Reaffirmation

THE THOMIST A SPECULATIVE QUARTERLY REVIEW OF THEOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY EDITORS: THE DOMINICAN FATHERS OF THE PROVINCE OF ST. JOSEPH Publishers: The Thomist Press, Washington 17, D. C. VOL. XII APRIL,1949 No. fl REAFFIRMATION T EN YEARS AGO this spring, THE THOMIST edged its way into the ranks of American magazines, with a word of explanation, almost of apology, on its lips. In view of the high aims it set for itself, there was reason for both explanation and apology. In founding THE THOMIST, its Editors, the Dominican Fathers of St. Joseph's Province, offered to the English-speaking world the first speculative quarterly devoted exclusively to the presentation of theology and philosophy . This in itself is a high aim, but THE THOMIST was aimed higher still. Its Editors proposed to present theology and philosophy in a manner proportioned to the demands and needs of the professional and the non-professional alike. The prospects of success in achieving such an aim were not encouraging. In itself the aim was dubbed difficult, if not impossible, of attainment. Further, it was said, there was no room in America for such a journal; theologians and philosophers worthy of the name were thought rare; such as there were had little speculative bent. From another point of view, the times were not right for such a venture. War was in the air; 133 134 THE EDITORS the practical exigencies of a period of stress and tension would doom such a review to a death from inattention. In spite of these very plausible points of argument, the first numb~r of THE THOMIST appeared in the spring of 1939. Many of the prophecies proved true. The task of producing the kind of review envisioned was indeed difficult; no one realized the short-comings of the product better than the Editors. Also, not many people, relatively-so it turned out-are interested in that sort of thing even when it is accomplished. The war indeed came, almost upon the heels of the first number. It narrowed the choice of contributors, eliminating almost completely those European writers upon whom the Editors had depended. All European circulation was wiped out, foreign circulation in general was reduced to a trickle. Somehow THE THOMIST rode out the storm, despite the unpromising beginning and the first difficult years. To have even weathered this last decade has been an accomplishment, for it was not a time which smiled on journals which were frankly speculative. However, THE THOMIST'S accomplishments have not been confined to preserving its own existence. It has achieved its high aims, if not always and in each one of its efforts, at least with sufficient frequency to give it, to-day, an established position of honor the world over. The courage of its founders, the generous loyalty of its sponsors, the labors of its staff have been vindicated, and it enters its second decade with the knowledge of achievement and a consciousness of responsibility. Through the work of THE THOMIST, the wisdom of St. Thomas, which· is the wisdom of the Christian Church, has found a wider public and a deeper understanding in the modern world. It does not seem too much to say that through THE THOMIST that wisdom has received a more universal application to human· affairs. Few subjects which arrest or concern the modern man have been neglected in its columns. War and Peace, Marriage and the Family, Democracy, a Supranational Society, Existentialism, Psychiatry and Human Conduct, these are but REAFFmMATION 135 a few of the practical aspects of modern living which have been illumined by the clear light of speculative thought. But, while we review something of our accomplishments, it is not with any sense of satisfaction with a work perfectly done. There is much more to do, there is a nearer approximation of our aims to be worked towards. And, while THE THOMIST can be proud of its achievements in our own land and in many others, it hopes to advance constantly the frontiers of its influence in the years which lie ahead. If the past is any promise of the future, the courage, loyalty, and labor which made the first ten years of...