to their needs; it has given the masses of our people the popular Catholic literature they want; it has been a veritable sleuth-hound on the track of traducers of the Church; it has explained and commended her cause to even greater numbers outside her pale who were simply ill-informed; it has helped more souls than anyone will ever be able to count, into the Fold.  Moreover, it has been the fruitful parent of progeny (not always filially grateful) which extends to-day to the uttermost parts of the earth.  And always it has maintained a standard—­which, in fact, it created amongst us—­of material high quality, of intellectual respectability and of religious solidity, the more worthy of grateful appreciation because not everywhere fully appreciated.  Nor can we forget that the Society is in a real sense “the work of one man,” though never has it been that very different thing, a “one-man work.”  No one layman (and very few ecclesiastics) has done a larger definite and objective work for the Catholic Church in our time than Mr. Britten.”

Such a record should shame the faint-hearts among us who seem to think that no corporate efforts are of any use in the world now rushing on to its own destruction.  That it should shame those who take no interest at all in the progress of their religion, would be too much to hope.

The mustard seed has become now a great tree; branches have been detached from the main trunk and transplanted in the various parts of the world.  Ireland, Australia,[3] India,[4] America, Canada, each now has its own Catholic Truth Society.

In 1887, six years after the foundation of the parent Society in England, Canada had a first branch in Toronto.  Halifax,[5] Montreal, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Vancouver soon followed suit.  Silent and powerful as the incoming tide, the Society in Canada is working its way into every diocese and parish of the land.  The Society is now incorporated by act of Federal Parliament, with Head-Office in Toronto, 67 Bond St. Its noble and just ambition is to weld into one great efficient organization the various other branches that are in operation here and there throughout the Dominion.  Organization means efficiency, strength and success.

The time has come for the Catholic Truth Society in Canada, to create its own literature, to issue its own pamphlets dealing with the needs and problems of our own Country.  We have been importing from other countries and have lived until now on their mental activity.  But this move demands unity of purpose and concentration of effort.  Moreover, should not this Dominion-wide organization serve marvellously to rally our dispersed and disunited forces?  There is indeed a sad need of unity in our ranks to-day.

Principles.

The assured possession of truth and the pressing obligation for Catholics to spread it:  these are the two main principles upon which is founded and exists the Catholic Truth Society.  As Catholics, we are absolutely sure that we have the Truth; as Catholics worthy of the name, we feel in conscience bound to give it to others.