"In the June number of THE MESSENGER Rev. John J. Wynne, S. J., showed in an article entitled 'Poisoning the Wells' that 'Appletons' Universal Cyclopaedia and Atlas' is unreliable; that it ignores, depreciates and misrepresents Catholic doctrine, history and practice. This serious charge was made directly to D. Appleton & Co., and their answer was a list of three or four commendations of the book from Catholic sources. Among them was this alleged quotation from the American Catholic Quarterly Review: 'Its pages ("Appletons' Universal Cyclopaedia ") can with confidence be consulted by the busy Catholic editor, or controversialist, or reader in search of reliable data. In every respect this cyclopaedia keeps step with the progress of time.'

'We cannot find this commendation in the Quarterly. We wrote to D. Appleton & Co. and asked for number and page, but received no answer. We telegraphed at the last moment before going to press, but got no reply. Therefore we now deny that the Quarterly ever published this commendation of the book under consideration. We warn our readers against the book as unreliable and anti-Catholic, and invite them to read our opinion of it, with some grounds for that opinion, in the review of this number."

The review referred to contains the following paragraph, which is supported by quotations from the cyclopædia, and references to fully thirty of its articles which are seriously erroneous and offensive to Catholics :

"With the latest edition of 'Appletons' Cyclopædia and Atlas' before us, we may well deplore that its readers have not what they are entitled to get at least a fair presentation of the arguments on both sides of controverted questions. It is difficult to account for such a defect in a work like this. One would imagine that publishers would consult their own interests, and that the Appletons especially should have learned by their experience with Catholics some thirty years ago, when they were issuing the American Cyclopædia.' One would think that in these days, when men affect to make light of their religious differences, editors would be ashamed to stand for anything that savors of bias or unscholarliness. The domain of knowledge is so vast nowadays, and the well ascertained facts in every department of it are so numerous, that on purely economic principles scholarly editors can give no time, and prudent publishers no space, to what is purely theoretical or speculative, much less to whatever is purely controversial, or partisan, misleading and false. Every display of inaccuracy, partiality or ignorance in the treatment of religious topics naturally throws discredit on the entire cyclopædia, and justifies the suspicion that its editors may have shown the same spirit in treating political and scientific questions. Were these defects found but rarely, or in a treatment of more recondite topics, one might perhaps overlook them in a work of such magnitude; but it is otherwise when they occur frequently throughout the cyclopædia, and in matters in which ignorance of the real fact is inexcusable."

We should not insist so much on this point only it proves beyond question that the attitude of the editors and managers of Appletons' Universal Cyclopædia and Atlas are determined not to treat Catholics

fairly or even with the respect which is due intelligent people. We may judge of their attitude in this matter by the following incident: We have in our possession a copy of their letter dated June 10. We have had several copies of it and even published in our July number both protests which it attempted to answer and answers to it in turn. During June alone scores of protests were sent to the editors and still on July 7, Mr. Halsey, of D. Appleton & Co., is quoted by the Brooklyn Eagle as saying that, "no protests had been received there save two letters, both very friendly in tone, that were received this morning."

We regret to have to put all this on record, and we should much prefer to attribute the errors in the Cyclopædia to ignorance, or to oversight or want of consideration for Catholics, unpardonable, it is true, but not irreparable. Once before in the history of this house, the editors of the American Encyclopædia recognized the propriety of treating Catholics impartially, but then Messrs. Ripley & Dana needed but to be reminded of what was right: a different spirit rules it now. It is not so long since we had an experience, somewhat similar to the present. When Dr. Hogan had criticized a book of Andrew D. White in the following terms in the American Catholic Quarterly Review for April 1897:

"If the Christian apologist wishes to find, summed up in an ingenious and striking shape, the objections that have been urged with most success against supernatural belief during the present century, he need go no farther than the work of Dr. Andrew D. White. . . . The work has had a wide circulation and many readers in its earlier and in its latest form. One can scarcely conceive how any intelligent person, not specially prepared for such a test could, short of a special grace from God, withstand the accumulated pressure of so many difficulties, and lay down the book unshaken in his faith."

the rejoinder in Appletons' Library Catalogue was :

"Seldom has a series of papers attracted so wide attention from thinking persons, or suffered such misjudgment from careless or unkindly critics. Hostile criticism, however, has shattered itself against Mr. White's impregnable position, and now the several chapters extended and doubly fortified by proofs are given to the world in their final form."

