Foreign Periodicals.

The Tablet (18 Feb.): An article on the French Government Bill for the separation of Church and State, gives a translation of the Bill and compares it with former measures. -The series of papers on Biblical Inspiration, by the Abbot of Downside, has called forth interesting letters from several correspondents, notably Mr. Luigi Cappadelta and Dr. Joseph MacRory. letter from France contains extracts from the speeches of the Abbé Gayraud and M. Ribot, explaining why they favor the movement for separation.

(25 Feb.): Father Thurston, S.J., begins a series of articles on the practice of confession in England before the Norman Conquest. His object is to disprove the conclusions of Dr. H. C. Lea, as they have been adopted and modified by some Anglican scholars, particularly by Dr. Augustus Jessopp. Fr. Thurston summarizes the principal points in Dr. Jessopp's statements.Another article of especial interest in this issue is a description of the revolutionary elements in Russia.

(4 March): There are two important articles in this number, one is a discussion of the Catholic school question in the Canadian Northwest, and the other is the second paper on confession in England before the Norman Conquest. In this paper Fr. Thurston answers the question: Was absolution given to private penitents? The Month (March): Examines the grounds on which "Science" rests her claim to be our one and only guide to any knowledge worthy of the name. Presents and criticizes the doctrines of Continuity and Causation as Romanes and Huxley understood them. States (with reference to the Law of Continuity) that we are forced to suppose "that neither Mr. Romanes, when he speaks of an à priori truth, nor Professor Huxley, when he speaks of an axiom, rightly expresses his own meaning." Finds these writers using inaccurately, also, the term "Law of Causation."- -Comments on the attitude of the modern secular historian (as Mr. Murdoch) studying the work of the early missionaries to Japan. Notes a

tendency on the part of this author to insinuate that the partial acceptance of Christianity was entirely explicable by natural causes, and that this Christianity was hardly ever accepted as a matter of rational conviction. Considers the charge of intolerance alleged against the missionaries; recounts their labors and successes; and describes the impression made by Christianity upon the people of Japan.

Le Correspondant (25 Jan.): Mgr. Touchet, Bishop of Orleans, opens the number with a eulogy addressed to the community of St. Sulpice, Paris, now proscribed through the hatred of M. Combes." Mystiques et Primitifs," by Louis Gillet, continues his history of the ancient school of Cologne.

(10 Feb.): The opening article, "Le Budget de l'Ouvrier au XIX. et au XX. Siecle," by A. de Foville, member of the Institute, is encouraging reading. From reliable statistics the writer shows that the wage of workingmen in France to-day is double what it was a hundred years ago; that a low wage to-day is the exception and not the rule. He adds that science, which has procured so many advantages for the people, has not been able to render them more contented; for it has raised the standard of comfort and added to the complexity of life. Nor can science, nor physical well-being, do the work of simple faith in creating or fostering love of duty, peace of soul, mutual forebearance, confidence, and hope, in the family circle.

La Quinzaine (16 Feb.): A. Koszul, in reviewing Mr. Morley's Life of Gladstone, pays particular attention to the religious life and influence of the great English premier. His early training was carefully attended to, later on he came under the influence of Dr. Chalmers, and all through his life played an important part in the religious affairs of England. He was a great friend of Manning's. In regard to Catholic belief he agreed with us in believing in the Real Presence, also in auricular confession; yet could not take our view-point of Church authority. Gladstone's inner life was deeply spiritual. The article concludes by saying that "religion was the great, permanent, and solemn affair of his life."

Revue Thomiste (Jan.-Feb.): M. Coconnier, in a learned article entitled "Charity according to St. Thomas Aquinas," seeks to expose the true thought of the master of the schools upon this first and most noble virtue."To what Happiness are we Destined ?" is the title of an article by Fr. Hugueny, O.P., in which the writer undertakes "to utilize Criticism without neglecting Scholasticism," in discussing the question of man's destiny.Other articles: "Les Conditions de la Certitude et la Critique," by T. Richard; and "Les deux Principes de la Thermodynamique," by Fr. Hedde.

