The Social Encyclicals In New Form

From a Special Correspondent A new synthesis of the three great social encyclicals Rerum Novarum, Quadragesimo Anno and Divini Rcelemptongs haa been compiled and published by Erie
The principles and directions of each encyclical are clearly set forth under the various headings : The Church, the State, the Right of Association, Property, Errors, Labour and Wages, the Wealthy, etc.
All such principles and directions are quoted from the official English translation; but in this new manner of presentation they bring home vividly the almost revolutionary force of the Papal social teaching, the greater part of which has been stifled by the prevalent desire of Christians to " use the eternal truths RR a pillow to go to sleep on," in such manner as the following, which comes under the head of labour.
" Man precedes . the State: he possesses, prior to the formation of any State, the right of providing for the sustenance of his body. (7).
" Each one has a natural right to procure what is required in order to live.
(3'4' It Is just and right that the results of labour should belong to those who have bestowed their labour. (8).
" All human subsistence is derived either from labour on one's own land or from some toil paid for in the produce of the land itself or in that which is exchanged for what the land brings forth. (7).
"For the provision of commodities the labour of the working class is especially responsible and quite indispensable. . . . It may truly be said that it is only by the labour of the working men that States grow rich. (27)."
These sentences are from Rerum Novarum the numbers in brackets refer to the paragraph numbering of the English translation published by the Catholic Social Guild in 1938.
Social Principles and Directions, obtainable from Erie Gill, Plgotts, High Wycombe, Bucks., price 6d., or by post 75.