Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 23 September 1915, Page 34

Notes

Held Over Owing to extreme pressure on our space, a quantity of matter has been unavoidably held over. Religion and Education We direct attention to the very fine address delivered by his Grace Archbishop Redwood at the opening of the Christian Brothers’ School in Dunedin on Sunday last. It is one of the most lucid, eloquent, and altogether weighty and impressive utterances on the education question that has been made, in Hew Zealand for a long time. The French Government and the Church Judging by the terras of a letter published by the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, a welcome change has come over the attitude of the French Government in regard to the rights and privileges of the Catholic Church, and there is apparently no truth in the statement that the Government has put obstacles in the way of the soldiers receiving the consolation of their holy religion. His Eminence writes ; —‘From the very beginning of the war the soldiers of the French army, whether in Hie fighting line, in the garrison towns, or in the hospitals, have had perfect liberty to fulfil their religious duties. Each army division has its official chaplain, wrtF the rank of captain. Tie is assisted by as many temporary chaplains as may be necessary, who receive their salaries from the State. Moreover, where possible, the soldier-priests—combat-ants, stretcher-bearers, and infirmarians— the consolation of exercising their priestly functions for the

benefit of the soldier. The Holy Mass is celebrated everywhere that there are priests—most frequently in the open air, and often in the trenches. These great: facilities given to the soldiers have produced the most marvellous religious awakening which has manifested itself from the very beginning of the" war. The great majority , of the soldiers wear the badge of the. Sacred Heart, of Jesus and Che miraculous "medal of- . the Blessed Virgin. Often they recite the Rosary uncommon. When they are present at Mass they love to sing the liturgical chants, which they have been; able to learn, or the popular devotional hymns. In all the hospitals a chapel is provided, where the soldiers assist at Mass and other Divine offices. ‘Paris, 26th June, 1915.’ 1 Maurice Clement, Canon, . ‘ Secretary of II.E. the Cardinal ‘Archbishop of Paris.’ In conversation on the subject-matter of the letter, Cardinal Amette added that he believed that the French soldiers were the most religious, as they were the bravest of any armies in the field.