The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-03 00:00:00

THE CONGRESS AT MALINES.

(FROM OUR SPEMAL CORRESPONDENT).
Th 3 Congress is daily receiving new accessions
of foreigners. I observed yesterday, as well in
the groups in our court-yard conversazioni as in the
sections, several additions to our British members.
The work of the sections continues still, and we
are informed that an interesting discussion will
take place this morning, in the first section, on
the St. Peter's pence organisation, which is admi-
rably carried on in Belgium. His Eminence the
Cardinal Sterks of Malines, accompanied by the
bishops, among whom was the Bishop of Orleans,
visited the several sections yesterday morning,
Herr Augustus Reichensperger delighted anew the
fourth section, or section of fine arts, with his
masterly observations. He speaks French very
well, but with a marked German accent, which he
made the pretext fer refusing to be the reporter of
the section, wittily saying that his French had a
Gothic character. After the meeting of the sec-
tions, which ended at 12 as before, the interval
until three was filled up with the usual group•
gathering, in which I made the acquaintance of the
editor of, a Spanish journal, besides that of two
Irish, clergymen, who had arrived on that day to
tate part in the Congress.
The general meeting at three began, as usual, with
several announcements on the part of M. Deeps-
tiaux, among which was that an additional hone.
rary vice-president had been added to the commit-
tee in the person of Senor Man de Costa, from
Brazil. The cardinal and prelates then entered the
hall. The chair was taken by the Baron Dellafaille.
The first speaker was the Vicomte Anatole Lemer-
cier, a well known member of the French Legislae
tare, whom the arts of Persigny managed to prevent
from being again returned to the Chambers at the
last elections, on account of his independent religi-
ous feeling. The vicomte is also well known for
the zeal he displayed in the organisation of the
royal army in 1860, and it was the committee which
he presided over in Paris that provided so atten-
tively for the return home of the Irish Papal Bri-
gade. The hearty manner in which his appearance
at the rostrum was greeted, led him to thank the
assembly for its sympathy for the conquered of
May 30th, 1863, just as it had displayed it for their
owa noble vanquished of the 11th of August last.
He thanked theta especially for his fellow-sufferer,
the brilliant young orator Keller, and also for
his other companion in the Chambers, M. Kolb-
Bernard, who, although he had been returned, ree
mained isolated. He had intended to address them on
the subject of concord. But after the eloquent ad-
dresses, more or less on the same subject, from his
Eminence the Cardinal, the Vicomte de Kerchove,
and Mgr, Dupanloup, he felt that he had better
give up making any speech, and content himself
with relating a story. When in the 13th century,
the Pope of the day wished to have a special office
composed in honour of the Blessed Sacrament, he
commissioned the two most prominent ecclesiastics
of Rome, who were then St. Thomas Aquinas and
St, Bonaventure, to draw up each on their own part
a specimen of such an office. When the time came,
the two saintly writers were called to read their
compositions before the assembled Consistory, and
it fell to St. Thomas to be the first to read his ver-
sion. As he read on through those magnificent
proses, which are still to be found in that office as
still used in the Catholic Church, he was frequently
interrupted by applause, as the speakers, in fact,
are at the Congress, only it was not quite so strong.
But it had, in addition, a peculiar characteristic,
for each time that the Pope and the Cardinals ex-
pressed their approbation it was accompanied by a
peculiar noise, as if paper was torn. The reading
came to an end, and at last the Pope turned
towards St. Bonaventure, who had been quite
forgotten while St. Thomas had the attention
