THE CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 42, 18 October 1900, Page 2

THE CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE COLONIES.

The evening- session of the fourth day of the Catholic Congress was held in the Cardinal's Hall, when his Grace Archbishop Redwood pre-ided. Hia Eminence Cardinal Moran addressed the very large audience on 'The Development of the Church in Great Britain and the Colonies in the Nineteenth Century.' In the course of the address his Eminence said — It would be quite impossible to consider the development of the Church in Greit Britain and her colonies in ai.y d- tail ii the "Jo tiiinut s which liave been charitably allotted t) uk>. I '-hall therefore co 'fine my-elf mainly to the progress in Grit Britain, and 1 ask you to await with some patience ih" publication ot our ni'-nional vnlunie to learn all I would wi-ti to siy in ni;w ! to t!i« dt,v< lupinent of the Church in rill tuo British colonies. 1 a-n sute there is no one at all acquainted with the history of the century but will coulees that the Roman Catholic <'h'irih m (Jrou ]>ruain has maiie a grand and glorious progress dunnu its course. A eentuiy auro Catholics were perfectly outlawed under the ("onstitirion :md altogether ignored, whether in the hte or the policy ot the British nation. When I speak of the progress of religion it am-- 1 b ■ borne m mind that there is something 1 far more important in its development th.vi mere numerical growth. There has been a vast "rowth m th • nutnbet.s of Catholics in Great Britain, but there h is b ■( n manifest projr< ss m the public influence of the Church, in Us p I'luc.il ai-'ion, ii its '-o'jial rank and general activity. Where there i^ q'H'sti mot the defence of the faith, or the cv ici vj of religion, or the pr.u't'cc of vutue, nowadays we meet with the Churoh every win re In the life of the nation, whether in the administration ot ju-Ue \ in the high offices of State, in the work ot {government, in the army and the navy, in Parliament, in literature, m science and the arts, in every sphere and in every path of patriotism, the Chuieh must be eonfsssed to do her part and to do it well. X( ed I reed! whe'i, a few weeks ago. on the death of the IjOrd Chief Justice of E:i/l,iii', ih<3 pympathy not only of th 9 whole Empire, but of ull the civihzfd peoples of Europe was turned towards the Catholu Church in England, lamenting the loas of one of her worthy son-*, who at the same time was an ornament to the Church. During the past six months the British Army has achieved glorious tnuinpns in trie battlefield, and the honor thereof has been shared by Catho'ie ollie-rs bearing the highest titles in the peerage of England and hi her .Majesty a army. Some of them have sacrificed their lives on the battlefield.

ONE HUNDRHI) YE\RB AGO.

Going back lot) yearn, it is difficult to conceive a condition of things more humiliating than the condition of Catholics at the close of the la*t century. Thin, of course, was the result of the penal lawn, and those penal laws were most exacting throughout the whole of the eighteenth century, and crushed out the Catholic life uf the English nation. Within a few years of King William's accession laws were pastel which aimed at the complete extirpation of the Catholic religion. A'ter April 10, 1700, no Papist could purchase land. Tosiy Mass or keep a school subjected Papists to perpetual imprisonment. The Catholic families that remained faithful to their religion were everywhere excluded from the national life, and nubiec ed to intolerable parsecutions under a thousand ui^guHes. A tew priests remained to aiminister to the scattered faithful. It was only in secret recesses or in mansions of the nobility that in the country parts Ma«s was offered up. In the cities it waa only in secret byways or iv gome of the abandone4

