The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2, 11 January 1906, Page 27

The Catholic World

AUSTRlA— Catholic Congress The fifth Austrian Catholic Congress was held in Vienna early in November. The Cardinal-Archbishop of Vienna and many other leading men were present, and \anous public questions of piactical interest to Catholics wereftiealt with in the papers and discussions. ENGLAND— Death of a Canon The death is reported of Canon McGrath, who was for many years one of the best known and most beloved priests in South London. Born in Blackrock more than 7,0 years ago, Father McGrath began his duties as a priest in Melior street Mission, London Bridge, where hundreds of Irish dock laborers had settled, and where he very quickly became a great, favorite with the men. Nearly thirty years ago he was appointed to the Mission at Camberwell, where he remained until his removal to Weybndge a few years t ago. During his missionary life he gathered into the Catholic schools many hundreds of Irish children, and on more than one occasion fought strenuously with various authorities for the possession of Irish Catholic children whose faith was endangered, lie was a warm and generous friend of the National cause in Camberwell, and frequently addressed meetings in the schools of the parish on Irish questions. FRANCE— A Military Chaplain A noble and venerable son of France has passed away. Monsignor Lanusse, the chaplain of the military college of St. Cyi, has died at the age of 87. He was of the type of the fighting priests of the middle ages, this white-haired, upright old man, upon whose soutane were half a 'dozen military medals. In 18G5 he had, without leave from his Bishop, gone out to Mexico with the French army. Five years later he was with the army in the Franco-German war, was wounded at Sedan, and had the en,amel of his Cross of the Legion of Honor broken by a spent bullet. When all the military chaplains of France were dismissed by law Gambetta retained the Abbe Lanusse, and each successive Government" of France has confirmed his position. As ■Gambetta said : ' The lads who are to be the officers of the French army can never hope to find a better mentor.' During the last thirty years of his life Monsignor Lanusse compiled what is, perhaps, the most exfc; Iraordinary manuscript history of his life and times, written in a small, neat hand and illustrated with pictures of battles in which he took' part,, and with portraits of famous men he has met, all drawn and-pain-ted by himself. The initial letters of the paragraphs

are beautifully illuminated. This book, a triumph of patience, is in 220 great folio volumes. Monsignoi Lanusse has left it to the French National Library. GERMANY— The League of the Cross The League of the Cross appears to be making headway in Germany. A branch was established the other day at Elbcrfeld. The principle upon which it is conducted there is ' Moderation for all and total abstinence some, especially for those who drink to excess.' AAA A Cardinal's Advice Cardinal Fischer, Archbishop of Cologne, visited Essen recently and addressed a crowded meeting of Catholic working men in the large hall of the Stadtgarten. The advice he gave deserves the attention of Catholic toilers in every country. There were, he observed, some who would fain persuade them that the condition of the working classes was to be improved without any thought of theiAuthor of life, nay in opposition to His holy law. Against these Catholic workingmen must be on their guard. They denied the moral order ordained by God, set class against class, and spoke of a social revolution. Such men were like the people referred to by Our Lord in the Gospel who built their houses on sand. Whilst uttering this warning, the Cardinal-Arch-bishop was far from discountenancing union with nonCatholics in social organisations. On the contrary, he told Ms hearers thalt they ought to work hand in hand with non-Cathoiics of Evangelical principles who are endeavoring to find a .solution [or social problems. Denominational bickerings her unreservedly condemned] remarking that all who have national interests at heart should treat one another with nuituak good-will and confidence. His Eminence's language bears the impress of genuine Christian charity. ROME— lrish Prelates The following members of the Irish hierarchy were in Rome about the middle of November : His Grace Most Rev. Thomasi Fennelly, Archbishop of Cashel ; Most Rev. Dr. , Henry, Bishop of Down and Connor • and the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of Ross. Impressions of the Holy Father Very Rev. Dr. O'Riordan's first impressions of the person of Pius X. will be found interesting. ' I was at once struck by. the fact that not one of the photographs I have seen of the Holy Father represents him as he really 'is to-day. The strong, rugged features they show) may describe him as he was twenty years ago, (but Pius X., who is now in Ms seventieth year, looks considerably older than they depict him. Age had only deepened the expression of gentleness and amiability on his face. Everybody knows now about .the sweetness of hi& smile when his features Wght up, but what fascinated me most of all was the wonderful blending, amiability and seriousness in his countenance.' Lecture at the Irish College The Rev. P. C. Yorke, of San Francisco, delivered an address about the ideals of an Irish student, at the Irish College, on November 9. Besides the Rector and students, there were present the Bishop of Salford and other guests, including a contingent of students from the English College. The Very Rev. Father David Fleming, 0.F.M., occupied the chair. At the end, after the chairman's words of thanks, the Bishop of Salford spoke at length, arousing great interest, on the Gaelic revival movement, which he hoped would succeed and make Ireland bilingual ; on the meaning of national sentiment in a country, the force of which in Italy had not, he said, been duly appreciated by the North-Euro-pean nations ; and the movement of social amelioration, which is going forward in Ireland. These three subjects formed the theme of Father Yorke's lecture, which had been heard with much admiration by the auditory.' The Holy Father and Poland The Holy Father, according to Reuter's correspondent at Rome, has sent to the Catholic Bishop of Kielce, in 'Poland, an instruction forbidding him to take part in Church processions of a political character. Forthcoming Beatifications It is stated that beatifications to take place in April next will include those of the Carmelites guillotined in Compiegne during the French Revolution, and Spanish Dominicans martyred in Tonkin. UNITED STATES— The Catholic University Cardinal Gibbons in a letter to the Archbishops and Bishops of the United States gives an encouraging account, of the finances of the Catholic University, Washington. He says : ' What seemed for a time the gravest of disasters has served, in the Providence of God, as a means of proving the invincible devotion of Catholics to their institutions.'