--- Page 1 --- 7/3/7/2 1.X.P Ao 37 No. 217/2/7/2 Acts and Decrees of the Sixth Principal Chapter of the Anglo Hibernian Province of the Congregation of the Most Holy Pross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ under the title of S. Joseph, held in the Petreat of S. Anne Sutton from 18th June until 20th June 1872. --- Page 2 --- 1Introduction Happy and prophetic event! We have seen in our land joining in our consultations him whom to have seen is to have loved and renerated the Most Perfect Dominic of the Name of Mary the beloved General of our Congregation. Living under the shadow of the Tatican and having imbibed at the fountain head the very exisence of the ecclesiastical and religious spirit he cannot amongst us to culminate and to nourish the lights of our Province. Your grateful was it not to us to hear from his lips that we were already sharers of the same spirit and to hear moreover what we had ourselves believed that though at such a distance from the centre, we lacked nothing of the spirit rigour of charity and unity which distinguishes our brethren in Italy. Animated with this spirit of charity and encouraged by the presence of our Father and strengthened by the Divine assistance all proceeded to the work of the Chapter of which the following is the authentic record. --- Page 3 --- 1.X.P 2 Acts and Decrees of the 6th Provincial Chapter of the Anglo-Hebreman Province of the forgoveration of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ under the title of S. Joseph held in the Retreat of S. Anne Sutton Lancashire from the 18th of June to the 20th June 1872. In compliance with the convocatorial letter of the Very Rev. Heugene of S. Antony Provincial dated 18th November 1872 the Capitular Fathers assembled at Sutton on the 15th June in order to assist at the Triduum which was bearn on that day there were present the following Capitular Heugene Fr. Antony The Most Rev. Heugene of the Name of Mary General The Very Rev. Heugene of S. Antony Provincial Bernard of B. M. V. 1st Consultor Bernardine of S. H. Mary 2nd Cons. Sebastian of B. Sacrament Ret. London Alban of S. Antony Ret. S. Savinus Broadway Alphonsus of B. M. V. S. Annis's Sutton Pius of the Holy Gost. S. Paul's Quilin Anselm of the Assumption. S. Mangois Glasgow At 9 o'clock a.m. the Capitular Fathers assembled at the first time at this preliminary Session the Rev. Heugene of S. Antony Provincial who acted as Administrator in Glasgow during the convalescence of the Rector was present. The Session presided over by the Most Rev. Heugene of S. Antony Provincial was opened in the usual form; the Rectors then gave in their litterae patentes and copies of administration. After some time spent in examination of the latter the subjects to be submitted to the Chapter were proposed and this Session terminated with usual prayers at 12 o'clock. --- Page 4 --- II Preliminary Session 3 At 4 o'clock p.m. the same day, the Cap. Yrs assembled for the 2nd time, at this Session besides the Capitulars there were also present the Rev. Yr Caphael Superior of Holy Cross Belfast and the Rev. Yr Ticholas of Glasgow. The principal subjects which occupied the attention of the Yrs were the financial state of the Province in general and the statement of accounts given in by the Rectors. The financial state of the College of S. Cauls Dublin occupied much of the time and solicitude of the Yrs. During this Session a proposal was made by the Rev. Yr Cuis Rector of S. Cauls. Dublin offering himself to go with a companion to America in order to Collect funds for the relief of this heavily taxed house. This very important and opportune proposal was still under consideration when the Session concluded at 6.30 p.m. III. Preliminary Session This 3rd Preliminary Session ne opened at 9 o'clock a.m. Sunday 16th June. besides the Capitulars there were also present Yr Caphael of Belfast and Yr Ticholas of Glasgow having gone through the usual formalities the merits of those enjoying passive voice were discussed. This Session terminated with the usual prayers at 12 o'clock. IV. Preliminary Session The 4th preliminary Session assembled at 4 o'clock p.m. and consisted of the Capitular Yrs only who were occupied with discussing the merits of those enjoying active voice in the Chapter, each of the Capitulars in turn beginning with the Provincial leaving the Session Room as is customary on such occasions. The Session terminated at 7 o'clock