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The Rev. Mr. Wackerbarth, whose Tuba Concordia we printed in a late number, lately made his abjuration of Protestantism, and was received into the Catholic Church at Grace Dieu Manor, by the Rev. Dr. Gentili. Paragraphs have been lately making the round of the newspapers, that Mr. Sibthorp, and other recent converts from the Established Church, have been ordained priests, and these paragraphs have been copied into some Catholic periodicals, without remark, as if correct. Now it so happens that no such ordinations have taken place, and it is contrary to rule to ordain converts, however learned or well instructed, till they go through a prescribed course of study, which in some cases may occupy years. Mr. Sibthorp has, we believe, been ordained sub-deacon, but this is all.

LIVERPOOL. The annual dinner for the benefit of the Catholic Benevolent Society of this town, took place on the 23d November, Lord Clifford in the chair. ROCHDALE. On the 23d November, the brethren of the Holy Guild of St. John supped at the Nelson Inn, in celebration of their first annual meeting. Query. Was this the practice in days of yore amongst the members of this ancient and holy brotherhood?

LONGHERSLEY.-Tho new Catholic chapel erected at Longhersley, Northumberland, was opened on the 23d of November.

WOOLWICH.-The Right Rev. Dr. Griffiths administered the sacrament of confirmation here on Sunday the 21st November. Upwards of seventy persons, including several converts, were confirmed.

STOCKTON-ON-TEES.-The Catholics of this town have established a Holy

Guild.

BARTON-ON-IRWELL.-The Guild of All Saints has published its annual report, which is very encouraging. The receipts for the year amount to £69 9s. 8d. Disbursements £22, leaving a balance in hand of £47 9s. 8d. We are happy to state, that the zealous pastor of Barton is about to establish a branch of the Catholic Institute.

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE.-The first annual meeting of the Holy Guild of St. Joseph and our Blessed Lady was held on the 15th of November, when a report was read. The subscriptions for the year amount to £61 9s. 4 d., the disbursements to £34 5s. 2d. We trust that the formation of a branch of the Catholic Institute will soon follow.

NORTH SHIELDS.-A meeting of the branch of the Catholic Institute for this place was held on the 21st November, at which the Rev. T. Gillow presided. The meeting was addressed by the rev. and worthy chairman in support of the objects of the Institute.

OPENING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST. MARY'S, WARWICK BRIDGE, CUMBERLAND. On Wednesday, the 24th of November, this beautiful edifice, after being blessed according to the rites of the Church, was opened for divine service. The ceremony excited much interest in the neighbourhood, and we congratulate the worthy incumbent, the Rev. William Ryan, upon seeing the small and incommodious building which before existed, replaced through his exertions, by one in every respect worthy its high and holy destination.

The design of the new Church was supplied by Mr. Pugin, and is an exact model of the parish churches of the thirteenth century. On the south side as you approach, a beautifully worked cemetery cross with the stoup for holy water, and steps where the suppliant to the throne of grace may kneel under the symbol of man's redemption, meets the eye; whilst over the porch as you enter the house of prayer, the venerable figure of Saint Paulinus recals to memory the early triumphs of Christianity in this island.

It had been originally intended that the church should be consecrated, but the lamented illness of the Right Rev. Dr. Mostyn, Bishop of Abydos, and

Vicar Apostolic of the district, necessarily caused that august ceremonial to be delayed. On the occasion which we now commemorate a large body of the Catholic Clergy were present, and at eleven they formed in procession, and proceeded from the house of the priest to the church.

Three copes used in the procession were of great antiquity, having belonged to Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, who was beheaded by Henry VIII, and are consequently older than the Reformation.

