The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 25 June 1903, Page 24

The Catholic World

ENGLAND. — Three Converts Among Catholics (sa\s ihe ' Daily Chronicle ') the loHhconiing pi<i-fonimncc of Dr. Klgar's 'Dream of Geroiit ins' at Westminster Cathedral is naturally awaited with .something- more than musical enthusiasm, seeing that it focuses the achievements of three converts — the words by Cardinal Newman, the music by Dr. Elgar, the building- by Bentley. Pilgrims On Saturday. Mnv 2, close upon 130 Catholic pilgrims left ITolborn Viaduct Station on a pilgrimage to Uruges, its organisation being under Mr. Valentino M. Dunford, KS G , lion sec. of the Catholic Association ; while Mons-ignor John S. Vaughan, brother of the Cardinal Archbishop, accompanied the pilgrimage as spiritual director. Generous Bequests The Sisters of Na/areth. Na/areth House, Hammersmith, will be enriched by the bequest of the late Miss Ad.ims. who was locally known as the 'Tottenham recluse' Letters of administration have been granted to "Mother "Mary Margaret Owen, Ihe Mother Superior Geneial of the. community. and. afier paving- se^ral legacM>s amounting to about 4:5000, and interest on £4000 to Mis "Fiances von Cumpach during 1 her life, the remainder will an to the funds of the community. The net. Mil ue of the personalty is £16,511. FRANCE.— The Grotto of Lourdes The religious in charge of the Grotto of Lourdes left their po.st on May 2, and were replaced by secular clergy This concession has been granted by M. Combes for fear of a revolution, openly threatened by the townsfolk and the peoplo of the neighborhood if the Grotto were closed.

The Chartreuse Monastery The expulsion of the monks of the Chartreuse monastery, decreed under the Associations' Law, took, place on April 29th. The pates of the monastery were forced open by a party of engineers, and 23 monks were in the chapel. They left the building without compulsion. A Defeat for the Government At the Senatorial Election in the Gironde, M. Decrais, who openly opposed the summary proceedings oi" M. Combes against the religious Orders, was elected in preference to the Ministerial candidate. The Concordat From a cable message received last week wo leain that a profound sensation has been created in France through the special commission appointed by the Chamber of Deputies by 17 votes to 16 adopting the principle of separation of Church and State. M. Clemenceau challenges M. Combes (the Premier) to declare his policy. Petty Spite M. Combes (writes a Paris correspondent) is not satisfied with expelling the Congregations from France, and his hatred follows them even in foreign lands. He has caused a lormal icquest to be addressed to the Belgian Government to the effect that French Congregations which have been expelled from France be not allowed to settle down or open establishments anywhere in proximity to the French frontier. In accordance with this, the Belgian Bishops whose dioceses are in proximity to the French frontier ha\e withdrawn permissions which have already been given, and the monks who had settled there have now to loa\e and seek other quarters. Decision Reversed The Court of Appeal at Aix has declared that monks forming part of a dissolved Congregation who had previously been freed from their vows and been regularly secularised, and who continued to live together had committed no law against the Law of Association. This decision was rather awkward for the Government, and if upheld would have seriously interfered with the clean sweep which it is intended to make of the Congregations. The matter was, therefore,, brought before the Court of Cassation, which is the supremo and final tribunal in France, and the Court of Cassation has obliged the Government by reversing tho A.ix decision, and by deciding that the action complained of was an offence against the law. Inconsistency Said the Paris ' Temps ' on the vote for the. rejection of the authorisation of the Carthusian Order under the Association Bill — ' Amongst tho Deputies who voted the rejection, the a ote of many was particularly comic, especially that of the Socialists. For the Chartreux treat their workmen exceptionally fay orably, having included certain measures hitherto unsuccessfully demanded by Socialism, notably that of workmen's retreats. But more than that, the Order itself, with its community of goods, its division of labor, its absolute equality between individuals under chiefs whose power is entirely dependent on election is a little Collectivism society. Vet the Collectivists went against it when they ought to have been the first to defend and admire it Such is the logic of our politicians. CERMANY.— A Dispute Ended The dispute between the Right Rev Michael F Korum, Bishop of Troves, and the German Government, regarding teaching in the Catholic girls' schools, has ended) with the Government yielding to the Bishop's contention that German and history shall be taught by a Catholic teacher The text books formerly usod are abolished and ceitain Catholic text books aie substituted. Congress of Catholics Since 1848 the Congress of Catholics has met in Germany year by year with scaicelv any exception. This body has grown m influence and membership until it has become the head and centre of the whole Catholic social life of Germany The total strength of last year's Congress was about 3000, and the report— an octavo volume of 700 pages — was published within six weeks of the conclusion of the Congress, giving the calling and standing of all tho members it showed that tho members included 70 Catholic members of Parliament, 57 members of the German Catholic nobility, 9L lawyers. 43 doctors and apothecaries, 174 Catholic Government officials 320 Catholic merchants, 57 farmers, 112 artisans and laborers, 116 pressmen, 331 students. 125 teachers, architects, builders, priests, and soldiers ROME.— The King's Visit to the Vatican The 'St James's Gazette.' writing with reference to King Edward's visit to tho Holy Father, says : 'One may be sure that, though the privacy of tho interview made it possible to dispense with ceremony, his Majesty showed the respect duo to the years of the aged Pontiff, and to his position as spiritual head of a Christian Church which holds the allegiance of some millions of Ihe King's subjects, without abating a iot of the dignity due to his own Sovereignty over the greatest of temporal Empires. The silly protest of certain fanatical associations in this country acrainst the visit of courtesy which must have been of intense interest both to tho 'King and Loo XTTT , is quoted by some of tho Italian papers without comment ; but the " Times " correspondent in Rome ridicules the misconception of these worthies that the Kine's visit to the Vatican was likely to be displeasing to tho Quirinal. Tho Italian se-

