to it, yet we must meet these falsehoods and calumnies, for by so doing we at the same time fight the modern anti-Christian spirit. Our enemies attempt to invent a distinction between religious and political Catholicism, but the two can never be separated from each other. 'Ultramontanism,' as they choose to dub political Catholicism, which upholds the interests of Catholics in public life, is a thorn in their side. Nothing is so hateful to them as the serried ranks of the Catholics, our self-conscious strength and the clear aims for which we are striving." The speaker claims for the Catholic clergy the right and the duty of taking part in the public life of Catholics, for it is surely their duty to defend the Church.

In this connection we are happy, by way of illustration, to repeat the report which Father Benno, the eloquent and popular Provincial of the Capuchins in Bavaria gives of an audience he had with the Holy Father. "My son,' said the Holy Father to me, 'do you go into the meetings of Catholic societies'? I said yes, and at that moment I felt very happy to be able to say yes, for I should have sunk under the floor with shame, if I had been obliged to say: 'No, Holy Father, I only go into the Church and for the rest I abide in my cell.' 'You do well,' said His Holiness, and continued: Some French bishops visited me lately and I said to them: Tell your clergy that they must not only preach, but must go among the people, seek the people where they are still to be found, gather them in Catholic societies, and thus restore Catholic life.' And the Holy Father dismissed me with these words: 'My son, you may repeat my words everywhere.'"'

Both at Wiesbaden and at Mainz earnest appeals were made on behalf of the Albertus Magnus Society in aid of Catholic lay-students at the Universities, a society founded only five years ago at Treves and already spread all over, Germany. We need not only priests, we also need Catholic physicians, lawyers, judges, government functionaries, gymnasium and university professors. "This is a matter of life and death to us," said Professor May at Mainz. And quoting the words of the Archbishop of Freiburg, he concluded: "The Albertus Magnus Society is only second to the Bonifatius Verein in importance. The early Christians melted down their sacred vessels to feed the poor. I love the beauty of the House of God, but many a costly article is procured for churches that is not absolutely necessary-let us rather give the money to the Albertus-Magnus-Verein."

University Students' Clubs.-The German Universities, as has been repeatedly stated in the Chronicle, are a great danger to the faith and morality of the young Catholics frequenting them. To minimize, as much as possible, these dangers, Catholic Students' Clubs have been established at all the universities under the common

motto

"Religion-Science-Friendship."

The German Catholics are very proud of their University Students and foster and encourage the clubs in every possible way. There exist altogether 128 of these clubs, united together in 10 federations or cartels. They count 5,074 members (including 392 in Switzerland and 174 in Austria). There are, besides, 11,675 honorary members, in student jargon Alte Herren (old gentlemen) or Philister. Among these are bishops and priests, parliamentarians, university professors, army officers, lawyers, physicians, etc., who, having during their university days belonged to the clubs, keep up the connection and are ever welcome visitors at the merry club reunions. Several periodicals are published in the interest of the Catholic Students' Clubs. The statutes of all the clubs strictly forbid duelling and other disorders, and insist upon the frequentation of the Sacraments. Students who are known to neglect these duties are expelled. In some universities, where the number of Catholic students is small, it required great moral courage to join a Catholic club and remain faithful to its statutes.

University Notes.-The inauguration of the new law faculty of the University of Münster was celebrated with great dignity and pomp on October 24-25 in the presence of the highest government functionaries and of delegates from all the other Prussian universities. The ceremonies were opened with solemn service in the Cathedral, and the inaugural discourse was delivered by the Rector Magnificus, Mgr. Dr. Schröder. The occasion was marked by the creation of a number of honorary doctors. Among these were the celebrated Father Denifle, O. P., author of the "History of Mediaval Universities," and Father Ehrle, S.J., Prefect of the Vatican Library, who received the degree of Doctor of Theology. The Dean of the new law faculty, Baron von Savigny, a son of one of the founders of the Centre-party, and several other Catholic professors received decorations from the emperor. The number of matriculated students during the last term was 877. The addition of the law faculty will raise it to above 1,000.

Professor Ehrhard, who has left the University of Vienna for Freiburg, as successor of the late Dr. Kraus in the chair of church history, gave his opening lecture on October 24. The lecture hall was overcrowded with eager students, and he was received with tumultuous demonstrations of welcome. "The position of a Catholic Professor of Theology," he said, "bears a twofold character: academic and ecclesiastical. As an academic office, it holds the same dignity and importance as any other university chair; as an ecclesiastical office, it receives its value from the Missio Canonica through the successors of the Apostles." After the customary eulogy of his predecessor he spoke of the threefold aim and object of the study of church

history in its bearing upon the intellect, upon the heart and upon action. "We must learn to understand the marvellous unfolding of ecclesiastical facts in their causes; we must unkindle in our hearts a warm love of the Church; we must equip ourselves to meet the assaults of our enemies, who in these days mainly draw their weapons from church history."

Congress of the German Colonial Society.-Berlin witnessed, from October 9-11, the first National Colonial Congress. The Centre-party in the Reichstag has always paid great attention to colonial affairs, primarily, but not exclusively, in the interest of the Catholic missions, and has thereby rendered the greatest services to the missions. One of the presidents of the Colonial Society is Prince Arenberg, a distinguished member of the Centre-party in the Reichstag. The Catholic missionary societies that labor in the German colonies were all worthily represented at the Congress: the White Fathers, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the Fathers of the Congregation of the Holy Ghost, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Pallotines, the Marists, the Benedictines, the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, the Society of the Divine Word (Societas Verbi Divini). Several of our Catholic missionaries made notable addresses, particularly on slavery, polygamy, Mahometanism, which were listened to with marked attention and caused lively discussion. Altogether, the Catholic missionaries were treated with great consideration and respect, especially by the government functionaries, and their presence made a great impression. The resolutions bearing on the missions, which were proposed by Prince Arenberg, were carried unanimously.