It is well to remember these things, and to remind the publishers of them from time to time, especially when they are trying to account for a shrinkage in trade.

We might continue our account of this movement against Appletons' Universal Cyclopædia & Atlas, and add a new chapter to the editorial published in the July number. Since June 20, the day we closed our pages for press, letters from bishops, priests, educators, librarians, religious communities, the officers of Catholic societies, and the laity everywhere have been received daily, so that it is safe to

say that a national sentiment has been created against this and similar publications. Indeed, many of the writers of these letters declare that if our efforts had had no other effect than to arouse many Catholics from their apathy in such matters, they would have been well repaid. The Right Rev. Bishop of Los Angeles writes:

MY DEAR FATher Wynne.—I beg leave to thank you both for the work you have done in regard to the unfair and untruthful statements in the Appletons' Encyclopædia and for copies of your article. It must be gratifying to you to know with what earnestness the matter has been taken up by so many who are in a position to make their influence felt. You have done more than to call attention to one instance of wrong-doing and false witness against the neighbor. You have marked out a way which will lead to a great reform if you are followed as you deserve to be. Cardinal Newman long since portrayed the state of the case for England which you have so ably shown to affect the whole Church. These prejudices against us we can never hope to have removed or mitigated until the sources of them are purged, and what these sources are you demonstrate most clearly. If our societies could federate, at least in the sense of becoming one great "Catholic Truth Society," to work on the lines you suggest, such federation would certainly commend itself to all right thinking people, and accomplish a great work. Please send to Mr. —, attorney-at-law, Los Angeles, Cal., some copies of the pamphlet. "The Newman Club," and the "A. O. H.," of both of which he is a member, will be able to distribute them. Most sincerely yours,

GEO. MONTGOMERY.

(Enclosed was a substantial offering.)

"Your Father M will give us a retreat, to begin on August 4, and that time will afford me a favorable opportunity to distribute about 500 copies of your Chapter of Errors' in Appletons' Universal Cyclopædia and Atlas," writes a bishop from the northwest.

"I learn from a reliable source," wrote another nearer home, on July 3, to Messrs. Appleton & Co. "that the new American Cyclopædia, which your agents represent to Catholics as fair and just to their faith, is on the contrary replete with errors and falsehoods about their church and religion. The fact that only one Catholic associate has been asked to coöperate with seven hundred and more non-Catholics and anti-Catholics would alone suffice to make us suspect an enemy behind the blind. I join my protest to that of many others against the diffusion of the work, as it is, among our people, trusting that you will see the advantage of withdrawing it from circulation and of giving in its stead a truly impartial Cyclopædia, worthy of the past of your house."

Truly yours,

H. GABRIELS,

Bishop of Ogdensburg.

Our priests are enthusiastic about it everywhere:

"The priests of the Diocese of Davenport, who were assembled in retreat last week, passed resolutions condemning in strong terms the edition of Appletons' Cyclopædia and Atlas."

"The clergy of the Omaha Diocese made their retreat here, and we presented each one with a copy of your pamphlet."

"Send another 100 for the priests who are passing the week here in retreat," writes another from Worcester, Mass.

"Send a few dozen," is the word from Middlebury, Vt., "and I'll contribute later."

'Please forward fifty to Adams, Mass.;' '200 to Pascoag, R. I., and accept the enclosed."

66

'Please send me fifty copies of the pamphlet in criticism of Appletons' Cyclopædia," writes Dr. Reuben Parsons, who appreciates as well as anyone can the importance of this movement; "as I do not know the price, send me the bill. Would that I could see a way of broadcasting 10,000 copies where they would do the most good; and would that I could forward to you the cum quibus necessary for the issuance of the said copies."

We have no bills for these pamphlets, although we have issued 75,000 copies, and we are glad to say that neither we nor our readers have lost anything with letters like these: "I enclose a check for $50.00, which I wish to contribute towards circulating your pamphlet." "Enclosed please find check for $10 for 500 pamphlets, 'Poisoning the Wells,' kindly sent Council No. 531, of Madison, Wisconsin. Wishing you every success in your good work-John J. Grimm, Treas. K. of C., Madison, Wis." How could we lose? We cannot say the same for the publishers.

