The Catholic World.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 36, 7 September 1899, Page 24

The Catholic World.

AFRICA— The Heroism of a French Priest— At a council meeting of the Royal Niger Company held towards the end of July. Sir George Taubman G-oldie presiding, the remarkable courage displayed by Father Rousselet, of the French Catholic Mission, the Societc des Missions Af ricaines, in remaining at his post at Issele during the native rising in the late autumn of 1898, was brought by the governor before the attention of the council. The reports of senior Executive Officer Craster and Major Burdon, commandant of the Royal Niger Constabulary, as to the highly beneficial effect that resulted from Father Rousselet's conduct in preventing the spread of violence and revolt were also put forward. The council, feeling great admiration for the heroism inspired by high motives in suoh a position of danger, unanimously resolved to present Father Rousaelet with a souvenir in the form of a watch bearing the following inscription : — ' To the Rev. Father Rousselet, from the Royal Niger Company, in recognition of his Christian heroism in remaining at his mission during the native rising at Issele in the autumn of 1898.'

BELGIUM.— The Church and State-— Writing in a recent issue, the London correspondent of the (Jlaxtjow Iff raid speaks in the highest terms of praise of the Churoh and its State connection in Belgium. He says : The long predominence of clericalism is not nearly so remarkable as most people suppose, for the Church and national sentiment have always hitherto gone hand in hand. . . . In fact, the triumph of clericalism in Belgium has in the main been the real triumph of Democracy over a somewhat narrow oligarchic ring. . . . The Clericals are quite as much in favour of labour legislation as their united opponents, the Liberals and Socialists, and it is very doubtful whether, for the present, at any rate, the Liberals and Socialist, who cordially dislike each other, can successfully work together against the Church.

EGYPT— The Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria.— Bishop Macariua was publicly enthroned on July 20 on his appointment by the Pope as Catholic Coptic Patriarch of Alexandria with the title of Cyril the Second, thus completing the relations between the Catholic Coptic Church and Rome after an interruption of about seven centuries. The see of the Patriarch of Alexandria extends over all Egypt and Abyssinia, but since the schism of Dioscorus in the fifth century the Church has been divided, and the Catholic branch has dwindled until to-day it numbers only 25,000 in a total of <>00,000 Copts. But it is showing elements of revival, possessing better educated clergy than the other branch, styled Orthodox, which disavows Papal jurisdiction.

ENGLAND.— The Pro-Cathedral of St-iNicholas, Liverpool—The Catholic pro-Cathedral of St. Nicholas, Liverpool, having been privately sold to the London and North -Western Railway Company, who require the site for an extension of their line, the Catholic authorities of the diocese have decided to build a cathedral on a commanding site on Mount Pleasant. The edifice, which is to be a very handsome one, will servs two large Catholic parishes.

Changes in the Portsmouth Diocese —The Rev. E. Rivara having resigned the charge of St. Edmund's Church, in the Avenue, Southampton, is being succeeded by the Rev. Michael Barry, of the Catholic Church, Gosport, to which the Rev. J. J. Hallv, curate of St. Edmund's has been promoted by the Bishop of Portsmouth. Father Hally was previously curate at St. Joseph's under Canon Scannell. Hia place will be takpn by the Rev. Lawrence Doran, now curate at Newport, Isle of Wight. The Rev. E. Rivara was the recipient of a handsome presentation from hia friends at St. Edmund's Schools.

St- Mary's Church, Moorfields.— The fate of St. Mary's, Moorfields. formerly the Cathedr.il in the time of Cardinal Wiseman, the first Archbishop of Westminster (says the New Jfra), is now finally settled, When the offer of £202,000 was first made for the site of the church and the adjoining schools Cardinal Vaughan referred the matter to Home. The Propaganda held that a building duly consecrated to divine worship could not be sold for conversion to secular purposes, but there is no record existing of its consecration. An appeal to the Pope resulted in the reversal of this judgment., and leave was given to sell. Then the matter was referred to the Temporal Council, under whom trustees were appointed. This Board issued a notice, which was posted at the church doors, inviting objections before a certain date. The time expired, and no notices of valid objection had been received. The sale will, therefore, be completed, and the proceeds will be handed over to Cardinal Vaughan. A portion of the proceeds, estimated at £100,000,

will, it is said, be devoted to the building fund of the new Westminster Cathedral. Before touching the purchase money for other purposes, the Cardinal and the diocesan authorities have undertaken to provide a new edifice, schools, and clergy house — free of debt — within the parish of St. Mary's, Moorfields, and a place of \ sepulture for the remains of the many Catholic dignitaries buried in the vaults underneath the church.

