The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 30 July 1903, Page 27

The Catholic World

ENGLAND.— Successful Catholic Student

The Blue Riband of the Oxford Scholarship, the Hertford, has been gained by a Catholic student of Pope's Hall, Mr. Cyril Charles Martindale, a former student of Harrow and Stonyhurst, and a member of the Society of Jesus. Procession in Manchester

One of the most remarkable features of Manchester life (writes a correspondent) is the annual Catholic Whitsuntide procession. Only those who have seen the procession can realise what a remarkable demonstration it is in a great English Protestant city. In this year's procession no less than 22 schools and confraternities were represented, and by half-past nine in the morning there were 20,000 persons in Albert square, ' mostly children.' Every school and society had its own band. The writer in the ' Guardian ' describes the spectacle as a pretty one. ' The forest of pictorial banners, the colored ribbons fluttered by the wind, the dresses of the children in all the colors of summer, the quaint costumes and uniforms of Orders and confraternities, were pleasant to look upon. The Italians, with the sun of their native land still upon their cheeks, carried a statue of the Madonna and a large crucifix, and their picturesque dresses attracted much admiiation. As usual,' the writer adds, ( the procession was watched by thousands of persons, and the route was rigorously kept clear by barriers and police. Poor Prospects

For nineteen centuries Christian doctrines have been preached to the world, but the Continent is still waiting for the true light— waiting; to receive it from ' The AngloContinental Society ' of Protestants. Unfortunately for the Society (says an exchange) the prospect of the Continental folk casting themselves at its feet in gratitude is as remote as ever— that is to say, about as remote as it could possibly be. The Anglican Bishop of Salisbury presided at the annual meeting of the society, and las speech was a threnody, winch was entirely justified by the report. The society counted much upon Count Campello, but he is gone back to l Rome.' Of course an illness he has had weakened his judgment, else he would not have rejected the Protestant Gospel, with all the good things that accompanied it Then the Abbe Marchel Hebert was not less disappointing. Much had been hoped for from him, but instead of being content with Protestantism, he has gnen up Christianity altogether. Nay, the Christians on the Continent to whom ' The Anglo-Continental Society ' brought the true light have been repelling it with the unpleasant remark, ' Physician, heal thyself ' In the Orthodox Eastern Church, the report ruefully avowed, ' the universal opinion seemed to be that there were two Churches in the Church of England,' and Professor Collins confnmed this statement. FRANCE. —Heavy Loss

The Breton Benedictine monks of Kerheneat, who recently settled at Pembiey, Carmarthenshire, have suffered a severe loss through the foundering of a vessel specially chartered to convey to England their personal property and effects, including sacred vessels and vestments. Official Curiosity

When Cardinal Langenieux, the eminent French prelate, lay at the gates of death (says the ' Catholic Times ') the emissaries of M Combes were particularly busy in the interests of their master. During the day, and even during the night, police officers approached the residence where the Cardinal lay sick, and anxiously inquired, not for his health, but— whether he was yet dead ' Receiving no satisfactory replies to their questions they stationed themselves near the archiepiscopal palace, and eagerly scanned the faces of all persons who came out, in the hope of being able to gauge by their looks of sorrow the condition of the sick prelate within. Why was this 7 There can be only one explanation. The Government was desirous of knowing, at the earliest momeht, the decease of the \enerable Caidinal, in order that it might seal up his goods, and seize his ' mensa ' The French Ministry will hardly let a Bishop die in peace ! All his life long a prelate in that country must walk warily lest he fallinto a trap ; and when he comes to die, the Government is alert to seal up every stick of furniture in his house ! ROME.— The Immaculate Conception A few weeks ago (says the ' Catholic Times ') we announced that his Holiness Leo XIII. had ordered the insertion of the invocation ' Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us.' in the Litany of Loreto. We now learn that the Holy Father has appointed Cardinals Vincent

Vannutelli, Rampolla, Ferrata, and Vives as a Commission to prepare and regulate the festivities on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception of Our Blessed Lady. The Pontiff, who declares that devotion to the Mother of God has been a practice dear to him from his earliest years, desires that the jubilee observances should be conducted on a grand scale. Accordingly representatives of every nation in the world will be invited to special functions at St. Peter's, where the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed, and also at the Patriarchal Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore ; a Marian Congress will be held in the Eternal City ; a library will be formed of works dealing with devotion to Mary ; there will be missions, Commun'ons, spiritual exercises, and pilgrims in honor of Our Lady ; arrangements will be made for special works of charity ; and a periodical, to be called ' L'lmmacolata, 1 will be published. RUSSIA.— A Concession

By Imperial autograph letter the Russian Minister of Education has been directed to permit instruction in the Catholic religion to be given in the Polish tongue in all middle-class schools in the kingdom of Poland from the beginning of the new scholastic year. Since 1880 religious instruction for Catholics had, according to law, to be given in the Russian tongue in six middle-class schools. SCOTLAND.— Presentation to a Bishop

The clergy of the Dunkeld diocese took advantage of their annual business meeting at St. Andrew's ProCathedral House in connection with the Mission Fund and Friendly Society, to present his Lordship Bishop MacFarlane with an illuminated address and useful furnishings for his private oratory, on the occasion of his return from his first visit • ad limina apostolorum.' The address was of beautiful design and chaste workmanship, the illuminations consisting of religious emblems and the Bishop's coat of arms. The sentiments expressed therein were of hearty ' welcome home ' and loyal co-operation of the clergy towards the Bishop in his work of the administration of the diocese. The address was read by the Right Rev. Mgr. Clapperton, being signed as well by tlie Monsignor on behalf of the clergy. The gifts presented were a set of polished brass candlesticks, a beautitul crucifix, vases, a very rich missal bound in red morocco, brass missal stand with monogram, a chime oell and holy-water font, and a carved oak prie-dieu. The Church in the Islands

An. interesting ceremony took place at Eriskay, South Uist, on May 7, when a new church was blessed and opened by his Lordship- Bishop Smith, of Argyll and the Isles Eriskay is a little island situated at the most southerly point of South Uist (the Long Isle), and sepaiated irom it by a channel two miles wide. And here on this interesting little island was opened a splendid new church, of which his Lordship Bishop Smith said that it was a fit edifice for any congregation in any part of the world. It is of Gothic structure, and capable of seating 400. Part of the earth in the foundation came from Calvary, and in the structure itself are stones from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Gethsemani, and Emmaus These stones have been placed in the form of a cross, and as each has the initial letter of the place from which it was bought carved on it, the form of the cross is quite visible. SPAIN. — An Interesting Career

Monsignor Sebastiano Herrero y Espinosa de los Monteros, one of the seven Cardinals who were to be created at the Consistory last month, has had an interesting career. Born of an ancient noble family at Jerex de la Frontera in 1823, he completed his studies at the University of Salamanca, obtained his LL.D. degree and began life as a lawyer. He rose to high distinction in the law, became a judge, and eventually President of the Court of Assize He enjoyed the highest reputation as a lawyer, and also gained a name in literature, especially as a poet. At the age of 35 he gave up all his secular preferments and entered the Congregation of the Oratory, where he soon became celebrated as an eloquent preacher. In 1876 Pius IX. made him Bishop ofl Vittona , in 1882 he was translated to the See of Oviedo, the following year to that of Cordova, and finally in IH9B he was promoted to the important archbishopric of Valencia In spite of his advanced age of 80 years, Ihe Archbishop is an indefatigable preacher and worker. Tie still undertakes fatiguing tours of Confirmation in Ins extensive diocese and quite recently ordained over 100 priests.