The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1915. THE SOCIAL STUDY SCHEME

New Zealand Tablet, 23 September 1915, Page 33

The New Zealand Tablet THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1915. THE SOCIAL STUDY SCHEME

S has been already intimated in our columns, the arran g emen^s for holding the C.S.G. *iraiv(’ social study scheme examinations in New Zealand will be carried out this year by CjjalfiWQ the Executive of the Federated Catholic Clubs of - the Dominion ; and the Secretary has informed us that the text-books for ' the forthcoming examination are now in his hands and may be obtained upon application. The books and prices are as follow: Elementary Course I. —Text-800k — Primer of Social Science, by the Right Rev. Mgr. Parkinson, 2s 3d. 11. Books of reference, for collateral study(a) The Science of Wealth, by J. A. Hobson, Is 3d; (b) Chris tian Citizenship, by Father Wright, 9d; (c) The Pope,

and the People, Is 3d, containing Encyclicals of Leo XIII. on (1) The Condition of the Working Classes, (2) The Duties of Christians as Citizens, and (3) Christian Democracy. Advanced Course: I. TextBook-— Political Economy, by C. S. Devas, 3s. 11. Books of reference—(a) Elements of Political Economy , by Prof. Caiman, Is 3d (b) Synopsis of Devas’s Political Economy (Hugo), 9d ; (c) Elementary Economics, by Prof. Chapman, 2s 3d. In addition, a number of copies of the two syllabuses, elementary and advanced, Id each, are available; and Principdes of Political Economy, by C. Gide, Bs, is also recommended for collateral reading in the advanced course. As this work is rather expensive and not absolutely necessary, the C. S.G. Executive has so far sent only three copies, on the understanding that more, of course, may be ordered and will be forwarded if required. Applications for this volume will be dealt with in the order in which they are received. All the above publications for the respective courses may now be had on application to the following address:-—Mr. T. H. Forster, Secretary Federated Catholic Clubs, 15 Kensington street, Wellington. Postage on books to candidates will be added in .each case to the prices above given. Candidates are reminded that they are also required to send with their application the sum of Is. as examination entrance fee. * • Some time ago we communicated with the C.S.G. authorities suggesting that as it would be late in the year before the text-books would be available in New Zealand we should be given a free hand in fixing the date of the examination, that it should be held in the early part of next year, and that it should be allowed to rank as a deferred 1915 examination. We have received a reply from the general secretary of the C.S.G. accepting all our suggestions ; and we- have accordingly decided to hold the examination during the last week of March next —that is, from March 24 to March 31. This will give candidates a clear six months’ work on the text-books : and as Easter falls next year on - April 23, it will also allow ample time to have the examination completed, and the candidates papers despatched, before the ..Executive of the Federated Catholic Clubs require to get busy with the preparations. for their Easter conference. Once again we strongly urge upon our Catholic young men and women the claims of this altogether admirable study scheme. The social question still takes precedence over all other political questions and if Catholics do not receive instruction on the subject from Catholic sources they will get it elsewhere. Already a rival scheme is in the field. We have before us a circular, from an organisation called the Workers’ Educational Association, which was sent to the secretary of the Wellington branch of the 1T.A.C.8. Society and submitted to the ‘ last meeting of the society. We make a few extracts from the circular: ‘The W.E.A. is an alliance of Labor and Learning. It is a federation of labor, educational and other organisations, controlled by a Central Council of Delegates appointed by affiliated societies. The aim of the W.E.A. is to enable working people to gain the education necessary for their fullest development. To this end the association organises classes Preliminary and Tutorial — study circles and public lectures. ‘The W.E.A. appeals to all' those who realise the need of advancing the higher education of men and women. The W.E.A. offers-to all’ workers the opportunity of a three-years’ course of study under a competent tutor in what is called a “University Tutorial Class.” Classes in Economics, * English, and the Theory of Electricity have' already been established in Wellington ; but classes in other subjects (Industrial History, Biology, Philosophy, etc.) will be organised as soon as men and women offer themselves as students. The classes meet at times and -places convenient to the students. In England 50,000 men and women come directly under its (the MCE.A. s) educational influences. The W.E.A. in New Zealand is destined to become a power in the land. Its active influence on education and on social organisation and

development will be felt with increasing power as years go by/ We have no special quarrel with the Workers’ Educational Association, whose aim in endeavoring to provide working people with the opportunity for higher study and education is entirely praiseworthy. But it is obvious that instruction ■by the Association's representatives in such subjects as biology and philosophy, as well as on the social question itself, may easily be —and is, indeed, more than likely to be—on purely materialistic lines, and to constitute an insidious and very real menace to religious faith. Under the circumstances, we are justified in hoping that branch* chaplains of the 1T.A.C.8. Society will be on the alert, and will counteract the danger by making opportunity to voice the claims of the excellent Catholic study scheme which, at considerable personal trouble, we have made available to the Catholics of the Dominion. How can we expect the faith to flourish in all its strength and purity amongst our young people and our .working men if we deliberately allow the enemy the opportunity to sow tares? Already the entries for the coming examination are double those of last year ; but the present number should itself be easily doubled within the next few weeks. The majority of those who were successful last year are proceeding to the advanced course this year : and all of last year’s candidates have expressed .themselves as immensely, benefited by their six months’ definite and systematic study of the great questions covered by the Guild’s scheme. The examination is not really difficult or formidable, and any young man or woman, of average intelligence and application, may take up the study with every prospect of success. There is now little time to spare ; and we urgently press upon all who can to make up their minds at once to enter for the coming examination. As one of the Guild circulars admirably puts it: ‘Do not argue whether you can or cannot try—give yourself and the scheme a trial.’ On the testimony of those who have done so, and on our own knowledge of the intrinsic excellence of the scheme, we can safely say that every candidate will be a better Catholic and a better citizen for the knowledge he will obtain of Catholic social principles and ideals.