The Catholic bulletin., 1915-10-02

four years. There is now total of
some $4,000 members, while in the in
surance society affiliated with it there
are over quarter of a million mem
bers. Mr.. Joseph Devlin is president
1t is the largest Catholic benefit So
ciety in the world.
A Belgian Society.-For many
years, Belgium has been noted for
its admirable Catholic social organi-
cations. Among them is the Aumon-
iers du Travail, a priestly association
founded by the Bishop of Liebe, whose
object is the betterment of the work
ing classes. The association has
good workingmen's hotels all over the
country, at which they may have
lodging for fortnight at $4; dinner
II cents and supper cents.
Benedictine Monks KiIled.-Five
French monks of the Benedictine
Monastery of Besatu, Spain, who were
called on for the war, have been killed
at the front. They belonged to the
French Province of the Cassinese Con-
gregatfon of the Primitive Observ-
ance, to which Buckfast Abbey, Eng
land, belongs. They were expelled
from the Abbey of Dorgne by the
French Government, when they set
tied in Spain. The Motherhouse is at
Pierre-qui-Vive, having been founded
by Pere Muard. The religious unite
the missionary life with the contem-
platiye spirit of Trappists.
Aid for Working Men.-The asso-
citation of the 'Le Foyer de rOuvrier," "
at Liege, Belgium, aids workmen to
become owners of their homes. So
far it has spent about 100000 in pur-
chasing homes and 100000 in loans
for this purpose.
A Chapel in the Trenches.-In one
OF the French trenches the men have
constructed small chapel under
meath the earth. 1t is sufficiently
large to admit twenty men at the
made by the clever workmen who have
built it, skilled miners, from the dis
trict of La Loire, to make the under
ground chapel difficult of lombard
ment The interior ornamentation
has been carried to high perfection,
for a parquet floor, carpets, candle
sticks, kneeling chairs saved from the
ruined churches, are to be found in it.
A wooden altar has been erected in
the trench chapel, and a magnificent
French flag, made of Lyons silk, the
gift of an officer, has been hung in it.
Australian Army chaplains. Three
Irish priests have been appointed
chaplains to the Australian expedi-
tionary force-Rev. w. Devine; Fa-
ther Tighe, S. j.; and Father Camp.
bell, G. SIS. R. Father Devine, who
was ordained in Maynooth, was pre-
sented with a portable altar for field
purposes by his parishioners before
| leaving Melbourne. Father Tighe is
a well-known Jesuit preacher of the
Il
has given missions all over Ireland
He was attached to the Limerick
house of the Order, and was subse.
quently appointed prior Of the Belfast
house. Another Irish priest, Father
O'Doherty, of Carndonagh, will shortly
accompany Australian troops as far as
Egypt.
Italian Priests in the War.-Statis
tics published recently by the Italian
Government show that no fewer thar
1920 Italian priests are on active
service with the army. With the ex
ception of 745, who are acting as
military chaplains, all the rest are
serving as officers and soldiers of theil
respective regiments. Ten chaplain!
have been killed and 80 Others
seriously wounded while ministerins
to the wounded and dying on the bat
tlefield under the protection of tht
Red Cross. Their places have beer
filled by other priests transferred fo
the purpose from their posts in thu
firing-line. Some of these chaplaini
i have been stricken down while per
forming deeds of self-sacrifice ant
glorious heroism, which have led Gen
eral Cadorna to propose them for dis
tinguished service rewards. In add
tion to the above priestly participa
tion in the war there are over 20,00l
Italian ecclesiastical students in Hol.
il Orders actually in the fighting rank
at the Italian front.
| Belgian Charitable Projects-E
Belgium there is the Maleken associa
tion of about 700 fathers who receiv
each Sunday at low cost clothe
| for themselves and children, as ais,
tobacco. Apostlehuizen, Belgium, i
] a village of cottages, established b.
, Father Meer!eer of st. Nicholas, eacl
cottage she.tering an old marrie
couple.
A Distinguished Convertible lat
Marquis of Ripon, Viceroy of Indi
from 1880 to 1884, was received int,
| the Catholic Church in 1874, HAVING
resigned the Office of Grand Master 0
the Freemasons in order to take tha
j step.
, Conversions from Paganism.-Il
L Bengal the Jesuits from Belgium hav
j converted at least 100000 natives il
the last twenty-five years. In Chin