of his auditors rivetted on his magnificent
work, and bade him read in his turn what he had
composed. " Holy father,' said the saintly Fran-
ciscan, " I had prepared truly an office of my own,
but as I heard Brother Thomas's read 1 involuntarily
tore a leaf of my book each time that your Holiness
and their Eminences applauded. And you tips
plauded so often that every leaf in my book was
torn by the end of Brother Thomas's reading. I
do not mean, God forbid! to compare myself to St.
Bonaventure," concluded the Vicomte, " but I am
sure that if St_ Thomas himself were present he
would not reproach me Mgr. Dupanloup for my
comparison in your regard. It only now remains
to me now to thank you in the name of France for
your admiration for her great Bishop."
rd. ARMAND next then announced that the com-
mittee of the press, over which he presided, had
hold three meetings, and that he had to communie
i
sate to the assembly ts resolution of proposing to
the Congress to print in French and Flemish
100,000 copies of Mgr. Dupanloup'sspeech on pope.
lar education. This is no fulsome compliment
truly, as it will give the Belgians the truest ideas
on the subject, on which there is too much diversity
of opinion.
M. HENRY DE RIANCEY, editor of the Paris
Union, then came forward and delivered a most
interesting address on the present time and its re-
lation to the Church, He said that even after
what M. Lemercier had said, he felt impelled
to thank Mgr. Dupanloup for his address of the
previous day; and spoke of him as the special friend
of the yoath of France, hardly conacious as yet of
the good he Lai effected in its regard. Since
Adam's time, continued the speaker, the wiseacres
of all ages have contended that religion was not in
keeping with the times. Catholics were therefore
now assailed with the accusation of not being up to
the present times. And yet what can make them
quarrel with their own times ? They simply tell it
the truth. They know it to be like all other times,
more or less made up of much evil, and a certain
amount of good. They love their time, but not for
its failings. Providence has selected the time for
each of us, and we could not pretend to have chosen
it better for ourselves. If we but do our duty, we
shall love our own time ; for it is the wherewith to
purchase eternity. All times have been modern
once, and he found but little to regret at not being
born earlier. However, let us think of the present.
Its material progress is blessed by the Church; for
all real progress serves God. Railways have but
favoured the Catholic action of the Church just as
the military roads made by the Roman legions to
all parts of their empire, did but clear the way for
the naked feet of the Apostles, who carried to all
parts the revelation of Christ. In these days the
very canal of Suez had already contributed mush
to r introduce Christianity into the adjoining
countries, and would facilitate the progress
of missionaries to more distant parts. And when
looking at the glorious moral works of our time, we
might well love it for the sake of its having seen the
foundation and development of such institutions as
the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, to which even
the honour of persecution had not been wanting ;
and he might add the institution of this truly
Catholic Congress itself. We may well love our
time, therefore, and take an active part in it.
Centuries belong to God, but men make them. Our
century is that which has witnessed at its outset the
restoration of the Catholic hierarchy in France ; it
has witnessed a similar progress ire other countries;
it is marked in its very midst by the great definition
of the dogma of the Immaouiate Conception. Its
Popes moreover have been truly great, and though it
has the indelible diagram of its having seen in the
midst of peace and against all sight or decent pre-
text, the patrimony of the Church invaded, and
that in the hasty manner which was counselled to
bandits, we might well compare it to the Persian

