NEW BOOKS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 25, 21 June 1900, Page 20

NEW BO OK S.

Whatever Father P. C. Yorke, of San Francisco, puts his hand to he does it well. His graduated Text-books of Religion for Parochial and Sunday Schools are fast winning their way into favor with Catholic educationists, and we have now before us the second edition of the Text-book for the Third Grade (Text-book Publishing Company, 606 Montgomery street, San Francisco, Cal.). Catholic teachers are abreast of the times in demanding secular school books of the best workmanohip and with the most improved methods, but in religious science, while there have been many separate manuals and explanations published, there has been no attempt to produce a series of such as we have in the readers, arithmetics, geographies, and the like. Father Yorke has been engaged for the last Are years in thiß work, which he has based on the admirable Cateohism of the Baltimore Council. Three of the Grades have been completed and the fourth ia announced as in the press. The plan of the books was devised after consultation with experienced teachers, and the success which they have met with in the schools is a proof that the plan was well laid, ihe Third Grade consists of 128 pages divided into 42 lessons. The lessons consist of a fine half-tone picture appropriate to the text, reading matter, catechism, and a hymn. The reading matter consists of an explanation of the subjects treated in the catecnism of the Bible story of events alluded to in the questions. Moreover, the Ten Commandments are so explained that they form a splendid examination of conscience. As the book is intended for children who have jußt made or are preparing for Confession, the Sacrament of Penance is described in a manner suited to their oapacity. The book makes a good year's work, and the child who has used it will have an acquaintance with religion not enjoyed by children of higher grades who have been confined to the catechism. To teach by the sight, by the memory, by the worda of Holy Scripture, by hymns, in fact by every means which religion has pressed into its service— such is the idea of the maker of the Text Bookg. The book is printed on fine paper, ia well bound in cloth and retails for the Bum of 25 cents. Messrs. Marlier, Callanan, and Co.. (173 Tremont street, Boston, U.S.A.) are the publishers of the latest work from the pen of Miss Lelia Hardin Bugg, author of The Correct Thing for Catholicg, and other works. The popularity suddenly attained by the work jußt referred to will naturally attract the attention of Catholic readers to anything that comes from the pen of this clever and sparkling young American writer. The People\of our Parish purports to be ' the chronicle and comment of Katharine Fitzgerald, pew-holder in the Church of St. Paul the Apostle,' and in the 22 chapters which compose the book she touches brightly and sensibly, in story and dialogue, upon every subject that is likely to come within the range of social discussion of ' the people of our parish.' The tangle of silly social rings and 'sets' and jealousies that prevent united action; funerals; vocations to the priesthood ; church collections ; mixed and other marriages ; colleges, boarding schools, parochial suhoola ; Catholic Truth Societies, and all sorts of interesting subjects are threshed out at the pleasant little gathering at Dr. Mordant's or Mrs. Driscoll's in a lively fashion and with a depth of thoughtf ulness and illuminated good sense and wisdom that will be found highly suggestive both to the priest and to the people of the parish. ' Miss Bugg,' says the Pilot, ' never preaches or proses. She knows her faith ; she knows the real thing in social life. It may be said that she uses the lancet and the caustic pretty freely that now and then, she too obviously assumes her readers' need of instruction. But, on the whole, The People if Our Parish has a mission, and, it will certainly accomplish it.' In binding, type, paper, and general appearance, the bcok in splendidly turned out, and we can heartily commend it to both our lay and clerical readers. (Price, one dollar). The same firm announce the immediate appearance of Weiglied in the Balance, a fascinating dramatic story by the well known Catholic writer, Christina Reid, author of Armine, Carmela, etc. (12 mo cloth, 1 dollar 50 cents). Hopeful Thontjhtx is a well-chosen selection of gems of thought from eminent Catholic writers on God and Eternity, Self and Duty, Neighbor and Charity, Religion and Morality, Death and Piety. Publishers: The Ayr Maria Press, Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A. (Cloth, gilt, 2r)cts ; paper, 3 for lOcts).