St. Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh.—At a meeting of the Edinburgh Presbytery held at the end of November, a long discussion took place, on Mr. Primmer’s petition, in regard to the image of the woman and child on the baptismal font in above church. Dr. Jamieson, Clerk of the Presbytery, moved an amendment to the following effect:—”The Presbytery are of opinion, that a statue of a woman and child, generally understood to represent the Virgin and Child, should not have been erected in St. Cuthbert’s Church; that it ought to be removed, and resolves that steps be taken for its removal.” It had been stated that it was a copy of the statue of the Virgin and Child, although it was simply put up as a memorial, and it might be said that it was not intended to be a statue of the Virgin, yet he was perfectly sure that ninety-nine out of every hundred who saw it would say that it was the Virgin and Child. He objected to the statue because it was contrary to the law and usage of the Church of Scotland. Dr. Cameron Lees’ motion became the finding of the Presbytery, forty-six voting for it, while fifteen voted for Dr. Jamieson’s amendment.
The Pope’s Blessing for the Irish Party.—Mr. John Dillon, M.P., addressing a United Irish League, says Grievances from Ireland, informed his hearers that he had had the privilege and the pleasure of conversing with Pope Pius X., and that he had heard from the Pope’s own lips words of warm appreciation and blessing for the work of the Irish Party. The Pope’s blessing has many a time been turned into a heavy curse, as witness the fate of the Spanish Armada, which set out in full sail with the papal blessing.
The Vatican and the Press.—This is the title of a remarkable article in the December Contemporary Review. It mercilessly exposes the unscrupulous methods and reveals the extraordinary influence of M. Benigni, the editor of the Corrispondenza Romana. The writer says: “M. Benigni never quails before meannesses or improper methods. The victims who could like to reply can scarcely do so, as few papers in Italy, or even abroad, care to enter into open conflict with the terrible Corrispondenza. For M. Benigni is everywhere. He meddles with everyone’s affairs, even with those which have least to do with the church. He goes into municipal politics as well as general politics and even into foreign matters.”
M. Benigni’s Influence on the Foreign Press.—The writer of the above article goes on to say that the rule laid down by Benigni to foreign correspondents is:—”All or nothing; either you will publish all our news or you will not have any.” “It is in this way,” he continues, “that several German and French papers, comparatively independent, receive and publish influenced and sometimes lying news from Rome. It is in this way that a great English paper, with a just reputation for impartiality in religious matters, has seemed several times in the course of last year and this to adopt in its correspondence from Rome a very different point of view from that which it ordinarily takes on questions of religious philosophy and ecclesiastical politics. . . . A regard for truth in no way hinders the Corrispondenza Romana. According to the needs of the cause it serves, does it affirm and deny without shame.” When it is borne in mind that this unscrupulous organ is in close touch with the Vatican, it may be understood what a power for mischief it may be.
Scottish Women’s Protestant Union.—At a meeting held in connection with the above Union in November, Mrs. Young gave an address on the subject of Protestant Children and Convent Schools. Mrs. Young’s testimony is of interest, as she had experience of convent schools. Here are some of her remarks:—They must, she said, have convent inspection. They must not vote for any men who would not promise them to work to have convents—these dismal, dark prisons that their sisters were locked in—thrown open to Government inspectors. These must be men who would know by tapping the walls and by the sounds of the floor whether there was a secret chamber either underneath or next door. There were many things she could whisper into the ears of her own sex, and some too terrible for that. She herself had been starved, and had gone out and eaten herbs. She dared not send a letter home for it would be read. Next she referred to the sweating that she said went on. She had seen girls who had been out of their beds all night working and sweating. In one convent, Mrs. Young said, a girl told her that from four o’clock in the morning till ten o’clock at night they did not know what it was to rest. It was nothing but work at the laundry and very little to eat, and if they did not do all their work, they were deprived of their food.