KING EDWARD'S VISIT TO A DOMINICAN CONVENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 25 June 1903, Page 29

KING EDWARD'S VISIT TO A DOMINICAN CONVENT.

In a recent issue of the ' N.Z. Tablet ' we gave a short account of the visit of King Edward to a Dominican Convent during his stay in Lisbon. The following is a fuller account of the event by a correspondent of the ' Cnthobc Times ' • — The King of England's visit to Lisbon may without fear of correction be said to haA c been a most brilliant success. Every circumstance contributed its share in bringing about this happy result. The weather was exceptionally line, e\en lor "Lisbon weather, the people of till classes weie most enthusiastic, the various items of the programme passed off without a hitch, and the King made a most pleasing" impression on all, whilst he himself professed surprise and delight at the hearty tone of his reception. One of the items that attracted a great deal of attention was the King's visit to the Dominican Convent of Bom Successo. His Majesty had sent word before he left England that it was his intention to visit the Convent on his arrival Accordingly the Sisters sent him through the British Minister a little note of greeting on his arrival. His Majesty sent to thank them, and said that if possible he would fulfil his promise of going to see them. On Saturday morning the Prior of the Irish Dominican College of Corpo Santo received a telegram from the Lord-iai-waiting on his Majesty, Count Tarouca. saying that his Majesty would visit the convent on Monday morning at lv 3o o'clock. The message was a signal of great joy. The Irish Dominican Fathers and Sisters are Old Friends of the King. He visited the convent when he was in Lisbon as Prince of Wales 23 years ago, and carried away very pleasing recollections of it. JNo one can tax him with forgetfulness. From time to time he has sent messages during this interval to the nuns, and when the royal \acht passed the coi^ent on its entrance to Lisbjon it responded to the various signals made from the college Sir Francis Laking, making some inquiries during the course ol the \isit as to the climate, the health of the childien, etc., added : 'Of course 1 know something of the convent. His Majesty was speaking to me ol you a day or two ago, and told me that he had seen Q U the building on his last visit ' Many little anecdotes are recounted ol the former \isit, among them the following. A Bntish resident of that period sa\ s that his Ro\ al Hiehness put the Sisters and children quite at their ease b|y his amiable manner. One little mite walked off with a glo\e, a second seized the Prince's walking-stick, whilst a third insisted on getting his hat Two or three or lour hung out of the fmgeis of his left hand;. Lon.tr ibefore the appointed hour on Monday moining friends gatheied together in the couitvaid of che ion\-ent Guards and policemen were stationed at the ontian<e Among those j resent wore the Fatheis of ( 01 po Santo, his Excellency Sir Ma") tin Gosselm, the British Minister and famih . Mr C.eori/e O'Neill (a lirejl descendant ol the O'Neill-, of the Colon"] ;iml Mrs Campbell 1 lie daui>htei of the Count of T.uoiien, and otheis Punctually .it the hour appointed hi 1 - Maiestv ai lived in a carriage drawn by four wlrte Arabian horses richly capat isoiß'd, and preceded by two outiideis on sti r<is ol the same breed lie was acconi] anicd by the lion Mr I'onsonby, Sn Francis Laking, and the Count ot Tarouca. On alighting from his cuinago Ihe British Minister piesendvl the Fathers of Corpo Santo The Sisteis and childien were drawn up in two lines at the ereat door, and saluted the King with the National Anthini, lennVied most beautifully Accompanied by the Sisters and Fathois, and preceded by two pretty children scattering flowers befoie him, his Ma'esty expressed a wish to \ isit The Choir and Chinch He then, escoi tod by the laige company ascended to the community room, wheie anain the childien sang Oilectively some few selections whilst the guests weie taking their" places on eithei side of the lon» hall As the nius.c ceased a pretty child rol-ed all in white passed lioin the lower end of" the hall, between both lines ol people Aiming at the thione on which his MaicMv was siaU'd, she lrade a comtesv and pi esented the King with a bouquet of floweis sa\ini> . ' Will \oit ('rations Maiestv kindly accept tins fi agile tolen ot the undy ing giatitnde und ardent zeal of \ our faithl'nl subic-rts ol Bom Suciosso ' The Prior of the lii'h Dominicans then read the following address : ' May it please your Majesty, — I, cm the pait of the Fathers ol < '01 po Santo and the Sisteis of Bom S*icces<-o, do most heaitilv thank \our Ma jest \ for the great honor yon do us to-day by this \ isit It is one ot the many acts of peisonal t-mdnoss shown us by \our Maiesty. all of which ate deeply ongra\ on on our hearts. We tale this occasion likewise to expiess our gratitude for the many acts of kindness shown us by your Maiesty's i epresentat nes in this city They have always been' our most kind friends. Your Maiestv will be, doubtless, pleased to know that we, \nur affectionate and faithful subiects, have ever }>ocn treated with marked kindness and eouitesv b\ our deal Fortimuese friends, most notably the Howl F.uniX — Your Maiest\'s loyal subiects, the' Fathers of Cot po Santo and the Sisters of Bom Successo The King's Remarks TTis Maiestv rose from the thione and add res- sing the Prior, said ' T thank von most warmly for the kind words' you hay c just used It is indeed ,i pleasure tome to conic and se-e'jou, my subjects 1 am delighted to

