CATHOLIC NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 43, 23 February 1894, Page 21

CATHOLIC NEWS.

(From Contemporaries.) New England has 230,000 more Catholics than Protestants. Of the 95,000 inhabitants of the Sandwich Islands, 25,000 are Catholics. A new Trappist monastery has just been opened at Troisveaux, in the diocese of Arras, France. Leo XIII. has presented to the Czar an ancient and exceedingly interesting >hv Missal. The Moat Rev Dr Duggan, Bishop of Clonfert, has celebrated lately his eightieth birthday. Ad multos annos. Prince Maximilian, nephew of 'he King of Saxony, was during the week ordained a priest. He was an efficer in one of the leading regiments in his uncle's army. He is 21 years of age. In his Christmas allccution the Holy Father said that, if peace and charity hai disappeared because the sight of Heaven had been lost we must not despair. Days of rest were returning through the religious awakening of the people. According to an Amsterdam correspondent the Rev Father Van Oppenraaij, a Jesuit, has obtained with great distinction the title of Doctor of Literature at the University of Leyden, which is by no means favourable to religious men. A Jewish R.bbi, the Rev Dr J. Silverman, addrersing a large congregatian in the Temple Em&nuel, New York, while protesting Bgainst any bill in aid of denomma'ion»l ichools said:— "The Catholic religion is the greatest pawer in the world for good. It is a greater power for peace than all the standing armies of Europe." Bishop Zerr, of the Catholic diocese of Tirafpjl, Kherson, Russia, is in Rome, endeavouring to remove the obstacles to an agreement between Russia and the Vatican. The Pope's recent utterance concerning the bad treatment of Catholics in Poland seems to have annoyed the Czar. There was no other course open to the Pope bat to denounce persecution. It may not be gecerally known that Signor Tito Mattei, the musical composer, whose melodious waltz is familiar in evtry drawingroom in the kingdom, received, when only twelve of ago, a gold medal from the hands of the Pope for playing at the Vatican. The rare ceremony of the abjuration of a professor of tbe Jewish creed took place lately in the chapel of the Urenlioesat San Nazisaro, Verona, Tbe convert was Signorina Fausta Tedeechi, and the ceremony waß peiformed by the Coadjutor B.shop of the diocese. Father Kenelm Vaugban, of England, who spent three years in a missionary journey through South America, from Panama to Patagonia, aidreste-i the s udents of Johns Hopkins University the other day on the subject of big adventures. The journey was made on muleback, on the backs of Indians, in canoep, in hammocks and on foot,

The Redemptorists of the Eastern Province of the United States have purchased a large tract of land, at Chelaea, near Atlantic City, New Jersey, from the Atlantic City Land Company, and will soon erect a handsome building for retired and sick clergymen of their congrega'ion. -, The Jesuit Fathers have founded an astronomical observatory at Zwka-wei, near Shanghai, in China. They have also erected in their church an organ entirely made of bamboo. It was pat up by one of their Brothers, and with such succesa th it its music ia said to be incomparably sweet. In fact it is saia that such a beautifal tone could not be heard in any chorch in Europe. The Fathers besides publish a religious paper set in Chinese characters. On tbe Feast of All Saints, Mr Samuel Allman, native of Cork, in Her Majesty's 69th Regiment, stationed ia Mulia, received the habit of tbe Augustinian Order as L*y Brother at Sc Augustine's Novitute Cirta Vecchia. Brother Allman served seven years and six months with his regiment when stationed in Daolin. He was ona of the guard of honour detailed for Lord Aberdeen on tbe memorable day when that nobleman left Dublin in 1886. The ceremony of reception was witnessed by a large number of Irish, Maltese and English friends, who were afterwards entertained in a very hospitable manner by the good Fathers of the Order. Brother Allman's name in religion is Patrick Augustine. A Catholic priest, who refnsed to give his name, recently per. formed an act of more than ordinary heroism during a fire in Pearl street, New York. When the firemen fled from the building, leaving Angustus Mullinger almost buried under a heap of burning ruins from which it was impossible to rescue him, the priest entered the burning structure, and, amid tha blinding smoke audflamea, administered the consolations of religion to the dying man. The prie9t, whoever he may be, has earned for himself a niche in the edifice of fame. During the performance of his most sacred duty he