p.m. V. Preliminary Session This Session was held on Monday morning 17th June at 9 o'clock --- Page 5 --- IV. Preliminary Session The 4th preliminary Session assembled at 4 o'clock p.m and consisted of the Capitular Mr. only who were occupied with discussing the merits of those enjoying active voice in the Chapter, each of the Capitulars in turn beginning with the Provincial leaving the Session Room as is customary on such occasions. The Session terminated at 7 o'clock p.m. V. Preliminary Session This Session was held on Monday morning 17th June at 7 o'clock. After the opening of the Session the Most Rev. Mr. General President reminded the Capitulars Fathers that it was necessary to come to a --- Page 6 --- decision on the proposal made by the Very Rev. 4th Paus in the II Session, before proceeding to the elections to be held on the following day. The proposal needed no discussion as the assembled Fathers were unanimous in their opinion. The American project was therefore promptly and gladly adopted. After the discussion of other subjects for the good of the congress and principally the expediency of electing Rectors for the Houses of Paris and Belfast, the Session terminated at 11:30 p.m. the usual prayers rung sand at its conclusion. VI Preliminary Session This Session was held at 4 o'clock p.m. immediately after a Semnon delivered by the V. Rev. 4th Bernardine [forsultor] to all the Religious assembled in the fhoir. At this Session it was determined to elect Rectors for Paris & Belfast. The Session terminated at 5:30 p.m. in the usual form. VII Tuesday 18th June 1872. On Tuesday morning at 6:30 p.m. Solemns High Mass de Spiritu Sancto was celebrated by the V. Rev. 4th Jugene Prov at which all the customary ceremonies were observed. At 9 p.m. the entire Community assembled in the Church where the Most Rev. 4th President wested in Surplice and wearing a purple stole, & having taken the Cuicifix from the altar intoned the Venilla Regis. The assembled Religious, joining in the hymn, the procession formed and headed by the Most Rev. 4th President carrying the Cuicifix & attended by Acolytes proceeded from the Church to the Chapter Room, the hymn being sung, the usual prayers were sung by the Most Rev. President and those not entitled to vote in the Chapter were dismissed in the usual form. Abant well et consistant electores committeem --- Page 7 --- Chapter were dismissed in the usual joint. Eleanor code is consistant electores committees. The Most Rev. H. President then addressed the Capitular Fathers in words which came ex MMO code and sen- sibly touched the hearts of those present, he spoke with the depth. --- Page 8 --- 4of inexpressible feeling words of burning cloquence. This address was in Italian, this fact obliges us to cortail the quotation & translation into English, many times mars the beauty and force of his expression. He described his heartfelt joy and happiness in being in our midst. The yearnings of his heart towards us and his longings to see England its beautiful cities he said attracted him its world-farmed commerce and industry and to behold and view these admirable sights with which this "beautiful land" alounds. But to see his dear brethren in England; to see that land which our nainted Founder saw in vision after 50 years of prayers for its return to bruth in the one fold of Christ, to see with his own eyes, and meet and speak, with those whom in vision our holy Father had seen in vision and wept over with joy! Oh what a joy was this to him, what a joy! "Yes" continued his Paternity "my heart leaped for gladness and my joy was full even in anticipation when I resolved on coming amongst you my dearest brethren. Have my joyful expectations been disappointed? Tho, no. But realized and to the full. Yea my most sanguine expectations have been surpassed, and I have found joy and consolation in the reality, that I had not even dreamed of in anticipation. I had heard, I confess it and was impressed by reports unfavourable to your Province, I feared therefore lest my joy should be marred and my pleasure blighted. But my dear Father is not so. I have come to your Province to see with my own eyes. To touch so to speak with my own hands. I have come I have seen and I have touched and I tell you my heart's expanded and is full of all I have experienced and seen. To me is given this day to see the realization of that which in vision only drew tears of raphanous --- Page 