conditions. Thus the sinner who is in the constant occasion of relapse into his former sin, the sinner who finds himself too weak to resist temptation, the penitent who aims at extraordinary sanctity, the scrupulous, the convert, form separate topics of detailed discussion. The last part of the volume deals with the subject of confessions of children, of young men and young women, of those who are engaged to be married, of persons living in mixed marriage, of men, religious women, of priests and of the sick and dying."

CHURCH MUSIC.

Advent number. Vol. I., December 1, 1905. No. 1. Published quarterly. Annual subscription, $2.00. The Dolphin Press. Philadelphia: 1305 Arch street.

No one who has followed the course of the Ecclesiastical Review and the Dolphin will be surprised at the appearance of the first number of the new ecclesiastical musical quarterly from the Dolphin Press, and under the editorial direction of Rev. Dr. Henry. On the contrary, those who know Dr. Heuser expected that he would take up this work promptly, because his fame as a leader in ecclesiastical periodical literature is international. Those who realize the lasting importance of the Holy Father's encyclical on church music understand well the necessity for an organ on the subject, and it is a matter for congratulation that it has fallen into such competent hands as those of Dr. Heuser and Dr. Henry. From them we are sure to get the best promptly, and we need not fear to trust ourselves to their guidance.

The subject is so important, and the prospectus of the new publication is so clear and comprehensive that we place it before our readers without any apology:

"Church Music will present the following departments: Gregorian Chant, Sacred Polyphony, Modern Church Styles, Congregational Singing, Correspondence, Discussion, Training of Choir Boys, Decrees and Documents, Current Literature, Reviews, Notes and Queries, Special Repertoires.

"It is a curious fact that, up to the present time, our Englishspeaking choirmasters, organists and singers engaged in Catholic Church work have had no representative organ of ample dimensions. During the months of misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the Pope's famous 'Instruction on Sacred Music,' the need of such a periodical publication has been keenly felt. The binding force of that much-discussed document-the Motu proprio, of November 22, 1903-is coming to be more and more realized, and the signs are that it will soon have reëstablished everywhere the pure ecclesiastical music it makes obligatory upon all. Already, indeed, in practically

every diocese throughout the English-speaking world we can point to churches where the reform has been successfully accomplished.

"The Ecclesiastical Review has consistently from the beginningand with redoubled efforts since the publication of the Pope's 'Instruction on Sacred Music'-urged the reform of the abuses mentioned in the Pope's 'Motu proprio.' By article after article, and by published treatise from experienced pens, we have aimed at the practical solution of our choir difficulties and the elimination from our churches of profane and distracting music. And now as a further means to this end we have undertaken, with the enthusiastic coöperation of leading church musicians in every part of the English-speaking world, the publication of Church Music, a quarterly for choirmasters, organists and singers, a publication professedly addressed to them, and one in which the clergy are at the same time vitally interested in view of the present movement for reform in church music.

"Church Music will be of generous dimensions, each issue containing 112 pages of the same size as the present sheet, with musical supplements to each issue. Briefly, the scope and treatment of the principal departments will be:

"The spirit, uses and execution of Gregorian Chant-so much insisted on in the Papal instruction-will receive adequate treatment at the hands of the most eminent specialists. For instance, beginning with the first issue, Church Music will publish serially the authoritative 'Method of Plain Chant,' under the title of 'Gregorian Rhythm, Its Theory and Practice,' upon which Dom Mocquereau is now engaged. The learned prior of the Solesmes Benedictines in this important contribution will sum up the lessons of his long and profound studies in the chant. An excellent feature of this department will be the answering of any difficulties our readers may encounter in their work; and with this end in view, correspondence on questions of any kind relating to the chant is invited.

"To the sacred polyphony of the sixteenth century, founded upon the chant modes, the St. Cæcilia Society have in recent years added many splendid compositions. The Papal instruction makes it incumbent on all choir directors to familiarize themselves thoroughly with this admirable vehicle of religious expression in song. Among other composers and recognized masters of the literature of this art-form we may mention as among our contributors Fr. Ludwig Bonvin, S. J., Canisius College, Buffalo, N. Y.; Mr. R. R. Terry, choirmaster of the Westminster Cathedral, London, England, and the Rev. Dr. Henry Bewerunge, Maynooth College, Ireland.

"What are the liturgical laws and the proprieties to be observed in compositions of the modern style? Here is opened up a field for detailed examination. Diocesan commissions will have such ques

tions before them for practical solution. Here Church Music will aid by advice in the selection of repertoires suited to the different conditions and necessities of the various dioceses.

"The department Training of Choir Boys' will take account of the best methods of training the voice, of sustaining the interest of the choir boys, of securing constant and punctual attendance at rehearsals, of maintaining discipline during practices, etc., etc.; also questions concerning the best location of the choir in the church or in the sanctuary, due regard being had to the peculiarities of certain styles of church architecture. The movement looking to boy choirs is spreading so rapidly as to make it incumbent on all choir directors, and, indeed, on all concerned, to familiarize themselves as soon as possible with the methods of training of choir boys.

"While the literature of the phase of the reform movement which treats of congregational singing in church services is not very extensive, much of interest has already appeared in non-musical periodicals. Church Music will lay before its readers practical articles written by those whose experience in meeting successfully the difficulties involved will assure the validity of their methods and suggestions.

