FEBRUARY 16, 1935, VOL 01, NO 07

OFFICIAL

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PUBLISHED WEEKLY. 20 Pages.

No. 7.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY

16th 1935.

10 cents.

Solemn Inauguration Of Our Lady Of Fatima At St. Joseph's Church, Singapore

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The news of this devotion given to our parisftioners first in the year 1932 when the Pastroai letter of the Bishop of Leiria, Portugal, (date 13th October, 1930) was published in the parish A N N U A L issued that year. In this the parishioners became acquainted with the story about the six apparitions of Our Lady between May 13th to October 13th, 1917, to the three little peasant children of an obscure village of Fatima, Portugal and with the development and spread of this devotion inspite of the active hostility of the then masonic government and of the enactments by the Bishops forbidding the clergy to participate actively in the devotion at Fatima, as well as with the reasons that led the Bishop of Leira, in whose diocese the village lies, to declare, after a thorough investigation of the events of the thirteen years between 1917-1930, that the story of the apparitions was worthy of credit and that the devotion was therefore permissible and praiseworthy.

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This and the reports that our parishioners received from India and Macao, where the devotion was firmly established, " set the ball a-rÂŽlling" and induced some of our parishioners to invoke the aid of Our Lady of Fatima in their needs and troubles. The responses to these prayers were the means to increase the number of . the clients to Our Lady and soon they began to multiply i n so great numbers that the parish priest soon felt himself called upon to furnish more details about these apparitions and the devotion. In the A N N U A L issued in the year 1934, he therefore published a fuller account issued by the C.T.S. of England with the following introductory words: " The devotion of Our Lady of Fatima is (Continued on page 13)

The above photo shows the Niche of Our Lady of Fatima at the church of St. Joseph, Singapore.

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was solemnly blessed on February 10th this year in the presence of a large attendance of devotees.

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D A R B Y SINGAPORE

It is hoped that this feast will be celebrated each

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B R A N C H E S

year with befitting devotion and honours and that the number of supplicants for favours will increase year by year.

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

John Wilmot lifted his eyes from the books temptingly displayed i n the window of the shop opposite Westminster Cathedral and gazed with disapproval at the gaudy statue of Our Lady of Lourdes above them. As he moved away a woman came out of the shop, tall, beautifully dressed, her pale, oval face framed in a soft grey fur that matched her eyes.

John gave an exclamation. She turned, startled, then held out her hand with an eager smile. " John, fancy our meeting again like this after all these years!

Where are you living and what are you doing?" " A t the moment, like everybody else, I am looking for a job." ' T h e car is here. Come home with me and we can tell each other all the news. You will meet my husband too."

"I did not even know you were married."

"Eleven yoars ago, a year after we last met." " M y first year at Cambridge.

You were a kid in the school-room, with a long'-pigtail."

"I've changed since then."

"I should rather think so, but I knew you at once."

The long drawing-room of the house behind Westminster Abbey was austere and dignified, with a few fine pieces of period furniture and portraits by Reynolds and Lawrence. It was a fitting background for the man sitting by the fire. John recognised him as a well-known K . C . who had just received a title.

"Luke," said Madeleine, "this is John Wilmot. Fve often told you what friends we used to be. We ran into each other by chance just now." ,John respond to the charming courtesy of his host and it was not till he had outlined his life since Madeleine's parents had left his father's parish that he realized that he had been cross-examined as cleverly as if he had been in the witness box. Lord Maine nodded when he heard of the disappearance of the head of the school, which had left John and the rest of the staff without salaries or references. " A clever rascal. He got safely out of the country. I remember the case. Was your father at Cambridge? I thought so. We were at King's together."

The thin lips took a cynical twist as he saw John's eyes flash from his own tired, lined face to Madeleine's young loveliness.

"Yes, I am old enough to be her father," he said drily, "I married her straight from the school-room.

Are you keen on teaching?" " Tremendously," stammered John, disconcerted both by the way his thoughts had been read and by the abrupt change of subject. "I like it better than anything in the world. But at the moment it seems even more hopeless to get work as a schoolmaster than as a navy."

The door opened and a servant pushed in a boy of nine or ten in a long chair. His shrivelled, useless legs were covered by a shawl and the only live thing in the waxen pallor of the face was a pair of huge dark eyes blazing with intelligence. A s he was introduc-

1935.

MIRACLE From " T H E MONTH.' ed to John he stared keenly at him under frowning brows then, as he put his hot little hand into John's big brown one, his face lit up with a smile which, for a moment, touched it with a faint reflection of his mother's beauty. .In a few minutes he and John were chattering hard while his parents stood talking at the other end of the room. A clock struck seven and John jumped to his feet with an exclamation of horror at the length of his visit.

"Must you really go?"| asked Ronnie, clutching his hand.

"Would you like him to come again?" asked Lord Maine, his grim face tender.

"Ever so soon, please, and ever so often."

"Are you a Catholic?" Lord Maine asked suddenly, as he went down the stairs with John.

"Good heavens, no! In spite of being a parson's son I am afraid I am nothing particular in the religious line."

"That is a good thing. The boy, of course, has to be brought up in his mother's religion.

She is a convert to Rome, you know."

"I didn't know. May I come again and see Ronnie one day?"

"I want a tutor for him. He will not be able to go to school, as you see." " W i l l he never be any better?"

"Nothing short of a miracle could cure him."

"That we both know to be impossible. I am sorry."

"The boy is intelligent. Would you like the job of teaching him?"

"But you hardly know me."

"Madeleine does. I happen to have heard something of your qualifications. The boy has taken a fancy to you. I like you and I seldom make a mistake. M y profession makes one a pretty quick judge of a man."

The next few months were the happiest John had ever known.

He felt as i f he had always been at home with the Maines, that it was natural his whole life, like Madeleine's should centre round the boy whose eager spirit was a bright flame consuming the frail body.

Fast as John supplied knowledge, Ronnie devoured it, and the father, during his few visits in lesson hours, was obviously delighted. With Madeleine John renewed his boyish friendship while the happiness she shared with her boy in his young company gave her a fresh and radiant glow.

In March -the household moved to the old place in Sussex, looking over the downs to the sea. One fine morning a few weeks later Ronnie lay in his long chair on the south terrace engrossed with a new model aeroplane. John and Madeleine leant on the stone balustrade near by, talking in a desultory way of pleasant nothings, childish memories, incidents of life at Cambridge.

In the park the deer grazed under elms whose bare boughs flushed with the crimson of swelling buds.

The sweep of chalk

downs was dotted with sheep and lambs as white and woolly as the clouds that hurried before the west wind and cast purple shadows on trees and grass as they went.

In the distance the sea had the cold, green-blue of a beryl. A thin feather of grey smoke on the horizon marked the passage of a liner bound for New York. Otherwise nothing broke the shinning expanse of the Channel. The only sounds were the faint bleating of the lambs, the hum of bees, the cooing of a wood pigeon.

John looked at Madeleine's pure, pale profile, the crescent of white brow shaded by waves of soft, dark hair, the fringe of black lashes, the red lips that dropped a little sadly. In that instant he knew that the old friendship was only a mask, that he loved her as he had never loved a woman, could never love another.

Ronnie's voice broke a spell that, for all its swiftness, had seemed to John unending. "John, this wretched propeller is stuck. Can you fix it for me?"

That afternoon Ronnie got a chill which turned to pneumonia and for days he hung between life and death.

Even when he was pronounced out of danger he gained no strength and lay looking as i f a breath might snap the frail thread of life.

The Harley \ Street specialist was summoned again. John sat in the library trying vainly to fix his attention* on a book till he heard the purr of the Daimler engine die away in the distance.

Madeleine came in and shook her head in answer to his questioning look.

"Sir Neville says he can do nothing. The old trouble is -increasing rapidly and nothing can be done to check it."

"Oh, my dear, if there were something that I could do to help!"

"There is only one thing which would be any good. Lourdes."

John moved impatiently. " Y o u cannot surely think of taking Ronnie there? It would be sheer madness. His father would say so too."

"He has said so, very forcibly.

That is why I want you to persuade him to let me take Ronnie there. It is his only chance."

"How can I persuade him when I think, as he does, that the idea is insane?"

"He will listen to you when he will not to me."

"I cannot do it. I dare not take the risk."

"For my sake, John, because I beg you to do this for me, I know you will. - If we take Ronnie there I believe, I can't help believing, that a miracle of healing will be worked. Ronnie feels it too."

John could never remember how he had obeyed her wish what arguments he had used against his own reason and disbelief, strong as those of Lord Maine himself. He only remembered the sudden capitulation of an old, tired man, the bitter twist of the thin hps over the final words, the odd,

searching look in the eyes that[ were so like Ronnie's.

"Let her have her way then. | The boy will die. Perhaps it is^ kinder to end such suffering

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A l l that care and money couU; do to make the journey easy wasr done, but when Ronnie was carried | into the Lourdes hotel on aJ stretcher John wondered if he*? could survive the night. The next* morning, however, Madeleine gave] a fairly good report and John went t I out into the sunshine feeling happy as a fish out of water among* the crowds who blocked the nar / row streets on their way to the J Grotto.

The commercialism, he j ! said irritably to himself, was ryjj bad as he had expected. He looked with an eye of disgusted, superiority at gaudy lithographs, [ tin medals, aluminium cups, fes-J toons of Rosary beads, glass scenu bottles and plaster statues o i l every size and hue. He fought his way against the human tide, across the Pont Peyramale, over) the ice-green, rushing Gave,; through the by-ways of the old' town, up, up, till at last he stood on the battlements of the old castle.

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The hot air was sweet with walh* Powers and lilac. Lizards darted I in and out of the grey stones. A J blackbird sang in the snowy blossom of a pear-tree. Far be-, low the huddled roofs of the olclj town climbed the steep hill and the Gave wound its snaky way/ under bridges old an new. Beyond the valleys, with their green pastures, their brown cornfields antfi vineyards, the mountains, still | grimly snowcapped, cut sharplyV into the turquoise of the cloudless] sky.

John sat down in an embrasure of battlements with a sigh of relief. Here, at any rate, he was in a world with which he was fami-, liar, his feet on firm ground. He began to daydream, pictured the^ \ swinging march of the kiltecq Roman legionaries who had first fortified this all but impregnable* height in the steady advance oi that organised unity which was, the foundation of European civilization.

Fighters, road-makerS| bridge-builders, law-givers, calmly imperial, sane, ordered, reasonable,-^ —he fancied them smiling nj serene superiority at the strangej delusion which had. made an un4 known Pyreneean village the Mecca of the Christian workU Here, too, the banner of Islam had] flown for over half a century an* frorn this rock had rung out the dawn call of the muezzin: Com* to prayer for prayer is better than sleep.'' The Anglo-Norman,!

Simon de Montfort, had besiegeaj the castle. Du Guesclin, the Black; Princes's chivalrous opponent, had captured it. Here the great Napoj leon had dared to imprison thqj English ambassador, Lord Elgin, who * w a r ' a ^ a r d s ~ ^ c h R immortality by spoiling the Par-. thenon of its glory. So the long) pageant of history passed with well-known facts and figures something sure and comfortingj in this strange place where all \ alues were reversed.

A t lunch Ronnie was talkini eagerly of the procession of th Blessed Sacrament which his mother had promised he should attend next day. %

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(Contd. on page 19)

MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

On ^Ptngs from .Albion

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Fisher and More.

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There was a hope, this time last by

U; * < ?\ S° jjTfh^T sr ^ , * 55 W u^l h{a V e d| * *™ l lT f aJ proclaimed m the- matter of the *? Canonization of Blessed John * ' ^ °^ £ > »na e] jessed Thomas More Henry the tt * Chancellor The Sacred I Congregation of Rites only met in * Penary session last Tuesday, and /Catholics over here have already J e been rejoiced by the announcement e j —unofficial, however—that at that ! meeting the Cause of these two yjj e Martyrs was approved. No doubt, d, therefore, need be entertained, it , [ would seem, as to the outcome.

-J A gratifying feature in the final u stages of the process has been the i l sympathetic interest aroused, by s the expected Canonization, in the , British secular press. Hundreds of r) articles and paragraphs continue to ,; appear in the . newspapers, all of d' them paying tribute to the nobility d of character in the two Martyrs, . and many of them referring to the Icoked-for Canonization in terms of h* high pleasure. d I Assuming the Pope's affirmative A J decision, the next question of iny terest is the date for the great St. -, ceremonies in St. Peter's. clj George's Day falls this year in d Easter Week, a fact which might / tend to keep many prelates from d Rome who would wish to be there; - otherwise some over here would fi like to see two great Englishmen l | raised to the altar on the feast V of the national saint. A date in s] May (Sunday the 19th?) is considered more probable. eek

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e A Home of Memories. n Descendants of Blessed Thomas -, More are still with us, in the e famous Catholic family of the ^ \ Eystons of East Hendred. The q Eystons are directly descended t from the More family through the * g ^ " ™ a son of the Blessed i Martyr i ^ with Anne Cresacre, s, heiress of Bamboro' in Yorkshire.

- They have held their property in S| Berkshire, in unbroken descent, y for more than five hundred years, ,-^and attached to the house is a j „ , dedicated ej ^ 4 ^ .

U ^ d] ^ * More and Blessed John Fisher: the e f * ^ * fetter's walking-stick; there are r . ! aj ; d The Cardinal's "Month's Mind." j qj In Westminster Cathedral, a few , days ago, there was another solemn for the soul of Cardinal -. J ™ the month's mind.

The g) g j a , spectacle witnessed in the g*fe*£ • • " f f ^ ^ f i - T ^ E l S ?

Cardinal's body awaited burial, has been already described and j illustrated in the Leader. A t the "month's mind" there was again a large and impressive attendance of prelates and clergy, and an immense lay congregation from many parts of the Archdiocese.

The question of His Eminence's successor as Archbishop continues L

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1935.

faith. Mr. Mathew bears a family name in high repute among Catholics in England. His new office is an important one, and he enters upon it with many good wishes for success.

to be canvassed in the newspapers, with guess work which is all to no purpose. Meanwhile the terna A New Jesuit School. has been drawn up, and in due course we shall know who will be The Catholic Grammer School at the fifth Archbishop of Westmin- Bede Towers. Sunderland, is not a ster. Prayers are being- offered in new school, for it was founded by the churches, and there is every- a local priest, Canon Smith, more where the supplication that the than seven years ago. But as a choice may fall upon a man worthy Jesuit school this house of educato follow in the footsteps of the tion will rank as new; because it great Prince of the Church who has is being taken over this year, after midsummer term, by the Society been lost to us. of Jesus and thereafter will be one of the Jesuit secondary schools for the North of England. A n extension of the building, it is stated, is Education—A Danger to Face. in prospect. "Bede Towers" points In the view of the Archbishop of appositely to the district's greatest Birmingham, the Most Rev. Dr. historical figure, St. Bede, whose Williams, Catholic schools in Eng- famous monastry at Wearmouth, land and Wales are in danger, as his near by, is commemorated in the #race puts it, of " being behind." name "Monk Wearmouth" now The Archbishop made Catholic edu- used for that town. cation the subject of an important address at this year's Catholic Reunion in the Metropolitan city.

In the course of that address he The Campaign Against Birth pointed out that owing to the finControl. ancial handicap under which the voluntary or " non-provided" It would not be true to say that schools are carried on, compared Catholics are the only body in with the Council or " provided" Great Britain who are making their schools which are both built and voices heard just now on behalf of maintained with public money, it national morality, because here and is becoming increasingly difficult, there they are joined by others in and places may soon be impossible, that good cause. But certainly it for Catholic schools to keen pace is the case that the Church is not with the others, needing n^v re- only in the forefront of the camquirements and maintaining equal paign but is bearing the chief efficiencv. In one large Midland brunt of it, and is often left to do centre. Wolverhampton, it has been so single-handed. A t the present possible to meet the situation, for time the insidious growth of birthchildren of the higher ages, by control clinics is being fought by combining several narishes; but Bishops, priests and laymen, and rot every town could afford to do this in many parts of the country. this, while in small towns the Stockport, in Cheshire, has supsolution would not be available. plied the latest case in point. In Altogether, Dr. Williams foresees that town the local Maternity and an anxious time, with added Child Welfare Committee propose burdens on the Catholic purse, un- to set up a birth-control clinic, or less the Government gives to the instruction bureau. But the Comnon-provided schools a measure of mittee's desire has met with such financial justice which is long over- rigorous opposition from Catholics, supported by some right-minded due. outsiders, that the moral effect of a great demonstration of protest lately held in the Town Hall is The Cambridge Summer School. likely to be considerable.

