This volume consists of many of Lacordaire's writings on social and political issues, many of which have been out of print for a long time and some of which appeared in this volume, when originally published, for the time in English. The central theme of the book is that the Christian solution of all the great social and political problems is liberal and democratic, Christian doctrine being based on the equality of souls. It argues that Christian fraternal charity is a stronger force than mere humanitarian brotherhood or political socialism.