American Catholic Quarterly Review, From January to October, 1877, comprising 768 elegantly printed royal octavo pages, are NOW READY, and will be sent, post-paid, to any address in the United States and Canada, on receipt of price, $6.00. OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. "The leading Catholic magazine in the English language."-New York Tablet. "It promises to be of grand service in the intellectual world for the cause of truth."-Toronto Tribune. "Destined to occupy a high place in the Catholic literature of the country."-Catholic Mirror. "The beauty of the typography has never been exceeded on this continent."—Montreal Sun. "The style in which it is issued is neat, artistic, and beautiful. All its contents, too, are characterized by a certain vigor which must hold the attention of readers."-Christian at Work. "It is of such a character that it cannot fail to secure to it a general welcome from the Catholic public."-Montreal True Witness. "We disagree with our opponents; but we cannot afford to be ignorant of what their best men are saying and doing."-New York Independent. "America cannot do without a Catholic Review, and here we have one of magnificent promise."— Pilot. "By all odds the ablest, most scholarly and most attractive Roman Catholic Review yet issued in the country."-Presbyterian Banner. "Designed, evidently, to give Protestant sects a faithful shaking, and to fight the new battle of Romanism with vigor. We welcome it to the field."-Boston Watchman. "We are in a state of quiet delight with this review, which exceeds verbal utterance just now.”— Catholic Citizen. "The publication of this Review will mark a momentous epoch in the history of Catholic literature." -Sunday Democrat. "Does great credit to the spirit and enterprise of its publishers, and to the intellectual force and ability of its staff of contributors."-Western Catholic. "This Review will not only be of great service to the Roman Catholic Church in this country, bu will take a prominent place in American periodical literature."-Philadelphia Times. "The articles are by representative writers, and may be said to reflect the doctrines and principles of the Latin Church more authentically than any other publications of a similar kind in this country."Christian Intelligencer. "As presenting the views of cultivated American Roman Catholics on the great religious and intellectual questions of the day, it merits the attention not only of their brethren in faith, but of Protestants also who desire to give a candid consideration to their opponents' arguments in support of their doctrines."-New York Sun. "Does not infringe upon any field now occupied by any Catholic magazine. It simply rises above all and proposes to discuss the most recondite branches-theological, polemical, scientific, literary, and political-that they consider more or less adequately, and in their relations rather than in their elements."-North American. Address, HARDY & MAHONY, Post-Office Box 2465. 505 Chestnut Street, Philada., Pa. To avoid risk, please remit by Post-Office Order, Registered Letter, or Check payable to our order. 1 THOS. S. ROOT. Robert Wood & Co.. 1136 RIDGE AVENUE, PHILADELPHIA, GATES Roof Crestings, etc., in great variety of patterns, For Public Buildings and Squares, Cemetery Lots, Garden Fences, Balconies, CAST AND WROUGHT IRON RAILING, Seats, of Gas Tubing or Wrought Iron, both Single and Double, in elaborate and simple designs. IRON STAIRS, LAMP POSTS, Spiral and Straight, of various patterns and styles. 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Strings, Music, and every requisite for the Harp We respectfully refer to the following institutions in which our Harps are now in use, giving great satisfaction, ACADEMY OF THE VISITATION, Georgetown, D. C. MOUNT ST. VINCENT's, Yonkers, N. Y. ST. CATHERINE'S ACADEMY, Springfield, Ky. SISTERS OF THE VISITATION, St. Louis, Me ko.. &c., &c., &e. JAMES W. QUEEN & CO., OPTICIANS, AND MANUFACTURERS, IMPORTERS, AND DEALERS IN Mathematical and Philosophical Instruments, No. 924 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. ISSUE PRICED AND ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUES AS FOLLOWS:-Part 1. Mathematical Instruments, 153 pages. Part 2. Optical Instruments, 120 pages. Part 3. Magic Lanterns and Stereopticons, 88 pages. Part 4. Philosophical Instruments, 150 pages. Either of which will be mailed to any address on receipt of ten cents. SCHOOL FURNITURE. THE CATHOLIC RECORD. Vol. XIV.- FEBRUARY, 1878.- -No. 82. IS HELL A MYTH? RECENT EFFORTS TO UPSET A UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED TRUTH. ONE evening, recently, a distinguished Brooklyn divine sat in his study, revolving in his mind the subject of his sermon for the following Sunday. He seemed to be upon the ragged edge of despair, for he repeatedly thrust his hands through his gray and thinning locks, and glowered severely at a sheet of foolscap, on which he intended to note down his religious lucubrations. "That was a tremendous fall in the sale and rental of my pews," he muttered, “and there's that infernal mortgage to be paid out of a reduced salary. I feel more and more like stepping down and out. Nothing can exceed the great darkness in which I live. I even wish that I were dead." So saying, he turned on the gas, in doing which, a spark fell upon his hand. "Hell!" he exclaimed. "Yes," said he, in a calmer voice, and glancing nervously around, "yes, hell shall be my subject." He reached over to take up a Scriptural Concordance, and flanked by Kitto's Family Bible and Buck's VOL. XIV.-13 Theological Dictionary, he prepared to compose his discourse. "Hell," he soliloquized, turning over the pages, "seems to have more texts and illustrations than any other theme. Dear me ! Eternity of hell. State of the reprobate. Conclusive proofs for endless punishment. The Christian Fathers unanimous upon the subject. Defined by several councils. Dear me! This will never do for my righteous flock. An unpalatable theme like this must be sweetened for my babes in Christ. The consequences of a fire and brimstone discourse are too terrible to contemplate. My lambs would take fright. Sweet lambs," he murmured, as a pensive smile irradiated his rather bucolic countenance, "I must say nought to dim their joyousness or check their playfulness." At this point a servant announced the visit of a ladies' committee on neckties for the heathen. A sweetfaced lady wished to have a difficulty solved resulting from the present style of cravats as utterly useless for missionary purposes, and she begged the divine to introduce into his |