of long continuance. All-powerful over the mind of Kinau, Bingham perseveringly excited him against the Catholics. The American missionaries had, moreover, received a reinforcement. Those sectarians were to the number of 143 in the archipelago, in the month of July, 1835. The kumucks, or subaltern rulers, were still more numerous. As early, therefore, as the month of June, the persecution was renewed, to compel the attendance of the neophites at the schools and meeting-houses of the Protestants. Luke was one of the first arrested. Led to the fort and put in irons, he was only released from prison after the payment of twenty-five dollars. Never Two aged Christians, named Kilina and Lahina, were also thrown into prison for refusing to embrace Bingham's religion, and to attend the Methodist prayers. They were compelled to collect, with their hands, the soil of the guards. and of the prisoners of the fort, and to carry them to the sea. During this revolting labour they were subjected to the insults of the mob. Most of the natives would have hailed death as a release from such severe trials. theless, the women obeyed without a murmur, saying that their souls belonged to God, and that they willingly sacrificed their bodies provided they remained faithful to the Lord. The natives are divided in opinion in their regard. By some they are treated as idolators; others are edified by the firmness of these poor women. Many have been so affected at it as to solicit instruction in the Catholic doctrine, in spite of the dangers to which they are thereby exposed. Such was the state of things when Messrs. Bachelot and Short landed from an English schooner, at the Port of Woahou, on the 17th of April, 1837; but they received on the instant a peremptory order to re-embark. In vain did all the consular agents intercede in their favour: the missionaries were inexhorable; and, after a negociation of two months, both priests had to put to sea, and again seek refuge on the coast of California. These repeated insults the French government deemed itself, at last, compelled to notice by sending a military force, whose intervention was effectual in bringing about a more endurable treatment. By a mere change of names and dates, by substituting M. Pritchard for Milsingham, the occurrences in the Sandwich Islands make us acquainted with those of which Otaheite has been the theatre; and we can form an accurate judgment of the motives which brought in succession M. Dumont d'Urville and Rear-Admiral Dupetit-Thouars to those seas. It was on the last days of 1836 that M. M. Laval and Caret, leaving the island of Mangavera, reached that of Otaheite. After many accidents and adventures, the recital of which derives a charm heightened by its simplicity, they were admitted to the presence of Queen Pomare. This princess gave them a friendly welcome, and accepted the humble presents of the poor priests: this was a kind of tacit permission to reside in her dominions; but the arrival of Catholic priests was scarcely made known, when the Protestant missionaries took alarm. Exercising sway over the government and finances of the country, possessing the exclusive monopoly of its external trade, their threatening summons could not be long disregarded by the queen. The two strangers having refused to depart, and placed themselves under the protection of the United States consulate, the Missionaries did not hesitate in resorting to a measure which it is needless for us to qualify as it deserves. On the 12th of December, the two priests, whilst in the very act of celebrating mass, were seized in their own habitation, and compelled to kneel at the foot of the table which was serving them for an altar. M. Prichard's agents, having taken the previous precaution of barricading the doors and windows, had effected an opening in the bamboo roof of this Indian dwelling house, and thus succeeded in capturing the priests, who were forcibly carried on board an English schooner, stripped of every thing, and transported to Valparaiso. This is the occurrence which is held up to view, in the language of an usually bitter sectarian newspaper, as the frivolous pretext for the intervention of France. For the rest, let Dissenters be at ease; let the spouters at Exeter Hall be sparing in their abuse of the Scarlet Lady of Babylon, and of the ambition. of our government. France will not resort to reprisals; she will carry religious freedom into practice at the extremity of the world, as she does at home. Should Protestantism be proof against this solemn ordeal, she may have to regret it, but will have no just ground of reproach against us. Undeviatingly following up the mighty principles of liberty, of which we are the type, and which constitute our strength and our pride in every quarter of the globe, let us leave the rest to Providence and to time; let us open a new world to the struggle of doctrines, to the emulation of zeal; and, whatever may be our personal convictions, let us never forget, in a political point of view, that Catholicism, out of France, represents France itself.