invasion of Greece, which led to the slaughter of
Leonidas and his Lacedemonians at the Ther•

mopylve, a slaughter so amply verged later by
Alexander. We may be sure that the age of Pius IX.
will mark in history. Let us be rejoiced then at
being the men of Pius IX.'s time. The speaker
concluded by comparing the present Pope to the
Belgian primate, there present, who might well be
called the Apostle of constancy and peace.
He alluded aleo to the noble combat sustained

at Bologna, by the eminent Catholio journalist,

Signor Casoni ; and remarking on the fact that

several Catholic journals in Europe had displayed
the Cross on their title page, he concluded by

coupling the quotations relating to the Cross, as the
Signum qui contradicetur, and the triumphant pro•
mise of In hoc signo vinces.
Count ZoTosKI, a member of the Prussian Par-
liament for Posen, came forward after this, to thank
the Congress for the sympathy it had always ex-
pressed for Poland. He described the downfall of
his country es the los3 and destruction of one of the
corner stones of Christendom, and concluded by
saying that all Catholics were soldiers of the Church,
but that Poland had been her sentinel, even her
sentinelle perdue.

A Spanish priest from Barcelona, the Padre VIL-
LARASA, than spoke on the part of his countrymen,
and gave an interesting account of the progress of
the Catholic press in Spain. He said that error was
hovering over Spain, but that it had not yet ac-
quired there its letters patent of naturalisation.
Major O'REILLY, M.P. for Longford, having been
requested to give some account of the progress of
Catholicity in Ireland, began by thanking Catholic
Belgium for the hospitality and education it had
bestowed on the clergy of Ireland during the times
of its misfortunes, and for the rejoicing spirit with
which she had ever watched over the triumphs of
the Catholic Church in Ireland. The progress
made during the present century might be gauged
by the fact that, since its commencement, the num-
ber of the secular clergy in Ireland had doubled;
while the regular clergy, who then numbered but
100 members, counted now more than 500, and the
nuns, who in 1800 were not more than a dozen, are
now 2,000. In the last 72 years 2,000 churches and
263 convents for religions orders of both sexes had
been built at an expense which amounted to
160,000,000 francs ; while the yearly budget of the
clergy, not proceeding from the taxes gathered by
the Government, but from the free offerings of the
faithful, might be estimated at 17,000,000 francs.
It was true that the finest churches in Ireland could
not be compared to any of the magnificent cathe-
drals of Belgium, bat they were wonderful monu-
ments for such an oppressed and despoiled nation,
whom, he rejoiced to think, ever preserved and de-
served their sympathy. The speech of the hon.
member was marked by its clearness and brevity.
A worthy Frenchman then inflicted on us a long,
very long string of aphorisms in the form of a
speech, the actual aim of which lam still puzzled
to define. I only recollect out of it that he encou-
ragingly tohl us that God had promised to His
Church life, bat rot health. At the conclusion
of this wise discourse, which the audience would
applaud most heroically, an incident took place to
startle all by its singularity. The wise officials of
the Finance Ministry of all the Belgians delivered
to our Secretary-General M. Duepetiaux, a form to
be filled up so that he might be subjected to pay
for a licence in keepingla'place of public recreation !
This refinement of ingenuity on the part of the
officials amused the foreign visitors very much,
while the Belgiums felt somewhat irritated at this
breach of the national hospitality; and a member
of the Belgian Parliament there present declared
that he would ask in the Chamber an explanation
of such a proceeding from the exalted head of the
Finance Department, the refined orator M. Frere
Orban.
_ _

The meeting concluded with the recitation of a
poetical address to the Congress from M.Dablesieux,
founder of agricultural colonies for youth in Brittany
and the French colonies, which are under the direc-
tion of the Fc &es du S. Esprit.
The following is the address which the Congress
has voted to the Pope :
" To his Holiness Pope Pius IX.—Most Holy Father I
More faithful even to the unanimous suggestion of their
hearts than to the voice of duty, the Catholics assembled at
Malines inaugurate their labours by prostrating themselves
humbly at the feet of the vicar of Jesus Christ. Attached
to the Holy Roman See, mother and mistress of all the
Churches, by the bonds of a strict obedience, and by the
most filial love, we come, most Holy Father, to offer to you
—divinely predestined to the care of the sheep and of the
lambs, to the government of the pastors and of the faithful,
the respectful expression of these sentiments. We recog-
nise solemnly in all their plenitude the rights of your su-
preme authority. You are the priest par excellence; the
incorruptible guardian and the infallible interpreter of the
Divine verities—the pilot of that mystic vessel which leads
humanity regenerated by the blood of Jesus Christ to the
shore of its eternal destinies. At the sameatime as your'
spiritual power we recognise also, most Holy Father, the
temporal power which is its providential bulwark. The
more the pontifical authority is attacked and misunderstood
the more ardently we apply ourselves to its defence— the
more we condemn the sacrilegious usurpations of which it
is the object, the more closely we rally ourselves around
the Holy See—the fruitful and inexhaustible source of
truth and of justice, against which the league of the unbe-
' lieving and impious has for ages used its efforts. Assem-
bled at Malines to cement the union of the Catholics, to
develop Catholic works, to co-operate, in the degree which
becomes laymen, for the defence of our mother Church, we
proceed to open our second session by this solemn profession
of our faith, of our submission, of our love. May it be re-
ceived with kindness by your Holiness, and obtain for us
one of those paternal benedictions which give to hearts with
good intentions confidence, strength, and peace, and have
spread themselves from the time of St. Peter to that of Pius
IX. as a beneficent dew urbi a bi, over the city and over
the world. "The submissive and respectfully-devoted
Sons of your Holiness.''.

