It set to work the best Protestant minds to bring forward their tenets and to defend them in the ablest manner.

In another respect the work was beneficial. Realism, mysticism, or refined sensuality, and a more daring infidelity, through the advocacy of such men as Kant, Strauss, Hegel, and Goethe, had gained an alarming ascendency in Germany. German literature of the eighteenth century, wonderful as it is, rests generally upon no enduring basis of faith. It represents a transition period in religious belief, and was, to some extent, the product of the volcanic upheaval of old systems. Brilliant as are the results of that eruption, it is not desirable that the human mind should remain in this chaotic condition. The masses of the people demand a fixed faith; that society must be governed by unalterable laws. It has been often said any religion is better than none, and certainly it is better for men to have a firm faith which teaches rectitude of conduct, although that belief contain errors, than to be guided by no certain rules. A belief in a higher Power who controls our eternal destinies, and who requires us to follow certain moral laws, exercises the best influence over the conduct of men. Whoever assists to restore or quicken a religious belief which produces good social results is a public benefactor. In reawakening religious faith we believe Dr. Möhler to have had a great influence, not only for the benefit of his own church, but for all.

Speaking of the degrees of enlightenment concerning points of faith be tween Catholics and Protestants, we were surprised to read the following in Dr. Möhler's preface: "How much are Catholics put to shame by the very great activity which Protestants display in this matter." (P. xx.) We had supposed the contrary to be the case among those of the two denominations of similar general enlightenment, but accept the doctor's statement that it was not so with those he knew best.

The Protestant and Catholic dogmas upon the various points of faith are stated with great clearness, and, we believe, with the intention of fairness. Of the general character of Catholic teachings, according to Dr. Möhler, this extract will give an idea :

"As they found the dogmas on which they enlarge, which they explain or illustrate, already preexisting, we must in their labors accurately discriminate between their special and peculiar opinions, and the common doctrines declared by the Church, and received from Christ and the Apos tles. As these doctrines existed prior to those opinions, so they can exist after them, and can therefore be scientifically treated without them, and quite independently of them. This distinction between individual opinion and common doctrine presupposes a very strongly constituted community, based at once on history, on life, on tradition, and is only possible in the Catholic Church. But, as it is possible, so also it is necessary; for unity in its essence is not identity." (P. 7.)

Of the Protestant system we have this opinion:

"From what has been said, it follows that such a distinction as we speak of between dogma and opinion must be extremely difficult for Protestants. As their whole original system is only an individuality exalted into a gene

rality; as the way in which the Reformers conceived certain dogmas, and personally thought and lived in them, perfectly coincided, in their opinion, with those dogmas themselves; so their followers have inherited of them an irresistible propensity everywhere to identify the two things." (P. 8.)

It would be useless (in so brief an article) to attempt to analyze Dr. Möhler's statement of the tenets of the opposing systems of which he treats. All the doctrines of religious belief are thoroughly stated. His manner is candid, and his treatment of his opponents is, we believe, intended to be charitable. There is no effort at satire, no symptom of a desire to have the best of the argument at all hazards. Indeed, the work can scarcely be said to be argumentative, but is rather, as we have before observed, historical. The dogmas treated of are principally those respecting the primitive state of man and the origin of evil, original sin, justification, faith, good works, the sacraments, doctrine of the church, and the church in the next world in its connection with the church militant. His statements of the Catholic doctrine of purgatory and invocation of the saints, will perhaps be as interesting as anything we can extract for our readers:

"This custom, which we cannot absolutely abandon, for we are impelled to its exercise by all the power of faith and of love, is not only confirmed by the usages of the most ancient nations, but may be proved to have been authorized by the practice of the primitive church; and is accordingly revered by us as an apostolic tradition. But, moreover, as to the mode of punishment, and the place which purgatory occupies, the church teaches nothing further; for she has, on this point, received no special revelations; and when we use the expression, purifying fire, we employ it only in the usual figurative sense.

