Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 8 February 1917, Page 34

Notes

Irish Distress Fund We desire to thank one and all who have subscribed with such marvellous generosity to our appeal for the distress in Dublin. We would, ask those individuals or parishes who have not yet sent their donations, and who intend to give something, to send along their subscriptions as soon* as they can, so that we may be able to close the fund at an early date. ♦ - Our Schools - If the progress of our Catholic schools is to be measured by the bulky and beautifully printed and illustrated school annuals sent out from our leading Catholic colleges, it would be great indeed. We have received two such publications this week —Our Alma Mater, from St, Ignatius’ College, Riverview, Sydney, and the G.B.G. Annual from the Christian Brothers’ College, Adelaide. Ex-students in khaki account for most of the illustrations in both annuals, and a perusal of their pages gives ample demonstration of the extent to which our Catholic colleges have contributed men and officers to every arm of our great Army. The pupils of our Catholic schools, who have received little encouragement or assistance from the State, are laying down their lives in defence of it. This is the result of the spirit of self-sacrifice and unselfish patriotism instilled into them by the teachers in our Catholic schools and colleges. Catholic Emblems A wise and opportune suggestion comes to us from America—viz., the advisability of getting our Catholic people to restore the crucifix and the statues and images of the Blessed Mother of God and the saints to their legitimate place in our Catholic homes. It is said that a century ago a visitor could recognise a Catholic home immediately he entered it, because the moment his eyes wandered round he saw the sign of his redemption and the pictures of;the;• saints on the walls. To-day his eyes will probably i-alight on the ; hockey club or the golf sticks, because it is they that hold the place of honor in the home. , Our Catholic young ladies are so imbued with the materialistic' spirit of the age, and they have become so extremely sensitive of hurting the feelings of their non-Catholic friends that they will hide the Catholic emblems away in the bedrooms. It would be well for them if they felt the

same; sensitiveness towards hurting , the feelings of - God and the Blessed; Virgin ' and the saints which they: do by “being ashamed to place statues and holy images in the place ’of honor in J their, homes; i . • * V ' : ; . ; ';. - * 1 •' A The foregoing reminds us .of an incident which came under our notice years ago. In the course of our work we had to put up frequently at hotels in the country. , On one occasion we arrived at a hotel kept .by a practical Catholic, on a Saturday evening. In the public sitting-room we found any amount of current, literaturedaily and weekly papers,and amongst them the War Cry, the Outlook (Presbyterian), and the Anglican, paper, but we searched in vain for the Tablet. Later on we asked the proprietor had he the Tablet, in the house. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘ but I would not think of leaving it. on the" common table for every visitor to read.’ His respect for the Tablet may be great, but it would scarcely receive the commendation of our Holy Father or the bishops of his. Church.