see that everything is in so flourishing a state.' His Majesty has been exceedingly kind to the Sisters and and Fathers not only in Lisbon but also in Rome. He was a very kind friend to the Very Rev. Father Mullooly, 0.P., who discovered the underground churches of St. Clement and had them excavated. His Majesty helped on the work with personal influence and aid. La>ter on, alter the possession of Rome in 1870, when the Italian Government sought to seize the college and church, the Prince of Wales came to the rescue, and ovviivg to his personal interierence the college was exempted trom seizure and treaty as Butish pioporty. The British Ministeis in Lisbon have always exerted thems*el\es m defence of iha two colleges in the many religious troubles that have taken place there these last fifty years. In the troubles of two 3 7 ears ago Sir Hugh MacDonell, then Minister in the Portuguese Court, staunchly defended the Fathers. Finally King Charles himself sent word that as long as he was on the throne the Fathers of Corpo Santo need entertain no fears. He will protect them. After the address had been presented the King partook of some light refreshment. A great friend of the Sisters, the Count of Burnay, very kindly offered them on the previous day a few bottles of port that, had it a tongue, might tell stories of the First Napoleon His Majesty asked what wine that was, and was answered : ' Port, your Majesty, which was pressed when Wellington was at Busaco.' The King partook of some and remained chatting for a considerable time to those around him, all of whom were impressed by his affable manners. He made inquiries after the Sisters, told them of his voyage, how delighted he was with everything, and how well he felt in that . glorious sunshine. And he took occasion to say to the Prioress how much he had wished to come, and that any doubt that was entertained was so because of the very many things he had to do and the short time at his disposal Mr Melville, the King's detective^ — a Kerry man, by the way— was asked by one of the Sisters to rwalk up to the reception room ' Ah, no, Sister,' heUanswered ; ' no necessity. No one will touch his Majesty here.' The Mother Prioress, on parting with the King, said : ' We are praying fervently for your Majesty.' ' Many, many thanks, Mother,' replied the King in a kindly tone. The Msit was an affair of no slight practical " importance. Scarce a year has passed smce strenuous measures were taken to suppress religious houses in Portugal and in Spam as well as in France The British Government then, as may be remembered interested itself considerably for the welfare of both the Irish houses in Lisbon. Many Comments ha\e been made on the King of England's action in ■wsitmg Bom Successo 'A Protestant King has actually dcv oted a great part of a morning to visiting nuns and friars ' It's like the Emperor of Germany visiting and pioiecdng the Benedictines.' Happily none but the best res'iilts may be expected. The comments made even by the most anti-clerical press ha\e all been favorable. One of the leading Portuguese peers, speaking at the In e.ik last (jiu'ii by the King on boatd the royal yacht, to some of the English officers, said : ' That visit to the fnais and nuns in Bom Successo has more importance tlvn \ou think »lt will have much to do in helping the irood li'diiiLT now exist me between the two countries, .nd will stiemrthen the alliance' Noticing their look oi snipiise he added ' What foreign education and mii. j< nee have we m Lisb ( on "> In gieat pai tit is French. Nov., tho<-o two houses by their influence and education .ire the only ones that m\e us English education and e\<rcise on u"= Enirlish influence They 'do so much more than \c*i think It's \ our interest to protect them.'