"The setting up of the saints by the church as patterns for religious and moral imitation, connected with the doctrine of their intercession in our behalf with God, and of the corresponding invocation of their aid on our parts, constitutes the principle of veneration of saints, which is in the same way related to the supreme worship as the mutual relation existing between creatures is to the state of dependerce of them all on their common Creator and Lord. Virtuous creatures look with love and reverence on those of their body who were eminently endowed by God, and, in virtue of their love implanted within them, they wish each other all good, and lift up their hands in each other's behalf unto God, who, rejoicing in the love which emanates from himself and binds his creatures together, hears their mutual supplications, in case they be worthy of his favor, and out of the fulness of his power satisfies them; and this no creature is able to accomplish. Moreover, if we are to worship Christ, we are forced to venerate his saints." (Pp. 344-5.)

What we say of this book by way of commendation is in reference to its usefulness if rightly employed. Protestants as well as Catholics may derive benefit from its clear and honest statements of their several dogmas. The former can at least rely upon its accuracy in respect to Catholic tenets, and we think they will find their own doctrines generally stated with fairness. Those who are indifferent to dogmatic differences will find the volume useful for the information it conveys regarding the opposing religious systems.

The Forty-fourth Annual Report of the American Sunday-School Union. Presented at the Annual Meeting, May, 1868. Philadelphia: SundaySchool Union.

The report opens with a memorial and testimonials to the worth of Fre derick A. Packard, Corresponding Secretary of the Society, and for thirtynine years Editor of its publications. The decease of four other Managers is also reported as having occurred during the past year.

The amount of books distributed by the Society during the year embraced in this report was $390,290.56, being a considerable increase over any former year. The contributions to the missionary department for the year were $89,029.78; legacies during the year, $7069.65; interest on book fund, $2406; total for the year, $98,595.43.

The total annual expenditures were $117,986.89, making an excess of expenditures of $19,481.56. Add to this the excess of expenditures of the former year of $10,105.61, and the indebtedness of the missionary depart ment is shown to be $29,587.19, which is, doubtless, rightly characterized as an "incubus" upon such a Society.

In regard to the work done, the grand total of statistics is a very satis factory exhibit, indicating that the Society has not been spending money for nothing. For instance, the total number of schools organized and aided is, for 1867-8, 8331; the number of scholars in the same, 468,923; amount of donations to the same, $17,787.68; copies of the Scriptures distributed, 9082; families visited, 28,632; miles travelled, 396,501; addresses deliv ered, 9457. The report adds: "If to the above we could add the number of souls hopefully converted in connection with the schools, of churches grown out of them, of sanctuaries erected, etc., etc., these statistics would be more complete and more valuable."

The details of the Society's missionary work are very interesting, but we have not space to follow them. They embrace a vast field, including nearly every State and territory in the Union. In the South, where such work would seem to be especially needed, the Society has done much, and we are assured that, had it more means, it would have done much more. The great want would seem to be missionaries, of which, we are informed, the Society has sixteen, where two hundred, at least, might find constant and profitable employment. The Rev. Mr. McCullough seems, in this department, to have done an almost incredible amount of work.

The report concludes with a summary of the work done and what seems to be indicated as necessary to be done.

Cradle Lands. By LADY HERBERT. 16mo, pp. 332. New-York: The Catholic Publication Society. 1869.

Mr. Kehoe, the general agent of the Catholic Publication Society, is entitled to much credit for the excellent taste he displays in getting up its books. The volume now before us is a very good specimen, and we have lately seen several others, bearing the imprint of the society, which compare favorably, in typography, paper, and binding, with the best samples of American book-making.

The contents of Lady Herbert's book are eminently worthy of the chaste and handsome style in which it is issued; and we see no reason why Protestants, as well as Catholics, should not derive both pleasure and profit from its perusal. The authoress makes no high pretensions in introducing her book. She merely informs us that it is the result of a tour through Egypt and Syria in search of health, and that she hopes it "may be of interest to those who have already trodden in the same steps, and induce others to follow them," etc.

may

That this modest hope will be realized we have not the least doubt. The following titles of some of the chapters will give the reader an idea of what be expected in the book, namely, Alexandria, Cairo, and Upper Egypt; From Cairo to Jerusalem; Jerusalem and the Holy Sepulchre; Carmel and Beyrout; Damascus and Lebanon; Asia Minor and Ephesus, etc. The reputation of Lady Herbert as an author, her taste for antiquarian research, and her fervent but cheerful piety, afford a sufficient guarantee of her abili ty to invest such topics with a lively interest. The attractiveness of Cradle Lands, as a Christmas-book, is enhanced not a little by several original illustrations of considerable artistic merit.

