The Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, 1 April 1915, Page 55

The Catholic World

ENGLAND -• y .. ~ CARDINAL BOURNE AT THE FRONT. Readers of the report chronicling the incidents of cardinal Bourne’s visit to France will all recognise (says the Catholic Times) that his Eminence has been led by a spirit of fraternal charity to perform a noble work. At the front, amidst perils to life, he cheered and encouraged men who are facing the gravest risks in the service of the country, and doing so under conditions which, owing to unpropitious weather, are peculiarly trying. They appreciated the Cardinal’s kindness, and none of them will forget the stimulating words in which he addressed them. He enabled them to regard their duty in a new and a clearer light, and there are few, if any of them who, in the trials through which they have to pass’ will not profit by the lessons impressed on them. But, welcome as his Eminence’s presence was to the soldiers who are taking part in the conflict, it was still more acceptable to the sick and wounded. In the many hospitals which he visited his warm sympathy touched the hearts of all. Even the German prisoners amongst whom he went and to whom ho spoke words dictated by religious feeling were moved by his sincere friendliness. The sense of gratitude aroused in the breasts of many by the Cardinal’s acts will not soon pass away. DEATH OF AN ARCHBISHOP. On Saturday morning, February 6, the death took place at Hunnersbury House, Isleworth, of Archbishop Bagshawe, titular Bishop of Seleucia. For some time he had lived in retirement at the convent at Isleworth, where he died. The late Archbishop was born in London in 1829, being a son of Judge Henry Bagshawe, Q C. He was educated at Oscott, and was ordained priest in 1852, having joined the Congregation of the Oratory. From 1874 to 1901 he was Bishop of Nottingham, and in 1902 he became Titular Bishop of Hypaepa, two years later being raised to the dignity of Archbishop of Seleucia. He was the author of the English metrical versions of the Breviary Hymns, the Psalms and the Canticles, and he had also written Brief otes on Christian Doctrine. As a pamphleteer on the social and political questions of the day he was well known, dealing" in his essays with the economic state of Ireland, on the tenure of land, and on the duty of the rich to the poor. ROME CARDINALS TECCHI AND AGLIARDI. His Eminence Cardinal Scipio Tecchi died at Rome on February 7. The deceased Cardinal, after pursuing his studies at the Apollinare, was ordained priest in 1876. lie was created Cardinal in May of last year. The death is also reported' of Cardinal Agliardi, who passed away in his 83rd year. The deceased acted as Nuncio at Munich, Vienna, and St. Petersburg at various times, and was for a period Apostolic Delegate in India and Ceylon. He was raised to the Sacred College in June, 1896. SCOTLAND GOLDEN JUBILEE OF A NUN. The' Rev. Mother Mary Agnes, of St. Catherine’s Convent, Lauriston Gardens, Edinburgh, a sister of the late Abbot Snow, celebrated recently the fiftieth anniversary of her profession as a Sister of Mercy. The ceremonies began with the celebration of High Mass in the convent chapel. A number of lay friends of the Sisters were present, as well as a large attendance of the clergy of the archdiocese. The Rev. Father Maher, S.J., preached the occasional sermon, in the course of

which he said that they were gathered there to commemorate the jubilee of their Sister and Mother in reliS 1 ? 11 ', i n \ f S(> . lt behoved him, however distasteful it might be to Mother Mary Agnes, to record a few pimple facts .of her life. Fifty-four years ago she entered religion and began as ■ a novice.. Three years afterwards she was appointed Mother Assistant of Novices, , and in 1872 was for the first time. elected Rev. Mother Since then, for over forty years, she had been again and again entrusted with the ' responsibilities , and anxieties of the office. She had given her whole heart and soul to the work and labored for its success with the utmost devotion. In the Providence of God she was the main instrument in its growth and development by her zeal, courage, prudence, generosity, and charity His Grace Archbishop Smith afterwards held a reception in the spacious music hall of the convent, at which Lord Sherrington, on behalf of the Catholic community of Edinburgh, offered his respectful congratulations to the Rev. Mother. GENERAL • SAD RESULTS OF THE WAR. Since the war commenced between France and Turkey the Turks have expelled all the French monks and nuns from their monasteries and convents in Palestine. Some of these religious have been sent to Egypt, others to Alexandria. Many charitable works will suffer by the absence of these priests and nuns, such as, foi instance, the immense Hospice in Jerusalem under the care of the French Sisters of Charity, where shelter was given to deserted children, the aged blind, and the infirm of.every description. The Sisters also nursed in the municipal hospitals and the lepers in the Silue distiict. The nuns of the same Order have likewise been turned out of their convents at Bethlehem, Caiffra, and Nazareth, and consequently from the performance of their various works of mercy at their different institutions. We (Irish Catholic) only take this Congregation as an example. Many others are enduring the same fate. Even the Poor Clares and Carmelite Nuns have not been allowed to remain in Nazareth, Jerusalem, Caiffra, or Bethlehem. In Palestine alone, more than 200 French priests and Religious and more than 300 nuns have been expelled by the Turks ; their 55 convents, hospitals, poor schools, and boarding schools have either been occupied by the Turks or closed. Some few of the convents have been allowed to remain open with nuns of Ottoman, German, or Dutch origin in charge, but they will not be able to continue their good works ' for very long.