The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 25, 22 June 1905, Page 24

The Catholic World

CANADA— An Extensive Diocese The diocese of New Westminster, of which the Right Rev. Dr. Dentenviile is Bishop, extends from the border of the north-western United States— Montana and Oregon—to Alasika, over 1200 miles from end to end, and his episcopal duties carry him annually from one end to the other of this vast mountain territory. He makes his long trips by rajl when possible, and otherwise by steamboat, on horseback, or carriage. The big lakes and rivers within the borders of his diocese make it possible for him to make many of his journeys by boat and it is not unusual for him to ride several hundred miles in the saddle. The north-western Catholic settlements, are widely scattered, and among his charges are many Indian villages. In his dioce|se are about 15,000 Indians, of whom more than 1(0,000 are Catholics. CHJN A— Missionaries Murdered Advices have been received -at Hong Kong (says the Daily Mail ') that four Catholic missionaries and many converts have been butchered in a riot which took place at Batangi. Falther Grandjean has been in charge of the mission since 1886. Batang is situated near the frontier of Tibet in the Chinese province of Szechuan, and is a district which might be described as a no man's land, for the Chinese authorities have but imperfect control of it. ENGLAND— The See of Hexham Canoin Richard Collins, of St. Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle, has been appointed titular Bishop of Selinus and Auxiliary Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, in succession to the late Dr. Preston. Children's Offerings The Bishop of Salford, on Saturday, April 29, -received deputations of children representing every school in the Salford diocese, who came to present his Lordship with collections made in therir respective schools on or about the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19), "in behalf of the Salford jßescue and Protection Society. The collection ia known as • St. Joseph's Penny,* and was

the happy idea o! Miss Cecilia Ward, of Withington. Last year witnessed the inauguration or this scheme. This year £283 6s Bd'has been received, an increase of a little over £50 on last year's return. The children ('were received by the Bishop in St. John's Hia^, Salfordj,, Kand each received from his hands a portrait' of the late Cardinal V^uigjhan. Converts Ordained It is interesting to learn (writes a London correspondent, under date May 3) that the Rev. Mr. Evans and Rev. Mr. Hume, who came much into prominence a few years ajg^o in connection with *he Secession of a consiiderable portion of the congregation of the Protestant Qhurch of St. Michael's, Shoreditch, are now Catholic priests. Father Evans, who -was ordained some time ago, is now officiating at Brighton, and Father Hume, •who "was ordained on Holy Saturday at St.'Bede's, Rome, is expected in London shortly. He will officiate for the first time in the metropolis in St. Mary's, Moorfields, to the Rector of which, the Veiy Rev. Canon Fleming, M.R., he ascribes his conversion in a great measure. FRANCE— The President and the Nuns M. Loubet visited the Hotel de Ville at Bordeaux recently and went over the Deaf and Dumb Institute, and was much impressed by the manner in which the pupils, who 'before undergoing treatment had been quite dumb, delivered addresses of welcome. M. Loubet told the uuna who manage the institute, and the female teachers who assist them, that tie greatly appreciated the benefits of, their work. 'It is always a meritorious task/ added the President, ' to do good, and all the more so when the good is done.' ROME— The Pope's Generosity According to the Rome correspondent of the ' New York World,' an incident^ which demonstrates the unbounded charity and delicacy of Pope Pius X., happened at the Vatican recently, when the Bishop of Mende, in France, came to Rome and was received in private audience by the Pope. The diocese of Mende is known" to be the poorest diocese of France from a financial standpoint, and the Pope was very much surprised when the Bishop offered him a Peter's Pence collection amounting to £200, apologising for the smallness of the offering because of the poverty of his flock- The Holy Father, in accepting the gift, made some remarks about the love that prompted it, which is to be considered above the value of <the offering itself, and then remarked that he would also make a gift to the Mende diocese worth at least an amount equal to that he had received. So he asked the Bishop, whom he knew to have made personal sacrifices in order to raise the amount' he brought to Rome r to accept the same purse for the poor of his diocese, an offetr which the Bishop absolutely refused. The Pope insisted, and the consequence was that the prelate having refused to take the purse with him, Pope Pius X. ordered the money placed to the credit of the Mende 'diocese at the call of the Bishop, who before leaving Rome was informed that the Pope would never use a cent of tne amount for other purposes whatever. The Irish Leader at the Vatican With reference to Mr. John Redmond's visit to the Vatican on April 27, news of which was cabled to the colonies at the time, the Rome correspondent of the "Catholic Times ' writes as follows :— ' To our beloved son, Jojhn Rddm'ond, leader of the Irish Party in the House of Commons, w'th the wish that he, together with his equally beloved colleagues, using all legal and pacific means, may win that liberty which n^akes for the; welfare of the Catholic Church and of the entire country, We impart the Apostolic Benediction with particular affection. From the Vatican, April 27, 19D5. Pius X.' With these words, his Holiness signed a special blessing for Mr. Redmond and his colleagues at an audience whicfe should be historic. The Irish leader had arrived in Rome only on Holy Saturday, although he had intended to be here for the ceremonies of Holy Week. He had delayed his arrival 'because of the railway strike. Thus he reached the Eternal City only at ■three on Holy Saturday morning. He was present, with Mrs. Redmond and Irish friends, in the comipany oT the Marquis Mac Swiney r Private Papal Chamberlain, at t^-e 'Mass and Paschal ceremonies in St. Peter's. At noon on 1 Easter Sunday he was the guest of the Rector of the Irish College. Together with the Martq'uis, Mr. Redmond had on Holy Saturday paid a visit to the Cardinal Secretary of State, who received him in the most charming way. He made request later for an audience, and this was arranged for a quarter past eleven on April 27. It lasted half an hour. His Holiness made many inquiries about the political and religious conditions of Ireland, and Mr. Redmond answered him In full through the Marqjuis MacSwlney/ The leader told his Holiness

