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Show i The "Touchstone" of Catholicity. There are certain novels, such as Thackeray's j "Henry Esmond," and certain other books, like Matthew Arnold's "Culture and Anarchy,' which are termed "touchstones of culture." This means that to appreciate and enjoy such books, denotes culture in the reader. Is there a touchstone of Catholicity; Undoubtedly Undoubt-edly there is. To take an interest in the topics discussed dis-cussed in the Catholic papers is the best recognizable recogniz-able touchstone of Catholicity. It is probably better bet-ter than prayers or alms-giving as a test, of intelligent intel-ligent religion. It is better than pew-holding or graduation medals or service as G. W. M. in Catholic Cath-olic societies good as all these things are in themselves. The Catholic family which prefers the flash -, story papers; the adult man who finds everything insipid except the politics, the criminal column or the sporting news of the daily; or the more pretentious pre-tentious Catholic homes, in which the delicately-prepared delicately-prepared worldliness of Life and Vogue finds favor with the young people, and with whom the Catholic paper and its topics are dull and tame all these do not stand the test of Catholicity. The touchstone of Catholicity is applied and they are found wanting. The Xew Century. |