"I enclose a list of names for copies of 'Poisoning the Wells,'" writes the rector of a large parish in St. Louis, Mo. "They are extensive readers and users of Cyclopædias, but after reading your pamphlet there will be no danger of their patronizing the Appletons." The list has sixty names.

"For my part, I have sent away an agent for the same cyclopædia," writes the librarian of a Western college, "and earnestly recommend your crusade against error, bigotry, and systematic falsification."

"I purchased that work some time in March, and will now make immediate effort to return it," runs the letter of a Knight of Columbus, who was warned by his council to beware of the cyclopædia.

"We handle the Brittanica," is the suggestive announcement of a Western Book Company, "and believe that this pamphlet may be of assistance to us in preventing the sale of Appletons' work in places where we are trying to place the Britannica."

As if this were the motive of all our work: what we aim at is to have everyone know the character of Appletons' Cyclopædia, whether it sells well or not. Is the Britannica all it might be?

"As Appletons' agent is here just now," writes a pastor in Texas, “I should like to have a few copies of the 'Chapter of Errors' for distribution in the Public Library and amongst the Catholic societies."

"I have your article on 'Poisoning the Wells,'" writes a subscriber from Flagstaff, Arizona, "and take pleasure in inclosing you, herewith, a copy of a letter which I sent to-day to the publishers. The agent for the book, F. R. Lavelle, Denver, Colo., who represents Charles Scribner's Sons, was dumfounded when I handed him your article. He had told me all the glories of the work which I let him do to his complete satisfaction, and when he had finished, I handed him your pamphlet and asked him what he thought of it now.

A

more disconcerted book agent I never saw. He asked me to let him have the pamphlet for a few days, which I did, telling him that he should communicate on this subject with his superiors.”

"I am sorry," writes a veteran editor of a great daily newspaper, "to find a house like Appletons' in a such a disagreeable fix. From a business point of view the withdrawal would cause a great financial loss, but, in the end, withdrawal, followed by a new edition fairly edited, would, I believe, redound to the greater financial and other interests of the firm. It would show a high sense of honor and restore the firm's reputation for fairness."

Religious communities, of men and women, in Buffalo, Toledo, Wilmington, Chicago, New Orleans, Rochester, Omaha, New York, San Francisco, and other cities are doing their share to stop the sale of this Cyclopædia, but with all their zeal and influence, their efforts do not surpass those of our great Catholic societies. Nothing in all this movement is quite so gratifying as the earnestness of our Catholic men, united together in the ordinary meetings and great state or national conventions, and the writer is pleased to testify by his experience at such gatherings that one has no idea of the vigor and extent of the faith in this country until he comes in close contact with the members of our great Catholic organizations and speaks to them on questions so vital to religion as this. Their hearty response proves that in them at least religion is not dormant, but active and ready to follow proper guides in any good cause, a disposition which promises well for Catholic Federation."

Our readers' will recall the active part taken by the Santa Maria Council of the Knights of Columbus, Wilmington, Delaware, under the leadership of U. S. District Attorney, W. M. Byrne, noticed in our July number. As a result the local newspapers published editorials and news items about Appletons' blunder, which this Council has since published in a small pamphlet and circulated by thousands all over the country. Among other Councils of the Knights of Columbus showing laudable activity in this movement are the Dongan and San Salvador of New York, the Marquette Council of St. Louis, the Madison of Madison, Wis., in Decatur, Ill., Plainfield, N. J., the St. Paul Council, Portsmouth, Va., the Ignatian, of San Francisco, and the Auburn, of Auburn, N. Y. The resolution of this last named Council we deem worthy of printing entire, as it is a fair specimen of many others. It is taken from the Auburn Daily Advertiser, July 12:

WHEREAS, The firm of D. Appleton & Co. has recently issued an Encyclopædia and Atlas which, while professing to be just and fair in the treatment of every question of public interest, contains numerous misrepresentations of the doctrines, practices and history of the Catholic Church,

Resolved, That we, the Auburn council of the Knights of Columbus, as an organization and individually, protest against this violation of truth and ask the