THEGOODHATSARE."
Pope'sReliefReaches
FamishingRussia
PAPALFLAGFLYINGINPETROGRAD.
Aspecialcorrespondentofthe"CatholicHerald"writes:
RelieffromthePopefurthestarvingmillionsofRussiahasreachedthat country. Weareablethisweektopresentour readerswithavividpenpictureofthe openingofthefirstkitchenbytheCatholicMission,togetherwithadescriptionoftheawfulconditionspre veilinginthatstrickenland.
"Youknowthatasele2tcompany ofzealousmensentbyUsdistributes foodandmedicinean-Iclothestoall theneedyinRussia.withoutdistinctionofreligionorexceptionofperson orotherdistinctionbutthatofthe greatestnecessityorindigence."PopePiusXI.inhisallocution. Moscow,Dec.13.
Forthefirsttimeincenturiesthe PapalflagandthePapalcoatofarms, thecrossedkeysofPets:-surmounted bythePapalTiara,maybeseenflying freelyinthestreetsofMoscow,Petrograd.Krassnodar,Rostovon-Don,and indozensoftownsandvillagesofthe Crimea. InresponsetothearealmaderecentlybythePopeandpublishedexclusivelyinourcolumns.insofaras thePressofthiscountryisconcerned, fundsforthef.athslisReliefMission havebeencontribt:tlfromallquartersoftheworld.andarenowbeing administeredinRussiabyspecialre presentativesofhisHolinesschosen fromdifferentnations.
FourDistributingStations.
ThepersonnelofthePapalRelief Missionatpresentiscomposedofthe followingmembers:ProfessorEdmund A.Walsh,Director-General(America): AristideA.Simonetti,Representative, Moscow(Italy);PierreCziguth,Assistant,Moscow(Italy):GiosueConti. Assistant.Moscow(Italy))Edward Gehrman,Representative.Crimea (Germany):JosephFeikus,Assistant, Crimea(Germany);NikomedeDohnert,Assistant.Crimea(Germany); PedroVoltas,Representative,Rostov (Spain);AngeloElorz.Assistant.Rostov(Spain):JeanCapellos,Representative,Krassnodar(Greece);DomenicoPiemonte.Representative.KrassnodarItaly):JosefBelokostolsky,Assistant.Krassnodar(Czecho-Slovakia.: LouisJ.Gallagher.Secretary/America). Assistedbyacorpsts:.Russianemployeesclerks,interpreters,translators, typists.warehousemanagers,chauffeurs,andsuchindispensableadjuncts ofanoperationwhichmustbeconductedonbusinesslinesinvolvingas itdoes,thepurchase,shipment.insurance.storageandwidedistributionof thousandsoftonsoffoodstuffsthe PapalReliefMissionhasestablished fourmaindistributingstations.viz: MoscowforNorthernandCentral Russia:Eupatria,ontheBlackSea,for theCrimea:Rostov,wheretheriver DonemptiesintotheSeaofAzov.for theCossackcountry:andKrassnodar forKubanandNorthCaucasus.
7,000.000FacingStarvation.
TheVaticanAgreement,signedin RomebythePapalSecretaryofState andtheRomanRepresentativeofthe Soviets,guaranteesthePapalRelief Missionalltherightsandprivilegesaccordedtoforeignrelieforganisations nowoperatinginRussia.AttherequestoftheSovietGovernment,the firstCatholickitchenwasopenedin Crimea,wheretheneedisparticularly urgent,ashalfthepopulationarein diredistress.
Inallitisestimatedthat7,000,1100 Russianswillbefacingdeathfrom starvationduringthewinter.There isnolongertalkofsurplusbutof seriousshortage,especiallyin*math RussiaandtheCrimea. Althoughthemagnificentworkof theAmericanReliefAdministration hasconqueredthefamineintheVolgar region.neverthelessdrought,cropfailuresandthegeneraldemoralisation followingthesocialupheavalinRussiaarealreadybeginningtocause deathsfromstarvationitstheCrimea. Consequently,uponthearrivalofthe PapalMission,stepsweretakenat oncetoopenpublicfeedingstationsat Eupatoria.DevastatedCity.
Eupatoria,oneofthewell-known portsonthewestcoastofCrimea,originallycountedsomethinglike40,000 inhabitants,andstillshowsignsofits formerprosperity.Butto-daythe inhabitantsdonotnumbermorethan 12,000andtheruinedhouses,villas, andpublicbuildingsaremuteremindersofthes,uccessivewavesofinvasion thathavesweptovertheplaceduring thepasteightyears.Crumblingruins aboundespeciallyintheTartarsec' tion,wherethemiserablesurvivorscf warandfaminehavestrippedtheir poordwellingsofeverystickofavailablewoodinordertoprovidefirewood forthewinter.