The demonstration was presided Many distinguished Catholic over by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, lecturers, clerical and lay, are to the Right Rev. Dr. Moriarty. His contribute papers or addresses this Lordship is a native of Stockport, year at the Cambridge Summer a fact which lent additional purSchool of Catholic Studies. This pose to his presence. The Mayor annual gathering, now a well-es- of Stocl^rf^ttehded, in the capatablished institution, is to deal, in city of a private citizen. A l l social the 1935 School, with the subject grades were represented among the of "Church and State." A number large audience. Dr. O'Donovan, of the religious orders will be re- M.P. who is doing yeoman service presented among the priest lec- in this campaign, was the principal turers, whilst the laymen will in- lay speaker. What has been done clude graduates both from Oxford at Stockport is being done in other and from Cambridge Universities. places also. Catholic speakers on Sir John Gilbert's Successor. the subject are busily employed, The Secretaryship of the Catho- and there will be no slackening of lic Education Council, a post which their efforts. the late Sir John Gilbert, K.C.S.G., had filled since 1927, has been given to M r . Robert Mathew. Among many good works falling within the The Hartlepool Incident.

Education Council's sphere,, apart Pending any pronouncement by from keeping a vigilant eye on Parliamentary legislation affecting higher authority, the note to be our schools, is that of providing sounded in regard to the incident grants, in such districts, whereby mentioned in this correspondence Catholic children are given travel last week, concerning an alleged facilities for getting to and from apparition of the Little Flower, and Catholic schools at a distance from the gift of a rose, to an invalid their homes. If it were not for woman at Hartlepool, is one of this eminently practical help, such prudence. So far as the parochial children would almost inevitably be clergy are concerned, the local drafted into non-Catholic schools, newspapers state, the incident is with consequent danger to their regarded as closed.

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LOURDES. April 25 to 28.

The fact that the suggestion for the forthcoming Triduum of Masses at Lourdes came, in the first place, from the late Cardinal Bourne, gives a special gratification and interest in the event to Catholics in Great Britain.

The text of the Pope's Letter Apostolic to Monsignor Gerlier, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes, has now been published, together with a letter from the Bishop to the Episcopate of the Catholic world, inviting the cooperation of every Christian nation in the solemnities at the Grotto.

Throughout the three days bishops and priests from many lands will succeed one another uninterruptedly as celebrants of the 140 Masses which will occupy the period, day and night. For those who cannot go to Lourdes in person, Monsignor Gerlier suggests that dioceses shall organize devotions in union with the Triduum. Accommodation at Lourdes is likely to strained to the full during the coming memorable days.

A Jubilee In Journalism.

Catholic journalisms in London have in their ranks a devoted worker, M r . J . P. Flanagan, who has just been honoured in connection with the silver jubilee of his association with the Catholic Times.

Partly in Liverpool, but for a longer time in London, M r . Flanagan's has been a familiar figure at Catholic gatherings of all kinds. He is equally at home in chronicling the outpoured oratory at a demonstration of vast magnitude, or in writing down, at the table, modest remarks made at homely assemblies of local folk. H i s own silver jubilee synchronises with a jubilee of still greater moment, the diamond jubilee of the Catholic paper with which he ha3 been so long connected. His Directors and colleagues on the Catholic Times entertained M r . Flanagan to dinner recently in celebration of his twenty-five years' service.

MALAYA CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

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Y o u n g People's P a g e A BEAUTIFUL MEDITATION ON THE WORDS OF THE PRAYER TO OUR LADY. (Prom the " Flowers of Avron," journal of the Young Girls' Society of the Diocese of Rennes, France).

Hail Mary.

Who, Mother, pays you this respectful homage?

It is Heaven itself, an angel, one of the greatest i n the court of Heaven, who comes down and humbles himself before you, an humble young girl, a little flower of Judea.

Oh! what joy I experienced i n spying over and over again, with the Archangel Gabriel, "Hail Mary"!

So you are so great that Heaven bends down to you! Yes you are great—for you are %

Full of Grace. „ Of grace, of Divine life, of that life, which the first Eve lost for herself and for us all, alas!

You alone escaped the universal stain; the tide of evil stood before your heart driven back by the very Hand of God. A n d you are a sojitary whiteness i n the midst of guilty humanity! Y o u are Immaculate, fair L i l y of Juda.

How beautiful you are, oh, Mother Mary. Beautiful as the star of night that reflects the light the sun.

Mirror of Justice, in which is reflected the holiness of the Father, the purity of the Word and the infinite love of the Holy Spirit.

Oh, yes, you are " full of grace."

That is why The Lord is with Thee.

Yes, to be sure . . . you are the t&bernacle of the Lord, and you Cftn say " May Christ live i n me."

But did you not say when you pronounced your fiat on the day of the Annunciation, " M a y Jesus live i n me that I may give H i m to the w o r l d " ?

Mother, will you help me to keep Christ within me? May He live, noray He grow in my young soul that I may give, H i m to others, like you, to many others who do not know Him, or do not love H i m enough.

Blessed Art Thou Amongst Women.

And all generations to the end of time will call you " blessed," will praise you as the glory of humanity; the woman most pure, most splendid, most simple; the most illustrious and the most humble, the masterpiece and the pride of the Creator.

How I wish to unite my voice to the concert of praise; my feeble voice in the eternal canticle which ascends to you.

Yes; you are blessed, O Mary, beyond all women.

And Blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb.

Behold the explanation of all KQur - greatness I You are Mother,

the Mother par excellence, the Mother of God. How can I explain your dignity, your sanctity? Must not all that approaches the Divinity be pure?

Oh, you are nearer God than any one else.

How can I explain the universal devotion that is offered to you?

Must not the ciborium which contains the Sacred Host be treated with special reverence? But what is a. ciborium of gold compared with the living ciborium which you are, 0 Mary, Mother of God? Jesus Himself has honoured you, and with what filial love!

How I wish to honour you, to bless you, to be a little flower on thy altar.

But I make bold. Since you the Mother of God, you are only great and holy, but you kind and loving—and I say you:—

are not are to

1935.

A CHARITABLE IDEA. Many years ago an English tourist, was travelling in E g y p t ; and, having by some mischance missed the regular steamer, took passage by a large vessel which was loaded with grain.

A t every village where they stopped, birds came on board in great numbers, and fed from the sacks of grain until the vessel pushed off.

The Englishman was surprised at such want of thrift, and thought he would teach the Egyptian captain some of the first principles of business.

There-upon he asked him, as a sort of preliminary to the lesson he intended giving him, who owned the grain.

"I own it, sir," answered Egyptian respectfully.

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"Well then, why do you let so much of it go to waste ?" asked the tourist. " I n England we would call that a very poor way of doing business."

And at the Hour of Our Death.

My death, quite near, perhaps.

Can it be that you will not be there i n the supreme anguish to sustain me, to console me, to receive my soul, to bring it to the judgment seat of Jesus, to plead my cause? oh, my advocate!

But you will be there, and you will pray for me (and I will be saved.

Yes, saved! With you, with Jesus / o r all eternity.

Because every day of my life I will say over and over again in the fervour of my filial confidence: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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MILKMAID MILK.

The Egyptian, as Yankees are said to do, answered the question by asking another.

"Who made the birds, sir?" " W h y , " answered the astonished Englishman,—" why—God, of course!"

" When God made the birds, do Holy Mary Mother of God, Pray you n # believe that He made the for U s Sinners. grain for them to eat?"

How the tone of my prayer " I suppose so," said the other. changes now that I speak to you of myself and of my brethren.

"Should I then, a poor mortal, I bow down my forehead, covere d with the sign and the shame of dare to stand in His way" asked the Captain. "He will feed all His sin. Poor sinners! creatures, and I shall never suffer But you will not refuse to listen from the loss of a little grain." to the prayer of the poor, of the .poorest of all men, of the sinner.

The Englishman turned away, " N e v e r was it known that any concluding that he would never one who fled to thy protection was again try to reason with such a left unaided." But why should I simpleton, and the Captain smiled, fear? Y o u have! saad " y e s " to opened another sack, and threw a all the petitions, to all the appeals handful of grain to the expectant of souls in the course of all the birds. ages.

Say " yes " to me Now Mother! A t every moment I must support my feebleness through your power. Now, in the time of dangerous youth, of follies which I would commit every day if I listened to the world and to the " evil one" who whispers to me counsels of cowardice.

Now . . .

All young people need milk every day:

UloA

A schoolmaster was examining a class in grammar, and trying to explain, by means of simple examples, the relations of adjectives and nouns.

"Now, for instance, said he, "what am I ? " This was esay, and all the boys shouted as with one voice: "A man, sir."

"Yes, but what else?" said the inspector.

After the customer had left, the This was not so easy, but after a pause one boy ventured to sug- proprietor reprimanded the assistant for allowing the man to take gest, " A little man, sir." the boots on credit saying they "Yes," said the inspector, "but would never see him again. there is something more than that.

"Oh, but we shall," replied the The boys were posed. Then an infant phenomenon leaped from his youth. "I wrapped up two boots for the left foot, so he's bound to seat in a frenzy of inspiration: come back."

"Please, sir, I know. A n ugly little man."

1EE BI/CUIT/ U?

Professor: "Here you see the skull of a chimpanzee, a very rare specimen. There are only two in the country—one in the national museum and I have the other.

"You college men seem to take life pretty easy."

"Yes; even when we graduate we do it by degrees."

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

1935.

The Divinely Ordained Constitution of the Catholic Church Mission of the Twelve to Continue Till the End of Time Lay

Apostolate

We see them in the Acts passing What A n Apostle Is. laws and ruling their flocks. St. Christ chose the twelve for a Paul is acting with the authority special purpose and gave them of a recognised apostle, makes vaspecial powers and functions. rious regulations, settles differencAn apostle is one invested by Christ with the power of govern- es, stamps out abuses, and lays ing His Church, of offering the down the rites of priests and deacons.

Eucharistic Sacrifice, of remitting sins, of teaching and baptising.

The whole body of the apostles We see the twelve apostles, in exercises authority in the church the Acts and in the Letters, ad- in conjunction with its head. ministering sacraments,, preaching Peter is not, therefore, the sole the word of God, judging i n all teacher in the church, he is not questions of Christian Doctrine, the only ruler. The Divine misinflicting penalties where necessary sion to preach, the power to bind and acting as the administrators and loose, was not given to him of church property. alcne but to all the apostles in conjunction with him.

And what is of supreme importance, they can transmit their Nor are the other apostles merepowers to others by the imposition ly delegates of Peter, they have of hands. Such are the functions of the twelve apostles as described authority directly from Christ Himself, the primacy of Peter is in the New Testament. supreme and complete,; but though Were They A l l Equal in Power and supreme he is not alone. Side by side with him and subordinate to Dignity? him, there are other teachers and No. One of them was singled rulers. Thus, the authority of out by Christ as leader, Peter, call- each is unquestionable, but the ed Cephos, the rock on which the unity of all is en\phasised in the church is built. Peter is the firm head. foundation on which the church is to repose. He is the cause of its Such was the constitution of the unshakable solidity against the church, dictated to the apostles by forces of persecution, against the Christ Himself. gates of hell.

Every social edifice gets its soTo endure till the end of time. cial stability from authority, and From the promises of Christ to if Peter's authority is to be the very foundation-stone of the be with His church all days even church, it means that he is after to the consummation of the world, Christ, the supreme authority, the it is clear that this constitution of universal ruler, with full and au- the- Church is to last to the end of time. tocratic power.

Peter's Authority:— The metaphor of the keys shows that nothing can be done in the church without his approval, the metaphor of binding and loosing to be ratified in heaven expresses universal and complete jurisdiction.

In the text of St. John Peter is given the commission to feed the lambs and the sheep of Christ, that is to rule over the various ranks of the faithful, just as a shepherd rules over his flock.

Christ Himself makes use of this metaphor to describe his own power when he calls Himself the Good Shepherd. It is beyond doubt that he gave to Peter an absolute primacy of jurisdiction over the other apostles. He made Peter the monarch, the head of his church with an absolute and indisputable authority.

Power of the other apostles.

To the other apostles also Our Lord gave a governing authority.

To all of them he said " Whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in Heaven."

To them he gave a solemn mission, " A s my Father hath sent *ne, I also send you." " G o i n g therefore teach ye all nations."

He sends them to teach with authority and to make disciples and thus they acted.

If the church is built upon Peter, as an edifice is built on a rock, Peter's authority must last as long a^ the church lasts. A n d as the other apostles no less than Peter, form an essential element in the constitution of the church, so too must their authority and power endure to the end of time. If the mission of Peter and the apostles is to endure to the end of time, their authority and their powers must be handed down from generation to generation until the consummation comes.

Where is this authority to-day?

Who are the successors of St. Peter and the Apostles in the modern world?

With regard to Peter's successor the answer is abundantly clear.

None but the Bishop of Rome can claim recognition as primate of the universal church. This is a matter of history and history provides ar incontrovertible answer. The external manifestations of this primacy may vary from age to age, the essence of it remains unchanged. From the beginning of the church we hear in unmistakable terms of the decisions of the Bishop of Rome being final, of Rome as the touch-stone of orthodoxy and the last court of appeal.

To trace the succession of the apostles' authority is no less simple. For those successors we must look to the men whom the apostles themselves chose to share with them the full labours and functions of the apostolate and to carry on their work after their death.

These men St. Paul calls by various names:—" His fellow workers " " His colleagues," " His assistants and companions in arms." But the name does not matter. Thus to the facts we must look.

They are men like Mark, Silas, Timothy, Titus, Caius etc. The pastoral letters inform us of the nature and functions of these helpers. They have been ordained by the apostles themselves and they have been commisioned to teach the faith, to rule churches, they are to carry on the work of the apostles and they are their successors after their death.

A l l this establishes securely the apostolic and therefore the Divine origin of what we now call the Episcopate, as superior in power of order and jurisdiction to the priests.

When the church had spread far and wide, the huge tracts of territory over which the apostles or their successors ruled became too cumbrous. Territories were divided into several churches and heads were appointed to rule those local churches and these successors became known later by the definite technical name of bishops.

The Divinely appointed rulers of the faithful, then, in matters of faith and morals, worship and discipline, are the Pope for the universal church and the Bishop for the Diocese. A s Divinely appointed rulers, we are, of course obliged to hear them. He that heareth them, heareth Christ. They have a Divine right to preach the gospel, to govern their flocks, to declare for them not only what is the true faith of Christ but also what is morally right or wrong.

Let us try to realise the significance of this sublime truth. It means that in the constitution of the Catholic Church, every generation from the time of Christ has had as its guides in the spiritual life, men who no less than Peter or Paul, or James or John have been called by Christ to the Divine apostolate.

The priests as delegates of the bishop and under this authority and control, guide and instruct the faithful in any particular church or part of the flock, administer the sacraments and govern limited territory in the name of the bishop.

They hold their power and authority from the head of the Diocese, the Bishop who is the lawful successor of the apostles.

The call to lay apostolate.

The great Pope Pius X I now glorious reigning, whose courageous acts and profound encyclicals have made the Vatican more than ever the fortress of faith and morals, has issued a call to the catholics of the world to co-operate more closely with the hierarchy in the work of salvation.

That is what He means when he calls the laity to Catholic Action.

To help the Pope and the Bishops, the successors of Peter and the apostles, to establish the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ, is an inspiring programme and an irresistible appeal.

If St. Peter Himself, were to say to us: Come and help, would we hesitate? If the apostle John were to call us to assistance, would we refuse?

Then when Pius X I calls us, when our Bishop calls us, it is truly an apostle that calls, it is Christ's call.

If only we can realise that, i f only we can appreciate that we are called by men who are the successors of those whom Christ Himself called, surely we will rise with alacrity and follow Christ.

A Word To The Wise.

