BOOK NOTICES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 49, 13 December 1923, Page 25

BOOK NOTICES

The Ecclesiastical Review, Twenty shillings a year. Per Linehan, Melbourne. The September number of this important Catholic review contains interesting articles and discussions on historical, social, and liturgical topics, as well as the most recent Roman documents. Noteworthy are the articles on “Bible Reading in Public Schools,” by Rev. John O’Brien; "“Pius XI. and the Promotion of Christian Doctrine,” and “St. Thomas and the Mass,” by Episcppus. London C.T.S. Publications: V reparation for First Coni' fession and First Communion, by Rev. J. I. Lane; -- The Little .Sisters of the Assumption; The Weak Link; and The Coming of the Kingdom, by W. S. Randall. Price, twopence .each. The Sacrifice of the Mass : Explanations and Instructions, by Rev. John T. McMahon. Dwyer and Carroll,, Perth. Price, One shilling. „ Catholic teachers in Australia are already finding Father McMahon’s little book a useful help towards exciting among the children devotion and reverence for the Holy Sacrifice. The book is inspiring and edifying, and wo recommend it to parents as well as to children. It is a sound, devotional little treatise. Irish History for Primary Schools, by Rev. P. Carey, Pellegrini, Sydney. During our studies of Irish History last year, the children found Father Carey’s book of great value to them, We are pleased to see that in this new edition now before us he has amplified the scope of his work, dealing with the story of Ireland down as far as the death of the great Hugh O’Neill, thus embracing the Norman and Tudor periods, which will be the major part of our programme for the coming year. Teachers who support our efforts to keep alive the love of Ireland in the young people will welcome this publication. ' A First Book in Ethics, by Henry Woods, S.Jr, Linehan, Melbourne. Price, 11/6. In our time it is of vast importance that our educated Catholic laity should be well grounded in the principles of Christian philosophy. The books and the newspapers are full of fallacies, and the environment produced by them is liable to affect our own people unless they have a suitable antidote to its poison. In the domain of Ethics, the grasp of right principles is particularly important, considering the false and pernicious ideas prevailing concerning such topics as conscience, right and wrong, the sanction for moral conduct, the" nature and obligations of domestic and civil society, the duties of the State towards individuals, towards families, towards education, and towards religion, Father Woods has given us in this book a scientific treat- , ment of General Ethics, which will be found helpful, not only to the educated Catholic public, but also to teachers and students who are called on to make a special study of these problems. Without being unduly long, the treatment is adequate and fresh, while actual topics are dealt with in a clear and satisfactory manner. A Garden Enclosed, by Alice M. Gardner. Burns, Oates, ' Washbourne, Ltd., London. Price, 3/- net. Crashaw’s religious poems reveal to us the emotions of the soul of a poet who has entered into the Catholic Fold, and w© who have been brought up in the Church are inclined to marvel at his exuberant outbursts. Newman, in Loss and Gain, described his feelings when he wrote of Reding experiencing a wonderful peace, as when a ship comes into harbor after a long voyage, or when a bell that has long been tolling suddenly ceases. Such revelations have a deep interest for us, and they also edify us by teaching us t 6 notice new beauties in what has become so familiar to us that we' often fail to appreciate it. This r little book, by Alice Gardner, is a collection of the thoughts of a convert who has taken the great step. It is an inspiring and thoughtful work, and well written. The Story of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting; The Voyages V : of Doctor Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting. Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Price, 6/- each. “ There is something of the /wonder of Gulliver's Travels, of the naivete and charm of Alice in Wonderland, and of ■ the . absorbing interest of Kipling’s stories about animals

in these two volumes before us. They are probably the most notable contribution to children’s literature that has appeared for many - years, and their appeal will not be confined to the young people, but will reach all w'ho are still young in heart and ' mind. There is genius in the telling of the Doctor’s journeyings over the seas and through the kingdom of the Jollijinki. The humor is as delightful as Lewis’s Carroll’s ,and altogether the doings of the Doctor are wonderful.