the subject of a Catholic daily has "be-
come a hobby" with any one of our Catholic editors ; if it has,
surely no one could denounce it as a vicious or disreputable hobby.
And for him who desires to "sermonize," it is as good a theme as
a thousand others, — one fraught with as ^many useful and prac-
tical lessons, both positive and negative.
3. "In the one case it is a dream, and in the other a space killer."'
Quod esset demonstrandum in the first case ; and in the second,
the progress and the prospects of Catholic journalism, in any one
of its various aspects, is a better space-killer than many of those
employed by even such worthy Catholic newspapers as the
Ch urch Progress.
514 The Review. 1903.
4. "So far the results of the discussion are neither gfood, bad
nor even indifferent."
Not to speak of the grammar of this sentence, it is philosophi-
cally unsound. Every human action, even the "wasting" of space
on the subject of a Catholic daily in weekly newspapers, must be
ethically either good, bad or indifferent.
5. "The proposition has been advanced to the point where all
that is required to insure the success of the venture is the sub-
scription of the stock and a guaranteed support. That is, if the
opinions of the enthusiasts be accepted."
Why should they not be accepted?
6. "As it is a cold business problem, however, it must be so
handled."
The proposition to found a Catholic daily newspaper is not solely
"a cold business problem"; it has a number of other important and
ideal aspects which are worthy of the consideration of every Cath-
olic writer. But for the sake of the argument, we shall for the
present take up this aspect only. We beg to ask : If there is ques-
tion of founding a newspaper, and the promoters make an effort
to obtain stock subscriptions and guaranteed (financial) support,
must we not say that they are handling a business problem in a
business-like manner?
7. "It is no argument that similar publications {the Pi'ogt'ess
refers evidently to Catholic daily newspapers) "have succeeded in
other countries."
It may not be an argument in the strict logical sense, but it is a
sort of analogy. If Catholics in other countries can establish and
support daily newspapers of their own, why should not we be able
to do the same? assuming — which no one will dare to deny — that
we have the literary talent and the financial resources.
8. "Its chances for life" (we presume the Chiwch Progress here
means one Catholic daily) "must be measured by conditions here."
Which is quite obvious.
9. "This is a point which many seem to overlook, and yet it is a
vital point."
We venture to submit that the whole discussion so far has
turned chiefly about this very point.
10. "Let us suppose that a large capital has been gathered for
the purpose and that sanguine guarantees of support have been
pledged."
That is a good supposition to begin with, though we may re-
mark that the size of the necessary capital is a point in dispute.
As for the "guarantees," what could they consist in unless it be
promises of subscription and advertising patronage, or perhaps
an offer by the one or other enthusiast to contribute a certain
No. 33. The Review. 515
specified sum annually for a number of years, beyond the price
of subscription. Such guarantees will have to be g-ood guarantees
if they are to deserve the name at all ; in how far forth they could
be "sanguine," we are at a loss to understand,
11. "Let us further suppose that the best obtainable corps of
practical Catholic journalists in every department has been se-
cured."
It undoubtedly could be obtained with even a moderate starting
capital.
12. "Have the difficulties been surmounted?"
To a certain extent and ab inith, they have.
13. "But let us see."
We shall see what we shall see. Our eyes at any rate are wide
open.
14. "A Catholic daily presupposes a journal which shall contain
correct and reliable Catholic news."
The Progress no doubt means to say that a Catholic daily ought
to contain none but correct and reliable Catholic news. It cer-
tainly ought ; and the better class of European Catholic dailies
does contain correct and reliable Catholic news.
15. "Therefore, a serious problem at once presents itself."
A problem which has been satisfactorily solved in Germany, for
example, and which could undoubtedly be solved here.
16. "How is such news to be obtained ?"
In the same manner in which all other news is obtained : if
necessary by wire, else by mail.
17. "Not through the common channel, the Associated Press,
for that is too costly and wholly unreliable."
The Progress suddenly, without warning, switches off the
main track and narrows down the discussion to telegraphic des-
patches. Now, first, the Associated Press is not the only channel
of press despatches, nor is it "wholly unreliable," even if we con-
cede that its service, which now costs about $150 per week, would
be beyond the means of a nascent Catholic daily. A sharp and
experienced editor, who has learned to separate the chaff from
the wheat, could make good use of this service by "killing" fake
despatches and critically sifting the rest.
18. "Shall it be" (i. e., shall such correct and reliable Catholic
news be obtained) "by trustworthy Catholic representatives in
our large cities?"
That would be one way to get important special despatches.
19. "If so, would not the telegraph tolls be a killing burden and
the news from smaller communities wholly neglected ?"
How much really important Catholic news is there in any one
of our large cities that could not be telegraphed by a special con-
516 The Review. 190 :>^
tributor at press rates without constituting- "a killing burden"?
And how much of it is there that would be stale and unprofitable
if sent on by mail and published a few days later ? It is better
that good Catholic news of g-eneral interest be published a few days-
late than not at all. Our secular dailies do not publish much of it
at all. Does not the raison d'etre of nearly all our Catholic week-
ly newspapers, including the esteemed Clmrch Progress^ lie large-
ly in this that they print the Catholic news whenever and as
soon as they can get it? And so far as the "smaller communi--
ties" are concerned, a Catholic daily newspaper, published, e. g-.,
in St. Louis, would have only a limited number of smaller com^
munities within its 7-ayon, and the Catholic events that occur
there, if worthy of notice at all in the metropolitan daily, could as
a general rule be reported by mail ; in special cases the pastor or
teacher or some prominent parishioner might doubtless be gotten
to wire a few lines.
20. "How long- would the large capital and the sanguine guar-
antees hold out against these" (the telegraph tolls) "and the cable
charges from foreign countries"?
The telegraph tolls for Catholic news would not need to be so
very large, as we have shown. For a general news service, of
course, some arrang-ement would have to be made. A Catholic
afternoon daily could obtain a fairly comprehensive and reliable
news service from the Publishers' Press Association of Chicago
and New York, for about seventy dollars per week, which would
not be excessive, and it could supplement this service by a judi-
cious use of the special despatches of the large metropolitan morn-
ing- dailies, the substance of whose news, once published, becomes
public property.
21. "These are matters which every practical newspaper mac
will admit are of vital importance to the proposition under con-
sideration."
The Church Progress hci^ really raised only one difl&culty: how
to obtain fresh and accurate Catholic news. That question is of
vital importance, to be sure, but not at all difficult of solution.
22. "It is to be feared, however, that too little weight has been^
given them by our enthusiastic advocates of the project."
This fear is absolutely groundless. The difficulty in question
has been discussed time and again in The Review, not to men-
tion other periodicals ; nor has its weight been in any wise under-
estimated.
23. "Nor have we summarized all the difficulties."
Which the Progress should have done, as The Review has re-
peatedly done in the past ; for so important a subject ought to be
treated adequately if at all.
No. 33. The Review. 517
24. "Many of these have been set forth by others."
Yes, by The Review, for instance. We shall take the trouble
to summarize them once again farther down in this article.
25. "We present these because we have not seen them hereto-
fore presented. y
It is only one, and that a minor difficulty, which the Church
/Vc/^r^ss has here presented, and far from being a new one, we
must say that we have not only repeatedly animadverted to it our-
selves, but have more than once seen it discussed in other Cath-
olic journals.
26. "Until they are disposed of and settled to the satisfaction of
those who might have the funds to invest, all hope of a Catholic
daily is in vain."
We think we have "disposed of and settled" them satisfactorily.
We are willing to go into the subject more deeply if required.
27. "There are men, no doubt, ready to risk their money in
such an enterprise, but they will certainly demand some assur-
ance of a probable return."
What we need is men who will go into such an enterprise prim-
arily with the purpose of doing a good work, as J. P. Bachem and
so many others went into the business of publishing Catholic
dailies in Germany during the Culturkampf. But there can be
no doubt, under existing conditions, that if the thing is started
right, there is a reasonable "assurance of a probable return."
Of course, like in all business enterprises, there will also be a
certain risk.
28. "If this can not be given it is needless to anticipate their
financial cooperation."
Is devotion to the Catholic cause and to truth, justice, and mor-
ality really at such a low ebb in this "Christian country" that a
Catholic daily newspaper could not be established except on con-
dition that it offered its proprietors "some assurance of probable
return" in a material way? Can it be true then that we have no
"Catholic Carnegies," large or small? There is a gentleman
right here in St. Louis who, though he is a man of but moderate
means, has offered the editor of The Review one thousand dol-
lars as a free gift if he would start a Catholic English daily.
Could not a few dozen more of the same generous disposition be
found?
29. "Likewise is all further discussion of no consequence to
practical results."
"Agitate 1 Agitate I" was the immortal O'Connell's watchword.
Even if the Church Prog-re ss' gloomy and material view of the sub-
ject were the correct and Catholic view, there would be no reason
why in this land of unbounded possibilities minor obstacles could
518 • The Review. 1903.
not by systematic agitation be removed. But it is not the correct
view. It is a onesided and altogether unworthy view for a Catho-
lic journal to take of an ideal and highly important subject.
*
To sum up : In our opinion a Catholic English laily newspaper
is feasible under these conditions :
I. It would have to be undertaken in a large city with a sufficient-
ly numerous Catholic population within its limits and a radius of,
say, two hundred miles, to enable a daily newspaper to become
self-supporting.
II. It would have to have the^unstinted and steady support of
the ordinary of the diocese, who should consider and proclaim it
his particular organ and favor it not only with his ofi&cial circulars
and reports of important acts, but also with sound inspiration in
important religious or semi-religious questions. We make bold
to add that such a bishop in learning and character would have
to be somewhat above the present average of the American hier-
archy.
III. It would require a scholarly, experienced, and self-sacri-
ficing editor, a man endowed with an extraordinary degree of
prudence and patience and an almost heroic measure of self-sacri-
fice and abnegation.
IV. It would require a smalllplant and a moderate capital to be-
gin with and the support especially of the clergy.
V. Its general character and tendency is clearly delineated in
the decrees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, where we
read (No. 227) :
"Valde optandum est ut in quadam ex urbibus majoribus habe-
atur folium diuturnum, quod opibus, auctoritate scriptorumque
ingenio et pondere folia profana adaequet. Necesse non est, ut
Catholicum nomen praeseferat. Sufificit ut, praeter facta recentia
et ea omnia quae in ceteris foliis avide expetuntur, religionem Cath-
olicam, ubi propitia occasio se praebet, defendat ab hostium in-
cursionibus et mendaciis, ejusque doctrinam exponat, praeterea
totum id, quod scandalosum et lubricum est, sedulo a legentium
oculis arceat."
That is to say, («) a Catholic daily ought to be as ably conducted
(though, we beg to observe, it need not, especially in the begin-
ning, necessarily be conducted with as great a capital or upon as
large a scale) as the average secular daily ; (3.) it need not bear
a distinctively Catholic name ; (c.) it shouldDreport all the legiti-
mate news and contain such other intelligence as the people usu-
ally look for in a daily newspaper ; {^d.) it should explain and de-
fend the Catholic religion whenever a fit opportunity offers, i. e.,
it should present, and comment upon, the news of the day from
No. 33. The Revie^v. 519
the Catholic view-point ; and [e.^ it should carefully exclude from
its columns everything scandalous or morally offensive.
VI. The question of capital we consider secondary. The cap-
ital will be supplied if the right men take up the matter. Without
ever having- made any practical proposals in this direction, simply
on the strength of an occasional public discussion of the subject,
the humble scribe of The Review has received many promises of
subscription and support from persons who, he is confident,
would fully redeem them if called upon.
Besides, it would not in our opinion require such an immense
sum to establish a Catholic daily. And eight-page issue with well
selected and carefully sifted contents would fill the bill. Quality
not quantity should be the motto. Gradually, as the receipts in-
creased, the paper could be enlarged if necessary. The news of
the day — the real news — can be easily condensed within reason-
able limits, and we believe a considerable number of our people
would prefer a clean-cut, well-edited and neatly disposed digest of
the da3''s happenings to the riidis indigestaque moles of sense and
nonsense — mostly nonsense — offered by the average secular daily
and scattered without order or system over a dozen or more pages.
The vital i)omt is to educate the Catholic feofle, who have been for
years corrupted by our scandal-^nonging sensational dailies^ uj) to the
higher and cleaner standard of a truly Catholic journal. This would
be mainly the difficult task of the clergy, under the leadership of
a zealous and enthusiastic bishop.
This statement of one who is not without some experience in
matters pertaining to the daily press, by no means exhausts the
subject ; but we honestly believe it is a correct statement and
misses no essential point. Arthur Preuss.
3f Sf 3f
SOME SYMBOLS OF AMERICAN FREEMASONRY.
The emblem of the Royal Arch is held to be a sacred sign
and is called the "triple tau." Mackey's Ritualist, p. 347,
will tell us about it : "The tau was also familiarly known
to the Hebrews and is thus alluded to in the vision of Eze-
chiel (ix, 4): 'Go through the midst of the city and set a tau up-
on the forehead of the men that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst thereof.' And this mark
or tau was intended to distinguish those upon whom it was placed
as persons to be saved on account of their sorrow for sin, from
those who as idolaters were to be slain. The tau was therefore
a symbol of those who were consecrated or set apart for a holy
purpose. The triple tau may with the same symbolic allusion be
520 The Review. 1903.
supposed to be used in the Royal Arch degree, as designating- and
separating- those who have been taught the true name of God from
those who are igfnorant of that august mystery."
Were members of the Royal Arch deep students of Holy Scrip-
ture they would draw little consolation from the study of Ezechiel.
Let up copy what the prophet tells us of the practices which had
crept in among his people and which the God of Israel abominated,
and we shall be better able to judge how far the tau of Ezechiel
was from the triple tau of Masonry.
"And he brought me to the door of the court," says the holy
seer (viii, 7), "and I saw and beheld a hole in the wall. And he
said to me : Son of man, dig in the wall. And when I had digged
in the wall, behold a door. And he said to me : Go in and see the
wicked abominations which tdey commit here. And I went in and
saw and beheld every form of creeping things and of living crea-
tures, the abomination, and all the idols of the house of Israel,
were painted on the wall all round about. And seventy men of
the ancients of the house of Israel, and Jezonias the son of Saaphan
stood in the midst of them, that stood before the pictures : and
every one had a censer in his hand : and a cloud of smoke went up
from the incense. And he said to me : Surely thou seest, O son
of man, what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark,
every one in private in his chamber : for they say : the Lord seeth
us not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth. And he said to me : If
thou turn thee again, thou shalt see greater abominations which
these commit. And he brought me in by the door of the gate of
the Lord's house, which looked to the north ; and behold women sat
there mourning for Adonis. And he said to me : Surely thou hast
seen, O son of man : but turn thee again and thou shalt see greater
abominations than these. And he brought me into the inner court
of the house of the Lord : And behold at the door of the temple of
the Lord, between the'porch and the altar, were about five and
twenty men having their backs towards the temple of the Lord,
and their faces towards the east, and they adored towards the
rising of the sun. And he said to me : Surely thou hast seen, O
son of man : is this a light thing to the house of Juda, that they
should commit these abominations which they have committed
here : because they have filled the land with iniquity and have
turned to provoke me to anger? And behold they put a branch
to their nose."
The wall of secrecy that the prophet had to dig through ; the
secret labor of the Lodge ; the worship of Adonis ; the adoration
towards the East ; the branch so important in Masonry : whom,
let Masons tell me, do these fit? And when we remember that
our Ritualist tells us, on page 371, that "the serpent has always
No. 33. The Review. 521
been considered by Masonic writers as a legitimate symbol of
Freemasonry," we find even the creeping- things of the prophet
verified in the craft. These were the ones on whose brow the
sign of the prophet was not to be placed ; their practices were
abominations in the sight of the Lord ; and so are the practices of
their modern imitators whose pagan triple tau bears no relation
to the former save in a material similarity of name.
Let us therefore pass on to another Masonic symbol — the "lep-
rous hand of Moses." Our Ritualist treats the matter on page 378.
"Here again," it says, "in the hand becoming leprous and being
then restored to soundness, we have a reference to the loss and
recovery of the word ; the word itself being but a symbol of divine
truth, the search for which constitutes the whole science of Free-
masonry, and the symbolism of which pervades the whole system
of initiation from the first to the last degree."
"The name of God must be taken in Freemasonry as the sym-
bol of truth, and then the search for it will be nothing but the
search after truth, which is the true end and aimlof the Masonic
science of symbolism" (p. 392J.
"And here we may incidentally observe that the same analogy
that exists in the Master's degree to the ancient mysteries, is also
to be found in the Royal Arch. The Masonic scholar who is
familiar with the construction of these mysteries of the pagan
priests and philosophers, is well aware that they inculcate by
symbolic and allegoric instruction, the great lesson of the resur-
rection of the body and the immortality of the soul .... The same
religious instruction is taught in the Master's degree. The evi-
dence of the fact it is not necessary for us here to demonstrate.
It will be at once apparent to every Mason who is sufficiently
acquainted with the ritual of his order" (p. 413.)
We were right in saying that the resurrection of the body and
the immortality of the soul in Masonry, are things quite different
from the truths taught in Christian dogma. Masonic and pagan
immortality are identical; so are Masonic and pagan resurrection.
The soul, an emanation from the Great Architect of the Universe,
returns to its source : the body, resolved into its elements, will
iive again in the blade of grass, in the shrub or in the tree that
draws its nourishment from the corruption of the grave.
Even the Protestant Professor Paulsen remarks (in his Ge-
schichte des gelehrten Unterrichts, vol. i, p. 418) that in the lives
of the saints with their rich, beautiful, touching, and morally en-
nobling elements, and in the Christian legends, the Catholic
Church has preserved a poetical treasure which in many respects
surpasses the stories of the Old Testament both in purity and
dramatic applicability.
522
INTER NOS.
We are told that we have been neglecting' our duties as "censor
of the Catholic press." Peccaiimus. It will not do to concentrate
our entire attention upon a few organs of the liberal wing to the
neglect of all the others which give out sweeter music.
Mr. Thorne no longer sends us his Globe Review, and we learn
from one of the few subscribers left to him that we are still :per'
sona ingratissima with the great Thunderer, but that the tone of
the Globe is improving. "It appears that the falling-away of his
subscribers is opening his eyes to the folly of his conduct." Poor
Thorne ! We hope he will learn wisdom in his old age. Let him
ponder the immortal Sophocles' advice :
IIoAAaJ TO (f>pov€iv evBai.fiovia<i
TrpdiTOV VTvdp^ti,
• /ncyoAoi hi Adyot
/AeyoAas TrA/yyas roiv virepav^wv
aTTortcravres
y^pa TO (ftpoveiv eStSa^av.
CAntigone, 1347-48, 1350-53.)
The Catholic Columbian (No. 30) informs us that "they are go-
ing to start a national Catholic newspaper in New York with the
editor of the Nczv Centiuy, of Washington, D. C, in charge," and
adds : "A national (?) Catholic newspaper with a liberalistic editor
ma}^ bring out another encj^clical of a nature similar to that of
'Testem benevolentiae. ' "
Is the "liberalistic editor" referred to Maurice Francis Egan?
Egan was assistant editor of the Freeman^s Journal under
McMaster and is a shallow dabbler in many branches. Perhaps
his course at the Catholic University is at last run. Is it to "let
him down easy" that this "national Catholic newspaper" is to be
founded in New York ? We have no idea who is going to advance
the funds and whether this national paper is to be a daily, a week-
ly, or a monthly. This much is pretty certain, however : if Egan
is to be at the head of it, it will not prove an influence for good ;
nor will it prosper.
*
The Catholic Columbian, by the way, is now edited by Mr. L. W.
Riley, a facile journalist, who has been successively employed as ed-
itorial writer on a number of Catholic weeeklies, among them the
old Catholic Telegraph and the. Pittsburg Observer. He is sound and
well-meaning, and if he could be persuaded to eschew his offen-
No. 33. The Review. 523
sive methods of puffery, would get out a very readable paper.
*
Our unfortunate friend O'Malley appears to be already losing"
his grip as editor of the Chicago Neiv World. His initial enthusi-
asm is waning, and we learn that he and the board of directors
are going to apply for a divorce on account of incompatibility of
temper. That was to be expected, and our readers may remem-
ber that we predicted it, because a genial poet of O'Malley's
stamp {genus irritahile) and a board of the "cold-business-proposi-
tion" stripe of the Neiv Wor/d^s directors can never pull together.
* *
Rev. P. Barnabas Held, O. S. B., is injecting a goodly amount
of esprit and vigor into the nearly defunct KathoUsche Rundschau
of San Antonio, Texas. He is a bold, fearless, and gifted cham-
pion of his honest convictions, and therefore every number of his
journal affords a "treat" to kindred spirits.
In speaking of the probable causes of the failure of the "Catho-
lic University of America," by the way, P. Held (No. 36) desig-
nates as one of them, in fact the chief one, the exclusion of relig-
ious from the faculty. "This provision," he says, "betrays such
a narrow and un-Catholic spirit of exclusiveness that we can not
wonder if this so-called Catholic University makes no progress."
Which recalls to the editor of The Review an interview he
had in June, 1896, in the Catholic University, with the then Rec-
tor, now Archbishop Keane. The same point made by Fr. Held
was raised, and Msgr. Keane said : "It was the express desire of
the Holy Father that the religious orders be excluded absolutely
from the faculty of the new University, and I never heard him
speak so emphatically as when he instructed me on this point."
We have often wondered since what reasons Leo XIII. had for
this attitude. Perhaps a passage in Schwickerath's 'Jesuit Edu-
cation' (pp. 271 sq.) contains the key. We shall revert to it later.
*
The Rev. Charles J. O'Reilly, who has been appointed first
Bishop of the new see formed in Oregon, was editor of the Catholic
^'fJA/Z/we/of Portland, which caused the Western Watchman (No. 30)
to declare :
"This is the first time in the history of the American Church
that a priest wasllifted out of the sanctum^andlseated on an epis-
copal chair."
"Our St. Louis contemporary," commented the Catholic Union
and Times, "has evidently forgotten that the learned Tobias Mul-
len'was lifted out of the ^^nziwm. oi Vao. Pittsburg Catholic 2.vl^
seated on the episcopal chair' of Erie. And there may be other
similar instances."
Returning to the subject the Western Watchman said (No. 32):
524 The Review. 1903.
*'In times gone by, when editors were expected to work for noth-
ing- and board themselves, there was some excuse for them step-
ping down from the sanctum to the episcopal throne ; but happily
that is not the case now. We know of a bishop who was accused
of having been an editor and who excused himself on the ground
that he had not been much of an editor."
No doubt there are few bishops who would make successful
editors, but those who have "stepped down from the sanctum to
the episcopal throne" will no doubt be more appreciative of Cath-
olic journalism and its mission, and less apt to fulminate unrea-
sonably against free-spoken editors, than some of their less ex-
perienced colleagues in the hierarchy.
But it will be conducive to that humility which even great edi-
tors ought to practice, to remember that bishops have a divine
mission and an authority which "we" with all our gifts and powers
lack.
The reverend editor of the Record, "the ofi&cial organ and pub-
lication of the Diocese of Louisville," recently (May 14th) ex-
pressed a degree of wonderment that so few bishops in this coun-
try have essayed the publication of diocesan organs of their own.
That it can be easily and profitably done, the Record stands as a
living witness :
"It is published as a channel of official communication between
the Bishop of the Diocese and his diocesans ; as a means for the
maintenance of the orphanages of the Diocese, and as a safe Cath-
olic journal for the people of the Diocese. It is published by the
Diocese ; its editorial and general management is assigned to a
priest of the Diocese, approved by the Bishop. It is, and has been,
a success, financially and otherwise. Annually, these several
years, it has been able to account to the Diocese, for the mainten-
ance of its St. Vincent and St. Thomas orphanages, after deduct-
ing all outlays and expenses, a net sum of about five thousand
dollars."
By publishing this paper, therefore, not only does the Diocese
of Louisville save annual church collections and fairs for the sup-
port of its orphanages, but it also supplies the people with an in-
structive religious newspaper fully in accord with the expressed
mind of the Bishop.
The reverend editor thus explains how it is done :
"The7?ec<?r^is a system. Its system is this : The Diocese pub-
lishes it. Every pastor once in the year appoints several collec-
tors in his parish who, in the course of only a few days, return to
him the monetary contributions of his parishioners for the or-
phans. Those contributing a sum of at least one dollar, (and it
No. 33. The Review. 525
is expected they will contribute more, if ablest are considered also
subscribers for the Record. They receive, in return, the paper
for the current year. By this method and system, the families
and self-sustaining- individuals in his parish, for the most part,
receive a safe, instructive, and edifying weekly religious journal
and newspaper. And more : the many non-Catholics who charit-
ably contribute for the orphans, also receive the paper. In this
manner, the paper becomes an instrument of untold good."
The i?^c6»rfi? is a small paper — four pages of medium size ; but
the reverend editor informs us that even if its receipts were
doubled or trebled, he would not increase the size or number of
pag-es, because he is convinced "that the larger a Catholic journal,,
the less is it attentively read and thoroughly enjoyed."
' Though, generally speaking", we do not take much stock in oflB.cial
organs, we must say for the i?^C(?rfl? that, under the editorial man-
agement of Rev. Father L. G. Deppen, it has become one of the
best Catholic newspapers in the land, 'and our press would be much
more representative, and also, we believe, more widely circulated,
if it consisted entirely of small-sized diocesan weeklies of the
Reco7-d model. For us free-lances there would always be room —
more room than now, in fact, because the organs would be more
closely muzzled — while the ground would be cut away from under
the "boiler-plate abominations souzed in holy water" which now
abound and mostlof which are a positive disg^race to the cause.
[Zb he concluded.^
5M. M 3^
^FV ^V ^Tv
MINOR TOPICS.
Girls' Clubs. — In the August Messenger, Thomas F. Meehan dis-
cusses the problem of what to do for the multitudes of Catholic
young women in our large cities, who are now attracted by the
clubs and settlement organizations, membership in which places
them in a non-Catholic environment. He thinks the restrictions
of convent rules and discipline are not elastic enough to meet the
abnormal conditions of the work and recreation of modern city
life.
Of such clubs there are in operation in New York more than
half a hundred, and their rolls embrace a membership of over
20,000 girls. It may be a deplorable evolution of our civiliza-
tion that girls now insist on gathering in clubs, but the fact re-
mains that they will do it, and further, that they will not be sat-
isfied with the fag- ends of church basements or vacant class-
rooms in school-houses for a habitation when they are so organ-
ized. Girls who work in shops, factories, stores, and ofi&ces have
trying experiences. Their hours are long, their task-masters ex-
526 The Review. 1903.
acting", cruel and often even worse ; customers are exasperating
and the wage paid in return small and seldom just. The homes to
which they return are those in which comforts and attrac-
tractions are usually absent. And the girls, having a craving for
social life for which there is no provision at home, grow restive
and fly to the attractive places provided under the inspiration of
Protestant women. The stated objects of these clubs are : 1st.
To furnish pleasant rooms where the members can pass the even-
ing. 2d. To organize such classes for mutual enjoyment and im-
provement as the members may desire. 3rd. To collect a circu-
lating library for the use of members. 4th. To develop co-oper-
ative measures which shall be for the benefit of the members.
The trouble is where the line of philanthropy stops and runs into
the evangelizing continuation. The managers of all these institu-
tions will assure you that there is no religions bias in them and
that the faith of the members is neither questioned nor interfered
with. They are surprised and refuse to understand the objection
to the potent, persuasive, and persistent force of indirect influence
on ignorant and ill-taught minds. There are in all New York only
three Catholic girls' clubs as against more than fift^' of the other
kind. They are exclusively under the management of women of
education and refinement, who, in response to an appeal of Arch-
bishop Farley, are devoting themselves to this work. We hope
they will increase and spread over all our large cities. It is an in-
novation which is apt to prove beneficial.
Msgr. Rooker and the Philippines. — Rt. Rev. F. Z. Rooker, the newly
consecrated Bishop of Jaro, Philippine Islands, discussed in a
sermon delivered at the Church of the Gesii in Philadelphia, Pa.,
August 2nd, the religious conditions in those distant lands. Ac-
cording to the Philadelphia Record, he said among other things :
"America has entered upon the task of civilizing and enlighten-
ing the inhabitants of these islands, and there is no way of re-
lieving her shoulders of the burden."
Admittedly Bishop Rooker has never been in any of the islands,
and what he knows about his new field of labor must be acquired
from hearsay. It certainly sounds strange to Catholic ears to
hear a bishop of the Church speak of the American doings in the
unfortunate islands as "civilizing and enlightening the inhabi-
tants." From all reports received so far it would seem that
the natives there enjoyed a higher degree of civilization under
Spanish rule than that supplied by the American invasion, with
its consequent opening of saloons, houses of prostitution, applica-
tion of the "water cure" — not to speak of the introduction of the
godless public school and divorce courts. Those of the people who
are really in need of civilization, like the Moros of the Sulu
island group, are left undisturbed in the enjoyment of slavery
and polygamy, though the constitution of the U. S. is supposed to
prohibit anything like that in territory under the Stars and
Stripes.
Bishop Rooker is also quoted as "hopeful of gradually recalling
the friars and feels confident that the government will give him
all the aid possible." Should the Bishop be correctly reported,
it might not be out of place to suggest to him a thorough study
of cond itions in his Diocese, before entering upon the self-imposed
No. 33. The Review. 527
task of ''enlig-htening" the people here. He ought to bear in
mind thai in the U. S. Church and State are separate and distinct,
and as a Catholic dignitary he should not expect any "assistance"
from the government in his labors beyond the support of law and
order.
Merits of the Jesuits in Regard to the Study of Sanskrit. — From Fr.
Schwickerath's interesting volume on Jesuit Education, already
reviewed in this journal, we cull the subjoined interesting and little
known facts from the history of philology : The first European
Sanskrit scholar was the Jesuit Robert de Nobili, a nephew of the
famous Cardinal Bellarmine. According to Max Miiller, he must
havebeen far advanced in theknowledge of the sacred language and
literature of the Brahmans. The first Sanskrit grammar written
by a European is commonly said to be that of the German Jesuit
Hanxleden (d. 1732.) However, this honor belongs to another Ger-
man Jesuit, Heinrich Roth(d. 1669), who wrote a Sanskrit grammar
almost a century before Hanxleden. Father du Pons, in 1740, pub-
lished a comprehensive, and, in general, very accurate description
of thevarious branches of Sanskrit literature. Of Father Coeur-
doux, Max Miiller writes that he anticipated the most important re-
sults of comparative philology by at least fifty years ; at the same
time the Oxford Professor expresses his astonishment that the
work of this humble missionary has attracted so little attention and
only very lately received the credit that belongs to it. Father
Calmette wrote a poetical work in excellent Sanskrit, the "Ezour
Veda," which gave rise to an interesting literary discussion. Vol-
taire declared it to be four centuries older than Alexander the
Great and pronounced it the most precious gift which the West
had received from the East. On account of the Christian ideas
contained in the poem, the atheistic philosophers of France
thought they had found in it a most effective weapon for attack-
ing Christianity. Unfortunately for these philosophers, an Eng-
lish traveler discovered Father Calmette's manuscript in P ) 1
chery. (Schwickerath, Jesuit Education. B. Herder, St. Louis,
pp. 151-152. We have omitted the references to the sources.)
4 Wide-Open-Church-Door Religion. — Henry Ward Beecher's suc-
cessor, the Rev. Dr. Hillis, recently urged that "the churches ad-
just themselves to modern conditions and form a 'religious
trust.' " This seemed aggressive enough, but, not to be excelled,
another preacher in the great metropolis went a step farther and
proposed the organization of "a church that shall conform itself
to the American spirit and be democratic enough to open wide its
doors for the admission of all believers in God, regardless of their
attitude towar'^s obscure theological distinctions and non-essen-
tial dogmas." "When that time comes," he said, "there will be a
union of forces, and the church will say : Come in atheist, doubter,
believer. Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Buddhist, laborer, employ-
er, ignorant or cultured of whatever estate or belief." The only
dif&culty with such a wide-open-church-door religion, observes
Q.V&VL the Lutheran (Philadelphia), is that while many might be
willing to enter for curiosity's sake, they would find little to keep
them there and soon enough make their exit through the same
wide-open door.
528 The Review. 1903.
Indeed. Christ did not found His Church on the whims and cap-
rices of men ; but He made it the pillar and ground of truth.
It is not a question as to what people may like, but as to what they
must believe if they would be saved.
Non-Euclidean Mathematics. — Within the last few years the atten-
tion of mathematicians has been drawn to the Jesuit Father Sac-
cheri, Professor of mathematics at Pavia. Non-Euclidean mathe-
matics is now recognized as an important branch of mathematics.
The beginnings of this system have sometimes been ascribed to
Gauss, the "Nestor of German mathematics." But recent re-
search has proved that as early as 1733 Father Saccheri had pub-
lished a book which gives a complete system of non-Euclidean
geometry, Beltrami, in 1889, and Stackel and Engel, in 1895,
pointed out the great importance of the work of Saccheri. Thus
Fr. R. Schwickerath in his new book on Jesuit Education, p. 156.
In a note he adds : Prof. Halsted of the University of Texas pub-
lished a translation of Saccheri's work in Xho. American Mathemat-
ical Monthly, and Prof. Manning of Brown University states that
he has taken Saccheri's method of treatment as the basis of the
first chapter of his recent 'Non-Euclidean Geometry' (Boston :
Ginn & Co. 1901.)
"Father" or "Mr." — Up to about the second half of the nine-
teenth century, as every one knows who has examined Catholic
historical records. Catholic priests in this country were
nearly always referred to as "Mr." instead of "Father." The
Uathrops, in their history of the Georgetown Convent of the
Visitation(Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1894) say (p. 256): "It
seems to have been a point of persistence with non-Catholics" (in
1825) "to allude to a priest always as 'Mr.' instead of 'Father.' "
But Mr. Grif&n shows in the current n\xxnhQ.T oi h.\s Historical
Researches that this view is erroneous. In those early days very
few Catholics, even priests, used "Father" as a title of courtesy
and respect, let alone as a sign of authority, and it is only since
the stream of Irish immigration set in that "Father" has become
the universally used title. Even in Ireland, in 1825, and for years
afterward, "Father" and "Mr." were both used by Catholics.
A German View of Lynching. — We read in a Dresden newspaper: "In
the Eastern hemisphere innocent Jews are killed because they are
Jews-and in the Western hemisphere people make Nero's torches
out of negroes merely because they are negroes. Under these
conditions the enlightened Occident has particularly little reason
to become indignant over the barbaric Orient — Orient and Occi-
dent are no more co be parted. One can understand all this, but
it is not to be excused. Over here and over there the same circle.
First you depress a whole people until they are pariahs, deny
them civic equality, social recognition, industrial peace, and then
when you have made them cowardly, dirty, treacherous hyenas,
you kill them as hyenas or pour petroleum over them and let them
cook. Good Lord !"
-;»
Martin I. J. Griffin thinks that paying one's pew-rent covers a
multitude of delinquencies.
p tTbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., Septkmber 10, 1903. No. 34.
A NEW METHOD OF SEEKING AN IDEAL WIFE.
I
E have received the subjoined communication from Rev.
J. B. Brudermanns, of Casenovia, Wisconsin :
"I enclose you some circulars which are apparently calcu-
lated to open a new confidence game. After mining stocks and other
schemes have lost their attraction, something new had to be
evolved to rope in unsuspecting clergymen. Now we Catholic
pastors are asked to barter away our parish girls. I am anx-
ious to learn how much those who are alleged to have en-
dorsed the scheme, will make out of its practical workings.
Would it not be well to call attention to the matter in The
Review ?"
The circulars are three in number, and we reprint them in
full:
I.
Box 1147, Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 4th, 1903.
The object of this letter is made plain by the circular letter
herewith enclosed, namely "The Kind of a Girl I Want to Marry."
The method of our friend finding his ideal woman may seem
unique, but he is known for his originality in business in which
he is very extensively engaged at present, consequently he does
not wish to reveal his identity and has me do his correspondence
for him until such time when the girl of his choice is found
through description by letfers and photographs ; I therefore
kindly ask for as much detailed information and photograph if
possible, in first letter, and right here I wish to state that every
detail of our correspondence will be held and treated as sacredly
confidential, and hope to receive the same courtesy from our cor-
respondents. In selecting me as his correspondent, he first found
out that I could keep a secret, as he says that it is not good busi-
530 The Review. 1903.
ness or policy, nor the act of a Catholic to ever betray a confi-
dence.
In order to avoid coming in contact, or wasting time with ad-
venturesses he takes this method of finding his ideal woman.
He is very actively engaged in business in a neighboring state,
but wishes to close out and retire about the Spring of 1904, and
then he wishes to marry. He is 38 years old, of fine appearance,
5 ft. 9^ in. tall, weighs 205 lbs., has brown hair, blue eyes, healthy
and gentlemanly in manner. He is an all-round business man,
has held a state office in his state, and is well liked wherever he
is known ; is loyal to his friends, of a kind, generous and liberal
disposition, very wealthy, is worth about $200,000.
He wants to travel some after retiring from business, and
wants a good wife for a companion.
Respectfully yours,
(Miss) Louise Broiin.
P.'S. — If you have a girl filling within description kindly hand
this to the lady (after cutting the P. S. off) or if you prefer you
can send me her name and address with as much information you
feel disposed to give in regard to her ; also kindly advise me if I
can or not inform her where I obtained her address. I will mail a
letter similar to this to several other priests and in whatever
congregation our friend finds the girl he will marry he agrees to
make the priest of that congregation $500 (five hundred dollars)
as a present on his wedding day. Respectfully yours, L. B.
II.
The Kind of a Girl I Want to Marry.
Must be a devout and sincere Catholic.
German preferred.
Of good honest parentage.
Who has never been engaged to marry.
Between 18 and 25 years of age.
Above medium height, of good form, not fleshy.
Must have black eyes and hair.
Nice features, a small mouth and a well shaped head.
Fair education, much good common sense.
Who prefers living in the country about six months in the year,
and is willing to travel some. Must be of an affectionate disposi-
tion, kind, charitable and modest.
III.
To Who7n It May Concern!
We, the undersigned, have been acquainted with
(name.) (city.)
for
several years and know his standing in the communitv where he
No. 34. The Review. 531
lives and the state generally and have no hesitancy, in recommend-
ing him as a man of the strictest honesty, integrity and ability ; a
devout Catholic and a man in whom everyone has implicit confi-
dence ; a confidence vv^hich has never been betrayed. We have
observed his course since he has started for himself, especially
in the real estate business and colonization work and have always
found him consistent in his acts and deeds and a man of exceed-
ing-ly high character, a gentleman who has always made his word
good and prizes his honor higher than all else and, his good name
and good will of his fellow-men above earthly riches.
Very respectfully yours,
The above is an exact copy of the original endorsement with
names and city omitted ; the original being signed by three Cath-
olic priests.
Has many other indorsements to reveal to proper parties at de-
sirable opportunity.
Sh ^« Sb
THE "BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN YEOMEN."
This is the name of "a fraternal beneficiary society" organized
under the laws of Iowa, which commenced business in December
1897. According to its circulars it combines the benefits of
life and accident insurance, and claims, with the usual modesty
of assessment literature, to have discovered a new reserve
feature which limits the cost of membership to 12 mortuary as-
sessments in any one year, at a stated figure.
The pamphlet before us endeavors to explain this new system
by a reference to the American table of mortality, from which
is constructed the table of average expectancy of life. Acting on
the assumption that payment of premiums during the average
duration of life, regardless of correctness of rates, is all that is
needed for the permanency of a life insurance company, the so-
ciety proceeds to make sure of such payments by charging 10
monthly assessments a year for the average expectation of life ac-
cording to age of member against his certificate, deducting in
case of death prior to out-living such expectancy as many annual
premiums as duration of life fell short of the expected number of
years. After the expectation of life is reached or exceeded, certif-
icates will be paid in full in case of death.
For example, (quoting from the circular), "John Ross is 40
years old at entrance. His expectancy is 28 years. His certifi-
cate is charged with 280 assessments. If he dies to-morrow, we
532 The Review. 1903.
pay the amount of his certificate, less 280 assessments at his rate
of entrance. If he lives 6 years, his certificate is credited with
6X 10 = 60 assessments, deducting the 220 yet unpaid. If he lives
28 years, he has cancelled the 280 assessments charged, having
lived out his expectancy, and his beneficiaries will receive the full
face of the certificate."
Evidently this is the main recourse for the reserve fund, since
the rates (assessments) charged are hardly enough to provide
for first year losses. Let us illustrate :
For age 50, the monthly assessment is SI. 10 a month, or $13.20
a year for a $1,000 certificate, charged with $231 for 210 assess-
ments of $1.10 for the 21 years' average expectancy of life. This
makes the net value of the certificate $769 in case of death the
first year, corresponding to a cost of $17.17 per $1,000. Assum-
ing a class of 1000 members at age of entry 50 years, no new mem-
bers joining and none withdrawing, there will be 482 deaths dur-
ing the 21 years, leaving 518 survivors. For the sake of simplicity
in figuring let us suppose that for each such death the whole $231
is deducted and kept in the reserve fund, irrespective of any ex-
cess in death losses during said 21 years. That makes for 482
cases, multiplied by 231, a total of $111,342, or, divided among
518 members, about $215 a piece. As the legal reserve for an or-
dinary life policy, age 50, after 21 years, on the basis of the Am-
erican table of mortality and 4% interest, is $495.41, the "reserve"
of this "Brotherhood" is more than half short of the actual
amount needed, and final bankruptcy is unavoidable.
The net annual premium per $1000 for age 50 of an ordinary life
policy, payable at death on the basis of the American experience
table with 4% interest, providing for annual death losses and full
reserve of SIOOO at age 96 (certainly conservative, or rather lib-
eral enough) is $33,70, not counting expenses ; while the Brother-
hood charges $17.17, considering the lien, or $13.20 after 21 years,
and offering accident insurance in addition to the regular death
benefit.
Among members of assessment societies there has been a
growing dissatisfaction with the steadily increasing mortality of
the different organizations, and the former confidence in the sta-
bility of fraternal "insurance" on the assessment plan is pretty
thoroughly shaken. The "Brotherhood of American Yeomen" is
evidently designed to attract such dissatisfied members with a
promise of additional benefits by way of accident insurance for a
temptingly low rate, making a pretense of security by the "new
reserve fund system "which may look feasible to one not posted
on insurance matters. The number of people who are eager to
buy gold dollars for fifty cents is still very large.
533
HAVE FRENCH AND ENGLISH FREEMASONRY ANYTHING
IN COMMON?
Our readers, especially those who are following- with attention
our series of papers on the religious character of American Free-
masonry, will no doubt be interested in certain communications
published recently by the Tablet on the question : "Have
French and Eng-lish Freemasonry anything in common?" The
Tablet's Rome correspondent expressed the opinion that they had
not. Whereupon a "Sacerdos" in No. 3291 objected : "How does
your correspondent know that 'French and English Freemasonry
have practically nothing: in common'? The scandalous silence of
the Engflish press on the infamous doings of the miserable Combes
and the g^ang of unmentionable scoundrels whose cat's-paw he is,
seems to suggest that French and English Freemasonry have
something in common Freemasonry is Freemasonry all the
world over. Circumstances and national temperament may give
it a more diabolical hue in one country than in another, but it is
essentially the same everywhere — as we English Catholics may
some day discover to our cost."
Another contributor, Theodore A. Metcalf, in No. 3292, took
much the same ground. We extract from his letter these passages:
"From the perusal of a little book entitled 'The X Rays in Free-
masonry,' by A. Cowan (London: Effingham Wilson), 1901, it
would appear that Sacerdos in last week's Tablet was fully justi-
fied in taking exception to a correspondent's statement that
'French and English Freemasonry have practically nothing in
common.' According to the volume referred to, 'English Free-
masonry is inextricably mixed up with foreign Freemasonry,
and must bear some share of the responsibility for its actions
even in regard to Satanism. The Apprentices' oath proves this
matter clearly. There is no doubt that the real secret of Free-
masonry is its attack on Christianity — insidious, underhand, un-
der cover of the Bible, under the sheltering wing of the compre-
hensive Anglican Church, which knows nothing about it. The
popes, history, and many Freemasons have pointed out this.
But the history of the Jews in relation to Freemasonry is abso-
lutely convincing on the point. They found in it a strong anti-
Christian bias, which they have been at pains to develop. They
have joined its ranks in great numbers, and have managed to an-
nex its highest offices.'
"Because in England or the United States, the Freemasons have
not hitherto been openly aggressive in their dealings with Chris-
tianity, and especially have apparently done nothing against
Catholics, it has become quite a common thing for Catholics to
534 The Review. 1903.
apologize for that secret society on the ground that it is not in
sympathy with the lodges on the Continent. The little book re-
ferred to above goes further still to disabuse one of such an idea.
It says : 'Every Masonic Lodge throughout the w^orld derives
from the Grand Lodge of England, founded in 1717, and organized
by Dr. Anderson in 1723.' If this be true, what children England
has mothered ! The English Freemasons, it would seem, for the
most part are Theists, though Christ is not recognized in the
lodges ; whereas in France and Italy and other continental coun-
tries, and in portions at least of South America, the lodges are
distinctly atheistic, and some are even Satanist."
In the same issue of the Tablet, "A Certain Catholic" takes the
opposite view. He says among other things :
"It is not many years since the Marquis of Ripon, then Grand
Master of English Freemasons, became a Catholic and resigned
•that distinguished of&ce, in deference to the wishes of the Holy
See, but I have never heard of the noble Lord stating that English
Masonry was the dreadful thing suggested by Sacerdos. We have
recently seen how the King went out of his way to pay a visit to
the Holy Father, he who had only just laid down the collar of •
Grand Master of English Freemasons to assume the sceptre of
the British Empire ; is it to be credited that he, a great king,
whose honesty of purpose is universally acknowledged, would
have done this if he had been for a large portion of his life chief
of a society which desired the overthrow of the great Church over
which the Pope rules? The thing is inconceivable. The fact is
that English Freemasonry is a comparatively small though influ-
ential body of men, who do not mix themselves in discussions of
a political or religious character, but have for their aim mutual
support and charity. Sacerdos and those who think with him
very much exaggerate their influence, have got them, so to speak,
'on the brain,' and remind one forcibly of the ultra-Protestant
whom one meets frequently now-a-days, who sees Jesuits in every-
thing from the most ordinarj^ undetected crime to the origin of
the Education Bill."
Another "English Catholic" wrote :
"All Catholics are aware that Freemasonry has been condemned
by the Holy See. It is a secret society, and no Catholic can be-
long to it. That is common ground. When, however, we are
asked to believe that the aims of English and French Freema-
sonry are identical, I, for one, decline to do so. At any rate, the
two societies have taken to excommunicating one another, which
does not look like harmony. Both the English and the American
lodges have formally dissociated themselves from the French
Masons. I have known several English Masons intimately, and
No. 34. The Review. 535
known them for honorable, and, according to their lights, relig-
ious men. If I were obliged to believe that there is no difference
between English Masons, between the good, harmless, upright
men I have known so long, and the Freemasons of the Continent,
I should have to revise my opinion of the latter — voila tout. To
condemn Freemasonry as a secret society, and banned by the
Holy See, is one thing, and to brand all its members as atheists
and potential anarchists is surely another."
The question is highly interesting and important for us Ameri-
can Catholics no less than for our English brethren, inasmuch as
it is generally conceded that American Freemasonry derives
from, and is a worthy daughter of, English Freemasonry. Hence
we hope that more light will be shed upon the subject.
^ !SA ^
^TF ^TT ^FV
INTER NOS.
i^Conchision.^
The Wichita Catholic Advance^ after eking out a miserable
living for three years with the help of the Milwaukee Catholic
Citizen^s reading-matter, conveyed to Kansas in the shape
of plates or matrices, has been bought and reorganized by
a company "having means at command and therefore greater
facilities for making the paper what every one wishes it." The
new company, we are told (No. 15), "was organized with the ap-
proval and with the best wishes of the Rt. Rev. Bishop of the Dio-
cese of Wichita and consists chiefly of members of the clergy
who are deeply interested in the Catholic press and who desire
to push the Catholic Advance to the front as a newsy and popular
paper."
In this undertaking the experience of the Louisville Record, {vide
our last) would have stood the Bishop and clergy of Wichita in good
stead. Our advice to the reorganizers would be : Reduce the size of
the Advance', do away with patent boiler-plate trash (the liberalistic
Citizen stuff especially is worse than secular matter), and get out
a clean, newsy sheet with as much original matter as possible.
We do not know the editor, Andrew H. Foppe, but the editorial
columns of the "reorganized" Advance will have to be greatly im-
proved if the hopes of the new company are to be even partially
realized. Such rubbish as this [from No. 15 — we quote verbatim
et literatim] is really beneath criticism :
"Rome for the next few weeks will supply a lot of stuff — a sort
of Chile con carne — to satisfy a curious world. We caution our
readers to put no credence upon most of the vaporings of the Eu-
ropean press dispatches. The reporters can not find out any-
thing unless given out officially, and you will save valuable time
536 The Review. 1903.
by not reading- froth. Why, it is that the foreign press associa-
tion is so biased against the Catholic Church, we can not conjec-
ture. Baron Renter, perhaps, might explain. However, we are
surviving the inflection and thriving on it. We look for a good
deal of rubbish, and if we had the space and inclination we might
depict right now what the noisy reporters will be saying in a few
days, and it would not be so expensive as getting it from Rome."
And what shall we say of this effusion ? — :
"Rev. Dr. Phelan, the venerable editor of the Western Watchman^
— that scored and scolded exponent of the church on the banks of
the muddy Mississippi, — makes a good sermon. His weekly con-
tributions to the paper are really germinal and punctative. If the
other page of his publication was more germinal and less puncta-
tive what an admirable production it would be. Editor Phelan
and Father Phelan, if they only could be and would be one or
other. The sermons, however, are bound to be popular, and so
far at least they deserve praise."
*
The Intermountain Catholic of Salt Lake recently had the happy
inspiration to reduce its unwieldy size ; but its readers had hard-
ly had time to congratulate themselves upon the welcome change,
when the publishers restored the old form, with this queer ex-
planation [No. 43]:
"The change from a paper of respectable proportions to one re-
sembling a little brown jug, was an ill-advised move, and might
have resulted in pecuniary loss as well as it did in prestige, did
not the decision to restore the paper to its old form so quickly
go into effect and prevent disaster While there are a num-
ber of Catholic papers published in the country of the same di-
mensions as those run out from this office from early in May to
the last July number, that fact establishes no good reason from
any view point to justify a reduction in size of the stalwart Inter-
jnountain and Colorado Catholic. The act seemed like an attempt
to dwarf the grandeur of nature's holy cross in that famous
mountain of Colorado. No, no, no — never again will an effort be
made to cut this paper to fit the area of any primitive press.
Rather must the press expand to fit the Intermountain. Our aim
hereafter will be to go up, up, up. Never down, down, down. Now
that everybody is happy, including those responsible for the mis-
take ; including 'Aunt Busy,' heretofore inconsolable; including
our good bishop and the generous founder of the paper, the writer
feels like the country editor, who, upon being told that a baby boy
had just arrived into the family, exclaimed : 'Now is the time to
subscribe !' "
And all this fuss and ado about a slight change in the size of the
No. 34. The Review. 537
Ifitermountain Catholic's eight pages — a change against which
probably no one but a few indiscriminating advertising patrons
or addle-brained subscribers protested. The underlying
error is that besettings in of American newspaperdom — the
worship of quantity. A large paper is a good paper ; one
containing few pages, and those small, no matter how
select and well-edited its contents, is poor. "Up, up, up!"
means more or larger pages, or both ; "Down, down, down !"
means less or smaller pages. Quality does not count.
Quantity is everything. Seeing that the fntermountain editor
with his enlarged pages is again happy, it were cruel on our part
were we not ready to wish him increase in bulk ''up'" to the stand-
ard of the "yellows," regardless of the quality of the contents, — a
picayune consideration which has never given him the slightest
anxiety.
* If-
*
In conclusion a word about MosherH Magazine^ formerly the
Reading Circle Review, which has now become the Champlain
Educator, "Official Organ of the Catholic Summer School of Am-
erica and Home Study Reading Circle." This monthly is now in
its twelfth year and always tries to offer good, if somewhat mon-
otonous, reading-matter. But it Seems the reading circle and
summer school movement is not prospering. The few who are
interested in it are apparently not deep students, but belong to
the vast number of those who have merely tasted of the Pierian
spring. One of itschief "courses"is based on a book the publisher of
which assures us that he has not noticed the slightest effect there-
from upon his sales. Those few who follow the course at all, evi-
dently read only the monthly bare-bone sketch, and that is all there
is to it; they do not dream of purchasing even an elementary Cath-
olic text-book. Such is Catholic summer school and reading circle
scholarship, and we fear Mr. Mosher will not succeed in raising
its standard, no matter how often he changes the title of his maga-
zine or how much trouble he takes to improve its contents.
3f ar 3?
MORALITY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
From a letter of Mr. T. Thomas Fortune to the Evening Post
of New York (Aug. 1st) we take these facts :
There are relatively few American white women in the Philip-
pine Islands. Those who are there have to go away once every
two years to renew their life. The climate eats them up. Where
white women can not live permanently, white men will not.
This pregnant fact is the parent of many evils in the social life
of the Philippine Islands, which are so glaring that they can not
538 The Review. 1903.
escape the notice of the most casual observer. Marriages between
white American men and Filipino women are regarded with as
much horror as marriage between blacks and whites in Ten-
nessee.
The consequence is illustrated by the statement of a well-in-
formed man to Mr. Fortune: "'There is a condition for you.
Those eleven houses are occupied by eleven American men and
eleven Filipino women. The house on the extreme left is occu-
pied by a colored American, who is married to the Filipino woman.
The other ten houses are occupied by ten white Americans, who
are not married to the Filipino women. You will find that all of
these men occupy subordinate positions in the civil government.
They are never seen outside the house with these women, and
they leave them when they tire of them. The condition is a com-
mon one here and in the provinces, and it is much to be regretted."
Mr. Fortune adds : "As I rambled about Manila, as I did all the
time that I was not in the provinces, I found that the statement
made by my friend was substantially correct."
When Mr, Fortune asked his friend why there were so many
American prisoners in Bilibid prison, he received this answer :
"Why, the Americans set here have set a pace in living which
calls for the expenditure of vastly more money than the small fry
earn ; they, therefore, have to steal. If you will notice it, you will
find that hardly a week passes that the arrest of some American
is not announced in the daily newspapers for misappropriation of
trust funds. Living here is very expensive, and those who fly
high have to pay very dearly for it. The number of Americans
here who are in debt all the way from $100 to $5,000 would sur-
prise any one. The civil and military authorities do all that they
can to check extravagance and immoral living, but the evil was
planted in the days of army occupation, and it is hard to root it
out. Then, the social conditions here are such as to encourage
high and immoral living. There are very few amusements and
diversions here, and the American hotel and saloon are common
places of resort ; and the number of American saloons in Manila
is remarkable. The number of Americans is comparatively small.
Those who have small incomes mingle on equality with those who
have large ones, if they are people of education and character.
The natural result follows. Those with small incomes live be-
yond their means, too often, in the effort to keep in the swim, and
frequently fetch up in the Bilibid or become fugitives from
justice."
A close study of the situation convinced Mr. Fortune that this
diagnosis was also correct.
On the growth of the drink habit Mr. Fortune says :
"The growth of the American bar-room in Manila and in the
No. 34. The Review. 539
provinces has only been outstripped by the Standard Oil Company,
whose product I found everywhere in Southern and Northern
Luzon. But an alarming feature of the matter, as I saw it all over
the island of Luzon, is the fact that the Filipinos and Chinamen
are taking- to American whiskey and bottled beer like fish to the
water. The little brown fellow can not stand up under American
whiskey and beer. They bowl him down and out in short order.
It is very unusual for Chinamen to drink American beer, but from
observation and information I am sure that the drink habit is
growing alarmingly among them, in Manila at least."
That is how we are "civilizing" the Philippines 1
9f 3F 3?
IS THE CATHOLIC TEXTBOOK TO BE BANISHED FROM
OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS?
An American bishop has contracted for the term of five years
(1902-07) with the American Book Co. for the furnishing of all
text-books, exclusive of the catechism and Bible history, to all the
schools in his diocese at a reduced price.
The American Book Co., aware of its advantage, is scattering
printed copies of this contract over the land, no doubt to induce
others to buy their school-books from the same concern.
An esteemed subscriber to The Review, at Seattle, Wash.,
sends us one of these copies with the query : "Is the Catholic
text-book to be banished from the Catholic schools?"
We answer : No ! Never, as long as the III. Plenary Council of
Baltimore enjoins on all priests the use of Catholic text-books. In
its No. 201 it says to the priests in charge of Catholic schools :
"Operam dent ut in scholis adhibeantur sem:per libri a catholicis
scriptoribus concinnati," which means in plain English, none but
Catholic books are to be used in Catholic schools.
Again, common sense tells us that a school in which non-Cath-
olic books are used, is no Catholic school in the full sense of the
term. Under the "May laws" in Germany, Minister Falk tried
to introduce inter-denominational schools for Catholic and Prot-
estant children (Simultanschulen), allowing separate religious in-
struction to each denomination, but stipulating colorless text-
books for all the other branches. These schools proved a failure,
neither Protestants nor Catholics were satisfied with them.
In our own country Archbishop Ireland tried to adopt substan-
tially the same system in the so-called Faribault plan, yet in spite
of all the influences he could wield in Rome he obtained but a
scanty "Tolerari potest" for Faribault and Stillwater, and would
have failed ignominiously had he asked the same privilege for all
540 The Review. 1903.
the schools in his diocese. Introducing the no-flesh-and-no-fish
publications of the American Book Co. into all the schools of a
diocese is a species of Faribaulting which will certainly not be
upheld by the Church authorities.
Again, introducing text-books by non-Catholic authors and pub-
lishers is a public testimonium paui)ertatis for all our Catholic
authors and publishers. If there was a time when the books
they supplied were inferior, this is no longer the case. Catholic
school-books to-day on the whole compare favorably with others in
mechanical execution, and are far superior in contents, even ab-
stracting entirely from the religious aspect.
For all these reasons we believe the Catholic text-book will 7iot
disappear from the Catholic school, that no other bishop will make
a similar contract, and that the one who has given over the mon-
opoly of school-books in his Diocese to a Protestant concern, will
be sorry for it, if he is not so already.
^ ^ ^
MINOR TOPICS.
Did the Whale Swallow Jonah ? — This question, which has been the
subject of so much dispute, has been revived among our govern-
ment scientists by the expedition sent to Newfoundland by the
Smithsonian Institution, in pursuit of a finback whale.
In a recent article on the subject, Mr. Rene Bache said in the
St. Louis Globe-De7nocrat {M.diy 2)l^i): "Science, with the data now
at hand, has been able to sift the matter to some extent, and, as
one might say, to boil down the evidence. As a result, the fact
may be considered as definitely established that, notwithstand-
ing widespread incredulity on the subject — an incredulity which
has striven to classify the Scriptural account as either fiction or
allegory — there is nothing inherently impossible in the Jonah
story. The whale might have swallowed and accommodated in
its belly two Jonahs, if there had been a pair of them."
Dr. F. E. Beddard, anatomist of the Zoological Society of Lon-
don, now publishes an opinion to the efifect that an adult sperm
whale might without difficulty swallow a man. The cachalot, be
it realized, is a true beast of prey, frequently attacking the giant
squid Ca monstrous cuttlefish, which has tentacles 50 feet long),
and it would surely not balk at a human being, if hungry.
Once down the throat of the whale, Jonah found himself in a
sort of spherical chamber, which a German anatomist has called
the "crop," and from which he passed on to the stomach proper —
a fairly roomy place, cylindrical in shape, and about 7 feet long by
3 feet in diameter. Of course, he could not stand up, but he was
able to lie down comfortably, and it may be supposed that he did
not experience any very painful inconvenience, so long as his host
No. 34. The Review. 541
chose to refrain from eating- other things. A few cuttlefishes of
larg-e size might have been uncomfortable room-mates.
There are two minor stomachs beyond the main stomach of the
sperm whale, but it may be presumed that the prophet made no
attempt to explore these. Why the creature should possess so
complicated a digestive apparatus nobody knows.
The whale that swallowed Jonah probably had about thirty huge
teeth in its lower jaw, some of them over a foot in length and com-
posed of the finest ivory. Indeed, the ivory which the cachalot
carries in its mouth is of so excellent a quality as to command a high
price in the market. The oil derived from the animal's blubber
holds in solution a substance familiarly known as "spermaceti,"
out of which candles used formerly to be made, though recently
cheaper materials (especially a mineral wax called "ozokerite")
have taken its place.
4 Novel Proposal. — France is eyeing" with increasing anxiety the
growing- numerical superiority of Germany in its effects on the re-
spective armies. Germany with its 20,000,000 more inhabitants
than France, is more and more intent on having none but physi-
cally faultless soldiers, whilst France has been forced to lower
her standards simply to obtain the requisite number of recruits.
Hence the German army excels both in number and quality.
Now this causes thinking and brings about proposals to remedy
the evil. M. Bertillon, the inventor of anthropometry, proposes
to decrease the state taxes per family in proportion to the number
of children. But those who do not want children are rather sat-
isfied to pay a little more than to be burdened with children. M.
Tontee proposes the division of direct inheritances, not according
to the number of children, but according to the number of grand-
children. Evidently an impossible task when there are not even
children. The last proposal comes from a learned evolutionist
who desires a practical test of Darwinism. If man descends
from the ape, the simplest and easiest means to increase and mul-
tiply the French race, he argues, is to fall back on our anthropoid
ancestor who has kept all his physical and prolific qualities intact.
If under the influence of natural ^eXo^ciion it has taken thousands
of years for the monkey to transform himself into a man, he
suggests, it would take but a small space to bring about the same
result by means of scientific selection, applied by man himself.
By crossing the human with the simian race, it ought to be easy
to get any amount of recruits for the army who would distinguish
themselves by suppleness and endurance and, particularly, by
the ability to climb the walls of convents. Our learned evolutionist
hopes to find enough young materialists, both male and female,
ready for the test. The teaching body in the public schools, who
so loudly proclaim their simian descent, will doubtless be the first
to submit to the experiment. The more so as the long expected
missing link, the pitecanthropus, could thus be demonstrated ad
oculos. The inventor of this "saving scheme" ought to be decor-
ated as the greatest benefactor of France and of science. General
Andre ought to equip all French vessels to take in monkies at the
African ports. The Parisian snobs would not fail to be present
at the novel civil marriages. And the Prussians— well Emperor
William is already discussing with his "General Staff" the awful
542 The Review. 1903
prospects for the future. — H. Arsac in La ViriU Frangaise (No.
3620.)
ArUhmetic in E/emenfary Schools. — The Western Catholic Teach-
ers' Association, at their meeting- at Breese, 111., Aug-. 12th, adopted
the following program for the teaching of arithmetic in elemen-
tary schools :
First school year. The four rules of arithmetic, addition, sub-
traction, multiplication, and division applied to numbers 1-10,
possibly also to numbers 1-20. Particular stress to be laid upon
the transition from the first decade to the second. Fractional
numbers such as ]2 of 4, fi of 6, }i of 8, etc., to be used in the
second half year.
Second school year. The same operations to be applied to num-
bers 1-100.
Third school year. Numbers 1-1000, pure and denominate ;
such denominations of weights and measures to be applied as do
not exceed the limit of 100 : dollars, dimes, and cents; yards,
feet, and inches ; gallons, quarts, and pints; years and months,
weeks and days, hours, minutes, and seconds; bushels, pecks,
quarts, and pints, etc. Of fractions, the elements of the broken
unit, not number, should be taught towards the end, both com-
mon and decimal.
Fourth school year. Numbers 1-1000, pure and denominate and
easier fraction problems.
Fifth school year. Numbers above 1,000, pure and denominate.
A more extensive drill on fractions, common and decimal.
Sixth school year. The final review of fractions, rule of three,
averages, lumber measures, etc.
Seventh school year. Common business problems.
The plan as outlined follows Grube or Hentschel for the first
three school years ; Hentschel for the remaining four. A safer
plan could not be adopted. Ohler makes the words of Diesterweg
his own when he says of Hentschel : "Most teachers may be ad-
vised to follow unconditionally his guidance ; beginners should be
compelled"; and after comparing Grube with Hentschel, comes
to the conclusion that, as Grube in his method has not gone be-
yond the numbers 1-100, Hentschel, who, "with great clearness
and simplicity, has treated the whole pensum of arithmetic in ele-
mentary schools, is a safe guide for every one to follow." (Cfr.
E. Hentschel, Lehrbuch des Rechenunterrichts ; or, for practical
application, J. F. Meifuss, Graded Arithmetical Problems, B.
Herder, St. Louis.)
The Typographical Union's Oath of Membership. — From two quarters
comes illuminating comment as to the oath of membership pre-
scribed by the Typographical Union : On one hand two Catholic
priests (Vicar-General Schinner of Milwaukee and Dr. P. A. Baart
of Marshall, Mich.) point out that the oath makes the union higher
than the Church — hence can be taken by no good Catholic ; on the
other hand, an inspector investigating the Chicago Post Office
shows that men who have taken the vow of the Typographical
Union can not, without perjury, swear to support the Constitu-
tion of the United States. In other words, they would be ineligible
for government service, should President Roosevelt's plan of
No. 34. The Review. 543
swearing- in all employes of the nation be put in effect. The vow
which, thoug-h typographers seem to take it readily, offends both
Church and State, runs as follows :
"I hereby solemnly and sincerely swear that my fidelity to the
Typographical Union and my duty to the members thereof shall
in no sense be interfered with by any allegiance that I may now
or hereafter owe to any other organization, social, political, or re-
ligious."
Of course, the Church and the State are in the strictest sense
religious and political organizations. If the oath means what it
says, it is treasonable and anti-religious ; if it is to be taken in
some Pickwickian sense, it is time for a Mr. Pickwick among the
typographers to rise and explain what in the world it does mean.
We believe other unions require a similar oath. It is a matter
well worth looking- into.
Spirifual Marriage in the Primitive Church. — Dr. Hans Achelis, well
and favorably known for his edition of the Canons of Hippolytus,
contributes an interesting chapter to the story of Platonic love in
Roman antiquity. He has collected all the references in primi-
tive ecclesiastical history to the "Virgines Subintroductae," a
peculiar custom or abuse soundly denounced by Saint Cyprian as
early as the middle of the third century. According to Dr.
Achelis, (we follow the synopsis given by the Catholic University
Bulletin, No. 3), this custom vigorously and rightfully rooted out
by the bishops of that time, was in reality only a long-enduring:
reminiscence of the earliest Christian times when such unions
were solely spiritual. Intensity of religious enthusiasm, clear
vision of the nearness of Christ's second coming, heroic renuncia-
tion of life itself, let alone its pleasures, certain peculiarities of
the antique temperament, go far to explain the persistency of
these relations, which certain historians only too easily describe
as a sheer abuse and a sign of early degeneracy of Christian mor-
ality. ('Virgines Subintroductae,' Ein Beitrag- zu I Cor. vii. Hin-
richs, Leipzig, 1902.)
Immigraiion. — The immig-ration figures for the year are of a kind
to cause solicitude. Of a total of 921,000, including- some 600,000
aliens not of the immigrant class, the enormous number of 672,-
000 came from Italy, Austro-Hungary, and Russia. These are
aliens, indeed, in a sense in which the word can not fairly be ap-
plied to the German and Scandinavian immigrants. The North-
ern immig-rants come with a conscious intention of becoming-
Americans, and often with some knowledge of what that implies.
The Russians and Italians and a good many of the Austrians ar-
rive with but very vague ideas of bettering their condition, and
with absolutely no sense of what republican institutions mean.
They are, as soon as naturalized, easy game for the political or-
ganizer, and will be, when once they get beyond the grade of
manual labor, plastic material for the union agitator. For the
four great immigration j-^ears beginning with 1900 and including-
this year, the total immigration from these ttree countries has
been 1,680,848, or 2%. of our entire population. Evidently the
problem of assimilating- this mass is a serious one.
544 The Review. 1903.
The REviEwlhas been asked if it is safe to invest in the various
concerns that have secured concessions from the St. Louis
World's Fair manag-ement? If they were all such good things,
it seems reasonable to suppose that the promoters would take the
stock themselves. Why do the papers not say a word about these
widely advertised snaps? Because, as the Mirror said the other
day, the "graft" is advertised at good rates in half-page slabs of
electrotype, worded just like the get-rich-quick schemes of a few
months ago. Our advice is : Don't. If there were any reasonable
certainty that any of the stock schemes offered the public in these
flaring"ads" would pay anything like what the promoters promise,
does anyone think for a moment that the "snap" would ever even
have been whispered about outside of the directors' rooms of the
banks and trust companies?
Rev. Dr. Lambert perceives in the transfer of Governor Taft
to the secretaryship of war, a change of heart on the part of the
administration and the desire to end a disgraceful policy in the
Philippines. This change in his opinion "indicates that the ad-
ministration has begun to recognize that the anti-Paris treaty
and unconstitutional policy of 'the friars must go,' associated with
the names of Secretary Root and Governor Taft, was a grave
blunder as well as a national disgrace. The retirement of Taft
from the Philippines and of Root from the War Department
means that the Catholic clergy of those islands will now have,
what they should have had from the beginning, the rights guar-
anteed them by the treaty of Paris and the Constitution of the
United States." We sincerely hope this view will prove correct.
Mr. Griffin is of opinionjthat, if our government would under-
take to suppress the Catholic faith in the Philippines, thou-
sands upon thousands of "political Catholics" would uphold
the crime, and most of us would be as quiet and peaceful as
the so-called Catholics of France. The reason is that American
Catholics "are first party politicians and then Catholics. Catholic
affairs never become public questions unless a political party is
to be helped out by the'advocacy. Our people are first for party
and then for Church in all public matters." {.Researches^ No. 3.)
Pity, pity, t'is true !
We are asked to print this note :
"The standpoint which Rt. Rev. Bishop McQuaid of Roches-
ter takes with regard to the Knights of Columbus is very signifi-
cant. The reverend brother wishing to give his opinion at the
meeting is ruled out of order. His brother Knights, belonging
perchance to the flock over which to rule it had pleased the Holy
Ghost to place him, attending his sermon on Sunday in the par-
ish church, may feel inclined to rule him out of order. Placing
himself at their level in the meeting, he must not expect to be
greater in the pulpit."
II tTbe IReview, ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., September 17, 1903. No. 35.
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT OF THE CHVRCH.
HE fifth commandment of the Church is, "To contribute
to the support of our pastors." In the Old Law, God
Himself had prescribed that those chosen to serve the
altar, namely, the entire tribe of Levi, should be supported, not
by the cultivation of lands assigned them, as the other tribes
were, but by appointed offerings of the people : "I have given to
the sons of Levi," he said, "all the tithes of Israel for a possession,
for the ministry wherewith they serve Me in the Tabernacle of
the Covenant" (Num. xviii, 21). In the New Law, the Church has
made, in the different nations and ages, such provisions for the
support of the clergy as circumstances required. The precept
itself is founded on the law of nature. For, as St. Thomas argues,
reason dictates that, as those who watch over the common good,
such as princes and soldiers, are entitled to a stipend for their
support, thus also those who are employed in the worship of God
for the benefit of the whole people, should be supplied by the peo-
ple with whatever is necessary for their support.
He next explains more fully how this support is to be under-
stood, saying : "A priest is appointed to be a sort of middleman
and mediator between God and the people, as we read of Moses
(Deut. V, 5, 27); and therefore it belongs to him to deliver the
divine decrees to the people ; and again, that which comes from
the people, in the way of prayers, and sacrifices, and offerings,
ought to be paid to God through the priest. And therefore the
offerings that are made by the people to God belong to the priests;
not simply to convert them to their own use, but also to dispense
them faithfully, partly by expending them on what belongs to
divine worship, partly on what belongs to their own maintenance,
because 'Those that serve the altar partake with the altar' (L Cor.,
ix, 13), partly also for the use of the poor, who are to be support-
546 The Review. 1903.
ed, so far as possible, out of the property of the Church, because
our Lord also had a purse for the use of the poor, as Jerome
says" (2a 2ae, q. 86 ; Aquin. Eth. ii, p. 138).
In the New Law, Christ has made for the support of the clergy
a similar provision to that made in the Old Law ; for in sending:
His Apostles, He bade them rely for support on those to whom
they should preach, reminding- them that "The workman is wor-
thy of his meat" (Math, x, 10). St. Paul insists with much earn-
estness upon the corresponding duty of the faithful to support
their pastors, saying: "Who serveth as a soldier at any time at
his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the
fruit thereof? Who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk of
the flock ? If we have sown unto your spiritual things, is it a
great matter that we reap your carnal things ? They that
serve the altar partake with the altar. So also the Lord ordained
that they who preach the Gospel should live by the Gospel" (I.
Cor. ix, 7-14).
In the early ages of the Church, no certain amount was appointed
as due to the clergy, but the spontaneous gifts of the faithful sup-
plied what was needed. Later on, the payments of tithes, that is
of a tenth part of the produce of the land, was required by many
councils, especially in the ninth century. The piety of kings and
nobles, and of the faithful generally, endowed the churches and
monasteries so richly in the course of time that there was enough
for altar, priest, and religious, as well as for the poor. But at the
time of the Reformation, those in power seized all those incomes
and the estates themselves, wherever Protestantism gained the
ascendancy. In the countries that have remained Catholic, the
governments have since seized upon the patrimony of the Church
and of the poor. As a partial restitution for this, they now pay
an annual salary for the support of the clergy. In this country,
and in others similarly situated, there is no such provision made,
and therefore the natural duty of supporting religion rests en-
tirely upon the faithful. By calling it a natural duty we mean
that it is not merely a pious practice or a counsel of perfection,
but that it so binds the consciences of Catholics, that neglect in
this matter is a sin, and may be a grievous sin.
This support of religion comprises : a. adequate provision for
a church and its appointments ; for sacred vessels and all the
other requisites of divine worship, b. Decent sustenance of pas-
tors, suitable, namely, to their character as bishops and priests,
and to their social standing as representatives of the Catholic re-
ligion before the world, c. The erection, equipment, and main-
tenance of schools for the religious education of the young. The
Third Plenary Council of Baltimore directs (n. 202) that "much
No. 35. The Review. 547
zeal and prudence should be employed to eradicate from the minds
of the laity the notion that careof the schools concerns only those
parents who directly and actually make use of those schools."*)
Relig-ion demands sacrifice, and people who are not willing to
do much for the Church, certainly do not prize very highly the
benefits they derive from the Church. To do good is all that we
are here for, and surely one can do no greater good and enjoy no
greater honor than to help build and maintain temples wherein
Ood is properly honored. Do away with Catholic churches, and I
think God would speedily do away with the world.
How much do you give to your church ? — you who complain that
church dues are too high? thirty to forty dollars a year ? That
appears to be a big amount, but it is only about ten cents a day.
Do you smoke? The price of one good cigar laid aside every day,
would pay your church dues. Do you drink? The price of one
bottle of beer put aside every day, would pay your church dues.
The butter you put on your bread would about pay them, and yet
you grumble over the amount, — though we have seen that nothing
on earth is so useful and necessary to us as the Church is.
My dear friend, by your little outlay you make it possible for the
truth of God to be preached in your locality, for Christ to dwell in
your midst as truly as He dwells in Heaven ; you draw upon your-
self God's blessings, receive His graces, which are worth more
than all the world. You are assisted on to Heaven. Do you get
your $40 worth? You could never give as much to the Church as
you receive from her. God assures us that He will not allow Him-
self to be outdone in generosity ; but remember, "He who soweth
sparingly, will also reap sparingly."
M !i8. M
r9^ ^^r <9^
MASONRY AS THE DEPOSITOR OF "DIVINE TRUTH."
The eighth degree or that of Royal Master is as persistent as
i;he others in urging on us the nature of the quest of Masonr5^
"Throughout all the symbolism of Masonry," we read on p. 508
of Mackey's Ritualist, "from the first to the last degree, the
search for the Word has been considered but as a symbolic ex-
pression for the search after Truth. The attainment of thisTruth
has always been acknowledged to be the great object and design
of all Masonic labor. Divine Truth — the knowledge of God — con-
cealed in the old Cabalistic doctrine, under the symbol of his
Ineffable Name, and typified in the Masonic system, under the
*) We reproduce the above chapter from Fr.
Coppens' latest book, "A Systematic Study of the
Catholic Religion' (B. Herder), both for its in-
trinsic value and to give our readers a speci-
men of the reverend author's style and method
of treatment. What follows is taken (with a
few verbal changes) from 'Kind Words From
Your Pastor,' by Rev. J. F. Noll, also reviewed
in this No. of The Review. a. P.
548 The Review. 1903.
mystical expression of the True Word, is the reward proposed to
every Mason who has faithfully wrought his task. It is, in short,
the "Master's wages."
Do not marvel, dear reader, that Masonry seeks the knowledge
of divine truth — the nature and essence of God — from old Caba-
listic and pagan sources. Masonry, in its works, is never
ashamed of such parentage. The interpretation of the "Blazing
Star"' as the Star of Bethlehem was "too sectarian" for the uni-
versal religion of Masonry ; a pagan school or a Jewish sect suits
it perfectly ! Remark, moreover, that the true Word of Masonry
is not the true Word of St. John in his Gospel, for this Word is the
Word made flesh in Bethlehem ; a Word too sectarian, as we have
seen, for Masonry. Besides, it is plain that Christ is not the
Word to be sought from the progenitors of the Craft, pagan phil-
osophers or Jewish mystics. Nevertheless as we seek "the Word
that was made flesh," and as this search constitutes the essence
of Christianity, so Masonry indulges in its own search after its
own word, and makes this the essence of its religion. A further
citation, though a little lengthy, will throw additional light on the
question of Masonry's religion and the Masonic concept of divine
truth.
"In all the initiations into the mysteries of the ancient world,"
says our Ritualist, p. 509, "there was, as is well known to schol-
ars, a legend of the violent death of some distinguished person-
age, to whose memory the particular mystery was consecrated ;
of the concealment of the body and its subsequent discovery.
The part of the initiation which referred to the concealment of
the body was called the 'aphanism, ' from the Greek word which
signifies 'to conceal'; and that part which referred to the subse-
quent finding was called the 'euresis,' from another Greek verb
which signifies 'to discover.' It is impossible to avoid seeing the
coincidence between this system of initiation and that practised
in the Masonry of the third degree. But the ancient initiation
was not terminated by the euresis or discovery. Up to that time
the ceremonies had been funereal or lugubrious in their character.
But now they were changed from wailing to rejoicing. Other
ceremonies were performed by which the restoration of the per-
sonage to life or his apotheosis or change to immortality, was rep-
resented, and then came the autopsy or illumination of the neo-
phyte when he was invested with a full knowledge of all the relig-
ious doctrines which it was the object and design of the ancient
mysteries to teach — when, in a word, he was instructed in Divine
Truth."
The Ritualist deserves our sincerest thanks for speaking to us
so plainly. The mysteries of which it treats, and with which the
No. 35. The Review. 549
coincidence of Masonry is so evident that it can not but be per-
ceived, are the old pagan mysteries of the East : and these,
Masonry tells us, were the mediums of "Divine Truth" to man.
