The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 41, 8 October 1903, Page 24

The Catholic World

BELGIUM.— ExiIed French Religious ' The famous religious Order of Chartreuse, recently expelled from Prance, is about to establish itiself at Cambron-Casteau, in the province of Ha.inaut, Belgium, where they have purchased the old Cistercian Abbey, which is one of the jewels of Belgian architecture. Here they will establish (says the ' Morning Leader ') their convent and the distilleries of their famous liqueur. The future Convent of the Chartreuse is a remarkable property, the gardens of which are arranged in terraces, connected by monumental stairways. Some time ago the Belgian Government was disposed to purchase the interesting and picturesque old abbey, but the Commission on Monuments considered the expense too heavy. Over 36 Orders of French monks and nuns have purchased property in Belgium, and more are coming ENGLAND.— The Marist Brothers The ' Univers ' announces that the Marist Brothers, expelled from their great secondary college in Paris, will open a /secondary school at Grove Ferry, near Canterbury, whither many of their old pupils have expressed the desire to follow them. A Successful College St. Francis Xa/vier's College, Liverpool, has once more won the Lord Derby prize, which is given to the first boy in Liverpool at the Oxford Local examinations. The first girl in Liverpool (senior candidates) is A. Quirk, of Notre Dame High School, Mount Pleasant. An Industrial School The Kight Rev. Dr. Whiteside, Bishop of Liverpool, laid recently the memorial stone of a new industrial school for girls, which is being erected at a cost of £10,000 at Blackbrook, near St. Helens. It will accommodate between 120 and 150 girls, who will be under the charge of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Pilgrimage to Rome English Catholics will be afforded an early opportunity of being presented to the new Pope, owing to the fact that the London Catholic Association has arranged for a pilgrimage to Rome during the present month. A congratulatory address will be presented on the occasion. Message to King Edward I learn (says the London correspondent of the Liverpool ' Post,') that the Pope has sent a messagp of great cordiality to King Edward in response to his Majesty's letter of congratulation.. His Holiness writes with a warm appreciation of British hospitality to Roman Catholic refugees, and of his Majesty's personal character.

Poor in Wordly Goods Personal estate of the net value of £168 8s 8d was left by the late Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, who died at St. Joseph's College, Mill Hill, on June 19 last, aged 71 years, the eldest of the 13 children of Lieuten-ant-Colonel John F. Vaughan, of Courtfield, Monmouth ; atid the gross value of the whole of the late Cardinal Vaughan's estate is £743 5s Bd. His will is as follows : 'In the name of |God, this is my last' will anjd testament. I leave and bequeath to my brother, Monsignor John S Vaughan, Monsignor Thomas Dunn, and Rev Frank Terry, of Mill Hill, all that I may die possessed of, and 1 make them aiy executors. Signed, 23rd December, 1897.'

Westminster Cathedral To the ordinary observer (writes a London correspon_ dent) tfie process of completing the, "new Cathedral , at Westminster may seem to progress slowly. Every effort is, however, being put forth to bring the work to an end, and those who visited the pile a month or two ago would do well to see it again now. The side chapels are more open to the public gaze, and the beautiful mosaic work has only to he seen to be appreciated. Although the chapels are not yet quite completed some idea of what the magnificence of the whole building will be, may now be gained. The huge slabs of marble in the floor just inside the mam entrance are being put down, and visitors have to enter the Cathedral by one of the doors to tthe lett ot the larger poital. The marble flooring underneath the arches dividing the nave from the aisles is also being put in, while scaflolding has been erected round the great cross which is to hang from the roof at the entrance to the sanctuary, with the object of commencing the work of decoration. The cross is to bear a large painting by a well-known artist. The names of the archbishops have now been carved beneath their medallions at the entrance to the Cathedral.

English Opinion There is an interesting aiticle in a recent issue of the London ' Pilot ' from a Catholic writer on ' The Venetian Pope. ' If any man in a position so exalted ' (says the writer) ever had a free hand, it is the new Venetian Pontiff. He has risen from the ranks by sheer merit ;he has a winning presence, simple manners, a very kind heart, a shrewd and steady judgment, and a keen sense of humor. But, above all, he abounds in ttic sanctities and charities which become the Father of the Faithful. Europe, it will be acknowledged e\en by the fiercest of her critics,' the writer adds, ' owes something to the Church that after exhibiting on a great stage the figure of Leo Xlil , scholar and diplomatist, brings forward Pius A , a man of the people, devout, eloquent, and single-minded. It is an election which has made Catholics veiy happy.' But how, he proceeds to ask, will Pius X. proceed ? ' His training, his convictions, anld his origin ha"\e made of the new Pope a typical Churchman, not ambitious for himself, but consecrated to the sovereign thought of the Ecclcsia Dei Modern minds fail to understand this type, which is more akin to Hildebiand thaji to Talleyrand OF the Venetian Cardinal it has been reported that, however calm in his hearing, he will insist on the prophetic ollice that his Church claims in e\oiy department of human action. This may be the head and front of Catholic offending as the wt>rld goes, but Pius X. is sure to uphold it, whattover his policy. He will bo very gentle, in upeiech.^Sajid probably not so abundant in utlciance as his predecessor ; yet his clear unadorned style is not likely to abate one jot or tittle of the authority wielded by Pope Leo '

