The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 10, 7 March 1907, Page 31

The Catholic World

ENQLAND— Catholic Statistics According to> the' ' Catholic Directory ' there are 94 Catlholic peers and baronets in the United Kingdom t ; 8 Catholic M.P.'s for .England and 74 Catholic "M,P.'s for Ireland ; and 70 Catholic knights. Westminister Schools A Pastoral Letter from the Archbishop of Westminster, read in the Catholic churches, of the archdio- ' ccse on Sunday, January 13, gave a report" on the needs of the Catholic schools. A commission recently appointed by his Grace found on inquiry that^ a sum of £'87,000, would be needed to renovate and bring up the Catholic schools -of the archdiocese to a standard of efficiency required by the London County Council as the local education authority from all schools receiving grants through its agency. His Grace appeals to his ilock to make every possible effort to raise the necessary funds to meet the emergency, which is the most serious that has arisen since 1870. FRANCE— The Irish College . A deputation of Irish Bishops has been, appointed by the Irish Bishops' Standing Committee to wait on Sir Edward Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and put before Mm the case of the Irish College, Paris. II is hoped that by vigorous diplomatic intervention the existence of the college may still be maintained. Law not Applicable to the Case , ' A telegram from Toulon to the ' Liberte ' (Paris) states that the Abbe V^nel has been acquitted of the charge of celebrating Mass in ilio Cathedral on December 16 without having given the necessary notice, the Court expressing the opinion that • neither the law of 1905 nor that of 1881 was applicable to the case. Omitting the Name of Qod A distinguished correspondent of the Dublin ' Freeman's Journal ' calls' attention tci the latest indication which the French Government has given of its utterly atheistical spiiit. This is in the change which it has ordered in' the device, on the' coinage. The five-franc used to bear the deuce, ' Dieu protege la' France.' By The decree of the Minister of Finance this mention of God is to be omitted in future. M. Louis Passy, who, as Hie oldest member, presided at the openingmeeting of the Chamber, referred in the fallowing terms to this proclamation of Atheism as isolating France from the whole wjorld : — ' The .time is not yet arrived in which the nations of the earth- will repudiate the idea and the name of God. The Israelites will continue to invoke the Eternal. The Mussulmans will continue to proclaim " Allah Kebir." '' God is Great." The Christian races will continue 10 sing, " God Save the King," or " Domine Salvam fac Republicam." And all those who see shining across the infinites of space those lights of Hope and Justicethat nothing, shall extinguish will repeat in the depth of their hearts, •' God protect France." ' ITALY— A Plot that failed Though the French Premier professes to ignore the Pope (says the • Catholic Times '), it has been p-retty definitely ascertained that French official influence was employed in an attempt to evoke Italian sympathy for the anti-Christian campaign in France. When a 'demonstration was made by Italian Social Democrats in favor of the French Government's policy, rumors to the effect that M. Barrere, the French Ambassador at Rome, knew something of the origin of the proceedings went around in Italian Parliamentary circles. Senor Giolitti, the Premier, enquired of the ambassador whether he would give him authority to deny-the rumors. " M. Barrere is said to have replied that the reports which had been circulated were misleading, tmt to .. have privately admitted 'that people had called at the embassy to discuss the advisableness of a demonstra-, tion amd that views had been exchanged on the subject. The inference was drawn by Italian Parliamentarians and others that he had been endeavoring to start in Italy an agitation which would be not only anti-clericaa, but also anti-monarchical, and the result has -been to cool considerably the friendly relations . which existed between Italy and France. The 'Italianpeople are not admirers of the tyranny exercised- by the .French Government against the Church. ROME— The Holy See and the Hague Conference The Holy See has taken no steps to obtain re-, presentation at The Hague Peace Conference, but i n Catholic countries there is a ' strong feeling that an invitation should be sent to his Holiness

