The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 31, 3 December 1897, Page 23

The Catholic World.

ENGLAND.— Cardinal Vaughan Asked to Umpire in the iELngineering Dispute. — Another effort, says The Daily Chronicle, to bring about a settlement in the dispute was made in Manchester the other day, when Colonel Dyer had a long interview with Mr. Alexander Forrest, a Manchester magistrate, who was formerly chairman of the A.S.E. Mr. Forrest proposed that a conference should be held, to consist of six representatives of each side and an umpire. He had previously written to Cardinal Vaughan, who replied ; "In reply to your inquiry whether I would, if asked, consent to act as umpire in the matter under di.-pute in the 0 -lgineering trade, I must hasten to assure you that I have no technical knowledge whatever, but that if, upon full information as to the matter to be decided, I felt that I could grasp the circumstances so as to do justioe to all concerned, I would not refuse to render the best services that I could, provided both sides to the dispute desired to employ me as umpire. — Btlieve me, yours faithfully, Herbert Cardinal Vaughan." Mr. Forrest suggested that Cardinal Vaughan should be accepted as umpire. Colonel Dyer replied that if the A.S.E. gave the Federation a written assurance that the employers would be allowed to conduct their respective shops without official trade union interference he would at once submit such an authority to the Federation, but he dared not name a confere ice, conciliation, arbitration, or an intermediary of any sort to his committee, aa they would howl him down. He intimated that the questions of eight hours, piecework, or machines, were minor compared with the interference by trade union officials. The efforts to arrange a conference completely failed.

FRANCE.-The Eucharistic Congress of Paray-le-Monial. — Private as well as conventual buildings were decorated, and there were torchlight processions through the streets of Paray. The old town of the Blessed Margaret Mary was en fete, and well she might be, for the elite of the French priesthood were in her midst, a band of the most forward men in France in promoting devotion to the Holy Eucharist, and to the Sacred Heart. While the acting president of the Congress was the Bishop of Liege, the presiding dignitary, who by the weight of his authority and the veneration in which lie is held took precedency of all others, was Cardinal Perraud, Bishop of Autun. Other prelates present were the Archbishop of Besan<;on and the Bishops of Nevers, Anneoy, and Fiesole. Belgium sent 000 of her sons, and Italy 250 of hers. Spain was represented in another manner, 10,000 Spaniards in their own country agreeing to spend a night in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for the success of the Eucharistic Congress. Contemplatives from the cloister and men of action met at Paray. There were the Rev. Pere Lemius, 0.M.1., of Montmartre, the Rev. Pere Chevallier, of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Issaudun, the Rev. Pere Durand, of the Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament, and others, each of whom was a host in himself. Pere Durand, called the '• apostle of children," because of his singular success in winning young souls and forming them into corporations, ia also known as " l'ere Deo Gratias," because he is continually giving thanks. The Pere Chevallier, whose profound work on Our Lady of the Sacred Heart places him in the front rank of theological writers, dwelt with eloquence on that form ot devotion to Our Lady of whu-h Issaudun is the centre, and showed how devotion to the Holy Euchari&t and to the Heart of Je^us form one. The Abbe de Bosonies was there to tell how many Masses are ■ ffuml in th<> Church of Notre Da'ue de^ Victohes in expiation ot tin- Masonic outran upon the Blessed Sa ramen,. lYre Lemius spoke ot n.uch thai went on at Montmartre, especially in connection with the poor, some ot whom are among the most fervent adorer?, ot th^ Bles-td Jvi'jrament exposed night and day on the high altar. In the curse ol a splendid peroration he said the Church ot the National Yuw would be the e.r roto offered to Christ at the cl >sc ot this century of revolutions, and ended by citing the words of Our Lonl to the Blessed Margaret Mary, " Believe and thou shalt see the power of My heart in the magnificence of My love.' 1 Some ot Cardinnl Perraud's expressions are like cameos and carve themselves in the memory. His hearers at Paray were treated to some such. In his own m inner he compared the Holy Eucharist to the burning bush seen by Mo=e-> and drew compaii.sons between the visions 1 ot Paray-le-Alonial and those of Mount Horeb. His Eminence did not iorj^et ro draw Ir mi his recent visit to England material for the edification ot his hearers. On one occasion he told them the touching stoty ot the conversion vi an Anglican clergyman, and ended by asking prayers tor the conversion of England. On another occasion, at the clo.se of one of the most important sittings, he read an ad.lress to the Catholic hierarchy of England, assuring English Catholics of the sympathy ot the members of the Congress and of their co-operation in the work of prayer in order that our country might return to Catholic unity.

