¹ For those who would inform themselves more accurately on the subject of Modernism and its history perhaps no book is more illuminating than M. Loisy's latest publication, Quelques Lettres (Paris, Nourry), in which, as nowhere else, we get an “all-together” view of his work, his ideas, his conflict. The Programme of Modernism (London, Fisher Unwin) is very valuable as bringing to a focus the various scriptural and historical problems which have, so to say, forced the movement into existence. Lendemains de l'Encyclique (Paris, Nourry) is also a very brilliant little synopsis of the situation by a group of French ecclesiastics. Finally, the volume on Modernism by the Rev. A. L. Lilley, Vicar of Paddington (London, Pitman), gives a most sympathetic and understanding outsider's view of the movement, and supplies an exhaustive bibliography.

² Finance as a factor of dogmatic evolution would be an interesting study. The considerations which shaped the Mediaeval doctrine of the papacy were financial as much as political. What is priceless cannot be sold for a price; yet it cannot be had without an “honorarium,” an alms, a fee. Hence to be the sole source of all spiritual liberties, privileges, and graces is not an unenviable position. If every bishop could dispense from marriage impediments; could do all that Rome does, Rome would be as poor as any other see. Again, the doctrine of the finite and therefore mechanically divisible value of the Mass has been determined by financial exigencies. Also the substitution of a purely vindictive Purgatory for the ancient medicinal Purgatory. A debt of spiritually profitless pains can be cancelled by the masses and alms of survivors. Modernism is not very indulgent to this locus theologicus, and not likely to be popular with those who “live by the Altar” in this fashion. In a hundred unsuspected ways it tends to spoil the market. For example, there is an enormous demand for and supply of text-books of correct Roman College theology, moral and dogmatic, which every prudent bishop desires to see in the hands of his seminarians, and which in the eyes of Modernism are considerably worse than waste-paper. For more than fifty years the Jesuit manuals of Perrone, Tongiorgi, Palmieri, Franzelin, Liberatore, Gury, Ballerini, Cornoldi, etc., have deluged the seminary world and been a source of no mean fortune to their common proprietor. Taking human nature as we know it from history, it must be confessed that the strongest and fiercest interest that truth has to contend against is the money interest—not less fierce because it is often subconscious in its influence.

³ See Fiches Pontificates. Paris, Nourry.