In the autopsy or illumination which they contained, the neophyte
"was invested with a full knowledge of all the relig-ious doctrines
which it was the object and design of the ancient mysteries to
teach — he was, in a word, instructed in divine truth,"
But let us continue the quotation :
. "Now a similar course is pursued in Masonry. Here also there
is an illumination, a symbolical teaching, or, as we call it, an in-
vestiture with that which is the representative of Divine Truth.
The communication to the candidate in the Master's degree of
that which is admitted to be merely a representation of or a sub-
stitute for that symbol of Divine Truth, the search for which un-
der the name of the true word makes so important a part of the
degree, however imperfect it may be, in comparison with that
more thorough knowledge which only future researches can en-
able the Master Mason to attain, constitutes the autopsy of the
third degree. Now the principal event recorded in the degree of
Royal Master, the interview between Adoniram and his two Royal
Masters, is to be placed precisely at that juncture of time which
is between the euresis or discovery in the Master Mason's degree
and the autopsy or investiture with the great secret. It occurred
between the discovery, by means of the sprig of acacia, and the
final interment."
When discussing, in a former paper, the quotation from the
prophet Ezechiel relative to the letter tau, we mentioned "the
branch" of Masonry as identical with that reprobated by the pro-
phet. Have some perhaps thought that we were drawing on our
imagination? Listen to what our author has to say on the sub-
ject in his 'Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry,' pp. 8-9, under the
heading "Acacia":
"In all the ancient initiations and religious mysteries there was
some plant peculiar to each which was consecrated by its own
esoteric meaning and which occupied an important position in the
celebration of the rites, so that the plant, whatever it might be,
from its constant and prominent use in the ceremonies of initia-
tion, came at length to be adopted as the symbol of that initiation.
Thus the lettuce was the sacred plant which assumed the place
of the acacia in the mysteries of Adonis. The lotus was that of
the Brahaminical rites of India and from them adopted by the
Egyptians. The Egyptians also revered the erica or heath ; and
the mistletoe was a mystical plant among the Druids. And, last-
ly, the myrtle performed the same office of symbolism in the
mysteries of Greece that the lotus did in Egypt or the mistletoe
among the Druids.
550 The Review. 1903.
"In all these ancient mysteries while the sacred plant was a sym-
bol of initiation, the initiation itself was symbolic of the resurrec-
tion to a future life and of the immortality of the soul. In this
view, Freemasonry is to us now in the place of the ancient initia-
tions, and the acacia is substituted for the lotus, the erica, the.
ivy, the mistletoe and the myrtle. The lesson of wisdom is the
same — the medium of imparting it is all that has been changed."
We shall not at present dwell further on the subject, lest we need-
lessly prolong our present series of articles, which has but this one
point in view — to prove that Masonry is a religion. Another quo-
tation, therefore, and we are done. It will be from the ninth or
last degree, that, namely, of Select Master.
"The great object of all Masonic labor," repeats our author, pp.
549-550, "is divine truth. The search for the lost word is the
search for truth. But divine truth is synonymous with God. The
Ineffable Name is a symbol of truth because God is truth. It is
properly a scriptural idea If then God is truth and the stone
of foundation is the Masonic symbol of God, it follows that it must
also be the symbol of divine truth. When we have arrived at thi&
point in our speculations, we are ready to show how all the myths
and legends of the stone of foundation may be rationally explained
as parts of that beautiful 'science of morality, veiled in allegory
and illustrated by symbols,' which is the acknowledged definition
of Freemasonry.
"In the Masonic system there are two temples ; the first temple^
in which the degrees of ancient Craft Masonry are concerned,
and the second temple with which the higher degrees and espec-
ially the Royal Arch, are related. The first temple is symbolic of
the present life ; the second temple is symbolic of the life to come.
The first temple, the present life must be destroyed ; on its
foundations the second temple, the life eternal, must be built. . . .
"But although the present life is necessarily built upon the
foundations of truth, yet we never thoroughly attain it in this
sublunary sphere. The foundation stone is concealed in the first
temple, and the Master Mason knows it not. He has not the true
word. He receives only a substitute.
"But in the second temple of the future life we have passed
from the grave which had been the end of our labors in the first.
We have removed the rubbish and have found that stone of founda-
tion which had hitherto been concealed from our eyes. We now
throw aside the substitute for truth which had contented us in
the former temple and the brilliant effulgence of the tetragram-
maton and the stone of foundation are discovered and henceforth
we are possessors of the true word — of divine truth. And in this
way the stone of foundation or divine truth concealed in the first
No. 35. The Review. 551
temple, but discovered and broug-ht to light in the second, will
explain the passage of the Apostle : 'For now we see through a
glass darkly ; but then face to face ; now I know in part, but then
shall I know even as also I am known.' And so we arrive at this
result, that the Masonic stone of foundation, so conspicuous in
the degree of Select Master is a symbol of divine truth upon which
all speculative Masonry is built, and the legends and traditions
which refer to it are intended to describe in an allegorical way
the progress of truth in the soul, the search for which is a
Mason's labor, and the discovery of which is to be his reward."
With this quotation let us for the time being quit "the sacred
retreat" (p. 551), the "holy ground" (p. 23) of the lodge, to recover
somewhat from "the shock of entrance" and the subsequent out-
spoken avowals of Masonry.
sr ag* sr
BOOK REVIEWS.
A Systematic Study of the Catholic Religion, by Charles Coppens,
S. J. Author of Lectures on Moral Principles and Medical Prac-
tice, and Text-Books on Logic and Metaphysics, Moral Philoso-
phy, Oratory, Rhetoric. St. Louis, Mo. 1903. Published by B.
Herder, 17 S. Broadway. xiii+370 pp. 5)<X7^in. Price,
retail, $1.
This new manual of our holy religion combines brevity with
clearness, fulness, and correctness of doctrine. Just such a
compendium has long been needed in our colleges, where it is the
received practice to teach religion to the more advanced students
by lectures rather than recitations from text-books. The rever-
end author, whose knack of writing ideal college text-books is un-
surpassed, has in this volume followed the general scheme of
Hunter's 'Outlines of Dogmatic Theology' and used much of the
special information contained in that very able work. With his
usual ability and painstaking diligence, assisted by his long ex-
perience as a teacher, he has succeeded in constructing a manual
which will not only render excellent service as a text-book for class
recitation, but also as a means of private study without the aid of
any teacher.
Kind Words From 7'oitr Pastor. By Rev. John F. Noll, New Haven,
Ind. 71 pages. 5X6>4in. Price, $4 per 1,000.
These are heart-to-heart talks of a zealous pastor with his peo-
ple. They comprise chapters on many practical subjects, such
as church support, the parochial school, mixed marriages, secret
societies, etc., and we are pleased to say, are thoroughly sound in
doctrine. The style, however, might be improved. The circula-
tion of a pamphlet like this in any parish must be productive of
good results.
552
A GERMAN CRITICISM OF BISHOP SPALDING.
Rev. P. Alexander Baurngfartner, S. J., a scholar of international
repute and the leading Catholic authorit}^ on the life and literary
works of Goethe, in the current (sixth) fascicle of the justly-
famous Stimmen aus Alaria-Laach, reviews the German edition of
Rt. Rev. Bishop J. L. Spalding's 'Opportunity.'*) He says : —
"Culture," "civilization," "progress," "liberty," "science," "edu-
cation," "person," "love" — are the catch-words which stand out
from these addresses like fire-balls in a brilliant shower of sparks.
We are nowhere clearly told what these catch-words mean, nor
does the author present or prove any definite theses with regard
to their signification. We have a chain of glittering thoughts,
ruled by esprit and sentiment rather than calm thinking. At one
moment we imagine we are reading Ruskin, then Emerson ; again
we are faintly reminded of the very latest French apologetics,
mixed with aphorisms from Montaigne and Rousseau, Bacon and
Kant, Wordsworth and Goethe. Real Catholic thinkers and poets
are hardly ever quoted, except in so far as the modern world will
accept them, or as they seem to approach modern views by some
occasional utterance. The Middle Ages lie far, far behind these
283 pages, t) buried in deepest gloom ; it is only with the nineteenth
century that those "achievements" begin which "thrill us with a
sense of gratitude and wonder," "In its hundred years man has
made greater progress than in any preceding thousand" (p. 45.)
Not only in the natural sciences : "It is especially in the matter of
education that the superiority of one age over all others is most
manifest." The strangest thing of all is that "Goethe as educa-
tor" forms the height of modern achievement. Of the ten ad-
dresses comprising this volume, two (one-sixth of the whole book)
are devoted to him in this role, while the following sings his
praises as a "patriot." "Goethe, who never utters a foolish thing,
says that in time of peace patriotism properly consists merely in
this, — that each one sweep before his own door, attend to his own
business, learn his own lesson, that it may be well in his own
household, etc." (pp. 199-200.)
Every one knows that Goethe did not succeed rn educating
Christiana Vulpius, whom he received into his house in 1788, and
married in 1806, to write orthographically, much less to partici-
pate actively in his spiritual life. It is equally well known how
fatal a purely aesthetic home training proved to his son August.
Hundreds, aye thousands have allowed the example and unlimited
fame of Goethe to confirm and soothe them in the fatal view that
a man may attain the highest degree of culture, may live a life
most eminently human, and derive therefrom the greatest possible
amount of gratification — without positive Christianit5\ "Goethe,"
says Cardinal Hergenrother, "who was equally eminent in nearly
every branch of poetry, filled his readers with enthusiasm for the
ancient culture of Greece and for earthly beauty ; he was a
*) Opportunity and Other Essays and Ad-
dresses by J. L. Spalding, Bishop of Peoria.
Second Edition. Chicago: A. C. McClurg & Co.
1901. (Our quotations are from this edition.;
The German edition: Gelegenheit. Anreden
t> 228 in the English edition.
des Msgr. J. L. Spalding. Bischofs von Peoria
(Nordamerika). Autorisierte Uebersetzung aus
dem Englischen von Isidor Heneka, Missions-
priester. Mit dem Portrait des Verfassers.
Munchen: Schuh & Cie. 1903.
No. 35. The Review. 553
thoroug-h-g-oing naturalist, declared himself to be no Christian,
and even hated Christian ideas. In his writings we have every-
where plastic perfection, sensual delight, variety of pleasures,
unmeasured deification of the poet's own eg'o; but no understand-
ing of the life of nations, the sublimity of divine revelation
and the Church ; no trace of the fear of God and that divine love
which inspired the medieval minnesingers." This being the case,
the Catholics of America and of the whole world should have been
spared the unreasonable demand to receive "Goethe as educator."
We must call it a serious mistake that these essays and addresses
have been turned into German. By their haziness, their mixing of
Catholic and "modern" ideas, of the truth with falsehood and in-
accuracy, they can do only harm. Whosoever feels an inclination
to read them, should not neglect to take the well-known address
of Bishop Dr. Keppler of Rottenburg as an antidote.
On the subject of "university education," by the way, these ad-
dresses betray equally queer views as on "seminary training,"
which of course does not fit in with "Goethe as educator." Thus
we read on page 91 :
"Disputes of theologians, like all quarrels, interest mainly the
participants ; others they annoy or scandalize. They spring less
from the love of truth than from the narrow and unsympathetic
temper which is often found in the professional mind and which
has wrought infinite evil in the world. Medicine, law, and theol-
ogy, when followed simply with a view to practice, are not liberal
studies ; they rather restrict the mental horizon and subdue the
mind to what it works in, unless it first be rendered supple, open,
and luminous by philosophy, which is liberal knowledge, a gentle-
man's knowledge, and a chief scope of university teaching."
It is hardly possible that the Rt. Rev. author means to refer
here to the Scholastic philosophy, which includes in its method
as an essential feature the form of disputation. He does not
tell us what kind of a philosophy it is that constitutes the knowl-
edge of a gentleman. The professional representatives of the
various sciences will no doubt be very thankful to His Lordship
for striking them from the list of gentlemen. We suppose Ralph
Waldo Emerson and Goethe will have to take the place of St.
Thomas, for the benefit of the ladies.
Thus P. Baumgartner. This crushing criticism, and the praise
recently accorded toMsgr.Spalding's writings by such arch-liberal
and anti-Catholic papers as the Cologne Gazette, (which declared
among other things that in Europe a Catholic bishop could not
utter such ideas and sentiments without exposing himself to
general and severe criticism by his fellow-Catholics) have, we
fear, annihilated completely whatever long-distance reputation
His Lordship of Peoria may have previously enjoyed in Catholic
Germany.
554
A NEW PLAN FOR OLD AGE PENSIONS.
Commander Frederick Booth Tucker, head of the Salvation
Army in America, has recently addressed a circular letter to
various railroad companies and other large corporations, setting"
forth in detail a plan for an old age pension system, which, he
says, would do away with all difficulties on that question.
His idea is that the money now expended in old-age pensions
by the great corporations and in military pensions by the govern-
ment, would bring a far greater income to the pensioners and
would impose a far less burden on the payers, if expended in
scientific colonization of the beneficiaries. He is led to this con-
clusion by the results of the last four years in the three farm col-
onies of the Army — Fort Amity in Colorado, Fort Romie in Cali-
fornia, and Fort Herrick in Ohio.
The land at Amity, valued at $81,000, when the Army purchased
and resold it to the colonists in 1899, has now a market value of
$200,000. Individual colonists have sold for $200 an acre land
which they bought in 1899 from the Army for $40. The land at
Romie has increased from $53,000 to $75,000, and that at Herrick
from $14,000 to $20,000.
The first colonists reached Amity in the spring of 1899. The
increased value which their residence and labor has given the land^
has already insured the Army against loss, should the colonists
never make another payment. It has only to take back the land
and sell it at its increased valuation to more than recoup itself
for all outlay. But there is no necessity for doing anything of
the kind. Colonists who arrived penniless at Amity four years
ago, without any property except their household goods, are to-
day occupying little farms of their own, free from incumbrance,,
having discharged their entire debt to the Army. One man has
a twenty-acre farm, with a neat stone cottage erected by himself.
He paid his debt to the Army, amounting to $900, in three years,
besides supporting himself, a wife, and three children, and build-
ing his house. The Business Men's Club at Amity last year
turned over $200,000, and paid $50,000 in freight. This fact alone
demonstrates, to Commander Booth Tucker, how the railroads
could build up communities of freight payers along their lines out
of their own pensioners.
These colonists were supplied with railroad fare for themselves
and families to the colony. They were given the land, the imple-
ments to work it, the seed to plant, and the animals to stock it,
and a roof to cover their heads until they could build their own
houses, without a dollar of payment down. But every cent of it
was a charge against them. The Army had borrowed the capital.
No. 35, The Review. 555
and was under strict necessity of getting- its money back, although
at no time did it desire to make any money out of the colonists.
The Army has found the average cost to be $500 apiece to settle
these families and put the bread-winner in a position to cultivate
his land. It is on this basis of $500 apiece that Commander Booth
Tucker figures out his pension plan.
To recommend his scheme still more, the Salvation Army leader
shows the enormous amount of money required by the Carnegie
scheme, our own and England's old soldiers' pensions, as also by
the old age pensions of Germany, and withal their inefi&ciency to
grant full relief. But Mr. Booth Tucker forgets that in his plan
no cripple can be relieved ; he forgets, too, that men who up to the
age of 50 or 60 have not done farm work, will not be quite ready
to undertake it then, or if they undertake it, will likely make a
failure of it.
This scheme may prove successful under certain conditions
and thus help to solve the old age pension question, but it will hard-
ly be considered by railroads and other large corporations as the
solution of a problem w^hich is giving them much concern.
, sr ar sf
THE -ROMAN CATHOLIC MUTUAL PROTECTIVE SOCIETY
OF IOWA."
This organization was incorporated November, 1899, under the
assessment laws of Iowa. Its constitution and by-laws were re-
cently submitted to The Review for an opinion regarding its
merits from an insurance point of view.
We regret the somewhat ambiguous language of the stipulations
in the pamphlet submitted to us, for instance in the articles of
incorporation, §4 : "The private property of the members shall
not be liable for any debts or liabilities of the society. The
amount of indebtedness shall in no case exceed one hundred
dollars "
Whose liability is here .restricted ? Can the society not go into
debt for more than one hundred dollars ? Or is the members' ob-
ligation limited to that amount ? Then again, in article IV. of the
constitution, under the head "Funds," we read : "The Beneficiary
Fund shall consist of assessments paid by each member with the
initiation fee and afterwards on the death of each member (as
provided in section 3 hereof) . . . . " Now in section 3 we find : "The
assessments for the Beneficiary Fund shall be made as follows :
Three full assessments are to be made on the first of each month
on all members in good standing."
The question naturally arises : Must a member pay 3 assess-
556 The Review. 1903
ments each month, making 36 a year, regardless of the number
of deaths, or is a threefold assessment to be levied on the first of
the month following- the death of a member with no limitation as
to number? A correct answer will give an opportunity of figur-
ing on the the possible cost per member, since a table of graded
assessments for the different ages is attached.
If the item of cost is uncertain, the benefit payable in case of a
member's death to the beneficiary is still more so. Section 6 headed
"Death Beneficiary" is quoted here in full :
"Upon the death of a full-rate member of the society, there
shall be paid to the person or persons legally entitled thereto a
sum equal to one general assessment, less 10% for the sinking
fund. Upon the death of a half rate member, one half of one gen-
eral assessment, less 10% for the Sinking Fund ; but in no case
shall the amount so paid exceed $2,000 for full rate members,
or $1,000 for half rate members."
To discuss such a proposition from a life insurance point of
view, is simply impossible. The society does not assume any ob-
ligation for a stated amount, but merely agrees to collect a "gen-
eral assessment" (whatever that may mean) and hand over the
proceeds, less 10% for a sinking fund, provided such proceeds
do not exceed $2,000 and $1,000 for full and half-rate members
respectively. No minimum amount is given, so the result de-
pends entirely upon the willingness of the members to respond to
an assessment call, and as the members under article IV. of the
constitution are exempt from liability for any debts of the society,
failure to respond means merely the loss of money to the hopeful
beneficiary, who will correspondingly gain in valuable experience
regarding the workings of "mutual life insurance."
A system of that description may be organized charity, but it
certainly is not life insurance. If the members of this society
understand the full meaning of the certificates given to them,
well and good ; but if they are under the impression that they
hold policies of life insurance, it is the plain duty of their officers
to promptly inform them of the true state of affairs, in order to
avoid disastrous consequences and deserved censure.
S* 5^ ^
Loring says in his 'Orators of Boston' (p. 19) that he recollects
seeing the "Procession of the Pope and the Devil" on the anniver-
sary of the Gunpowder Plot as late as 1774, at Taunton, Massa-
chusetts. "Effigies of these two illustrious personages," he de-
clares, "were paraded around the Common, and this was perhaps
the last exhibition of the kind in our country." (See some inter-
esting notes on Pope-Day in America in No. 3 of Griffin's Histori-
cal Researches. )
557
MINOR TOPICS.
The Ancient Fable of Count Gleichen and His "Tripartite" Marriage
has been revamped by the Chicago Tribune. A subscriber sends
us a cutting from that paper's issue of August 28th, with a re-
quest to state the facts. The cutting reads :
"Count Gleichen, who lies buried in the Cathedral of Erfurt,
is on record as having been the only Christian nobleman who ever
enjoyed the sacramental privilege from the Roman Catholic
Church of being married to and living with two wives at the same
time. Indeed, the tomb of the count in the Erfurt Cathedral re-
presents him as kneeling between his two wives.
"The old Count had been a crusader and having been taken pris-
oner was set at liberty by the Sultan's daughter on the condition
that he would take her with him in his flight and marry her ac-
cording to the rites of his own religion. Beggars can not afford
to be choosers, so the Count consented, and on reaching Europe
went to Rome to consult the Pope as to what he was to do, having
already a wife in Germany. The Holy Father, after due consid-
eration, decided that the Count must fulfill his pledges, all the
more as the Turkish princess had promised to become a Chris-
tian if the Count married her. Together the couple proceeded
to Germany, where the German countess, realizing that but for
the Saracen princess she would never have seen her beloved hus-
band again, consented to the tripartite union sanctioned by the
Pope, the three living together happily ever afterwards."
Those who have the 'Geschichtsliigen' or Bollinger's 'Papst-
fabeln des Mittelalters' need not be told by The Review that
this story of Count Gleichen is a venerable and oft-exploded hoax.
But it seems these useful books are rare in America, and so it
may be worth while to comply with our friend's request.
The value of the fable for anti-Catholic writers and readers lies
in the alleged papal dispensation permitting bigamy. The facts
are said to have occurred towards the middle of the thirteenth
century, but there is no mention of them anywhere before the
beginning of the sixteenth. Johannes Janssen has proved that
Philip of Hesse mentioned the case of the alleged Gleichen dis-
pensation in his request (which was granted) to Luther and Mel-
anchthon to allow him to cohabit with two women. (Gesch. d.
deutschen Volkes, iii, 403 sq.) Schauerte shows in his work 'Die
Doppelehe eines Grafen von Gleichen' (Frankfort on the Main,
1883) how the fable spread and grew, and how contradictory the
various versions of it are in nearly every detail.
The tomb in the Cathedral of Erfurt, representing a man be-
tween two women, proves nothing. Already Bayle said in his
famous 'Dictionnaire' (tom. ii, art. "Gleichen") that it may just as
well mean that the man buried there was married twice in suc-
cession. Dollinger thinks ('Papstfabeln,' p. 35) that the figures
on the tomb really gave rise to the fable itself, and he adds in a
note that Placidus Muth of Erfurt has shown it to be very prob-
able that the mpnument in the Erfurt dome is that of a Count of
Gleichen who died in 1494, after having had two wives in succes-
sion.
The authors of the 'Geschichtsliigen' conclude their chapter on
558 The Review. 1903.
this subject as follows : "Nevertheless the 'pilgri mages' to the
Erfurt Cathedral will not cease so soon, and the pathetic story-
will continue to be believed by those into whose world-view such
fables fit. On the other hand, every sensible man will see that
this fable, which was intended as a weapon against the Holy
See, and calculated at the same time to excuse the conduct of the
Reformers which violated both divine and human law, is nothing
but one of the numerous lies of history."
About Pius X. — From an Italian clergyman who is well acquainted
with the new Pontiff we have this information : "It was by an
evident intervention of divine Providence that Giuseppe Sarto
was elected to the papacy, for a supreme effort had been made to
bring about the election of another cardinal, which would have
proved unfortunate. The new Pope is sincerely pious and filled
with great zeal. He is not a savant, but has always held the safest
doctrines and kept aloof from dangerous movements. He is very
good, very sweet-tempered, has never been engaged in great con-
troversies and does not love them; but he will perform his duty ac-
cording to the dictates of his conscience, without human respect.
He is no "diplomat" and will not engage in diplomatic dealings.
He has no love for the innovators, though a few of the more mod-
erate of them number among his friends. From the height of St.
Peter's chair he will surely see farther and deeper than he has
been able to see hitherto. Certain American coryphaei may pos-
sibly succeed in gaining his favor for a while, but it is not very
probable ; and if it should happen, they will most assuredly not
hold it long."
"Non Talibus Auxiliis." — The question of the appointment of an-
other cardinal in this country seems to be agitating various clerics
in the Province of New York, if one may judge from the articles
appearing from time to time in the Sun laudatory of Arch-
bishop Farley and evidently inspired by his friends, who appar-
ently desire to create a public opinion favorable to his appointment.
The latest of these emanations, appearing in the Stm on August
25th, reports what "several prominent visiting prelates" said, and
especially what "one of the bishops" told the reporter, as well as
what "one of the monsignori" stated. Included in the statement
of one of the bishops (name not given) were the following remarks:
"On the other hand there are personal reasons why Pope Pius
would probably prefer the honor to come to New York's Metro-
politan. Archbishop Farley has been practically the founder and
for many years the head of the work of the St, Vincent de Paul
Society which is the pride of Pope Pius' life. What Archbishop
Farley has done in founding and spreading this work for the poor
in New York has been duplicated in Venice by the Pontiff when
he was Cardinal Sarto."
These statements, notwithstanding their respectable origin,
were not allowed to pass unchallenged. We find a spirited pro-
test in the Sun of September 2nd, from which we cull a few sen-
tences :
"When we are told in the Sun of the 25th that Archbishop
Farley is to be chosen Cardinal, according to the opinion of cer-
tain "visiting prelates" (unnamed), whom it quotes, and whose
wish is evidently father to the thought, we make no comment.
No. 35. The Reviews?. 559
Perhaps these gentlemen have advance information on the sub-
ject and their prediction may be correct. But when, in addition,
we read that one, if not the chief reason, why the Holy Father
should select Msgr. Farley for this high honor, is that the Arch-
bishop "has been practically the founder" of the St. Vincent de
Paul Society, we Catholics of an older generation, who know what
the great Archbishop John Hughes did in this Diocese, are bound,
in justice to his memory and in the interest of truth, to deny that
Archbishop Farley founded this great charitable society, and we
assert that the credit and the merit of this good work belongs of
right to Archbishop Hughes, who established the society in this
Diocese in the year 1848."
Follows a letter of recommendation addressed to his people by
Archbishop Hughes in 1848, together with statistics showing the
growth of the society under his administration.
Archbishop Farley's friends are hardly serving him to advantage
when their indiscreet praise provokes such a reply. Passing that
question, is it necessary that there should be so much drum-
beating to reconcile New Yorkers to the idea of their Archbishop
being made a Cardinal?
•km
The Denver Catholic (Aug. 15th) claims that The Review, in
its article on the C. M. B. A. in No. 31, did not quote the rates cor-
rectly, and as usual, calls us all sorts of names, of which "ignor-
amus" is the least offensive. For the information of our readers
we copy here the explanatory lines in our article :
" and last the charges of the C. M. B. A. according to Mr.
Brown's statement. We do not know whether he has quoted the
C. M. B. A. rates correctly, but if so, the rates are much too low
for safety."
Logically, all the remarks of the Denver Catholic addressed to
The Review, apply to Mr. Brown, whose article was printed in
the official organ of the C. M. B. A. without any comment or cor-
rection by the editor of that journal. Under these circumstances
we shall hereafter ignore any statement made by the Denver
Catholic or the C. M. B. A. News, and confine ourselves to the dis-
cussion of insurance matters on the basis of official reports from
the various insurance departments and such information as may
be furnished by the officers of the societies referred to over their
signatures in an official capacity.
President Roosevelt addressed recently the Holy Name Society
of Brooklyn with a sermon on"Strenuous Christianity." For an as-
sembly of pupils of a military school the talk might have been ap-
propriate, but for Catholic adults it sounds strange to be told that
"We have good Scriptural authority for the statement that it is
not what comes into a man's mouth, but what goes out of it, that
counts."
Evidently the laws of "fast and abstinence" would not find favor
in Mr. Roosevelt's eyes.
Again, " Life to be worth living, must be a life of active
and hard work."
Most of the Saints in the calendar would be deprived of their
560 The Review. 1903.
crowns in heaven, if the President's standard were to prevail there.
To expect from the members of a relig"ious society organized
for the main purpose of reducing- profanity in speech, that their
work should make them "fitter to fight in time of war," is only
another illustration of Mr. Roosevelt's tact and his wonderful
conception of "the eternal fitness of things."
Under the heading, "Cheating the Indians," the daily press is
discussing extensive frauds practised upon the Indian Rights As-
sociation. "The Indians have been fleeced mercilessly by sharp-
ers. This has been done with the knowledge, if not with the ac-
tual complicity, of the representatives of the government." So
says the Philadelphia Record^ and closes with the observation :
"There seems to be no part of the federal service that does not
need a legal overhauling."
Bearing in mind the evidences of corruption in army and navy
contracts during the American-Spanish war, the scandals in the
postal service recently discovered, the condition of affairs exist-
ing in the Pension Bureau, it were indeed interesting to know, if
there is any branch of the federal service "above suspicion."
Even Justice David J. Brewer of the Supreme Court of the
United States is amused at the "diplomacy" of President Roose-
velt in dealing with Russia. He says in an article contributed to
Leslie's Weekly:
"Our government recently forwarded to Russia a petition in
respect to alleged atrocities committed upon the Jews. That
government, as might have been expected, unwilling to have its
internal affairs a matter of consideration by other governments,
declined to receive the petition. If, instead of so doing, it had re-
plied that it would put a stop to all such atrocities when this gov-
ernment puts a stop to lynchings, what could we have said?"
That the petition was a bid for the "Jewish vote," and nothing
else intended.
At the recent convention of the Federation of the German Cath-
olic Societies of California, in San Francisco, Archbishop Mont-
gomery delivered a sermon, in which he said (California Volks-
fretmd, Sept, 4th): "The schools are not divine, as the Church is
a divine institution, but in order that we may profit by the truth,
we must take the means to the end, and, as practical Catholics,
recognize the parochial schools as a necessity. I say not this be-
cause I am speaking to you ; the German Catholics of the United
States have set an example even in the matter of parochial schools
for their children ; they deserve this public recognition, which I
gladly give, and I hope and trust you may continue in the good
work."
According to the Philadelphia Record (August 27th) Bishop
Dougherty of Nueva Segovia, P. I., on his way to his new field of
labor, "will confer with Archbishop Ireland at St, Paul regarding
a Philippine policy." We do not know if he has done so, but make
bold to enquire : Since when has Archbishop Ireland any exper-
ience or authority in insular matters?
If ilbe IReview. ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., September 24, 1903. No. 36.
MVST GREEK GO?
'^T is painful and discouraging- to find expressions like this
in an otherwise well-meaning Catholic newspaper :
"Yale will no longer require Greek for matriculation.
When will our Catholic colleges give up that dead corpse of a
language? If the Jesuits in this country were not dominated by
the leaders of the society in Europe, they would probably drop
Greek and otherwise make their curriculum up to date according
to American ideas. But sooner or later, Greek must go !" — Cai/i-
olic Columbian, No. 27.
What a deplorable lack of insight, not only into the "Ratio
studiorum" of the Jesuit order, but into the fundamental prin-
ciples of higher education, especially of Catholic higher educa-
tion, these lines betray I
"Be it remarked," says Fr. Schwickerath in his recently pub-
lished, admirable volume on 'Jesuit Education, its History and
Principles, Viewed in the Line of Modern Educational Problems,'
(p. 331), "that the Society (of Jesus) upholds the classical curricu-
lum (of which Greek is an essential part), not because this is the
old traditional system, but because it has so far proved the best
means of training the mind, which is the one great end of education.
The various branches of studies are the means to this end.
Should other mean? prove better than the classical languages, the
Jesuits would not hesitate to accept them They would not
have to change their system, they would apply it only to the new
branches. And the much lauded new method of teaching modern
languages by practice and exercise, is essentially what the 'Ratio
studiorum' has insisted on all along. However, the Jesuits are
not so short-sighted as to claim for the classical studies the edu-
cational monopoly which these studies held in former ages. It
can not be denied that the so-called modern high school, which
562
The Review.
1903.
has a curriculum of English, some other modern languages, mathe-
matics, and natural sciences, answers to particular needs of our
age. It is especially fitted for those who want to devote only a
few years to study after the completion of the elementary course.
For this reason the Jesuits have opened in various countries such
'modern high schools,' v. g., the Institut S. Ignace, Antwerp. In
some of these schools they employ for many branches secular
professional teachers Still they think that the best i> repara-
tion for the professions and for all -who wish to exert a far-reaching
intiuence on their fellow-men^ is the complete classical course^ to-
gether with mathematics, histor5% and a certain amount of natural
sciences. They think, and wi*th much reason, that the classical
studies even at present should form the back-hone of liberal education.
They think, with many other prominent educators, that the hu-
manistic studies train the man^ whereas the sciences train the
specialist."
If the editor of the Catholic Columbian desires modern testi-
mony in favor of the study of the classics, testimony not from
professors of the classical languages, who might be looked upon
in this matter as prejudiced witnesses, but from teachers of
mathematics, modern languages, natural sciences, and medicine,
let him turn to pages 333 sq. of Fr. Schwickeratb's book, where he
will find the practical value of a classical training set forth with
irresistible conviction.
The Columbian'^s query about "that dead corpse of a language"'
(Greek) is clearly inspired by the utilitarian point of view which
is peculiar to worshippers of the golden calf, but entirely un-
worthy of a gentleman and a scholar, particularly a Catholic
scholar, who, especially if he is a journalist, should rise himself,
and strive to raise his readers, to higher conceptions of life.
"Too much has the spirit of the market-place invaded the field
of education ; and the interests of a liberal training have too often
been sacrificed to an insatiate commercialism. Is the highest
goal of intellectual and social life nothing but the rearing of a few
millionaires? No, there must be a higher aim of education, for
the nation as well as the individual. A nation that aims at noth-
ing but industrial and commercial expansion, (as our American
nation does*), neglecting the higher ideals of mankind, may flour-
ish for a time, but will not contribute much to real civilization.
*) Teste Bishop Spalding: "Whereas the teu-
dency of true civilization and religion is to
convert the struggle for life into cooperation
for life, inio work of all for all, that all may
have those inner goods which make men wise,
holy, beautiful, and strong :— whereas this is
the tendency of right civilization, our greed,
our superstitious belief in money as the only
true God and Saviour of man, hurries us on
■with increasing speed into all the venalities,
dishonesties, and corruptions, into all the
tricks and trusts by which the people are dis-
heartened and impoverished. We are hypno-
tized by the glitter and glare, the pomp and
circumstance of wealth, and are becoming in-
capable of a rational view of life." ('Oppor-
tunity.' pp. '219-20).
No. 36. The Review. 563
History has proved tbis. Take the Carthagenians ; for a consid-
able leng-th of time they held the commercial supremacy among-
the nations. Even intellect there was in the service of capital.
The economical principles of a later and more advanced epoch are
found by us in Carthage alone of all the more considerable states
of antiquity. (Mommsen, 'History of Rome,' ii, 1.) But not this
'nation of shop-keepers' has civilized the world, but poor Greece,
whose culture, continued into the literature of Rome, together
with the studies which it involves, has been the instrument of ed-
ucation and the food of civilization from the first times of the
world down to this day. (Card. Newman, Idea of a University').
May we not find a lesson in this fact ? This country has made
marvelous strides in industrial and commercial enterprise, but
should it not aim at becoming a leader in the world of science,
literature, and art? In order to assume this leadership, the coun-
try must aim at thoroughness in education and at solid, produc-
ti"^e scholarship. Now, so far the classical studies have proved
the best basis or thorough education and solid scholarship, and
doubtless will continue to do so in the future. The inference
from this seems to be evident." (Idem, ibid., 342-3.)
The study of the classics furnishes a threefold training : logical,
which leads to clear and correct thinking, to close and sharp rea-
soning; /z/^/r/nVa/, (Arnold e. g. says : "Expel Greek and Latin
from your schools, and you confine the views of the existing gen-
eration to themselves and their immediate predecessors, you will
cut off so many centuries of the world's experience, and place us
in the same state as if the human race had first come into exist-
ence in the year 1500"); and, thirdly, literary 2LnA (esthetic, because
it opens the mind to the productions of the greatest masterpieces
of all ages. (Schwickerath develops these points on pp. 346 sq.
of his above-quoted work.)
It is precisely of 'Greek literature that Cardinal Newman, whom
the Columbian cherishes and loves to quote, says ('Idea of a Univer-
sity,' p. 261) that it, "continued into, and enriched by, the litera-
ture of Rome, together with the studies which it involves, has
been the instrument of education and the food of civilization, from
the first times of the world down to this day."
We can not absorb this "food of civilization" except we possess
a knowledge of the Greek language. The Coliimhian may object
that a good translation of the great Greek authors will give us all
the advantages we may derive from the study of the originals.
But this is by no means the case, as every classical scholar will
attest. "Translations are at best what the reproduction of a
grammophone is compared with the original concert or solo." As
Father Jouvancv has well observed : "Translations of Greek au-
564 The Review. 1903.
thors, even if they are accurate, seldom render the force, beauty,
and other striking- qualities of the original. It is always better to
draw drinking water from the source ; the further it runs from
the source, the more it is contaminated, and the more it loses its
original taste."*)
Education and culture would fall upon evil days indeed if their
chiefest bulwark, our Catholic colleges, would cease to teach the
classics. It is a sufficiently discouraging sign of the times that a
Catholic newspaper can suggest such a thing in sober seriousness,
and we should consider ourselves recreant to our most sacred duty
as a contemporary Catholic reviewer if we did not loudly and
earnestly protest against the Columbian'' s ill-timed and foolish
outbreak.
IN MEMORIAM.
Though the sad event occurred on September the fifth, and the
news reached us soon thereafter, we made no reference in our
last edition to the death, at Elberfeld in the Rhine Province, of
our dearly beloved friend Right Reverend Msgr. Prof. Dr. Joseph
ScHROEDER, Rcctor maguificus of the University of Miinster, and
from 1889 till 1898 head professor of theology in the institution
known as the Catholic University of America.
We had hoped to-day to sketch his life, and especially his brief
and eventful career in America, from the calm view-point of the
historian. But the senseof the wrongs committed against Msgr.
Schroder by men whom we must call our fellow-Americans and
fellow-Catholics, is too deep and fresh to permit us to perform
this necessary but delicate task as we should like to perform
it for the sake of his dear memory and of sempiternal truth and
justice. Faceret indignatio versus.
Peter Joseph Schroder was born atBeecken in the Rhine Prov-
ince in 1849. After completing his college course in Neuss at a
very youthful age, he studied philosophy and theology in the
German College at Rome, winning the doctor's degree in both
sciences with wonderful ease and rare distinction. After his or-
dination, the Culturkampf being then at its height in Germany,
he went to Belgium, where he taught philosophy in the Seminary
of Saint-Trond. Later he became pastor of an important parish
in Cologne, and the year following, was appointed professor of
dogmatic theology in the grand-seminaire of that venerable Arch-
diocese.
•] Ratio Discendi, c. i, a. 1.
No. 36. The Review. 565
It was from here, unfortunately for him and fortunately for us,
that, in 1889, he was called to Washington, where for over half a
decade he fought almost single-handed his never-to-be-forgotten
battle against Liberalism, of which a full account can be found in
past volumes of The Review, and which finally, after a most dis-
graceful campaign of slander and persecution waged against him
by men who should have been the first to rally to his support, led
to his return to the Fatherland. To the credit of the Prussian
government be it said that it ignored the attacks that were carried
against him into the very bureau of the Cultusminister at Berlin,
and appointed him professor of theology in the University of
Munster, of which he was only last year elected Rector. A few
days before his death (which was due to an abscess of the lungs)
he received an appointment on the new theological faculty of the
University of Strasbourg, lately erected by Leo XIIL in conjunc-
tion with the government. His last hours were brightened by all
the consolations of our holy faith and by a special benediction
from Pope Pius X.
The European Catholic press is unanimous in lauding Dr.
Schroder as a scholarly theologian, a deep philosopher, a master
of many tongues, and an enthusiastic champion of Catholic ortho-
doxy and the rights of the Holy See, which, as many of our read-
ers will doubtless recollect, he valiantly defended also in this
country in numerous addresses and in his book 'American Cath-
olics and the Roman Question' (Benziger Brothers, 1892.)
We may add, from intimate personal knowledge, that he was a
man of imposing presence, of great oratorical power, childlike
piety, deep humility, gifted with an admirable sense of humor
and rare esprit,— a man and priest of golden character, straight-
forward, staunch, and true, a faithful friend and loyal opponent :
in brief, ''ein Mann von rechter deiitscher Arf ; and that the illoyal
and shameful treatment he received in this his adopted country,
which he truly loved and meant to serve with all his heart and the
full enthusiasm of his impulsive nature, undermined his previous-
ly robust health and probably planted the germ of the disease
which has now, according to the all-wise counsels of Divine Provi-
dence, led to his early — and from a purely human view-point — un-
timely demise.
Verily : "" Multis tile bonis flebilis occidit." As we contemplate
the history of his life and go back in memory to the battles it was
our privilege to fight with him ; as we cast a sorrowing, tearful
glance at his picture, before us on the wall, with the simple yet
pregnant legend : '' A7nico et commilitoni fideli Arthur Pretiss,
J. Schroder, Feb. 28, 1898;'" and as we stand in spirit on this his
burial day by his open grave in the quiet church-j^^ard at Wiirm,
566 The Review. 1903.
near Geilenkirchen, where it was his desire that his earthly re-
mains should be laid to rest : — we solemnly vov; that we will, if
God spare us, some day in the future, when the danger of scandal
is over, show up the whole dastardly conspiracy that drove him
from this country, and furnish the future historian with material
for a true and unprejudiced account of the memorable chapter in
American ecclesiastical history in which he pla^^ed so important
and noble a role.
Meanwhile we can onl}' pray and exhort our own and his friends
to praj^ : '^Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine^ et lux perpetua luceat
ei; requicscat in pace!''' A. P.
S? 5^ 3f
WHY NO SINCERE CHRISTIAN CAN BE A FREEMASON.
In this study we approached American Freemasonry under the
impression that its scope and aim was what the world under-
stands by a benevolent association, one, nameh'. devoted to mutual
material help and succor, the care of the widow and the orphan,
the solace of suffering, and the protection of the poor. We im-
agined that it would require of its members co-operation on these
lines only ; and we wondered why the Catholic Church, so zealous
in all such charitable works, should place under her ban those that
protested that they had no other aim in view.
We found alas I that we had been grosslj^ deceived. We dis-
covered that these works of benevolence were not the direct ob-
jects of Masonry ; that its object was "Divine Truth" — the truth
of God and of the soul — the nature and essence of both. We were
asked to believe that Masonry alone possessed this sacred de-
posit ; that she alone could create in our souls a spiritual light ;
that at her threshold every candidate, no matter what his position
or attainments or previous life might have been, stands in dark-
ness, helplessness, ignorance, and moral pollution, praying for
this spiritual light for his mind, and craving the first principles
of morality for his heart. We were told that we had to die to the
past to be born into the Masonic life ; that we had to totally ex-
tinguish the past to live to the future. We were told to practice
the moral and religious precepts of the order : to erect in our
hearts a spiritual edifice of holiness fit for the habitation of the
holiest of beings ; to accept the faith and doctrine of Masonry ; to
worship the Grand Architect of the Universe. We united in
prayer ; in hymns we proclaimed Masonry divine. Again and
again we were told, with ceaseless persistency', that the search
for divine truth, for the true Word, was the only thing that rec-
No. 36. The Review. 567
ommended the order to the esteem of serious men ; that to this
all else in Masonry was subordinated. Religion, we found, entered
into the very definition of Masonry. We were taught the Masonic
resurrection of the body, the Masonic immortality of the soul.
The pagan religious mysteries, the religious doctrines of the
Kabbala were proposed for our study and admiration. Every
meeting of our lodge was opened in the name of God and the Holy
Saints John to express the religious purposes of our gathering,
and we were taught that a Mason's religion should enter into his
daily life and that no important matter should be begun without
the invocation of the deity. To assist us in this religious life and
worship we found all the things that go to make up a religion : a
lodge whose floor is to be trodden with uncovered feet as a sacred
place ; an altar with lights and incense and anthems and cere-
monies and consecrations and spiritual oblations ; a creed ; a
special morality ; a peculiar God. We found a high priesthood
modelled seemingly on the ancient high priesthood of the Jews; a
priesthood in sacerdotal robes and mitre and sacred breastplate ;
a priesthood set apart for the transmitting of Masonic doctrines
and the preserving of Masonic landmarks.
All this we found to our surprise in Masonry and then could
better understand how it could openly tell its votaries that it was
the universal, the Catholic religion of mankind. Judge now, dear
reader, the attitude of the Catholic Church towards Masonry.
Can it be otherwise? Can the Church permit this formal and
total apostasy in her children without a word of protest? Must
she be pilloried as ignorant and narrow-minded and bigoted, be-
cause, knowing the nature of Masonry, she has the courage to de-
nounce it? Judge ye that are fair-minded. We are willing to
abide by your decision.
Another question. Can Protestants who are earnest believers
in their form of Christianity, countenance Masonry? Masonry
claims from them the whole man, intellectual, moral, and conse-
quently religious, as it does from us. It makes no exception in
favor of any form of Protestantism. It alone possesses the spirit-
ual light and divine truth ; all else is ignorance and error. Metho-
dists, Episcopalians, Baptists:, Presbyterians, are all, according
to Masonry, wandering in religious darkness, ignorant of the na-
ture and essence of God, the nature and essence of the human
soul ; for Methodists and others believe in Christ as the true
Word, whereas the true Word is to be found, not in Christianity,
for that is too "sectarian," but in the ancient pagan mysteries and
the doctrines of the Kabbalists. Every Protestant that respects
his church, every Protestant church that respects itself, must
logically take <^he same staad in reference to Masonry that the
568 The Review. 1903.
CathoUc Church does. So long as they positively approve, or even
remain indifferent to Masonry, so long will whatever sap of Chris-
tianity remains in them be dried up: for as we have shown and shall
more fully show hereafter, American Masonry is essentially anti-
Chr'stian. Every Christian that comes to its doors, comes first
as the Brahman and Moslem, asking for the spiritual light that he
may know God and his own soul. Every Christian that enters
Masonry must pass through the nine degrees before he is put in
possession of the "true Word" which constitutes "Divine Truth."
Every sincere Protestant, every sincere Christian, therefore,
must with us condemn Masonry.
Off 30 Gff
^9 ^^ JfS
UNIQUE PLAN TO BVILD AND MAINTAIN A PAROCHIAL
SCHOOL.
Such is the title of a description in the CathoUc Telegraph, of
Cincinnati, Sept. 3d, 1903, of a system to be introduced for secur-
ing to St. Mary's Academy at Ogdensburg, N. Y., a continuous
endowment.
The plan involves a donation by a number of parishioners of $100
each and upwards for the purpose indicated. To bring this object
within the reach of all, benefactors are to take 20 year endowment
policies for the intended amount of their donation, in the Colum-
bian National Life Insurance Co. of Boston. The average pre-
mium per $100 will be $5 a year, the beneficiary to be a corporation
now being formed for the purpose of receiving and investing the
money so received from the insurance company. Father Conroy
will be the agent of the company in all matters pertaining to the
endowment fund. For his services he will receive a "slight" com-
mission, which will be used for paying the premiums on the poli-
cies of such donators as are financially unable to do so themselves.
Theoretically, this plan seems feasible and ma^'^ become even
popular for a limited period among impressible people, who un-
der the impulse of the moment may sign an application for a
SlOO or higher policy, fully intending at the time to pay the pre-
miums right along. Whether this intention will "hold good" for
20 years, especially when such policy holders get a chance to inves-
tigate the merits of life insurance from an investment point of
view, is another matter, and we are afraid that after a few years
Father Conroy will have occasion to draw on his "commission"
fund pretty often, since an endowment policy does not bind the
assured to the payment of premiums, but provides for a return
of his reserve fund in cash or paid-up insurance after usually three
annual payments.
No. 36. The Review. 569
An average rate of $5 per $100 means $50 per $1,000, which is con-
siderably higher than the non-participating rates of the best com-
panies for the lower ages, which cost from $42.44 from age 21, to
$49.74 forage 50.
In other words, if the description of the Telegraph is correct,
the insurance company promises to repaj'^ after 20 years the
money paid in, the interest to cover the cost of life insurance.
Why on such a premium the Columi)ian Life Insurance Co.
should pay only a "slight" commission, is not stated. Insurance
agents as a rule are well paid, and if Father Conroy is as success-
ful among his flock as the average insurance man must be in or-
der to make a living, the company should get a large business
from this source, and the endowment fund should increase rapidly,
at least on paper. The real test of course will come after a few
years, when the first enthusiasm of the members has "cooled off."
The Columbian National Life Insurance Co. of Boston is a
new company, which commenced business in 1902, issuing last
year 5239 policies for $721,590 of insurance, of which 4275 policies,
covering $615,316 were in force on the 31st of December, 1902.
From this distance it looks as if some enterprising representa-
tive of that company had started the scheme for the purpose of
getting a large volume of business for a "slight" commission.
THE CASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL
VNION AND ITS OATH.
[We are asked to give room to the following communication on
a subject that has recently been much discussed. We give it for
what it is worth.]
Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 13th, 1903.
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
May it not be well to call a halt on some of the over-zealous (and,
in a present instance, self-constituted) defenders of the faith in
this country, who, without sufficient, or even '^ prima facie" war-
rant, are constantly justifying the complaint of non-Catholics
that there is still in the Church of this country a large body of
narrow-minded and intolerant churchmen? An effectual check
upon such indiscreet zeal might be exercised by our Catholic
press if it refused to give circulation to anything condemnatory
of things non-Catholic upon the mere ""ipse dixit" of anybody, and
especially in those matters which the Church has wisely with-
drawn from their jurisdiction.
These remarks are, of course, apropos of the recently at-
tempted condemnation of the International Typographical Union.
570 The Review. 1903.
If the Associated Press reports of last week be true, a Western
bishop has, as a self-constituted judge, expressed the opinion
"that no priest can absolve a member who has taken the oath of
the Typographical Union." Of course, there can be no question
whatever of a valid condemnation here ; it is not even a lawful
public expression of private opinion ; for the Third Plenary
Council of Baltimore (No. 255) forbids any bishop to determine
which societies belong- to the class forbidden generally : reserving
this right to the archbishops of the country as a committee on
this matter.
Moreover, it has not been the practice of Rome herself to con-
demn secret societies without indicating the reasons for each
particular condemnation. Now, so far, the only reason alleged
for the proscription of the Typographical Union is the oath of
membership, in which it is declared that "no interference with
the work of the Union will be tolerated from any other society,
civil or religious. " Now, the obligation of this oath is determined
by the nature of the constitution to which it is af&xed. If that
constitution enjoins nothing contrary to the law of God or to legiti-
mate human authority, of course its members will not brook any
outside interference ; and to imply that the Church might never-
theless wish to interfere, is certainly not very complimentary to
the Church. Just so will no man brook interference from outsiders
in the management of his household, so long as he conducts it in
a manner that does not disturb the public peace ; just so no par-
ish priest would like interference with the management of his
parish which he conducts according to the laws of the Church ;
and, it is safe to say, no bishop would feel himself obliged to sub-
mit to interference with the management of his diocese without
seeking "recourse" or presenting a '^htimilis stipplicatio" And
precisely in this manner does the Typographical Union protest
that it will not brook any outside interference in the management
of its affairs, viz., in accordance with its constitution, which con-
tains nothing that would make interference on the part of any
other society, civil or religious, lawful. The very history of this
oath shows that this is its sense. This clause was inserted in the
oath of membership to prevent an unscrupulous "clique," who had
formed another society, (though remaining members of the Union
which they tried to control,) from making the Union subserve
their own unlawful ends. To declare this oath unlawful, there-
fore, is to stamp the constitution to which it is afl&xed, as con-
taining something contrary to divine or civil law. But the Union
may safely challenge us to show one single declaration in its con-
stitution which is inconsistent with the Catholic conscience. The
Union will stand the test proposed by the Third Plenary Council
No. 36. The Revikw. =71
of Baltimore (No. 247) for determining whether or not any society
is to be placed in the class of those condemned generally :
1. Its members do not promise blind obedience. They do swear
to uphold the present constitution(which they may lawfully pledge
themselves to uphold), but as to possible future regulations, the
constitution itself provides that future regulations must not be in
conflict with its spirit. If, therefore, something contrary to the
present constitution, and inconsistent with the Catholic con-
science, were to be ordered, the constitution itself liberates the
member from his oath. Besides, it is the common interpretation of
the chapter "Contingit," Title de Juramento, of the Sixth Book of
Decretals, that '"the obligation of an oath extends only as far as
the intention of the af&ant," and of Question V. c. xxii. of the
"DecretumGratiani,"that"an oath is to be interpreted according to
the intention of the affiant and not of the person to, whom the oath
is made." Hence, it is presumed that a Catholic member of the
Union swears to uphold the constitution as it is, and not as it may
be changed in future — contrary to the dictates of his conscience.
2. It has not yet been shown that this Union ought to be classed
among the forbidden societies, because it will not reveal the
secrets of its meetings to the ordinaries who might demand them.
It is true, the constitution forbids its members to reveal such
secrets to any non-member ; but they must be safe on this score,
since the Knights of Columbus may not reveal the workings of
their order except to their "confessors" — although the Third
Plenary Council classes among the forbidden societies all those
which do not permit the revelation of their secrets to the ordin-
aries who may demand it.
It would be well, therefore, if, instead of needlessly irritating
non-Catholics, all such matters were left to the competent author-
ity. In this case, it is the committee composed of the archbishops
of this country. And if others should feel it obligatory to draw
public attention to these societies, let them point out their reasons,
in order that we may not be wanting for some sort of an answer
when we are asked, "Why is it condemned? "This is the very con-
fusion which, the Council tells us, it sought to avoid when it for-
bade any one but the committe of archbishops to determine that
any particular society belongs to the forbidden class. Finally,
if a test is going to be made of the Typographical Union, let us
make haste "to clean up at home," and see that the Knights of
Columbus allow their secrets to be revealed to the proper author-
ity, if they do not wish to be classed among the forbidden societies.
W. F. G.
Sf Sf SP
572
THE "FRATERNAL ORDER OF COLONIALS."
This new "Order" was organized as a beneficial society and
licensed to do business on the 23rd of July, 1903, by the Insurance
Department of Missouri. So there is no record to go by, nor any
authority regarding its standing beyond it own representations.
A large advertisement in the Jackson Volksfreund furnishes
some interesting information regarding the objects and business
methods of this organization. Passing over the usual twaddle
about fraternity, benevolence, ritual, and so forth, we find the
main purpose to be to insure its members for either $1,000 or
$2,000, with the understanding that, in case of death of a member,
the 1st year $200, the 3rd year $600,
" 2nd " $400, " 4th " $800,
will be paid to the beneficiary for each $1,000, while after 5 years'
membership not only the full benefit becomes payable, but in ad-
dition thereto all assessments paid during the member's life-time
will be returned, less a deduction of $150 as contribution to the
reserve fund (for each $1,000 certificate.)
All white men between 18 and 50 years of age, able to pass a
medical examination and not engaged in hazardous occupations,
may join the brotherhood for the uniform initiation fee of $5 (in-
cluding the doctor's fee) and a monthly assessment of 75 cents
per $1,000 thereafter.
Of this premium of $9 a year per $1,000, 13^3%, or $1.20, goes
into the reserve fund, the rest, $7.80, is to pay for death losses and
"for the support of the order." The $150 deducted from each
$1,000 death loss after 4years'membership also go into the reserve.
The advertisement referred to is certainly plain enough. "All
members pay alike, and the assessments are the same each
month" (75 cents per $1,000).
After all the experienceof so many assessment societies, which
have gone under or changed their plans because the rates were
not sufficiently high in the beginning, it seems Ihardly necessary
to tell any man of common sense that this new fraternity will last
but a comparatively short time, if conducted on the basis adver-
tised. An attempt is made to reduce the liabilities by paying full
benefits only after 4 years' membership, and even then deducting
$150 per $1,000, less assessments paid, so that at the rate of $9 a
year it will take almost 17 years before the $1,000 can be realized
by the beneficiary. But a uniform rate of $9 is not enough for age
18, and as the charge is to be the same for all ages, failure in the
end on that basis is unavoidable.
Having already shown in previous numbers of The Review
that even higher rates were not sufficient to pay the last man, un-
No. 36. The Review. 573
less such rates corresponded to the cost of carrying insurance on
the basis of the established mortality? and the interest income
which could be realized from investments of the reserve fund in
reliable securities, it is not necessary to waste space and time in
more fully illustrating- the absurdity of this new proposition.
This order is evidently intended to "catch" the members of the
numerous assessment societies who have become dissatisfied on
account of increasing charges or reduction of benefits and
are ready to join almost any society which will "promise" some-
thing for next to nothing.
MINOR TOPICS.
The Question of a Catholic Daily. — Rev. L. Verhaag, of Verboort,
Oregon, writes to the editor of The Review :
Your well written philosophical article in your issue of Sept.
3rd, on "The Question of a Catholic Daily," makes me take up my
rusty pen once more to second your laudable efforts. You have
had already the kindness to print one or more of my effusions on
this important subject, and I hope that a repetition will neither be
displeasing to you nor your readers. For a period of more than
two years I have kept up at intervals the agitation for a daily,
have interviewed many of the archbishops and bishops, addressed
them by letter at their yearly meeting in Washington, etc., etc.,
but thus far I may say with our Lord's precursor : "I have been
but the voice of one crying in the wilderness." Shakespeare's
question: "What is in a name?" — may explain in part the indif-
ference of many of the American hierarchy. My name is Dutch,
and so is my nationality'-, although a residence of thirty-one years
in the far West should entitle one to the -title of a full-fledged
American, minus Americanism. Let us hope that the rumored
national Catholic newspaper, announced by the Catholic Colum-
bian (No. 30) and commented upon in The Review of Sept. 3r(l,
will fill the bill. Nationalism first and last, becomes more and
more the motto in this boastful land of "liberty and equality," al-
though in direct contradiction (let us hope and pray not in oppo-
sitiouy to Catholicism. Now, notwithstanding my foreign extrac-
tion, I make bold even at the risk of satiety, perhaps derision
from the part of our ultra-American friends, to make once more
a few suggestions on the question of a Catholic daily, national or
otherwise, but above all Catholic. I will briefly resume what I
have said on this subject : 1. Let a good and strong pastoral letter
be issued by the hierarchy on the importance and necessity of a
Catholic daily. 2. This letter to be read on one and the same Sun-
day in*all the Catholic churches of the U. S. 3. Let bona fide
subscriptions to paper and stock be taken, payable when the plan
has materialized. Of course, I admit with you and others that a
daily paper will not be patronized in such places where it does
574 The Review. 1903.
not reach on the very day of its publication, or shortly after. Still
such a general appeal throughout the country will do some good
in placing and scattering stock, with a few subscribers here and
there among the better and wealthier Catholics. Besides, as there
are many centers from which a Catholic daily could be issued,
such a general appeal will tend to encourage the establishment of
Catholic dailies in course of time from these centers by the same
Catholic daily newspaper corporation, which, having its stock and
subscribers scattered over a large territory, would find more ad-
vocates interested in their success on the general principle of self
interest. This was the main idea which I laid before the arch-
bishops at their meeting in Washington two years ago. To this
plan I now add the following suggestion : Knowing that the greater
part of our weeklies are opposed to a Catholic daily for fear that
such an enterprise, if successful, will endanger their exist-
ence, let all the Catholic weeklies worthy of that name, combine
in an effort to establish a good Catholic daily. Let them sub-
scribe for as man}^ shares in the corporation as they can and in-
fluence their friends and subscribers to do the same. Let the
directors, managers, editors, etc., etc., be selected from among
the personnel of these weeklies. Let the most important news
be reprinted in our weeklies from the Catholic dail^' and vice versa,
let our Catholic weeklies give the most important news to the
daily, thus forming bureaus of reliable Catholic information. In
this way, by co-operation, mutual assistance, and united effort, I
think that at least one Catholic daily could be started, say in New
York or Chicago; thenlater on, if the experiment succeeded, some
of our Catholic weeklies, for instance in Boston, Philadelphia, St.
Louis, New Orleans, San Francisco, and other important places,
could be made into dailies by the same Catholic daily newspaper
publishing corporation. The amount of good such a Catholic
combine could accomplish, would be incalculable, and with proper
management its financial success guaranteed. To effect such a
plan a congress of all Catholic editors, managers, etc., would be
necessary. Who will start the ball rolling?— L. Verhaag.
Rev. Dr. Lambert has also taken notice of the Chtirch Progress''
article on "That Catholic Dailj'-" which we discussed at length in
our No. 33. Here is his opinion, expressed in the Freeman's
Journal (No. 4653) :
■"There is at least one Catholic dail}'- in Mexico, La Vo z dc Mexico,
and it is ably edited. There are twelve millions of Catholics in
Mexico. There are as many in the United States, and the latter
are supposed to be more given to reading than the former. If
that daily is supported there, why might not at least one be sup-
ported here? Is there more Catholic enterprise and more inter-
est in religion there than here? Or do the Mexicans — whom
many among us think need elevating through benevolent assimi-
lation— possess some secret of economics that we have not yet
learned? The real difficult}^ in the way of a Catholic daily is the
immense quantity of stuff, good, bad, and indifferent, that issues
from the American daily press. The Mexican Catholic Aily has
not this deluge to compete with. Here we have it. And in this
fact is to be found the reason why a daily may succeed there, while
the chance of success here is yery doubtful."
No. 36 The Review. 575
Archbishop Montgomery on the "Language Question." — 'There has
been in some parts of the United States, a great deal of talk about
the German people wanting- their children to learn the German
language. Now in one word, the language question in this coun-
try will settle itself if people will only let it alone. There are
some things in which the more haste one makes, the worse it
gets, — the less speed you make ; that is one of them. The lang-
uage question is under the control of natural laws, and it will take
its own course if people will just let it alone. I assure you, my
dear brethren, I can not conceive a man or woman who would not
want their child to learn the language that they themselves knew;
I must confess, I would not have much respect for a person that
did not want his child to know the language of father and mother.
We live in a country that is bound to be English-speaking ; that
is a fact. English is to be the language of this country, and no
power on earth can prevent it. Therefore, it is to the advantage
of your children to learn the English language. They must not
be at a disadvantage with any man on account of their inability to
speak the English language, which they should learn well ; they
will do that, even if you do not pay any attention to them
Therefore, I say, people should let the matter of language alone,
— let things take their natural course ; they should not force
things, but there should be a natural growth. It is perfectly
natural that you should want your children to speak the German
language while they are at home, and I don't find fault with it."
(Quoted in the California Volksfreund., Sept. 4th.)
That is precisely the position we have taken in The Review.
The Jesuits and the Catholic University. — We promised in our No.
33 to revert to this much-discussed subject. What we wanted to
say is : May not Pope Leo XIII. have been inspired by certain
lessons of history when he told Msgr. Keane that he did not wish
Jesuits to teach in the "Catholic University of America"? We
read in P. Schwickerath's valuable book 'Jesuit Education' (p.
271): The hostility of the Paris University (to the Jesuits) was
merely the outcome of jealousy. At all times monopolies were
jealous. Richelieu had perceived that clearly. Frequently urged
to expel the Jesuits from Paris, he did not yield ; on the contrary,
towards the end of his life he handed over to the Jesuits the
College de Marmoutiers. "The universities," he said, "complain
as if a wrong were done them, that the instruction of youth is not
left to thepi exclusively. But as human frailty requires a counter-
balance to everything, it is more reasonable that the universities
and the Jesuits teach as riv^als, in order that emulation may stim-
ulate their efforts, and that learning being deposited in the hands
of several guardians, may be found with one if the others should
have lost it." In another passage Jourdain (from whose History
of the University of Paris the above quotation is taken) does not
hesitate to state that the competition of the Jesuits soon turned
into a blessing for the University itself, as it was forced to exer-
cise a more active supervision over masters and students, which
was beneficial both to discipline and instruction.
Bishop O'Gorman on the History of the Taft Commission. — Rt. Rev.
Bishop Thomas O'Gorman, of Sioux Falls, S. D., who conducted
576 The Review. 1S>03.
the recent retreat at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, for the
clergy of the Archdiocese, spoke of the appointment of the Taft
Commission of which he was a member. We find a report of his
remarks in the Pittshiirg Observer of Sept. 10th, and would call
the attention of our Pittsburg contemporary and of our own
readers to the fact that it is misleading to designate them, as the
Pittsburg paper does, as "Unpublished History," since the sub-
stance of them was printed in The Review as long ago as October
30th, 1902 (vol. ix. No. 42, pp. 658 sq.) Several points were there
developed even in greater detail.
The revelations of the conduct of the State Prison in Georgia,
showing the flogging of female convicts by the warden for
"breaches of discipline" (resisting said warden's improper ad-
vances was one of them, according to sworn testimony) furnishes
another illustration of the need of hofne missionaries. The cru-
elties charged against the Spanish administration of the Island of
Cuba furnished the excuse for the American intervention there,
yet nothing ever proved against the Spaniards was as bad as the
long list of atrocities committed in the United States by lynchers,
not to speak of the system of "peonage" practised under legal
sanction in Georgia and Alabama. Now comes the showing of in-
humanity in the treatment of prisoners in "State institutions."
What next?
We have done it so often that it no longer affords us much
sport to hoist the editor of the Western Watchman with his own
petard. But we can not help registering, from the Watchman of
Sept. 13th, his own denial of the charge he has so often and so
boldy made, that the German Catholics of this country are, and
want to be, a separate faction, at war with others within the pale.
Now he says : "If the Germans of this country are at war with
any section of the American Church, we don't know it, and we
don't think they know it themselves."
May we hope that after this frank avowal Father Phelan will
cease to assert things which he "don't know"?
Father Phelan ( Western Watchman, Sept. 13th) pays his re-
spects to Msgr. Rooker, lately appointed Bishop of Jaro in the
Philippine Islands thus :
"Bishop Rooker declares that the Church of the Philippines
will be Americanized. It is far more likely that the American
bishops and priests going over there will be Filipinized. An Am-
erican church in the Philippines would be a church without poetry,
without memories, without national clan."
According to Grifl&n's A^nerican Catholic Historical Researches
(No. 3), the first penny paper published in this country was The
Cent, issued in Philadelphia by Christopher Conwell, a nephew of
Bishop Conwell.
'^ 4444#4444*444'Tr'^'.r-n
II Ubc IReview, ||
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., Octboer 1, 1903. No. 37.
PIVS X. AND PEROSI :-AN ILLOGICAL INFERENCE.
^N the subject of the Holy Father's attitude in respect to
Church music the Post (N. Y.) of September 5th has
this to say :
"The new Pope is said to be a staunch adherent of plain chanty
in divine service. In 1895, when he was Cardinal Sarto, he wrote
a long episcopal letter on the subject of the music that should be
used in places of worship. This music, he insisted, should be
characterized by sacredness, artistic dignity, and universality —
qualities which we find in the Gregorian chants and in polyphonic
music of the Palestrina school. All music of a light, florid, or
theatrical character should be forbidden. Holding these views,
it seems somewhat strange that he should have been one of the
chief patrons of Perosi, who is now master of musJc at the Sistine
Chapel. Perhaps we do not know enough of Perosi in this coun-
try to judge him justlj' ; but his oratorios are certainly little more
than operas with sacred subjects."
Manifestly the writer draws a most illogical inference. While
regulating the character of the music to be employed in divine
service, the Church has never sought to restrain the development
of the art or to limit the genius of composers to such music only
as could be appropriately rendered in church. To have done
so would be as unreasonable as to insist, for example, that Raphael
ought not have painted anything but Madonnas. Hence there is
not the slightest inconsistency in the Pope's encouragement to
Abbe Perosi to write oratorios. These, it is safe to say, will not
be sung during divine service in the Sistine or in any other chapel
presided over by Pius X., however worthy they may be of being
presented at other times and places. Moreover, an oratorio,
which is invariably founded upon a Biblical subject and in which
the sense of the sacred text is sought to be expressed in music
578 The Review. 1903.
and without the aid of costume, acting-, or other accessories of the
stage, is a wholly different thing from an opera, which is nearly
always a story of illicit love and intrigue, designed to be acted as
well as sung with all the lasciviousness which the plot suggests
and with which modern theatrical art is so well supplied.
The reform of ecclesiastical music will not suffer by the en-
couragement given by the Pope to compositions of secular music,
so long as these are not used in the Church's service.
a^ 51^ aw
THE ACHILLES' HEEL OF FRATERNAL LIFE INSURANCE.
The "Ancient Order of United Workmen," established in Penn-
sylvania in 1868, is now being overtaken by the law of mortality,
and the natural result, trouble for the members and managers,
follows. This society was conducted as a life insurance organiza-
tion on the assessment plan, taxing the surviving members for
the payment of death losses. No provision was made for meeting
increasing mortality which results from advancing age, nor for
paying the last man, should membership cease to increase. Natural-
ly, assessments slowly but steadily increased, yet failed to produce
more than sufficient funds for meeting the losses, and the mem-
bership began to decrease. The management (Supreme Lodge)
has now recognized the need of reform and is endeavoring to
have the local lodges adopt a new schedule of rates, which is con-
fidentially expected (another guess) to perpetuate the order.
This new table is especially hard oh old men, and will cost
them annually from $90 upwards for a $2,000 policy, depending
on the number of assessments ordered. There is a great deal of
opposition to this plan, talk of a scheme of "freezing out" old mem-
bers (see Detroit y<??^rw«/, Sept. 7th), etc., and the outcome will
be watched with interest by members of fraternal insurance or-
ganizations all over the United States.
Unfortunately, in "fraternal insurance," most members lose
sight of a very simple fact. If no reserve fund on a scientific
basis is provided for to meet the policy of the last man at maturi-
ty, (which keeps the annual charges uniform and is practically
the so-called "regular life insurance" system), but only enough
money is collected to meet death losses as they occur, the ad-
vancing age of members is bound to increase the annual death
rate. This increases the annual tax for members, which in turn
diminishes the attractiveness of the order for new members, so
that the membership will first remain stationary and then de-
crease. Result : a rapid increase of annual charges, followed by a
desertion of the order by such members who, getting frightened
No. 37. The Review. * 579
by the ever increasing- charges, seek and can get insurance else-
where. This leaves only the old and sick men in the order, un-
able to find protection elsewhere, who must now make the best of
a bad bargain.
It stands to reason that a class of 1000 men, age 35, will have
but 8 deaths the first year. So presuming an assessment for no
other purpose than payment of death losses, it will cost a trifle
over $8 a year per member for that year's insurance. Assuming
that no new members will join, (and as every man must die, the
new membership simply increases the ultimate liabilities;, after
20 years the members will be 55 years old, having a normal death
rate of over 18 per 1,000, making the annual cost more than $18 per
man on full membership. After 20 years more, at age 75, the
death rate is almost 95, for age 85 it will be over 235 a year ;
the plan of paying the "cost of insurance" from year to year will
make the expense prohibitory for older men and they must "drop
out."
This is but the natural result of the term insurance or step
rate plan, and no mere talk about the advantages of "fraternity"
will change the facts in the case. For that reason we did in the
past, and always will, advocate the placing of all Catholic life in-
surance societies on the only safe and scientifically correct "old
line" insurance system, which calculates the necessary annual
premium on the basis of the ascertained table of mortality, pro-
viding not only for the payment of death losses, but also for a
sufficient reserve fund, which, improved at a safe rate of interest,
will pay the "last man" at maturity.
Jl& !^ ^
^ft ^pir ^^F
WHY NO HONEST MAN CAN BE A FREEMASON.
We have shown in our previous paper that no Catholic or be-
lieving Protestant can be a Freemason. We now affirm even
more : No conscientious and upright man, knowing the purposes
of Masonry, can approve it, much less join it.
Reason and conscience teach us that we violate our very nature
when we confide the eternal interests of our soul blindly to any
mortal's hands. Any man, or any body of men, that come to us
as ambassadors from God, any organization that claims our relig-
ious fealty, must present his or its credentials. The teacher of
Divine Truth must prove that he knows ; must prove that he has
a divine right to govern and to teach. Now, this. Masonry can
not do. It has at best only theories to explain its origin. If you
do not believe, "you have not the spiritual light." If you do not
believe, "you are still in the bonds of error," "you are not one of
580 The Review. 1903.
the elect." If your reason and conscience rebel, "you are in the
agonies of the new birth." You must blot out the past, change
your intellectual condition, accept from Masonry the very first
principles of morality. Your new life is not a mere change, it is
a total "extinction" of all that you were before. You are false,
therefore, to your human nature when you join Masonry. You
sacrifice its inalienable rights. You rob it of its life at the word
of men who promise everything at little cost, if only you put blind,
unbounded confidence in them.
In temporal and business matters you know that this is what is
called "a confidence game." You are on your guard or you are
fleeced. And in spiritual and eternal matters, in the welfare and
interests of your soul, in the affairs that regard the higher life and
God, you allow the old, old game to be played upon j'^ou, and you
exchange readilj?^ the heaven-given gift of reason and the moral
principles of your nature, for the gold-brick of Masonic credulity
and its "first principles of morality"! It promises to reveal its
mysteries, to teach us divine truth. We ask proofs of its knowl-
edge and authority. Until these are forthcoming we must with-
hold assent. We want proofs, not promises. And if without
proofs we deliver up to it our human nature to be sacrificed, our
intellect to be changed, our conscience to be stifled, our religion
to be reformed, we do what no conscientious and upright man
could, knowingly, for a moment think of doing.
To bringj therefore, this argument to a close : Masonrj?^ by its
own clear admission is a religion ; nay, the only true and hence
the universal religion of mankind ; as such no Catholic, no Prot-
estant, no Christian can logicallj^ do aught but condemn it, as it,
on its part, condemns them. Before accepting its claims we must
demand its proofs, and not bind ourselves blindly by oath to ac-
cept its"revelation," to the loss of our intellectual and the total ex-
tinction of our Christian moral nature. Against this, reason and
conscience cry out in no uncertain tones, pleading that we show
at least as much consideration for their eternal interests as we
do for the mere temporal interests of the body.
Not ignorance, then, on the Church's part, is the cause of her
condemnation, but a clear knowledge of Masonic purposes ; the
ignorance is on the part of those who have accused her of ignor-
ance, believing as they did that Masonry had nothing to do with
religion, but was, what it is not, a mere benevolent society, the
friend and protector of unfortunate humanity.
581
THE ABBE LOISY AND THE PAVLISTS.
Foremost among modern Bible critics is the Abbe Loisy, whose
work 'L'lSvang-ile et I'Eg-lise,' caused such a commotion inside and
outside of France. Loisy tried therein to refute Harnack with his
own weapons, but by granting- too much to the adversary,
strayed from the Catholic way of interpreting the Bible. Conse-
quently the Archbishop of Paris and a dozen other bishops con-
demned the work. The author submitted and withdrew the
second edition.
Now, although it was the manner in which Loisy sought to re-
fute Harnack, that brought down upon him the condemnation of
the hierarchy, the Paulists have not understood it that way.
They say in the Catholic World Magazine (page 836):
"Only a Catholic can refute Harnack. For the best refutation
is the living church*) which goes straight back to the Redeemer ;
which has always preached Him ; which has forever exemplified
His spirit and produced men and women who resemble Him. The
church is Christ perpetuated. Uncontradictory in her message,
matchless in her sanctity, is she not what the Incarnate One
would be, if He had lived visibly through the centuries of her his-
tory ? Overwhelmingly has Loisy put this argument in hisgreat
answer to Harnack. What a pity that this illustrious scholar and
devoted priest allowed in his work certain perilous expressions
which caused it to be withdrawn!"
The Church is Christ perpetuated. So is the Christian, as long
as he follows unreservedly the guidance of His Church. He even
shares her infallibility. Loisy following another guide, erred and
was condemned. That the Paulists do not seem to know this dis-
tinction, also seems to follow from the following criticism on the
same and following page of the magazine, where we read :
"The Abbe Oger has written a pamphlet ('Evangile et Evolu-
tion') of forty-six pages in refutation of the latest work of M.
Loisy. Ever since the great scholar's 'fivangileet I'Eglise' (!) ap-
preared, a stream of two-penny refutations has been pouring from
the presses of France. The Abbe Oger has directed simply one
other rivulet to swell the tide. It is futile, it is ridiculous to dis-
cuss M. Loisy 's work, which, whether we like it or hate it, is a
marvellous production, in these superficial and ephemeral compo-
sitions (?) which contain more prejudice than criticism and more
rhetoric than learning. Because M. Loisy speaks of a redaction
of some New Testament texts, that is no reason for raising the
hands in horror ; nor is the redaction theory upset by a profusion
*) It is characteristic that the Catholic World always spells
"church" with a small c.
582 The Review. 1903.
of such outcries, as Hilas! i>auvre critique! and other vulgar and
unscholarly expressions of intellectual convulsions. What vv^e
desire to see is a philosophic study of the elements of M. Loisy's
powerful essay. What is to be said for redaction theories? To
what extent has the time of the Apostles thrown itself back into
the Gospel narrative? What is the philosophy of development,
and is M. Loisy's development-idea just or inadmissible? Let us
see these and similar problems profoundly, patiently, and soberly
studied, and we shall welcome the book whether it upholds or de-
molishes the theories of the greatest living CathoHc Scriptural
scholar. Truth is what every true student seeks, and in pursu-
ing it, he cares little for individual men or schools or tendencies.
But there are certain obvious marks by which the sincere and
truth-loving character of a man's work may be discerned : and it
seems quite time to inform certain French apologists that among
these there is no place for exclamation marks."
We have not seen the pamphlet of the Abbe Oger, and if it con-
tained no more than the words quoted with two exclamation
marks, we should say it was not worth tuppence. Suppose it
were not up to expectations, suppose it did not give a philosophic
study of Loisy's essay, etc.: does it follow that such a study does
not exist ? Have not the Paulists read the articles on Loisy in the
Etudes of Jan. 20th and Feb. 20th of this year? Father Brucker,
S. J. {^Etudes, Feb. 20th), winds up his study on Loisy by fully
justifying its condemnation on the part of the French bishops :
"yJ/. Loisy," he says, "never wearies of repeating that Christ
has directly foreseen nothing, instituted nothing, organized noth-
ing of what constitutes the Church proper : neither its form of a
visible society, nor its hierarchy, nor its dogma, nor its cult, nor
its sacraments. He will readily admit that 'the outlines' of the
whole and its further development are legitimate. .. .all of which
means that the Church gave to herself her chiefs, her cult, and
even her. dogmas, because all of them 'were needed for her' to live,
to make herself acceptable to the Graeco-Roman world and hu-
manity. M. Loisy can not, however, be ignorant of the fact that,
in order to live, more is needed than the will, and that, despite
Hegel and Darwin, need does not create force. The Church, if
it had no divine foundation, would be a castle in the air and its
permanency inexplicable."
The same has been observed on the articles signed "Firmjn"
(a pen-name of M. Loisy) in the Revue du Clerge^ which the Arch-
bishop of Paris stopped. The same errors also crop out, as we
learn from Wx^ Etudes (Sept. 5th, p. 690), in the latest publication
of Loisy, 'Mythes babyloniens. ' Of course he does not deny
the supernatural, but neither did the Paulists when the encyclical
No. 37. The Revikw. 583
"Testem benevolentiae" upsef their systematic minimizing of re-
vealed truth.
It seems both the Paulists and M. Loisy are still filled with ad-
miration for that quondam model of theirs who said on his death-
bed : "I die. . . .an impenitent Liberal."
3P 3r ar
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
llie Life of St. Philip Neri. From the Italian of Father Bacci of
the Roman Oratory. New and Revised Edition edited by Frederic
Igfnatius Antrobus of the London Oratory. 2 vols. Net $3.75.
B. Herder, St. Louis.
In these volumes we have a truly classical biography, revised
and largely supplemented from the best modern sources. The
fact that Father Bacci 's work has stood the test of wellnigh three
r
centuries, speaks eloquently enough for its worth.
Not the same unmitigated praise can be bestowed on the pres-
ent translation. Even a possible desire to preserve in his style
the quaintness of a I7th century biography can hardly justify the
translator's too slavish adherence to the original. His sentences
are frequently so involved in a maze of clauses, so clumsy and un-
wieldy, as to offend against even the most elementary rules of
rhetorical clearness, unity, and precision. Sentences like the fol-
lowing are enough to disfigure the style of any book :
"He was so ready and well-grounded in scholastic and doctrinal
matters that when the discourses first began in San Girolamo
della Carit^, and in San Giovanni de' Fiorentini, where there were
so few preachers that laymen, if spiritual and eloquent, were ad-
mitted to discourse, if by chance Philip heard any proposition
stated, or any fact narrated, without fitting clearness and preci:
sion, he would immediately mount the pulpit himself, and ex-
pound it so judiciously as to show his own learning in the matter,
even in spite of himself ; so that many held his knowledge to be
rather infused than acquired" (p. 17.)