sustained iojury to the bands. Some statistics relating to the Catholic Church in Great Britain which are just published, show tbat there are in England at tbe pre•ent time fifteen Sees, with eighteen Bishops (Shrewsbury having a co-adjutor, and Westminster two assistant bishops in partibus.') The total number of priests in England is 2,613. Scotland has six bishops and 366 priests. The numbers show a considerable increase, estimated at 10 per cent, on the previous year. There are about 160,000 negro Catholics in tbe United States ; there are twenty. one sisterhoods teaching in 108 schools over 8,000 negroes. Four communities are especially devoted to the negioes : the Bisters of St Francis ; the Sisters of tbe Holy Ghost, San Antonii, Texas ; the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Mother Katherine Drexel's community, and the Mission Helpers of Baltimore. St Joseph's Seminary of Baltimore and its feeder, the Epiphany College, Highland Park, Baltimore, are training young men for the negro miißions. A new building was opened for tbe students of St Joseph's Seminary, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Cardinal Gibbons officiating. Mr Cbauncey Depew, who has just returned to America f-om Europe, had a lengthy interview with Leo XIII. when in Rome. " The Pope," he Bays, " is nine months older than Mr Gladstone, aod I consider him the stronger man of tha two." His Holiness discussed the Labour Question, and in the course of his remarks said the Church's policy was founded and rooted upoa the doctrines of the fatherhood of God and tbe brotherhood of man. The impression left on Mr Depew was that L2O XIII. is a man of intense convictions very strong intellectuality, great learning and absolute fairness. The members of the Catholic Working m.-nd Congress who recently asßemb ed at Turin, have entered their solemn protest against the attacks on Christianity by the anti-religious Press of the Continent. They call upon their brethren to shun all those newspapers which wbilt professing enlightened principles are doing their best to undermine all religious faith, especially ia Italy and France. AU those who are not compelled by eenous professional motives to read these papers are asked to abstain altogether from their perusal and to support instead the newspapers authorised by tbe local ecclesiastical authorities. On Sunday morning Leo XIII. celebrated Mass in St Peter's in pretence of a congregation computed at 15,000 pereoas and consisting for the greater part of members of deputations from the various Catholic societies of Rome. Afterwards, in reply to an address, his Holiness apt ke of the Christian glories which had been subsUuted for tb« Pagan glories of ancient Rome. He concluded by declaring that those who should seek to revive the glories of Paganism and deprive Rome of the diadem with which God had crowned her by the bandl of 8t Peter, would be fighting vainly against the decrees of tbe Almighty. His Holiness, who looked in excellent spirits, was loudly cheered by the immense multitude, both on entering and leaving the Batilica. Scarcely a month passei that some local paper does not chronicle the re-opening of some of its old miaiioni in Spain by the sons cf St Dominic. The latest has been at Oaerai, in the province of Almeria, which is situate in the extreme south-eastern part of the country. Thaoki to the instrumentality and inexhaustible charity of a distio-

guibbed Catholic lady, who ia devoting her immiose wealth to th« restoration and re-establisnment of the different Orders in their ancient homes, once more the white habit of the song of De Gasman is to be seen in the streets of Cuetas. Since their advent there has ariaen a collect in which the Beven Fathers and two lay Brothers are daily engaged in teaching the arts and sciences under the presidency and rectorship of Father Boda, C.P., from the mother house at Vergara. Mademoiselle Hatzfeld, at the last meeting of the Liverpool French Literary Society, read a paper on " Les Couvents au Point de vue Social," in which she gave an interesteng account of her own experience whilst an inmate of a convent, how «be went unsolicited, and how, after a say of three years, she left without the slightest difficulty. She referred to the beginning of religious Orders, and pointed out how such institutions from the very first enlisUd a great amount of sympathy, and rightly so, as they aimed at improving people, and making tbe world happier and better. Abuses, observed Mdlle. Hatzfeld, might occur—as in every other institution— bat such things were rare, and perhaps it was as well that one who knew coovents should give to