The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3, 18 January 1906, Page 24

The Catholic World

AUSTRlA— Catholic Congress The Austrian Catholics (says an exchange) have reason to be pleased with the proceedings of the Catholic Congress held in Vienna. The attendance, which included the Cardinal-Archbishop and over twenty other members of the Hierarchy, was large ,and the resolutions adopted were of a practical character. One of them proclaimed the necessity of suitable State provision for the aged, the infirm, widows and orphans, and the hope was expressed that the Government would at the earliest possible moment take in hand the question of old-age pensions and would have the aid of all parties in passing a good Bill. Another resolution urged the extension of Catholic social organisation and recommended that Catholic principles should be systematically explained by means of apologetic lectures, that the level of social life should be raised, and that the industrial classes should be carefully trained for the discharge of public duties. By way of antidote to the Protestant propaganda, it was resolved that there should be established a complete system of colportage with the existing society in Vienna as the central .body' Publications such as those brought out by Catholic Truth Societies in English-speaking countries will be circulated in the different parishes, and Catholic libraries are to be provided in all populous districts Catholic solidarity and progress will, no doubt, be greatly promoted by the Congress. ENGLAND— A Catholic Diplomat Sir Arthur James Herbert, who has just been created a K.C.V.O. by the King on his appointment as the first British Minister at the Court of Norway is a scion of the old Catholic house of Herbert of Llanarth being the second son of the late Mr. John Herbert and (through has mother) a grandson of the last Lord Llanover. Sir Arthur entered the diplomatic service about a quarter of a century ago, and had served in almost every quarter of the globe before his appointment two years ago to he Charge d' Affaires at Darmstadt whence he has been promoted to his present post. Death of a Venerable Convert The death has occurred of the Rev. Father Richard Richardson. Before becoming a Catholic he was a Wesleyan preacher. He had worked along with his brother, the late Mr. George Richardson, at Ancoats afc which place he founded a Sunday « school Attracted by the preaching of the first Fathers, of Charity Dr. Gentili and Father Rinolfi, he joined the Order and was for many years engaged in active work, especially at Newport and Cardiff. He was 86 years of age. Honored by the Holy Father The Holy Father Pius X. has conferred a Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great upon Mr. Charles J. Munich Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, in recognition of his work for many years in advancing the interests of the Catholic Faith in England. Mr. Munich fis well known in and around London as one of the most active workers in the Catholic cause. He is a member of the executive of the Westminster Diocesan Schools' Association and the Hendon and District Catholic Association • and he is also an active member of the Guild of Ransom, the Confraternity of Brothers of the Assumption and other Catholic bodies. He is principally known' however, in connection With the Catholic Association' which he founded, in conjunction with the late Mr Edward Lucas, in 1891. He was the first honorary secretary of the Association, and is at the present time a vice-president and a member of the Executive Council. FRANCE — The Municipal Council and the Nuns The Municipal Council, as >was to be expected (writes a Paris correspondent) have followed in the steps of their Hospital Committee, and by 32 against 17 have

decided that the Augustinian Nuns, who are in charge of the Hotel Dieu and of the St. Louis Hospital, under a Decree of 18J0, should be expelled, and that lay nurses should be put in charge. The substitution is likely to cost the city something like 100,000 francs, and the real character) of the decision may be judged from the fact that the nuns are to be expelled within a period of three months, and that in no case are the Augustinian Nuns to continue the performance of thdir duties under the costume of lay nurses. The majority, however, seem to have been somewhat frightened at their own decision, and their leader hastened to explain that it was not intended to enforce this decision. But we know what these declarations mean. The final decision, however, rests with the Government and the Conseii.l d'Etat, as the resolutions of t)he Municipal Council are, by themselves, powerless against the Decree of 1810, and it remains to be seen whether M. Rouvier will countenance the laicising propensities of the Council. Preparing Inventories It would be tedious to follow the course of the discussion of the Separation Bill in Senate (says the ' Catholic Times 'of December 1). Suffice it to say that the debate goes on, and that article after article is passed unchanged. The Bill will soon become law, and will be enforced on the first day of 1906. But parts of it may be in operation bciorc that date. By virtue of article three, the (io\ eminent is empowered to proceed with the inventory ot Church property the moment the law 'is promulgated ! So that France may soon be startled by the apparition of functionaries who will enter the churches, and note down the candlesticks, censers, cruets, and chalices They may even invade the tabernacles, and perpetiatc unspeakable outrages on the Eluchanstic species. For the Government is most anx/ious 1o learn what wealth the Church possesses. Some months ago it sent a request to all the priests that they should provide a list of church goods. Naturally, they declined to oblige their persecutors, who will now have to do the dirty work for themselves. And when we consider what class of men will be chosen for the task, we may well wonder whether they will perform their duties without offence. Perhaps some infamies might stir up the spirits of French Catholics to defend their religious rights. ITALY— Brought to Book A South Italian priest has just set a stirring example to those who are instituting and joining societies for the defence of the fair name of the national clergy, and to those (who are not. The Syndic and chief magistrate having vilified him in the light and irresponsible fashion authorised by lone custom, has been condemned to three months' imprisonment, costs, etc. ROME— A Nunciature at St. Petersburg Count Witte is about to propose to the Pope to establish a Nunciature at St. Petersburg A Russian Minister has been accredited to the Holy See for several years, but the Russian Government would not perinUt a Papal Nuncio to be sent to St. Petersburg. The Irish Dominicans The Feast of St. Clement was celebrated in Rome by the Irish Dominicans v>ith great solemnity. A grand banquet was given at St. Clement's, many Irish ecclesiastics of note being present. Private Audience The Holy Father towaids the end of No\ ember received in private audience the Most Rev. Thomas Fennelly, Archbishop of Cashed, the Most Rev. Dr. Henry, Bishop of Down and Connor ; and the Most Rev. Dr. Denis Kelly, Bishop of Ross. The three Prelates presented Peter's Pence, for which lus Holiness thanked them most heartily, according to each a separate audience. The Pope made special inquiries concerning the condition of Ireland, for ( which country he expressed special love and attachment. His Holiness was delighted 1 ' at the good prospects lav her future, when he hoped, that the people, being prosperous and happy at home, would not emigrate. UNITED STATES— TotaI Abstinence Society Archbishop Ryan, of Philadelphia, on returning to his diocese from Rome and Ireland, brought with him a cordial blessing from the Holy Father for the Priests' Total Abstinence League of. America, which has already enrolled over '7,00 priests ahd several Bishops in its ranks. Archbishop Ryan is the honorary president of the League. He himself tqok the pledge one day nearly, seventy years ago in tho streets of Thurles from Father Mathew.

GENERAL The First Missionaries in Ceylon " The Catholics of Ceylon recently observed tho 400 th anniversary of Portuguese occupation, which first brought" Christianity 'to ' the island. in Manchuria ->-"'*' In Manchuria two vicariates-apostolic have been established and count 34,000* Catholics. They are directed and evangelized by- French Missionaries ; -one of the "Bishops is Mgr. Lalouyer. The greater portion of the- Manchuria mission was destroyed during the war of 1900. • N The Church iv Sweden The Vicaij Apostolic of Sweden, writing to Cardinal Gibbons, says : 'We are very few and live in an atmosphere! which is not only anti-Catholic but rationalistic. Our hope is to found a Catholic school which could educate boys at least up to the time of their first Communion.'