9 --- favourable to your Province, I feared therefore lest my joy should be marred and my pleasure blighted. But my dear Frs it is not so. I have come to your Province to see with my own eyes. To touch so to speak with my own hands. I have come I have seen and I have touched and I tell you my hearth is expanded and is full of all I have ex- pressed and seen. To me is given this day to see the real- ization of that which in vision only drew tears of raphamous joy from the eyes of our Painted Founder. My children in England! my children in England! did Sr Paul of the Cross declaim in extain. My fathers, to me is given to behold in you --- Page 10 --- 6 the julfilment of S. Paul's vision and to recognise in you the children promised to him therein. ***** The Most Rev. Fr. President then reminded the fathers of the great work they had before them that day; he told them its nature and paramount importance it was a work on which depended the good order and welfare of our Province and of its different Retireats, and above all the happiness and sanctity of each religious; the promotion of God's honour and glory and the salution of immortal roules He dwelt on the responsibilities of the Capitular Fathers: the one spirit which should possess them, the one motive and rule which should guide them in their elections of Superiors His Caternity continued: — "The eyes of the Province are upon us the prayers of the Religious are with us and their hopes are centred in us. Our sainted Father watches us from Heaven to see us do our share towards the perfect accomplishment of the Divine promises rouchsafed to him as the fruit of his prayers penance and tears for England. The eyes of the saintly Fr. Dominic of the Mother of God, the frist of our brethren who landed in England the Father and Founder of this Pro- vince, look upon us from on high. He wants to see us continue and perpetuate the work he so gloriously began. Fr. Ignatius of S. Paul (Spencer) whose prayers for England's Conversion yet resound from the hearts and lips of thousands, gazes on us, seeking at our hands the continuance of his glorious mission. The sanctified lives of these saintly Fr.s are our glory and our honour models their sacred ashes repose in peace close by their spirit horres round us their prayers ascend to the throne of God in our behalf Let us my brethren be Caultful to their cherubed my --- Page 11 --- of his glorious invision. One scientified was of inside painting France our glory and our honour models their sacred ashes repose in peace close by, their spirit hovers round us their prayers ascend to the throne of God in our behalf Let us my brethren be faithful to their cherished me- mory and worthy of our so holy parentage. Our Guardian Angels, and the Angels of those thousands of immortal souls who are to be ministered to, and directed by us look anxiously --- Page 12 --- upon us. The sweet yet sorrowful eyes of Mary the Mother of Dolours, and the tearful eyes of the Crucified Jesus her Son. The Saviour and Lover of souls are turned towards us in bringing entreath and expectation. The Most Rev. Fr. President concluded with a most eloquent peroration, full of unction and sweetness and addressed to our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified. The names of the Cap. Fr. were then called and the following answered adornm each in turn. The U. Rev. Fr. Eugene of S. Antony " " " " Bernard of B. V. Mary " " " " Bernardine of S. Heart of Mary " " " " Sebastian of B. Sacrament " " " " Alban of S. Antony " " " " Alphonsus of B. V. Mary " " " " Tuis of the Holy Ghost " " " " Anselm of the Assumption B. V. Mo. These assembled Capitulars then handed into the President their seals of office. There the Most Rev. Fr. President handed to the Chapter a written dispensation from the Holy See enabling him to dispense from the full terms of years in the Congregation, also the indeclinations of Superiors for the second time. Having intoned the "Temi Creator" with the usual prayers the President interrogated the assembled Fr. whether or not they considered the Chapter canonically assembled. To this they unarimously answered in the affirmative. He then made the usual protestation "De mon excludendis habilibus, et not immutendis habilibus." Fr. Provincial then made the culpa in the accustomed form, after which the 1st Consultor made the culpa in his own name, and in that of the other Capitulars the President answered