The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 27, Issue 21, 27 May 1909, Page 831

The Catholic World

ENGLAND— Archdiocese of Westm'nster In succession to the late Bishop Johnson, the Archbishop of Westminster has appointd Canon Surmont, D.D., to be one of his Vicars-General, and the Rev. Maurice E. Carton de Wiart to bo his financial secretary and treasurer. FRANCE— Food for Reflection Archbishop Ireland of St. Paul, on the eve of his departure from Paris, on March 26, in an interview said: ' From what I have seen and heard during my stay here I have formed the distinct impression that the State's' policy of persecuting religion will not last much longer; that there will bo an arrangement to intervene soon. A republic, especially a republic like France, where the people are volatile, cannot endure without religion', which is the creator of the individual conscience. The forces of order and public security realise that with the anchor gone the people will go adrift. The present strikes and unrest are giving the Government rich food for reflection.' The Sleeping Sickness The missionary priest, Father Beauchene, has died at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, of sleeping sickness contracted in Africa. He was walking across the Luxembourg Gardens when he suddenly collapsed on to a bench and was conveyed to the Pasteur Institute, where all the remedies tried proved unavailing. There are at the Institute fourteen patients who are suffering from tlio disease. GERMANY— The Centre Party The new leader of the Centre party, Baron Von Hertling, is perhaps the foremost Catholic layman of Germany to-day (writes the German correspondent of the Catholic Standard and Times). Hew have deserved better of thej'Church and of their country than he. Though born in 1843, he is still at the height of his powers. His intellectual, social, and political activity has been nothing- short of marvellous. For twenty-seven years he has been professor of philosophy in the University of Munich. During this period he has written a number of scholarly works dealing with the history of philosophy. Whatever makes for the uplifting of his fellow-Catholics appeals to him. He helped to found the now famous "^Goerres Society ' and the' Society for Christian Art.' Both societies have done an immense amount of good. As president of the Goerrea Society, von Hertling delivered a series of lectures at the annual conventions which have attracted the attention and the favorable comment of the greatest savants of Germany. His able work on The Principle of Catholicism and Science has gained for him an international reputation. Baron von Hertling has been a member of the Reichstag since 1875. Thus he has been schooled in politics by Windthorst, Lieber, Reichensperger, and Bismarck. He is a clear and convincing orator and a prudent and far-seeing statesman. The King of Bavaria recognised this arid made him a member of the royal council. The Emperor and Buelow managed to ignore this, and passed him by whenever positions of trust in the empire were to be filled. His best speeches in "the House are always made when foreign politics or social questions are under discussion. In the famous - debates on ~ the 'Kaiser interview' last Novemberp Hertling was the spokesman of his party, and his speech was a masterpiece of tact and good sense. ITALY— Divorce Laws hot Required Amid all the tumult* that has marked the "first few sittings of the new Italian Parliament (writes the Rome correspondent of the Catholic Times) a striking instance has been given us of n6w deeply Catholic aoctrine is embedded in the Italian character. No one who knows Italy of the present day would credit the motley gathering on Montecitorio with any overflow of religious feelingand yet, notwithstanding all their indifference towards religion and all their persecution of the Church, the members of the Chamber of Deputies have- declared their intention of having nothing to say to a Divorce Bill. In explaining his position the other day Signor Giolitti the F£ m< L Mmiste^ Said ' amid lau ghter and applause, that * the Extreme Party should feel grateful towards him for not having introduced a Divorce Bill, simply because it would be rejected by an overwhelming majority' 'I am convinced,' pursued Signor Giolitti, 'that Italy can be excellently governed without any divorce law ' — a remark that was received with enthusiasm by four-fifths of the Chamber. -

ROME— A Message of Welcome Mr. Eoosevclt, the ex-President of the United States, received the following Marconigram on board the Hamburg whilst on his way to Italy: 'Recalling the cordial reception given me at White House, I send with equal cordiality my greetings and congratulations upon your glorious Presidential administration, and wishes for a - happy journey, and hopes of meeting you personally in Rome before you return to America. — Francesco Satolli, Cardinal.' Cardinal Satolli was the first Apostolic Delegate to Washington. A French Pilgrimage The arrival of his Eminence Cardinal Couillie, Archbishop of Lybns, reminds me (writes a Rome correspondent under date April 3) of the preparations made in - France for one of the most gigantic pilgrimages that ever have been formed to come, to Rome from any nation. Enthusiasm is felt in every part of that country in view of the approaching beatification of the Maid of Orleans, a fact that is proved by the number of pilgrims expected here for the ceremony. It is believed the number of French Bishops will be about twenty-eight or thirty; while the pilgrims are expected to reach a total of 35,000, if not even more. The question is, considering -that on an average about 20,000 foreigners are. present in Rome each year for Easter week, how x can the -enormons French pilgrimage be "accommodated? ' Already a small army of workmen' are engaged on the decorations' in the interior of St. Peter's for the great ceremony, while%the construction of large tribunes for a number of strangers much - greater than usual is proceeding. In the national .French church, Rome, S. Luigi dei Francesi," where special ceremonies will be held in honor of the new Beata, portable altars are being erected for the use of the French priests who are expected there for the celebration of- Mass. SCOTLAND— An. Eminent Lawyer on Convents Lord Guthrie, one of the most eminent authorities in legal circles in' Scotland and a Judge of the High Court, speaking at a. Protestant gathering in Edinburgh recently, made some remarks which, it is to be hoped/ will not be without fruit in producing a truer impression regarding convents than that usually entertained by many nonCatholics. 'Nobody,' said his Lordship, 'could doubt that the Roman Caiholic Church had shown a profound knowledge of human nature and .had utilised a great deal of work that had been running to seed — that had riot been utilised at all by Protestantism. He did riot believe m convents, but he was going to spend the following Thursday afternoon in a convent in London with five cousins — one a Sister of Charity, and foxir other nuns. He often thought what a travesty of convent life many Protestants had. Those cousins of his did not mope away their lives in cells. They were engaged constantly in works o f charity, teaching the young, healing the sick, attending to the aged.' --= — --