The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-15
The CATHOLIC
ENCyCL OPE D|A
A LIBRARY OF RELIABLE INFORM
ALTON ABOUT THE CATHOLIC
CHURCH.
An Invaluable Work of Reference in
Fifteen Volumes-EIeven Volumes
Already Issued-To Be Com
pIeted Next Year-Its Board
of Editors and Directors
A Necessity i'm Every
Library, Private and
Public.

The appearance of the eleventh vol
ume of the Catholic Encyclopedia af-
fords us an opportunity to recommend
this important work in an especial
manner to our readers, and to urge
all who can possibly do so to procure
a set for their libraries. In fact, it is
a library in itself, placing before the
earnest student as well as the casual
reader an amount of information about
the Catholic Church and cognate sub
jects which can no where else be OBJ
tanned in so conveniently accessible
form.
AS work of reference, reliable,
comprehensive and authoritative, the
Catholic Encyclopedia has no equal in
the English language and no superior
in any language. Tt deals with the
Catholic Church, her history, growth,
development, institutions, activities,
liturgy and doctrines. 1t brings to-
gether in consecutive series of con-
else articles a wealth of information
on subjects with which Catholics owe
it to themselves and to the Church to
be conversant, and to which fair-mind-
ed n-Catholics can be referred for
the latest and most approved informa-
4tion that Catholic scholars have been.
able to CLEAN on matters connected
with the Church.
When the idea of issuing a Catholic
Encyclopedia was broached in 1905
few even of the most sanguine be-
lieved that an enterprise involving so
much labor and research and so great
an expenditure of money could be
safely undertaken at the time; and
fewer still thought it possible that the
task would be completed in the COM
paratively short space of eight years.
in earnest, and their enthusiasm be-
came. contagious. The response to
their first appeal for subscriptions was
so generous that they were placed in
position to begin the work at once.
They were fortunate in securing as
contributors some of the foremost writ
ers in every quarter of the globe-men
of recognized ability and ripe scholar
ship-whose names were a sufficient
guarantee that the projected Encyclo-
pedia would embody the results of the
best scholarship in the Catholic
Church. Volume after volume appear
ed in rapid succession, each one main
tanning the high standard of literary
merit set by the initial volume, until
at the present time eleven volumes
are in the hands of the subscribers.
A Work of Merit.
The Catholic Encyclopedia has re-
ceived the most fattering endorse
ments from reviewers in secular and
religious publications, non-Catholic as
well as Catholic, all of whom admit
that it is a work of exceptional merit,
an achievement of which the Church
in America has reason to be proud,
and one which reflects the greatest
credit on those who conceived it and
brought it to its present state of COM
pletion. Already it has become a po-
tent influence for good wherever it is
known-in the press, on the platform,
in library and home-and is destined
to confer untold benefits on Cath
olics as well as on Catholics
Four more volumes are to be issued
before the set will be complete. At
the present rate of production it is
certain that the fifteenth volume will
be off the press before October, 1912.
Then Catholics will be in possession
of an up-to-date and accurate work of
reference to which they can turn for
information on any point of Catholic
doctrine, discipline and history, wheth-
er controverted or not, with the as
surance that they can rely on the
statements contained in its pages. So
complete is it that almost every sub
ject having bearing on religion is
dealt with. Controversial subjects are
treated from the standpoint Of the
most recent and approved knowledge
available, and with such tact and con-
sideration as not to give any occasion
for Offense to those who are preju-
diced against the ancient Church. In
terest is sustained and pleasing varie
ty secured by the repro ducticn of illus
trations which are works of art and
which enhance the value of the work
AZ whole