The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-14
Literary Lights And Shadows
BY 8. MAYS BALL

Pace d. D., Condo B. Pallen. LII. D.,
managing editor Thos. j. Shahan. u.
D.. and John j. Wynne, s. J.' eoitors.
To be complete in 15 volumes volume
g. Published by Robert Appleton q Co.,
New York.
Referring to the fact that book which
Is written to be read should be readable,
Theodore Roosevelt in his Romanes Lee
ture at Oxford has correctly observed.
This rather obvious truth seems to nave
been forgotten by some of the more
jealous scientific historians, who apparr
entity hold that the worth of a historical
book is directly in proportion to the I'M
possibility of reading it save as painful
duty"
The dry-as-dust historian and scientist
are not to be found among the contribu-
tors to 1.-THE Catholic, Encyclopedia and
all the articles, historical, geographical,
and biographical, are efisinently readable
as we'll as thoroughly scientific.
The seven preceding volumes of THE
Catholic Encyclopedia were of great in
tersst indeed. But somehow or other the
eighth volume seems to have been lucky
In having within its alphabetical limits
the most interesting of topics yet dis
cussed by this great undertaking.
Volume eight continues what Is said
to be the plain unvarnished tale OF
the teaching and action of the Catholic
church, the story of the men and women
whose lives it has moulded. the vicissi-
tudes of the nations whose manners ana
customs (quidquid agunt homines) 1t mas
Influenced together with the infinite de-
tail of ceremonial and legislation which
bind Catholics throughout the world.
The lives of the popes includes the in
nocents. Johns and Juliuses, and pass In
review various epochs in church history
Including the brilliant pontificate Of In
nooent III, the events of the Fourth Cru
SADIE" and the Albigensian Heresy, as
,l,..c tr1Ao nf 1T
when Athanasims Thanasius stood
against the world, and of Julius II when
the Holy League was formed against
France No fewer than 10 popes bore the
name Innocent, the last being Innocent
XIII who is associated with the ques-
ton of Chinese rites, with the connrma-
tion of the constitution "Unigenitus,' and
the later stages of the Jansenist quarrel.
The name John has been borne by q
occupants of the chair Of Peter, and
occurs more than 100 times as pope, saint(
historian or philosopher at the head OF
articles in this one volume of THE En-
cyclopeda."
The bearers of the name John on
the papal throne have not always shed
1uster on their sublime office, and The
historians of the lives of John \, John
XI and John XII, while rejecting many
of the ISLANDERS set on foot by l.u1t-
prand of Cremona, do not hesitate to
of humiliation for the chair of Peter.
The historical accuracy and impartial
itv of treatment with which these
articles are written confirm the choice
of the editors in selecting for the work
Professor Kirsch of the University OF
Fribourg, DIR. Mann of Newcastle-on-
Tyne, Professor OFT of Minnesota and
Professor Weber of Washington.
The articles on scriptural topics deal
with the question of inspiration anu
Introduction to Bible study; and In their
treatment of persons, places or things
mentioned in the Bible the writer's meet
II ankly and fully the most recent dis
coveries of archaeology and exegesis.
The article Inspiration from the
men of Professor Durand after rehears-
Ing the belief of the Jews in the In
epiration of the scriptures and the
value of this belief, discusses the ma
ture of inRiration from Catholic
point of view. Inspiration affects the
will and the intelligence and all The
executive faculties of the writer.
What becomes of human liberty under
the influence of Divine inspiration!
We must not represent the in
spirer as putting a ready-made book
In the hand of the inspired person.
No matter where the knowledge
of the writer comes from, whether 1t
be acquired naturally or be due 70
Divine revelation, it is something pre-
iiminary to inspiration. Inspiration has
not for it's object to teach something
new to the sacred writer, but TO rem
der him capable of writing with d.
vine authority" The article goes on to
deal with the extent of the inspira-
ton of the scriptures, keeping In view
the teaching of the bull "Providentissl-
mus Deus" and adds a luminous para
graph on the question of the verbal
Inspiration: "Theologians of today no
longer speak of a material dictation
Of words to the ear of the writer, but
of a Divine motion extending to ev-
cry faculty and even to the powers
of execution of the writer, and in con-
/ sequence influencing the whole work.
Thus the sacred text Is wholly the
work of God and wholly the work of
man; of the latter by way of instru-
ment of the former by way of prin-
eipal cause"
Other scriptural articles in volume 8
Of note are those dealing with the
/ Books Of Kings, Job, Joel, Josua,
Judges, Judith.
According to volume eight, the life of
Christ, the man-God, Is pivotal; take it
away and the whole edifice crumbles to
the New Testament is reduced to insight
| dcance. Father Mas in an exhaustive,
| plear, instructive article Jesus Christ"
F takes great pains to show that Christ
came claiming mo dubious name." but
saying He was the Son of God as well
rs the son of David. tk5l
The exegesis of the New Testament
Is further illustrated in the articles,
James the Greater, James the Less. Cos
pei of st. John, Epistle of st. John. Epis-
lie of Jude, ETC.. and the writer's, include.
among other eminent scholars, Father
rouck. the head of the new biblical In
btitute In Rome. IA