The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 2 March 1911, Page 399

The Catholic World

CANADA— Hearty Thanks The speech from the throne at the opening of the Provincial Legislature at Quebec contained the following pas-sage-—'The striking success of the celebrations in connection with the last International Eucharistic Congress at Montreal gives just cause for rejoicing, affording as it does yet another proof that the Province of Quebec is not only the land of faith, but preeminently also the land of liberty. On that occasion the Protestant population of the metropolis displayed an admirable kindness, for which we cannot too heartily thank them.' ENGLAND—A Noted Convert Our Home exchanges report the death of the Eight Rev. Mgr. William Tylee, which took place at Kensington on January 9at the age of seventy-one. Educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he graduated M.A., and at Cuddesdon Theological College, Monsignor Tylee was received into the Church by the English passiomsts in Paris in 1864, and was ordained by Cardinal Manning five years later. For seven years he was chaplain to the late Lord Ripon at Studley Royal and Nocton Hall. In 1880 he became Privy Chamberlain to Pope Leo XIII., and in 1897 he was appointed Domestic Prelate. He afterwards undertook a six years' missionary tour in India, and was congratulated by the Pope on his work. Monsignor Tylee was the translator of the memoir of Julia Watts-Russell from the Italian of Father Cardella. FRANCE— Petty Persecutions Being no longer able to tyrannise over the Church to the same extent as when the clergy were paid by the State, the French Government and their prefects have to be content with the policy of pin-pricks. That they are pursuing their policy by common agreement there is ample evidence to prove. Not only are prefectorial edicts issued against religious —Monsignor Gibier was fined two francs and costs the other day for having held one at Valpuiseaux —but penalties are inflicted for the refusal of religious rites. The parish priest of Audencourt has been fined for having declined to hold a religious service for the repose of the soul of a man who when dying obstinately refused to receive the Sacraments. The priest has given notice of appeal, and the case will probably be taken to the Court of Cassation. What does this petty persecution of the Bishops and clergy mean That the Church is becoming stronger. Writing from Paris to the Catholic Tribune, of Dubuque, the Rev. Father Roche, LL.D., states that according to an English priest whom he has interviewed at the Church of the Avenue Hoche the power of the Catholics in France to-day is greater than it has been at any time since the Revolution. Last Easter there was a remarkable increase in the number of Communions. Even French unbelievers are now admitting that in the matter of morality the enemies of religion cannot be compared with the Catholics. Reliable reports also attest that the attendance at the services has been unusually large during the Christmas season. A Noble Protest The Mayor of Pomport, having protested against the transfer of Church property to his commune, has been suspended by the Prefect of Bergerac. He acknowledges receipt of the prefectorial decree in a noble letter in which, after quoting a portion of it, he writes: 'lt is quite true that I declared myself unable, as Mayor, to lend myself to this devolution except in a quite passive manner. By so doing, according to the decree, I have grievously failed in my duty. I understand my duty differently. If the devolution is, legal, it is none the less opposed to rights and justice. The spoliation of the real proprietor, the violation of the rights and will of the dead —more sacred even than of the —constitute in any country a crying injustice. In such a case, right must prevail on law. This is how I understand my duty. I therefore consider myself highly honored by your decree and resign the trust I have held from my dear co-citizens for thirty years.' The Need for Vigilance The speech made by his Eminence Cardinal Andrieu, Archbishop of Bordeaux, at his New Year reception, has created a great impression in France. He reminded his clergy that the actual struggle between the Church and anti-Catholic forces now centred in the education question, and emphasised in striking terms the need for vigilance on the part of those who had charge of souls. Anti-Christian Newspapers The Archbishop of Lyons, Cardinal Couille, warned his, people against supporting a number of anti-Christian newspapers which are published at Lyons, St. Etienne, Chalon-sur-Saome, Macon, and Grenoble. In promulgating this ordinance the Archbishop explained that the prohibited journals are to be classed among the writings which the Church denounces as being dangerous to the faithful on the ground that they attack the Catholic religion and its ministers. _ This decision has naturally excited the anger of the journals affected, and, while professing, to make light of the proscription, several of their number threaten the Archbishop with an action for damages in the Civil Courts.

