With the present number, BLACKFRIARS enters upon its third year of existence. At this second milestone in a brief career we may be permitted the luxury of a little self-congratulation that we have survived these two first most difficult years. Our gratitude to those who have given us life is all the more fervent when we remember that in these days infant mortality among unendowed journals is notoriously high. But besides evoking gratitude, a birthday provides a fitting occasion for reminiscence and prophecy: we may weigh up the past and take

thought for the future.

The most pertinent questions we have to meet and answer are : Why does BLACKFRIARS exist at all?

What is its policy? What does it stand for?

A magazine usually has some purpose, and it serves that purpose with a plan which unifies all its efforts. The thousands of journals that exist in this country all claim to have either what is called an ‘interest’ or a policy. This ‘interest’ will be either general or special. Thus the newspapers have a ‘general interest,’ because they make their appeal to everyone, regardless of whether they be politicians, mill-workers or clergymen.

The journals with a ‘special interest’ make their appeal to special groups of persons. Thus we have the medical journals that are intended to inform professional medical men on matters interesting to their profession, the financial papers that deal with the fluctuations of the money markets and are useful to those who have the disposal of money which they wish to invest at the greatest profit and the smallest risk.