When we sin we are not striking at a cold, unfeeling law; but are striking, with a cruel hand, direct at the living, loving Heart of God.

Beecher.

How sweet was the first embrace of Jesus! It was indeed an embrace of love. I felt that I was loved, and said: "I love You and I give myself to You for ever."

St. Therese of Lisieux after her First Communion.

After the sweet name of Jesus, and all the other names and titles to which Our Blessed Saviour as God and God Incarnate has a right, the next sweetest, dearest and most holy name in heaven above, on earth below, is Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.— Vet Rev. Dean Kinane.

He who seeks God will find H i m , and at all times. The most appropriate place for meditation, however, is the church, in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

S*. Alph&nsus Liguoru

If thou art wise expect to die every day; thus thou shalt keep thyself always ready and happy to depart on the great journey to thy eternal home.

Blessed Henry SKSO.

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

Motes While the names of Tasman, Cook, and Franklin; of Frobisher, Livingstone, and Rhodes; of Peary, Byrd and Shackleton, and a host of others of like fcalibre bear witness to an illustrious cause in the outside world of events, geography as a school subject is not one which can boast of a "glorious tradition." Cohesion or relationship between the internal studies and the external happenings has been conspicuous by its nonexistence: there has been no keeping abreast of the times. A s the subject was formerly understood (or mis-understood) it was either a drjff-as-dust commitment to memory of lists of names and definitions having no practical bearing on anything in the world, on a degeneration, of physical, commercial, and political facts into mere statistics and tabulations.

Its neglect until comparatively recent times is in all probability due to this lack of realization of what geographical science really is. Its value as an educative force, as a broadening influence on the mind, is still in the infancy of scholastic appreciation, although it is nearly half a century since it first began to be unfolded.. It is high time therefore that we comprehended more fully the meaning of geography, and observed that that of yesterday and that of to-day are as widely separated in aim and method as are the old-time astrology and modern astronomy.

What then does modern geography stand for? Does it or does it not justify a place in the curriculum ? Let us consider these two questions for a moment.

Geography is the science of distributions over and about the earth, and a study of mankind's response to the conditions occasioned by them. It is a study of environment and adapation. Its various "departments," i f one may use the expression—economic, industrial, political, physical, evolve from the three cardinal questions it seeks to answer: (i) What does mankind need for his material well-being? (ii) Whence and how does he obtain these things? (iii) What forces govern their occurrence only over particular areas of the earth's surface? It is a subject which is concerned with man's immediate physical environment:—with the earth as his home, storehouse, workshop, and market, all united into one huge entity. From these surroundings man cannot be separated ; from their influences he can never become immune; so that it will become his natural business to strive, as far as lies within his power, to modify or harness those influences, according to circumstances, for his benefit. This is modern geography.

Man Records events in tim£ arid calls it History. History has throughout its course prominent features with which every person who claims to be educated is perfectly familiar. Yet how many of these, one wonders, consider the prominent features of their planet

on

GEOGRAPHY IN

home, and which have played this part in giving rise to that history!

How many realize that it is man's activity in response to the conditions laid down by nature which provides the very material of which history is made! The one group of considerations is complementary to the other. And in proportion to the extent to which one group is neglected so must the ultimate cultural result be unbalanced. History is the record of events in time; geopraphy is the record of events in space. History is concerned with the Ipast; put what is its use i f it cannot be applied to the present, with which geography is mainly concerned?

History describes human undertakings; geography describes the natural background against which those undertakings were carried out, and goes far to explain them.

Time and space are inseparable in the study of events: history provides the epochal, and geography the regional factor. Yet still the relationship between the two is "far from sufficiently intimate in our ordinary teaching of either subject......Consider how few persons of a normal standard of education could sketch with the haziest approach to accuracy, a picture of the Europe with which Cromwell had to deal, or contrast it with the Europe which Napoleon started to reconstruct." Let a person possessed of only average intelligence study and compare the maps of these two Europes, and "get those two vignettes into his head and the framework for nearly a century and a half of crowded history is at his command." What cause is there then for the protracted and undue separation in educational practice of man from his physical environment? In an ideal scholasticism it is inconceivable. One without the other is unintelligible.

A subject to be a potent educational force must have the power of inducing correct thinking and logical reasoning. One of the first things which modern geography teaches is the process of correct reasoning. Certain observations are made and recorded and we trace the effects back to their causes. Conversely we deduce the conditions of life obtaining in a given region by making a collection of the available physical data and using common sense. For instance, a knowledge of the general type of climate prevalent in the zone in which a certain region is situate, with the necessary modifications occasioned by its individual configuration, the adjacency of warm or cold currents, or other purely local causes; a knowledge also of the surface geography of the centre, and the extent and type of its watering and drainage (all of which information is obtainable from an ordinary atlas) enables us to picture its floral and faunal life.

From this and the further knowledge 6f the wealth or paucity of mineral deposits of the area we are able to construct a reasonably accurate representation of the mode of life and the normal occupations of its human inhabitants,

EDUCATION.

1935.

Education

—(teh material of which history the iceberg and glacier; of the is made). This "arm-chair travel" tropical forests of Brazil and equais only the next best thing to the torial Africa, with their infinitude ideal course of taking the class to of gorgeously coloured birds and the region to be studied, which is insects, their immense wealth, and not always practicable, but it has with their revengefulness towards the advantage of providing scope for thinking things out. This those men who would venture to reasoning according to geographi- appropriate it. We can picture cal and economic principles (for the blue Mediterranean, the "dead let us remember that economics heart" of Australia, and the I depends entirely upon geographical scorching deserts of Africa and distribution and may be said to Arabia. We can reproduce in have emerged from geography) is models the homes of the Eskimo also called for by the questions of and Kafir, of the lumberjack and cotton in Lancashire and India, of Bedouin; we can sketch the pitJapan, of the South Wales coal head, and kayak, and the atolls of industry, of Ottawa, Greenland, the w estern Pacific; we can read and Manchukuo, of Germany and accounts of harbour construction, Austria, of the Polish Corridor, of tunnelling through mountains of the Hungarian borders, of the and beneath waterways, of goldPeace Treaties of 1919-20, etc., etc. mining and oil-prospecting, of What an amount of national, colopearl-fishing in the Persian Gulf, nial, and international turbulence could be eased, i f not altogether of irrigating the desert and renavoided, by a practical acquain- dering it fertile, of reclaiming land tance with geographical principles! from the seas, of surveys of the earth's surface made from the air; and we write essays on life in its As all education rests upon the diversity of forms in India, Normemory it would be platitudinous way, Mexico, or Canada. to stress the necessity for the For material with which to nurdevelopment of this faculty i n the present connection, and to air the ture a sound morale one had only multiplicity of opportunities afford- to look to those stories of perilous ed it by geography. Suffice it that work undertaken and sacrifices visual' memory is developed by made, even of life itself, by exmeans of pictures and models (re- plorers, doctors, and others, in the ferred to again below), by graph cause of geographical science; of and diagram, and by the drawing those heroic. parties who cross the from memory of sketch-maps, with bar to explore uncharted seas and the insertion of a few rivers, hills, lands in attempts to secure yet and towns. It is enlightening to more of nature's hidden gifts, yet see how even the "clever" ones of more "fruits and seeds, rich ores for the a class deviate from truth in this. and precious stones It is a study which demands the creation of wealth, the comforts of closest concentration and exercise life," and the benefit of mankind of the observant and retentive at large. It may be pointed out, powers, as any reader will fully moreover, that in those regions realize if he try it. The practice where a man is compelled to work of thought-connection, by which hard for his sustenance he is the intellectual memory is discip- manly, happy, healthy, and inlined, has an obvious amplitude of dependent ; whereas in those places opportunity. Some such associa- where the necessaries of life are tion of ideas as the following cheap and abundant he necessarily deteriorates. should be encouraged. r

India, greatest rice producing country in the world, staple food of natives, also export, monsoons, flooding, two or three crops a year, native labour, Lower Ganges, Deccan, Calcultta, Madras, Coromandel Coast, British Empire, Eed Sea, Gibraltar, Docks of London.

Nor must the "fostering of a healthy imagination be overlooked.

In few other subjects is there such scope in this direction as geography provides. Let us think of what an atom man feels when he gazes on the barbaric majesty of the Himalayas or Andes; and on the other hand how he begins to assert his insect authority when he stands on the easy flats of the cultivable plain. Let us think of the weird beauty of the midnight sun, or the awesome spectacle of the Aurora Borealis in the frozen regions of the north; let us think of the splendour and treachery of

These stories of courage, resource, perseverance, discipline, unity of aim and effort (the "term s p i r i t " ) , and so on, are replete with significance and interest. Of the efficacy and forcefulness of the latter quality the teacher has no need to be reminded. The exploits allluded to can never fail to extract some degree of attention and appreciation from even the apathetic and turbid mind of the human drone. What effect then will they not have on the minds of conscientious future citizens of the world with a growing sense of the responsibilities they will have to carry when they leave school?

Their interest in life and its problems will not be of that temporary variety so strongly associated with preparation for examinations, but that which is perfectly free, genuine, and permanent.

(To be continued)

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

1935.

CORRESPONDENCE [The M.C.L. does not necessarily Furthermore, though distance may endorse the opinions expressed by cor-part us yet, I feel sure, my thoughts shall often flit back to respondents. Correspondents are requested to adhere to the topic of their you and your undertakings.

Permit me to say a few final letters and to avoid long rambling epistles. Pen names may be used but, words to to you on the subject of in every case, the name and address of Catholic Action. You have doubtthe writer must accompany each con- less heard a great deal said and tribution, not essentially for publication much less done, regarding it. In short, there has been more of dicbut as a token of good faith.]

I

Catholic Action Society, St. Francis Xavier's Church, Penang.

10, February, 1935.

To the Editor, Malaya Catholic Leader, Singapore.

Sir,—I read with interest the Malayan Catholic Leader of the 9th inst. and thanks for the publication of the report of the teaparty given to M r . G. R. T. Chelvam our former president, on the eve of his departure for Singapore, and also for the insertion of photograph taken on that occasion.

Although the article in question has been published, I am at a loss to understand why the president's speech in reply, has been omitted.

This emission seems to be a very strange and unusual procedure. In his speech, he gave an outline and an essence of the nature of the work to be done by the members, to benefit the interest of the Catholic Action, and i f this was read by the members of the committee through the medium of your paper, it would remind them of the ways to devote their energies, attention and talents to achieve the benefit of the work they have undertaken.

Under the circumstances, I humbly request that you suitably insert his reply, which I take it has been omitted through want of space, or that it has been overlooked.

Thanks in anticipation, I remain, Yours faithfully.

(In our previous issue the following speach, referred to in the above letter, was inadvertently left out. Ed. M.C.L.) "Gentlemen and fellow actionists, before replying to the previous speaker, I must express my profound regrets at the absence of Rev. Father Baloche, our Spiritual Director from our midst, owing to his illness. M r . Royan has said many nice things of me, which I hardly deserve. It is typical of the gushing generosity of our energetic Secretary. I am deeply sensible of your goodwill and appreciation and may assure you that my cognisance of this good gesture will not wear away with the passage of time. My only regret is that I am leaving you at an inopportune moment, before I have had time to guide the interests of the society to a more fruitful end: however, there is yet a lingering consolation in the fact that my new field of endeavour in the Catholic Leader, shall offer me wider scope for identifying myself with Catholic Action activities.

tion and less of action. And these two terms are antithetical in effect to each other as the night is to the day. We must strive after the latter in a quiet and unobtrusive manner. The call to the laity by Our Holy Father, directed through His accredited prelates and ministers, to revive the holy and wholesome work in which the faithful had participated at the dawn of the Christian E r a , is certainly worth answering with enthusiasm. Does it not sound like the call of Our Lord, to Simon Peter the fisherman? You all know what glory this irresistible call brought. So, gentlemen, undertake your work courageously and unofiiciously. Do not say you have no time to do good. The tenets of our Holy Church tell us that F a i t h alone will not save us without charity and goodworks.

Charity calls for sacrifice and sacrifice is the most ennobling nart of a man's character.

'Know thy work and thou shalt love i t ' — f or knowledge leads . to love and ignorance to prejudice.

Do your utmost vigorously and virtuously within the individual ambit of your capacities. I thank you gentlemen for the patient hearing you have accorded me, and for the honour you have done me by this delightful little fu-notion."

The party dispersed after a group photograph had been taken, with' the guest of honour as the central figure.

(To the Editor, M.C.L:) T H E T R U E STORY OF M Y CONVERSION. B y R. H . B .

Mine was a " Mixed " marriage which was solemnised in January 1913 and at that time I was a staunch member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Before marriage I promised my wife that I would not interfere with her religious practices and as far as I remember I kept to my promise.

We lived very happily for 11 years but our happiness was overshadowed with terrible misfortunes. In 1916 (a leap year) death claimed our son and only child who was then over 2 years old. In 1920 (another leap year) we lost our second son at the age of 2V2 years.

In 1924 (the third successive leap year) our third son died—a nice robust boy who was very nearly 4 years old. This loss was a terrible snock to us. I was so grieved and depressed that I lost faith in any religion. I could not for one moment believe that if there is a God He could be so cruel as to take away all our sons; so for a few weeks I lived like a pagan in utter despair.

One night while brooding over our loss something, or someone un-

seen urged me to pray. I mecharnically knelt down but I could not pray. A l l I remember saying were words to this effect:— " If there is such a " thing " as a God why won't He tell me what I have done to deserve such punishment as to have the misfortune to lose a son every leap year; or why cannot He tell me by some means or other what I ought to do to please H i m and that the lives of any future sons may be spared?"

I turned in bed and after some time fell asleep. That night I had rather a strange dream. I dreamt I was in a Catholic Boys School and was watching the Brothers in their long black robes hurrying to and fro. I thought nothing of the dream the next day. The following night I again had a peculiar dream. This time I was in a Convent and several Nuns and Sisters were showing me round the building. This dream did not worry me the next day, and I put it down to a rather heavy dinner. The third night I dreamt again but i t was thi strangest of dreams. I was present in a Catholic Church—a grand service was being held and the Altar was lighted up magnificently. As I looked around i n my dream I saw that every statue had lighted candles at the feet. M y eyes wandered from one statue to another until they fell on that of a little boy i n one corner. A s I gazed at this statue I noticed that the face was that of the son I rerecently lost. I stared in wonderment and the right hand of the statue was raised and the boy beckoned to me. " M y s o n " I cried and as I walked up the centre aisle to caress my boy, I awoke from my dream and found myself in bed in a cold sweat. I sat up in bed. I had not a wink of sleep the rest of that night. M y brain was in a whirl. I recalled the previous dreams and I linked them to the " p r a y e r " I said while in despair. " Can these dreams be the answer to my "prayer," I asked myself, and instinctively the reply came " Y e s , " you must change your religion," and before I had time to think, my mind had been made up.

The next morning I told my wife that I was going to change my religion and be a Catholic.

She laughed at me at first and took it to be a big joke. But when I related about my " prayer " and the three successive dreams and she was convinced that I was in earnest she said " Thank God, my prayers have been heard. For the past eleven years I have been praying for your conversion and at last God is answering my prayer."

I lost no further time. I asked & friend to accompany me to the Parish Priest and after about a week of study and instructions I was baptised, and at the next Confirmation Service I was duly confirmed.

I have written down what has really happened but before I conclude I wish to make it clear that I attach no significance to leap years nor do I particularly believe in dreams.

A further 11 years have since passed and we have 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls. The boys are 11

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years and 5 years old and with the help of God I make bold to say that our misfortunes are ended.

If this true story is the means of directing one soul, to the One and true Church, my effort in relating it will not have been i n vain.

(The above account has been received by us for publication along with a covering letter requesting us to withhold the full name of the contributor for prudential reasons which we do not make bold to delve into. However, the authenticity of the statements therein is attestable from external evidence.

(Ed. M.C.L.)

A lady, soliciting for a charity fund, approached a Scotchman and handed him a card with the inscription: "Charity Fund—Give Till It Hurts," The Scotchman read it, then, with tears of grief in his eyes, handed it back to the fair solicitor.

"Lady," he said brokenly, "the verra idea hurts I"

"Why do you insist upon telling me those horrible stories of ghosts and robbers while you are cutting my hair?" said a long-suffering customer to a talkative barber.

