THE POPE AND THE LAW OF ASSOCIATIONS.
ICTO THE EDITOR 01 TUS " SPECTALTOR."1 Sra,—Tn your " News of the Week" of September 20th you remark upon the interpretation put by the French Radicals on the silence of the Pope with regard to the Law of Associa- tions and its suppressive workings. May not this apparent quiescence be the outcome of feelings to some extent similar to those which, according to Cardinal Manning, pervaded the mind of Pius IX. when the religious Associations were suppressed in Italy, and to which Purcell refers in his Life of Manning, Vol. I., p. 386? I quote from the note :— " Pope Pius IX. made many attempts to reform the Monastic Orders in Italy, but they were always frustrated by the obstinate resistance of the great religious houses, especially the Dominicans. At the time of the suppression of the religious orders by the Government of Italy, Pius IX. is said to have declared that though he was bound publicly to condemn the suppression of Monasteries, ho cou/d not but rejoice as it was a blessing in disguise. Manning in 1887 stated that whether the Pope publicly expressed this opinion or not, it truly represented the Pope's views. He added : that the success of the revolution in Italy was in no small degree due to laxity of morals in the clergy, and to defective education and religious training in the schools."
• Miniature rifle ammunition such as that used by the Birmingham Rifle Club coats about double the price of that used in. Morris-tubes. and yet the results are not incomparably better. I see that 91, and even 89. are prize-win- ming scams on the Short Heath range at the 100, 200, and 300 yards. The Law of Associations tends to bring those bodies under more direct control, which will be to the satisfaction of the local Bishops, and their registration may after all turn out but "a blessing in disguise." If his Holiness be of the same opinion (even as to the latter portion of the statement only), his quiescence can be easily interpreted.—I am, Sir, &a,
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