her temples wrapped in flames, her holy of holies desecrated, her ministers persecuted and defamed, her asylums of piety and charity torn down, and, according to the weak thoughts of men, all her hopes destroyed. But the voice of charity resounds from her yet standing altars, her yet surviving retreats: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge."

And can our traveller be at a loss to know where his search should cease. If God be charity, if his kingdom be a kingdom of charity, if charity be the characteristic of his followers, we should think he had reached that point where he might exclaim: Hæc requies mea in sæculum sæculi.

BERNARD.

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ST. Louts. Towards the close of May a new Female Academy was opened in this city, on Sixth street near Pine. This establishment is conducted by the Religious Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of the B. V. M., founded at Annecy in Savoi, by St. Francis de Sales and St. Joanna Frances Fremiot de Chantal, in 1610. This Order was solemnly confirmed by Pope Paul V. Its principal objects are the sanctification of its members and the education of youth.

The "Ladies of the Sacred Heart" have re-opened their Academy for the education of young ladies, in St. Charles, on the Missouri river about 20 miles above this city. Owing to particular circumstances, this institution was closed last year.

The new College of St. Vincent of Paul has been opened at Cape Girardeau, Mo. it has been erected by the Priests of the Mission, or Lazarists. It is a large and beautiful building, situated on an eminence in one of the most healthy parts of the State, and commanding a full view of the mighty "Father of Waters." It is to replace the well known institution of St. Mary's college at the Barrens; which latter has been converted into the Elementary Ecclesiastical Seminary of the Diocese.

During the course of last month about four hundred persons have recived the Sacrament of Confirmation in the various churches of this city, at the hands of the Rt. Rev. Bishop of this See: Among these were a great number of adults and converts to the Faith.

On the 21st of June, the Feast of St. Aloysius Gonsaga, the Patron of youth, was celebrated with great solemnity in the church of St. Francis Xavier in this city. At half past four o'clock A. M. the beautiful chiming of the bells. of that church announced the glories of the "Apostle of youth." At an early VOL. 2.

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hour about three hundred and fifty persons received the Holy Communion, among whom were upwards of two hundred children of both sexes. At seven o'clock a very large number received the Sacrament of Confirmation at the hands of the Bishop. Before nine o'clock, when the bells tolled for HighMass the Catholic youths of St. Louis, with innocence and hilarity painted on their countenances, flocked from every avenue and ally to the church of St. Francis Xavier. The pewholders kindly retired to the galleries and side-aisles of the church leaving their places to the hundreds of children, that came forward with a holy enthusiasm to honour their Patron, and pour forth their humble prayers before the Altar of the benevolent Redeemer, who invites little children to come to Him. The number of children present was estimated at twelve hundred. The solemn High-Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Provincial of the Society of Jesus in Missouri, assisted by Deacon and SubDeacon; and after the Gospel, the Bishop delivered the panegyric of the Saint. Deep were the impressions, the Rt. Rev. Prelate made on the minds of the children, when he unfolded the virtues and pourtrayed the innocence of the " Angelic youth." After Mass about a thousand children of the Catholic day-schools of the city formed themselves into a procession, headed by their respective teachers. The train to the length of nearly half a mile, preceeded by an appropriate banner, paraded through the principal streets, and at noon retired, the girls to the female Orphan Asylum on Broadway-the boys to the country residence of Martin Thomas Esq., to partake of "the good things of this world," abundantly prepared for them by the liberality of the friends of religion and education. The afternoon was spent in innocent rejoicings. At six o'clock P. M. the children again marched in files to the church of St. Francis Xavier, to assist at the Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament, to renew their manifestations of honour to the Patron of youth, and to thank Him who is wonderful in his Saints.

ILLINOIS. On the 2nd of May, the corner stone of a new Church was solemnly laid by the Rev. J. Cotting, S. J., with permission of the Bishop, at Highland, Madison co., of this State. It is to be dedicated to Almighty God under the invocation of St. James; is destined to be of brick, 60 feet in length and 40 feet in bredth.