"I'm very sorry, sir," replied the barber, "but you see, when I tell stories like that to my customers their hair stands on end, and i t makes it ever so much easier to cut."

8

M A L A Y A N CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY,FEBRUABY 16th 1935.

Woman's, WOMEN A N D T H E FILMS. A t - t h e Catholic Women's Conference in Melbourne last November, Rev. Father McGrade, making an appeal for better films, expressed the hope that Catholic women would be ready to stand with other women in making their influence felt in the right quarters in America. We*have little doubt that Catholic women will fall into line with other women i n any sensible female campaign for film reform, but it occurs to us that femininety as a whole has not displayed all the interest in this particular matter that might be expected when we consider its social and moral importance. A s far as we know it was under the leadership of members otLthe Catholic hierarchy that the churches i n America began the ban on evil pictures which disconcerted Hollywood and caused picture producers deep concern, and i f woman's organisations have been active in the matter they have not received deserved publicity.

Indeed, it has, surprised many men that instead of protesting i n a wholesale way against risque and suggestive pictures, women flock to see them in large numbers and, as often as not, comprise a very big section of the audience when some particularly sexy programme is shown. A s we naturally expect more refinement, delicacy and modesty from our mothers, wives and sweethearts than we do from the ruder male, something is surely wrong when instead of boycotting the "rough stufl?" so many women unbhjshingly .patronise it. Worse than that, numbers of them appear to have such a taste for i t that there is a strong suspicion that they are largely responsible for the vulgarities and salacities of Hollywood. We do not contend that men are angels i n their attitude towards doubtful pictures, but i f the women remained away there would be so many empty seats that showmen would I soon present better programmes. It is arguable that it was because women did not give the necesslary lead Catholic prelates i n U.S.A.

Page

Mothers should remember that

took the strong action they did, and commanded their flocks to follow them. It seems rather a pity that woman, boasting of her new liberty, is inclined to give leadership i n directions which will not help morality instead of championing the old conventions which safeguarded girlhood and saved it from so many perils. In Australia the "new" woman lifts up her voice against many things—but at times they are the things that have their roots in Christian sentiment.

(Catholic Freeman's Journal.)

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MAKING.

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2. Small cakes require a hotter oven than large ones, therefore should be made first; the oven should be fairly hot to start the latter, and the heat gradually reduced.

8: Stand large cakes on a bed of dry sand or salt to prevent burning at the bottom, and when nicely eoloured, cover over with a thick greased paper to prevent i t burning on the top before thel centre is cooked.

4. Never bang the oven door to, or move the tin before the mixture is set, as i t makes the cakes fall in the middle, and they will be heavy.

5. Line tins with ungreased paper for large cakes, and greased paper for small ones.

6. Be sure all tins and ingredients are dry.

7. Allow iy —2 hours to bake a cake of 12 ozs. to 1 lb. of flour; fruity cakes usually take 3—4 hours. & L e t all cakes be quite cold before putting away; they should be kept i n airtight tins.

9. Do not use real new-laid eggs for cake making; they contain too much moisture; they are better when 7—10 days old, the albumen or whites whip stronger, and the yolks are more solid.

Agents for South Malaya, Borneo & Sarawak:

children need

MILKMAID" MILK

RECIPES. RULES

growing

10. Sweet milk makes cakes cut like pound cakes.

11. Sour milk makes spongy cakes.

12. Long beating before adding baking powder improves the mixture, but don't beat after; mix i t gently in.

13. Weigh the flour after drying and sifting.

14. Currants, raisins, and cherries should be rolled in flour to prevent them sinking to the bottom. I f the mixture is too thin the fruit will sink.

15. Always break eggs separately into a cup, in case one happens to be bad, then the whole lot will not be spoilt.

16. Lemons should be washed first,, and the peel must be cut very thin, as the white part is bitter.

17. Condensed or evaporated milk can be used instead of cream or milk.

18. Small cakes require a quick oven.

19. Large cakes require a moderate oven; cover with paper i f getting too brown before cooked enough.

20. To test i f a cake is baked enough, run into the middle a kniting needle or bright skewer; i f i t comes out clean, the cake is done.

21. To beat butter and sugar to a cream, put into a warm bowl, place over warm water, rub together with a wooden spoon (if a large quantity use the hand), beat till creamy. This process takes 10 minutes for i/ lb. of fat; it can be slightly hastened by first creaming the butter alone, and a slow, steady beating is better than a quick one; gradually add the flour and beaten eggs alternately, a little of each at a time, put fruit and flavouring in at the last, and then the baking powder.

24. When currants come in from the grocer's, it is a good plan to clean them at once, put into a coiander, and wash well in cold water; shake, spread on a dish, and place before the fire to dry; look over carefully, and remove stems and stones.

To dry clean currants 25. Place on a clean towel or sieve, sprinkle with flour; rub well to remove stalks, stones, and dirt.

Cakes (to remove from tins) 26. Place t i n on a cold, wet cloth for a few minutes, then run round the edges carefully with a knife. Put on a cool sieve or a wire stand; failing that, stand on their edge against a dish; they will go heavy at the bottom i f this is not done.

27.

Burnt crust on cakes (to remove) Scrape gently with a fine bread grater.

28. Cake Burning (to prevent) Tie three thicknesses of brown paper round the outside of the tin, grease the inside well and dredge with flour. When cake is nicely brown cover top with well greased paper.

29.

Burnt Fruit in a Cake (to prevent) Before adding the fruit, put a layer of the mixture into the bottom of the tin and save enough for a top layer also, without fruit.

9

22. Let large cakes cool a little before removing on to a sieve, and keep them out of draughts.

To line a tin or mould with buttered paper.

23. Cut a strip of good white D i e spaper an inch wider than the t i n and long enough to go round the sides; also cut a bottom piece and nick it to fit; brush over with melted butter, put the bottom piece in first.

" S I M P L E FIRST A I D . " Boils are abscesses in the skin.

They contain a central core formed of a fragment of dead skin.

The cause is debility, combined with some local cause, such as the chafing of a collar. Ichthyol and resorcin ointment applied at a very early stage will often check the mischief. When once developed, a cold-water dressing made of pink boracic lint will help to relieve the pain. They are best treated by lancing and touching the interior with pure carbolic, and not by the application of a linseed poultice, as this is apt to iiiduce a crop of boils in the surrounding area. The general health should receive attention, especially is regard to diet, fresh air, and regularity of the bowels.

;

M A L A Y A N CATHOLIC L E A D E R , SATURDAY, F E B R U A R Y

16th 1935.

The Eurasian Association (Penang

Branch)

PENANG. Annual Report. exist and prosper. Social life reThe following is the Annual cognises as necessary the principle Report of The Eurasian Associa- of individual right and personal tion, Penang forwarded to us for initiative: but it goes beyond this and recognises that right as coincipublication. dent with responsibility.

Committee.

The Committee elected at the What the Association has done last General Meeting were as fol- in the past, is in proportion to the lows :— measure of support and co-operaPresident— tion received. With whole-hearted Dr. J . E . Smith co-operation from every member of Vice-President— the community and a just recognition of his responsibility, the Mr. C. C. Stewart Association can do much i n the Hon. Secretary— development, social and economic, Mr. H . C. deWind of the community. The means Hon. Treasurer— exist; all that is required is the Mr. G. B . Baptist and Messrs. F . J . G. Aeria, R. E . effort. Times are changing, and Capel, W. H . Jambu, A . Zilva, C. A . to-day, our Association is a necessity. deCruz and Dr. H . Phipps.

Mr. C. A . deCruz not being able Your Committee therefore apto accept office, M r . E . G. Cullin peal to every member of the comwas co-opted on the Committee. munity to be true to himself, and Committee Meetings. to the community, and to realise Five Committee Meetings w ere that the fundamental basis of social held during the year. life imposes upon every member Accounts. in proportion to his ability, the resThe attached statement of ac- ponsibility of furthering the aims counts show a credit balance of and aspirations of his community, $1019.23, excluding an investment so that with honest endeavour, of S230/- (Debentures Penang Re- willing co-operation and good-will, creation Club). the community shall progress i n Members and Subscriptions. confidence and harmony towards The year opened with* 185 Mem- Eurasian Solidarity. bers on the roll. The Membership Activities. increased by 10 and decreased by (a) Educational.—Our activity one death and two resignations. in respect of educational work was Your Committee with great re- maintained during the year, and gret have to record the death of the amount disbursed during the Mr. J . V . J a m b u * M r . Jambu w£& year under review exceeds those of at one time the Honorary Secre- previous years. During the year tary of this Association and his under review, your Committee services were greatly appreciated. called for applications for stipends, WTiilst the subscrpitions received available at the Trade School, or during the year under review have at any of the recognised workshops not been very satisfactory in view in Penang, but no applications of the very modest subscription were received. This is to be renow in force, your Committee are gretted, as your Committee are of pleased to note the increase in opinion that in these days of severe applications for membership. With competition a sound vocational the passing of the slump and with training is an asset for any youth the return of better times in the in the battle of life. Your Comgenerally improved outlook in mittee desire to tender their gratetrade, your Committee hope thi^ ful thanks to Bro. Director of St. matter of subscriptions will not be Xavier's Institution and to the Bro. overlooked.

Supervisor of St. Xavier's Branch In stressing the need for co- School, Pulo Tikus for advice and operation, your Committee desire assistance on matters Educational. to point out that both in political (6) Poppy Day Ball.—This and social life, the conscience of Function was held at the Town the peoples is beginning to call Hall on 17th November 1933 and aloud ever more and more for union proved an unqualified succers. The and unity, as witness the various sum of $66.57, the nett proceeds of Associations i n Malaya represent- the Ball was forwarded to the ing the various communities. The Honorary Treasurers, Poppy Day most keenly felt want at the pre- Fund. Your Committee take this sent time in our community, is opportunity to thank all members active unity and co-operation. In and friends for their assistance politics, not withstanding the in- and support. dividualistic character of modern (c) Visit to Eurasian Lepers nation, more thoughtful men are at Pulo Jerejak.—Your Committee seeking points of agreement and paid a visit to these stricken memmethods of co-operation; i n social life, the each-one-for-himself" bers of the community at the Leper Policy is giving way to the more Camp at Pulo Jerejak on the 15th universal principle of collective res- February 1934. Your Committee ponsibility. Everywhere a greater were amply repaid for the trouble sense of dependence one upon an- undertaken to make the visit, as other is making itself felt; men they were gratified and pleased to are beginning to acknowledge that see the beautiful spirit, w hich pre^ere individualism is insufficient valied amongst the inmates, who as a basis of life. Social unity— appeared happy and contented. In the knitting together of the mem- remembrance of the visit, your bers of the community in the bond Committee presented a complete jtf human fellowship—is necessary. Badminton set. Your Committee ^ any community is to continue to (Continued on page 18)

M A L A Y

A S

H E A L T H F O O D

T

w

T

For

health,sleep

and bright

awakening

Cadbury's

iBoiuiRN-winrA

"lis better for you ft

MAA5—1A-

MALAYA CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th 1935.

10

N o w , do these theories fit i n NOTES A N D C O M M E N T S .

Post Free, Local and Abroad: with facts? W e look around us 12 Months ... $6.00 and what do we see? Is i t a con6 Months ... $3.00 nected stream of life, or rather a Last week a contributor wrote 3 Months ... $1.50 vast number of living beings? The on the subject of public transport in Singapore. We published his All correspondence and literary late M r . W i l d o n Carr, remarkable contribution though we thought contributions should be addressed for his strong common sense states that ours was hardly the kind of to The Manning Editor, Rev. in his b o o k " Changing Back- journal in which to air his views on such a subject. He covered no grounds i n Religion andJEthics"— new ground in the treatment of it. Cardon, 73, Bras Basah Road, "The real mystery of Evolution is that subject, as far as we could Singapore. individuality.

Wherever l i f e see. We think there is less hope of achieving his object by writing Tel. 7376, Singapore. exists, it exists i n living individuals to a weekly paper which professes and i n no other form. This is so to be the official organ of Catholic wherever we are able to detect the Action than there might perhaps be by addressing his commurication to a lay newspaper.

JJEaJaga Cattalir ^Ltzt&tt presence of life."

Precisely so. Life as we see i t , Saturday, February 16, 1935. * * * * is like a number of lighted candles.

One may be lit from another, just It is somewhat heartening to as one life is i n some way derived OUR LIFE FORCE".

Catholics to see the tendency i n a from another, but they have each certain section of the lay press to It sometimes happens that the a separate existence. Life exists give credit where credit is due, i n cases where Catholics are concernleading part of a play is written in centres,"not i n streams. ed. Hitherto there appeared to be expressly to display the special In another place the same a tendency to give publicity only to matters that placed Catholics in traits o f an actor who has become thinker observes, " The outstand- an unfavourable light. We refer more or less a dominating figure ing fact i n the moral aspect of our to the publication, recently, of news i n the theatrical world. The relives from the evolutionary stand- regarding the achievement of two Malay notables who had received sult o f this, o f course, is that the point is that the value of our their earlier education in a Cathomain theme, centres round one individuality is not intrinsic but lic school, St. Paul's Institution at personality and puts the play out instrumental." This reminds one Seremban. We wonder whether the presence of a Catholic weekly of proportion. of the garage foreman who said in Malaya has had anything to do Something very similar happens to his boy: " Y o u may be the with it. It seems to us to have i n the world o f everyday thought. world to your mother, but y o u brought about a little rivalry in the presentation of news appertaining The spurious philosophy of m o - are only an oil-can to me." to Catholics or Catholic bodies. dern times is like a dramatist and Prof. Julian H u x l e y writes i n For from being disconcerted by the misleading theories thereof are "What dare I Think '— 'Religionthis, we are glad to observe this the actors specially detailed to play i n the light of psychological and good move. If it is a matter of public interest to publish news unthe roles assigned to them. A anthropological science is seen not favourable to Catholics i n a lay philosophy that is thick-sown with as a divine revelation, but as a newspaper, it should be no less so cant and devoid o f candour i n function o f human nature." C a n to mention, when occasion arises, something that is favourable or dealing w i t h facts is like the play- there be any religion i n such creditable to Catholics. Fairplay demands it, and it is gratifying to wright who has produced a play systems? O n l y i f one is ready to find that it is now being shown. merely to extol the special characadmit that religion can exist teristics G£ his favourite actor. It without a God, as many strangely is evident among modern theories enough do to-day. that biology like a favourite actor Unique as the instance seems, of Bergson himself has said: has become the centre of an adMalays having received a portion m i r i n g circle. I n this w a y our "There is no overruling purpose i n of their education in a Catholic life force is often interpreted i n the course of evolution and the school, this is true only of a boys' life-force moves towards no con- school. We learn that in a certain terms o f biology. convent school in Malaya, a Malay sciously apprehended g o a l " — young lady has had the honour I n the first place the idea of a which has caused one modern of being partially educated as a m i g h t y and universal life-force writer to say that i t would appear boarding pupil she belonging to the family of a Malay potentate. In has a bearing on the older theory best to " l e t i t r i p . " I f we ask her case we believe good environthat the universe was but a the evolutionists themselves what ment was the primary object, and mechanical system and life no is the religious ideal their system religious prejudices appeared to have been put aside in favour of more than a by-product of its places before them, many may this. Consciousness of the wholeworkings. I t was a theory that reply that i t is a " perfected some environment in which they maintained everything was alive, humanity."

However, the de- are placed has most likely prompand life was everything.

It ted a number of other non-Chrisvotees o f our life-force hold that tians to send their girls as day brought many separate things into science and philosophy (distilled scholars to a convent school. A a u n i t y and sounds very attractive in the laboratory) are to be our good few non-Christian Chinese tjiough not quite convincing. and Jewish girls have regularly atguides to this end. A l l one may tended a Convent school in the Plants, animals and men, species modestly say at present is that i t town in which they live, and while and individuals, were regarded as seems easier to banish a king than their faith has not suffered in anyforms and phases of the one great way, all of them are known to a philosopher. speak in terms of praise of the vital force. Indeed the theories school in which they receive their for the ultimate origin of life put The Climax. education. forward by some of our thinkers Maid: " Y o u know that old vase, * * * * today strongly resemble the spicy mum, you said 'ad been 'anded stories told b y p r i m parents of the down from generation to generaMohamedan boys, if not actually V i c t o r i a n age to their children tion r Mistress (anxiously): "Yes." Malays, have been known to attend when they inquired about the way Maid: "Well, this generation has a Christian Brothers' School, St. dropped it." i n which they came to be.