othen— often prejudiced— a plain expression of opinion as to their objects and work. That hysterical person, the " Rescued Nun," was so uni'ortunate as to go down to Bournemouth for one of her lectures last summer. At tbe desire of somt of the members of his congregation Father Cooney, the Jeeuit superior in the town, took the matter up and began to institute inquiries, which have resulted in a crashing refutation of her story. Eventually Miss Golding's sister, Madame de Meilhac intervened, first in an interview with a journalist, and afterwards in some letters to the Bournemouth Observer. This lady entirely discredits her sister's story, and thereby confirms the conclusions otherwise arrived at. Father Sydney F. Smith, S.J., collected all the materials of this instructive history, and made out of them a tract for the Catholic Trnth Society, which will appear in a few days. The natives of Palestrina, through their Sindaco, or Mayor, propose to organise a memorial in honour of the great musician GianPietro Sante, commonly known as Paleßtrina, in consequence of bis having been, born in that town. The works of Paleßtrina— mostly Masses— are familiar to all students of sacred music. Palestrina aa every Catholic musician knowß, flourished during the second half of the sixteenth century, and was one of the early glories of Italian music. The present proposal is to complete tbe restoration of the cathedral where Palestnna received baptism, and where bis first musical compositions were performed. It is intended to complete the memorial in 1894, so as to celebrate the three-hnndredth anniv.rsnry of his death. The Holy Father has seen big revenues considerably diminish of late years, but tbat circums ance does not prevent his annually providing for the wants of many. For the late Christmas igtes hit Holiness caused his private burser to distribute thirteen thoaaand lire among poor Roman families, and three thousand lirt were bestowed upon indigent priests. This is a considerable amount when we remember tbat the present situation of the Papacy reduces it lo subsist upon tbe charity of the faithful. Misery is co universal at Rome to-day that palaces and sacristies are equally besieged by the poor who pray for the smallest possible aid. The Pope's almoner Montignore Cassetta, is co overwhelmed by similar demands that we' are told he does not khow how to dispose of the innumerable begging letters which are constantly brought to him. As to private charity no one can deny tbat the Roman nobility are extremely generous to' their compatriots, whilst|the|foreign colonies on their part give, and give largely, to multitudes of Italians. M. Casimir-Perier is, after M. Carnot, the first functionary in France. If so minded, he could point to a saint in his family. This is Rose Philippine Ducbesne-Perier, commonly known as Madame Duchesne. In 1852 she died in the odour of sanctity in the United States, Bfter having founded in that country tbe congregation of Nuns of the Sacred Heart. She was fellow-worker with the famooi Madame Barat, the foundress of the congregation in France at the beginning of this century, and of whom \* has been said " She was a plebeian in blood, but a patrician in eoul." Madame Ducbesna passed the greater part of her life in America, evangelising savage* and founding churches, hospital?, and schools. One of her companions wrote of her, " All that I have read of the greatest saint* does not come near what I have seen her do." The present M. Casimir-Perier would do well to take a leaf out of the book of hi* saintly cousin somewhat removed. She delighted in evangelising savages and sinners. In tbe anarchists of the hour he has worse savages to deal with than those of the Rocky Mountains. The Rev Anson T. Colt, an Episcopal clergyman of Brooklyn, N.Y.whowas received into the Catholic Oharch lately, had been' heretofore devoted to the ins ruction of deaf mutefl at the little Episcopal Mission of St David's. Mr Colt is a nephew of the late Episcopal Bishop Brown, of Fond dv Lac, Wis., by whom he wai ordained to the ministry ten years ago. The young minister was at the time almost deprived of the use of speech through stammering. His case was consdered almost hopeless, but be felt such eagerneM to engage in rtligious work that under the advice and tutelage of tba

