THE TABLET.

A W eek ly N ew spap er a n d R ev iew .

DUM VOBIS GRATÜLAM ÜR, ANIMOS ETIAM ADDIMUS ÜT IN INCCEPTIS VESTRIS CONSTANTER MANEAT1S.

From the B r ie f o; H is Holiness P iu s IX . to T h e T a b l e t , June 1870.

V o l . 86. No. 2884. L o n d o n , A u g u s t 17, 1895. P r i c e s d . b y P o s t

[ R e g i s t e r e d a t t h e G e n e r a l P o s t O f f i c e a s a N e w s p a p e r

C h ro n ic l e o f t h e W e e k !

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Imperial Parliament: Opening of Parliament—Tuesday’s Business— The Speaker-Elect—The Queen’s Speech—Parnellite Amendments to the Address — The General Election — The Anti-Parnellite Party—The New Parliament and Agriculture—The Occupation of Chitral—The Garrisoning of Chitrral — The Feeling among the Troops—England and France on the Mekong — The French in Madagascar—France Merely Desires an Effective ProtectorateLord Ripon and the Straits Settle-ments — Catholic Meetings and Government Buildings—The E x traordinary Thunderstorm—Observations by Professor Symons—An Adventure with a Crocodile . . 245 ¿L e a d e r s :

The Massacre at Ku-Cheng . . 249 The Anti-Masonic Congress . . 250

C O N T

L e a d e r s (Continued) :

In Preparation for the Catholic

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C on g re ss ................................... 251 The Denial of Animals’ Rights . . 253 Muniments of Old St. Paul’s.—II. 253 N o t e s . . — . . . . — 254 R e v i e w s :

Select Statutes and Constitutional

Documents . . . . . 256 A History of Slavery and Serfdom 257 Indian Problems . . . . . . 257 Revealed Religion . . . . 257 Elocution . . ........................ 257 Spiritual Maternity . . . . 258 Billy Billew .. . . _ . . 258 “ The Gentleman’s Magazine ” . . 258 C o r r e s p o n d e n c e :

Rome :—(From Our Own Corre­

spondent) . . . . . . —261 News from Ireland .. — 262 L e t t e r s to t h e E d it o r :

“ Archbishop of Westminster and

Canterbury " . . . . . . 263 Paul IV . and Anglican Oiders .. 263

E N T S .

L e t t e r s to t h e E d it o r (Con-

Continued) : The Deterrent Effect of Ritualism

Page on Nonconformity . . . . 263 Conservatives and the Christian

Schools . . . . . . . . 264 A Plea for Catholic Artists . . 264 The Stroud Green Mission . . 264 Anglican Baptisms.. . . . . 264 Ritualism and Private Judgment 264 Dower . . . . . . . . 265 The New Cathedral . . . . 265 Catholics and the Education Ques­

tion . . . . . . . . . . 265 “ The Guardian” on Divorce and

Re-Marriage ........................ 267 Montreal, Old and New . . . . 268 Attack on a Catholic Mission in

China . . . . . . . . 269 T h e P o p e and the Washington

Catholic University . . " . . 269 The Pope and Anglican Orders . . 270 Catholic and Protestant Missions

Contrasted . . . . . . . 271

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Books of the Week . . . . . . 273 F rom E v e r y w h e r e . . . . 273 S o c ia l a n d P o l i t i c a l . . . . 274

SU P PLEM EN T . N ew s fr o m t h e S c h o o l s :

Educational Uneconomics . . 277 The Value of “ B .A .” to Women 277 Elementary Education and the

Elections . . . . . . . . 27S Voluntary and Board Schools . . 278 A r e the University Extension

Classes a Failure ? . . . . 279 Convent of Notre Dame High

School, Southwark . . . . 279 Compulsory Education in India.. 279 Irregularities in New Zealand

Schools . . . . . . • • 280 N ew s from t h e D i o c e s e s :

So u th w a rk ................................... 280 Clifton . . ........................ 280 Nottingham................................... 280 Shrewsbury . . . . . . . . 280 Passage^ of the Red Sea by the

Israelites . . . . . . . . 281

R e je c ted M S . cannot be r e tu rn ed unless accompanied w it h address a n d postage.

CHRONICLE OF THE WEEK.

•IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

— OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. T

'H E Fourteenth Parliament of her Majesty’s reign was opened on Monday by Royal Commission with the customary formalities.

The New House of Commons began to assemble at an «early hour. It was not, however, till between n and 12 •o’clock that there was any competition for places. The Treasury bench and the front Opposition Bench were not occupied until close upon two o’clock. Mr. Balfour and 'Sir W. Harcourt entered from behind the Speaker’s chair and took their seats simultaneously amidst prolonged cheering from their supporters. A few minutes after two o’clock ■ the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod summoned the members to the House of Peers. On their return, Sir Reginald Palgrave, the Clerk of the House, having taken his seat at the table, Sir J . Mowbray moved that Mr. Gully, the member for Carlisle, who had been called to the Chair in the last Parliament, should be again appointed Speaker. He dwelt on the desirability of pursuing the course which the Government of Lord Grey adopted in 18 3 1 and 1833, which Sir Robert Peel contended for in vain in 1835, but which he enforced in 18 4 1 , which Mr. Disraeli adhered to in 1874, and which the Government of Lord Salisbury followed in 1886. They must all rejoice to think that their ■ first and most important act was likely to be accomplished without any dissentient voice being raised. Members who sat in the last Parliament would remember how well Mr. Gully filled the Chair. The right hon. gentleman presided over their debates with dignity, and exhibited firmness, ability, integrity, and impartiality. Moreover, the right .gentleman had given indications of a reserve of strength and courageous self-assertion which the House of Commons

■ expected to find in its Speaker when there were any signs of storm or stress. Elected by one side of the House Mr. Gully had so conducted himself as to give satisfaction to both sides and to establish a claim on their continued confidence such as no new candidate could possibly adduce. In conclusion he advised hon. members to act as their wise forefathers had done and to re-elect to the Chair an able and a conscientious man, irrespective of any party consideration. Mr. John Ellis, in seconding the motion, observed that they were making a happy contribution to the reaffirmation of the best traditions of the House by the

N ew S eries, V ol. L IV ., No. 2,193.

unanimity with which their proceedings were being conducted. The authority of the Speaker, great as his position was, depended upon the widespread and unwavering conviction of his inflexible impartiality. Meeting as they did in a new Parliament, it was a happy augury that their proceedings on the opening day should be without a jarring note. On behalf of the Opposition he expressed their pleasure and satisfaction at the course which Mr. Balfour, whom they recognized as a master of many legions in this Parliament, had taken on the present occasion.

In the House of Lords the Lord Chan-

— Tu e s d a y ’ s cellor signified to the Speaker-Elect and b u s i n e s s . other members of the House of Commons her Majesy’s approval and confirmation of the election of Mr. Gully as Speaker, and also ratified the ancient privileges of the Commons to which the Speaker, in'accordance with usage, laid claim. Subsequently thé Marquis of Salisbury, the Duke of Bedford, Lord Rothschild, the Earl of Derby, the Earl of Selborne, and other Peers took the oath and subscribed the Roll of Parliament. Viscount Knutsford, formerly-Lord Knutsford, was introduced with the customary ceremonial, as were also Viscount Llandaff (Mr. Henry Matthews), Baron Loch (Sir Henry Loch), and Baron Wandsworth (Mr. Sydney Stern). Their lordships adjourned at five minutes past four until Thursday. In the House of Commons the Speaker, on his return from the House of Lords, announced from the Chair the Queen’s approval of the choice of himself as Speaker, and also her Majesty’s allowance of the ancient rights and privileges to which he had laid claim on behalf of the House.’ He then again thanked the House for having placed him in the Chair once more; and the swearing in of members was proceeded with. The Speaker first took the oath and signed the Roll ; then Privy Councillors and other Ministers and ex-Ministers ; and afterwards the unofficial members. Among those sworn in the course of the afternoon—about 400 in all—were Mr. Balfour, Sir W. Harcourt, Mr. Chamberlain, and Mr. Villiers.

Mr. Gully, rising in his place, confessed

— t h e his inability to express in words his sense s p e a k e r -e l e c t . 0f the honour conferred upon him by being proposed for the second time to occupy the

Chair, and especially by being proposed by both sides of the House. He was aware, indeed, that he owed the latter distinction to considerations which were by no means merely personal, but he hoped he might take it as an indi­