The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 6 March 1913, Page 55

The Catholic World

CANADA RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS. Statistics with regard to religion in Canada show that in Ontario, between 1851 and 1901, the Catholics rose from 167,695 to 390,304, while the Anglican Church, which had 223,365 in 1851, has only increased to 367,937. Methodists (666,388) and Presbyterians (477,386) predominate in this State. In Quebec during the same half-century Catholics have risen from 746,854 to 1,429,260, while the Anglicans have increased from 44,682 to 81,563. Catholics easily predominate. In Nova Scotia there were in 1851 69,131 Catholics, who have increased to 129,578. Anglicans were 36,115, and are now 66,107. There are more Catholics than members of any other religion. In New Brunswick in 1861 there were 82,283 Catholics, and there are now 125,698, while the corresponding figures for the Anglicans are 42,776 and 41,767 —a decrease. In Prince Edward Island Catholics have increased from 27,147 to 45,796. Anglicans decreased from 6530 to 5976. ENGLAND BOY PREACHERS AT EARLSFIELD. A feature of the Epiphanytide at St. Gregory's, Earlsfield, Southwark, as in past years, had been the boy preachers selected from amongst the altar servers and choristers to preach the Epiphany sermons. This year three young preachers delivered their sermons in honor of the Infant King, Master William Gardiner preaching on Monday, Master Cecil Case on Tuesday, and Master Maurice Polin on Wednesday, and on each occasion a large congregation attended to listen to the young preachers, whose discourse in each case was his own production. A GOLDEN JUBILEE. There was a notable gathering in Nottingham on Tuesday evening, January 14, when the sacerdotal golden jubilee of the Right Rev. Dr. Brindle, D. 5.0., Bishop of Nottingham, was celebrated. The actual date on which his Lordship attained his jubilee was the 27th of December, and the event was then. recognised by Pontifical High Mass in St. Barnabas' Cathedral. The proceedings on this occasion took the form of a popular expression of -affectionate loyalty on the part of the clergy and laity of the Nottingham diocese. There was a presentation of a congratulatory address from the clergy and laity, an address from the children, and the presentation of a purse of 1350 sovereigns. The Mechanics' Hall, where the function took place, was crowded by a large and representative gathering. PORTUGAL THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME. Dr. Affonso Costa, the new . Portuguese Prime Minister, speaking in Parliament on January 14, declared that he would maintain all the laws, including that of separation of Church and State. The Government Censor suppressed the following part of a Times correspondent's message on January 8, and graciously returned it to him on the 10th: 'Although the country appreciates Dr. Costa's intellectual powers and intelligence, the majority fear that his anti-religious and Socialistic policy will lead it into more serious difficulties, both at home and abroad.' ROME THE CONSTANTINIAN CENTENARY. The publication of the official programme for the Constantmian Centenary celebrations has created much interest, and given new zest to all preparations for that great event (writes a Rome correspondent). The Belgian episcopate has addressed a joint pastoral to their people ordering special functions and prayers for peace, during this time, and also asking Belgian Catholics to

be generous with contributions towards the building of the memorial church at Ponte Milvio, on the site of Constantine's victory. With regard to this church, it has been decided that one of the principal chapels is to be dedicated to St. Helena, Constantine's mother; and very appropriately it will be left to Catholic women to build and decorate it. Already an international committee has been formed for the purpose, with Princess Christina Giustiniani-Bandini .as president, and with Mrs. Fitzgerald and Lady Moloney as representatives of English-speaking countries. Many pilgrimages are announced for these centenary, festivities from France, Spain, Belgium, Austria, and the United States. THE USUAL CANARDS. Two or three canards' have been started thi3 week, and perhaps are worth while denying (says a Rome correspondent writing under date January 11). First of all it is absolutely untrue that the Holy Father has appealed to the Powers to remove Turkish dominion over the'Holy Land, as some newspapers want us to believe. Equally untrue is the news telegraphed from Berlin and reproduced by several papers that the late Regent of Bavaria had left a large legacy to the Holy See. Another clever invention is the news that the Papal Nuncio at Vienna has sent a most alarming report of the aged Emperor's health to the Vatican. SCOTLAND CATHOLIC DOCTORS IN GLASGOW. All the Catholic medical "men in Glasgow and the West of Scotland have gone on the insurance panels. There are 365 doctors on the Glasgow panel, and as the number of insurables is 330,000, this gives an average of a little over 900 to each doctor. There are only twelve Catholic doctors in Glasgow and district, and as the number of Catholic insurables is probably one-third of the whole number, this would mean 9000 insurables to each Catholic doctor, if every Catholic insurable selected a Catholic doctor. UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CHURCH EXTENSION. The seventh annual report of the Catholic Church Extension Society of the United States is a very interesting document. The financial receipts during the last fiscal year amount to 268,984 dollars. The Women's Auxiliary has now 179 active branches and 257 in the process of formation. The gain in membership has been from 1638 last year to 5170 members this year. In the Church goods department the total number of articles distributed, ranging from altars to church bells, reach 24,727. The total number of chapels built by the society for the seven years is shown to be 630. During the year 1911-12 the number built was 93. The society has now two chapel cars, one working in Idaho and one in Oregon. The new chapel car, 'St. Peter/ which is in Idaho, was donated to the society at a cost of 25,000 dollars. A motor chapel is now being built to reach people off the lines of railroads. GENERAL . THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH. _ Somebody has said that one cannot comprehend to its fullest extent the majesty and power of the Catholic Church until he has lived for a time at its centre (writes a Rome correspondent). If this be correct—and I believe it is— is also true that one cannot well realise the universality of the Church until one has turned over the leaves of a compilation like that of the Annuario Ecclesiastico , in which the Pallotine Society, St. Silvestro in Capite, give the personnel of the Roman Court, ecclesiastical and lay, and the Sacred College, and particulars of the diocese and vicariates of the entire world, even to its remotest quarters. When considering the growth of the Catholic Church during the past two years, one is struck in a particular manner by the number of Apostolic prefectures and vicariates which have been erected in Africa and Asia by the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda.