Among the few incidents of my ill-spent life which. I hope may be accounted to me for righteousness is the suppression of a hymn-book. At first sight this might appear to some—who do not know what literary crimes are committed under that innocent-seeming name—a matter for remorse rather than for pride, for regret rather than for congratulation. But I will venture in justification to apply to myself the response of the prudent Rector of a seminary who, when told by a scrupulous student that he had discovered a new mortal sin, replied : ‘Then, my son, keep it to yourself and never mention it; there are far too many known already.’ Yet when I add that the hymn-book was to have appeared under the protection of a Cardinal, my daring will seem to demand yet further excuse; so it will be simplest to say what actually happened.

The late Cardinal Vaughan, as is well known, had a burning desire for the conversion of England and, with that object in view, to bring the Church into contact with the people. It was this that impelled him to establish the original Catholic Truth Society for the publication or for dissemination of cheap popular Catholic books; and when, owing to various circumstances, that Society ceased to function, he gladly placed himself at the head of the new organisation established for the same purpose, retaining that position until his death in 1903. Apart from the C.T.S. the Cardinal issued a series of People's Manuals, prepared by himself, which had a very large sale.