SAINT DOMINIC.
Saint Dominic. By Jean Guiraud. Translated by Katharin de Mattos. (Duckworth and Co. 3s.) — This is one of the " Saints " series, and appears with Cardinal Vaughan's imprimatur. M. Guiraud treats with a certain freedom the narratives of St. Dominic's life and labours which are current among devout readers. The marvellous number of conversions rat' ibuted to his preaching is not found in contemporary authorities. And he absolutely disclaims the merit of tolerance which biographers, such as Lacordaire, have attributed to him. The Saint took a very active part in the burning of heretics. It was, for instance, one of his " miracles " that on one occasion when many heretics had been condemned to the stake he said : "Set this man by, and take heed not to burn him." his insight was justified by the fact that twenty years after the man became a "preaching friar." No one wants to question the Saint's insight. What must be insisted on is that he was as cruel a persecutor as Simon de Montfort or any of his "Crusaders." M. Guiraud uses the familiar plea of the Socialistic opinions of the Albigenses. Very likely such opinions were held by some among them. But this was not the reason why they suffered. Rome, which never changes, is quite willing to make alliance with Socialists, but she must be absolute, now as then, in religion.
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