The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 51, 23 April 1897, Page 23

The Catholic World.

BRAZlL.— Extraordinary Death of an Archbishop.— The Rio Janeiro correspondent of the Osservatore Cattolico in telegraphing to it the announcement of the death of the Archbishop of that See gives circulation to a rumour preferring a serious charge against the Freemasons. This prelate, whose death ia no small loss to Brazil and to the Church, was a man of most earnest zeal and indefatigable energy. He was rigid in the discharge of his duty, and as he died suddenly after having refused to bury a member of the Masonic sect with religious rites, the rumour arose that he had been poisoned by the Freemasons. The correspondent states that after having made special inquiries he finds that the report lacks confirmation. No doubt the suddenness of the Archbishop's death can be accounted for by a natural cause, but the fact of its having occurred after he had refused Christian burial to a Freemason suggested the idea that the members of the craft had resorted to foul play. It is curious how quickly such rumours take wing in warm latitudes, especially when the people are of an imaginative temperament. But the condemnation of Freemasonry by the Church should make Catholics all the more slow to accept accusations against them unless they are unmistakably proved. CANADA.— Decay of Anti-Catholic Prejudice —The old prejudice amongst Protestants against adherents of the ancient faith is slowly but surely dying out in the Domain. In proof of this the number of Catholics obtaining official positions in all branches of civil life may be cited. Thus, the new speaker of the Ontario Legislature is a Catholic, and the Toronto Telegram, in commenting upon his appointment, says, " As the representative of an Ontario county, Alfred Evanturel, M.P., is entitled to compete for all the prizes which the province offers to her public men. The fact that Mr. Evanturel is French in origin and Roman Catholic in religion should neither help nor hinder him in the race." Catholics, in the persons of Mr. Thomas Murray and Mr. John O'Donoghue, have just been elected Mayors of Pembroke and Stratford respectively. Ottawa and Brockville have frequently elected Catholic mayors, but the Protestant majority at Kingston have, unfortunately, always exhibited a narrow bigotry by passing over eligible candidates for no other reason than that they profess the religion of their forefathers. CRETE.— Catholics in Crete.— The Voce Mia Veritd publishes some interesting details on the state of Catholicity in the island, the condition of which is now the one subject of discussion throughout the globe. The number of Catholics there is but small, being a mere thousand out of the two hundred thousand Christians. At one time the island contained as many as ten bishoprics, but the invasion of the Mussulmans and the spread of schism gradually diminished their proportions. In 1874 Pius IX. re-established the diocese of Candia, putting it under the care of the Capuchin Fathers. Of these there are six priests and five lay Brothers at present in the island. Dr. Donnelly, assistant prelate to the Archbishop of Dublin, i& titular Bishop of Canea, of which mention has been so often made in telegrams from the seat of war in Crete. FRANCE.— Raising the Standard of Religious Art— Various efforts have been made in France of late to raise the standard of religious art in churches. These efforts have been attended with only partial success, since statues of saints, crude, ill-proportioned, and Fometimes grotesque, are still to be seen in churches remarkable for their artistic beauty. The latest attempt to remedy this state of things and at the same time to stem the tide of pernicious literature and pictures is the foundation of an association known as that of Notre Dame des Arts. Its object is to place art in general under the protection of the Blessed Virgin, and it appeals to artists of evtry class, from musicians and painters to engravers and workers in metal. The appeal is being heard not only by distinctly Catholic artists but by outsiders who happen to be touched by the vein of religiosity abroad. Thus, at the close of the 1 9th century, painters and writers are banding together and publicly drawing inspiration from the source whence Raphael and Corregfrio drew it in the privacy of the studios centuries ago. The of the association is the Church of Pont de l'Arche, in the department of the Eure, but it has besides in Paris a chapel given over to its use in the Church of St. Roch. The opening of this church for its present purpose was recently the occasion of an interesting ceremony, presided over by Mgr. le Nordez, Titular-Bishop of Area. Fees for Church Sittings.— A discussion has been going on for some months past in the French Catholic Press as to the expediency of abolishing the charge made for the use of chairs in French churches. The controversy is not likely to lead to any change in the existing system. The fee for the use of a chair at Mass on Sun-

