CONSTANTINIAN PILGRIMAGES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1758, 24 May 1913, Page 9

CONSTANTINIAN PILGRIMAGES.

ADDRESS BY THE POPE. On i riday, April 4, the Pope received what may be called the lirst great gathering of Constantinian pilgrims. The presentation of the pilgrims was made by Cardinal Ferrari in a short address, which concluded by assuring his Holiness that all present were animated by sentiments of love and veneration for tno person of Pius X, and that they hoped and prayed tor tlio speedy restoration to the Church of the liberty granted her sixteen hundred years ago by tlio Emperor Constantine. Tito Pontiif had written his reply, and at tlio close of tlio Cardinal's words ho handed the manuscript to Mgrs. Mella di Sant' Eliu, who read it in a ringing voice which could be clearly heard' all over the hall.

After expressing his consolation at s:cing round him so largo a body of pilgrims, and especially those from itlilau, whoso ancestors had been the first to taste tho fruits of liberty gained by Constantino, ho uttered these solemn words:-"It is truly painful that while wo are thanking Providenao for having called Constantino from the darkness of paganism to raise temples and altars to that religion which his predecessors' for tlir.se centuries had endeavoured to exterminate, to Tcstore to the Christians the property that had )>eeu wrested from Item, and to give Christianity full religious liberty, we, amid all the vaunted progress of civilisation and iiu all the light, of -modern knowledge, must ask in vain for the Church, even from Christian Governments, that liberty which th!:y themselves recognise or should recognise, as necessary for the unfolding of her supernatural action on earth." ITo then described, the supernatural character and mission of the Church, and tho sacredness of her rights to teach the observance of the. Commandments, to exhort to the practice of tho evangelical counsels, to possess property as a necessary means for the external exercise of public worship, and then he proceeded to show how these rights were being violated, and the liblerty of the Church denied, even in Catholic countries. "Our adversaries aro for ever saying with their mouths that liberty of all kinds is to be found under their banner) whereas there is liberty, even licence, for all except for tho Church. Liberty for everybody to profess his own worship, to manifest his own systems, but not for the Catholic as such, for ho is mado an object of persecution and insult, and not promoted to, or actually deprived of, those offices to which he has a sacred right. t Liberty of instruction—but subject to the monopoly of the Governments, which permit in the schools the propagation and defence of all systems and all errors, and yet actually deny to the children the stuidy of the Catechism. Liberty of tho press, and lt?nce liberty to. the most violent journalism to insinuate new forms of government in spite of the laws, to stir up the masses to sedition,- to foment hatreds and enmities, to injure by strikes tlio welfare of t lik> working classes and tho | peace of the citizens, to revile things the most sacred and persons tho most venerable: but not to Catholic journalism, which in defending the rights of tli'." Church and advocating the principles of truth and justice, is to be' kept under supervision, to Ik l called to order, and stigmatised as hostile to free institutions and an eiemy to the fatherland. To all associations, no matter how. subversive, liberty of public and clamoi'ous demonstrations," but Catholic processions must not show themselves outside the churches because thev provoke the opnosing party. un<i:t public order, and disturb peaceful citizens. Liberty of ministry for nil, schismatics and 'dissidents, tyit for Catholics only when ministers of the Church do not; encounter in the districts to which tli.ev are sent even one overbearing individual with, influence over the Government to prevent their entrance «'• their ministry. Vor all. liberty fo hold protiei'tv—but not for the Church and for (hi Keliiiioiw Orders, whose property, with arbitrary violence, is seized, transformed, and handed over bv the Government fo lay institutions'. Such, as you well know, is the liberty enjoyed by the Church even ill Catholic, countries:"

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. NEW SOUTH WALES A.SSK.MBLV. Tho fi en era I Assembly of the l'resbyterian Church of New South Wales opened its annual session in SI. Stephens Church, Sydney, on May 6. The church was crowded. Tho retiring moderator, Kcv. lhomas Morgan, preaching from the Book ol Proverbs- "Where there is no vision the people perish," said that they as a Christinn people had need of n vision of tho truths that had been revealed unto them, that thev might renew their faith in the Church.' Tliev needed a vision of spiritual truth that would restore unto the Church its loi-t ideals and ancient powers. Through the smoke and dust of this workaday world they saw nothing but a hand stretched out, as if imploring their assistance. The smoke had hidden the soul out of sight. They wanted man restored to the former greatness and glory which he had lost. They wanted a vision of the value of human souls, for ninn ;yns

