The San Francisco call., 1909-04-04

tonis death removes perhaps the most
accomplished linguist. excepting Cardi-
nal Merry del Val, In the sacred college.
He could converse huently in Italian,
English, French, modern Greek and
1 Spanish, Latin and ancient Greek, and
had a fair knowledge of more than one
oriental language.
His death leaves the sacred college
with 81 members. Is less than the full
membership and 10 less than took part
in the election of Plus X. One, the
aged Cardinal Oreglia, was created by
( Plus TX. Thirty-tWo are Italians and
p are divided throughout the Catholic
world. Twenty-four reside in Rome
and have special duties in the Roman
curia- Twenty-siX cardinals have died
during the brief pontifcate of Plus X.
The oldest member of the sacred coll
! lege Is Cardinal Grusha of Vienna, now
in his ninetieth year, and the youngest
F is Cardinal Merry del Val, now in his
forty fourth year. Cardinal Logue is
the last cardinal raised to that dignity
in any English speaking country. and
that was is years ago.
Cardinal Merry del Val is the first
non Italian 10 occupy the lofty office of
papal secretary of state, to which he
was appointed when only 81 years Of
age.
OF the present members Cardinal
Aguirre had distinguished himself both
as a religious and as bishop by his
learning. sanctity and activity in pro-
noting q religious solution Of the So
cial question. when Plus Y suddenly
added his name to the list of cardinals
( to be created on April 10, 1907. At the
same consistory there were raised to
the cardinalate Archbishop Haffi OF
Pisa, a luminary of physical science,
and Archbishop Mercier of Nalines,
noted for his philosophical writings.
On December 16. 1907, there were
added TO the sacred college Cardinal
Gasparri, the greatest living authority
on canon law and the life and soul of
the commission for the codification OF
the laws of the church, and Cardinal de
4 Lai, who was engaged at the time OF
his creation in organizing the sweep
ing reform Of the Roman curia which
quite likely that consistory may be
held IN April or May which may add
nine or ten more cardinals TO the sacred
college.
There has passed from the life Of
the south a woman who in her simple,
humble way was a heroine; a woman
I
the poor and helpless OF her race,
stands out as a noble refutation of the
oft repeated charge that the Catholic
church is doing little for the salvation
Of the colored people in our midst-a
woman who, recognizing the troublous
times that beset her native southland
when the banners OF war were furled,
resolved TO give up the best that was IN
her 70 the solving of the problems that
confronted this section and who for
upward Of 81 years labored with faith
and zeal and energy along the truest
lines for the betterment of her people
and the bringing of their immortal
souls 10 the love and knowledge and
/ service of God in the one true church
/ founded by Jesus Christ"
This beautiful tribute from the
Morning Star Of New Orleans is paid
to the late Mother Austin, who has
died suddenly in that city. For IS
years she was mother superior OF the
/ Sisters of the Holy Family, composed
exclusively of colored women. We are
told that she was a woman Of rare no
bility Of character and splendid admin
istrative abilities, which fitted her we'll
for her great office.
In 1890, when she was elected su-
perior there existed only the main
convent building and two small pa
rochial schools with converts attached.
At her death she left the St. John
/ Berchman's orphan asylum, where hun
dreds of colored children were cared
for and educated. a home for colored
boys and a large home to care for the
aged Of both sexes, in New Orleans.
She also established and opened
schools in different parts Of Louisiana,
! Texas, Arkansas, and even in far away
British Honduras. During her admin
! istration the sisterhood increased
from 40 to 105 members.
Her funeral was attended by large
number of the clergy and sisterhoods
Of New Orleans. The last absolution
was pronounced by Archbishop Blenk.
At its recent semi-annual meeting
! the executive board OF the Catholic
/ federation appointed a standing ma
tional COMMITTEES on public morals for
the further prosecution Of the crusade
against immortality being conducted by
many branches of the federation
/ throughout the country. 1t Will be the
/ duty of this committee to get informa-
tion on all things concerning public
morality and to direct the branch fed
erations to send any valuable informa-
ton to the chairman or secretary OF
:. the committee.
The production Of indecent plays and
exhibitions, the circulation of indecent
books, postal cards and other publica-
tions viii be made known all along the
/ line, and Catholic societies will be
aroused TO greater activity, and a
sound and strong public opinion
/ against immortality will be established.
j Representatives will be appointed in
centers like New York and Chicago to
look after immoral theatricals, which
usually start out in these cities.
The national committee is composed
Of Edward Feeney. Brooklyn, national
PRESIDENT Thomas II. Cannon, Chi
cago, chairman of the executive
board: Anthony Matre, st. Louis, ma
tional secretary; Judge G. Harmon,
! Toledo, national vice president, and
Rev. T. Heiermann, S. j., of Toledo, o.
Rev. w S. Reilly, professor of st.
/ Johns seminary, Brighton, Mass, a
member of the Congregation of Sulpi-
clans, has just won the highest aca-
demical distinction conferred by Rome,
that of doctor of the holy scripture
4 faculty. established seven years ago to