POLITICAL ECONOMY AND ARCHITECTURE.

Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the Finances for the Year 1868. 8vo. pp. 69. Washington, 1868.

We are sorry that this important and able paper did not reach us a little earlier, for it is not of the class that ought to be disposed of, by any public writer, in a few brief paragraphs. Could such a report have been written for our guidance by some distinguished political economist of England, France, Germany, or Italy, Congress and the press would have vied with each other in doing him honor. As it is, the author will probably receive more abuse than approbation; more ill-will than gratitude will be evinced toward him. This is all the more certain now when he is likely to retire from office, as if public opinion in the United States were based on the ancient Locrian precept, "He has done his work well; if you cannot scandalize him, at least insult him!"

It is a remarkable fact that none of our public men receive ruder treatment at the hands of a certain class of our journalists than those whose abilities attract the attention and elicit the praise of those who may be called the leaders of public opinion in Europe. There has certainly been no exception in the case of Mr. McCulloch; statesmen and eminent political economists of England, France, and Switzerland, have vied with each other in awarding high praise to his financial system; but strangely enough, in proportion as this has been done abroad, has he had all kinds of abusive, depreciatory epithets applied to him at home.

We are glad to see that all this does not induce our manly and straight

forward Secretary to swerve in the slightest degree from the course which he thinks best calculated to promote the public interest; nor does it seem to disturb his equanimity or mar his good humor. In the report now before us he persists in maintaining those views which have given his system a distinctive character and a European fame, and the soundness of which is proved by the experience of the most enlightened nations and the testimony of the most eminent statesmen; but far from evincing any arrogance in doing so, he adduces his arguments with the courteous diffidence of a subordinate officer addressing his superiors in knowledge as well as in rank. Indeed, there are very few subordinate officers at the present day capable of maintaining their views so modestly; whereas there is no more important position in the gift of any government, republican or monarchical, than that of the manager of its finances; and accordingly it is one that has been held, as we have shown on former occasions, by the most eminent statesmen.

Our readers have been familiar for years with our views on paper money; we need hardly say, therefore, that we fully concur with Mr. McCulloch in the following:

"If there is any question in finance or political economy which can be pronounced settled by argument and trial, it is, that inconvertible and depreciated paper money is injurious to public and private interests, a positive political and financial evil, for which there can be but one justification or excuse, to wit: a temporary necessity arising from an unexpected and pressing emergency; and it fol lows, consequently, that such a circulation should only be tolerated until, without a financial shock, it can be withdrawn or made convertible into specie. If an irre deemable bank-note circulation is an evidence of bankrupt or badly managed banking institutions, which should be deprived of their franchises, or compelled to husband and make available their resources in order that they may be prepared at the earliest day practicable to take up their dishonored obligations, why should not an irredeemable government currency be regarded as an evidence of bad management of the national finances, if not of national bankruptcy?" (P. 3.)

This is a question which those in favor of paper money will find it difficult to answer; and there are several other questions in the same pamphlet to which abuse can be much more easily applied than sound logic. After discussing the subject at some length, Mr. McCulloch proceeds to make suggestions, which, we doubt not, will also excite the indignation of a certain class of political economists:

"The Secretary still adheres to the opinion so frequently expressed by him, that a reduction of the paper circulation of the country until it appreciated to the specie standard was the true solution of our financial problem. But as this policy was emphatically condemned by Congress, and it is now too late to return to it, he recommends the following measures as the next best calculated to effect the desired result:

"Agreements for the payment of coin seem to be the only ones, not contrary to good morals, the performance of which cannot be enforced in the courts. 'Coin contracts' executed before the passage of the legal-tender acts, as well as those executed since, are satisfied in all the States except California by the payment of the amounts called for in depreciated notes. This shackle upon commerce, this check upon our national progress, this restriction upon individual rights, should no longer be continued. If it be admitted that the condition of the country during the war, and for a time after its close, created a necessity for laws and decisions