MEMORIAL VOLUME OF THE RECENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 16, 18 April 1901, Page 5

MEMORIAL VOLUME OF THE RECENT.

CATHOLIC CONGRESS.

Decidedly the most remarkable book that has issued of late years from the Australian Press id the great memorial volume entitled Proceedings of the Firtt Australasian Catholic Congress. That memorable and historic assemblage of the prelates, clergy, and laity of Australasia which marked the closing year of the nineteenth century, was both in itself, in the wide range and human interest of the subjects with which it dealt, and in its probable effects on the future of religion in these new lands, one of the most notable events, perhaps the most notable, in the anDals of the Catholio Church in this portion of the Vineyard. It has found a splendid and lasting memorial in the monumental work now before us. which is a great volume of close on 900 pages, faultless in the matter of paper, type, and general appearance, and worth at least twice the modest sum for which it is forwarded to non-members of the Congress. Within, it is a remarkably ' meaty ' production — consisting of the admirable Beries of papers written for the Congress. We have more than onoe made reference to the high level of literary merit reached in these papers. They cover a wide range of subjects : (1) Apologetics (10 papers) ; (2) Social Questions (15 papers) ; (3) Education (16 papers) ; (4) Our Schools (12 papers) ; (5) History and Missions (12 papers, including an exceptionally interesting and valuable contribution by the Cardinal-Archbishop of Sydney on • The Development of the Catholio Church in Great Britain and the Colonies during the Nineteenth Century' — a work, as we may call it, whioh occupies 158 pages) ; (0) Statistics, Science, and Art (9 papers, including one by the late

eminent statistician, Mr. Mulhall, entitled c A Statistical View of the Roman Catholic Church '). Among the other contributors are the Archbishops of Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart, and Wellington ; the BiHhops of Newport, Laranda (Coadjutor of Hobart), Goulburn, Rockhampton, some of the Professors of Maynooth College, the editor of the Are Maria, and numerous experts in education, art, mueic, architecture, etc. Altogether the volume is one of quite exceptional interest, and it should find an honored place upon the desk of every priest and on the bookshelf of every educated layman. It is, in brief, an admirable reference work on Catholic principles and Catholic thought over a great number of subjects of present and practical interest, besides furnishing a valuable and permanent record of the wondrous strides made by the Catholic Church in English-speaking countries during the century that has passed away. The work is published at St. Mary's, SydDey, and may be obtained direct therefrom or through any of the Catholic booksellers advertising in our columns.

Wales alone we have about 120,000 children receiving education in the Catholic schools. Administering to these children there are some 2000 nuns and 250 Brothers. Thw was practically the growth of a few years. It was, too, the outcome purely of the efforts of our own people themnelves, without State or outside assistance. Anil his Eminence felt confident before the end of another half-century, not only this State but all the other Australian States would recognise the great work which is being carried on in the religious sohools and render assistance on tho same lines as in England and Ireland.