SERMONS. By Dr. Bagshawe. There must be merit in a sermonbook of which a reprint is called for twenty years after the original publication. So kindly a lot has befallen Canon Bagshawe's sermons, and to the venerable author a good measure of congratulation appears consequently to be due. He certainly merits all the praise that belongs to sturdy simplicity of style, homely directness of application, and total abstinence from elaborate composition. These qualities assuredly are good, and even if not supported by deep thought, profound insight, or original treatment, they go far toward justifying one's appearance in print. It is too bad that the reverend author tries to put altogether too many topics into a single sermon. To draw out one idea in a discourse is far better than to heap up several. What makes for effectiveness in a preacher is not the number of things which, by a rather violent process of mental association, he can manage to accumulate upon and about his subject, but rather the manifold presentation of that subject itself in its central idea, in its deepest significance. By no rules of rhetoric or principles of psychology, therefore, can we excuse our author when he opens a sermon entitled "Christ our Lord" with a discussion of original sin, continues it with an exposition of the Rosary, and ends it with an extensive meditation on the Visitation. Neither can we lightly pass over a remarkable effort on the marriage-feast at Cana, wherein the following topics are formally discussed: I, the sanctification of festivities; 2, the dignity of marriage; 3, the duties of parents; 4, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin; 5, the qualities of prayer; 6, the different kinds of miracles wrought by Christ; 7, devotion to the Holy Eucharist; and 8, veneration of the Holy Name. And hardly anything else than startling is this paragraph in a sermon on the Blessed Trinity: "The Feast of the Blessed Trinity gives me a good starting-point for a discussion of the articles of the Creed. In the catechism you will find that most of the Christian doctrine is delivered in the shape of instructions on the twelve articles of the Apostles' Creed; it is therefore very desirable to go over this ground and discuss in detail the great * Catholic Sermons. A Series on Faith and Morals. By Very Rev. J. B. Bagshawe, D.D. doctrines of which the catechism speaks." Then follows immediately a brief account of the symbol of the Apostles, of Nicæa, and of Pius V. This in a sermon on the Trinity! 66 We trust we shall not be over-critical if we point out an expression or two that needs correction. A sermon on the hidden life tells us that circumcision was the mark of a sinner." On the contrary, it was a covenant of election and of predilection. And as to its being "the rite by which sin was to be remitted," there is not only not a shred of Scriptural evidence for such a statement, but the Bible overwhelmingly refutes it. In speaking of Papal infallibility the author declares that while the doctrine has been defined only in our own day, still "it is not as if a moment's practical doubt on the question had ever existed in the church." We should like very much to know how Canon Bagshawe would account for the Old-Catholic movement. These criticisms notwithstanding, the sermons of Canon Bagshawe are solid and useful, and if they adorn neither the literature of exegesis nor the province of English style, they will help many a hard-working pastor in discharging creditably his ministry of the word. SERMONS AND AD- An active-minded country pastor who takes an interest in the civic as well as the moral well-being of his people is called upon to participate in meetings and events that are strikingly divergent in character, and it is often necessary to contribute a more than ordinary share of the intellectual entertainment on these occasions. The addresses of such a pastor are on topics that range from the village meeting for the improvement of the sidewalks, or the necessity of adequate fire protection, up to the funeral panegyric of some distinguished citizen and the unveiling of a monument to the dead hero of the people. The important point of it all is, that a country pastor should be willing to participate largely in these events. A priest who confines his ministrations to the sanctuary and never enters into the festivities and celebrations of the people, will soon find himself out of touch with his flock and his influence over them reduced to a minimun. Father Meister, of Mamaroneck, during the years of a long creeds in their joys and has sympathized with them in their sorrows, and for this reason he is respected and honored by all classes. Many of the addresses that he has been called upon to give are included in the present volume. They are very well done. The thought is simple and the expression is sympathetic, and in the more important addresses the speech rises to the higher standards of eloquence. The tributes to Father Dowling of Portchester, Father McLoughlin of New Rochelle, and Father Barry of Rye, are both graceful and fitting. DOGMATIC INSTRUCTIONS. Dogmatic instructions adapted for popular use and following the plan of the Baltimore Catechism are fairly certain to be of great help to teachers of Christian doctrine. These teachers as a rule have not enjoyed a wide theological reading, and feel the need, consequently, of filling out the bare question and answer of the catechism by consulting some simple dogmatic manual. Such a manual,† for part of the catechism, Dr. Wirth has just given us, and it is a commendable piece of work. It is concerned only with Grace and the Infused Virtues-a rather