Henry Schomberg Kerr, Sailor and Jesuit. By the Hon. Mrs.
Maxwell-Scott. (Longmans and Co. 6s. 6d. net.)—H. S. Kerr's father approached Rome by the usual road, and, as usual, he did not know whither he was going. The Gorham judgment decided him, as it decided Manning,—one wonders whether such a cause would produce such effects now. He was received into the Roman Communion in 1852, and three years later the son, who had joined the 'Vengeance' as a naval cadet in August, 1852, /allowed him; his naval career lasted for fifteen years. He then resigned his commission—he was a Commander—and offered him- meat to the Society of Jesus. His prospects were good—to be a
Commander at thirty in a time of peace proves so much—and he had some difficulty in making his decision. But a curious languor seemed to overpower him when he joined his ship ; it had nothing to do with health ; and it helped at least to decide him. He received priest's orders in 1875, and after working in various places for seventeen years he was sent out to South Africa. It does not look like the usual good management of the Jesuit authorities that they imposed the work on a man of not very robust health, who was considerably over fifty, and was known to be of a very enthusiastic temper. His work necessarily involved many hardships, which were volun- tarily increased by his devotion to poverty. In his last journey, only a few days before his death, he travelled one hundred and sixty miles without taking anything.
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