The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 41, 12 October 1905, Page 27

The Catholic World

CEYLON— The Late Archbishop The remains of Archbishop Melizan, of Colombo, who died recently in France, are to be taken' to Ceylon for final blurial. The Archbishop's oft-repeated desire was to die in Ceylon, wtiere he hoped his bones would repose. Through tihe courtesy of the Government permission has been 'granted for the interment of the remains in, St. Lucia's Cathedral. FRANCE— Preparing for the Future The ' Matin's ' correspondent at Brest states that the Bishop of Quimper has sent a pastoral letter to tihe priests of his diocese, laying before them a plan to levy a voluntary tax ol 50 centimes on each inhabitant in order to assure an animal stipend of 765 franca tot every priest. The Bishop asks for comment on his suggestion. A Pilgrim Train I 'have been to see a pilgrim train start for Lourdes (writes the Paris correspondent of tihe London 'Standard '). The big, bare, Austerlitz station was filled from end to end with) sufferers of every k#nd. But I saw hope stifle pain, faith triumph over human weakness,, and charity at its kindly, unselfish work.' Parochial Associations Catholics in France are preparing in good time for the changes which they will be called upon to meet when the Separation Bill passes tihe Senate and becomes law. In several dioceses, motably in the archdiocese of Paris, they are forming parochial associations, with, the object of providing for the ministration arad the ministers of Divine worship. These associations are to <be carefully distinguished from the associations of worship which the Bill, when it is promulgated as law, will set up throughout France. For the recognition of local associations of worship, as provided by the Act, is la, "matter for ecclesiastical and canonical decision, and as such will be accepted or rejected by the siupieme authority of the Holy See. Meanwhile, until the Concordat is publicly and legally repudiated, and the Separation Bill put in force, the Bishops are preparing for the support of tthe various parisihes, thus securing a nucleus of maintenance until such times as the Pope decides upon the exact line of action that he will advise. This wise provision on the part of! the Catholics stirs up the anger of the sectaries, who. hoped that the Separation Bill would prove the destruction of the Church ; it may prove her salvation. GERMANY— Sunday in Strasburg A glorious day was Sunday, August 19 f) in Strasburg (writes a correspondent of the ' Catholic Times '). The General Catholic Congress was opened heare with service at the Cathedral and a procession, the like of which I have ncvex witnessed, though I ha\e much experience of the crowding and swarming of men. Thesa German Catholics build wisely, land it is, no wonder that Pope Pius X. recommends their action as a model for other Catholics. They are establishing their organisation more and more on the strength of the working men. A workers' procession is now a regular feature of the openintg of the Congress, and year by year the demonstration grows in proportions amd splendor. This year special train after special train poured its living freight pf toilers into the city, and it was a magnificent slight when they were all drawn up in order with their flags and musical bands. Imagine a procession numbering no less than 36,000 people, all belonging to the classes whose muscles and sinews are well developed by hard work. The Church is a power when it can be the prime mover in such a scene, and its power no one can destroy. The processionists passed beside a tribune where sat amongst others the Bishops of Strasburg and Met/, Assistant Bishop Zorn \nn Bulaeh, the Ablb'Ot of Orlenberg, and Dom Pathier. Halting for some minutes, the leader of this vast array of workers briefly addressed the Bishops, and then the gathering proceeded on its way. The meetings at the Fest-Hall have been very large, and the speeches spirited. Assistant Bishop Zorn von Bulach,, in the course of an address, said Sbrastaurg had never before seen such a procession as. that by which its streets had just been traversed. ROME— The Swiss Guards Already preparations are being made in Rome for the great anniversary fete of the Swiss Guards', which wss to ha\e been in October, blut has now been fixed for next January. This fete will celebrate the fourth century of their existence at the Vatican, where they

were first called, 200 of them, in 1505, by Pop* Juliu» 11. Julius ll. 's predecessor, Nicholas V., was the real promoter of this body, but he could never carry out his idea through the opposition of the Ambassador ol the powerful Louis XII. The Christian Brothers' Schools I am pleased to be able to state (writes a Rome correspondent) that the results obtained in this year's examinations by the boys amd young men attendlne the schools of the Irish Christian Brothers a-t Rome have been, such as to. distance, if possible, those of preceding years. To state this is to pay the Mg|hest tmbwte to these most capable educators, for it is not untrue to say that Catholic educational institutions are discriminated against at Rome and throughout Italy,* here as everywhere half the Church's battle beiMg to tJhe sohotols. So little injustice is itoere fei this statement that one can point to the laws regulating the condition's of examdnatiobs, and additional proofs it is not necessary to invoke. When, therefore the pjupils) ol the day and evening classes of the Irish Cihiristaajn Brothers, whto carry their commercial and technical courses up tto the licenza, or matriculation, rank with the bes>t, it is easy to see how twccessrul the idea of the late Cardinal, Jacofodni has proved. He was Vicar of Rome for only a "brief period before his death,, five years ago. RemenYbaring the achievements of these educators at Gibraltar, he hastened to bring them to Rome, i n order to make headway, agaiinst the tiide of ir religion in the sohools. RUSSIA— The Late General Gerard The btody of General Sir Montag)u Gerard, of the Indian Army, who died at Irkutsk on his way home from Manchuria, was conveyed i n a gun carriage fromi the Nicholas Station, St. Petersburg, along the Ncvsky Prospect to the Catholic Church of St. Catherine, where a Requiem Mass was celebrated. The body was temporarily deposited in a vault, pending its despatch to Scotland. SCOTLAND— CIericaI Appointment The sensation caused by the conversion of the Rev Mr. Chaaloson, Presbyterian minister, Tfoornlieb'ank, to the Catholic faith, and his public announcement of same; to his congregation (says la Glasgow correspondent),, have been somiewhat revived by his arrival in Glasgow after receiving Holy Orders in Rome, where he has been 'studying for the past few years. Speculations for some tima past were very keen as to the parish to uihiiohi Father Charleston would be allocated. To the surprise of many, his Grace Archbishop Ma,guire hag appointed him to Kinkintilloch, a 'small town some six or eight miles from the city. Father Charleson bears the reputation of being an eloquent speaker. It is,, therefore, not to be wondered at that a crowded congregation listened with rapt attention to his first sermon, which was noted for its simple earnestness. UNITED STATES-A Princely Gift The p.rincely munificence of Mr. E. J. Lebretora, of this city (says the San Francisco 'Monitor') will duplicate for Los Angeles his magnificent gift to San Francisco of the Old People's Home, ujnder the direction of the Little Sisters of the Pooir. The institution which Mr. Lebreton's generosity is about to provide will materially outrank every * other charitable foundation in the southern city. The Little Sisters of the Poor had already es'ta'blisheid their mission in an humJble way in Los Angeles, but demands upon the accommodations afforded by their resources have steadily outgrown their ability to meet them, wtven lo ! Mr. Lebreton. quietly arranges to build and equip, at Ms own private expense, a bo-mo cq'ual in all respects to the splendid institution for which San Francisco is indebted to his noble Christian bounty. The cost of the new home will approximate £50,000, but, as the Los Angeles • Herald ' remarks, ' the giver of this large sum to aid the ftlonous work of the Little Sisters of the Poor has made, an im-.estment that will yield better returns in the satisfaction of having done an eminently pood deed than is yielded by all the dividends of the Standard Oil Company.'