"As it is the purpose of Church Music to become a permanent record of easy accessibility in all important matters within the domain of church music, it will make a specialty of decrees and documents.

"In the important department of 'Current Literature' Church Music will present in each issue an ample summary or digest of the literature of the reform movement appearing in magazines and reviews—whether in English or in foreign languages-not generally accessible to choir directors. An intelligent survey of this field will be as interesting as it will be useful, and we are sure that this department of Church Music will be greatly appreciated by its readers.

"Well-considered 'Reviews' will appear regularly, giving presentations of the scope, plan, achievements of the publication discussed, so that a fair estimate of their value may be had.

"Discussions will be welcomed, due regard always being had for the well-established amenities of controversy. Church Music will be irenical in character, since it is recognized that while there should always be freedom in matters doubtful, there must be in all things charity.

"In the department of 'Correspondence' will be given a clear view of the work being done throughout the Catholic world in the domain of church music. Readers will find these pages highly stimulating and informing.

"Requests for information on all details of the theory and practice of plain chant, polyphony and modern church music, training of

choir boys, congregational singing, liturgy, repertoires for special occasions, etc., etc., will be welcomed and submitted for answer to trained and competent specialists.

"Church Music begins issue as a quarterly. In choosing this term of publication we have been mindful of the fact that the music of the Catholic Church is essentially liturgical in character, and by following the convenient division of the Breviary in its four seasons. -winter, spring, summer, autumn-Church Music conforms to the liturgical year. As each ecclesiastical season has practically its own special atmosphere, so each number of Church Music will have its own special character and individuality."

OF GOD AND HIS CREATURES. An annotated translation (with some abridgement) of the Summa Contra Gentiles of St. Thomas Aquinas. By Joseph Rickaby, S. J. Received from B. Herder, 17 South Broadway, St. Louis, Mo. Price, $7.00 net.

The favor with which this welcome publication of Father Rickaby is being received in the learned world is a fresh confirmation of the wisdom of the old adage that "Truth is mighty, and shall prevail." For four centuries Protestants, with rare exceptions, have followed the example of Luther in reviling the great Angel of the Schools. It has been recently demonstrated by Father Denifle that Luther's acquaintance with the writings of St. Thomas was of the most superficial kind; that in fact he was blaspheming things he knew next to nothing about. In this he has been followed by his admirers, who affect too much contempt for the Angelic Doctor and the scholastics generally, to take the pains to read their "barbarous Latin." Even in Catholic circles, though St. Thomas has remained throughout the ages the prince of Catholic Doctors, yet he is known to the vast majority only at second hand. This is due largely to the fact that, although the saint is at all times forcible and logical, yet his language, which was perfectly intelligible to his immediate hearers and readers, is now clear to those only who have made a special study of scholastic terminology. This does not mean that such a language was "barbarous," unless we apply the same epithet to the still more grotesque terms of modern science. However, Father Rickably has performed a valuable office to the Englishspeaking world by rendering this monumental defense of Christianity into the vernacular. And he has accomplished his difficult task so perfectly that his work will last and his name will be associated with the name of his master as long as the English speech shall endure. He wisely decided not to give a slavishly literal rendition of the text, but to endeavor to clothe the author's ideas and

arguments in modern vesture, as the saint would undoubtedly have done were he wrestling with the same problem. "If St. Thomas' works are to serve modern uses," he says, "they must pass from their old Latinity into modern speech; their conclusions must be tested by all the subtlety of present-day science, physical, psychological, historical; maintained, wherever maintainable, but altered where tenable no longer. Thus only can St. Thomas keep his place as a living teacher of mankind." This sensible treatment of a great classical work, destined for all time, would be as acceptable to the saint as it is to the reader.

The work known familiarly as "Summa Contra Gentiles" was written by St. Thomas at the instigation of his great brother Dominican, St. Raymond of Pennafort, who was desirous of putting into the hands of missionaries among the Moors and Jews of Spain and elsewhere a succinct summary of the arguments which sustain the Christian religion. It differs, therefore, from the later and greater "Summa," inasmuch as the arguments are not founded on the authority of Scripture, but on reason. It was composed when the saint was at his prime, a veteran in the art of composition, having read all that had been written pro and con and perfectly acquainted with the errors he meant to confute. No one can compare with the Angelic Doctor, except possibly St. Augustine and Cardinal Newman, in the ability to enter thoroughly into the minds of his opponents, in the candor and fearlessness with which he states their position and arguments, and in the gentleness with which he treats. their person whilst mercilessly riddling their errors. What a contrast between this calm, truly philosophic spirit and the brutal violence of the Renaissance and Reformation!

The "Summa Contra Gentiles" is divided into four books. The first treats of the existence and attributes of God; the second, of "God the Origin of Creatures;" the third, of "God as the End of Creatures;" the fourth, of "God as the Author of Supernatural Revelation." The argument advances step by step, like the laying of stone upon stone, until we lay down the book with the feeling that we are standing before a most beautiful edifice founded on the immovable rock.

We must thank Father Rickaby not only for having so ably translated the medieval Latin into such clear and elegant twentieth century language, making the work entirely modern in tone, but even more for the extremely valuable foot notes which all along illustrate, and at times point out the want of cogency in the arguments, slight defects generally proceeding from a defective knowledge of physical phenomena. It is by all odds the most important English publication of the year and has a great mission in an age of unbelief.