Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 11, 13 March 1924, Page 47

Catholic World

HUNGARIAN PREMIER IN LONDON. Hungary's Catholic Prime Minister, Count Bethlen, is in London (says Catholic News Service under date January 26), where he was received in audience by King George at Buckingham Palace. Count Bethlen is the first Premier of a former enemy country to be received at Buckingham Palace since 1914. Another Premier of a former enemy country, who would receive a particularly cordial reception in London, is Or. Seipel, the Catholic priest who is Chancellor of Austria. Mgr. Seipel is not thought of as a former enemy; indeed, this heroic churchman, who has rescued his country from bankruptcy, is held in very high esteem. The Hungarian Premier comes to London under excellent auspices. His good will in the negotiations now being conducted in London for an arrangement for the financial reconstruction of Hungary, has proved to be one of (he most encouraging factors for the success of the scheme. Like the Austrian priest-Chancellor, Count, Bethlen has shown himself to be not only a man of affairs, but a man of sincerity and transparent honesty. These two statesmen have thus helped materially in breaking down post-war prejudice, and to that extent have clone much to promote the cause of world peace. aaaaa<><x><> CHURCH GROWTH IN SWITZERLAND. The growth of Catholicity in Switzerland during the past few years has been so remarkable as to excite comment even in Protestant circles. For example, at the recent meeting of the Association of Swiss Protestant Ministers at Lausanne, the noted Protestant theologian, Dr. Neeser, declared that the secret of the power of the Catholic Church for expansion in all parts of the world is to be found in the Church's strong central authority, and that this in turn is made possible "by the dogma of Infallibility and the Catholic Sacrament of the Altar." "It is only by justice and a certain degree i.f sympathy that the expansive power of Catholicism ma.; lie understood," Dr. Neeser said. "It is to be found not in the outward effects, but in the interior of Catholicism." AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR'S FORECAST FOR 1921. Monsignor Seipel, Catholic priest and Chancellor of the Republic of Austria, believes that the current year will see some remarkable changes. The forecast was made at a meeting of the Christian Social Party, of which Mgr. Seipel is leader. "It seems to me," said Mgr. Seipel, "that this year will be the year of change. In all likelihood the German question will be solved, or at least its solution will be initiated. The question of the recognition of the Soviet Republic will be immediately in the foreground. The reentry of Germany and Russia into world politics and world economics will unroll the great problem of an organisation of the world, and with it the problem of the definite shaping of the League of Nations." RETURN OF SPANISH CARDINAL. After a very successful mission to South America, in which he acted in the double capacity of Papal Ambassador and Special Envoy of the King of Spain, the Cardinal Archbishop of Burgos has returned to Spain. Cardinal Benlloch landed at Valencia, where he was accorded a great welcome, not only by high officials of Church and State, but by a vast throng of people— for his mission of carrying a greeting from Old Spain to the Spanish-American Republics aroused the greatest enthusasin in the motherland. .....-' In Burgos itself, the episcopal city of the Cardinal, he was greeted with a great popular demonstration on his return. There was a solemn Te Dcum in his cathedral, and

the city gave an official banquet to congratulate the Cardinal Archbishop on his safe return and the successful accomplishment of his important mission. SPANISH JOURNALISTS' TO HONOR ST. FRANCIS. In response to the desire expressed by Pius XL in his first Encyclical, the Catholic writers and journalists of Spain are arranging to celebrate annually a religious festival in honor of St. Francis de Sales,. who was appointed last year as the special Patron of all Catholic journalists. The proposal has been submitted to the Bishop of Madrid, who, after having gone into the matter in detail, has given his warmest approval. The first celebration of this journalists' festival was to take place some time in January at the church of Maria Auxiliadera in Madrid, at which the Bishop was expected to be present. EGYPT TURNING TO CATHOLICITY. Returning from a journey to the Holy Places with .109 French pilgrims, Mgr. BaudrilLirt, Rector of the Catholic Institute of Paris, writes in La mi,,: that the Catholic faith is making progress in Egypt, lie says: "In Egypt; as in our country, the religious spirit is much more alive', especially among the young people, than it was 20 years ago. Remarkable conversions have occurred. The St. Vincent de Paul Conferences are numerous and active. Finally, the Mohammedans educated, in our schools appear to be striving to understand Christianity and are losing many of their ancient prejudices with regard to us." Among the Catholic missions of Africa there is one very humble, very modest, that the great part of readers of missionary items know nothing of. This is the mission of the Franciscan Fathers in Upper Egypt. Here is a true nntiquity of the Church. The stations of this ancient mission are distributed over a distance of 800 kilometres As its founder it recognised St. Francis of Assisi. who in the 12th century preached before the Sultan Malech Kamel From this time apostles passed into every known part of the earth, and many martyrs shed their blood for the faith In the Middle Ages Upper Egypt was a great centre of apostolate. From it the first missionaries to evangelise Abyssinia and Ethiopia departed. From there they "commenced their apostolic excursions of which the archives of the Missions conserve the record. They passed thence into Abyssinia, India, Russia and Ethiopia. ' —AAAGISBORNE NOTES (From our own correspondent.) _ _ March 5. St. Patricks Day will bo*celebrated in Gisborne this year by a picnic for all Catholic children, and a national concert in the evening. An energetic committee have the arrangements well in hand, and. given fine weather, the day's events should be a great success. Rev. Father Bayley, M.S.C., passed through Gisborne on Ins way overland to visit his sister, who is a member of St. Joseph's Convent Community'. Father Bayley was celebrant of the 10.30 o'clock Mass on Sunday, preached at the evening devotions, and officiated at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The devoted missioner, who was the guest of Very Rev. Dean Lane, gave an interesting address on the life of the saintly men and women who devoted and are devoting their lives to the conversion of the heathen in the vast area in the South Seas. AAA __ Sacred Heart Convent, St. John's, Wanganui EXAMINATION SUCCESSES. The following pupils of the Sacred Heart Convent St John's, Wanganui, were successful in the recent examinations : Matriculation examination—M.S.P., K. Kennedy and K. Muir; matriculation, K. Trehey. All presented passed with one exception. Public entrance— E. Rauche (secured Ist place in the Wanganui district, 17th oil the list); credit pass: S. Benefield, K. Kennedy, T. McLeanpass: K. Trehey and N. Keegan. Intermediate and senior free place—Rosa Donovan (credit), Leah Engel, Norma Cooper, Gladys Culling, Lily Howard, Margaret O'Halloran ' Gwen McGrath, Edna Wilson. All presented passed with one exception.