Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 50, 16 December 1925, Page 55

Catholic World

RECENT TROUBLES IN CHINA. Irish Catholic missionaries in China, men p\ t and women, refused to leave their posts durg! the recent troubles there. Their trust ting the recent troubles there. Their was in the good will of the poor Chinese was pj' . -i justified. I WORLD'S OLDEST HOSPITAL. WORLD'S OLDEST HOSPITAL. H The Hotel Dieu, Paris, is the oldest hospip tal existing in the world, according to Dr. ;i ; James Evans, an American physician, writv ing in Hospital Progress. There are some |C; in Italy, notably at Milan, which rival it ;.'■•'■' in age, and a hospital on the Island of | ; " Rhodes, now a museum, founded by the Ij;- Knights Templar during the Crusades. St. | Bartholomew's of London recently celebrated m . its 800th anniversary. But even these the || Hotel Dieu outranks by several centuries. || Its story is that of Paris, or even more, that || 'of France, and certainly it is a mirror of i the history of medicine since the fall of |j the Roman Empire. |.. A SWISS NATIONAL HOLY DAY. ijj; In Switzerland, for over a century, the jj third Sunday in September has been a na- ;\ tional holy day of prayer and thanksgiving I to Almighty God. The day is called "EidgeI nossischer Bettag" or, in French "Jemie Federal." The Swiss episcopate for this occasion us- ; ually issue a joint pastoral which is read from all Catholic pulpits in the country. Ijj.-. This year's address deals with "The Child |^ as the Treasure of the Family." It brings V x hpme the three-fold truth that parents are to accept children as coming from God, to i:. bring them up for God, and to be responsible j( s for them before God. | \. ,,. A WAR CHAPLAIN'S RECORD. General Sir lan Hamilton who commanded [j the British Forces at Gallipoli, acknowledged at a Birtish Legion banquet that the Vic- ! toria Cross ought to have been awarded to L.... Father William Finn, Chaplain to the Dublin Fusiliers, who was killed during the historic landing at Suvla Bay, and that only War Office "principles" prevented posthumous award. Referring to the presence at the dinner of the Sheriff, Councillor Finn, Sir lan Hamilton said he could not help thinking of his ;X^ : . brother, who died at the Dardanelles minisp -■'. tering to the wounded. At the time, both | Mr. John Redmond and Mr. T. P. O'Connor |:;.-. paid him several visits to see if he could not |; get a posthumous V.C. awarded. "I did my best, but the War Office was te l against it on certain principles, but not be- |':;'. cause it was not deserved. The record of [j Father Finn is the same as if a V.C. had bejen awarded." ;| v y. Father Finn, who, at the outbreak of war, was chaplain to Colonel Langdale at fughton Hall, Sancton, Yorks, was one v the first priests to volunteer for active , • service with the Forces, and the first Catholic chaplain to sacrifice his life. He was about thirty-four years of age. Accounts of the act of gallantry which

cost him his life record that, while the British forces were landing at Suvla Bay, the devastating fire, of the enemy guns caused a temporary halt of the troops from the boats to the shore. Father Finn at once rushed forward across a plank, calling on the men to follow him. His heroism put new spirit into the troops, and the landing was resumed. The gallant chaplain wa s himself mortally wounded, but he continued to minister to the dying soldiers around him until he died. No official recognition has been taken of the episode. AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY. Workmen engaged recently in the reconstruction of the interior of the South London Palace, Southwark, a variety theatre, unearthed several stone steps which are believed to be a relic of the sanctuary of the Catholic chapel which occupied the site prior to the opening of St. George's Cathedral. Experts who have been called in by the management have expressed the opinion that the steps, are of considerable age, and are part of the altar erected for the benefit of Catholic sedan chair carriers and porters, who then formed a large colony in St. George's market, near the building. Of the existence of the chapel there can be no doubt. A picture of the humble structure, with a setting of rural scenery, was in possession of Father O'Meara (for a number of years attached to the Cathedral) and is still preserved. SOCIETY WOMAN BECOMES BENEDICTINE NUN. Miss Laura Hopkins, the wealthy daughter of Mr. W. A. Hopkins, a founder of the Paris Matin, has made her profession a s a Benedictine Nun at the Chateau d'Amillis, near Coulommiers. Before her entry into religion Miss Hopkins was noted in society circles for her interest in various charities, and many society friends attended the ceremony, including Mile, de Rose, daughter of the Marquis de Rose, with whom the newly-professed Nun had been associated for years in philanthropic work. Miss Hopkins and Mile, de Rose before the war led a group of young and wealthy society women, who pooled their incomes for the maintenance of charities. They forsook society, and lived in humble quarters in one of the slum districts of Paris. Mis s Hopkins helped to establish a number of homes for poor children and for women workers. Her health broke down recently, and she decided to retire to a quieter life. DEATH OF AN EMINENT FRENCH ECCLESIASTIC. The world of ecclesiastical scholarship, the Church in France, and, indeed, the Catholic Church as a whole, has sustained a heavy loss in the death of M. l'Abbe Tixeront, head of the Faculty of Theology at Lyons and Canon of its cathedral. Born a * Erinezat, Puy-de-Dome, ; in 1856, he joined the Sulpicians,', and on complet-

ing his studies, some of which were pursued under Mgr. Duchesne, became a professor at the Grand Scminaire of Lyon in 1881. His thesis for his doctorate, Researches into the origin's of the Church at Odessa, attracted considerable attention. But his magnum, opus was the History of Dogmas, the first volume of which was published in 1905, the rest in 1912. Translated into English, it occupies in that country a place among standard theological works as much in nonCatholic as in Catholic libraries. His other works all exhibit the same standard of patient and accurate scholarship. The last to come from his pen was a small historical treatise on L'Ordre et lei Ordinations, published last year. DEVOTION OF GERMAN CATHOLICS. The solemn consecration on a recent Sunday of the German Church of St.. Boniface, in the East End of London, by his Eminence Cardinal Schulte, Archbishop of Cologne, provided another example of the devotion of German Catholics to the Faith which was brought to them by an English Saint, and of the devotedness of Catholics of different nationalities, who were once at war, to the cause of peace. Cardinal Schulte, who won the highest regard of all people for his work on behalf of the Allied war prisoners, came to England to perform the ceremony at the express 1 wish of the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, and in various addresses he delivered in connection with the occasion spoke feelingly of the kindness shown towards him by English Catholics. In a special interview with a representative of the Universe, his Eminence said- "I am happy to feel that the English people if they know how to fight, know' also how to make peace." Cardinal Schulte referred gratefully to the generosity readers of the Universe have shown towards the destitute people in the occupied area after the war. The German Embassy Wits represented at the morning functions, and the Ambassador himself, Dr.,Sthamer, attended Benediction in the evening and presided afterwards at a reception. AMERICA'S GREAT CATHOLIC' ADMIRAL HONORED. Five hundred men and women from every walk of life honored Admiral William S Benson, President of the American National Council of Catholic Men, at a great banquet to commemorate his fifty years' service to the nation. ~• -».*• Initiated by a few friends, who conceived the idea of a very modest affair, the testimonial dinner assumed the proportions of one of the most important public events in the capital this year. J; Admirals, generals, statesmen, civic dignitaries, and ecclesiastics, including I man y bishops, were among the guests. V ; ; General John Pershing, expressing his regret -at i being unable to be present, wrote: i shall appreciate your extending to Admiral Benson my most cordial greeting* His countrymen owe him much for his distinguished service, covering a lifetime. His constant devotion to his country's welfare will ever remain a striking example for'succeedtog generations to follow. \T .C> S