The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-31
Literary Lights and Shadohs
BY S. MAYS BALL.

lRobert Appleton CO.,
 Edited by Charles G. Herberman, Pm D., IL. D. Gditor-in-chief), assisted by Edward A. Pace, Ph. D. D. D., Condo B. Fallen, Ph. D. ILL. D., Thomas J. shahan. D. D., John J. Wayne, B. J. and numerous collaberators tn 10 vol umes) Volume 8; "A fuii-page lLustra- tions; three colored plates, i've full page colored maps showing Byzantine Elm pire Canada Empire of Charlemange, South America, China and Corea; 799 pages.
 This ia the third volume of a great work inaugurated and engineered by the Catholic church. The first and second volumes appeared in, July and November, 1907: the 4th and 9th volumes Q5 to be in alb are scheduled to appear in Sep- tember and December of 1908, respective iy The first two volumes gave 8 fair idea of what this great work would be, when completed, and if the Third time is a charm then does the third volume of the Catholic Encyclopedia prove the truth of this ancient saw. For now the broad significance of this great work IS dawning on the general public. With one fifth of the great production successfully completed it Is possible to judge how broad is the scholarship of the con tributors and how fully all expectations being realized in this remarkable series of volumes.
 It is no exaggeration to state that the fairness of presentation of all the sub Jects treated in the Encyclopedia is one of it's most striking features It mat ters not of what religious persuasion the reader, be, he must admit that the purpose of every article is to present the truth as nearly as it can be ascer- tained. The wide range of the Ency- clopedia Is a notable characteristic Tor it covers the general field of human en- deavor in an interesting and Illuminating way.
 In the third volume many intensely interesting articles filled with informa- tion of great value Beginning with the biography of that remarkable character Orestes Augustus Brownson, It covers such topics as Buddhism' Buonarold (Michalangelo), Byzantine-Architectur literature history and religion, and em- braces such widely divergent supJects as the story of John Cabot, Caedmon, bull fights chivalry, Cabeza de Eaea' cardinal category, Charles w., Cnhr- lemange Chalce, civil allegiance, clan destinity, chapter house. carthuslans' character. Chateaubriaud, Cherubini, Chile Calandar, catacombs, etc. Amefi- can subjects received full consideration as in the previous volumes, BuHalo' oai- ifornia, Chicago, etc, appearing here ii a thorough and interesting treatment. The widely misunderstood and important subject. PapaI Bulls, is explained fully and clearly in all its bearing. The aru- cles on burial and cemeteries Will proVe of great value for their presentation or all sides of these important quesuons' ho' only in their history, but in their canom- cal and legal aspects. Much has been written on the relations of Christianity to Buddhism and their claims upon tne consideration of thinking men, put laroiy ever has it been more clearly and con vncingly stated than in the treatment of this topic towards the conclusion oi the exhaustive article on Buddhism.
 In this day of the study of the great world religions men and women Of all creeds will be deeply interested ln tue presentation of thorough account u Buddhism Every cultured person wishes at least to understand a religion whlcn has influenced so many millions or hu- man beings and it is possible to gam this information from the illuminative ar ticle in the Catholic Encyclopedia ihe section of that article which will attract more than usual attention. is the treat ment of Buddhism and Christianity which is written in most judicial ana measured terms. How these rellSlohs may be compared and who IS the saiiisi by the comparison is clearly ev1denceo' But the Catholic Encyclopedia IS not a drv-as-dust work concerned only Witii theoloeicaI questions. Its editors are thoroughly alive to what is gong on 'ii the world and an excellent Illus a', , ,i- lies in the article which after tracins -the history of bull fights glVes all .,e SPSSeeAeAS attitude of the church towards it. IL is advisable to say here that the writer on bull fights argues that such exmpltlohs are much less harmful and less cruel tha.i nrize fights and that less harm moraiy is done to the audience than by many dramas on the present day stage we read and hear of papal "bulls put very few people understand precisely what IS meant by the word and the nature ol sueb a document. full explanation 's given as to the different papil uood ,nents and their meaning, namely, con .it,+ions" e. decisions addressed to au the faithful and determining some matter of faith and discipline; encycl- cals" which are letters sent to all DISH, ops of Christendom or at least lo aii those of one particular country anu 'n tended to guide them in their relations with their flocks; ''decrees, pronounce nents on points affecting the general welfare of the church; "deeretals, "hien are papal replies to some particular ull- ficulty submitted to the holy see' o,'' having the force of precedents to rue OH analapous cases "Rescript" is term annlicable to almost any form or apos- tolic letter which has been elcited py some previous appeal, while the naeui u of a "privilege' speaks for itself All of these were known down to the ht- teentb century as "bulls, which was so- called simply because "bulla was or,einally circular plate or boss ol metal so called from it's resemblance III form to a. bubble floating upon the water 1atin "bullre' to boil) In course or tin,e the term came to be applied to the leaden seals with which papal and royii documents were authenticated in the ear lv middle ages and by further develop ment the name from designating the seal was eventually attached to the oocu ment itself. In this way each supJes'' much elaborated. is discussed in me ICpoupnDadia
 One of the strongest departments ol M this great work is that devoted to art III all of ifs qualifications. A fair instance of the treatment of this class or supJee's lies in the handling of the life and works of that many sided genius Michelangeio' There is no topic of greater lh- terest to mankind in general than the subject of burial. Wide controversy has been aroused and much has been Q written concerning the question of Chris tian burial and the question is thorougn- 1y discussed in this volume. Every arch- tect and every one interested in archl- tectural subjects will turn with pleasure to the articles on byzantine architecture e which treats the subject in an admirably lucid and comprehensive way. The "Calendar" is a subject of great inter- est. vet understood by comparatively few who are not specialists. Though com