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7/3/3/1
Orgatitus of the Infant Studs,
Of the Anglo-Siberian province of St. Joseph,
Provincial Superior;
To the Fathers Consultors, Decetors, Master of Novices
And all the Fathers and Brothers of the Anglo-Siberian Pro-
vince, Health & Peace in the Lord.
We hasten to communicate to you the expected
intelligence, just received from the Most Per second Father General, giving us
power and permission to convicke the Chapter of our Province; an
event which cannot fail to produce feelings of joy and deep interest
in the hearts of you all. For, whether we consider the object of those
sacred assemblies, their origin, or the particular assistance of light,
wisdom and prudence which God has promised to bestow upon the
persons thus assembled, we must gratefully acknowledge that we
has been pleased to visit with most happy tridings this small por-
tion of his vineyard, our least Province.
The object of a Provincial Chapter is to reme-
dy the abuses which, through human frailty, may have crept into
the regular Observance, to recall the Peligious to their first fer-
vour, to establish repulations and statutes for the government of
the entire Province in general, and each Community in particular,
and, above all, to elect new Superiors, and these, as far as can be,
men formed "according to God's own heart", who may be able,
by their Charity, prudence and good example to lead on in the
path of virtue and sanctity those subjects whom the Divine
disposition shall have entrusted to their care and solicitude.
Who then does not see what glory to God and profit to ourselves
will result therefrom?
The origin of it can nowhere be found but
in those sublime words of the Prince of the Sportles, (Sects XV.)
when, the new-born Church being assembled in Council, he arose
and thus addressed them: "Men, bethren, you know that in
former days God made choice among us that by my mouth
the Gentiles should hear the words of the Gospel and believe."
The same story will be an idea of God and Christ.

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The origin of it can nowhere be found but in those sublime words of the Prince of the Sportles, (Sects XV.) when, the new-born Church being assembled in Council, he arose and thus addressed them: "Men, brethren, you know that in former days God made Choice among us that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the words of the Gospel and believe." From this first assembly came the idea of General Councils, after this model National and Diversar Synods have been held in every age of the Church, and & upon the same principle Go-

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-neral and Provincial Chapters have been appointed by Apostolic Authority for the government and regulation of Peligious Orders. To that, in a limited sense, we may well say that in a Chapter, legitimately convoked, Peter, or rather Christ in his person, presides: for, if we go proposed back to the source, we will find these assemblies held and influenced by the very same authority conferred by Christ An Lord on St Peter.
Neither will the light and agitance of the Holy Shoot be wanting, especially if entreated for by the fervent prayers of the Brethren, since he has promised that, "Wherever two or three age gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them." (Matt. XVIII. 20.)
This event, already so important in itself, becomes more interesting when we consider how intimately it is connected with the welfare of our Province. It is a certain fact, and it would be folly to deny it, that our Congregation in these countries has undergone a seven ordeal - it was the work of God and therefore ought to bear the marks of ereck. The few fact of this Chapter being called the Second, when, according to the order of time, it ought to be the Fourth, shows that trials of no ordinary kind have taken place; and many of you benevolent Fathers and beloved Brothers are of the number of those who have continued with unshallen firmness "in the temptation" with Christ, we have been called only to share in and enjoy the fruits of your patriarce and long-suffering in the time of trial. We give thanks to the God of mercies and all consolations "for having given us rest and peace after the storm. We have beheld the work of God prosper before our eyes in these last years. God has added to our Province a considerable number of young men, who, as we have every reason to hope, will attend well to the acquisition of the plenitude of His spirit and the other necessary qualifications to under them fit instruments to promote His glory and the salvation of souls. Our Peligious have been established to be independent black in one St them, Dublin before

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This event, already so important in itself, becomes more interesting when we consider how intimately it is connected with the welfare of our Province. It is a certain fact, and it would be folly to deny it, that our Congregation in these countries has undergone a seven or deal - it was the work of God and therefore sought to bear the marks of each. The fewer fact of this Chapter being called the Second, when, according to the order of time, it sought to be the Fourth, shows that trials of no ordinary kind have taken place; and many of you benevolent Fathers and beloved Brothers are of the number of those who have continued "with unshaken firmness in the temptation" with Christ, we have been called only to share in and enjoy the fruits of your patience and long-suffering in the time of trial. We give thanks to the God of mercies and all consolations "for having given us rest and peace after the storm. We have beheld the work of God prosper before our eyes in these last years. God has added to our Province a considerable number of young men, who, as we have every reason to hope, will attend well to the acquisition of the plenitude of His spirit and the other necessary qualifications to cender them fit instruments to promote His glory and the salvation of souls. Our Peligious have been established in two very important places - in one of them, Dublin, before God called us to this country, and here, about 18 months ago. One of our Petreats has been enlarged; another, that of Valparo Park,