Letter from Rev. Dr. Robertson, Venice.
—Dr. Robertson has been good enough to send us a kind letter expressing thanks for the review of his valuable book “The Papal Conquest.” We subjoin the following extract bearing upon present events, etc.:—”It is an extraordinary thing how people shut their eyes to the teachings of history, that of their own and of other countries, and how they pay but little heed to the warnings of Scripture. A great trial is now going on in Liverpool, arising out of the riots that took place recently between Catholics and Protestants. What is called ‘a Catholic atmosphere’ seems to me to pervade the Court. I see the Commissioner said to the Catholic Advocate, ‘I have great sympathy with your people, but you have better cards to play than those you are now using,’ trying to dissuade him from some line of argument. Why ‘great sympathy?’ Just as the Vatican is the world’s storm-centre, so everywhere the Roman Catholic Church is a public nuisance. Did you see that the Pope has sent decorations to the heads of the Metropolitan Police for having helped the Catholics at the Eucharistic Procession and, worse still, that the King has given them permission to wear them? See Work and Witness for February, published at 57 Berners Street, London.
“You will be glad to know that the Prince of Wales has accepted a copy of my work, and that through Mr. Henry Miller, Secretary of the Church Association, to whom some gentlemen have given money for the purpose, copies are being presented to each member of the new Parliament. Of the first edition of 5000 copies, the half has been sold.
“Would you kindly let me have six copies? I enclose some stamps in payment. With kind regards and renewed thanks.—
I am, yours sincerely,
ALEXANDER ROBERTSON.”
Spain and the Vatican.
—The relations between King Alfonso and the Vatican, says the Dundee Evening Telegraph, at the present moment do not seem of the happiest. The young ruler of Spain is divided between his allegiance to Rome and what he thinks is due to his people. The Spanish Government recognise that unless something is done to march with the times, and meet the desires of the nation in regard to lay schools, it is hopeless to attempt to carry on the government of the country. The Church of Rome apparently looks upon the latest Concordat by the Spanish Government on the school controversy as an attempt to override the Church, and will have none of it. The situation has become so aggravated that rather than submit to the demands of the Pope the Spanish Cabinet has resigned, and King Alfonso is left to make the best of matters. The King’s declaration that, while ready to adhere to his allegiance to the Church, he must, as a constitutional monarch, bow to the wishes of his people, will meet with ready sympathy in this country, and the outcome of the crisis will be watched with the deepest interest.
A Step in the Right Direction at Oban.
—In consequence, says the Glasgow Herald, of the Marquis of Bute having withdrawn his financial support, the Catholic Cathedral School, which has been in existence at Oban for about twenty-five years, has just been closed. Founded by the late Marquis of Bute, the Cathedral School of Choristers was under the charge of the Sisters known as the “Servants of the Sacred Heart.” The late Marquis of Bute, who keenly interested himself in Church forms of worship and Gregorian music, entertained the hope that the daily singing of the Divine Office might be reintroduced in the various Catholic churches of the diocese, and it was in the hope that the example might be followed in other churches that his Lordship founded the Cathedral School in Oban. After his death the school, under the supervision of the Dowager-Marchioness of Bute, was continued by the trustees on the estate of the late Marquis until the present Marquis decided to discontinue his support to the work.
Next Eucharistic Congress to be held at Montreal.
—The next “International Eucharistic Congress” is to be held in Montreal in September of this year, and we regret to see that special countenance is being already given to it by professed Protestants. Thus, it is stated that Lord Strathcona, High Commissioner of Canada, having been informed by “Mgr.” Brucchini, Roman Catholic Bishop of Montreal, of the plans for the Congress, replied, sending a personal subscription of £1000 and the offer of his house in Montreal for the accommodation of the Bishops. This offer has been accepted. Further, the prospective candidate for the Mayoralty of the city, also described as a Protestant—presumably of the nominal sort—has withdrawn his candidature, says the Times, “out of courtesy to his Roman Catholic fellow-citizens, explaining that he considered it fitting that the Chief Magistrate of the city should be a Roman Catholic, in order that he might receive the Legate and take part in the religious ceremonies.” On Sunday, 11th September, the Times adds, “there will be a great procession of the Blessed Sacrament, borne on a car drawn by six white horses.” The probability is, however, that it is the Legate who is to be thus conveyed, and not the Host, which is always carried by an ecclesiastic on foot. Pontifical Mass is to be celebrated in the open-air in Mance Park, and, of course, if watchfulness be not exercised, an endeavour to carry the Host through the streets may be made.