The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 8 January 1903, Page 24

The Catholic World

AUSTRIA.— A Catholic Victory. At the elections in Vienna for the Provincial Diet of Lower Austria, the Catholic party inflicted a severe defeat upon the Liberals. Led by Br. Lueger and Prince Alois Liechtenstein, they proved at the polls that they do not intend to allow themselves to be made tools of by the anti-clerical politicians, who masquerade as Libelal statesmen. The victory of the Catholics has- been won, as even their enemies concede, by careful organisation and display of individual energy very rare among our co-religionists on the Continent. The ' Los Von Kom movement may now be seen in its real strength. The few apostasies have enkindled Catholic activity, with the result that the enemy has been beaten nil along the line. Austria supplies a needful example to France. BELGIUM.— The University of Louvain. The 'Courier do Geneve ' recently published an article on the University of Louvain, in which is rendered a remarkable homage to the power and efficiency of that seat of learning :— ' Whence (it asked) comes the victorious lirmness of the Belgian Government at the moment when we see elsewhere only feebleness and rapitulation ? Whence the resisting force of an enlightoned t.uhlfc opinion ? What is the bond which unites all sane forces, all men of good will in the country, in *he dogma of law order, and liberty ? ... Is there any other country in" which there exists a Catholic spirit so upright, so enlightened, so certain, and so widely diffused ? We do *ot wish to make comparisons ; it is sufficient 10 Atate what exists there,, what we have seen with our own ryes during frequent visits to Belgium. The explanation, the source of all this is the Catholic University of Louvain. ]t is the teaching of tho Alma Mater that has regenerated the ideas of the ruling classes. There are at present 2000 students at Louvain, nearly all Belgians. S-nce tho foundation of the University by the Belgian tpiscopate thousands and thousands of students have gone forth who to-day are everywhere and are exercising the legitimate and irresistible influence of knowledge, talent certain doctrine, manly character, and practical faith.' And a f> on the other hand, these fortunate possessors of a hiigh intellectual culture aro in contact with a population which has itself received the best training in Catholic primary schools, and free middle and secondary schools, these forces immediately understand one another and unite in a common action.' ENGLAND.— A Bishop's Advice. Every thoughtful reader of the remarks of tho Bishop of Southwark at the half-yearly meeting of the Catholic Truth Societ- (says the 'Catholic Times') will cordially agree with them. Complaint had been made of the unfairness of certain papers in their comments upon Catholic doings and doctrines. His Lordship expressed regret at these departures from the standard of fair journalism ; but said there was one thing even worse than misrepresentation, which was often allied with inconceivable ignorance, and that was 'not to be in the running in public affairs.' The Bishop confessed that ho feels acutely pained when events of national importance pass, and Catholics have no share whatever in them In other words, he would have Catholics take the lead in municipal, social, and, ' political activity. His Lordship is right in thinking that the results would bo beneficial not only to the country, but to the Catholic religion. An instance in point may be quoted. In years gone by a wretched agitation against Catholics- in Liverpool, purely on the ground of religion, was carried on by a bigoted clergyman from the north of Ireland. So far c'id it go that Catholic servants were dismissed by Protestant employers solely because they were Catholics. Monsignor Nugent came upon the scene. He identified himself with' every public movement, his name became a household word amongst Protestants ; religioua preiudices died out, and the anti-Catholic agitation utterly subsided Since Monsignor Nugent recently left for America an attempt has been made to revive it, but it is an attempt in which the moving figures are outsiders, and with which the people of Liverpool, as a whole, have no sympathy whatever. A Generous Action. The beautiful Catholic Church of St. Aloysius, Oxford, has lately been entirely re-decorated, mainly at tho expense of Miss Catherine Tvrwhitt, the eldest daughter of the late TCev. R. St. John Tyrwhitt, who ioined the Church a few years ago The chanel of tho Sacred Heart is being re-decorated in memory of tho late Mr. John Vincent Horngold, of Blackmore Park, Worcestershire. Golden Jubilee. Father Thomas Van Biesen, for 27 -ears priest at Spalding, has been presented with an illuminated address from the members of his congregation in recognition of the completion of 50 years' ministry. Father Van Biesen, in acknowledging the presentation, said if it were possible for him to be offered the position of Pope he would not accept it in exchange for the life of the villages. Ho had been offered positions in the north and south of England, but he would not exchange any town in England for Spalding, in the heart of the Fens. Two years- ago Father Van Biesen received a handsome presentation on the completion of 25 years' vicarlate at Spalding.

