Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 15, 10 April 1902, Page 24

Catholic World

CANADA A Cure.

The ' Aye Maria ' learns that tho case of Sister Aldegonda, of the Sisters of Mercy, who after a visit to Uie shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupre, was instantly cured of an infirmity which had necessitated the use of crutches for 13 years, is still puzzling the physicians who are familiar with it. There is no getting over the fact that whereas for a long time the Sister was a cripple, unablo to touch one of her feet to the ground, on returning from Canada she walked as well as any one. Here. we have a very striking fact which can not be questioned ; a marvel which tho unbeliever can never hope to explain, seeing that supernatural cures are quite impossible even though they actually occur ENGLAND.— A Jubilarian.

Tho Very Rev. Canon Keatmge, of St. George's Cathedral, Southwark, celebrated, during the last week in February, tho silver jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. Death of a Redemptorist.

The death is announced of the Rev. John Gibson, CSS. II., one of tho best-known English Redemptorist missionaries. He expired at St. Mary's Clapham, on Ash Wednesday, having reached his 80th year. Getting his Deserts.

Within the pas-t 12 months the ranks of anti-Catholic lecturers in Great Britain have been reduced by four, all of whom are now enjoying the hospitality of his Majesty's prisons The impostor Widdows has been the latest to recene the attention of the authorities This fellow, notwithstanding a criminal record of some \ears, has been lecturing against the Church in England and Ireland for a considerable tune past, the violence of his language and recklessness of his statements collecting around him a number of bigots and fanatics, who were ready to shut their eyes- to his misdeeds pro\ided his \ilidcation of tho Catholic Church was to their taste. He was indicted at the Old BnUcy, London, for the commission of an offence against public decency, of which he was found guilty. On the verdict being given, Inspector Kane informed the Court that the prisoner had been born at Norwich and had passed nearly 30 years as an exmonk, and as such had been goingall over tho country lecturing against the Catholic Church. He had a large following of persons- who believed that ho was a persecuted exmember of the Catholic communion; but in fact, the prisoner was an arrant impostor. In 1875 ho went to America. He was a man of some musical and vocal powers, and got into the choir of a church at Toronto, but was expelled and sent to gaol for misconduct there. Ho came back to Norwich, and eventually, in 1888, at this court he was sentenced by the late JVlr. Justice %. L. Smith to 10 years' penal servitude in conjunction with a man named Burleigh Hart, sentenced to

the ' Daily Chronicle '), towards the Cardinal Newman Memorial Church m Birmingham. This is considered M.'ry good progress, even allowing for the fact that one-half of the whole sum is represented by a single U - b^ rjption ~ the Buke of Norfolk's AvoOUU. Perhaps the Birmingham Oratorians will not be able to rear quite such an imposing pile as that of tho Oratorians at Bronipton, or to realise Newman's own ideal of a church like St. Mark's, Venice ; but they will, at any rate, vastly improve on the present barn-like'struc-ture. Thither, nevertheless, did many persons of all creeds flock to hear the voice that had once thrilled Oxford from the pulpit of St. Mary's. Birmingham being a callingplace for neophytes — and others. Mr. Aubrey de Vere went there yearly, and Mr. Gladstone went there once. In that church Newman offered Mass for his old opponent, Kingsley, on hearing that he was dead ; and there too, beside Newman's coffin knelt outsiders like Dean Lake, Lord Chief Justice Coleridge, and Lord Rosebery. But the walls that witnessed all these things must now be levelled with the ground. FRANCE.

His Eminence Cardinal Lecot, Archbishop of Bordeaux, in a Lenten Pastoral, takes a gloomy view of the prospects of religion in France, lie deplores the opposition which from every side the Freethinkers are directing against the Church. The difficulties which religion in France has to face are rapidly accumulating, and Masonry is completely in possession of supreme power over a nation which is in the majority Catholic. The hatred of the sectaries is directed against religion and the religious everywhere. Noting the steady depopulation of the country, his Eminence appeals to fathers of families to do their duty by the State, and what is equally important to their own sons. What, he asks, i.s to become of France in the next 25 years, if the moral and Christian education of the young men is neglected now ? His Pastoral (says an exchange) makes sorrowful reading, and is another proof, where proofs abound already, that, unless the Catholic population awakens earnestly to the demands of the situation, in another quarter of a century the Church will have ceased to control the minds and hearts of the majority of Frenchmen. And there seems no way of regenerating the Republic but the adoption of the Papal policy — to rally to it, strengthen it, and reform it. Charitable Bequests.

It is stated in the Paris 'Temps ' that Mr. Frederick Watkins, a wealthy Englishman, who died at Florence recently, has left his fortune, consisting- of landed property and personal estate, to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Paris, with the exception of £8000, which is divided between the Pope and the Archbishop of Paris. Visitors to Lourdes.

