Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-24
Mew8 Of The QlQorlO.
What Churchmen Are Doing in Various Parts of This
Country and Abroad.

Carroll of the Methodist board of foreign
missions: the Rev. Dr. James l.. Barton of
the American board (CongregationaD; the
Rev. DR.. T. S. Barbour of the American
Baptist Missionary Union: the Rev. DIR. \.
Sutherland of the Missionary Society OF
the Methodist Church In Canada: the Rev.
DR.. w. r. Lambuth OF the board of mis-
sions of the Methodist Church South: the
Rev. Paul de SchweinitZ, American secre-
tary of Moravian missions and the Rev.
DIR. Henry n. Cobb of the board OF foreign
missions of the Reformed Church in Amer
ica
The organizations represented by this
committee of nine expend about 100000
annually in the administration and support
of foreign missions. and, while its findings
on matters referred to II will not be bind
Ing upon the mission organizations they
Will have such weight virtually to be
final. For instance. there Is reported to
be at present a dispute between two of the
larger organizations, In different denOmi-
nations. involving considerable amount
of money. 1t Is said to be likely that the
matter will be referred to this new COM
mittee and that its decision will be hon
ored by the organizations affected. Among
matters in which this committee will act
for the boards and societies will be the
consideration of the opening of new mis-
sion fields where the overlapping of de-
nominational lines might be involved: mat
tiers arising between the missionary organi-
cations and foreign powers and the rela-
tons of the organizations to new move
ments for the support of missions. The
committee will also properly represent the
organizations on such occasions the
visits to this country of officials from mis-
sion lands. like the Chinese imperial en-
voys. who recently were here. and the
Prince of Siam, who visited this country
several years ago.
Special Cablegram to The Star.
ROME. February 23-Last Wednesday
the pope and all the cardinals now in Rome
attended the sermon of the apostolic
preacher, a Franciscan monk, in the Sis
tine Chapel. 1t was the first sermon of the
Lenten season and according to long stand
ing custom the cardinals will have to at
tend similar ceremonies every Wednesday
and Friday from now until Easter. 1t is
not generally known that the pope, who
is always present at these services, Is not
in the view of either preacher or the car
dnals attending, as he is seated behind
a latticed screen, where he may see and
hear, but remain himself unseen. This GUS
tom was established long ago in order to
preserve both the pope and the preacher
from embarrassment in case evils in the
church should form the theme of the
preacher. At the present time, however.
everyone knows that the pope is present
and listening to the words of the friar
1t is reported in Vatican circles that the
remains Of the late Pope Leo XIII are
likely soon to be transferred from St Pc
ters Church to their final resting place in
Some church officials allege that the trans
fer will be made before the middle of Lent
The monument to the late pope, erected
in the Church of ST. John at the I.ateran
by the sculptor Tadolini at the expense
Oh the cardinals created during the late
pontificate, has been completed, and there
is no longer reason for delaying the re-
moval of the body of the late pope
1t is rumored in this connection that
Pope Plus X is likely soon to issue bull
abolishing the custom of having surgeons
remove the heart and viscera from the
body of a deceased pope, in order that they
may be deposited in the Church of ST. Vim
cent and Athanasius. This has been the
custom for centuries, but Plus is said TO
regard ii as useless if not sacri.eglous
1t is asserted by prelates prominent in
church circles that the pope is likely soon
to send personal representative to Rus
STA, and rumor has it that Mgr. Lorenzeli,
formerly nuncio at Paris WI be chosen
for this determination on the part of Plus
is said to be the change in the attitude
of the Russian government toward the
Roman Church. The announcement was
made not long ago that the government
had made important land concessions to
some of the religious orders which had
settled in Siberia after having been eX-
PEELED from France. Now comes the fur
Their announcement that ne Russian min
lister Of the interior has decided to remove
all former restrictions against the Catholic
Church, giving it equal privileges with the
official orthodox church. One result of
this decision, it is said, will be the return
to the Roman Church Of the church build
ings which, during two centuries, have been
appropriated by the Russian government
for the use of the orthodox church.