" in Rome he was commonly called good Philip, a name by
which Antonio Altoviti, Archbishop of Florence, used to call him,
a,nd Cesare Jacomelli, his master in theology, and many others"
(p. 18.) • _
The external make-up of the volumes does credit to the pub-
lishers, though we can not refrain from adding here the prayer
of many a reviewer before us : "From the British fashion of uncut
edges, Lord, deliver us"!
584 The Review. 1903.
Creighton University. Reminiscences of the Fii'st Tzventy-Five I^ears.
By M. P. Bowling-, S. J. Omaha : Press of Burkley Printing Co.
1903. 6}^ X9j8 in.; 271 pp., with several diagrams. Price (with
postag-e) $1.40.
A note by "Credo" in the Colorado Catholic (No. 26'> reminds us
that we owe Rev. Fr. Bowling an acknowledgment for a copy of
the above mentioned book. We can fitly make this acknowledg-
ment in our literary column, because the contents of the volume
are more literary and of more general interest than one might at
first g-lance surmise. It offers a history of the rise and steady
progress of Creighton University, of Omaha, the only endowed
Catholic educational institution conducted by the Jesuit Fathers
in this countr3^ The work of compiling has been for Fr. Bow-
ling (who is the present Rector) clearly a labor of love, and we
have read with genuine interest not only his historical sketch of
the early beginnings and later growth of the College, but also the
data he has collected from former students about their experiences
and impressions at Creighton, their reminiscences of professors
and fellow-students, the suggestions they have made in regard to
improving the institution's courses or special features, etc. We
were especially gratified to find towards the end of the volume a
biographical sketch of our highly esteemed friend Father Charles
Coppens, S. J., of international fame as a professor and an author,
who has been for a number of years, and still is, a member of
Creighton's able and progressive faculty.
Edgar., or From Atheism to the Full Truth. By Rev. Louis von
Hammerstein, S. J. Translated from the German at the George-
town Visitation Convent. Preface by Rev. John A. Conway, S.J.
5^X8in. xv. + 355pp. St. Louis : B. Herder. 1903. Price,
net $1.25.
We are glad to hail this excellent book in English dress. Fr.
von Hammerstein, S. J., is himself a convert from Protestantism.
In this work he gives, in the form of a spirited and interesting
dialog-, a clear and lucid exposition of the Catholic teaching, which,
as it contains not only a refutation of errors, but also gives the
reasons that Catholics have for the faith they profess [motiva
credibilitatis,] will prove as useful to the believer as to the unbe-
liever. Fr. Conway truly says in his preface : "No objection
that can be made escapes Edgar, and every difficulty is answered
with patient kindness and honest frankness. There is no special
pleading; reason is met fairly and squarely by reason, fact by
fact, and theory by theory." The style has all the ease and grace
of an original work. We trust 'Edgar' will do as much good in
America as it has done in Germany.
No. 37. The Review. 585
Echoes of Jubilee. Ursuline Academy, Villa Angela, Nottingham,
Ohio. 1903. 224 pp.
The literary character of this Festschrift entitles it to a notice in
our book reviews. It contains a history of the Ursuline founda-
tions in the Diocese of Cleveland ; biographies of the venerable
chaplain of Villa Angela, Rt. Rev. Msgr. F. Boff, V.-G., and of
some of the pioneer sisters ; allegorical contributions by mem-
bers of the rhetoric class ; science "laudates" by members of the
senior class, and much other interesting matter. We have read
the tastefully gotten-up and finely illustrated volume with sincere
pleasure and laid it away with the conviction that the Ursulines of
Villa Angela are doing educational work which is a credit to them-
selves and their illustrious order, and a blessing to the many pu-
pils that have been and are under their motherly care. Vivant,
fioreant, crescant!
Jg
Wetzer und Wclte's Kirchenle.xikon. Namen- und Sachregister zu
alien zwolf Banden. Von Hermann Joseph Kamp, Pfarrer der
Erzdiocese Koln. Mit einer Einleitung : Zur Benutzung des
Kirchenlexikons, von Dr. Melchior Abfalter. Freiburg and
St. Louis : 1903. B. Herder, xxxviii+604 pp.
Those who own and use Herder's 'Kirchenlexikon,' the greatest
and best ecclesiastical dictionary in any language, need not be
told of the value of this general introduction and index to its twelve
big volumes. Those who have not yet purchased it, ought to do
it now that it is accompanied by a handy key to its wealth of theo-
logical treasures.
The Catholic Truth Society of San Francisco has just is-
sued a series of meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary, by
V. Rev. Arthur Canon Ryan. These short meditations are cal-
culated to inspire devotion in the recitation of the most popular
prayers, and to teach the reader the most profitable method of
meditating on the mysteries. They are in pamphlet form suitable
for distribution during the month of October. Copies may be had
from the Truth Society, Flood Building, San Francisco, at 5 cts.
each, or $3 per 100 copies.
"The North American Indian and the Catholic Church,"
Rev. H. G. Ganss' address, delivered before the American Feder-
ation of Catholic Societies, at Atlantic City, last August, has been
printed as No. 16 of the Catholic Mind, by the Messenger, 27-29 W.
16th Str., New York, and can be had there at five cents a copy.
Rev. J. F. Noll asks us to correct an error in the notice,
published Sept. 17th, of his booklet 'Kind Words.' The price is
$4 per 100, not $4 per 1000.
586
MINOR TOPICS.
Austria's "Veio" in the Late Conclave. — When the news that Aus-
tria intended to interpose its "'veto" against the election of Cardi-
nal Rampolla became known to the members of the Sacred Collegre,
assembled in Conclave to choose a successor to Pope Leo XIIL,
says "Vox Urbis," the thoroughly reliable Rome correspondent
of the Freeman'' s Journal i^o. 3660), "The general feeling among
the Fathers of the Conclave was something different from regret
— rather was it one of indignation at this stupid attempt to revive
a mediaeval privilege. And yet the 'veto' was bound to have its
effect, not because there was the slightest disposition among the
Cardinals to recognize its formal exercise, but because a pontiff
elected this time in opposition to it would inevitably encounter
the opposition of the Austrian government — and perhaps of the
German Emperor. Cardinal Rampolla's position at the opening
of the evening scrutiny on Sunday was a very delicate one. He
absolutely dreaded the burden of the pontificate, in his deep hu-
mility— though certainly no member of the Sacred College had
less reason to dread it than he. And yet on the other hand it was
not becoming for him who knew so intimately the relations of the
Church with the different- powers, and who understood so well
the mind of Leo XIIL and the entire Church on the subject of this
'veto,' to submit to its exercise. The veto was duly announced
by the mouth of one of the rare survivals known as 'court cardi-
nals.' Please God it will be the last time that such a functionary
will be guilty of such an anachronism in the supreme delibera-
tions of the senate of the Church. All eyes were fixed upon Cardi-
nal Rampolla as he rose in his place. His words were few, but
they were characteristic of the man — of hishumilit3% his courage,
his tact, his zeal for the independence of the Church. 'I am not
displeased,' he said, 'by this act of the Emperor of Austria, be-
cause I know that my name does not bring with it sufficient au-
thority, and I feel all my unworthiness to be chosen for the lofty
office. Yet I must declare that this note is contrary to the spirit
of the times.' When the result of the scrutiny that followed be-
came known, it was found that Cardinal Rampolla's votes had in-
creased from 29 to 30. The Sacred College had thus solemnly
affirmed that the old veto has passed away and that henceforth no
interference of crowned or uncrowned heads will be tolerated.
That evening Cardinal Rampolla earnestly besought those of his
colleagues who still persisted in voting for him, to desist for the
good of the Church and for his own peace, and to give their suf-
frages to Cardinal Sarto, who was now plainly indicated as the
choice of the Holy Ghost."
Some doubt has been expressed in the American Catholic press
if the report of Austria's attempted "veto" is really authentic.
We are in a position to know positively that it is. We are further-
more informed on what appears to be unimpeachable authority,'
that the government of Portugal also had a "veto" ready to be in-
terposed against the election of Cardinal Oreglia di Santo Stefano,
No. 37. The Review. 587
if that should at any stage of the Conclave become remotely
probable.
We consider it our duty as a Catholic American journal to join
in the almost unanimous protest of the Catholic press of Europe
ag:ainst this attempted interference of secular g-overnments with
the divine prerogatives of our Holy Church.
Modern Spiritism. — Father Thomas Croskell bases a pithy paper on
"Modern Spiritualism (more correctly Spiritism), its History and
Physical Phenomena" in the current Dublin Review upon Myers
and Podmore, both careful and conscientious writers. The be-
lief in Spiritism has in many cases superseded the gross mater-
ialism of a generation ago. Spreading rapidly in America, Ger-
many, and France, it invaded England in 1852, and has now
among its supporters men eminent in material science, metaphys-
ics, and travel. As to the realitj'^ of its alleged phenomena, they
are wanting in all the marks laid down by Benedict XIV. for dis-
tinguishing true miracles from false, viz., efi&cacy, duration, utili-
ty, the means employed, and the principal object. Mr. Podmore
himself, who is eminently fair in his facts and searching in exam-
ination of them, is compelled, after critically weighing all the cir-
cumstances of the alleged physical phenomena, to declare them
worthless for the purposes for which they are adduced. And
Mrs. Henry Sidgwick, in her studiously moderate article in the
'Encyclopaedia Britannica,' points out that almost every medium
prominent before the public has been detected in fraud at one
period or another. Their agencies are very mundane, their facts
have again and again been imitated by sleight of hand, &c., and
in the marvelous fall short of what Oriental jugglers constantly
do. Worked in darkness or semi-darkness, beneath tables, within
cabinets, or behind curtains, they are as the poles apart from the
miracles of our Lord or his Saints, worked openly in the light of
day, in the midst of crowds, endless in variety, stupendous in
effects. Looked upon from such a coign of vantage, the physical
phenomena of Spiritism are childish in the extreme. And but for
its psychological phenomena. Spiritism, as yet developed, would
scarcely command a thinker's study. That more important ex-
amination Father Croskell reserves for a future paper.
Our New Naiional Anthem. — It will probably be news to many Amer-
icans that the United States has never had a national anthem,
officially speaking, until the other day, when, according to the
Chicago Tribune, the Navy Department issued an order declaring
"The Star-Spangled Banner" to be the national anthem, and
directing that, whenever that composition is played, all of&cers and
men shall stand at attention, unless they are engaged in duty that
will not permit them to do so.
As to the good taste displayed in selecting "The Star-Spangled
Banner," there will be a variety of opinions.
The melody of "The Star-Spangled Banner" is, we believe,
English, and its antecedents are most undignified. Its melody is
that of a drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," and was a
favorite with a bacchanalian crew which used to meet at the
Crown and Anchor in London between 1770 and 1775. Then, set
toother words, it did duty in Masonic lodges. Soon it traveled
588 The Review. 1903.
across the water and its first patriotic setting- was made by Robert
Treat Paine, in 1798, to words entitled "Adams and Liberty."
We next find it illustrating- another campaign song, "Jefferson
and Liberty," and in 1814 Francis Scott Key set the present
words to it on the eve of the bombardment of Fort McHenry.
It is fortunate that the sailors of the navy are not obliged to
sing it. It is much easier for the bands to play it. It was not
difl&cult for roisterers to catch its abrupt intervals or to execute
its singular flights and closing outburst when under the influence
of wine or spirits at the Crown and Anchor, but it is a serious
business for a patriot to get through it with a serene face. That
we should have to take this old drinking song for a national an-
them illustrates the poverty of our musical invention as compared
with that of other nations.
Bishop Byrne and His Pupil. — Mr. James R. Randall in the Catholic
Columbian (No. 37) is authority for the following yarn : "Bishop
Byrne [of Nashville] was absent at Newport, R. I., during my visit
to Nashville. I understand that he was theguest of honor of Mr,
Collier, the millionaire publisher. When the Bishop was Father
Byrne, a poor lad came to him to get his aid to secure employment.
The priest kept him in the pastoral residence and taught him
academically. This youth was intelligent and pious, as well as
grateful. When about 18 years old he said to Father Byrne : 'I
am now old enough to to earn a living and I must go out into the
world to do so. I come to you for counsel. Where had I better
go?' Father Byrne replied : 'Go to New York. Here are $200
for your start. If you need more, let me know when this is gone.'
The boy went as directed. He never had cause to make any
further demand upon his benefactor. He is now the opulent Mr.
Collier, widely known for literature and benevolence, a devout
Catholic and, of course, the staunch and zealous friend of Bishop
Byrne."
Can this be the Mr. Collier, who publishes Collier's Weekly and
floods the book market with a lot of cheap subscription stuff of
doubtful value ? If so, we do not think His Lordship of Nashville
has as much reason to be proud of his former pupil as if the lat-
ter were now an humble Catholic school-master or a reporter on
the most insignificant Catholic newspaper in the land. There is
not, so far as we are aware, anything specifically Catholic about
Mr. Collier's literary activity or in his public life, unless it be
that he occasional!}' plays the millionaire host to at least one Cath-
olic bishop.
Married Priests in the U. S. — According to the Catholic Columbian
(No. 35) "there are about a dozen married priests in this country,
of whom half are in Pennsylvania. They are mostly Ruthenians,
originally from Poland, and follow the Greek rite."
We do not understand how this can be in view of two separate
and distinct decisions of the S. Congregation of the Propaganda,
that only celibate Ruthenian and other Oriental priests should be
admitted to the care of souls in the United States.
These decisions bear date of October 1st, 1890, and May 10th,
1892. They are summed up as follows by P. Joseph Laurentius,
S. J., in his 'Institutiones Juris Ecclesiastici,' just published
^Herder : 1903. Page 99):
No. 37. The Review. 589
"Cum presbyteri Rutheni coniugati ad curam spiritualem popu-
larium suorum subeutidam in Status Unites Americae Septentrio-
nalis immigrarint, ne ex ministerio cleri uxorati religioni et dis-
ciplinae grave detrimentum obveniat, statuttim est, non nisi caclihes
cuiusciimqiie ritus orientalis presbyteros ad illam curam admittiy
Have these decisions been reversed ? Or are they disregarded?
The ground on which they were based was certainly well taken.
The very query that gave rise to the Coltnnhian'' s article from
which we have culled the above statement, shows how easily Am-
erican Catholics take scandal at married priests.
Religious Conditions in the Southern States. — The South is largely
under the influence of Protestantism, which means practically the
Methodist and Baptist sects. The most noteworthy feature
in those States is the weak hold these two denominations have
upon the whites. The following tables, compiled by a writer in
the Catholic ^7//z'^r5^ (July 27th), present a vivid picture of the
religious conditions in the South, at least as far as numbers are
concerned :
Methodists Methodists
States. Whites. Colored. and Baptists. and Baptists.
White. Colored.
Alabama 1,001,000 827,000 292,000 308,000
Arkansas 944,000 366,000 184,000 116,000
Georgia 1,181,000 1,034,000 385,000 365,000
Mississippi 641,000 907,000 236,000 224,000
N.Carolina 1,263,000 624,000 399,000 301,000
S. Carolina 557,000 782,000 246,000 294,000
Virginia 1,192,000 660,000 220,000 270,000
Total 6,779,000 5,200,000 1,962,000 1,878,000
It will be noted that out of a total white population of 6,700,000,
there is a church membership of only 1,900,000.
Here is a wide field for missionaries.
Thonnas William Allies. — The death of Thomas W. Allies, which,
so far as we are aware, has hardly been noticed in the American
press, removes one of the last participants in the famous Oxford
Movement. "An intimate friend of Newman and Manning," says
the Casket (No. 24), "he resigned a handsome living in the Church
of England to become a Catholic layman and enter upon a hard
struggle with poverty. He wrote man}" valuable books, — his 'For-
mation of Christendom' being the finest contribution to the phil-
osophy of history which we possess in the English language, —
but they were such as appealed only to the cultured and there-
fore brought him little remuneration." r I I !
Allies' 'Formation of Christendom' forms the first volumes of
a great philosophical history of the Church which has justly been
compared with Bossuet's famous 'Discours sur I'HistoireSUni-
verselle' and St. Augustine's 'De Civitate Dei.' "With erudition
and broadness of view the author combines 'a grace of style
formed on classic models and a Catholic spirit imbibed from the
fathers and doctors of the Church.' " (Jenkins, 4. ed., p. 405). It
is to be sincerely hoped that this great work will be more generally
read and appreciated after his death than it was in his life-time.
590 The Review. 1903.
Street Fairs. — We have repeatedly condemned the so-called street
fair, as usually held, especially in our smaller cities and towns.
We note that the clerg-y of Alton have recently protested against
the holding of one in their city, and we congratulate them upon
their vigilance and courage. There can be no doubt that the
average street fair is indeed characterized, as the reverend gentle-
men of Alton say, by "revolting scenes and demoralizing features."
While here and there a few may be decent, the Neza World is
right in saying that "the average affair of the kind is indescribably
low and disgusting. It appeals to the very basest in humanity
and is intended to do so. Frequently it is used as an occa-
sion to turn the sacrament of matrimony into a mockery by ar-
ranging street weddings, ministers and licenses furnished free.
Under the name of Oriental dances spectacles are presented
which would cause a bronze statue to blush of very shame. Other
indecencies are permitted to the disgust of all pure-minded peo-
ple." "There is no reason why the street fair should become
the doorway of hell. Until it can become decent Catholics every-
where should set their faces against it." {JVeza World, Sept 12th.)
The Portland Catholic Sentinel, whose former conductor has
been made Bishop of the new Diocese of Baker City, is now pub-
lished by a gentleman who is both a better editor and a better
publisher than his predecessor. He has given the paper a handier
form and a more pleasing typographical make-up, and manages
to inject into its editorial columns a degree of esprit and vivacity
which we were unaccustomed to in Father, now Bishop O'Reilly.
Moreover, he is a close reader of The Review, as appears from
the subjoined note in his issue of Sept. 10th :
"Preuss of The Review has got back to work after a two weeks'
vacation, and has begun to throw ink with more than his ordinary
strenuousness. If he keeps it up we shall have some unusually
interesting and instructive winter reading."
It may interest our confrere to learn that nearly the entire con-
tents of our post-vacation number were prepared in advance,
in the early days of August. So if that number gave proof of " more
than ordinary strenuousness," our brief vacation had naught to
do with it.
But we are glad he finds The Review "interesting and instruc-
tive." It always aims at being that, vacation or no vacation, and
makes it a point to serve the brethren of the craft as a thought-
provoker, even though so many of them treat it with less courtesy
than the average secular "ink-slinger."
The Catholic Columbian declares (No. 37) that it "will not be
satisfied with the Catholic University until representatives of the
chief religious orders are among the professors in the faculty."
Does our esteemed contemporary desire to be classed with the
real "refractaires"? We have it personally from the lips of Msgr.
Keane that it was the express wish and command of Leo XIII.,
its illustrious founder, that the University should not have relig-
ious in its faculty. Unless Pius X. reverses the policy of his pre-
No. 37. The Review. 591
decessor, we do not think the Catholic laity of America have the
rigfht to withhold their support from the institution because there
are no Jesuits, or Dominicans, or Benedictines, or Franciscans
among- its professors.
But we have a right to demand that the University be thorough-
ly orthodox and ultramontane in capife et membris, and that it rec-
og-nize all the elements of our Catholic population on an equal
footing-.
We read in the Catholic Columbian (No. 35):
"If the Catholic Summer School would get rid of the name of
school, it might draw to it more young men. At present, the
place is overrun with young women, convent academy graduates,
who imagine it 'just too sweet toattend lectures' and fancy them-
selves fit for university deg-rees, while they are thinking most of
all of the hop."
Some one sent us the Toledo Blade recently, containing a note
to the effect that the Eastern Catholic Summer School had adopted
the distinctively Protestant name of "Chautauqua."
We don't know, though, whether a changfe in name will make
much difference. These summer schools are petering- out, as we
predicted they would, and fortunately the cause of Catholicity
will not suffer serious loss by their inevitable disparition.
"The German Catholics are among- the bravest and most united
in the world ; and, by their intellect, patriotism and fidelity to re-
ligious principles, the German Catholic statesmen and politicians
have won a commanding influence on the national life of the
Fatherland. They afford an example which the Catholic public
men in other parts of the world are unable to emulate. In Aus-
tralia we have few Catholic politicians or statesmen. But we have
politicians who are Catholics, and who usually fall asleep when
any question arises affecting the interests of their fellow-Catholics.
We are pleased to add that just now they get little more respect
than they are entitled to." Thus the Cat/iolic J^ress oi Sydney,
Australia f July 2nd). It seems Australia is in the same boat as
the United States ; the Catholics of both countries would do well to
turn their attention to Germany.
The court-martial against the navigator of the U. S. battleship
"Massachusetts," for grounding the ship on the coast of Maine,
is very interesting. The poor officer was found technically
"guilty," but will not be punished, because he was really not at
fault, having merely executed the orders of his superior ofl&cer.
Rear Admiral Barker. The Admiral had sent the fleet to sea in
a dense fog, contrary to all rules of seamanship, in order not to
disappoint President Roosevelt and his friends, who desired a re-
riew at Oyster Bay. For that important reason the property of
the nation and the lives of the crew were jeopardized — merely to
gratify a whim of our "ruler."
592 The Review. 1903.
Speaking of the discussion of the project of a Catholic daily
newspaper for this country, the Pittshiirg Odse?'ver {Sept. 10th)
says : "The idea which most of the writers (in the editorial col-
umns of the Catholic press) seem to entertain about such a daily
journal, is that it should contain news of an exclusively Catholic
character." i I
Will the Observer please inform us who the writers are that
hold this silly view?
It is a pity that this important and withal simple question can not
be discussed without false assertions and unfounded innuendoes.
On the U. S. cruiser Olympia, the other day, a five gallon keg of
alcohol, which the men had smuggled, exploded with tremendous
force, and the burning fluid spread over the forward main deck,
injuring five sailors (one of them fatally) and endangering the
vessel. Our readers have doubtless read the details in the daily
press. The incident is instructive. This time there were no
Spaniards handy to be charged with crime. One can not help
remembering the fate of the Maine and wondering if it was not
wrecked through carelessness on board or faulty construction.
-;»
In order to remove all doubt as to whether the prayers pre-
scribed by Pope Leo XIII. to be said after low mass were to be
continued or not, our Apostolic Delegate, Msgr. Falconio, has ap-
plied for a decision to the S. Congregation of the Propaganda and
received from His Eminence Cardinal Gotti, under date of Sep-
tember 7th, the following answer :
"As a universal law is binding not onl}' during the life of the
legislator, but as long as said law is not revoked : the recitation
of said prayers, prescribed by Leo Xltl., must be continued."
If the trend of discussion at the National Educational Associa-
tion at Boston be trustworthy, coeducation is no longer in the as-
cendant. Opposition to it is positive, pronounced, and persistent
in all parts of the country, and especiallj'^ bj^ those whose oppor-
tunities for forming an authoritative judgment are greatest.
Yale and Harvard are felicitating themselves that they resisted a
pressure twenty-five years ago which threatened to be irresistible.
According to the preliminary report of the Superintendent of
the Philippine census, of the total population of 6,976,574, onlj'^
650,000 belong to the "'wild tribes ;" so it would appear that about
90% of the inhabitants may be considered more or less civilized.
Certainly an excellent showing for the Spanish friars. It will
be a long time before any American system of "civilizing" after
"hell roaring Jake" Smith's methods can show similar results.
We are glad to see our valiant contemporary La Vh'ite oi Que-
bec re-appear in the arena. J/. Tardivel has regained his health
sufficiently to issue his paper for the present once a month. He
hopes soon to be able to resume its weekly publication. Vivat^
floreat!
II XTbelReview. ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., October 8, 1903. No. 38.
THE ONLY REMEDY.
A Word With the Managers of Our Catholic Mutual Bene-
fit Societies and the Reverend Clergy.
HE New York members of the Catholic Mutual Benefit
Association are discussing the necessity of re-adjust-
ing- or rather increasing their rates for the "insur-
ance" furnished, since the present contributions are admittedly
insufi&cient to insure the stability of the organization. Death
losses are increasing, membership is becoming discouraged, and
the turning over of a "new leaf" is indispensible. What will be
done we do not yet know, but in view of a similar condition of af-
fairs in the Catholic Benevolent Legion, Catholic Knights of Am-
erica, Catholic Order of Foresters, and others, we deem it time
to say a few plain but pointed words on the important subject of
Catholic mutual life insurance.
The experience of the past fifty years has proved conclusively
that the so-called "assessment" life insurance system is furnish-
ing protection only for a limited number of years, and can not be
made permanent. It is based on the assumption that new mem-
bers will take the place of dying or retiring members, and makes
no provision for the last man. With its increasing age the attrac-
tion of such a society for "new blood" decreases, the membership
(at first rapidly increasing) after a while becomes stationary for
a short time, then, under heavier assessments, falls rapidly,
and that is the end. Unfortunately there always remain a num-
ber of unpaid losses, and worse than that, a more or less large
membership, consisting of people too old to get any more insur-
ance elsewhere at reasonable rates, who have contributed to the
defunct society for years, only to find themselves at an advanced
age out of pocket and without protection. That such a result
594 The Review. 1903.
must be a heavy blow to the system of Catholic societies directly,
and indirectly to the cause of the Church, goes without saying.
Long ago the true and only method of reliable life insurance
has been found in the so-called "level premium" system with
scientifically fixed rates and reserves. Even such unbiased in-
vestigators as the Committee on Revision of Rates, etc., appointed
by the Catholic Order of Foresters, in their report of the 1st of
May, 1903, admit this and recommend the adoption of the "old-
line" system. Some of the most important assessment companies
conducted as a business, Kke the Mutual Reserve of New York,
the Security Mutual of Binghampton, the Fidelity of Philadelphia,
and others have recognized this truth and reorganized under the
laws as old-line companies. Of Catholic societies we know but
one, the Family Protective Association of Wisconsin, which has
had courage enough to establish itself on the same plan.
Yet all the others will have to follow suit or go under. In view
of the general knowledge of the true principles of life insurance
which can be had for the asking, it were simply criminal for the
managers of our Catholic mutuals to much longer continue on the
present basis, or try another temporary makeshift for the sake
of getting new members, who are expected to cover the deficiency
of the old organization without any security whatever that their
own insurance will be paid. That were simply "obtaining money
under false pretenses," something on the plan of the "get-
rich-quick" concerns, not worthy of any organization claiming re-
spectability and, least of all becoming to a Catholic society.
It is high time that our reverend clergy take the matter up. In-
stead of endorsing every Catholic insurance society, managed by
well-meaning but ignorant men on utterly unbusinesslike plans
or principles, let our priests study the subject, satisfy themselves
that reliable life insurance can not be furnished for less than a
fixed minimum rate at any given age, and boldly denounce every
concern as fraudulent (whether Catholic in name or not) which
promises life insurance for less than the actuarial net premiums.
The Philadelphia Record of Sept. 15th, editorially comments
on the case of a man who celebrated his 100th birthday on the
13th of September, 1903. We skip other points in the article,
simply quoting that, on the 7th of February, 1843, he insured his
life in a New York "old-line" company, which was then exactly
one week old. When the policy holder completed his 96th year,
the company not only was still in existence, but the supposed
maximum age having been attained, he was relieved from fur-
ther payments, and though taken on the ordinary life plan, his
policy is now paid up in full for over four years. As this is not
an advertisement for any insurance company, nothing will be said
No. 38. The Review. 595
liere regfarding- the premiums paid, nor the dividends received,
nor the amount involved. But where is the assessment company
that ever treated a policy holder of 56 years' standing like this ?
The "Presbyterian Ministers' Fund" commenced business in
Philadelphia on January 11th, 1759. It is a mutual insurance
company for the benefit of Presbyterian clergymen. According
to the Pennsylvania Insurance report, this company had, on Dec.
31st, 1903, 4,975 policies in force, representing $7,112,208.64 of in-
surance, covered by $1,570,661.63 admitted (good) assets. In
other words, this company holds now about $220 cash for every
$1,000 of outstanding insurance and during its 144 years of bus-
iness has paid every valid claim promptly and in full. Needless
to say, it is conducted on the old-line plan. Where is the assess-
ment company with a similar record ?
Let our reverend clergy take courage. No priest would allow
•or endorse a society of his parishioners making imitation gold dol-
lars and selling them for 50 cents of their face value. That is
called counterfeiting. Yet the same principle applies to the sys-
tem of Catholic life insurance as at present conducted and too of-
ten recommended by the clergy.
sr 3f sf
THE CASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL
UNION AND ITS OATH.
The "member's obligation" of the International Typographical
Union reads a follows (we copy it from the constitution printed
in January, 1903, on the Hollenbeck Press, Indianapolis):
Article XII — Obligation.
Section 1. All subordinate unions shall have an article in their
constitution which shall read as follows :
Every person admitted as a member of this union shall sub-
scribe to this obligation :
I (give name) herebi'^ solemnly and sincerely swear (or affirm)
That I will not reveal any business or proceedings of any meet-
ing of this or any subordinate union to which I may hereafter be
attached, unless by order of the union, except to those whom I
know to be members in good standing thereof.
That I will, without equivocation or evasion, and to the best of
my ability, abide by the constitution, by-laws and the adopted
scale of prices of any union to which I may belong.
That I will at all times support the laws, regulations and deci-
sions of the International Typographical union and will carefully
avoid giving aid or succor to its enemies and use all honorable
means within my power to procure employment for members of
the Typographical union in preference to others.
That my fidelity to the union and my duty to the members
the reof shall in no sense be interfered with by any allegiance that
596 The Review. 1903.
I may now or hereafter owe to any other organization, social, politi-
cal or religious, secret or otherwise.
That I will belong to no society or combination composed
wholly or partly of printers, with the intent or purpose to inter-
fere with the trade regulations or influence or control the legisla-
tion of this union.
That I will not wrong a member or see him or her wronged, if
in my p©wer to prevent.
To all of which I pledge my most sacred honor.
We also reproduce from article 1, section 1, the "obedience"^
clause :
Constitution — Article I — Jurisdiction.
Section 1. This body shall be known as the International Typo-
graphical Union of North America. Its jurisdiction shall include
all branches of the printing and kindred trades and its man-
dates must be obej^ed at all times and under all circumstances.
Rev. Dr. Baart^has called attention to the words, "I solemnly
swear," which show an oath^ not merely an obligation or promise;
also the words "I swear that I will at all times support the deci-
sions of the Union," which implies blind obedience at all times to
any decision the Union may see fit to make, thus enslaving ante-
cedently the judgment and manhood of the applicant for mem-
bership.
By all rules of logic, law, and the English language, this oath
places fidelity to the Typographical Union before allegiance to
Church or State. The words, "shall in no sense be interfered
with," are a positive prohibition. The words "no sense" are
stronger than "no way," because they include not only external
interference but also internal acts of the mind or interpretation.
The words, "any allegiance to any other organization," are uni-
versal terms, which admit no exception. The words, "social, po-
litical or religious," take in all possible organizations, and thi.s is
confirmed by the words "secret or otherwise."
Reading the clauses together, we have the following sense : "I
swear that I will at all times support the decision of the Typo-
graphical Union, even if it should be against the allegiance I owe
to the United States government or to the Church ;" neither the
Church nor the State exacts such blind obedience to some future
decision; and the Church decries such an oath because it enslaves
manhood as well as places fidelity to a labor union above allegiance
to Church and State.
Members of the Union have given various contradictory explan-
ations of the oath, some alleging mental reservation, others that
the words do not mean what theylsay, which contradiction proves
that the Union has put no official interpretation on the words, dif-
ferent from their obvious sense. It must be remembered also,
that this oath is taken indirectly against all who are not members
No. 38. The Review. 597
•of the Union. Therefore the public, the Church and the State
have at least an equal right to interpret the Typographical oath
-as the members themselves, and the public is in no way obliged to
accept an alleged mental reservation or any other explanation
against the obvious sense of the words of the oath. Universals,
as used in the oath, leave no room for interpretation. The only
remedy is to change the wording.
It appears that many took the offensive oath thoughtlessly ; and
therefore if they sincerely state such to be the case and promise
not keep the objectionable features of the oath. Dr. Baart thinks
they should not be refused sacramental absolution.
It may not be amiss to remark, in this connection, that much
that was printed in the daily papers as coming from bishops on
this subject, was mere fiction. We are enabled to give a few au-
thentic opinions :
Archbishop Glennon: "I think Dr. Baart's views" (as ex-
pressed above) "are sound and prudent. There is no doubt that
if they are given a little time, the Union leaders will modify the
oath."
Bishop Scannell : "I trust that little tempest about the printers'
oath will do good. I have no doubt they will change the form of
the obligation."
Bishop O'Donaghue : "I think drawing attention to this oath will
eventually cause the objectionable parts to be eliminated."
We know that several other archbishops and bishops share these
views and approve of this agitation, and trust that President
X/ynch of the Typographical Union will allow himself to be con-
vinced that the objections against the oath are well founded. So
far, we regret to note, he has not brought himself to look at this
important question from the right point of view, for he is reported
in the daily newspapers (v. St. Louis Chronicle, Sept. 28th) to have
written the subjoined statement for the next issue of the official
Typograrphical Jourjial :
"Nothing could be wider of the mark than that the obligation
taken by the printers is opposed to Church and State. We do (not)
maintain that we shall be allowed to transact our trade union bus-
iness without interference from politics or religion, fraternity or
combination. There is no doubt the good common sense of the
members will permit the newspaper sensation to die of inanition."
It becomes the task and duty of the Catholic members of the
Typographical Union to convince Mr. Lynch that the oath is ob-
jectionable, and that it will be in the interest of the Union and of
the cause of organized labor in general to modify it in conformity
•with the criticism of Fathers Baart and Schinner.
*) This ";/o/" seems to be a misprint.
598
THE POLISH PETITION TO THE HOLY SEE.
[The newspapers have spread so many wild and fanciful inter-
pretations of the memorial recently submitted to the Holy See by
Rev. W. Kruszka and Mr. Rowland B. Mahany in the name of the
Polish Catholics of the United States, that we gladly comply with
the request to publish the full text of the document, in the original
Latin, in order to enable all who are interested in this matter and
desire to have first-hand information, to form theif own judgment..
The memorial is entitled: "Supplices Preces Suae Sanctitati
Leoni Papae XIII. ad Episcopos Polonos in Rebuspublicis Foeder-
atis Americae Septentrionalis pro Gente PolonaObtinendos,"and
comprises, with its appendices, fifty pages.
We reserve our criticisms for a later number of The Review.1
Fidelis sermo : Si quis episcopatum desiderat
bonum opus desiderat— (i. Tim. 3, 1).
Beatissime Pater !
Clerus populusque Polonus ex Rebuspublicis Foederatis Am-^
ericae Septentrionalis, in Congressu Catholico habito in civitate
Buffalo, Republica Neo-Eboracensi, diebus 24, 25, et 26 septem-
bris A. D. 1901, selegit nos et misit Romam, ut hie, ante pedes
Sanctitatis Tuae provoluti, nomine omnium qui ibi colonias con-
stituerunt Polonorum, quorum numerus nunc fere vicies centena
millia attingit, summam, qua dignuses, praestemus Tibi, Vicario
Christi, reverentiam, fidelem animum, servitutem. "Coelum, non
animum mutat, qui trans mare currit" — fert proverbiura. Nos
quoque Poloni, ex Europa in Americam emigrati, coelum tantum-
modo et regionem, sed non religionem et animum Catholicum
mutavimus. Ut enim patres nostri in vetere Polonia, ita et nos
in nova Polonia Americana fideles Matris Ecclesiae filii perpetuo
permanere volumus ; atque hoc plurimi aestimamus, quod filii
Tui, Beatissime Pater, norainamur et sumus.
Verum, ut filii in necessitatibus et indigentiis suis ad patrem
matremve confugiunt — ad quern enim irent?- — ita et nos filii Tui
ex longinqua America venimus ad Te, Beatissime Pater, ut cum
pietate et fiducia ac sjnceritate supplices Tibi demus preces et
invocemus auxilium Tuum in necessitatibus, quas experimur.
Deficiente Ej>iscopo Polojio,
ores Polonae in America dispergtmtur.
Necessitas vero, quae nos Polonos ex America at Te recurrere
coegit, est necessitas servandi fidei integritatem populi Poloni
Americam inhabitantis, cum animadvertamus fidem veram posse
perire, quin etiam formale jam schisma exortum esse inter nos-
trates in America. Convocavimus, autumno, anno 1901, Con-
No. 38. , The Review. 599
gressum omnium sacerdotum et cultiorum laicorum Polonorum
in civitate Buffalo, Republica Neo-Eboracensi, ut inquiramus
causas exorti schismatis, atque ut, causa detecta, medelam huic
summo malo applicemus. lamvero in illo Congressu, re inter sa-
cerdotes Polonos sedulo perpensa, omnium consensu pervenimus
ad banc conclusionem : causam praecipuam ob quam oves Polonae
in America disperguntur atque in dies magis ac magis a recto
fidei tramite declinant banc esse, quia non habent Past-ores pro-
prios, i. e. Episcopos Polonos, quorum vocem "sciant," ut dicit S.
Joannes (10,4), scilicet intellig-ant.
Non saltuatini -procedimus.
Prima nostra tenta?nina in America.
Plus quam decem abhinc annis, nempe ab anno 1891, Episcopa-
tus in America, et ipsa S. C. de Propaganda Fide vehementer or-
abantur, ut viderent, ne, ex defectu Episcoporum Polonorum,
Ecclesia in America detrimentum pateretur. Preces f uisse fac-
tas non sine fundamento in re subsequentia mox comprobarunt.
Quid enim evenit ? Ab anno 1895 circiter 50,000 Polonorum a fide
Catholica defecerunt sectamque sic dictorum "Independentium"
constituerunt, Hinc non est mirandum, quod nostra recens
"Commissio Executiva" Congressus II. Poloni Romano-Catholici,
praeterito anno, novum supplicem libellum miserit ad Episcopa-
tum Americanum. Supplex libellus his verbis conscriptus erat :
"Of&cium Commissionis Executiyae Congressus Poloni
Rom.-Catholici.
"Rev. C. Sztuczko, Secretarius, 540 Noble St., Chicago, 111.
"Ad Excellentissimos ac Reverendissimos Archiepiscopos
Ecclesiae Romano-Catholicae in Statibus Foederatis Americae,
congregatos in civitate Washington, Districtus Columbiae, 21
Nov. 1901.
"Reverendissimi Archiepiscopi :
"Nomine cleri populique Poloni Romano-Catholici, in Congressu
Buffalensi, Statu Neo-Eboracensi, congregati diebus 24, 25 et 26
Septembris 1901, nos infrascripti ex Commissione Executiva
humillime proponimus Excellentiis Vestris quae sequuntur :
"Omnium fidelium Ecclesiae filiorum Vestrae Archiepiscopali
curae commissorum nos Poloni sumus desolatissimi atque infeli-
cissimi. Causae hujus desolationis nostrae sunt permultae et
permagnae, sed dolore maximo af&cit nos illud, quod multi nos-
tratum, seducti a nonnullis indignis ac lapsis sacerdotibus, ini-
tium fecerunt schismatis, in directam tendentis rebellionem con-
tra Ecclesiam Romano-Catholicam.
"Haec sic dictorum 'Independentium' secta maximo detriment©
600 The Review. 1903.
est populo nostro : causat innumeras lites ac contentiones in
paroeciis et coloniis Polonorum : provocat scandalosos strepitus
et processus judiciales : magnam corruptionem secum fert in so-
cietate atque imo ruinam turn religionis turn morum et oeconomiae
post se trahit. Prof ecto, non est finis malorum, quae rebellis ista
Independentium secta inter Polonos producit.
"Sua propria apostasia nequaquam contenti, Independentes isti
omni vi a^ fraude satagfere student, ut etiam alios Polonos Catho-
licos in America pervertant atque ab Ecclesia vera seducant. In
hunc finem, more omnium haereticorum, omnibus utuntur fallaciis
et sophismatibus.
"Sophisma, quo iterum iterumque utuntur ad seducendam pro-
bam, sed simplicem plebem nostram, praecipuum solet esse illud
de Hierarchia Ecclesiastica, quam diversorum abusuum accusant,
ut suam rebellionem excusent. Arguendo suam causam, Inde-
pendentes isti identidem clamitant : Romano-Catholicos Archie-
piscopos et Episcopos nullam habere curam miserorum Polon-
orum ; imo, eos exterminari velle Polonam nationem, eos nee ju-
stitia nee charitate duci in tractandis Polonis, eos non habere
spiritum Christi, et hinc neminem iis obedire teneri, etc., etc.
"Has et alias assertiones factis et exemplis comprobare conan-
tur. De facto, huic allegatae injustitiae et tyrannidi Episcoporum
Americanorum suum proprium schisma adscribere solent. Imo,
nostros bonos ac legitimes sacerdotes denuntiant tanquam con-
temptibiles traditores nationis Polonae, tanquam ignobiles servos
barbarae Hierarchiae Hibernorum, tanquam contemptibiles hy-
pocritas, qui, uti ludas Christum, parati sunt populum Polonum
tradere in manus gentis alienae, etc., etc.
" 'Unde hoc venit-sic quaerunt ex nobis-quod vos boni Romano-
Catholici Poloni, licet numerus vester excedit decies' centena
millia animarum, nihilo tamen minus nullam in Hierarchia Eccle-
siastica repraesentationem habetis? Unde hoc est, quod vos ne
unum quidem Episcopum habetis, qui repraesentet in Ecclesia
nationem vestram ? Unde hoc est quod Spiritus Sanctus nunquam
descendere dignetur in vestros probos et plenos zelo animarum
sacerdotes? Unde hoc? Inde, quia Hiberni et Germani Episcopi
contrarii sunt vobis, flocci vos faciunt, considerando Polonos in-
eptos ad fungenda munera Episcoporum.'
"Nostri ex altera parte, tam clerici quam laici cultiores, istas
falsas et malitiosas assertiones Independentium omni modo ex-
plodere conantur curantque persuadere populo nostro : Archie-
piscopos et Episcopos tractare nostram Nationem paterna cum
bonitate zeloque apostolico ; eos nostrarum animarum curam ha-
bere eandem ac aliarum magis prominentium nationum. At, quos-
cumque conatus faciunt nostri boni sacerdotes ad repellandas
No. 38. The Review. 601
contumelias Independentium, ingenue fateri debemus, conatus
illos non coronari successu. Persaepe enim conatus illi frustran-
tur mutua nostra diffidentia, invidia, temeritate, dissensione ac
pusillanimitate. Non sumus unanimes in hac defensione sanctae
fidei nostrae.
"Neg-ari non potest remedia aliqua extraordinaria adhiberi de-
bere eo fine, ut perniciosa Independentium potentia irapediatur :
salus millium animarum sane hoc requirit, nam callidae Indepen-
dentium machinationes magnam jam animarum ruinam effecerunt
inter Polonos Catholicos. Quinquaginta millia animarum a Catho-
lica fide jam defecisse dicuntur.
"Nos, ex Congressu Buffalensi, serio proponimus, quoad possu-
mu9, obviam ire istis Independentium machinationibus, videlicet
ostendendo sollicitudinem Ecclesiae in animarum salute procur-
anda ; explicando quanti momenti sint scholae parochiales, for-
mando societates et foederationes uthoc modo, coniunctis viribus,
pericula schismatis citius et facilius removeantur. Sed etiam hi
conatus nostri profecto insuf&cientes sunt, nisi ab ipsa Hierarchia
Ecclesiastica in Statibus Foederatis efficaciter sustineantur.
"Etenim schismatici, arguendo suam causam, populari utuntur
argumento, directead captum populiloquendo,habent nimirum sic
dictos Polonos Episcopos, dum contra, Polonos Romano-Catholicos
sacerdotes vocant traditores nationis Polonae, qui alienis, ut ajunt,
i. e. Hibernis et Germanis subjiciuntur Episcopis. Quocirca nos,
re mature considerata, devenimus ad banc logicam conclusionem,
quod, si eos efficaciter aggredi volumus, debemus contendere hoc
populare eorum argumentum. Argumentum istud esse populare
valde et ad captum populi facile, sane clarum ac perspicuum est
omnibus, qui norunt naturam populi nostri.
"Absit a nobis, ut nationalem Episcopum pro omnibus Polonis
in hac regione requiramus, sed tamen dantur Sedes Episcopales,
in quibus lingua polona magno cum emolumento adhiberi possit
ab Episcopis.
"Imo, nominatio Episcoporum Auxiliarium lingua polona loqu-
entium esset valde utilis et salutaris. Emolumenta ex tali nomi-
natione essent innumera et magna.
"Persuasum nobis est, tales Episcopos Auxiliares in hac nostra
regione, ubicumque Poloni ampliores constituant colonias, patra-
turos esse miracula in restringenda schismatis diluvie. Tales
enim Auxiliares, Polona lingua loquentes, certiorem reddent
Hierarchiam Ecclesiasticam de indigentiis et conditionibus populi
Poloni. Tales elevabunt conditionem tam cleri quam populi ; in-
troducent unanimitatem et uniformitatem, ubi antea differentiae
et discordiae dominabantur : uno verbo, tales Auxiliares essent
602 The Review. 1903.
profecto vinculum connectens Polonos firmiter cum sancta Matre
nostra Ecclesia.
■'Arg-umentum istud de utilitate talium Auxiliarium sane magis
adhuc amplificari posset, nisi persuasum nobis esset, Excellentias
Vestras, salutem animarum sollicite quaerentes, iam satis intel-
lexisse miserandam conditionem nostram, ideoque paratos esse
succurrere nobis in calamitate nostra, eo modo qui Vestris Ex-
cellentiis congruus esse videatur.
"Sane, moerore agonizantium afficimur, cum cernimus deficien-
tem a fide g-entem illam, quae, saeculisanteactis, meruit appellari
antemurale christianitatis.' Faxit Deus ut, quemadmodum in
praeterito, ita et in futuro tempore confirmetur illud, quod Pius
Papa IX., piae memoriae, tam sig'nificanter dixerat : 'Polonia
semper fidelis.'
"Sperantes Vestras Excellentias banc nostram communication-
em respecturas esse uti novum specimen charitatis Polonorum
erga Ecclesiam Catholicam, remanemus,
"Vestrarum Excellentiarum
"obsequiosissimi ac devotissimi servi in Christo
Rev. Casimirus Truszynski, Praesidens
Stephanus Czaplinski, Vice-Praesidens
Rev. Casimirus Sztuczko, Seer. I.
Leo Szopinski, Secretarius II.
Stanislaus Lipowicz, Thesaur.
"Datum in Chicago, Statu Illinois, 10 Nov. 1901."
Ad banc epistolam Excellentissimi Archiepiscopi responderunt
per suum Secretarium, Archiepiscopum Keane, quae sequuntur :
•'Dubuque, 16 Dec. 1901.
"Reverendo C. Sztuczko, Cong-nis S. Crucis.
"SecretarioExecutivaeCommissionisPoloniCatholiciCongressus.
"Dilecte Rev. Pater,
"Memoriale Executivae Commissionis Poloni Catholici Cong-
ressus debito modo considerabatur in recenti annuo consessu
Archiepiscoporum. Gravitas causae in hoc Memoriali tractatae
omnino agnoscebatur, necnon sapientia suggestionura quae pro-
positae sunt. Sed cum Archiepiscopi nuUam habeant auctorita-
tem in selig^endis Episcopis Assistentibus — res quae exclusive
pertinet ad respectivam Dioecesim vel Provinciam — non erat in
eorum potestate ag-ere quidquam in hac re.
Tuus in Christo
t John J. Keane,
Abp. of Dubuque, Sec."
[Zb he continued.^
603
SCHOOLS FOR JOURNALISTS.*)
The foundation of a school of journalism, which Columbia Uni-
versity has accepted, marks the most ambitious attempt yet seen
to Igive the profession full academic standing. We have had
"courses" in journalism and several so-called "schools"; but noth-
ing before which aimed so proudly at making the editor's one of
the learned professions. Looking- back to the pit whence it was
digged, journalism might well exalt its inky front. From the
day when, as Sir Leslie Stephen tells us, it could be said of a lit-
erary man that he "sunk so low as to be the editor of a newspa-
per," to the age of a school for journalistic aspirants, intended to
rank with those for medicine, law, or theology, is a long road.
The Fourth Estate seems, indeed, to have arrived.
"We would be the last to decry any plan to regularize and dig-
nify newspaper work — least of all to make it more intelligent and
conscientious. The old Bohemian tradition persists, greatly to
the disadvantage of journalism. There really never was any truth,
in it. Jules Janin, years ago, writing to Madame de Girardin,
apropos of her "ficole des Journalistes," ridiculed the notion that
"good leading articles ever were or ever could be produced over
punch and broiled bones, amidst intoxication and revelry." But
the stupid idea still prevails ; and, as we say, every serious effort
to make journalism more steady and self-respecting — a calling,
that is to be taken up deliberately as a life-work — ought to be
hailed by those who are jealous for its reputation. At the same
time, however, we can not fail to be impressed by some of the
glaring difficulties of the plan. Doubtless they are inherent in
any plan.
First of all, the attempt to mark off a distinct journalistic dis-
cipline in a university seems to us bound to fail, in the nature of
the case. To see this we have only to glance at the tentative cur-
riculum. It embraces work almost completely covered already
by existing faculties. Courses in history, economics, languages^
ethics, government, finance, diplomacy, statistics, etc. — all good
and many indispensable for the journalist, no doubt, but all pro-
vided without the need of a separate school. President Eliot
frankly states as much when he writes that if a foundation in
journalism were offered to Harvard, the money could best be used
in strengthening courses "already given at the University every
year." The same must be largely true at Columbia. Special
journalistic studies can not be set off in a sharply marked school.
They overlap the courses of general education at a thousand
*] These comments of an experienced secular
journalist on the much-discussed Pulitzer plan
are eminently worthy of being reproduced in
The Review. They are taken from the edi-
torial columns of the N. Y. Evening Post of
August 17th.
604 The Review. 1903.
points. The analogy of the other professions breaks down the
moment you try to draft a special academic training- for the jour-
nalist. And, of course, the law of parsimony will prevent, in the
long- run, the duplication of work, in the name of journalism, al-
ready done elsewhere under the name of history, economics, jur-
isprudence, etc. There is, of course, a certain amount of journal-
istic technique to be mastered, but it is not great in comparison
with other professions, and it may be gravely doubted if it can be
successfully taught outside of a newspaper of6.ce itself. This
doubt will not be lessened when one reflects that each office has,
to a considerable extent, its own technique.
As we look at the matter, journalism suffers not so much from
the lack of a preparatory "school," in the formal sense, as from
other causes. One of these is the practice of regarding newspa-
per work merely as a stepping-stone to something else. As
J. M. Barrie phrased it : "Journalism is the profession which con-
fers distinction upon men — by their leaving it." But it is good
for no profession to have this sort of fugitive reputation. The
long hopes and the full breaths can not be taken by a man who
works under the conditions described in the verses which James
Smith wrote in imitation of Crabbe, and read to Moore :
"Hard is his lot who edits, thankless job !
A Sunday journal for the factious mob.
With bitter paragraph and caustic jest
He gives to turbulence the day of rest ;
Condemned this week, rash rancor to instil.
Or thrown aside the next for one who will."
In this unstable nature of journalistic practice lies one of its
greatest defects. If a man will not stick to his work, he can not
learn it. What school of journalism could equal the instruction
which Horace Greeley gave Henry J. Raymond, caught fresh
from college? Yet if the future editor of the Times had simply
■"drifted" into journalism after the happy-go-lucky method of too
many now-a-days, he would never have endured the iron discipline
he underwent at Greeley's hands, and would have drifted out
again. Tenacity of purpose and strength of character are, as
Mr. Schurz remarks with great authority, the crying needs of
American journalism. But here again we are driven to ask, can
a school of journalism supply them ? We fear not, any more than
Mr. Andrew D. White's school of statesmanship could furnish
public men who would, simply because they were specially
trained, spurn the wrong and expose the corrupter. The sources
of character lie deeper than "schools"; and the men who are to
lift up journalism must first have the native stuff. A school of
journalism may turn out men who will only look out upon every
event in life with the cynical remark of Freytag's editor — "ma-
No. 38. The Review. 605
terial for one more article" — or who, when tested, may but give
fresh point to Cobbett's bitter saying : "How can you have a free
press under a government which has forty millions a year to
spend 1" But the editors who are to reclaim and dignify Ameri-
can journalism, and save it from the noisy and ignorant and im-
moral methods which make the newspaper too often a thing of
terror, will, we fear, have to find the hiding of their power in
some other scene than a school of journalism. And we are bound
to add that no great moral uplift can derive from a. source which
has done so much, in the past twenty years, to degrade American
journalism — even if the gift be now made by way of expiation.
■§€ "^
BOOK REVIEWS.
Readings of the Gospels for Sundays and Holy Days. By M. S.
Dalton, Author of 'Meditations on the Psalms of the Little
Office,' 'Meditations on Psalms Penitential.' With Preface by
the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Southwark. 5^X7>^ in.
328 pp. London : Sands & Co. St. Louis : B. Herder. 1903.
Price, net $1.
The object of this volume is to supply those who have little
time, and "many others who have but slight inclination to listen
to sermon or instruction," with a means whereby they may share
to some extent in the benefits flowing from the words of Eternal
life which the Church conveys to her faithful children Sunday af-
ter Sunday throughout the year. The "Readings" contain the
Gospel for each Sunday and holyday, with a few pages of prac-
tical instruction.
Chips of Wisdom From the Rock of Peter. By Rev. James M. Hayes,
S. J. Published under the Auspices of the St. Anthony Truth
Guild of the American League of the Cross. J. J. Collins' Sons,
210 Blue Island Ave., Chicago. 1900. Flexible cloth cover, 12mo,
168 pp. 25 cents, post free.
This is an indexed collection of brief papal utterances of Leo
XHL, bearing on modern social questions, with an introduction
consisting of selections from the writings of Cardinal Manning,
Rev. W. Poland, S. J., and Rev. E. A. Higgins, S. J., and an ap-
pendix containing extracts from the memorable pastorals issued
in 1860 and 1877 by Leo XHL as Bishop of Perugia : the whole a
mine of information on a variety of timely and practical subjects.
606
MINOR TOPICS.
Fiddle-Shaped Chasubles and Tawdry Aliars. — The Tablet has a brief
and readable article b}^ Rev. Georg-e Angus, (reprinted from The
Guardian,) on "ritual," which emphasizes the fact that many mis-
understood usages among- us here and in England are not Roman
at all, but merely tolerated. His conclusion is worth repeating:
"Canon MacCoU dislikes (as I do) the fiddle-shaped chasuble.
But this is certainly not Roman. It is French. Canon MacColl
finds fault with his Ritualistic friends because they, or some of
them, imitate the practice of slightly raising the hem of the chas-
uble at certain times in Mass. With us this is done (though not
universally) at the elevation of the host and chalice, the reason
being to prevent the vestment dragging upon the priest's arms.
Certainlj^ this is more necessary where Gothic vestments are
used, and so, perhaps, advanced High Anglicans have more rea-
son to continue the 'survival' than have those who use the more
comfortable and convenient Roman-shaped vestment. But it is
hardly a thing to quarrel about.
Another thing to bear in mind is, that there are many things
done in Rome (i. e., in the Diocese of Rome) which are not done
everywhere, or perhaps anywhere, else. And there are many
things done elsewhere which would not be permitted in the Dio-
cese of Rome for a single moment. Take bell-ringing at Mass.
In France, Spain, Scotland, England, there is more bell-ringing
than in Rome. In Rome, the Mass bell rings at the Sanctus and
the Consecration only. Take the use of flowers on altars. In the
Roman basilicas they are never seen, at least on the high altar.
The only ornaments are the cross and the six candlesticks. I hap-
pened to be, twice in my life, in the beautiful conventual church
of St. John at Malta — once at Christmas time, once during
Lent. The high altar had no ornaments save the cross and the
candles. I possess several sketches and photographs of that
church. No flowers are to be seen anywhere, not even at the sol-
emn Te Deum on the accession of Edward VII.
I mention these, perhaps trivial, details, because it seems to me
to be a pity, when praying for reunion, to vex ourselves and other
Christians, about things which are not of very much importance,
which, at most, are side issues, and which have really nothing to
do with the questions which divide (to use Dollinger's phrase) the
Church and the churches. I think, also, that it is a mistake to
denounce practices, or customs, as Roman, which may be French,
or Spanish, or German, or Neapolitan, or anything else, but in
reality are not Roman at all, although the Christians who like
them, and use them, are in full communion with the Apostolic
See."
Economical Poly g amy. -^Th.Q. Shah has recently reduced his harem
from 1100 "wives" to sixty. As it is virtually a law in Persia to fol-
low the example of the ruler in such matters, the wealthy men who
have carried on a sharp rivalry in making collections of "wives,"
are adding to the number of "grass widows" on a falling market.
No. 38. The Review. 607
The Philadelphia i?e<:^nKSept. 19th) observes in this connection:
"It is conceivable that the Shah may have learned something of
what are said to be American methods. In a series of magazine
articles on divorce in this country a Connecticut clergyman
charged that the practice of polygamy is not uncommon here, the
wives being held successively instead of simultaneously. Here-
ported an appalling number of cases in which divorced persons
had married again at once, and several in which the person had
been divorced and again married more than twice. This is what
he called economical polygamy, and it may have been the cheap
feature of divorcing a wife to save monej^ which appealed to the
Shah. Through frequent divorce the Shah may uphold the insti-
tution of polygamy and have a variety of wives without increasing
the size and cost of his harem. However, what is tolerated here
may seem reprehensible and mean on the part of the Shah of
Persia."
Immediately after the news was cabled to this country that
Msgr. Joseph Wilpert had been appointed Papal Secretary of
State, the writer said in the daily Anien'ka, that the report was
highly improbable for the simple reason (among others) that the
Secretary of State is always chosen from among the Cardinals.
It has since turned out that some one did make a ridiculous
blunder. Msgr. Wilpert has, in acknowledgment of his valuable
services to Christian archaeology, been made a Protonotary
Apostolic, as we had at once surmised in our note in the Amcrika.
Can such errors of the secular press be pardoned ? Possibly
they can. But what shall we say when they creep into Catholic
weeklies ? The Chicago New World, for instance, said in its edi-
tion of September 26th, at the top of its first editorial page :
■'Monsignor Wilpert, the famous archaeologist and author of
'Roma Sotterranea, ' (?) has, according to cable, just been chosen
Papal Secretary of State. Notwithstanding the long delay the
the choice at least has fallen upon a remarkably capable man."
One moment's sober reflection would have prevented the editor
of the New World from getting caught in this ludicrous yarn.
In our No. 34, in the goodness of our editorial heart, we ad-
vised the new managers of the reorganized Catholic Advance of
Wichita, Kansas, how, in our humble opinion, (which is not ex-
actly that of a tyro in journalistic matters) they could improve
their struggling little sheet and make it a shining success. This
is the acknowledgment we got {^Catholic Advance, No, 24):
"Our attention has been called to the advice offered the organi-
zers of this paper by The Review, founded, edited and published
by Arthur Preuss. We don't know Mr. Preuss, and do not ask
his advice, but he gives ample evidence in his little excuse of a
paper of an uncontrollable determination to intrude himself into
other people's business."
We have no alternative but to compose our soul in resignation
and to await sorrowfully the inevitable collapse of an undertaking
which deserves to succeed for this one reason, if for no other,
608 The Review. 1903.
that the State of Kansas ought to have, and can afford to support,
a gfood CathoUc weekly newspaper.
Dr. Albert Moll of Berlin has undertaken, in the Deutsche Med-
icinische Wochenschrift, to expose the famous Italian spiritistic
medium, Eusapia Palladino, who has convinced Dr. Lombroso
and a number of other Italian professors that she is the possessor
of a mysterious psychic power. According- to Dr. Moll, the Pal-
ladino humbug has become almost an epidemic not only among
the Italian nobility, but among the savants. These savants,
headed by Lombroso, claim that their scientific training enables
them to judge such phenomena as experts. Dr. Moll retorts that
it is not a question of scientific observation, but of legerdemain,
in which they are not experts. She dupes them, like other vic-
tims, by cleverly distracting their attention.
Among the converts at a recent mission to non-Catholics, ac-
cording to the Catholic Columbian (No. 37), was a Mormon mis-
sionary and former "bishop," who had been baptized by Father
Hendrickx in the Salt Lake Cathedral. Bishop Scanlan and Father
Hendrickx indulged in the following bit of humor after the bap-
tism : Says Bishop Scanlan : "Father Hendrickx, I protest against
your coming into my Diocese and assuming higher authority than
my own, for I find you actually unmaking bishops." To which
Father Hendrickx replied : "Seeing that there are some eighty
bogus bishops in Salt Lake and only one genuine one, I should
think you would be glad to have me come down occasionally and
unmake a few."
When Archbishop Ryan of Philadelphia was a young priest,
stationed in St. Louis, Archbishop Kenrick lived in a very
unpretentious house, scarcely in keeping with his position in the
Church. One day when Father Ryan was passing the house of
the Archbishop, accompanied by a Chicago priest, who was visit-
ing the Mound City, he pointed out the house as the residence of
the Archbishop. The Chicago priest said with surprise : "Why,
you should see the splendid residence we have in Chicago for our
Bishop !" "Yes," responded Father Ryan, "but you should
see the splendid Archbishop we have in St. Louis for our resi-
dence."
The subjoined clipping from the Catholic Columbian of March
21st, which we had mislaid, is too good to go into the waste-basket :
"An Apostolic mission house, to cost $250,000, is to be erected
by the Paulists at the Catholic University, for the training of
priests for the non-Catholic missions. A palace in which to rear
apostles ! Is it not a mistake to accustom young men to luxuries
of all the latest modern improvements in a perfectly appointed
building and then send them out to the rough life of a homeless
missionary ?"
.. ITbe IRcview. H
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., October 15, 1903. No. 39.
CATHOLICS AND THE STVDY OF THE CLASSICS.
N October 9th, 1902, there took place in Dresden, the capi-
tal of Saxony, a remarkable debate on the foundation
of a so-called "Reform Gymnasium." The mayor of the
city warmly advocated the establishment of such a school,
chiefly from the national standpoint. He declared that the hu-
manistic gymnasium could not give that national education which
was demanded at the present time in Germany. "Remember,"
he said, "that the great majority of the representatives of our
Reichstag belong to a party which has its centre not in national
interests and feelings, but beyond the Alps And the leading
men of this party have been educated in the humanistic gymna-
sium. They are to-day the men that domineer in our parliament!"
Enthusiastic applause followed this outburst of "patriotic and
national feeling," and this applause was repeated whenever the
speaker alluded to the terrible dangers that threatened Germany
from "Romish influence," which is so insidiously exerted on the
German youth through the classical studies.
If it be remembered that the Protestants in Saxony exhibit a
bigotry which is almost incredible, it will be understood how the
audience was horrified at discovering that Popish wiles had
been practised on their children for so many centuries. At last
it was discovered where the Centre, that dangerous "anti-
national party," imbibed its pernicious principles : in the study
of the classics, by means of which the Pope wields a disastrous
influence in the politics of the fatherland ! Even the Neue Jahr-
biicher, of Leipzig (1902, vol. 10, p. 568), a publication which is of-
ten unfriendly to Catholics, could not help ridiculing this absurd
outburst of narrowness and bigotry, and asked in surprise, by
610 The Review. 1903.
whom and how this pernicious influence of Rome was exercised
upon the youth in the German gymnasia.
I was reminded of this incident when I read the article "Must
Greek Go?" (The Review, September 24th). There the follow-
ing' statement of a Catholic paper is quoted : "Yale will no longer
require Greek for matriculation. When will our Catholic colleges
give up that dead corpse of a language? If the Jesuits in this
country were not dominated by the leaders of the society in Eu-
rope, they would probably drop Greek and otherwise make their
curriculum up to date according to American ideas. But sooner
or later Greek must go." This reminded me of the Dresden
speech, because both the Protestant mayor and the Catholic pa-
per see an anti-national influence exercised from "headquarters
beyond the Alps." The Review refutes part of this startling ut-
terance of the Catholic paper by a lengthy quotation from my re-
cent work on 'Jesuit Education' (p. 331), where it is said that the
Society of Jesus upholds the classical curriculum, not because
this is the old traditional system, but because it has so far proved
the best means of training the mind, and that, if other means
should prove better than the classical languages, the Jesuits would
not hesitate to accept them ; and they could do this without being
obliged to change their system. In confirmation of this statement
I may quote the words of the present General of the Society,
who, in 1893, declared that it was a very erroneous view of the
Jesuit system of studies to consider the subject matter as the
essence, whereas it is the spirit which forms the essential and
characteristic feature of the Ratio Studiorum. What this spirit
consists in I need not explain here, as anyone desirous of knowing
it may find it explained in my volume on 'Jesuit Education.' So
much is certain that the Jesuits in this country do not uphold
Greek as an integral part of the college course, because "they are
dominated by the leaders of the society in Europe." And we can
confidently assure the reader that, if the American Jesuits thought
it necessary or advisable to drop Greek, there would not be any
opposition on the part of the leaders of the Society in Europe,
however much they might regret the abandonment of the Greek
language. For the very constitutions of the Society and its Ratio
Studiorum declare explicitly in many passages that, "according
to the difference of country, time, and circumstances, different
regulations may be necessary."
This may suffice as regards the attitude of the Society towards
these studies. We do not intend to enter on a controversy with
anyone on this subject, but seize this occasion to make some ob-
servations which it might be well for Catholics in this country
not to lose sight of. ,
No. 39. The Review. 611
It is said that Greek should be dropped and the curriculum
otherwise be made up to date according- to American ideas. This*
is not the first time that such demands have been made. They
resemble very much the charges of President Eliot against the
Jesuit schools for not accepting his electivism. Is this electivism
among the changes that are "otherwise" needed ? Perhaps so ;
but one thing is sure : from the reason alleged it would follow
that, according to the supposed "American ideas," not only Greek
but also Latin must go. For Latin as well as Greek is a dead
language, and on that very account many modern educators have
no more use for Latin than Greek in their schemes of education.
The history of educational movements of the last decades has
proved that those who wished Greek to be eliminated from the
curriculum, soon after turned against Latin as well, and advanced
similar reasons against the retention of this language. It is
true, during the Middle Ages Latin was studied in Western
Christendom without Greek; but anyone who knows the
educational history of that period must admit that medieval
education, although it possessed some excellent characteristics,
was on many other points defective. One defect was the utter
absence of the literary, aesthetic, and historical study of the
classics. Now-a-days it is demanded that much more attention
be paid to this side of the study of the classics than was done
formerly ; and rightly so. But such a study of Latin is impossible
without studying Greek. Latin literature, however excellent it
may be, is essentially an imitation of Greek literature. But a
thorough understanding and correct appreciation of an imitation
can not be obtained unless the original model be studied. Thus
no one can fully appreciate Vergil's grand- Aeneid without an
acquaintance wnth Homer ; nor can Cicero's philosophical and or-
atorical works be rightly estimated without a fair knowledge of
his sources, that is above all, Plato's works. Thus without knowl-
edge of Greek the study of Latin is deprived of its best aid, and
must fail to produce all the good results which, according to mod-
ern views of the object and scope of classical studies, are to be
expected from the study of Latin.
Add to this the following weighty considerations : Greek liter-
ature is in many regards superior to Latin literature. This ex-
plains why a great many modern educators wish Greek to be em-
phasized much more than Latin. Although we need not accept
this conclusion, it shows that the same objections which are raised
against Greek can be urged with equal force against Latin. A
Catholic might say that Latin, as the language of the Church,
should be maintained on that account in Catholic schools.
But would thereby abandon the position held by thousands
612 The Review. ^ 1903.
of educators in every country, not only Catholics but also
Protestants, that the study of Latin has in itself a great
educational value. Catholics who would recommend the study
of Latin on the ground of its being the language of the
Church, would narrow the scope of this study, would practically
declare it to be only of value for merely extrinsic reasons. The
natural consequence would be that Latin should be studied by
those who need it, that is the Catholic clergy and perhaps a few
others. Thus Latin, too, would become a professional study
and would be abandoned as a means of general training.
But now we come to a more important point. It has been said,
at least implicitly, that American educational ideas demand the
abandonment of Greek in the college curriculum. Is this true?
It can not be denied that a very strong, active, and influential
party among American educators are opposed to its retention and
have succeeded in having it dropped as a necessary requirement
for entrance into college. But the same has been done in several
countries in Europe. Greek has lost its influential position in
Germany, and last year it was nearly excluded as a necessary
requirement for admission at Oxford, England. Hence it is en-
tirely misleading to represent the exclusion of Greek as a pecu-
liarly American idea. Besides, is it correct to call it an American
idea without any limitation? As we have remarked, there is a
very strong party opposed to it, but there are alsoverj'^ many dis-
tinguished American educators who deeply regret the anti-Greek
and anti-classical movement, because they regard the neglect of
these studies as most detrimental to solid training and liberal
education. I have quoted statements of many prominent men who
strongly denounce this modern tendency, and among: them are
men distinguished in every pursuit of active life.*) I do not wish
to repeat these statements here, but if the reader desires others,
I would refer him to a recent valuable pamphlet of Father
Murphy, of Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass. The pamphlet
is entitled : "Popular Errors about Classical Studies." The care-
ful perusal of it might convince some Catholics that they are not
altogether free from popular errors on this subject. There the
reader will find some excellent remarks on the advantages of the
classical studies, by Mayor Low of New York, Senator Hoar,
Dean Briggs of Harvard, Professor Munsterberg of Harvard,
who, though a professor of a most modern science, experimental
psychology, thinks that the study of Greek is most beneficial
for all and is convinced that it has done him a great deal of
good. James Russell Lowell said at Harvard : "If the classical
') 'Jesuit Education,' chapters 10 and 12.
No. 39. The Review. 613
lang-uag-es are dead, they yet speak to us, and with a clearer voice
than any living- tongue. If the Greek languag-e is dead, yet the
literature it enshrines is crammed with life as perhaps no other
writing-, except Shakespeare's, ever was or will be." And Chan-
cellor Andrews of Nebraska maintains that we could not afford to
allow Greek to die, if there were any danger of its doing so, be-
cause it is a social necessity. "No modern community," he said
in the meeting of the National Education Association, 1902, "can
as a community, dispense with Greek, unless it elects to be bar-
baric." Well, then, this Greek is a pretty lively "dead corpse"
after all 1 Many more similar statements of eminent American
educators could be quoted, but they may be seen in the works re-
ferred to.
Two points, however, must be touched. The first is the steady
increase of the study of Greek in this country. The last reports
of the Commissioner of Education show that the study of Greek
is not at all waning. It is true that the percentage of students
taking Greek at high-schools is a little less now than it was
ten years ago, but during the last decade the number of students
taking Greek in college has almost doubled, and in percentage
of increase it ranks among the first branches.
Another fact to which we must advert, is the case of Yale, be-
cause the recent change at this University has given rise to much
comment in the newspapers. At the commencement of Yale in
1902, President Hadley declared that a careful enquiry among
the masters of the secondary schools had furnished abundant
evidence decidedly unfavorable to the abandonment of Greek
as a requirement for entrance into college, and he allowed it to be
understood that Greek would be required at Yale for a good while
to come O^ale Alumni TTrej/^/j-, July 31st, 1902). However, the
change came sooner than one might have expected. It occurred
just a year after the above declaration. Still, — and this fact
should not have been hushed in silence by those who argue from
the attitude of Yale— it is evident that this change was practically
forced on Yale by the attitude of other leading universities.
Many question even now the wisdom of this change, and deplore
the fact that it was considered "inevitable." What is more re-
markable, at the very moment when the change was announced,
the following clause was added : "It is indeed expected that the
great majority of the candidates for the degree (of Bachelor of
Arts) will have studied Greek in preparation for college, and that
it will be extensively pursued in the college course itself ; but for
those who feel unable or unwilling to pursue it, the substitution
of other courses of equal difficulty is allowed." {I'ale Alumni
Weekly, July 15th, 1903). From this it is quite evident that the
614 The Review. 1903.
faculty of Yale by no means considers Greek a "dead corpse." It
is also clear that it can not be said that "American ideas" demand
the abandonment of the study of Greek. Not long- ago one of the
very best and ablest American papers, the New York Evening
Post, expressed the conviction that, "if a few of our American
colleges would stand firm upon the traditional course in Greek,
Latin, mathematics, and philosophy, teaching each student the
elements of one natural science and of two at least of the modern
languages," the experiment would be fully justified by its prac-
tical results. Why should not the Catholic colleges "make this
experiment," that is, stand firm upon the course which they pur-
sue at present, trying to teach it well? For the curriculum of
Catholic colleges, on the whole, is that recommended by the Post:
Latin, Greek, English, and either French, or German, (in some
places Spanish), natural sciences in the highest classes together
with philosophy — we should add history. This is exactly the
course followed in the Jesuit colleges of this country.
Why should. Catholic colleges abandon this course? The
answer is : "Because you must adapt your colleges to American
ideas." This means practically: You must follow the leading'
non-Catholic colleges and universities, as Harvard, Columbia, etc.
But why must Catholic colleges go begging to these institutions
for their educational ideas and ideals? Is it because these uni-
versities possess the monopoly of educational wisdom or of tf uly
national and patriotic spirit?
As regards the first point, we have seen that manj^ eminent
American educationists question the wisdom of those changes
which above all claim at present to represent American ideas. We
have heard what some of these educators say on the dropping of
Greek. Another such idea is electivism, which has been so vigor-,
ously advocated as the only possible system for America at the
present day and for all future ages. And yet, this very system
has not only been condemned but ridiculed by leading American
educators. I refer the reader to 'Jesuit Education,' especially
chapter 11 : "Prescribed Courses or Elective Studies?"
Why then should the Catholic colleges be blamed if they are
not willing to accept these ideas ? Or are they blindly to take up
every new theory that is put forth by some modern educationist,
because the number of those who advocate it happens to be large
and their influence in pedagogical circles, great?
If it be said that the cause of Greek, and the classics in general,
is^nly weakly and timidly defended at present, we can deny it.
But granted that it be so, is the weakly defended always the
wrong cause, and the strongly defended the right? If this were
true, what would we have to think of Christianity in the first cen-
No. 39. , The Review. 615
turies? What of the Catholic Church in this country until a few
decades ago ? Well has President McCosh of Princeton said :
"Of all acts of cowardice the meanest is that which leads us to
abandon a good cause because it is weak, and to join a bad cause
because it is strong-." Of course, I might be told that I am begg-
ing the question if I assume the cause of Latin and Greek to be
the good one ; I do not assume it here, but merely wish to state
that, even if the cause of the classics were weakly defended, and
if all non-Catholic colleges had practically abondoned them, this
fact alone would not prove that the cause is the wrong one.
"Be this as it may, since the subject matter of education is in-
different from the religious point of view, Catholic colleges should
conform to the national ideas in this regard." How shall we an-
swer this objection? We shall have to distinguish. About a
year ago a learned and zealous bishop issued a splendid pastoral
on "Reform, True and False." A similar distinction must be
made as regards ideas which underlie reforms or attempts at re-
form. There are national ideas which are good, and there are
others of questionable worth. The one class exhibits the good
qualities of a nation, the other its shortcomings. Lest it be im-
agined that the writer is opposed to adaptations in education ac-
cording to national ideas — provided they are good— it may be well
to repeat here what he has said on another occasion : "We do
not deny that our age demands something new in education.
Growth and development are necessary in educational systems.
Every age and every nation has its own spirit, its peculiar ways
and means to meet a given end, and these very ways and means
inevitably call for modifications and adaptations in educational
systems." ('Jesuit Education,' p. 4). But in adapting educational
methods to national ideas, care must be taken not to adapt educa-
tion to those national ideas which themselves stand in need of
correction, otherwise "school reform" will prove nothing but
"school deterioration," as Professor Miinsterberg of Harvard
puts it. Now, as regards education, there exist in this
country some excellent ideas. Americans heartily believe in the
value of education ; they think no sacrifice too great for the
improvement of school buildings, of methods of teaching and
training the teachers, etc. These are truly noble ideas. But there
is another class of ideas which by far-seeing Americans of all de-
nominations are stigmatized as the besetting sins in our educa-
tional system. Everything is to be made easy ; studies are to
serve immediately some practical purpose ; interest is stimulated
without corresponding stress being laid on thorough discipline ;
a superficial knowledge of many disconnected branches is pre-
ferred to a thorough mastery of a few well-connected subjects ;
616 The Review. 1903.
specialization is attempted before a solid foundation of general
culture is laid ; the spirit of commercialism is exalted above more
ideal pursuits ; short cuts are preferred to persistent efforts
which lead slowly to the desired goal. Wherever these ideas are
advocated in disguise — they never appear openly, but assume
some specious name — they should not be adapted but vigorously
combated. A careful observer will soon find that this set of ideas
turns especially against the classical studies, which are branded
with such opprobrious names as "useless, antiquated studies,"
or "dead corpses." Robert Schwickerath, S. J.
\.To be concluded.^
"^ »^ "^
THE POLISH PETITION TO THE HOLY SEE.
II.
Ex hisce litteris patet, nos Polonos in Rebuspublicis foederatis
Americae Septentrionalis domicilium habentes, in hac re de ob-
tinendis Polonis Episcopis et sapienter et in "vero spiritu Catho-
lico" procedere. Patet etiam, rem de qua nobis agitur, esse magni
momenti, adeo ut ipsi Archiepiscopi Americani fateantur, non
esse "in eorum potestate" eandem exequi, dicantque, rem illam
pertinere unice ad unamquamque Dioecesim .vel Provinciam
quarum ioterest. Sed quoniam haec ultima verba sane non ita in-
telligenda sunt, quasi res nostra ad singulos Episcopos Ameri-
canos unice pertineat, nullatenus etiam ad Sedem istam Romanam,
ideo nos jure meritoque putamus, hanc quoque nostram expostu-
lationem ad Te, Beatissime Pater, esse faciendam in eodem "vero
spiritu Catholico" et sapientia quam in nos Episcopatus Ameri-
canus supra laudavit. Ad quem enim ibimus in re tam gravis
momenti, ut superet auctoritatem Archiepiscopatus Americani?
in re, a qua tamen pendet salus aeternapopuli Poloni in America?
Quae contra diciintiir ah Ainericanizatorihus^ uti ainnt, refutaniur.
Nonnulli quidem Catholici in America, confundentes notionem
unitatis cum notione uniformitatis, timebant, ne, si Poloni pro-
prios haberent pastores-episcopos, fidei inde unitas in America
periclitaretur. Sed hi, ex falsa praemissa, falsam etiam conclu-
sionem deducebant. Opinio ista, quasi ad servandam in America
fidei unitatem, necessaria esset etiam in lingua (nempe anglica)
uniformitas, prorsus erronea est, et, ut usus docet, ipsi fidei uni-
tati quam maxime perniciosa. Usu enim auctore, Poloni, qui
"anglizantur, non penitus evangelizantur," siquidem una cum
lingua, patrum suorum fidem quoque, quod quam maxime do-
No. 39. The Review. 617
lemus, amittere consueverunt. Certe, uniformitas in lingua, non
solum in America, sed toto orbe terrarum valde optanda et desi-
deranda esset ; verum *'ut terra sit labii unius," (Gen. 11, 1.) haec
sunt pia desideria, quae numquam adimplebuntur. Attamen si
magnum bonum est uniformitas in lingua, omnino majus est
bonum unitas in fide. Quid ergo? Numquid iactura facienda
est unitatis fidei ut in Rebuspublicis Foederatis uniformitas
linguae, nempe anglicae, obtineatur? annon potius, contra, uni-
formitatis linguae iactura facienda est, ut fidei unitas servetur?
