The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 16, 22 April 1909, Page 631

The Catholic World

ENGLAND— A Notable Lady

Mrs. - Charles Slade, who died recently at Hampton Court Palace and was buried -at Ryde,\ was the widow of the late General Marcus Slade, a former" "Governor of Jersey, and later a resident of ■ llyde. The deceased lady was the mother of the distinguished officers MajorGeneral J. Ramsay Slade, C.8., and Lieut. -General .F.. G. Slade, C.8., who was a companion v of the late Prince Imperial of France. _. . " " ~

ITALY— The Parliamentary Elecftons

The Catholics o"f Italy (says the Catholic Times)' are ■ girding themselves for an attack - upon the strong places " of anti-clericalism. The permission given them Jby the Holy Father to take part in the Parliamentary contests ' where the, enemies of religion put" in an appearance .has ' been largely availed of, and .in quite a considerable number of constituencies the issue is : for or against the Church ? The TJnione Cattolica has issued a manifesto appealing to the Catholic electors to prevent the formation of a Bloc majority in Parliament. The association advises that the ecclesiastical authorities should be consulted on the situation and that when in thefr opinion it is advisable Catholic candidates should come forward, there should be a general rally of the Catholic voters to their assistance. It also urges that men who" seek the suffrages of the electors should be required to give pledges not only that they will be favorable to religion but that they will support the programme of positive reforms which the Catholics have for years past maintained and defended. It is not improbable that one of the results of the forthcoming battle in the constituencies will be to bring about such an agreement amongst the Catholic leaders as will ensure unity in forming the outlines of a Catholic Parliamentary policy.

ROME— The Congregation of Rites

Cardinal Martinelli-,' the' new Prefect of the Congregation of Rites, is sixty years- of age, a native of Tuscany, and a member of the Augustinian Order. His -Eminence first made his now extensive acquaintance with America as Visitor of the Irish Augustinian Houses in the "United States, for he was for a short time Provincial of his Order. In 1896 he became Papal Delegate at Washington, an office he held for six years. -

The Holy Father's Earthquake Fund

At the beginning of March the Holy Father's Earthquake Fund had reached the magnificent total of £200,000. The fund has been used for the purpose for which it was raised with a promptness and energy which has saved it from the severe comments expressed in the European press generally in regard to what may be called the official fund. The latest contribution to the fund was a sum of £2740 presented by Monsignor O'Riordan from the Archbishop ,cf Dublin and the dioceses of Raphoe, Kilmore, and Derryi. The Pope warmly expressed, his thanks for the gift, and remarked that it was a second offering from Derry.

Lenten Preachers

The preachers appointed to deliver the series of Lenten sermons in the cliief churches tlttroughout Home .assembled on February 23 in the Consistory Hall of the Vatican forrr_ the purpose of making their profession of faith in presence of the Vicegerent, Monsignor Ceppetelli, Patriarch of Constantinople. At the conclusion of the ceremony, which, of course, was a mere formality, the body, accompanied' " by the Cardinal- Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, were received - in audience in the Throne Room by-. Pius "X., who desired to give them some instructions regarding their Lenten sermons. To the parish priests, who accompanied the body of preachers, the Pope- delivered first a short address reminding them of their responsibilities. Pius X. exhoi 1 - ' ted them, to have always before their minds those princi-.^ pies by which their actions should be guided and their ~~ ministry fruitfully exercised. - Speaking to the preachers,' the Holy Father said he had nothing new to tell them. Their sermons were to be simple and earnest, with the simplicity and conciseness of tlie Gospel itself. At the conclusion of his address, his Holiness invoked a blessing on the parish priests and the preachers chosen for their churches, and retired wishing them every success in their ministry. The Rev." Father Robert Hugh Benson, M.A., on the invitation of the Very Rev. Father Whitmee, was to deliver a series of Lenten lectures in~ the Church- of StJ Silvestro in Capite, and the Very Rev. David Fleming, 0.F.M., was to preach in the Church of St. George and the English Saints.

SCOTLAND— Free School Books

. At a private meeting of the Glasgow School Board, the question of putting necessitous, children, attending Catholic schools on the same footing with regard to free books as ■ necessitous children at board schools was discussed, and by a majority it was decided that free books should be' supplied to poor Catholic scholars. The provision of free books to children in voluntary schools has likewise been agreed to by the Edinburgh School Board.

SPAlN— Death of the Cardinal Primate

The late Cardinal Sanc'ha, Archbishop .of. Toledo ani Primate of Spain, who passed a^ay about the" end of February, was a democratic prelate greatly beloved Jby his people. During his illness a steady.. stream of .men and :. women from all classes of society visited "the episcopal palace day by day to inquire as to his condition, and, on the announcement of his death, the regret Avas'deep and ;- universal. The Cardinal Primate lent his aid to every . popular movement for the benefit of the Spanish people, and when they found themselves face to face with want he begged from door to door for the workers and the poor.

UNITED STATES— The Bishop of Peoria

A- committee representing 179 priests of, the.- diocese of Peoria, U.S.A., has given out- a contract "for 'thd'-:. construction of a residence to cost" £4000, which" will be 'presented to Bishop Spalding, u'poa -his retirement -from the episcopal residence in Peoria.; ". *-t - ' ''

The Church in the Philippines

Tho Right Rev. ' Mgr. Jaoves^J. Carroll, . Bishop of JNuev-a Segova,,. Philippino Islands, \_ was conseorated on .Sunday, February 14," at the Manila "Catlfedral; in the presence of scores of clergy arid "an immense congregation. Most _ Rev. Ambrose Agiiis, Apostolic Delegate, officiated, -^.d-jras- assisted by Archbishop Harty and- Bishops Hendrick and Dougherty. ' ' "

Death of- an Editor

Eev. William Devereaux Hughes, for many years editor of the Catholic World, and for twenty-six years a niem"ber of the Paulist community,- -has passed "away at ■ 9 New York in his fifty-second year. - -... /

The Catholic University

The Very Rev. Dr., Thomas J. Shahan's installation on February 25 as provisional rector of the Catholic University of America .was attended Avith brilliant academic ceremonial, and was graced , by "the presence of Cardinal Gibbons and the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Faleonio.N The faculties of the University made a special effort to render the function one of especial brilliancy, not only on account ot the personal esteem in which Dr. Shahan is held among his colleagues, but because it marks the advent of the nrsb member of the professorial body as the supreme executive officer of the University. .After the installation a reception was held for the retiring Rector, Bishop O'Co'inell, and for the new Rector.

c Visit of Bishop McSherry

x '.Sr 11 -^. 1167 ' Bishop McSherry, -who was on a visit' to tlm-^United States in the early part of March, was received, with much kindness by prelates, clergy, and lay friends. Cardinal Gibbons,, . wlio, with Dr. McSherry was present at the ' Eucharistic Congress in London, gave him a - warm- welcome at Baltimore. The Governor of Pennsylvania invited him to meet the members of the Senate and ... House of Representatives. His Lordship was much gratified at the signs of Catlfclic 'progress he had witnessed: on every hand. •- • v •