1 grarrets that the faithful could assemble to receive spiritual instruction from their pastor. Cardinal Manning, in an inaugural lecture in 1867, did not hesitate to s-ay: ' We can hardly conceive a more complete annihilation than the state to which 300 years of penal laws had reduced the- Church iv hngland. It was' neither visible nor audible. It had no literature, no recognition in the country. It wi>s tolerati (I becau-c it was powerless, and permitted to go at large only bfcanse it w.is despised. A more wondei ful and visibly supernatural change than ti.at which these HO years have produced can haH'v K> fmm.l in history.' The Gordon riots, winch marked the year 1780, rev. aled the terrible anti-Catholic spirit tusit pervauei; the great mr\=« nf ih<- Entrlish people in those days. Nome enlightenul statesmen, desirous, in the interests of the State, to conciliate their Catholic neighbors, proposed to repeal a few of the penal laws in force against the Catholics. The English mob would have nothing of this. They throughout manifested tneir presence in no uncertain way. For five days thoy plundered, burned, and destroyed Catholic property with impunity, and in the excess of their delirium would fain take possession of London. At length on Wednesday, June 7th, the military were ordered out, and it \\a* oulv when 200 of the rioters were shot dead in the streets and 100 of the others were carried off mortally wounded to the hospitals, that the mob was dispersed.

A 1 K\\ STATISTICS.

Well, a few statistics, I dare say. will bring before us better than anything else the growth of Catholic religion in Great Britain during the present century. It appears to me that one of the most startling incidents of religious growth of this great Empire is presented in these statistics, which are Government statistics. We have the Government statistics, and they tell us that in the year 1821 the total number of Catholic schools in England and Wales was 14. In 18.")1, the time that the Hierarchy was restored, the total number was IGG. Well, in l,*>yo we have the official report showing the number of schools had increased to 'J4t>, and now in the beginning of 1900 the number of Catholic schools is 1100, with 300,000 Catholic children. I think that one fact alone shows the marvellous progress made in the Catholic religion during this century, and it is precisely on that number of children given by the inspectors of the Bchools that I calculate that the Catholic population of Great Britain must be much greater than generally presented to us. I take the average of other countries. Taking the number of children in the schools in proportion to the whole population, the proportion must be six times more than that enrolled in our s ;hools. For. say. an attendance of :500 000 children in the Catholic schools of England and Wales alone, it would give us a population of more than 1,H00,000. There are a few other items which illustrate the growth of religion in similar ways. If we go back ."50 years to the middle of the present century you will find in EngUnd and Wales 5^7 churches and chapels, for the most part humble and obscure ; and here again I wish to say that the statistics are official, because marriages were not recognised as valid unless when performed in recognised places of worship. The number of churches thus recognised as official Br» put before us is 557. At the present time the number of churches is mo aad many of the former churches that still existed have beea re-built, re-fashione 1. and improved in many ways. In 1850 there were scattered throughout England and Wales about 800 priests, 7o religious houses, and 10 colleges. Then- are at the present day 27' JO priests in England aud Wales. 7.";2 religious houses, and 30 colleges. In 1801 Pitt, on the part of the Government, submitted a Catholic Relief Bill, bnt the King indignantly refused to allow such a measure. There were then four Catholic vieanates or diocesan districts ; there are now 1(> dioceses, having the Cardinal-Archbishop ond 21 Bishops. In IS I :i several m.asures of partial emancipation were proposi d, some of them with odious and restrictive clauses which the English Catholic Committee nrofeaeed its readiness to accept All, however, were rejected. When the Je«uit Order was restored by Pope Pius VII. in 1814, the Prince Regent and_ Government presented a remonstratioii and entered a protest against any Jesuits being admitted into the kingdom. There are now 200 Jesuit Fathers iv England, not including novices.

