The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 27 July 1899, Page 27

The Catholic World.

GENERAL.

CANADA.— Death of a Distinguished Priest— The Rev. Dr. Elena, V.G., for many years prient of the parish of Formosa, near Walkerton, Canada, was buried there on April 28. He was a noted scholar, and was universally esteemed. His career was in many ways remarkable. He was born in the Austrian Tyrol in 1817, of a noble family, and educated in the University of Padua, of which he was an L.L.D. He subsequently practised law. and was for some years a legal adviser of Pope Pius. He was also a member of the Austrian Parliament, and for a time mayor of the famous City of Trent, at which place, in 1563, the great Council of the Catholic Church was held after the Reformation. In 1864 he adandoned his brilliant position in the world, and Btudied theology in Rome, and when fifty-four yeare of age was ordained a priest. He then left his family and friends, and before going to America in company with Father Louis Funcken, organised the Resurrectionist College at Berlin, and subsequently founded another college of the same Order in the State of Kentucky. In 1874 he settled down as parish priest in the little German village of Formosa, within a few miles of Walkerton. There he remained for oeventeen years during which he built one of the finest churches in Canada, and when finished it was out of debt. He was a man of humble piety and great learning.

ENGLAND.— Procession of School Children in Manchester* The annual Whit- Friday pro ession of the school children took place at Manchester towards the end of May. The display was on the usual elaborate scale, nnd the crowds who lined the route of the procession from the Square to the Infirmary were as dense as ever. This Whit-Friday demonstration is one of the popular institutions of the year in Manchester. The organisers neglected no opportunity of adding to the spectacular effect. Each school was headed by a cross-bearer holding aloft a processional cross. In most cases the cross-bearer was accompanied by four acolytes, all wearing cassocks and cottas. Then came a band. After the leading banner —always a very elaborate affair — marched the clergy ; then, with more banners and smaller emblems and perhaps another band, came

the children, their teachers, and the members of the various guilds, the adults bringing up the rear. The Italians, as is their wont, made a brave show. In addition to a large crucifix, they carried with them a great statue of the Madonna, decorated with fine white lilies. Prior to the departure from the Square the whole body of proces«ionirts had joined in singing ' Faith of our Fathers,' and in their subtequent tou <■ of the city some of the sections occasionally varied the monotony of the march by the singing of some favourite hymns.

ROME— Ordination at the English College.— The Rev. E. A. Theed, a convert Anglican clergyman, formerly of Plymouth, was one of the students of the Collegio Beda who recently received ordination at the hands of Archbishop Stonor. Father Theed said his firnt Mass in the Church of St. Pancratius, and was assisted at it by the Rev. Father Maturin, unother convert Anglican clergyman.

Students of the Scots' College in Danger.— six students from the Scots' College went out in a boat near Porto d Anzio to meet what they believed to be a British vessel. The steamer turned out to be an Italian mail steamer. Owing to the boatman's bad steering the boat was run down, and the students narrowly escaped drowning.

SCOTLAND —Death of a Well-Known Catholic —At Fochabers during the lust week of May the death took place of Mr. Thomas Clapperton. Born in 1824, dfceaspd came of an old Catholic stock, connected with Fochabers for generations. He was a Justice of the Peace for the county of E' gin, and an ex-member of the Parochial Board. He numbered amo g his relations Provost Clapperton, of Dundee. M msignor Clapperton, of Fochabers, and Dean (Uapperton, of Buckie ; al*o the late Mother Margaret Theresa, who returned from a French convent to found a convent in Scotland. About 20 years ago Mr. Clapperton bought the estate of Potterton, Bellieloie, Aberdeenshire, toe management of which formed his principal occupation till his death. A good and progressive landlord, he rebuilt most of the steadings on the farms, improved his mansion-house, and the draining and planting of his estate. The funeral took place at Bellie Cemetery, and was largely attended.

Additions to a Training College.— Additions are to be made to the Training College conducted by the Notre Dame Sisters at Dowanhill, Glasgow, and include the erection of a chapel and a

eohool, in which the students may have practical experience of their work. The improvement scheme will cost £6000.

The Secretaryship of the Glasgow League of the Cross—The Rev. T. P. O'Reilly, M.R., !6t. Alphonsug, Glasgow, has resigned after several years' able service the secretaryship of the Archdiocesan Conncil of the League of the Cross, a post for which he was peculiarly fitted. As a temperance advocate Father O'Reilly has not a superior in the Archdiocese. The Rev. P. Houlihan, St. Agnes, has been elected to the vacancy.

A History Of Galloway.— The Rev. Sir David Oswald Hunter-Blair, Bart , is writing the historical introduction to the final volume of the Ayrshire and Gilloway Archaeological Association. The volume, which will appear m the autumn and is to be profusely illustrated, is on 7 'he Fu't (treat Churches of Galloway, and treats of Dundrennan, Sweetheart, Witholm, Glenluce, and Lincluden Abbeys. Than Dorn Hunter-Blair, whose paternal estates are in this district, no more able nor more sympathetic pen could have been secured by the A^ocint:n\

UNITED STATES.— The Gruce Institute, New York.— The first exhibition by the pupils of Gra<e Institute, New York, was held on May 10, and proved a complete success. The Institute was founded in February, 181)8, by ex-Mayor William R. Grace, and has been liberally endowed by him and his brothers, Mr. M. P. Grace, of London, Mr. J. W. Grace, and the Hon. Dr. Grace, of New Zealand. Its object is to furnish instruction in the domestic arts and scieuces, in the trades and occupations in which women may be employed, and to afford protection, instruction, and assistance to young women. The work is carried on and all the classes are conducted by the Sisters of Charity ; but the pupils are admitted without distinction as to religious belief.

A New Cathedral-— O n Sunday. June L there was to be lad ati Newark, the corner-stone of a magnificent new Catholic Cathedralthe completion ot which will cost a million dollars.

Bequests by a Bootblack.— A lately deceased Loi Angela bootblack, Stephen bylvany, bequeathed the bulk of his estate of £2000 to the Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles. The will provides that a male orphan asylum shall be erected with the pioeoula of the estate, to be under the agency and manairement ot the Bi-lmp of Monterey and Los Angeles and his successors in office, the sole condition of the bequest bi ing that the funeral expenses ot the testator be paid and a suitable headstone and iron railing be provided for his grave.

Paying their Respects to the Papal Internuncio.— The delegates of most of the European powers assembled at the Hague Peace Conference left cards, shortly after their arrival, at the residence of Papal Internuncio. This was their way of answering Italy's protest against the inclusion of a Papal delegate in the Conference.

Archbishop Ireland and the Peace Conference.— Whilst on the Continent Archbishop Ireland gave the following synopsis of the result of his observations regarding the l'eace Conference . — I find that intelligent men of Italy, France and Belgium everywhere are taking a deep thought as to how they can contribute their quota toward advancing the chief object of the conference. Bitr ideas. like the oak, take time for development. The disarmament idea has developed slowly, and has been aided by a fortunate force of circumstances. The unique conference now in session at the Hague is a positive credential ot Christian progress. The broad problem is how to save human life and lighten the burden ot those who labour bo that men may not be needlessly sacrificed nor uselessly burdened. International arbitration can be made effective. At least to a large extent war can be made humane without either abhorring or stigmatising the sword. Never beiore has such a conference as that at the Hague sat in a council chamber. The interests and to some extent the well being of humanity aie entrusted to its members. It one conference cannot solve the whole question at once the idtas that are now tcattered broadcast will take root in the people's minds.