The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-04
NRw PUBLICATIONS.

n Il Popular History of the Catholic Church in II
N Gaited Statee: By John OKane Murray ID 4
rev f YORK y. & J. sadlier & Co. New o
This work is mine of useful informatio
? concerning all events personages connecte
!, with the history of the Catholic Church in th
D United States. Its scope is large, ard con
prises the carly days of Catholic discoveries 6
well as tke later ones of Catholic growth an
prosperity.
The author says in his pSeface that, ss o chill
ofsthat "ancient, rook-built Church, it was bu
natural that the heart carned to it's subject" etc
and this remark gives us occasion to expires
our wish that he had written with more dig
nifty and less enthusiasm upon the cause O
truth, 80 that his really excellent work Nigh
become truly popular both with friend an,
adversary.
Such expressions as the following are no
calculated to accomplish the desired object
and are not consistent with the gravity Of ar
impartial historian: " Cruel and satanic en-
gines of destruction" }" Gebased and intriguing
policy" infamous tricks Of worn-out bgot, y
like vipers they turned and Bit" etc., Z" the
| remainder is tissue of lies, ,"" We have vet
| to learn that the fools who made the above
Qaws) were ever sent to the insane asylum"
We do not propose Lingard as the model for
all historians, because, as distinguished
writer once said, d" he wrote for the minds of
Protestants at the expense of the hearts of Ca
tholics," bat We do not think 1t is wise to write
for the hearts of one party at the expense of
the minds of another, and Mr. Murray's work
will certainly please only the fervent Catholics
of our day.
Moreover, the unique grouping of facts, fan.
cies, legends and verse, is peculiar and net
always satisfactory.
We also noticed some errors in French ac.
centuaton and English grammar, which sur
prised rs in a work of the kind. Ponce de
Leon should have no accent on the of the frat
name, and the same remark applies to the ex-
preston crere coevr, which is meaningless with
the accented final e. The erroneous use of the
auxiliary shall for riH in several cases, is a
singular oversight for scholar like Prof. Muir
raw.
But now we must commence to praise the re-
search, the zeal, the loving earnestuess with
which the author has accomplished his task.
and we hope that with Catholics, at least, the
book will become popular friend and o wei. |
come visitor.
The biographical sketches are very valuable,
including, as they do, ffty.seven names of |
eminent Catholics from among the clergy and |
the laity. This feature of the work makes it |
Of great interest to the reader.
The chapter on Catholic Art, Science and
Philosophy in the United States, is replete with
important details, and should be carefully read
oy all students In regard to names distin-
suished in Catholic literature, the author ad-
nits that he has not space to do full justice to
sll-but we regret that he only included in
"a list" of persons, name 30 bright with
genius as that of Eleanor c. Donnelly-without
'ne word of homage to her fame.
1t is a pity that the present always reserves
to the future the glory of crowning true genius
with laurel wreath. A day will come when
America will be proud of her "catholio poet"
out then alas the cypress will mingle with
she palm. Here, in poor bsnighted Louisiana,
We recognize the genius of Eleanor c. Dom
lelly, and dare to anticipate the day when all
ips shall acknowledge her as the Adelaide
Proctor of America! ,