PROGRESS IN M VNCHESTER AND LIVERPOOL

About the middle of the last century there was only one Rmall chapel in Manchester, and about six families minted there at Holy Mans. A little later it was replaced by another larger building, ■without, however, any outward pretentions or even semblance of religious architecture. This was the only place of Catholic worship in the city and for 20 miles around Manchester, with the exception of the private chapel of the Trufford mansion. In the year 17'HJ the whole number of Catholics in Manchester was lens than doo, whilst those in Salford were only about 100. At the present day there are 80.000 Catholics in Manchester and 2.">,n00 in Salford. As late as ]m.*s there were but four churches in Manchester and 10 priests. There are now '24 churches and 70 priests. The development has been still more rapid in Liverpool, where in ISBS thore were five churches and 14 priest-, whilst now there are 3 \ churches and 127 priests. Lancashire was the representative and most populous Catholic district of England. The increase of the Catholics was already regarded as marvellous when in 1804 they were reckoned at 50,000. Now they number at least G00,O0(). In 1847 Mr. Daniel Lee, one of the leading Catholics of Manchester, invited the Sisters of Charity from Paris to open a small convent in that city. Nothing could bo more unpretentious than all the accompaniments of their enterprise. Nevertheless the Protestant citizens would give no countenance to it, and the mob was so |infuriated and so outrageous in its insults that, there bein^ no "prospect or promise of any good being achieved, the Sisters were reluctantly, after some years, compelled to quit that field of labor. What a change in 40 years has come over the scene. In 18S7 the same Sisters are again invited to enter on their mission of charity in Manchester. They settle down in its most abandoned, most turbulent district. For a few weeks they experience some of the

unpleasantness which was a remnant of the old bipo^ry ; but quickly all that dis-ipp^ared. Very soon everywhere rheir mission of mercy is recognised, and everyone is found to respect and reverence them. Even the drunkards in their brawls shrank from offending them. The result became soon annarent The inspector in charge of the police stition nearest to them remarked in 18'.)O .—. — 'At first they ruined to make no impres-ion. but dnrin 1 the last six months the night charges at this station have diminished ."iO per cp.it. Wema-t attribute the change mainly to the influence of the Sisters*.' The convent and its adjoining p-,>mi-e<-> soon became too Hin.ili fur Lh.,->t, „L, -o-.-ht ♦!■" r c^r""W» mitiHtr^.nim. The citi/ena hastened to their aid that th'ynng v it extend their sphere ot be-mJio. vi, dv.l can-} on thr ir \vcH:<- on 1 h\rz r «.-ile A public meeting was convened in the Town Hall of Manchester. The Lord Mayor presided in his robes of office. The elm of M inchester, nonCatholics of every denomination, representative s of every class, were there. Prominent on the platform were the Lord- Lieutenant of the county and one of her Majesty's Justices of Assize besides several members of Parliament. Several of the speakers were I'rotestants, and one and all p-ud 'heir tribute of praisa and admirntion to the noble work of the Sisters. Committees were formed, funds were subscribed, and new buildings with ample accommodation were er . ted, mid a new convent, amid general rej »icinjrs, waa Hokinnly opuied 111 ls<i«). I n June, 1887, was oekbrated the Jubilee of the r ign of Queen Victoria. The Holy Father sent a letter and n special mission of congratulation to her M.ijesty. In his letter his Holiness says that 'as head of the Catholic Church, which counts bo many f.iithful among the subjects of her Majesty, and knowing the full and entire liberty which in her clear-seeing justice she assuied to them in the exercise of their religion,' he wished to be represented at the rejoicings of the Jubilee celebration. A few mon.hs later the Sacerdotal Jubilee of Leo XIII. waa kept in Rome, and her Majesty forwarded a letter of congratulation and gifts through the Dak* of Norfolk as special envoy to his Holiue-s.

