The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 9 February 1911, Page 255

The Catholic World

ENGLAND—Catholic Members of Parliament The defeat of Major Sykes in the Buckrose Division of East Riding (Yorks) (remarks the Catholic Herald) determines the number of Catholic members of Parliament in the new House. In the old Parliament there were nine Catholic members for British constituencies; in the new Parliament there are eight. Mr. Belloc retired from South Salford, and Sir Wm. Dunn was defeated in West Southwa.rk. That reduced the number by two, but it was augmented by the victory of Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart in Cardiff, so that the Catholics representing British constituencies in the new Parliament are as follows: —Mr. T. P. O'Connor, Liverpool, Scotland Division Mr. . James O'Grady, East Leeds; Sir Ivor .Herbert, South Monmouthshire; Mr. Rowland Hunt, Ludlow; Major Archer Shoe, Finsbury; Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart, Cardiff; Lord Edmund Talbot, Chichester; Mr. J. F. Hope, Central Sheffield. The first three named are on the popular side of politics; the last five named are Unionists. ROME— Brighton Converts All the five recent converts to the Church, Messrs. H. Prince, A. Cocks, E. 11. Sheffeare, A. I. Hinde, and O. Henly, have decided to study in the Eternal City for the priesthood, every arrangement, both as to professors and a place-of residence, having been made for them to pursue their course (writes a Pome correspondent). Contrary to expectations, they have not been assigned to the Beda College, but rathe*- to the Academy of Noble Ecclesiastics, which up till recently had been reserved exclusively for the sons of the aristocratic families of Italy, who, when promoted to the priesthood, generally followed the diplomatic career. The group has been joined by Mr. J. Steele, an Irishman, who served for twenty-two years under Lord Erne. The Rev. Gregory Cleary, D.D., D.C.L., of the Irish Franciscans of St. Isidore's, has been appointed their Professor of Moral Theology. School of Gregorian Chant "Under the patronage of the Italian Association of St. Cecilia the project of initiating a school of music in the interests of Gregorian Chant, which was mooted some months ago for Rome, will shortly be an accomplished fact. Not only in various other countries, but in Italy itself, at least in some parts of it, a difficulty was experienced in carrying out the ideas of the Holy Father concerning the famous chant, through the lack of competent choirmasters. This . institution is calculated to help the clergy to acquire a thorough knowledge of the art. Pope Pius X. has accorded the ' placet' to the project, and the Cardinal Vicar of Rome has solemnly blessed the apartments that have been fitted up for the accommodation of the classes which will be formed in January. Some of the greatest authorities on Gregorian Chant have been' engaged to lend their services to the institute. It is believed that this project will have a wide influence on Church music in Italy and elsewhere within a very few years. Prize Day at Propaganda Though twice the number of, students attend lectures in the Gregorian University—it had last year about 1400 on its rolls, I believein comparison with those frequeting the Propaganda, there is always more interest felt in the prize-list of the latter institution on account of the number of nations represented there (writes the Rome correspondent of the Catholic Times). Not to speak of the Americans, Irish, Maronites, Canadians, Armenians; Greeks, Bohemians, and various religious Orders that attended lectures there, the Urban College alone, which was founded for the training of young men of every nationality to serve heathen nations in the priesthood, shows the universality of the Propaganda. From the figures of the Urban College a few years ago it appeared that it had within its walls: Canadians, 7; Greeks, 4; Irish, 20; North Americans, 11; Chinese, 6; Syrians, 8; Australians, 5; Newfoundlanders, 5: New Zealanders, 2; South Americans, 3; South Africans (Zulus), 2; Japs, 1; Swiss, 3; Armenian, 1; Scotch, 5Spanish, 1; Norwegian, 1; English, 2; Indian, 1; Roumanians, 4. The Rectors and students of the various colleges held the distribution of prizes in the Propaganda College recently, under the presidency of his Eminence Cardinal Gotti, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda. According to the official list furnished me. the North American College has seven doctors of theology after the year, the Canadian College three, while each of the other institutions gain two or more four-cornered birettas. Three students of the Irish College have gained the licentiate in the same subject, and seventeen Americans; while five students of the former college and twentyeight of the latter were awarded the bachelorship. The same proportion was observed in the awarding of the philosophical degrees; so I pass on to the premium list. In Scripture the Bohemian College leads, two first premiums falling to the American College. In Dogmatic Theology first place falls again to a Bohemian, an American and an Irishman also securing places in connection with this pre-

