concluded that it could not be well written or rightly understood unless it stretched back to the beginning, and therefore he covers the whole ground and calls his book "Catholicity in Philadelphia." It would be impossible to write a complete and detailed history in so small a space. This is especially true in regard to the parishes. Indeed, the author has not done more than give a sketch in a few

words of the beginning of most of the parishes. For this reason also the work does not pretend to be full biographically. Only those priests are mentioned who have been connected with special work, and in the sketches of parishes, only rectors, as a rule.

The book is strongest in the history of the early Church of Philadelphia. It is weakest in not pushing things to completeness. For instance, in the account of the process of beatification of Venerable Bishop Neumann, mention is made of only one commission during the apostolic process, whereas there were two, and the names of some of the most prominent officials who were longest and most intimately connected with the work are not mentioned at all.

Father Kirlin deserves great credit for his work. He is especially well fitted for it, being a man of good literary ability, and he labored indefatigably for at least six years to gather materials and knit them together. During part of that time he was assistant rector in one of the largest city parishes, with its urgent demands and frequent distractions, and more recently he has been engaged in forming a new city parish, with all the worries and anxieties that beset the new pastor.

The wonder is, not that his work lacks perfection, but that it approaches so close to it. The book is splendidly made-thick creamy paper of light weight, with broad margin; large, clear type, with a quiet dignity that becomes so serious a work; excellent halftones, several reproductions from paintings, and the whole becomingly and strongly bound. It is a book which ought to be in every parish house in the province, in every Catholic educational institution in the country, in all the larger secular educational institutions and in all the public libraries.

STUDI E RICERCHE INTORNO A S. GIOVANNI CRISOSTOMO; a cura del comitato per il XV. Centenario della sua morte. Fasc. IL-III. Roma, Libr. Pustet, New York, 1908.

The general character of this work was described in a previous number of the REVIEW in connection with a notice of the first fasciculus. Of the two portions here presented the first contains the essays (prepared for the celebration of the fifteenth centenary of the saint's death) relating to the liturgy of Chrysostom, the

general sketch of Greek and Latin theology during the fourth century, the author analyzes the heresies pertinent to that period in the East (Arianism, Apollinarianism) and subsequently in the West (Donatism, Priscillianism, etc.). The positive doctrines are treated topically and analytically, the teaching of the individual Fathers being grouped under didactic headings. Exceptions to this method are made in the case of the Syrian writers (Aphraat and S. Ephreme) because of their language, and St. Augustine because of the great comprehensiveness of his teaching. Besides the table of contents there is a very good analytical index-a feature not too often found in French books-which enables the reader at once to survey the teachings of the individual Fathers as well as to follow the history of the individual doctrines themselves from the year 318 to 430. The present volume, therefore, closes at the death of St. Augustine. A concluding volume, now in course of preparation, will carry the investigation down to Charlemagne, the limit of the author's design. Not the least valuable feature of the book is the table of the works of St. Augustine cited in the volume-the list showing at once the date of their completion and their position in the Latin Patrology. While the work has primarily in view the needs of professional students of theology, it is one which the average cultivated reader can peruse with comparative ease and certainly with profit, the author having the peculiarly French art of making the rough ways plain.

THE CATECHISM IN EXAMPLES. By Rev. D. Chisholm. Five volumes, 12mo., net, $1.50 each. Vol. I., Faith: The Creed; Vol. II., Hope: Prayer; Vol. III., Charity: The Commandments; Vol. IV., Grace: The Sacraments; Vol. V., Virtues and Vices. New York: Benziger Brothers.

The appearance of the fifth volume of "The Catechism in Examples," which completes the new edition, revised and enlarged, emphasizes the value of the work and calls for additional notice. One of the most striking features of the book is its completeness. It covers the whole course of Christian doctrine, furnishing examples for all the truths as they are presented and furnishing them abundantly, not under a few general headings, from which the instructor must gather them to make the special application himself, but in the most specific manner, fitting them to each chapter, to each answer, and sometimes even to parts of answers.

Another striking feature of the examples is their aptness. They really illustrate the truths to which they are attached, and they do it quickly and clearly. They are never long and sometimes they are very short. They are not obscured by exordiums and perora