The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-04
NEK PUBLICATIONS.

|
This excellent periodical continues its course
upon the waters of Catholic literature, undis-
mayed by the winds of peeyish criticism and
undisturbed by the waves of chronic disoon-
tent. Like u good ship freighted with
precious cargo, aud bound towards pleasant
port, it steers straight along its way; while
i all who stand upon it's deck feel assured
that they are moving over the waters of Faith,
directed by the hands of Truth, Rnd guarded
| by the spirits of Hope and Charity.
1t has been objected that the articles of
| the present number, with one exception, are
not essentially American, and that all of
| them are tiresome and i5ane. that is, lacking
in thought, barren, devoid of interesting mat
ter, eto. Let rs see. The first article entitled
The Nuncio and teo Viears apostolic. is written
by an Englishman, a ripe scholars and an in
telligent Catholic, John Charles Earle, B. A.,
Oxon, and is an account of the imprudent zeal
aud arbitrary encouragement Of James IL. In
the matter of restoring England to the Cathe-
lilo Fold. The essential character of the
article, and one which makes it Of great in
terest to Americans, Is the manly fairness,
tho strict impartiality, the convincing truth
folness with which it slows the follies of
King, who, though on ardent Catholic, did more
harm to the cause of religion. aud disturbed
more thoroughly his peoples peace than did
William -ef Orange Puritan though he Was.
The difference between the iutemperate zeal
of a narrow.minded Catholic King, and the
di1ine prudence of the Church of God, is
Vividly and strikingly portrayed.
| The leeson to be learned by Americans from
this excellent English paper ia the assurance
| fhx Oath ts
staunchest friend of individual liberty, of the
obedience due to law, of true progress and
of universal equality of Justice; and that her
mission in this young Republic as it was in
the days of James II, is one of peace con-
servatism, and highest wisdom.
| 1t must be indeed narrow mind who finds
in this first article of the Rerie,o a lack of in
terest, a barrenness of thought, or jejuneness
cf style or matter.
Toe scholarly article on Syriac Grammars,
by DR.. James Corooran, has also been objected
to as abstruse and tiresome for American
readers. We have yet to learn that our in
telligent minds prefer to be regaled by food
Of easy digestion, or that they have less in
tellectual capacity for rare literary ciandes
than those of other nations. But DR.. Corco-
ran does not write any thing that can be
i
BILE for his pen to move without leaving
bright thoughts and cleaning words within it's
wake, as it is for the lightning to flash npon
us without light or gracsfulness.
The object of the learned writer in the
article before us is to remove from the minds
of many students the impression that the study
of Syriac offers greater difficulties than that Of
other Eastern tongues; and he suggests mo-
II y,
Christian scholars should give some attention
to this mother-toDgue of the Divine Founder
of our Faith, and of her whose inspired lipl
say to you, do ye."
We learn from DIR. Corcorau that on thi
side of the Atlantic Doctor of Divinity find
an inducement to the study of syriac in tn
, consideration that "it is the sacred dialect o
4 that interesting people, the HISTORIANS" Per
haps this valuable paper will induce som
earnest minds to study syriao for higher AM
: nobler purpose.
> IA Catholic Poet Of the Seventeenth Cen
tury" is another well-written article, grace
T. fully constructed and clearly developed. On
@ of its sentences contains food for man,
d thoughts:
If Harrington is in all respects Cstholi
4 poet, not only like Lodge, a Catholic VIII
CHANGED to be poet; or like Pope, poe
d who CHANGED to be Catholic; but rather lik
10 Aubrey de We're, one in whom faith and geniu
= are SO interfused and blended that he seems t.
, be poet because he ia Catholic, and
"a Catholic because he is poet"
1t was worth while learning something G
~ this old poet-even were his merits less tha
~ they really are-just to be able to remembe
u the sentence quoted above. But the Who'll
y sketch abounds in information and We fin
!. that our Catholic poet of the seventeenth Ger
II tury not only furnished thoughts and fancie
L to Wordsworth limited by the RerieU, BIT
we also think the lines
," - Folly boasts a glorious blood"
er E" She is noblest who is good
m are evidently suggestive of Tennyson
ct we'll known fancy in Lady We're de We're whel
In he says of that proud lady:
IL "'Tis only noble to be good"
We would like to touch upon all the artiol
id in the Quarterly, did our space permit but
the action Of the sereD chorda