The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 17 April 1913, Page 55

The Catholic World

ENGLAND RETURN OF FATHER VAUGHAN. After a year's absence—a year of most strenuous and widespread activity—during which he has practically 'done' Canada and the United States— Bernard Vaughan is about to return to England. It is perhaps not generally known that the mission of the eloquent Jesuit has been pre-eminently a charitable one. His main object has been to help financially his struggling brethren in the vast Zambesi mission. There the first Jesuit Fathers of the English mission have a herculean task and the sparest of means to accomplish it. THE BISHOP OF SOUTHWARD. Bishop Amigo, who has just celebrated his silver sacerdotal jubilee, has deservedly received congratulations from hosts of friends both at home and abroad. His work in Westminster and in Southwark as priest and Bishop (says the Universe), has been one longcontinued effort of quiet and unobtrusive labor, the result of which is apparent to those in touch with those places in which Bishop Amigo has worked. All his friends will wish that the Bishop of Southwark may be long spared to rule the diocese over which he exercises such an excellent influence. WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL. The decoration of the interior of Westminster Cathedral makes sure if necessarily slow progress. The latest portion of the work to be taken in hand is the completion of the Lady Chapel on the left of the High Altar. Here the marble decoration of the wall is complete. The mosaics include a panel of the Madonna and Child, by Miss Gertrude Martin, from a design by Mr. Anning Bell, and four recesses containing the prophets who predicted the birth of Christ. They are fully in keeping with the beautiful Byzantine style, and when the whole scheme is finished its richness and magnificence will be very striking. Asked when the decoration of the Cathedral was likely to be completed, Dr. Jackman, secretary to Cardinal Bourne, replied: ' One can hardly say exactly, but it may be finished in 200 years or so.' The last gift to the -Cathedral is an Archbishop's crozier, presented by the Women's Catholic League. This is of silver, ornamented with precious stones, the whole designed in accordance with the Byzantine style of the Cathedral. FRANCE WELL-DESERVED HONORS. The Catholic missionary (remarks the Universe) gets so little recognition from the outside world that one is delighted to hear of the distinctions recently conferred by the Academie Francaise on two devoted pioneers of the Faith, the Abbe Heinrich, Superior of the Marists in Japan, who has been elected a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and Brother Evagre, Provincial of the Christian Brothers in Palestine. The French Academy gives a good many distinctions, but none, surely, can wear them with a better grace than the noble laborers in the mission field. That the world recognises them is a tribute to its implicit admiration of 'the science of goodness.' THE FIGHT FOR THE FAITH. An appeal which the Committee of Religious Defence has just addressed through the press to the Catholics of France will cause many men and women in that land to recognise how false and deceptive were the promises of the enemies of religion when they persuaded the people to place the destinies of the country in their hands. ' To-day,' declare the committee, ' France is beginning to measure the ravages of the destruction that has been wrought. She has seen generations grow up without the knowledge of God; has listened to the teachings of their masters and is able to judge the work of the lay schools; has heard the sick in the

hospitals reject mercenary services and beg for the attentions of the religious and has discovered, disorders in her army and anarchy in her arsenals. The nation is growing weary of subjection to Freemasonry and is turning again towards the Church. This is no empty boast. The Committee of Religious Defence have exerted themselves energetically to promote the Catholic revival, and they have ample evidence of the growing success of their efforts. The position of the Church* is far stronger than it has been for years, and there is reason to hope that the new movement will go on until Christianity is again triumphant throughout France.. GERMANY THE ANTI-JESUIT LAW. . , The German Centre Party's motion for the repeal of the anti-Jesuit law was intro'duced by the leader of the Reichstag Centre, Dr. Spahn, on February *l9 (writes the Cologne correspondent of the Universe). The motion was carried by the votes of the Centre, Socialists, Poles, Alsatians, one Dane, and three Progressives, against those of the National Liberals, the Progressives, and the Right. The Reichstag has now five times voted for the repeal of this unjust law. The members of the Government apparently did not think it worth their while to be present. Their seats were vacant during the whole proceedings. The Liberals, who talk so much of liberty, naturally voted against the Centre motion. The day before the Liberal Kolnische-Zeitun thought it necessary to publish a leading article speaking of the ' national unscrupulousness' of the Centre deputies, and invited the parties to give a vote of confidence in the Government by voting against the Centre motion as a set-off against the declaration of the Centre's want of confidence in the Government. The Federal Council now has the last word. But it is hardly too bold to prophesy that it will not have the courage to repeal the law; the Liberal agitation is too fierce. It is, by the way, extremely interesting to observe that the Liberal Press pretend that the chief reason for maintaining the present law is because the Jesuits would disturb religious peace.' It is fairly obvious who the real disturbers of the religious peace really are — none other than this samu Liberal press. PORTUGAL INHUMANITY OF THE GOVERNMENT. If a tithe of the infamous crimes committed by the authorities in Portugal since the establishment of the Republic had been perpetrated in a country where Freemasonry did not exist the Government would' have been so held up to the reprobation of the world that the continuance of its brutal policy would become impossible (remarks the Catholic Times). But, under Masonic influence, journalists who are usually ready enough to expose and denounce cruelty remain silent. The instruments of the lodges in Portugal may satiate their passion for inflicting the most degrading punishments on their political opponents and the British newspapers coldly record the facts. Indeed, it is only of late they have begun to give their readers news of the horrors of the new Portuguese regime. Seeing, however, that even the Daily News and Leader records that the Monarchist prisoners, many of whom have not been proved guilty of any offence, are consigned to damp underground dungeons, devoid of hygienic properties, and given food, which is uneatable, that all the gaols are crowded with prisoners who are thus illtreated, and that according to a semi-official statement twenty-six of them have been removed to the Lisbon Lunatic. Asylum, having been driven mad, perhaps the editors of our daily papers may at last pluck up courage to brave the Masonic mandate and utter a protest against the fearful outrages.