limited field, we are inclined to think, for a book with its purpose. Perhaps if the expositions here given had been abbreviated, a process that could be employed here and there without serious injury to the general treatment, and if the space thus saved had been devoted to other topics of Christian instruction, the volume would be more useful. However, what is treated of is creditably presented, and will prove helpful to all who have to explain and to apply practically the truths of religion. A PRECURSOR OF ST. By Lady Kerr. One of the companions of St. Philip Neri before the foundation. of the Oratory was Buonsignore Cacciaguerra. This man had been. converted from a life of unbridled licentiousness and sin, and after a period of fierce self-conquest and appalling austerity, was ordained priest, and joined the Occasional Sermons and Addresses. By the Rev. Isidore Meister, Rector of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Mamaroneck, N. Y. Mamaroneck, N. Y.: J. H. McArdle. t Divine Grace. A Series of Instructions arranged according to the Baltimore Catechism. An Aid to Teachers and Preachers. Edited by Rev. Edmund J. Wirth, Ph.D., D.D. New doctrines of which the catechism speaks." Then follows immediately a brief account of the symbol of the symbol of the Apostles, of Nicæa, and of Pius V. This in a sermon on the Trinity! We trust we shall not be over-critical if we point out an expression or two that needs correction. A sermon on the hidden life tells us that circumcision was the mark of a sinner." On the contrary, it was a covenant of election and of predilection. And as to its being "the rite by which sin was to be remitted," there is not only not a shred of Scriptural evidence for such a statement, but the Bible overwhelmingly refutes it. In speaking of Papal infallibility the author declares that while the doctrine has been defined only in our own day, still "it is not as if a moment's practical doubt on the question had ever existed in the church." We should like very much to know how Canon Bagshawe would account for the Old-Catholic movement. These criticisms notwithstanding, the sermons of Canon Bagshawe are solid and useful, and if they adorn neither the literature of exegesis nor the province of English style, they will help many a hard-working pastor in discharging creditably his ministry of the word. SERMONS AND AD- An active-minded country pastor who takes an interest in the civic as well as the moral well-being of his people is called upon to participate in meetings and events that are strikingly divergent in character, and it is often necessary to contribute a more than ordinary share of the intellectual entertainment on these occasions. The addresses of such a pastor are on topics that range from the village meeting for the improvement of the sidewalks, or the necessity of adequate fire protection, up to the funeral panegyric of some distinguished citizen and the unveiling of a monument to the dead hero of the people. The important point of it all is, that a country pastor should be willing to participate largely in these events. A priest who confines his ministrations to the sanctuary and never enters into the festivities and celebrations of the people, will soon find himself out of touch with his flock and his influence over them reduced to a minimun. Father Meister, of Mamaroneck, during the years of a long creeds in their joys and has sympathized with them in their sorrows, and for this reason he is respected and honored by all classes. Many of the addresses that he has been called upon to give are included in the present volume. They are very well done. The thought is simple and the expression is sympathetic, and in the more important addresses the speech rises to the higher standards of eloquence. The tributes to Father Dowling of Portchester, Father McLoughlin of New Rochelle, and Father Barry of Rye, are both graceful and fitting. DOGMATIC INSTRUCTIONS. Dogmatic instructions adapted for popular use and following the plan of the Baltimore Catechism are fairly certain to be of great help to teachers of Christian doctrine. These teachers as a rule have not enjoyed a wide theological reading, and feel the need, consequently, of filling out the bare question and answer of the catechism by consulting some simple dogmatic manual. Such a manual,† for part of the catechism, Dr. Wirth has just given us, and it is a commendable piece of work. It is concerned only with Grace and the Infused Virtues-a rather limited field, we are inclined to think, for a book with its purpose. Perhaps if the expositions here given had been abbreviated, a process that could be employed here and there without serious. injury to the general treatment, and if the space thus saved had been devoted to other topics of Christian instruction, the volume would be more useful. However, what is treated of is creditably presented, and will prove helpful to all who have to explain and to apply practically the truths of religion. A PRECURSOR OF ST. By Lady Kerr. One of the companions of St. Philip Neri before the foundation of the Oratory was Buonsignore Cacciaguerra. This man had been converted from a life of unbridled licentiousness and sin, and after a period of fierce self-conquest and appalling austerity, was ordained priest, and joined the Occasional Sermons and Addresses. By the Rev. Isidore Meister, Rector of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Mamaroneck, N. Y. Mamaroneck, N. Y.: J. H. McArdle. + Divine Grace. A Series of Instructions arranged according to the Baltimore Catechism. An Aid to Teachers and Preachers. Edited by Rev. Edmund J. Wirth, Ph.D., D.D. New |