The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 11 December 1913, Page 55

The Catholic World

BELGIUM REORGANISATION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION. Catholics the. world over (remarks the Universe) will look with curious interest at the reception which the Belgian Parliament will accord to the Government's proposals for the. reorganisation of primary education, which are aimed at performing the apparently hopeless task of pleasing everybody. The .Liberals and Socialists demand compulsory attendance and secular schools, and the Government agree to the former and will recognise Socialist schools so long as the doctrines of Karl Marx or Lassalle are not taught, nor class-war preached. The Catholics demand that their schools shall receive the same grants as the State schools, and the Government seem disposed to accede. So far, so good. But while the Catholic section of the House are willing to make an advance on their former position by accepting compulsory attendance, they object strongly to Socialist schools. The Socialists view with disfavor the limitations appended to the recognition of their schools, and will have the support of the Liberals in a determined opposition to public grants for the schools of religious Orders, which will gain considerably for the proposed law. Altogether a pretty situation. ENGLAND DECORATIONS FOR NUNS. The Committee of the English Red Cross Association has recently sent to the Oblate Nuns of the Assumption four decorations for the Sisters who nursed the wounded in the English ambulance at Constantinople during the late war. The secretary has addressed a letter to the Rev. Mother, thanking her on the part of the Medical Society of the English Red Cross, and to express their admiration for the nuns in the hospital at Stamboul. Major Douglas Wyley has also drawn up a report informing the same society of the enormous assistance that the nuns had rendered in the care of the wounded during the time of conflict. The practical good work of the nuns will be brought before the Red Cross Congress, which will be held in London during May, 1914. SCOTLAND THE CONTINUITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. It is very interesting to note how the Catholic Church in Scotland is quietly asserting its claim to continuity with the great Scottish Church of the Middle Ages (remarks the' Universe). In Glasgow the Cathedral is dedicated to St. Andrew, whereas the original Cathedral around which the city grew was dedicated to St. Mungo; but the Catholic claim is still made good, for over sixty years ago a Catholic church, under the patronage of St. Mungo, was erected within a stone's throw of the ancient edifice. In the same district there was a medieval church dedicated to St. Roch, whose cult had become popular in Scotland because a muchprized relic of the saint was brought to the Scottish king by a Franciscan friar as a goodwill offering from the Pope. Five or six years ago, when it became necessary to establish a new mission in the district, the longforgotten parish of St. Roch was revived. The first church established in Paisley since the revival of Catholicity in the West of Scotland was dedicated to St. Mirin, the Patron of Paisley Abbey, of historic memory, which was founded on the site of a sixth-century chapel by the contemporary of St. Columba. The old church at Lanark is perpetuated in the new church of St. Mary; the chapel of St. James at Renfrew, founded by the first of the 'Stuarts, is now replaced by another Cathedral, St. James' ; St. Bride's of Bothwell, immortalised in Scott's Marmion, is now restored in the chapel of St. Bride, established in 1910. The old 'Mother

Well Chapel is commemorated by the Church of Our Lady of Good Aid at Motherwell. St. Winning established the Ayrshire mission out of which grew the venerable Abbey of Kilwinning Kilwinning is now a busy town, and nine years ago a Catholic mission dedicated to St. Winning was established. Quite the latest example is to be found in Troon. Here thirteen or fifteen hundred years ago, St. Meddan preached the Gospel and founded a church. Thirty years ago the Catholics had a little chapel-school provided, which was named after St. Patrick. Two years ago a handsome church was built and the parish was dedicated to our Lady and St. Meddan. St. Columba visited St. Mungo at Glasgow, and, very naturally, there is also a church and parish dedicated to St. Columba among the present city churches. To complete the record of Glasgow's hallowed associations, it only remains that there should be in the centre of the city a church dedicated to St. Thenew, the mother of St. Mungo. Perhaps that will come soon. SPAIN DEATH OF A CARDINAL. There passed away at Toledo on October 9 his Eminence Cardinal Aguirre, Archbishop of Toledo and Patriarch of the West Indies. Gregorio Maria Aguirre y Garcia was born at. Pola de Gordon, diocese of Oviedo, on March 12, 1835. He studied at the seminary of Leon, and in 1856 entered the Order of the Alcantarian Friars Minor. His knowledge of philosophy and theology was extensive, and some years after he had completed his novitiate he was promoted to a professor's chair. Subsequently he held the post, of rector at several colleges of his Order in Spain and the Philippines. Called to Rome to take up the post of Spanish Penitencier at the Lateran Basilica, he found himself unable to occupy the position, as his Holiness Leo XIII. had appointed him Bishop of Burgos. This was in March, 1885. In 1893 he became Archbishop of Burgos and Administrator of the diocese of Calahorra, and in 1907 he received the Red Hat. Two years later he was translated to the See of Toledo, in succession to Cardinal Sancha, and was enthroned October, 1909. As Primate of Spain the Cardinal was appointed Papal Legate at the Eucharistic Congress of 1911, which was held in Madrid. His Eminence was greatly respected for the austerity of his life. When the late Senor Canalejas brought in the Religious Associations Bill he drew up and signed with the other Bishops a vigorous letter of protest. His Eminence was a warm supporter of the Catholic press. UNITED STATES CARDINAL GIBBONS AND THE BIBLE. In a discourse on the Bible, Cardinal Gibbons spoke recently in the Baltimore Cathedral on the great spiritual benefits accruing to those who read with the proper dispositions the Word of God. The Baltimore Sun's report of the sermon began with this paragraph: -' While not specifically stated, it is understood that the Cardinal meant to controvert the statement often heard that Catholics do not read the Bible. He viewed the sacred writings from the angle that they were not only weapons in time of war but companions in time of peace. He was vigorous in the defensive, enthusiastic in the explanatory parts, and brisk and clear in the descriptive portions. His voice was strong until the last sentence, and he could be heard in the farthest parts of the building. Approaching four-score years, he surprised even his. intimate friends by his vigor and sharp reasoning.'