The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 3 December 1908, Page 31

The Catholic World

CANADA— Distribution of Catholics ' / | ' According to a pamphlet recently issued, the following figures give the number of Catholics hi. Canada in 1907 and the-lan-guage they speak:— ln Quebec^ tligre were 1,240,732 Frenchspeaking Catholics, 80,176 English%eaking, and 10,028 who spoke other languages. In Optario the nationalities were more evenly represented: French-speaking 233,000, English 228,450, and other languages 17,065. In Nova Scotia the -French Catholics are in a minority with 42,491. as against 85,173 English, and 1914' who speak. other languages. In New Brunswick tie French predominate with 79,979. against 44,194 who s P eak English and ' 1525 who speak other languages.'- In prince Edward's Island French-speaking Catholics are comparatively few, 19,191 against 31,197 and 270 who speak neither French nor English. ENGLAND— PenaI Enactments Under the auspices of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom, a largely-attended meeting of London Catholics has been held at the Caxton Hall. The Bishop of Northampton gave an address on ' The English. Martyrs in Penal Times. ' His Lordship strongly commented on Mr. Asquith's virtual interdiction of the carrying of the Sacred Host in the recent Eucharistic Procession, and on the motion of Mr. Lister Drummond, K.C., seconded by Mr. Hilaire Belloc, M.P., a resolution was passed demanding the repeal of penal enactments. Pilgrimage to Rome About seven hundred persons were to take part in the national pilgrimage to Rome, which was to leave London on October 20. The Sisters of Nazareth The Rev. Mother General, Nazareth House, Hammersmith, has been the recipient of a beautiful gold medal from his Holiness the Pope, in recognition of the work done by the Sisters amongst the poor all over the world. It was presented by the Right Rev. Mgr. M. O'Riordan, Protonotary- Apostolic, Rector of the Irish College, Rome. The medal was accompanied by a letter from Mgr. Bisleti, of which the following is a tra* slation : ' Pontifical Ante-chamber, 21 September, 190 S. Reverend Mother Superior, — The Holy Father, wishing to give you a proof of !>is paternal benevolence ' and of his sovereign pleasure for the zeal with which you carry out the works of religion and of charity to the poor, sends you a gold medal. The Holy Father wishes also to bestow on you and the Sisters of your Congregation the Apostolic Blessing. With best wishes, devotedly in Christ, (Signed) G. Bisleti, Majordomo to his Holiness.' The Accession Oath Mr. W. Redmond's Bill to remove "Catholic disabilities and to alter the accession oath was read a first time last week by 233 to 48, after Mr. Me Arthur's opposition, which was based on the argument that the measure struck at the guarantee of Protestant succession. - t „ His Example an Inspiration The tribute paid by Father Bernard- Vaughan at Reading 10 the late Lord Herries was both heartfelt and- graceful. Lord Herries's life, he said, had been an instruction, his example, an inspiration, and his friendship a benediction. s He was a man whom one could not meet without feeling it' was worth , while trying to be better. ' . . The Red Mass i v ' v The customary service in connection with the re-opening of the Law Courts after the long, vacation took place on October 14 at Westminster Cathedral. 'There, was a larger congregationof members of the Bar than usual. The Mass was sung by' Monsignor Howlett, assisted by Father iMcKenna and Father Hetherington, and his Grace Archbishop Bourne was at the throne. After the services the legal members of the congregation attended a by the Lord Chancellor in the House ,of Lords. ■ » ,*• ROME — German Catholic Workers A deputation of the' German Catholic workers' societies has been visiting Rome and has been received* in audience by the Holy Father. His Holiness has also received a deputation of - Catholic University ' students; "from Germany.

The Papa! Legate Cardinal Vincent Vannutelli had a private audience of -the Holy Father" on October 9, and confirmed the information contained in the telegraphic and written reports which he, had already sent to his Holiness about the Eucharistic Congress.** His Holw ness stated that he was most satisfied with the success of the Congress. A great part of the success was due, he said, to the activity and wisdom of Archbishop Bourne. The Holy Father warmly congratulated Cardinal Vannutelli on the way in which he had discharged his mission as Legate. The Spanish Pilgrims Two hundred pilgrims, principally from the dioceses of Seville and Leon, the object of whose visit to Rome was to present their greetings to the Pope on the occasion of his Sacerdotal Jubilee, have been received in audience (writes a Rome correspondent under date October 10). They were accompanied by tne Archbishop of Seville and the Bishop of Leon, and many members of the principal families in the dioceses named took part in the pilgrimage. The pilgrims were lined round the Consistorial Hall, and when the Holy Father had passed along speaking affably with the pilgrims, and admitting all to kiss the. ring, he took his place on the throne. Then the Archbishop of Seville presented the Jubilee gifts of the people of his archdiocese. They consisted of a richly ornamented set-^of vestments'? and a beautiful Benediction cope. The address tothfejj^pe -from these dioceses was read by the Archbishop, and its ' l '3jsw£jQjgaib& furnished points for the admirable address of ; the. Pontfff^|jy'ho is ' known to cherish particular sympathy for Spain. A very- remarkable thing in these multiplied discourses of his Holiness is their appropriateness for each occasion, as it arises. On ,the following Sunday his Holiness received a large number of boys and girls,' First Communicants, from the parish of San '-Vitale, and his address to them on the privilege they had enjoyed, and the beautiful and encouraging words with which he incited them to persevere in their good resolutions moved the children much, and some of the teachers, who accompaned them, even more. UNITED STATES— An Official Organ The Most Rev. Dr. O'Connell, Archbishop of Boston, announces that the Pilot, formerly edited by the late John Boyle O'Reilly and afterwards by tfre late Jeffrey Roche, has become the official organ of his diocese. A Great Citizen An address by Booker T. Washington was the chief feature of the opening session of the ninth annual convention of the National Negro Business Men's League at Baltimore the other day. i Mr. Washington said in part : 'In this city, for the most part, there is a thrifty, prosperous, and law-abiding Negro population, and here the most kindly relations exist between the races. Much of this, let me add, is due to the influence of that great citizen and churchman, Cardinal Gibbons, whom every Negro loves and honors.' '. Catholic Church Extension The Catholics of the United States are ever on the alert to discover new methods of' extending the influence and membership the Church. The zeal they thus display has won for them both converts and admiration amongst non-Catholics. Their latest, project for promoting Catholic interest (says the Catholic ■Times) is a plan of colonisation to which the Catholic Church Extension Society propose to give effect.- A central organisation is to be formed, and representatives are to be appointed in all the 1 , chief cities. Where population' is congested and the prospects of social improvement are slight, information 'will be circulated as' to" the condition cf localities to which*, the,, local Cath-■-olics may -with advantage -migrate. A- colonisation - scheme is .contemplated, and it is' hoped ahat it , will 'benefit J.he Catholics both spiritu-ally and materially. The intention is td:plant Catholic communities in districts where resources abound" and there is a --pretty' sure prospect of • social development. kl Missions and schools' .will be provided, at the outset, so .that the colonists will have facilities for practising their religion 'atnd their children opportunities for religious instruction. • ' The proposals, which a<*e to be laid before the first American Catholic Missionary "Congress, to be held in Chicago, are exciting a good deal of interest in the States, and if they are carried out on the ■ scale now 1 designed- they must result in 'many accessions to the Catholic ,_ranks. '