The San Francisco call., 1909-02-07

ginning 70 EfdSD an 4uCd quite ldit4lldE
to Catholics for centuries past. He de-
clares that the church has had, and
used, the same method Of healing
through the mind for hundreds OF
years. Our confessional takes the place
Of suggestion. Ever since 1 was seven
years old / shave relieved my body of
mental troubles by confession. The
great interest with which the people
are receiving the Emmanuel movement
shows the desire Of the American peo-
pie for more adequate religion, one
which touches the whole body and
mind"
He also contrasts this movement
with Christian Science as follows:
Unless there IS something TO Offset
the Christian Science teachings the
country's asylums viii be so crowded
that they viii be burden to the pub
lie. The teachings of Christian Science
are contrary TO nature. 1t would have
YOU believe that what is, is not. In
interviews that I have had with sew
eral superintendents Of insane asylums
they tell me that there are many pa
tients in them as the result Of study
of Christian Science. The doctrine
would have one believe in his senses,
and teaches that nothing is real. The
Emmanuel movement is the antithesis
OF the Christian Science teachings, in
that It teaches people that pain is
real, and that evil is real; but 1t
teaches that these pains are brought
on by a wrong state Of mind. For
years and years the Catholic church
has used suggestion to ease the mind
and mental troubles Of our church
mem bers."
What the superintendents told
Father Sherman of the large numbers
OF followers Of Christian Science in
our insane asylums. applies, as is well
known, with equal truth TO persons
given over TO spiritualism. which has
unsettled many a mind TO the point
Of dethrOning reason altogether, and
too often permanently and incurably-
An interesting paper contributed by
Rev. Ludwig Bonvin. S. J., to the Cath
olic Fortnightly Review Of st. Louis,
upon the much debated question:
May Women Sing IN Our Church
Choirs?" is now published in pamphlet
form in that city
Meanwhile. Bishop Canevin Of Pitts
burg lately tried TO solve this veXed
question by asking Cardinal Merry del
Val to ascertain definitely IF il is
true that women may sing In the
chofrs or churches-not only when
they sing together with the male
members Of the congregation in the
body Of the church. but also when they
are separated and form, either alone
or with men and boys, a special choir
on an elevated platform or choir loft
IN the rear Of the churches, as is the
custom IN the United StatesT
To which question the cardlnal
promptly replied: Il hasten TO inform
Won that the holy father has not given
permission for women TO form part of
the church choirs in the United States;
and that the statement that such per-
mission has been granted by his holi-
ness is devoid OF foundation. His holi-
ness wish IS that the decree Of the
sacred congregation Of rites IN regard
10 church choirs should be faithfully
observed in the United States, as else
where"
T-inallv. formal "dubium," or ques-
fion submitted by the editor of Church
Music in this country to the authorl-
ties in Rome, has brought substantial
" the same answer We have not
translation available at this time.
on February II Rev. L. A Lambert,
LID. the veteran editor in chief Of
the New York Freeman's Journal. will
celebrate his hftieth year in the priest
hood.
FathersLambert has only recently re-
covered from a serious illness. which
for time placed his life in serious
jeopardy. He is perhaps best known to
many persons as the author of Notes
on Ingersou," which has delighted
many a lover Of keen logic and fair
discussion
A writer says Of him: "A born
logician, he has few, If any, equals in
following up a line Of argument Clay
ing bare the sophistries and falsehoods
and loose talk TO SO clear a conclusion
that he who runs may read; and in so
few, so gentle, simple, untechnical
words. Not many writers in any age
made pleasant reading out Of polemics,
as Dr. Lambert does"
The I'd Of February-so familiarly
known in the secular world as Ground
Hog days observed in the Catholic
church as the feast Of the publication
OF the Blessed Virgin" "Candlemas" or
Lady day" It commentaries the visit
Of Christ's mother to the temple. in
obedience to the Levitical law requiring
women on the fortieth day after the
birth Of a male child to appear in the
temple and to offer a lamb year old as
a holocaust. and a turtle dove as a sin
Offering. In the case of the poor two
turtle doves were sufficient. Thus it
happened, through the poverty of his
parents, that the King Of Kings and
Lord Of Lords was redeemed in his
own temple with a pair Of turtle doves
or two young pigeons; and the Prophet
Simeon declared: This child is set for
the ruin and the resurrection of many
in Israel"
The historian Fleury traces the OBJ
servance Of the Christian festival in the
east back TO SAB at Constantinople. It
was known in the west TO the Venerable
Bede, who died in 735, and it is men
toned in the sacramentary Of St. Greg
ory and in the capitularies of Charlie
magne.
The English name "candIemas" is
derived from the ceremony of blessing
wax candles on this day for use in the
public worship Of the church and in
private homes in time Of sickness and
death; that as this light, kindIed with
visible fire. dlspels nocturnal darkness.
so our hearts, illumined by invisible
fire. that is. the brightness of the Holy
Spirit. may be free from the blindness
OF every vice." and that. after the
dark perils OF this world, we may de-
serve to arrive at never failing light"
The editor of Rome says that the
people Of Messina were deeply reli-
gious, but it is to be feared that the
great majority Of the good Catholics
in the place were afflicted with that
lanentable apathy in the defense Of
religion which the holy father de-
scribed month ago as the chief