The San Francisco call., 1908-09-20

NEW YORK. Sept 1s-It is with
sentiments Of grateful appreciation
that we note the adoption OF the fol-
lowing resolution at the recent con-
vention in Boston OF the American Fed
Grafton OF Catholic Societies:
We cordially approve of the special
work OF the international Catholic
Truth society in supplying the secular
press with notes and comments of in
terest 10 the general reader. thereby
bringing the attention Of many per
sons TO matters which would otherwise
entirely escape their notice"
1t is said that the Rev. Father
Guicheteau, the priest astronomer and
scientist Of the French Catholic church
Of St Vincent de Paul, at 12O West
Twenty-third street, New York city, re-
Gently performed. for the first time in
this country, the "Foucault expert
ment. which is intended to prove and
make evident to the naked eye the
hourly movement of the earth while
revolving on its axis.
The experiment consisted in sus-
pending a fine piano wire, 80 feet long.
with a 10 pound plummet at the end,
from the cupola OF the Church OF Our
Lady of Lourdes, in Brooklyn. and set
ting it in motion The huge pendulum
was seen to move In a straight line from
north to south But at the end of one
hour 1t had varied from this line dis
tance of m Al s.. and was swinging
northeast and southwest
ESTIMATES AGE OF PYRAMIDS
1t is also said that Father Guicheteau
has just completed elaborate calcula-
tions. carefully verified, based on the
fact that there is a tunnel in one OF the
large pyramids. which was built on an
exact line with the polar star, and on
the further fact that this star has been
proved TO move at the rate of one de-
gree in every 200 years. From these
calculations he draws the conclusion
that the pyramid was built 1924 years
B. c. IN his amazement at his discov
cries he exclaims;
The more deeply / have gone into
the study Of astronomy the more
deeply ] have been impressed with the
magnitude Of Gods wonders. What is
revealed TO man by the telescope is al
most beyond comprehension. No fur
ther demonstration need be given the
unbeiiever than a view through the
telescope on clear and starry night.
II brings to mind that line from the
Night Thoughts of Edward Young: BY
night the atheist half believes in
God.
WORK IN PHILIPPINES
From a recent letter from Rev. J. F.
Nerbrugge, superior of the Mill Hill
Fathers in the Philippines, written to
this country, we condense the follow
ing summary Of interesting facts as to
existing conditions in the diocese of
Jaro-
Through the help sent TO us from
the United States / now have 16 priests
for my mission. and we shall be able
10 greatly extend our work.
I have just finished visitation tour
Of our several stations. and have come
back full Of hope. Maasin station was
started in June, 1906. The place is a
poor settlement near the mountains.
The work is very hard; but now it is
no extraordinary occurrence to have
four, five and six hundred communions
on a single Sunday. In fact, the father
year he has had from twelve to fifteen
hundred confessions q month, and dur
ing lent he expected 5000. His cate
chism class is also very consoling
work / found three TO four hundred
children daily present at the classes.
and few months ago the good father
gave first communion to AIS children
SO large a throng of first communi-
cants on the same day has never be-
fore been known in the Philippines.
MANY CALLS FOR PRIESTS
From Maasin ] went to San Miguel,
some two hours distant from Jaro. This
parish had been abandoned since the
revolution Tt was too small to be
noticed. having only 1000 inhabitants;
while much larger places were without
pastors There is a fine little church
here, and a fairly good convent.
These isolated missions give us an
immense amount'of work. Besides the
central station, there are always from
five 10 fifteen villages to be visited,
and these are usually two or athree
hours distant. Sick calls are very
hara- In the dry season some roads
are fairly good, and one can travel on
horseback, but when the rain CONES
frequently not even horses can pass
These sick calls are of daily occnr-