The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 9 May 1912, Page 55

The Catholic World

INDIA .. 1 INTERESTING CENSUS RETURNS. The results of the latest census of India, which includes the religious statistics of that vast country, are of great interest (writes Dom Hunter-Blair in the Glasgow Observer), and by no means discouraging from the Catholic point of view, though it need not be said that the total number of Catholics is almost infinitesimal in comparison with the immense mass of non-Christian peoples. It is satisfactory to note that of the Eurasian Christians, some 100,000 in number, more than half, namely-57,000, are Catholics. The native Christians of India are reckoned to. number a little over 3£ millions, of whom 1,394,000 are Catholics, their chief strength being in Southern India. The Syrian Christians in India in communion with the Holy See alone number 413,000, having increased in ten years by fully 90,000. The whole number of native Indian Catholics is estimated to have increased in the past decade by about 270,000. Of the Europeans resident in India, probably about 200,000 in all, the majority are, as would be expected, at least nominal Anglicans; but there are at least 40,000 Catholics among them. From the above statistics it appears that the total number of Catholics in India approximates to a million and a half, out of an entire population estimated at considerably over 315 millions. ROME SILVER JUBILEE OF TWO CARDINALS. Rome celebrated on March 14 two notable jubilees in the'Cardinalate, to wit, those of their Eminences Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli, -dean of the Sacred College and Grand Penitentiary, and Cardinal Rampolla, Secretary of the Sacred. Congregation of the Holy Office and Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica. By a singular and auspicious coincidence, these two illustrious princes of the Church both received the purple from Leo XIII. at the Consistory of March 14, 1887. Needless to say, the anniversary was the occasion for it, perfect outburst of congratulations and good wishes from the many friends; at home and abroad, of the two distinguished Cardinals, who have both of them fulfilled a quarter of a century of such arduous labors for the Church, APPOINTED APOSTOLIC DELEGATE. Monsignor I. Petrelli, D.D., has been appointed by the Holy Father to succeed the late Archbishop Agius as Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines. Monsignor Petrelli was formerly secretary of the Delegation in the islands. ■ THE HOLY FATHER’S NAME DAY. On the feast of St. Joseph, the Pope’s name day, his Holiness received many messages of congratulation from all parts of the world. Audience was granted to the Cardinals, who presented their greetings in person. The Pope thanked them and conversed with them singly on current events. His Holiness took occasion once more to allude to the deep impression made upon him by the attempt. on the life of King Victor Emmanuel, and deplored the causes which led to such excesses. ORDINATION OF CONVERTS. Rev. J. H. Steele, who up to the time of his conversion two years ago was chaplain to the Earl of Erne, Grand Master of the Orangemen of Ireland, was ordained a priest in Rome on March 25 by Cardinal Merry del Val, and with him five other convert clergymen from Brighton, England, were raised to the priesthood. A letter published in the Irish Catholic tells how Father Steele had made his retreat under Dr. Murray, the General of the Redemptorists, ‘ like myself' a Donegal man,’ and had arranged to sav his first Mass at St Patrick’s altar in the Irish College. * ’

, • A FAMOUS IRISH PREACHER. ; While famous pulpit orators are holding the attention of thousands in the churches of the Eternal City in this season of Lent, one .of them is worth particular attention for several reasons (says ; a' Rome correspondent). For twenty-seven years Dr. Keane, the famous Dominican preacher, has occupied the ' chief pulpits in England, Ireland, and Scotland; and now he is before one, of the most critical congregations in Europe, consisting of ecclesiastics, students, and learned lay Catholics hailing from America, Australia, and the British Isles, in the church for English-speaking Catholics, San Silyestro in Capite, In Rome learned prelates, consuitors to the Roman congregations, as well as ordinary theologians do not hesitate to drop into a church and sit among the people to hear a preacher of renowna tact that makes the preacher all the more alert in his sermons Standing six feet five, the powerful-looking man with snow-white hair and fresh, ruddy' countenance makes truly a grand figure in his sixtieth year. SCOTLAND A SUBSTANTIAL PRESENTATION. Rev Dean McNairney, St. Peter’s, Partick, recently celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of his elevation to the priesthood, and the occasion was marked by a largely attended gathering which was held in the Burgh Hall. An illuminated address and a cheque for £SOO were presented to the Dean on behalf of the congregation In acknowledging the gift, Father McNairney said that when asked to accent a testimonial, he had consented to accept any gift that might be offered him only on condition that he was allowed to devote it to Church purposes. He intended, therefore, to place St Peter’s toWards the P urcllase of a new organ for UNITED STATES HONORING CARDINAL FARLEY. As the Charitable Irish Society’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration m Boston was honored by the presence of Cardinal O Connell, so also. was the dinner of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in New York graced by FrIST ° f ai^ nal Far %- In his speech to the Friendly Sons Cardinal Farley said: ‘I believe this marks the end of the receptions tendered me since I was elevated to the Cardinalate, and it is especially fitting that the last salutation should come from the members of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. I feel proud of this because I am of the same blood as you.’ THE CARDINAL AND THE PRESIDENT. d V- - The biggest celebration of St. Patrick’s Day in the long history of the Charitable Irish Society of Boston was that which took place on March 18 > Never before did this venerable organisation, founded forty years before the Revolution, entertain at its Annual of g ft p, esid ® nt of the United States and a Cardinal of,the Church, and never before did such a large and distinguished number of men of ItisKfancestry lather under the auspices of the Society on St. Patrick’s Dav Before the dinner President Taft stood ne™ the em trance to the large banquet hall and shook hands with the members as they passed and were presented. !- After his, when President Taft with Cardinal O’Connell in his ecclesiastical robes entered the hall, a great shout' went- up, which lasted until they had arrived at S places at the head table.' • - -■ their