The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 30, 27 July 1905, Page 27

The Catholic World

AFRlCA— Catholic Missions in Uganda

The Bishop of Salford and the Bishop of Uganda were present at the annual meeting of the Manchester and Salford Zelator Branch of St. Joseph's Foreign Missionary Society. Dr. Casartelh presided, and stated that the two African missions at Uganda and on the Congo were, until recently, under; the care of Manchester men. The Bishop of Uganda, (Dr. HanIon) had been working in Central Africa for about ten years, whilst Father O'Cirady had only been on the Congo for about two months when he died. The Bishop of Uganda said they had about seventeen thousand Catholics in Uganda to-day, and many of them were becoming good Christians. He had over thirty priests working under him, and had now organised a sysftem of catechists who had voluntarTfy offered their services. ENGLAND— Visit of the King of Spain

On the morning after his arrival in London the King of Spain assisted at Mass at Westminster Cathedral, and was received by the Archbishop, the Chapter, ami Cathedral chaplains. Among those present were a number of Bishops from various parts of England. At the conclusion of the Mass an address from the Catholic hierarchy was presented to his Majesty, who replied briefly, speaking in Knglith. After the ■address the Bishops were presented to his Majesty, also the Duke of Norfolk and the Manjjuis of Ripon. His Majesty gave the Archbishop a beautiful gold chalice bearing tne Royal arms of Spain and monogram, for use in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The Kitig on leaving the Cathedral was accompanied to the carriage by Monsi&nor Johnson and Monsignor Moyes. Among the laiiy wh,o were present were the following: The Duke of Norfolk, the Matfq.uis ol Ripon, the Marquis of Bute, Lord Gainsborough, Lord Clifdem, Lord Herries, Lord Campden, Lord W. Kerr, Lord, R. Kerr, Lord Encombe, Lord, Landaff, Dowager Duchess of Newcastle", Count de Torre Diaz, Lord Granard, Lafd Wesitnwath, Lord William Neville, Loird Bray, Lady i Clifden, Sir William Young, Sir Thomas Esmonde, Lord Justice Matthews,, Lord Brampton, Hon. R. Erskine, Sir Joseph Walton, Sir John Knifl, Sir John Day, the Countess of Albemarle, and the King of Spain's attendants, amongst whom (appointed by King Edward) were Lord Denbigh ami Earl Kerry (Lords in Waiting). FRANCE—Appointment of Bishops

By the death of the Archbishop of Auch v (writes a Rome co-respondent) the vacant French Sees are in-

creased to twelve. It is harUly lively any effort will be majde to appoint any French Bishops before the abrogation of the Concordat by the French Government. A Roman news-paper announced recently that the Holy See was anxious to show its goodwill by consenting at the las«t moment to the nomination of some of M. Combes' candidates. That was a mistake The Holy See long ago accepted several of the nominees of the French Government, but M. Combes refused to ha\ c their appointment confirmed :by the President until the Pope ratified every one of his selections, good, bad, arid indifferent, and therebyiacknowledged the monstrous principle that the head* of the Church had no voice whatever in the appointment of the French Bishops. Where the Money Goes

The scandals of the liquidation of the property of the Congregations which have been dissolved (writes a Paris correspondent) have become so outrageous that one of the deputies, M. Congy, has given notice of an interpellation on the subject. The famous millions of the Congregations, of which M. Combes used to make so much, seem to be passing wholesale Into the hands of the liquidators. If things are allowed to go an as they are going now, the State won't get much ou|t of the proceeds. The ' Figaro ' has published, as an instance of what is going on, particulars of the liquidator's accounts in the case of an educational Congregation in a little town situated at a distance of one hour by train from Paris. .The liquidator, before going (down himself, had sent an army of clerks for the ■' preliminary work. Each of these is put down at 10 francs per day for local expenses, plus 20 francs per day for their services. They ace, however, allowed travelling expenses— and it need hardly be said flhat they find plenty of occasion for travelling—at the rate of 40 centimes per kilometre, or four times the first class fare. As it is hardly likely that the gentlemen in question order a special train whenever they wan»t to travel to or from Paris the conclusion forces itself upon one that some^ body is pocketing a handsome profit in the shape of travelling expenses. Sometimes we see in the accounts mention of ' travelling by night,' with charges •double those for day travelling, that is to say, eight times first class fare. It only means that the gentlemen in question have done tan hour's railway journey after their dinner. These accounts are really marvels. For instance, we come across unforgetable entries like the following : ' Looking out for the institution, for the Registry of Mortgages, and for the Inland Revenue officer, 48 francs.' The town is a very smAll one, and the ' search ' for a religious institution and for the_ offices of the Registrar of Mortgages and of the Collector of Taxes cannot be a very stupendous affair. The first comer would have been able to give the informatiom. Francs 48 ! for this. ' Classification and reading of deeds, 60 francs.' And last of all, ' Miscellaneous, 138 francs.' At this rate, money goes quickly. All these charges have to "be met out of the proceeds of the liquidation. The profession of liquidator has teome good— for the liquidators. Their charges are not regulated by any fixed scale, and their own sweet reasonableness seems to be their only rule. ROME— The Holy Father's Birthday

On June 2, the Holy Father's birthjday, his Holiness receued many messages of congratulation, while the high dignitaries of the Church personally tendered congratulations. The Pope has sent an autograph letter to the Cxar, than Wing him for the Imperial ukase granting freedom of religion and for inviting the Catholic Bishops' cooperation in the direction of concessions and reforms in the Church. 'The Pope concludes with a hope that a new era of peace and tranquility is dawning for the Catholic Chfcirch in Russia. An Impressive Ceremony

An imposing function was held in St. Peter's on June 6 at tjhe close of the Efucharistic Congress, in the presence of many thousands of people. The Pope in solemn procession carried the Blessed Sacrament from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter's. Such a ceremony has not taken place since 1870. His Holiness was accompanied by Archbishops, Bishops, heads of 'religious Orders, and others, to the number of several hundred. The Evils of Socialism

According to a cajole message received last week the Holy Father has issued an Encyclical on the duty of Italian Catholics to combine against and oppose Socialism. Universal Catechism

An event of great importance to the Catholic world (writes the Rome correspondent of the ' Catholic Press') is beginning to loom on the horizon. Pius X. intends

to complete the work so auspiciously begun by the publication of the Encyclical on the teaching of the Catechism by appointing a select committee to draw up a Universal Elementary Catechism, which is to be translated into all languages and to be made obligatory everywhere. The nted of this was strongly felt at the last Vatican Council. The question was discussed at great length, 'and, when put to the vote at the fortyninth General Congregation, no fewer tlrajn 535 Bisfliops expressed themsehes in favor of a Universal Catechism, while only 56 opposed the project on the ipleas that the composition of a ically good Cimeisal Catechism was beset with dnormous difficulties*. Pius X. recognises that the task is not an easy one, although, it coj^ists in formulating at most a couple of hundred ofquestions and answefs, but he has decided that it has now become necessary owing to the great increase of emigration and immigration, and the multiplied communications between Catholics of different nationalities.