the Chapter. --- Page 13 --- excludendis habilibus, et not a immittendis a habilibus. " Provincial then made the culpa in the accustomed form, after which the 1st Consultor made the culpa in his own name, and in that of the other Capitulars. The President gave the Absolution from censures ad cautionis which he the President afterwards received from the Provincial. The decree of the Holy Office was then read. Having. --- Page 14 --- 8 proceeded to the election of a Secretary, the choice fell upon the Very Rev. Fr. Alphonsus of B. V. Hary, in like manner the Scrutineers the choice falling on the Rev. F. Sebastian of the B. Sacrament and the Rev. F. Alban of Santony Election of Provincial The Capitulars then proceeded to the election of the Provincial. The votes being taken at the 1st scrutiny the V. Rev. F. Bernard of B. V. M. was elected to the office. The Secretary having obtained the placet of the electors immediately framed and published the decree of the election in the following form. Ego Alphonsus a Beata Mariae Virgine nomine meo et omnium elegentium mihi san contientium invocatere gratia Spiritus Sancti eligo in Praepontum Provincialem fujus Provinciae Sre Josephi nostrae congregationis flericorum Excelestorum Sre mae Crucis et Passionis D. R. J. C. Adm. Rev. Patrem Bernardum a B. V. M. ante actore et electum promuntio et coram volis publico in nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti Amen. The Most Rev. Fr. President addressing and congratulating the Capitulars and the new Provincial suggested that this election having been so quickly terminated they might also proceed to the election of Consultors before giving public expression in the usual acts of obedience, to the joy which filled their hearts 1st Consultor The votes having been taken at the 1st Scrutiny the V. Rev. Fr. Eugene of Santony was elected to the office of 1st Consultor. The Secretary having obtained the placet of the electors framed & published the decree of election in the usual form. After 3 Scrutinies for 2 Consultor the Scrutiny was closed with the usual form. --- Page 15 --- The votes having been taken at the 1st Scrutiny the D. Rev. Fr. Eugene of Santony was elected to the office of Consultor. The Secretary having obtained the place of the electors, framed & published the decree of election in the usual form After 3 Scrutinies for 2 Consultor the Session was closed with the usual form. A signal was then given and the entire Com. munity assembled and with beaming faces bespeaking the gladness of their hearts, they proceeded to pay the --- Page 16 --- 9usual acts of obedience, homage & reverence to the newly elected Provincial 2nd Session. 2nd Consultor At 3.30pm the Capitulars again assembled and first proceeded to the election of 2nd Consultor the votes being taken the V. Per. F. Alphonsus of the B.V.M. was elected to the office the Secretary himself being the official elected the decree of his election was framed and published by the Per. F. Sebastian of the B. Sacrament 1st Scrutineer Master of Torices After six scrutinies the V. Per. F. Francis of S. Heart of Jesus was elected to the office of Master of Torices. Pector of S. Joseph's Highgate After four scrutinies the V. Per. F. Anselm of the Assumption was elected to the office of Pector of S. Joseph's Retreat Highgate London Broadway At the second scrutiny the V. Per. F. Paymund of S. Aloysius was elected Pector of S. Saviour's Retreat Broadway Worcestershire. Sutton After six scrutinies the V. Per. F. Pancruatius of S. Jer. was elected Pector of S. Ann's Sutton Lancashire Dublin At the first scrutiny the V. Per. F. Dominic of the Im. Heart of Mary was elected Pector of S. Daul's College Dublin Glasgow. At the first scrutiny the V. Per. F. Richolas of the VII Colorus was elected Pector of S. Murgo's Glasgow. --- Page 17 --- was elected President of S. County Court Canterbury Dublin At the first scrutiny the U. Prov. F. Dominic of the Im. Heart of Mary was elected Pretor of S. Pauls College (Dublin) Glasgow At the first scrutiny the U. Prov. F. Picholas of the VII Colors was elected Pretor of S. Murgo's Glasgow. Paris At the second scrutiny the U. Prov. F. Diognisius of the Proviscatoria was elected Pretor of S. Joseph's Petreat Paris. --- Page 18 --- 10 Belfast At the second scrutiny the V. Rev. F. Joseph of St Bernard was elected Rector of Holy Cross Belfast. After each of the elections the Secretary framed and published the