Nemo non videt banc ultimam optionem praeferendam esse,
eo vel magis, quod unitas ipsa fidei plus corroboretur varie-
tate linguarum, quam uniformitate. Non solum Poloni, sed et
Germani et Galli et aliae gentes in Rebuspublicis foederatis,
omnes cum hac conveniunt sententia : quod juventus, amissa pa-
tria lingue, patrum quoque fidem amittit. Hinc vere dixit 111.
Epus Spalding (in Spring Valley, 111. a. 1892): "Varietas natio-
num in unitate fidei, in hoc consistit robur et pulchritudo Ecclesiae
Catholicae in America."
Reif>uhlicae unitati non obstat usus diversm'uni lingtiariim^
numquid Ecclesiae unitati obstabit ?
Respublicae Foederatae Americae Septentrionalis non consti-
tuunt unam uniformem nationem, uti v. g. est Hispania vel Ga'J.ia,
sed sunt potius zxnW.zX^'s, i>olygloticae, mixtura quaedam variaruji
nationum in unum corpus civile, cujus quamquam publica lingua
est anglica, nihilominus cives inter se diversissimis loquuntur
sermonibus. Rectores ipsi civitatum foederatarum neminem
cogunt ad discendam linguam anglicam, ne prohibent quidem,
quominus quis utatur lingua qualibet ; quin etiam magistratus
nonnullarum urbium, ut Milwaukee in Republica Wisconsin, in
publicis litteris, quae mandari solent ephemeridibus, non solum
anglica, sed aliis quoque utuntur linguis, ut germanica pro Ger-
manis, polona pro Polonis. Quam ob rem, si Reipublicae unitati
non obstat publicus usus diversarum linguarum, num Ecclesiae
unitati obstabit? Num uniformitas linguae, nempe anglicae, ne-
cessaria erit conditio ad tuendam et servandam fidei unitatem ?
Num haec lingua anglica sola est, qua continetur verbum Dei?
Utinam una sit publica lingua Ecclesiae, et haec
sit latina etiam in America!
Si quaedam in publicis Ecclesiae causis uniformitas desideranda
est, ad hanc uniformitatem assequendam profecto una publica
lingua satis est quae quidem sit lingua latina. Ab americaniza-
toribus tamen lingua anglica, non latina, usu et consuetudine,
habetur tamquam lingua publica Ecclesiae.
618 The Review. 1903.
Praeter latinam lingiiam i>ublica'rn Ecclesiae^ ceterae linguae
Jure fruantur aequali in Ecclesia Americana!
Magnus sane et periculosus error Americanizatorum, qui pu-
tant, introducta apud se una lingua anglica, se eo ipso corrobor-
asse unitatem fidei. Lingua est, ut aiunt, anima nationis. Lingua
vernacula est, natura, pretiosissimus populi thesaurus, et qui
hunc thesaurum rapere quomodocunque machinatur, furem et
raptorem se facit. Quocirca monet St. Paulus : "Et loqui linguis
nolite prohibere" (I, Cor. 14, 39), et St. Ignatius Loyola sapienter
monet socios suos, ut praedicent lingua cujusvis nationis propria.
Etiam hodie missionarii Catholici in nulla natione, in nulla gente,
vel maxime barbara, suam introducunt linguam, sed potius ipsi
discunt linguam istius gentis, cui praedicant propriam. Idcirco
etiam Apostolus gentium dicit ad 1. Cor, 14, 18 : "Gratias ago Deo
meo, quod omnium vestrum lingua loquor." Non una lingua latina
loquitur St. Paulus, quae suo tempore non minus erat diffusa,
quam anglica hodie, sed dicit "omnium vestrum lingua loquor."
Neque dicit ad Corinthios : "Vos, quotquot estis sub imperio Ro-
mano, debetis omnes latine loqui," sed dicit : "Gratias ago Deo
meo, quod omnium vestrum lingua loquor."
Non ergo S. Paulus unitatem linguae necessariam putavit ad
unitatem fidei servandam ; imrao S. Paulus se ut "barbarum"
considerasset, si ad audientis populi linguam se non accomodas-
set; dicit enim : "Tam multa, ut puta, genera linguarum sunt in
hoc mundo, et nihil sine voce est. Si ergo nesciero virtutem vocis,
ero ei, cui loguor, harharus: et qui loquitur^ mihi barharus^ (I. Cor.
14, 10, 11).
Episcopi Americani ipsi conjitentur, se propter ignorantiam Jin'
guarum et dolcre et invictas experiri difficultates.
Hoc idem quod S. Paulus sensit, sentiunt et Episcopi Ameri-
cani, nempe se esse "barbaros" quotiescnmque Polonos alloquun-
tur lingua anglica. Quotiescnmque enim verba faciunt ad Polonos,
sermonem suum m\x\^o\ioq,'' stereotypicj'' incipiunt exordio : "Doleo
valde, quod non possum vos alloqui vestra propria lingua." Hinc
etiam sequitur, ut'nostrisRevmis Episcopis in America^ qui unam
tantum linguam anglicam callent (tales autem, plerumque, habe-
mus), res sit difficillima, administrare, regere ac gubernare dioe-
cesim quae ex diversis constet nationibus. Confitentur hoc ipsi
Rmi Epi, baud raro, se propter ignorantiam linguarum, ex qua
sequitur ignorantia naturae et raorum singulorum, invictas ex-
periri difficultates in administrandis paroeciis Polonorum, Lithu-
anorum, Bohemorum aliorumque Slovanorum. Neque enim
Episcopus potest intelligere populum suum, neque suum Episco-
pum populus. Vicarii autem Generales, a secretis, aliique ama-
No. 39. The Review. 619
nuenses Episcoporum, solent etiam esse homines unius eiusdem-
que ling-uae. In archidioecesi Chicagiensi, v. g., sunt tres epis-
copi, duo vicarii generales, totidemque a secretis, sed omnes isti
ecclesiastic! callent unam tantum linguam anglicam, poloni ser-
monis ignari, licet sub eorum jurisdictione sint plusquam centum
septuagiatamilliaPolonorum, non enumeratis Lithuanis, Bohemis
et aliis Slovanis polone loquentibus. Inde vero, eo quia nee Epis-
copus populum suum, nee populus Episcopum intelligit, multas
exoriri dissensiones mutuas clarum et perspicuum est. Testes
sunt ipsi iidem Episcopi, qui vident ac deplorant easdem dissen-
siones in formale schisma persaepe mutari ; sed cum propter
ignorantiam linguae ad captum populi verba facere nequeant,
hisce dissensionibus non valent occurrere.
/;/ di'oecesidus, quas Poloni magna ex parte constituunt, lingua
polona ah Episcopis ignorafi non potest sine
magno detrimento animarum.
• Ita fit ut Episcopus ignoret populi lingiiam, et, contra, linguam
Episcopi ignoret populus, secundum illud S. Pauli : "Si quis ig-
norat, ignorabitur" (I. Co. 14, 38). Sed num populus vituperandus
est propterea, quia ignorat linguam Episcopi, videlicet anglicam?
Si quaerantur, utrum populus, quod attinet ad linguam, accommo-
dare se debeat Episcopo, an Episcopus populo? utrum dioecesis
sit pro Episcopo, an Episcopu^s pro dioecesi? Procul dubio re-
spondendum est, Episcopum esse pro dioecesi et non contra ; qua-
propter si dioecesis sit ex quinta, ex tertia, vel imo dimidia ex
parte polona, etiam Episcopum debere scire banc linguam
polonam.
Neque in quacumque dioecesi, ubi Poloni degunt, Episcopos
polone loquentes postulamus, sed tantummodo in iis dioecesibus,
ubi Poloni magnam partem, scilicet quintam, quartam, tertiam
vel dimidiam partem dioecesis constituunt.
Doninn linguamni est necessariimi in America.
Nonne Episcopi, etiam in America, successores sunt Aposto-
lorum? Sed quid de Apostolis dictum est ? Nonne legimus de
iis in Actibus (II, 4): "Et coeperunt loqui variis linguis"? Mir-
aculum hoc hodie non esse necessarium concedimus ; sed donum
linguarum in America hodie non esse necessarium ad salutem
animarum negamus. Si donum linguarum est necessarium nobis
nudis sacerdotibus, quibus in America praedicandum est tribus
quatuorve linguis in una paroecia, quanto magis est necessarium
iis, qui sunt et vocantur successores Apostolorum?
Hiberni, vulgo, hoc dono carent ; sed novimus Germanos sacer-
dotes in America, praeter anglicam etgermanicam linguam, loqui
etiam, licet non semper, polona, gailica et italica. Poloni vero sa-
620 The Review. 1903.
cerdotes in America solent loqui variis Unguis, pluribus quam
Germani. Plus quam dimidia pars Polonorum sacerdotum qui
nati vel educati sunt in America, loquuntur ibi lingua anglica
aeque bene ac ceteri indigeni Americani ; sed, praeter anglicam
et polonam, loquuntur etiam saepissime germanica, bohemica,
gallica atque italica, memores illius S.ti Ignatii Loyolae : "Toties
es homo, quot linguis loqueris" — et verborum Apostoli gentium :
"Volo autem omnes vos loqui linguis" (I, Cor. 14,5).
Lingua vernaciila haec, denique, est, quae valet ad captiwi ;populi.
Absit a nobis, ut af&rmemus, tantummodo hoc donum lingua-
rum ef&cere quemquam idoneum successorem Apostolorum ;
affirmamus tantum donum linguarum, ceteris farihiis, in Episcopo
dioQCQs>\va. ;polyg-Iotica}n administrante valde desiderari atque imo
necessario requiri. Si enim Deus patravit velmiraculum, eo con-
silio, ut Apostoli loquerentur variis linguis, ex hoc ipso elucet,
quanti momenti sit notitia variarum linguarum ad salutem ani-
marum comparandam. lUis certe Apostolorum temporibus lingua
latina aut graeca non minus erat diffusa, quam lingua anglica nos-
tris hisce temporibus ; attamen Deus non dubitavit patrare mir-
aculum, ut unaquaeque natio, omnes homines et singuli audirent
Evangelium praedicatum sua propria lingua. '^Advenae Romani,
Judaei quoque et Proselyti, Cretes et Arabes, audivimus eos lo-
quentes nostris linguis magnalia Dei" (Act. 2, 11). Quarehoc?
Etenim non lingua aliena (utut nota nobis), sed lingua familiaris
et patria, lingua vernacula seu "nostra lingua" haec est, quae tan-
dem valet ad captum populi, haec est quae aperit sensum et in-
tellectum hominum, haec est clavis propria, qua aperitur the-
saurus ahsconditus vei'itatum.
{To be continued.^
3f 3? 3f
THE RELIGION OF AMERICAN MASONRY IS THE RELIGION
OF THE PAGAN MYSTERIES.
In the preceding articles we proved from its own admissions,
that AmericanMasonry is a religion. We proved that it is essen-
tially anti-Christian, since it holds that.it alone possesses the true
knowledge of God and of the human soul, thereby excluding
Christianity.
We shall now enter more in detail into the nature of its relig-
ion, and show from its sympathies, its af&nities, its ceremonies,
its initiation, its worship, its symbolism, that its object is to bring
back mankind to the pagan worship of the pagan mysteries. It
is not pagan idolatry in its grosser and more vulgar form, in which
No. 39. The Review. 621
worship was paid to wood, and stone, and senseless clay, but it is
pagan worship in as much as it adores the procreative powers of
nature, especially as resident in the human frame, the deification
of which was, as is well known, the aim and scope of the pagan
mysteries. For the restoration of paganism it lives and labors.
We do not say that every Mason is aware of this, but if he is not, it
is because he has not deeply studied the theories of his order. A
sincere, candid and intelligent perusal of Mackey's Masonic
Ritualist will reveal much to his eyes.
In the very first instructions concerning the "Opening and
Closing of a Lodge" (on p. 12), our little guide introduces us to the
ancient pagan mysteries.
"In the Ancient Mysteries," it says, "(those sacred rites which
have furnished so many models for Masonic symbolism) the open-
ing ceremonies were of the most solemn character. The sacred
herald in the Ancient Mysteries commenced the ceremonies of
opening the greater initiations by the solemn formula 'depart
hence ye profane I' to which was added a proclamation which for-
bade the use of any language that might be deemed of unfavorable
augury to the approaching rites."
These words certainly are the words of one who reverences
paganism. "The sacred rites," "the most solemn character," "the
sacred herald," "the solemn formula," all bespeak without reserve
the feelings of the writer. And how could he speak otherwise of
religious rites "which have furnished so many models for Masonic
symbolism ?" It would be strange to adopt sacred models and not
revere them. We are not, however, to stop at affectionate rever-
ence, we must, as soon as we enter the lodge, take part in pagan
ceremonies. And hence our author (on pp. 25, 26, 27) sets forth
elaborately the history and symbolism of the pagan rite of cir-
cumambulation. He proceeds orderly and first gives us the defi-
nition of the term.
"The rite of circumambulation," he says, "derived from the
Latin verb 'circumambulare,' to walk around anything, is the
name given to that observance in all the religious ceremonies of
antiquity which consisted in a procession around an altar or some
other sacred object."
Having thus defined circumambulation and cast around it the
halo of antiquity, he proceeds :
"Thus in Greece, the priests and the people when engaged in
their sacrificial rites always walked three times around the altar
while singing a sacred hymn. Macrobius tells us that the cere-
mony had a reference to the motion of the heavenly bodies, which
according to the ancient poets and philosophers produced an har-
monious sound inaudible to human ears, which was called 'the
622 The Review. 1903.
music of the spheres.' Heace in making this procession around
the altar, great care was taken to move in imitation of the appar-
ent movement of the sun. For this purpose they commenced at
the east and proceeding by way of the south to the west, and
thence by the north, they arrived at the east again. By this method
it will be perceived that the right side was always nearest the
altar."
In such wise are we, dear reader, transported to pagan Greece
and its sacrificial rites, and instructed both in the manner of cir-
cumambulation and its reasons. We are to take part in a pagan
religious ceremony, which has the sun for its object, and we must
exercise every care that we imitate its apparent motion. Our au-
thor, however, is only entering on his subject ; let us allow him to
proceed.
"Much stress," he tells us, "was laid by the ancients on the ne-
cessity of keeping the altar on the right hand of the persons mov-
ing around, because it was in this way only that the apparent
motion of the sun from east to west could be imitated. Thus
Plautus, the Roman poet, makes one of his characters say,
'If you would do reverence to the gods you must turn to the
right hand'; and Gronovius in commentary on the passage says
that the ancients 'in worshiping and praying to the gods were
accustomed to turn to the right hand.' In one of the hymns of
Callimachus, supposed to have been chanted by the priests of
Apollo it is said : 'We imitate the example of the sun, and follow
his benevolent course.' Virgil describes Corynaeus as purifying
his companions at the funeral of Misenus by passing three times
around them, and at the same time aspersing them with lustral
water, which action he could not have conveniently performed,
unless he had moved with his right hand towards them, thus
making his circuit from east to west by the south. In fact the
ceremony of circumambulation was, among the Romans, so inti-
mately connected with every religious rite of expiation or purifi-
cation that the same word lustrare came at length to signify both
to purify, which was its original meaning, and also to walk around
anything."
To read our author, one would imagine that Plautus was par
excellence the poet of the Romans: "Plautus, the Roman poet."
As a man of some erudition Mr. Mackey certainly was not unaware
of Horace's opinion so clearly expressed in the Ars Poetica : "At
vestri proavi plautinos et numeros et Laudavere sales, nimium
patienter utrumque, Ne dicam stulte, mirati ; si modo ego et vos
Scimus inurbanum lepido seponere dicto, Legitimumque sonum
digitis callemus et aure." (Ars Poetica, 1. 270.)
"But your ancestors," says Horace, speaking to his fellow
No. 39. The Review. 623
Romans, "praised the rhythm and witticisms of Plautus, admir-
ing- both too patiently, not to say stupidly ; if indeed you and I
know how to distinguish a coarse from a witty saying, and with ear
and finger can note legitimate verse." But even if Plautus had
been the prince of Roman poets, the fact that one of his charac-
ters makes the assertion attributed to him, is no indication, of
itself, of anything more than a mere personal opinion of the
speaker. When Shakespeare makes FalstafE say of his own voice :
"For my voice-I have lost it with hollaing- and singing of anthems, "
it doesn't for a moment follow either that the fact was true, or
even if it was, that such was the common method of losing voices in
Shakespeare's time. A playwright puts into the mouths of his
characters, sentiments suited to them, but is not sponsor for the
truth or falsity of such sentiments. We know from Cicero, Div.
2, 39, that in auspices and divinations the Romans considered the
left hand as lucky, whereas the Greeks and barbarians considered
the right. I subjoin his text :
"Ad nostri augurii consuetudinem dixit Ennius,
'Quum tonuit laevum bene tempestate serena. '
At Homericus Ajax apud Achillem querens de ferocitate Tro-
janorum, nescio quid, hoc modo nunciat :
'Prospera Jupiter his dextris fulgoribus edit.'
Ita nobis sinistra videntur, Graiis et barbaris dextra, meliora.
Quamquam hand i^noro, quae bona sint, sinistra nosdicere, etiam
si dextra sint."
"Ennius," says he, "speaking of our manner of augury, asserts
that it is a good sign when in a clear sky it thunders to the left.
Whereas Ajax in Homer, complaining to Achilles about the fierce-
ness of the Trojans, announces I know not what, in this manner :
'Jupiter by these lightnings to the right has given a favorable
sign.' Thus to us omens to the left are better, while to the
Greeks and barbarians they are those to the right. Although I
am not ignorant that if they are good, we speak of them as on the
left, even though they are on the right." So speaks Cicero.
My readers are doubtless aware, however, that in imitation of
the Greeks some of the Romans considered the right hand as
auspicious; but this was not, as our author supposes, universal
among: them, nor of the earlier antiquity represented by Ennius.
The term, moreover, 'circumambulation' {circumamhulatio) is not
a Latin word at all ; nor is the verb circiimamhuJare, from which
it is derived, found in any classical Latin author. The Latin verb
lustrare and its equivalent Greek Ka6a[pw signify primarily to
cleanse, to purify ; the walking around was sometimes united to
the purification, sometimes not. It was certainly not essential in
every ceremony of this nature.
But let us not delay on these matters, for even granting that the
pagan Greeks and Romans did practise the rite of circumambula-
tion in all their rites of purification, what follows from the fact?
624 The Review. 1903.
That therefore I should do the same? They did it, therefore I
should, can stand as an argument then only when my religious
belief and practice is similar to theirs. I am arguing from like
to like : else there is no argument. If, therefore, Masonry so de-
fends its use of this rite because and as these pagan nations prac-
tised it, the relation of Masonry to such religions can not be con-
ceialed.
54. s* »?•
Objections to Free Public Libraries. — The Catholic Universe puts the
case against Mr. Carnegie very well when it speaks as follows :
•'Any one who frequently visits the public libraries of our large
cities must be struck with dismay when he sees the never-decreas-
ing throngs that besiege the fiction department, in marked con-
trast to the few who seek more solid entertainment in the depart-
ments of history, science, literature, or philosophy. If he be a
thoughtful visitor he will note something else besides the number
of novel-readers. He will notice that the trashiest and frothiest
of novels are most in demand, and that in the faces of those who
occupy the chairs in the reading room, spending hours in reading
those novels or the lighter magazines, there is a peculiar same-
ness of expresssion, — a kind of aimless preoccupation, the vacant
aloofness of people who have lost sight of the real demands of life
in the cheap illusions of an unhealthy imagination."
That not too Catholic periodical, Blackwood's Magazine, says on
the same subject :
"Not even the champions of free libraries are wholly satisfied
with their achievement. They are obliged to confess that the
number of real students is small indeed ; they complain bitterly
that the vast majority of readers demand no more than the trum-
pery novel, which as an anodyne, is a formidable rival to the gin-
palace A library should be something better than a hastily
purchased agglomeration of books, and it is doubtful whether the
gift of a building and the sudden imposition of an unwelcome rate
are the wisest possible encouragement of learning. The truth is,
that reading is not of itself a good or useful action. It is with
many merely another form of laziness And the worst of free
libraries is that they place before all and sundry a mass of printed
matter which the victims are unable to distinguish or appreciate.
Facility can only be bought at a price, and the price we have paid
and are paying for the general diffusion of knowledge is false
learning and much bad literature." (Quoted in the Casket, No. 3.)
"Ragtime" in the Philippines. — The American ragtime music catches
the native's ear in remarkable fashion, says a Manila correspond-
ent of the Boston Transcript. He evidently thinks, "There'll be a
Hot Time in the Old Town To-night" is our national hymn, for
the native bands play it on all occasions, even at funerals. Some
juxtapositions which their tunes produce are full of amusement,
of which the natives are blissfully unconscious. During Holy
"Week processions are almost constantly moving, each usually
headed by a life-size wooden figure of a saint. One of these, in a
provincial town near Manila, had a figure of the Virgin, elaborate-
ly clad in silks and satins. The band just behind played away
vigorously at "There's Just One Girl in This World for Me."
^ ^ -^ "% ^ -^ ^ -fir -?!«' -jy -iir ^?sr ^v Tsr 'JT 'ssr "TT "TT -^
11 tTbelReview. I
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., October 22, 1903. No. 40.
THE NATIONAL FRATERNITY CONGRESS.
HE National Fraternity Cong-ress, representing sixty-three
assessment insurance organizations, was in session at
Milwaukee from August 24tli to 29th. Of the different
subjects discussed and papers presented, the passage of a bill
for introduction in thelegislatures of the different States for the
purpose of securing uniform leg-islation reg-arding fraternal life
insurance, is of special importance.
The significant sections of this proposition are : No. 30, provid-
ing", that "any organization hereafter organized shall become, and
any organization already organized and hereafter transacting
business in this State, at its option, may become, a registered rate
association," by satisfying the Insurance Commissioner that it
will collect from its members for death benefits not less than the
rate required by the National Fraternity Congress table of 1900,
with 4% interest, and for disability, rates not lower than those
required by the Manchester Unity table of 1870, with 4% interest.
Section 31 provides for an annual valuation of the outstanding cer-
tificates on the basis of the National Fraternal Congress mortali-
ty table, with 4% interest for life insurance, and of said Manches-
ter Unity table, with 4% interest for disability indemnity. Such
valuations are to be computed by the Insurance Commissioner,
will be considered as liabilities, and the aggregate must be covered
by reliable assets, if the society concerned expects to be solvent.
It is reason for gratification for all true friends of fraternal in-
surance that at last the leaders in that branch have seen the press*
ing necessity of reorganizing their system on a solid foundation.
Important as uniform legislation might be for the benefit of that
business, the most vital error was the impression that a fraternal
"insurance" company can charge ever so little and yet flourish for
626 The Review. 1903.
ever. This mistake is evidently being slowly corrected, and
with a proper valuation of outstanding certificates as liabilities,
the true condition of the different organizations will be readily
ascertainable.
That the members of, or at least the delegates to said congress
fully realize the far-reaching effect of the proposed legislation,
was shown by the lively opposition to the plan, the small margin
of votes in its favor, and a comment in iho. Milwaukee Press oi
August 29th, under the heading: "Two points of objection."
There it was said, first, that it is universally admitted "that
scarcely one existing fraternal order charges rates so high as the
approved table," and, secondly, "that a valuation of outstanding
certificates would show that many fraternal insurance companies
are insolvent."
This statement, coming from friends of the fraternal system
and not from the "enemy" (regular life insurance agentsj, is es-
pecially commended to the attention of the C. M. B. A., the Cath-
olic Knights of America, and others.
It is pleasing to the writer of these lines to see the principles
he has advocated and defended "in and out of season" for many
years, for which he hasbut recentlyand often in the past been called
very uncomplimentar}'^ names, even having his motives for so do-
ing questioned, finally prevail among the very people who, as
leaders of the assessment system, now commence to realize their
tremendous responsibility. The proposed legislation is at least
a step in the right direction, and while it will take some time to
bring all fraternal orders on the basis of level premium compan-
ies, the difference in rates under the new system will not be so
large as to make a second reorganization very difficult. There is
do doubt, though, that a good many of the present members of as-
sessment societies will be disgusted with their experience. when
they find that they must pay materially higher rates than hereto-
fore. This is indicated by the opposition shown to the proposed
re-rating of the members of the "Ancient Order of United Work-
men," which finds itself in trouble on account of the very step for
which the National Fraternal Congress recommended it highly.
The proposition that members be allowed to borrow money on
their certificate, was defeated. This may be all right under
present conditions, but with increased rates and regular reserves
provided for each certificate, it will place fraternal orders at a dis-
advantage in competition with regular life insurance companies,
most of whom provide for liberal advances on their policies.
The "Ladies' Catholic Benefit Society" was also represented at
the Congress. This concern claims a membership of 90,000.
Some time ago we discussed the question : Should women insure
No. 40. The Review. 627
their lives ? taking the negative side, and up to date did not hear
of any valid reason for v^^omen so doing-. We regret to hear of so
many women interested in an order of doubtful stability and vv^ill
endeavor to ascertain its present standing.
It will be interesting to observe how the labors of the National
Fraternity Congress are appreciated by the members of the or-
ganizations concerned.
3f 3* 3?
CATHOLICS AND THE STVDY OF THE CLASSICS.
II. — ( Conclusion.^
It must appear significant that not only in this country but all
over the world the catch-word "national" is used against Catholics;
they are reproached with opposing national ideas, national feel-
ings, and national institutions. It has been sDfrom the first ages
of the Church, when the Christians were hunted down as enemies
of the State, down to our own days. Recently the congregations
have been expelled from the schools of France, on the plea that
their education was anti-national. M. Waldeck-Rousseau declared
a few years ago: "The education which the religious give, separ-
ates a part of the youth from the rest, and thus the moral unity
of the country is rent." And in this country, for more than fiftj'^
years, it has been loudly proclaimed that the school according to
American ideas, the national American school is the undenomina-
tional school, from which the teaching of religion is rigorously ex-
cluded. Catholics who objected to such a scheme of education,
which excludes the most important element, religion, were stig-
matized as opponents of national ideas, nay, by some even charged
with disloyalty. Fortunately they did not allow themselves to be
frightened by such unjust and insidious calumnies. Encouraged
by their hierarchy and clergy, they did not bow before this na-
tional idol. They cheerfully made great sacrifices to ensure to
their children a thorough Catholic education. And so they are
doing this very day. Within the last months we have seen such
distinguished and revered members of our American hierarchj'^
as Archbishop Ryan, Archbishop Quigley, Bishop McFaul, and
others, stand forth as champions of the Catholic view of educa-
tion and once more boldly proclaim it before the American
people. They spurned the accusations raised by some Protest-
ant ministers, that they were attacking a "national institution."
These archbishops and bishops know too well what to think of
such phrases, which are a bait for ignorant or bigoted people, but
can not impress enlightened men.
In this case, then. Catholics did not and could not adapt their
628 The Review. 1903.
schools to "American national ideas;" and what do we now witness?
To-day a vast number of Protestants publicly admit that the at-
titude of Catholics in this matter was entirely correct, and
that the exclusion of religion from the national scheme of educa-
tion was one of the greatest blunders ever committed in this coun-
try, a blunder fraught with most disastrous consequences for
faith and morality.*) In this momentous question opposition to
pretended national ideas was a clear duty of conscience, and is
now being admitted even by non-Catholics to have been the most
prudent course. "If we may compare small things to great," is
it not possible that opposition to other supposed national ideas in
education, as the question of the study of the classics, may simi-
larly be the only course left to the more prudent educators?
There is no doubt that a reaction will come against the modern
tendency in education, which lays an excessive stress on the nat-
ural sciences and derides the old classical course.
It is a curious and distressing phenomenon that people urge a
further adaptation to national ideas at a time when the spirit of
nationalism and a species of boisterous patriotism have already
assumed disquieting proportions. For it can not be gainsaid that
now-a-days in nearly all countries such a spirit manifests itself in
bitter language and unfriendly feelings towards rival cations, and
in an unhealthy emphasis laid on national importance and national
superiority. People used to ridicule the chauvinism of the
French ; but there is a similar spirit in other countries, especially
in those countries that play an important part on the world's
theatre : England, Germany, and the United States. In Germany
this spirit has grown strong since the successful war with France
and together with the growth of the country's commercial and in-
dustrial importance. At present there is a powerful party foster-
ing this spirit to an extent which borders on the ridiculous. It is
especially from the ranks of these men that the opposition against
the classical studies during the last decades received its strongest
support. Lange, the leader of this opposition, declared that "the
new movement aimed at liberating the people from the bane of
foreign influence, and at creating an independent German culture
and civilization." Another, Ohlert, stated that "three great fac-
tors domineered more and more in modern life and thought : the
realistic spirit, the modern natural sciences, and the national
ideas." (Messer, Die Refonnhetvegiing, 1901, pp. 31 and 72). A
close examination would reveal the working of these great factors
in other countries as well, America included. But in these three
agencies there is also a great danger involved. As regards the
*)0n this subject see the present writer's article: "A Fatal Error in Education and Its Reme-
dy," in the current issue of the American Catholic Quarterly Review, October. 1903.
No. 40. The Review. 629
stress laid on nationalism, it is very apt to lead to a narrow and un-
christian spirit. We need not vindicate the patriotism of Amer-
ican Catholics or of Catholic schools. Catholic teachers are as de-
voted to their country and as anxious to instil true patriotism and
attachment to their country into the minds of their pupils as any
one else. But they know that true patriotism consists not in
boisterous bluster, but in loyalty of feeling and readiness to sac-
rifice one's self, if necessary, for one's country. True patriotism
does not necessitate any narrow spirit of nationalism. The very
name of Catholic (universal) excludes such a disposition. Now-
a-days it is rather necessary to inculcate into the minds of the
young- sentiments of benevolence and kindness towards other na-
tions, lest in the sharp commercial struggles and political rival-
ries the Christian spirit be lost, which bids us look upon all men as
brethren. It is true, this spirit is fostered chiefly by religion ;
but it is not superfluous to seek also for other aids. And may not
one be found in a common stock of education for the leading
classes of all nations? Such a common stock we have in the
classics. The Middle Ages, no matter what their defects were, pre-
sent a grand aspect in this that the whole civilized world was united
not only by the same religion, but also by the same form of edu-
cation. The Latin language was the language of all Christendom,
the language of the learned world, the language of law and of dip-
lomatic intercourse ; and thus a bond of union and an expression
of the unity of faith. It would be an idle dream to imagine that
such a condition will ever return ; nor is it implied that the pres-
ent development of the separate national literatures is in any way
to be regretted. On the contrary. But it can safely be stated
that it is a truly Catholic idea to seek for some bond and connec-
tion in the education of the different nations, and that the idea of
universal brotherhood should not be lost sight of or destroyed by
emphasizing too strongly national ideas and national bias.
I am aware that such considerations find little favor with those
to whom life is nothing but a race after the hen that lays golden
eggs. In their eyes only that education has any. value which pro-
duces the greatest speed in this race and furnishes both the na-
tion and individuals with the means of outdoing all industrial
rivals and competitors. People who entertain these utilitarian
notions of education will look upon some of the foregoing reflec-
tions as idealistic dreams, as unprofitable and not worthy of con-
sideration in a busy age like ours. Of late years many have op-
posed the classical studies precisely on account of their idealistic
character. It has been said that "they estrange the young from the
realities of modern life and draw them away from the great prob-
lems of the present age" (Messer, 1. c, p. 72). Strange to say.
630 The Review. 1903.
the same objections, almost literally, have been raised against
Christianity itself. It has been censured, chiefly by the ex-
pounders of naturalistic and Socialistic principles, for drawing-
man's attention away from this earth, its interests and pursuits,
and for leading to an ''unreal, idealistic, and spiritualistic" view
of life. Such utterances may well justify the question, whether
there exists some secret connection between the modern anti-
pathy towards the classical studies and the modern opposition to
the "spiritualistic and idealistic" view of life, or to be more ex-
plicit, to the principles of Christianity. Christianity is essentially
idealistic and spiritualistic, in the sense which modern philoso-
phers attach to these words in opposition to realistic and natural-
istic. In the minds of most antagonists of the classical studies
there may not be a direct and conscious opposition to Christiani-
ty, but some have frankly confessed that they wish to eliminate
from modern education both classical studies and Christian prin-
ciples, evidently because they think that some advantages are de-
rived from these studies for the Christian mode of education.
Thus Lange suggests that, "in order to bring about the new Ger-
man culture, it will be necessary to suppress as much as possible
the influence of classicism and of Christianity." Dr. Messer, in
his excellent and thorough review of the modern reform move-
ment in Germany, does not hesitate to assert that many of the
most active radical reformers hate the classical studies, because
they are held in esteem by those circles which in social, political,
and ecclesiastical life are known as the conservative elements
{.Die Reformhewegung, p. 163). This fact should furnish food
for serious reflection to all conservative minds ; and we can un-
hesitatingly state that Catholicism is decidedly conservative, at
least in the religious sphere.
Undoubtedly there exists such a thing as the spirit of the age,
and it can not be denied that the spirit of our age manifests itself
in a tendency, in a great run towards Materialism, particularly in
its more refined forms, which are more dangerous, because less
repulsive, than the grosser ones. As the young are especially
susceptible, they easily catch the spirit of the age. Therefore it
is most important not to over-emphasize those elements in educa-
cation which are apt to foster this spirit. Now it is undeniable
that the one-sided, exclusive or even excessive study of the nat-
ural sciences involves such a danger; hence it is of the utmost
importance to have an antidote to this poison. We are far from
maintaining that the study of the natural sciences necessarily
leads to Materialism. For we may remark here, en /^?55(7///,:that
the very greatest scientists of all ages, including the nineteenth
century, have not been Materialists, but believed at least in the
No. 40. The Review. 631
fundamental truths of Christianity. Yet we can safely assert
that in the natural, the material sciences, there is something par-
ticularly congenial to the Materialistic spirit of the age.
The following words of President McCosh are much to our pur-
pose : "I rejoice in the multiplication of scientific schools : but
steps should be taken to secure that in these there also be instruc-
tion in branches fitted to cultivate and refine the taste and that
our young men be reminded that they have souls, which they are
very apt to forget when their attention is engrossed with the mo-
tions of stars or the motions of molecules, with the flesh, the
bones, the brain." ('Christianity and Positivism,' p. 183).
But is it possible that such advantages can be derived from the
study of pagan authors? It is possible, and has actually been
accomplished all over the Catholic world ; this much can be main-
tained quite confidently. There is a very strong presumption in
favor of this position to be found in the attitude of the Church
towards classical studies. For centuries she has not only toler-
ated but encouraged and, in a manner, sanctioned them ; saintly
priests and entire religious communities have devoted themselves
to the teaching of the classics. As the Church has specially
favored the study of Aristotelian philosophy, because from it, as
purified and developed by the Scholastics, special helps were de-
rived for the scientific exposition and defence of Christianity, so
she has always held that, if the classics were taught properly, in
a Christian spirit, they were well fitted to become "heralds of
Christ." In what this Christian spirit of teaching the classics
consists, need not be here discussed ; it has been explained in an-
other place. ('Jesuit Education,' pp. 365 and 600). May not this
relation of the classical studies to Christian, particularly Catholic,
schools and methods, go far to explain the opposition, not indeed
of all, but of a great number of modern antagonists of these
studies?
At any rate, in addition to the usefulness of these studies for a
general training, there seem to be special reasons for Catholics
not to abandon them without absolute necessity. Will there be
any such necessity in the future? It is useless to try to make a
prediction. While a reaction may set in sooner than many of us
are inclined to believe, it is not altogether impossible that some
future day the States will obtain complete control Over the schools
— there is an unmistakable tendency in that direction — and will
set such standards of examination and graduation that Catholic
schools could no longer insist on Greek. In this case Catholic
colleges would have to give up this branch. They would not be
so foolish as to say : "Either all or nothing," but would endeavor
to impart a solid training by other means, as Catholic colleges
632 The Review. ' 1903.
have done in other countries under similar circumstances. As
regards the Jesuit schools, it has been declared years ago that
"not the subject matter forms the essential feature of their sys-
tem, nor the order, the sequence, in which the different branches
are taught. The subject matter as well as the order is in many
countries prescribed by the governments. Although this pre-
scribed order may not always be the best, still it can be adopted
(bj'^ the Jesuits), as the order is not the characteristic feature of
the system of the Society" ('Jesuit Education,' p. 287).
Catholic colleges under the circumstances just described, would,
therefore, not act like a brave but reckless garrison which
refuses to leave the fortress, although it is certain that it will
be blown up by the enemy. They will defend the citadel
as long as possible ; but should it be necessary to yield, they
know that those are entitled to a glorious name who leave the
doomed fortress last, the moment before it is blown up by the
enemy. Let this be the case of the Catholic colleges in regard to
Greek.
However, it is most probable that it will not come to such a mel-
ancholy pass. If all our Catholic colleges act in unison and stand
firm on their course, endeavoring to teach it as well as possible,
there is little doubt that the results will finally open the eyes of
many opponents of the traditional curriculum. In this struggle
the Catholic colleges need the assistance of the Catholic people.
They need the assistance and patronage of Catholic parents. It
is a sad sign that so many Catholic parents send their sons to
non-Catholic colleges. There are wealthy Catholics who allege
that the Catholic colleges are not good enough for their sons.
Some excuse their action b}'^ maintaining that Catholic colleges
are inferior to the great Protestant institutions. How can they
prove this? It is true, Catholic colleges, as a rule, present a more
modest appearance than the "public" institutions; their buildings,
laboratories, and halls are not as magnificently equipped as those
of non-Catholic schools. Such externals dazzle the imagination of
many. But it is not the grand structures, not the spacious lec-
ture halls, that are the best guarantee of solid instruction. Cath-
olic colleges would not lack these external aids and appearances
if they were as liberall}^ endowed and supported as other schools.
We read every year of fabulous sums donated to colleges, but
they do not go to the Catholic schools, they go to the great non-
Catholic institutions. The Catholic colleges, far fr6m being
money-making institutions, have to struggle continually against
pecuniar}^ difficulties. Most of them could not defray their running
expenses if they did not obtain assistance from other sources.
Still they courageously continue their work, however distressing
No. 40. The Review. 633
the circumstances may be. They actually sacrifice themselves
to this laborious and unremunerative work, because they know
how absolutely necessary a thoroughly religious education is for
the preservation of the faith. In return for this they are entitled
to the patronag-e of Catholic parents. They might also expect
that Catholics have confidence in their work and methods. It
would be discouraging indeed if Catholics distrusted them and
considered them inferior in educational wisdom to Protestant
schools. Catholics should be convinced that the faculties of
Catholic colleges, besides providing more anxiously for the relig-
ious and moral training of their pupils, devote as much earnest
thought to general educational problems as the non-Catholic, and
that, if they do not eagerly adopt every new theory or method, they
are inspired by most weighty pedagogical reasons.
Catholic colleges need also the assistance of the Catholic press.
This powerful agency can better than anything else propagate
correct educational ideas among the people. Fortunately, the at-
titude of Catholic journalists, on the whole, has been deserving of
the greatest praise. They have nobly stood by the Catholic col-
leges, have sympathized with their methods and principles, and
have encouraged their work in various ways. No one will deny
that the Catholic press has the right and. duty to point out evi-
dent defects in the Catholic school system. But it would be bad
policy if it created distrust, disunion, and confusion by advocating
false or questionable educational ideas, or if it censured in Cath-
olic colleges what should rather be an object of recommendation.
If our Catholic colleges do their duty ; if they stand firm on all
that is good in their courses ; if they do their utmost to teach
well ; and if Catholic parents and journalists stand faithfully by
them : then we need not shun any comparison with, nor the com-
petition of, non-Catholic schools.
Robert Schwickerath, S. J.
THE POLISH PETITION TO THE HOLY SEE.
III.
Etiani ilU, qui lingiiam anglicam addiscanU verbum Dei lingua
anglica fraedicatum vulgo non intelligunt.
Quamvis Poloni in America linguam anglicam etiam addiscant,
eaque utantur in mercatura aliisque negotiis saecularibus, atta-
men preces et confessiones suas ut rite peragant, utuntur semper
lingua vernacula.
Utut vulgarem sermonem lingua anglica adhibitum in colloquio
familiari audiant et imo intelligant. tamen si verbum Dei iis prae-
634 The Review. 1903.
dicatur lingua anglica, fere nihil intelligunt ob hanc quoque cau-
sam, quod ling-ua angflica ad patefaciendossensus et cog-itata veri-
tatum supernaturalium habet specialia quaedam vocabula a vul-
g-ari sermone et ab usu quotidiano valde remota.
Hinc populus Polonus ah Episcopis Americanis non pcnitus
aedificatur.
Quamobrem de Episcopis Americanis, lingua tantum anglica
loquentibus, confirmantur haec Apostoli gentium verba : '"Qui lo-
quitur lingua (i. e. aliena), non hominibus loquitur, sed Deo ;
nemo enim audit ; Spiritu loquitur mysteria" (I. Cor. 14,2.) "Si
bened'xeris Spiritu, qui supplet locum idiotae, quomodo dicet
Amen, super tuam benedictionem ? quoniam, quid dicas, nescit.
Nam tu quidem bene gratias agis, sed alter non aedificatur" (ib.
16, 17) Episcopi Americani, omnes quidem vere boni sunt, vere
benedicunt et "bene gratias agunt"; sed tamen populus Polonus
ab iis "non penitus aedificatur" in fide "quoniam quid dicant, non
penitus noscit."
Imo Episcopiis et fopulus inter se abaJienant.
Inde vero, quod Episcopus et populus se mutuo non intelligunt,
illud porro sequitur, ut inter se abalienent : Episcopus, quoniam
populilinguam ignorat, considerat hunc populum tanquam alienum
ab se, populus autem, quoniam non intelligit Episcopi linguam, con-
siderat etiam Episcopum tanquam alienum ab se secundum illud
Sti Pauli: "Si nesciero virtutem vocis, ero ei, cui loquor, barbarus:
et qui loquitur, mihi barbarus" (I, Cor. 14, 11.) Et hanc senten-
tiam S. Pauli comprobarunt facta recentia in America : Ibi Poloni,
quoniam polone loquuntur, vocantur ab Episcopis "barbari"
(foreigners); et, contra, Episcopi qui tantum anglice loquuntur,
etiam a Polonis vocantur "barbari." '
Inde scissio sen sc/iisnia.
Quam ob causam, licet dolendum, non est tamen mirandum,
quod scissio facta est inter populum Polonum et Episcopos in
America. Populus Polonus, ignorans linguam Episcopi, abalien-
avit se ab Episcopo uti a "barbaro" seu alieno ab se ; quin etiam
deficiente suo, polone loquente, Episcopo, a recto fidei tramite'
prorsus declinavit, secutusque est falsos episcopos, Kozlowskium
et Kaminskium, quos, licet falsos, audit, quia eos intelligit, veros
autem non audit, quia eos non intelligit. "Oves sequuntur pasto-
rem" cur? "quia sciunt vocem ejus" (lo. 10,4). "Alienum autem
non sequuntur, sed fugiunt ab eo" cur ? "quia non noverunt vocem
alienorum" (ib. 5). Hinc facta est inter Polonos "semper fideles"
ces ista inaudita : ut circa 50,000 Polonorum in America ab Epis-
copis, veris <juidem, sed lingua ab se alienis, primum se abalie-
No. 40. The Review. 635
naverint, turn ab ipsis defecerint ita ut, proh ! facti sint schisma-
tic!. Secuti sunt falsos duces, quorum vocem polonam intellexer-
unt, quia veros duces intelligere non potuerunt.
Uttnam audiamiis etiam Episcofos ''loqiientes nostris Unguis
magnalia Dei!'''
O Beatissime Pater ! Utinam nostris etiam temporibus in Am-
erica, quoties Episcopi visitant polonas parochias, Sacramenti
Confirmationis administrandi causa, populus noster cum gaudio
simili ac populus ille in Jerusalem, exclamare possit hisce verbis:
"Audivimus eos loquentes nostris linguis magnalia Dei" (Act. 2,
11.) O! quanto tunc gaudioafficeretur populus Polonus in Amer-
ica et quam vere tunc "confirmaretur" in fide per Episcopum
polone eos alloquentem ! quam vere "confirmaretur" in sua sancta
religione, quae ibi inter tot sectarum paganorumque greges sane
in innumerabilia quotidie incurrit pericula !
Sacerdotes possunt quidein Episcopum adjuvare, sed non possicnt
eius vices go'cre in munere docendi.
Verum quidem est, Episcopos Americanos pro varlis in suis
dioecesibus nationibus, variis quoque uti sacerdotibus qui praedi-
cent verbum Dei in lingua vernacula. Sed ut omittamus Polonos
in Rebuspublicis foederatis non esse instructos iusto numero sa-
cerdotum, cum vicies centena millia Polonorum habent vix qua-
dringentos sacerdotes Polonos, quaeritur numquid nudus a digni-
tatibus sacerdos possit in munere docendi Episcopi vicem praes-
tare? numquid nudus sacerdos habeat in docendo vim et auctori-
tatem Episcopi? numquid nudus sacerdos sit Doctor et Pastor
qui proprie vereque dicitur in Ecclesia? Nequaquam ! Non
enim nudos sacerdotes sed "vos Episcopos Spiritus posuit regere
Ecclesiam Dei" (Act. 20, 28). Non nudi sacerdotes, sed Episcopi
constituunt proprie Ecclesiam docentem : lis igitur imprimis in-
cumbit officium docendi fideles ; "non enim Episcopum misit
Christus baptizare sed evangelizare" (ib.) et : "Praedica verbum"
(II. Tim. 4, 2), banc in primo loco ponit S. Paulus admonitionem
pro Episcopo Timotheo.
Potest itaque et debet sacerdos Episcopum adjuvare, sed eius
vices gerere in munere docendi et non debet et ne quidem potest.
Poloni in America sunt sine Doctore qui eos plene doceat.
Verum in America quid videmus? Vicies centena millia Polo-
norum ne unum quidem Episcopum habent, qui eos lingua intel-
legibili "sermone manifesto" (I. Cor, 14,8) possit docere Catholi-
cam fidem. Habemus tantum sacerdotes qui adjuvant Episcopos
Americanos, sed vel hoc, utrum bene eos adjuvent in docendo,
Episcopi Americani scire nequeunt, cum hi eorum sermones-
636 The Review. 1903.
polonos, plerumque, nunquam perfecte intelligant. Attamen,
nonne magnum adest discrimen, praesertim coram judice populo,
inter sacerdotem praedicantem et Episcopum docentem ? Epi-
scopus nimirum est, denique, Doctor verus qui vere "potens est
exhortari" (Tit. I, 9), est primus Pastor in sua dioecesi qui doc-
trina sua vere pascitoves suas "et propriasoves vocat nominatim."
(lo. 10,3).
\_To be concluded^]
^ s^ SI-
ENGLISH EXPERIENCES WITH MUNICIPALIZING THE PUBLIC
SERVICE.
Public ownership of g-as, water, electricity, street railways,
etc., is the dream of most Socialists. England has tried it and
even something more, as, e. g., in Glasgow public bakeries,
butcher shops, etc. The result, however, is far from inviting.
According to the Daily Exp?'ess [quoted by the Courrier de
BruxeUes, No. 138] the financial result has been for nine commer-
cial branches in 299 communities as follows :
Capital Invested. Profit. Loss.
Water ^56,915,000 ^90,128
Gas 24,028,116 395,825
Electricity 12,508,000 ^11,703
Street Railways 9,751,153 99,318
Market Halls 6,181,000 83,782 ..,
Public Baths 1,988,340 124,952
Cemeteries 2,382,000 63,784
Workingmen's Houses 1,253,542 26,978
Lodging Houses 5,421,827 77,724
The total invested capital amounts to ^121,172,000 and has
yielded an annual income of ^378,000 or the ridiculously low sum
of six shillings per hundred jQ. The Socialists will of course
claim that profit making- was not aimed at, that the citizens, and
in particular the workingmen, received the benefit, but the re-
sults were not all in the workingman's favor. The cities of Lon-
don and Glasgow, e. g., rented houses to working^men at such low
rates that private individuals could not compete with them and
have quit building houses to invest their capital elsewhere. The
same has occurred in other commercial enterprises.
To meet the enormous expenses of such municipalization, loans
have been or will be made, the interest of which must be met by in-
creased taxation. In some communities taxes have doubled in
the last ten or fifteen years. Hence industrial establishments
No. 40. The Review. 637
have located elsewhere, decreasing the taxable property, and thus
the burden becomes still heavier for the remaining- taxpayers.
Serious minds all over England are alarmed by the situation,
and in many places reform leagues have been founded to check
the current of municipalization or do away with its abuses. Par-
liament has even appointed a special commission to investigate the
matter.
Hence, instead of following the example of England in munici-
palizing the public service, we ought rather to fight shy of all such
schemes and confine municipal control to such branches as
can not well be left to private enterprise.
S* 5* 54.
MINOR TOPICS.
Married Priests in the U. S. — We have received the following com-
munication :
I saw some days ago in The Review of Oct. 1st, a paragraph
about the married priests of the Uniate Greeks in the U. S.
Though I might take for granted that you have in the mean time
been correctly informed on the subject by some of your learned
correspondents, nevertheless, I will jot down what I remember,
not being able here to consult references.
1. It must be about twelve years ago when, at the instance, I be-
lieve, of Archbishop Ireland, the decree was obtained from Rome
forbidding married priests to minister in the U. S. to the Uniate
Greeks. (There were then two or three in Pennsylvania.)
2. This decree seemed to me to be a mistake. I remember
mentioning it in a letter to Father Nilles, S. J., the well-known
canonist of the University of Innsbruck, one of the most learned
men in Europe on the question of Greek and other Oriental rites.
He too expressed his regret at the publication of the decree.
3. For, though it is surely undesirable from our American point
of view, to have married priests in union with Rome living in the
midst of us, the matter takes quite a different aspect from the
point of view of the Universal Church.
4. The Holy See again and again, by the most solemn pronounce-
ments, has guaranteed to the Greeks the undisturbed possession
and retention of their peculiar privileges and rites, among which
they count the married secular priests.
5. On the other hand, Russian agents and the Russian rouble
are ever at work in Austria, where millions of Uniates dwell, to
detach them from Rome and make them join the schism, and some
of the Uniate clergy in Austria are not over-loyal to Rome, while
it was one of Pope Leo's fondest hopes to bring the Greeks and
other Orientals back to the unity of the Universal Church.
6. You may imagine, then, what a welcome argument this de-
cree was, or would have been for the Russian agents ; and how it
638 The Review. 1903.
would have shaken the confidence of the Uniate clergy in Austria
in the good faith of Rome.
l: You will see that from the point of view of the Universal Church
the decree, to say the least, was a mistake.
7. These or similar considerations no doubt moved the Holy
Father to rescind the decree, and the Uniate married priests have
been allowed to continue ministering to their flocks in the U. S.,
and there maj^ be now a dozen or more.
8. I do not now remember where you can find these documents.
The prohibitory decree was revoked, I think, within a year. And
thereby much mischief in Europe was averted.
9. I am surprised that the second decree escaped the eyes of
Father Laurentius, S. J., whom you quote. Possibly it may not
have been inserted in the of&cial collections of papal documents.
10. The best solution of this question perhaps would be to place
the Uniates in the U. S. under the care of a Greek religious order,
the monks of St. Basil, for example. These monks, some twenty-
five years ago, were placed by Leo XIII. under the spiritual care
of the Polish Jesuit Fathers, and a new generation of reformed
Basilians has sprung up under this regime.
In our American "colonies" the conduct of the officials must im-
press the natives in a peculiar wa}^ In PortoRico, army and navy
officers were detected in smuggling, and were promptly with-
drawn from the jurisdiction of the local courts, thus escaping
trial and deserved punishment. Now it is discovered and officially -
stated, that the insular collector of customs accepted valuable
presents from ship agents and importers, some of the goods be-
ing dutiable merchandise, "which were taken directly from for-
eign steamers by custom house emploj'es sent by the collector for
that purpose, and delivered to him at the custom house or at
his residence, without entry of the same having been made, or
duty paid."
In the Philippine Islands two American officers of the constabu-
lary took S6,000 from a governments safe, seized a steamer and
started for Borneo.
Fine lessons of official integrity for the natives, who ma}'^ note
these things as a result of the American system of "public instruc-
tion."
In the current (7) fascicle of the Stimmen aus Maria-Laach, Rev.
P. Otto Pfiilf, S. J., has a biographical sketch of Orestes A.
Brownson. His estimate of the life-work of this eminent Ameri-
can convert is sympathetic and just. Of Hecker's influence upon
Brownson the reverend author (favorably known all over the Cath-
olic world by his classical biographies of Kett'eler, von Geissel,
and Mallinckrodt) says : "In spirit and knowledge, perhaps also
in character, Brownson doubtless stood high above Hecker. When
the latter's first literary effort, 'Aspirations of Nature,' appeared,
in 1857, Brownson, in spite of the critical circumstances of the
time, could not help uncovering, to some extent at least, the great
weaknesses of this book. But it is undeniable that Isaac Hecker,
though sixteen years younger than Brownson, since his return
No. 40. The Review. 639
to America, clothed with the dig-nity of a priest, iu 1851, exercised
a g-reat influence upon his former patron and guide. No matter
how this strong- influence may be psychologically explained, it
was, from the beginning, not a favorable one."
A member of the Jesuit order writes to The Review :
About the exclusion of the religious orders from teaching in the
Catholic University at Washington : The Constitutions of the
University declare that it shall always be under the direct control
of the hierarchy, and consequently the theological or philosophi-
cal faculty shall never be controled by a religious order. Is not
this what the former Rector of the University told the editor of
The Review ? It is almost incredible that Leo XIII. should have
wished the religious orders, and especially the Jesuits, to be ex-
cluded from chairs in the new institution. Morever, it is certain
that the first Rector of the University, as he himself on a certain
occasion explicitly stated, requested the General of the Jesuits to
send Father Lehmkuhl, the celebrated moralist, as pro-
fessor of moral theology to the Washington University, a request
which the General had to refuse, I believe, on account of the age
and precarious health of Father Lehmkuhl.
Mr. W. T. Carrington, Superintendent of Public Schools of Mis-
souri, has issued a circular to teachers, in which he says :
"You are respectfully requested and urged to observe the first
Friday in November appropriately to the memory of Eugene
Field, the patron saint of all childhood." (Jefferson Democrat,
Oct. 8th).
"Eugene Field the patron saint of all childhood"! It is next to
blasphemous. Poor 'Gene himself, who knew his weaknesses
only too well, would have shrunk in horror from such a role. For
with all his faults he was no hypocrite.
Formerly St. Aloysius was venerated as the children's patron
saint. It is characteristic of the present age and the spirit of
those in control of our public schools, that they are trying- to put
in his place a twentieth century newspaper rimer whose Muse
not infrequently wallowed in filth.
'^ The annual report of Surgeon General R. M. O'Reilly for the
fiscal year ending June 30th, 1903, deserves the careful attention
of American missionaries. There are about 5,000 Filipinos serv-
ing- in the army and but three of these were treated for alcoholism
in the past year, while white soldiers were admitted for sick re-
port on account of their own misconduct in the use of alcohol at
the rate of 24.78 per 1,000 and negroes at the rate of 11.70. For
the natives the corresponding rate was 0.61 per 1,000. These
fig-ures prove conclusively the superiority of the white race — in
vice !
The steadily increasing- prevalence of venereal diseases is the
most discouraging feature in the sick report of the army. In view
of these facts, is it any wonder that the natives have grave doubts
regarding the blessings of "American civilization"?
640 The Review. 1903.
Referring to Prof. C. A. Brig-gs' article on Catholicism in the
American Journal of Theology^ the New York Christian Work and
Evangelist (Presb.) says among other things (we quote from the
N. Y. Evening Post oi Oct. 10th): "Born of the bitterness and as-
perities of the Reformation, which have been so long perpetuated,
there has been an ignoring of the earlier history of the Church,
which is not to the credit nor to the profit of Protestantism. A
marked tendency to a reaction from this attitude is plainly seen
in these later days, only to cite the action of the Presbyterian
church in essentially changing its mistaken attitude of the past
towards the historic Catholic Church."
"And still they come." Chancellor McCracken of the New York
University says : "I wish we could require from every freshman
a Sunday school diploma, that would certify that he knew by
heart the Ten Commandments, the Sermon on the Mount, and a
church catechism of some kind."
Is that not an admission, that without proper religious instruc-
tion the education of youth is not complete, impljnng that the
American public school system is a practical failure?
The Catholic Citizen (No. 48) publishes the rates adopted by
the Catholic Foresters at their recent Dubuque convention. It is
not stated how many assessments are to be collected per year,
but it will take at least 20 to 25 annually to bring the order on a
safe basis for new membership, not counting the deficiency al-
ready existing. This is simply another "makeshift," temporizing
instead of courageously establishing the society on a permanent
basis.
The Denver Catholic is disposed of. If not b}'^ our "say-so,"
then by the resolutions of the New York Grand Council of the C.
M. B. A., admitting that the present rates of that society are too
low ; during the discussion of the matter in convention it was
shown that the present deficiencies in but four of the classes in
the New York branch exceeded one million dollars. Does the
Denver Catholic desire still more evidence of the correctness of
our position?
It is some satisfaction to see two of our insurance articles re-
printed and endorsed in the C. K. of A. Journal oi October 1st,
1903. But what a queer contrast they are to the rubbish on insur-
ance matters filling the rest of the paper !
Mt. Rev. Archbishop Kain of St. Louis died last week Tuesday
in Baltimore, whither he had gone in May to repair his shattered
health. He was buried in St. Louis Wednesday. R. I. P.
II XLbc IReview, ||
FOUNDED. EDITED. AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., October 29, 1903. No. 41.
THE BENEDICTION OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL.
''In our article entitled "The Transformation of a City," in
No. 26 of The Review, we showed how the money of
the taxpayers of New York is used to the extent annu-
ally of about $300,000 for the maintenance of that "crown and
glory" of its public school system, the institution known as Col-
lege of the City of New York. This college, formerly the "Free
Academy, "furnishes the higher education, so-called, to the favored
youth whose circumstances permit them to spend the necessary
time within its walls, and confers the usual degrees upon those
who have successfully completed the course. One point of our
comment then was, and is here repeated, that, out of a total regis-
tration of 2100 students in this institution for the current year,
there are 1900 Jews. Indeed, the overwhelming number of Jewish
young men who are now, and for years past have been, almost ex-
clusively the beneficiaries of this system of advanced education
at public expense, has caused this college to be known to New
Yorkers as the "Jew College." That the State should thus devote
the taxpayers' money to furnishing a free college education to a
select number of its citizens of any race or creed, is repugnant to
every sound principle of democratic government. The office and
right of the State to tax, so far as may be necessary for the proper
education of its subjects, is a limited one. It presupposes the
omission or neglect by parents or others having rights superior
to those of the State, to furnish such education as will enable the
child, when grown up, to properly discharge the duties of citizen-
ship. To this end instruction in the classics, the sciences, or in
modern languages, is in nowise necessary. The vast majority of
those who, since the commencement of the Republic, have proved
themselves its honest and loyal citizens, even to the shedding of
642 The Review. 1903.
their blood in its defence, have been innocent of any acquaintance
with the classics or the higher mathematics. The great body of
the honest and intelligent voters have had no college education,
and if any legislator should propose to restrict the right to vote
or to hold public ofl&ce to those who had received such higher
education, he would be laughed at as a visionary. Indeed, it is
safe to say that, if the welfare of the State shall ever be
put in jeopard}' through the defective education of its citi-
zens, this will arise from insufficient moral training, and not
from lack of such knowledge as is imparted (to the exclusion of
religion) in the public college or university.
No reason of State interest therefore, can be urged to justify
the State in engaging in the business of advanced education, and,
generally speaking, the expenditure of public money in that be-
half is a wrong done to the taxpayer.
For the current year the sum of over twenty million dollars has
been appropriated to be spent in the City of New York for the
maintenance of its common school system, while for the year 1904,
as we note in the N. Y. Sun (Sept. 19th) an increase has been asked,
and will doubtless be granted, which will bring up the total amount
to be thus spent to the enormous sum of $23,260,472. Out of this
fund is defrayed the expense of carrying on the City College, the
Normal College for girls, (seventy-five per cent, of whom are of
the Jewish race), and other kindred public institutions for the ad-
vanced education of young men and women. The whole of this
sum is raised by taxation affecting both rich and poor either
directly or indirectly, Catholics contributing their share equally
with their fellow-citizens of other creeds or of none.
While the municipality is thus taxed for the maintenance of
these public schools and colleges. Catholic pastors and their people
in those parishes which have parochial schools, (for not a few
parishes in the Archdiocese of New York have no such school,)
are wrestling with the difficulties, mainly financial, involved in
maintaining their own schools, in finding and paying an adequate
staff of competent teachers, providing books, furniture, fuel, and
the like, in order that the parochial school shall not suffer by
comparison with the public school, either in the matter of secular
instruction or in the material surroundings and comfort of the
children who may attend. Wherever this standard is not at-
tained, the lukewarm Catholic parent will continue sending his
children to the public school and will point to the defects and in-
efficiency of the parochial school as his justification. Hence the
need of constant sacrifice, of unremitting attention, and of the
most zealous co-operation on the part of all who have at heart the
success of the parochial school.
No. 41. The Review. 643
Since our previous article was written, this City College of New
York has again come under our notice by the reports, in the
daily papers, Uee N. Y. Sun and Times, September 30th), of the
installation of its new and youthful President, Mr. Findley, late
Professor of Politics in Princeton University. Princeton is well-
known as the nursery of Presbyterianism and the home of
that anti-Catholic sentiment which in former days was active in
arousing religious prejudice against our people, and that one of
its faculty should have been chosen to preside over the affairs of
the City College in preference toother men of more mature years
and experience and of riper scholarship, was a fact to provoke
comment among thinking Catholics in New York. This installa-
tion and the laying of the corner-stone of the new college, which
occurred immediately after, were made the occasion of great
ceremony, and an official program of exercises published (see N.
Y. Evening- Post, September 19th), in which to our astonishment,
we read that the first half of the ceremony would end with "Bene-
diction by the Most Rev. John M. Farley, Archbishop of New-
York," while further on, as if to make honors easy, another
"Benediction" was assigned to Rabbi Samuel Schulman, with
"Prayer" between times by eminent Protestant clergymen.
Archbishop Farley did not attend the celebration, but in his
stead came Msgr. Lavelle, lately appointed one of the Vicars-
General of New York, who sat, approvingly, during the exercises,
while another Catholic priest. Rev. A. P. Doyle (Paulist) bestowed
the "Benediction" on a^ institution whose character we have al-
ready shown, and which one of the speakers on the occasion cor-
rectly described as the "capstone of the free school system."
We confess that we are unable to understand this performance.
Of what avail is it that the zealous pastor should advocate relig-
ious education and should earnestly seek to dissuade his people
from sending innocent souls away from the parochial school and to
the irreligious public school, when his brethren, nay, even his
ecclesiastical superiors, are found publicly endorsing the forbid-
den school?
And whether the public school, thus approved, be a primary
school or a college, makes no difference. Both are parts of the
one system, controlled by the one authority, animated by the
same purpose of excluding all moral and religious training from
the youth who come within their influence, and, despite all pro-
fessions to the contrary, known to be especially hdstile to the
Catholic faith. Indeed, one of the persons present on the same
platform with our representatives at the celebration referred to.
was State Superintendent of Instruction Skinner, notorious for
his efforts to prevent the Sisters of Mercy from teaching in the
644 The Review. 1903.
District School at Lima, N. Y., on the ground that the wearing^
of the religious habit of itself constituted sectarian teaching and
disqualified the Sisters from imparting secular instruction in any
school under his supervision.*) Moreover, v^^hy should the tax-
paying Catholic laity be heard to complain that they are taxed to
sustain schools to which they can not, in conscience, send their
children, when their spiritual guides thus publicly commend the
object and purpose of this unjust or excessive taxation?
In the lower part of the city, in the very Ghetto of New York,
stands a branch of the Public Library, close to a public school,
both of them frequented almost wholly by Jews. The Evening-
Post (Oct. 3rd), after telling of the preference shown by the
Jewish children for reading-matter, relating to their own race,
proceeds to say : "This strong race bias in their reading vents
itself in the opposite direction occasionally. Not long ago, the
library put on its shelves a set of art and literature primers, beau-
tiful little books, exquisitely illustrated with reproductions of
classic art. There is not a Madonna or Christ Child left undisHgtwed
in those ^primers now. The faces have been marked with derisive
crosses; blackened zvith stubby leadpencil ;poijits, wet in contumelious
little mouths; or eliminated entirely by scissors and j>enknives."
(Italics ours.)
The children who thus exhibit their racial instinct of hatred of
Christianity will doubtless in due season send representatives to
the City College. The spirit is already there. And in view of the
situation existing in New York, it would be interesting to know
whether anything was gained for the cause of Catholic education
by the "Benediction" bestowed on this City College.
3? 3? 3P
THE RELIGIOUS GARB IN OVR PUBLIC STATE SCHOOLS.
There has been a good deal of ado in the newspapers recently
about several cases where the attempt of nuns to teach in public
State schools, dressed in their religious garb, has given rise to
public discussion and even animosity.
There is for instance the oft mentioned Lima incident. The
Catholics of Lima, N. Y., have set up the contention that, to ob-
ject to a religious garb on a regularly certificated teacher in a
school supported by the State, is an unjust discrimination against
all those who sympathize with such a form of dress, and is in it-
self a violation of one of the fundamental principles of American
law. On the other hand, State Superintendent of Schools, Skinner,
On this subject, see the article "The Religious Garb in Our Public Schools'' in this issue.
No. 41. The Review. 645
who has forbidden the use of the "form of dress" in question,
pleads that the facts point just as conclusively the other way. To
concede that a nun or religious may appear daily in a public
school, wearing the emblems and symbols of a particular faith, is
so far forth to concede a right to that particular faith to carry on
its propaganda to just that extent, at least, at the cost of the Com-
monwealth.
The Catholics of Lima, on the other hand, insist upon the
view that neither the Constitution of the United States in
general, nor that of any one State in particular, pretends to
take cognizance of any one's garb, provided it does not sin
flagrantly against those conventional decencies of modesty and
sex which the common law never fails to enforce. A woman,
therefore, dressed out as a nun, or a man in the habit of
a priest or monk, may, if he or she so chooses and is otherwise
fitted for the task, apply for and obtain the post of a teacher in a
public school.
Both of the contending parties are anxious to appeal to the Su-
preme Court in what they believe is a plain issue of constitution-
alism.
Rev. Cornelius Clifford, in a well-reasoned article on the case in
the Providence Visitor (No. 52), takes a somewhat different view
than those of his confreres who have expressed themselves public-
ly on the Lima incident. He says after summarizing the case as
above :
"What are Catholics to say to these finely balanced issues?
What is the plain non-Catholic citizen to say who would like to be
at peace with all men and do no hurt to his neighbor's conscience
on the score of creed? Observe, we have not thought it neces-
sary to notice one unpleasant circumstance in this grave contro-
versy at all. Catholics in and about Lima, and, indeed, through-
out New York State generally, have not hesitated to charge the
Superintendent with wanton and undignified bigotry. We think
that has nothing whatever to do with the case. It is, as we have
insisted all along, a matter of constitutionalism, and nothing more.
If Mr. Skinner has given unequivocal evidence of bigotry, let the
facts be proved ; and let his removal on those grounds be peti-
tioned for. Such a course, however, would not allay the anxieties
that have already been stirred in the minds of good people on both
sides ; and that is why the Visitor, in common with its saner-
thinking co-religionists all over the country, prefers to see the
matter carried into the serene atmosphere of the courts.
How the courts will decide, it would be foolish to anticipate.
We ourselves believe that it is mere pedantry — indeed, it is worse
than pedantry, it is palpable dising«^auousness — to deny that a
646 The Review. 1903.
nun's habit, or a monk's frock, with or without tbe still more
eloquent circumstance of the crucifix and beads, is a preaching of
Catholicism. Of course it is a preaching ; and it is intended to-
be. The whole history of the religious orders of the Church is a
confirmation of the view. The stuff and the cut of the garments,
their obvious S3"mbolism, their associations, are all so many re-^
minders of our ancient faith, so many pleas, it might be said, for
its unchanging durability. How should we feel, for instance, if a
principal of a public school were to think it right and proper to-
appear boldly on commencement day in a Masonic apron and
scarf? We should cry out against the intrusion. Catholics would
say that those emblems had no business at such a time in such a
place. Why then should we be minded to pronounce differently
when a nun or a Christian Brother is in question? On the other
hand, it might be urged that, as the State allows these peculiar
garbs to be worn in the public streets, it ought, if it is to be per-^
fectly consistent with itself, to allow them likewise to be worn in
the public school. But is that an entirely valid inference ? Is the
public school on no better plane of consideration than the public
street? That is a delicate question to answer ; but, in justice to
the State, we think it only fair to admit, as its secular upholders
will insist, that the school is differently placed.
The truth of the matter is. Superintendent Skinner and his
Lima opponents are, whether knowingly or not, bringing the peo-
ple of the State of New York to realize that, not only is the public
school system in this country, as at present carried on, an unjust
and disquieting anomaly, but, what affords graver food for reflec-
tion, the constitution itself, in not a few of its fundamental posi-
tions, will not bear logical scrutiny."
5^ a* s*
THE POLISH PETITION TO THE HOLY SEE.
IV.
Membra giiibus constat Ecclesia in America^ non sunt hodie eadem^
qiiae fuerunt 30 ahhinc annis.
Ex iis, quae diximus, luce clarius patet, quam utiles, imo quam
necessarii sint in America Episcopi Poloni, vel saltem polone lo-
quentes. Haec autem necessitas magis magisque apparebit, si
numerum Polonorum in singulis dioecesibus consideraverimus..
Nulla forsan natio tarn bene obedit illi Praecepto Divino :
■'Crescite et multiplicamini" (Gen. 1, 28), quam Poloni in America.
Circa medium saeculum XIX vix pauci Poloni fuerunt in Rebus-
publicis Foederatis. Ab anno dein 1854 coeperunt accurrere tur-
No. 41. The Review. 647
matim, ita ut ab anno 1860 multas constituerent colonias. Sed
multitudo emigrantium Polonorum mirum in modum increvit
praecipue ab anno 1870, post bellum franco-borussiacum, et post
'ieg-es Kulturkampf."
Inde est, ut incipiendo ab anno 1870 et proxime sequentibus,
Poloni in America increverint magnopere, ita ut partes ([uae con-
stituunt Ecclesiam Catholicam in Rebuspublicis Foederatis,
proximis tribus saeculi XIX decadibus, prorsus mutarentur quod
attinet ad numerum fidelium.
Pjloni cum aliis Slovanis constituunt fere iertiam -partem
Ecclesiae in America.
Ab eodera anno 1870 iam non unice Hiberni et Germani, ut an-
tea, constituunt Ecclesiam in America. Crescente continua
Slovanorum, i. e, Polonorum, Lithuanorum, Bohemoram, Slova-
corum immig-ratione, facta est in Ecclesia, quod attinet ad num-
erum fidelium, talis mutatio rerum, ut Catholici Slovani (inter
quos Poloni numero sunt superiores) nunc constituant fere ter-
tiam partem totius catholicae gentis in Rebuspublicis Foederatis.
Ut ex computatione, per auctorem "Historiae Polonorum in Ame-
rica" anno 1901 facta, elucet, sunt, praeter alios Slovanos, quos
hie non numeramus, verbi gratia, in dioecesi Buffalensi 69,300
Polonorum, seu fere dimidia pars totius gentis catholicae in hac
dioecesi; sunt 57,200 in dioecesi Pittsburgensi, seu quinta pars
totius gentis catholicae ; sunt 48,500 in dioecesi Scrantonensi, seu
tertiapars; sunt 48,200 in dioecesi Clevelandensi, seu quinta pars;
sunt 32,200 in dioecesi Wayne Castrensi, seu tertia pars ; sunt
44,100 in dioecesi Grandormensi, seu plus quam tertia pars ; sunt
47,900 in dioecesi Detroitensi, seu quarta pars; sunt 172,600 in
archidioecesi Chicagiensi, seu quinta pars ; sunt 10,800 in dioecesi
Sti Clodoaldi, seu quinta pars ; sunt 16,400 in dioecesi Duluthensi,
seu plus quam dimidia pars ; sunt 31,210 in dioecesi Sinus Viridis,
seu quarta pars ; sunt 16,000 in dioecesi Omahensi, seu quarta
pars; sunt 14,750 in dioecesi Marquettensi, seu quinta pars ; sunt
57,380 in archidioecesi Milwaukiensi, seu quarta pars ; in dioecesi
Harrisburgensi tertia pars; in dioecesi Hartfordiensi quinta
pars. Praeterea in triginta aliis dioecesibus Rerumpublicarum
Foederatarum Poloni constituunt, plusminusve, quintam partem
totius gentis catholicae. Et bene notandum est, in computatione
de qua supra diximus, non inclusos esse Lithuanos, Bohemos,
Slovacosaliosque Slovenae gentis Catholicos, quibus paene omni-
bus lingua polona familiaris est atque cognata.
Hinc etiam est, ut multi Episcopi in America, sicut Excellen-
tissimus Archiepiscopus Katzer ex Milwaukee, Illmus Epus
Messmer ex Sinu Viridi, Illmus EpMs Trobec ex Sto Clodoal-
^48 The Review. 1903.
do, Illmus Epus Spalding- ex Peoria, et multi alii, asserere baud
dubitarint, Polonos in America iam propriis de suo grege Epis-
copis iure merito uti posse. Illmus Epus Spalding, ab anno 1892,
occasione dedicationis ecclesiae in La Salle, 111., haec ad populum
verba fecit : "Non sum propheta, sed hoc vobis praedicere pos-
sum, Polonos in Rebuspublicis Foederatis Americae septentrio-
nalis conspicuum esse occupaturos locum in Ecclesia Catholica.
Adventus aliarum nationum, uti Hibernorum, Germanorum, Gal-
lorum, Suedorum etc. in dies magis decrescunt, sed increscit
continue adventus Slovanorum. Vere haec aetas dici potest aetas
immig-rationis Slovanicae, i. e. Polonorum, Bohemorum, Lithuan-
orum, et Slovacorum. Quia vero Poloni inter Slovanosnumero
praestant, profecto illi praeter ceteros florebunt. Procul dubio
ibi incipiet altera Historia Poloniae."
Haec Illmi Spalding verba utinam comprobentur pro catholica
Polonia quae in Europa a Tuis, Beatissime Pater, decessoribus
meruit appellari "antemurale christianitatis !"
Quae cum ita sint, non privilegium quoddam extraordinarium
nos Poloni in America exposcimus a Te, Beatissime Pater, sed
demisse petimus id, quod, perpensis rerum adiunctis, et dignum
et iustum et aequum omnibus esse videtur, petimus scilicet ut
nos Poloni in America iisdem ac aliae gentes iuribus frui possi-
mus in ecclesiastica hierarchia.
Nobis favent civilis potestas, prope cuncti Episcopi, populus
omnis, etiam non polonus, qui iustam etsanctam habeant nostram
causam.
Te oramus atque obsecramus, Beatissime Pater, Qui rectissime
sentis, Qui tantopere studes ut nostra Religio in Rebuspublicis
Foederatis Americae Septentrionalis quammaxime vigeat et
floreat, ut nostra fervida et sancta vota tandem expleas. Statim
schisma finem habebit, statim oves, quae perierunt, ad suum ovile
redibunt, multiplicabuntur, vitam habebunt, et abundantius habe-
bunt. Placeat, denique, Tibi, Beatissime Pater, nobis dare aut
Episcopos proprios aut auxiliares pro illis saltem Dioecesibus
Septem Provinciarum Ecclesiasticarum ; quae dioeceses sunt
hae : Chicagiensis ex Provincia Chicagiensi, in qua habitant 261,-
200 Polonorum ; Buffalensis ex Provincia Neo-Eboracensi, in qua
habitant 296,500 Polonorum : Pittsburgensis et Scrantonensis ex
Provincia Philadelphiensi, in qua habitant 306,000 Polonorum ;
Milwaukiensis et Sinus Viridis ex provincia Milwaukiensi, in qua
habitant 178,460 Polonorum ; Detroitensis, Clevelandensis et
Grandormensis ex Provincia Cincinnatensi, in qua habitant 186,-
300 Polonorum ; Sancti Pauli et Duluthensis ex Provincia Sancti
Pauli, in qua habitant 96,000 Polonorum ; Hartfordiensis ex
Provincia Bostonensi, in qua habitant 139,500 Polonorum.
No. 41. The Review. 649
Ut videre est, haec magna Polonorum multitude, etiam sancta
Ecclesiae consiietudine, proprios Episcopos aut saltern Auxiliares
meretur, quos Poloni ipsi propriis sumptibus sustentabunt.
Quod si nequ'e Episcopis propriis neque Auxiliaribus in praesens
Poloni uti nequeant, turn pro singulis Dioecesibus quas supra
memoravimus, Vicarios Generales aequo animo excipiemus et
cum gratiarum actione, qaamquam non eos nos petimus, cum
enim Episcopali dignitate careant, nullam aut fere nuUam auctor-
itatero apud ipsum populum Polonum ad bonum Ecclesiae
haberent.
Ceterum, quid et quomodo de nobis Polonis in America dis-
ponas, Beatissiitie Pater, hoc ad arbitrium, prudentiam et pastor-
alem curam et caritatem Tuam referimus.
Modo ne despicias magnas preces nostras, quas Tibi demisso
cum animo, at cum fiducia maxima porrigimus. Cum, tam longo
itinere peracto, Romam venimus, non aliud sane prae oculis ha-
buimus neque habemus, quam salutem animarum nostrae curae
sacerdotali commissarum ; non aliud profecto intendimus, quam
majorem Dei gloriam majusque Ecclesiae bonum, Beatissimaeque
Mariae semper Virginis honorem, atque venerationem Sti Stanis-
lai, Episcopi et Martyris, qui a Polonis in America quamreligio-
sissime colitur.
Sanctitatis Tuae pedes humillime deosculantes, summa qua par
est reverentia ac studio permanemus
Sanctitatis Tuae
. Submississimi
Poloni in America,
per
Rmum JoANNEM PiTAss, j. delegates a Congressu Pol. Cath.
Rev. Wenceslaum Kruszka, )
Die 8 lunii 1903.
3? 3* 3f
THE PAGAN ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY.
"Among the Hindoos," says Mackey's Masonic Ritualist, "the
rite of circumambulation was always practised as a religious cere-
mony, and a Brahmin, in rising from his bed in the morning, hav-
ing first adored the sun, while directing>is face to the east, then
proceeds by way of the south to the west, exclaiming at the same
time : 'I follow the course of the sun.'
"The Druids preserved the rite of circumambulation in their
mystical dance around the cairn or altar of sacred stones. On
these occasions the priest always made three circuits from east to
west around the altar, having it on his right hand and accompanied
by all the worshipers. And this sacred journey was called in the
^50 The Review. 1903.
