CARDINAL BOURNE

Evening Star, Issue 21744, 12 June 1934, Page 9

CARDINAL BOURNE

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF PRIESTHOOD IMPRESSIVE SCENES AT WESTMINSTER Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 11. (Received Juno 12, at 9 a.m.) One of the most impressive scenes ever witnessed at Westminster Cathedral was seen when thousands of Catho-

lies joined in celebrating Cardinal Bourne’s golden jubilee of his priesthood. The main body of the cathedral was filled with priests and monks of every order, nuns, and sisters of mercy. Hundreds of laymen and women were present. Many were unable to gain admission. The crowds outside witnessed two great processions file to the cathedral for Pontifical High Mass, preceding the cardinal, who was resplendent in' scarlet vestments and biretta. The Pope telegraphed his congratulations, and thousands of other messages were received from throughout the world. CARDINAL BOURNE One of the most distinguished churchmen in, England, Cardinal Bourne, Archbishop of Westminster, has been twenty-one years a cardinal and twenty-nine years an archbishop. When Cardinal Bourne succeeded from the Bishopric of Southwark to the high office which had been occupied by such outstanding dignitaries as Cai'dinals Wiseman, Manning, and Vaughan it was recognised that immense responsibilities had fallen upon him. That he has proved worthy of those responsibilities is generally recognised. His earlier career, however, was sufficient warrant for the belief that the archbishop would justify himself as head of tlxe arch-diocese. He was born almost at its heart—near Clapham Common—the son of a high official in the General Post Office, who was him-, self a Roman Catholic convert. Only eleven years after his ordination he became Domestic Prelate to Pope Leo XIII. The following year ho was ap; pointed coadjutor to the Bishop of Southwax-k, whom lie succeeded a year after, and remained there until his translation to Westminster in 1903. 'The great life xvork of his predecessor had been the building of Westminster Cathedral, and when ho died three decades ago the vast edifice had not opened its doors. It was, however, used for the requiem at the burial of Cardinal Vaughan and for the enthronement of the new archbishop. It may well bo that posterity will place Cardinal Bourne’s efforts to complete the work as the ..lost outstanding feature of his first twenty-five years at Westminster. But his has been an oven greater influence. The principles under which he lives his life and under which he works cover a far wider field. His interests are mainly in the direction of education, and ever since 1902, when Earl Balfour, then Mr Balfour, brought in his Education Act, he has not ceased to fight for the right’of his church in England to have its children taught by people of their own faith. Tlxe result is the buildixig of a large number of Roman Catholic schools, not only in the arch-diocese of London, but all over, the kingdom. At the outbreak of the Great. War bo appealed for Army chaplains, but as Lord Kitchener was unwilling to’transport the number deemed necessary by the cardinal, he approached Mr Asquith (afterwards created Earl of Oxford and Asquith), who overrode the War Office and gave his consent. Thenceforward the cardinal devoted himself to the spiritual side of the war, visiting the Army in France and Belgium and the Navy at Scapa Flow. Immediately after the armistice he made an unofficial tour, sanctioned by the Holy See and the British Government, through the East, visiting Jerusalem, Constantinople, Bucharest, Sofia, and Belgrade. He was the first cardinal to enter the Church of Sancta Sophia after its capture by the Turks. Although the cardinal does not take as prominent a part in public life as Ills two immediate predecessors, he is known and appreciated all over London by Protestant and Catholic. He has a sense of humour which is never boisterous, infinite charm, and is most approachable—a statesman among religious leaders, if ever there is one.