THE COLLEGE FOR HIGHER STUDIES, ENGLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 88, 2 January 1875, Page 10

THE COLLEGE FOR HIGHER STUDIES, ENGLAND.

*-¥ The act o£ the Hierarchy in establishing a College of Higher Studies marks a new era in the history of Catholicity in England. It also terminates a controversy. The Catholics of England can no longer have the shadow of an excuse for wishing to mix themselves up, in the education of their sons, with heresy and infidelity. It was in consequence of long-continued representations made by the laity to Kome of the want of such an Institute as that which has now been authoritatively established that Borne represented the matter to the Bishops, who have decided upon the course to be adopted. It has pleased the Bishops, however, to consult the laity. Before any step was taken eight hundred letters were sent out for the purpose of asking their advice, and thirty heads of Religious Orders and Collegiate Establishments were called by the Bishops to council. A Rector, eminently fitted for the office by his ablities, and those special gifts so well known and recognized even beyond the confines of our Catholic circle, has been chosen by them. Men of eminence have already offered themselves for the work, and are about to occupy the professorial chairs. Will the College succeed ? We have the most perfect confidence that it will. We believe it to be the work of God. The task imposed upon it (should it fulfil all future hopes) is no doubt so great that, humanly speaking, it is well nigh possible. Faith, philosophy, and science, in accordance with Revelation, and therefore guided by the Church, have to be built up again in England in the face of an overwhelming and increasing Atheism and Materialism. If this be so, do we not require the united efforts of every Catholic head and heart ? Can we spare so much as one, however little, who may be able to aid it ? Yes it is too tame that some few persons whisper unworthy things about it. It is useless to deny this, and the sole object of these remarks is to point to the remedy. We believe it simply to consist in a greater devotion to the Hierarchy of England. With this devotion the progress of this work may be comparatively rapidly developed ; without it, it will be infallibly retarded. The voice of the saintly Father Faber is buried ia the grave, but he Lives, as he will live through all time, in his works. He has given us his Devotion to the Church and Devotion to the Pope • lie has taught us that devotion to the Church and to the Pope does not consist in barren enthusiasm and mere smoke, or in travel and gT.3ip, much less in unworthy criticism, coldness, and want of Faith and were he alive he would, perhaps, find the time had arrived to tell us that devotion to our Hierarchy consists in a loyal, loving obedience securing united action in a truly Catholic and large-minded spirit. Can we suppose for one moment that our teaching Religious Orders will refuse to help in the great work of Higher Education in the manner and in accordance with the decision and wishes of our Bishops ? We are convinced they will not. It is a work that cannot be carried out by any one Order, but only by the cordial co-operation and efforts of all, rjad the loyal acquiescence and' support of the Catholic laity j and, counting upon this, we contemplate with the most perfect confidence the future of the Cattylic College for Higher Studies.— 'Tablet,'