FRANCE.— A Ready Response The Paris correspondent of the ' Daily News ' writes —I have often had occasion to speak of ' La Croix ' as the militant organ of the Ass-umptiontsts. and a paper which circulates in many districts at a not moio than nominal price On the day of the Pope's election it set on foot a subscription to buy him a present, and in 48 hours was able to remit 10, DUO fiancs to the Nuncio for him. Pius X , in return, has sent 'La Croix ' his benediction m the following terms ' I have for some time known and loved " La Croix " I bless, with all my heart its director and his editorial staft, his office servants and printers, its readers and their families in every part of France '

ROME.— A Reception The Holy Father on August 11 recehed Sir Thomas Esmonde, the represent at i\e of the Irish Parliamentary Party, and also the Very Rev. J J. Ryan, president of the College, Thurles, who presented congratulations from the clergy and people of Cashel.

The Pope and the Jews A correspondent writes to the ' Jewish Chronicle ' from Rome : The new Pope was much liked by tine Jews in Venice (of which he was Patriarch), and they are sending contributions to an album which is to be presented to him. He once met a Jew (who occasionally

-*■ ~~ ~~ ■ — supplied goods to his sisters), carrying parcels on the Jewish Sabbath, and addressing the man the Patriarch said : If you do not keep your Sabbath, you will no longer be permitted to enter our Palace '

The Composer and the Holy Father says Father Perosi, <my j ea l 0 a bishop for ho was always thinking about his neoDle'n eoD le' and he was so charitable 8 that he was in alter that he either sold or pawned it-pawned t I describe his simplicity and goodness if I were talking for

The Pope and Gregorian Music The Madrid correspondent of the London ' Times • S»n i" S ?? nn r AU H g ' US J ii 0 ' says : ~ Tne ' E P° ca .' recalling the eftoits of Cardinal Sarto, while Patriarch of Venice? to banish from the churches of his diocese every form of music not strictly religious, says that one of his first reforms as Pope will be to restore to its rightful place the Cnegonan chant. Eight years ago the Cardinal published a pastoral, reproduced in Paris by the « Tribune de Saint Gervais,' which repudiated the Might, trivial scenic, and profane ' music now so common in many churches. Among the irreligious abuses specified by him were alteration of the text of the liturgy to suit the individual phantasy of the composer ; the singing oi the ' Tantum Ergo ' as a cavatina or aria ; the use of instruments unsuited to the sacredness of the place. In general, his reform will be to restore to the liturgy its importance, making tjhe musical accompaniment its humble servitor.

The Pope's Health There is no truth in the rumor (writes a Rome correspondent) that the Pope is suffering from heart disease. Inquiry made in the best-informed quarters shows that his Holiness is strong and vigorous. Only about five years ago, when at Venice, Cardinal Sarto had an illness which lasted some time. Several doctors attended him, and all were unanimous in '.excluding the possibility of heart disease. However, the illness caused his Eminence some concern, and he was, moreover, anxious about his family, which, as is known, is in poor circumstances. He made up his mind to apply to an insurance company for an insurance policy of 200,000 francs. The insuTatoce was effected m Venice, and the company declared that they were doubly happy to insure such a personage and to be able to tell him that he was in excellent health. The Pope's medical attendant in Venice was Dr. Pietro da Venezia The doctor was present when his Holiness fainted on August 11 m the Pauline Chapel. He declared that he lately had occasion to examine the Pope repeatedly, and that he found him quite healthy, but that his Holiness had fatigued himself in the recent receptions and ceremonies. The doctor concluded by saying that he was convinced that Pope Pius X., like his predecessor! Leo XIII. and Pius IX., had a long life before him.

SPAIN.— The Attitude of the Pope On the strength of an intimacy which existed between Cardinal Sarto and the pretender, Don Carlos, in Venice, the Carlist party are attempting to make capital against the throne, of King Alfonso XIII. One of their papers has had the almost incredible folly to talk about a Papal Encyclical in favor of the exiled pretender, which should have the eftect of rallying all Spaniards to his cause. Luckily (says the ' Catholic Times ') Monsignor Merry del Val, son of the late Spanish Ambassador to the V at ican, is at present vested with the important odice of Pro-Secretariate of State, lately filled by Cardinal Rampolla. He has not been long in putting matters right, and Cardinal Sancha is now able to inform the Government of King Alfonso that no change in the Vatican's attitude need be feared. Indeed, Spain does not desire a change of government, but an improvement in it Such an improvement would not come from the Cat lists, who represent ideals that are useless in the actual condition of the Spanish laboring classes. Carlists and Alfonsists differ less than two peas from the same pod Spam requires a Government which will inteiest itself in the laboring and artisan classes, and by removing military and aristocratic privileges widen the biurden of taxation and restore prosperity to the country. ________————■■