GENERAL NEWS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 28, 12 November 1897, Page 31

GENERAL NEWS.

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Premier of Canada, waxes eloquent on the subject of the Pope's vitality and intellectual powers. He says :—: — "His Holiness filled me with wondormeut as to how so much vigour and keen intellect could be housed in such an emaciated body. The Pope is bent double, and appear to be in the frailest health, though he is not troubled with any bodily ailment, and Ms whole mental machinery is marvellous. I was amazed at the profundity of his knowledge of Canadian affairs, was charmed with his exquisite gentleness and sympathy, and I was moved deeply at the supreme elevation of his Christian aims. "

On the occasion of the recurrence of the feast of his patron, St. Joachim, the Holy Father dispensed through his almoner, Mgr. Constantini, the sum of 16,000 francs in beneficent works. Twelve thousand francs were utilised for the poor of the different parishes, being distributed in the form of monetary aid and of articles of primary necessity, such as beds aud wearing apparel ; and 4,000 francs went to the poor clergy of the district. An English High Church organ culls the following from the Indian Churchman :—": — " A Mr. Messmore, writing in the Indian Witness^ of July 3, makes some astonishing revelations about the proceedings of the Salvation Army. In the month, of May, he says, the Salvation Army officer at Moradabad distributed 40 rupees weekly to those who attended religious services three times each Sunday. The rule was, and still is, that each adult attending received half a rupee on Monday morning. Be he heathen or Christian the money was paid. Be the man or woman destitute or in good circumstances it made no difference, the half-rupee was given. Christians of the Methodist Episcopal Church found it very profitable to attend the Salvation Army services. In their own church they received nothing, but were asked and expected to give their mite in the collection ; at the other place they had to give nothing, and on Monday morning there was half a rupee for them. For the sake of being definite, I mention the name of Deya Ram, who went twice during the month of May, and received one rupee. -He would have gone oftener, but his Christian friends talked to him Until he was ashamed to go. The same policy was followed with

the schools, where children just beginning to attend were given an anna a day, and old scholars more, and these sums are of course, by no naeansinsignificant in comparison with the average wages of lower class natives. The money was not only wasted, but a power of evil too." There is a great deal of such evil work in. other parts of the world as well as India. How many old women *would attend " mother's meetings " if they received nothing but religious help 1 The Archdiocese of New York has a population of about a million Catholics. It has a. Cathedral built of marble, which rivals in splendour some of the oldest shrines of J Europe : "it Has besides some 210 other churches, parochial and conventual. It has over 20 homes for destitute children ; it is well .supplied with schools and colleges and teaching Orders, whilstthe, spiritual wants of the people are ministered to by 500 priests; ' ' The Bishop of Durham has," expressed a r wish that .groups of students might be formed among us who would -patiently consider the conditions of labour and of living among those engaged in our great industries with a view to just improvements. England has brought the problem upon us, and England must solve it. One simple duty is. laid upon all of us. We can practically acknowledge our responsibility as purchasers for the conditions under which the goods we buy are produced, and resolutely avoid ;the purchase of cheap bargains, which too often represent sweated labour." These words (says the Catholic Times) do honour to Dr. Westcott, and are worthy of everyone's attention.