Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 40, 12 October 1922, Page 39

Catholic World

MR. G. K CHESTERTON’S CONVERSION. • Writing of Mr. Chesterton’s reception into the Catholic Church, Catholic News Service (London) 4 for August 19, says: — ./ Mr. Chesterton has never concealed, either in his writings or his public speeches, his respect and admiration ior the Catholic religion, and after the conversion of his late brother Cecil, who was received into the Church by the Oratorian Rather Sebastian Bowden in 1912, his own acceptance of the Catholic religion has been expected sooner or later. ■/ ■ • • •• • '» . Of Mr. Chesterton’s distinction as an author there is no need to speak. His writings and his fame are known wherever 'the English language is either read or spoken. His outspoken advocacy of unpopular causes is one of the most striking features of his character, and one that is very pithily expressed in his weekly review the New Witness journal founded originally as the Eye Witness in which Mr. Hilaire Belloc collaborated with the Chestertonbrothers. ~ * ❖WWW ■ r TURKISH OUTRAGES ON CHRISTIANS. An appalling tale of outrage and murder, inflicted by the Turks, comes from Asia Minor, where no fewer than 800,000 Christians, both Greeks and-'Armenians, have been most brutally done to death. 1 N ' , ' / Frightful as the total figures are, the barbarity of . the persecutors of the Christians is more apparent when local statistics are examined. For example, along , the shores of the Black Sea are the six Orthodox dioceses of Samsonn, Neocaesarea, Trebizond, Chaldea, Rodopolis, and Colonia, where there are also Catholic missions. In these six dioceses the Turks have destroyed 874 churches, 758 schools, and put to death the Christian populations numbering 303,507 souls. In the diocese of Samsoun alone 134,028 Christians have been massacred, and 303 churches and 310 schools utterly destroyed. SUMMER SCHOOL AT OXFORD. The annual Summer School at Oxford, organised by the Catholic Social Guild, opened its sessions with all accommodation taken up. The students are distributed among Ruskin College, Queen’s Gardens, and the Jesuit house of studies, Campion Hall. _ / Dr. John A. Ryan, of the Catholic University at Washington, one of the best known writers on social topics, has come over; from the United States to give a special course of lectures before the school. In addition to the regular lectures, for which there has been secured -some of the most distinguished Catholic scholars in the country, an interesting series of discussions is being held dealing with various aspects of Christian' Democracy and the most pressing problems of the day. ' 1 This venture of the Catholic Social Guild has justified its promoters beyond all expectation. The Summer School is now an annual affair, and quitfe the most important contribution towards the -cause of Christian influence in the affairs of daily life. . . ■ , ; ; ? ; CATHOLIC WOMEN TO HAVE A COLLEGE. ' / ’’ i v 1 The - unbounded success which has attended the first year of the Catholic Workers’ College, started at Oxford under the auspices of the Catholic Social Guild and the Jesuit Fathers, has led to the proposal for a similar? institution for women in the university city. ‘ The proposal has caught on, and already a generous benefactor, ha S’* come forward and provided a hostel for the : women. A little money has. been collected, and a scheme is in hand- : to raise this to a sufficient amount to provide scholarships for "the first students; ; When this - necessary, amount is secured, the new college will open i ts doors 'to its first fstudents. But possibly a start will not be made until next I year, as in any case it is out of the question to get the new 1

college started in time for the new academic year, which, opens shortly. - ; v ; The women’s college will be, of course, quite separate and distinct from that of the men, which has Father O’Hea, S.J., as its Principal. But so far as the course of studies' goes, the women will follow practically the same curriculumas the men; and the end sought, will be the same —to train women for leaders in the Trade Union movement, and to equip them for leadership along the lines of Catholic social principles. ./ ■ LOURDES THRONGED WITH PILGRIMS. Never before does Lourdes seem ,to be thronged with pilgrims as it is at the present time. Of course this unending coming and going of pilgrims from all parts may be the usual routine; but the crowds thronging the holy place seem {.denser than ever before. Nor are the pilgrims all from France itself, though the French predominate. ..On one day recently there arrived two. train loads of pilgrims in the diocesan pilgrimage of Saint-Die, and four trainloads from the diocese of Arras. On the same day there arrived the pilgrimage of the English Catholic Association, with the Archbishop of, Cardiff at its head, and also a pilgrimage of English teachers and Children of Mary. V , • -, •• These hosts of, pilgrims were augmented later on by a diocesan pilgrimage from Albi; and on yet another day by four trains from Nancy. After the departure of these eat companies Lourdes was visited by a- ciioceson pilgrimage from Dijon, one from Nantes, and later on by a. large number of pilgrims in the national pilgrimage from Portugal. * > And so it goes on. Vast drain loads arrive and depart, only to be succeeded by further great concourses, which make Lourdes a scene of animation and religious fervor unlike anything else in Christendom. PAPAL LETTER ON SOCIAL DISORDERS The Apostolic Letter of Pius XI. to the archbishops and bishops of Italy, on behalf of domestic peace, has created the most favorable impression. It is the first time that the new Pope, or -for that matter the first time that any Pope since Pius IX., has intervened in Italian political affairs, and both the wisdom. as well as the courage of his Holiness have even at this early date been of great effect. Addressing himself to the Italian episcopate, the Holy Father says:— , " ’ ... /'Venerable Brethren,—The disorders which during the past weeks have darkened Italy have caused in the hearts off all who love their country profound sorrow and anxiety for the future. Whereas the sad condition of Italy calls in the highest degree for the unanimous - co-operation of all classes of citizens to repair the ruin caused by war, party passions have broughWbout conflicts and bloodshed'! “The sublime mission of peace confided to Us by the Divine Redeemer and love for Our country do not permit Us to remain silent in the presence of this painful spectacle. ~ Natural horror for bloodshed seems to have become extinct. Factions multiply, and all classes are torn by. violent conflicts. ‘ Immense caused, our good name abroad is affected, and, at home social and economic disorders disturb the life of the nation and will bring . about material and intellectual decay as the consequence of the fratricidal strife. ’ - ‘ % / Against this We must appeal to the elemental principles of Christianity and return to the genuine -spirit of Divine charity. The remedy is to return to God, to obedience to the - law and • St. Peter. St. Peter admonishes Christians to be subject to authority, to avoid evil, and to follow good. It will be your duty to work for reconciliation of men .and for the pacification of minds, and to this end We impart Our Apostolic Benediction.” -r?/, ■ * The belief gains ground , that the Pope . will shortly publish an Encyclical, in which there will" be some mention of the . attitude of Catholics - towards Apolitical questions : These rumors have been in the air, for some time but lack -official' confirmation. . . , .. ■ ;;/// A •/. ;