GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 175, 4 August 1876, Page 15

GENERAL NEWS.

Cardinal Prince Schwarzenburgh has been' lately making a Confirmation tour through a portion of his archdiocese of Prague. At Petrowite he was informed that a little girl, who had been for many years an invalid, was very desirous of being confirmed. Her condition, however, was such that she could not even be carried to the church. When the regular Confirmation was ended, the Cardinal betook himself to the miserable dwelling where the little girl lived, accompanied by all his clerical attendants and suite. There was no room for all in the poor dwelling. Here his Eminence confirmed the sick child, exhorted her to patience, and when going away, left behind him a handsome donation to assist her necessities.

Cardinal Cullen has issued a pastoral, in which he refers at great length to the subject of education. He says that under the pretence of spreading education and promoting the temporal advantage of the nation, an occult warfare against the Catholic religion is being carried on, and he calls on Catholics to resist all dangerous attempts to impair the efficiency of the schools and undermine the faith of the children. With regard to higher education, he urges them to use every effort to obtain a Catholic University for a Catholic nation.

We take the following from the London correspondence of the Dublin ' Freeman's Journal :' — "Scarcely a week passes without the record of some convert to the Roman Catholic Church from amongst the ranks af the Anglican clergy. Most of the clergymen who thus renounce the doctrines of the Church of England are men of mark, noted for scientific or literary attainments, or of fame in the pulpit. The latest accession is that of tLe Rev. R. J. Webb, Vicar of Hamle-ton-with-Bramßtone, near Norwich, who, in addition to his profession of faith, has published a pamphlet, in which he asserts frankly that, salvation is not to be found in the Church of England.

The Rev. William Lovell, ALA., Curate of Wantage, an-l formerly scholar of Exeter College, Oxford, has just been received into the Church. The ' Pilot ' announces the reception of Lady Hey wood, wife of Sir Percival Heywood, Bart.

The ' Germania ' of Berlin publishes an appeal addressed to the Catholics of Germany, signed by the leading Catholics of the country, such as Prince Charles of Lowenstein, Baron Felix de Loe, Haffne, Marbe, and others, and calling on the people to celebrate with particular solemnity the 16th June next, the day on which Pope Pius IX. will commence the 30th year of his reign.

A curious accident occurred on the 27th May at a village between Palghaut and Beypore, which resulted in a death of a little girl about six years old. The parents, who were of the pariah caste, had arrived from Palghaut with a herd of swine, and encamped near the Military Camp, on the other side of the river. On the evening of the day in question, the mother of the child missed her and went in search of her. The child was discovered seated in a jungle playing with a cobra. The uncle of the child, with the object of frightening the cobra away, threw an egg at it, whereupon it bit the child and escaped into a hole. The child died a few minutes after she was bitten. The hole into which the cobra entered was then dug and the cobra was destroyed.

A number of leading Catholics from all parts of Germany met lately at the Frankfiirterhof in Mayence, upon the invitation of H.H. the Prince of Lowenstein, to consult concerning the formation of a Catholic Association for Germany.^lt* was resolved unanimously to found such an Association.

The 'Frankfort Gazette,' a democratic organ, announces that Nicotera, of the Italian Ministry, has discovered amongst the papers of Senor Lanza a receipt for 10,000 francs, as having been paid to the London ' Times ' and a French journal for anonymous support of the Law of Guarantees. The ' Frankfort Gazette ' cannot be suspected of partiality for Rome. What can the ' Times ' answer?

The ' Universe ' gives a touching account of an act of humility and charity performed by the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris on Sunday last. His Eminence carried in person the Blessed Sacrament and administered Confirmation to a young girl, the daughter of poor but respectable people living on the fifth story of a house in the Rue Saint Rock. The poor girl bad been prevented by illness from joining the ranks of her youthful companions at first Communion and Confirmation at their parish church of St. Rock. The condescension of his Eminence made a great impression on the people of the neighbourhood, and the Cardinal Archbishop was greeted by a respectful crowd on his return from his visit of charity.

A great number of Jews Lave been seized by the Eussian police of Vilni, under suspicion of belonging to secret societies. This is very strange, as who would believe tbat there were any conspirators in Bussia except the Catholics ?

The latest intelligence, at our command, regarding the return of the Jews to Jerusalem, leads us to believe that still a length of years must pass away before the return can take place. "We now learn that for some time- past the Grand Rabbi of Vienna has ordered the usual prayers for the return to Jerusalem to be suspended, and the Jews in Italy have just received notice to do the same. The Jews find themselves so well off in modern States, that this return to their native country would be a misfortune.

A doctor of Lyons, formerly of Montpellier, has just given 600,000 francs for the reconstruction of the parish church. Mgr. de Cabrieres, the Bishop of Montpellier, has written to congratulate the donor of this magnificent donation.

The ' Japan Gazette ' astonishes the world by the declaration of the discovery of an ancient Catholic church in that countiy, which is used for other purposes, though still in perfect preservation. It is but one of the traces of that great St. Francis Xavier, whose works have not yet died out, and arc now being increased.