Celtic lang-uage Deiseal, from two words signifying- the right
hand and the sun in allusion to the mystical object of the cere-
mony and the peculiar manner in which it was performed."
"Hence we find," he continues, "in the universal prevalence of
this ceremony and in the invariable mode of passing from the
east to the west by way of the south, with consequently the right
hand or side to the altar, a pregnant evidence of the common
source of all these rites from some primitive origin, to which Free-
masonry is also indebted for its existence."
Greek and Roman heathenism, Brahminism that adored the
sun, Druidism, Freemasonry, all practising the same religious
rites, "a pregnant evidence," says Masonry, "that we are all
sprung from the same primitive source !" An edifying sisterhood
this may indeed be in the eyes of the initiated Mason, but a sis-
terhood in which, let us honestly confess, there is simply pagan-
ism, but not Christianity.
In fact, when Masonry would prove the universal prevalence of
the rite of circumambulation among the nations of antiquity, it
makes a notable omission. It says nothing of the Jewish religion,
of which Christianity is the flower and fruit. It selects four
pagan types, and from these, with a flourish of its pen, deduces
the universality of its custom. We have shown the flimsiness of
its argument, we shall not dwell on its lack of logic. We are con-
tent with noting that Masonry derives its origin, as it derives its
ceremonies, not from Christianity, not from Judaism, but from
a common source with the various pagan religions of the world.
Having established a universality which is not universal save
among the sun-worshipers of paganism, and having given what he
considers to be pregnant evidence of the origin of the craft, our
author continues :
"The circumambulation among the pagan nations was referred
to the great doctrine of Sabaism or Sun-worship. Freemasonry
alone has preserved the primitive meaning which was a symbolical
allusion to the sun as the source of physical light and the most
wonderful work of the Grand Architect of the Universe."
This bold assertion of our author, that Masonry alone has pre-
served the true meaning of the ceremony, is entirel}'' gratuitous,
and we call for proof. How could it preserve a thing, if it itself
was not in existence? Masonry, in its present organization, did
not exist even in the times of the ancient Eleusian mysteries,
much less when the old Aryan stock, according to the Masonic
theorj', practised its sun-worship. It is not an organization im-
mediately proceeding from a primitive source and having a paral-
lel and independent existence, side by side with Sabaism and
Brahminism and Greek and Roman mysticism and Druidism, but
No. 41. The Review. 661
«
distinct from them. Various Masonic writers have invented such
fables, but our author himself, in his Encyclopaedia, p. 297, justly
rejects them. He there speaks candidly and strongly to the
brethren :
"It is the opprobrium of Freemasonry that its history has never
yet been written in a spirit of critical truth ; that credulity and
not incredulity has been the foundation on which all Masonic
historical investigations have hitherto been built ; that imagina-
tion has too often 'lent enchantment to the view'; that the missing
links of a chain of evidence have been frequently supplied by
gratuitous invention ; and that statements of vast importance
have been carelessly sustained by the testimony of documents
whose authenticity has not been proved."
He next proceeds to enquire how Masonic history should be
written ; deplores the confusion which has arisen from attaching
various meanings to the word Masonry ; criticises Preston,
Oliver, and Anderson, well-known Masonic authors, as writers of
romance and not history in the origins that they have given the
order, and then continues :
"The true history of Freemasonry is much in its character like
the history of a nation. It has its historic and its prehistoric
era. In its historic era, the institution can be regukrly traced
through various antecedent associations, similar in design and or-
ganization to a comparatively remote period. Its connection with
these associations can be rationally established by authentic docu-
ments and by other evidence which no historian would reject."
"And then for the prehistoric era — that which connects it with
the mysteries of the pagan world, and with the old priests of
Eleusis, of Samothrace, or of Syria— let us honestly say that we
now no longer treat of Freemasonry under its present organiza-
tion, which we know did not exist in those days, but of a science
peculiar, and peculiar only to the mysteries and to Freemasonrv
— a science which we may call Masonic symbolism, and which con-
stituted the very heart-blood of the ancient and the modern, insti-
tutions, and gave to them, while presenting a dissimilarity of
form, an identity of spirit."
The true history of Masonry will, therefore, according to Dr.
Mackay, trace the present organization through previous ones,
from the restoration, early in the eighteenth century, back to the
old pagan mysteries of Greece and Samothrace and Syria.
Through them, and through them alone, can it draw from what it
calls the primitive source, that science of symbolism which is
peculiar to itself and them, a science so identified with them as to
constitute their verv heart's-blood and makes the difference be-
652 The Review. 1903.
tween them and the present org-anization one of mere form and
not of spirit.
Could plainer proof than this be required of our assertion that
modern Masonry is the revival of the pagan mysteries? Is not
this precisely what our author tells us in express words — the
spirit, the heart's-blood is the same?
» » a*
BOOK REVIEWS.
A Modern Arithmetic. Primary and Elementary Grades. By
Archibald Murray, A. B. 308 pages 12^^. Woodward and
Tiernan, St. Louis, Mo. — Advanced Grades. By the same au-
thor and publisher. 464 pp. 12*^.
The title "Modern" probably refers to the very recent date of
publication, April 1903, and August 1902 respectively. The dis-
tinction between elementary and primary grades is nowhere ex-
plained. If by 'modern" we are to understand novel, the books
deserve the epithet in more than one respect. The author seeks
to teach philosophic notions, such as "primary, derived, and com-
mon units," "discrete and continuous quantities," etc., to abcdar-
ians, whom he calls "students." These "students" are told, f. i. :
"Number is the mind's way of expressing the relations among
things. It is not the things, nor a part of them, but rather in the
mind" (Part I, page 4). From the depth of this learning the
'student" is taught in the first half of Part L, "the secret of the
mastery of number" by "comparison, measurement, and count-
ing," and how he can have "the meaning of a unit and number im-
pressed by constant use."
In the second half of Part I. "the ideas vaguely formed in Part
I. are classified by repeated application and varied use in measur-
ing and counting, separating into groups and combining into
groups to form larger ones. Comparison as best expressed in a
ratio ; and the meaning and use of fractions are taught Thus
the second round of the spiral prepares us for the carefully class-
ified Part III."
"Part III. presupposes that a child has a correct notion of the
fundamentals of arithmetic and can perform elementary opera-
tions with whole or fractional numbers with accuracy. These
may, as yet, be done slowly, perhaps, or even by counting or
measuring ; nevertheless, the student has been made independent
of text and teacher and can be depended upon to arrive at the re-
sult with accuracy, which at this stage of the work is of prime
necessity" (lb. pages 4, 5, 6, 7.)
This does not quite agree with what the author says in the pre-
No. 41. The Review. 653
face of his book for advanced grades, pages 4 and 5 : "In the prim-
ary grades the teacher is everything to the pupil. In the higher
grammar grades the student ought to be passing from a depend-
ence upon his teacher to a dependence upon his book. When the
highschool is reached, he will b<igin observation on his own ac-
count in science work, and begin his emancipation from depend-
ence upon his book. Even in the grammar school, the student
ought to begin reading "Six's, arithmetic."
As Part II. was published some eight months prior to Part I.,
perhaps the author discovered meanwhile that he can make his
students "independent" long before they reach the high school.
We are not inclined to contradict him. On the contrary, it is our
firm conviction, unless the pupil has a teacher less lofty than the
author of these books, he will feel inclined to do his arithmetical
problems independent even of the multiplication tables.
The practical execution of both parts is as contradictory and
confused as the ideas expressed in the prefaces. We refer the
reader to Part I., page 218, no. 169 ; on page 232, there is a foot-
note, saying : "Digits are not numbers nor can they be added";
yet in the first problem on page 233 the teacher is told to point to
"the digits to be added." See also page 264, no. 243.
The English is poor throughout. We quote a few specimen pas-
ages : Part II., page 38, no. 56 (a) : "A sign belongs with the number
just after it"; page 48, "The minus sign belongs with the number
j ust after it. " The instructions given on pages51 seq. on parenthesis
are anything but luminous. Algebra used to form a branch of its
own, following ordinary arithmetic; our author is of adifferent opin-
ion. Since there is addition, subtraction, etc., in algebra as well as in
arithmetic, he finds it convenient to add a section on algebra to
each chapter on the ordinary four rules. Surely, this method will
save the trouble of studying algebra at the high school or college;
it leaves the student "independent of text and teacher," free to go
into original research work.
We recommend this series of "modern" arithmetics to all those
schoolmarms and schoolboards who are tired of the old beaten
via vaccartim, and desirous of initiating their pupils into cube
roots and logarithms (see Part II., pages 434 seq., and 453 seq.)
654
MINOR TOPICS.
Texan Oil Stocks. — Many of the oil stocks held by confiding- peo-
ple to-day are worthless. Thej' were issued by one of the many
companies that organized soon after the"bring'ingin"of the Lucas
"gusher"' at Beaumont in 1901. The capital stock of these com-
panies ranged from $10,000 to $1,000,000. Dividends of extra-
ordinary size where promised. The "oil fields" represented
by these various companies in many cases were limited to patches
of ground, sometimes less than half an acre. People got the idea
that Texas underground was a big bowl containing oil, which one
only had to tap to draw untold quantities of the product from it.
Ranches of all kinds that could have been bought for a song pre-
viously, have been sold to Northern syndicates for large sums of
money, with the result that the syndicates, large and small, have
found themselves with much ordinary land which has developed
nothing but "dusters," as non-producing wells are styled.
There are manj^ investors of this character to whom the sad
news has not yet been told ; they think the companies into which
they put their money are still operating. It will be well for these
to make enquiry of the Secretary of State of Texas. On the 1st
day of May last scores of Texan oil companies had their charters
forfeited on account of failure to paj'^ the franchise tax. Some of
these companies were capitalized at a million dollars, and yet had
not enough money in the treasury to pay the small tax required.
How the capital has been spent, we do not know; we much doubt if
the stockholders will ever know. The day of reckoning for some
of the Texan oil companies is approaching, and on its arrival there
will be interesting- disclosures.
The Anti-Christian Character of Freemasonry in France. — La France
Chretiennc publishes in its No. 38, of September 17th, 1903, some
passages from a report of the "Commission de Propagande," sub-
mitted by F. '. Bourceret to the "Grand Orient" of France in its
meeting- of September 19th, 1^02. We extract these sentences:
"I am satisfied that the majority (of Freemasons) deep down in
their conscience censure those who, from weakness, habit or self-
interest, sin against the laws of logic by refusing to square
their conduct with our doctrines, which, taken altogether, ex-
clude beliefs based upon a priori assumptions of religious prac-
tices that constitute an effective sanction of these beliefs. What
I say here of the duties of a Freemason— that is, a free-thinker ;
for a man can not be a Freemason unless he be a free-thinker —
applies not only to Catholics, but to Protestants and Jews as well.
It is true, under the present political conditions of our democracy,
the clericalism we have to fight above all others is the Catholic.
It is the most powerful and dangerous. The Roman Church, by
her congregations, by her instruments of propaganda, by her
alliance with the capitalist and reactionary powers, is the enemy,
the danger. But as philosophers, we have the right to rise above
the necessities of the present, and, putting the religious question
upon its broader plane, the plane of principle, we consider that
No. 41. The Review. 655
we have to combat all denominatioas, all dog-mas, no matter to
which relig-ion they belong-."
Logically, this mast likewise be the position of American Free-
masonry, as we have shown and shall show even more convincingly
in future papers.
The "Strenuous Life" is Clearly Overdone. Prof. Goldwin Smith,
writing in the Independent CNo. 2860), even thinks that President
Roosevelt, by his constant preaching of "strenuous life," has in-
directly and unconsciously contributed to that growing spirit of
violence which is manifesting itself especially in the treatment of
the weaker races ; that spirit, whose international phase is jingo-
ism, and which presents such a strange and disappointing con-
trast to our boasted "modern philanthropy."
"Some men," rightly observes the Professor, "have been de-
tailed by nature as Rough Riders. Let us acknowledge their ser-
vices and pay them the honor due. But the mass of us are des-
tined to a life not "strenuous," but devoted to the quiet earning of
our bread and performance of our social duties. We are not a
herd of animals crowding each other, but a co-operative commu-
nity of men. After all, in the history of civilization, have not the
greatest effects been produced by men whom President Roose-
velt, had he come across them personally, might have been apt to
class among weaklings and deem unworthy of his notice ? What
affinity to the Rough Rider have the leaders of science, literature
and religion, who assuredly have done as much as the warrior to
promote and direct the progress of mankind ? Nay, the Founder
of Christendom, who for so many ages has been casting the world
in his own mold — would he, to the outward observer, have ap-
peared 'strenuous' — would he not have appeared weak?"
The Oldest Living Archbishop. — Now that Leo XIII. has passed
away, Archbishop Daniel Murphy of Hobart, Tasmania, now in
his eighty-eighth year, enjoys the distinction of being the oldest
living bishop in Christendom. Born in Ireland and educated at
Maynooth, he volunteered shortly after his ordination for the
destitute mission in India, where for the first two years of his la-
bors he met no brother priest. In 1846 he was consecrated Coad-
jutor Bishop of the see of Madras, where he remained until 1866 ;
when with health broken by the severities of the climate, he re-
signed his see and went to Australia. He was at once appointed
to the see of Hobart, and in 1888, was made its first Archbishop.
This venerable prelate, 65 years a priest, and a bishop for 55, is de-
scribed as "no valetudinarian," but a brisk old man who says mass
every morning, is incessantly on the move, and eats as heartily as
a school-boy." Ad 7nultos annos!
The New Century publishes (No. 3) a sympathetic sketch of
Rev. John George Hagen, S. J., the eminent astronomer and math-
ematician, who directstheobservatory of Georgetown University.
Father Hagen — a German Jesuit — is famous all over the scientific
world for his epoch-making 'Atlas Stellarum Variabilium' and
his four quarto volumes on higher mathematics. He has recently
prepared a new edition of the works of Leonard Euler, the cele-
656 The Review. 1903.
brated Swiss mathematician, who died at St. Petersburg- in 1783
and whose valuable writings are to-day largely inaccessible to
scholars. The cost of this stupendous edition (twenty-five
volumes) will be about fifty- thousand dollars, but Fr. Hagen hopes
to find in America a g-enerous patron to defray this expense, as a
Protestant lady defrayed a large portion of the expense of getting-
out his maps of the variable stars. We trust he will not be disap-
pointed, and that it will be easier to get fifty thousand dollars for
the publication of a valuable scientific work, than it is to raise the
same amount for a Catholic daily newspaper.
In the July number of the American Catholic Quarterly Review,
is an article by Father Herbert Thurston, S. J. In a note on p.
417, the writer speaks of Lord Acton's connection with the "Let-
ters of Quirinus," written during the Vatican Council. Father
Thurston says that these letters were published in the Kolnische
Volkszeitung. That is a great mistake. They were published in
the Aiigshiu'gcr, now Munchener Allgemeine Zeitung, then as now
a liberal and anti-Catholic paper. Professor Friedrich of Munich
has lately revealed the origin and authorship of these notorious
letters. He (Friedrich) and Lord Acton sent reg-ular reports
from Rome to DoUinger in Munich. With the materials thus
furnished and certain French newspapers, Dr. Bollinger composed
the Quirinus Letters which he sent regularly to the Allgemeine,
using a g-o-between and never revealing his -identity to the editor
of the liberal sheet.
Joseph A. Blenke, presumably the priest of that name, of Cov-
ington, Ky., is mentioned in the ScientiHc American 'No. 14) as
the patentee of a new device for illuminating crosses on church
steeples. Such illumination is seldom provided, because the in-
candescent lamps easily and frequently burn out and the expense
of hiring a "Steeple Jack" to replace them, far outweighs the ar-
tistic benefits derived from such illumination. Father Blenke has
provided a simple means of gaining- access to the lamps, by mount-
ing them, with plenty of wire for free play, on leather belts — one
each for the vertical and the horizontal arms of the cross — which
can be easily reached and drawn down through a door near the
base. The lamps are enclosed in a glass case having the shape of
a cross ; the glass is preferably ground or frosted, so ^s to diffuse
the light more evenly.
^^
Professor Lounsbury's discussion of the "Standard of Pro-
nunciation" in English, in the current Harper's, demonstrates the
absurdity of taking any English dictionary as an infallible guide.
"The truth is, that the pronunciation of every dictionary ex-
presses the preferences and prejudices of the particular person
or persons who have been concerned in its compilation." The
dictionary is of value as a practical assistant, but there is no obli-
gation of unquestioning obedience to the decisions of any one of
them when they conflict, or even of all when they agree. They
can record no final standard of correctness, simply because the
language is in such a constant state of change that none exists.
II ^be IReview. ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., November 5, 1903. No. 42.
REASONS FOR THE APATHY OF CATHOLIC FRENCHMEN IN
THE PRESENT RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.
'^OR the last hundred years France has seen no fiercer per-
secution of the Catholic religion than the present. Lib-
erals and Freemasons will deny this, for in their opinion
it is "Clericalism" which they are fighting-. "Le clen'cal/sme, roila
renneini."' Yet the logic of facts shows they mean Catholicism.
Jews and Protestants are favored and protected. Catholics aloneare
persecuted, and have been persecuted more and more aggressively
for the last thirty years. First the famous school law was passed,
that was to stop all religious instruction in the common schools.
"Gratuitous, obligatory, and lay instruction" was the shibboleth.
Lay instruction meant nothing else but irreligious instruction, as
became quite manifest when the amendment of Jules Simon, to
include instruction on man's duties towards God, was immediate-
ly amended into '' instruction moj'ale et civigne."
Next came the military law, obliging clerics, even priests, to
join the ranks of the army. The enemies of the Church hoped
thereby to cripple the clergy, but were no more successful than
with their obligatory lay instruction in the public schools, since
Catholics had begun, under the Falloux act of 1850, to construct
and maintain schools of their own, and under the law of 1875, even
universities.
Other laws to undermine the Catholic religion were passed : in
1880, the law abolishing Sunday as a day of rest ; in 1884, the
Naquet divorce act. Innumerable are the ministerial decrees by
which the clergy are harrassed in all directions, their salaries sus-
pended, the church fabrics subjected to the State, etc. And all
this under the specious pretext of executing the concordat of 1801.
Even the last and fiercest assault on the Church, the suppres-
658 The Review. 1903.
sion and expulsion of all religious congreg-ations, is justified by
the Prime Minister with the concordat. "This policy," said
Combes in the Chamber on May 20th last, "is based, you know, on
the loyal and complete observation of the concordatary laws."
To hide its infamous purposes, the law under which the
congregations are suppressed and exiled, is called the "Associa-
tions law." Its end was said to be to give liberty to all as-
sociations not opposed to the welfare of the State. All that the
existing congregations, whether authorized or not, had to do, was
to submit their statutes for approval. But when the}' had sub-
mitted them, they were rejected in bulk, and orders issued tb
dissolve the congregations, to confiscate their propert3\ and expel
the recalcitrants from the country. Ever since. Combes has been
busy executing that law and stripping France of her religious or-
ders and congregations.
And how is the anti-Catholic campaign received? The religious
resist, the people come to their assistance, police and even the
soldiery are required to expel the victims ; yet on the whole there
is little commotion in France ; the government continues as it had
begun, and will not be satisfied until the last nun has been driven
from French soil, nay even from the soil of its protectorates, as
of late even the Bey of Tunis was forced to apply the nefarious
law against the religious in his realm.
How is it possible that the people of France tolerate such an
abuse of government by which some 2-300,000 of her own sons and
daughters are. expatriated, for no other reason than that they
choose to wear the religious garb and to serve God according to
the dictates of their conscience?
The Catholic World (September) in an article, "The Puzzle Ex-
plained," throws the blame on Louis Veuillot, because of his op-
position to Montalembert, Dupanloup, and Lacordaire, the cham-
pions of modern liberties. After the article on Louis Veuillot
published in the August number, the bias is so plain that we shall
abstain from any further consideration. Yet the reader may ex-
pect an answer. We shall condense the reasons given by Father
Burnichon in the Etudes of July 20th. Father Burnichon is a
Frenchman, a Jesuit, a victim of the persecution, and, hence, a far
more reliable guide than the Paulists and all the contributors to
their Catholic World Magazine.
The first reason Father Burnichon gives is this : The French
have neither the customs nor the sentiment of libert5\ The or-
dinary good citizen has a superstitious respect for the govern-
ment, its representatives, its works and its laws. Hardl}' ever
will any one venture to enquire into the justice of a governmen t
^o- ^2. The Review. 659
ordinance. The people make no distinction between might and
rig-ht.
Philosophers, like Faguet, confirm them in this view and atti-
tude, and even journals that are otherwise not sectarian, such as
the Bedais a.nd 7£'w^^5, frequently publish articles which might
be resumed in this short sentence : "We deplore the government
order, but to resist would be insubordination; somebody may
have blundered in giving the order, yet you who execute it, are
but doing your duty."
The second reason may be stated thus : A French citizen has
no guarantee whatever of his civil rights. Apparently France is
a democratic republic, in reality it has an autocratic and all-pow-
erful government. There is no constitution, as with us, to stop
tyranny from encroaching on individual rights. If the oppressed
citizen sues for his rights and gets j udgment in his favor, the gov-
ernment takes the case out of the regular courts and submits it to
its "tribunal de conflicts," where it is sure to win. Hence that com-
plete resignation of the French in view of unjust laws and de-
crees, as if they were some unconquerable forces of nature. Nor
is this resignation affected in the least by the Declaration of the
Rights of Man, in which may be read sentences like this : "There
is oppression of the social body when a single member is op-
pressed" (art. 34); or that the right of resistence to oppression
is a "natural and imprescriptible right" (art. 2). These declara-
tions are purely Platonic and theoretical.
The third reason is the apathy of the people with regard to the
doings of Parliament. You may find thousands of ordinary men
and women well posted on the records of sprinters or race horses,
but you will meet few who know what laws have been passed at the
last session. Yet when stills are assessed at a higher rate, or the
tariff on wheat is lowered, loud protests are heard. The same
apathy prevails among the upper ten thousand, who know what is
going on, but continue to give receptions and balls, etc., and have
no time to worry about the nefarious laws which are passed.
The fourth reason is the unhappy division of Catholics among
themselves. They seem to be more intent upon picking a flaw in
a rival journal, than upon uniting against the common enemy.
'^ Regmim in se divistun desolabittir.'"
If the violence of the attack and the seriousness of the danger
would bring about a union of all the Catholic forces, it would be
the greatest blessing France has received for a long time. But
the prospects are gloomy.
3^ 51- s<&
660
THE QUESTION OF A CATHOLIC DAILY PRESS.
Our periodical articles on the need of a Catholic daily newspa-
per, or rather a Catholic daily press, in the prevailing language
of the countr^^, alwaj^s have one good result : thej'^ stir up dis-
cussion.
Thus we read in the Catholic Ti-ihime of Dubuque TNo. 246):
"Our esteemed friend, the editor of the St. Louis Review, re-
cently published a very thorough discussion of the question of
establishing a Catholic daih' paper, and we do hope some enter-
prising Catholic will undertake the Herculean task. We are con-
tinually hearing complaints about the harm done b}' non-Catholic
dailies. The chief objection appears to be the difficulty of getting
correct Catholic news from the secular dailies. One might sug-
gest that Catholics should furnish the news correctly to the secu-
lar papers. But how about the malice of some editors and pro-
prietors? The safe waj^ to give Catholics the correct news would
be to publish a Catholic daily paper somewhere in this great land.
Of course, we are speak'ng of a Catholic dail}^ paper in the Eng-
lish language. The German-speaking Catholics have three such
papers, the Poles*) and Bohemians each one, and, if we are not in
error, the French-speaking Catholics also have several Catholic
dailies. One of the reasons why no Catholic daily in the English
language is attempted is the fact that there are too many Catho-
lics, even priests, who have not the price to pay for a Catholic
weekl}', but are regular subscribers to non-Catholic and even anti-
Catholic daily papers. In the face of this situation, there is but
one thing left to do, and that is : to offer your sympathies to the
Catholic weeklies for having the audacitj^ of existing."
Lack of support on the part of the laity, and a portion of the
clergy, is indeed one of the greatest obstacles to the upbuilding
of a strong and prosperous Catholic dail}^ press. We ourselves,
alas ! have heard priests say they could see no necessity for hav-
ing Catholic papers, daily or weekly, at all. This ignorance and
indifference will have to make way before an enlightened zeal for
what Leo XIII. of blessed memory has rightly called "a perpetual
mission in every parish," before we can hope to accomplisji much;
and it is chiefly the bishops and the seminaries that will have to
do this part of the work ; for those who condemn the Catholic
press, quite naturally do not hear, or if they hear, do not heed its
voice.
The New World oi Chicago (No. 5) has this to say on the subject:
"Some day, if the agitation continue, some man in possession of
'') This is an error. The Poles have three. A. P.
No. 42. The Review. 661
several millions will come to the fore and start a Catholic daily in
order to prove that it can be done. As the matter stands, we do
not know of any subject more talked about, while, at the same
time, there is slender probability of action. There are a multi-
tude of views, but nothing- is being- done. Why? An exchange gives
this reason : 'The great Catholic daily will be a fact when we have
the g-reat editor for such a paper, and we know that we have him.
Make it reasonably certain that the editor is found and the money
backing- will be readily forthcoming-. If there are not sufficient
Catholic capitalists to furnish the money there will be plenty of
enterprising: Jews to do so.'
"There need be no difficulty in finding an editor capable of edit-
ing- a popular Catholic daily. There are a dozen such men now
engaged on the Catholic press. When it comes, the 'great
Catholic daily' must not be loaded to the muzzle with heav}'^ articles.
It must be full of news ; not rammed with scholarly considera-
tions. In other words, it must be a daily paper, leaving most of
the heavy work to the numerous weeklies. It can not afford to
shoot entirely above the heads of the people to whom it must look
for support.
"Again, we beg to say that it must present the news of the day,
not the news a day old. At present quite a number of our week-
lies are made up of the alleged Catholic news furnished by the
cable, clipped out with a scissors and dates changed to suit. This
will not go in a daily. The news must be fresh or the paper will
fail. And let it be stated that a Catholic daily, like every other
successful daily, must. present a large amount of news of its own
section. It must know what is going on and tell it. Then it will
pay and its heavier articles prove of service in shaping public
■opinion. Incidentally, we should not like to see a Catholic daily
owned by Jews. Can not Catholic capital be found ?"
We should add that a Catholic daily will have to present the
news of the day with discrimination and not allow itself to get
caught in every yarn of the sensational press, as the Nezv World
did the other week in the story of Msgr. Wilpert's alleged appoint-
ment as papal Secretary of State (v. our criticism in No. 38).
Moreover, it would not do for a Catholic daily to register lies of the
"yellows" without a word of comment or criticism, as the iVeza
Wor/d does in its No. 5 : "The secular press has been full of sen-
sational reports during the week to the effect that Pius X. favors
Liberalism."
It is a mistake to suppose that the first and chief mission of a
.Catholic newspaper, weekly or daily, is to publish the latest news ;
it is to instruct and elevate the people, to serve truth and justice,
to advance the glory of God and the honor of His holy Church. Of
662 The Review. 1903.
course, the times and circumstances, the views and prejudices of
the contemporary Catholic public must be taken into proper con-
sideration ; but there can be no disguising- the fact that these
views and prejudices will have to be combatted rather than in-
dulged. It is this point zee would emphasize.
FORETELLING THE FVTVRE.
In the July number of the English Reviexv of Reviews, Mr. W.
T. Stead described in detail how the assassination of the King-
and Queen of Servia was clairvoyantly seen by a medium in Lon-
don three months before the tragedy actually took place ; and
how an intimation had been sent to the doomed sovereign — who^
however, took no notice of it.
A reader of the Bombay Catholic Examiner, after perusing '
Stead's article, sent it to that excellent journal with this query :
"Is it possible that the prevision in question should have been
the result of psychometry, as it is called ; or maj^ it be that the
spirits of darkness, knowing the intentions and workings of the
minds of the would-be murderers, or judging from the operation
of causes unknown to us, communicated their impressions to the
'psj^chometrist'? "
The answer he received from the learned clergyman who edits
the ^.vrt;;/f';/£:r is such an accurate and well-weighed statement of
the Catholic position in the matter of foretelling the future, that
we are sure we shall do our own readers a-service by reproducing
it in The Review. Here it is, with but a few slight changes,
from No. 33 of the Bombay paper :
The first thing is to be sure of the facts. Given the facts as
stated, the following principles seem to be applicable : —
1. There are three sorts of future events. First, those which
God brings about by the fiat of his will — e. g., the last judgment.
Secondly, those which proceed from material causes — e. g. the
burning of wood by fire. ' Thirdly, those which are brought about
by the will of man — e. g. taking an excursion to Dixy.
The first event we know infallibly will happen, because God has
revealed it. The second we know will happen //the wood is put
into the fire. The third we can expect to take place ; but only if
the intention remains unchanged and the circumstances allow.
2. God alone knows equally well all things — past, present, and
future. The reason is because God is not subject to time and
space, but is superior to all limits. What we call past and future-
is in some unconceivable way present to him. To use the simile
of St. Thomas : "God is like one standing on the citadel of eterni-
No. 42. The Review. 663
ty, from which he watches the travelers passing along the road
of time. He sees equally well those who are gone by, and those
who are passing, and those who are approaching. Some are be-
fore, and some are after ; but to God they are all present, each in
his own order in the series." We can not grasp the truth illus-
trated by this simile, because our minds can only think in terms
of time and space. But we can see that such must be the proper-
ty of an infinite and eternal mind.
3. Man's mind is limited to the perception of those things which
exist and are present. By memory he can store up knowledge of
the past, and by reasoning he can argue from the past and present
to the future. But no human mind can see, as a fact, what is not
yet accomplished. By revelation we can know that a future event
will take place because God has told us and because we can trust
his word. By experience of nature's laws we can know that a gun
will go off if the powder is good and the trigger is pulled. By
practical experience of character we can be fairly assured that
certain men will carry out their intentions, unless something un-
foreseen occurs to prevent it or to cause a change of mind. But
all human knowledge of the future as to facts is conditional and
liable to miscalculation. It is only in case of divine revelation that
we can be absolutely sure.
4. The spirits, whether good or bad, certainly surpass us in
their power of knowledge; but it is generally held that they can
not read secret thoughts (such as are not expressed by any ex-
ternal sign) nor in any case can they, by reading our thoughts, be
sure whether our present intentions will remain or whether we
shall eventually perform what we intend. They can make prob-
able judgments based on our character, etc., but nothing more.
In other words, no created mind can make a prophecy in the strict
sense, i. e. with infallible assurance of its fulfilment — except of
course through a divine revelation. Spirits may make shrewder
guesses and judge with higher probabilities than ourselves. That
is all.
5. In case of a prophecy being alleged, the following is the nat-
, ural order of investigation :—
a. Was the statement really uttered before the event, and did
the event correspond ?
b. If so, was the event one which might have been suggested
through natural and normal sources of information. For instance^
had the intentions of the Servian conspirators leaked out to some
small circle, etc.; or was there a sufficient inkling in the air to
suggest a lucky guess ?
c. If unaccountable on this score, the prophecy might come
from one of three sourcess :— Natural occultism (hypnotism, or
664 The Review. 1903.
reading- the thoug-hts of the conspirators); Spiritism (suggestion
by a spirit which had read the thoughts of the conspirators); or
divine revelation.
In none of these alternatives (except divine revelation, which
we may put aside in this case as a highly improbable last alterna-
tive^ would the prophecj^ be infallible as to the event ; since it de-
pended on the intentions of the conspirators being- carried out.
And, as we have said, no created mind can do more than form a
hig-hly probable judg-ment on this point, however well the inten-
tions of the conspirators mig-ht have been known.
In thus setting- out the principles of the case we pass no judg-
ment on the case itself, since all depends on the accurate verifica-
tion of the alleged facts.
5^ S4 ^
THE POLISH PETITION TO THE HOLY SEE.
V.
The appendices to the Polish Petition to the Holy See, which
we have published in full, contain : 1. The credentials of the dele-
gates who were appointed to submit the document to the Holy
Father ; 2. Letters from the mayors of the cities of Toledo, De-
troit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburg, and Milwaukee, testifying to
the large percentage of Poles in the population of these citi'es ; and
3. A list of Polish colonies in the United States with the number
of souls contained in each. The figures are taken from the 'His-
torya Polska w Ameryce,' published in 1901. We shall reproduce
only the summaries :
The number of Poles (presumably all Catholics) in the State of
Illinois is estimated at 339,745, of whom 197,900 are credited to
the Archdiocese of Chicago, 15,350 to the Diocese of Peoria, 1,000
to the Diocese of Alton, and 7,600 to the Diocese of Belleville. The
rest are scattered.
The figures for Wisconsin are : Archdiocese of Milwaukee,
72,000 ; Diocese of Green Bay. 45,000 ; Diocese of La Crosse, 26,-
080; total number, including those living outside of the colonies
and scattered all over the State : 158.945.
Michigan: Diocese of Marquette, 12,750; Diocese of Grand
Rapids, 44,500; Diocese of Detroit, 52,760. Total, including
scattered, 141,830.
Indiana : Diocese of Fort Wayne, 32,000.
Ohio: Diocese of Cleveland, 52,730; Diocese of Columbus,
1400 ; Archdiocese of Cincinnati, 1,000. Total, including the scat-
tered, 84,110.
New York: Archdiocese of New York, 45,400; Diocese of
No. 42. The Review. 665
Brooklyn, 28,000; Diocese of Albanjs 11,200; Diocese of Syracuse,
5,000; Diocese of Rochester, 8.000; Diocese of Buffalo, 86,530.
Total, including those outside of the regular Polish settlements :
333,725.
New Jersey: Diocese of Newark, 21,600 ; Diocese of Trenton,
15,600. Total, including scattered, 71,785.
New England States: Massachusetts, 42,500; New Hampshire,
5,000; Vermont, 2,000 ; Maine, 3,000 ; Connecticut, 20,100. Total
number of Poles in the ecclesiastical Province of Boston: 170.315.
Pennsylvania : Archdiocese of Philadelphia, 46,300 ; Diocese of
Harrisburg, 14,700; DioceseofScranton, 49,900; Diocese of Erie,
9,700 ; Diocese of Pittsburg, 72,200. Total, including scattered,
381,790.
Maryland, 22,000 ; D-laware, 8,000 ; District of Columbia, 800 ;
West Virginia, 10,200.
Minnesota : Archdiocese of St. Paul, 19,900 ; Diocese of Winona,
14,100; Diocese of St. Cloud, 20,200 ; Diocese of Duluth, 16,400.
Total, including scattered : 80,000.
The Dakotas : North Dakota, 10,600 ; South Dakota, 5,150.
Nebraska: Diocese of Omaha, 16,000 ; Diocese of Lincoln, 2,490.
Total, 18,490.
Missouri : Archdiocese of St. Louis, 16,400 ; Diocese of St.
Joseph, 1,700 ; Diocese of Kansas City, 1,600. Total, 19,700.
Kansas, 1,100 ; Arkansas, 1,550 ; Iowa, 1,000 ; Louisiana, 1,000 ;
Oklahoma, 1,000 ; Indian Territory, 1,000 ; Arizona, 110 ; New
Mexico, 275 ; Alaska, 65 ; Hawaii, 360 ; Nevada, 125 ; Montana,
1,100; Wyoming, 1,000; Colorado, 1,700; Idaho, 300; Utah, 500;
Washington, 3,900 ; Oregon, 1,900 ; California, 2,000.
Texas: Diocese of San Antonio, 11,559; Diocese of Galveston,
7,700. Total, 19,259.
Grand total of Poles in the whole United States, 1,902,370.
The petitioners note in conclusion that, while the English
speaking Catholics of this country have not one Catholic daily
newspaper of their own, the Poles have ftve, three of which de-
fend the Catholic cause ex ^rofesso.
Our readers are now fully informed with regard to the contents
of this Polish petition and in a position to appreciate the observa-
tions thereon which we may publish in later issues.
666
BOOK REVIEWS.
Nautical Distances and How to Commute Them. For the Use of
Schools. By Rig-ht Rev. John J. Hogan, Hudsoa-Kimberly Pub.
Co., Kansas City, Mo. 1903. 12 mo. 48 pp.
This is the oddest thing- that has reached our book-table for
many a moon : a school-book by an American Catholic Bishop who
is almost blind, on a nautical subject, dedicated "To His Excel-
lency Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States
by His Humble Servant, the Author."
Msg-r. Hog-an tells us in the preface that the design of this
manual originated at the time of the Spanish-American war, from
a desire to ascertain as nearly as possible when and where the
hostile fleets might be in conflict. It shows how to compute
marine distances and sets forth the relative positions of a number
of important ports.
Our Navy Department is employing all sorts of queer and un-
heard-of stratagems now-a-days to get recruits for the U. S.
marine. If Bishop Hogan is not deceiving himself, it could find
no more effective means to this end than the introduction into the
schools of his little manual ; for he says at the end of his Preface:
"This rudimental study, which is easy and pleasant, would lead
many talented, aspiring young men to enter naval schools and
academies, to prepare themselves for brilliant careers as practical
seamen for the advancement and honor of their country in the in-
terest of human betterment and world progress."
Since the calculation of nautical distances, however, requires a
knowledge of square roots, we fea'* the circle to which the Bish-
op's argument appeals, will be exceedingly limited.
Si
Melanges on Reciieil d^ Etudes Relig-ieiiscs, Socia/es, Politiqnes et
X/Z/fTrt/rf^, par J.-P. Tardivel, Redacteur en chef && La Veriie.
Premiere Serie : Tome troisieme. Quebec : Imprimerie de S.
A. Demers, 30 Rue de la Fabrique. 1903. lxvii + 349 pages,
6^X9^4 unbound. Price $1.50.
M. Tardivel, the doughty and meritorious editor of La Vcrite
of Quebec, is fortunate in havinga number of friends who encour-
age him to republish his best articles in book form and who buy
them when republished. This, the third volume of his Melanges,
contains well-written and solid essays on topics literar5% religious,
social, political, and miscellaneous, published in /.« TW/Veinthe
early eighties. While some of the subjects may at first blush
appear antiquated, their treatment is new and fresh and will re-
main so, because M. Tardivel strives to go to the root of every
• luestion and to discuss it in the clear white light of Catholic truth.
No. 42. The Review. . 667
We have perused with especial interest the author's all too trrief
history of his journal La Vcritc, with which he introduces this
volume. Some of his experiences as an editor and publisher — let
us add parenthetically and with all due modesty — we can parallel
from our own briefer and, if lesslglorious, perhaps equally "stren-
uous" career. His sketch is such an interesting- and valuable
contribution to the history of Catholic journalism that we purpose,
with Af. Tardivel's kind permission, some time in the near future
to put it before our readers in an English translation.
Sf S^ 3?
MINOR TOPICS.
Pope Pius X. and "Liberalism." — ^We are pleased to be able to credit
the Rome correspondent of the Freeman'' s Joui'nal {'Ho. 3666) with
the following welcome piece of news :
"With all his goodness and gentleness Pius X. has already
shown that his hand is as firm as a rock. In many countries to-
day the Church is being pestered with groups of what are known
as 'liberal' Catholics. They are called 'liberal' because they spend
their lives in grumbling and carping and defying, more or less
overtly, ecclesiastical authority. Martin Luther began by being
a 'liberal' Catholic, so did the late Professor St. George Mivart.
Italy is just now sorely afflicted bj^ a number of Catholics with
tendencies in the direction of liberalism. Some of them make
speeches about the "Bourbon baggage," which is still treasured
by the Church and which must be got rid of in this new era of
light, in the changed conditions of humanity, amid the effulgence
of science, etc., etc., and so forth. Others of them gooff to Russia
and write letters to the liberal papers of Rome glorifying that
wonderful sage Tolstoi, whose work has been of so much service
to the cause of morality. The rest of them stay at home to thwart
by every means in their power the one great organization which
voices the social principles of Catholicism and which has the ex-
press and repeated sanction of the Vicar of Christ. Nearly all of
them are young men who have picked up with the aid of a fifty-
cent dictionary a smattering of English, and who are full of en-
thusiasm for the 'Anglo-Saxon' race and its vigorous Catholicity.
It is a curious fact (and alas ! how significant it is) that you never
hear them say a word about Irish Catholicity or German Catho-
licity. No, the bee in their bonnet has only one buzz, and that is
all about the 'Anglo-Saxon' race, new horizons, and all the rest of
the clap-trap with which they delude themselves that they are
important persons. Latterly one of these young men (they are
all young men — and they profess a fierce dislike for everything
old) declared that he and his party were prepared to head a revolt
against the Association of Catholic Congresses, unless their terms
were complied with. But his words had scarcely been printed in
one of the organs of his sect when the Holy Father instructed
668 The Review. 1903.
Msgr. Merry del Val to write a letter stating explicitly that no
organization of Catholics would ever be approved by the Sovereign
Pontiff which did not act in harmony with the Association, So
Pius X. has with a stroke of the pen, put the budding- 'liberal'
Catholics of Italy into their proper place."
And thus, we may hope, will he put the budding "Americanists"
of this great and glorious country into their proper places if they
don't muzzle their imprudent and impudent organs.
How Articles of Devotion Lose the Indulgences Attached to Them. — On
this interesting topic we extract from iho. Pastoralblatt {^o. %)
the following information :
Blessed articles can lose the indulgences attached to them :
1. by wear or destruction, 2. by sale or purchase, 3. by being
loaned or given away.
1. Medals and crucifixes lose their indulgenced blessing when
they become so worn that the pictures (especially the face of the
Savior) are no longer recognizable. In crucifixes, the indulgences
are attached to the coi'piis and can therefore be transferred with
it to another cross. The indulgences of a rosary rest on the
beads, which can be restrung without losing their power. Nor
does the loss of a few beads invalidate the blessing. Statues
lose their blessing if they are broken or destroyed, not by slight
damage.
2. To prevent even the appearance of simony it is not permitted
to sell blessed articles of devotion, even at cost price, or in con-
sideration of some alms-gift, nor to exchange them.
3. Both priests and people are free to give away devotional ar-
ticles blessed and endowed with indulgences, provided they have
not previously used them. Such articles lose the attached indul-
gence if they are given away or loaned after the owner has used
them, in order to enable others to gain the indulgences. It is
permitted, however, to loan a rosary to some one else with the
sole purpose of enabling him to pray the beads more easily or
conveniently. Nor does a rosary lose its indulgences if some one
other than the owner uses it without the owner's knowledge and
consent.
The "Higher Catholic Journalism." — We read in the Catholic Uni-
verse (No. 1524): "Mr. Joseph J. Murphy, who has been editor of
the Neiu Century, Washington, D. C, since January, 1902, has ac-
cepted the editorial management of the Republic, of Boston. Mr.
Murphy is a graduate of the Catholic University, and takes to his
literary ability, an enthusiastic faith in the possibilities of the
higher Catholic journalism. Even those of his confreres who do
not seem to share hisoptimism will unite in wishing him success."
And what is this "higher Catholic journalism," of which Mr.
Joseph J. Murphy, "graduate of the Catholic University," is such
an able, enthusiastic, and optimistic exponent?
To judge from his work on the Nezv Centiuy it consists in fash-
ioning the appearance of a Catholic paper after the grotesque
twentieth-century style of Vae Saturday Evening Post, CoUicfs,
and other "advanced" secular weeklies, and moulding its
editorial course in conformity with the spirit of the age, which,
as our readers well know, is thoroughly liberalistic and favors
No. 42.
The Review.
669
theolog-ical minimism at the expense of the old, uncompromising-,
robust faith of our fathers.*)
It is to be sincerely hoped that this "'higher Catholic journalism"
will fail in Boston as it failed in Washington.'
"Quis Tulerit Gracchos de Seditione Querenfes?" — For the rarity
of it and for future reference we quote here a bit of sound advice
proffered by the Catholic Citizen of Milwaukee (Sept. 26th, 1903)
to its new namesake, the Catholic Citizen of Rochester :
"An anonymous writer in our new namesake of Rochester, as-
sumes to take issue with us on certain positions with reference to
the Church in the Philippines, which he ascribes to us. We give
our youthful contemporary a good rule in such matters : 'In con-
troverting an opponent, always quote your opponent's words.' "
It is sound advice to act upon and will be all the more effective
if our Milwaukee confrere will supplement his verbal preachment
by a good example. It is a standing grievance of pretty nearly the
entire Catholic press of this continent against the editor of the
Catholic Citizen of Milwaukee, that in his controversies he habit-
ually does what he now accuses his Rochester namesake of doing:
"assumes" and "ascribes" too much and never, or hardly ever,
quotes his opponents' words. Now that he has been made to feel
the injustice of such proceeding, we trust he will hereafter treat
his opponents with the same measure of justice that he de-
mands of his Rochester confrere.
Gaelic at the Catholic University. — A correspondent of the Catholic
Teleg-)'aph (No. 40) writes to that paper from Washington that, if
little progress has been made in the study of Gaelic at the Catholic
University, "it is not through any fault or lack of interest of the
authorities. Great difficult}' has been experienced in securing a
suitable man for the position. Those who were qualified and re-
ceived a call to this chair, declined the honor. Mr. Dunn, who is
now studying under Dr. Knno Meyer in Germany, will probably
take charge of the chair in another year, expecting to finish his
studies in Ireland. In the meantime a professor has been engaged
for the coming year, and the study of Gaelic will be resumed in
earnest."
The correspondent adds that jthere is a desire on the part of
the enthusiastic students of the "Gaelic tongue, to make it again
"a live and spoken language," but that "it is extremely doubtful
if this consummation can ever be realized," especially here "in the
United States, where people who speak a foreign tongue, lose the
use of it in a few generations."
sr
At the grave of Msgr. Schroder his colleague, Professor Dr.
Mausbach of the theological faculty of the University of Miinster,
in the course of a touching panegyric, said :
•'Also in his moral conduct he was a priest according to the
*) How outsiders are impressed by this min-
imizing may be seen from the subjoined edi-
torial utterance of the Independent (No, JSoS):
"If we were to prophesy, it would be that by
the quiet dropping of the emphasis on its ad-
ventitous doctrines, so that they will become
innocuously desuetudinous, the Roman Church
will within the fifty or a hundred years become
so like the Protestant churches that it will not
be worth while to emphasize the distinction
betweeii them."
670 The Review. 1903.
heart of God. With all his vivacity and his Rhenish joy of life, he
never lacked the moral earnestness of his sacerdotal station. It
is not a novel thing- that men who fight in the thick of battle, up-
on whom fierce publicity beats, are attacked and aspersed by the
part}' spirit, by misg-uided zeal, or calumnious suspicion. Here,
at the bier of our dear departed, we, his friends and colleagues,
who have known and observed him for years, testify that such at-
tacks against his character could have sprung only from ignor-
ance or passion ; that we have been edifi'id by his priestly virtues,
his purity and moderation, his pietj' and charity."
The last-mentioned quality led him to befriend many a poor
student and won for him at the University of Miinster, whose
Rector he was when he died, the title of " Studentenvater'' — the
students' Father.
Now that his noble soul has fled to the realms beyond, how must
those who so vilely slandered and bitterly persecuted him, rue
their damnable conduct?
We quote from an editorial in the Philadelphia Ledger^ Oct.
16th, regarding the Right Rev. T. A. Hendrick, Bishop of
Cebu, P. I.:
"Twice has he been held up since his departure from Rome, the
scene of his consecration ; once lawlessly by Neapolitan bandits,
and again lawfully by the ever watchful and patriotic stand-patters
of the New York Custom House."
The paper explains that the Bishop on his trip in Europe pur-
chased certain vestments and regalia for his holy office, such as
crozier, mitre, and ring, also chalices used for communion service.
On his arrival in New York he had to pay a heavy duty on these
goods, though the amount is not stated.
The rather sharp editorial winds up with this statement :
"Whether the hold-up of Bishop Hendrick by the Neapolitan
bandits or that by the New York tidewaiters was the least admir-
able, may well be considered a debatable question. Adequate pro-
tection for American industry against alien pauper competition
is an excellent thing, but when in its name, falsely used, it levies
tribute upon the vestments of the priest, the works of the great
teachers and artists of the world, it becomes a national reproach
and dishonor."
There is going to be carved out of the Diocese of Providence,
R. I., it appears, a new diocese, to consist of all the Massachusetts
counties and towns now comprised within the first-mentioned see
(Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket, together with the towns
of Marion and Mattapoisett in Plymouth County.) Our French-
Canadian brethren, who form a very large proportion of the Catho-
lics in this district, are expecting that the new see will be located at
Fall River and give public expression to the legitimate hope that
a priest of their own language and nationality will be appointed
as first bishop. The French-Canadian Catholics of the United
States, and especially of New England, where they are most num-
erous, have long cherished the wish to be represented in the Am-
erican hierarchy by at least one bishop of their nationality, and we
No. 42. The Review. 671
think if the matter is now brought properly before the Supreme
Pontiff, they will be gratified. The Review, needless to say, is
heartily in sympathy with them.
We learn from the Nezv World {(dzi. 3rd) that the two "Socialist
priests," McGrady, who is suspended, and Thomas J. Hagerty,
who is still — mirahile dictu! — said to be "in good standing," are
confronted by an alarming dilemma in the camp of their newly
gained "friends": the Socialistic organizations in several States
have resolved that hereafter they will pay visiting speakers no
more than five dollars an evening and expenses. The Social
Demoa'at of Milwaukee (quoted by the New Worlds says this
crusade is aimed, among others, at "Father" Hagerty who, "far
from getting rich out of the Socialist lecture work, is actually be-
ing eaten up by the movement, and after mortgaging all that he
possesses and defaulting on the interest, has been obliged to make
other plans and intends to locate in the City of Mexico at an early
date and take up the practice of medicine." Of poor McGrady
we have not heard any news lately. No doubt he is also finding
the Socialistic road a hcird one to travel.
Even the Protestant [ndej)endent (J^o. 2864) grows enthusiastic
over the jubilee convention of the Catholics of Germany, lately
held in Cologne. "Not in the history of Catholic Germany," says
our contemporary, "has there ever been such a representative
gathering of its best men as was seen at Cologne. Cardinal
Ferrari in his enthusiasm asked his fellow Cardinal Fischer to
give him the fraternal kiss in view of the assembled host, and he
closed his address with the words : 'Gerniania docet! Gei'Diania
docet." "
Indeed, '^ German ia docet!''' But we dare not re-echo the cry in
America, lest we be assailed once again as Teutonic, ultra-German,
and eke anti-Irish ! !
'' Instatirare omnia in Christo" is the key-note of the first encyc-
lical letter of our Holy Father Pope Pius X., dated October 4th,
and as the chief means of bringing back the world to obedience to
God, he recommends charity. The encyclical is well worth}' of
careful study.
Pius X.'s Latin style is not as erudite and polished as that
of Leo XIII., of blessed memory ; but it has a clearness and pun-
gency all its own. What strikes us chiefly in this encyclical is
the wealth of Scriptural phrases and quotations and the unction
that permeates the entire document. It reads like a mediaeval
homilv.
It is fatal for the legend connecting St. Dominic with the Rosary
(cfr. The Review, No. 27) that neither the mediaeval Breviary
lections for the feast of St. Dominic, nor the old rimed office of
the Saint, nor the sequences, hymns and prayers contain any
mention of the Rosary. "I have examined my entire large collec-
672 The Review. 1903.
tion of hymn-books," writes Rev. F. G. Holweck in the Pasto7'aI-
blatt (No. 8), "without finding any reference to the Rosary. Nor
is there any mention of St. Dominic in the poetical office for the
old Spanish feast of the Holy Rosary, as celebrated in Easter
week in the sixteenth century and recently published by Dreves.
(Hymn, xvii.)"
The Rome correspondent of the N. Y. F7reman''s Jou7-nal wa.^
recently received by the Holy Father, We extract from his ac-
count of the audience (No. 3668) this important and gratifying-
passage :
"Pius X. enquired eagerly about the Catholic press in America,
and on learning that it was doing its utmost to keep alive the
spirit of the faith among the people and to defend Catholic inter-
ests, he said that he blessed all Catholic papers in America and
hoped that they would constantly increase in strength and in-
fluence."
A Frenchman named Gohier has discovered that the United
States is imperiled by the growth of Catholicity among its peo-
ple. What rot ! No nation was ever imperiled by any creed sanely
based upon the life and words of the Saviour of Mankind. The
gravest danger to the United States is that all religions shall be-
come mere names and all beliefs mere perfunctory adherences to
dogmas that have lost their meaning. There can not be too much
of any kind of religion that exacts not only the profession but the
practice of keeping the passions in check. — St. Louis Mirror,
(non-Catholic) No. 38.
Pius X., too, believes in a measure of "strenuosity," though we
fancy it is of a somewhat different brand than that incessantly
preached by President Roosevelt. "Quo quidem in praeclaro
opere suscipiendo urgendoque" — he says in his first encyclical,
"E supremi Apostolatus," speaking of his program of "instaurare
omnia in Christo" — "illud Nobis, Venerabiles Fratres, alacrita-
tem affert summam, quod certum habemus fore vos omnes
streniijs ad perficiendam rem adjutores."
Speaking of the keenness of the late Pope Leo's mind. Arch-
bishop Ireland says in the No7'th American Review (No. 3): "It
was no trifling task to satisfy him. One of my hardest experiences
with Leo was when I was asked to tell him in brief summary the
exact radical difference between our two American political par-
ties, the Republican and the Democratic."
It would be interesting to know how Msgr. Ireland answered
this difiicult question.
We notice with regret that the Independent is advertising a
dream book, "Dreams and Their Meanings. Translated from the
Greek Register (?) over 400 years old." {Independent, No, 2846,
p. V.) Our enlightened contemporary is not, we hope, going to
make itself a vehicle for the spread of superstition.
^^^^^^^^.-^y^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^i^
If XLhc IRevievp, ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., November 12, 1903. No. 43.
THE QUESTION OF "CATHOLIC FREE SCHOOLS."
I.
;he Rt. Rev. Bishop Shanahaii, of Harrisburg-, who dis-
tinguished himself before his elevation to the episco-
pacy by his intelligent and successful administration of
the important office of diocesan School Superintendent in Phila-
delphia, is quoted as follows in favor of Catholic free schools, so-
called, by the Catholic Columbian (No. 39):
"I believe that the great need, at the present time, is free schools
for our Catholic children. In many parts of the country the
pupils are required to pay, in school, a certain fixed sum, weekly
or monthly, for their education. This regulation keeps many
children out of our Catholic schools, and it throws the whole bur-
den of maintaining the school upon the parents of the pupils who
attend it. Now, a parochial school is an essential part of a well-
regulated parish, and the duty of supporting it devolves on the
community — on all the members of the parish alike. Pastors will
sometimes say in extenuation that none are excluded from the
school. This may be ; but we all know that our people have a
horror of being placed in a pauper class, and will generally send
their children to a public school, when they can not afford to pay
the required tuition at the Catholic school. In some parishes,
parochial academies are conducted for the children of the wealthy;
the parochial school is free and is known as 'the poor school,' and
is maintained from the income of the academy.*) This arrange-
ment is calculated to beget odious castes in a parish and to keep
the children of the poor always in a separate stratum or section of
society. The parochial school should be first-class in every re-
*) These must be rare cases ; we know of none.
674 The Rkview. 1903.
spect, better than the best academy, and free to all. The teachers
should not be oblig-ed to collect money for tuition ; the children
should not be asked for money in school ; the cost of maintaining-
the school should come from pew rents, monthly collections in
church, or from other sources of revenue."
Our readers need not be reminded that Bishop Shanahan's
above-quoted views have been repeatedly advocated in Thk Review.
II.
Having- given, on various occasions, the arguments generally
adduced in favor of making our parochial schools "free," either
by taxation or endowment, we wish to-day to give room to the
chief objections that have been raised against the plan by zealous
priests and laymen.
The strongest statement which we have seen of these ob-
jections, so far as they apply to the question of taxing all the
members of a parish for the support of the school, came to our
notice recently in a Minnesota weekly, edited by Catholics, Der
Nordstern of St. Cloud (No. 40).
The argument, says the writer (evidently a priest), that a
parochial school is "an essential part of a well-regulated parish,"
can not be sustained. The parochial school is no essential part
of a parish, but an "annexum ecclesiae," as it used to be called,
an annex, which, it must be confessed, in this country under
present conditions, is morally necessary.
The duty of educating children is first of all incumbent upon
the parents. To fulfill it more easily and successfully, a number
of families unite, and we have a school. Or private teachers open
schools and receive the children. The Church in such cases does
not claim the right of property, but only a certain control. The
reason we have church schools in this country is because the two
waj's described above are not feasible here. Thus our schools
become parochial schools and a morally necessary annex to the
church.
The question whether the Church can tax her members for
the support of parochial schools, as she taxes them for the sup-
port of churches, must be answered in the negative, because all
the faithful need churches, but not all need schools. Unmarried
parishioners and married people who are childless, are not ob-
liged to contribute to the education of the children of other mem-
bers of the parish. Hence the Church can not tax them for the
support of the school. Now, as there are a number of poor peo-
ple in nearly every parish who can not afford to pay school money,
there arises for the remaining members the duty — a duty of
charity — to aid the poor ; and where that duty is neglected or
No. 43. The Review. 675
where the proceeds from this source are insufficient, the Church
must appeal to the wealthy or supply the deficit from her own
means.
Thus are our Catholic parochial schools usually supported : by
the school money from those parents who can afford to pay, and
by special collections and contributions from the general parish
fund. It would, no doubt, be easy enough for the pastor to add
the school-tax to the pew-rent ; but would it be just?
We are told that free parochial schools will wipe out the class
distinction between rich and poor. It is doubtful if that would
be an advantage. The difference is there, and we can not efface
it. The only question can be : Is.it better for the children to be
made aware of the existing inequality, early at school, or later in
life ? Is there not danger, if they learn it later, that they will feel
it all the more keenly and conceive a lifelong hatred against the
well-to-do?
The existence of free State schools can not be adduced as an
argument to prove the necessity of free parochial schools. If the
Church has no right to tax her members for the support of
schools, neither has the State. And we suppose every well-in-
structed Catholic knows that the modern State has usurped a
right which does not belong to it, by taking the education of youth
into its own hands and taxing the citizens promiscuously for the
support of common schools. It is a fact we can not change, but
we should not expect the Church to follow a bad example and
likewise become a usurper.
If it is feared that Catholics may, in course of time, grow tired
of paying school money (in addition to the school tax levied upon
them as citizens for the benefit of the State schools), and send
their children to the "public schools," we will not say that this
apprehension is unfounded ; but it is no reason why we should
tax those of the faithful who are not in justice taxable, for the
support of our parochial schools. The Church must appeal all
the more urgently to the conscience of parents who have children
and the charity of those who are childless. Beyond that, she can
not go, and experience has shown that it is the only way, and the
only correct way, to support the parochial schools in good times
and in bad.
III.
On the question : Would it be advisable to endow our parochial
schools, so that they would become entirely free? this writer
does not express himself.
But this question also has been answered negatively by clergy-
men whose opinion is not without weight. Thus our esteemed
676 The Review. 1903.
friend Father Decker, of Milwaukee, in several contributions to
the Katholischcr Wcstcn and the Luxemhiirger Gazette^ has op-
posed the endowment plan on the ground that it would tend to
stamp out the spirit of sacrifice among Catholics, which has built
up our parishes and dioceses, and upon which the Church's sup-
port for the future depends. This spirit of sacrifice, he says, is
already much diminished in the younger generation of American
Catholics ; if, besides, we lift from their shoulders the burden of
providing for the Christian education of their children, they will
gradually cease to contribute and to appreciate the benefits of
church and school, which can not be outweighed even by the lib-
eral contributions their elders were wont to made.
IV.
We should like to have these objections thoroughly discussed
by some of the zealous advocates of either the taxation or the en-
dowment plan. The subject of "Education" or *'Our Schools"
is one for which we have always room to spare in The Review.
We note that such an eminent authority as Father Charles Cop-
pens, S. J., takes the ground ('Systematic Study of the Catholic
Religion,' p. 334) that the support of religion enjoined in the fifth
commandment of the Church, comprises generally "the erection,
equipment, and maintenanceof schools for the religious education
of the young ;" and that the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore
not only directs (No. 202) that "much zeal and ■prudence should be
employed to eradicate from the minds of the laity the notion that care
of the schools concerns only those -parents who directly and actually
mahe use of those schools f but that they should also be taught to
look upon the parochial schools as "quasi partem cssentialem
parochiae,'' to be always ready to contribute to their support, and
to make them as far as possible "free schools" (the Council em-
ploys the English phrase, in brackets.)
There may be exceptional cases where the rule "quieta non
movere" should obtain. An instant comes to mind from Kansas.
In discussing this very question, a pastor of a country mission
said to the writer : "I have not a single familj' that is not willing
or that is unable to pay the school money. All my families own
their quarter section of land and readily make a living. Why
should I change the rule here? Happy parish ! If there be more
such cases we should exclude them from our discussion. "Eines
schickt sich nicht fuer alle," said the German poet. However,
they form the exception, not the rule.
Now as to the arguments of the Nordstern writer. He is op-
posed to the expression, "the Catholic school is an essential •^z.ri of
the parish." The Council of Baltimore says "quasi-essential";
No. 43. The Review. 677
we should prefer "integral." A man with one leg or no legs is
still a man ; nothing essential is missing, but he lacks integrity.
So we may have a parish — parishioners and a parish priest are
sufl&cient to constitute a parish — if it lacks a church or school,
or both, it is still a parish ; but integral? No one would call it
so. It is short of both legs if it has neither church nor school. If
there is no school but only a church, it lacks one leg. And similar
to a man thus crippled, such a parish can not perform its task un-
der modern conditions as it ought to. It may be even impossible
to preserve the life of a parish without a school. We could point
■out more than one instance to that effect. There is a parish not
far from St. Louis, where twenty years ago the greater number
of the parishioners consisted of immigrants from Europe. These
are mostly dead now. Their children, raised in the public
schools without sufficient religious instruction, are still Catholics,
but scarcely pratice their religion. Seventeen years ago, a parochial
school was started in the place, and to-day the main attendance
at church comes from the young people who were raised in
the school. Were these no better than their parents, that
church might be locked for good, or at any rate, an occasional
visit by a missionary would suffice.
What the Nordstern writer tells us of the origin of schools, has
only a grain of truth in it. Despite the duty of parents to educate
their children, in many localities either no schools or inefficient
schools would be found. Admitting the necessity of a proper
education of all its citizens, the State is bound to come to the res-
cue. It must supply the insufficiency of the parents in providing
proper schools ; hence its right to levy school taxes. That right
is not denied to the State. (Cf. the answer given by Fathers
HoUaind and Conway to Bouquillon's query, "Education, to Whom
Does it Belong"? passim. Cf. also Taparelli, 'Saggio teoretico di
dritto naturale, ' vol. I., nos. 914 sq:)
As the writer argues from the non-existence of such a right in
the State to the non-existence of the same right in the Church, it
follows that if his premises are wrong, his conclusion falls.
Furthermore, as a perfect society, the Church has the right to
impose taxes for schools, when necessary. In doing so she is no
"usurper." The priest, however, who would attempt to impose
such a law on bis parish would be a usurper, since he is no law-
giver. He may persuade his parishioners of the correctness and
-expediency of his views, but he can not impose them as a law. He
will fare best if he allows his parishioners a certain liberty. As
•an example, we may cite again the above mentioned parish. The
'Council of Baltimore had made it obligatory on all parishes with
resident priest to have a parochial school. The parishioners in this
678 The Review. 1903.
case were mostly opposed. The school building- was erected by the
generosity of a few. School money could not be charged if there was
to be any attendance. Yet the school needed support. The
pastor announced that thereafter all Sunday collections would go
towards the support of the school. Till then that collection had
averaged about a dollar per Sunday, soon afterwards it doubled,
and to-day, though not quite, is nearly sufficient to pay the teacher.
The balance is made up by fairs or house collections.
The third reason adduced against "Catholic free schools" is
class distinction. The writer finds it more expedient that the
children learn of its existence in school than that they should
make the discovery later in life. That argument is insignificant.
The very rich have always had and now have their select schools,
into which no "plebeian" is allowed to set his foot. The remainder
have little objection to mixing the children, provided cleanliness
is properly observed.
Father Decker is afraid that the spirit of sacrifice might suffer;
he sees it already disappearing rapidly. To say the least,
that argument is weak. The money required to secure free
schools opens up a channel for the spirit of sacrifice that neither
the present nor the next generation will fill. And if after two
generationsour schools would be practically endowed, would there
be no field left for generosity? Besides maintaining church and pas-
tor, are there no general Catholic needs towards which the gener-
osity of Catholics might be directed ? What about the missions
among the Indians and Negroes and to non-Catholics? What
about the Holy Childhood and Propagation of the Faith, where
American Catholics have hitherto made such a poor showing?
What about the Peter Claver societies for the suppression of
slavery ? What — last not least — about the need of a Catholic daily
press?
It seems to us there is no cause for uneasiness on this score.
We are far from having sufficient endowments for our schools,
and when we have obtained them, a vast field will still be open to
cultivate the spirit of sacrifice, a spirit decidedly more Catholic
than the one so largely prevailing at present, which embraces only
the petty interests vvithin the shadow of the parish steeple.
679
LIFE INSURANCE FOR CATHOLIC WOMEN.
Our enquiry in a previous number: "Why should women in-
sure?" has brought no response. Yet according to the insurance
reports of New York and Pennsylvania, a large number of Catholic
women must be interested in that subject, and for their benefit
we give here the figures of the three women's societies named in
said reports for the business year 1902.
The total income, compared with expenditures for management
(expenses), was as follows :
Income. Expenses. Per cent.
Catholic Women's )
Benevolent Legion. [ $118,415,64 $ 8,537.51 over 7%.
(Established 1889.) )
Ladies' Catholic )
Benevolent Asso'n. )- 3576,277.31 $ 52,866.95 " 9%.
(Established 1890.) )
Women's Catholic )
Order of Foresters J- . $457,072.99 $ 56,005.71 " 12%.
(Established 1891.) )
Total, - $1,151,765.94 $117,410.17
showing an expense account of over 10% for every dollar received
on the average.
Each of the three concerns has a different expense ratio. This
furnishes one argument in favor of our proposition, frequently
advocated, to have but one large society instead of so man}' small
ones for ostensibly the same purpose, since in that way the ex-
pense figure to income could be materially reduced.
The financial ability of the management is illustrated by the
interest income for the money handled during the year and ac-
cumulated for reserve surplus. For the 31st of December, 1902,
the reports show :
. , Interest Income tj^,. ^^„.
A^^^t^- during 1902. ^^^ ^^''^'
Catholic Women's j. $iio,361.76 $2,871.68 2A%-
Benevolent Legion. )
Ladies' Catholic } ^-?:5Q a«^ 23 5 228 70 over ->%
Benevolent Asso'n. \ ^^239,683.23 i>,i^». /U o\ er - /o.
Women's Catholic ) ^^^^ ^o- ^-. -i -»o'^ nn u *. i o/
r\ A fTT 4- r $172,585.52 1,282.09 about to%-
Orderof Foresters. ^i-i^,^^^ ^ ,
Total, - $522,630.51 $9,382.47
In other words, a total capital of $522,630 produced $9,382.47 for
interest in a year, about one andeight-tenths per cent. Since regu-
lar life insurance companies must earn at least 4% a year on their
reserves in order to remain solvent, the interest account alone of
680 The Review. 1903.
these "ladies' " insurance companies should be sufficient to justify
grave doubts regarding their stability.
From the assets here mentioned, the unpaid losses on Dec.
31st, 1902, must be deducted, which are for the—
Catholic Women's Benevolent Legion, - - $ 9,500.00
Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association, - - 107,283.33
Women's Catholic Order of Foresters, - - - 57,550,00
Total, - - $174,333.33
The agg-regate assets were, ... 522,630.51
Leaving, - - $348,297.18
To protect outstanding contracts per 31st Dec, 1902, as follows :
Members. Insurance.
Catholic Women's Benevolent Legion, - 12,153 $ 8,816,750
Ladies' Catholic Benevolent Association, -77,895 69,100,000
Women's Catholic Order of Foresters, - 37,913 40,747,000
Total, - 127,961 $118,663,750
In other words, for over 118 millions outstanding insurance
there is $348,297.18 cash on hand after over 10 years' business
activity. That means on an average $2.72 per head or $2.94 per
$1,000 ! I 1
It should be said here that the report of the Women's Catholic
Order of Foresters is not very clear. The Pennsylvania report
shows under "assets" for cash on hand and in bank $172,582.52,
and right under it, headed "accrued interest," $40,000. Nothing-
indicates what these figures are for, that is, where or for what
said interest is paid, and pending- further information we have
dropped this item, which would change the averages but little,
from the above comparison.
These three concerns are all conducted on the assessment
plan, which has proved to be utterl3'^ unreliable. Here are over
100,000 Catholic women, paying- over a million dollars a year, un-
der the erronous impression that their "insurance" of over 118
million dollars will ultimately be paid. True, the members must
finally die, some sooner, some later; but those who will live longer
than the next few years will find out to their sorrow that "there
was a mistake somewhere." What effect such a discovery will have
on the female membership of Catholic societies is difficult to
predict. Beneficial for society life or for religion it will not
be, and since there is no good reason for the majority of women
to take any insurance at all, we respectfully sugg-est to the parties
concerned to again consider our proposition : "Why should Cath-
olic women insure?" and act accordingly.
681
SOME CURRENT OBJECTIONS AGAINST PAROCHIAL
SCHOOLS REFUTED.
The Pastoralblatt recently (No. 8) published a sketch for a ser-
mon intended to refute the objections commonly raised against
our parochial schools. We think we shall do our readers a service
by adapting and Englishing it for The Review.
Some parents neglect or refuse to send their children to the
parochial school, as their sacred duty commands them to do.
They allege :
1. The Catholic school buildings are too poor and inconspicuous
compared to the large, roomjs and healthy public schools.
R. Such is indeed often the case ; but there is a good reason
for it. The State has more means than we Catholics, who largely
belong to the poorer classes. Our schools are not palatial, but
they fulfil their object, and that is the main thing.
It is not the clothes which make a man. Jesus Himself did not
disdain the lowly stable at Bethlehem and the modest cottage at
Nazareth.'
2. We live too far away from school ; the roads are bad, the
streets dangerous.
R. This circumstance, if true as alleged, may excuse the non-
attendance of small children, but it will rarely excuse the larger
boys and girls. To do good always requires some effort and sac-
rifice.
3. The Catholic teachers are not so capable as those in the pub-
lic schools.
R. The public schools may have some excellent teachers ; the
State has money enough to employ such. But we know that many
public school teachers are poorly trained and incompetent. It is
equally true that we have in our parochial schools, besides some
mediocre teachers, others who are capable and excellently
equipped. How could it be otherwise? Catholic teachers as a
rule have embraced the teaching profession out of their own free
will and because they felt themselves called thereto ; they make
it their life-work, for which they have prepared themselves by
study, prayer, pious exercises, etc. They enjoy, moreover, the
steady encouragement and guidance of prudent and experienced
superiors.
4. The teachers are often partial ; poor children whose parents
can not pay, are neglected and set back.
R. That is an unjust accusation. As Chrisi loved the poor as
dearly, if not more dearly, than the rich, so do Christian priests
and teachers love poor children with the same, and often with a
greater affection, than the children of the great and wealthy.
682 ' The Review. 1903.
5. Catholic teachers are too rough ; the school-mams are more
refined.
R. Catholic teachers are stricter in their treatment of misbe-
having children, because they know it is their duty and feel that
they have the support of Catholic parents in correcting and train-
ing their offspring. The public school teachers largely lack this
motive ; besides they are in many instances forbidden by law to
inflict punishment where it is well deserved and the welfare of
the child would require it. Many of them iare careless and would
rather let an errant child go unpunished than run the risk of loss
of time or trouble.
6. Catholic school children are ill-bred ; those in the public
schools have' much better manners.
R. No doubt there are ill-bred children in every Catholic school;
but you will find them in the public schools as well. Public school
children often insult priests and nuns on the street and misbe-
have themselves flagrantly. How can it be otherwise, when they
are not taught to respect God, religion, or authority?
7. Religion is about the only thing taught in the Catholic school.
R. It is true that religion holds a very important place in the
curriculum of evcy Catholic parochial school. However, so long as
the other branches are not neglected, but taught as thoroughly as
in the public school, surely no Catholic has any reason to object.
8. The Catholic schools are not patriotic enough ; they produce
an ultramontane rather than American spirit.
• R. The Catholic citizens who have been educated in our parochial
schools, are as truly patriotic as those raised in the public schools.
They may not make quite so much noise and are less conspicuous
in the scramble for offices, but they make their living honestly
and are ready to take up arms for their fatherland if need be. It
is a fact that no religious denomination is so well represented in
the American army and navy as the Catholic.
9. The children have to rise too early in order to get to mass ;
it is more convenient to send them to the public school.
R. That which is the most convenient, is not always the best.
On the contrary, it is of great advantage if children are trained
to rise early and attend mass regularly. It strengthens them
physically and teaches them order.
10. The Catholic school costs much money, the public school is
free.
It is indeed hard and unjust on the part of the State to compel
Catholic parents, who pay their public school taxes like the rest
of their fellow-citizens, to go down into their pockets once more
in order to erect and support schools to which they can send their
children without fear of religious and moral shipwreck. But it is
No. 43. The Review. 683
the duty of every good Catholic to make the best of the situation,
to make the necessary sacrifices in order to insure to his
children the inestimable blessing of a good Christian education.
Do your duty as Christian parents; raise your children in the
fear of God and in the love of your holy faith, so that they may
grow up an honor to yourselves, to our holy Church and our com-
mon country, and that you may receive the reward of faithful ser-
vants in a good conscience here below and eternal bliss in Heaven.
3f ^ SP
MORE ABOUT THE PAGAN ORIGIN OF AMERICAN
FREEMASONRY.
We could rest here, were our purpose in this study of Masonic
ritual mere demonstration ; but since it is something more, since
it is also a manifestation of the inwardness of Masonry, allow us to
complete our quotations about the pagan religious rite of circum-
ambulation, the "pregnant evidence" of Masonry's descent from
paganism.
"The reason assigned for the ceremony in the modern lectures
of Webb and Cross," says Mackey's Masonic Ritualist, "is abso-
lutely beneath criticism. The lodge represents the world ; the
three principal officers represent the sun in his three principal
positions at rising, at meridian, and at setting. This circumam-
bulation, therefore, alludes to the apparent course of the solar orb
through three points around the world. This is with us its as-
tronomical symbolism. But its intellectual symbolism is that the
circumambulation and the obstructions at various points, refer to
the labors and difficulties of the student in his progress from in-
tellectual darkness or ignorance to intellectual light or Truth."
Our author has given us the astronomical and intellectual inter-
pretations of the rite, but he has said nothing of the moral inter-
pretation. He has told us that "circumambulare" is the same as
"lustrare," to purify, to wander about; but he has not told us
that his friend Plautus uses a kindred form, "lustrari," which
means to frequent houses of ill-fame; for "lustrum" means a
brothel as well as a purification. Pagan purifications and Chris-
tian have quite different meanings, for in paganism prostitution
was even a religious rite. Hence in spite of all its talk about pur-
ity and purifications, we find invariably in paganism and the pagan
mysteries, a moral corruption consisting in the deification of the
sensual passions of man. This was their ultimate aim and scope,
veil it as they would.
"Sun worship," says the same author in his Masonic Encyclo-
paedia, p. 766, "was introduced into the mysteries, not as a material
^84 The Review. 1903.
idolatry, but as a means of expressing- an idea of restoration to life
from death, drawn from the daily reappearance in the east of the
solar orb after its mighty disappearance in the west. To the sun
also as the regenerator and vivifier of all things is the phallic
%vorship which made a prominent part of the mysteries to be at-
tributed. From the Mithraic initiations, in which sun worship
played so important a part, the Gnostics derived many of their
symbols. These again exercised their influence over the mediaeval
Freemasons. Thus it is that the sun has become so prominent in
the Masonic system ; not, of course, as an object of worship, but
purely as a symbol, the interpretation of which presents itself in
many dififerent ways."
Remark well, dear reader, the unvarying genealogy claimed for
itself by American Masonry in its standard works : the modern
institution born of mediaeval Masonry, born of the Gnostics, born
of the Mithraic or similar mysteries, born of Sabaism or primitive
sun worship, in all of which phallic worship or the worship of the
g-enerative faculties of man played a prominent part. Shall we
£nd the same in Masonry? We must naturally expect to do so,
if the heart's blood and spirit of modern Masonry and the ancient
pagan mysteries are the same ; if, as we are told, the difference
is one merely of external form. Let us, however, delay our an-
swer a little, that we may call attention to an expression or two of
our author and introduce some passages that may help to illustrate
our subject.
In Mackey's Ritualist the sun is called "the most wonderful
work of the Grand Architect of the Universe," and in the passage
just quoted it is styled "the regenerator and vivifier of all things.
It is, moreover, always spoken of personified ; is never called //,
but always he. Now such constant personification may, in Eng-
lish, be understood in poetry, in which personification is perfectly
in place ; but in prose, especially in plain ritualistic prose, no
sensible, much less educated man would use it except for a pur-
pose. And how is it that the material sun, "the source of material
light," is the noblest work in the universe ? What of the soul of
man ? What of the world of spirit ? Life, and intellect, and free
will? Does Masonry hold that even these are the product of the
•sun's material light, "the regenerator and vivifier of all things"? Is
"this the nature and essenceof the human soul that we are to learn
from Masonry? If its expressions are to be taken as they stand,
we must answer all these questions affirmatively ; that we are "the
children of light" in its most material sense ; if the assertions of
Masonry are to taken differently, then should it have spoken
otherwise. As, however, we hope to deal with this question more
fully elsewhere, we are satisfied for the present to call attention
to the prominence of the sun in the Masonic system.
685
MINOR TOPICS.
An English Bishop on the Reform of Church Music. — The new Bishop
of Salford, Msgr. Casartelli, in a recent pastoral letter bearing- on
the reform of Church music, lays bare the many abuses that now.
obtain in churches everywhere. We quote from his letter : —
It has been stated that when our Holy Father Pope Pius X.,
after his elevation to the papacy, first met the Maestro Perosi,
he greeted him with the words : "Faremo della buona musica"
("We will produce good music"). And His Holiness is credited
with an intention to prosecute with vigor at no distant date the
much-needed reform of sacred music. This will be a day for
which many, both clergy and laity, have long been anxiously look-
ing. The "signs of the times" seem really to indicate that eccle-
siastical musical reform will be one of the chief features of the
early twentieth century, just as ecclesiastical architecture reform
was of the early and middle nineteenth.
It is a matter of general comment and regret that so much of
our Church music is still of such a theatrical style, unworthy of
the house of God. High Mass and benediction, especially on great
feast days, are too often turned into little better than concerts,
where people go "to hear the music" and (as they admit) find it
impossible to pray.
Many masses are objectionable owing to the unmeaning repeti-
tion of the words of the sacred liturgy, which is surely a serious
violation of both the respect due to these sublime utterances and
the obedience due to the decrees of the Church. And in any case,
the excessive length of many masses is much to be deprecated.
Apart from musical considerations, these long masses are ex-
ceedingly trying to the celebrant, particularly as in this country
the custom prevails of having the sermon at the sung mass ; and
sometimes a priest in a single-handed mission, who has to rise
early, say two masses and preach, is kept to a very late hour with-
out food, under severe physical strain. Such a custom is a fruitful
source of ill-health and frequently leads to ultimate breakdown of
the health of the clergy.