WISCONSIN TERRITORY.-The history of Catholicity is identified with the history of this Territory. Up to the year 1825 the only places of note were Green Bay, on Lake Michigan, and Prarie du Chien, on the Mississippi: the spot of the former was first explored by the Jesuit, Marquette, and that of the latter by the Franciscan, Hennepin. In the 1st volume of this periodical we gave a short outline of the settlements of Green Bay and its environs; we now intend to do so of Prarie du Chien. The French Government, as early as 1675, erected a military post near the mouth of the Wisconsin river, which caused several French families to settle in its neighbourhood, forming the nucleus of the village of Prairie du Chien (Dog-prairie.) In 1763,

this village with its post, together with Canada and the greater portion of Illinois, was ceded to the British Crown, and the Indian title to the lands was annulled by Governor Patrick Sinclair, by the treaty of Mackinaw, in 1781. Shortly after, in 1786, it was ceded by England to the United States, and remained in peaceful possession of the latter till the year 1812; at which time the newly erected fort, called Fort Crawford, together with the village, was taken by force of arms by the British, and remained in their hands until the peace of 1815, between England and the United States, was definitely concluded. At an early date a log church, under the invocation of the Archangel Gabriel, was erected in this town, which lately has been replaced by a beautiful brick building, perhaps the largest church in the Territory.

TENNESSEE.-Extracts of a letter from Nashville, dated June the 8th 1844, to the Editor of the Catholic Advocate: Dear Sir-Feeling assured that every thing in any wise connected with the advancement of our holy religion, especially in this beautiful, and until lately neglected, portion of the great vineyard, will prove acceptable to you and to the readers of your valuable journal, I hasten to lay before you some account of an event long to be cherished in fond remembrance by the Catholics of Nashville, and, indeed, of the diocese of Tennessee at large. So frequent of late have such occurrences become in different quarters of the Union, that an announcement of laying the corner stone of a Catholic church, has ceased, with the public generally, to attract more than a passing interest: but to the sincere and reflective Catholic wherever in our country he may be, whether in the immediate locality, or widely separated from it-upon the banks of the St. Lawrence, or of the great "father of waters" in the savannas of the south, or the prairies of the west, each fresh record of this kind not only affords a proof of the triumphant energy and perpetual durability of his time-tried religion, but it serves to remind him of the words of the Saviour, "and other sheep I have that are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." And to the fond father and mother whose journeyings have so often cast them where no light from the sanctuary could fall upon their path, how sweet and consoling the reflection that their offspring, with so many opportunities multiplying around them, will not be made to hunger and thirst as they often have after the bread of life and the fountain of living waters. On Thursday, the 6th inst., it fell to my lot as a sojourner in the south, to witness the ceremony of laying the corner-stone of the new Cathedral of St. Mary's on the fine lot recently purchased, on the corner of Summer and Cedar streets, and within a hundred yards or so of the projected Capitol, on Campbell's hill. The weather was delightfully fair, and at an early hour, a very large concourse of persons, comprising ladies and gentlemen of all denominations, and of the highest worth and respectability, had assembled on the ground. A platform was erected on an opposite side of the street, immediately in front of the residence of Maj. Graham, Ex. Comptroller of the State, a very worthy

gentleman of the Presbyterian persuasion, who kindly offered his house and its ample accommodations, for the use of the clergy and others. The ceremony was commenced by an address from the Rev. John Maguire, whose masterly treatment of his subject, kept the assembled multitude in profound attention for nearly an hour. At the conclusion of the discourse, the Right Rev. Dr. Miles, in the rich attire of his pontifical rank, preceded by the several clergymen, seminarists, and acolytes, walked in procession around the building invoking the blessing of God upon the temple to be erected to the honour and glory of His name