day is usually one sou — a sum that cannot be considered crushing even to persons in reduced circumstances. Moreover, those who do not like to pay it can remain standing, as indeed a great many do in Paris churches. In a multitude of the rural parishes of France it would be impossible to meet the expenses of the church if the chairs were free, for so long as the priest receives any stipend from the Government the peasant will consider that he pays in a roundabout fashion his Bhare of the cost of upholding religion, and that he is in greater need of sous than his cure. The New French Cardinals. — it is reported that the three French Cardinals named in the next Consistory will be Mgr. Coullie, Archbishop of Lyons, Mgr. Sourrien, Archbishop of Rouen, and Very Rev. Father Captier, Superior-General of the Priests of St. Sulpice. Of the selection of the two first there is no room to doubt. But concerning Father Captier there cannot be the same assurance. The French Government aimed, above all things, at having three Cardinaux de Couronne, that is members of the clergy having direct relations with the Government in virtue of the Concordat. Father Captier would be what is called a Cardinal dr Cur it; a French ecclesiastical resident in Rome, and a desirable source of honour to his Government, but, at the same time, not one over whose actions the Government might at any time hope to have influence dir ct or indirect. It is not, however, improbable that Father Captier will be named Cardinal, but that a third Cardinal de Couronne is almost sure to be decided on. The Persecution of the Religious Orders.—Notwithstanding the serious reverses that the Government have sustained in battling with the religious Communities over the question of taxation, it is carrying on the campaign with renewed ardour. This has been especially the case in the diocese of Rennes. There all the Communities have been served with warrants, the Superiors without exception having refused to pay the unjust claims of the tax collectors. Iv each case such reasons for resistance have been given as will necessitate the decision of a court. Among the religious at Rennes who are now engaged in litigation with the Government are the Carmelites, the feisters of the Visitation, the Ursulines, the Petite Soeurs des Pauvres, the Clarisses, and the Dames dv Sacre-Coeur. Throughout Brittany the resistance of the religious orders to the fiscal measure introduced by M. Ribot may be described as absolute. In this they show Armorican strength of purpose. Determined not to betray their trust they quote the ancient motto of Brittany, " Potius mori guam foedari." ROME.— The Coming Canonisations.— On Sunday, Feb. 7, the Sacred Congregation of Rites held a full assembly in the Vatican, under the presidency of the Holy Father. In it were promulgated the final decree relative to the canonisation of the Blessed Peter Fourier and the last decree but one regarding the Blessed Antonio Maria Zaccaria, founder of the Barnabites. With respect to the former, the tuto proccdi jwtext was omitted, signifying that there is now no ecclesiastical obstacle to his canonisation, and in the case of the latter the miracles proposed for canonisation were declared authentic. When the tuto has also been given in the cause of the Blessed Zaccaria arrangements will be made for the grand ceremony of canonisation. These preparations are neither slight nor simple. Two Commissions will be named' to see to their execution. The one, composed of the Cardinal Prefect, of the Secretary, and of the Assessor of Rites, will " take due measure for the solemn canonisation ceremony."' The other, composed of live cardinals and of the members of the first-mentioned Commission, is called the Commit-sion ad dirimcudax cvntrovcrxiax (for arranging difficulties). and decides all questions that may arise concerning expenses, precedence, and the like. Three Consistories must take place before the day of canonisation. The first will be secret, and in it, after the Holy Father has delivered an Allocution relative to the coming canonisation, a complete report on the entire question will be read, and his Holiness will ask the opinion of the Sacred Colleare. Should this be favourable the Secretary of Rites will communicate with the Secretary of the Sacred Congregation of the Council in order that the latter may send out letters of invitation to the "bishops to come to Rome. These letters will assume the form of an " intimation " to those bishops resident within a certain radius of Rome, of an " invitation " to the other bishops of Italy, and of an •• announcement" to the remaining bishops of the world. A public Consistory will then take place in which the Consistorial advocates will plead the canonisation cause, and will be replied to by the Secretary of the Briefs ad Principex, but in which no vote will be taken. A few days before the canonisation another Cons>i»tory will be held, this time " semi-public." In it the cardinals and Bivhops, who will have previously received the report of the cause, will deliver their individual judgment thereon, and the Holy Father will declare the day of the ceremony. The formal judgments given by the cardinals and bishops on this occasion will afterwards be published in the Ada Canonizationis. Jews Receive Baptism. — For many a year there has existed in Rome a pious association for the conversion of heretics and infidels. Old age, however, has not affected its vitality, and in the " Catechumens' Institute " a considerable number of persons who are not of the fold yearly receive religious instruction, and afterwards the Sacrament of Baptism. Of those most prominently connected with the institute at the present day may be mentioned Commendatore Pacelli, the well-known Catholic journalist, and Baron d'Aubigny, a scion of a French noble house, now resident in Rome, and prominently connected with philanthropic works. On Tuesday, February 15, an imposing function took place in the chapel of the institute. His Eminence Cardinal Parocchi, Vicar-General to the Holy Father, conferred the Sacrament of Baptism on no fewer than ten Jews. In this connection may be mentiontd another conversion which took place in solemn form. On Sunday the Rector of the North American College received into the Church Mr. Adolphus Ruppel, of Hamburg, a merchant, who has large connections in the United States. The ceremony was attended by a large number of Americans. Many Germans were likewise present.

SOLOMON ISLANDS.-A New Marist Mission.-After a lapse of fifty years Marist missionaries are about to go to the Solomon Islands to convert the natives. The mission has just been conferred upon them by the Holy See. The first missionaries went there in 1845. They were Marists under the leadership of a Marist Bishop, Mgr. Epalle. The Bishop was quickly martyred by the savages, and soon afterwards three of his missionaries were not only killed, but roasted and eaten. A similar fate was reserved for others. Not long ago a young priest of the Foreign Mission, Rue dv Bac, surprising an interlocutor by his exultant and joyous manner in connection with the sufferings of martyred missionaries of recent times, replied : " But we hope to be martyrs also." A similar hope must animate the Marist Fathers now about to go to the Solomon Islands. UNITED STATES— The Two Vacant Bishoprics.— The two vacant bishoprics of Wilmington and Mobile have been filled up by the appointment of the Very Eev. Felix Hintemeyer, 0.5.8., and the Very Rev. Edward P. Allen, D.D., to the respective Sees. Father Hintemeyer is at present Vicar-General of the VicariateApostolic of North Carolina, and one of the most learned of the American Benedictines. Dr. Allen, who is an American by birth, though born of Irish parentage, began his ministry at St. Bridget's Church, Framingham, Massachusetts, where he served as curate for a few years. When the Very Rev. Father Byrne, Vicar-General of Boston, became president of Mount St. Mary's seminary, he chose Father Allen as vice-president. Four years later Father Allen succeeded to the presidency, in which capacity he has worked with, such success that he has now been chosen by the Holy Father for the important bishopric of Mobile, one of the oldest in the States, it having been erected as a vicariate as far back as 1824, under the saintly Bishop Portier.