Alongthecurvingbeach,oncecutssideredamongthefavouriteRussian watering-places,stillstandsmanea whitestonevillaandrichmansion. Buttheyaredesertednow,gatiat skeletons,rooflessandwindowless,the emptywindowspacessilhouetted againsttheskylikethestaringeyesocketsofahumanskull.
TheFirstKitchen.
Aftermuchpreliminarylabourspent infindingsuitablelodgingsforthe membersoftheMissionand caw structingthenecessarykitchens.where eventhestovesandovenshadtobe installed,thelongexpecteddayof openingarrivedadaydestinedto bringgreatjoyandhappinesstothou. sandsofhalfstarvedchildren,who hadalmostforgottenthetasteofwhite breadandwholesomefood.
CookingCauldronsFromNavalMines. Thecauldronsthatwerefilledfor thefirsttimethatmorningwithsoup. cereals,andotherwholesomefoodfor thethousandexpectantchildrenwho gatheredanhourinadverse:.before thedoor,havethemselvesanintorestingpedigree.Theseutensilsarethe coveringsofRussiannaval minesthathavebeensweptupfront thewatersoftheBlackSea.They havebeenshapedintohugecoialcing vessels.Amatscouldbedrowned inthelargestofthem.
Itwasoneofthemanydutiesofthe DirectoroftheCatholicMissionto scourthebeachincompanywiththe localrepresentativeoftheSovietGovernmentinsearchofsuitableminesfor thepeacefulpurposetowhichthese enginesofdestructionhavefinally come.
ExpressionofGratitude. Inthepresenceofmembersofthe localgovernment,townsfolk,andmembersoftheMissiontheformalopeningofthefirstCatholickitchenits Russiatookplace.Festivegarlands andsimplegreenboughshadbeen hungbytheenthusiasticemployees. Overthetablewherethebreadis distributedhangsacrayonportraitof HisHoliness,PopePiusXLdepicted intheactofblessingtheassembledmultitudeandthelongfilesofchildren passingbeneath.
Itistheworkofanancientartist,a manwhoattheageofseventy-five, blindofoneeye,andweakenedalmost toexhaustionbytheprivationsofthe pastfreeyears,stillcontrivedtosketch aportraitofhisHolinessfromapordinarynewspaperprint.Itwasan expressionofgratitudetotheiraugust benefactorbeyondtheDardanelles. SymbolofFaith. Thechildrenpresentedapathetic sight.Inrags,manyofthembarefootedandemaciated,showingevident signsofthemiserytowhichRussian signsofthemiserytowhichRussian childrensucceedastoagrimheritage thesedays,thisvariegatedassemulage ofRussians,Tartars.andArmenians mightwellserveasacross-ectionof contemporaryRussianlife.
Yetunderandthroughitallflashed occasionalrevelationsoftheintrinsic dignityofthehumansoul.andat,appreciationoftruespiritualvalues whichthetrueRussian,inallhis agonyandabandonment,hasnever quiteforgotten.Youngfacesareoid itsRussia,butitisrarelythatonesees aRussianchildwithoutasimple cross,thesymbolofitsfaith,hung aboutitsneck. Dominatedasthisnationhasbeen forfourawfulyearsbytheone'deo ofself-preservationitstheform'of materialbreadforgnawingstomachs, thegreatmassesofthepeoplehaee preservedtheirfaithandthemysticismoftheSlay.
Ithasbaffledeveryattemptofthe mostradicalexponentsofCommunism toeradicateit.Ithasproved,ascne writerhasrecentlysaidinspeaking ofRussia,thatthehumanspiritis greaterandstrongerthaaallthecombinedforcesofbrutematter.
Despitetherepeatedattacksofa professedlyatheisticstateandinthe faceofsuchslogansas"Religionis opiumtothepeople"placardedonthe wallsofgovernmentbuildings,onedetectsagrowingelevationandpurificationofspiritintheRussia'speople especiallyintheirwritersandpoets. Thisrenaissanceofspiritualityhasalreadyattractedtheattentionofthe literaryandcriticalworld,andithas quitedefinitelyattractedtheattentionoftheSovietGovernment. Twohundredintellectualleaders havebeennamedfurbanishment,the firstcontingentofeightyhavingalreadybeetsexiled. GratefulChildren.