The population of Ireland, says the 'London Times' is not materially decreasing now. The Begistrar-General reports that although the year 1875 had a birth rate below and a death rate above the last five years' average, yet the births registered exceeded the [registered deaths by 40,139, and that the number of emigrants who left Irish ports in the year was but 52,397, which, number is reduced to 51,462 if we deduct 135 described as " residents of other countries" who embarked at Irish ports. This shows a decrease in the year 1875 of 11,323 in the population, leaving it at about 5,600,000 in all.

The parish priest of Malfetta asked the Pope for alms to build a new Church, and the Holy Father sent him 500f. On the same day his Holiness sent to the editor of the ' Unita Cattolica,' in Milan (whom he calls his honest treasurer) two supplications, with the order to send to each one of the supplicants 200f . One of these supplicants was an officer of the Piedmontese army who was compelled by sickness to retire from the service. Other alms bestowed by the Sovereign Pontiff were lOOOf . for a sacristy, 500f for a benevolent society in Verona, 50f . for a poor family, 200f . for persons suffering want by a recent inundation, besides many other alms not known to any mortal man. All these alms were bestowed within two days.

The Rome (May 10) correspondence of ' Galignani's Messenger ' says : — The Pope recently received Mgr. Cecconi, Archbishop of Florence, who was appointed by his Holiness to write a history of the (Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, The first volume of this colossal work was published nearly two years ago. In receiving his Eminence Pius IX. manifested a desire soon to seethe history completed, in order that he might read the great work before his death. The Roman prelates attribute this feeling to a sad presentiment, caused by the continued disquietude which afflicts the Holy Father. The latter, moreover, had expressed himself very forcibly on the subject, for no sooner had Mgr. Cecconi arrived at Florence than he gave instructions to his Vicar-General for the Government of his Archdiocese, and then left for the monastery of the Servi di Montesenario, where he immediately recommenced his labors.

On. May Bth, the Joan of Arc fetes were held in Orleans, France. Marshal MacMahon was present. In the course of his address to the Marshal-President at the cathedral, Monsignor Dupanloup, Bishop of Orleans, said: — "The town of Orleans celebrates to-day two fetes — the peaceful one of agriculture, and that of the warrior-liberator of our city and of France. That of agriculture shows our dear and great country desires to raise itself by the fruitful works of peace, and, when we look upon these brilliant exhibitions, would it not be supposed that the finest days of our national prosperity had returned? It is thus that France will astonish the world by her resources whenever she is allowed to develope freely the living forces and all the territorial and intellectual riches with which God has so largely gifted her. But these noble works require security and confidence, and it is your glorious mission, Monsieur Marechal, to assure them to her. Your presence in the midst of us declares loudly to our country that she can under the protection of your valiant and loyal sword, peacefully prepare the strength and glories of the future. The fete of Joan of Arc recalls to us liow God protected France in past times, and teaches us that if it be good that a people should rely on itself, and work courageously for its regeneration, it must also look above to fri™ who holds in his hands the fate of nations. That is why in this cathedral, where Joan of Arc fell on her knees, you come to implore the providential aids with which, peoples and their chiefs cannot dispense in days of crisis. May God accede to your prayers and ours ! May he again look upon France with mercy as of old ! To material prosperity may he add Christian grandeur, and may he grant to you, Monsieur le Marechal, whose noble heart is bo worthy of it, that superior light which in the hour of peril enables a man to save the people \"

One of the most distinguished and venerable of the Irish priesta now living is the Archdeacon of Dublin, Canon Dunne, P.P., of Castledermott, Co. Kildare. In sending his parochial subscription to the Maynooth College chapel, he bears the following warm testimony to the sacerdotal work of the priests educated in that noble college : " Through good report and evil report the priesthood of Maynooth fought the good fight. Whether at home or in distant lands, they maintained the faith racy of the Irish soil. Whether doomed to minister to the people in. the winter of persecution or' the more favored days after Emancipation, they ever inculated the true principles of rendering to Csesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. Though not an alumnus of Maynooth, I have none the less entertained a kindred affection in its regard. For more than half a century, at the annual clerical retreat within its hallowed walls, I heard the eloquent and fervid lectures of the eminent ecclesiasics that adorned the Irish Church, many of whom now speak from the silent tomb their lessons of virtue and of wisdom." — ' Catholic Review.'

Holy Week was profaned in Rome this year in a manner never before known in that holy city. Tho theatres were kept open until the last of the week, and parliament was in full session. The Catholics, however observed the sacred season with becoming respect, and flocked to the churches. They did not neglect their duties, but ou the contrary appeared to fulfil them with more than ordinary zeal and devotion. Especially well attended were the sermons at St. Peter's. A number of French pilgrims arrived in Rome on Holy Thursday. They had previously visited many shrines and renowned placet, such as the shrine of the Holy Winding Sheet at Turin, the tombs of St. Catherine of Genoa and of St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi in Florence, and the Holy shrine of Loreto. They remained a week in Rome and then proceeded to Naples where they will pay their devotion to the Shrine of St. Januarius, and then go to Palermo to pray before the tomb of St. Rosalia.—' Catholic Review'