Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 19 October 1916, Page 35

Notes

—,— National Service League Our attention has been called by the secretary of the Catholic Federation to a circular issued in the name of the "National Service League.' The objects of the league are stated to be ' To give preference to returned soldiers in regard to employment, and in trade,' 'Fighting men first,' ' Payments to league.' 'Subscription Is.' 'All profits to the Salvation Army,' 'Orphanage for the children of fallen soldiers,' ' Cards issued by the league, Is each.' We do not know if the Salvation Army desires to make a profit out of the war. but from the circular it would appear as if it did. In any case it would be well for our people to bear in mind the objects of the league when they are circularised or called on for subscriptions by a member of the ' National Service League.' Press Points We make the following further selection from pithy and pungent American press comments on current all airs : - Constantine is eligible for membership in the Sick Men of Europe Club.—Atlanta Constitution. Sometimes one wonders what in the world England would do if it didn't have Lloyd George.—lndianapolis News. Since Mr. Wilson has so long been in doubt he may as well leave the Mexican issue for Mr. Hughes to settle.—Baltimore A m erican. No, Angela, you are wrong. General Bliss is the name of an army officer and not a description of conditions along the Mexican border, as you supposed.— Detroit Free Press. The two Irish soldiers shot in Germany for refusing to accompany Casement couldn't have done much worse by going along.—Washington Post. Premier Asquith talks about the finish of the war in much the same manner that a political chairman

talks about an election in this country.—lndianapolis News.: In spite of the bitterness bred by two years of war, there is still a perfect harmony between broiled English mutton chops and German fried potatoes. Providence Evening Bulletin. In the history of men no attempt has been made to help each other comparable with the present attempt in Europe to injure each other.—Ed. Howe in The Independent. Our Catholic Anzacs Judging by the tribute paid to them by a French journal, La Chronitjue Picarde, the New Zealand and Australian Catholic boys in France apear to have made a very pleasant impression on the French people, both by their soldierly qualities and by their manly Catholic spirit. ' A large number of the men amongst the soldiers of the Antipodes,' says the Picardy paper in a recent issue, ' are Catholics, and Catholics deeply penetrated with the spirit of Christ and of His Church They thus testify, before the eyes of our old Catholic people, *the unity, the universality, and the vitality of the Catholic Church in the entire world. This is one of the unexpected effects produced by the present war. Alone of all the religions we have seen passing here, and they are numerous—Protestants of every sect, Mohammedans. Hindoos, Fetichists, with their various different rites—the Catholic religion alone is clothed with the characters of unity and universality in her dogma, her moral, and her worship, which facts strike every reflective mind. The Catholic Australians are practising Catholics. They delight in visiting our ancient churches, and are especially impressed by their antiquity, and always seem anxious to learn the date of their erection. Their architecture appears to interest them less than their age. Inhabitants of a new country, of recent Christian civilisation, they are glad to have proved by their own eyes that the foundation of this civilisation is found in the most distant centuries of ancient Europe, of which it was the glory and the happiness as long as she remained faithful to her ancient traditions of faith. * Consequently, it is with great marks of respect that the Australians enter our old Catholic churches. Their demeanour is not only irreproachable, but pious. They kneel on the bare pavement, pushing the kneeling chairs—usual here—on one side, and their behaviour during Mass is edifying. So, too, is their preparation for Confession, which is made with deep recollection. We have been present at two ceremonies, and both were most impressive. One was an assembly of the men in the evening, at which a large number of Protestants were present as well as Catholics. The General of the Brigade expressed regret that he could not be present on this occasion, and, though a Protestant, he was represented by the colonel' and numerous officers. The Catholic chaplain, an Irish Passionist, addressed the congregation from the pulpit and gave them excellent advice; he also directed the singing of the hymns. The accompanist was a soldier-organist from Sydney. On Sunday the church was well filled by the Catholic soldiers for a General Communion. An hour afterwards they were on their way to battle, and we have since heard of their bravery.'