Whenthefirstmealhadbeendistributed,theChiefoftheCrimeanDivisionoftheCatholicMission,Edward Gehrmap,addressedtheattentivechildren.Afterurgingthemtobeprompt inattendanceandtoobservetie:few disciplinaryrulesofthekitchen,the speakerendedbysaying:
"Thusweshallallworktogetherso thatthenumberofchildrenmayincreaseinthisandinourotherkitchens,andthusmoreandmareRussianchildrenwillbesavedfromdeath byhungerandmadestrongand healthybythelovingcareofour FatherinRome.",
ThelocalrepresentativeoftheSovietGovernmentrespondedwithan addressofwelcomeonbehalfofthe MoscowGovernment,andterns:rated hisremarksbybiddingthechildren showtheirgratitudetoPopePiusXI. byagainapplauding.Thistheydid withmuchgustototheaccompani: mentofrattlingspoons,andthewavingoftheirpitifultincupsandplates. ThusbegantheworkofCatholic ReliefinCrimea.aworkwhichembraced5,000childrenwithinashort time,andisnowbeingrapidlyextendeduntilitwillembracesome35.000 childrenitsNorthernCrimea. Over2,000,000Orphans.
Similarreliefoperationshavebeen inauguratedatRostov-ots-Don,Krassnodar.andMoscow.AtRostov1.500 refugeesarebeingfeddailybytheCatholicMission.Thesewretchedwanderers.theflotsamandjetsamofhumanity.menwomen.andchildrenof allnationalitiesandtypes.fleeingfrom theCaucasus.Astrachan.andDaghestan,andheadedfortheyknownot whither.butonlyawayfromthe hauntingspectreofdeathbystarvation,arehereconcentratedinahuge field.andfedbythecharityofhis Holiness.
FrenchGovernments' ReligiousPolicy
Inthecourseofthediscussionofthe interpellationsonthegeneralpolicy ofthegovernmentintheChamberof Deputies,M.Poincarewasledtodefinebrieflythereligiouspolicyofhis Cabinet.M.Mandel,deputyofthe DepartmentoftheGirondeandformer politicalsecretaryofM.Clemenceau, reproachedhimfornotgivingsufficientinformationconcerningthenegotiationsbeingcarriedon"inthe shadowoftheVatican." M.Poincarerepliedthattheconversationrelativetothediocesanassociationswasnotengaged"intheshadow" oftheVatican.butthatitwasinitiatedin1920byM.Briandimmediately aftertheintroductionofthebillfor there-establishmentoftheEmbassy totheVatican,whichwasexplainedby M.BriandtotheSenateatthetime. ExcerptsFromDebate. ThefollowingexcerptsfromtheofficialproceedingsintheChamberare interesting: M.Poincare:"IleBriand)declared thatthelawsontheseparationwould notbemodified,butthatwithinthe limitoftheselaws,especiallythelaw of1905,hedesiredthatassociationsbe constitutedwhichwouldinsureamore stableexerciseofreligiousworship. CertainmembersoftheFrenchHierarchyshowedtheirpreferencefordifferentcombinations.basedeitheron thelawconcerningsyndicatesorthe lawonassociations.Onaccountof thesedifferences.theHolySeehasdelayedtheexaminationofthequestion. Itintendstotakeitupagainsoonwith thedesireofbringingaboutanacceptablesolution." AbbeLemire:"Wehavebeenwaitingforitalungtime.\Vhatwewant isreligiouspeace."(Applausefrom severalbenchesoftheright,thecentreandtheleft.)
M.Poincare:"Iwishwithyouforan earlyandfavourablesolutioninthe interestsofreligiouspeace.Forthe time,nothinghasbeendecided.The Cabinetholdstotheactionanddeclarationofitspredecessors.Thegovernmentdesirestoprotectequallythefull libertyofworshipandtheloyalobservanceofthelaws.Duringthewar itwasgiventometoobservemore thanonce,atthefront,themagnificent exampleofthisreligiouspeaceof whichM.Lemirehasspoken?' AbbeLemire:"Andofwhichshall speakuntilmylastday.Religious peaceisthebasicofnationalpeace.It isasacitizenattachedtotheRepublicthatIdesirethatourpriestsberespectedlikeallothercitizens.Weask nothingmore.Libertyisenoughfor us.Onthedaywhenitshallhave beetsobtainedyoumaybelievethat ourclergywillgivetoFrancetheexampleofattachmenttotheRepublic." (Applause.)
