CONDITIONS OF THE CONTEST. 1. This contest is open to all, without respect to creed, color, or country. Associated study is permissible. 2. It should be carefully observed that the subject of the paper is a double topic, viz. : The Origin and History of: (1) The Version of the Bible authorized by the Roman Catholic Church. (2) The Version of the Bible known as the Revised Version, American Standard Edition. This topic may be treated in two parts or otherwise, as the writer of a paper may elect. Contestants should keep in mind the two statements made by Father Earley, viz.: (a) "The Authentic Version of God's words as authorized by the Church has come down to us unchanged from the time of Christ Himself." (6) "The Protestant Version goes back only to the days of Henry VIII. of England, and was then gotten up for obvious reasons." A part of the duty of the writer of a paper will be to ascertain and clearly set forth what is the Authentic Version authorized by the Roman Catholic Church, to be read in the homes of the people. 3.-A contestant is at liberty to introduce and explain any verbal or doctrinal differences in the texts of the Versions in question, provided light will thereby be thrown on the history of one or the other of the Versions. 4. Contestants should note that it is desired to secure not merely a thorough but also a popular statement of the facts for general use. The judges therefore will have regard, not only to the historical accuracy of the papers submitted, but will also be much influenced in their decision by the adaptability of a paper to the average reader. The presentation must be accurate and thorough, popular and striking. 5.-Papers mailed or expressed from the home of a contestant as late as June 1, 1904, will be admitted. A letter announcing the forwarding of the paper should be posted on the day of sending the paper. Papers may be sent, if ready, before June 1. 6. No paper shall contain more than eight thousand words, exclusive of illustrative diagrams, five of which are permissible. Diagrams, if employed, must be simple and clear. Each diagram should aim to set forth distinctly a single important fact or series of facts. It should be especially noted that the introduction of diagrams is entirely optional; also that the papers may contain less than eight thousand words. 7.-A Bibliography shall accompany each paper. This will not be regarded as part of the manuscript. It shall contain not merely a list of the books and authorities consulted in the preparation of the paper, but also an exhaustive and accurate setting forth of original sources, according to the most approved methods of modern scientific research, so that every statement made in the paper shall be based upon evidence back of which no one can go. 8.-Papers shall be type-written. Use business letter size, that is, paper measuring 8x111⁄2 inches, or thereabouts, and write on one side only. Let the pages be plainly numbered, and loosely fastened together at the top lefthand corner. Papers must be sent flat (not rolled or folded). 9.-Accompanying the paper, attached to the first page, shall be a sealed envelope, containing the real name and address of the writer, together with a fictitious name. The fictitious name only shall appear on the outside of the envelope and at the top of the first page of the manuscript. The envelope will not be opened until after the decision of the judges shall have been made. Care will be taken that no judge shall know the identity of any writer before rendering a decision upon all papers. 10. All papers submitted shall become the property of the Bible 11. The prize papers will be published first in the Bulletin of the Bible Teachers Training School and afterwards in book form. 12. Contestants shall be subscribers to the Bulletin of the Bible Teachers Training School, in which information concerning the contest will appear from month to month. The price of the Bulletin is one dollar a year. 13. Only those inquirers who enclose self-addressed stamped envelopes may be assured of reply. 14.-Notice of intention to write a paper should be sent without delay. 15.—Address all correspondence to the President of the Bible Teachers Training School, 83 East 55th Street, New York City. In the magnificent and world-wide ExposiThe Catholic Social tion to be opened at St. Louis there should be no more appealing, no more striking exhibit than that of the Catholic charities and Exhibit. social work of this country. The preparation of that exhibit has been entrusted to the Rev. Dr. Kirby and Dr. Neill, professors of the School of Social Sciences at the Catholic University, and from our knowledge of both men we know that as far as their part is concerned, the exhibit will be all that any Catholic could desire. But they need the co-operation, the help, of the Catholics throughout the country-the hierarchy, the priesthood, the laity-and we trust that the full measure of none of these will be wanting to them. The work, evidence of which they seek to gather, is there, emphatic, wide-spread, crowned with the true note of charity self-sacrifice. All that is required are eager, willing hands to sum it up, to put it together, to exemplify it, and then our fellow-countrymen will be given a sense of the extent and the practical value of Catholic charity. Picture the numbers of homes for the aged and the poor; the sick and the crippled; the incurable and the dying; the social outcast; the orphan and the widow; the homes for the needy toilers; the benevolent, fraternal, and literary societies; the educational institutions, primary, secondary, collegiate, and the very thought of all is sufficient to fire the soul. The workers themselves labor quietly. It is significant of Catholic charity that it is done in the Lord and receives not its reward from men; but we who know the work ought to be willing to show its glory, that men, seeing it, may glorify in turn the Christ who inspires it. The exceptional opportunity offers itself; we trust that it A THE COLUMBIAN READING UNION. STUDENT of the discussion on the best standard for a public-school system has written to inquire for a volume dealing with the history of Catholic Parish Schools in the United States. We regret to state that no such book has as yet appeared. The only information accessible at present is contained in pamphlets published by Catholic school officials, especially in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. It is to be hoped that such a volume as is here indicated may soon appear, to meet the needs of students wishing to make an impartial study of the Catholic claims for recognition as deserving the consideration of all honest thinkers. With men of good-will there is a way to include the Parish Schools of any denomination under the public system of tax-supported education, even without the approval of Dr. Harris, the Commissioner of Educational Statistics for the United States. In Germany the problem has been solved in a satisfactory way, as shown by the following statement prepared by a writer for the London Times: Elementary education is compulsory throughout Germany from six years. up to an indeterminate age, which is in practice usually fourteen. Individual school liability may cease before that age, at the discretion of the district or local inspector, if the child has reached the standard deemed sufficient. All children are required to have this