PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

New Zealand Tablet, 10 May 1917, Page 41

PEOPLE WE HEAR ABOUT

The death is announced of Monsignor Emilius Schmitz, who had been for many years rector of the College of St. Boniface, Rome, which he founded for the training of missionary priests for the northern countries of Europe. William 11. Hughes, editor and publisher of the Michigan Catholic, died at his homo in Detroit, Mich., on January 14, after an illness of several weeks. Mr. Hughes was born in Grand Rapids, Mich., 64 years ago and was well known in Catholic circles all over the United States.

Brigadier-General James Miller, U.S.A., who died recently in Temple, N. 11., was a convert to the Church, having been received in October, 1915, by the Rev. Thomas Redden, pastor of the Sacred Heart Church, Wilton, N.II. He is survived by an only child, also a convert, who in religion is known as Sister Francis Cecile, of Immaculata Seminary, Washington, D.C. General Miller served for 40 years in the United States Army. He enlisted in 1861, when he was but seventeen years old. He was a grandson of General James Miller, the hero of the Battle of Lundy's Lane. Right. Rev. Mgr. J. Kean, pastor of the Church of the Holy Name, New York, died on January 6, in his sixty-fifth year, after an illness of several months. Mgr. Kean was well known outside of his own church for the prominent part he played in developing congregational singing at Vespers and for his excellent voice, which caused him to be called on to sing Mass at special services in St. Patrick's Cathedral. He was in charge of the singing of children on festive occasions, and had charge of the chorus of 7000 children, who welcomed Cardinal Farley on his return from Rome five years ago. The new Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alderman O'Neill, was one of the innocent men arrested in connection with the recent Irish rising and detained without any charge being made against him which he could meet or repel. His selection as Dublin's Lord Mayor—the first unanimous selection for thirty years—is significant evidence of how such coercion is met by the Irish people. The new Lord Mayor answered cleverly a query as to whether he would accord a welcome to the King if his Majesty should visit Dublin. He answered that anyone coming with a message of peace and goodwill he would receive with open arms.

The announcement of the death of Monsignor Menini, Apostolic Delegate at Sophia, recalls the" remarkable conversion of this prelate. At the age of 23, as he himself related to a friend, he was one of the wildest of the law students of Vienna. One day as he passed the Capuchin church he heard them singing Mass, and entering, remembering how long it was since he had been at Mass, he knelt for a time in a lateral chapel where there was a magnificent picture of our Lady He had the impression that the Madonna was looking at him and calling him, but the strange attraction was soon forgotten in a fresh round of pleasure A few weeks afterwards, returning from a ball, he flung himself exhausted on a couch without undressing. In his sleep he suddenly heard the call of God, Renounce the world ; thou art hastening to ruin ' Awaking, he flung himself at the foot of a crucifix and said, 'My God, if Thou really desirest me, take me ' Three months after he was a Capuchin. His father who was director general of the Poste, in Dalmatia] would not believe in this sudden conversion, and wrote saying he would pay all the young man's debts if he would give up ' this stupid affair/ for he thought his son had taken refuge from his creditors in the garb of a friar! But this modern St. Augustine refused all blandishments and when bidden to his father's side would not go until he could do so in the habit of his Order. To the last he carried his seventy-two years lightly and had a charming personality, the 'savior vivre' of the man of the world being sanctified and directed 'by the spirit of a true priest.