M.Poincare:"Thereceptiongiven tothenoblewordsofM.Lemireproves thatthegreaternumberofthemembersoftheAssemblyareitssympathy withhisdesire.Inthenameofthe government1declarethatIassociate myselfwithitwithallmy-heart.I cannotrecallwithoutdeepemotionthe magnificentspectacleofnationalunity thatpresenteditselftomeahundred timesduringthewar,inthearmy. whenIsawCatholicpriests.Protestantpastors.andrabbisfightingside byside."(Applause.)
comrades.Andthisvisionofa Franceinwhichallcreedsdweltin harmony,shouldnotbeallowedto vanish.'(Applause.)
"Freedomofconscienceisthemost sacredfreedom,andasM.Clemenceau saidinhisspeedsatStrasburg,'withoutittheRepublicwouldbenothing butalie!'"(Applause.)
SOCIETYOFST.VINCENTdePAUL.
Theusualmonthlymeetingofthe ParticularCouncilwillbeheldon Mondaynext.the12th.inst.Atthe lastmeetingitwasdecidedtoatonce commencegatheringinthenecessary fundstoprovideabursaryforthe priesthood,anditishopedthatwithinashorttimethesocietywillbe abletoannouncethatthebursaryis available. Thequarterlygeneralmeetingwill beheldattheCathedralonSunday, the18th.inst.,atwhichhisGracethe Archbishophasgraciouslypromised tobepresentandtoperformtheceremonyofthesolemnconsecrationof thesocietytotheSacredHeart.,This isbeingdonewhereverthesociety existsallovertheworldaboutthis time,andthemembersconjointlyexpectthatagreatincreaseofzealand usefulnesswillresultfromtheceremonytobeperformedbyhisGraceon nextSundayweek.Itisexpected thateverymemberofthesocietyin themetropolitanareawillbepresent andjoinintheActofConsecration,as itwillhethemostsolemnandimportantfunctionyethelditsconnection withthesocietyinthisState. Undertheauspicesofthesociety, the"Kookaburra"MinstrelandNoveltyCompanywillvisittheWooroloo SanatoriumonSaturdaynext.the10th inst.andcheerthesickthereby meansofoneoftheirexcellentperformances.
ThomsonsLtd.
DaughtersofBanba.ByMrs.Thos. Concannon.Price,13/6,postfree. MyChangelessFriend.ByRev.F. P.LeBuffe.S.J.7Vols.Price,1/10. postfreeeachvolume. TheValuesEverlasting.ByRev. E.FGaresche,S.J.Price,8/4,post free.
BEYOUROWNBOSS-
LEARNMotorandTractorBusiness. -Don'tstayalow-paymanwishing foragoodsteadyincometocorns throughluckybreaks.
Inalargebuildingformerlyusedby theMayorofEupatoriaastheCity HallthemembersoftheMiss:onhad causedtwolargehallstobeprepered cleaned,andwhitewashedawlfurnishedwithsimpletablesandbenches.At oneendofthemainhallisasmaller connectingroom,whereonemorning recentlythreehugecauldronsbegan tosimmeroveraroaringsvocelfire. thewooditselfhavingbeenobtained bythedemolishingofanunusedbuild-
InMoscow.theCatholicMissionis aidingtheSovietGovernmenttocope withoneofthemostappallingproblemsofpost-warconditions,thecare oforphansandabandonedchildren. TheDirectoroftheCatholicMission wasrecentlyinformedbytheSoviet Governmentthatsomethinglike 2.225.000childrenarenoworphansand homelessinRussia.Ofthese,there arc40,000itsMoscowalone.Every nightdozensofthesehomelesswatts aregatheredupfromthestreetsand ing. broughttocentral"Collectors"or
IronicalThrustatPainleve. Thecentreandtherightgaveyour siderableapplausetothisparticular message.asthoughtoemphasisethe rebukegiventoformerMinisterPain. herewhorecentlycriticisedtherole oftheclergyinthewar. .11.Ruellan, deputyfromBrittany.andbrotheror apriestkilledatthefront,shoutedto M.Poincare:"M.Painlevewascertainlynotwithyou" M.Poincare:"Whenhewasthere. hecertainlysharedmyemotion."(Interruptionsfromtheright.,"Ispoke ofpastorsrabbis,andCatholicpriest-. butIdonotforgetthatwiththese representativesofvariousfaithsther.. mayhavebeen'poilus'attachedtono positivecreed.WhatIknowisthat theyrespectedthereligionoftheir