BOOK NOTICES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 19, 31 August 1888, Page 7

BOOK NOTICES.

St. Joseph's Prayer Book, compiled by a religious of the diocese of Dunedin, is one of the neatest and most comprehensive bo r ks of its kind that can posßibly be found. The book has been issued with the imprimatur of tbe Bishop of Dunedin, and contains letters of approval addressed to tbe compiler by his Grace tbe Archbishop of Wellington and the Bishops of Auckland, Christcburcb, Bathuret, Maitland, and Sale, as well as the Co-ad jutor Bishop of Sandhurst. Their Lordships are agreed in bailing it, as supplying a want and being well calculated for the promotion of piety and instruction in religion. The contents of the book are numerous. Indeed it is surprising to find how much has bfen put together in so small a com pas?, and yet tbe print is clear and distinct, and in no degree trying to the sight. The prayera of Mass, the Children's Mass, the manner of Serving Macs, prayers for various devutione, and particular occasions, the Benediction Hymns, Vespers for Sundays and Festivals, — with ever co much more than we have space to note might in themselves make up a very sufficient prayer book. But, in addition, we find a large number of hymns, so that we have a prayer-book and byran-book combined, and nothing can exceed the care and judgment with which both prayers and bymns have been selected. Besides all this, the manner in which the book has been published is admirable. It has been bound with great taste and finish by Mr. B. Efquilant, the*well known book binder, who has turned it out in his best style, and therefore it necessarily forms a very neat and pretty as well as compact and lastiDg little volume. The book is intended esppcially for tbe use of children, but contains all that adults can require and is as convenient to carry as it is comprehensive and serviceable. It has» been printed at the Tablkt office, Dunedin, where orders for it will be received and attended to. The price moreover may be looked upon as a'most nominal being only lOd, sent free by post. High Churchmen, and their Rights ; a Parish Story founded on fact. Dunedin. Joseph Braithwaite. This is an argument in support of the practices and beliefs of the Ritualist party in the Church of Bug and, and seems to sustain their position in as efficient a manner as possible. Tbe position of the party in question, however, is one which of all others we are unable to understand, and, in our eyes, involves so total a disregard for historical evidence, so complete a system of arbitrary assertion, and so obstinate a contradiction of plain facts, that, since we are certain it can be and is sincerely supported by good and honourable men, we can only marvel at the vagaries of the human will and intellect. The arguments in fact employed to establish the Ritualists' position seem to us as palpably false and as thoroughly and visibly absurd as any extreme assumption — as, for example, an arbitrary and obstinate assertion that any given horse was pot a horse but a cow — and it seems vain to reason with those who will have it to, But persons who are desirous of studying a position made prominent by recent events in the neighbourhood of Dunedin

will find the publication to which we refer fulfil their requirements in a comprehensive and agreeable manner. The Otago University Review, Dunedin. This is a magazine published in connection with the Otago University, aDd intended to combine literary work of a high character with items of interest relating to the University in question, or to those of other colonies or countries. The first number Beems to fulfil tbe double object very fairly. It contains a learned and readable article on Plato by Professor Salmond. and a pleasantly-written criticism of Thackeray's " Tanity Fair "by Marion 8. W. White. University and Athletic news, end correspondence complete tbe number.