CARDINAL LAVIGERIE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 27 January 1893, Page 25

CARDINAL LAVIGERIE.

(From the Irish World.') (Concluded.) But, though the conflict was Bmoothcd over, the Marshal did ali he could to get rid of the Archbishop whom he had himself selected and the Minister of Public Worship Bounded him as to accepting the coadjutorsbip of the Archbishop of Lyons. But Monsignor Lavigerie made the characteristic reply that he could not, without dishonour desert the field of battle on which he bad been drawn against his will, and that he must remain in his African diocese. And there he remained, doing the work of the Church with a single-hearted zeal which never lapsed into bigotry, beloved alike by those who belonged to his own creed and the Arabs, who reverenced him as a just and kind benefactor, before whose strong will they bowed. Secure in his place, he now began rapidly to devslop these larger activities that have brought him into honourable prominence throughout the civilised world . He applied himself with vigour to the conversion of the inhabitants not of Algeria alone, bnt of all Northern Africa, to Christianity. His success was great, several of the prominent chieftains of the nomadic tribes of the interior and of the leaders of the Arab tribes being among his converts. Two of the sons of Abd-el-Eader, the Arab chieftain, he sent to Borne for education for the priesthood. Finding slavery a great obstacle to the civilisation and regeneration of the people, Archbishop Lavigerie began an active ciusade against the inhumim institution, preaching against it to vast aud enthusiastic congregations in London, Paris Lisbon, Madrid, Brussels, Milan, and others of the great cities of Europe. His visit to London witnessed an unusual spectacle. For the first time in English history two Catholic Cardinal cat at the tide of the Archbishop of Canterbury on a public platform. The chair was occupied by Lord Granville, then the Foreign Secretary la Mr <Jkd■tone'B Cabinet.

Pope Leo XIII became interested in Lavigerie's wotk and gave him large financial assistance. The Protestant Evangelical Alliance ' in Berlin and the Catholic Congress at Freiburg took the question up, j and urged active measures upon the Government- of Europe. Tbe English, French, German, and Belgian Governments took the matter in hand, and although they have not, as Archbishop, and after 1882, Cardinal, Lavigerie urged, sent military expeditions into Africa to make direct war on the traders in human lives, they established strong naval cordoni along the eastern and southeastern coasts of Africa that considerably restricted the trade. The object sought by Lavigerie and earnestly striven for by him, the Christianising and civilisation of Africs, could only be secured by the suppression of the slave trade, which is the mainstay and support of Mohammedanism, not only in Africa, but in Arabia, Persia, and other ABiatic countries which furnish tbe markets for the disposal of the Caravans of slaves that have been aod in somewhat less measure continue to be stolen out of Africa by Arab traders. With the absolute suppression of slavery the power of Moslemism in Africa would be broken and the way would be made plain for the conversion of the country to Christianity. Lavigerie did not live to sea the consummation of bis hopes, but he had the consolation of beholding the work of his latter years well established and progressing in a spirit that gave him ground to hope for its completion. As to tbe Cardinal's private life, it was one of the utmost asceticism. His living-rooms were bare of all but essentials, and he rarely passed more than twenty minutes at table. He was created Cardinal, March 27, 1882. Soon after h<s installation in Algiers Monsignor Lavigerie founded an order for the evangelisation of the natives. It was called the " Congregation of the White Fathers." The members worked with immense seal among the barbarian tribes of Africa. Many missionary stations of tbe Order have been established in tbe region of the Albert Nyanza. The aid of women workers was also enlisted in the cause, and the Cardinal established a convent near the Dutch town of Maestiicht, where Sisters could be trained for this severe work. As a direct auxiliary in the work dearer to his heart than any other Cardinal Lavigerie formed a band called the *' Armed Brothers of the Sahara. 1 ' The members take vows for five years and go wherever the Superior of the Order, the Viacomte de Bressac, may send then, When slavery is abolished the Brothers of the Order will devote themselves to protecting the feeble, establishing in the Sahara centres for the care of the sick and opening tbe interior to the civilised world. Cardinal Lavigerie's efforts for tbe suppression of the African slave trade have been productive of great result*, and his death will prove a severe blow to those interested with him in putting down tbe traffic. Cardinal Lavigerir, even as the physical man, was a magnificent type. He was 6 feet 10 inches in height and welt built. His flowing beard of silvery whiteness gave a touch of patriarchal dignity to bis kindly face, with its wtll-cut features. He was an impressive personality, and was one of the most commanding figurts of the College of Cardinals. The tomb in tbe Cathedral of Cartbage, wbicb nwaits the dead prelate, was blessed by limself, and even the epitaph already engraven on the wall is characteristic of the man and reveals in its epigramatic conciseness trace of the young French Professor of Latin Literature at the Kcole deß Cannes. It runs :— Here Rests in Peace, in the Hope of the Infinite Mercy, He Who Was Chables Mabtial Allemand-Lavigjerie, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church. Archbishop of Carthage and Algeria, Primate of Africa, and Who Now la Dust. Pray ftf t r Him.