cular press places it beyond doubt that the civil authorities in Rome entirely approve of the courtesy shown to, the head of their Church.' The Kaiser's Visit The Emperor of Germany, wishing to please his Catholic subjects, took special measures to invest his visit to the Holy Father with great eclat. Breakfasting at the German Embassy, prior to setting out for the Vatican, he had on his right Cardinal Rampolla, Papal Secretary of State, and on his left Cardinal Aghardi. On the way to the Vatican troops presented arms. German flags were waving in every quarter. Hymns in the German tongue were sung by pilgrims from the Fatherland find others Immense crowds lined the streets, and the windows and balconies were filled with spectators The audience with the Holy Father was most cordial, and at its close his Holiness gave as a present to the Emperor a beautiful mosaic representing the Roman Forum. To the Crown Prince and Prince Eitel Frederick, whom he received subsequently. his Holiness also presented handsome mosaics. As the Kaiser, after having waited on Cardinal Rampolla, returned to the Embassy he was enthusiastically cheered by pilgrims from the Rhine, and two of them tendered him bouquets of flowers. On the following day his Majesty visited the Benedictines, whom the French have driven from their country. At Monte Cassino he was received by Arch-Abbot Krug and the whole community and after he had been conducted through the abbey the Arch-Abbot presented to him a History of the Hohenzollerns, which has been printed at Monte Cassino. SCOTLAND.— Peter's Pence An address, accompanied by a Peter's Pence offerinc of one thousand pounds, was presented to the Pope by the Scottish pilgrims. Death of a Catholic Lady The death took place, at Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh, on May 3, of Mrs. Anna Maria Stott, wife of Gibson Stott, formerly captain, 92nd Highlanders, eldest daughter of Colonel Ronald Macdonald, of Morar House. Inverness-shire, and cousin of the late Archbishop Macdonald. The remains of the deceased lady, who had reached the ripe age of eighty years, were taken to the Church of the Sacred Heart, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated. The funeral took place at the Grange Cemetery, Rev. Father Hayes, S.J., officiating both in the church and at the grave. SOUTH AFRICA.— The Jesuits as Teachers Earl Grey, one of the late Mr. Rhodes's trustees, has written a letter to the Rev. F. Barthelmy, of the Society of Jesus, and rector of the mission at Buluwayo, congratulating the community and scholars on having won the two first Rhodes scholarships. 'I am glad this honor should belong to the Jesuit Fathers, whose devoted and unceasing labors, from the earliest moment of our occupation to the present time, in the interest of both the white settlers and native population of Rhodesia, have won the 'ungrudging admiration and gratitude of us all.' GENERAL A Change of Use According to an exchange the Government House at Gibraltar where Sir George White received the King was formerly, hke several other houses nearer home in which his Majesty is entertained, a religious. Indeed, the paper used for correspondence at Government House is still stamped, ' The Convent, Gibraltar,' a designation that mio;ht easily lead to little mystifications and confusions, such, for instance, as that which rumor already assigns to it, the addressing of Lady White as ' The Rev. Mother ' in response to orders received from ' The Convent,' by London tradesmen. True, the Church avenges itself at times by the purchase of properties that the world has had very much for its own ; such, for instance, as Egypt House at Cowes, where rooms in which the King danced and supped in other days are now becoming accustomed to the steps and austerities of nuns ; or, nearer our doors, the town house facing Hyde Park which French nuns have converted into a house of prayer The Propaganda A sketch of the Propaganda by the Rev. Dr. Freri affoids a list as follows of countries placed under the care of that Congregation as missionary fields. These aro m North America : the United States, Canada, Lower California. Honduras, and the West Indies, excepting the islands of Cuba, Porto Rico, Hayti, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. In South America : Guiana, Patagonia, and throe Prefectures-Apostolic In Peru. In Europe Great Britain and Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Dcnmaik, Holland, Luxemburg, parts of Germany and Swit/eiland. Greooe. Crete, and all the Balkan States. In Africa : the whole continent, except Algeria, Carthago. Couta, Angola, and the Canaries and Bourbon Islands In Asia : the whole continent, except Siberia and tho See of Goa in India. In Oceanica : all except the Philippines.