ROME—The Sacred College There are twenty vacancies in the Sacred College of Cardinals, which at present contains fifty Cardinals, viz., twenty-nine Italians, six representatives' of the Austrian Empire, four Spaniards, three Frenchmen, two Germans, two British subjects (Cardinals Moran of Sydney, and Logue of Armagh), one Portuguese, one Belgian, one representative of the United States, and one of Brazil. , Death of a Cardinal The Sacred College has lost another of its members, his Eminence Cardinal Segna passing quietly away at his residence on the night of January 4. The illustrious Cardinal was distinguished for his brilliant talents and for his humble piety. He won his Doctorate in Philosophy, Theology, and Canon and Civil Law at a very early age. Then he became professor at the Reman College and at Propaganda. He afterwards accompanied the present Cardinal Rampolla, Archpriest of St. Peter's, to Spain, when the latter was Nuncio at Madrid.' He was created Cardinal by the late Pope Leo XIII. in the Consistory held on May 18, 1894. Since that time the late Cardinal has given additional proofs of uncommon talents, profound knowledge of various subjects, and true priestly piety and zeal. He is deeply regretted by the Holy Father and his brother members of the Sacred College. A False Rumor Of late years (writes a Rome correspondent) the enemies of the Church in Italy, especially adherents of the Masonic sect, have become accustomed to use the weapons of calumny and malignant reports to an extraordinary extent. Everything is twisted and turned to injure the Church, her ministers, and her more prominent fervent laymen. _ It matters little how absurd be the rumor, as long as it can be hung on some peg, as is evident in the latest instance. According to this, the Holy See has decided to close the Vatican galleries to the public during the celebration in connection with the proclamation of Rome as the capital of Italy this year. It is now denied on authority that such an idea has ever been entertained. Of course the Vatican will observe the year we have just entered as one of mourning and as a protest against the celebrations to commemorate the spoliation of its rights, but it has no thought of depriving those who may come to Pome of the pleasure found by so many tens of thousands yearly in the famous galleries and museums. Pope after Pope has spent millions on those vast collections for the sake of art; they have been thrown open to the world for generations, and' there is no danger that Pius X. will display any narrowness of mind simply because the occupant of a very shaky throne is about to celebrate an event brought about forty years ago by Freemasons, atheists, and some of the worst of men. UNITED STATES— A Poor Man's Hotel Rev. Timothy Dempsey, of St. Louis, conducts a model hotel known as 'Exile's Rest,' in St. Louis. It is not intended for millionaires. The poor and desolate wanderer finds a welcome there from the big-hearted priest. During the year prior to December 1, 1910, he took care of 105,667 lodgers. Some paid, others did not. The expenditures for the year were $18,264.94. A deficit of $192.12 was wiped out by friends who appreciate the good that has been done. Fifteen of the exiles died at the hotel and were buried from its funds. A mission is held annually, and at the last one some 200 of the exiles approached the Holy Table. This is a great object of Father Dempsey, to bring many an outcast back to his religious duty. This (says the Columbian) is the kind of philanthrophy and sociological effort that is bearing fruit, and in preventing the growth of evils that breed and foster the socialistic spirit. Success to Father Dempsey and the 'Exile's Rest.' • GENERAL Reunion of East and West The Constantinople correspondent of the Kblnische Volkszeitung, in a letter gives news which must bring joy to the heart of every Catholic. He states (says the Catholic Tunes) that at present there is in the East a remarkable movement in the direction of religious unity. Union is advocated not only with the Roman See but between the different Orthodox Churches themselves. The idea of reunion between the Greek and the Roman Churches is,' he says, ' spoken of with eager approval on all sides. The ordinary clergy are specially favorable to it because they hope from it an improvement in their sad domestic and social position. Of the higher clergy the Metropolitan -of Beirut, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Monsignor Gerassimos Messara, has for the first time, with the assent of the Patriarch of Antioch, declared for reunion in a Pastoral Letter to all the Orthodox Christians.' A translation is given of this Pastoral, an authorised French version of which from the Arabic was published at Constantinople in the Jeune Turc of January 5. It is a most noteworthy document. As will be perceived from the words of his Grace, reproduced in our present issue, the Archbishop expresses an earnest longing for a complete understanding with the Roman See and the settlement of questions in dispute. We need hardly say that his Holiness Pius X. will cordially welcome this friendly response to the appeals of the Mother and Mistress of all the Churches,