Annales de la Philosophie Chrétienne (16 Jan.): This number opens with a sympathetic appreciation of M. Brunetière's recent volume, De l'Utilisation du Positivisme, which forms the first part of his apologetic work, Sur le Chemin de la Croyance. The manner in which M. Brunetière indicates how Catholicism finds points of contact with the positivism of Conte, opens a way, thinks M. Baumann, of which our apologists ought to take advantage. M. Denis congratulates M. Brunetière, first for his services, and, secondly, for the immunity which his prestige and position have assured to him from such attacks as have been made by ultra ultramontanists upon MM. Blondel, Fonsegrive, Laberthonnière, Denis himself, and other leaders of the movement. M. Roger Charbonnel, too, comments favorably on M. Brunetière's Utilisation Apologétique du Positivisme.-A seminary professor, who assumes as certain that in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke a large amount of idealization has been thrown around the historical kernel, discusses the indications offered for this theory. Though the work of analysis may, he says, disturb persons of little faith, it can only result in setting forth more splendidly the work of God and the teachings of our Lord.The editor concludes his fine historical study of Protestantism in France.

(Feb.): M. Albert Leclère opens a series of papers on Dante, to place in relief the affinities and the unexpected contrasts to be found in the tendencies of Dante's mysticism when compared with that of the most representative of other Catholic mystics since the period of

the first Renaissance. The nature, date, authenticity, Christology, and eschatology of the Clementine Homily is discussed by M. Turmel, who controverts many of Professor Harnack's findings on the subject.-M. Blampignon concludes his essay on Jean Jacques Rousseau. The editor replies to the attack made on him. and his friends, Abbé Naudet and Abbé Lefranc, in a Belgian "anti-apologetic" periodical by the Reverend Père Fontaine, S J., who applies some very severe terms to the new school of biblical critics, whom he accuses of being rebels to. spiritual authority. M. Denis defends the orthodoxy of the movement, emphasizes the necessities which have created it, and begs his adversary to remember the dictates of Christian charity. As an introduction to a future analysis, by M. Bernard, of a recently published synopsis of Kant's philosophy, M. Denis offers a few pages of observations on the historical position of the German philosopher.

La Revue Apologetique (16 March): Reviewing the progress of exegesis, regarding the long-debated questions in the Pentateuch, M. C. De Kirwan, without committing himself very deeply, is inclined to make some concessions to scientific criticism. He would abandon, for instance, the old opinion concerning the age of man, and the universality and miraculous character of the deluge. But he contends for the exactitude of the account of the dial of Achaz; for the phenomenon did not exceed the power of Omnipotence.-I. Vosters attacks the brochure of Professor Viollet directed against the infallibility of the Syllabus. The Syllabus, argued the professor, cannot be infallible; it declares, for example, that matrimony is indissoluble by natural law; if so it never could be dissolved by ecclesiastical authority; but we have cases where it has been thus dissolved. Ergo. The defender of the Syllabus would save its veracity by recurring to the old distinction between primary and secondary precepts of the natural law.Against Father Lagrange's view concerning the later origin of Daniel, Chanoine Mémain continues his repetition of the traditional arguments M. H. Appelmans defends the reasonableness of faith.

Civiltà Cattolica (18 Feb.): Describes how the Italian government, when guaranteeing to the Pope the maintenance of his Pontifical dignity, recognized that this must include a guarantee of the rights of the Cardinals.-Describes the Educational Exhibit at the St. Louis Fair, mentioning the Medical Exhibit of the Università Giovanni Hopkins, and concludes with some considerations on the opinion entertained by outsiders generally as to the worth of Catholic philosophy: It is true that to expose the errors of science is the highest service which philosophy can render to science; but would this service not be immensely more valuable, if our writers were always loyal in recognizing all the truth and the good with which science is to be credited ?-Reviews the first volume of the monumental work, The Acts of the Council of Trent, and takes occasion to speak of the superior accuracy of Pallavicino as compared with Sarpi.

(4 March): Records a movement on foot among some of the Italian journals to establish a law of temperance with regard to the publication of details about filthy and vicious crimes.Reviews the collection Science et Religion (known to readers of the review columns of THE CATHOLIC WORLD), a series of brochures, now numbering over three hundred, which instruct Catholics on the latest questions in history, philosophy, Scripture, and theology; the series is being translated into Italian by the publishing house of Désclee.

Stimmen aus Maria Laach (Feb.): Fr. Krose, S J., in a paper dealing with the religious condition of Switzerland, shows that Catholicism is rapidly regaining ground in that country.-Fr. Knabenbauer, S.J., in an article entitled "The Author of the Fourth Gospel and Loisy," refutes the arguments advanced against the genuinity of St. John's Gospel.