The San Francisco call., 1909-10-17

NEW YORK. Oct Is-A notable
gathering took place at Manchester,
Eng, September 20. It was the eele-
hration of the silver jubilee of the
Catholic truth society, which was
founded in 1854 under the patronage
of the late Cardinal Vaughan. then
bishop Of Stafford. From all parts OF
The United Kingdom came Catholics to
take part in this celebration, which
lasted for three days and left a deep
Impression on all who attended. Among
the most scholarly addresses was that
given by Abbot Gasquet, the noted his
torian, and the attention Of the audi
ence was given with great satisfaction
TO mastery address on socialism by
Hilaire Belloc. literary editor of the
Morning Post. The duke of Norfolk
presided at one Of the sessions.
An unusual feature of this years
meeting was the extraordinary atten-
tion given not only to sociological
problems. but particularly to those af-
fecting the interests of women. Doctor
Casarteln, bishop of Stafford. under
whose auspices this conference was
called. recognized the importance of
having an evening given over to the
women. They turned out by the thou
sands. The hall in which the meeting
was held was entirely inadequate TO
accommodate them. A large overflow
meeting was held in an adjoining hall
Papers Of a high order of excellence
were read by such women as Mrs Will
fred Ward. who has an international
reputation as a writer. The social
problems were again prominent in these
discussions. Manchester being a great
manufacturing center, the laws affect
ing women workers came in for a due
share Of consideration. No one who
listened 10 these papers could accuse
the Catholic women of England Of not
being fully abreast Of the times.
Under the patronage Of the arch
bishop Of Westminster a Catholic
women's league is being formed, with
branches in various parts of the British
isles.
General St. Clair MulhoIland OF Phila-
delphia, addressing the recent conven-
tion OF the Catholic federation upon
the proposed monument 10 Father Cor
by at Gettysburg, said in part:
"One Of the battles of the civil war
was fought on the soil Of Pennsyl-
July. On the second day Of the battle,
during the afternoon, the Third corps.
under General Sickles. began to fall
back. and help was called for; and
then General Hancock sent for di-
vision to help them. The Irish bri-
gade. consisting Of the Sixty-third
Sixtv-ninth and Eighty eighth New
York. the Twenty eighth Massachu-
setts and the One Hundred and Six
teenth Pennsylvania volunteers, was
ordered to fall in and march; bur
Father Corby' of the Irish brigade said;
stop moment and General Hancock
said. Yes. you shall have a few min
utes.
rather Corby mounted a rock. and
in a few words exhorted the men to
do their duty to defend the flag, and
10 die. If necessary, in defense of It,
Then he called upon them to kneel
down and receive absolution, asking
them to make an act Of contrltion, that
they might 90 into battle prepared to
die: and every man received absOlution
Ny own regiment. the One Hundred and
Sixteenth Pennsylvania, did not have
10 per cent of Catholics, but every man
was on his knees TO receive general
absolution.
THAT rock is there yet: and we are
going to erect bronze statue to Faith
er Corby there; and I come today ask
ing for your support ands assistance.
some people have the wrong idea
with regard TO Catholics as Americans
and patriots. But, If you want to see
evidences Of Catholic leaders. you have
only to go TO Gettysburg and walk the
line They were Christian armies that
fought that battle; but the only en-
blem on that battlefield is a crucifix.
when YOU come TO the Bloody Angle
at Gettysburg you will see on the
front line a monument to the Catholic
Sixty-ninth-
There they met Pickett and fell in
that awful charge Probably 5S per
cent were killed or wounded Do you
know what that means2 The famous
Light brigade lost 81 per cent. You
have only TO go to Gettysburg TO test
Catholic loyalty to this country.
The first man TO suggest this mon
ument was an Episcopalian. Captain
Cummings of Meadville. Pa. He said:
J viii never rest until / see monu-
ment TO Father COrby The first sub
scription received was from a Presby-
terian. He heard of it. and wanted to
subscribe for the monument. And, be-
fore / left Philadelphia ] heard Of
Jew who had offered a subscription.
Father Corby was not only a gall
lsnt soldier. but an American born. He
belonged to the Grand Army Of the Re-
public. to a post consisting entirely
Of priests and brothers. He died in
him with military honors."
The death of Mother Mary of the
Cross founder OF the Australian con-
gregation Of the Sisters of St. Joseph
of the Sacred Heart. is. indeed, a great
event in the history of the Catholic
church IN Australia. She was an Au-
stralian born and bred. and for that
reason her labors belong peculiarly
TO the young Australian nation.
A writer says of her congregation:
eco into the darkest slums in our big
cities and there you viii find the
Brown Sisters surrounded by ragged
children who cling to them as they
would TO a loving mother; go into the
remotest parts of the bush, and YOU
will find the Sisters of St. Joseph in
tiny converts"
And this latter fact is a peculiar
trait in the work Of these sisters They
make speciality Of going to places
wnere there is no resident priest. per-
haps not even a church, and caring fol
the children in those .forsaken dis
tricts. Right out in lonely bush locali-
ties they establish themselves, some-
times in little houses which look like
toy houses they are so small: and
wherever there are children to be
taught they teach them The sisters