THE "LEAGUE OF THE CROSS."

Kumara Times, Issue 521, 29 May 1878, Page 2

THE "LEAGUE OF THE CROSS."

A correspondent of the "Times". writes :—" One of the last acts of the Pope was to grant his apostolic blessing and also certain indulgences to the Catholic Total Abstinence Association known as the 'League of the Cross.' On the 3rd nit., only four days before his death, Archbishop Manning laid before his Holiness a petition from the members of the League asking for the apostolio benediction and other spiritual boons on behalf of that body, which the Pope at once consented to bestow. The petition of the League was accompanied by a sfatemeut, to the effect that in England the vice of intemperance baa increased to such a degree that in. every year 00,000 persons die of excessive drinking; that according to' the magistrates drink is the source, directly or indirectly, of 75 per cent, of the crimes committed; and that this vice extends to every class of society, even to the highest, causing the disastrous ruiii of families, and, in the lower classes tspecially, destroying domestic life, together with the practice of religion and the Christian education of the children. The members of the League add, apparently as the ground ;>n which they ask the Papal blessing, that during its existence in the last five yra's its influence has already brought about many beneficial results, and has brought back many persons td the practice ol religion, as shown by the increase in the number of Easter Communions among the Roman Catholics of the Metropolis. Among the spiritual boons granted in reply to this petition is a ' plenary indulgence' to be gained on certain conditions, by all members of the League upon the feast of St. Patrick, and gn two other daysin the course of the year. It may be added that Cardinal Manning is about to return from Rome very shortly and that his first appearance after his return will be at a meeting of the * League of the Cross' iu Exeter Hall."