In Many Languages The students of the Propaganda, Rome, on Thursday, January 10, gave a most interesting entertainment in honor of the jubilee of the priesthood of Cardinal Gotti, Prefect of the Propaganda. Poems were recited in' thirty-three different languages, and ten of the reciters were British subjects. Cardinals Gotti, Merry del Val, and several other members of tiie Sacred College were' present. Cardinal Gotti himself converses with equal ease in Latin, French, and Italian. He taught the nautical sciences in the Preparatory Naval Cfollege, and some of the most distinguished Italian, admirals were among his pupils. -He is a brilliant mathematician. A quiet, unassuming' man, - Jie leads a saintly life. '--A New Zealander, Mr. Cecil Morkane (writes the Rome correspondent of the Sydney . ' Freeman's,, Journal '), figured in the polyglot academic entertainment - given at the Urban College in honor of Cardinal Gotti.' Distinguished Visitors - On January 10 Lead amTLady Aberdeen paid a visit to the Irish Franciscan Church of St. Isidore, where national and patriotic memories and memorials abound. Thence their "Excellencies, drove to the Scots' College, where they were welcomed by Monsignor Fraser, the rector, whose' kind aid they had enjoyed on ths. occasion of their audien:e with" the Sovereign Pontiff. Under the rector's guidance they saw the entire ' college and its monuments. The four paintings of Jamieson, of Aberdeen, and the original proclamation of- 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' posted on the -marketcross of Edinburgh" in^,1745 principally arrested the attention of the noble visitors.' " _-„ - - SCOTLAND— A Generous Benefactor ' Some time ago the Right Rev. Mgr. Lennon, of Liverpool, a generous benefactor to Catholic charitable institutions,- and now' retired, made an offer to con ibute £1000" towards paying off the heavy debt of about £17,000 ..upon iNiazareui House, 'Glasgow., The offer was conditional, however, upon a like sum being raised ;by the beginning of the present year,' and it- is gratifying to know that tin good Sister^ have - been enabled -to -fulfil the stipulation. - ' " . UNITED STATES— Meeting of protest Protestants as well as Catholics- attended the great meeting held on December 30, at Washington, U.S.A., to "protest against the persecuting policy of the French Government, and a strong speech* was made by the Rev. John Van Schaick, a Protestant minister. The Rev. Dr. D. J. Stafford, in his speech, expressed the- belief .that the French Government had gone mad. Death of a Marist Father The death occurred recently at Lutcher, La., of the. Very Rev. J. B. Descreux, a prominent member of the Marist Order. Father Descr^ux founded the first Marist College in the United States. When the Marists established their House of Studies ' at Washing-ton, he was appointed Superior. In 1900 he was made Provincial of the American houses. Four Brothers at the Altar Four brothers celebrated Solemn High Mass at St. Anna's Church, Baltimore, on Christmas morning. The celebrant was Rev. Carroll C_ Smyth, who was ordained December 22. His assistant was his - older brother, Rev. Thomas .G. Smyth, pastor of St.. Stephen's Church of Washington, who also preached .the ser-_ mon. Rev. James A. Smvth, of St. Patrick's Church .of Washington, was the deacon _ and "Rev. John A. Smyth, now a student at St. Mary f s Seminary, was subdeacon. UNITED STATES— To Help the French Clergy Am offer of pecuniary assistance to" the French - clergy from the Catholic clergy of Louisiana has been sent to Cardinal Richard, Archibishop rf Paris. The offer was made in a letter written toy 'Archbishop Blenk of New Orleans to accompany a memorial to Cardinal Richard, signed by every Catholic priest in Louisiana. ' ' So as to give these expressions of sympathy a . practical and substaniial character,' Archbishop Blenfc said," l - let me add that the clergy of Louisiana is ready at the least notice from your Fminence to help pecuniarily, within means, l in " the maintenance 'of the French clergy.' Reopening of Churches Two of the large churches in San Francisco that - were partly destroyed by the earthquake and fire of last May were reopened on Sunday, December 23, with elaborate ceremonies. They .were St. Brigid's /Church, Van Ness ~ avenue and Broadway, and St Ig-

natius', at Hayes and Shrader streets. On Christmas Day St. Mary's Cathedral was reopened. The severe storm, on, Monday, December 17, wrought considerable damage" to church property in San Francisco. The Oldest Sister of Mercy Of the Sisters of Mercy (says the Philadelphia ' Catholic Standard and Times ') who were in touch with the foundress of the Order, Mother Mary Catherine McAuley, who made her profession in 1831, only one is living— Sister Mary Agnes McCaffry, the oldest Sister of Mercy in the world. She remembers Mother McAuley- as visiting her convent school in Carlow, Ireland, and has still "a vivid recollection of her face and manners. This venerable religious is spending her declining years at St. Xavier's Academy, Beatty, Pa., where sjhe does duty in spite of her advancing . age as mistress of the morning practice hour. It was in 1843 the first Sisters of Mercy, seven in number, came to America and settled in Pittsburg. The first American lady who joined the Order is worthy of special notice. She was Miss Eliza Jane Tiernan, of an old and wealthy Pittsburg family..