CHRÉTIEN ET PAÏEN

C'est de M. LéonChaine, réminent catholique lyonnais, et de M. Turinaz, évêque de Nancy que je veux parler. Le chrétien est le pieux laïque, le païen est le fougueux prélat.

Dans son beau livre les Catholiques français et leurs difficultés actuelles, livre déjà connu des lecteurs du Républicain du Gard et que Ton pourrait appeler, à plus d'un titre, « le Testament du catholicisme libéral », M. Chaine flagelle •de main de maître les marchands du temple ; il rappelle courageusement ses coreligionnaires aux pratiques égalitaires disparues de leurs églises transformées en salons bourgeois ou les gens approchent du Maître en raison de leur importance sociale » ; il s'indigne, en particulier, quand il entend tomber de la chaire chrétienne, au moment de la publication des annonces de mariages, des oppositions de mots comme les suivants : fils ou fille légitime de..., et, un instant après fils ou fille, tout simplement, ce qui signifie : enfant naturel » Cet flétrissure publique infligée dans la maison du Dieu de miséricorde à des enfants irresponsables d'une faute commise et à leurs parents vivants ou morts » paraît à M. Chaine absolument contraire à Tesprit de TEvangile.

that they ^have made many bad blunders,and often adopted disustrous tactics. He takes up various phases of Catholic action and attitude, and courageously points out where correction and împrovement are requîred. Of course, he has stern condemnation for the stubborn disloyalty to the Republic which many Catholics hâve displayed, and he pleads in éloquent words for the plain principle that Catholicity is not tied to monarchy, but is at home in every régime, He severely censures the action of the Catholics who were so opposed to granting justice to Dreyfus, that public opinion considered Catholique and anti' Dreyfusard synonymous terms. But over and above thèse rather obvions matters which a book of this nature would naturaily be expected to discuss, M. Léon Chaine goes on to examine many other features which laymen do not customarily discuss, but which, he says, call for earnest and thorough reformation. He joins his voice to the great outcry now arising from multitudes of Catholics against new and fantastic dévotions. If religion is cloaked in this sort of garb, he maintains, it can never make much impression uponthe modem world. In Catholic éducation, clérical as well as lay, he calls for greater openncss of mind and intellectual honesty. He would bave abuses frankly set forth, and the unpieasant pages of history not blotted out or closed tho the student's eye. In this spirit, and with thèse aims, M. Léon Chaine discusses a great many interesting matters, and throughout he leaves with the reader the impression of an earnest man, sincerely désirons of serving religion, and believing that she can best be served by truth. The book will well repay persual. Coming from a lay man, it is of great significance.

The Church Times (Londres), 4 mai 1906. BOOKS AND WRITERS

The crumbling of political and religions opinion in France, where allthings seem to bedissolving in préparation for a fresh crystallization, is well illustrated by a collection of articles which M. LéonChainehascontributed to varions periodicals, and which he has now published in volume. Alarger édition contains an immense gathering of extracts from newspapers and reviews, illustrating the progress of thought in the country from the beginning of the Dreyfus business. A smaller édition contains only the author's own reflections. He is a good Catholic, but he allows himself considérable freedom in speaking of the Church and of the Papacy. The book will be useful to anyone who wishes to be well posted in the facts. He need not necessarily make too much account of M. Chaine's opinions, or of his spéculations on the probable efFect of the élection of an American or a negro to the Papacy.

Archives Israélites (Paris), 24 mai 1906.