Death of Edmund Eirand.-Edmund Eirund, one of the founders of the Germania, and for more than thirty years the president of the Germania stock company, died on October 17, after a lingering illness. He was born in Berlin of pious Catholic parents, and for half a century, together with the late Friedrich von Kehler (MESSENGER, August, 1901, p. 762) was identified with the Catholic movement in the capital. To these two lay-apostles is owing, in large measure, the splendid organization and the healthy expansion of Catholic life in Berlin. His strong faith, tender piety and peerless courage ever urged him to make public profession of the faith that was in him and to defend the Church he loved so well. He shrank from no toil, no sacrifice, no persecution, in unfurling the Catholic banner and gathering others around it. He was a splendid popular speaker and when his kindling words would ring out in the meetings of Catholic workingmen, the listener was subdued by his power and confessed: "That man speaks from the innermost conviction of his soul." R. I. P.

Death of a Distinguished Convert.-Mr. George Gordon of Ellon, a cousin of the famous Gordon Pasha, died at Würzburg at the age of eighty-five. The deceased was for many years in the diplomatic service of his country and at one time held the position of British Minister at Athens. Years ago he left the Anglican communion and became a Catholic. His second wife, who survives him, was the Baroness von Beulwitz who, under the name of Emily Gordon, is a well-known and highly-esteemed Catholic writer. Mr. Gordon was a deeply religious and sincerely devout man and very charitable to the poor.

Election of a new Archbishop of Cologne.-On November 6th the Cathedral chapter of Cologne elected Dr. Anton Hubert Fischer to succeed the late Dr. Simar as Archbishop of Cologne. This election will doubtless be confirmed by the Holy See. Fears have been entertained by the Catholics that the Prussian government would again exert undue pressure upon the electors and force upon them its own candidate, as it did three years ago, but happily nothing of the kind was attempted this time, and the people of Cologne as well as the Catholic press are highly pleased with the result of the election.

Dr. Fischer was born on May 30, 1840, in the town of Jülich, in the archdiocese of Cologne, where his father was a school-teacher. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Bonn and Tübingen, entered the Seminary of Cologne in 1862 and was ordained the next

In Cologne he came under the influence of the celebrated Dr. Scheeben, the greatest theologian Germany produced in the nineteenth century. Soon after his ordination Dr. Fischer received the appointment of professor of religious instruction at the Gymnasium of Essen which position he held for more than twenty-five years. He was fond of teaching-it was a paternal inheritance— and in 1889 he was about to take the chair of Dogma at the University of Bonn, when, at the instance of Dr. Scheeben, Cardinal Krementz chose him as his Auxiliary-bishop. He was consecrated in 1889, and thus for thirteen years has been identified with the administration and has acquired a thorough acquaintance with all parts of the immense diocese and its clergy, nearly half of whom he has ordained. He has always taken the deepest and most active interest in all phases of the Catholic movement and is very much liked by the people. The motto inscribed in Bishop Fischer's coat of arms is: Omnibus prodesse, nemini obesse, which may be rendered in the English phrase that is familiar to all Americans :

"With malice toward none, with charity for all."

ENGLAND.

The Education Bill.-" Slow, but steady progress," is the news of the Education Bill: the ministry are loyally standing to their colors. They allow rational discussion, but not ill-intentioned obstruction. It is supposed that the bill will be law by the end of November; a motion to this effect was sustained by 222 to 103 voices. "Unfair attacks" on the measure have rallied the unionists to the government; it has been, in the words of Mr. Balfour, the object "of much controversy, much misrepresentation, much deliberate mendacity." The principle of the bill is clear and simple as its justice-that all national school work must be paid for by the nation, and that religious schools are to have just the same rights and favors as non-religious.

The essential character of the Bill-to defend denominational schools, has been firmly kept through all discussion and opposition, the appointment of teachers being left to the managers, while sufficient and efficient control is assured to the borough and county councils. There is one unfortunate amendment, now accepted by the government, according to which non-Catholic joint-managers of Catholic schools are enabled to interfere in religious teaching.

An amusing incident was the attempt to have the schools opened and closed with religious exercises. Mr. Balfour asked what religion would be taught? No one could tell, he said, what an undenominational religion was.

Death of the Bishop of Plymouth.-Bishop Vaughan died at the end of October, at the age of eighty-eight years, after nearly fifty years of episcopate. He had been practically inactive for eleven years, a coadjutor having been given him. Educated at Stonyhurst, St. Acheul, and Oscott, he became second Bishop of Plymouth. The deceased prelate was uncle to Cardinal Vaughan.

The Schools of the Archdiocese of Westminster.-According to the last diocesean Report, there are 225 parochial schools, with an average attendance of 25,480 children; twelve poor law schools, with 1,803 children; four industrial, with 595; one reformatory, with 155; and thirteen orphanages, with 1,002. In all, 31,911 children. Over 4,000 of the children are Protestant. The number of religious teaching has been increased, and their work and influence are warmly praised. The Hammersmith Training College "has made progress in every way during the past year, and the Vincentian Fathers are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts to promote good order and the spirit of study in the students, whose number is steadily increasing." The examiner notices the many changes in thirty-two years, and the changes have been in the way of improvement, except