We earnestly exhort all the clergy and laity to join us in an at-
tempt to reform these abuses by introducing simple devotional
masses, which shall- aid devotion instead of distracting it, and
which have little or no repetitions and are distinguished by brevi-
ty. In order to commence some such reform, without attempting
any too drastic measures, we direct that on all occasions when we
are invited to assist at high mass or benediction in any church of
the Diocese a program of the music shall be submitted to us one
week beforehand, and that no music shall be rendered in our
presence of which we disapprove. In order to guide us in these
matters we have appointed a small committee of experts, clergy
and laity, to whom we shall refer from time to time.
We need only refer to the decrees of synods, provincial and
diocesan, as well as to the decisions of Roman Congregations for-
bidding female solos and the advertising of the names of soloists
and other singers and performers, all of which decrees are in full
686 The Review. 1903.
vigor. We also strongl}^ deprecate the reports so frequently
seen in our newspapers of masses and other liturgical services
which read too often like critiques of concerts. On the other hand
we warmly applaud the excellent custom, which has several times
been tried with success, of training" the boys of our elementary
schools to sing simple Gregorian masses when full male choirs
are not available. It is astonishing how excellently such school-
boys' choirs can be trained to sing the divine liturg^^ and what is
more, a constant supply of fresh 5'oung voices is available year by
year, and at little or no cost.
The Clergy of the Future. — The cheerful optimist always finds in
Archbishop Ireland's utterances new reasons for being content
with the present and confident of the future. Thus, in his re-
marks this week, he has made us see that the Church in this
country is about to be reinforced by a clergy who really know
something. The thing has been under consideration for some
time. At last it has reached the fruition-period. For five years
the seminaries have been engaged in work which entitles their
graduates to consider themselves educated men — that is, men of
the "new" education. Pope Pius X., it is said, is in favor of the
movement and under such august auspices we may confidentlj^ ex-
pect a clergy as well educated, as broadly cultured as are the
clerg}^ of Rome.
Meanwhile, the Catholic University of Washington is contribut-
ing its share to this most meritorious work. All its efforts, or
rather its principal efforts, are devoted to the higher education of
the clergy, to supplementing the work of the seminaries. The
University has apparently narrowed its scope, and, instead of
seeking wider fields, it is now cultivating the field of clerical edu-
cation with might and main. It needs money for this, and the
country at large is expected to supply some seventy thousand an-
nually b}^ means of collections.
There may be those who will not fancj'- the sweeping inference
from the Archbishop's words, that our clergy up to this have
been of little account intellectually. But this is a detail ; and
there can be no doubt that our solicitude for the higher education
of the clergy of the future should outweigh all pettiness of view
or feeling. To be lumped in a mass of ignoramuses will not affect
a sensible man — that is, if he has a sense of humor — as much as
will the prospect of affording better opportunities to his succes-
sors attract him.
Of no man is it more true to say than of a priest that he is a
servant. His life subserves the Church interests. He is an inci-
dent in the great work of the Church, forgotten when he is gone,
cherished when he is at hand for the station that he holds and not
for himself. He is most completely a priest when he can do his
work best. That work is various and in some respects changes
with times and countries. The administration of the sacraments,
of course, is everywhere and always the same. But in this coun-
try now-a-days, priests are supposed to be business men and col-
lectors of money. Elsewhere they are supposed to be teachers.
The time is coming, we take it from the words of the Arch-
bishop of St. Paul's, when our priests in order to do their work
well, will have to be experts in the knowledge of the day, what-
No. 43. The Review. 687
ever that means. The older g:eneration of the clergy will have
gone its way, the church-building- money-raising- priests— the
brick and mortar priests as one enthusiastic prelate used to call
us — and then will come the better-equipped, the thought-compel-
ling, the widely read young priests for whom we shall have done
our best to raise this seventy thousand a year.
They shall be welcome when they come, and may they do credit
to their Alma Mater in the day of their advent. Already the
trumpets flare and the heralds, with the voice of fifty men, bid us
acclaim their coming. Let us make haste to level up the rough
roads with the necessary contributions. — Rev. Cornelius Clifford
in the Providence Visitor (No. 1.)
The Disfribution of the Various Religious Denominations Over the Globe
has been the subject of numerous and widely differing estimates.
Rev. H. A. Krose*S. J., in the Stimmen aus Maria-Laach (fasc. 6
and 7 of the current vol.) gives the results of laborious compila-
tions which he has made upon the basis of official census reports
and from other reliable sources. He figures that of the 1537 mil-
lions of human beings now living upon the earth, 549,017,000
( = 35.7 per cent.) are Christians, 202,048,000 ( = 13.1 percent.)
Mohammedans, and 11,037,000 ( = 0.7 per cent."* Jews. Hence
there are in all 762,012,000 monotheists, or, in other words, one-
half of twentieth-century humanity believe in one God. Among
the polytheistic religions, Confucianism, with its 235,000,000 ad-
herents, holds first place. Then comes Brahmanism with 120,-
000,000, then Taoism with 32 and Shintoism with 17 millions.
Buddhism, which has been numerically overestimated, counts
120,000,000 followers, while the so-called ancient Hindoo cults have
12,000,000. Besides, there are some 195,000,000 fetichists and
other unclassified pagans. The rest of humanity, two to three
millions, profess some "free" religion or no faith at all.
Of the Christian denominations, Catholicism is by far the most
numerous, comprising as it does 264,506,000 adherents, =48,2 per
cent, of the entire number of professed Christians. It is
the most widely spread and the most numerous of all the religions
of the world. The number of Protestants, that is to say, all
Christians who are neither Catholics nor schismatics, is 166,627,-
000. There are 109,147,000 "orthodox" Greeks, 2,173,000 Russian
heretics and dissidents, and 6,555,000 Oriental schismatics.
As the sources from which P. Krose has derived the bulk of
his statistics are from five to ten years old, he concludes that the
number of Catholics to-day must be at least 270,000,000.
We smile at the story of the defaulter who pleaded that, though
he was short in his accounts, his heart always beat warmly for the
old flag ; but that is the principle upon which we condone a good
many things that call for rebuke and penalty. It is natural enough
in estimating a man's character to set off the good qualities
against the bad, and strike a sort of moral balance which deter-
mines the verdict. But what are the qualities that we are setting
over against undoubted violations of the laws of justice and right-
eousness? For the most part they are not moral qualities at all.
They are "smartness" and the ability to make money ; and if a
man flings a percentage of his profits to philanthropy, he raises
688 The Review. 1903.
an effective barrier against any criticism of his purposes or meth-
ods, and very likely he has secured a practical endorsement of
them.
*>•
The Casket [No. 32] deploringly observes that "there is a strong-
movement among some people backwards towards paganism.
Emblems of sensuality are tossed about everywhere. Not even a
new chocolate, a new bicycle, or any new article of trade or com-
merce can be put on the market to-day without a flaring chromo
of a half-dressed or immodestly dressed woman being flaunted on
a printed page in shop-windows to catch the eye. When a manu-
facturer wishes to bring some article before the public, he pub-
lishes with it a half-nude female portrait. The magazines and
papers which make largest claims to respectability, — many of
them, — lend themselves to advertisers of this kind. We suppose
they are paid for it ; and it is wonderful what a good substitute
for decency and honor is formed by cash, with some people."
"The historian of the Catholic Church in the United States is
still to come. The numerous works of Gilmary Shea contain a
wealth of material, which is, however, unfortunately not digested;
while Bishop O'Gorman's manual is little more than an extract
from Shea, a series of loosely connected sketches, in which the
literature of the subject is not properly used."
Our older readers know that this has always been the judgment
of The Review, but we can repeat it to-day in the words of a
competent scholar, P. Athanasius Zimmermann, S. J. (Die Uni-
versitaten in den Vereinigten Staaten Amerikas. Ein Beitrag
zur Culturgeschichte. Herder 1896. Page 64, n.)
-^
When the late Archbishop Zardetti resigned the see of Buch-
arest, Roumania, he was severely rebuked for his lack of courage
and endurance even by some of his friends. We note from La
Vcritc Frangaise (Oct, 4th) that another Roumanian Bishop, Msgr.
Jacquet, of Jassy, has also found it impossible to continue
his episcopal labors. It appears that, in his zeal to follow out the
policy of conciliation prescribed by Leo XIII. towards the schis-
matic Catholics so numerous in that region, Msgr. Jacquet
went farther than the Prefect of the Propaganda, Cardinal
Gotti, thought permissible ; whereupon he decided to relinquish
his dif&cile ofl&ce.
A correspondent writes : "I have consulted a canonist on the
question of the exclusion of married priests from the sacred min-
istry among the Ruthenians and other Orientals living in the
United States. He sends me three decrees dated respectively
1890, 1892, 1897, enforcing or confirming the exclusion of such
priests. It would seem, therefore, that the decree of exclusion
has not been rescinded by the Holy See. At least there are no
documents to be found permitting the ministry of married priests
in this country."
But how is it, then, that there are a dozen or more of them ex-
ercising the sacred ministry here?
II ^be IReview. ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., November 19, 1903. No. 44.
THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION IN FRANCE.
ouask me foranexplanationof the current events in France
for the readers of The Review. It would take many
pages to handle properly such a vast theme. I am not
surprised that some of your fellow-citizens, even Catholics, do not
understand our situation. More than one Frenchman is similarly
puzzled.
But if it is not possible to explain all, there are at least some
truths the knowledge of which will enable you and your readers
to form a better judgment of the facts and their causes and of the
general laws to which, despite their apparent incoherence and
incongruity, they are subject.
There are in France and outside of it many who speak of the
religious persecution carried on by the Combes ministry as an
event which could not have been foreseen and which must be ex-
plained by facts of recent date.
This view is entirely false. The present violent persecution is
but the logical sequence lof certain religious and political events
which for more than a century have taken place among us, and
which, together, constitute what is called the Revolution.
These events were brought about by the influence of a formid-
able power, which acts, now secretly, now openly and with force,
upon all governments, but particularly on that of the French Re-
public. Its name is Freemasonry. I am weU aware that in America
there are many Catholics who do not believe in the influence of
Masonry ; but you, Mr. Editor, know as well as any one on what
authority and on what unimpeachable proofs my assertion rests.
The more or less hidden but very real aim of Freemasonry is
690 The Review . 1903.
the destruction of the Catholic Church, whose place it wishes to
occupy. That is another truth contested by some of your country-
men, but which, forced by the evidence, even non-practical Cath-
olics here now admit. If these two truths are not admitted, it is
impossible to understand the religious situation in France, but
all may be explained bj' not losing" sight of them.
Freemasonrj' has been the most powerful agent in European
politics for the last 150 years, and it has used its power for the
destruction of Catholicism.
According to the avowals of its adepts and the official documents
of the lodges, it concentrated first the whole effort of the Revolu-
tion on France and Rome, to strike a decisive blow against the
Church. First the French monarchy had to be destroyed to give
the control of the government over into the hands of Masons and
thus to strike the first blow against the temporal sovereignt3' of
the popes. Pius VI. and Pius VII. were the victims of revolution-
ary France. Other legitimate monarchs were likewise dethroned.
When that work was done. Napoleon, who had been an instru-
ment of the sect, was abandoned and betrayed by them, because
they recognized that his ambition might become a source of dan-
ger to them.
Unable to prevent the return of Pius VII. to Rome and that of
the Bourbons to France, Freemasonry cleverly managed to im-
pose men of its liking (Fouche, Talleyrand, Carnot, etc. ), upon
the new power, in order to prevent any solid establishment of the
new throne and to betray it at an opportune occasion. Such was
its action in the successive revolutions of 1830, 1848, 1870. The
policy of the lodges was apparently to serve all powers, but to al-
low none to establish itself firmly until the time when the repub-
lican form would be solidly established and they could run the
government under the veil of irresponsibility and anonymity.
That was their aim, and for the last twenty-five or thirty 3^ears
they have accomplished it and used the power they have obtained
to consolidate their regime and sow their salt on the ruins of
the pontifical and the French monarchies. But they are not sat-
isfied with that. They not only mean to prevent any possible
future restauration, but aim at the destruction of what is still
left. The spiritual sovereignty of the Pope is still intact, as is
also its main human support (Peter's pence, missions, etc.) which
principally comes from that portion of France which has remained
faithful.
II.
There are two Frances, or rather, there are in France two peo-
ples, divided by a deep enmity of more than a century's standing.
The one is made up of all that remains of ancient France: the no-
No. 44. The Review. 691
bility, the middle class, and all others who have remained true to
the Catholic faith and the traditions of honor ; the other consists
of all the rest: infidels, Protestants, Jews, cosmopolitans and ad-
venturers of every kind. Which is the stronger ? •
If we consider the total population, Catholic France is more
numerous than infidel France. But if we set aside women and
children and count only the voters, both camps are nearly equal.
Among a total of between 10 and 15,000,000 voters a change of '
2 — 300,000 votes would change the result of the ballot.
This may explain several phenomena that puzzle the outsider.
The Catholic population (including women and children) is much
more numerous than the other and is also very charitably inclined;
Hence, we can understand the great number of CathoVic teuvres
in France. And as the male population is almost equally divided
between the two camps, we can also understand the violence of
the fight.
All through the XIX. century the Catholic citizens served their
country faithfully under all its rulers, in the army, the civil gov-
ernment, and the clergy. Both civil and military officers were
recruited from the higher classes, the clergy from the people.
And thanks to the faithful co-operation of ''old France," revolu-
tionary France was able to present a dignified front to outsiders.
As Catholic France had loyally served all other regimes, it
likewise served the Republic, and would never have opposed it,
had not its leaders proceeded to attack religion. If the represen-
tatives of the Republic wished to found their system on a solid
basis, they should have granted liberty, even though it were only
a restricted liberty, to the Catholic population, who even now, un-
der persecution, have not yet revolted. But the aim of the Masons
is not to found a republic, but to destroy the Catholic Church.
Only a few days ago one of their chiefs, the deputy Masse, Vice-
President of the Grand Orient, declared publicly : "'The Republic
is open Freemasonry {,deconver{)\ Freemasonry is the hidden
Republic (« C6'?^r'er/)." Not only have the chiefs of the Masonic
party not welcomed those who desired to join the Republic Qes
rallies), although their sincerity could not be questioned ; but
they have even excommunicated (if the expression be allowed)
Republicans of long standing because of their religious views.
And worse still. Republicans who are Catholic but suspected of
a willingness to stop on the road of persecution (such as Meline,
Ribot, Waldeck-Rousseau, etc.) have been cast aside. Every
effort of the ruling power is bent upon rejecting any and every
one who is not in favor of going ahead with the work of destruction.
The ruin of religion is what they aim at, no matter what the cost,
even if France should perish thereby. And will the destruction of
692 The Review. 1903.
France not be the end of these tactics? In the beginningof theXIX.
century Freemasonry' worked for the exaltation of the military
power of France, in order thereby to revolutionize the nations
of Europe. In the beginning of the XX. century the object of the
sect is quite different : it exalts the power of non-Catholic nations
(England, Germany, Russia), and seeks to destroy those of Cath-
olic States (Austria, Italj^ Spain, France) b}' fomenting internal
dissensions.
Since 1870, the republic built up in France by Bismarck and his
agent Gambetta, had for its prime mission to prevent a new war by
keeping France in a state of weakness and derision. Next, with
the Dreyfus case, the systematic destruction of France began.
Until then. Masonry had attacked only the Church and the mon-
archy ; now it also began to fight the army. Military discipline
is an anomaly in a revolutionary societj', and a perpetual menace,
in a country like France, of a return to the monarchical spirit ;
the more so as the number of officers faithful to their religion has
increased rapidly. As long as they were in the minority and did
not rise to the highest rank, the sect could stand it ; but their
number increased and by 3'ears of service the^' were entitled to
be promoted to the highest ranks. The same can be said of the
increase of Catholics in the more important civil offices. And
hence, by fair means or foul, Catholics had to be prevented from
forming the majority. Charles Maignen.
\.To be conchided.']
« te ts
THE PAGAN ORIGIN OF MASONIC SYMBOLISM.
Having instructed us in the rite of circumambulation, and hav-
ing established Masonry's relationship with the ancient pagan
mysteries, our guide, Mackej^'s Masonic Ritualist, deigns (page
40) to call our attention to another point.
"In the ancient mysteries,"' it says, "the first step taken by the
candidate was a lustration or purification. The candidate was
not permitted to enter the sacred vestibule or to take any part in
the secret formula of initiation, until by water or fire he was em-
blematically purified from the corruptions of the world which he
was about to leave behind. A similar principle exists in Free-
masonry, where the first symbols presented to the Entered Ap-
prentice are those which inculcate a purification of heart, of which
the purification of the body in the ancient mysteries was symbolic.
We no longer make use of the bath or the fountain, because in
our philosophic system the symbolism is more abstract."
Truly fire is a far more natural agent of purification than
No. 44. The Review. 693
water, for those who look upon the sun as the universal purifier
and reg-enerator of nature. From it is the warmth of our blood
and the heat of passion. And so the pagans understood it when
they made the worship of human passion a prominent and prin-
cipal part of their sun worship. Water is the symbol and instru-
ment of purification in Christian baptism ; but Masonry is not
Christian and finds Christian symbolism too abstract.
But why is purification by water too abstract? the uninitiated
ask. Is not water a common symbol of purification? a common
cleanser of what is soiled and unclean ? And as it purifies our
hands and our face, what is there abstract in making- it a symbol
of purification of our heart ? To understand our author you must
read his words in the lig-ht of the philosophy of the Kabbala re-
g-arding- man — the old Jewish Kabbala from which Masonry has,
in great measure, derived its philosophy. In this system the seat
of intellig-ence is not the brain but the heart. Purification of the
heart is, therefore, not, as with us, the purification of affections,
but the purification of the intellect. We do not speak of washing-
the intellect, but of enlightening- it. It is purified when the clouds
of ignorance that obscure it are removed, just as the air is puri-
fied when the miasmata and vapors that befoul it are dissipated
by the rays of the sun. Purification of heart is therefore that
spiritual illumination of which Masonry has spoken to us in the
"Shock of Enlightenment," and which it has fully revealed to us
in speaking of the material light of the sun. This purification of
the heart, this science peculiar to the ancient pagan mysteries
and to Masonry, is indeed better represented by fire than by
water, since fire burns where water quenches. It is from the
Kabbala, which has drawn deeply from the ancient pagan mys-
teries, as likewise from these mysteries themselves, that we are
to ask an explanation of what Masonry is, and of Masonic symbols.
To as who already know the relationship of Masonry to the mys-
teries, the fact is evident ; we like, however, to have the assurance
from the lips of our Ritualist.
"Learned Masons," it says, on pp. 41, 42, "have been always dis-
posed to go beyond the mere technicalities and stereotyped
phrases of the lectures and to look in the history and philosophy
of the ancient religions and the organization of the ancient mys-
teries for a true explanation of most of the symbols of Masonry,
and there they have always been able to find the true interpreta-
tion."
Go, therefore, initiated and uninitiated alike, go all ye who
would study Masonry, not in its mere outward form, which does
not afford the true interpretation of its symbols, but in its inward
spirit and essence, go to the old pagan mysteries, enter into their
694 The Review. 1903.
history and organization and philosophy, and you have the inward-
ness of Masonry. Touch cautiously the symbols that seem to be
taken from the Old Testament, for if you go deeper you will find
that it is their pagfan counterpart that is revered and not they.
And when you come to the New, beware of the Star of Bethlehem
as a "too sectarian interpretation" of the Blazing Star of Masonry;
shun baptism as unsuited to signify Masonic purification ; and
seek the True Word anywhere but in Jesus Christ, who is the
"Word that enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world."
Forewarned as ye are, be not caught by the chaff of the ordinary
stereotyped lectures, much less by the hackneyed smooth phrases
that are framed to hoodwink the world ; you must study paganism
to understand Masonry.
sr X 9P
A NEW GREEK GRAMMAR.
Kaegi's Greek Grammar is really not anew book, but one which
has stood the test of many years ; but it has only of late been in-
troduced to the English speaking public in an authorized and
cleverly adapted English version by James A. Kleist, S. J.*)
Several American colleges have already adopted this grammar,
among them St. Louis University, Canisius College, Conception
Abbey, St. Francis College, Quincy, 111.; and we are sure others
will follow as soon as they will have learned of the extraordinary
merits of this text-book.
Professor Kaegi's object in elaborating his grammar and exer-
cise books was an eminently practical one, viz. to furnish books
which would meet the purpose of teaching Greek in the modern
high-school. At the time when his grammar appeared, there was no
apparent call, to a superficial observer at least, for a new addition
to the many grammars already existing. However, those most
in use in the secondary schools were, some of them, too extensive
for beginners ; others were brief indeed, but their brevity was
not the result of a critical method.
To accomplish his object, therefore, Professor Kaegi had to de-
termine just what matter should be contained in a grammar which
was to serve the direct purpose of the class-room, and what should
be eliminated from such a work. In this, he was guided by the
correct principle that "it is a loss of time to burden the mind of
the young student with material he never or seldom meets with
in the authors read at school." With a view to shaping his own
school grammar upon this principle, he proceeded to make a crit-
*) A Short Grammar of Classical Greek, with I Colleges. 240 pages, bound in cloth, 11.2). B.
Tables for Repetition. By Dr. A. Kaegi. Pro- 1 Herder. Also two exercise books, adapted by
feesor at Zurich University. Autliorized Eng- 1 Prof. Kleist and published by Herder.
lish Edition for High Schools, Academies, and |
No. 44. The Review. 695
ical study of the Greek classics as far as they are read rn most of
the secondary schools, i. e. Xenophon's Anabasis, Hellenica, Mem-
orabilia ; Plato and Thukydides ; Demosthenes' Olynthiacs and
Philippics ; Herodotus, Homer, Sophocles, and Lysias.
Grammatical facts of infrequent occurrence in these standard
■school authors, such as rare forms, mere exceptions, solitary
idioms, etc., were rigorously excluded. Thus it is that from its
very first appearance Kaegi's grammar on the one hand shared
with other grammars the advantage of brevity, and on the other
surpassed them, because his system of reducing the grammar
was not at all eclectic, but strictly methodical.
An example or two, out of many, will illustrate Kaegi's method.
In many of our Greek grammars, the comparatives /A«o-atVepos and
wpMLTepo'; figure as exceptions to the rule. They have found no
place, however, in Kaegi's book. And justly so. For,^ — as the
author with vast statistical material before him is able to tell us —
they do not occur even once in the above-named list of standard
writers. Again, what grammar does not mention flA^AK^a and
dXri\tfj.ixm among the perfects with Attic reduplication ? And yet,
the former is found nowhere in the mentioned classics, and the
latter occurs just twice, viz. Thukyd. 3, 20, 3 and 4, 68. What
then — Kaegi concludes — can be the use of the student having to
cram his mind with these and a host of other useless things?
The persistent application of the above principle to both
etymology and syntax constitutes the feature which sets off
Kaegi's grammar and exercise books to such advantage against
similar works.
Besides, to arrive at a proper estimate of these books, it should
be borne in mind that they were not intended for helps to students
who make philology their specialty, but for instruments in teaching
the rudiments of Greek to high-school boys and leading them on to
such an acquaintance with the peculiarities of that language as is
requisite and sufficient for an appreciation of some of the most
beautiful productions of the Hellenic mind.
If success can be at all taken as a standard of excellence, Prof.
Kaegi may proudly point to the extraordinary sale of his books
as bearing strong testimony to their intrinsic merits. Indeed,
their practical worth, as well as the reputation of their author,
are an established fact on the other side of the Atlantic.
The short grammar appeared in October, 1892, then in March,
1894, next in April of the same year, again in January and April,
1895 ; the sixth edition came out in January, 1896, the seventh in
January, 1897, the eighth in January, 1898, the ninth in January,
1899, the tenth in January, 1900, the eleventh in January, 1901,
the twelfth in January, 1902 ; in a word, within the brief space of
696 The Review. • 1903.
ten 3'ears it has gone^ throug-h twelve editions, the last of which
comprised eight thousand copies.
The exercise books have met with a similar success : within
ten years, No. I has been published six times, while No. II has
within eight years passed through six editions.
A philological journal of 1889 says : "Now that Kaegi has hit up-
on the correct method of determining just what matter text-books
for secondary schools should in future comprise, a new Greek
grammar will no longer be worthy even of our considera-
tion, unless its author advance still further along the lines followed
by Kaegi for systematically reducing the amount of grammar."
Such was Kaegi's aim in writing his grammar. The same is
true of his two exercise books, which show perhaps even more
than the grammar that their author is an eminently practical
schoolman. They are remarkable for their arrangement — part of
the regular conjugation is taught as early as the first lesson ; for
the chief rules of syntax — a summary intended to acquaint the
beginner with the fundamental principles of syntax even before
the study of etymology is completed ; and last, though not least,
for their select vocabularies. In fact, grammar and exercise books
harmonize so admirably that one need not be an optimist to see
that some little, but steady, application on the part of the student
can not but result in somewhat more than a mere smattering of
the Hellenic tongue.
It is to be hoped that the present American edition of Kaegi's
books will meet with at least a proportionate, if not an equal, suc-
cess as the original. True, for the average boy of to-day Greek
has not the same fascination and is not exactly as easy as a game
of football or baseball ; but is this a reason to yield to the ever-in-
creasing tendency of throwing it entirely over board ? No boy
that launches out upon a business career fancies that success will
be "made easy" for him, but he is prepared from the outset to meet
the rough world where it is roughest, and to struggle for his ex-
istence. And he finds nothing strange in this. Why, then, should
the young student in his intellectual career — for such is his train-
ing at college — be shut off so anxiously from every thing that im-
poses upon him some mental effort and forces him to a mental
struggle? Besides, does not the very fact that Greek can not be
acquired without a fair amount of effort and self-discipline on the
part of the youthful learner, bestow on it— other things being
equal — an educational value superior to that of any modern
language ?
697
LITERARY CRITICISM IN CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS.
We have resigned ourselves in some degree to philosophical
and theological inaccuracies and blunders in our Catholic Ameri-
can newspapers ; but though the incompetence of the editors in
these higher sciences deprives them of the capacity for much
good, it would be a consolation to think that they were at least
well trained in literary matters and did their best to cultivate a
correct taste in their readers and to give them reliable informa-
tion about what to read.
Unfortunately, some are ignorant and indiscriminate even on
this subject. Here we have the Boston Republic, which cultivates
"the higher Catholic journalism" (see our No. 42), opening its
"Reading Circle" with a recommendation of Thackeray and his
'Vanity Fair' (No. 45), without a hint that both this novel and all
the other works of this gifted author are built up on the false and
pernicious principle that human nature is totally depraved, virtue
, therefore impossible and religious practice a sham.
A few weeks before, the Memphis Catholic Journal {y]\iO^^ editor,
Mr. Wm. Fitzgerald, has since died : the Lord give him eternal
rest !) answered the quer}' : "Please state in what manner the
Catholic Church regards the works of Lord Bulwer-Lytton?"
thus (No. 20): "As those of an able, brilliant, and exceptionally
clever writer, but some of his works, especially 'Morton Deve-
reux,' are so thoroughly bigoted and anti-Catholic, and give such
a false and malicious idea of Catholic priests and Catholic teach-
ings that they are unfit for perusal. Lytton, however, had one
redeeming trait, he did not pander to the immoral taste of the ti7ne."*)
Now, it is well known to all serious students of literature that
Bulwer-Lytton's earlier novels deserve to be "censured as immoral
or deficient in genuine art." (Cfr. Jenkins' Handbook of British
and American Lit., 13th ed., p. 380), and that to "all his novels
there is the strong moral objection that they are a deification of
worldly success, as if that were the paramount object of life."
(Ibid.)
The same objection, let us add by the way, holds good against
George Horace Lorimer's 'Letters From a Self-Made Merchant
to His Son,' which at least two of our Catholic weeklies have rec-
ommended without reserve within the past six months.
And now comes that pretentious monthly magazine Men and
Women, of Cincinnati, which makes a specialty of literary criti-
cism, with a tremendous glorification of the life and works of
Francis Parkman, the historian, of which we will quote the con-
*) Italics mine.— A. P.
6*98 The Review. 1903.
eluding- paragraph (Nov. No. ): "His search for truth was keen
and conscientious, and his artistic skill enabled him to adorn truth
with beauty. Hence, his life work resulted in a valuable contri-
bution to literature and a remarkably fair history. "^^
It is absolutely and utterly false that Parkman's various mono-
graphs, which together form a complete and graphic account of
the rise and fall of the French power in North America, are "re-
markably fair history." Jenkins puts it very mildly when he says
that it is Parkman's "serious fault" that, "even when he glorifies
her heroes and missionaries, he misrepresents the Church."
What is the use of having a Catholic press at all if it does not
instruct the Catholic public in the truth, but simply re-echoes the
-errors and lies of secular newspapers and magazines?
^ » se
A MUSHROOM REPUBLIC.
The real ground of apprehension, in regard to events on the Isth-
mus of Panama, according to the Evening Post of New York, (Nov.
6th), does not lie in the ofl&cial action of our government. Formalins
that seems so far to have been fairly correct. But a distinct peril
to our good name lurks behind all that. Have our consuls, or any of
our military officers, intrigued to bring about this artificial revolu-
tion? We can not fail to note that this is positively asserted in a des-
patch of the French consul at Panama to his government. And we
see the same thing hinted in the insinuation of European newspa-
pers that President Roosevelt has been "working behind the
scenes." For him or the nation to be compromised by any collusive
activity on the part of American officials, which would give color
to such a charge, would be disgraceful and intolerable. It would
make it necessary to insert an erratum in all books and articles
about the Panama Canal, saying, "for canal, read scandal."
We can already see material for most unpleasant disclosures.
That military "reconnoissance" of the Isthmus hy our j^outhful
army officers — what was that for? Were they not really recon-
noitring a revolution? The concealed shipment of arms from
this country, in aid of the revolutionists, may have been wholly
legal, but was altogether suspicious. It is certain that the Navy
and State Departments knew all about the revolution in advance.
The "tip" was out in New York and in Washington that the affair
"was set up, and would come off according to advertisement. What
we fear is that there is a tale here which, if ever unfolded, would
fee one most humiliating to all Americans. Who knows that
) Italics mine. — A. P.
No. 44. The Review. 699
Senator Morgan, with his facilities for acquiring- or extorting- in-
formation, may not, in his noble rag-e for Nicaragua, bring out
r evidence of plotting or collusion, of a sort to make the ears of all
who hear it to tingle ?
Certain stereotyped phrases are invoked. They always are to
gl6ss over wrongful action. It is said that we are bound to recog-
nize the de facto insurrectionary government in Panama and Colon
— for there is no evidence that the revolution has extended beyond
those two cities. Of course, our consuls will need to find some
local authority with which to transact business. In that sense, if
the revolutionists remain in control, they will have to be recog-
nized. So would a band of pirates in their place. But this is a
very different thing from recognizing the "Republic" of Panama.
It yields no sign, as yet, of being even de facto. It is, rather, all
too plainly de artifcio. To deal with its officers is one thing ; to
admit the validity of their claims, as against the central govern-
ment which would put them down as rebels, is quite another.
The latter would be, on the principles which we as a nation have
laid down and contended for passionately, equivalent to declaring
war on Colombia. No such break with our traditions and with
decency should be thought of for a moment. We must continue
to observe strict neutrality. If the alleged Republic of Panama
can get on its legs by itself, and assert its power against the gov-
ernment at Bogota, then, after weeks or months, the question of
recognition will properly come before us. At present, our duty
is to keep hands off and await developments. To attempt to force
matters — above all, to attempt, as Senator Cullom suggests, to
smuggk through a canal treaty with this mushroom republic-
would be shocking.
Prudence and consideration in dealing with Colombia have been
the rule of the State Department from Marcy to the present day.
The despatches of Seward and Fish and Evarts and Bayard are
filled with expressions of the purpose of the United States to re-
spect the sovereignty of Colombia in every way. It was once pro-
posed by the Colombian Congress to repeal the treaty, or at least
article 35, which gives us the right to keep transit open on the
Isthmus. But our minister at Bogota urged that the American
government would never exercise its power in any unfair or un-
friendly way. In fact, it was pointed out from the first that we
were under peculiar obligation to uphold Colombian sovereignty.
It was even thought that we were bound to help the central gov-
ernment put down rebellion on the Isthmus ; but the Attorney-
General of ih^ United States held that our obligation did not go
beyond repelling attack from abroad. No meddling in Colombia's
internal affairs, has been our guide. There has been, it is true,
700 The Review. 1903.
a quiet but perilous extension of our right o.f landing troops, and
of their power when on shore. Secretary Seward once practically
apologized, because Admiral Pearson landed marines without first
asking permission of the local authorities. We have left all that
far behind. Capt. Hubbard would not permit Colombian troops
to go by rail from Colon to attack the revolutionists in Panama,
but he apparently allowed the latter to cross over to Colon. There
is, we presume, some fine-spun distinction here about "prevent-
ing bloodshed." But it is probable that no Isthmian revolution,
if let alone, would cover the tracks of the Panama Railroad with
blood.
Scrupulous Americans, who are apprenhensive whereto this
may lead, are triumphantly referred to abroad. "Europe approves
us !" Exactly. Europe has long wanted us to "underwrite" all
Central and South America. Germany and France and England
would like nothing better than to have us make ourselves respon-
sible for all those unstable governments. But are we ready
to do it? The President has said we are not. Let them
all pay their own debts and meet their own international
obligations, was his motto during the Venezuelan squabble.
Yet nothing is more certain than that, if we prop up a tiny and
fraudulent republic at Panama, for the sake of getting a canal out
of it at a bargain, the whole concern will have to be taken over by
us. Are we ready for that? Do we wish, at this moment when
we are complaining of South American dislike of the United States,
to give the countries in Central and South America one evidence
more, to their mind, that Uncle Sam is a predatory neighbor, only
waiting to rob them of their own by every trick and pretence?
BOOK REVIEWS.
lUustrirte Geschichte der deiitschen Literatur. Von Prof. Dr.
Anselm Salzer, O. S. B. With 110 full-page illustrations and
more than 300 cuts in the text. Munich, Allgemeine Verlags-
gesellschaft. 1903.
Those Catholics who know the beautiful German 'Literatur-
geschichte' written by the Protestant Konig, will hail Father
Salzer's work with great satisfactibn. We have indeed to
congratulate our active Catholic brethren in the Fatherland,
for publishing a new and thoroughly up-to-date history of
their vast literature which will do full justice to the great
Catholic past as well as to the splendid productions of Cath-
olic contemporaries. The work comes out in instalments
("Lieferungen") but from what has appeared till now we can see
No. 44 The Review. 701
that it deserves all the praise it has already received on the other
side of the Atlantic.
In America we have not many chances to examine the old books
or manuscripts which, centuries ago, were the bearers of knowl-
edge and wisdom to our ancestors, and now show us their first
literary achievements. The present book offers at least a consid-
erable number of well executed facsimiles, which enable us to ac-
quire a fair idea of what a piece of literature looked like in the
times of Charlemagne and earlier.
We hope that the able author, whoalready enjoys a splendid liter-
ary reputation, will also give due recognition to those poetical prod-
ucts of German Americans, of which German literature has reason
to be proud, such as, e.g., Keilmann's 'PallaToa,'Schale's 'Stauf-
fenlied,' and others, especially the latest flower of American Ger-
man poetry — our own Father Rothensteiner's 'Hoffnung und
Erinnerung. '
-;»
Christian Apologetics or a Rational Exposition of the Foundations of
Faith, by Rev. W. Devirier, S. J. Translated from the 16. Edi-
tion of the Original French. Preceded by an Introduction on
the Existence and Attributes of God, and a Treatise on the
Human Soul ; Its Liberty, Spirituality, Immortality, and Des-
tiny, by Rev. L. Peeters, S. J. Edited, Augmented, and Adapted
to English Readers by Rev. Joseph C. Sasia, S. J. 6^X8^.
Two volumes. (207)+784 pp. San Jose, Cal.: Popp & Hogan,
Printers. 1903. (To be had from all Catholic booksellers.)
Price, $2.50 for both volumes, which are not sold separately.
We have on several occasions referred to the need of a solid
and up-to-date manual of the Evidences of Christianity for the ad-
vanced students of our Catholic colleges. Father Coppens' 'Sys-
tematic Study of the Catholic Religion,' recently reviewed in these
pages, fills the bill where a brief elementary handbook is de-
sired. But there are colleges that require something more ex-
tensive, either for use in the class-room or for reference in the
hands of the students ; these should introduce Fr. Sasia's Eng-
lish edition of Devivier, which is. a splendid text-book for a more
extended course (say two years) of apologetics. It has already
been introduced into the Jesuit colleges of California and, we un-
derstand, is giving satisfaction to professors and pupils alike.
Those who are acquainted with the original French edition will
be pleased to learn that Father Peeters' introduction and Father
Sasia's judicious emendations and additions not only improve the
book as such, but render it admirably adapted to English speak-
ing readers and students.
We may note in conclusion that we are proud to see our humble
Review repeatedly quoted in such a scholarly work.
702
MINOR TOPICS.
A Canadian Opinion of The Review. — We are indebted to the Xo7'th-
zi'cst Rez'iezL' of Winnipeg, Manitoba, (No. 4) for the following:
kindly notice :
"It has been said of one g-ifted writer, whose poems are not ap-
preciated by the general public, that he is a 'poets' poet, ' in the
sense that poets alone can realize all that his verses contain. .Simi-
larly we might say that Mr. Arthur Preuss' Review is a Catholic
journalists' journal, full of suggestions the value of which a Cath-
olic editor alone can estimate. Hence it happens that he is not al-
ways as quotable as many of the more commonplace editors. For
it is a curious fact that popular journalism, even among Catholics,
implies mediocrity, the most widely circulated Catholic papers in
America being editorially among the weakest. One of these latter
is credited, in the American Newspaper Directory, with a circu-
lation of over forty thousand, while less than 7,500 subscribers
are granted to such admirably edited papers as the N. Y. F7-ee-
man's Journal ■A.nA the Sacred Heart Reviezv, while no rating at all
is vouchsafed to The Review of St. Louis.*)
"We are not, of course, implying that nothing in Preuss' Review
can safely be clipped ; we mean simply that many of its best ar-
ticles are too recondite or too contentious for the common run of
readers. For instance our St. Louis contemporary lately pub-
lished several most important articles on fraternal societies that
insure their members on the assessment plan. Were we to re-
produce these eminently suggestive articles, we should unsettle
the minds of many thoughtful members of the C. M. B. A. and C.
O. F., who might not see their way out of the difficulty. Hence
we prefer to recommend these articles to the careful perusal of
the well informed editor of the Canadian^ the ofi&cial organ of the
C. M.B. A.,so that he may answer them with facts and figures."
The Verdicts of the Different Couri-Martials Held in the Philippines by
American Army Officers have often been commented upon on account
of their leniency. But the climax is reached by the vigorous ex-
pressions of Rear Admiral "Fighting Bob" Evans regarding the
case of Assistant Paymaster Richworth Nicholson, convicted on
charges of "drunkenness"and"scandalous conduct" and sentenced
to "be reduced live numbers in his grade." Rear Admiral Evans,
in reviewing the case, says that the evidence was of such a char-
acter that the sentence should have been nothing less than dis-
missal from the service. We quote from his report, as published
in the Philadelphia Record oi Sept. 22d :
"It is sufficient to make their brother officers blush with shame,
to realize that there exist among the commissioned officers of the
navy at least four (for that was the smallest number of officers
required by law to have arrived at the findings and sentence in
this case) who have so little interest in maintaining the honor,
*) As the newspaper directories, so-called,
are fiubli.shed solely for the information of ad-
vertisers, and we do not solicit advertising pat-
ronage, we make it a practice to reply to queries
from such agencies, that our circulation figures
concern no one but ourselves and that we see
no reason to publish them. We do not know
what "rating" the various "directories" give
us. nor do we care. — A. P.
No. 44. The Review. 703
dignity, and discipline of the service and so small an idea of the
binding- quality of the oath which they took as members of the
court"
The culprit had insulted the German Consul at a public func-
tion and pleaded drunkenness as an excuse. Had an American
consul been thus insulted by a German officer, no doubt the ad-
ministration would have made it an affair of international import-
ance. The result of the Court-Martial and Admiral Evans' com-
ments show very clearly the low standard of conduct adopted by
the "smaller" officials of this government in the tropics, and may
explain, if not justify, the reports regarding the "doings" of
Americans in our insular possessions.
A Kansas correspondent writes :
I have just now read over again your several items regarding
the question if Leo XIII, really desired to have religious or-
ders excluded from the faculty of the Catholic University at
Washington. (See The Review, vol. X, Nos. 33, 36, 37, 40.)
There is an article in one of the early numbers of the American
Ecclesiastical Review which has perhaps escaped your attention.
It was evidently written by one well informed, and it would appear
that it was inspired by the Rector of the University, Bishop Keane
(see American Ecclesiastical Review, 1889, page 245). Now, in
that article you will find the following statement : "Its professors
and tutors might be chosen from among the most eminent men of
every rank and order, whether secular, religious, or lay, and from
any nation. But its government would ever be under the control
of the American episcopate, and no subsequent legislation could
alter this provision, which was to insure its character as a uni-
versal center of learning." ("Concilii Patribus placuit ut univer-
sitas sub omnimoda semper maneret Episcoporum directione et
regimine, neque cujuslibet Ordinis Religiosi curae omnino depu-
taretur.")
I conclude that, if Pope Leo had so emphatically insisted on the-
exclusion of religious from the faculty of the University, the
above lines would never have been printed in the American
Ecclesiastical Reviezv Without Ending some contradiction, or cor-
rection, or explanation at that time. But we all know that the
bug-bear "Germans and Jesuits" was not discovered until some
time afterwards. — Joseph Hohne.
Somewhere down in Tennessee, a fellow calling himself Col. D.
M. Kaufmann recently called upon the resident Catholic pastor
with an apparently genuine letter from the Bishop of Louisville;
introducing him as legal referee of the U. S. Pension Office. He
stated that he was the executor of a lady who had recently died
in Louisville and had left, among other legacies, five hundrd dol-
lars to the local parish, for which he presented a check drawn on
a Washington bank by Stone & Co. The priest invited him to stay
over night, which he gladly did. Next morning before leaving he
said, with a show of reluctance, that he had almost forgotten to
ask the beneficiary to pay a small fee which he must collect to
704 The Review. 1903.
cover the court dues, etc. The amount of this fee, according to
a lead pencil memorandum which he presented, was $5.15, and he
said it might be deduced from the amount of the check after col-
lection. Of course, the check proved to be bogus.
Soon after the swindler landed in jail at Florence, Ala. But he
will no doubt be soon at large again and try to rope in some more
unwary members of the cloth. Therefore we gladly comply with
a request to warn our readers against him.
He is an old man of about sixty-five, with gre}' hair and beard,
and an exceedingly glib and plausible talker.
"Marvellous, indeed, is the ignorance of the Roman cable. Ac-
cording to this authority Mgr. Callegaria, Archbishop of 'Padu-
cah' will be created a Cardinal at the coming consistory. We wish
ourselves in the position to set a bread and water penalty upon
the appetite of the writer of such news until he found the archie-
piscopal see of 'Paducah.' Mgr. Callegaria is the Archbishop of
Padua." — Church Progress, No. 31.
Always be cocksure of your facts, dear neighbor, before correct-
ing the blunders of others. Padua is not an archdiocese, but a
diocese, and its Bishop, already elevated to the cardinalate when
No. 31 of the Church Progress appeared, and, if the cable des-
patches are not misleading, designated as His Holiness' successor
as Patriarch of Venice, was Msgr., and is now His Eminence
Cardinal CaUegari (not Callegaria !)
We may add that "Mgr." is not an appropriate abbreviation of
Monsignor in this country, where it stands for "Manager." Our
best papers now use "Msgr."
In criticizing two monographs, "presented in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at
Columbia University," and issued by the MacMillan Company in
book form, a current literary reviewer says :
"A perusal of the present volumes leads one to ask whether
such doctorate theses are worthy of printing in this substantial
form ; whether, indeed, it does not approach a waste of time to
set a student at a task of literary criticism which requires above
all things ripeness of judgment. Both of these books show only
too plainly that the authors have read up their matter diligentl}'-
and conscientiously, but that they have come to the task as some-
thing neiv, and not as something forced upon them by mature re-
flection."
In perusing American doctorate theses we have often asked
ourselves the same questions.
We call the special attention of thoughtful readers to the paper
on "The Religious Situation in France," beginning in this num-
ber. Its author, Rev. Dr. Charles Maignen, the famous "Martel"
of Americanism, is himself one of the victims of the new Cultur-
kampf, having recently been driven from his native land by the
Combes government, because he belongs to a religious congrega-
tion, the Brethren of St. Vincent de Paul.
11 ITbe IRevtew. ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., November 26, 1903. No. 45.
HOW THE "GET-RICH-QVICK" CONCERNS ROSE AND
OPERATED.
^N an appeal to President Roosevelt to look into the con-
duct of the Post Office Department with reference to
the "get-rich-quick" swindles that recently collapsed in
St. Louis, the Valley Magazine in its November issue sketches
the history of several of these concerns, notably E. J. Arnold &
Co. We quote the most interesting portions of the article :
St. Louis awoke one morning about two years ago to realize that
a new force was in town. The force was in the brain of Major-
General Gill A. Lumpkin, who gained the military title by serving
in the ranks that marched against the forlorn hope of Maximilian,
again in the Confederate army, and still again under the royal
standard of Spain. He severed his connection with the latter
forces however, before the war with the United States became a
fact, and his career from that time until he entered the Mound
City is nebulous. He is believed to have made New York his
home and to have evolved the system for an onslaught upon the
people's pocket-books after careful study of the Miller syndicate
and other concerns which met with short shrift in the metropolis.
On the way west he caused his name to turn a somersault, and
lost the title during the acrobatic act, so that he arrived in St.
Louis as Mr. Lumpkin A. Gill, manager of the E. J. Arnold Turf
Investment Co.
Who was E. J. Arnold ? Some race-track people said he was a
fair judge of form and that he had picked up a few thousand dol-
lars while touting for stables. He had never owned a horse, had
never even attained the dignity of operating a book, but soon after
Lumpkin A. Gill came to town, Arnold acquired honors.
Over six feet tall, broad of shoulders, with that back-set to the
706 The Review. 1903.
figure which army drill stamps ; a leonine head, brow high, jaws
square, steel gray eyes ; a soft, aye, pleasant voice and charming
manner, Lumpkin A. Gill impressed one as a man who had mas-
tered the situation in which he found himself and a man who could
be trusted.
St. Louis first became acquainted with him as the central figure
of a bevy of working people, occupying a suite of rooms in the
Benoist building. Ninth and Pine. Such rooms ! It is a doubt if
any offices in the United States were ever more lavishly furnished.
Imported rugs over highly polished floors, desks of ebony finish,
portieres of silk, etageres supporting objects of vertu, walls and
ceilings decorated by artists in oils. After the crash a connoisseur
estimated the value of the adornments at $50,000, exclusive of a
Rosa Bonheur horse's head, which he said should fetch $35,000 at
auction.
It is small wonder that Gill, or Lumpkin, became a major-gen-
eral, if he displayed in field campaigns the same wisdom in select-
ing followers that he evidenced in forming companies for the on-
slaught upon people's savings. In the van were sixty or seventy
young women who would have done credit to Kiralfy, all attired
in black silk skirts and white silk waists — the uniform of the
company. Their duty was to open letters, act as copyists, and to
fold and mail circulars. As a reserve were a dozen other women
more sedate in appearance, who ensnared such members of their
own sex as patronized the establishment. The skirmishers were
"men-about-town," in St. Louis and other places, who were offered
ten per cent, of all business they brought in.
When St. Louisans met Mr. Gill they were introduced to his
plan. It was exceedingly simple ; a person with no experience
and little education could understand. "Deposit with E. J. Arnold
and Company your money in any amount, and we will pay you five
per cent, per week, guaranteed that the principal shall be re-
funded on demand. How is this possible ? Because E. J. Arnold,
past-master in the secrets of the turf, has reduced horse-racing
to a business. As an owner he races his horses to win purses,
thus securing large profits ; as a breeder, he raises stock which
commands high prices ; as a book-maker, he brings the profits of
gambling into the company."
While St. Louis was absorbing this information, it was being
spread broadcast over the land through three mediums : adver-
tisements in daily and weekly newspapers, some of which occu-
pied a half page, others an entire page and occasionally even two
pages of space ; circulars handsomely illustrated, the reading
matter prepared in the choicest English; agents, nattily-dressed,
)iail-fellow-well-met persons, who had the entree everywhere. An
No. 45. The Review. 707
■eastern agency placed the advertisements, a corps of writers pre-
pared the circulars ; even from the professions were the "cap-
pers" selected.
As the E. J. Arnold Company advertised, so it was advertised
in turn. The press agents in its pay were legion. Whenever an
Arnold horse won a race, long despatches were sent to the news-
papers ; fictitious stories of winnings made by the Arnold book
were telegraphed ; during the Delmar racing season, Arnold was
frequentlj'^ photographed and the photographs were given wide
distribution. Gold Heels, early in the year the sensation of the
racing world, was purchased. What matter that he had broken
■down? Far and wide flashed the news that he had been secured
by Arnold, the Napoleon of the turf. He would be used in the
stud — this was the first information sent forth. He will be "fired"
and raced again, peerless once more — this wasjthe tenor of later
information. A tract of land was bought in Illinois and the trum-
peters blared the inauguration of a great racing stable. More
horses were purchased, all with histories. On their triumph the
press agent dwelt ; that they were what the turf-world styles
^'has-beens, "no man said.
Throughout the summer of 1902 the business of E. J. Arnold
and Company grew to enormous proportions. It is known that
at one time the concern had on deposit, subject to check, in St.
Louis banks alone, the sum of $1,500,000 ; it has been testified to
under oath that on several days the receipts by mail were $30,000
per diem. Federal ofl&cials in St. Louis became alarmed and rec-
ommendations were made to Washington that the government
take action to stop the evident fraud. Nothing was done — not
until after the crash.
Encouraged by the success of the Arnold concern, other men
became imitators. Ryan was started in the business, and to at-
tract attention his backers purchased for their figure-head a win-
ter track at Newport, Ky., a place where worn-out horses are rid-
den in snow and mud. Then came the International Investment
Company, The United States Turf Company, the Harry Brolaski
Company, and the Richmond Syndicate. All secured offices in
down-town business buildings. They imitated Mr. Gill's man-
euvers in employing girls pretty of face and attractive of form, in
making lavish display of furniture, in buying space in the news-
papers, and in sending forth agents to draw flies into the web.
Branch offices were established in other cities ; in smaller places,
even country hamlets, men and women told of the great corpor-
ations in St. Louis where a dollar could earn 260 per cent, per
annum.
Those were red-letter days for advertising managers. Arnold,
708 The Review. 1903.
Ryan, and the othere were kings and right royally they distributed
larg-esses. Proprietors of newspapers saw the money coming in
and closed their eyes ; they also pretended not to hear when man-
aging editors and city editors urged that the truth be told in the
newspaper columns and the people warned. The business office
waxed fat and was triumphant.
Noting the success of the turf investment companies, still other
men embarked in similar enterprises. Those who knew nothing
about horses substituted the word "grain" for "turf" and adver-
tised that they had found a way to beat the market, and would
pay high monthly interest for money, always promising that the
principal would be refunded upon demand. Prominent in the
class were the National Securities Company and the Rialto Invest-
ment Company. Charles H. Brooks was the promoter of the first;
Hugh C. Dennis of the second. Eighteen months prior to this
time these young men had been employed by insurance companies
as canvassers. A year before they had formed the Brooks Com-
mission Company. It was conducted unguardedly, and the federal
grand jury indicted them both, charging the use of mails with in-
tent to fraud. Dennis was tried in January of that year and ac-
quitted on a technicality, but Judge Adams, in ordering his re-
lease, delivered a scathing address from the bench, saying that
Dennis ought to be in the penitentiary ; that it was a pity that the
federal laws could not hold him, and he recommended that the
State authorities act.
Meanwhile the Brooks Commission Company was dissolved and
the former partners began over again. Brooks opening offices in
the Equitable Building as the National Securities Company, and
Dennis in the Rialto Building, as the Rialto Investment Company.
Brooks soon became famous in the "swell set" for his diamonds
and pearls ; Dennis secured a suite of rooms at the Planters, pur-
chased an automobile known as the "Red Devil," prefixed "Major"
to his name and was introduced in society. This time they were
on the right track, for they imitated more closely the methods set
forth by Gill, the master.
Brooks sought out-of-town business only, and his advertise-
ments flooded the West. He offered 72% a year, payable in month-
ly instalments, the principal always subject to call. A man who
visited his office in January described the bevy of attractive
women who occupied one of the rooms, the rich furnishings, in-
cluding bearskin rugs and black leather lounges.
At the close of last year, twenty-one of these "co-operative in-
vestment companies" had headquarters in St. Louis and branch
offices or agents all over the United States. The lowest rate of
interest paid by any one was 72% a year, the highest, 260 ; some
No. 45. The Review. 709
paid this in weekly instalments, others monthly. Did they actually
pay? Of course. That was the game. Every time John Jones
in Jaytown received a check for his "dividends," did he not show
it to his neighbors and thus become a living testimonial of the big
concern down St. Louis way that would pay as much interest in a
week as one could receive from a bank in a year?
And did not Mrs. Portland Place confide to the ladies of her ac-
•quaintance that she knew where they could secure quick returns
•on an investment of their pin-money ?
The endless chain, thus started in spring and summer, brought
forth astonishing results during the autumn and winter. Postal
ofldcials say that in December the get-rich-quick concerns received
from twenty to tweuty-five thousand letters a day ; one official
statement, made after the crash came, was to the effect that in
three days ten thousand letters had been received for E. J. Arnold
and Company alone, and the majority of them contained money or
its equivalent.
These millions that poured in, what was done with them ? The
bulk lay idle in the bank. Be extravagant as they might, the Ar-
nolds, the Ryans, and the Brookes could not spend a moiety of
what was received. Their investments were bagatelles when
•compared with the ever increasing principals. Arnold bought a
farm, Ryan a race-track, and the others also made purchases, but
the monies so used were not much more than a single day's re-
ceipts for each. The "dividends" were paid for the new "prin-
cipals" invested. Paul, John, and Peter all contributed toward
the fund for James, and the "investments" made by the three
were perhaps a hundred times the amount of "interest" due the
one.
It was not long before those who participated in the loot became
money-mad or money-foolish. The projectors lost their heads in
a sea of greenbacks and gold. Think of six girls in the office of
E. J. Arnold and Company opening twelve hundred letters in one
morning and taking from the envelopes $30,000 cash ! That is
the substance of a sworn statement made before the grand jury.
Lumpkin A. Gill rushed into a bank one afternoon, and throw-
ing a sack in the receiving teller's window, said :
"Count that and enter the credit."
"How much is here?" the teller asked.
"O, Lord ! I don't know. I'm in too much of a hurry."
"Come back I" shouted the teller. "The rules forbid myjnak-
ing a statement without you being present."
"Hang the rules ! I've an engagement," and Gill was off.
The teller counted $175,000.
This same Gill threw down a $20 gold-piece in payment for a
710 The Review. 1903.
glass of whiskey. "Keep the change," he said to the astonished
bartender. A day later he pushed a hundred dollar bill into an
elevator boy's Christmas box.
Ryan appeared in restaurants with a valet behind his chair and
amused himself handing- waiters a $5,000 greenback, in payment
for his bill. One evening he spread five of the government notes
on a table and said he would just as soon light cigars with them
as not.
A woman employed in one of the concerns picked up a package
of money and during the luncheon hour deposited it in her own
name at a bank. The amount was $9,000. The manager of the
investment company ordered her to return it. She refused. He
threatened her with arrest.
"You don't dare," she answered. "Arrest me and the public
will know what kind of business you run."
She was not arrested, not even discharged.
Others helped themselves ; there was money for all; it was a
flood. Girls who had worn cloth jackets when they accepted em-^
ployment, bought sealskins and Persian lamb; diamond rings ap-^
peared on their fingers and expensive necklaces at their throats,.
The mails grew so heavy that they frequently were asked to work
at night. On such occasions they were entertained by their man-
ager at supper in the Planters cafe or at the Southern, and when
the work was finished they went home in carriages,
"Rob the robbers !" became the cry. Ten young men of the
town formed a pool, each contributing $200. One of their number
appeared at Arnold's and secured a commission as agent. The
following day he introduced another member who deposited the
$2,000 and he was paid his $200 commission. At the end of the week
the $2,000 was withdrawn and invested at Ryan's, another $200
commission being secured. Thus they went around the circle,
and when all had been "worked" they started with Arnold again,
two other members actingas "capper" and "investor." When the
crash came they lost the $2,000, but they had netted $10,000 on
commissions.
"Easy money," exclaimed the people who knew, and men sought
employment in the handsomely furnished rooms only for the pur-
pose of helping themselves to the cash which was lying loosely on
desks and counters.
And all this was possible, says our contemporary, because of
the action of certain ofiicials in the Post Office Department at
Washington. Indeed, if the Post Ofifice authorities had done their
duty, the swindle could not have been carried on so long and so-
successfully. The Review seconds the Valley'' s appeal to Presi-
dent Roosevelt to probe into this scandal.
711
MASONRY'S PAGAN STANDARD OF OBLIGATION.
On pag-e 45, Mackey's Masonic Ritualist introduces us to the
right hand as the symbol of fidelity. "The right hand," says he,
"has in all ages been deemed the emblem of fidelity, and our an-
cient brethren worshiped deity under the name of Fides or Fidel-
ity, which was sometimes represented by right hands joined and
sometimes by human figures holding each other by the right hand.
Numa was the first who erected an altar to Fides, under which
name the goddess of oaths and honesty was worshiped. Obliga-
tions taken in her name were considered as more inviolable than
others."
It is certainly edifying to have our ancient brethren worshiping
deity under the form of a pagan goddess and to have Brother
Numa the first to erect an altar in her honor; but it is pagan idola-
try all the same, however sacred to the modern brethren its
memory may be.
Remark how the candidate in Masonry is ever drawn closer and
closer to paganism.
At first the pagan mysteries supplied models for Masonic sym-
bolism ; then the practise of pagan ceremonies was a pregnant
evidence that these mysteries and Masonry had a common parent-
age ; next the descent of modern Masonry was traced through its
mediaeval predecessor and the Gnostics to the Mithraic mysteries
of sun and phallic worship ; then the candidate was referred to
these mysteries for a true explanation of most of the symbols of
the craft, and there he was assured that he would discover it; now
we find him fraternizing with the worshipers of a pagan goddess
and receiving from pagans the standard of obligation. Obligations
taken in the name of "fidelity" are more inviolable than any
others. Thus are the pernicious seeds sown which, in due season,
produce their natural fruit.
The reasoning, certainly, to Christian ears is strange. Because
among a number of pagan gods and goddesses, all or almost all of
whom, in popular tradition and poetic story, were guilty of the
most flagrant violations of the marital and other obligations, there
was one deemed to be more observant in her own person of the
sacred ties of obligation and hence better fitted to enforce their
observance in others, therefore we should literally adopt the same
idea and consider the obligations taken in the name of fidelity as
superior to all others. No one would expect that the profligate
Jupiter would be taken as the protector of conjugal chastity ; nor
would any one expect that Mercury, the patron of thieves, would
be chosen as the defender of the rights of property. In a system
such as paganism was, an obligation taken in the name of this god
712 Thk Review. 1903.
or goddess might naturally be supposed to be more or less bind-
ing in proportion as such god or goddess might be supposed to
be more or less interested in the matter. But when the same
God of holiness is known to be the source of all obligation, such
distinction can have no place ; the standard of obligation is its im-
portance, and those obligations that bind us immediately to God,
the source of obligation, are superior to those which bind us to his
creatures, our fellow-mortals. This is the dictum of Christianity
and of unperverted reason, and by these we must guide ourselves.
^ ^ ^
^^T ^TV ^FF
THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION IN FRANCE.
III. — ( Concluded.)
The Catholics of France are neither strong enough nor suffic-
iently organized to take hold of the government, but neither are
they so weak as to give assurance of safety to those that exploit
them. Here is the secret of the present crisis ; and it seems to
me to explain sundry obscure points.
When, for example, the persecutors accuse the congregations
of being a danger to the Republic, it is false if we understand the
form of government, but quite true if applied to the present Re-
public, that has identified itself with Freemasonry. Hence, you
see there is no reconciliation possible and the conflict must come.
The Diot d^o?'dre of the sect has been for a long time : "Advance
slowly but surely." At present it is changed : "Strike quick but
hard !" This second method may not succeed as well as the first.
Why can the Catholics not resist effectively ? Much might be
said to answer this question. In the first place, real Catholics are
not numerous, compared to the masses of the people. When I
said Catholics formed nearly one-half of the adult male population,
I took the word in a large sense, meaning all baptized adults who
would not give their vote knowingly to an enemy of the Church.
But the number of those voters who are ready to make sacrifices
for the defense of the Church, is very small and they are, more-
over, dispersed in a multitude of luke-warm, indifferent or hostile
men.
Besides, even among the faithful Catholics ready to sacrifice
themselves, there is an exaggerated respect for legality, that
makes it seem to them an enormous crime to openly resist a law
or even a policeman.
The persecutors know this and hence are very careful to sur-
round their arbitrary decrees with all the formalities of the law.
For this weakness our sch ools are to be blamed in part, but in
part only. The libert}^ of teaching, of which we are deprived to-
No. 45. The Review. 713
day, was but a partial, relative liberty. If the congregations were
permitted to open schools and colleges, they were not allowed to
teach as they liked, but had to follow the iron-clad regulations of
the State as to programs, books, methods, and especially the ex-
aminations necessary to obtain the diplomas, which depend ex-
clusively on the State monopoly.
Hence that particular state of mind of the French, who may be
said to resemble children raised by a Catholic mother and a Free-
mason father. They practice their religion with a kind of fear,
like people who are not altogether masters of themselves.
Add to this a concordatariain clergy, who, being paid by the
State, have not and can not have towards the State that independ-
ence necessary to inspire others with the same sentiment. The
Concordat of 1801, vitiated from the start by the "organic articles,"
is part of the edifice which Napoleon built to perpetuate in France
the spirit and domination of the Revolution. To-day it is plain how
wisely, but also how perfidiously he built.
Those Catholics who love the honor and the liberty of their
Church would not regret the abolition of the Concordat, if they
were sure that the sect in power would not fabricate new laws to
enslave the Church and clergy still more ignominiously.
What will be the upshot of the fight? I am not afraid to say,
that, from the political and social view-point, everything is lost.
The disorganization of the army is so far advanced that nothing
can be expected from it against any enemy, be he domestic
or foreign. Neither is anything to be hoped from a new election,
as none takes place till 1906. Till then, how many ruins ! And the
mass of perverted and deceived voters will probably vote worse
than ever. If, beyond all reasonable expectation, an honest majority
should be elected, the government would not give way so easily.
Hitherto all presidents have bowed before the ruling majority,
because it was bad ; but were it good, they would make use of all
the powers the Constitution confers upon them. With such a large
government machinery and an army whose chiefs are nearly all
Freemasons, they would hold on to the reins of government and
cede only to superior force. It is only by force, by war, that the
conflict can be ended. But will not numerous obstacles prevent
a civil war, and especially a favorable result, in 1906 as now?
Can we expect salvation from a war with Germany or England ?
Surely, a defeat would mean the overthrow of the present rulers ;
but would it not also involve the complete ruin of France? No
Frenchman could wish to see her run such a fearful risk. And
peace was never more assured, because, on the one hand, the
Republic is ready to do anything to prevent war, while on the
other, the enemies of France gain every advantage by letting her
^^"^ The Review. 1903.
go on as she chooses. The worst enemies of France are her own
rulers, and, next, their friends.
Every human government has its weaknesses, eke its faults ;
but ours is a government essentially anti-national, a government
that knowingly and obstinately aims at the destruction of every-
thing that makes the life of the iland.
Still we have not lost all hope. There are yet, in what
IS left of old Catholic France, unsuspected resources of faith, de-
votion, and courage. If all real Catholics could be induced to ig-
nore the deceitful politicians and busy themselves exclusively with
their duties, caring for naught but the salvation of their souls and
their honor, they would thereby inaugurate a policy so unusual
and dexterous that it would speedily upset the plans of their
enemies.
See what happened in the case of the religious congregations.
When the question arose whether they should apply for authoriza-
tion, under the "Associations'" law of 1901, the politicians advised
them to apply. Their influence was so strong that but few refused
to submit. These few were accused of foolish pride for thus sacri-
ficing their octivres. Yet, believing that the honor of the Church
did not allow them to submit to a formality that was but a ruse ;
knowing that the sect in power hated the Church too much to al-
low them to expect anything good from it ; fearing above all that
they might be tempted by threats or promises to be led into schism,
they steadfastly refused to apply. And it soon became apparent
that they bad chosen the safer part and were able to weather the
storm of violence and spoliation with less spiritual and even tem-
poral loss than the others. It will be always thus. The
Church has no need of diplomats or strategists or financiers or
politicians ; saints are enough for her, and if she suffers a tem-
porary setback, the cause is that there and then she has no saints.
I trust there are still saints in France and that the present per-
secution will raise up more. I have given you simply my own view
of the situation. If my object were to please the reader, I should
predict victory. I prefer to state sincerely my ignorance of the
future and my conviction of the futility of the promises made by
certain politicians, both Catholic and liberal.
Liberalism has been the scourge of Catholicism in France for
the last one hundred years. It was Liberalism that made possible
the triumph of Freemasonry ; consequently, so long as the hope
does not die out to save religion by means of liberal ideas and
methods, things are bound to go from bad to worse. And that
is what they are doing to-day. Unless the attitude of our Catholic
politicians changes completely and a loyal return to a wholesome
intransigency takes the place of stolid indifference and liberalistic
opportunism, all is lost.
Is such a return impossible ? Who would dare to assert it ?
Charles Maignen.
715
MINOR TOPICS.
The "Caiholic Columbian" and the Study of Greek. — We are asked to
print the following" protest :
The Catholic Columhian (Nov. 14th) publishes a short editorial
article entitled "The Study of Greek." In reading- it we are al-
most forced to the conclusion that the writer once attempted the
study of that noble language, but the "memorizing of declensions
and conjugations, of rules and exceptions to rules, and of worthless
achievements of worthless men by the loud roaring sea," caused
such a confusion in his brain that he counted Livy among the
Greek authors. We pity the poor man, i. e. not Livy — for he would
smile goodnaturedly in finding himself a Greek, — but the writer
of the article, who after "grubbing during seven years among'
roots," takes Livy's Latin for Greek.
To demonstrate beyond doubt the total uselessness of the study
of Greek, the writer uses a very classical figure — we almost sus-
pect that he borrowed it from the Greek works of Livy — but un-
happily^ for himself, it proves just the contrary of what he wishes
to say. Then, by counting himself among "the one hundred of
those one hundred," he arrives at the practical conclusion : — ergo
the study of Greek "is time thrown away."
Apart from the fact that a man who can commit himself in suck
a way as to make Livy a Greek author and to speak of the achieve-
ments of the Greeks as worthless achievements of worthless men»
has no right to criticize college courses, we think that such an
article is entirely out of place in a Catholic paper which is consid-
ered the official organ of a diocese at whose hea^ stands a bishop
who is known not only as an excellent classical scholar but also
as an enthusiastic advocate of the study of the ancient languages
as of so many handmaids of that noble science, the study of Holy
Scripture. If the writer makes an apparent concession and admits
partial advantages to priests and professors of Greek, this is only
a pretence. If the study of this language really has no other effect
than to cram the heads of the students with confusion and to make
them acquainted with the worthless achievements of worthless
men, then the candidate for the priesthood ought to be the very
last to waste his time on it.
Is the writer of the article ignorant of the fact that over 60% of
the prominent men of this country are graduates from classical
colleges, and that consequently the study of Greek was no obstacle
in their way to greatness or, as the writer categorically — pardon
the Greek word— expresses himself, that they wasted their time?
We find the Cohunhiaii's article all the more deplorable as it ap-
pears in a paper that has so far manfully championed the cause
of hig-her education, taking as its standard the schools of the great
orders of the Church, the Jesuits, Benedictines, Franciscans, and
others approved by the experience, not of years, but of centuries^
and opposed to that most dangerous bane of all higher education,,
the elective system. — O. S.
An Important Change in the Administration of Missionary Countries, so-
called, is predicted by "Vox Urbis," the generally well-informed
716 The Review. 1903.
Rome correspondent of the N. Y. Freeman's Journal O^o. 3672).
We quote :
"During- the pontificate of Leo XIII. a considerable portion of
the American hierarchy were in favor of transferring- the Church
in the United States from the jurisdiction of Propaganda to that
of the Congregation for Ecclesiastical Affairs — indeed, the au-
thorities in Rome had almost determined to make this sweeping
change, which would affect not only the United States, but Ire-
land, England, Scotland, India, and in a word all countries where
the hierarchy is non-canonically organized. It would be too much
to say that the idea has even yet been altogether abandoned — but
very likely it will. The alternative scheme which Vox Urbis be-
lieves will be adopted will be, more or less, as follows :
"All business of a purely missionary nature will continue to be
referred to Propaganda, but other matters, connected with the
administration of the sacraments, questions of faith and morals,
rites, rubrics, liturgy, etc., will be partly divided among the other
congregations and partly entrusted to the jurisdiction of a central
ecclesiastical authority in each country. This central authority
will be found by the restoration of the link in the hierarchy, which
has either altogether disappeared or become merely nominal. In
former times the 'primate' exercised jurisdiction over the arch-
bishops and bishops of the country and held large and clearly de-
fined powers. With the process of centralization which has been
going" on for centuries in the Church, these powers and rights
diminished to the vanishing point, until ecclesiastical affairs be-
came almost entirely centered in Rome. It will be seen from all
this that the restoration of the primatial idea in the Church is a
question of the most vital importance ; if one may be permitted to
use the phrase, it would mean the adoption of the idea of 'home
rule' all around, as applied to the affairs of the Church. The
primatial see of the United States would most probably be New
York ; Westminster would be that of England ; Glasgow of Scot-
land ; Armagh of Ireland ; Sydney of Australia, and so on. Not
improbably the rulers of each of these sees would be invariably
created members of the Sacred College, and thereby become i-pso
facto the councillors of the Holy Father and senators of the Uni-
versal Church."
"The realization of this idea would necessarily require a con-
siderable time — but Vox Urbis has excellent reason to believe
that the Holy Father, Pius X., intends to begin the work, at least
as far as the institution of primates is concerned."
This is very important news, if true.
The Catholic College and Its Pr/nc/pal Need.— Awr'iter in the Boston
Republic (No. 43), in a paper about Boston College (conducted by
the Jesuits), makes a few sane remarks of general application and
interest along the lines of Rev. R. Schwickerath's, S. J., recent
article in The Review.
"The Catholic college in all parts of the country," he says, "has
had to endure more destructive and unreasonable criticism than
almost any other institution in the United States A Catholic
journalist in Chicago who is attempting to diffuse sweetness and
light through the aggressive Philistinism of that miraculously
progressive town, writes : 'You should certainly know that the
No. 45. The Review. 717
Catholic college is impractical ; it is the fetite seniinaire done
over again for the Catholic layman — as a prudent mother works
over the clothing of her eldest son for the use of the smaller mem-
bers of the family.' Now, the only cause for this complaint —
about as senseless as a chronic fault-finder has ever made — is,
that the best Catholic colleges have been, and are, conser-
vative, and have no intention of sacrificing the hard-won
wisdom of the past The Catholic college can not make mad
experiments with youth. It is responsible to God, and not to a
changing age and to the flickering of a mad eclectivism for the
souls of youth : and souls can not be experimented with as easily
as the heart of a rabbit or the lungs of an ox. Our Chicago cor-
respondent has been misled by courses of fables in slang and the
dazzling transformation of prairies intopalaces, into believing that
whatever is of yesterday is of the evil one. Unless Homer can be
made into a home and Horace be harnessed to a moving van, he is
evidently of the opinion that classical education 'doesn't pay.'. . . .
Our best Catholic colleges. .. .have not allowed themselves to be
carried away by what Bishop Spalding called 'the faddish mind.'
That they have made just and reasonable concessions to modern
demands is evident The spirit of the 'little seminary ' is cer-
tainly not there, if that spirit represents aloofness from the prac-
tical problems of the day or implies that its students are prepared
to meet the demands of the cloister only, and not of the world ....
The Catholic college suffers mainly from the ill-informed and the
snobbish. The latter class sees wonders in everything praised
by those for whom it has acquired a superstitious and totally
senseless reverence. An intelligent examination into the educa-
tional condition of the United States by any well-trained man will
show the crying need of the Catholic college and convince him
that the principal real need is lack of intelligent interest and
support."
Bishop Medley on the Question of a Catholic Daily Press. — Bishop Hed-
ley, of Newport, England, in a recent paper, which is condensed
in the Catholic World (No. 464), strongly insists on quality in the
Catholic press.
Speaking of "that fascinating topic, the possibility of a first-
class daily paper, carried on under Catholic auspices," he says :
"I will suppose that it is equal in literary power, in news, and in
general contents to the average of other daily papers. We should
then have such advantages as the following : The true statement,
morning by morning, of all public information affecting the
Church and Catholic religion ; the Catholic version of the con-
stantly recurring scandals, as they are called, and of histories
tending to injure Catholicism ; the prompt contradiction and ref-
utation of lies and slanders ; comment of the right sort on the
doings of politicians and on current history and crime ; sound and
religious views on matters social, industrial, and municipal ; and
the constant prominence of distinctively Catholic topics. Besides
this we should have general literature and art treated with wis-
dom and with due regard to the morality of the Gospel ; and more
serious matters, such as Holy Scripture and the relations between
faith and science, would be handled with reverence and knowledge.
"Now, it is quite certain that we have Catholic writers in
718 The Review. 1903.
abundance at this moment ; they could be formed into a staff, to
make this ideal an actuality ; and therefore to make such a paper
widely read ; and therefore, again, to do something" which would
go far to neutralize the secular press. I do not know anything
which would so revolutionize the conditions of modern reading. A
hundred examples of what might have been could be found in the
Catholic subjects handled by the press during the last ten years.
It certainly seems strange that there is no (Catholic) daily
paper in the strongand numerous communities of Catholics in the
(United) States. We are accustomed to look to American Cathol-
icism for a lead in everything that demands pluck and skill. Even
in Canada they are hardlj^ better off. On the other hand, in the
little country of Holland, with its 1,700,000 Catholics, there are
several Catholic dailies."
Curious Statistics. — According to the Registrar of Vital Statistics
of the City of Providence, R. I., there were last year 4,719 births
among a population of about 180,000, or one birth for every 38 in-
habitants. Father Clifford, of the /^rot'/fl'f';/^'^ Visitor, who doubted
the accuracy of these figures, gathered the birth statistics for the
eighteen Catholic parishes of Providence, as reported by the pas-
tors last January ; and lo ! there were in all 3,194 infant baptisms.
We do not know what proportion the Catholics form of the in-
habitants of Providence ; but assuming a high proportion, say
one-third, it would appear that this Catholic one-third has twice
as man}" children born as the two-thirds who do not have their
children christened in Catholic churches.
But there is still another curiosity. Only four of the parishes
at Providence are what is called "national" parishes (Italian,
French, Polish, and Portuguese). Of these the Italians are the
most prolific; they had 888 infant baptisms, or 27% of the Catholic
baptisms; the other three "national" parishes increased this ratio
to 44%, leaving but 56% to the English speaking parishes, of which
the T'/s/Zo;' says that they have "an unusual number of young Irish
couples who contribute generously to the next, or rather the
present generation."
"What on earth," queries our contemporar}^ "is becoming of
those of UP whose fathers and mothers were born here, of those
Catholic families which have been here for more than fitt}^ years?
And what is becoming of 'the old stock' of which we hear so much,
and soon shall see so little? Can there be anything more pathetic
than the witness of these figures to the decay which is desolating
us? Can there be anything more impotent than the pride of an-
cestrj' in a childless race ? Well may we Catholics look with con-
cern and with sympathy on every effort that is being made to
keep the faith alive among the Italians. Their children should fill
our churches."
How instructive would be similar statistics from other cities or,
better still, whole States?
Father Algue's Cyclonometer. — Father Algue, S. J., some years ago
published a volume on 'Bagnios o Ciclones Filipinos,' the typhoons
of the far East. The work was eagerly bought and soon translated
into all modern languages. Among others, P. Bergholz, Profes-
sor and Director of the Bremen Observatory, obtained permission
No. 45. The Review. 719
to translate the same. To the translation he added a few notes
from observations made by the Jesuit Fathers of the observatory
at Zi-Ka-Wei, and, instead of giving due credit to the men
whose labors alone had made it possible, brazenly brought out
the book as his own, under the title: 'Die Orkane des fernen Ostens,
von Prof. Dr. Paul Bergholz.' This Bergholz translation was
Englished by Robert H. Scott, F. R. S., under the title : 'The
Hurricanes of the Far East, by Prof. Dr. Paul Bergholz.'
But Bergholz profited still more by the labors of the Philippine
Jesuits. Father F. Faura, S. J., of the Manila Observatory, had
invented a cyclonometer, indicating the approach and probable
route of cyclones for the Philippines. Father Algue improved
the instrument, making it serviceable everywhere, and called it
barocyclonometer. The firm of G. Luft at Stuttgart was charged
with the construction of the first dozen of these instruments.
The invention had not been patented. Father Algue had applied
for a patent in Spain, but during the war the matter had been
neglected. Professor Bergholz had the instrument patented in
Germany, and when told it was the invention of Father Algue, re-
plied: Not at all; mine has a German inscription, whilst the other
was in Spanish. We should not wonder if Bergholz would apply
for an American patent, putting an English instead of a German
legend on the instruments.
Anent "Some Current Objections Against Parochial Schools Refuted,"
(p. 681, vol. X, No. 43), a subscriber in Ohio sends us certain rul-
ings made recently by the Most Rev. Coadjutor-Archbishop Moel-
ler of Cincinnati. We quote :
"The children of parents living five miles or more from church,
are excused from attending the parochial school. Their parents
should, however, instruct them at home and send them to cate-
chism class on Sundays.
"Parents living at a distance from the church are excused from
sending their children to the parochial school under the following
conditions :
"1st. If the children have not yet completed their eighth year
and have to walk two miles to school, the parents should not be
required to send them to the parochial school. After they have
finished their eighth year, they must attend the parochial school,
unless special permission be obtained.
"2nd. Children living three or more miles from school, will find
great inconvenience to attend, and hence you (the pastor) may
exempt them from attending it.
"3rd. In all these cases the parents should see to it that the
children study the catechism at home, and you ought to take a
special interest in them when thej' come to catechism class."
Archbishop Moeller clearly does not believe in the objection of
bad roads.
The Archbishop has also ruled that those who have made their
first communion are not allowed to attend the public schools ; to
do so special permission must be obtained for each and every case.
According to the Philadelphia /^fcor^ (Nov. 2nd) the custom
house of&cials of the port of Galveston are in need of instruction
720 The Review. 1903.
regarding- the meaning of certain words of the English language.
