Directions for the Use of the Index
There is no need of special directions for the use of the Index of The Catholic Encyclopedia. The running foothne is a sufficient key to it. The references it contains are:
1. subjects of articles;
2. leading points or divisions of subjects occurring in the articles themselves;
3. references to these subjects occurring in other articles;
4. subjects on which there are no special articles.
In addition, the title of every article contained in the work has been entered under various classified headings, such as Art, Literature, Science, Education, Music, Philosophy, Theology, History, Sociology, etc.
Only those subjects have been entered in the Index concerning which specific information is given at the place indicated; The Encyclopedia contains countless allusions and references which on this principle have not been given a place in the Index. Mere dictionary definitions have not been entered, nor have foreign words unless they have at least a technical currency in English.
All the references have been arranged in alphabetical order according to the system followed in the work itself, that is, the letters of every title are treated as constituting a unit or single word. In inverted titles the second part of the name, usually a Christian name, influences the alphabetization only when a name or sur- name occurs more than once. Names consisting of several words, where no inversion occurs, are treated as one word. Where there are numerous references to persons bearing the same given name the arrangement is as follows:
1. Saints or Blessed not otherwise classified;
2. Popes in their chronological order;
3. civil rulers according to the name of kingdom or principality;
4. persons whom it is impossible to class according to place;
5. bishops, abbots, etc. according to the names of their sees or monasteries. Saints, beatified persons, popes and civil rulers are entered under their given
names. Wliere several forms of the same name occur, all the references are grouped under one spelling to which the other forms are duly cross-referenced.
As a general rule the English spelling of Christian names has been adopted, unless there is an article under another spelling, in which case the article is followed. In Biblical references the spelling of the Douay version has been used, but all other approved spellings are given in their proper alphabetical place and cross-referenced to the Douay form.