famous deaf-mute instructor, Rev Dr Thomas Gaullandet, he beran spiritual labour among the deaf mutes. He became an adept in the sign language and other methods of communication with the deafmutes, and laboured successfully among them for eight years. Two jears ago be recovered tbe use of his speech, and waa assigned to the little Misiion of St David's, still continuing his office of religious instructor of deaf mutes of the Episcopal faith. There is great grief among these ; while they aod all who know the earnest young convert, are constrained to admire the self-sacrificing spirit in which he has followed his convictions. The annual distribution of Christmas presents to the poor in connection with the Anglo-American Conference of St Vincent de Paal took place at the Church of the English Paseionists, Avenue Hocbe. Tbe gathering was a pleasant and a merry one. The priests of the mission wore present, and all the active members of the conference, including the energetic secretary, M. de Sooza. Upwards of • hundred persons went away laden with more than enough for a Christmas dinner. They entered one after the other with an original bow or courtesy, and were introduced by name. More than one was ready with a word or a joke to exchange with tbe genial Father Mathew, who knew each of these sheep of the flock. He is their providence, as certain rich people are his providenc. He is the mysterious channel through which money flows from a few well-filled purges into tbe funis of the Society. The other priests present connected with the mission were— the Very Rev Father Wilfrid, first Prior-Conaultor ; the Very Rev Father Osmund, Superior ; the Rev Father Bernard and the Rev Father Leo. Some interesting statistics relating to the Catholic Church, both at Home and abroad, have just been published. It appgars tbat the clergy in England and Wales at the present time number 18 biahops (including thret coadjutors or essistant bishops) and 2,613 priests, and tbat Scotland has 6 bishop*, with 366 priests. The churches and chapels in England and Wales (including those in private houses) are 1,404, and in Scotland 340. Tosse figure?, as compared with those of 1891, three years back, show an increaee of about 10 per cent., and are more than double of those of the year when the hierarchy was introdoced into this country. Turning to tbe city of Rome, we find that there are now 62 cardinals, and as the full number is 70 there are eight vacancies in tbe Sacred College. Out of the whole body of cardinals 34 are Italians, 10 are AustrUns, Germ ins, or Hungarian', 4 are Spanish, 1 Portuguese, 1 Belgian, 1 of the United Slates, and 3 are British subj -c s. Toese last-named are Cardinals Vaaghan, Logue, aad Morao, Archbishops respectively of Westminster, Armagh, and Sydney. Tbera are throughout tbe world 10 patriarchates, with 13 patriarchal Sees, 8 of the Latin and 5 of the Oriental rite ; and the total of tha arcabishopa aod bishops in communion with the Pope and See of Rome appears to be aa marly as possible 956. One bishopric in England— that of Clifton— is now vacant ; and it would seem tbat there are 42 Catholic peers of England, Scotland, and Ireland and also 53 baronet?. Nine Catholics in all are members of the Privy Council in England or Ireland ; four are members for Eoglish and oce for Scotcb, and 66 for Irish constituencies. At the Coroner's inquest, a tale of heroism on the part of the Dominican Sisters was told in connection with the story of tha barting of Edgewood Academy at Madison, Wis. Bister Bertha was tbe first one to discover the fire, and after giving the alarm she hastened np tbe stairs to the third story, where the little girls were sleeping. The fire originated in a cloßet about six feet from the door of the dormitory in which the little girls slept, and this room was filled with dense smoke when the Sister reached it. Notwithstanding she had been ill, she entered the room, and seizing one of the little girl», leached the door with her and laid her upon the stairs for others to take down, Then she went down one flight to get a breath of fresh air, being almost overcome with smoke. Res Using that she must work quickly, if at all, she returned to the room before she bad scarcely recovered. Reaching the second child, she succeeded in getting her off the bed, when she fell with the little girl to the floor i in a swoon, and knew no more until she found herself outside the building. Sister Marcelline found Sister Bsrtha, and took the first child rescued down stairs. Begging two young men who came up the stairs just than to save the Sister, she undertook the rescue of tbe other three children alone. Groping her way through the stifling

smoke, she succeeded in finding their unconscious bodies, the last being that of Margie Stark. With this she started to the door, and and was met by one of the young men who had rescued Sister Bertha. Ha took the child and assisted the Bister to a place of Bafety. la a few minutes more the entire floor was ablaze.