Two wooden statues were imported for the use of St. Joseph's
Church, Galveston, and although paragraph 649 in the free list of
the Dingley Tariff enumerates plainly, "Regalia and gems, statu-
ary imported solely for religious purposes," which should
admit such goods free of duty, the collector of the port assessed
a tax of 35% of the invoice price, because the statuaries "are not
marble, stone, alabaster, or metal.*' This decision has been ap-
proved by the Board of General Appraisers.
"It is quite evident," says the Record, "that the most hopelessly
wooden heads involved in this transaction were not those of the
effigies of saints imported for St. Joseph's Church, but those re-
posing upon the shoulders of the Galveston collector and the gen-
eral appraisers. They have amended an act of Congress by in-
jecting into it their own stupid notion that a statue must be carved
out of stone or cast from metal. That is statuary as understood
in Kalamazoo, Mich., where President Waite, of the Board of
General Appraisers, comes from."
Is there no remedy for such disgraceful blundering ?
We see from the Philadelphia Record (Nov. 7th), that Rev. Dr. F.
M. Glendennisof New York, son-in-law of Horace Greeley, spoke
in favor of changing the name of the"ProtestantEpiscopalChurch"
at the Episcopal Congress in Pittsburg, and stated that "Prot-
estantism was surely falling."
The Doctor suggested the name of "The Catholic Church of
America" as a substitute, and in arguing for the change, spoke in
part as follows :
"That the mighty house of Protestantism is falling according
to Divine Providence is a fact as sure as that death is coming to
us all, a fact to which our own great leaders bear open witness."
It may probably dawn upon the "leaders" of Protestantism af-
ter some thought, though they may never admit that conclusion
openly, that for the "success" of a religious denomination a little
more is needed than an "attractive" title. For further informa-
tion on this interesting subject Dr. Glendennis and his fellow-be-
lievers are respectfully referred to any priest of the Holy Roman
Catholic Church.
It makes all the difference in the world whether civil war oc-
curs in our country or in some other country. If it be our civil
war, it is our sacred duty to fight it to a finish; if it occur in some
country that is resisting our encroachments, then it is "unneces-
sary and wasteful," and we can not allow the sovereign govern-
ment to put down an insurrection.
An outrage committed by a negro on a white society woman
was punished four hours later by a mob of white and colored peo-
ple hanging the assailant to a tree in Piney Woods, Pass Christian,
Miss. Another striking illustration of our boasted "American
civilization."
*i!!!-%****^S-J*^^f^%-**#**%4S'*%*^****«
If ^belReview. H
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., December 3, 1903. No. 46.
HOW CATHOLIC FREE SCHOOLS CAN BE ESTABLISHED
AND SUPPORTED.
To THE Editor of The Review. — Sir:
INCE you have invited your readers to inform you about
the various means in vogue of raising" the necessary
revenue for Catholic free schools, I will let you know
about our method. Three years ago we built a fine school and
determined that our course of instruction should in every way
be equal, aye superior, to that of our local public and high
school. Hence we established the graded system and added
the high-school course. In order to induce all the children
to come, the rector announced that the instruction would be
absolutely "free" in the full sense of the word. The result :
when we opened we had every Catholic child in school. The pas-
tor declared he would for the present be satisfied with his
support and use his salary for the school ; when the con-
templated new church would have been built, he hoped that
the pew-rent would be large enough for his salary and the sup-
port of the school. Hence from the pew-rent of our little church,
having a seating capacity of only 200, we supported our pastor
and six sisters for two years. Our new church is built now, and
the pastor announced recently that the pew-rent would be ample
to pay both his salary and that of the sisters.
In a neighboring parish the same conditions prevailed ; their
pastor solved the difficulty in the same manner : the children quit
paying a cent of tuition.
In still another parish of our county the school has been a free
one for upwards of fifteen years ; the more generous and better
722 The Review. 1903.
situated people in the parish, whether they have children or not,
making- an annual donation for its support.
In a few other schools of our county the parish gets the bene-
fit of part of the public school fund — the district being entirely
Catholic ; the balance is made up by donations of generous people.
Thus our Catholic schools in this county are — every one — free
schools, not a sing-le child paying tuition. With us a "Catholic
free school" is not a novelty, but the established, proper thing-,
and we smiled when a short while ago the Catholic papers made
so much ado about a parish in Quincy, 111., heralding far and wide
the fact that its school had been put on the basis of free tuition.
I believe there are many Catholic schools outside the large
cities which are practically "free schools." Of course, it may be
difficult to adopt similar methods in largfer cities, but allow me to
make a few suggestions :
Let the pastors in our larg-e cities give up their rivalry in outdo-
ing each other in the magnificence of their church buildings and
equipment. Let them refrain from building churches beyond the
means of the present generation. Churches are often built that
cost upward of $60-80-100,000, where a $40,000 church would fill the
bill. The church would not be so magnificent, of course, nor its
equipment so dazzling ; but it could be made large enough and de-
cently f u rnished for almost half the money. What reason and what
religion is there in building rich, magnificent temples in the quart-
ers of the poor, when the latter are bled almost to death and a debt
is piled up that coming generations will curse the pastor for mak-
ing. It is no exaggeration to remark that many city parishes have
thousands upon thousands of dollars of indebtedness that should
never have been incurred, and would not have been incurred, but
for the desire of the pastor and sometimes of the people, or both, to
"astonish the natives" and to "beat" their neighbors. Such a
rivalry is unhealthy and dangerous, and the bishops of the coun-
try would confer a boon upon a long suffering Catholic public by
putting a stop to it.
In parishes of this kind there are constant rounds of entertain-
ments, fairs, parties, etc., for the purpose of meeting the interest
and principal of a debt that should never have been made.
If half of these efforts were devoted, as they could be if things
had been managed rightly, to the raising of the revenue for the
current expenses of the parish schools, many a citj'^ parish could
boast a "free school."
I am one of those who sincerely believe that the honor of God
and the salvation of souls are better subserved by having modest,
yet decent, churches and and up-to-date, first-class Catholic "free
schools" with all our children in them, than by having a magnifi-
No. 46. ? , The Review. 723
cent temple but the children largely outside of the Catholic parish
school, either because it beggars the poor people to pay the tuition
for their generally numerous offspring or hurts their natural
pride to be "officially" classified with the poor and on the strength
of this proclaimed fact to be admitted free.
Where a parish school can be supported from the general
funds of the church, it is in my humble opinion sheer folly to
question the wisdom or justice of so doing. The question of jus-
tice is settled by common sense and modern custom in many
lands, and the III. Plenary Council of Baltimore ; the question of
wisdom by the potent fact that in this new land and in our rela-
tively primitive condition, constant appeals to the generosity of
the people, for generations to come, will continue to ring from the
pulpits. H. L.
3f s* 3?
PIVS IX. AND OVR CIVIL WAR.
[From the original MSS. in the Library of Congress, the Amer-
ican Catholic Historical Society recently published in its Records
(xiv, 3) copies of the correspondence relating to the efforts of Pope
Pius IX., as Supreme Head of Christendom, to secure the bles-
sings of peace to the two mighty powers at war in the United
States in the early sixties.
Although some, if not all, of these documents have appeared in
years gone by in print (in periodicals and may be book form), they
now have been brought together for the first time to the advant-
age of the student of history, and we believe we do a good work
in reproducing them in The Review, because, as our readers
know, the attitude of Pius IX. in regard to our Civil War is fre-
quently and grossly misrepresented.]
His Holiness Pope Pius IX. to Archbishop Hughes, of New York.
[Translation.]
To Our Venerable Brother, John, Archbishop of New York.
Pope Pius IX.
Venerable Brother: — Health and Apostolic benediction. Among
the various and most oppressive cares which weigh on us in these
turbulent and perilous times, we are greatly affected by the truly
lamentable state in which the Christian people of the United States
of America are placed by the destructive Civil War broken out
among them.
For, Venerable Brother, we can not but be overwhelmed with
the deepest sorrow while we recapitulate, with paternal feelings,
the slaughter, ruin, destruction, devastation, and other innumer-
able and ever-to-be-deplored calamities by which the people them-
selves are most miserably harassed and dilacerated. Hence, we
724 The Review. 1903.
have not ceased to offer up, in the humility of our hearts, our most
fervent prayers to God, that He vt^ould deliver them from so many
and so great evils. And we are fully assured that you also. Ven-
erable Brother, pray and implore, without ceasing, the Lord of
Mercies to grant solid peace and prosperity to that country. But
since we, by virtue of the office of our Apostolic ministry, em-
brace, with the deepest sentiments of charity, all the nations of
the Christian world, and, though unworthy, administer here on
earth the vicegerent work of Him who is the Author of Peace and
the Lover of Charity, we can not refrain from inculcating, again
and again, on the minds of the people themselves, and their chief
rulers, mutual charity and peace.
Wherefore we write you this letter, in which we urge you, Ven-
erable Brother, with all the force and earnestness of our mind, to
exhort, with your eminent piety and episcopal zeal, your clergy
and faithful to offer up their prayers, and also apply all your
study and exertion, with the people and their chief rulers, to re-
store forthwith the desired tranquiUity and peace by which the
happiness of both the Christian and the civil republic is princi-
pally maintained. Wherefore, omit nothing you can undertake
and accomplish, by your wisdom, authority and exertions, as far
as compatible with the nature of the holy ministry, to conciliate
the minds of the combatants, pacify, reconcile, and bring back
the desired tranquillity and peace, by all the means that are most
conducive to the best interests of the people.
Take every pains, besides, to cause the people and their chief
rulers seriously to reflect on the grievous evils with which they
are afflicted, and which are the result of civil war, the direst, most
destructive and dismal of all the evils that could befall a people or
nation. Neither omit to admonish and exhort the people and their
supreme rulers, even in our name, that with conciliated minds
they would embrace peace, and love each other with uninterrupted
charity. For we are confident that they would comply with our
paternal admonitions and hearken to our words the more willingly
as of themselves they plainly and clearly understand that we are
influenced by no political reasons, no earthly considerations, but
impelled solely by paternal charity and peace, to exhort them to
charity and peace. And study, with your surpassing wisdom, to
persuade all that true prosperity, even in this life, is sought for
in vain out of the true religion of Christ and its salutary doctrines.
We have no hesitation. Venerable Brother, but that calling to
your aid the services and assistance even of your associate bishops
you would abundaotly satisfy our wishes, and by your wise and
prudent efforts bring a matter of such moment to a happy ter-
mination.
We wish you, moreover, to be informed that we write, in a
No. 46. The Review. 725
similar manner, this very day to our Venerable Brother, John
Mary [Odin], Archbishop of New Orleans, that, counseling- and
conferring- with you, he would direct all his thought and care most
earnestly to accomplish the same object.
May God, rich in mercy, grant that these, our most ardent de-
sires, be accomplished, and as soon as possible our hearts may
exult in the Lord over peace restored to that people.
In fine, it is most pleasing to us to avail ourselves of this oppor-
tunity to again testify the special esteem in which we hold you, of
which, also receive a most assured pledge, the Apostolic Benedic-
tion, which coming from the inmost recesses of our heart, we most
lovingly bestow upon you. Venerable Brother, and the flock com-
mitted to your charge.
Dated Rome, at St. Peter's, October 18th, 1862, in the seven-
teenth year of our Pontificate. Pius IX, Pope.*)
President Davis to A. Dudley Mann, the Commissioner of the
Confederate States to Belgium.
Department of State,
Richmond, 23rd Sept., 1863.
Sir :— The President, having read the published letter of his
Holiness Pope Pius the Ninth, inviting the Catholic Clergy of
New Orleans and New York to use all their efforts for the restor-
ation of peace in our country, has deemed it proper to convey to
His Holiness, by letter, his own thanks and those of our people
for the Christian charity and spmpathy displayed in the letter of
His Holiness, as published, and of which you will find a copy an-
nexed.
The President, therefore, directs that you proceed in person to
Rome, and there deliver to His Holiness the President's Letter,
herein enclosed, and of which a copy is also enclosed for your own
information, and you will receive herewith a special Commission
appointing you as Envoy for the purpose above expressed.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. P. Benjamin,
A. Dudley Mann, Esq., Secretary of State.
Commissioner, &c., &c., Brussels.
The Same To The Same.
Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States
of America.
To A. Dudley Mann, Greeting.
Reposing special trust and confidence in your prudence, integ-
rity and ability, I do appoint you, the said A. Dudley Mann, Special
*) This is a very poor tra nslation, but, not having the original Latin text for comparison, we
d.0 not venture to imp rove it, hut give it as we find it in the "Records." — A. P.
726 The Review. 1903.
Envo}^ of the Confederate States of America, to proceed to the
Holy See and to deliver to its Most Venerable Chief, Pope Pius
IX., Sovereign Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, a communi-
cation, which I have addressed to His Holiness under date of the
twenty-third of this month.
Given under my hand and the seal of the Confederate States of
America, at the City of Richmond, this 24th day of September, in
the year of our Lord 1863. Jefferson Davis.
Loco + Sig-ni. By the President.
J. P. Benjamin,
Secretary of State.
President Davis to His Holiness Pope Pius IX.
Executive Ofl3.ce,
Richmond, September 23rd, 1863.
Most Venerable Chief of the Holy See and Sovereign Pontiff
of the Roman Catholic Church :
The letters which your Holiness addressed to the venerable
chiefs of the Catholic clergy in New Orleans and New York have
been brought to my attention ; and I have read with emotion the
terms in which you are pleased to express the deep sorrow with
which you regard the slaughter, ruin and devastation consequent
on the war now waged by the Government of the United States
against the States and the People over which I have been chosen
to preside ; and in which you direct them, and the clergy under
their authority, to exhort the people and the rulers to the exercise
of mutual charity and the love of peace. I am deeply sensible of
the Christian charity and sympathy with which your Holiness has
twice appealed to the venerable clergy of your church, urging
them to use and apply all study and exertion for the restoration
of peace and tranquillity.
I, therefore, deem it my duty to offer to your Holiness, in my
own name and in that of the people of the Confederate States, the
expression of our sincere and cordial appreciation of the Christian
charity and love by which your Holiness is actuated, and to as-
sure you that this people, at whose hearth-stones the enemy is now
pressing with threats of dire oppression and merciless carnage,
are now, and ever have been, earnestly desirous that this wicked
war shall cease; that we have offered at the foot-stool of our Father
who is in Heaven prayers inspired by the same feelings which
animate your Holiness ; that we desire no evil to our enemies, nor
do we covet any of their possessions, but are only struggling to
the end that they shall cease to devastate our land and inflict use-
less and cruel slaughter upon our people, and that we be per-
No. 46. The Review. 727
mitted to live at peace with all mankind, under our own laws and
institutions, which protect every man in the enjoyment not only
of his temporal rights, but of worshipping God according to his
own faith.
I, therefore, pray your Holiness to accept from me, and from
the people of the Confederate States, this assurance of our sincere
thanks for your effort to aid the cause of peace, and of our earn-
est wishes that your life may be prolonged and that God may have
you in His holy keeping. Jefferson Davis,
President Confederate States of N. America.
His Holiness Pope Pius IX. to President Davis.
[Endorsed.] Translation from the original copy, in Latin, by
the Foreign Office of the Pontifical States, in compliance with my
suggestion. [Endorsement apparently by President Davis.]
To the Illustrious and Honorable Jefferson Davis, President of
the Confederate States of America.
Pius IX. Richmond.
Illustrious and Honorable Sir, Greeting.
We recently received, with all the kindness that was due to him,
the Envoy sent by Your Excellency to convey to Us your Letter
dated the 23rd of the month of September of the present year. It
was certainly a cause of no ordinary rejoicing to Us to be informed
— by this gentleman and by the Letter of Your Excellency — of
the lively satisfaction You experienced, and of the deep sense of
gratitude You entertained towards Us, Illustrious and Honorable
Sir, when You first perused Our Letters addressed to those
Venerable Brothers, John, Archbishop of New York, and John,
Archbishop of New Orleans, on the 18th of October of last year,
in which we again and again strongly urged and exhorted those
Venerable Brothers, on account of their great piety and episcopal
solicitude, to make it the object of their constant efforts and of
their earnest study, acting thus in Our name, to put an early end
to the fatal civil war prevailing in that country, and to re-establish
among the American people peace and concord, as well as feelings
of mutual charity and love. It was also peculiarly gratifying to
Us to hear that You, Illustrious and Honorable Sir, as well as the
people whom you govern, are animated by the same desire for
peace and tranquillity which We so earnestly inculcated in the
Letters referred to, addressed to the said Venerable Brothers.
Would to God that the other inhabitants of those regions (the
Northern people), and their rulers, seriously reflecting upon the
fearful and mournful nature of intestine warfare, might, in a dis-
passionate mood, hearken to and adopt the counsels of peace I
728 The Review. 1903.
We, on Our part, shall not cease offering- up Our most fervent
prayers to Almighty God, begging- and supplicating Him, in His
Goodness, to pour out upon all the people of America a spirit of
Christian charity and peace, and to rescue them from the multi-
tude of evils now afflicting them. We also pray the same All-
clement Lord of Mercies to cause to shine upon Your Excellency
the Light of His Divine Grace and to unite You and Ourselves in
bonds of perfect love.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, the 3rd day of December, 1863,
in the eighteenth year of our Pontificate. Pius PP. IX.
Judah P. Benjamin to A. Dudley Mann.
Department of State,
Hon. A. Dudley Mann, Richmond, 1st Feb., 1864.
&c., &c., &c.,
Brussels, Belgium.
Sir : — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt, in due
course, of your despatches from No. 59 to No. 70, both inclusive —
the No. 59 received on the 31st Oct. and No. 70 on the 16th ulto.
As I was aware that you must have received my No. 9 about the
end of October, and would, therefore, be absent from your post,
I delayed acknowledgement, the more especially as your des-
patches, while keeping the Department advised of the current of
political events in Europe, contained no matter of business re-
quiring special answer.
The President has been much gratified at learning the cordial
reception which you received from the Pope, and the publication
of the correspondence here (of which I send you a newspaper slip)
has had a good effect. Its best influence, as we hope, will be felt
elsewhere in producing a check on the foreign enlistments made
by the United States. As a recognition of the Confederate States,
we can not attach to it the same value that you do — a mere infer-
ential recognition, unconnected with political action or the regu-
lar establishment of diplomatic relations, possessing none of the
moral weight acquired for awaking the people of the United States
from their delusion that these States still remain members of the
old Union. Nothing will end the war but the utter exhaustion of
the belligerents, unless by the action of some of the leading
powers of Europe in entering into formal relations with us, the
United States are made to perceive that we are, in the eyes of the
world, a separate nation, and that the war now waged by them is
^foreign, not an intestine or civil waiV, as it is termed by the Pope.
This phrase of his letter shows that his address to the President
No. 46. The Review. 729
as "'President of the Confederate States" is a formula of politeness
to his correspondent, not a political recognition of a fact. None
of our public journals treat the letter as a recognition in the sense
you attach to it, and Mr. Slidell writes that the Nuncio at Paris,
on whom he called, had received no instructions to put his official
visa on our passports, as he had been led to hope from his corres-
pondence with you. This, however, may have been merely a de-
lay in the sending of the instructions.
Without having anything special to communicate, as you receive
the news through the papers so much more promptly than I can
send it, I deem it proper to inform you that no reliance whatever
is to be placed on the accounts with which the Northern papers
are filled as to the condition of the Confederacy. Altho' for
some time after the defeat of our army at Missionary Ridge there
was great despondency and gloom (the natural reaction after the
exaggerated expectations of the results of the victory at Chica-
mauga), those feelings have passed away, and our army, both in
the West and in Northern Virginia, is now enthusiastically re-
enlisting for the war by brigades, which give unanimous votes.
We shall take the field in the Spring with largely recruited forces.
There has been less promptness and energy in the legislation
by Congress than we had hoped for, and less than the magnitude
of the interests at stake warranted us in expecting. But the sub-
jects for discussion were important and difficult, and it was no
easy matter to reconcile conflicting opinions. There remain but
about two weeks of the session, and as the debates have exhausted
the subjects for legislation, we may now rely on the early passage
of the measures needed for infusing renewed energy into our op-
erations.
It does not seem to me, but I may be over-sanguine, that the
finances of the North can stand the tension of their enormous ex-
penditure beyond the present campaign. As our own embarrass-
ments proceed solely from an excessive issue of currency, held
entirely at home, they are easily remedied by proper legislation.
Those of the North involve their relations with the whole world,
their external commerce, and the whole framework of their gov-
ernment. If they can not borrow money they can not keep an
army in the field, while we can. So far as finances are concerned,
our ability to resist is without limit, and it now seems to me that
in the exhaustion of their means of raising money will be found
the agency that is to put an end to the struggle.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. P. Benjamin,
Secretary of State.
730 The Review. 1903.
A. Dudley Mann to President Davis.
[Endorsed.] Rec'd Oct. 10th, 1864.
Brussels, May 9th, 1864.
Mr. President :
Herewith I have the honor to transmit the letter which His
Holiness Pope Pius IX. addressed to your Excellency on the 3rd
of December last. Mr. W. Jefferson Buchanan has obligingly
undertaken its conveyance, and will deliver it in person.
This letter will grace the archives of the Executive Ofi&ce in all
coming time. It will live, too, forever in story as the production
of the first Potentate who formally recognized your official posi-
tion and accorded to one of the diplomatic representatives of the
Confederate States an audience in an established Court Palace,
like that of St. James or the Tuileries.
I have the honor to be, with the most distinguished considera-
tion, your Excellency's obedient servant,
A. Dudley Mann.
His Excellency, Jefferson Davis,
President C. S. A.,
Richmond.
A^* A^ .*rff
^ tS ^
THE ORIENTATION OF THE LODGE.
Our last quotation, while interesting in as much as it placed
more clearly before us the intimate relationship existing between
Masonry and the ancient pagan brethren, has drawn us a little
aside from sun-worship. Mackey's Masonic Ritualist, on pp. 59
and 60, brings us back to this cardinal point.
"A lodge," he says, "is situated due east and west, because
when Moses crossed the Red Sea, being pursued by Pharoah and
his host, he erected on the other side, by divine command, a tab-
ernacle, which he placed due east and west to receive the first rays
of the rising sun and to commemorate that mighty east wind by
which that miraculous deliverance was effected. This tabernacle
was an exact pattern of Solomon's temple, of which every lodge
is a representation ; and it is or ought therefore to be placed due
east and west."
On reading this passage, one would be inclined to believe that
the Masonic lodge was intended to be an exact counterpart of the
tabernacle of the wilderness, or at least an exact copy of the
temple, for which, we are told, the tabernacle furnished the pat-
tern. "The tabernacle and the temple faced east : The lodge is
a copy of these : Therefore it should face east." Such seems to
be the evident argument. We are sorry that, on the strength of
No. 46. The Review. 731
information given us on p. 29, we must reject the argument and
seek elsewhere for the reason of this orientation. Learn from
the following passage how little reliance is to be put on Masonry
when it appeals for its symbolism to the Old Testament. Our
author is speaking of the Three Gates which Masonic legend at-
tributes to the temple.
"Dr. Dalcho, in his 'Orations,' " he says, "has found great fault
with the York rite of Masonry, because it has in its ceremonies
perpetrated the error of furnishing the Temple of Solomon with
three gates — one at the south, one at the west, and one at the
east — while, in truth, there was but one gate to the temple, and
that was in the porch at the east end. But the real error lies with
Dr. Dalcho, who has mistaken a symbolical allusion for an his-
torical statement. It is not pretended that, because Masonry has
adopted the Temple of Jerusalem as the groundwork or element-
ary form of all its symbols, a lodge is therefore ever expected,
except in a symbolical sense, to be a representative of the temple.
On the contrary, the very situation of a lodge is the exact reverse
of that of the Temple. The entrance of the former is at the west,
that of the latter was at the east. The most holy place of a lodge
is its eastern end, that of the Temple was its western extremity."
With such striking dissimilarities between the Temple and the
lodge, it is evident that the former is not the pattern of the latter ;
"is an elementary form or groundwork," and nothing more. The
argument, therefore, "the tabernacle or temple was so and so ;
therefore a lodge should be so and so ;" has no value save as a
blind. We must seek the reason elsewhere and we shall find it,
where we should expect to find it, in ancient paganism.
"The orientation of the lodges," says our author on p. 60, "or
their position due east and west, is derived from the universal
custom of antiquity. 'The heathen temples,' says Dudley, 'were
so constructed that their length was directed towards the east,
and the entrance was by a portico at the western front, where the
altar stood, so that the votaries approaching for religious rites
directed their faces towards the east, the quarter of sunrise.'
The primitive reason of the custom undoubtedly is to be found in
the early prevalence of sun-worship, and hence the spot where
the luminary first made his appearance in the heavens was con-
secrated in the minds of his worshipers as a place entitled to
peculiar reverence. Long after the reason had ceased, the cus-
tom continued to be observed, and Christian churches still are
built, when circumstances will permit, with a particular reference
to an east and west position. Freemasonry, retaining in its sym-
bolism the typical reference of the lodge to the world, and con-
stantly alluding to the sun in his apparent diurnal revolution, im-
^32 The Review. 1903.
perativelj requires, when it can be done, that the lodge should
be situated due east and west, so that every ceremony shall re-
mind the Mason of the prog-ress of that luminary."
The orientation of the lodge, therefore, dear reader, is not de-
rived from the location of tabernacle or temple, except in as much
as to the Mason their position expresses what he calls the uni-
versal custom of antiquity derived from the primitive system of
sun-worship. This it is, and not anything distinctive of Judaism,
that claims his attention and reverence. In the temple he may
take or leave whatever suits him, but it is imperative that he con-
form, wherever he can do it, to whatever refers to the apparent
motion of the sun. Every ceremony of the lodge must keep him
in mind of this. This is heathenism, its temples, its ceremonies,
its doctrines, its mysteries constantly kept under our eyes as
models of Masonry, nay as Masonry itself in lifeblood and spirit.
Here there is never anything sectarian, it is always universal ;
the ceremonies are "sacred and solemn"; "the temples are con-
secrated in the minds of those who worship in them as places of
peculiar reverence"; the doctrines are expressions of the "primi-
tive religion of our race," the parent of sun-worship. When
Christianity is spoken of, it is made by cunning insinuation rather
than by open assertion to conform to and express the heathen
type. "Christian churches still are built, when circumstances
will permit, with a particular reference to an east and west posi-
tion." Our author is better acquainted with pagan than he is
with Christian customs; our churches face north, south, east
and west according to convenience, and if they faced east, it
would not be with any reference to the material sun, the dispen-
ser of physical light, but to the spots hallowed by the life and
death of Jesus Christ, the eternal "Sun of Justice."
3? sr 3?
BOOK REVIEWS.
T/ie Paiernosler Boo^s, a. Series oi Devotional Tresitises. B. Herder,
St. Louis, Mo. Price 30cts. each, net.— 1. A Mirror for Monks, by
L. Blosius. 2. A Short Rule and Daily Exercise for a Beginner in
the Spiritual Life, by L. Blosius. 3. The Oratory of the Faithful
Soul, by L. Blosius. 4. The Four Last Things, by Bl. Thomas
More. 5. A Spiritual Consolation, etc., by Bl. John Fisher,
Bishop of Rochester.
The Paternoster Books are a timely undertaking. The selec-
tion is made with a view to win the laity, and the small, hand-
somely bound volumes will greatly facilitate their introduction
into Catholic families.
No. 46. The Review. 733
1.-3. It would be superfluous to say much of Blosius as an as-
cetical writer. His writings were one of his most powerful means
to reform communities and monasteries. In 'A Short Rule/
the faithful will find valuable suggestions for a life of Christian
perfection. The 'Daily Exercises' in the same volume, and the
'Oratory of the Faithful Soul,' containing religious thoughts for
every day of the week, are store-houses of spiritual wisdom.
4. More and Fisher can not be put aside as lacking sufficient
experience in the hardships of everyday life. The name of either
author will induce many a layman, who generally leaves ascetical
books untouched, to buy and read their works. The quaint old
style makes More's treatise fascinating ; the directness of
mediaeval expression, sometimes perhaps not according to modern
taste, renders it original and attractive. The exposition is logical
and convincing.
5. We are certain that many Catholics in their last hour could
apply the words of the Blessed Martyr-Bishop Fisher to them-
selves : "Me seemeth now that I cast away my sloth and negligence,
compelled by force." Let them listen now to the prisoner and
learn from him to value their time and to prepare in good season
for a happy death. Religious may perhaps set more value on
Fisher's second treatise, 'The Ways of Perfect Religion,' than on
Blosius' 'Mirror for Monks,' whereas the third, "A Sermon on
the Passion," is a splendid "mirror" for lenten preachers.
A Precursor oy SL Philip. (Buonsignore Cacciaguerra) by Ladj'-
Amabel Kerr. 196 pages. St. Louis: B. Herder, 1903. Price
$1.25 net.
For almost forty years Cacciaguerra had "trodden the paths
of unrestrained license." It was therefore not enough for him to
become "essentially a penitent to the end of his life." As a lay-
apostle, and even more after he had received the priestly charac-
ter, be endeavored to draw n en to a more free and generous use
of the sacraments. Whether and in how far he influenced St.
Philip Neri, who lived with him for many years, at San Girolamo,
is almost impossible to state. It is but natural, however, to sus-
pect som6 influence. It seems, Cacciaguerra finally became aware
that he was too severe in his direction of souls. For he said to
his disciples who stood around his death-bed, "Weep not, for
there remains one with you, who will do more for you than I could
have ever done." Justly, therefore, our author styles Cacciaguerra
the precursor of St. Philip. The book is a beautiful picture of a
zealous priest, drawn by a loving master-hand.
734
MINOR TOPICS.
How Catholics Can Exert a Social Influence Against Divorce. — When
Cardinal Gibbons was asked some weeks ago, how Catholics
could exert their influence ag-ainst the custom of divorce that is
prevailing- so generally in this country, he replied that : "Catholic
ladies can not well take upon themselves to regulate the customs
of society, situated as they are in this country. Therefore, he
would not say that they should not meet married divorced people
in general gatherings. But he would advise them neither to invite
such people to their social functions, nor to accept any invitations
from them to attend theirs." This position of the Cardinal
commends itself even to Protestant church papers. "Among-
respectable people" says the Baptist Watchman (quoted in the N.
Y. Evening Post oi Oct. 31st) "social customs have quite as much
to do with divorce as the permissions of legislation. If every one
understood that if a defendant in a divorce suit remarried, he or
she would be socially ostracised in the circle in which they moved,
people would think a gfood many times before they incurred this
penalt3\ The fact that society condones these offences does more
to debase current moral standards than anything leg-islators can
do. Ordinarily decent people pay far more attention to the
standards set by society than to those established by law. If the
leading members of society in any place should adopt the rule
suggested by Cardinal Gibbons and neither invite such ('married
divorced') people to their social functions, nor accept any invita-
tions from them to attend theirs, the violations of the New Testa-
ment law of morality would be pretty effectively discouraged."
The Morality of Hypnotism. — Two valuable articles on "The Moral-
ity of Hypnotism," which recently appeared in a Catholic maga-
zine, are thus summarized and commented by the esteemed Casket
(No. 43) : "The author gives the conclusion reached by the
distinguished Jesuit theologian, Lehmkuhl, that with proper pre-
cautions the use of hypnotism in medical practice is lawful,
especially if diseases can be cured by this means which will not
yield to any other kind of treatment, a theory which physicians
now declare to be an established fact. By way of warning, a
writer in the London Month is quoted as saying- : 'Save in the
hands of duly qualified operators, and very few can attain that
position, attempts at hypnotism are nothing short of criminal, as
necessarily involving a terrible disturbance of the whole nervous
system, a disturbance which may extend to all the faculties.' We
have seen a physician of good standing in one of the largest cities
in Canada hpynotize a woman against her will for the amusement
of a drawing-room. She had on some previous occasion allowed
him to hypnotize her for the purpose of medical treatment, and
his subsequent employment of the power thus acquired was a
gross abuse. Assuredly such men should never be permitted to
practice hypnotism at all. The same prohibition, enforced by
law if necessary, should be laid upon those who go about giving-
hypnotic exhibitions to amuse the crowds of gaping sight-seers
who are willing to pay to witness the fun."
No. 46. The Review. 735
A subscriber in the North writes us :
A year ago last summer, a certain Father Maher went through
this State, visiting priests to induce them to take stock in a book
firm in New York, whose object it is to sell Catholic books at rea-
sonable prices. For an inducement he read to me the names of
those who had given notes or cash. I was indeed surprised to
hear so many clergymen had subscribed large sums of money.
One had put in $1,800, some $1,000, $800, most of them $100. Now
if the same were done for a Catholic daily newspaper, I should
think hundreds of priests could be found willing to put in a cer-
tain amount of money. The more stockholders, the more sub-
scribers. I believe the weekly papers would not suffer by a daily;
on the contrary, they would obtain more reliable news, and their
subscribers would rather increase than decrease, for the reason
that they would be able to offer better and more instructive in-
formations. Those who subscribe to a weekly paper only will not
keep a daily, even if it be Catholic. For subscribers we should
have to rely mainly on those families who now keep (indifferent
or anti-Catholic) daily papers.
I believe the main difficulty lies in finding the proper editors
and managers.
The power to declare war is vested by the Constitution in Con-
gress. Yet, as constitutional students have long since pointed
out, a meddlesome and unscrupulous president, through his
handling of foreign affairs, has practically the power of forcing
Congress and the country into war. President Hayes, after his
retirement, in a private conversation with Mr. Stevens, made
some suggestive remarks on the powers of the presidency in this
regard, which that writer embodied in his book on the Constitu-
tion. No man, said Mr. Hayes, has ever been able to define the
vague power of the president of the United States. Napoleon, he
argued, could make of that office whatever he wished, under the
indefinite "war powers." And Mr. Hayes pointed out how easy
it was, by indiscretions or calculated mischief-making in foreign
relations, for the president to embroil the country in war. Our
safeguard hitherto, said the ex-President, has been in the fact
that all our presidents have been "conservative and conscientious
men." The events of the past few weeks cause one to wonder if
Mr. Roosevelt is anxious to make a break in that honorable tradi-
tion.
Morley's Life of Gladstone reveals the fact that the famous
pamphlet entitled 'Vaticanism,' in which Gladstone endeavored
to prove that the decree of infallibility had made it impossible for
a loyal Englishman to be a Catholic, was revised and corrected by
Lord Acton and Dr. Bollinger. Acton, though he never openly
left the Church, was certainly a disloyal son to her at that time ;
and Bollinger died, so far as we know, in unrepented heresy.
Newman's 'Letter to the Buke of Norfolk' demolished the pam-
phlet, but the great Oratorian took the sting out of it by a kindly
private letter to Gladstone , ending with the words, "I do not think
I ever can be sorry for what I have done, but I never can cease to
be sorry for the necessity of doing it." — Casket (No. 45.)
736 The Review. 1903.
We heartily agree with the Hartford Catholic T?-anscript when
it says (No. 22) of the so-called Catholic controversy going on in
the New York Sim (not the first one by the way) that it "is more
salacious than edifying," and we also subscribe to its further ob-
servation : "The Church Militant in America is not perfect — if it
were perfect it would no longer be a part of the Church Militant.
We have shortcomings to deplore and abuses to remedy, but it
will be hard to persuade the saner portion of the Catholic public
that the proper place to weep over, exaggerate, parade, and ridi-
cule our faults, is to be found in the columns of a more or less
hostile journal."
A curious bit of news made public by Mr. Dudley Baxter, in his
recent book, 'England's Cardinals, ' is that Cardinal Reginald Pole,
kinsman of Henry VHI. and last Catholic Archbishop of Canter-
bury, was actually elected pope, but having scruples as to the le-
gality of his election he induced the conclave to set it aside and
choose Julius HI. instead.
The accepted view was that, when a large number of votes had
been given for him in the conclave. Cardinal Pole declined the
honor because of his high conception of the papal dignity. (Cfr.
Kirchenlexikon, X, 129.)
The revelations of the "business" methods employed in form-
ing the great ship-builders' trust should open the eyes of the pub-
lic to the standards of business morality prevailing in our financial
circles of the highest reputation. The well-known bankers
Morgan & Co. were the promoters and backers of this enterprise,
which the receiver in his report calls "an artistic swindle." Lack
of space does not permit us to go into details about this stupen-
dous "skin-game," but it will be of interest to our readers to care-
fully watch further developments.
The Good Counsel Magazine, which ought to know better, says
in an obituary notice of Msgr. Schroder (No. 11): "His native
temperament, together with the strait-laced spirit of German or-
thodoxy, which he was imbued with, was a hindrance rather than
an incentive to Catholic progress in this country."
Read "Liberalism" for "Catholic progress," and you have the
plain truth.
Here is a pretty joke from the Valley Magazine (No 9):
"Not very long ago a reporter on an afternoon daily was sent
out on Lindell Boulevard to interview (the late) Archbishop Kain.
At the door he was told that the prelate was very busy and could
not see anyone. 'That's all right, ' answered the scribe. 'Mrs.
Kain will do just as well.' "
The Independent {'No. 2866) clamors for "a religious revival."
The need is undeniable, and the program is at hand in Pius X.'s
encyclical "E supremi Apostolatus."
II XLhc IReview, ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., December 10, 1903. No. 47.
THE TAXATION OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
'he Green Bag, a monthly magazine for lawyers, published
in Boston, gave space in one of its recent issues (vol. xv.
No. 9) to a discussion of the question : "Ought church
property to be taxed?" The article in question, w^ritten by a
member of the legal profession and addressed to the serious con-
sideration of professional readers, has occasioned some comment
in the secular press and seems to have alarmed some of our breth-
ren, who fear that it may be the signal of a campaign to subject
all ecclesiastical property to the burden of general taxation,
equally with every other kind of property over which the State
exercises the taxing power.
We do not share in this apprehension. Neither are we im-
pressed with the labored argumentation by which the writer
strives to sustain his contention that church property ought to be
taxed.
Indeed, so puerile are some of his arguments that we begrudge
the space required to state and answer them. Nor is our respect
for the writer increased by discovering (what is patent on the
face of his paper) that he is not only hostile to all religion, but
that he is especially prejudiced against the Catholic Church. For,
who but an enemy could have revived the stale talk, so prevalent
during the Know-nothing period, about "foreign intervention" and
"foreign control" of church property in this country, "which may
be used against the best interests of the public" (see p. 416).
The writer, Duane Mowry, makes no disguise of his animosity
to churches in general ; for, anticipating the objection that taxa-
tion would drive some church organizations out of existence, he
tells us (p. 417): "If, however the taxation of church property
should prove the weapon of its destruction, the day of its death
738 The Review. 1903.
can hardly come too soon, and furnishes another patent argu-
ment in favor of the contention of this [his] paper," viz., that
church property oug-ht to be taxed.
Briefly stated, the reasons for taxing church property assigned
by Mr. Mowry are : That the Church performs no public office
or function known to the law of the land entitling it to immunity ;
that the exemption of church property involves a union of Church
and State forbidden by law, and that it unjustly favors the church-
going taxpayers at the expense of those who do not believe in any
religion or in a God ; that such exemption tends "to the accumu-
lation of great wealth to be held in mort-main by never-dying cor-
porations independent of the State and which may be used against
the best interests of the public." Lastly the writer tells us in
effect that, since our churches are supported by voluntary contri-
butions, we act inconsistently when we accept immunity from
taxation, which, he says, is not a gift voluntarily bestowed by the
State in the same way as are the ordinarj' offerings of the people.
What may we answer to these specious objections?
Is it true that the Church performs no public office and renders
no public service entitling it to immunit}" from taxation? Such
an objection take a very narrow view of religion and of its influence
on the minds and conduct of men. It assumes that, because we
have no State religion, the State can not take notice of the fact
that many large bodies of its citizens have associated themselves
in institutions which we call churches for the public worship of
the ever-living God in such manner as the conscience of each dic-
tates. It asks us to ignore the motives, the operations, and the
influence which religion has ever exercised, and will continue to
exercise, upon society as well as upon the individual. It stultifies
the wisdom and teachings of the founders of the Republic, through
whose efforts the principle of freedom of religion was incorpor-
ated in the fundamental law of the land ; not for the purpose of
suppressing, but to promote religion ; not that there should be no
church, but that there should be many churches wherein the
Dissenter, the Catholic, the Jew, and all others whose religion had
theretofore been proscribed, might, notwithstanding the diversity
of creeds, offer their public worship to the living God with the
same security and with the same rights before the law as were en-
joyed by those other churches which had previously been sup-
ported by the State.
We have said that the objection urged against the exemption of
ecclesiastical property rests on low ground. It is the plea of the
political economist who regards property only as material for
taxation, and it excludes from consideration those nobler senti-
ments which regard church property as no longer the property
No. 47. The Review. 739
of individuals, but as devoted to the worship of Almigfhty God,
and, by consequence, as belonging to Him, detached from all trib-
ute, tax or service to which the State may ordinarily subject the
property of its citizens. Creeds may vary, dogmatic religion may
decay, as it is fast decaying outside the one true Church, but the
idea of reverence for a Supreme Being, who controls our destinies,
who is entitled to our worship, and whose temples are to remain
secure against the profaning hand of man, will ever remain in-
stinct in the human heart, despite the clamor of all those who
scoff at religion and who say there is no God.
So universal and enduring has been this sentiment of respect
for the temples of religion, that even among the pagan nations of
antiquity any profanation of the idols, temples or of the persons or
things consecrated to their service, was believed to draw down
punishment on the offender.
The Old Testament is full of examples of the punishment suf-
fered by those who in any way trespassed against either the
Temple dedicated to the Most High, or appropriated the offerings
which were made for the support of religion. Under the Chris-
tian dispensation, and among all Christian states and peoples, the
House of God has ever been regarded as an institution apart from
and above ordinary human affairs, as the sacred place dedicated
to the honor and service of Him to whom "belongs the whole earth
and the fulness thereof." And as impressed with this sacred
character, the property of the Church has always been most
jealously guarded by Christian rulers against invasion or inter-
ference.
When the Puritan colonists came over and established their
Biblical Commonwealth, they set up their meeting-houses in New
England, which not only were not taxed, but were supported by
contributions collected from all the people. In Virginia, the State
Church of England was established by law, and all the inhabitants
were forced to contribute for its support. But we know of no in-
stance where any attempt was made to lay a tax directly upon
church property ; and the freedom of religion, which was guaran-
teed by the Constitution and which has now become an essential
feature of our State as well as national government, has always
been interpreted in such a liberal sense as not only to permit the
individual to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of
his own conscience, but also to exempt from taxation all property
devoted to religious purposes and used exclusively Ifor public re-
ligious worship.
This has now become the settled policy of all the States of the
Union, we believe without exception ; and when we look into the
reasons of this policy we find the refutation of the objection that the
740 The Review. 1903.
Church performs no public ofi&ce entitling it to immunity from
taxation. For, there is no truth resting" more firmly on principle,
nor more abundantly proved by the experience of mankind,
than that the welfare of a nation and the stability of government
do not depend on mere social, industrial, or scientific progress,
nor on the accumulation of wealth nor the multiplication of lux-
uries, nor on great armies or navies, nor even on the universal
education of the masses. On the other hand, most certainly the
prosperity of a people does depend on the morality of its citizens,
on the practice of those cardinal virtues of justice, truthfulness,
fair-dealing, and respect for the rights of others, and especially
on the maintenance of the rights and dignity of the family, with-
out which society must disintegrate. The wisest philosophers of
Greece and Rome taught this lesson, and no government, whether
ancient or modern, which might deserve to be called civilized, but
has laid its subjects under the obligation of observing that moral
law of nature which, summed up in the words of the Christian
legist, Justinian? required them "honestc vivere, alterum non
laedere, siium cuigtie t?'ibuej'e" to live honestly, not to hurt any man,
and to give every one that which is his due.
The statesmen and patriots who laid the foundations of this Re-
public, were men of profound religious conviction, who fully real-
ized that the protection of life and liberty and the pursuit of hu-
man happiness, the avowed object and end of government, could
not be successfully achieved without a rigid observance of the
universal moral law ; and hence we find that the State has incor-
porated into its policy and into its laws, not indeed the entire
Decalog, but all those commandments designed to regulate our con-
duct towards our fellow-citizens and towards the State. And
this, not as the teaching of Christianity or of any other pro-
fessed religion, nor by way of positive precept requiring men
to be virtuous, but by a series of enactments forbidding them to
be dishonest or otherwise immoral, prohibiting intemperance,
blasphemy, perjury, fraud, theft, the taking of human life and
various other wrongs done by violence or through licentiousness,
and punishing the violator of these moral laws by penalies pro-
portioned to the seriousness of the offence. Much of the energy
and resources of government are expended in the enforcement
of these moral laws, and our police force and criminal courts, our
State prisons and reformatories, nay, even our alms-houses and
insane asylums, which are maintained to some extent to alleviate
the consequences of moral disorder, one and all attest how costly
a burden on the community is crime and how important it is to the
welfare of the people that men should be persuaded of the wisdom
No. 47. The Review. ' 741
and advantage of conforming- their lives to the standard of the
moral law.
Now, all fair-minded men admit, and we do not need to argue
the point, that the Church is the State's most powerful ally in its
effort to compel the observance of the moral law, to maintain so-
cial order, and thereby to ensure the well-being and happiness of
the people. From every pulpit worthy of the name ministers of
religion, from higher motives, however, than mere State policy,
■are denouncing the wrong-doing which the State condemns and
punishes, and are striving, by every argument which appeals to
the nobler side of human character, to impress on their fellow-
men the duties which they owe to God, to their neighbor, and to
themselves ; to make them in a word loyal and law-abiding citizens.
Is all this effort futile ? Does the Church exert no influence on
the character of the nation ? Let the lives and conduct of the mil-
lions of God-fearing men and women who make up the church
membership, furnish the contradiction. Let the rich say whether
the sentiment of religion inculcated in the churches has moved
them to contribute to the erection of the hospitals, asylums, homes
for suffering humanity with which religion is everywhere ac-
tively identified. Let the poor answer whether anything but the
teachings of religion could have reconciled them to the patient
acceptance of their trying lot.
The State itself acknowledges the efficiency of the Church as
the conservator of peace and order, for, in all the great crises,
whether industrial or political, which have occurred in our his-
tory, when human law was set at defiance and mob rule with its
attendant disasters seemed to be imminent, the authorities of the
nation have turned to the Church for relief and have used its good
ofl&ces to restore peace and tranquillity. Out of our taxes we pay
the police officer whose mere presence deters the wrong-doer.
He is undoubtedly an institution performing a "public service
known to the law," but our adversary strains at the proposition to
exempt our churches from taxation, when, if we may be allowed
the sordid comparison, the Church through its good influences
saves to the State many times the amount of the exemption which
a wise and enlightened public policy has always granted and, we
trust, will continue to grant.
We reserve a few remarks on the other objections for our next
number.
ar '39
742
AN IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE SUPREME
COURT OF WISCONSIN.
Affirming the Right of a Catholic Insurance Society to Expel
A Member Who Does Not Live «up to His Religion.
[Several of our Catholic papers have made brief reference to the
recent decision of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in the case of
Emma S. Barry ag-ainst the Catholic Knights of Wisconsin.
Throug-h the kindness of our friend and subscriber, Judg-e J. H.
M. Wigfman, of Green Bay, whose firm, Wigman, Martin & Martin
acted as attorneys to the respondent, we are enabled to present
to our readers the full and accurate text of this interesting and
important opinion. — A. P.]
This is an action by the plaintiff, as widow of one James H.
Barry, deceased, upon a mutual benefit certificate issued by the
defendant to said James H. Barry in his lifetime.
The action was tried by the court, and the facts necessary to be
stated are undisputed. The defendant is a mutual benefit asso*
ciation incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin for the benefit
of practical Roman Catholics only and providing- the death benefit
of S2,000. Its articles of incorporation provide among other things
that "a member who shall cease to be a practical Catholic or a com-
municant of said Church, or who shall neglect to receive holy com-
munion at least once a year, or who shall join any org-anization con-
demned by the Church, or any society using- the oath of secrecy,
or who shall fail or neglect to pay any assessment or dues within
the time therefor prescribed, shall be discharged and expelled
from membership of this order, and deprived of all benefits
thereof." The constitution of the order provides among other
things as follows : "Sec. 2. No person shall be admitted to mem-
bership in this branch unless he is a practical Catholic and a com-
municant of said Church nor unless he furnish a certificate from
his pastor, or the spiritual director of the branch, that he is a
practical Catholic He must receive holy communion at least
once a year, at Easter or thereabouts, and he shall furnish and file
with the branch a certificate from his pastor or furnish other sat-
isfactory evidence within sixty days after Easter Sunday, certify-
ing or showing that he performed his Easter duty, under penalty
of forfeiture of all benefits Sec. 40. Any member in good
standing shall be permitted to remove from this State to spend
any or the whole part of his life elsewhere without losing his bene-
fits, provided he keeps his assessments and his share of the ex-
penses of the branch to which he may belong and the expenses of
the order paid up as they may become due. He must also, in every
respect, comply with the constitution, laws, rules, and regulations
of the order and furnish to the branch of which he is a member a
No. 47. The Revie-w. 743
certificate once a year from the pastor of the parish in which he
resides, that he is a communicant of said Church, and that he has
received holy communion at least once during the year."
Upon the 24th day of October, 1885, James H. Barry, being then
a single man residing in Madison, made written application for
membership in the Madison branch of the defendant corporation,
in which application he stated as follows : "Having read the con-
stitution and laws of your order, the subordinate constitution and
by-laws, and being fully acquainted with the objects of your order
and fully endorsing them, I desire to become a member of your
branch, and of your order, and if elected eligible to membership
and admitted upon examination, I do promise to faithfully carry
out the principles as set forth in the constitution of your order,
your subordinate constitution and by-laws ; and upon any failure
on my part to strictly conform to the said constitution and subor-
dinate constitution and by-laws, that now, or may hereafter gov-
ern your order, as well as your branch, I do hereby agree to for-
feit all rights to membership and benefits."
Upon this application a benefit certificate was issued to him
December 3rd, 1885, in which his father and sisters were named
as beneficiaries. September 23rd, 1890, Barry was married to the
plaintiff at Batavia, 111., by a Protestant minister ; the plaintiff
having been previously married to one Moulton, whom she left in
1884, there being no evidence as to his death or whether a divorce
had been obtained. On December 19th, 1891, Barry surrendered
the first certificate issued, and a new certificate was issued to him
in which the plaintiff was named as the sole beneficiary ; the de-
fendant's officers not knowing at the time the fact that Barry had
been married by a Protestant minister. This certificate recites
that it is issued in consideration of the statements and represen-
tations made in the original application, which is made a part of
the certificate, and upon the express condition that Barry should
well and truly perform all of the requirements of the constitution,
laws, and regulations of the order then in force or thereafter
adopted ; and provided that if he did do so, and in that case only,
the order would pay to the beneficiaries the death benefit.
From 1893 up to his death Barry lived outside of the State. June
4th, 1893, the Madison branch voted to expel him from the order
because of his marriage by a Protestant minister, by which fact
he ceased to be a practical Catholic. This action was claimed by
the appellant to be void for lack of proper notice and other rea-
sons. Barry died October 11th, 1893 ; proofs of his death in the
ordinary form of life-insurance proofs were tendered to the de-
fendant's officers in due time and refused ; said proofs contained
no statements showing that Barry had performed his church
744 The Review. 1903.
duties as required by the constitution and articles of incorpora-
tion nor that he was at the time of his death a practical Catholic.
There was undisputed proof that, b5^the laws of the Roman Cath-
olic Church, a member thereof who is married by a Protestant
minister, is thereby excommunicated, and the trial court found
that Barry at the time of his death had ceased to be a practical
Catholic, and for that reason the plaintiff was not entitled to re-
cover, and the complaint was dismissed, and the plaintiff appeals.
WiNSLOw, J.: — There were a number of interesting- questions
discussed in the briefs in this case which we have not found it
necessary to consider. To our minds a few simple propositions
demonstrate the correctness of the judgment. The defendant
corporation was org-anized for the sole benefit of members of the
Roman Catholic Church, and for them only so long as they remain
practical Catholics. The decedent in his application for member-
ship understood this and agreed that, if admitted, he would faith-
fully carry out the principles set forth in the constitutiou and by-
laws of the order, and that upon any failure so to do, he should
forfeit all right to membership and benefits. This agreement be-
came part of the contract of insurance by the terms of the certifi-
cate in suit, and the certificate further provided that the death
benefit should only be payable in case the insured should well and
truly perform all the requirements on his part prescribed by the
constitution, by-laws, and reg-ulations of the order during his life-
time. Thus the liability was doubly g-uarded ; first by an ag-ree-
ment to forfeit the benefit in case of non-compliance with the laws
of the order ; and second by a clause making liability dependent
upon compliance. Those contract provisions are self-executing.
The laws of the order provide in terms too plain to be misunder-
stood that none but practical Catholics shall be admitted to the
order, and that members must remain practical Catholics and
communicants of the Church in order to participate in the bene-
fits. The evidence shows that the decedent was i^ so facto excom-
municated and ceased to be a Catholic, practical or otherwise, up-
on being married by a Protestant minister. Thus by virtue of
the provisions of the contract sued on all liability ceased, and ex-
pulsion was not necessary.
An argument is made that these provisions are contrary to the
policy of the law in that they impose a religious test, and sections
18 and 19 of Article I, of the Constitution was cited. The objec-
tion seems puerile. By the provisions no man's conscience is
coerced nor his freedom of worship curtailed. Membership is
purely voluntary. If a man chooses to join an organization having
such requirements, and agrees that he shall forfeit his right to
No. 47. The Review. 745
benefits on failure to live up to them, he is at liberty to do so. All
men may make contracts as they choose, so long as they be not
contrary to law or public policy. The point has been expressly
decided in other courts in accordance with these views. Franta,
T. Union (Mo.) 54 L. R. A. 723 ; Mazorkiewicz v. Society, 127 Mich.
123, 54 L. R. A. 727 ; 86 N. W. 543.
By the Court : Judg-ment affirmed.
"^ »^ Tm
PHALLIC WORSHIP IN MODERN AMERICAN FREEMASONRY.
Have we had enough of paganism, dear reader? If we have
had, not so our Ritualist. Hitherto it has been mainly theorizing,
now it will become more definite and practical. It has spoken of
sun worship and of phallic worship as a prominent feature of it
in the ancient mysteries. It barely touched, however, on the fact
in passing. It is now formally to introduce the candidate to this
feature, which is the essence of Masonry, as it was of heathenism.
If my assertion shocks many, let them remember the "Shock of
Entrance" and the "Shock of Enlightenment," of which I have
spoken in a preceding article. We can not expect to be less
shocked than aspirants to Masonry.
And here I must apologize if this article touches upon matters
that to Christian ears and eyes are not delicate. The fault is not
mine, but Masonry's. I do not ask to be believed on my asser-
tion. I must, therefore, as I have hitherto done, adduce my proofs.
"Our ancient brethren," says Mackey on pp. 61, 62, 63, of his
Masonic Ritualist, "dedicated their Lodges to Solomon, because
he was our first Most Excellent Grand Master ; but modern Ma-
sons dedicate theirs to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evan-
gelist, who were two eminent patrons of Masonry ; and since
their time there is represented in every regular and well-governed
lodge, a certain point within a circle, embordered by two perpen-
dicular parallel lines, representing St. John the Baptist and St.
John the Evangelist ; and upon the top rests the Holy Scriptures.
The point represents an individual brother ; the circle is the
boundary line beyond which he is never to allow his prejudices or
his passions to betray him. In going round this circle we neces-
sarily touch on these two lines as well as in the Holy Scriptures,
and while a Mason keeps himself circumscribed within these due
bounds, it is impossible that he should materially err."
"There !" triumphantly exclaims the defender of Masonry's
moral goodness and Christianity, "what more do you want? Ma-
sonry dedicates its lodges to St. John the Baptist and St. John the
Evangelist, two of its eminent patrons ; the one the precursor of
^■♦^ The Review. 1903.
Christ ; the other, his beloved disciple. It proposes also the
Holy Scriptures as the rule of Masonic conduct. How can you
reconcile such orthodox and Christian sentiments with your pa-
Sran theory of Masonry ?"
Truly, dear reader, the task were hard did not our Ritualist
kindly proffer its aid. Let us allow it to continue its instruction :
"The point within a circle," it says, "is an important and inter-
esting symbol in Freemasonry, but it has been so debased in the
interpretation of it given in the modern lectures, that the sooner
that interpretation is forgotten by the Masonic student, the better
it will be. The symbol is really a beautiful but somewhat abstruse
allusion to the old sun-worship, and introduces us for the first
time to that modification of it known among the ancients as the
worship of the Phallus."
"The phallus," it continues, "was an imitation of the male gen-
erative organ. It was represented usually by a column which was
surrounded by a circle at its base, intended for the cteis, or fe-
male generative organ. This union of the phallus and the cteis
was intended by the ancients as a type of the prolific powers of
nature, which they worshiped under the united form of the active
or male principle, and the passive or female principle. Impressed
by this idea of the union of these two principles, they made the
older of their deities hermaphrodite, and supposed Jupiter, or the
Supreme God, to have within himself both sexes, or, as one of their
poets expresses it, 'to have been created a male and an unpolluted
virgin.' "
"Now this hermaphrodism of the Supreme Divinity," the Ritua-
list goes on to say, "was again supposed to be represented by the
sun, which was the male generative energy, and by nature or the
universe, which was the female prolific principle. And this union
was symbolized in different ways, but principally by the point
within the circle, the point indicating the sun, and the circle the
universe of nature, warmed into life by his prolific rays."
We now come to the Masonic explanation of St. John the Bap-
tist and St. John the Evangelist, the eminent patrons of Masonry.
The Ritualist proceeds :
"The two parallel lines which in the modern lectures are said
to represent St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist,
really allude to particular periods in the sun's annual course. At
two particular periods in this course, the sun is found in the zodi-
acal signs of Cancer and Capricorn, which are distinguished as
the summer and winter solstice. When the sun is in these points,
he has reached respectively his greatest northern and southern
limit. These points, if we suppose the circle to represent the
sun's annual course, will be indicated by the points where the
No. 47. The Review. 747
parallel lines touch the circle. But the days when the sun reaches
these points are the 21st of June and the 22nd of December, and
this will account for their subsequent application to the two Saints
John, whose anniversaries the Church has placed near these
days."
"So," concludes our little guide, "the true interpretation of the
point within the circle is the same as that of the Master and
Wardens of a Lodge. The reference to the symbolism of the
world and the Lodge is preserved in both. The Master and
Wardens are sj^mbols of the sun — the Lodge of the universe or the
world ; the point also is the symbol of the same sun, and the sur-
rounding circle of the universe, while the two parallel lines really
point, not to two saints, but to the two northern and southern
limits of the sun's course."
Few passages of our Ritualist, dear reader, give us a clearer
insight into the hollownessof Masonry's Christian pretenses than
the preceding. It starts out with a great flourish of trumpets in
praise of the two Sts. John, its eminent patrons, only to end up by
telling us that it is not speaking of the historic Saints at all, with
whom it has nothing to do, but with two points of the sun's an-
nual course, the points of its greatest and least fervency. The
sun, and sun worship, and phallic worship, are still its theme.
The names of the two Saipts are used as mere symbols to express
to the initiated the sun in the zodiacal signs of Cancer and Capri-
corn, and to deceive the uninitiated by giving them to believe that
it speaks of the Precursor and the Disciple of Christ.
We confess that when we first read the words, we were in part
deceived. We took them, as one uninitiated would naturally take
them, and supposed that the expressions, however erroneously
used, referred to the historic Saints. |We remembered what we
had read about these same Saints in the directions for opening a
lodge, and never imagined that hypocrisy could go so far.
"A lodge is then declared," said our author on p. 14, "a lodge is
then declared in the name of God and the Holy Saints John to be
opened in due form, on the first, second or third degree of Ma-
sonry, as the case may be."
"A lodge is said to be opened in the name of God and the Holy
Saints John \\.h.& Italics here are our author's), "as a declaration of
the sacred and religious purposes of our meetings, of our pro-
found reverence for that Divine Being whose name and attributes
should be the constant themes of our contemplation and of our
respect for those ancient patrons whom the traditions of Masonry
have so intimately connected with the history of the institution."
Compare the two passages and form your own conclusions.
The lodge is opened in the name of God and His Holy Saints I
748 The Review. 1903.
And who are those Holy Saints? Two points in the sun's annual
course. In the name of God and the zodiacal signs of Cancer and
Capricorn, the Holy Saints John of Masonry, the lodge is opened
for sacred and religious purposes I And lif the "Holy Saints" of
Masonry are such, what is the God of whom it speaks? What is
the worship to which it introduces its candidate, for my reader
will be astonished to learn that we are only in the lowest degree
of Masonry, in that, namely, of Entered Apprentice. The wor-
ship is phallic worship, whose god were the generative faculties
of man ; and hence "in every regular and well-governed lodge"
there is found the pagan symbol of that worship, the point within
the circle. In fact the whole symbolism of Masonry has this alone
in view. The very constitution of its lodge is an expression of it.
The lodge represents the universe or nature, which in turn, as
our author tells us, is the symbol of the female generative potency.
The three principal officers represent the sun at rising, at mid-
day, at setting, which is but a symbol of man's passions in man-
hood, middle age, and decline. These same officers are represented
by columns. The lodge is said symbolically to rest upon the
columns of wisdom and strength and beauty, and our author has
told us in the present passage what a column signifies. It is the
male generative principle.
The worship of the procreative powers of nature was, as is
known to every classical student, the scope of the pagan myster-
ies. He who gives them a different object, is either sublimely ig-
norant himself, or counts on the sublime ignorance of those whom
he addresses. Masonry, the legitimate child of these mysteries,
in whom is their lifeblood and spirit, is not untrue to its descent.
And this will become plainer and plainer as we pursue our study.
No wonder, then, that the sanctity and perpetuity of Christian
marriage is distasteful to the "Brethren," and that, where Ma-
sonry rules, divorce invariably reigns. Let the Ritualist, if it
will, call its symbol beautiful and abstruse; there is no accounting
for tastes ; let it constitute the religious cult of Masonry, as the
pagans did, in the indulgence of sensual desire ; we thank it for
the key to its system of religion, for it opens up to us the meaning
of many passages which otherwise were not easily intelligible.
Its "important symbol found in every well-regulated lodge," is a
symbol of indulgence, the old phallic worship of the pagans, and
over this preside its Holy Summer and Winter Solstice and that
luminary whose apparent course in the heavens is recalled in
every ceremony of the lodge.
749
MEDIEVAL HVMOR.
Among-st the ruling characteristics of German life in the Middle
Ages, next to religious earnestness, was fresh and hearty humor.
The sport of the intellect with contrasts, which forms the
kernel, as it were, of humor, if not exclusively the attribute of
Christian art and literature, is at any rate a very marked feature
of it. For as it was Christianity that first brought out in conscious
relief the height and depth of the human spirit as well as the re-
lations between human freedom and the eternal laws of God, and
thus established a firm centre round which the play with oppo-
sites might move ; so long, therefore, as personal, domestic, and
public life all rested on the basis of Christianity, so long as the
Church was a centre of unity of the complicated organism of so-
ciety in the Middle Ages, the humorous vein in the national life
flowed on with vigor and freshness, branching out in every direc-
tion and enlivening every department of life. Witness the pic-
turesqueness and poetry of the popular manners, the various
feasts and public sports — some of them singular — in which the
jester and the donkey played a prominent part.*) The innumer-
able witty sayings, comic tales, pictures and caricatures of that
age attest the truth of this statement. It is only where faith
reigns and heart and will are alike healthy and strong, that fun
and humor thrive abundantly ; for only in times when this is the
case, are men free and bold, because they are filled with the joy
and courage of life ; they are mirthful and jolly and yet suffer no
serious harm, even if their humor transcends the bounds and
grows into comedy and satire. In times of unbelief or narrow
bigotry and fanaticism, on the other hand, popular humor disap-
pears.
Had the Church desired in the Middle Ages to suppress popu-
lar humor, the strength of her power and influence would have
made it an easy matter ; but such discipline was far from her
system. Embracing all men in her fold, she understood their
various wants and aspirations and encouraged a free and inde-
pendent expression of their feelings, so long as the faith as such,
and she herself as its guardian, were not impugned ; she fostered
and encouraged the spirit of humor, and, so to speak, allowed it
to mount guard over the holy places, as if to keep man mindful of
the distance between the sacred and the profane. Not only on
the buttresses and water-spouts and other exterior parts of con-
secrated temples were grotesque caricatures to be found, but also
*) "Our religious and secular feasts in the
Middle Ages,' says Gervinus (Gesch. der
deutschen Dichtung, ii. 277-78 , "were surely
full of poetical life and exulting joy; who does
not feel like envying those times now that
everything of the kind is purposely sup-
pressed?" A man must have "lost all his mar-
row," he thinks, if he would prefer the social
pleasures of to-day to those of the olden time
750 The Review. 1903.
inside, on the pillars, the lecterns, in the sanctuary, and even on
the altars and tabernacles. From harmless ridicule we some-
times find this humor passing- into satire, but always giving evi-
dence of the g-eneral thirst for truth, the sense of the nothingness
of earthly greatness, and the struggle between good and evil ever
g^oing on in the soul of man. The grotesque carving:s in the in-
terior of churches and monasteries, particularly on the choir
seats, fulfilled the same mission to the clergy that the court jester
did to the nobles. In accordance with the spirit of the times jes-
ters were given to the princes "as convex mirrors which reflected
their image in diminutive and distorted lines."
As long- as the Church stood unshaken on her eternal pillars, it
could only benefit her if art chastised the existing" public abuses,
if it lashed the weaknesses of those who held spiritual or secular
power, and unmercifully ridiculed the contemporary vices, pride
and luxury and unbounded sensual indulgence. These railleries
became dangerous, however, when authority or the spirit of God
Himself was denied and humor thus lost the bridle of a higher
discipline. What had previously been light banter became lawless
license and vulgar caricature, threatening popular demoralization.
In an age when a protecting law forbade excess and the higher
aim was never lost from view, the bringing into contrast of things
elevated with things commonplace,- of earnestness with humor,
was not only tolerated but encouraged, even thoug-h it sometimes
bordered on the coarse. For example, we find an artist with great
patience, fervent love, and deep reverence skillfully illuminating
the Annunciation in a prayer-book, and in the decoration of the vig-
nette he draws an ape like a hunter aiming his bow at another, who
turns his back for a target. The magnificent pen-and-ink sketches
with which Diirer illustrated a prayer-book for the Emperor Maxi-
milian are full of comic allusions. In illustration of a prayer against
human weakness, Durer represents the thin figure of a doctor who,
with large spectacles is examining a urinal, while in his left he holds
his rosary behind his back. Over a praj-er against temptation
the same artist drew a fox playing the flute by the side of a puddle
and attracting a flock of chickens, who are awkwardly approach-
ing him. Close to a giver of alms stands a fox that has stolen a
hen. A satyr sits blowing a horn, while an angel prays. Beneath
David playing on the harp we find a screaming heron. An address
"Against the Mighty" is illustrated by a picture of an emperor
who holds a globe in his left hand, the sceptre in his right, while
he is seated on a wagon drawn by a goat, which a child on a wooden
horse drags by the beard. Among the most remarkable of these
serio-comic productions is a picture of the Blessed Virgin ab-
sorbed in prayer, while the Holy Spirit hovers above her ; in the
No. 47. The REv^Ew. 751
left corner the Devil is vanishing-, followed by a hail-storm and
tearing- his hair.
These sallies of humor were intended to bring into bold relief,
in all their depth and power, things sublime and serious. The
spirit of humor was not wanting even in the representations of
the Devil, who was decked out as a hostile force, but powerless
against Christ and His Church. The artists often placed little
angels in every position of infantile sport near the Evil Spirit.
The extravagances and foibles of the time are ridiculed and
satirized in innumerable engravings, the female vanity and love of
dress taking ever a prominent place. Amorous fops, old as well
as young, were used as targets for wit, and artists were inex-
haustible in their mockery especially of the extravagant and in-
solent peasants.
The opinion that the medieval artists, by their caricatures of
the clergy, especially monks, veiled a rebellious protest against
the Church and holy faith, has already been refuted by G5rres
(Volksbiicher, 294-295.) "We usually find such caricatures,"
he says, "on the consols of the choir seats, commonly called
Diisericordiae, which allows us to surmise that the clergy rather
encouraged such allusions with the earnest purpose of sparing
no foibles, not even those of their own class." "If this theory be
true, we shall have to place a different construction upon these
artistic extravagances than the one commonly accepted. If the
wolf and the fox are clothed in the monkish habit, it is not with a
view to insult the clergy, but to recall the cunning and tempter's
art characteristic of these beasts. The animal fable with its
easily understood lessons was considered also by the clergy as a
source of symbolism which illustrates the temptations of the Evil
One and the combat of true faith with the demons' power.''*)
M- ^ 3^
The Firsi Allocution of Pius X., delivered in the secret consistory
on November 10th, dealt three hard blows to Liberalism. For
the Holy Father not only declared it as his chief duty and en-
deavor, to preserve sacred and inviolate the deposit of the faith
("ut sancte inviolateque servemus depositum fidei,") but insisted
on the freedom of the Holy See and the restoration of the tem-
poral power ("Quum vero necesse sit christianaeque rei publicae
quam maximeintersit, Pontificem in Ecclesia gubernanda et esse
et apparere liberum nuUique obnoxium potestati, ideo, quod con-
scientia officii, simulque iurisiurandi quo obstringimur, sacro-
sancta religio postulat, gravissimam in hoc'genere iniuriam Eccle-
siae illatam conquerimur ;") denounced the spirit of the age
("novarum rerum cupido, ut est aetatis ingenium,") and vindicated
*) Adapted from Janssen's Geschichte des deutschen Volkes seit dem Ausgang des Mittel-
alters, vol. I, 17th and 18th edition, pp. 237-240.
752 The Review. 1903.
for the Supreme Pontiff the right to "mix in politics" ("Utique in-
telligfimus nonnullis offensioni fore, quod dicimus, curare Nos
rem etiam politicam oportere. Verum quisque aequus rerum iu-
dex videt, Pontificem a magisterio, quod gerit, fidei morumque
nequaquam posse politicorum genus diiungere.")
After all these assurances there was hardly need of the specific
declaration of the new Pope that he would faithfully follow the
policy of his predecessors("Noseam ipsam insisterevelle, necaliam
posse viam, quam decessores Nostri usque adhuc institerint.")
Our Liberals will take heed that a revival of "Americanism," as
recently attempted for instance by Msgr. Bernard O'Reilly in the
last edition of his 'Life of Leo XIII. '(to which we intend to devote
an elaborate criticism) will invariably lead to a new "Testem
benevolentiae."
The Catholic public is hereby warned against a negro who calls
himself James D. Gardner or Gardiner, claims to be a mission-
ary, and has recommendations from a number of bishops. He is
a tall, powerfully built man, with a somewhat strangely shaped
head, dresses in a sort of bluish uniform, and usually carries with
him copies of Gibbons' 'Faith of Our Fathers' and 'Catholic Be-
lief,' which he pretends to distribute among his colored brethren.
The fellow has been publicly denounced by Bishop Messmer and
Coadjutor- Archbishop Moeller as a swindler.
"Mr. Preuss' Review very properly scores that pretentious
Catholic magazine. Men and Women^ of Cincinnati, for praising
Parkman as if he were conscientious and truthful. Francis Park-
man, as Mr. Edouard Richard proves conclusively in his two vol-
umes on Acadia, is a most skilful and systematic distorter of
history. He is even more dangerous, because more plausible and
less easy to detect, than Froude." — Northwest Review^ No. 9.
We are pleased to learn that our esteemed friend Rt. Rev.
Bishop S. G. Messmer, of Green Bay, has been raised to the met-
ropolitan see of Milwaukee. He is a learned and zealous prelate,
and we hope he will administer his new and very important ofl&ce
ad multos annos.
We were surprised to find in a recent number of the Indepen-
dent the picture of a Franciscan monk garbed in the habit of his
order. But we soon found he was a fallen-away monk. That is
the only kind the Independent has any use for.
^
II t:be IRevtew. ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., December 17, 1903. No. 48.
LITERARY CRITICISM IN CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS.
N our No. 44 we published a short article under the above
heading-, in which we censured three prominent Catho-
lic contemporaries for misleading their readers with re-
gard to the works of Parkman, Bulwer-Lytton, and Thackeray.
We took the ground that there is no "use of having- a Catholic
press at all if it does not instruct the Catholic public in the truth,
but simply re-echoes the errors and lies of secular newspapers
and magazines."
It is characteristic of a portion of our press that not onlj^ did
the three newspapers criticized not deem it worth while to correct
the blunders into which they had fallen; but another, the Pittsburg
Observer, thought it necessary to come to the rescue of one of the
censured organs, the Catholic Journal of Memphis, by printing:
the subjoined delectable bit of literary polemics (No. 27):
"(1.) It is amusing to note the lofty air of superiority which the
bumptious and self-conceited editor of a tiny western sheet as-
sumes when he undertakes — as he frequently does — the task of
criticizing his betters. His most recent effusion opened in this
style : 'We have resigned ourselves in some degree to philosophi-
cal and theological inaccuracies and blunders in our Catholic Am-
erican newspapers ; but thoug-h the incompetence of the editors
in these higher sciences deprives them of the capacity for much
good, it would be a consolation to think that they were at least
well trained in literary matters and did their best to cultivate a
correct taste in their readers and to give them reliable informa-
tion about what they should read. Unfortunately, some are ignor-
ant and indiscriminate even on this subject.' (2.) Then he goes on
to demonstrate with unconscious frankness his own incompetence
to discuss literary matters with an average degree of intellig-ence,
754
The Review.
1903.
much less to dictate toothers in this connection. (3.) Carping at
a statement made by the Catholic Journal oi Memphis, Tenn., re-
garding the works of Bulwer-Lytton, he quotes what somebody
else said about them. This is what was said : 'To all his novels
there is the strong moral objection that they are the deification of
worldly success as if that were the paramount object of life.' The
megacephalous editor of the tiny sheet, not having read Bulwer-
Lytton's novels, evidently takes this statement to be true ; for he
goes on to declare that 'the same objection, let us add by the way,
holds good against,' etc. If he knew anything about Bulwer-
Lytton's novels he would be aware that the sweeping objection 'to
air of them which has been quoted is ridiculously unfounded. All
his best novels — those written in maturer life— such as 'Ernest
Maltravers,' 'Night and Morning,' 'Rienzi' — inculcate moral les-
sons of a high order. The keynote of one of these is : 'Be honest
in temptation, and in adversity have faith in God.' "
What we had written on the subject of Bulwer-Lytton was this :
•• the Memphis Catholic Joui'nal (whose editor, Mr. Wm.
Fitzgerald, has since died : the Lord give him eternal rest !) an-
swered the query : 'Please state in what manner the Catholic
Church regards the works of Lord Bulwer-Lytton?' thus (No.
20): 'As those of an able, brilliant, and exceptionally clever writer,
but some of his works, especially 'Morton Devereux,' are so
thoroughly bigoted and anti-Catholic, and give such a false and
malicious idea of Catholic priests and Catholic teachings that they
are unfit for perusal. Lytton, however, had one redeeming trait,
he did not pander to the immoral taste of the time.'' — (Italics mine. —
A. P.) Now, it is well known to all serious students of literature
that Bulwer-Lytton's earlier novels deserve to be 'censured as im-
moral or deficient in genuine art.' (Cfr. Jenkins' Handbook of
British and American Lit., 13th ed., p. 380), and that to 'all his
novels there is the strong moral objection that they are a deifica-
tion of worldly success, as if that were the paramount object of
life.' (Ibid.)"
Our readers will probably agree with us that the Pittsburg pa-
per's insolent remarks are hardly worth noticing, except in so far
as they are symptomatic and offer one more argument in proof of
our thesis, that some of our Catholic newspaper editors "are ig-
norant and indiscriminate" not only in subjects philosophical and
theological (which we have often shown before), but also "in liter-
ary matters," and therefore unable to perform one of the most
important duties of their responsible office, viz., "to cultivate a
correct taste in their readers and to give them reliable informa-
tion about what to read."*)
«) The unscholarly slovenliness of our critic
appears not only from the substance and tone
of nls tirade, but also from the fact that he has
not quoted our words in full, and that he does
not cite us correctly even where he uses quo-
tation marks.
No. 48. The Review. 755
We have inserted a few numbers into the text of our critic's ar-
ticle, in order to make our own retort more intelligible.
1. As for the ""tiny western sheet" : Is it necessary for a peri-
odical to cover a dozen or more square yards of paper to be a foe-
man worthy of the Pittsburg- Observer's steel ? May it not be love
of truth and justice rather than a "lofty air of superiority," that
leads us to reprove faults and to correct errors wherever we find
them in the public press?
2. We have never attempted "to dictate to others" in literary or
other matters. And as for our competence "to discuss literary
matters with an average degree of intelligence," despite long and
patient reading we are so timid about asserting more than we can
prove, that we make it a practice, as our readers know, to quote
recognized authorities whenever we proceed to criticize.
3. We took the same precaution in the article attacked by the
Pittsburg writer, and it would have been only fair of him to tell
his readersthat the "somebody else" whom we quoted on Bulwer-
Lytton, was Jenkins, whose 'Handbook of British and American
Literature' is a standard work in use in many of our colleges and
high-schools. It is a good many years since we dipped into Bul-
wer's numerous novels, and we have neither the leisure nor the
inclination to-day to re-read 'Ernest Maltravers' or 'Night and
Morning' or 'Rienzi,' for the sake of establishing, with profuse
textual citations, or by way of laborious analysis, against an
anonymous and flippant critic, a thesis which has the approval
of competent Catholic critics.*) We will only note in pass-
ing that of the three novels cited by the Pittsburg writer as
among the "best" of Bulwer-Lytton's, 'Ernest Maltravers' is con-
demned even by honest nonCatholic critics. Chambers' well-
known 'Cyclopedia of English Literature,' for instance, says of
'Ernest Maltravers,' that it illustrates "what, though rare in
novels, is common in human life — the affliction of the good, the
triumph of the unprincipled.'' The character of Maltravers is de-
scribed as "far from pleasing," and Alice Darvil is "evidently a
copy from Byron's Haidee." "Ferrers, the villain of the tale,
is also a Byronic creation ; and, on the whole, the violent con-
trasts and gloomy delineations of this novel render it more akin
to the spurious offspring of sentimental romance, than to the
family of the genuine English novel." In the sentence immediately
following. Chambers says : "A continuation of this work (viz.,
'Ernest Maltravers') was given in the following year"(1838)"under
-•) Even such a benign critic as Father I therefore fit reading for Catholics, but merely
Charles Coppens, S. J., while flatly condemn- allows that they "are better" than the author's
ing "Bulwer's early novels" as "objectionable," 1 previous productions. [English Rhetoric, 3rd
does not recommend "his later ones" as incul- I ed., p. 213. J
eating "moral lessons of a high order," and |
756 The Review. 1903.
the title of 'Alice, or the Mysteries,' with no improvement as to
literary power or coj-rect mo7-aI philosophy "*) f Italics ours.)
Are we to be less discriminating: in our literary and moral
standards than Protestants?
And we repeat it : "What is the use of having- a Catholic press
at all if it does not instruct the Catholic public in the truth, but
simply re-echoes the errors and lies of secular newspapers and
magfazines?"
