NEW BOOKS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7, 15 February 1906, Page 20

NEW BOOKS

' Catholicity and Progress in Ireland.' By Rev. M. O'Riordan, D.Ph., D.D., D.C.L. Messrs. Whitaker Bros., Lambton Quay, Wellington, have received a consignment of the third edition of this valuable work. A short time ago we gave an extended notice of this great work— the most important contribution to Irish questions since the publication of Lecky's ' Ireland in the Eighteenth Century.' Dr. O'Riordan's masterpiece was elicited by an ill-advised chapter in Sir Horace Plunkett's book, ' Ireland in the New Century.' The attack made therein on the priests and people of Ireland was indeed a felix culpa— a fortunate blunder— in so much as it led to the publication of a work which covers Catholic Ireland in its social, religious, and educational aspects, and disposes of the calumnies of Sir Horace Plunkett, and those special pets of the Orange lodge, Frank Hugh O'Donnell and Michael McCarthy, in a manner that is positively overwhelming. They suffer, not a defeat, but a debacle, at the hands of the gifted young Irishman who is now Rector of the Irish College, Rome. We hope 1o see a copy of this fine work in every Catholic home in New Zealand, no matter of what nationality, for it dynamites many a misconception regarding our faith beyond those that relate specially to Ireland. ' The Method of the Catholic Sunday School ' (Second Series). By the Rev. P. A. Ilalpin (New York, Joseph F. Wagner, pp. (i 2, paper cover, 40 cents). This is a valuable contribution to the literature of a practical subject of great difficulty. The book deals with 4 The Unattractive Sunday School' (three chapters), ' The Higher Catechism ' (seven chapters), and,' Pius X. and tho Catechism ' (two rhapters). Father Halpin is a practical teacher, and his hints and helps should do much to lift from the Sunday-school that atmosiphere of chloroform which so often dulls it into impassability. A useful manual for priests and teachers. ' Teacher's Handbook to Bible History.' By the Rev. A. Urban. (Same publishers, 374 pages Bvo., cloth gilt, Idol. sOcts.) The sub-title gives ihe scope of the work : ' A Practical Commentary upon the principal events of the Old and New Testaments, with directions for their application in the religious and moral training of children.' The book covers the whole history of the Old and New Testaments, devoting to the former 93 lessons and to the latter 103. Each chapter is divided into Preparation, Narration, Explanation, Commentary, and Moral Application. A useful feature of the book is the manner in which the author makes his commentaries and explanations fit in with and aid catechetical instruction. The explanatory matter is put simply, clearly, and st/raigjhtforwardly, and the moral applications arise propexly out of the subject and are both practical and suited to those for whom they are intended. We commend the book to all who are interested in the religious instruction of youth. ' The Four Winds of Eirinn.' Poems by Ethna Carbery (Anna MacManus), Edited by Seuma's MacManus. (Complete edition. Dublin, M. H. Gill and Son). Ethna Carbery (whose poems we mentioned some time ago) is now, we hope, singing with the angels. She was long one of Ireland's sweet singers, and the present complete collection of her poems— lovingly gathered from the four winds of Eirinn, and from many places beyond, form her most, fitting monument. The atmosphere of bogland and mountain-side is upon the poems of Ethna Carbery, and one hears in her pages the legends and tales of Eld that are told by many a fureside in ' Ould Donegal,' and tho hopes that fill many a heart in Ireland for ' Mo Ohraoibhin Cno ' (Mo chreeveen no)— the brown-haired girl that personifies their native land. ' Then wake, a gradh ! We yet shall win a golden crown for your head, Strong wine to make, a royal feast— the white wine and the red — And in .your oaken mether the yellow mead shall flow, What day you rise, in all men's eyes— a Queen Mo Chraoibhin Cno.' The poems arc brought out in quaint and attractive style, and several of them are being wedded to ancient Irish airs' from Petrie's collection. (The books mentioned in these notices are procurable through all booksellers advertising in our columns). ' English History from the Norman ConqHiest to the End of the Wars of the Roses.' In Twenty Stories. Revised by the Right Rev. Francis Aidan Gasquet, D.D. (London, George Bell and Sons, pp. 200, cloth lettered, '32 illustrations ; Is 3d). Recent events in New Zealand have been sufficient to convince Catholics of the necessity of having proper history manuals in their schools. The book nowi before us "is No. 2of The Abbey History Readers, and the name of Dr. Gasqjuet is suffi-

cient guarantee that these stories are true to -'historic fact and free from the distortions that prejudiced and ill-informed writers have contrived to introduce into some of the history manuals in use in many of our State schools. The stories are well selected and well told in direct and simple language, and the paper, type, and binding leave nothing to be desired.