Here and There

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 50, 16 December 1925, Page 45

Here and There

There has been only one divorce in the Philippine Islands in the past fourteen years, states the Archbishop of Manila. Sixty-eight young religious were in the French column which went to the relief of Soueida, in the Syrian campaign. The Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle (Mgr. Thorman) confirmed 652 children recently at St. Mary's, Sunderland. Old parishioners who are now priests presented a cheque to Canon Harris, of Esh Laude, for his golden jubilee. Princess Maria Therese, eldest daughter of the Duke of Wuerttemberg, has taken final vows as a Benedictine nun. A bell, christened "Pius XI," has been presented to the Assumptionist chapel in Belgrade by the Nuncio, Mgr. Pellegrinetti. Councillor D. J. Clarke, just elected an Alderman of the Birkenhead Council, first introduced Sir Harry Lauder to vaudeville. Women of the parish of Waterford (Wisconsin) cleaned, painted, and repaired the school building, which was falling into ruin. A Kirkham couple who have celebrated their golden wedding commenced work at the ages of seven and eleven respectively. West Grinstead, Sussex, where the annual pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Consolation took place a short while ago, is probably the only place in the south of England where Catholicism was kept alive through the days of persecution. The Church of Santa Maria in Campitelli, Cardinal Gasquet's titular church, was grievously damaged by fire recently. The total damage represents the sum of about one hundred thousand lire. The fire raged for five hours before it was possible to overcome it. * * * Bismarck's Horror.— " Bismarck had a horror," says T.P.'s and CasselVs Weekly, "of being buried in the cold dark earth into which no ray of sunshine can ever penetrate. He would : rather be devoured by birds than by blackbeetles.' "When I die,' he goes on, ' I would like to lie in a hammock hung between high branches of a beech-tree and swaying freely in the wind.' " • • • The Attraction. —According to " Fra Junipero," in the Universe, "Jack" Hobbs told a good story at v Cambridge, the other day of a game at Lord's between two teams of clergymen. There was a solitary spectator in the middle of the grand stand, and one of the clerical players ventured to congratulate him upon his interest in the game. "Don't kid yerself, guv'nor," was the rather cruel retort. "I ain't come to watch yer play. This is the only place with an allday licence." I heard the other day, writes a correspondent of the same paper, of a delightfully unconscious truth spoken by a Protestant. Two men met on a train journey and started a conversation. Thinking that his companion was a Catholic, one said: "I suppose you are of the True Religion?" "No, thank God," said the other, "I am a Protestant."

Spain and America. —A Columbus Day observance in which 12,000 citizens of Madrid participated was held at the statue of Christopher Columbus, in memory of Spain's vital part in the discoverer's voyages. Ambassador Moore of the United States placed a large wreath at the foot of the statue, and after recalling the Spanish monarch's encouragement and assistance of Columbus, eulogised the great navigator as a link further cementing "the friendship between two great countries." * * 4 Victory for Catholic Education. Another victory for Catholic education has been revealed in the recent decree of the Italian Ministry of Public Instruction granting official status to the Superior Normal School of Mary Immaculate. This means that diplomas and certificates issued to the graduates of the Catholic Normal School will have the same value as those granted by State institutions. It also means that graduates of this institution are entitled to teach in the public schools and lycees. The Mary Immaculate Normal Institute is a training school for women teachers. Coming so soon after the official recognition of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, the granting of official status to this Catholic school has been a source of great satisfaction. •• a ■ Commemorating Columbus.— Italy celebrated the 433rd anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America as a legal holiday on October 12. Flags were displayed on public buildings throughout the land and addresses on Columbus were made in the schools. Genoa, reputed birthplace of the discoverer, paid a particularly impressive tribute to him. A solemn "Te Deum" was sung in the Cathedral of St. Lorenzo and a great procession wound its way to the Columbus monument. Civil and military as well as ecclesiastical officials took part in the observance, and all the countries of the Western Hemisphere were represented by their diplomatic officials. An exhibit of relics of Columbus and his voyages was held at the Municipal Palace, and large throngs visited it.