Xavier's at Penang, and St. RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION

9

Joseph's here have had them, as the writer is aware of from his connection with both. St. Joseph's has, moreover, had quite a number of boys of Jewish faith, some of whom are now wellknown wealthy citizens. The necessity of giving preference to boys of the Catholic faith has precluded a number of Jewish and even Hindu boys from attending St. Joseph's, we believe.

It is more a case of first seeking admission to this school than of endeavouring to gain it after failure to do so in other schools. May we remark that there is still a wide scope for Catholic schools in this part of the world, in view of the growing number of non-Catholics who seek admission to them?

GLEANINGS. The world of to-day is very conscious of what is called Progress: and one of the outstanding features of Trogress' is the replacing of religion by Science. One need not for a moment deny either the advance i n scientific knowledge or its possibilities for the help of mankind. But what, in point of fact, has progress in knowledge, in science, in medicine, in mechanics, actually done for the real happiness of man ? What has it done to help solve those elemental problems or fulfil those fundamental needs of human life? Has it helped to give us a knowledge of the purpose of human life or of relation to the universe at large? Its because we can hurtle through the air to the ends of the earth, because we car speak with those a thousand miles away, because our telescopes have discovered a little more of the unexplored grandeur of the heavens, because of all the numerous inventions of modern science (poison gas for example), there are not wanting those who think we are on the verge of solving the great problems of life and death, of finding happiness, as though this progress has done anything but complicate our already complicated existence, making it more unreal, more consuming, more anguished.

From ''Reasonable Service' by Hilary Carpenter, in "BLACK-FRIARSr

A STRANGE MONUMENT. A monument was erected recently at Taintrux in the Vosges to commemorate an incident which took place i n the August of 1914 when German gunfire was combing all this section of the country. A priest who was seriously wounded lay dying i n a first aid station, and seeing one i n black pass by, raised himself on his elbow and begged that a crucifix be brought to him.

The man addressed was not a priest, as the dying priest supposed but a Jewish Rabbi who was on duty there. The Rabbi, however, lost not a minute in finding a crucifix, and kneeling down by the wounded priest he pressed it to his lips. While in that position he was struck by a shell and almost instantly killed. The monument raised the other day is a figure of the dying priest and the Jewish Rabbi bending over h i m ; reproduced as those who saw the incident were able to describe it.—The Are Maria.

I ' |

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th 1935.

Browsing

Among

PRACTICAL PERFECTION FOR T H E LAITY.

Books.

placed as never before in its historical surroundings.

Vivid strokes of the pen retrace the magnificent character of the Knight of Christ, whose one love was for H i s Master and whose one ambition was His greater glory. If at one time the reader fears lest the life of the Founder should merge into the history of his Order, he is soon undeceived.

For after these digressions on the men that Ignatius rules there follows the most magnificent chapter of the book, that on Ignatius as ruler. Seldom have we read pages so eloquent in their almost Tacitus-like pregnant concinnity.

This concinnity, which is the most striking literary quality of the book, is also its one defect.

The reader feels all along that the author has still much more to say that would be well worth knowing, and he feels the loss, for which, the author tells us, the economic crisis is responsible.

May Pere Dudon be spared to give us a still more complete life of his Father . . . . in better days.

G. D A N D O Y , S.J.

Knowledge of Christ is useless unless such knowledge leads us to love H i m and so to live for H i m ; a vivifying charity must accompany intellectual adherence to Christian dogma. To the realisation of this I sanctification of individual lives in ' Christ the efforts of Canon Wright | in composing this book have been directed. The Bishop of Middlesbrough, in a preface to the work, strikes its keynote when he insists that this pursuit of sanctity must apply to all and be the work of every Christian.

In simple and sincere language the author portrays the amazing depths of love shown i n creation and the work of redemption. A l l we are asked to do is to love the giver of so many benefits, and knowing God we cannot but love Him. No attempt is made to conceal difficulties, but good practical advice is given.

Canon Wright wishes to restore that spirit of personal love of Our Lord so characteristic of the early centuries of the Church's history, and so he seeks to provide those (The New Review) principles which will enable the follower of Christ to give to his Creator that love which is the fulfilment of the Law.—W. Living F a i t h : The Catholic Lay- St. Benedict ( B y Abbot Carrol, man instructed in the Way of O.S.B., pp. 115, London, Burns, O. Christian Perfection: by Very Rev. & W., 1934. Price 5s.)

Canon Thomas Wright (B.O. and W. 6s.).

St. Benedict, who lived in the sixth century, came from well-to-do parents who sent him to Rome, for Saint Ignatius of,Loyola. (By Paul a liberal education. ' Seeing the ungodly lives of those about him, Dudon, S.J., Paris. Beauchesne, Benedict, though only fifteen, re1934_Price 50 fr.) solved to consecrate himself to God, and along with his old nurse The French Jesuits, who have to he fled from the city of Rome to their credit the best lives of St. the little town of Afila i n Italy.

Francis Xavier and St. Francis Here the earthen sieve borrowed Borgia, owed it to themselves and by the nurse from a neighbour the world to bring out also the accidently broke into two parts. best life of St. Ignatius Loyola. This made the nurse very unhappy.

The work under review fulfils this The saint had recourse to prayer obligation. _ —the resort of the humble and To write the life of the Founder men of faith—and the sieve beof the Society of Jesus was a task came whole without the least mark more arduous than to write that of of 'even a crack.' The report of even the greatest of his sons. For this wonder was noised abroad, Ignatius is greater than they and and Benedict was besieged by more complex. What psychologist people each asking for a special could size up the man whose face, favour. Unlike many a "sadhu" even in old age, successively blush- or sage of the present day who ed with the modesty of a child, advertise their own glory, the flared with the indignation of a humble Benedict, who knew that Spanish grandee, and flushed with all power and goodness comes from the passionate love of an ecstatic? God, took to flight again, and hid Then, the documents bearing on himself in a grotto on Mount what we may call the public life Subiaco, far away from the haunts of Ignatius were so abundant that of men. they constituted a true " embarras For three years he lived here de richesse." What biographer the austere life of a solitary, could dispense that wealth with getting at fixed periods a loaf from the discretion of an aristocrat used a monk who lived on a precipice to riches, and not with the prodi- overhanging the grotto. During gality of the "nouveau riche?" this eremitical life he was once asThe choice fell on Pere Dudon, sailed by a temptation of the flesh, already well known through illu- but he instantly threw himself into minating researches in Spanish a rose plant that grew close by and religious history. The choice has rolled himself inside it till the pain proved a happy one. The book is of the prickly cuts quenched the full of information, old and mostly flame of carnality. God's grace new. But it is throughout most triumphed, and Benedict came out readable and easy. Its opinions on victorious in this ordeal of selfcontroverted points, such as the conquest, and never did he experiorigin, possible sources and 'ins- ence such a temptation again.

The fame of his sanctity spread, piration' of the Exercises, are sober and well justified. The life and men from far and wide came of Loyola revives in its pages, to the man of God to be initiated

into the ascetic life. Thus were formed twelve monasteries, each containing twelve monks with an abbot at the head of each monastery. The saint himself lived in another monastery and presided over them all. This community life, as distinguished from the eremitical one modelled after the Saint's life when he was a solitary, lasted eight years.

In the neighbourhood of the monks lived a priest, a Judas, 'whose heart was gnawed with jealousy' at the respect shown to the saint, and to get rid of him he attempted to poison him. Failing in this .he played the devil's part by putting temptations in Benedict's path. This was too much for the man of God. With some of his disciples he left the place and installed himself on Mount Casino, which became the capital of the Benedictine family. The monastery established here was a city in itself, self-contained and selfsufficient, and the monks had not to go outside its precincts to supply their wants. It welcomed the rich and the poor, the freeman and the slave, the learned and the ignorant. Nor was it confined to the natives of Italy; men from all parts of Europe found a home in this family—the creation of St. Benedict. The Goth, the German, the Frank or the Celt, whoever went there, was taught to aim at conversion of his character, at transformation into another Jesus Christ. It is in this way that the monastery became a centre of refuge for the people all around, wherein they invariably found 'a compassionate welcome.'

11 Bolshevist Leaders Divided

The Russian Commissariat of the Interior (which has taken over the functions of the Ogpu) has ordered the banishment Zinovieif, Kameneff and- five others accused of complicity in an alleged anti-Stalinist plot.

This is in addition to the execution of at least 118 others who were said to be concerned in the death of Kirov, and indicates a deep division amchgst the Bolshevist rulers. We have seen the first cracks in the plaster.

Though it would be unwise to look for any sudden developments it is, nevertheless, clear that the " gang " is breaking up. The first fervour of the Revolution is spent, and before there are any signs of the promised "heaven on this earth/* The mills of God grind slowly, but surely there must some day come a respite for the starved and persecuted Russian people, who have suffered more since 1917 than any other nation or race in the history of the world.

There will be no peace for them until their present rulers are either converted or removed.

Jewish Doctors In Germany

The Nazi persecution of the Jews is altogether objectionable, and we have frequently protested against it. A t the same time we must be just, and recognise that it has not yet gone so far as it might have done, which gives grounds fc\r hopThe man of God preached only ing that it may cease.

Figures were published in Berlin what he had practised. His Rule was but a faithful picture of his on Monday which show that, of life; and his influence over souls 6,486 Jewish doctors in Germany can partly be understood from the before the Nazis came to power, miraculous fact that only a century 5,900 are still practising, though after his death more than 800 1,667 have been refused permisof his. sons were added to the sion to act as panel doctors, and galaxy of Saints in the Catholic have Qnly what private practise Church; and the abbeys and they can secure. priories that were modelled on the The number of doctors who emiSaint's monastery would need a grated is 578. Those still licensed dictionary to enumerate their to act as panel doctors number names; while the various Congre- 3,461, or 11.4 of the total paneL gations that have based their As would be expected, the capHal constitutions on the Rule of St. has a higher percentage of Jewish Benedict are by no means few. doctors than the rest of the counBenedict is so great, his influence try, being as high as 43 per cent. is so far-reaching, dominating the The significance of the antilives of countless souls, because he Jewish movement is not in the was humble, because he loved God number of Jews dismissed but i n above everything else. the menace for the future—unless The above is a summary of the the persecution is ended. life of the saint as ably written by Abbot Cabrol.

The volume is worth the perusal of the Catholic Italy And Abyssinia and non-Catholic.

Military preparations in Eritrea and Italian Somaliland sound omiB. A N I M A N A N D A . nous. The Fascist mood as re(The New Review) gards Africa is btfth expansive and stern. The Fascist will not, dare not, risk a mistake or a tragedy like that of Dogala.

They have made it difficult for The Abyssinians are convinced Italy to proceed to extreme meathat their territory and indepensures without further grave provodence are menaced, and are precation. We sincerely hope that paring to meet invasion.

Italy will refrain from any act of They stand no chance i f it comes war. to blows with modern Italy, and In Palestine and in the East they know it. Hence their appeal generally Italy is slowly assuming to the League, and their ctffer to the status of a Catholic Power, and make reasonable amends for the any rash act of hers in Abyssinia Ualual incidents i f wrong-doing is will adversely affect the fortunes proved. of the Church in that country, and (Contd. at foot of Col. 3) elsewhere as well.

12

Catholic Affairs from Far and Near EUROPE, Paris* The L a Sayette Prize for 1935 has been awarded to the "Institut de la Providence," the Catholic secondary school at Hue, Indochina, founded by the Paris Missionaries in 1933. This school is the first Catholic institution of its kind in Indochina.

The L a Sayette Prize (1,000 fr.)

Is given each year by the " Institut Catholique " of Paris to a religious organization which distinguishes itself i n developing French culture overseas. In 1933 the prize was awarded to the schools, of the M a rist Brothers in China, and i n 1934 to the schools of the Priests of the Sacred Heart in French Cameroons. (Fides).

Rome. The Priests of Betharram, founded in 1844 by Blessed Michael Garicoits, are celebrating the centenary of their society.

They have at present 500 members and are at work i n Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Palestine, Burma and Yunnan Province, China, besides the Diocese of B a yonne where they originated. {Fides).

ASIA. Tuticorin (South India). A p proximately 500 Catholics and some non-Christians attended the lectures on Catholic Action which were given at Tuticorin during Catholic Action Week, inaugurated December 26, by Bishop Francis T: Roche, S.J., Bishop of Tuticorin.

The lectures were given by Rev. Jerom De Souza, S.J., Headmaster and Professor of English at St. Joseph's College, Trichinopoly.

(Fides).

Mangalore (India). The Most Rev. Victor R. Fernandes, Bishop ef Mangalore, will observe the 25th anniversary of his ordination March 19; Bishop Fernandes was Born in Mangalore In 1881. (Fides) Official Opening of a Hospital by the Apostolic Delegate of India.

ERNACULAM. (India).—The Apostolic Delegate, H i s E x c . Mgr. Kierkels, C. P., archbishop of Salamina, assisted by the archbishop of Latin rite of Verapcfly, His E x c . Mgr. Attipetty; the archbishop of the Syro-malabar rite of Ernakulam, H i s E x c . Mgr. Kandathil; and the archbishop of the Malankaric rite of Tivandrum, His E x c . Mar Ivanios, solemnly opened, on December last, a hospital erected by the Malabar Catholics at Kofchamangalam, about thirty seven miles from Ernakulam.

The "Hospital of the Charity Mount," the second one built by the Malabar Catholics of the whole India, is a two-story building which actually can shelter fifty-six patients. But side-houses, once they are accommodated, will permit subsequently to receive more people.

TOKYO.—Italian Salesians, who It is the parish priest, Father Panjikaran who, twelve years ago already staff a small mission in formed the project of building this the suburbs of Tokyo, brought hospital, the trouble was to find another group of priests and the means required for his\cons- brothers to the Japanese capital truction.

The realization c\l F a - December 8 to found and direct ther Panjikaran's ambitious dream the Don Bosco Trade School. The will glow i n the religious annals printing press, the first departof Malabar with red letters if we ment installed at the new school, consider the countless benefits will be an important element in which will shower on the poor developing the Japanese Catholic population of the place. Since press. (Fides).

July 1934, when the medical work Catholic Hospital at Shanghai was started till the official openEnlarged. ing of the hospital there have been Shanghai. A new four-storey no less than 12,000 consultations building, which has been construcgiven. (Fides). ted as an extension to St. Mary's Hospital, Shanghai, was inaugurated January 5. With 300 more The Future of Catholics beds in the ne\r wing, St. Mary's in India. now has a total of 700 beds and holds first place among the large Trichinopoly (India).—The Con- hospitals of Shanghai. gress Party which, in spite of M r .

A special clinic for diseases of Gandhi's retiring, remains a power the eyes and another for childbehind the scenes, has won at the hygiene, a first aid station and a elections for the Legislative A s - general dispensary are on the sembly of Delhi a signal victory* ground floor of the new section. just as a document from London, The building is up to date i n equipthe "Joint Committee Report" ment and has large airy and well gave the programme of the new lighted wards and spacious sunConstitution. porches.

St. Mary's Hospital was founded On political grounds, many i n 1908 by Bishop Prosper Paris, Christians look at the future as rcjsy and are convinced that India S.J., Vicar Apostolic of Nanking. can^ut^obt^ain^ar larger indepeir^ T h e F a c u l t y ^ Medicine of the A u dence, towards a golden age. A rora University, the Jesuit instifriend of M r . Gandhi and his late tution of higher learning i n the associate, Mfc. George Joseph, can- Chinese metropolis, is i n charge of not help looking at the future of the medical and surgical attendChristianity in India, with un- ance at the hospital. The Daughteasiness.

His long experience ers of Charity assist the doctors gives his opinion no small weight. and supervise the nursing. There is a training school for nurses conOut of eleven provinces in India, nected with the institution.

During the past 12 months 5,869 says M r . George Joseph, four would be under Moslem and seven patients have received treatment under Hindu rule.

