Australian Catholic Truth Society

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1908, Page 14

Australian Catholic Truth Society

The following is the annual report of the Australian Catholic

Truth Society :—: —

Truth Society :—: — In presenting the report of the executive committee for the past year, we are glad to be able to announce that the A.C.T.S. is showing increasing signs of vitality. If only its ratio of progress during the few years of its existence be maintained, it will undoubtedly, in the near "future, become a potent factor in throwing the ' searchlights of Catholic Truth along the dark ways and subtle windings of error.' Still, the present is the day of comparatively small things, and much generous aid and vigorous work are necessary to bring io fruition the hopes that every member of our society cherishes. In our last report we recorded the fact that our society had published 382,000 pamphlets during the three years of its existence. That total is now increased to 502,000. Of this number, 95,782 pamphlets have been distributed during the past twelve months, whilst last year only 62,000 went into circulation. Of the various editions of the society's admirable Prayer Book, 33,437 copies have been sold, and of this total 6952 copies have gone into circulation during the present year. Of the Archbishop's Lectures and Replies, 2000 were published, of which 668 have been placed. The financial statement for the year ending November 30, 1907, showed a credit balance of £2 13s 2d. We have always had the question of our liabilities before our eyes, and we have always met our engagements with satisfactory promptness, whilst the fact that we can show this year a credit balance cf us lod is ample proof that the society has practised rigid economy in carrying out the work specified in this report. It cannot, however, be too strongly impressed on the clergy and laity that if the society is to live, and, still more, if it is to flourish and to effect the good of which we believe it to te capable, it should receive more support. It goes without saying that the society does not receive the assistance to which it «s entitled by the recognised importance of its work. There 5s urgent need for a large increase in the number of life and annual subscribers. It must be admitted that the zeal of Catholics in the dissemination of Catholic Truth Mis far shore of that manifested by the Rationalistic Press — the sappers and miners of modern infidelity — and certain non-Catholic religious associations. Some time ago the following item of news appeared in the Press : — ' A lady residing in London, who desires to be known merely as "M. K. H.," has transferred the sum of India 3 per cent, stock as a gift, to the general purposes of the British and Foreign Bible Society.* And the Catholic Truth Society of Australia, whose object is to establish and forward a Catholic literature in this country, can muster only some 500 subscribers — barely one subscriber from each parochial district in Australasia 1 No one who is at all conversant, with the spiritual atmosphere in which we live and r move will venture to affirm that an appeal for support and a generous response were not demanded. Of course, there never has been a time when scepticism and infidelity were not felt and expressed. And there have been periods, too, in the history of more than one nation when the whole tone of what is called the intellectual life, particularly as that tone found its expression in the" national literature, was set against Christianity. But these were days when the- intellectual life and literature were only for tie few, and the masses of the people, .for the most part unaffected by such influences, continued to believe and worship pretty much as before. It is far , otherwise in these days of ours. The spirit of intellectualism is abroad. All 'men read, and, whether they wish it or not, the generality, at all events, are- influenced, i>y what they read. It would be scarcely true to say that the literature circulated amongst " us', "takerras a "whole, isHrreligious'or immoral ,but there can be no doubt that a considerable portion is, and that the portion of< which this can be said is widely circulated and .doing grave and in many cases irreparable mischief to men and women of every class at the present moment.

Again, the growth of' Rationalistic and Socialistic literature is undoubtedly one of the gravest and most disquieting, features of our times. _" -Publications which .assail religion in every shape, and advocate" in one ~ form or -another a. social revolution, entailing consequences which no man of sober judgment can Contemplate without,,, dismay, are poured continually from the Pressj and read by receptive, but half-educated, minds. Undoubtedly this leaven is working far more widely and'deepiy than many believe, and amongst those whom it affects are known tp' be a large number of Catholics.

Whilst the enemies of the Christian name are wielding with such skill the weapon of the Press, preparing ruin for faith and morals* shall that same potent weapon remain useless in our hands? The case is in the" hands of our Catholic people. If each brings home to himself that our society is' raising aloft the white banner of purity and innocence in literature, that it is using the Press as an instrument for God, and that the practical co-operation of all is needed that our work may take on wider proportions and spread to hitherto unfilled fields, then the united efforts, not of hundreds, but of thousands, throughout the Commonwealth and New Zealand will make the work of your committee fruitful a hundredfold to the good of religion and the glory of God.

In conclusion, we hfave again to tender our grateful thanks to the small knot of writers who have given us freely of their

best ; to the Press, Catholic and secular, for wide publicity and kind encouragement ; and, lastly, to the Conferences of the St. Vincent de Paul's Society for enlightened zeal in the ,work of distributing our pamphlets and securing subscribers. JOHN NORRIS, J. T. P. O'MEARA, Hon. Secretaries.

Washington was a major at 19, a distinguished colonel tn the army at 22, early in public affairs, commander of the forces at 44 and President at 57. " #

Now that the wool season is at hand, the notification by Messrs. Wright, Stephenson,' and Co., Ltd., which appears elsewhere in this issue, is of immediate interest to Otago and Southland sheep-farmers.... . '

Our readers in Canterbury should not miss noting the list of Christmas gifts to be had at Messrs. Graham, Wilson', and Smellie's establishment, High street, Christchurch....

New books, objects of Catholic devotion, arid novelties, suitable for Christmas, are now being opened up at the Catholic Book Depot, Barbadoes street, Christchurch. Mr. O'Connor also draws attention to his comprehensive stock of specially selected books, suitable for school prizes and Christmas presents.