FRANCE-— A Serious Charge Disproved.— Brother Flamidien, who was in detention on the charge of the murder of one of his pupils at Lille, is at liberty. The Chamber of Criminal Indictments found there was no case against him. M. Delale, who investigated this affair, has been dismissed for irregular conduct.

ITALY-— Death of a Cardinal.— The death is reported of Cardinal Teodolfo Mertel, the oldest member of the Sacred College at his native village of Allumiere, near Civitavecchia, on July 4. The deceased prelate was in his ninety-fourth year, having been born February 9th, 1806. Cardinal Mertel as a member of the Pontifical Ministry took a prominent part in the political events of 1848, and was appointed a member of the Reform Commission instituted by Pius IX. After the overthrow of the Roman Republic, he sat in the Antonelli Cabinet without portfolio, and subsequently from 1853 to 18.j8 he officiated as Papal Minis f er of the Interior, being created Cardinal in the latter year. Cardinal Mertel, who was by four years the Pope's senior, will be succeeded as doyen of the Sacred College by Cardinal Luigi di Canossa, now in his ninety-second year.

ROME.— The Conference of South American Bishops.— The Conference of South American Bishops in Rome (says the Catholic Times, July 21) is at an end. During the course of the proceedings the improvement of the position of the Church by the promotion of ecclesiastical and popular education has, it is understood, been fully diwcussed. It is needless to say that exaggerations and statements of a purely imaginary character have had a large share in the accounts with regard to the Catholic Church which have come from Protestant missionaries in the South American countries. But, as in all human societies, there are in Sonth America imperfections which demand constant attention. Owing to the vast distances from the centre of authority and special local conditions there has been a need of greater thoroughness in ecclesiastical discipline, and amongst the people faith and practice have not always gone hand in band. It was, then, an act of wisdom on the part of the Pope to bring the Bishops to Rome. They have seen in the course of their visits to various European countries what are the chief grounds upon which the Church is attacked, and when they return home they will be able to fortify those points where they may expect to be assailed in the future. The Conference must do much to invigorate the Church in South America.

SCOTLAND— Priests for Glasgow Diocese.— The clergy of tho diocese of Glasgow will be shortly increased by a very large addition (about twenty, including ten priests recently ordained at Maynooth).

Silver Jubilee Of a Priest-— The Rev. Hubert Van Stiphont, M.R., of St. Margaret's, Airdrie (Vays a correspondent of the New AVff), completed on July 12 a quarter of a century's active labour for the Church. He is one of that excellent coterie of Belgian and German priests, who have rendered much excellent practical work for the faith in Scotland. His congregation publicly testified their appreciation at a crowded meeting over which Bailie M'Killop presided, and at which many of the clergy assisted. The presentations included an illuminated address and pirse of sovereigns from the congregation, a set of vestments and alb from the ladies, and a handsume umbrella from St. Margaret's Football Club. Father Van Stiphout was previously stationed at St. Aloysius, Chapelhall, from which he was transferred to Airdrie on the death in September, 181)3, of the late Canon M'lntosh. Like his beloved and able predecessor, the present rector shares the esteem of all classes. Paying- a Compliment to a Priest.— At a recent^meeting of the Dundee Parish Council, a letter of resignation was read from the Very Rev. Canon Vande Rydt, Lochee. In moving acceptance, tho Chairman, the Rev. James M. Campbell (a Protestant minister), said they were all sorry to lose so genial a colleague. The Very Rev. gentleman had an extensive knowledge of the people who came before the Council, and he always brought great judgment to bear on the work of administering the Poor Law. Their regret at losing his services was all the deeper from the fact that it was illhealth that caused him to resign, but they hoped that relief from duty would soon restore him to health. UNITED STATES--A St. Vincent de Paul Society Pilgrimage. — Over one thousand members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Brooklyn, representing thirty-two conferences, lately went on a pilgrimage to Mount Loretta, S 1., where the institutions of the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin, founded by the late Father Drumgoole, are located. The pilgrims were met by the Very Rev. James J. Dougherty, LL.D. The buildings shelter 1700 boys and supply them with instruction in practical trades. Father Dougherty is assisted in his work by 1."j0 Sisters of the Order of St. Francis and five priests. Of the 1 700 boys, 350 are learning trades, i) 10 are attending school and the rest are either at the kindergarten or are too young to receive instruction. There are 175 girls. Beside those at Mount Loretta there are 250 boys at the mission on Lafayette place, Manhattan, and 150 coloured boys at Rye, N.Y.