Moslems are in the hospital, and more than assured of getting justice from 40,000 cases have been handled at Hindus because of the presence the clinics. More than one half of of Hindu minorities scattered ab- all the beds at St. Mary's Hospital out in the Moslem provinces and are reserved for needy persons who that they would thus serve as re- are unable to pay. (Fides).

Peking. Rev. E m i l Dehus, C M . , prisals against injustice.

But Christians have not such levers 70-year-old missionary veteran of at their command to exert pres- the Vicariate of Peking has die8 sure in case of emergency and thus after 50 years of religious life. For they incur the risk of being taken 25 years he was parish priest of between two groups, a Hindu on Nantang, Peking's oldest parish. the one side and a Mussulman on During the Boxer Uprising in 1900 the other, both of which are not he nearly lost his life while leading inclined at all to share power with the defence of one of the villages.

He wrote several catechistal works minorities of any kind. in Chinese and a small handbook The ideal would be that moire for the study of the Chinese langudeputies should be admitted to the age. (Fides). assemblies. Speaking in the abstract, there should not be seats reA campaign to restore and served for minorities, and still maintain decency in Peking less, elections by religious or has been set in motion by the muracial groups; but considering the concessions—not to cafl them f a nicipal authorities of that city. A vours—which have been granted new set of ordinances, besides rethe Moslems, the Ideal seems very iterating the former regulations against public vice, condemn indehard to reach. (Fides). cent styles, immoral scenes shown at the cinema and offending illustrations in newspapers and magaYOKOHAMA (Japan).—A zines. Directors of schools will be group of Catholic social workers held responsible for the conduct of has been organised at Yokohama their pupils. (Fides).

by Father Leo Ward, English missionary priest in Japan, to establish contact with Catholic AFRICA. seamen aboard the steamships which call at that port. A similar 372,100 Catholics in South Africa. for Catholic sailors is being Cape Town. The Catholic D i developed by the "Apostolatus Maris" in approximately 200 ports rectory of South Africa for 1935, published by the Salesian Institute, in missionary lands. (Fides). :

r

Cape Town, gives statistical tables which show that Catholics in the Cape Province, Natal, Transvaal, Orange Free State, Southwest Territory, Southern Rhodesia and the native territories of Basutoland and Swaziland, now total 372,100.

A t the end of 1934 there were 270,136 negro Catholics in these regions, 29,457 Catholic mulattos and 71,405 white Catholics. There were also 1,102 Catholics of Indian origin.

We also learn from the Directory that there are now 617 priests in South Africa, 606 brothers and 3,748 sisters.

The Catholic Directory of South Africa, 1935, is an improvement on the publications in previous years. Comparison with the information of the past shows great missionary advance in the Union of South Africa and in Southern Rhodesia. The statistical tables for 1934> a new very welcome feature of this twenty-second edition of the Directory, are most encouraging, especially i n respect to the increase of native Catholics and catechumens. In the Province of the Cape of Good Hope there are now eight ecclesiastical territories, in Natal three, in the Transvaal three, in the Orange Free State one, i n South West Africa two, in Southern Rhodesia two, and one each for the Native Territories of Basutoland and Swaziland: a total of 21 ecclesiastical divisions.

Not many generations ago the Catholic missionary was forcibly excluded from parts of South Africa: his entry into Bechuanaland is quite recent, after struggle and sacrifice.

South Africa is rich in splendid Institutions for religious, educational and charitable purposes, as is evidenced by the 283 Convents, 266 schools for Europeans with 22,303 pupils, 11 Indian schools with 1,033 pupils, 120 schools for the coloured population with 13,002 pupils, and 1,045 native schools with 70,527 pupils. There are also 142 Catholic Hospitals, 59 orphanages and 69 hostels for the various sections of the Catholic population.

Every visitor to the Catholic Institutions of South Africa is impressed by their fine buildings, their modern equipment and their efficiency.

From these statistics the special difficulties of the. Catholic missionary in South Africa are manifest —the great number of Europeans in a large native population and the existence of so many coloured people: the attention of the apostle is distracted between this diversity and mixture of human elements, who socially keep aloof from another.

Yet in spite of drawbacks progress is pronounced.

(Fides).

Buluba (Uganda). Seven lepers who have undergone treatment for three years at the asylum of Nyenga under the care of the Franciscan Sisters of Holme Hall, have been discharged as cured. A t Buluba, another colony directed by Catholic missionary sisters from England, 15 natives were baptized December 15, and there are 20 others preparing for Baptism.

(Fides).

E t g t a c d y X t M

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th

The Golden C r o s s On Sunday 13th January, His Exc. Mgr. H . Valtorta, Vicar Apostolic of Hongkong, presented the golden Cross "Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice" to Messrs L u u A h Ts'oung and Chan a Hon who have to their credit long years of incessant and devoted service, the former for 50 years, at the Printing Office of Xazareth (Pokfulum), the latter at the Procure of the Paris Foreign Missions, for 54 years.

Our Lady of Fatima

Pro

Ecclesia e t Pontifice

(Continued from page 1)

, ,

The Hongkong Members of the Catholic Action and their President Mr. Choa, anxious of honouring these two faithful servants, gave, on that occasion, a tea-party which was largely attended. p

Father Chan, a Priest of the Vicariate of Hongkong is the son of M r . Chan a Hon. (From "Bulletin de la Soc. des Miss.-Etr. de Paris).

Messrs. Luu Ah Ts'oung and Chan a Hon. Recipients of The Golden Cross.

13

1935.

already a devotion practised by many members of our congregation. There have been several graces granted some of which being very important. The intercession of Our Lady of Fatima has been sensibly felt in many cases."

to obtain graces from Our Lady and that the denial of temporal blessings jnay in some cases be really a response to our prayers, when the granting of such blessings may be a danger to our faith and salvation.

When, therefore, towards the end of 1934, His Lordship the Bishop of Macao manifested his desire to have the Church provided with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, for the purpose of encouraging this rapidly spreading devotion in our parish, the Church had no difficulties whatsoever to comply with His Lordship's wish; for several clients who had obtained favours from Our Lady came forward with the necessary funds tcr put H i s Lordship's desire into immediate execution.

However some delay could not be avoided, for the statue had to be ordered from Europe and the niche designed and erected. A n d so it was only on last Sunday (February 10) that the solemn blessing of the niche and the statue could be made. The niche and the statue were artistically dejcoratecfc and lighted. The ceremony was preceded by a thanksgiving solem High Mass and followed by a treat. to the Singers Servers, etc., given by the Clients of O.L. of Fatima.

A beautiful picture with the prayers indulgenced and approved by the Archbishop of Goa and the late Bishop of Cochin was given to every person who attended the mass. In the homily F r . Dias Breton dwelt on the rapid growth of this devotion in Europe, America, Africa, India, China, etc. and said that he was proud to see this devotion firmly established in Singapore, for the chief message of Our Lady at Fatima was to urge the people to repentance and to encourage them to say their beads praying for the forgiveness of our sins and for the release of the souls in Purgatory. He also explained the necessity pf praying humbly and perseveringly in order

In the afternoon the rosary was said in honour of Our Lady of Fatima followed by benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The following is the prayer recommended

by Our Lady to be said at the end of each decade of the Rosary: " O M y Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and relieve the holy souls in Purgatory, especially those whom everyone has forgotten"!

Two

Spanish Royal Engagements

Following close on the engagement c<f Infanta Beatrice, daughter of the King of Spain, to Prince Alexander Torlonia, comes the announcement of the engagement of Don Jaime, Prince of the Asturias, to Mademoiselle Emanuela de Dampierre, daughter of Count Robert Dampierre and D$nna V i t toria Ruspoli (of the Princes of Poggio Suasa). The marriages are fixed respectively for January 14th and March 5th.

K i n g Alfonso has finally settled on a beautiful villa on Monte Parioli as his permanent residence. Prince and Princess Torlonia, as well as the Prince and Princess of the Asturias, expeet to reside in Rome.

Christian joy is a gift of God flowing from a good conscience* (St. Philip Neri).

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14

OUR QUESTION BOX The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from the corruption of the tomb on account of her ImmacuOUR QUESTION BOX. late Conception. Being conceived [Readers are kindly invited to send in without sin, she was free from all questions on religious dogmas or the consequences of sin. standards of moral conduct.

Such Mary was the most pure and the questions must be pue in good faith with most holy of all creatures because a view to obviating any dubiety or she was without the stain of adjusting any inaccuracy in pertinent original sins. matters of faith or morals. All quesSt. Joseph was sanctified by the tions must be accompanied by the redeeming grace of Our Divine names and addresses of questioners, not Saviour, but was not exempt from necessarily for publication, but as a the original stain and no proof is guarantee of good faith. The Editor available to show that he has not reserves the right to reject any question, tasted corruption after his death, which in his opinion, may appear trivial such privilege has been unrevealed or frivolous.] to us and remains the secret of God. CORRESPONDENCE.

Daily Express.

The Roman Church in England loses a leader with an infinite capacity for taking pains by the death of Cardinal Francis Bourne.

Yet Francis Bourne himself would have been the last to agree to any assertion that his own personality was fired by the spark of genius.

The greatness he achieved he won by tireless industry from boyhood; by a power of intense concentration; by tireless organising and administrative energy, and by a keen sense of judgment.

The Modern Tailoring Go. 497, North Bridge Road

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Yoorkshire Post.

He was a great welding power to the successful organisation of the TERMS MODERATE. Roman Catholic Communion, and scrupulously careful to preserve the courtesies of life i n a country P A Y U S A VISIT Question: Could you kindly enwhere men have strong partisan and lighten me about the resurrection feelings on religious questions. . . .

YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. of the body. Such resurrection His regime as Archbishop was rather repels people who have marked by exceptional administraPRESS TRIBUTES TO T H E grown tired of the present life. tive capacity, and i n all controverL A T E CARDINAL. sial questions that impinged on R.C. faith and morals he proclaimed the Answer: The body that will mind of the Church with cogency Campaign Against Indecent Films rise is not the body as we know it. The Times.

When, more than thirty years and conviction.

It will share in the qualities of the and Posters in Madras. body of our Saviour, which while ago, D r . Bourne, the youngest of the English Roman Catholic still corporal, was immune from Liverpool Post.

A vigorous campaign against the ordinary conditions of space. Bishops, was chosen for the metroA man of natural sagacity, with indecent films is being launched in politan see of Westminster,, the It will be almost on the spiritual appointment was received by his strong convictions tempered by a India and i t is noteworthy that plane. broad outlook and considerable non-Catholics have also joined to I should like " R . C . " to read the own communion with surprise and culture and a skilful organiser, give their support. words of St. Paul (Cor. 1-15. 39. with grave doubts. H e seemed to Cardinal Bourne during his long 44) " A l l flesh is not the same flesh, be a contrast to his great predeces- period of administration as A r c h A t a recent meeting of the but one is the flesh of men, an- sors. H e had not Wiseman's pro- bishop of Westminster upheld Legislative Council i n Madras a found learning, nor did he appear other of beasts, another of birds, to possess Manning's statesman- worthily the high traditions of his series of questions for the banning another of fishes." office. H e won and retained the of indecent films and posters were " A n d there are bodies celestial ship and social enthusiasm, or affection and devotion of his co- put to the Home Member who has and bodies terrestrial, but, one is Vaughan's commanding personali- religionists, not only i n London, assured that he would bring to the the glory of the celestial, and an- ty. B u t the Vatican knew their but throughout the country, and notice of the Board constituted for man, and their choice has long been other of the terrestrial." he was frequently consulted by the the purpose. abundantly justified. . . .

One is the glory of the sun, anTime has justified him, notably different Governments on matters other the glory of the moon, and in those educational controversies calling for delicate discussion and another the glory of the stars. where his foresight and wisdom negotiation.

For star differeth from the star are now widely acknowledged. A t in glory."

Cession of Tangasseri'to the Vatican his sagacious counsel, "So also the resurrection of the based on his profound knowledge Travancore. dead. It is sown i n corruption, it of the English character, will be F A R E W E L L P R E J U D I C E . shall rise in incorruption." much missed.

Great anxiety is being caused It is sown i n dishonour, it shall There are many indications of among the Catholics of Tangasseri rise i n glory. It is sown in weak- Daily Telegraph. the breaking down of prejudice a village near Quilon, on the proness it shall rise i n power. It is By the death of Cardinal Bourne against the Catholic Church and posal to hand i t over, to Tranvansown a natural body, i t shall rise not only does the Roman Catholic priests i n the South of U.S.A. core. a spiritual body."

Church in this country lose its Among the striking instances reFrom such words, we may con- chief pastor, but the nation also is ported recently here an invitation Tangasseri, the population of clude that our risen bodies will no the poorer by the passing of an from the minister and deacons of more partake of the miserable outstanding figure i n public life. a Methodist church to use that which is only 2,000 and greatly conditions of our earthly existence. . . . H i s English parentage, his structure for a Catholic mission, a adhered to Catholic faith, except one single family, has so long been love of England and the character- call to a priest to be a "part-time a British possession and never istic straightforwardness which pastor" of a coloured Protestant been a part of Tranvancore. This marked his public acts did more church, and the closing of all local proposed transfer elicited discusQuestion: Did St. Joseph Taste than anything else to win for the Protestant churches so that the Corruption After H i s Holy Death ? Roman Catholic Church i n this congregation might attend a mis- sion even in the House of ComAnswer: Father Faber writes country the position which it now sion. This course of action implies mons and in the House of Lords. about St. Joseph:â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a different attitude from that* which holds.

In a leaderette, the Madras Ca" The sweet fragrance of St. prevailed in the days when Catholic tholic Leader fears that while at Joseph in the Church, is stealing The Morning Post. priests were more hated than the present they enjoy absolute upon us unawares, perpetually i n A l l good Englishmen, without devil and more feared than poison. religious freedom and are not subcreasing and especially filling with distinction of creed, will mourn The opening wedge has been made, itself all the shades of Nazareth, the death of the Cardinal Arch- and it is the part of Catholic Action jected to any restrictions in regard Bethlehem and Egypt, but not bishop of Westminster. That he to continue the work. The follow- to the erection of churches and reaching to the bare heights of was a good priest, a faithful ser- ing incident is contained i n the opening of cemeteries, they will have to obtain previous sanction Calvary. vant of God, there are those of his report of the Most Rev. Thomas J .

Who can doubt but that H i s Church who will testify. A s a lay Toolen, Bishop of Mobile: " A few of the government under the dear and chosen foster-father's newspaper we may speak with less months ago a mission was held i n Tranvancore administration for sanctification was one of Our presumption of his service to the Grenville i n Central Alabama. It such purpose, and more often than Lord's occupations i n H i s mother's nation. . . . was announced in all Protestant not such permission is denied, as bosom? Of all sanctities i n the churches. The ministers told their experience during nearly the last church, St. Joseph's is that which * We do not remember that he congregations their churches would two decades has clearly shown. lies deepest down, and is the hard- ever once gave any just cause of be closed during the week and all It is understood that memorials est to see distinctly. We feel how offence to his fellow-subjects of should attend the Catholiic church. protesting such transfer, have been immense it must have been. In other creeds. His Christianity, al- The Protestant choirs combined to the soul of St. Joseph, the work of though faithful always to his sing the hymns and Benediction; submitted to H i s Excellency the Our Lord has been eminently one Church, was of that generous and a most successful mission was Viceroy and the Governor-General of sanctification through redeem- order which embraced humanity. carried on. There are only about of India who, it is fervently hoped, ing grace unless indeed the un- In every good cause Francis Bourne twenty Catholics i n Grenville, a will give careful consideration to revealed privilege of the Immacu- played a worthy part, and the town of perhaps five thousand the just claims of this small but unnegligible community of Calate Conception had been accorded whole nation will mourn the heavy people. tholics.

The Ave Maria. loss. to St. Joseph."

t c m t c m t E m s ? i

m e p t r R m t w

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC

LEADER, SATURDAY,

FEBRUARY

16th 1935.

Board of Education and Catholic Schools in England

15

m

P.

