The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-08-27

ferred to the danger of irreligious language
and bad books. There Is {said he) no
greater pest than rad books and bad pa
pers. They are widespread and a wither-
ing curse. 1t is . matter Of astonishment
that fathers and mothers who are re-
ligious suffer their children to read every
thing that comes in their way. l do not
condemn all general literature, but choose
your books with care. Let them have
pure morality and help you to stem the
flood of lawlessness which prevails. The
Young Mems Societies have shown fidelity
to the Holy See, and will continue to do 80
feel no doubt. I thank those who have
come here. We have no branch yet in Lon
don, but hope that many will be- formed,
and that thousands of members will be en-
rolled. We must all strive without ceas.
ing, for this life is one constant war, and
there is no rest before eternity.
SCOTLAND.
Death of the Very Rev. John JEFFERSON,
d. D.-English and Scotch Catholics will
regret to hear of the death of Rev. DR..
Mcpherson, who until recently held the
important Office Of Vicar-General in Dun
dee, which he resigned only few months
ago in consequence of growing infrmities.
He was all but seventy years Of age, having
been Ss sab a Hs To-
Dundee in 1882, at the time when the chol-
era was raging in the town. At that time
the Catholics in Dundee only numbered
some 400 persons, who worshiped IN
small church at the back of the Meadows
A number of them fell victims to the dis
ease which was then 80 rife in the town,
and Mr.. Mcpherson distinguished himself
by his Jealous exertions day and night on
their behalf. The Catholics, being much
scattered over the town, his labors were
arduous in the extreme, yet, although he
saw many struck down before his eyes, he
escaped from the ravages Of the fatal cpl
demic. The number Of Catholics in Dun
dee rapidly increasing, he set about build
ing St Andrews Church in the Neither
gate, and went to France specially to So
licit subscriptions to carry on Its erection.
For number of years he was one of the
directors of the Dundee ln iiy ana ma
was in ls47 appointed President of Biair's
College, where about fifty students are
regularly educated for the priesthood. In
1857 Mr.. Mcpherson visited Rome, where
he received the degree ofDoctor of Divlnl.
ty. DR.. Mcpherson remained at the head
moved to take charge of st. Mary's, in
Edinburgh, where he remained until he re-
tired in 1861 to New Abbey, which place he
| left in 1864, for Perth, where he carried out
an object he had long cherished, the foun-
dation of q convent, the ladies of which
teach the schools and visit the General
Prison.
FRANCE.
The French are rapidly making prepare,
tions, the ultimate object of which is ap-
| parent to all. At Rambouillet an intrench'
| ed camp is in course of formation, in add
ton to the two camps of aatory and of the
Forest of St. German. M. de Lesparre
colonel of the GARDENERS, is to have the
command of it. AT Saumur, also, it II
| thought of forming vast camp for thu
purpose of practising man@uvres. I'M
pose, and, from its extent, will afford room
for many regiments. While the Frencl
are busy with warlike preparations, tn
Germans, aware of the undying hatre'
with which they have inspired their van
pushed neighbors, are following the sam
cue. The arsenal at Strasburg has bee
turned into q mandatory of artillery, 8
that there are now four such establish
ments in Germany. General Flo, who
, the Ambassador of the French Republi
at st. Petersburg, was most courteousl
received by the Emperor of Russia. D
l presenting his credentials he was, however
/. ill-advised enough to begin to talk abou
v the Republic, when he perceived from TIA
D wry face which the great Autocrat mad
8 that he was treading on dangerous GROUND
!. hereupon he changed the subject, and til
+ interview terminated as amicably as it la
o begun. A cannon and a mitrailleuse; bot
o constructed on an improved plan, hay
n been submitted to the notice of General {
It Cissey and M. Theirs. At the War Off
e they are studying most industriously nov
inventions in implements of war, and tt
9 canon called the "canon de sept" is to
Q altered, SO as to bring it as near perfe
o ton as possible. In Germany the rnitrai
y lepse will probably be superseded by son
70 Rebdomadaire Militaire, which is publish'
IT at Berlin under the auspices of the Militia
" Staff Office, says "the mitrailleuse, witho
g being nearly SO effective on the whole
W ordinary artillery, are quite as complicat