schooling, and if they do not receive it elsewhere to the satisfaction of the state they must go to the public elementary schools. About 95 per cent. of the children of school age are taught in these schools. That is to say, the great mass of the people receive their elementary education there. It is free in some parts of Germany, but not in all. Of the two states with which we are chiefly concerned, Prussia has free elementary education; Saxony has not; there the parents pay a small fee-usually 5s. or 6s. a year-but if they are totally unable to pay it may be remitted. both states, and, I believe, throughout Germany, they have to provide the books and other things required. In The functions of the Volksschule, or people's elementary school, is "the religious, moral, and patriotic training of the young by education and teaching, and their instruction in the general knowledge and requirements requisite for civil life." This definition gives the key to the whole educational scheme. Character and conduct are the primary objects, then love of country, then such general knowledge as will enable the child to take its part in the ordered life of the community, whether as man or woman; and, after that, the special knowledge. Religion, therefore, comes first, as the indispensable foundation of morality and conduct. The logical German mind holds that morality cannot be efficiently taught apart from religion, and, further, that religious teaching, to be effective, must be dogmatic. For this the law carefully provides. The schools are denominational and separate for Roman Catholics and Evangelicals, except where there are not enough children of one confession to form a separate school; in that case they are mixed-paritätsche or simultanschulen-but the children receive religious instruction from 11. The prize papers will be published first in the Bulletin of the Bible Teachers Training School and afterwards in book form. 12. Contestants shall be subscribers to the Bulletin of the Bible Teachers Training School, in which information concerning the contest will appear from month to month. The price of the Bulletin is one dollar a year. 13. Only those inquirers who enclose self-addressed stamped envelopes may be assured of reply. 14.-Notice of intention to write a paper should be sent without delay. 15.—Address all correspondence to the President of the Bible Teachers Training School, 83 East 55th Street, New York City. Exhibit. In the magnificent and world-wide Exposi The Catholic Social tion to be opened at St. Louis there should be no more appealing, no more striking exhibit than that of the Catholic charities and country. social work of this The preparation of that exhibit has been entrusted to the Rev. Dr. Kirby and Dr. Neill, professors of the School of Social Sciences at the Catholic University, and from our knowledge of both men we know that as far as their part is concerned, the exhibit will be all that any Catholic could desire. But they need the co-operation, the help, of the Catholics throughout the country-the hierarchy, the priesthood, the laity-and we trust that the full measure of none of these will be wanting to them. The work, evidence of which they seek to gather, is there, emphatic, wide-spread, crowned with the true note of charity self-sacrifice. All that is required are eager, willing hands to sum it up, to put it together, to exemplify it, and then our fellow-countrymen will be given a sense of the extent and the practical value of Catholic charity. Picture the numbers of homes for the aged and the poor; the sick and the crippled; the incurable and the dying; the social outcast; the orphan and the widow; the homes for the needy toilers; the benevolent, fraternal, and literary societies; the educational institutions, primary, secondary, collegiate, and the very thought of all is sufficient to fire the soul. The workers themselves labor quietly. It is significant of Catholic charity that it is done in the Lord and receives not its reward from men; but we who know the work ought to be willing to show its glory, that men, seeing it, may glorify in turn the Christ who inspires it. The exceptional opportunity offers itself; we trust that it A THE COLUMBIAN READING UNION. STUDENT of the discussion on the best standard for a public-school system has written to inquire for a volume dealing with the history of Catholic Parish Schools in the United States. We regret to state that no such book has as yet appeared. The only information accessible at present is contained in pamphlets published by Catholic school officials, especially in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York. It is to be hoped that such a volume as is here indicated may soon appear, to meet the needs of students wishing to make an impartial study of the Catholic claims for recognition as deserving the consideration of all honest thinkers. With men of good-will there is a way to include the Parish Schools of any denomination under the public system of tax-supported education, even without the approval of Dr. Harris, the Commissioner of Educational Statistics for the United States. In Germany the problem has been solved in a satisfactory way, as shown by the following statement prepared by a writer for the London Times: Elementary education is compulsory throughout Germany from six years up to an indeterminate age, which is in practice usually fourteen. Individual school liability may cease before that age, at the discretion of the district or local inspector, if the child has reached the standard deemed sufficient. All children are required to have this schooling, and if they do not receive it elsewhere to the satisfaction of the state they must go to the public elementary schools. About 95 per cent. of the children of school age are taught in these schools. That is to say, the great mass of the people receive their elementary education there. It is free in some parts of Germany, but not in all. Of the two states with which we are chiefly concerned, Prussia has free elementary education; Saxony has not; there the parents pay a small fee-usually 5s. or 6s. a year—but if they are totally unable to pay it may be remitted. both states, and, I believe, throughout Germany, they have to provide the books and other things required. In The functions of the Volksschule, or people's elementary school, is "the religious, moral, and patriotic training of the young by education and teaching, and their instruction in the general knowledge and requirements requisite for civil life." This definition gives the key to the whole educational scheme. Character and conduct are the primary objects, then love of country, then such general knowledge as will enable the child to take its part in the ordered life of the community, whether as man or woman; and, after that, the special knowledge. Religion, therefore, comes first, as the indispensable foundation of morality and conduct. The logical German mind holds that morality cannot be efficiently taught apart from religion, and, further, that religious teaching, to be effective, must be dogmatic. For this the law carefully provides. The schools are denominational and separate for Roman Catholics and Evangelicals, except where there are not enough children of one confession to form a separate school; in that case they are mixed—paritätsche or simultanschulen—but the children receive religious instruction from |