The Royal Polytechnic Institution, although closed
at present for necessary repairs and decorative em-
bellishments, will re-open on Monday, September 10th,
when Professor Pepper will produce an entirely New Lec-
ture, which it is expected will be a companion one to his
celebrated Ghost Entertainment. The subject he has selected
is " Sound and Acoustic Wonders," such as the Talking
Heads—the Telephonic Concerts—the Invisible Girl, &c.,
&a. The Ghost Scenes will be continued on account of
their amazing attractiveness, under the auspices of Mr. J.
L. King—a new Musical Entertainment is to be provided
by Mr Coote, illustrating the favourite Story of " Sindbad
the Sailor."
DEATH OF MR. J. H. OGDEN, THE IRISH
COMEDIAN.—This favourite Hibernian vocalist
expired in Philadelphia on the Ilth of August, at a quarter
before six in the evening, after a short illness. He was
thirty-six years of age, and a native of Manchester, though
he was better known in London, where he was a great fa-
vourite at the principal music halls. He fulfilled several
provincial engagements, and during the year 1861 he visited
New York, and appeared with much success at the Canter-
bury Hall, his engagement lasting a long time. He also
sang at Lea's Melodion, Broadway, and in the leading
States, returning to England towards the close of 1862.
After several engagements in the United Kingdom, he went
again to America about a couple of months ago, and ap-
pcared at the Casino, Philadelphia, from whence he opened
at the Canterbury, ashington, but
his he onlness, ly sang
to r there a
night or two. He was compelled, by ileturn
to Philadelphia, where he died, as above notified, at 722
Sansom-street. His burial took place on the 13th August,
and he was followed to the grave by a large number of his
professional and other friends. Many of our readers will
remember him as a great favourite at the Raglan and other
metropolitan music hallo, and h's singing of Irish songs
was always marked by extreme humour.—Era.
THE DIVISION OF GUARDS.—The change Of
quarters of the Division of Guards will take place on the
loth inst. The following is the route :—Grenadier Guards
—2d Battalion from St. George's Barracks to Shorncliffe •
3d Battalion from Chelsea Barracks to 'Wellington Barracks:
Coldstream Guards-Ist Battalion will remain at 'Welling-
ton Barracks ; 2d Battalion from Wellington Barracks to
Windsor. ScotsiFusilierGuards-Ist Battalion from 'Wind -
sor to the Tower of London. The Ist Battalion of the
Grenadier Guards and the 2d Battalion of the Scots Fusilier
Guards are expected to return home from Canada towards
the end of the ensuing month. The former on its arrival
will go to Chelsea Barracks, and the latter to St, George's
and Wellington Barracks.
AMONGCT TH MONKEYS.—Ahant a year ago
person at Barton had a monkey, and fearing the
cold weather would hill it he sent it to the Zonl,,t,;iell Gar-
dens at London. A short time ego he was in London, and
called to see his old whom ho found caged with
about 30 others of the same tribe. " Jocko" knew his old
master instantly, and tried to get to him. The keeper
gave tho visitor permission to enter the cage, which he
fearlessly did, when the animal showed every sign of
affection. On the production of biscuits and other edibles
the intruder wtts fairly besieged by the other 30, who
jumped on his back, shoulders, hat, in fact, wherever a
footing was to be gained ; nor did they offer to molest him
in the least.—Ownfor Ncrcury,

-
•Nhit
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6111, t

HER MAJESTY,

BALMORAL, Sept. 1.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duchess of Saxe%
Coburg and Gotha and Princess Helena, walked
and drove out yesterday morning.

Her Majesty, with the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha, and Princess Beatrice, took a carriage
drive in the afternoon.

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha went cut
grouse shooting.
B
The Prince and Princess of Wales dined with
her M jesty
last night.