The novelty and imposing character of the ceremony elicited the greatest interest and attention; and it gives me pleasure to be able to state, that had the assemblage been composed wholly of members of our own communion, they could scarcely have observed more respect and decorum. Indeed, from the kind, liberal and enlightened feelings manifested by all denominations of Christians in this city towards each other, in all their intercourse, it can without any figure of speech or scruple of conscience, be truly denominated the "city of brotherly love." When you have learned that of the sum subscribed towards the erection of the new cathedral, by far the greater portion comes from Protestants, you will believe with me that the event which I have feebly recorded, is in many respects, one "long to be cherished in fond remembrance by the Catholics of Nashville." To the zeal, piety, and gentlemanly courtesy of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Miles, and the clergymen of his diocese, this state of things is entirely, under God, attributable. Cheered by his counsels and stimulated by his example, the counsels of age and experience, and the example of long years spent in the faithful performance of the duties of his ministry; the latter, principally young gentlemen, have gone forth full of promise and hope, to carry the manna of salvation and the oil of consolation, to the suffering and exposed members of the fold, in the scattered places of the land. May their blessed exertions be met, as they in a great measue have, by the corresponding operations of their spiritual childred: may they be rewarded, in seeing the seed which they sow shooting up, and ripening into life eternal.

It is designed to make the new church, in point of architectural beauty, not only a credit, but an ornament to the city. Its dimensions are 112 feet in length, 60 in width, with a spire of about 100 feet in height.

I intended to give you a detailed account of the other missions of the diocese, but the length to which this communication has already extended forbids me. I shall briefly observe that the Rev. Mr. Schacht is now building a very neat Gothic church in Clarksville, some twenty or thirty miles from this place. The site is an eligible one, in the centre of the town, and commanding a fine view of the river. Another one is being built in Humphrey county, on a tract of land purchased by the Bishop, where a great many Catholic families have already settled. In Franklin, 17 miles from this, a lot of ground, opposite the Episcopal church, has been purchased by two respectable members of the church, at their private expense. Here, too, a church will be erected ere long.

The Bishop returned a few weeks ago from a visitation through the eastern division of the State. At Jonesborough, 300 miles distant, he confirmed two of the family of Col. Eakin. He was highly edified by the piety and zeal of these new members of the church. The Rev. Mr. Howard has been stationed in this section of the diocese, as its pioneer missionary. The number of Catholics though not large, is respectable. And what will add to the arduousness of his mission, is, that they are scattered over twenty or thirty counties of the State. He carries with him to the mountains ardent zeal, and unaffected piety. Nor must I forget to mention the flourishing condition of St. Mary's Female Academy. This institution commenced, as you are aware, in the autumn of 1842, and is under the direction of seven Sisters of Charity. As the best proof of its prosperity, and of the high estimation in which it is held by the public, I need only mention that the number of pupils is eighty, and rapidly increasing. The course of instruction is extensive, embracing all the branches calculated to adorn, strengthen and beautify the female mind. Their success is richly merited.

MISSISSIPPI. New churches have been lately erected at Biloxi, in Jackson county, and at Pass Christian, in Hancock county in this State. At Yazoo City the choice of 4 or 5 lots has been offered to the Bishop of Natchez, and a subscription of more than $4000 raised for the purpose of erecting a Catholic church.

CINCINNATI. We learn from the Catholic Telegraph that the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, the St. Aloysian (German Catholic) Male Orphan Society, and the "Sisters of Our Lady" of that city, have all made recent purchases of valuable mansions and lots for the purpose of extending their respective fields of usefulness.

NEW ORLEANS.-We learn from a late number of the Propagateur Catholique, that the Supreme Court of Louisiana, has decided against the Trustees of the New Orleans Cathedral, in the suit for damages against Bishop Blanc. The bishop has issued a very interesting Pastoral Letter to the clergy and laity of the diocese, which, it is hoped, will be instrumental in establishing again that peace and harmony in the church of Louisiana, which have been so wantonly disturbed by a band of misguided Trustees.

CHARLESTON.-A Fair was lately held in this city, in behalf of the Sisters of Mercy, the nett proceeds of which amounted to $3705 61. A noble specimen of the liberality of the South.

PHILADELPHIA. On the 31st of May, the sacred order of deaconship was conferred by the Bishop, in the Cathedral, on Rev. William Harnett, O.S. A., and Rev. James Forbes.

On Trinity Sunday, Rev. James Forbes, Rev. Hugh Lane, and Rev. Hugh Brady, received the sacred order of Priesthood in the Cathedral. Very Rev. John Timon, Visitor of the Congregation of the Mission, preached on the occasion, and officiated as Archdeacon.-Cath. Herald.