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N no country,  perhaps,  has  the  study  of  Catechetics  made  such  rapid strides, or  its  importance  been  so  much  appreciated,  as  in  Germany. That country  can  boast  of  a band  of  writers  who  have  enriched  the world with  a most  valuable  catechetical  literature,  treating  the  subject in a way  at  once  scientific  and  practical. Gruber, Krawutzcky,  Overberg,  Barthel,  Hirschfelder,  and  Benda  are  names  deservedly  honoured by those  who  can  appreciate  the  importance  of  Catechetics;  but  more honourable still  are  the  names  of  Schuster  and  Mey,  to  which  must now be  added  the  name  of  Dr.  Knecht,  Auxiliary  Bishop  of  the  Archdiocese of  Freiburg,  the  author  of  several  pamphlets  on  state  education and the  school  question,  but  better  known  as  the  author  of  the  Practical Commentary, which  entitles  him  to  a place  in  the  front  rank  of  Catechists. Besides issuing  Catechisms  and  Histories,  these  writers  have  done  what in them  lay  to  elevate  Catechetics  into  a science,  and  to  build  it  up from  a solid  foundation. They were  quick  to  see  that  Catechetics  is both  a science  and  an  art,  and  that  like  every  other  science  it  must rest on  certain  broad  principles,  and  move  along  certain  fixed  lines. They recognized  that  Catechisms  must  be  constructed  not  haphazard, but on  a definite  plan  and  principle,  and  according  to  rule. Hence, for years  past,  the  principles  underlying  Catechetics,  its  various branches — e.  g.  Bible  History  and  Catechism  — and  their  mutual  interdependence, the  catechetical  method  itself — viz. the mode  of  imparting the several  branches,  and  the  rules  to  be  followed  by  the  Catechist  — all, in a word,  that  goes  to  constitute  the  science,  has  passed  through  the sieve of  exhaustive  discussion.

And where  do  we  stand  in  England? Have we  advanced  thus far? Or have  we  so  much  as  grasped  the  truth  that  Catechetics  is  a science  at  all? On looking  into  the  dictionary  I found,  indeed,  the