The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-13
ADDRESSED
CATHOLIC
WOMEN

At the regular monthly meeting OF the
Catholic women's club last evening
very large number OF them listened 10 an
entertaining and interesting address by
Rev. Austin Bowling, on tho subject
MARY stuart" The trend OF the speaker
during the evenings talk was TO depict
the stormy life OF that unfortunate de-
scendant OF the house OF Stuart, making
the life OF the Queen OF Scots as vivid as
words could well do.
Before the lecture proper was an
nounced. there was a short business ses-
sion. this being the first meeting OF the
club for this season. During the busi-
ness session the new president, Mary A.
McArdle. occupied the chair and made a
short address on the plans OF the club
for the coming year.
The following new members were elect
ed: Mrs Thomas II. McNally OF Central
Falls. Mrs. Frank McKenna. Miss Lottie
NJ Deviin. Miss Alice Midgley. Miss Lo-
retta NJ. Herrick and Miss Mary T. oslin
all OF this city.
At the conclusion OF the business ses-
sion Rev. Father Dowling was introduced
and spoke In part as follows:
"In the midst OF the storm and stress
OF the 10th century the reins OF govern
ment came frequently into the hands OF
women. Mary and Elizabeth in England.
Catherine de Medici in France and the
unfortunate Queen OF Scots Mary Stuart
was the relative OF the other women. and
one might say their victim. for I'm the
hour OF her need Catherine neglected her
and Elizabeth became her jailer
1T was difficult proposition which
Mary had TO face when AT the age OF 20.
already the widow OF n King. she re-
turned 10 her native land after an absence
or II years. An orphan without friends
and surrounded by turbulent barons and
fanatic populace she confronted the
consequences OF religious revolution
Disloyalty. 10 which the new theology
made appeal everywhere was here I'm tho
ascendant and the victory OF Protestant
ism was nowhere more complete.
Though staunch Catholic, Mary's
policy was one OF temporlzng
1T woud be hard TO find In history
choioer band OF cutthroats and perjurers
than the Lords who formed her council
None OF them escapes unscathed. Moray
Lenox, Leithington, Morton. Huntley.
Darnley. Boutwell, all were adopts in
perjury. murder and the shocking forms
barbarous civilization. All figure in the
tragedy OF this young woman's sad life
"A mystery hangs over all the circum-
stances or those six months from the
birth OF tho infant James until she
found herself prisoner at Lochleven
never again but for few days OF defeat
and flight. 10 breathe the air OF freedom
She was but % when she began her long
imprisonment OF all but 20 years.
HAD she fallen nm ~
woud doubtless he now without de-
fender, but the years OF her suffering ex-
plated her guilt In the eyes of many who
believed her guilty. utterly efraced n I'm
the minds OF those who hrst came 10
know her through her SORROWS
"On the scaffod she claimed that ia
was her religion which constituted her
crime. and though I'm her position, che
would seek 10 ennoble both her life and
Its expiation, yet doubtless In this claim
she struck the keynote OF those men
and that illustrious woman who could
not lie upon an easy pillow until she was
beheaded Her tragic death fitted we'll
into the history of her unfortunate fam. !
lily"
The officers Of the Catholic woren's |
club are the following: President. Mary
a. McArdle; vice president. Mrs Rernard |
McCabe; recording secretary. Miss Mary /
A. :. Mugan: corresponding sscretarv |
- Ice G. Kelly: treasurer A. Theresa
O'Donnell registrars Mrs Thomas A
. OGorman and Mrs John Harson.