The Closing Procession. — The streets of Paray-le-Monial were decorated with flowers and drapery as the procession passed through them on its way to the garden of the Convent of the Visitation. Some thousands of ladies led the way. Afterwards came the Belgians preceded by their banner, and then the Italians, singing in their tongue, '" I'ity, my God, pLty ' ' bix hundred priests preceded the Blessed Sacrament, winch was borne by Cardinal I'erraud. Several thousand men followed. The garden reached, the procession goon filled the alleys and walks trodden by Margaret Mary two Tiundred years ago. The famous and hallowed nut grove was guarded by two priests, but thib did not prevent straying fingers from stealing leaves hencef or 1 hto be kept as relics. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was given in the park of the chaplain's. Afterwards Pere Lemius read an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart, which was repeated by the crowd. Told by TWO Cardinals.— Simply, touchingly as he had received it from Cardinal Vaughan a few days before, Cardinal

Perraud told the story of the little pfirl, daughter of an English Protestant clergyman, who, by her infantine remarks, was to become unconsciously in the hands of others an apostle in preaching the doctrine of the Real Presence. The relation of the anecdote was one of Cardinal Perraud's means of preaching at Paray-le-Monial the other day, The little girl in question was taken one day by her still Protestant father to a Catholic church in London. She was but five years old. Noticing the lamp of the sanctuary she said : " What is that lamp for ?" The father replied : "It is to show that Jesus is there, behind that little gold door." " I should like to see Jesus," she said. "My child, you cannot. The door is shut, and, besides, Jesus is hidden by a covering." " Oh, I should like to see Jesus " she continued. After that they went into a Protestant church, where there was neither lamp nor tabernacle. " Father, why is there no lamp ?" she asked. " Because Jesus is not there," was the reply. Alter this the child spoke of nothing but the Catholic Church, persisting in saying that she " would go where Jesus was." To complete the story, so told by Cardinal Vaughan, Cardinal Perraud showed how the child's parents embraced the Catholic religion and with it poverty, the father losing at once an income of £1.000 a year.

ITALY. — The Miracle of St. Januarius. — Naples on Sunday, September 24, celebrated the feast of its patron, St. Januarius, and the miracle associated with the name of that saint the liquefaction of his blood — was again repeated. Thousands of visitois annually repair to Naples on the occasion of the festival. This year the cathedral was crowded to its utmost limits, the incredulous mixing in goodly numbers with the believing. At nine o'clock the prayers in invocation of the saint were commenced, and within an hour and a half later the liquefaction took place. The news, according to custom, was announced to the city by a salvo of twenty-one guns from a neighbouring fortress. The bells of the various churches were then set ringing, and Naples assumed its holiday aspect. A "Te Deum " was sung in the cathedral, the Archbishop himself being present to lend solemnity to the ceremony. During the rest of the day a vast crowd, desirous of kissing the vessel that contained the relic thronged the church and implored the intercession of the patron of their city.

ROME.— The Bread Question Under the Popes.— The bread question still exercises the minds of the people of Rome, and the Municipality has issued several severe decrees for the observance of the bakers, who are compelled to expose in their windows specimens of the two classes of bread with the price of each marked. The difficulty is that the bakers do not feel obliged to give the customers exactly the same quality of bread as they show in the windows. The police are supposed to see that this is done, but the task is not an easy one. The people are now comparing what they have at present to endure with the state of affairs under the sway of the Popes. Old people well remember interesting incidents that occurred in this connection under Gregory XVI. It happened that in one year of that Pontiff's reign the price of bread was very high. The bakers frequently did not obey the Municipal regulation that they should make only bread of certain fixed qualities and sell these at particular rates. Many complaints were made in consequence at the Vatican. One day two modestly-dressed priests entered a large bakery and asked for bread of the second quality. On being served one of them took from his pocket a piece of bread and compared it with what he had just received. The difference was very noticeable and he pointed it out to the baker, observing that the piece he had taken irom his pocket was part of a sample loaf. The man was about to make excu-es. but the priest rpmoving his hat revealed the white skull cap — the emblem ot the Popes. The baker confessed his guilt and tell at the l'ontilr's knees imploring pardon.

An Irish Pilgrimage.— An Irish pilgrimage will arrive in Rome caily in the month of October. It is being organised by the members of St. Patrick'- Roman Legion, under the guidance of the Very lie v. Patrick J. (Jlynn, O.S A . Prior of St. Patrick s, Rome. The Legion has been organised by Prior Glynn for the completion ot the building in Rome of the National Church of Ireland in honour of the great Apostle. The headquarters of the pilgrims in Rome will, therefore, be at the Convent ot St Putrick. The present pilgrimage will, it is believed, consist of a hundred, or even a hundred and titty members. With it, however, I'rior Glynn is, he says, " only trying the road to Rome." It is intended to be the first ot a scries of pilgrimages tro:n Ireland and Great Britain, where the Legion is flourishing in numbers and fervour. Arrangements ha\e been made for an audience with the Holy Father.