THE HOLY SEE AND THE FASCISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 January 1926, Page 22

THE HOLY SEE AND THE FASCISTS.

An article in the January issue of the "Month" contributed by "one who is specially qualified to write on the eub3ect, gives the following illuminating explanation of the attitude of the HolySee towards the Fascist system:— _The principle of an inviolable Papal Borne is, naturally, an obstacle to official relations between the Holy See and any Italian Government whatsoever that oc cupies the States of the Church. But it is logical and intelligible that the Holy See should manifest a certain measure of goodwill towards a Government which i more than all otbera that, preceded it' respects the sentiments of religion and of justice. Tbia reciprocal relation although far from being official, may be that it findeexpression rather in certain •d» ofoourteey than in official r X

tain friendly relations with local administrations, and they do not neglect any opportunity of manifesting, jointly with their clergy, the expression of their personal regard. A thing hitherto unheard of: In Rome itself, the Doyen of the Sacred College of Cardinals pays a courtesy-visit to the Royal Commissary. One might almost speak of a tacit modus vivendi. It finds its most inclusive expression in the liberty accorded to the great international manifestation of Catholicism which was centred in Rome during the Holy Year, and which furnished a demonstration of the freedom of communication between all the peoples of the earth and their common Father. Under the impression created by these favourable circumstan:es, there is talk even of the possibility of resuming in 1928 the Vatican Council, that was interrupted in 1870. The prophecy at tributed to Don Bosco foretold to Cardinal Cagliero that he would assist at the re-opening of the Vatican Council. The venerable Cardinal is now 83 years old. What is held in store, for Home or for the Holy See, by the next three years, which will be passed, ac far as can be foreseen, under Fascist rule? Will the tacit modus vivendi possibly grow into a compromise which, without lessening the prestige of the Holy See, will guarantee to it the fullest freedom of the Church and of Rome, without offending the susceptibilities of Ita-lian patriotism? There are not wanting those who attribute to Mussolini's talent the possibility of finding a solution for this very great problem. CURRENT NOTES. I Dr. R, J. Campbell was scheduled to preach the Gordon Memorial sermon Jn Khartoum Cathedral on January 24. Dr. Clarence E. Macartney, a wellknown fundamentalist, and minister of Arch Street Church, Philadelphia, has been appointed Professor of Apologetics and Christian Ethics at Princeton Theological Seminary. The Roman Catholic population of the United States now totals 18,559,787, an increase of 298,994 over the figures for 1923. There are now in America 23,159 Catholic Priests, 104 dioceses, an increase of 614 for the year. The death occurred at Fernando Po of the Rev. William Napoleon Barleycorn, aged 77 years. He was the first native of Africa to enter the ministry of the Primitive Methodist Church. His ministry of 38 year was spent chiefly at Isabel and Bunini. The Church of Ireland was disestablished in 1869. Since then its members have from time to time suffered material loss—during the recent troublous years very serious loss indeed; ye v this much-harassed Church, has raised the minimum stipend of its rectors to £400 per annum and a free residence. Dr. Harris Kirk, of Baltimore, has declined the invitation of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York. His reason is that the Baltimore students who attend his church, in hundreds, really need him more than the millionaires in New York. The charge of -this fashionable church has only once before been declined. Dr. Charles M. Sheldon's book "In His Steps" has been printed in twenty languages, and there have been twenty million copies issued. With the exception of one British publisher, who forwarded Dr. Sheldon 190 dollar*, and an American one, who sent one thousand dollars, the author received nothing else for his popular work. The Bishop of London, Dr. A. F. Winnington-Ingram, preaching at Westminster Abbey, said: "I am not, I confess, so much distressed as some are, at the amount of honest doubt, and questioning there is to-day, especially among the young people. It is really a sign of life. Anything is better than blank indifference. Many an honest doubter, besides St. Paul, has turned into a fervent missionary." Dr. Ephraim Ha-Reubeni, research botanist to the Government of Palestine, BUggests the formation of an international council, with headquarters at Jerusalem, to go into the botanical errors in the translation of the Bible. He points out that the celebrated "Rose of Sharon" is really a tulip, botanically termed "tulipa praecox." The lilies of the field are really the daisies of Palestine, at times huge trees like "naczuzim" and "nahallulim" are turned into thistles and thorns, and a lovely plant of the brooks is translated waste places. A recent book by Dr. A. W. Cooke, entitled "Sacraments and Society," is described by the Church "Times" as a study of the sacramental ideas in the light of comparative religion. The value of the sacraments ' Dr. Cooke takes to be that they are the means of combining a living social expression in outward worship and a life of human helpfulness, with that peculiarly individual emotional experience which leads to a personal conviction of the fellowship of the 'Holy Spirit and of communion with the Infinite. Seeing them as the flower and fruit of the long evolution of "rites," he emphasises their function in giving the Church the power to inspire and guide and strengthen the religious life of its members. Referring to the Pan Orthodox Council which is to be held in Jerusalem next year, a special correspondent of the Church "Times" states: If full dogmatic agreement between the Orthodox and Anglican Churches and ite consequent formal intercommunion is unlikely to be proclaimed at Jerusalem in 1926, its terms are now within the horizon of calm and profitable discussion. In view of the progress made in tlie past five years, who will say that when the next Lambeth Conference meets in 1930 it may not be achieved? God prepares miracles. Who shall say that the Assembly of a true Ecumenical Council and the accomplishment of Christian Union is remote? The Rev. F. G. Harvie, vicar of St. Mary's, New Plymouth, in an article in the "Taranaki Herald," refers to the temptation to exaggeration, which he considered very dangerous in religious thought. He stated: The people who rush to extremes are always the ones who, though relatively few in number, make the most noise and obtain a cheap notoriety. That is why we hear so much of these exaggerated religious beliefs to-day. We do not expect or desire complete uniformity of belief and outlook amongst the followers of Christ, but we cannot: complacently watch any exaggerations,- ---' . r ., thev always involve deficiencies , m the opposite direction. And we need 1 ,* P t y u ? due atten «on to the noise . made by the> exaggerate™; all we need • to do is to be quite sure that we ourselves are preserving the true balance i and proportion between the varied essen--1 lif » ements yirhl6h m »ke ip the Christian