The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 24 December 1914, Page 55

The Catholic World

CHINA THE LEPERS’ FRIEND. News has just been received of the death in Hong Kong of Rev, L. Conrardy, who devoted his life to alleviating the condition of the lepers in China. Father Conrady was born in Belgium 78 years ago. In the early ’eighties he labored as one of three missionary priests in Oregon, being stationed on the Umatilla Reservation. From the Oregon mission he went to Molokai, and for some years was a co-worker of Father Damien, with whom he was at the time of his death. About seventeen years ago he returned to Portland, Oregon, and studied medicine at Willamette University as a preparation for work among the lepers of China. He established at Shek-Lung an asylum for lepers which has seven hundred inmates. During the past seven years he resided with them, but never contracted leprosy. ENGLAND FEW CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS. The question asked in the House of Commons by Lord Edmund Talbot the other day raises a subject' which Catholics are determined to force upon the attention of the English War Office, writes a London correspondent. It is declared to be a subject vital to Catholic English troops and a grievance which needs remedying before a whole-hearted response to the demand for more men can be successful among the rank and file of Catholic young men. There are at the present time with the troops who have left England, as part of the Expeditionary Force, some twelve Catholic chaplains, an absolutely inadequate number for the mass of Catholic soldiers who are included in those forges. In the navy tilings arc worse. With the main fleet itself there are only four Catholic chaplains, while there are 5000 Catholic sailors in the North Sea without a single priest. When Lord Edmund asked that an adequate supply of priests nxiglit be sent, the Government, which is largely Nonconformist, replied that it did not see its way to increase the staff of Catholic chaplains at the present time, and that if our troops need more priests no doubt the French priests would be glad to act for them ! This, although over 100 priests in London and its environs ’alone volunteered for chaplaincies the moment the war broke out. FRANCE BISHOPS IN THE FIGHTING LINE. Two Bishops, according to the Croix, are in the French Army Mgr. Ruch, Bishop Coadjutor of Nancy, and Mgr. Perros, Vicar-Apostolic of Siam and Titular Bishop of Zoara. The latter was at Bangkok when the order for mobilisation arrived. Taking the first boat for Marseilles he went to Besancon, and reported himself to the officer in charge, who, surprised and deeply moved, presented him to tire troops. Mgr. Perros, in his uniform of a sub-lieutenant, was awaiting orders to go to the front. TURNING TO GOD. The soldiers stationed at Bayonne, France, took part in the procession in nonor of our Lady on the Feast of her Assumption, and marched through the streets of the town. The f Magnificat was splendidly sung by the men in the Cathedral. On the same day, in a village near the frontier, quite close to the battlefield. Mass was offered in the open air at 7 o’clock in the morning, in the principal street of the village. The Infantry Brigade and the "Hussars assisted at the Holy Sacrifice. In a village close to Valence the return of the people to the practice of religion is becoming generally evident. Tfie evening devotions are well attended,

many people coming to them who had hitherto ceased to fulfil their religious duties. Even' in ' the public laundry the Rosary is recited by the workers during the day. In a small parish at Audi an ; association' has been formed, the members of which have arranged that every day one of them will offer Holy Communion for an absent soldier. ITALY THE HOLY FATHER AND CHURCH MUSIC. When giving audience to a large number of the members of the Italian Society of Saint Cecilia the Holy Father declared, himself in favor of the reform ordered in the Motu Proprio of his predecessor (November 22, 1903), and said he intended to abide by all the directions given therein. Rome was to be the example of the world in Church music, and in this spirit Pius X. had acted. The support and encouragement afforded to the Society of Saint Cecilia by his predecessors would be heartily continued by him. This announcement is very important, for quite a number had thought the reforms in sacred music in the churches of the Catholic world might be. modified, or even put aside, after the death of Pius X. JAPAN FRANCISCANS IN JAPAN. ■ ’ The Franciscan (Sisters of Mary are spreading rapidly through the Orient, where they are welcomed by the pagans for the good they do. Hospital and dispensary work with homes for the aged have become their especial work. They are also giving much attention to the training of native catechists, for they have found from a long experience that the efforts of the priest are greatly helped by these efficient auxiliaries. They have opened quite recently a school for women catechists at llitoyoshi, Japan, but this, like so many other good enterprises, is hampered by lack of funds. Each catechist costs about twelve shillings a week for salary and' keep, and besides the four Sisters have to be supported. A hospital is urgently needed, and the nuns would take an old Japanese house until a proper building is erected, but there are no means to pay for drugs, doctors, and the board of the patients. Many, therefore, go to the pagan hospitals from the Sisters’ dispensary. . Often the latter are not allowed to visit their former patients and still less speak to them of religion when they are granted permission for a few minutes’ visit. This would not happen if there were a Catholic hospital, ready to supplement the Catholic dispensary. Like so many other missionaries the Sisters find that their best work among the Japanese is done with the sick. Those afflicted with serious illness are better disposed to listen to the word of God, and the patience of the Sisters makes a marked impression on them, they being not accustomed to the kindness born of Christian charity. The hospital that is needed would cost approximately £6OO, MEXICO THE BISHOPS’ PASTORAL. The Bishops of Mexico have addressed a joint pastoral letter to the clergy and faithful under their spiritual care. The purpose of ’ the writers is to set themselves and the Church in. Mexico right before the world. Desperate men have been busy spreading monstrous and criminal falsehoods in such sort that the reputation of. the Hierarchy has suffered. In the pastoral the Bishops set forth calmly their position in respect to the civil and military powers. They declare’ themselves free from all entanglements and ready to recognise and support all legitimate authority.