A processional cross, borne by the Rev. William Ryan, with the representation of the Crucifixion, with the blessed Virgin and St. John, formed a striking object in the procession; on the centre of the cross of the chasuble worn by the celebrating priest was a symbolic representation of the Lamb in high embossed silver. The dalmatics worn by the deacon and subdeacon were of gold tissue embroidered. The Rev. William Riddell officiated as high priest; the Rev. T. Brown, of Minsteracres, as Deacon; and the Rev. Joseph Culler, of Carlisle, as Sub-deacon; the Reverends Joseph Marshall, Gregory Holden, and George Leo Haydock, were in copes. The Rev. John Strain, of Dalbeattie, (N.B.), acted as ceremonarius", or director of the ceremonies; and the undernamed were vested in surplices and stoles: the Reverends J. O. Orrell, of Felton Park; Michael Singleton, of Hexham; Brown, of Bellingham; Sanderson, of Maryport; Sutton, of Workington; J. B. Thomas, of Cowpen, Northumberland; James Duck, of Whitehaven; Lowe, of Morpeth; E. J. Kelly, of Wigton; G. Caldwell, of Liverpool; and P. Allanson, of Swinburn Castle.

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The choir from Hexham was in attendance. The day was in the morning overcast, but it was observed that just as the celebrating priest at High Mass was about to intone the Gospel, a brilliant and fervid ray of sunshine streaming through the windows of stained glass lighted up the beautifully decorated chancel, and displayed in all its majesty the roodloft, the groined roof, and graceful tracery of each gothic arch.

The Rev. George Caldwell, of Liverpool, delivered a discourse, characterized by all his wonted power and eloquence, which produced, as our contemporary the Carlisle Journal testifies, "a very deep impression upon his audience."

Before the elevation, the strains of the choir were hushed, and the solemn tones of the sante or sacring bell, which tolled thrice, had a peculiarly thrilling effect.

The Te Deum was chanted at the conclusion of the service, and the procession forming in the same order as on entering the church, wound its way to the pastor's house, who had there provided a handsome collation, of which, Mr. and Mrs. Howard of Corby, Mrs. Fairbairn of Bochardby, P. H. Howard, Esq. M.P., and many visitors, partook.

FRANCE.

DEATH OF THE BISHOP OF HERMOPOLIS.-This celebrated prelate, better known as the Abbé Frayssinous, departed this life on the 12th ult. at St. Genies (Aveyron), aged 78. Mgr. Frayssinous began his studies at the College of the Jesuits, at Rodez, and was one of the best scholars of a class who have done honour to that department. On leaving college he was sent to Paris,

*These interesting relics (i.e. the copes) of times long past, had descended by inheritance to Mr. Howard, the venerable owner of Corby Castle, now in his 85th year, and who has been a munificient contributor to the erection of the Church of St. Mary's, Warwick Bridge, a structure which forcibly exemplifies the revived taste for Ecclesiastical architecture.

where he commenced his ecclesiastical studies. Having been ordained priest, he exercised his functions in one of the parishes of the diocese of Rodez, undisturbed during the horrors of the great revolution. A series of events led him to the pulpit of St. Sulpice, at Paris, from which he delivered, to crowded and admiring audiences, those celebrated conferences against the infidelity of the age, which have made his name illustrious. These conferences, at least the greater part of them, appeared a few years ago in an English dress, in two volumes, having been translated by a Protestant gentleman of the name of Jones; and we are happy to state that a third volume is contemplated by Mr. Tilt, formerly a minister of the Established Church, who many years ago became a convert to our holy faith, and whose intimate knowledge of French, from a long residence at Paris, is a sufficient guarantee for its accuracy.

BORDEAUX.-Père Lacordaire has preached with great success the Advent. at Bordeaux. The Memorial Bordelais says that it is quite impossible, in writing, to give their readers an idea of the sublime and splendid conference upon the creation of the world.

SPAIN.