I Attitude Explained and Defended " The Education Act, 1921, prescribes a formal procedure to be observed by those who wish to! provide a new public elementary school. " I n the first place, the promoters, whether a local Education Authority or a denominational body, who propose to provide such a school must give public notice of their proposal, and managers of existing schools, the local Education Authority, and ratepayers may appeal to the Board of Education against it on the ground that the proposed school is not required or that a school provided by tEe Local Education Authority or not so provided as the case may be, is better suited to meet the wants of the district concerned than the school proposed; and the Board of Education have to decide whether the proposed school should be allowed or not. " In determining whether a proposed new school should be allowed, the Board of Education are required by statute to have regard to three considerations: (i) The interest of secular instruction; (ii) the wishes of parents- as to the education of their children; and (iii) the economy of the rates. " In regard 'to the interest ^of secular instruction, the Board cannot overlook -the fact that a school which is proposed to meet the wishes of a particular section of the community may be so small as to be subject to serious educational disadvantages or tof be very costly to maintain. For instance, i f a body of persons proposes to provide a new school for eighty children of all ages from five to fourteen, a school of such a size would be normally staffed by three teachers, and this would mean that the eighty children would be divided into three groups, each of which would have to include children of an age range spreading over three years. Even so, the classes would be small, and consequently the school would be proportionately expensive.

"If, in addition to these disad*vantages, the proposal to provide such a school had to meet the further objection that all the eighty children concerned could be accommodated in existing schools, where they could be better classified according to their ages and attainments, without involving any additional expenditure by the Local Education Authority upon the maintenance of those existing schools, it will be seen that the ?ase against allowing such a school is very strong. " A further consideration which must be borne in m i n d is that the educational policy of all political parties in the matter of elementary education is to implement the recommendations of the Hadow Report. Amongst those recommendations the cardinal point is that from the age of eleven upwards the children, after the com-

IFMTAfflFORD

f

I

fill RUFLaTBH

pletion of their primary education Roman Catholics secure a conin junior schools, should be moved siderable amount of publicity. ill to senior schools where they should " Little, if any, i>ptice is taken be given post-primary education of the very much larger number under conditions which will put of cases in which the Board's dean end to the marking-time of the cision has been either completely favourable to the Roman Catholics old all-age schools.

Young ladies who must " These new senior schools, in or has at any rate given them economize and yet maintain part of that which they wished. order to be effective, require traditionally high stanlarls " I n the list of new Roman special provision for practical and of goods w i l l welcome the craft work, and also have to be Catholic schools allowed in recent Economy S h o p " . . . a renstaffed more liberally than junior years, it is true that there are a dezvouz for shrewd shoppers large number of junior schools.

It schools. Moreover, in order that ...where exquisitely fashionthese schools may realize their aim is necessary to point out that in ed hats of fine quality may all but a very few cases the limifully, the children attending them 'be had from must be classified according to t a t i o n of these schools to juniors was .not imposed by the Board of their different attainment and abi$ 3 1 2 up lities much more discriminatingly Education but by the Roman Catholics themselves, who did not Also dresses [from* $ 5 than in the all-age schools. " Consequently, the new senior wish, or found themselves unable schools should be schools of a to provide, anything but junior substantial size. Indeed, the best schools. " The number of cases in which, size for such schools is from 360 to 480 children. A s compared with on grounds of educational efficiency what is possible in a large senior and finance, the Board have felt a new school for four hundred school of 480 children, a school or obliged to limit a Roman Catholic Roman Catholic children. SThe division for 120 senior children is proposal for a new all-age school L . E . A . appealed against this prounder obvious and very great dis- to a school for junior children is posal. small. In all such cases provision "Had the Roman Catholics advantages. for the older Roman Catholic chil- made their proposal before the dren in reorganised schools has L . E . A . were committed to the proParish Organisation Blamed. " It will be seen, therefore ,that been available, and the withdrawal vision of the 1,800 new places reproposals for new schools have to of the older Roman Catholic chil- ferred to above, it would have been face very serious educational ob- dren from those schools would not possible for the Board to entertain jections, unless the numbers of only have enabled any reduc- the Roman Catholic proposal, but children are substantial. Where tion to be made in the cost of the in the actual circumstances, when the numbers are small and can be maintenance of those schools, but the L . E . A . were already committed accommodated in schools where would also have imposed on the to the very considerable expense they can be combined with a con- Local Education Authorities a dis- of providing for the children in siderable number of other children proportionate additional burden in their new schools, the Board did of the same ae-e, it is clear that the provision for them in the new not consider that they could prothey could be classified with much Roman Catholic school, where the perly do so. ereater discrimination if so com- children, moreover, would not have Recent Decisions Pro And Con. bined than is possible i f thev are been able to receive secular in" But it must not be inferred placed in a separate institution by struction of the same degree of from this case that where there is themselves; and, moreover, the efficiency.

The Goldthoree Case. accommodation in existing schools cost of the better educational ar" One recent case- which has for Roman Catholic children the rangements is in the great majority of cases small in comparison been receiving a good deal of notice Roman Catholics cannot hope to with that of the maintenance of is that at Bolton-upon-Dearne, have a school of their own. provision for them in a separate Goldthorpe, in the West Riding of " In the case of the proposed Yorkshire. school.

Roman Catholic school for 450 " T h i s district during the last children at Copenhagen Street, " T h e Board are fully aware of the handicap under which the ten years developed rapidly, and Islington, the Board have given a Roman Catholic communities are during that time the L . E . A . pro- favourable decision, although all placed owing to the sparseness of vided a number of temporary those 450 children are in fact amptheir distribution, but by adherence buildings to provide for the rapid- ly provided for in existing schools. " Since April, 1932, the Board of to their parish organisation the ly increasing number of schoolRoman Catholics themselves in- children. About two years ago, Education have had to give decrease this handicap. Not infre- when it became clear that the cisions upon 103 proposals of quently, where with co-operation development of the district had Roman Catholics for the provision between two or more neighbouring reached its peak, the L . E . A . gave of new schools, either by the enRoman Catholic parishes it would public notice of their intention to largement of existing schools or be possible by the concentration of replace the very large amount of the erection of entirely new all the children in one school, to temporary accommodation which schools. Of these 103 proposals. provide a school of a larger size, was then in use by new permanent 50 were for the enlargement of the Roman Catholics, owing to buildings providing some 1,800 existing schools and all but one their parish organisation, make no places and completing the school of these have been allowed. The such proposal, but ask for separate provision for all the children of remaining 53 were for the provismall schools, one foreach parish. the district. N o objections were sion of entirely new schools, and It is difficult to admit the neces- made against the L . E . A / s pro- of these 36 were allowed as asked the promoters—13 all-age sity of increasing the number of posals, by the Roman Catholics or by small and relatively inefficient and anybody else, and after careful schools, B junior schools and 5 expensive schools on such a basis. examination the Board came to the senior schools. In another 5 cases conclusion that the provision of of proposals for all-age schools. 4 this new permanent accommodation were allowed for juniors only and No Right To A School! one for seniors only. In 12 other " T h e Board have been accused was necessary.

"Plans for the new schools in cases—8 all-age schools and 4 of depriving Roman Catholics of their 'right'to new schools. Neither question were approved, and the junior schools—the proposals were the Roman Catholics nor any L . E . A . entered into contracts for disallowed altogether on grounds educational efficiency and other body have a legal right to a the building and the erection of of . school. Particular cases in which the buildmgs was commenced. finance." the Board have been obliged to Then the Roman Catholics gave Catholic Times. give decisions adverse to the notice of their intention to provide 44

0

0

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th 1935.

16

AROUND

THE

PARISHES

The Very Rev. F r . M . A . Car- the charge of Rev. F r . Moses K o h , doso, the Vicar-General of the Acting-Parish Priest for Rev. F r .

Portuguese Mission, and Rev. F r . E . Becheras who is on leave in HIS L O R D S H I P C E L E B R A T E S A da Silva Rego, the Vicar of St. France. Rev. F r . M . Koh, besides Joseph's Church, arrived here by being the Vicar of the Church of CHINESE N E W YEAR A T the Dempo on {February 12th. the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin SS. P E T E R A N D P A U L .

Several of the parishioners and Mary, Upper Serangoon, is also the friends were present at the wharf Supervisor for two other schools in The Church of Ss. Peter and to give them a hearty welcome. the same district, all aided by Paul celebrated Chinese New Year Rev. F r . M . X . Fernandes, the Act- Government, the Holy Innocents with Benediction on New Year ing Superior and Vicar of the Chinese Boys School and the Holy Eve, and Pontifical High Mass on Portuguese parish i n Malacca, was Innocents Chinese Girls School.

New Year Day. His Lordship the also in Singapore to receive the The two latter schools reopened a Rt. Rev. M g r . Adrien Devals, priests. He remained in Singa- week earlier.

Bishop of Malacca, eery kindly offi- pore for a few days more.

The Headmaster of the Holy Inciated at the Mass, which began at nocents English School is Mr. P. A .

8 a.m. followed by Benediction conB'Costa, a very able man and is cluding eventually towards 9.45 a.m. His Lordship was assisted by Jubilee Mission Novena, Singapore. very popular with the people, and he has nine assistants under him.

Rev. Fathers N . Deredec and The Chinese Boys School is The Jubilee Mission in the Verbois.

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, under M r . K u a Sim Yc*ng, a The Church was lavishly deco- Singapore, was preached by Rev. Catholic graduate from Peking rated for the occasion. The altar Fr. F . M . Bulliard (who has been University and there are 3 other similar missions assistants. was smothered with flowers. preaching Long before 8 a.m. the Church was throughout Malaya) and was well The Girls School is under the attended by the parishioners. The supervision of Rev. Mother St. packed to full capacity. various sermons were very much Francis Xavier with 5 assistants.

Musical Selections were render- appreciated by the congregation The number of students on roll ed by the Catholic Young Men's and a small purse was given to the in the three schools totals 600.

Association beginning with an Rev. Father irt token of appreciaOverture, and at the various parts tion and gratitude.

The Mission closed on Monday of the Mass—the Offertory, the Elevation and Communion, ending the 11th. instant (Feast of Our ST. J O S E P H ' S O L D B O Y S ' Lady of Lourdes) at 7 p.m. with with a March after Benediction.

Sermon and Benediction.

ASSOCIATION. The novena however continued In*mediately after the BenedicNOTICE. tion the Parochial House was be- with High Mass at 7 a.m. and Besieged with well-wishers. H i s nediction at 7 p.m. daily and will Following the Annual General Lordship kindly received them and end on Sunday 17th February with Meeting at St. Patrick's School, on blessed them—one and all—with Procession and Benediction com- Sunday, 24th February, a picnic the Season's Greetings. He hail- mencing at 7.30 p.m. will be held at the Straits Settleed the choir on their approach and ments Volunteer Force Camp, congratulated them on their singSiglap, by kind permission of the SERANGOON, SINGAPORE. ing and music.

Commandant. Free Tiffin and reThe Holy Innocents English freshments will be provided. A n The Parishioners looked in vain School a Government Aided School, omnibus will leave St. Joseph's for their Pastor, Rev. F r . Lee, i n at 7ife mile, i n Upper Serangoon, Institution at 9.30 a.m. to convey order to extend their hearty reopened for the New Year on the members requiring transport to wishes to him, but he was at St. 22nd. January 1935, and is under the meeting. This service is free.

Teresa's Church for the New Year 'Mass, where there was also a large attendance. After Mass Rev. F r .

Lee received the Congregation and wished them all a ' H A P P Y N E W YEAR/

SINGAPORE

To assist the Committee to make the necessary arrangements, members are kindly asked to return the enclosed card by the 20th instant.

T. WILFRED PRINS, Honorary Secretary.

Note:—Owing to lack of space, the annual report of St. Joseph's Old Boys' Association is held over for publication in our next issue.—[Ed: M.C.L.].

d M t A h t f d o C

'His Excellency Monsignor Gerlier, Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes.

St. Joseph's Church, Singapore (Portuguese Mission).

Annual of the St. Joseph's Church, 1934 and Calendar for 1935.

This is the fourth of its kind that is issued by the Portuguese Mission and distributed free "for the use of the parishioners of St. Joseph's Church, Singapore, and St. PteterV Church, Malacca." It consists of 86 pages and contains much reading matter calculated to foster more sincere and intensive Christian Efe among the parishioners. The names of the missionaries working in their restricted province are given as well as of the Members of the Board of Administration, Wardens.

Choir Singers and of the Altar Boys (Servers).

From it we learn that during the ,year 1934 there were Recorded in St. Joseph's Church register 15 marriages, 43 deaths, and 95 baptisms of which & were of grown-ups including one of 42 years of age. The compiler is Rev. Fr. J . Dias Bretao, the acting Vicar of St. Joseph's.

T w l m a h a a a f c o o h m C N s A f A k i t h f C T B C m c w m J

1 R 1 th v g w p

Photo taken during the visit to Balik Pulau Convent of the Rev- Mothers St. Berthe Asst. Superior General, St. Tarcicius and St. Dominique from Japan.

S o F o te n ti la

e e .

ry.

17

Around the Parishes BIRTHS. Seremban.

Danker—On the 31st January 1935 to M r . and Mrs. Johnston Danker of the Electrical Department Seremban, a son. Both mother and child are doing well.

d r

OBITUARY.

DOYEN O F E U R A S I A N COMMUNITY PASSES A W A Y .

Death of M r . J . D . Scully, J.P. Founder of Penang Eurasian Association and Penang Recreation Club.

We regretfully announce the death of M r . J . D. Scully, J.P., on Monday, 11th February at noon at the residence of his son, 52 Peel Avenue. The late M r . J . D. Scully had been in failing health for some time and was confined to the house for about two months. B y his death, Penang has lost one of its oldest residents, and the Eurasian Community one of its champions.

President and members of the Catholic Action Societies of the parishes of the Assumption and of the Immaculate Conception were prominent amongst the visitors.

Prayers were recited on the eve of his death and on the night of his demise, there was present a large gathering for prayers, which were led by the President of the Catholic Action Society of the Immaculate Conception and M r . W. Williams of the same Society.

Impressive Funeral.

Several hundreds paid their last respects to the late M r . Scully and the numerous wreaths and messages testified to his popularity, and esteem in which he was held.

The Rev. Father Souhait of the Church of the Assumption conducted the service at the chapel and at the graveside.

He leaves behind a son, M r . W .

K . Scully of the Penang Harbour Board a daughter Mrs. Leicester of Singapore, six-grand-children, one great-grand-child and several other relatives to mourn his loss.

A Day at the College General, Pulo Tikus, Penang.

The College General of Pulo Champion of the Community. Tikus is the centre of training for The older residents of Penang young men to the Priesthood, would remember him well as a fear- which is the noblest calling on less and outspoken critic on all Earth, considering the fact, that a matters concerning the public weal, priest alone has the power to forand in pairticular the interests of give sins and offer the sacrifice of his community. Of a kind and the Holy Mass for the Living and affable nature, and a forceful and the Dead. able speaker, sound i n debate and This College belongs to the able to hold his own on any plat form, he counted friends i n all Mission Etrangere, and is now communities. There was no social known universally as the French or public function or any charity Foreign Mission, and is founded organisations in which he did not more than 100 years ago. Although have a hand. He was the Chair- it has been i n existence so long, man of the Meeting of the Eurasian yet, it is but lightly known to the Community at the Parish Hall on tens of thousands of Catholics November 1st, 1919, when he throughout Malaya, and it is with stressed the necessity of having an the hope that it may be more wideAssociation. He was elected the ly known throughout Malaya and first President of the Eurasian the F a r East that this short but Association at that meeting. A first article is being contributed. keen sportsman, he was interested The College is situated i n Pulo in all sporting activities of the Tikus about 3 miles from George town, and the interest he took i n Town.

It is in Penang Island ithis community resulted in the self and i t must not be confused founding of the Penang Recreation Club, and was their first President. with the island of Pulo Tikus, The Eurasian Association, Penang which lies between Penang and the Branch and the Penang Recreation mainland.

The building, is large and conClub will ever remain as monuments to his zeal and efforts i n the sists of 3 blocks of 2 storeys like cause of his community. His good the 3 sides of a rectangle, and the work was recognized by Govern- front of the College faces Kelawei way leading to ment in 1930, when was elected a Road,—the Penang's most scenic and beautiful Justice of the Peace.

