The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-02-04
"IHE FAITH OF OUR EArHERsn

The Catholic World for February has the
following excellent notice of Bishop Glib
bons' last work, published few weeks ago.,
under the above title:
We have rarely met with book which
pleased us 30 thoroughly as this little volume
of the Bishop of Richmond. It is popular.
and is therefore not addressed to the few
who are in terested in the philosophical and
scientific controversies of the age but to
the people, to the multitudes, as Wers the
words of Christ. It is q thoroughly honest
oook, written by man who loves the
church and his country and who is deeply
interested in whatever concerns the welfare
| OF mankind. From the start we are con-
Vlnced of his perfect sincerity. Not to
make book has he written; but he believes,
and therefore speaks. It is this that gives
value to literatnre-the human life, the
human experience, which it contains. Bish-
op Gibbons has labored for several years
with zeal in North Carolina and Virginia,
where there are few Catholics, where the
opportunities of dispelling Protestant pre-
Judice ara rare, but the people are gener-
ally not unwilling to be enlightened.
Learned arguments are less needed than
clear and accurate statements of the doc
trlnes, practices, and aims of the church.
Catholic truth is its own best evidence is
more pursuasive than any logic with which
the human mind is able to reinforce it.
U Cu0 EiSnG mlnO anu pure nebrG IL 6p-
peals with irresistible force and therefore
the great work of those who labor for God
is to put away the mental and moral OBJ
strUctious which shut out the view of the
truth as it is in Christ. In setting forth
in clear and simple style the faith of our
fathers Bishop Gibbons is careful to meet
all the objections which are likely to be
made to- the church. He is thoroughly ac-
quainted with the American people; is
himself an American and his book is an
other proof that the purest devotion to the
church is compatible with tke deepest love
for the freest and most democratic of gov
ernments. Sympathy gives him insight,
reveals the matter and the manner that
suit his purposes best. The skill with
which he has compressed into q small vol
ume such a variety. of topics, giving to each
satisfactory treatment, is truly admirable.
He seems to have forgotten nothing, and
uiar explanation and vindication of Catho-
lie doctrine. We cannot praise too highly
the tone and temper of this book
The author is not aggressive /; is never
bitter, never sneers nor deals in sarcasm or
ridtcule does not treat his reader as a foe
to be beaten, but as brother to be peTsus-
ded. His sense of religion Is too deep to
allow him to make light of any homes faith
we perceive on every page the reverend
and Christian bishoP who KIN VS. that ehar.
lty and not hate is the divine power OF the
church the fire that sets the whole abIaze'
1t is not necessary that we should say more
In commendatiOu of this treatise. lG Will
most certainly have a wide circulation, and
It's merits will be advertised by every
reader. Bishop Gibbons has written chiefly
for Protestants, but we hope his book VII
hnd entrance iRte every Catholic family"
the land.