Some idea of the throngs that visit Lourdes, especially in the

summer months, may be gathered by c?rriPH + V 15 ° ss P ecial - trains snivel °i Lourdes upwards of S?;S? Pilgrims. Of the numbers arriving on' regular trains and otherwise it is almost impossible to make any precise computation. INDIA — A Successful School. It is stated that 2000 Brahmin boys attend the Jesuits' school at Inchinopoly, India, and many of them liayo embraced the true faith, so the 1 athers are endeavoring to establish a school for the Brahmin girls m order that Christian Brahmins may be able to have Christian wives in the future. ROME — A Triple Jubilee. It is pointed out that if Leo XIII is spared to see the year 1903 (says the Tablet '), that year will be to nun one of qjuite exceptional interest, a veritable ' annus mirabilis.' As everybody knows, it will be his silver jubilee of Papacy (eliected Pope February 20, 1878) ; but more than that, it will also be his golden jubilee as Cardinal (proclaimed by Pius IX. in the Consistory of December 19, 1853), and his diamond jubilee of episcopacy (preconized Archbishop of Damietta by Gregory XVI. on January 27, 1843 i, and consecrated February 19). Such a triple jubilee, if his Holiness live to celebrate it, will probably be unique in history, To Help on Union.

It is said that the Holy Father has set aside 200,000 dols. of Peter's Pence Fund for a greater union of the Greek and Latin Churches in Greece and Turkey s An Important Event.

All the Cardipals of Italy are expected in Rome on May 3, the anniversary of the Pope's coronation, for the grand ceremony which will take place in St. Peter's. Lenten Sermons.

Very Rev. Father David Fleming, 0.F.M., Vicar-General of the Order of Friars Minor, was the preacher of the Lenten sermons in the Church of St. George and the English Martyrs, Rome. SCOTLAND.— Reward of Bravery At a recent meeting of the Royal Humane Society, in London, the following among other awards was made : Bronze medal to the Rev. Father James J. Da_wson, Bishop's House, Oban, for his gallant action in rescuing a lad named Barfoot, who fell through the ice on the Black Loch on December 23. The accident occurred 20yds from the bank, and Father Dawson, who was near, at once crawled out over the dangerous ice, which again gave way, but he managed to reach the lad, whom he kept afloat with one hand, and with the other broke the ice in front of him till he reached the bank with his burden. Death of a Rector.

A telegram from Rome received in Edinburgh on February 17 announ-

penal servitude for life, for similar practices. The prisoner had never been a monk. He gained a living by his lectures. — The prisoner, allowed to adress the court, complained that he had been made a victim of a plot. The Common Sergeant said ho could not listen to this. The main points were that the prisoner had been twice previously convicted, and yet he had continued to indulge in his bad practice. The prisoner must go to gaol for two years with hard labor. A Second Father Mathew.

The Rev. Father Hays's visit to Banbury to address a great demonstration (writes a correspondent of the ' Catholic Times ') was highly successful. It is a significant sign of the tolerant spirit of the times that the announcement of his visit was proclaimed from the pulpits of every religious denomination, and in most churches and chapels the people were earnestly exhorted to attend. Mr. W. C. Braithwaite, 8.A., LL.B., presided over a crowded audience, which included the Catholic priests of St. John's, clergymen representing the Church of England, AVesleyan, Methodist, and Congregational bodies and many of the leading townspeople. In a most eloquent and graphic speech, which was frequently greeted with rounds of applause. Father Hays held the close attention of his audience. He spoke for one hour and 20 minutes. He conclusively proved that intemperance was the greatest curse and danger this country has to fear — greater than the accumulated evils of war, pestilence and famine. Intemperance caused 100,000 deaths every year, whilst one hundred and sixty millions of money were annually spent on alcohol, which caused threefourths of the poverty, half of the murders and suicides, and one-half of tho ' lunacy of the kingdom. It was a problem of supreme national importance. He strongly advocated wise legislative measures, scientilic teaching in every school, training the young in habits of temperance and industry and individual effort. The ex-Mayor, Councillor Fairfax, moved a vote of thanks for what he described as a magnificent lecture. He fervently hoped their esteemed visitor might be spared to carry on the work of the good Cardinal Manning. The Rev. Mr. Wood, in a graceful speech, referred in eulogistic terms to the splendid work for temperance accomplished by Father Hays, whose earnest words carried deep conviction to everyone present. It would be a very great blessing if he could be induced to visit the town once a year. The motion was carried with enthusiasm, and the learned chairman remarked that Banbury was part of Father Hays' parish, inasmuch as his mission of good work was not confined to one county but was world-wide, wherever the glory of God could be promoted and their fellow - man benefited. Memorial Church.

About £10,000 has been collected, and all within about 10 weeks (says

*>d the death of the Right Ilev. Mgr. Campbell. The deceased, held for years the responsible position of Rector of the Scots College, Rome. He was a man of administrate c ability and extensive knowledge. Presentations.

Three priests of this archdiocese (writes an Edinburgh correspondent) have just each been made the recipients of handsome presentations. The Catholics oi H adding ton liaAe given their late pastor, Father Hugh Considme, of St. Andrew's pansh Edinburgh, an illuminated address and a purse of sovereigns „ the faithful of Pathhead have favored Father Jerrard, S.J., with a beautiful bicycle ,1 while the Niddrie portion of Father J. Donlevy's ilock, Portobello, have rewarded their self-sacri-licing pastor, who has befriended them in many ways, with an aflectionate address of high appreciation, accompanied by a magnificent writing-desk, suitably inscribed.

GENERAL. The Assumptionists. The French Assumptionist Fathers have 200 missionaries in the foreign field. They are at work in Constantinople and Asia, and have houses in Chili and elsewhere m South. America. Commended by King Menelik.

The Lazarist Sisters in Abyssinia were lately commended by King Menelik for the excellent work they are doing to advance civilisation