MILITANT CATHOLICITY

New Zealand Tablet, 13 February 1913, Page 49

MILITANT CATHOLICITY

A friend, a few months ago (writes our Christchurch correspondent), felt so interested in a movement for the distribution of Catholic literature in the most frequented streets and public resorts in Melbourne, that, besides sending a contribution to help on the good work, he asked to be supplied with particulars regarding the modus operandi. The originator and principal in the movement, which has proved eminently successful, is a young man, a convert to our holy faith. For the information of Tablet readers, who will naturally be interested in the subject, I give herewith a copy of a letter received from the originator of the movement: '4 Richmond Hill Cottages, Bridge Rd., 'Richmond, Melbourne, Dec. 9, 1912. ' My dear , ' Your letter to hand, and I must heartily thank you for the interest you evince in my work. I am only too pleased to give you further details regarding it, although it is so simple that it can be described in a few lines. A portable box, whose dimensions are 2ft by l£ft by sin, is all the apparatus required. The lid of this when opened displays 2 dozen pamphlets, the titles of which form an index to those available for distribution. A movable sign is attached to the lid on which is written, 'Catholic Truth Pamphlets for Non-CatholicsFree." Thus equipped, some popular resort is chosensay the entrance to a public park or gardens, the beach, or some public-discussion ground where men are wont to congregateand there your wares are displayed, and subjected to the curiosity, the interest, and sometimes the ridicule of the crowd. In addition to the pamphlets, a small stock of the cheap editions of controversial, literature is carried. For these a good demand exists, and to ensure their return the addresses of the borrowers are obtained. A " question box " is also carried; this is a very necessary adjunct, for it saves one getting into a discussion, for should questions touching on controversial matters be asked, one just says: Kindly write down your query, place it in the box, and a qualified authority will answer it." 'Tis now four months since the scheme was started, and for that period 56 dozen pamphlets have been distributed and 20 large books circulated amongst 32 persons. Thanks be to God for the grace given to accomplish this, and may His blessing be poured out on those generous benefactors who have provided the means to carry it out, and may He also lead many more to take up this simple work, so that m the coming year, Deo volente, the number may be multiplied a hundred-fold. 'As you have so kindly offered, per medium of the N.Z. Tablet, to endeavor to get this work taken up m the Dominion, may I suggest one or two thoughts that may help you in this matter. Both in England and America this movement has caught on, with most encouraging results, hundreds of thousands of pamphlets having been circulated; and surely here in Australasia, where the rank and file of our Catholic brethren enjoy so much more "leisure and treasure" as compared with older countries, we should fall in line and give a practical answer to the question that during the last decade has come so much to the fore—" What are we doing for non-Catholics?" ' Again, what better means can we take to oppose the rapid advance that Rationalism is making than fighting it with its own weapons? Its main weapon L S ;*f e /rji ln i press Since 1902, one million and a half of their cheap reprints" of standard works of such authors as Huxley, Darwin, Tyndall, Renan, Uodd, Haeckel, etc., have been issued. To combat these many excellent pamphlets have been written by the foremost intellects of the Church— Gerard, Rickaby Hull, Smith, etc., and prominent laymen, such as Wmdle, Mooney, Toke. Sw*etmfl.n The great difficulty has been to place them in the hands of those forwhom they are written. Where are our bands of Catholic scouts who will do the work done by the Clmon Scouts, when Blatchford's Merrie England was first published? Cycling and tramping through

England, they sold one million copies. Proportionate to our population, what should prevent us from achieving like results? Their labors were for the material welfare of mankind; what should we not do for the cause of God and His Holy Church? ? ' Thanking you once more for your kindly interest, and wishing you every blessing in the coming year, ' Believe me, yours very faithfully, Chas. A. Browne.'