TRUTH
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TRUTH
throughout the society's existence, although its scope
has from time to time been enlarged as necessity has
dictated. From them it will be seen that the aim of the
society is not controversial, as is sometimes supposed.
The position of Catholics in England is such that con-
troversy is unavoidable, and a certain proportion of
the society's pubUcations have been devoted to the
consideration of the Anghcan claims and to the expo-
sure of the fictions assiduously promoted by the less
intelligent and bigoted class of Protestants. But the
chief aim of the society has been the instruction of
Catholics by placing in their hands, at nominal prices,
educational and devotional works. The sale of some
of these has been phenomenal: the "Simple Prayer-
book", for example, has reached a circulation of
1,380,000; the little penny books of daily meditation
have reached 114,000; and nearly 200,000 penny
coiiies of the Gospels have been sold. An account of
the literary output of the society can be ascertained
from the list of publications, to be obtained from the
depot, 69 Southwark Bridge Road, London, S.E.
Almost every subject of imi)ortance to Catholics is
taken up in one or other of the society's works; and
the number is increasing every month. Already there
is an extensive list of books and pamphlets directed to
meet and answer rationahst objections; among them
may be mentioned a series of penny lives of CathoUc
men of science, and thirty-nine papers deahng with
"The HLstory of Religions"; of these last an aggre-
gate of about 200,000 copies have been issued. For
younger Catholics a large number of tales, dealing
with the sacraments and other religious subjects, has
been provided at the lowest possible price.
The society is mainly supported by subscriptions, ten shillings per annum entitling to membership, while ten pounds is a life subscription. Without these the work could not be carried on, as, although the officers have always taken their part gratuitously, the necessary expenses of rent, printing, and storing could not be defrayed out of the often infinitesimal profits accruing from the sale of publications. From the first there has been the heartiest co-operation between clergy and laity in every branch of the society's work; and the difficulties often arising from political differ- oncps have never in any way interfered with the work of the society. The society has the cordial approval and support of the highest ecclesiastical authorities, and is indulgenced by the Holy See. The movement has spread to Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Australia. In addition to its literary work, for seventeen years the society held an annual Catholic conference, which formed an important event in English Catholic life. These gatherings, always largely attended by representative clergy and laity, were the occasion of important pronouncements by the archbishop or by other bishops, and afforded an opportunity for the elucidation and discussion of matters affecting the work and welfare of the Church in England. Their success paved the way for a development by which, from 1910, the society's con- ference has been merged in the National Catholic Congress. The important work of providing reading for bhnd CathoKcs has been taken up by the society, which has established a circulating library of books of instruction, devotion, and fiction, printed in Braille type. It has also provided a number of lectures on matters connected with history and art, illustrated by suitable lantern slides. A special committee was formed in 1S91 to work for the spiritual welfare of Catholic seamen of all classes, through the instru- mentahty of which Catholic seamen's clubs and homes were opened. The society has also been the starting- point for other organizations which now have an independent existence — e. g. the Catholic Guardians' Association, which has become a centre of usefulness throughout the country, is the ultimate development of a local branch of the society, which made the dis-
tribution of literature to the inmates of workhouses
and hospitals part of its work; the Catholic Social
Guild took its rise in connexion with one of the
society's conferences; and the Catholic Needlework
Guild was initiated by one of its secretaries. The
realization of its importance is already growing, and
the society is doing effective work for the Catholic
Church in England.
James Britten.
In Ireland. — The Catholic Truth Society of Ireland was organized at the meeting of the jilay- nooth-Union in 1S99, with the stated purpose of diffusing "by means of cheap publications soimd Cathohc hterature in popular form so as to give in- struction and edification in a manner most likely to interest and attract the general reader", and which would "create a taste for a pure and wholesome lit- erature, and will also serve as an antidote against the poison of dangerous or immoral writings". The society has received the earnest and practical support of the hierarchy and laity of Ireland, and has devoted its publications to sound national, historical, and biographical, as well as religious subjects in order to offset the demoralization of the output of the sensa- tional press. In the first ten years of its existence 424 penny publications, with a circulation of over five million copies, were issued. It has also printed a prayer-book and other works in GaeUc. The annual conferences have brought together distin- guished gatherings, and the addresses made and papers read at these meetings, printed in "The CathoUc Truth Annual", make a valuable compila- tion in the interest of the object for which the society was started. The society has its main office in Dub- lin and has over 800 members.
In Australia. — The AustraUan CathoUc Truth Society was started in 1904, and has its headquarters in Melbourne. Its officers have been active in the dissemination of sound CathoUc literature and in the spreading of publications that were an antidote to works subversive of faith and morals. On 1 Nov., 1910, the society had 423 annual and 164 life members distributed over the Commonwealth and New Zealand and had pubUshed 679,375 pamphlets. Of its prayer-book 42,016 copies were sold. In 1910 it sent the Rev. Dr. Cleary on a mission around the world to estabUsh a chainofagentsforan international news service.
In the United States. — The International Cath- olic Truth Society was incorporated in New York on 24 April, 1900, the particular objects for which it was formed being: to answer inquiries of persons seeking information concerning the doctrines of the CathoUc Church; to supply CathoUc hterature gratis to Cath- olics and non-CathoUcs who make request for the same; to correct erroneous and misleading state- ments in reference to Catholic doctrine and morals; to refute calumnies against the Catholic reUgion; to secure the pubUcation of articles promoting a knowl- edge of Catholic affairs; to stimulate a desire for higher education among the Catholic laity, by print- ing and distributing Usts of Catlinlic books, andother- wise to encourage the circulation and reading of standard Catholic literatin-e; to generally assist in the dissemination of Catholic truth; and to perform other educational and mis.sionary work. The terri- tory in which its operations are principally conducted is in the United States of America and in Canada. The office of the society is in Brooklyn, the bishop of which diocese is its honorary president, and the Rev. W. N. ISIcGinnis, S. T. D'., its president.
According to the annual report for the vear from March, 1910. to March, 1911, the society had 1005 menilicrs, (ilS subscribers, and US atliliate<l societies. It had distributed during the year 199, ISS pamphlets. A part of its work found to be of special benefit is