Querie of election in the usual form. The session terminated at 7.30 p.m. 3rd Session On Wednesday 19th June at 9 a.m. the Capitulars again assembled when the Chapter first desired to make known to all the Religious of the Province that having heard the state of their finances in their Collegy Dublin, and having seen with sorrow and anguish that no effort which could be made in this United Kingdom could relieve the place of its distressing weight of debt it was resolved that something must be done or bankruptcy would ensue. The V. Rev. F. Quis of the Holy Chost, who knew the state of things by sad experience (having been Rector of said College for three years) had generously offered himself to the Chapter to go to America or elsewhere with a companion in order to collect in the matter on he best could what would lighten or pay those debts. The Most Rev. F. General and the Capitular Fathers, recognizing the necessity and appreciating the spirit in which the offer was made decreed that we hereby authorize the V. Rev. F. Quis of the Holy Chost and the Rev. F. Lawrence to proceed to America and with our blessing and the merit of holy obedience to carry out the plan laid before the Chapter by the V. Rev. F. Quis. II Querie For the better administration in our houses this Chapter decrees that henceforth each Rector or Superior having the temporal administration of our House or Restraits do Reck in addition to our usual administration books & --- Page 19 --- before the Chapter by the V. Vic. J. Cus. II Decree For the better administration in our houses this Chapter decrees that henceforth each Rector or Superior having the temporal administration of our Houses or Retreats do Seek in addition to our usual administration Book a Ledger or Book in which shall be entered all debts and in which particular and separate accounts shall be Sept for tradesmen and other in such a manner that by posting these --- Page 20 --- into a Balance sheet it can be known with little trouble and perfect certainty the salesalso exact amount of debts rising by each Rebreat it wasalso decreed that the Provincial should destine some Priest to make a full registry of all deeds wills and other documents affecting the temporal interests of our Province. 3rd Decree. The Chapter next decreed that each and every Rebreat in this Province (Sutton & Broadway Rebreats excepted) do pay to the Rector of S Paul's Dublin for its support a Contribution of £50 per annum. To be paid in quarterly quotas namely £12.10 on the 1st January, 1st April, 1st July and 1st October in each year. 4. Decree This Venerable Chapter finds in the decrees already made in former Chapters all that is necessary for the correction and prevention of abuse, and if deligently observed all that is required for the good of the Province in general and of the Religious of each house. Instead therefore of making new Decrees they direct that a summary of the most important already made be formed and read in the Choir at least once every three months & more frequently if the Reb thinks fit. The Capitulars being interrogated whether they had anything further to propose they all answered in the negative. The Most Rev. F. President approved of the elections made! The newly elected Superiors present made their Profession of Faith. The Acts of the Chapter were then signed and this sight Capitular assembly of our Province concluded. --- Page 21 --- The Most Per. F. President approved of the elections made! The newly elected Superiors present made their Profession of Gaith. The Acts of the Chapter were then signed and this sixth Capitular assembly of our Province concluded with the usual prayers all rendering heartfelt thanks to God to God, to the B. Virgin, to S. Michael. S. Joseph and S. Paul of the Cross for the happy termination of --- Page 22 --- their labours. 12 Domine of the Name of Mary. General Pres. of Chapter Eugene of S Antony Provincial Bernard of B. V. Me 1st Consultor Bernardine of S. Heart of Mary. 2 Consultor Sebastian of B. Sacrament Rect. St Joseph's Highgate Alban of S Antony Rect. S. Saviour's Broadway Alphonsus of B. V. Me. Rect. S. Anne's Sutton Pais of the Holy Chort Rect. S. Paul's Coll Qublin Anselm of the Assumption Rect. S. Mungi's Glasgow Given at the Retreat of S Anne Sutton the 20th day of June 1872. Concordat Cume originale Alphonsus e B MV Cap Lee " --- Page 23 --- CALL NO. 1872-06-20 001 1872-06-20 001 1872-06-20 001 1872-06-20 001