Gieanings.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 233, 6 October 1904, Page 4

Gieanings.

ARMENIA'S SUPREME PATRIARCH. Political and diplomatic efforts having failed up to the present to secure for the Armenian people in Armenia the blessings o' peace and of good government, the Supreme Patriarch' of the Armenian Church has deputed two Archbishops to present the case to the signatories of the Congress of Berlin. Tlie Patriarch is the Cathoiicos of the ancient Apostolic Church of Armenia, elected to that high ollice by the free voice of Ih.i native clergy, and of all Armenians. He is entitled' Mugrditch 1., meaning the "Hup User," and resides at Etchmiadzin, at the foot of Mount Ararat, under the protection of the Uussian Government. Tile two delegates are Mgr. Sahak Ayvailiun, Armenian Archbishop of Persia and l India, anid Mgr. Sarajian, Armenian Archbishop of America. BotJi of .hem are now in London, and were entertained at dinner 011 Thursday by Vir I' 1 . S. Stevenson, M.P., and the Council of the Amglp-Armenian Association.

The Archbishops, who have been favourably received by President Loubet, have been promised, through Lord Lansdowne, that the objects of i heir mission shall be laid before the King, who will a'so receive them 011 his return from abroad. This news has been sent to Mugrditch 1., who, in return, has bestowed his patriarchal blessing on England and its Rojial house.

LEEDS TRADE CONFERENCE. That there was -no lack of material for discussion at the Trades Union Congress at Leeds last month is made plain 'by the agenda paper issued. The purely political fluestions to be dealt with, in addition to the ordinary business of the Congress, covered a wide iield. The question of Chinese laibour in South Africa loomed largely among the notices of motion. One of these sought to condemn it as contrary to the anti-slavery conditions oi the British Empire. A resolution from the London Compositors was aimed against protection, preference, or retaliation. The Licensing Act and the abortive Aliens Bill came in for condemnation, while the gasworkers forwarded a drastic censure of the whole educational policy oi the Government. Labour legislation made an interesting subject for debate, and the legal" position of tnades unions, in view of recent decisions, was well to the fore. "OLD CLO' " IN A NEW LIGHT. "Old Clo !" is a cry familiar to us from the very days of infancy, yet few have guessed what a power for good may lie behind the apptial for our oast-oil garments. One person, however, early discovered what might be done with the old call, and lias uttered it loudly to the great : beneiit of his poorer fellow creatures. This is the vicar oi l'laistow, the Rev. T. Given-Wilson, who now makes an interesting announcement in connection with it. In his parish ho runs a garment society which has endowed a cot in a hospital with £IOOO. This money was obtained solely by the sale of old clothes that have 'beta sent at his appeal to the society in question. Not content with haviin® done thins lie now states that a new hospital is to be built at a coat of £25,000, anid the money is to be raised through ia sale of old garments sent him. Sales go on at present every Wednesday at his sale room, and the clothes that are sold are sent to him from all ports of the world. Many, in fact, come fr o in Australia. Their sale has a two-sid-ed result, for whereas the poorer people are enabled to clothe themselves respectably at very small cost, the money raised is devoted to the many parochial institutions for the sick and needy that exist, in l'laistow. The vicar is confident of success, and if the money is raised it. will constitute a record in the matter of hospital organisation and origination. During the twenty years that Mr Given-Wilson has been vicar of St. Mary's he has raised about £IOO,OOO 'for the benefit of his parishioners and others.

A STORY OF VENICE. Romance that loves to sit and ping With nodding head and painted wing will lie able t 0 raise quite a mediaeval chant over a modern and truthful story which comes from Venice. It is to the effect that one Prince Giovarnelli, who had a fancy for doing eccintric things, and being rich could indulge his fancy, when he died left a/-will and a codicil. The latter was only to he openfld by his heirs in the indirect line when the succession in the direct line should cease. This latter event happened in 1887, when the last prince o f the name, forgetful or never having heard of the codicil, left his vast fortune to an adopted' s o n, and quietly made his exit. Seventeen years elapsed, and then in some way Alfonso Giovanelli, a Neapolitan telegraph clerk, unearthed the ancient codicil, and being an indirect descendant of the eccentric prince, demanded its opening- The authorities dodgicd the sealbreaking as long as possible but the telegraph clerk gave them no rest, so within the last few days they have opened the documents. The latter, 'it ap!«ars, establishes the fact that the property must go to the indirect ltoir, and that the last direct heir haid no power to will it away. So the Venetian lawyers have a lively and lucrative job on hand, and the poor telegraph clerk may become a Venetian millionaire. It is gratifying to note that the "adopted" Prince Giovannelli will not foe penniless! if he does have to band over the Gi o vannelli wealth, as lie was left a fortune by a Princess Chigi.

"MONSIGNOR." "Monsignor" is a Roman Catholic Church title borne by Very few Englishmen. It is, therefore, interesting to learn that it has just boon given to the Rev. Arthur Staplyton Karnes, M.A., whom the Pope has made one of his Chamberlains. This office carries with it the title of monsignor. Father llarnes, before joining the Church of Rome, was a Protestant vicar at Brighton. For the past few years he has been a frequent visitor to the Eternal City, and has published an interesting w o rk oil the subject, "St. Peter at Rome." He will, in spite of has new dignity, continue to serve as chaplian to the Catholic undergraduates at Cambridge University.