that the entire Irish episcopate was at one with, the party. Irish Catholic tolerance is deservedly famed so of the leaders of the united party since the time of Daniel O'Conmell, Mr. Redmond is the first Catholic, both Mr. Butt and Parnell having been Protestants. The The present occasion is, therefore, of peculiar interest, because it is the first on which the leader of the Irish party has been received by a Sovereign Pontiff. KUSSIA -Toleration The papers in Rome state that, on being informed of the Czar's Ukase on Liberty of Conscience, «he Pop© telegraphed to the Emperor, expressing the hope that religious peace will bring about general peace in the Empire. SCOTLAND-Death of a Priest The death of Father Alexander Mac Donald, which occurred at St. Patrick's, Glasgow, on April 28, was the occasion of the deepest regret to a large number of Catholics ia Parkfaead and Anderstan, and to the whole of the; clergy in the archdiocese of Glasgow. Father Mac Donald, who at his death was in his thirtyfifth year, was born in Loohaber in 1869. In his early years he went to reside at Greenock, where his intelligence and piety led the late Canon Taylor to interest himself in his career. He was sent to study for the priesthood in 1885 at Blairs, a,nd completed his studies at the Scots Collegie, Valladolid, where he wa^s ordained I'll J. Oi7 O . UNITED STATES— The Bishop of Peoria We learn from American contemporaries that Dr. Spalding, the distinguished Bishop of Peoria, Illinois, who had a stroke of paralysis three months ago, is now in a somewhat critical condition. New York Catholic Cathedral The Lady Chapel of St. Patrick's Cathedral, work on whiioh had been delayed for a year or more, is now nearing completion, and if no more strikes occur the officials of the archdiocese hope to see it completed for the consecration 'by the autumn. The builders h&vp been working steadily for six months and have the entire structure almost under roof. The Lady Chapel is practically the incompleted east wing of the Cathedral structure. The chapel is the gift of Mrs. Eugene Kelly, who provided in her will for its erection. It will cost, when ready for consecration, not less than £100,000. !**•