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Notes

France and Belgium Headers should not miss the Notre Dame discourse printed on page 11 of this issue. They will probably recognise that it is at least as earnest and eloquent a tribute to Belgian heroism as* the ministerial deliverance at Otautau. , The Late Bishop Grimes : A Tribute from Propaganda The Very Rev. Dean Smyth, Provincial of the Marisi Order, has kindly furnished us with an English translation of a letter received by the Very Rev. Father Superior-General of the Society of Mary from his Eminence Cardinal Gotti, Prefect of Propaganda, on the occasion of the death of the late Bishop Grimes. The sorrowing people of Christchurch, and the many friends of the late Bishop will, no doubt, as Dean Smyth observes, be comforted to know the esteem in which his Lordship was held by the ecclesiastical authorities at Rome. The letter is in these terms: ' Rome, April 17, 1915. ' Very Reverend Father,—ln a letter dated 19th March, the Rev. Father Copere, Procurator-General of the Society of Mary, over which you so worthily preside, communicated to the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda the news of the'death of Monseigneur Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch, on the 15th of March. ' The Catholic Church in New Zealand has lost in Bishop Grimes one of the most zealous and fervent propagators of the Gospel in that distant country. The Sacred Congregation of Propaganda is well aware of the apostolic and indefatigable labors, as well as the innumerable sacrifices made by the deceased Bishop from the very beginning of his episcopate, and, for this reason, whilst it laments his Lordship's death, it offers your reverence, and all the members of his Society, the most lively and sincere, condolence. Let us hope that our Lord, in His infinite goodness, has already admitted into heaven the soul of His elect and faithful minister. At the same time, I shall not fail to unite my prayers with those of the Catholics of Christchurch, of his confreres in religion, and of all the friends of the lamented prelate, for the happy repose of his soul. ' Praying our Lord to bless and prosper you. ' Your most devoted servant in J.C., 'F. G. M. Card. Gotti, Prefect. ' C. Laurent, Sec. ' To the Very Rev. Father John Baffin, ' Sup.-General of the Marist Fathers.' An Interesting Sunday School Item . - s ..■*>.■ The Christchurch Sun has unearthed a Sunday School item of a somewhat piquant interest. It is thus recorded in its issue of July 20 : ' A passage that reads queerly in the light of passing events, and' which occurs in a well-known Sunday School Teachers' Guide, was pointed out by a city churchman to a Sun representative. The Guide referred to is in general use by Sunday School teachers, and it is presumed that from its pages they draw inspiration for the- lessons to be imparted to their scholars. The passage referred . to is taken from the lesson for July 11,'and reads as follows: "The Emperor William of Germany has a pew' in a church in a beautiful village among the hills in Southern Germany. Near by is Zoller Castle, .which used to be the home of the family.to which the Emperor belongs. In thatf pew these words are written 'ln my house we will serve the Lord.' That is what

Emperor William is doing, for he is a true Christian." The passage appears in the : 1915 edition of the book'.' *?■&» ftr'i '.'-*V..:: ■;•■-■- •■!"-=>" •■'•- •■•.-'.* ■'■" .-—.' ■:•-;'• ." '■■ '•-■' -■ -..■ -*V -■••;• -':' ' ;:; - In view of the kind of things that are. being said about the Kaiser by the daily press, and doubtless also by the children's secular school teachers, the youngsters will probably have formed very decided opinions of their own about Emperor William's peculiar piety. Future editions of the Guide, it may be' presumed, will be a little more discriminating in the selection of Christian models. A Reasonable Protest - .We learn from the Wellington papers that at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Wellington Mayor's Patriotic Fund the other day a protest was read from the executive of the Catholic Federation against a donation of £2OO paid to Major-Chaplain Dutton for distribution amongst sick and wounded soldiers, while no money had been placed at the disposal of Captain-Chaplain Segrief, who was on board the same ship. The Federation did not consider it an equitable, fair, or reasonable arrangement that the Catholic chaplain should have to go, as it were, hat in hand to the Presbyterian chaplain for money for Catholic soldiers who might need it, and it was suggested that Major Dutton should be asked to place a sum at the disposal of Father Segrief. The Mayor, by way of explanation, said he had received telegrams from the south, asking him to supplement money placed at. the disposal of Major Dtittom and he and two other members of the executive, acting on the spur of the moment, had decided to hand Mr. Dutton £2OO. There was no thought, of sect or creed, nor did he consider Major Dutton would make any distinction. He had known him and Father Segrief since boyhood, and felt that money could safely be entrusted to cither gentleman, and that it. would be disposed of to the best advantage. Perhaps the best way would be to remit some money to Father Segrief when they got more money in.' * The protest in this case was entirely reasonable, and it was couched in the temperate and conciliatory terms which never fail to win sympathetic attention. The course taken was based purely on principle, and not in any way on personal objection to Chaplain Dutton, who deservedly holds the regard and esteem of all sections of the community. There is every indication that, as the outcome of the Federation's timelv and judicious action, a settlement of the matter satisfactory to all parties will be arrived at.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZT19150729.2.46

Bibliographic details

New Zealand Tablet, 29 July 1915, Page 34

Word Count
967

Notes New Zealand Tablet, 29 July 1915, Page 34

Notes New Zealand Tablet, 29 July 1915, Page 34