A Qocd Example. Guilford, in Surrey (says the 'Catholic Times') has given an example of fair play which deserves to be signalised. At the meeting of the Guildford, Godalming, and Woking Joint Isolation Hospital Board on October 28, an application from Miss Healy for armointment to the vacant position of matron to the Isolation Hospital was considered. Miss Healy 's exceptional fitnebs for the post was admitted by all. She hiad, it was acknowledged, rendered splendid service as nurse and acting matron. But she is a Catholic, and upon that ground the General Purposes Committep, instead of renuesting that her application be accepted, recommended that the Board ac^crtise for a matron. The members of the Board are, however, tolerant and broad-minded men. Though tho chairman, Mr. H. M. Weston, exercised his influence to induce them to put the application aside because of Miss Healy's creed, they adopted by nine votes against three a motion for her appointment. Mr. Weston, who is, it appears to us, a very honest man, with certain prejudices, thereupon resigned his position. The ground of his opposition to the appointment was' that Miss Healy as matron might become a proselytiser. But tho majority of the members very properly pointed out that he had no right to assume that the lady will unduly interfere with those under her authority, and that if she should do so, the Board can dismiss her. These gentlemen and the editor of the 'Surrey Times,' who supports them in their action, are entitled to public thanks for their fair-mindedness. The Archdiocese of Westminster. An interesting report on the condition of Catholic education in the archdiocese of Westminster has just been presented to Cardinal Vaughan by the diocesan inspector, Rev. W. J. B. Richards, of St. Charles's College, Notting Hill. It appears that the total number of Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese is 255. with a total of 36,289 pupils on the books, and an average attendance of 2876, making an aggregate of 39,413 altogether. This shows an increase of 968 pupfTs on the books, and of 1284 in average attendance. It is somewhat .surprising to find that in the elementary schools there are 4771 Protestants, or a little over 13 per cent., though it is pointed out that this percentage is deceptive, as it is caused by the large number of non-Catholics in 17 or 18 schools. As regards the general progress of religious education, the report is not so favorable. The pressure of the Government system, it says, has certainly told on our schools, and the practice of placing the religious instruction at the beginning of the day, before the registers are marked, is slowly but steadily making the time allotted to religious instruction a mere fiction. Managers and teachers are becoming more and more accustomed to, and are, hence, more easily satisfied with, attendance during the secular instruction only, and do not notice, as a %isitor does, the deterioration that is going on. FRANCE.— The Ministry Snubbed The French Communal school for boys of the Boulevard Chasles, of Chartres, had two crosses — one over tho entrance, outside, and one inside, in the schoolroom. The school was formerly a church school, but when it was " laicised,' some 12 years ago, the crosses were left in their place. One of M Combes' new school inspectors was scandalised at this exhibition of Idolatrous symbols on State school buildings, and applied to the Prefect of the Department to order the Municipal Council of Chartres to remeno tho objectionable crosses. The order, of course, went forth, but the Municipal Council refused to comply with it. By 15 votes against one, and six abstentions, they adopted a resolution to the effect that tho crosses would remain in place, and that the Council, respectful of tho religion of the majority of tho inhabitants, failed to see what i?ood the authorities expected from their unnecessary interference. The Basilica of Montmartre. The best built edifice, so far as strength goes, of modern Paris is tho Basilica of the Sacre Coeur at Montmartro. This is due to tho determination of the Catholic world in the se'^enties and eighties to build there a church in honor of the Sacred Heart, which, in looking down on Paris, would defy time. The foundations cost more than tho whole of tho original estimates. Had not the aichitect pierced through the deep strata of '- « c-lav and green clay to the bed rock the weight of the edifice would ha\e caused a landslip. GERMANY.— New University. A new Catholic University has been opened at ftfunstor, in Germany. Tho old University of Munstor, founded by Pope Clement XIV., wns suppressed by the Prussian Government in 1818. ROME.— Biblical Studies The Holy Father has expressed a desire for tho publication in Rome of a review of Biblical studies, and proposes to insert therein the discussions and reports of the Biblical Commission recently appointed. His Holiness is willing to pay the expenses of publication. In his Apostolic Letter he says the Members of the Commission on Biblical Studies will publish tho results of their labors regularly or when occasion demands. Ordination of Scottish Students At tho Scots College, Rome, on All Saints Day, Cardinal Rt'spigln ordained deacons the Rev. John Allan Gray, of St. Andrews and Edinburgh ; the Rev. John Roger, of Aberdeen , the Rev. John Nicholas Murphy, of Galloway ; the Rev. Thomas Gillon, of St. Andrews and Edinburgh ; tho Rev. Patrick Loy and the Rev. Patrick

Keenan, of Aberdeen The following received the subdia. conate :— The Rev. Alexander Taylor, of Glasgow ; the Rev. Peter Burns, of St. Andrews and Edinburgh the R * e aV Ja i Qes K elly, of Glasgow ; the Rev. Francis Cronin, of Aberdeen ; and the Rev. John Dominic Wood and James Mac Donald, of St. Andrews and Edinburgh UNITED STATES.-Church Attendance. A census of church attendance was taken on two recent Sundays by a Chicago paper. On the first Sunday it was found that 207,765 attended Mass at Catholic churches and 49,666 persons attended services at Protestant churches. The attendance at only 56 Catholic churches was counted and at 177 Protestant churches. A total of 4G.162 children attended the former, and 6014 the latter There are 132 Catholic churches in Chicago, so the total attendance was more than double 207,765! About one-third of those attending Catholic churches were men. The percentage as far as Catholics are concerned between the men, women, and children was a natural or normal proportion. Sunday Observance. In a sermon on the American Sunday at the Baltimore Cathedral, Cardinal Gibbons, among other things, said :— A close observer cannot fail to note the dangerous inroads that have been made on the Lord's day in this country during the last 30 years. Look at the railroad lines m this country ; not only are the passengers carried on Sundays, which, I believe, is unavoidable, but freight trams are in full operations. This traffic involves the employment of thousands of conductors, firemen and engineers, as well as freight handlers, on the Lord s day. Then observe our system of electric cars. These lines are in full blast on Sundays, and the conductors and motormen have to serve the same number of hours on that day as on week days. On Sunday mornings the business man is debarred from going to his place of business, but seizes the morning paper and devours its contents of 20 or 30 pages, its news of stocks and bonds, of pleasures and amusements, of crime and scandal, until his whole being is saturated with this unhealthy diet. Like animals gorged with food, he spends the morning in a comatose condition.'