We can not conclude this already too longf-drawn-out article with-
out expressing- our gratification at the fact that a few at least of
the better-class Catholic papers have repeated our query and cor-
dially support our contention. We may refer to the note on Park-
man which we reproduced last week (p, 752) from the Northwest
Review, and end with the brief but pung-ent comment made upon
our query by the Buffalo Catholic Union and Times (No. 35):
"It would be mere folly to close one's eyes to the bald fact that
too many so-called Catholic papers are in large part re-echoes of
the lies and errors of secular newspapers and magazines. There
are too many such papers ; well were it for the cause of religion
if they had never been born, — or, that unfortunateh^ having hap-
pened, if they would speedily die."
34- 3* M-
THE TAXATION OF CHURCH PROPERTY.
( Concluded. )
We are told that the exemption of church property from taxa-
tion involves a union of Church and State, which is at variance
with our principle of government and un-American. The primary
assertion is denied. The phrase "Church and State," much used
and frequently, for partisan purposes, perverted from its plain
sense and meaning, is commonly and fairly understood to imply
the recognition or establishment by a government of some par-
ticular form of religious worship, which the State directly and pro-
fessedly supports by grants of public money or of lands or by the ap-
propriation of tithes or other forms of tax levied upon all the inhabi-
tants without exception for the maintenance of such established re-
ligion, to the exclusion of every other form of worship. Moreover,
the union of Church and State, as we know it to have existed in
our early history, has been accompanied invariably by legislation
designed to force the appointed State religion upon the conscience
of all the inhabitants, by subjecting to various civil disabilities
every one who refused to accept such State Church and partici-
•) Chambers, Cyclopeclia of English Literature,' Boston ed. of 1847, vol, ii, p. 621.
No. 48. The Review. 757
pate in its worship, — not to speak of the barbarous penal laws
which disgraced some of our colonies in which Church and State
were most firmly united.
We do not think that we have overstated the characteristics of
a State-established Church, and if this is what is implied in the
union of Church and State, of which the Church's enemies are so
apprehensive — and what else can there be? — we readily grant that
such a union would be un-American and at variance with that
most cherished principle of our government, religious toleration.
But we are at a loss to see how any union of Church and State
can result from the universal exemption of church property from
taxation. The State exempts not any one, but all churches
equally. It gives no favor or preference to any. In its tax legis-
lation it recognizes no church or denomination by name or in fact,
and if a church may be deemed a State Church merely because its
property is exempted from taxation, then everybody of worship-
pers who are organized into a church and whose property, used
for religious purposes, is exempted from taxation, becomes ii)So
facto a State Church equally with every other body of worship-
pers and irrespective of creeds or forms of worship. Instead of
the union of the State and a single Church acknowledged and pro-
tected by the State, which is the essential feature of Church and
State, there is a union (if so it may be called) of the State with all
churches, however divergent and in many respects contradictory
their creeds, by which all are left to follow their several methods
of worship, free from any legal restraint and without any aid from
the State other than the exemption from taxation which is equally
and uniformly allowed to all. To describe such a condition as a
union of Church and State is a misuse of words and the very ab-
surdity of religious prejudice.
But we are told that the exemption of church property is inequ-
itable in that a portion of the community is thus favored at the
expense of others, who are not interested ; and the instance is
cited of the atheist who believes that the influence of religion
is "vicious and detrimental" i^Green Bag\ p. 416).
The atheist is undoubtedly free under our laws to hold his own
opinion of the value of religious influence in promoting the wel-
fare of the people, but he is a very small minority in the whole
number of human beings of whatever race or nation, and so long
as he chooses to live under our system of government, he and his
class must submit, as every minority is bound to submit, to the
will of the vast majority, deliberately expressed, determining that
it is for the best interests of the entire nation that the peopleshould
b e encouraged to the worship of an Almighty God and to that end
758 The Review. 1903.
that their temples for divine worship should be exempted from
taxation.
Our friends, the Quakers, do not believe in war, yet we have
never heard of their resistingfthe paymentof war taxes lawfully im-
posed for the defence of the nation. The unmarried persons who
have no children to send to the schools maintained by the State,
might complain of the injustice of compelling- them to pay taxes
for the support of an institution in which they have no interest and
from which, as they might claim, they derive no benefit. But gov-
ernment, looking to the general welfare of all the people and to the
greatest good of the greatest number of its citizens, has deter-
mined by its established policy and by its legislation, that the
State as a whole has an interest in the education of its youth, and
in the observance of those moral laws which religion inculcates
and which are equally the foundation of society and of all civil
government. For the accomplishment of these and all other ne-
cessary aims and purposes, the State taxes the property in general
of all classes of citizens, with certain well-defined and justifiable
exceptions. No system of taxation has ever been or can be de-
vised for a government of seventy millions of people, but will
offend in some respects against the principles or prejudices of
particular individuals or classes. If the well-established policy
of exemption of church property, founded in reason and justified
by experience, is objected to by the atheist, we need only answer
that it suits the majority of the people, who are not atheists even
if all are not church-goers ; and the suggestion that practically a
whole nation believing in a Supreme Being and invoking His help
and guidance in their affairs, as they have done from the very
foundation of our government, should yield their respect for His
worship and make it conditional on the payment of taxes at the
demand of a handful of men who assert that there is no God : is
little short of impertinence.
The final and presumably strongest objection advanced by the
writer in the Green i5«^ against the exemption of church proper-
ty, is that the policy of exemption "involves a liability to the ac-
cumulation of great wealth," to be held by never-dying corpora-
tions independent of the State, and which may be used against it,
"possibly subject to foreign control."
The danger from foreign control, the writer concedes, is "not
imminent or serious." We agree with him. Fifty years ago child-
ren were frightened, and not a few of their weak-minded elders
were alarmed, by stories of this apprehended "foreign interven-
tion," which, under the leadership of the Pope and with the help
of the Jesuits and the alms of the Leopoldine Society, was to sub-
jugate the liberties of this Republic. But the Republic managed
No. 48. The Review. 759
to escape without any foreign interference then or since, and the
Church passed unscathed through the fire of calumny which
sought her destruction. That the advocates of church taxation
should employ these forgotten catch-words of the anti-Catholic
crusade of former days, can hardly add weight to their arguments.
Equally unjustified is the statement that the Church, which is
(possibly) to accumulate this great wealth, through its exemption
from tax, is independent of the State. On this point, and touching
the objection generally, we remark as follows :
The policy embodied in the legislation of the various States ex-
empts from taxation property belonging to corporations or asso-
ciations which are organized for religious, charitable, benevolent,
or educational purposes, besides in many States a variety of so-
cieties organized for literary, historical, scientific, and similar
ends. Now, be it observed, these exemptions are granted in favor
of property held not by individuals but by corporations or asso-
ciations which are artificial persons created by the State, subject
to its control and to the visitation of its officials, limited as to the
amount of property which they may acquire and hold, and liable
to dissolution at the instance of the State and to sequestration of
their property for any misuse of their corporate privileges. Far
from the church corporation, therefore, being independent of the
State, as urged, we find it dependent on the State for its very ex-
istence and bound to conform in the administration of its proper-
ty to all regulations which the State may impose.
Moreover, in order that their privileges should not be abused
and that the religious and other societies which are thus favored
should manage their property in conformity with the professed
purpose for which they were created, the law-makers have pro-
vided that no such exemption from taxation shall be allowed where
the society is maintained with a view to making a pecuniary profit
for its members or officers, nor unless it is conducted in good
faith for its declared purpose ; nor shall the exemption apply to
any real estate which yields rent or income. This is the general
rule and practice in New York, which fairly represents the en-
lightened public sentiment of the time on this question of church
taxation. In many other States of the Union equally liberal prin-
ciples prevail. In none is there any church corporation enjoying
the favor of the State by way of immunity from taxation and at
the same time independent of the State as regards the use of its
property.
Exemption from taxation is held to be a privilege which the
sovereign power grants, and which it has the right at any time to
withdraw. We have discussed the question from a point of view
which is common to all who believe in the Deity. When we ascend
760 The Review. 1903.
to higher ground and consider the claims of Christianity in gen-
eral, and the still higher and distinct claims of the one true Church,
as the teacher of morals, the protector of the family, and the un-
relenting foe of social disorder, we are convinced that the State
could take no more disastrous step than to reverse its policy of
exempting God's house from taxation. P. C.
ar sp sg"
THE "TEMPLEBVILDER" IN MASONRY.
We have seen on a former occasion that the orientation or east
and west position of the lodge, is not due to the Jewish temple or
tabernacle, but to the old heathen custom of the ancients. On
pp. 112, 113, and 114 of our guide, Mackey's Masonic Ritualist,
we are informed that the idea of the "Masonic temple-builder"
is derived from a like pagan source.
"The idea of the legend" (of the temple-builder) it says, "was
undoubtedly borrowed from the ancient mysteries, where the
lesson was the same as that conveyed in the third degree of Ma-
sonry For the temple-builder is, in the Masonic system, the
symbol of humanity, developed here and in the life to come ; and
as the Temple is the visible symbol of the world, its architect be-
comes the mythical symbol of man, the dweller and worker in the
world, and his progress by the gates is the allegory of man's pil-
grimage through youth, manhood and old age, to the final triumph
of death and the grave. The number twelve was celebrated as a
mystical number in the ancient systems of sun worship, of which
it has already been said that Masonry is a philosophic develop-
ment. The number there referred to the twelve signs of the zo-
diac, and in these Masonic rites in which the builder is made the
symbol of the sun, the twelve F. *. C. refer to the twelve signs in
which alone the sun is to be sought for. But in the York rite this
symbolism is lost, because Hiram there represents man and not
the sun."
Our reader is not perhaps aware that among the seven sciences
which Masonry is said to teach, logic alone represents philosophy^
hence when we are told that Masonry is the philosophical devel-
opment of the ancient pagan systems, we can not but understand
the term as the logical development. The idea of builder, which
is but another name for Mason, is therefore, as our author in-
forms us, undoubtedly derived from paganism, and is hence its
logical product. The difference of rites or the difference of sym-
bolism does not in any way affect the substance of the matter.
The York rite is but a fuller and clearer development of inferior
forms — humanity the child of physical light — the upbuilder of it-
No. 48. The Review. 761
self — free in the indulgence of its appetites, Svliere detriment to
health is not involved — the recipient of the sun's heat and its
noblest exponent upon earth. Whether Hiram represents the
sun or humanity, the meaning is radically the same : sun-worship
gives naturally birth to phallic worship.
sr 3* 3F
SPONTANEOUS COMBVSTION.
The reader has doubtless heard of wet hay igniting or refuse
from coal mines beginning to burn without apparent cause.
Many buildings are believed to have been set on fire by incendi-
aries, yet may not the same cause have been at work that ignites
the wet haystack or a pile of coal slack ? The present writer was
surprised not long ago to find the church building under his
charge suddenly filled with smoke ; and the cause? Two cotton
rags soaked with oil had been thrown together. They burned
with a black fire (without flame) which had already eaten a hole
through the floor when it was accidentally discovered.
In the interest of readers who may have had a similar exper-
ience or who take a scientific interest in this subject, we reprint
parts of an article from the Indej>endent (p. 2,073) on spontaneous
combustion as a fire hazard :
Spontaneous combustion arises because of the absorption of
oxygen from the atmosphere by various substances having an
affinity for it. The evaporation of certain oils, especially vegetable
oils, such as linseed, rapeseed, almond and palm oil, as well as the
drying of moist charcoal, results in the rapid absorption of oxygen
to the extent of ignition. None of these substances are dangerous
in bulk, as in barrels or cans, but the danger arises when any of the
oils are distributed over fibrous substances, such as rags, cotton
waste, etc. They form an especially hazardous risk when covered
up so as to confine the generated heat. Petroleum products are
likewise dangerous on account of their vaporizing qualities and
ignitibility.
Sawdust mixed with linseed oil will ignite in a few hours. Cot-
ton waste saturated with linseed oil will burn through the agency
of spontaneous combustion in from two to ten hours, according to
circumstances. With some of the other oils named the ignition is
even more rapid and takes place in from five to six hours as a
maximum.
Silk waste is more dangerous than is cotton. Wet cotton, damp
oatmeal or bran, and, in fact, most vegetable substances, when
packed together in a confined place without being sufficiently dry,
undergo fermentation or heating, and are liable to take fire. Ship-
762 The Review. 1903.
ments of cotton are thus extra hazardous marine risks, and be-
cause of a tendency toward spontaneous combustion may account
for some unexplained losses of ships. Spent tanbark is liable to
ignite spontaneously when stacked in heaps. Iron filings, to which
moisture has access, generate heat ; iron rust is combustion or
oxidation of iron. An instance was recently cited by Francis C.
Moore, wherein a large machine shop was flooded by a sudden
freshet, which thoroughly wetted heaps of iron scraps or shavings
upon the floor of the shop. They began to heat from the rusting
immediately after the water had subsided.
The spontaneous ignition of coal mines is supposed to be due
to the chemical action of water and iron pyrites. Unslacked lime
is subject to spontaneous ignition when dampened in any way.
Charcoal will burn when pulverized or divided. Indeed, a ton or
two in a state of minute division is almost certain to ignite spon-
taneously.
Lamp-black is dangerous, as there is ver}" little doubt of its lia-
bility to ignite spontaneously if mixed with oils which contain a
large proportion of hydrogen.
Tracing paper, made transparent with oil in process of manu-
facture, if the sheets are not thoroughly dry and cool before pil-
ing, will take fire within an hour on account of the linseed oil used.
Roasted coffee sometimes takes fire spontaneously. Hay, when
stored awa}'^ too green or wet, is very liable to set barns on fire by
the heat generated in fermentation. Tarred felt and moist hemp
have been known to take fire spontaneously. Many of the fires
originating in broom-corn warehouses are supposed to arise from
spontaneous combustion resulting from the saturation of the fiber
with oil from the seed, expressed by the process of baling and
handling, and the numerous fires in cotton gin houses may be
largely due to the ignition of cotton saturated with oil from the
cotton seed expressed during the process.
From the few examples cited it will be quite evident that spon-
taneous combustion as a moving cause from which fires result, is
more prevalent than laj'men have been accustomed to suppose.
^ ^ 34
— —'Luther und dasLutherthum'is the titleof an importantnew
work by P. Denifle, O. P., sub-archivist of the Vatican Librar3% of
which the first volume has just been issued. It portrays the father
of modern Protestantism with a steel pencil, and we notice expres-
sions of regret in the Catholic papers of Germany that the rever-
end author has diminished the possible good effects of his work
by his severely polemical style.
763
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
Plain Facts for Fair Minds. By Rev. George M. Searle, C. S. P.,
Book Catholic Exchang-e. New York. Price 10 cts.
Plain Facts for Fair Minds deserves the large patronage it has
received. (The copy before us is from the 426th thousand.) We
have perused it with interest from cover to cover and must say,
only a convert is able to point out the objections non-Catholics
make against our religion as Father Searle has done it. However,
we stumbled over some passages that need correction.
The following sentence on p. 44 is defective in style : "I trust
then, that this much misunderstood subject ought to be somewhat
clearer to those who may read what has been just said than it
was before."
On p. 49, the sentence beginning in the third line with: "But I do,"
etc., should be rendered plainer. As it stands, it takes a scholar
to make out its meaning. What is said on p. 62 about Christian
instruction being secret, i. e., given only to those that were bap-
tized, is not quite correct. The following phrase on p. 67 should
also be amended : The Incarnation "means simply that the Son
of God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, took our human nature, and became man as well
as God, in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ." On p. 80 : "To
say that her remains were hid away, as the Jews pretended that
those of Christ were, would merely be saying that Romanism be-
gan very early, and was indeed identified with Christianity itself,"
is likewise objectionable. Page 148, at the bottom, gives a wrong
description of what is properly called a martyr. Page 289 '• "Our
assent to the teachings of the Church is really an act similar to
the assent which both you and we make to Stanley's discoveries
in Central Africa," requires rectification. Page 339 : "The rites
of the Catholic Church are surely not more magnificent than those
of Solomon's temple," is an assertion of very doubtful validity.
The worst blunder Father Searle makes on page 60, where he
confounds the fountains of divine revelation and the living teach-
ing authority, the Church. He says: "The Church, then, and the
Holy Scriptures are simply our means for finding out what the
doctrine of the Apostles was. And it must not be imagined that
we trust more to the Church than to the Bible. In point of fact
the Bible is for us, as weU as for the Protestants, the higher au-
thority of the two ; for its teaching is inspired by the Holy Ghost,
whereas that of the Pope or of the Church is merely preserved
from error by Him " "To these two great fountain sources
of Christian truth another may be added with evident propriety.
"64 The Review. 1903.
This is what we call tradition." Anj' elementary treatise on
Christian doctrine will show where the error of this statement lies.
The Gift of Pentecost. Meditations on the Holy Ghost. By M.
Meschler, S. J. Translated from the German by Lady Amabel
Kerr. B. Herder. Price $1.60.
One of the great books of our day. The learned and pious au-
thor has accomplished a remarkable task. He has opened up, laid
bare, made plain to the ordinary reader those secret sources of
truth, the very simplicity of which constitutes their mysterious-
ness and veils them from our eyes. Father Meschler goes step
by step from the contemplation of the attributes of the Third
Person of the Blessed Trinity to the study of His activity in the
universe and His operations in the souls of men. Each medita-
tion is complete in itself, yet an integralpart of the whole treatise.
Perhaps the climax is reached in the chapters on the two great
hymns to the Holy Ghost. The creators of these two immortal
peans must indeed have been pure in heart. They would almost
seem to have enjoyed the beatific vision here below. Father
Meschler addresses his work to all Catholics, especially priests
and religious. Let us hope that many a layman will find his way
to this treasure house. Then a prayer to the Holy Ghost, a little
attention, and the exertion of those very same mental powers
which serve us so well in the pursuit of the perishable pleasures
of the imagination, would soon encourage to a sturdy growth that
taste for the truth which the Holy Spirit plants in our souls with
the gift of wisdom. It would be ungracious not to mention the
admirable work of the translator, whose version leaves nothing to
be desired.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. By Cardinal Bona, O. C. Edited
by the Right Rev. Ildephonsus Cummins, O. S. B. Price 30 cts.
The Divine Office. A Letter to a Priest. Edited by the Right
Rev. Ildephonsus Cummins, O. S. B. Price 30 cts. London :
Art and Book Company. St. Louis : B. Herder.
These two little volumes, whose contents richly fulfill the prom-
ise conveyed by their attractive appearance, belong to the series
issued by the Art and Book Company under the name of the Pater-
noster Books. Both treatises are short but full of devotion, and
above all thoroughly practical. They are well fitted to attain their
object, which is to inspire the reader with reverence and love for
the great acts of worship of the Church and to derive from them
all the benefits in which they are so fruitful.
No. 48. The Review. 765
'A History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and in the
Diocese of Cleveland. From 1749 to December 31st, 1900, by the
Rev. George F. Houck, Diocesan Chancellor,' of which the two
sumptuous volumes have reached us, is, in its historical portion
(volume I.), deserving of higfh praise. It will undoubtedly
prove, as Bishop Horstmann says in his "Approbation," "a model
for the other dioceses of the country," and will, we hope, "incite
capable men everywhere to take up the same character of work
and carry it out with equal diligence and success." Father Houck
has the gift and temper of the true historian. As soon as space
permits, we shall show by the reproduction of one of his chapters,
how judiciously he treats delicate topics. The second volume,
containing stilted and apparentlj'^ paid-for-at-so-much-per-line
eulogies, falsely called biographies, of "prominent" Catholics, by
Mr. Michael W. Carr, is not, we regret to say, up to the standard
of the first.
The Abbe Loisy has published a pamphlet attempting to
justify his much-discussed book. We notice that our friend Rev.
Dr. Charles Maignen in La Verite Frmigaise^ and the Jesuit
Fathers of the Etudes are treating him to some strong criticism,
which will probably result in both of Loisy 's unfortunate produc-
tions being put on the 'Index librorum prohibitorum,' where they
belong. The Roman Voce della Vei'ita, in an apparently inspired
article, intimates that this will ultimately be their fate,
The second volume has just appeared of Dr. Joseph Pohle's
'Lehrbuch der Dogmatik.' The work is thoroughly orthodox and
up-to-date, and we must say that of all theological hand-books we
have ever perused, it is the most interestingly written. The Cath-
olic University of America lost a most eminent theologian when
Dr. Pohle, unable longer to stand the chicanery to which he was
subjected, resigned his professorship and went back to his native
Germany.
We have to thank our friend M. Tardivel of La Vei-itc for a
copy of 'L'Histoire du Canada en 200 Lecons, par le P. Ph.-F.
Bourgeois, de la Congregation de Sainte-Croix, ' just published by
Beauchemin of Montreal, and to which we hope to do justice by
and by.
Rev. P. Hartmann Grisar, S. J., has just prepared a new and
thoroughly revised edition of his book on Luther published a num-
ber of years ago under the pen-name "Germanus." It paints the
"reformer" from the coign of vantage of the psychologist.
It may be of interest for some readers of The Review that
the sixth edition of the excellent Compendium of Sacred Liturgy
written by Rev. P. Innocent Wapelhorst, O. F. M., is under press
and will be published in the near future.
766
MINOR TOPICS.
4 Question of Molality. — The Catholic Teleg-raph (No. 48), com-
menting: on the dedication of a church erected by the steel mag-
nate Charles Schwab, at a cost of $125,000, (the organ, costing
810,000, was donated by Mr. Andrew Carnegie), expresses it as
its honest opinion that "their acceptance is a stench and a scandal
to Catholicity. The millions of Schwab and Carnegie" — it says —
"are ill-gotten gains. No man in a lifetime can become the posses-
sor of honest millions by catering to the wants of the general pub-
lic. He either capitalizes the necessities of the people at large, or
he does not giv^e his employes their proper share in the product
of their labor. In either case his enormous wealth is dishonestly
got. In the former he sins against society, in the latter he sins
against individuals ; in both he sins against God, the Founder of
society and the Creator of man" .... "We are well aware that there
are many wealthy men who came by their riches in honest ways.
We know, also, that 'the poor we have always with us.' And we
believe that the honestly rich do hold their wealth in trust from
the Almightj'. But we maintain that the vast majority of capital-
ists piled up their wealth by dishonest methods, and that the
number of poor has been increased a thousandfold b^^ the avarice
and corruption of the rich "
"There is altogether too much pandering to wealth on the part
of some ecclesiastics. Consequently we have a great defection
from the Church among the middle and poorer classes." "We
wonder at the growth of Socialism. Have we any reason to won-
der? Is it not growing fastest where the pulpits are continually
preaching patience and resignation to labor, and neglecting to tell
capital that defrauding the laborer of his wages is a sin crying to
Heaven for vengeance ? Will it not grow all the faster if churches
and clergy accept money that has been cursed by oppression of
the poor? And when we examine the matter, it is not the wealthy
who build and support the churches. It is the poor ; and should
they not be treated as children in their Father's house?"
There is a vast deal of truth in these considerations.
A straw showing the growing tendency among Christian peo-
ple to favor some form of religious teaching for the rising genera-
tion, is the recommendation of the General Lutheran Council, at
its session in Norristown, Pa., on Oct. 12th, that congregations
should be encouraged to support kindergarten week-day schools
for children up to six years of age.
In most, if not all of the public schools of Pennsylvania, reading
of the Bible forms part of the daily instruction. As a matter of
course, the Protestant version is in general use, and while the
schools are nominally free from sectarian influence, practically
most Protestant parents are satisfied that the public school, in
connection with the benefit of Sunday school training, is all that
their children require in that line. Were it possible to do away
with Bible reading in all the public schools, confining instruction
there to the spirit as well as the letter of the law, by not permit-
ting religious influence of any kind, it would arouse even the easy-
No. 48. The Review. 767
going Protestant element to a realization of the radical faultiness
of the system. Comparatively few people in this country will
openly profess themselves infidels ; the majority still believe
in some form of religion. Deprive them of the excuse that their
children receive religious instruction in the public schools, and
they would soon join the Catholics in trying to find some way of
remedying the trouble. Since votes only count in this country,
it were well for the Catholic element to secure the cooperation of
believing Protestants in the school question. In that way some
satisfactory solution could perhaps be devised.
Reviewing the American books of the year, the Independent ad-
mits that ''the process is disheartening on the whole :"
"There are so many books printed, so many that mean time and
labor for the author, labor and money for the publisher, money
and time for the reader— and disappointment for all. They lie in
a literary office,
' Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the brooks
In Vallombrosa ;'
and the chief lesson to be learnt from their coming and going is
merely this, that there are vastly too many of them written and
printed. They seem to represent no tendency and, as a mass, to
illustrate no intellectual aim — we speak of them in the gross, not
of the few. And it becomes more apparent every day that Lowell's
dictum was right : 'There can be no American literature until we
have an American criticism.' It is for this reason that we scan
with particular attention the critical works that come before us
and count them of special importance. Unfortunately, the present
year has produced not a single American book of this sort in any
way really notable."
^«
The irrepressible Mr. Scharff is now devoting his attention to
the question of uniform text-books for our Catholic schools. We
share in his hope, expressed in a recent syndicate letter (v. Cath-
olic Universe, No. 1532), that the Catholic University will soon
publish a reliable school history of the United States ; but if he
thinks any text-book can be gotten up that will suit the managers
of all our schools and find universal introduction, he isegregiously
mistaken. Nor is uniformity beyond the limits of a diocese, or at
most a province, either necessary or particularly desirable. We
argued this question with the Catholic Cohimbian some years ago,
but our contemporary did not offer one substantial reason why
uniform text-books are worth striving for orlhow a satisfactory set
for the whole country could be devised. Even within the bounds
of a single diocese, a reader or history admirably suited for city
schools, may be quite unadapted to the wants of ungraded schools
in the country.
In an address to the students of St. Ignatius College, Cleveland,
Archbishop Ireland said {Catholic Universe^ No. 1532J: /
"We Catholics, on the whole, have been too modest in our as-
pirations ; the highest and best ought not to be too high and too
768 The Review. 1903.
good for us. We waat our young- men to vie with the first in the
land. We wish to see a greater number of Catholics in the coun-
cils of the nation and in the halls of learning. The Church of
America needs priests, but she needs also educated laymen, and
at present there is perhaps a greater need for the latter than for
the former. . . .Catholic colleges are best able to teach our youths
the great lesson of being loyal citizens and devout Christians.
Education is the cry of the day ; Catholic education, increase of
learning under Catholic instructors, must be our motto."
For once, we agree !
We have the following from Mr. Martin I. J. Grif&n of Phila-
delphia :
"Concerning the documents relating to 'Pius IX. and Our Civil
War,' which you republish from the Records of the A^nei'ican Cath-
olic Historical Society, you pronounce one a Very poor transla-
tion.' I may tell you that the original Latin is not in the Library
of Congress. The letters of Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Mann were until
a year ago in this city, when I first found out about them. On be-
ing secured by the Library of Congress I had all the documents
copied, and like you, doubted the proper translation. I had veri-
fication, however, as to the accuracy of the copies made for me,
which I supplied the Recoi'ds. The original letters of Pius IX.
ought to be in the archives of the Archdioceses of New York and
New Orleans. The translation was made in one of these."
Rev. Father W. S. Kress shows in the Catholic Universe (No.
1532) that Ohio was the cradle of the work of giving missions to
non-Catholics (let us do away with the crazy misnomer : "non-
Catholic missions" !), as Fathers Wonderly and himself lectured
to non-Catholics at Van Buren, Ohio, two months before Father
Elliott inaugurated the Paulist movement in Michigan, ten years
ago. Father Elliott, however, it seems, was the intellectual father
of the movement, for it was in consequence of an article of his in
the Catholic IF<?r/i^ Magazine, that Bishop Horstmann, in May 1893,
resolved upon instituting a band of missionaries to non-Catholics
in his Diocese.
We are very glad to hear that the movement is bringing num-
erous Protestants and even some infidels into the Catholic fold.
A writer in the Catholic World {Dec.) declares that this country,
"in its deepest heart," is tenaciously Christian. The statement,
he ventures to think, is borne out by the experience of all mission-
aries to non-Catholics. "There is," — caustically comments the
Monitor (No. 10) — "unfortunately, too much hermetically sealed
Christianity stowed away in 'deepest' hearts, where it remains
absolutely unserviceable for any good and useful purpose what-
ever."
II t:be IRcview. ||
FOUNDED, EDITED, AND PUBLISHED BY ARTHUR PREUSS.
Vol. X. St. Louis, Mo., December 24, 1903. No. 49.
THE CATHOLIC CLERGY AND THE ELKS : WITH A WORD ON
"MIXED RELIGIOUS SERVICES. "
T St. Joseph, Missouri, the other day, the Rev. Father B.
X. O'Reilly, who, according to the Catholic Directory, is
stationed at the Cathedral, at a memorial service of the
Elks delivered a "scriptural lesson," which was pronounced by the
St. Joseph Gazette (Dec. 7th) "a brilliant sermon on the efforts of
the order, its purposes and the fellowship so evident at all times."
He said in part :
"The sentiment which prompts us to assemble here this after-
noon is as old as the heart of man. So long as we remember those
departed and so long as we gather to pay respect to the silent
dead, so long will the purpose of the order with which we are
gathered this afternoon be a light before the people. When we
realize the purpose of this order we are not surprised to see this
great outpouring of brother Elks. How often have the members
of this order dried the tears of the widow and the orphan and
many are the acts of brotherly love of which the world does not
hear. I know that we frequently associate this order with that
class of good fellows who find the pleasures of life in a certain fri-
volity and we are inclined to class them with the lovers of the club
room alone. While much of this may be true and that they take
the fullest possible enjoyment from the world's pleasures, after
all there is a strong type of charity and brotherly love manifested
in their frequent associations. The order of Elks is purely an
American one ; as pure as American ideas can make it. We have
always found them ready to answer the call from the east or the
west. Let this meeting bring home the lessons taught by these
memorial services. Let us live in this life that in the hereafter
we will have the respect and remembrance of those with whom
770 The Review. 1903.
we part, and it will go down in the records that we know how to
live and help our fellow man. Let not the open scar that is to re-
ceive all that is worldly to us blot out our memory. We should
be like the man who draws his cloak about him and lays down to
pleasant dreams.''
Father O'Reilly's address was followed bj' a recital of 'Thana-
topsis' and "prayer" and "benediction" by Elder C, M. Chilton,
of the First Christian Church.
The scandal occasioned by this unworthj' performance among
the Catholic laity was all the greater as, in the same number of the
Gazette which published the report from which we have quoted,
there appeared an announcement to the effect that the ordinary
of the Diocese, Rt, Rev. Bishop Burke, had publicly pronounced
the sentence of excommunication against a young Catholic lady
for having been married to a Protestant by a Protestant minister
at a prominent hotel.
"What do you think," writes a Review correspondent from St.
Joseph, "of a bishop excommunicating a girl for participating in
a Protestant marriage ceremony, and approving of one of his
priests actually taking part in the Protestant memorial services
of the Elks, which were opened by a preacher and closed with a
ritual benediction?"
We deplore the occurrence and wish that Rt. Rev. Bishop Burke
had followed the example of His Lordship the Bishop of Syracuse,
Msgr. Patrick A. Ludden, who, on the same Dec. 6th, when a
Baltimore priest had come to his episcopal city to participate in
similar services of the Syracuse Elks, said in a public interview
(according to the Baltimore American of Dec. 7th) :
"Yes, Rev. John D. Boland did call on me. His welcome by me
was neither glad nor cheery. I assume he attended at mass in
this city to-day, even if he did not celebrate mass. But his en-
gagement here was not that of a Catholic priest, but as Brother
Boland of the Elks, who were holding a sort of requiem, a parody
on requiem services read for deceased Catholics. The ceremony
took place in a darkened house with lighted candles, and the
brothers were clad in dark clothing and white neckties. As-
suming that the actors in the burlesque ritual or ceremony were
solemn and sincere, what benefit did they expect to accrue from
it to the departed souls of the brethren? None of them believe
in the doctrine of Purgatory, if any of them believe in a hell. The
souls, then, of the brethren must have taken direct flight to heaven.
Does Brother Boland think that his oratorical effort will interest
them there? And Brother Boland ought not to have come all the
way from Baltimore to take part in the exercises given here to-
day. If, as I assume, he is a priest in good standing, I beg to
No. 49. The Review. 771
call his attention to Tit. VIII., chap. 3, § I., 'De societatibus in-
honestis,' of the Third Council of Baltimore."
A few more episcopal pronouncements of this tenor would un-
doubtedly soon stop the insufferable abuse, which, as we have re-
peatedly felt ourselves obliged to point out, is creating so much
scandal among the Catholic laity.*)
A "mixed religious service" of another kind is reported from
Peoria, 111., where, according to the Herald- Transcript of Nov.
27th, Rev. Father John P. Quinn, of St. John's Church, participated
in the presentation to Rev. Jeffords, the Rector of St. Stephen's new
Episcopalian parish, of a gold Gothic crucifix. The presentation
took place at "the evening services" in the Episcopalian meeting
house, and Father Quinn, "in a specially pleasing address took
occasion to compliment the rector of St. Stephen's parish and be-
spoke a broad liberaUty and continued progress for the new
parish. In closing his address he said that he would like to be the
first to head a subscription to further the work begun. Subscrip-
tions were taken and Father Ouinn's name headed the list which
was of good size."
The other speakers were : Dr. Simmons, Baptist, Dr. Faville,
Congregational, Dr. Levy, Jew, and Rev. W. M. Puree, Episco-
palian.
A Peoria Catholic layman, who sent us the clipping from the
Transcript- Herald, remarks : "Father Quinn has in his own parish
a fine church, a very fine priest's house, but no parochial school,
for which he says the means are lacking. Does it not strike him
that by his liberal contribution to the Episcopalian sect he helps
to erect a meeting-house within whose walls he will be despised as
a 'Romanist'?"
Even Father Phelan of the Western Watchman, who is certainly
not "ultra-conservative," expresses his disapprobation of such
"mixed religious services," in which priests and ministers to-
gether furnish the "religiosity." — "We don't like these mixed ser-
vices," he says, commenting on the St. Joseph incident reported
above ; "what is more, Rome detests them, and they should he dis-
continued.''^^
=••■) As we are reading the proof-sheets of this
article, we learn, from the Beaton Herald of
Dec. 7th, that Boston had a similar scandal.
There a Monsisnore, Rt. Rev. Denis O'Callag-
han, offered "the opening prayer" at a mem-
t) Western Watchman. No. 5. (Italics mine.— A P.)
orial meeting of Lodge No. 10 of the "Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks, ''which took
place in the "Majestic Theatre with all the im-
pressive solemnity of its sacred ritual" (sic!).
^
772
THE GOD OF FREEMASONRY.
We showed in a previous paper the methods of Masonic sym-
bolism, by which, under the guise of Christian reverence and
piety, it foists on us two points of the zodiac as the Holy Sts.
John. As Christians, we were indeed shocked at the revelation ;
in fact, we do not know of anybody except a Mason with his
peculiar code of morality, who would attempt its justification.
We were grateful, however, for the light afforded us in regard
to Masonry's deity, for if the signs of Cancer and Capricorn are
his Holy Saints, and the real Saints John are but convenient sym-
bols, it is just as natural that to Masons the name of the Christian
Deity should be nothing more than a convenient symbol, having
as little real relation to the true God, whom we adore, as the Holy
Saints John of Masonry have to the historic Christian Saints.
Fortunately, the thing is not left to surmise ; our Ritualist will
inform us that it is so.
In explaining the 7th or Royal Arch degree, the Ritualist intro-
duces us to the mystic name, the True Word revealing the nature
and essence of God, and sets before us Moses at the burning bush,
receiving the revelation of the Divine Name Jehovah, "I am who
am." For its own purposes, however, it differs from all the au-
thorized translations and renders Jehovah not : "I am who am,"
but: "I am that I am." To the ordinary reader, the difference,
perhaps, will seem slight and unimportant; it is nevertheless
radical and far-reaching. God alone, according to sound reason
and faith, can say of himself : "I am who am," i. e.: "I am He in
whom existence is of the very essence"; "I am He who can not but
exist"; whereas in the whole range of creation there is not a single
being which, had it consciousness and the power of speech, could
not say of itself "I am that I am" — "I am what I am." In this latter
interpretation, Jehovah can easily become for Masonry the sym-
bol of humanity, for, certainly, we "are what we are." Let us,
however, according to our custom, allow the Ritualist to speak for
itself. Here is the Scripture text as given by it :
"And God said unto Moses, I am that I am. And thus shalt
thou say to the children of Israel, i am hath sent me unto you."
It then continues : "The Egyptians worshiped the sun as their
chief deity under the appellation of On, and it was to distinguish
himself as the true and only God, that Jehovah, in the passage
just recited, instructed Moses to inform the Israelites that he
came to them by the authority of him who was 'I am that I am,'
which term signifies the Self Existent Being. This method of
denoting the Supreme Deity was adopted by the Jews under the
No. 49. The Review. 773
teaching of Moses and distinguished them from all the heathen
nations of the world" (p. 365).
On the first perusal of this passage, the reader must naturally
think that the Jehovah of the Hebrews and the Jehovah of Ma-
sonry are one and the same, and that this Jehovah and On, the sun-
god of the Egyptians, are diametrically opposed and irreconcil-
able. He has but to continue his study of the Ritualist to be un-
deceived. Twenty-four pages later the matter is fully treated
when speaking of the tetragrammaton or name "Jehovah."
"The name of God," it saj'^s, ""which we, at a venture, pronounce
Jehovah, and which is called the 'Tetragrammaton' (from the
Greek tetra, four, and gramma, letter), because it consisted in
Hebrew of four letters, and the 'Ineffable Name,' because it was
iinlawful to pronounce it, was ever held by the Jews in the most
profound veneration. They claim to have derived its origin from
the immediate inspiration of the Almighty, who communicated it
to Moses, as his especial appellation to be used onlj' by his chosen
people. This communication was first made at the burning bush,
when God said to the Jewish Lawgiver : 'Thus shalt thou say to
the children of Israel : Jehovah the God of your fathers, the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me
unto you : this (Jehovah) is my name forever, and this my mem-
orial unto all generations.' And at a subsequent period, he more
emphatically declared this to be his peculiar name, when he said :
'I am Jehovah: and I appeared unto Abrakam, unto Isaac, and unto
Jacob, by the name of El Shaddai ; but by my name Jehovah was
I not known unto them.'
"Ushered to their notice by the utmost solemnity and religious
consecration, this name of God became invested among the
Israelites with the profoundest veneration and awe. To add to
this mysticism, the Kabbalists, by the change of a single letter in
the orignal, read the passage which is, 'this is my name forever,'
as if it had been written, 'this is mj' name to be concealed'
The Kabbalists and Talmudists have enveloped this ineffable
name of God in a host of mystical superstitions, most of which are
as absurd as they are incredible, but all of them tend to show the
great veneration that has always been paid it. Thus they say
that it is possessed of unlimited powers and that he who pro-
nounces it shakes heaven and earth, and inspires the very angels
with terror and astonishment. The Rabbins call it 'shem ham-
phorash,' that is to say 'the name that was declared,' and they as-
sert that David found it engraved on a stone while digging into
the earth.
"'Besides the tetragrammaton or ineffable word, there are many
varieties of the name, which have been adopted with almost equal
^74 The Review. 1903.
veneration among: other nations of antiquity, of which the three
following may be offered as instances:
"I. Jah. This was the name of God in the Syrian language, and
is still retained in some of the Syriac forms of doxology. It is
found in the 68th Psalm, v. 4 : 'Extol him that rideth upon the
heavens by his name Jah,' and also in the song of Moses (Exodus
XV, 2), where in the original it is 'Jah is my strength and my song. '
"2. Bel. This was the name of God among many of the eastern
nations, and particularly among the Chaldeans. It is also fre-
quently met with in Scripture when allusion is made to the idola-
trous worship of the pagan nations.
"3. On. This was one of the names by which God was wor-
shiped among the Egyptians. It is also alluded to in the sacred
writings, as when we are told that Pharaoh gave Joseph for his
wife, 'Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On.' (Gen-
esis, vii, 45.)
"Now all these names of God, which, with many others to be
found in the ineffable degrees of Masonry make up a whole sys-
tem, are eminently symbolical. In fact, the name of God must be
taken, in Freemasonry, as the symbol of Truth, and then the
search for it will be nothing but the search after truth, which is the
true end and aim of the Masonic science of symbolism. The sub-
ordinate names are subordinate modifications of truth, but the in-
effable tetragrammaton is the symbol of the sublimity and per-
fection of divine truth, to which all good Masons and all good men
are seeking to advance, whether it be by the aid of the theological
ladder, or by passing between the pillars of strength and estab-
lishment, or by wandering in darkness beset on all sides by dan-
gers, or by traveling, weary and worn, over rough and rugged
roads — whatever be the direction of our journey, or how accomp-
lished, light and truth, the Urim and Thummim, are the ultimate
object of our search and our labor as Freemasons."
Jehovah, the God of the Hebrews ; Jah, the God of the Syrians ;
Bel or Baal, the Fire-God of the Chaldeans ; On, the Sun-God of
the Egyptians: are, therefore, according to Masonry, mere varie-
ties of the same thing, composingwith many others in "the ineffable
degrees of Masonry," "a whole system." No wonder, then, that
the Jehovah of the orthodox Jew and the Christian is an abomina-
tion to members of the Craft who have been initiated into the
higher degrees ; for this Jehovah can not be made to fit into the
system. He is not one of endless varieties, but the one true in-
finite personal reality, whom alone man must adore and obey.
Between Baal, On, Jupiter, the other false deities and Him, there
is no compromise possible. He has never permitted it and will
never do so. The choice must be made between error, which is
No. 49. The Review. 775
manifold in its forms, and truth, which is essentially one. He who
is not with It is against It ; and He that gathereth not with It,
scattereth. No one can serve the orthodox Johovah and Mammon,
call Mammon by what name we will. Masonry, however, pretends
to be able to do it. Admire the simplicity of the process. God
is but a name for Truth : the designation for God, whatever it be,
is, therefore, but a symbol of Truth : Jehovah, Jah, Baal, On, Ju-
piter, are designations of God : therefore are they symbols of
Truth ; a variety of names signifying the same thing. The Ro-
man called his Supreme God, Jupiter ; the Chaldean, Baal ; the
Syrian, Jah ; the Egyptian, On ; the Hebrew, Jehovah. They all
designated the same thing by different names, for they were all
names of the Supreme God. How simple and how childishly fal-
lacious ! The citizen of a republic calls his supreme ruler presi-
dent ; the member of a kingdom calls his, king ; the subject of an
empire calls his, emperor, kaiser, czar ; one living in a despotism
calls his, despot ; the dependent of one who unlawfully holds su-
preme power, calls the supreme ruler, usurper ; pirates and rob-
bers call their supreme ruler, chief ; where the supreme power
rules unjustly, its possessor is a tyrant. By what rule of sound
reason would one conclude, that, because all these names, presi-
dent, king, emperor, despot, usurper, pirate-chief, tyrant, are ap-
plied to supreme power, they therefore mean the same thing and
even designate the same person? We must not take the mere
term supreme power in itself, apart from all other considerations;
we must consider the supreme power intended by the speaker.
He may mean different supreme powers in kind, he may mean
different individual possessors of the same power. Let us apply
this rule to the point in question and ask the Jew, "Who and of
what nature is your supreme God, Jehovah?" Has he a body like
Jupiter? Is he married? Is he an unfaithful husband? Is he
given up to all the sensual excesses to which the Roman god is
said to have abandoned himself? Is he a mere creature of the
imagination ? A fiction of fable and of poetry ? If these charac-
teristics in no wise fit him, then he and Jupiter are not expres-
sions of the same thing, nor even modifications of the same idea,
but essentially different ideas and types, though called by the
same name, supreme deity ; just as president, king, autocrat,
tyrant, usurper, despot, brigand, may be names which under dif-
ferent conditions are applied to the supreme power in a state, yet
represent essentially different things. For, let us remember,
not all modifications of truth are truth. There are certain modi-
fications that are only accidental ; that leave truth substantially
as it was, but err in this or that non-essential particular. There
are others that destroy the very substance of the truth. If in
776 The Review. 1903.
narrating the rescue of a drowning person, I describe the author
of the noble deed as a strong-, healthy American, a good swim-
mer, a man famous in army annals and of high social position, I
may have somewhat overestimated his strength, or health, or
swimming qualities, or fame, or social position, and yet have sub-
stantially observed the truth ; but if the rescue was not made by a
strong man. or by a healthy man, or by an American, or by a man
famous in army annals, or by a man of high social position, or by
a man at all, but by a great Newfoundland dog, I have so modified
the truth that, if I have acted knowingly, even if the fact of the
rescue be true, I am put down as a first-class liar. My modifica-
tions have so substantially altered the truth that it is no longer
truth but error. But if I have exerted my inventive genius fur-
ther, and because in New Orleans there had been a real rescue, I,
an inhabitant of another city, make up for myself a rescue as hap-
pening near at home, a rescue that is the mere creature of my imag-
ination, and I give such rescue a "local habitation and a name," vain-
ly would I seek, from sane people, respect and commendation for
my "modification of truth," even though I called my fiction "a res-
cue" and introduced into my story some circumstances proper of
the original. And yet, what nosane'person would do in regard to
the ordinary happenings of life. Masonry does in regard to the
most important matter concerning man. Pagan mythologists and
poets invented for themselves Jupiter and all the various stripes
of gods and goddesses, pure fictions of the ia.iicy, beings in every
respect different from the one, true, existent Jehovah, and be-
cause the authors of such myths called these fictions gods, and at-
tributed to them some or other of the divine attributes, we find Ma-
sonry with profound reverence bundling them all into its ineffable
system as "modifications of the truth." Truh' ineffable is the
qualiti' of mind and the impiousness of heart that can do it!
777
BOOK REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTES.
IV as SL Peter Married? By Rev. Joseph F. Sheahan. New York:
Cathedral Library Association. 1903.
We can do no better than to reproduce the Catholic World's
p ung-ent criticism of this astounding production : "A pamphlet
dealing- with the question whether the word 'mother-in-law,' as
used in the Gospels in reference to St. Peter, really means mother-
in-law, implying that the Apostle was actually married, or whether
it may not indicate some other relationship, ought to be a dignified
essay in Greek philology. There ought to be no pictures in such
a book, no flippant phrases, no inelegant English. Yet here is a
pamphlet upon this linguistic problem which is strewn with illus-
trations so inconceivably ridiculous that we have not yet quite
made up our mind whether the whole thing is not meant as a
hoax. There is a picture of what looks like a porte-cochere which
is inscribed 'Peter's house'; a viking galley is designated 'Peter's
boat'; a sad-faced old lady, somewhat suggestive of Whistler's
portrait of his mother, is marked 'Peter's Penthera'; a sage-
brush effect has under it the words 'This is a plant'; and two cuts
of children are interpreted to us as 'Papa's boy' and 'Papa's girl'
This is an essay on the meaning of a Greek noun 1 Verily the
curiosities of literature must make room for a distinguished ac-
cession to their fantastic company. The essay and picture com-
mentary itself ends thus : 'It does not matter to us what her rela-
tionship was, and as God has not been pleased to gratify our curi-
osity, all that we can do in this world is to be patient, and wait
until we meet Peter in the next world and ask him.' "
The Friendshii>s of Jesus. By Rev. M. J. Ollivier, O. P. Translated
from the French by M. C. Keogh. B. Herder. Price $1.50.
Here is gathered all that the Gospel and tradition have to tell
regarding those chosen souls whom Our Lord, while on earth,
honored with His particular affection. The interest of the book
is enhanced by descriptions of the places spoken of in the Gospel
narrative, and of customs and manners of the time. The whole
work is of great assistance in giving life and color to the events
and personages in the life of the Saviour, and the gentle, easy, one
might almost say affectionate, style of the well-known writer
makes the reading pleasant as well as profitable.
^«
The Ch'ilta Cattolica, in its issue of Nov. 7th, printed a let-
ter from Cardinal Sarto, now Pope PiusX., written in 1894 to the
Italian editor of Devivier's Handbook of Apologetics, in which he
'78 The Review. 1903.
warmly praises this work and recommends it as splendid reading
for Catholic families. The English edition by Rev. P. Sasia, S. J.,
was recently reviewed in this journal. There is another Eng-
lish version, edited by Mt. Rev. Archbishop Messmer, which
we have not received for notice, as the publishers, Messrs. Ben-
ziger Brothers, since we censured them in the Maignen affair
several years ago, no longer send us their publications for re-
view, except possibly now and then an almanac or a prayer-book.
We make mention of this fact here to reply to queries which have
now and then reached us why we seem to discriminate against
the Benzigers. We review all publications that are sent to us, no
matter who the author or publisher, provided they are worthy of
notice in a serious journal like The Review.
In reviewing Dr. McDonald's 'The Symbol of the Apostles,'
the Catholic IFo/'/(^ Magazine (Dec.) says :
"Not many books — alas ! that it should be so— come to us from
Catholic pens in the more learned departments of literature. In
fact, there is something almost alarming in the abstention of
English-speaking Catholics from the intellectual activities of our
£ge. It is a sign full of menace. We trust that this present vol-
ume, which deals with a scholarly subject, will be followed by
Catholic productions from many other pens which will deal with
scholarly subjects too."
Fortunately, Msgr. O'Connell has promised that the faculty of
the Catholic University of America is going to remove this "sign
full of menace." Dr. MacDonald, by the way, is a Canadian.
Our esteemed contemporary, the Courrier des Bruxelles,
one of the several staunch Catholic dailies published in Belgium,
announces that, beginning January 1st, it will issue a six-page
edition twice a week, in order to be enabled to present to its
readers a larger amount of wholesome and instructive reading-
matter. We are heartily glad to see the Courrier prospering and
lake this opportunity to wish it god-speed and to thank it for ex-
changing its valuable daily edition for our humble weekly Review
for these many years.
Rev. John H. Stapleton, in a little volume of moral essays
just published ('Moral Briefs.' Hartford: The Catholic Tran-
script Press) speaks of Catholics who do not send their children
to Catholic schools, as "the Independent Order of Catholic
Kranks."
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat is now selling 'Lord's Beacon
Lightsof History' on time payments. Our readersare reminded
that this work has been shown up in the Catholic press as unre-
liable and unworthy of Catholic support.
779
MINOR TOPICS.
The Widows' and Orphans' Fund of the German Catholic Central Society,
after many years of experimenting- in the life insurance line, has
at last adopted the only safe plan of charging- a level premium,
according to age, of sufficient amount to not only provide for all
death losses, as they occur, together with the expenses of man-
agement, but to leave also a sufficient reserve fund to pay the "last
man," independent of the contributions of new members. The
necessary tables have been prepared by an expert of the regular
life insurance business, and the secretary of the fund is now invit-
ing the younger members of the society to join the new company
before January 1st, 1904, so that by that time the organization can
be properly started with a large membership.
It gives us great satisfaction to state that an examination of the
new rates shows them to be perfectly safe. Since it is proposed
to pay the insurance benefits in full in case of death, even if the
premiums were paid monthly, quarterly or semi-annually, the
fund to that extent offers better terms than the regular life in-
surance companies, which in such cases deduct the unpaid balance
of the year's premiums.
The policies provide for liberal cash and loan values, also ex-
tended or paid-up insurance after three annual payments, and
therefore compare very favorably with the conditions of the poli-
cies of regular life insurance companies, a good many of which
grant no cash values at all.
In short, the Widows' and Orphans' Fund now offers to its pa-
trons life insurance on the best and safest terms possible and
should be patronized not only by all the members of the Central
Society who can pass a satisfactory examination, but also by the
members of the numerous organizations conducted on the assess-
ment plan, who will soon discover, (if they have not already done
so) that it is impossible to build up a permanent, reliable life insur-
ance company on the principles of the "get-rich-quick" concerns.
We congratulate the members of the Central Society upon this
new departure and wish its proposed life insurance department
abundant success.
"Esperanto."—^. C. Connor, recognizing a value in "Esperanto,"
the international language invented by Dr. Zamenhof, has pre-
pared what he calls a complete text-book for the study of the new
tongue. It purports to be a full grammar, with exercises, con-
versations, commercial letters, and two vocabularies, all comprised
in a 16mo. of 175 pages. Most people know of "Esperanto" only
through the daily press and from scattered pamphlets. Mr.
Connor's book is written in response to a large number of re-
quests for information on the new language.
The principal aims of Dr. Zamenhof were to make a language
that might be practical and so simple that its acquisition would
be mere play to the learner, to enable the learner to make use of
it with persons of any nationality, whether it were a universally
780 The Review. 1903.
accepted language or not ; also to find a way of overcoming the
natural indifference of mankind and induce them to learn and use
the proposed language as a living one and not merely in last ex-
tremities. Dr. Zamenhof says he has so simplified the language
that its grammar can be mastered in an hour. By means of pre-
fixes and suffixes to root v^'ords some 900 words may be formed,
giving the necessary vocabulary, which is easily committed to
memory. In order to make it international he introduced what
he calls a complete dismemberment of ideas into independent
words, so that the whole language consists not of words in differ-
ent states of grammatical inflexion, but of unchangeable words.
This dismemberment he claims to have so adapted to the spirit
of the European languages, that no one will perceive the structure
of the language to be different from that of his mother-tongue.
The merit of "Eperanto" will be found, if found at all, in its adapt-
ability and practical service. It may contain points of value and
prove useful in emergencies, but creating a new language is much
like originating a perfect plan of government. It commends itself
on paper and promises well, but never works. (Fleming H. Revell
Company, Chicago.)
Athletics for Girls. — What are the results of "physical culture" as
practiced so widely now-a-days by women? Some of them are
quite apparent. It is obvious, for example, that the young women
of to-day are taller and more muscular ; it may also be said, in a
general way, that they bear themselves more gracefullj'^ and
erectly. Nevertheless, there is ample scope for the enquiry
whether the women and girls of the present day, after a genera-
tion of athletics, compare favorably with those of previous periods,
and whether the physical culture movement is not doing the gentle
sex more harm than good. A high authority (lady) in London re-
cently said, it would be a good thing if most of the apparatus
found in the ladies'gymnasiums were abolished entirely — parallel
and horizontal bars, vaulting horse, heavy weights, and so forth.
"The natural physique of the average girl is not adapted to such
things, and many have been injured. I am aware that some have
done well at high jumping and in men's athletics, but they are
rare exceptions which prove the rule. They spoil their carriage
and deportment, develop muscle at the expense of gracefulness,
give an unnatural forward inclination to the head, and, above all.
a strained, tense expression to the face. You can see this for
yourself in any gymnasium frequented by ladies, and much the
same description applies to most violent exercises performed by
girls and women. It would certainly be much better for the sex
if the more forward members would rid themselves of the idea
that they can ever be as strong as men physicalh'. That delusion,
I believe, has been the cause in recent years of many a lamentable
break-down My ideal for girls and young women is plenty
of walking and fresh air, coupled with such physical exercises as
involve no undue strain or great strength."
A Palpable Untruth. — Wihhire's Magazine (Nov. 1903) writes:
"From Venice, the former residence of the new Pope, comes a
No. 49. The Review. 781
report which shows the attitude of Pius X. to the labor move-
ment. Some time ago, the women workers in the tobacco factory
of Venice started a movement for an increase in their miserable
wag-es. They formed a league and appealed to the trade unions
in Milan, Turin, and Florence for their co-operation. The mana-
gers heard of it. One fine day the Patriarch Sarto (the present
Pope), surrounded by all the chief managers of the factory, ap-
peared in the main work hall and gave a long sermon against the
poison of Socialism and against the bold uprising of the discon-
tented in opposition to the authority appointed by God. As the
Church prince finished his discourse, the managers wished to
make a trial of the effect and ordered all the women who would
not join the league to raise a hand. And then a wonder came to
pass : not even a single hand was raised, and very quietly the
honorable visitors retreated from the factory hall."
It is the first time we notice such a slur in Wihhire's. No doubt
the editor, who is traveling in Germany, found the item repeated
in half a dozen Socialistic papers and came to the conclusion, it
must be so. "I have said it thrice, and what I say three times is
the truth." We who know the character of these sheets, would
not believe such a palpable lie if they reiterated it unisono a hund-
red thousand times.
The Socialist Program. — In a paper on 'The Class Struggle" in the
Independent (No. 2866), Mr. Jack London, a Socialist, author of
'The People of the Abyss,' divulges the Socialistic program very
frankly thus :
"The revolt, appearing spontaneously all over the industrial
field in the form of demands for an increased share of the joint
product, is being carefully and shrewdly shaped for a political as-
sault upon society. The leaders, with the carelessness of fatal-
ists, do not hesitate for an instant to publish their intentions to
the world. They intend to direct the labor revolt to the capture
of the political machinery of society. With the political machinery
once in their hands, which will also give them the control of the
police, the army, the navy, and the courts, they will confiscate,
with or without remuneration, all the possessions of the capitalist
class which are used in the production and distribution of the ne-
cessaries and luxuries of life. By this they mean to apply the law
of eminent domain to the land, and to extend the law of eminent
domain till it embraces the mines, the factories, the railroads, and
the ocean carriers. In short, they intend to destroy present-day
society, which they contend is run in the interest of another class,
and from the materials to construct a new society which will be
run in their interest."
The Ethics of Church Bazaars. — In opening a bazaar at Redfern,
Australia, lately. Archbishop Kelly made some remarks on the
ethics of church bazaars, for which he was taken to task by
the editor of the Sydney Telegraph. He replied to the editor's
strictures in a letter in which he argued substantially thus :'
"We consider as commendable that means which, while lawful
in itself, enables one to compass a desirable purpose ; if to the
782 The Review. 1903.
qualification of lawfulness we may join agreeableness and special
efficiency, the means is more commendable ; and if we superadd
advantag-eousness, in our spiritual and even temporal interests,
the means in question must be reg-arded as something superla-
tivelj' good. Now, as we have shown, the bazaar in Iquestion and
all similar fairs intended to provide necessary funds for religious
and charitable institutions, are invested with the conditions set
forth: usefulness, enjoyment, efficiency, merit, and prosperity.
Therefore, these works, due supervision being supposed, claim
the appreciation and the cordial support of the community."
Of course. Archbishop Kelly does not count gambling among
the legitimate features of a church fair or bazaar, but says it "has
to be discountenanced and corrected by every one who holds at
heart the true welfare of his fellows."
A New Rip van Winkle. — The Church Progress (No. 32) writes :
"A most interesting and far reaching question is before the
school board of Peabody, Mass. It is a proposition of the Rev.
M. J. Masterson, pastor of the Catholic Church in Peabody, to
turn over to the town the practical control of the parochial schools
of the parish, the town to assume the burden of carrying" on the
schools. Fr. Masterson says that he does not do this in any nar-
row spirit, but because he believes it would be good for the com-
munity and because he feels that the town should bear some of the
burden. He proses (?) only that religion may be taught after
school hours to such children as shall desire it, and that during
regular school hours the same studies shall be pursued as in the
public schools. It is desired to retain the present teachers, as
they are believed to be efficient. There are about 500 pupils in the
parochial schools of Peabody. Some question has been raised as
to the constitutional rig-ht to do this It is believed that the
plan is a novel one and if adopted will form a most important pre-
cedent in this country."
Has the present editor of the Church Progress never heard of
Poughkeepsieand the Faribault plan, and is he unacquainted with
the many serious objections advanced against it by the Catholic
press, foremost among them the old Church Progress, under the
able editorship of Dr. Conde B. Pallen?
In one of his vigorous pastoral letters, for which he was famous,
the late Bishop Gilmour of Cleveland, as early as 1873, said on the
subject of the Catholic press :
"Every Catholic family should subscribe for, at least, one Cath-
olic newspaper. If there is a Catholic paper published in the
Diocese, then they should first subscribe for that paper, and after
for others. The Catholic press has not been supported as it
should be ; Catholics seem not to be alive to the value of the press,
and so far have not given it that support that either their numbers
or their wealth would suppose. Here and there a few bishops,
and a few enterprising priests and laymen, have labored to create
a press, but there has been no organized or general effort made.
Our wealthy Catholics seem to think they have done their dutj^ if
No. 49. The Review. 783
they subscribe for a paper, and let the editor spend the half of
their subscription in writing duns for its collection .... It is simply
a disgfrace that, with a population of eight millions of Catholics in
the United States, and with populations in some of our large cities,
numbering up to the hundreds of thousands, we have not a single
daily (English) paper conducted from a Catholic standpoint.'"")
Since these words were written, the Catholic population has in-
creased by several millions more, but the Catholic weekly press
still lacks the support to which it is justly entitled, and as for a
Catholic (English) daily, — why, that seems farther off than ever.
A symposium conducted by a Western newspaper on the ad-
visability of the study of current events, has served to bring for-
ward a schoolmaster who glories in "yellow" journalism or "mur-
derous stories." In expressing his approval of the plan to make
the newspaper a part of the common-school curriculum, this
school principal, A. Whitsand Newman, of Grove City, Minne-
sota, says : "To keep abreast of the times the newspaper is by
far better than books, as they are seldom printed until long after
things have changed. Many a boy has gotten his start in educa-
tion from the reading of, we say, murderous stories. It cultivates
a taste for reading in general, more so than any method I know
of." After this, one is scarcely surprised to learn that this en-
thusiastic teacher believes that a newspaper put into the hands of
youth will contribute pleasure, even in old age, "though they do
not attain to the flights of literary lights." There is certainly no
disputing this Minnesota educator when he sums up the case for
the newspaper bj' declaring : "Its varied contents will appeal to
the vicious boy as well as the most modest maiden." Our only
fear is lest Mr. A. Whitsand Newman has missed his calling.
There is nothing to show that he is a brilliant teacher, but this
contribution of his to the discussion of a current topic is conclu-
sive of his value to a side-show — which, in its turn, is a "great
popular educator."
The N. Y. Freeman'' s Journal prints this editorial note in its
edition of December 12th (!) :
"Sympathetic interest will be felt in America in the announce-
ment of the death of Msgr. Schroeder, rector of the Catholic Uni-
verity of Munich and formerly of the professorial staff of the
Catholic Universitj'^ of Washington."
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Schroder died on September, the fifth. (See the
obituary notice in our No. 36.)
He was not Rector of the Catholic University of Munich. There
is no Catholic University of Munich. He was Rector of the Uni-
versity of Miinster, which is not a Catholic but a government in-
stitution with a Catholic theological faculty.
The N. Y. Freeman" s Journal — we say it seriously and without
*] Quoted by Father Houck in his 'History of Catholicity in Northern Ohio and in the
Diocese of Cleveland ' vol. i, p. 12.i.
784 The Review. 1903.
reserve or arriere-pensee— is one of the best and most reliable Cath-
olic newspapers in the English language published in America.
We are indebted to the Rev. P. Barnabas Held, O. S. B., editor
of the KathoUsche Rundschau, of San Antonio, Texas, for a very
kindly notice (in his No. 4) of our humble Review, which he is
pleased to call "'concise, fearless, reliable, and thorough," "inter-
esting and instructive." Fr. Held gives it as his honest opinion
that "no Catholic in this country who claims to be educated, can
afford to be without The Review."
In matter of fact, thousands of them are without it, and we are
making the same experience that others have made : viz., that
there is only a comparatively small number of Catholics, clerical
and lay, in this country to whom a high-class Catholic journal, un-
tainted by the poison of Liberalism, appeals so strongly that they
will subscribe and pay for it regularly.
It has been the aim of the Centre Party of Germany to place
taxes as much as possible on the shoulders of those who can bear
them best. Of late the Bavarian Centre has introduced a
bill in the Chambers to levy a tax of 20% on the "unearned incre-
ment" in the value of vacant city lots, giving one-half of the pro-
ceeds to the city for the purpose of building workingmen 's homes,
the other half to the State to furnish dwellings to itsof&cers or to
pay off the indebtedness on such dwellings. Even the radical
Frankfurter Zeitung- approves the move, though it doubts if the
Centre Party is in earnest. The doubt is quite superfluous,since
the Centre Party has shown by its previous actions that it is in
dead earnest about everything it proposes for the amelioration of
the lot of the poorer classes.
This is the last number of our tenth volume. Next week there
will be no Review issued. No. 1 of Volume XL will appear, Deo
volente, on the seventh of January, 1904. The index to volume X.
will be sent to each subscriber with the first January issue, as a
supplement.
We are sending out bills to subscribers who are in arrears and
respectfully request them ail to remember The Review when they
straighten their accounts for the new year.
The Review wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year I
FINIS.
Index to Volume X. of....
....THE REVIEW, 1903.
Acton, Lord 656.
Adams, H. A. 835.
Algue, Rev. l'., S. J. 718.
Allies, T. W. 589.
"American Catliolic Union" 227.
*'Americanism," 383; Outcroppiugs
of 111, 206, 348.
Arbitration, Compulsory 17, 78, 241,
292.
Arnold* Co. 110.
Assessment Mlltuals. reorganization
of 39, 102, 156, 160, 195, 414, 427,
578, 593, 625.
Athletics for Girls 780
Babel and Bible 155.
Bargy 289.
Benediction of a Public School 641.
Ben-Hur 272.
Ben/iger Bros. 778.
Bible, The, in school 191.
"Biblische Zeitschrift" 283.
Blind, Dictionary for the 283.
Bond Investment Co.'s 100.
Books Reviewed : Lord's Beacon
Lights, L' Humanity de Jesus-Christ
(Perils) 92; Guggenberger's His-
tory of the Christian Era 93; Dis-
coveries of the Norsemen in Amer-
ica; The Truth of Papal Claims 94;
Holy Family Catechisms 95; Le
Citoyen Americaiu 108; Holy vSac-
rifice of the Mass (Giehr) 163; Life
of Salzmann 174; The Whole Dif-
ference; Hail, Full of Grace 204;
Beyond the Grave, Anchoresses of
the West 205; The Psalms in Eng-
lish Verse, The Art of Disappearing,
The International Cyclopedia 221;
Notre Drapeau 251; Donna Diana
252; The Young Christian Teacher
Encouraged; Discourses on the
Priesthood 269; History of the Ger-
man People (V. and VI.), Success
282; Cours Fran^ais de Lecture 300;
The Sacred Heart, Teacher of Man-
kind 318; Instinct and Intelligence
in the Animal Kingdom 364; Short
Sermons on Catholic Doctrine 380;
De Carentia Ovariorum 381; Ne
Obliviscaris, Rambles Through Eu-
rope, etc., A Daughter of the
Sierras, In the Shadow of the Manse
429; St. Edmund, Abp. of Canter-
bury 443; Catholic London Mis-
sions 444; Earth to Heaven 473;
Christianity and Modern Civiliza-
tion, The Life of Leo XIII. (Mc-
Govern) 474; The Pope and His
Election 475; Jesuit Education 488;
A Systematic Study of the Catholic
Religion (Coppens), Kind Words
From Your Pastor 551; Life of St.
Philip Neri 583; Creighton Univer-
sity Reminiscences, Edgar 584;
Echoes of Jubilee, Kirchenlexikon
Registerband 585; Readings of the
Gospels, Chips of Wisdom From
the Rock of Peter 605; A Modern
Arithmetic 652; Nautical Distances,
Melanges (Tardivel) 666; Kaegi's
Greek Grammar 694; Illustrirte
Geschichte der deutschen Literatur
700; Christ. Apologetics (Devivier-
. Sasia) 701, 777; Paternoster Series
732; A Precursor of St. Philip 733;
Plain FactsforFair Minds 763; The
Gift of Pentecost. The Holy Sacri-
fice of the Mass (Bona), The Divine
Office 764; History of Catholicitv
in Northern Ohio 765; Was St.
Peter Married? The Friendships of
Jesus 777; The Symbol of the
Apostles 778.
Brain Development, and mental ca-
pacity 223.
Brass-Band Charity 511.
Breviary, Revision of 16, 132, 152, 398.
"Brotherhood of American Yeomen"
531.
Brownson, 0. A. 638.
Bruchesi, Abp. 112, 351.
Byrne, Bp. 588.
C. B. M. A. 156, 222, 284, 414, 445, 491,
559.
Cahensly, P. P. 47, 385.
Casartelli, Bp. 685.
Catechism, Is there need of a new?
439.
I' "Catholic," The Name 319.
"Catholic Advance" 535, 607.
Catholic Daily, Question of 127, 513,
573, 660, 717.
Catholic Journalism and the Hier-
archy 506.
"Catholic Ladies of Ohio" 243, 310.
Catholic Order of Foresters 371, 501.
Catholic Summer School 591.
Catholics in the U. S., Percentage
of 215.
Catholic University of America :
Index.
Msgr. O'Connel and, 10, 177, 302,
303, 350, 465, 477, 507, 509, 575, 590,
639, 669, 703.
^'Catholic World" 107, 176.
Catliolic Worship and Protestant
Hymns 497.
Census, Catholic 30.
Chateanbriand 301.
Child Psychology 288.
Chiniquy 463.
"Christian Mother" 181.
Church Bazaars, Ethics of 781.
Church Music Reform : 150, 240, 462,
481, 685.
''Church Progress" 704, 782.
Church Property, Taxation of 737,
756.
Clairvoyance 89, 129, 151, 174.
Classics, study of 609, 627.
Clergy of the Future 686.
Clerical Aid Funds 198, 276. 313, 354.
"Clerics at the Bat" 293, 335.
Coal Strike Enquiry 123, 193, 446.
Coeducation 217.
Colleges: Bobtailed Curriculum 106;
the classics in 173, 609, 627; their
principal need 716.
Collier, P. F. 272, 588.
Colonial P..licy, our 29, 43, 47, 79,
638, 639, 702.
Columbus and the discovery of Am-
erica 299.
Conclave, Austria's veto 586.
Council of Trent, new history of 305.
Cowardly Editors 35.
^ Cremation 231, 258, 365.
Crucifixion, Determining the date of
the 36^.
Cuba, Education in 9.
Decision, an important in re mutual
benefit societies 427.
"Department Stores," Catholic de-
partments in 36.
"Devil in Robes," The 189, 236, 326,
362, 402.
Diocesan Organs 524.
Dishonesty, a plea for 397.
Divorce 48, 734.
-El
Education: Failureof secular 30; and
crime 46; Bible in school 191; Co-
education 217; religion in 510;
Catholic text-books 539.
"Rdiicational Briefs" 252.
Elks, and theCath. clergy 20, 336, 769.
Eminent Domain 15.
England, Catholic press in 383; new
education law in 393.
English History, the rewriting of 21.
Esperanto 779.
Euchre at church fairs, etc. 336.
Evolution, vs. Constancy 185, 235,
389,541.
Exegelics, progress in 317.
Extreme ITnction, advocated l)y Prot-
estants 284.
Falsehood, Physical reason for 14.
Family, Shrinkage of the American 12
Faribault Plan, revived 782.
Farley, Abp. 558.
vy'" Father," the title of 14, 528.
Federation, The Catholic, and poli-
tics 65, 285.
Fifth Commandment of the Church
545
Fischer, Cardinal 432, 478.
Flying Reptiles 457.
Foretelling the Future 662.
France, Culturkampf in 80, 657, 689,
712.
Franciscan Studies 280.
"Fraternal Order of Colonials" 572.
Freemasonry, the goat in 26; vs.
Christianity 66; in Germany and
America 147; American is anti-
Christian 222; Studies in American
321, 388, 356, 374, 405, 424, 441, 452,
470, 493, 504, 519, 533, 547, 566, 579,
620, 649, 654, 683, 692, 711, 730, 745,
760, 772.
Freeman's Journal, N. Y. 783.
Free Public Libraries, objections to
624.
Free Sijhools, Catholic 3.53, 673, 721.
French-Canadians, and annexation
34, 78.
fiaelic 669.
Wambling 46, 384.
Oermans, in colonial times 33.
GrCrmany, Ireland's debt to 278.
Get-Rich.Quick Concerns 110, 126,
142, 143, 172, 705.
(irilniour, Bp. on Catholic press 782.
Girls' Clubs 525.
(illeichen. Count 557.
Glennon, Abp. 75, 240
Goat Lymph Serum 31.
(Tovernment Ownership 144,360. 436,
636
Grace, Bp. 348.
Grape .luice, vice wine 32.
Greek, The study of 561, 715; new
grammar 694.
Grisar, History of the Popes 97; ou
Luther 765.
3E3L
Hagen, Rev. J. G., S. J. 655.
Hagerty, Rev. T. J. 671.
Hammurabi 453.
Harnack 128, 279.
Medley, Bp. 717.
Holliind, social crisis in 331.
Holydavs 256.
Holy Shroud, of Turin 80, 238, 284,
384.
Hol/apfel, Rev. H., his theses 14,
345, 448.
Humor 254; medieval 749.
Hypnotism 174, 297, 734.
Index.
Idols, American 141.
ludex, Decree of 288.
Indian Schools 173.
U^ Indulgences, Protestant, 125; how
lost 668.
Infallibility, Papal 271.
Ingersoll a Pl.igiarist 190.
"Inquisition Monks" ^06.
Instinct and Intelligence in the ani-
mal kingdom 363.
Insuring Against Bad Debts 253.
Interest, cliarging of 159.
International Encyclopedia 221.
Inter Nos 522, 535.
Immigration 543.
loca lifonacliorum267.
Ireland, Abp. 254, 464, 672, 686, 767.
Irishmen, why they remain true to
their faith 413, 448.
Italians, and regicide 142.
Italians in U. S. 45.
Jesuits : Repeal of German anti-
Jesuit law 202; new history of 259;
Jesuit Education 488; and the study
of Sanskrit r)27; and the Catholic
University 575, 639.
Jews, in New York 409.
Joan of Arc 508.
^-<fonah, and the whale 540.
Journalism, "higher Catholic" 668.
Journalists, Schools for 603.
Kain, Abp. 640.
Katzer, Abp. 479.
Keane, Abp. 15, 45.
Knights of Columbus 32, 42, 96, 224,
334, 544.
Kossuth, Louis 44.
Labor Unions, should the}' incor-
porate? 482.
"Laudabiliter," the Bull 449.
Lay 'I'rustees HI.
Legends, Spurious 169, 182, 246, 431.
Leo XIII., on training the clerg}' 49;
an American Protestant preacher
on 370; 463, 464. 478; and the Span-
ish-American War 495; 672.
^ Leprosy, due to fish-eating 412.
Life lUNurance 404.
Lipsanography 400
Liquor Problem 508.
Literary Criticism in Catholic News-
papers 697, 752, 753.
Loisy, Abbe 581. 765.
J>ong-Distance Telegraphy, ancient
253.
Loyalists, in the Am. Revolution 209.
Ludden, Bp. on Klks 770.
Lynching 265, 433, 447, 528.
IMC
McGrady,Rev. Th. 5, 349, 671.
Marian Movement 41.
Married Priests in the U. S. 588,
637, 688.
Martinique 104.
Mary of Magdala 304.
"Messenger," The 16.
Messmer, Bp. 752.
Mind-Reading 141.
Missions to Non-Catholics 768.
Mixed Marriages 47, 230.
Monroe Doctrine 399.
Montgomery, Abp. 560, 575.
Morality, a question of 766.
Municipalizing the Public SerTice
636.
Murphy, Abp. 655.
National Frjiternity Congress 625.
Negro Question 64.
New Hampshire, religious features of
the constitution of 23.
Newman : His 'Essay on Develop-
ment' not a Catholic book 29, 207;
77; and Gladstone 735.
New Method of Seeking a Wife 529.
Newspapers, Catholic, Inferiority of
our 38.
New York 409.
Nine Fridays, Devotion of the 379.
"Northwest Review" 702.
O
O'Connell, Msgr. D. J. 10, 128, 177,
336, 350, 477.
O'Oorman, Bp. 575.
Old Age Pensions 554.
Organ, use of on Holy Thursday 312,
367, 415, 446.
Palladino, Ensapia 608.
Palmistry 145.
Panama 698.
Papyrus, important new finds 460.
Parochial Schools 48, 80, 107, 127;
statistics 161, 208; 191, 255, 353, 568,
673, 681, 719, 721.
Patent Medicines 121.
Patriotism 458.
"Pearson's Magazine" HO.
Peonage, 496.
Perosi 577.
Peter, The Year of 225.
Philanthrophy, vs. Christian Charity 8
Philippines, Situation in 273, 286,
337, 368; a new history of the 333;
problem of 503; moralitv in 537.
Pius IX. and Our Civil War 723, 768.
Pius X. 511, 558,577; and Liberalism
667; his program 671, 672, 751; 781.
Pohle, Rev. Or. 765.
Polish Petition to the Holy See 598,
616, 633, 646, 661.
Index.
Polyf?aiii J, economical 606.
Pope: Cau he designate his succes-
sor? 52.
Postage Stamps, old 78.
Primates, 715.
Prohibition 308.
^Protestantism, a Protestant on Deca-
ff- denceof6; Prayers for the dead 139.
Public Schools, in Minn. 206; a fail-
ure 30i; benediction of a 641; re-
ligious garb in 644.
Qaasi-Miraculous Phenomena, in
the light of science 232.
Railroad Stocks and Bonds, Invest-
ing in 167, 200, 219, 233.
Reform, True and False 59, 69, 84.
Religion in America, A French view
of 289.
Religions Garb in OnrPoblic Schools
644.
**Review of Catholic Pedagogy" 95.
Rerolution, American: True History
of 3, 24, 56, 90, 118, 209.
Rod, a plea for the 476.
Roman Catholic Mntaal Protective
Ass'n of Iowa 555.
Roman Question, 351.
Rooker, Bp. 526, 576.
Roosevelt, President 559.
Rosary, St. Dominic and the 330,
417,671.
St. Lonis Coadjntorship 75.
St. Lonis University 287.
St. Patrick, Double personality of 113
St. Panl, Archdiocese, in Catholic
Directory 245.
Sahara 266.
Saloon, Evolution of the 438.
Scharff, E. L. 271, 767.
Scheil, Rev. P. 304.
Scholarship, American classical 82.
School Qnestion, an ex-senator on
55; "Independent" on 258.
Schroeder, Msgr. (obituary) 564, 669,
783.
Secret Societies 55.
<'Semi-Teetotalers" 239.
Shallow, Are we? 165.
Shepherd, Margaret 192.
Shorthand, Father of American 159.
Socialism, in the U. S. 74, 781.
Socialist, a converted 344.
Society for the Propagation of the
Faith, our debt to 158.
Society of St. Raphael 385.
South, Religious conditions in 589.
•Spalding, Bp.,on Emerson 401; crit-
icsm of 552.
Spelling Reform 285.
Spiritism 96, 587, 608.
Spontaneous Combustion 7H1.
Stage, Degeneracy of 188, 256.
Star-spangled Banner 587.
Statistics, Catholic 687; curious 718.
Steel Trust 248. 367.
Street Fairs 590.
Strenuous Life, overdone 655.
Strikes 395.
Suicide 4il.
Swami Yivekananda 158.
Syriac Patrology 301.
Tardivel 192, 592, 666.
Tax, Can the Church impose a? 136.
T.axation of Church Property 737, 756.
Taxil, Leo 16.
Tesla 144.
Texan Oil Stocks 654.
Text-Book, Catholic, Is it to be ban-
ished? 539.
Typographical Union, oath, 542, 569,
595.
Yaccination, Compulsory 256.
Yattmann, Rev. E. 316, 398.
Washington, Booker 343.
Wasmann, Rev. E. 389.
"Western Watchman" 109, 143, 224,
336, 479, 576, 771.
Widows' and Orphans' Fund, of the
Centralverein 779.
Wisconsin, Important Decision of
Supreme Court of 742.
Women, Callings of 64; should they
insure their lives? 346, 679.
World's Fair 48, Catholic school ex-
hibit at? 81, 124, 143.
Xenophon's Route to the Sea 396.
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