SOME BOOKS OF THE WEEK.
[Under this heading tre rotice such Books of the week as have not been reserved far review in other forms.] The Ruin of Education in Ireland. By F. Hugh O'Donnell, MA. (D. Nutt. 5s. net.)—Mr. O'Donnell publishes in this volume evidence which he desires, but is not permitted, to give before the Commission on University Education in Ireland. The gist of it is—no priestly control, except in matters of faith and morals; a large exception, by the way. Mr. O'Donnell states some things which we do not care to repeat, beyond saying generally that he distrusts the finance as much as the intellectual position of the clerical rulers. In fact, the whole subject is one which cannot advantageously be treated under such conditions as are present to any one writing in these columns. One consideration, however, as it is concerned with historical truth, may be briefly indicated. It is a quotation of the present teaching of the Jesuit Order as represented by an eminent teacher, Father M.arianus de Luca, Professor of the Text of the Decretals in the Gregorian University of Rome. " Suadet ipsa ratio quia Respublica habeat potestatem puniendi subditos poena oondigna. Watt delicti gravitatem, sed nullum gravius della-tun eat haeresi propter noeumentum quad sifert reipublicae christianae, et ideo igne et ferro resecandum." This may be rendered "Reason itself tells us that the State has the power of punishing its subjects with adequate penalties, according to the gravity of their offence; nor is there any offence more grave than heresy, on account of the harm which it inflicts on the Christian State; it is therefore to be extirpated by fire and sword." A further pronouncement declares the deposition of all rulers re- fusing thus to deal with heretics. Some one will say,—An obsolete . fulmination ! But why did the present Pepe beatify Felton, the man who suffered under Queen Elizabeth for publishing this very decree of deposition? This, then, is what young priests are taught in one province of knowledge ; as to what they are not taught in other provinces, let a Roman Catholic Bishop tell us —"The young priests come out of Maynooth absolutely deficient in all classical education, and in all scientific and mathematical education, and, above all, deficient in that undefinable thing that is not knowledge but culture?'
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