Golden Wedding in 1931. In beach, Tanjong Bungah. A t the 1881, he married Miss Henrietta rear is the sea-shore with the Rose Ash, who predeceased! him i n mainland opposite.

On entering the College ground, 1933. The late Mr. Scully enjoyed the distinction of being one of the one is favourably impressed by the very few to have celebrated his presence of many coconut trees golden wedding, which was jn 19SI, and a well-known lawn with many when a brilliant gathering was croten-plants which render the present at the reception. place a very pleasant sight.

Catholic Spirit. The late M r . Reaching the College, the visitor Scully took a turn for the worst is ushered into the parlour, where on Sunday at 2 p.m., when the Rev. at once, he notes the absence of Father Souhait was immediately wordly noise and realises that he on the scene, and administered the is treading on Holy Ground—for it test Sacraments. A s soon as the is a place which harbours the news filtered through town, rela- young priests of Our Lady and tives and friends called to pay their thus it's a place of sanctity and last visit before the end. The dignity, demanding his respect.

Soon Father Superior appears and after a few words of salutation, a tour of inspection may be conducted to the Chapel, Refectory,, the Study Halls and classes, Oratory, play-hall and play-ground with its gigantic trees, under which the students have their recreation in football, basketball and badminton.

to the Bible, Church History and Gregorian Chant.

Our Lady's young priests, (a term used by the Late Rev. E .

Leicester of Stella Maris for his seminarists, young men in College) get up at 5.30 a.m., and when the bell rings at 5.45 a.m., all are ready in the Oratory to say the Morning Prayers, followed by Meditation.

After Angelus at 6.15 a.m. all It is under the able charge of march to the chapel for the comthe Very Rev. M . Rouhan as the munity Mass. Breakfast is at 7 Superior and he is assisted by 6 a.m.

They have their studies Directors, all highly learned and from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m., with breaks holy men. for recreation and tiffin. In the evening a visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament and a Spiritual ConferThe students come from all ence terminate the programme for parts of the East.

They are the day. Then comes supper at usually Malayans, Burmese, 6.30 p.m. To show that it does Siamese, Chinese, Annamites and not forget its devotion to the Indians. Before these candidates Blessed Virgin Mary the comare admitted into the College, they munity recite a Rosary at 8 p.m., have to undergo their preliminary after which night Prayers are said course of Latin and science in and the Points for Meditation for their own junior seminaries. the next day are then proposed by Special mention may be made here the Father Superior, followed by regarding the Malayan students. all reciting "Sub Tuum", and then They have to take a course of every one departs in perfect elementary and classic Latin in St. silence to his own quarters to preXavier's Seminary, Serangoon, pare for rest. A s soon as the Singapore before they can actually clock strikes 9, all lights are off pass to the General College in and then all go to sleep—to dream Penang to further their studies, dreams and to regain strength for which course lasts for 3 years. the morrow's work.

The students i n Penang have to put 6 solid years of hard-work beThis is how a day in the College fore they can be ordained priests. is spent—a day, full of work for The first two years are spent in the sanctification and, salvation of studying Philosophy, Bible, Church all who devote their lives for the History, Liturgy, Plain-chant, and glory of the Almighty. Let us not Science. The remaining four are forget to breathe an " A v e " for for Theology (dogmatic, moral and these generous young men who pastoral), Canon-Law, Explanation give their all to Jesus!

AlS INTERIOR

VIEW

OF THE CHURCH OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES, SINGAPORE. (Photo by Paul d Co.)

18

The Eurasian Association PENANG

BRANCH

(Continued from page 9) wish to place on record their appreciation and gratitude to the Chief Medical Officer, and to the Deputy Medical Officer in charge of the Camp for the facilities provided to make the visit and for the splendid care and attention bestowed on the inmates.

(e) Dinner in honour of Mr. S. T. Stewart.—Mr. S. T. Stewart, the eldest son of Mr. C. C. Stewart, Office Assistant to the , Resident Councillor, and Vice-President of this Association, was entertained to Dinner by the Association on 27th September, 1934. Mr. S. T. (d) Communal Paper.—" T H E Stewart is one of the first two to E U R A S I A N R E V I E W " made its be selected for appointments in the debut in July 1934, and it has been Straits Settlements Civil Service. acclaimed from all quarters to be Dr. J . E . Smith, presided at this a step in the right direction. Dr. large gathering.

Noel Clarke, the accredited leader of the community in the Colony iii his message, says:— CORRECTIONS. " The publication of the E U R A S I A N R E V I E W " as a comIt was incorrectly reported in a munity paper for Eurasians only is a step in the right direction hack number of the M . C . L . that the in that i t means progress. Op- Seremban Convent is planning to portunity will be given to one have classes in Chinese after reand all to discuss and ventilate gular school hours. We are defi'the aspirations and policy of the nitely informed that these classes community. will be held during the school hours that Chinese will form part of and It is an endeavour that must be encouraged and supported, the Curriculum and will be an among the second and I most sincerely wish the optional taught. languages paper the best of luck and continued success."

Your Committees take this opportunity to tender its grateful thanks to the Eurasian Associations of Singapore, Selangor and Negri Sembilan and M r . W . J . B .

Ashby of Ipoh for their valuable assistance and co-operation, and to the Eurasian community of Malacca through M r . H . M . deSouza, for their splendid communal spirit and generous gift.

Your Committee desire to place on record their deep appreciation and gratitude to D r . H . Phipps and his colleagues for the valuable services they have rendered, and are rendering to the community, services which entail much work, time and energy.

It was incorrectly reported in our last issue, in a marriage notice that Miss: Lucy L i m is the daughter of the late M r . and Mrs. Lim Tai Bak. It should however read Miss: Lucy L i m Quee Noi, daughter of Madam Sih Ger Keow and Mr. Paul Chong Soon Mong, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chong Teck Fah.

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Municipal Council.

and uphold the prestige of the comDr. J . E . Smith continues to re- munity. In congratulating Capt. present the community on the W. F . Findlay, for the high Your Committee feel that every Council. standard of efficiency of the Commember of the community in Eurasian Coy., (P. & P.W.V. C.) pany under his charge, your ComPenang should consider it his duty mittee desire to express their Your Committee appeal to the appreciation and pride in the outto become a subscriber to the only vehicle of Eurasian news and opi- community to enrol, and maintain standing achievements of the Comthe splendid record of the corps pany at the recent Command Rifle nion in Malaya.

Meeting.

Rememberance Day. A Wreath of Poppies was placed by the President at the Cenotaph in the name of th#< Eurasian A s sociation on Armistice Day. Penang Recreation Club.

In thanking the Penang Recreation Club for the use of their rooms for their Committee Meetings, your Committee welcome this opportunity to congratulate the Club in annexing the coveted P . F . A . trophy for the first time and thereby enriched the pages of Local Eurasian history.

H. C. deWIND, Hon. Secretary.

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CHINESE RETURNS

BENEDICTINE TO CHINA.

Dom Thaddeus Yong A n Yuen, who was converted while studying at the University of Louvain and entered the Abbey of Lophem, Belgium, has sailed for China, where he will be attached to the monastery of Si Shan, Szechwan Province. Dom Thaddeus was ordained to the priesthood in 1932, the first Chinese to be received into the Order of St. Benedict. He is accompanying the Very Rev. Dom Neve, Abbot of St. Andrew's Abbey, Lophem, who will visit the monastery of Si Shan, a branch foundation of St. Andrew's.

China.—Rev. F r . L u Tseng Tsiang, formerly China's Prime Minister, who is now a Benedictine monk in Belgium, baptized lately his former Minister—for Foreign Affairs, M r . L i u Fu Tcheng, who is the Chinese Government representative at the board of the Franco-Chinese Bank.

(Lectures.)

M A L A Y A CATHOLIC LEADER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY (Contd. from page 2)

•It is then that most of the miracles are worked, isn't it, Mummie ?"

'Then, or at the Grotto or during Mass."

"I feel as if there will be one tomorrow."

"While we are here, anyhow, Bonnie.

I am sure Our Lady von't forget."

John went out miserably. The child-like belief of these two, doomed, he thought, to inevitable disappointment, was tragically pitiable. He stood by the "Vierge Couronnee," looking across the great place to the three tiers of churches. Vaguely he remembered Huysman's vicious description of the Rosary church as a glass circus or an underground station. His critical eye swept up past the Crypt to the soaring Basilica and, much as he disliked modern Gothic, he had to admit that the designer of that mighty pile of churches and the vast semi-circle of the Rampe, rising on open arches from the river, had a true French sense of right setting for drama and pageantry.

Already some of the sick were being laid on their stretchers in a long rows down each side of the Place and being pushed round from the Piscines in the funny little hooded chairs, in preparation for the procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessing of the Sick. John could not help seeing them as he passed. Blind, deaf, crippled, paralysed, some deformed almost out of likeness to human beings, one madman struggling with the tired, sweating brancardiers, worst of all, imbeciles with blank gaze and dribbling mouths.

He stood breathless at the top of the steps to the Basilica, sick with horror and pity. Could any reasonable being, he said to himself, believe in a good God who could see His handiwork so marred, broken and tortured?

He leant on the parapet which locks down on the Gave. Seen fro behind the railings like a caged beast.

His great voice and the JUST THE

BOOKS

from above the dense mass of people round the Piscines swayed like a field of corn swept by the wind.

The abbe who was ending the prayers for the sick paced to and fro behind the railings like a caged beast. His great voice and the answering roar from the crowd came up clearly through the still, hot air.

"Seigneur, faites que je voie, Seigneur, faites que j'entende!

Seigneur dites seulement une parole et je serais gueri!"

John plunged down the path along the hillside above the Gave, —anywhere to escape from these pitiful, pain-wracked, but patient human wrecks from that eternal refrain which never seemed to cease day or night: "Ave, ave, ave Maria!" It was like the endless beating of a drum, the continuous throb of a live heart.

All night as he lay awake the darkness was full of it, till he did not know if it were an exterior sound or the pulsing of his own blood. When the first grey light stole through his window he heard footsteps in the hotel corridor and, among them, recognized Madeleine's. With the sixth sense of a lover he would have known it among a thousand. He loved her.

He remembered the queer look in her husband's eyes and wondered if he knew. It was no use to worry about the future. At the moment Ronnie was all that mattered: Could the boy stand any more fatigue, still more the coming disappointment? He wished that he had not promised to do the Stations of the Cross with him this mornning. He envied Ronnie, Madeleine, all these people with their trust and belief, childlike, unquestioning.

For the first time he recognized his own incapacity to believe, not as a mental superiority, but as a spiritual want, which made him unresponsive to the supernatural as the blind cannot perceive colour nor form, nor the deaf the loveliness of harmony.

Seigneur, faites que j'entende!"

que je voie,

The words seemed to echo with terrible sarcasm. He felt that he could not much longer endure this atmosphere, this force which

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16th

1935.

pressed unbearably on mind arid spirit, as in the depths of the sea the weight of water crushes the naked body of the pearl-fisher till head and heart and lungs are bursting.

He picked up Ronnie in his arms as the rocky path became too steep for the wheeled chair.

Ronnie laid a burning cheek against his and whispered: "I am going to pray hard for you, dear John."

"For

me?

Why?"

"That you may see and hear the Truth."

The boy's eyes closed and his lips began to move. It was odd that he should have said that.

John looked up startled. For a moment he almost fancied that his daydream in the castle had materialized. High above him the unconquered Roman standard and the fasces were sharp against the dazzling sky. By them stood a legionary, his clear-cut profile weary with the haughtiness of an imperial race, and beside him, in the judgment seat was Pilate, weary, too, but questioning. " W h a t is truth?' And, when he had said this, he went out."

What of those who, having seen Incarnate Truth face to face, went out from it?

Mass was being said at the stone altar below the Twelfth Station.

John settled Ronnie comfortably, propped against a rock and wrapped warmly in a rug, then he knelt beside him. Unable to follow the unfamiliar words and actions, his attention wandered to those who knelt round him on the sharp stones, with the hot sun beating down on them. English, Irish, French, Belgians, Germans, Basques, Italians, Spaniards, Americans, — horizon-blue, khaki and field-grey uniforms, Paris hats, starched, conical or lacey butterfly Breton caps, the ubiquitous beret. . . . He was a child again iiTthe little Norman church, the sound of the sea accompanying his father's reading of the lesson about "every nation and kindred and people" before the Lamb on the heavenly mountain. Yet he was still keenly aware of the present and outward things. The silver leaves of the trees behind the towering Crucifix danced against the sky.

A path wound through the grey scrub in the valley below, away to the mountains whose rocks glowed a warm purple in the sunshine, while theshadows on the snow were a clear cobalt. The sound of blasting was echoed from peak to peak, like a pelota ball flung from hand to hand. The voice of the priest was almost lost in the singing of the birds, the bleat of a kid, the rush of the Gave, the throb of: "Ave, ave!"

19 the darkness like a snake of fire and swept down in a wide river of flame, while above it the Basilica soared, a fairy palace of light, into the million stars. He went round under the arches to pay his first visit to the Grotto.

The still, keen air was filled with the murmur of prayer, a murmur as ceaseless as that of the river which surged by, flooded by melting snow. High above the dark mass of kneeling figures, above the forest of yellow candle flames, gold Snd ivory against the blackness of the rock, stood the Mother 6t God, while the tide of prayer rose about her feet.

"Notre Dame de Lourdes, Salut des infirmes, priez pour nous!"

The very air was prayer. It was breath and sight and sound, life itself, the interpenetration a*xl transfiguration of matter by spirit, of the natural by the supernatural, earth caught up to heaven, man no longer seeking himself but seeking only to lose himself in God. The revelation which had come to John at the Elevation that morning, sudden and blinding as the vision of Saul on the road to Damascus, was now made clearer.

Here, he saw, was the secret of the spiritual life,—love which is emptied of self to be filled with God. He saw, too, that on earth true love is as inseparable from sacrifice as substance is from shadow, that over all pure human love lies the shadow of the Cross.

He saw that, because his love for Madeleine was the greatest thing in the world for him, he must leave her and see her face no more,—however cruelly his going must wound Ronnie.

He knelt and prayed with a passion of which he had not believed himself capable. He would storm heaven, bend it to his will. Ronnie cured, his own going would be so little a thing. Impossible that the Mother of Sorrows should look unmoved on Madeleine's sorrowful heart, should withhold the miracle of healing from Ronnie's burning faith.

For a whole hour, on their last afternoon at Lourdes, the three watched the procession of men and boys go by, walking four abreast with lighted candles in their hands, while the sun beat down mercilessly on the long rows of sick and the dust swept over them like clouds of white smoke. A t last the thunder of "Lauda Sion!" was silenced and the standing figures sank to their knees.

As the priest carrying the Monstrance stooped to bless Ronnie with it John felt that the whole world,—like Madeleine and himself,—held its breath waiting for the miracle to happen, for the boy tc spring to his feet. The priest had gone slowly up the steps and disappeared into the dimness of the Rosary church before John dared to lift his face from his hands. The tears were pouring down Madelenie's cheeks and he heard her broken whisper: "No miracle after a l l ! "

Vivid as were all these things John had a queer feeling that they were only a painted curtain ready to roll up and reveal the divine Drama beyond sense. The sacred bell tinkled and, with the rest, he bowed his head.

Ronnie heard it too. He slipped a hand into hers and smiled at John.

That evening he slipped out alone to watch the "flambeaux" procession. It wound up through

"Oh yes, Mummie, there has been a miracle, hasn't there, John?"

OFFICIAL

ORGAN

OF

PUBLISHED

CATHOLIC

ACTION

WEEKLY.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY

16th

1935.

The above is a photo of Rochester Cathedral, Kent, where Blessed John Fisher, ruled as Bishop of Rochester. It will be recalled that Blessed John Fisher and Blessed Thomas More, Martyrs in the same cause are to be canonized in the near future by His Holiness the Pope.

In this connection mention has to be made of a Reuters message which says that the two English Martyrs have been Canonized. We understand from other sources that the ceremony spoken of in the message is merely a preamble to the solemn and sacred process of canonization which is likely to take place sometime later.

Published by Rev. Fr. Cardon and Printed by Lithographers Limited, 37/38, Wallich Street, Singapore, S.S.