more preciofls than fine sold. There was a groat work for God to be dono in this country, and as they all hoped that it was to be Gad's country, they must know the way to do it, lie was afraid that tho consciousness of God was fading away from Hie hearts of our people, and to many people throughout our land God had becomo a mere name without any reality behind it. Sin was becoming Iroldcr, and. flaunting itself in our midst, brazen-faced and unashamed. Ominous reports were ■heard of men carrying golf-sticks and tennis, racquets on the Lord's Day, a 9 though, the truo and loving God had nei-ther-right nor power which they should respect,' also of men playing football so close to the House of God that their yelling disturbed those assembled to-worship, Aiu. much more of the same kind-, only one dul not like to enter into it, one almost risked his reputation—whatever that might be—in mentioning them. The men of to-day were, he heard, losing tho consciousness of God, and to many in. our land He was a nebulous Being, a vnguo !•' 1 ii ' ncP 'l '° rediscover God lor the people. They also needed, vision ot the world. There was discontent and industrial strife, and that was the history, not of one place, but throughout tho world. The gulf was widening, ■ and it threatened to become so .wide as'to swallow the present social order as it existed. What was going to bo tho ultimata result? Men who were serious and thoughtful asked that question. God's love would make for the solidarity of ciety and of our race. This wo knew: things as they were could not long con.V s, ,i '^' ,e was to-day grappling with the most stupendous problems, and the whole world was abroad, searching tor the truth. AYliat was to become of tins unique sight, that ages had not seen its. likeHe'verily believed,'in all tho travail and discontent of the present day, the truth of God was working through society, and that in God's own time tho Messiah frould bo found bv thou c hnds who had turned away from tlod. I.iq Rev. A. Smith (East, Maitland) wag unanimously .elected moderator for the ensuing year. The now moderator belongs to the parish of Marnoeh, Banlfshirr, where lie was born in 18-19. .Air. Smith s udied in Aberdeen, and in tho English I'resbyterian Theological Hall, Ixiiulon. Jlw tirst charge was in tlm London Presbytery. Then he was called tu Bumtries, South of Scotland, in connection with the Linted l'resbvterian Church Leaving the Old Country, Mr. Smith enmo to St. Mary s, Penrith, which was formed into a new charge under him. Then lie was translated to East Maitland whero he has ministered since 1901.

CHURCH UNITY. COXGRECIATIONALISTS &, BAPTISTS, At. the half-yearly nicotic of the Con. gregational Union of New Mouth. AValc -Mr. Roberts moved that negotiations bo enteral upon with ilie Baptist' Union to secure (1) an officially arranged exchange of pulpits between the two bodies 011 ji given .Sunday in the year; (2) a united loreign missionary meeting (U) the yermoii at the annual meetings of each bodyto be delivered by ,1 member chosen from the one not in session. He did nut claim authorship of iho motion, (hough, he strongly believed in it. A'similar movement had been commenced in .Melbourne, and Melbourne friends thought it would he wise for ,\>iv South Wales to follow. A few friends, representaiivo of di.Tereiit churches, had met, and tlio resolution he had moved , had been, agrocii to. The delegates had' spoken frankly to each other; in Jio way was it a form of union behind the scenes. The resolution had already gone forward lo the Baptist Union. "There is a very strong inter-church feeling," said Mr. Roberts, • "that there is much Christian church work we cannot do along individual lines that wo could do by something of this sort." "The Baptist Union has already agreed to all these', things," said the l!ev. Mr. Cunlilre Jones, "and wo do not want to hurt their feelings, nor do wo wish to precipitate lmUters. Ido not want to block this movement. 1. am in favour of it. But wo must consider other denominations, and I would move that this matter be sent on to tlio executive committee, with, our commendation."

"Most of us want this-brought about, and in the best way possible," said tlio l!ev. Mr. Dowling, in - seconding the amendment.

"An earnest desire for closer fellowship with members of our sister Churches is something we all feel," said the Rov. Dr. Rosoby. "But the seems 100 narrow in its scope. It does not represent the Catholic feeling in the truo sense of the word. If wo pass over tlio other sister Churches with whom we have been in association on this matter for over ten years, it would seem like giving them the cold shoulder."

After further discussion tho amendment was carried.