The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 9 October 1913, Page 55

The Catholic World

% , vU.-V;.. ENGLAND f ' FORTY-SIX MASSES IN A DAY. Between six o'clock and noon on the Feast of the Assumption, 46 Masses were celebrated at Westminster Cathedral. This abnormal number is accounted for by the fact that there were just then some hundreds of clergy in London from the United States and elsewhere. Counting the' ordinary Cathedral services, there were well over half a hundred separate services during the day.' ■ v ■ ■ ’ • • '• ' A MEMORIAL CHURCH. ' Bishop Brin die, D. 5.0., . of Nottingham, performed the ceremony of laying a memorial stone, of the new church at Ashby-de-la-Zouch on August 18, in the • presence of a large assembly, including the-Duke and ■ Duchess of Norfolk, the Earl of Loudoun, Lord Walter Kerr, and Lady Maud Hastings. The building will be in the Norman style, .of Weldon stone. The estimated cost is about £25,000. Under the stone, the following, on a scroll, was placed with medallions and coins:—‘Flora Paulyna Hetty Barbara (Hastings), Duchess, of Norfolk, who died on April 11, 1887, left jewellery to be sold for the purpose of building a church at Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Her husband, Henry, 15th Duke of Norfolk, sold the jewels, and with the money is building this church in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the invocation of our Lady of Lourdes. The Duchess was the daughter of Edith Countess of Loudoun, and of Charles, first Baron Donington, She was granddaughter of George, second Marquis of Hastings. The corner stone is being laid this, 18th day of August, 1913, by Robert, Bishop of Nottingham, it being the 11th year of the pontificate of Pope Pius X. and the fourth year of the reign of King George V. —Aloysius C. V. Crowther, Priest.’ The Bishop, in the course of a short address, said the church was being built in memory -of the late Duchess of Norfolk, and he asked that those who came to worship in it should remember her in their prayers. FRANCE THE WRITING ON THE WALL. The writing on the wall in France is alarming its rulers. They contemplate their handiwork in crushing religion out of the schools, and they find it is bad. The depopulation of France by the decline of the birthrate (says the Universe) has deprived the country of recruits, and compelled resort to extended and oppressive military service. Between 1900 and 1912 Germany rose in population to close on 66 millions, ah increase of about 9| millions. France in the same period increased from a little less than 39 millions to a little more than 391 millions, an increase, to be exact, of 710,000. At the same rate of progress twelve years hence, a short time, France will have 40 millions with which to face the 77 million Germans, or nearly twice as many. In twenty-four years later there will be 250 Germans for every 100 Frenchmen. The French are by their own hand blotting France from the map of Europe, and only one thing can stay the downfall. Religion alone can save France. ■ A wise Frenchmen, looking at the crowds of men pouring into the new Church of the Sacred Heart on Montmartre, said: ‘ The Sacred Heart will save France.’ The increase in the number of men in the churches is doing more for France than all the politicians in their own imaginings. There they are learning the meaning of duty. And the ‘ white train ’ carrying the ‘ Grandes Malades ’ to Lourdes is opening the eyes of Fiance, notwithstanding the boycott of the'Government and its servile press. : ■ . v - THE GRANDE CHARTREUSE. If there were less sectarian bitterness amongst the enemies of the Catholic Church in France the - appeal

which-the Saturday Review makes to the French Government to permit the monks to return to .their old home at the Grande' Chartreuse' would doubtless -meet with favor. The treatment:of the Chartreux was one of the worst phases ’ of: the persecution -in France. ; Greed was the * main motive of ■ their expulsion. Men who spent little on Themselves and much on the people around them were plundered and banished in’ order that dishonest rascals' might get hold of their property and squander in riotous living the proceeds of its sale. In addition, an act of vandalism was in contemplation. It was proposed to demolish the monastic, buildings which were falling into decay and to sell the stones and woodwork by public auction. But, thanks to an agitation in which journalists, politicians, mayors, town councillors, and merchants joined, the project was abandoned, and the Ministry 'of Fine Arts consented to class the Grande Chartreuse as a ‘ historical monument.’ The Saturday Review suggests that the monks should be allowed to take up their abode there again. Such an act of justice would assuredly be welcome to people of all classes in the department, for they have a vivid memory of the benefactions of the Chartreux; but has the French Government sufficient courage and generosity to perform it ? .. . - ... v : 7 ■ GERMANY, \ THE CATHOLIC CONGRESS. - • - Ever since the conclusion ,of peace between -Germany and France in 1871 discussions in the press of both countries have shown, from, time to time; that the wound caused by the enforced 1 cession of Alsace-Lor-raine is hard to heal. It must therefore have been with some anxiety that Metz, i the capital of German Lorraine, was chosen as the place for the meeting of the sixtieth General Congress of the Catholics of Germany. Memories of the war must have been awakened' amongst the French delegates during their visit (says the Catholic Times). Here Napoleon 111. assumed chief command of the army of the Rhine ; here, after the disasters at Weissenberg, Woerth, and Forbach, the French forces were concentrated and hemmed in; and here Bazaine surrendered 173,000 men. ... The Germans took care that nothing should be done during the Congress to revive the memories of those events. The Catholic religion powerfully tends to remove international friction, and the relations that have prevailed between the German and French delegates have been most kindly. The two languages German and French have been used, and the speakers in both have been listened - to by enthusiastic audiences. Once again the members of the Congress have proved that they are fearless advocates of Catholic rights and that they know how to organise with skill for the purpose of defending them effectively. CLOSING UP THEIR RANKS. ; , • During the German Catholic Congress at Metz, Prince Lowenstein, the President of the Congress, mad© a most important speech,- which will, it is hoped, go far to solidify the Catholic vote in ; Germany (says the Universe). His Highness recalling the wording of. the Encyclical Sinyulari quanda'm reminded those assembled at the Congress that the Holy Father did not disapprove of Catholic working-men belonging to nonCatholic Unions, and that consequently any antagonism between men who belonged to purely Catholic unions and others who belonged to non-Catholic unions should at once cease. His strong pronouncement was met with universal, applause. If the effect desired comes to pass the position of Catholics in Germany will be immensely strengthened, in so far as it is opposed to Socialism, which hitherto has derived great advantage .from the divisions which have up to the present somewhat divided the rank and file of the Catholic body in the Empire. ~ ...* T ‘ ' - f 4 ■■■:■ : ■