-Louis de Carne. RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. CATHOLIC STATISTICS OF THE WEST-INDIES. Spanish Islands.-The important Isles of Cuba and Porto-Rico have a regular ecclesiastical hierarchy. One Arch-Bishop, two Bishops and a numerous clergy attend the spiritual wants of more than a million of souls. The late sufferings and persecutions of the church in Spain have also been felt in the Colonies, not however to the same extent as in the mother country. English Islan ls.—A few years ago, the numerous Isles under British Dominion were divided into two Vicariates Apostolic; the one comprising Jamaica and the Bahamas, the other the rest of the British Islands. The first Vicariate is under the jurisdiction of Bishop Fernandez. This zealous Prelate, who laboured, for years, alone on the soil of Jamaica, is now aided by a devoted band of French Jesuits; and the state of our holy religion is in a very promising condition in this place, but is as yet, little known in the Bahamas. The other Vicariate Apostolic is administered by Bishop McDonnel, aided by his coadjutor, Bishop Smith, and a band of devoted clergyman, whose number, however, is insufficient for the wants of the country. Since the formation of this Vicariate, thousands have been added to the fold of Christ, especially in the Isles of Trinidad, St. Lucia, Grenada and Dominica, which formerly were under French and Spanish Dominion. The Catholic population amounts to about 200,000 souls. Dutch Islands. These Isles have lately been erected into a Vicariate Apostolic, and Mgr. Niewindt has just been consecrated Bishop and its first Vicar Apostolic. According to the latest news, he had left the mother country for Curacao with a new supply of missionaries. Our holy religion is in a very flourishing condition in these Isles; the number of Catholics, exclusive of those in Dutch Guiana, amounting to about 40,000 souls. French Islands.-The important Islands of Guadaloupe and Martinico, with their appendages, profess almost exclusively the Catholic Religion, and the number of their inhabitants is no less than 250,000. They are administered by Prefects Apostolic, who, ere long, it is hoped, will be replaced by Bishops and Apostolic Vicars. M. Lacombe, Prefect Apostolic of Guadeloupe is now in Paris, to make arrangements, it is said, for that purpose between the Holy See and the court of France. Hayti. The ecclesiastical affairs of this Isle are in a deplorable state of confusion. The fair prospects of seeing the affairs of the church arranged between the Holy See and this Republic, which were entertained a short time ago, have been blasted by the death of the late lamented Bishop of St. Louis, Mgr. Rosati, who had been appointed by the common Father of the faithful Apostolic Delegate to this Isle. A letter, from Curacao to Bishop Niewindt, then in Holland, dated 14th of October 1843, throws some light on the actual condition of our holy religion in Hayti. "There arrived here," says the writer, "two respectable and worthy clergymen from St. Domingo: the one the Parish Priest of the Cathedral of that city, and the other a Religious of the order of St. Francis. They were expelled from the Island on account of their intrepidity in setting forth sound doctrine, and their resistance to the turmoils of FreeMasonry. They bewailed the unhappy fate of the people, who, they said, are thoroughly Catholic and religious; and ascribed all the evils, that overhang the church of that Island, to a few unprincipled and ambitious rulers." EPISCOPAL CONSECRATION.