For years, the falsely so-called liberals of Spain have been endeavouring to crush the Church of that once truly Catholic country, and to trample its clergy in the dust. Not content with robbing the Church of its property, and pillaging the monastic institutions, they have connived at, if not instigated, the murder of their peaceful inmates in cold blood. Almost every arrival from that illfated country brings us details of the most revolting enormities against religion, committed, in great measure, under the garb of authority. It is evident that, unless a speedy change take place-a change which shall drive the infidel rulers of Spain from their usurped posts-religion will suffer as it did in France when the Goddess of Reason was set up to atheistical adoration, by the madmen or fools who said in their hearts that there was no God. The clergy, we are happy to say, appear to be standing firm; and as they alone present an obstacle to the wicked designs of the government, an attempt is to be made to subject them to absolute control,-or, failing in this, to get rid of them altogether. Accordingly, by a circular dated the 14th ultimo, the Spanish government prescribes the rigorous execution of a royal order of 26th November, 1835, hitherto but little acted upon, by which the archbishops, bishops, prelates, chapters and corporations, before conferring a benefice, or any living in the Church, are required to have a certificate of the good political conduct of the candidate, signed by the civil-now the political-chief of the province, laid before them; which certificate shall bear that the candidate has given a decided adhesion to the legitimate government; "an adhesion manifested," says the circular, "by acts so positive and conclusive, as to leave no room for doubt." The political chiefs are required to proceed with circumspection, and to take the opinion of the municipalities and provincial deputations, as to the statements of the candidates. The circular further directs that ecclesiastics presently exercising their functions, shall be suspended, if they do not present to the diocesan the required certificates within fifteen days. What the acts are by which a decided adhesion to the infidel government on the part of the candidates for a living in the Church is to be manifested, may be easily guessed, involving, as they do, a participation in an approval of the nefarious acts of the government towards the Church,-not the least of which is the present audacious attempt to suspend the functions of the priesthood, which are exclusively spiritual, and with which no temporal authority can interfere, without committing sacrilege. We shall await with anxiety, but not without hope, the result of this fresh struggle between infidelity and Christianity.

MAHON.-The English consul at this port has abjured Protestantism, and has been received into the Catholic Church.

EAST INDIES.

AGRA. A correspondent of the Catholic Herald of Calcutta states, that on the 1st of last September two ladies, viz. Mrs. Mary Ann Burnes and Miss Elizabeth Sloss, abjured Protestantism, and were received into the Catholic Church by the Rev. Fr. Francis de St. Etienne. Another correspondent writes, that the unremitting and zealous labours of the highly gifted prelate Dr. Borghi has already effected great good among the Catholic community at Agra. Father Pezzoni still continues his onerous duty of expounding the Scriptures, exhorting and advising the native portion of the congregation. This learned divine has translated the four Gospels, a great portion of the lives of the Saints, and many other useful works of piety, into the Oordoo language, in which he is proficient. Three of the priests lately arrived from Europe have left Agra : their destinations are Patna, Gevalior, Bettia and Sirdhana.

On the 2nd of August, a meeting of the Catholics of Agra was held at the episcopal residence, at which the Right Rev. Dr. Borghi presided, when a society was established, under the title of "The Agra Catholic Association," of which the Right Rev. the Bishop has consented to be patron. The object of this society is "the promotion of the interests of the Catholic religion" in Agra and the adjoining provinces. With this view, a branch of the Calcutta Catholic Book Society is to be opened at Agra, and a periodical will be published there as soon as the state of the funds will permit, on the plan of the Bengal Catholic Herald.

MADRAS.-In our last number we gave a copy of an address to his eminence the Prefect of the Propaganda by the Catholic inhabitants of the united vicariate of Madras and Meliapore, expressive of their esteem for the Right Rev. Dr. Carew, and regret at his departure to Bengal, a copy of which address, and of resolutions adopted by the Catholics of Madras, were transmitted to his lordship. The following is Bishop Carew's answer:

"Calcutta, August 2nd, 1841.

"Very Rev. dear Sir,-I have received the duplicate copy of the letter of the Catholics of Madras to his eminence the Cardinal Prefect, together with that of the resolutions adopted also by the Catholics of Madras on the occasion of my appointment to the Apostolic Vicariate of Bengal.

"As you have been so kind as to forward these documents to me, I desire to avail myself of your good offices to return my grateful acknowledgments to the Catholic community of Madras.

