NOTICE OF BOOKS

New Zealand Tablet, 23 August 1917, Page 19

NOTICE OF BOOKS

The Facts About Luther, by Monsignor O’Hare, LL.D. (Linehan, Melbourne). Is (3d. Here is a timely volume of 370 pages, based on a study of- the-learned historians like Jansen,' Denifle, and Grisar, and conveying the fruits of their researches to the public in a cheap, scholarly book. The chapters of this work will enable readers to distinguish clearly between the two Luthers Luther of Protestant romance and panegyrics, and the Luther of history and fact. Since the publication of the typical edition of Luther’s works, in' 1883, modern scholarship has unearthed the < important sources of the fullest information concerning him, and Luther’s character and his work, the Reformation, have lost, even in the eyes of learned Protestants, their fictitious glamor. Here we have a picture of Luther and his friends which is by no means an edifying one. Rut the book is written without any bitterness or bigotry. Monsignor O’Hare describes the real Luther— the Luther who preached: “Be a sinner, and sin boldly but believe more boldly still.” The present volume is singularly appropriate as this year is the fourth centenary of Luther’s revolt.

The Great Fundamental Truths [of it dig ion, by R. C. Vh Bodkin (Linehan, Melbourne). , 4s 6d. • This is a new edition of Father Bodkin’s , admirable course of instructions ’for the educated laity, and fob higher classes in schools and colleges. s The author realises the importance of a clear knowledge; of the fundamental *truths of religion, and of the -main objections raised against ' them in an age of- materialism-. He dwells chiefly on cardinal points and is content to treat them futly, omitting secondary questions and objections which most people never come upon in- their lives at all. “It may be interesting,” he says, “tctlknOw the answers to a number of difficulties, but one.trhing is-necessary to lead a good life, a vivid realisation of these great Fundamental Truths. The first thing we need is to get a great intellectual respect for our religion—to see what undoubted claims it has on our assent — see how strong and absolutely unassailable our position as Catholics is— after this point is secured it will be time enough to hunt for solutions to objections.” These words indicate the purpose of Father Bodkin’s book. It is a valuable contribution to Catholic literature.