-On the 19th Maach, (Feast of St. Joseph,) the Right Rev. Dr. Reynolds, Bishop of Charleston, and Right Rev. Dr. Henni, Bishop of Milwaukie, received the Episcopal consecration, in the Ca thedral of Cincinnati. The church was densely crowded. The Right Rev. Dr. Purcell, Bishop of Cincinnati, was consecrating Prelate, and Dr. Miles, Bishop of Nashville, and Dr. O'Connor, Bishop of Pittsburgh, were Prelates assistant. In the Sanctuary, were present, the venerable Bishop of Louisville, Dr. Flaget, Father Vandevelde, Provincial of the Jesuits of Missouri, and a large number of clergymen belonging to the Dioceses of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. The sermon was preached by the Rev. E. Purcell, upon "the Apostleship and Primacy." It was a beautiful and eloquent discourse, replete with forcible argument and apposite illustrations, finely conceived and finely delivered. [Cath. Advocate. The consecration of the new Bishops of Chicago, Little Rock, and the Coadjutor of New York, took place on Sunday, the 10th inst., in the Cathedral of New York. The Bishop of New York was consecrator, the Bishops of Boston and Richmond assisting. The consecration of Right Rev. Dr. Tyler, Bishop elect of Hartford, will take place in the Metropolitan Church, Baltimore, on Sunday, 17th inst. The Bishop of Boston, by leave of the Most Rev. Archbishop, will be the consecrator. It is expected that the Bishops of New York and Richmond will be the assistants. The consecration of Right Rev. John Fitzpatrick, Coadjutor elect of the Bishop of Boston, will take place in the Church at Georgetown, D. C., on Sunday, 24th inst. The Bishop of Boston will be the consecrator: the Bishops of Richmond and Hartford the assistants.-Cath. Herald of 14th March. ST. LOUIS.-On the 1st of March a new Catholic Church was commenced by the Fathers of the Society of Jesus, on the corner of 11th and Biddle streets, destined for the German Catholics in the western and northern part of the city. The church's dimensions are 107 feet long by 60 wide. It is a beautiful and elevated spot, measuring 150 feet by 100, being a donation of Mrs. Ann Biddle of this city for that purpose. The ceremony of blessing the corner stone will take place this month. On the 7th of March a new Catholic female Orphan Asylum, under the charge of the Sisters of Charity, was commenced on the corner of 10th and Biddle streets. The lot measuring 125 by 240 feet is the donation of Mrs. Ann Biddle of this city, who has moreover given $3000 towards the erection of the Asylum. The main building will be three stories high, 70 feet front by 45 deep. On the 17th of March the Rt. Rev. Bishop Kenrick laid the corner stone of a Church in Soulard's addition to St. Louis. The edifice will be cruciform; in length including the portico, 150 feet; breadth in the nave 60 feet, in the transepts, 80. The well selected location, and the truly classic proportions of the plan, drawn by Barnet, & Co. will make this building an ornament to the city, whilst affording the consolations of religion to a numerous population, who now are almost suffocated in the crowded temporary chapel in which they worship. The vast concourse of our fellow citizens, the Hibernian Benevolent Society, the Catholic Temperance Society, the Young Catholic's Friend Society, with their appropriate flags and badges; the clergy in their robes, singing, during the imposing ceremonial of their Church, appropriate psalms in the solemn Gregorian chant, brought powerfully to memory, but under happy auspices, the scripture text: "And when the masons laid the foundation of the Temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their ornaments with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with symbols, to praise God by the hand of David, King of Isreal. And they sung together hymns and praise to the Lord, because he is good; for his mercy endureth forever. And all the people shouted with a great shout, praising the Lord, because the foundations of the Temple of the Lord were laid."-1 Esdras, chap 11. In the corner stone was placed a glass jar, hermetically sealed, containing some American coins, some public documents regarding the events that have occured since the happy foundation of this Republic, and a Latin inscription in parchment, in words of which the following is a translation : In the year of Redemption MDCCCXLIV, whilst the Sovering Pontiff, Gregory the XVI, Ruled the universal Church of Christ, in the XIII year of his Pontificate. Over the United States of North America, John Tyler, Chief Magistrate, presiding. The LXVII year of American liberty happily established. The State of Missouri having Hon. M. M. Marmaduke, Acting Governor. The XVII of March, being IV Sunday of Lent, in the evening, this first Stone Of the Temple about to be erected To the Lord thrice Holy and Mighty, The Eternal Living God, under the invocation. Of St. Vincent of Paul, Confessor, Was duly and canonically laid, by the Rt. Rev. Peter Richard Kenrick, Bishop of St. Louis. The Very Rev. John Timon being assistant Priest, Rev. Benedict Roux and Joseph A. Lutz, assistant Deacons, a numerous Clergy The Hibernian Benevolent Society, the Catholic A vast concourse of people surrounded the spot.-Mo. Rep. |