THE CATHOLIC REACTION' IN KNCILAND

The causes which under Providence led to the Catholic reaction in England are :— l. The French priest driven from France by the fury of the Revolution found a refuge and asylum in England. Heaven grant"d to England a reward exceeding great. The edifying lives of these foreign priests who were thus brought under their notice had a wonderful effect on English prejudice. Many of these French priests mastered the English language and remained as missionaries in England. 2. Tup revival of schools and the spread of c lucation in England. The colleges on the Continent being suppressed, it became necessary to open similar institutions throughout England. The revival, too. of primary education served to break down the anti-Catholic prejudice and to bring men nearer to Divine Truth. 3. The converts and their writings, i. The Irish settlers in England ; not only numbers, but piety and churches and priest-* and schools. 5. The multiplying of zealous religious communities. 0. The development of dimensions and weakness in Protestantism. The tmt'/rf priests fr .tn France found a refuge in England. There were at one time 10 000 of them on English soil. Be-ides a larg* voluntary subn-nption the Government made them a grant of £07.000, Asides an annuity of £20 till they left England. In Winchester 7uj of them were admitted to the King's House, and U'i'i others were house 1 111 the wnu town. So ne of these were maltreated by the English mob. The University of Oxford printed an edition of the Latin Vulgate expressly for the use of the refugee clergy M-iny new missions were opened through the z^al of these exihil French. Of «orne of them it is recorded that they supported themselves by teaching and other industries, and devoted their earnings to the erection of chapels w here the need was greatest. Not a few remained in Engl »nd d"votii<g th»m-elvea to the sacred ministry, borne, too, proceeded to the I'mted .Mates.

TUB cnr,:'"U in <;i. vs<;o\v

Father Etherington dtltvered a lecture in Glasgow, some time ago, in which he said that th • number of Catholics in that city was from 1 (.0,000 to 180,000, or, roughly, one Catholic out of every five or six of the population. A century ago it might be said that there \vtr» no C aholics in Glasgow. Then- was only one priest, and a poor ht.le disused building for a ch:>pd. In 1811 St. Anlruw- Cathedral was begun. It was completed in lsii>. In IMO the Catholics of Gla«go,v numbered 2"» 000. In l!-42 St. Mary's was built. In H4 "> St John's smd St. Alphonsus' were built. Later on St. Pa nek h, St Jo-eph s, and St. Munjro's came in 10 existence. Tim change w.is no !uii,' les-, tnan a revolution.

lUUl'ksAl N.MtiMI All I. KK'V

Reviewing the work achieved by the Church in British North America in the present century W" ca'injt fail to re 'o^nise that a great deal has been :nv mi>>! <*)\M. In the yr.tr Ivio there were but one Bishop and one Vi ur \pj-tolu- 1-1 thn-v various colonies. There are to-day seven archhNhoji*. \v.t-> ];i hi-hop-i. time vicars-apostolic, and two apo&tohc prefers In Ivm the total number of priests was 00. They now numb t more than 2iou I1 l xuo there was but one seminary and about '.0 pnmaiy schools. There aie now 20 ecclesiastical seminaries wiih r>lo students, one university with (>oo students, and 5070 other educauun.il tsi ibli-hments, with a roll of about 2SO 000 pupils. Tl.t. Catholic population bocked a singular increase. In 1800, including Ne*l\>niidhnd, the tot'd number of Catholics was not more than 137on<i. At present the Canadian Dominion reckons 2,001,000, and N< vvfou, dland It is true that the Irish emigration add»d about 800 000 to th-i Catholic population, but, 0.1 the other hit d, the onrgratiom from Canada to the United States rerk mcd a like nu'nlier I'm- number of Catholics in Nova Scotia in 1820 wis <>uoo. When in 18-U, the Kight Rev. Dr. Fraser, its Mishop, was translated to the newly-erected diocese of Arichat, he was succeed- d in Halifax by his Coadjutor, Right Rev. Dr. Walsh, who a few years later, became the first Archbishop of Halifax, and under whose administration the diocese made rapid

strides in every path of religious progress. The diocese at present has a Cathol.c population of 50,000. The See erected at Ariohat in 1844, was subsequently translated to Antigoneth. Here the Catholics are more numerous than in the parent diocese, numbering * .5,000. There are three other suffragan dioceses, embracing- the whole territories of Pnnoe Edward Island and New Brunswick and having an aggregate population of 1 80,000. '