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 Courses of Reading in the Catholic Encyclopedia

The Catholic Encyclopedia is not merely a work of readj^ reference; it is also a collection of complete treatises on everj^ branch of knowledge that has to do with the doctrine, history and practices of the Catholic Church, or with the activity and achievement of its members. The division and subdivision of these general subjects into articles, and their arrangement alphabetically under titles familiar to the average inquirer makes them easily accessible and rapidly readable. The further analytical selection of topics occurring within the articles themselves and their alphabetical arrangement in the form of an Index is of incalculable service either for ready ref- erence or for thorough and systematic study of any subject treated under several aspects in different parts of the work. This study will be greatly facilitated by grouping together in orderly or logical arrangement all the articles that form a complete treatise or course of reading, in the chief departments of knowledge that make up the contents of the Encyclopedia.

These lists do not exhaust all the courses of reading that might be offered, ethnog- raphy, for instance, geography or sociology. Neither do they give every title that might be comprised in them, as this would require duplication of what has already been done in the Analytical Index. Finally, they are not directive lists: to give such lists would make this volume unwieldy and delay its publication. Manuals for this purpose will be duly prepared by the editors and issued from time to time.

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