Notable Book by R.C. Professor.—Protestant papers are calling very special attention at this moment to an able book which has been published by a Roman Catholic professor in the Faculty of Theology, Maynooth, Dr. Walter McDonald. The title is “Some Ethical Questions of Peace and War with Special Reference to Ireland.” While the professor is a Home Ruler, he goes quite against the revolutionary ideas of the “Sinn Fein” party. Protestant writers are not quite clear as to what his design is in this work. Is it his object to give expression simply to an honest testimony against the baseless and wild opinions of many of his countrymen, or does he wish to throw dust in the eyes of the loyal British people? We hope to give some further idea of the book’s contents in a future issue. The price of the volume, 9s., is rather large for people with ordinary purses, but a cheaper edition may yet appear.
Written Prayers.—The venerable Thomas Williams, in conversation with a devoted Ritualist, was discussing the subject of written prayers. This gentleman claimed that the whole Bible did not furnish one unwritten prayer. “No, sir, not a single one, sir.” “Do you really think so?” “Yes, sir, I defy you to point to a single Scripture prayer that was not written. You cannot do it.” “Well, can I ask you a question?” “Certainly you can.” “Tell me, then, who held the candle when Jonah read his prayers in the whale’s belly.”