mium; while three Americans and an Irishman figure on the list for the second premium. In the Sacraments a Propagandist leads the way, followed closely by ah American and an Irishman, the Ruthenian College coming last on the list for this premium. An Irish' student obtains second premium in De Locis Theologiae, and first place for Moral iheology goes to an American, the Urban and Bohemian Colleges sharing the other places between them. .First and second premiums fail to the American and' Irish College in Ecclesiastical History, while the latter institution obtains both a first and second premium in Canon Law The Archaeological prizes, as usual, fall to America and Ireland in the case of the first premium; a place -is given also to a Maronite. In Mental Philosophy first premium is given to the Maronite (Regulars) and the American Colleges the Oriental-carrying off the medal, and second premium. But it is in Physics, Mathematics, the History of Philosophy and Greek and Natural History that both the Irish and American Colleges display most striking success, for in these subjects they have divided the >izes~ among themselves first, then giving a certain number to the Urban and-Bohemian institutions. To the Irish College special credit is one for the excellent position which it lias acquired particularly when we remember that the number of its students docs not exceed forty-five or thereabouts. SCOTLAND—A Golden Jubilee The golden jubilee of the priesthood of the Very Rev Donald Provost Mackintosh, Moidart, was celebrated in Oban on December 13 Pontifical High Mass was sung by his Lordship Bishop Smith in presence of a large congregation At the close of the service a meeting of the-clergy and laity was held in the hall, and the Rev. Provost wS presented with a handsome cheque as a mark of appreciation on the attainment of his golden jubilee as a P priest His Lordship the Bishop, who presided, spoke in high terms of the devoted service which had been given to the Church by Provost Mackintosh for the long period of fifty *SS? and these long years of service from first to last had been spent in the diocese of Argyll and the Isles. The early labors of the Provost in South Uist were of a particularly f, +rV a m e ' T b f aUSß at that time tbe number of priests in the Western Isles was comparatively few. All through these many years. Provost Mackintosh had never spared himself in the service of his people, and he had won in full measure.their love and affection.' Of a modest and re tiring disposition, the Provost had endeared himself not only to members of their own Church, but to those of other denominations. i Towards the presentation subscriptions had been received from all parts of the United Sdom and not only from Catholics but from friends belonlmg to other Churches. Amidst great applause his Lord ?3&> pres S nted th A e r venerable Provost with a cheque for £3OO. Provost Mackintosh, in acknowledging the presentation expressed his deep gratitude to all those who- had subscribed to that splendid token of their regard for him The Very Rev Donald Provost Mackintosh is a native ™f Glenfinnan. Feeling called to devote himself to the service of God as a priest, he was Sent to the national college at ruairs, Aberdeen. There was no convenient Weston and Railway in those early days, sixty years ago so tit journey to Glasgow had to be made by coach. From Blabs lather. Donald was sent to pursue the higher studies of Bavaria 3 ' and^ 0 and ?* ifavaiia, and m due time was raised to the priesthood n 1860 on Feast of St. Andrew, the patron Saint of dS W ' Th if- Cl f L cal U ? e of Fatller Donald has be?n divided between his labors in the Outer Isles and Moidart For several years he was assistant to the Rev. John CHs' holm-also a jubilarian-who died at Bornish n 1867 and he has repeatedly expressed his gratitude that he was nrivi Se LK have the guidance and example of that good San at the beginning of his career. It has exercised an influ mice over his whole life. The thirty-three years Father Donald spent m the Outer Hebrides were years of in credibly hard work, of which those who dwell in citiei can" have no conception. His life in Moidart has been the his flock! daily faitMul discharge of his """ttSd UNITED STATES-Appointment of Bishop •4. T - h ? "S o]y Father lias ratified the proposal of the r nn sistonal Congregation, recommending the apnointmenV nf the Very Rev. John Ward, rector of St Marv'sTL oTstc^r 1^Bish °» ° ! k-s c^,%s n Se s r ff h °i Colored Congregations q+a+S l6 / 6^1 ?!/ 6 P°T* of the colored missions in the United SS&ftS^! there >Venty - SiS con^^onYwi?n