"In their letter to the Cardinal Prefect, the Catholics of Madras ascribe much of the beneficial results of my ministry to the strict and rigid discipline which, from a sense of duty, I undeviatingly enforce.

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'It is very gratifying to me to know, that they unanimously acknowledge that no motive but that of a sense of duty influenced me in the discharge of the sacred trust reposed in me.

"If the discipline I enforced was undeviatingly strict and rigid, it was because the circumstances of the Church over which I presided demanded that it should be such. It was by this course only that I could hope to raise the standard of Catholicity, to display in their true light to our separated brethren the faith and morality of the Church, and to establish among my flock that order and subordination without which our holy religion never can prosper. "To plant and to water the seed of sound doctrine was my duty, and that of the laborious and talented priests who laboured together with me. To God alone it belonged to give the increase. That blessing he has mercifully vouchsafed to grant;-the evidence of it is visible in the multitudes who now regularly frequent the Catholic churches of Madras,—in the numbers of those who have been called from heathenism and error of every kind into the admirable

light of truth,—in the churches, the convent, the orphanage, the schools, and other similar institutions which have been recently erected at Madras.

"In promoting all these good works, I have always found the Catholics of Madras, particularly those whose resources were moderate, zealous, and, for their means, generous co-operators.

"Their co-operation I highly appreciated, because the whole tenor of their conduct and conversation being ever in conformity to the holy faith which they professed, must, I felt assured, be accompanied with the benediction of heaven.

"With respect to the resolution of the Catholics of Madras to raise a subscription in order to testify their kind feelings towards me, I must beg of you, dear sir, to suspend at once any proceeding of this nature. It is enough, that my late flock retain such a recollection of my ministry as is at once both gratifying to me, and conducive to the welfare of religion. I cannot consent that they should encroach on resources which are so much required to provide, in a becoming way, for their excellent clergy, and for the support of their numerous institutions.

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Commending myself to your pious prayers, and to those of the clergy and faithful under your care,

'I remain, Very Rev. dear Sir, yours faithfully in Christ, "P. J. CAREW,

"Bishop of Philadelphia, and Vicar Apostolic of Bengal." To the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Vicar General of Madras.

CALCUTTA. An asylum for widows has been commenced at Calcutta by the Right Rev. Dr. Carew, to be named "THE CALCUTTA WIDOWS' ASYLUM." The administration is to be vested in a committee of widows and married ladies. The idea of this establishment originated with Mrs. Lackersteen, a pious and exemplary lady, who has done much for the poor of Calcutta.

MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE.

(The following should have appeared in our October number.)

The marriage of Henry Francis Howard, attached to Her Majesty's legation at Berlin (second son of Henry Howard, of Corby Castle), to Marie Ernestine, fourth daughter of the late Baron Von der Schulenberg, of Primern, was celebrated at the Catholic church of St. Hedwig, Berlin, on the 30th of August 1841. The senior chaplain, Mr. Bartmann, officiated on the occasion, and gave the nuptial benediction.

There were present at the marriage-the Baroness von der Schulenberg (the mother of the betrothed); her three eldest brothers; the Count and Countess Alvensleben de Errleben (her sister); Isabella and Adela Howard, children of Mr. Henry Howard; Lord William Russell, minister at the court of Prussia; Sir George Hamilton, secretary,—and Lord Augustus Loftus, attached to the legation. The party, embracing many of the numerous connections of the Schulenbergs, afterwards assembled at the house of the bride's mother, where they partook of a handsome entertainment, at which Lord William Russell proposed the health of the married couple, who started at five o'clock in the evening for Potsdam, on their route to England.

The bride was attired in a white silk dress, trimmed with blonde; and wore a rich parure of diamonds. According to the old German custom, her head was encircled with a wreath of myrtle, which supported the veil, and was interspersed with roses of diamonds. It may interest some of our readers to know that, in Germany, the lady and gentleman exchange rings, and is there worn by the lady on the third finger of her right hand, instead of the left.

RICHARDS, PRINTER, 100, ST. MARTIN S LANE.

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