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ACTS OF THE
XVIII PROVINCIAL CHAPTER
OF THE
ANGLO-HIBERNIAN PROVINCE
OF THE
CONGREGATION
OF THE
MOST HOLY CROSS AND PASSION
OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,
HELD IN
ST. JOSEPH'S RETREAT,
LONDON
25TH JULY 1908
ROME
PRINTED BY MONASTERY PRESS, SS. JOHN & PAUL

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ACTS OF THE
XVIII. PROVINCIAL CHAPTER
OF THE
ANGLO-HIBERNIAN PROVINCE♦♦♦♦♦
In accordance with a Convocatory letter of the V. Rev. Fr. Philip of the Immaculate Conception, Provincial, dated June 8th., 1908, and sent to all the Rectors and Superiors of the Province, the Capitular Fathers assembled at St. Joseph's Retreat, on July 21st., 1908, to assist at the Triduum in preparation for the Chapter, summoned for July 25th., 1908.
FIRST MEETING.
At nine o'clock on the morning of July 22nd, the first preliminary meeting was held, all the Capitular Fathers being present. After invoking the aid of the Holy Ghost, the letter of Delegation from the Most Rev. Fr. General authorizing the V. Rev. Fr. Joseph of the Mother of Mercy, Second Consultor-General, to preside at the Chapter, was read by the V. Rev. Fr. Philip. The V. Rev. President expressed the pleasure it gave him to be with the Fathers and to preside at their Chapter. The V. Rev. Fr. Placid of Our Holy Redeemer was asked to act as Secretary of the preliminary meetings, and he consented to do so. The Rev. Fr. Casimir of the Sacred Heart was appointed "custos," and took the oath "de secreto servando." The V. Rev.

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President announced that the "active voice" had been obtained for the V. Rev. Fr. Cyprian of the Precious Blood, Superior of St. Mungo's, Glasgow. The V. Rev. Fr. Wilfrid, Superior of St. Mary's, Carmarthen, and the Rev. Fr. Sebastian of the Immaculate Conception, representing the Australian houses, were invited to be present at the preliminary meetings, a ballot being taken in each case. The Seals of office, Litteræ-Patentes, Inventories, Certificates of Celebration of Masses and the keeping of the Archives, were handed in. Fr. Philip presented those of Paris, and stated that those of Herne Bay had not yet arrived. The President then invited each of the Fathers to mention any matter he wished to bring under the notice of the Chapter, and many subjects were proposed for discussion. After this, the oath "de secreto servando" was taken by all present, and the "discussio meritorum" commenced, which was continued till nearly twelve o'clock, when the meeting concluded. In this meeting FF. Malachy and Cyprian were appointed a commission to examine the financial statements; and FF. Egwin and Hubert, to examine the other documents.
SECOND MEETING.
The Fathers assembled in the chapter-room at 4p. m. Fr. Provincial having read the Financial Statement of the Hospice of the Sacred Heart at Herne Bay, and presented the Inventory and Certificates of this house, the Discussio meritorum was continued till the meeting broke up at 7 p. m.
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THIRD MEETING.
The Fathers, having assembled at 9 o'clock on the 23rd., the discussio meritorum was resumed and finished. After which some important matters on the "agenda" paper were considered; and the meeting closed at mid-day.
FOURTH MEETING.
The Fathers assembled at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 24th. The V. Rev. Fr. President told the Fathers that he had received a letter from the Most Rev. Fr. General, in which his Paternity sent his kindest greetings to the Capitulars; especially to FF. Philip and Malachy whose acquaintance he had made at the General Chapter. FF. Egwin and Hubert testified that the certificates and other papers they had examined had been found in due order. FF. Malachy and Cyprian then presented the financial report. This was listened to with intense interest, and the result gave the utmost satisfaction. Taking the home houses with the Australian the permanent debt of the Province was found to have been reduced by more than 16,000 Pounds, during the last three years. The Fathers then discussed the desirableness and possibility of our building new houses at Broadway and Sutton; also the question of vacations. The meeting was concluded at 12 o'clock with the usual prayers.
The Fathers joined the community in the choir at three o'clock for Vespers, after which an appropriate

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discourse was delivered by the V. Rev. Fr. Philip. Taking for his text the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians IV. 3.: "Careful to keep the unity of spirit in the bond of peace, - he commenced by alluding to the importance of the occasion, and the sacred and grave issues dependent on it. He spoke of our Province as the one which had the special love and protection of our Holy Founder, and the only one outside Italy which he was given to foresee. He then reminded his hearers that the spirit of the Congregation is one of solitude, poverty, mortification and prayer; and that as these were loved and practised, the Province would be blessed and would flourish; and that though our circumstances might sometimes appear adverse to these, they were not really so to the earnest religions. He then reminded the religious that in this Province especially they should endeavour to imitate the desire and prayers and zeal of St. Paul of the Cross, of F. Dominic of the Mother of God, and of F. Ignatius Spencer for the Conversion of England. And he concluded by impressing upon all the grave duty of earnest prayer for the divine blessing upon the labours of the Chapter.
FIFTH MEETING.
This meeting commenced at 4. 15, with the usual prayers. It was occupied by the Capitulars in discussing our missions, and retreats; the responsibility of our parochial work; and the position and qualifications of those engaged in it; and of those engaged in charge of our Confraternities. The question of the studies was also debated. The meeting ended at seven o'clock.
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On the morning of Saturday, July 25th., Solemn High Mass was celebrated by the V. Rev. Fr. Philip of the Immaculate Conception; the First and Second Consultors being respectively Deacon and Subdeacon; and the V. Rev. Fr. President and the other Capitular Fathers being in the Sanctuary.
SIXTH MEETING.
At ten o'clock the Capitular Fathers and all the religious community assembled in the choir. The V. Rev. President, vested in surplice and white stole, and bearing the crucifix, having intoned the Vexilla Regis it was taken up by the religious, who then walked in processional order to the chapter room. All having arrived there, and the hymn being concluded, the usual prayers were sung by the President, who dismissed in the prescribed form those having no active voice; and the Capitulars alone remained. The V. Rev. President gave then a practical and fervent address to the Capitulars. He reminded them of the supreme importance of the work they were now engaging in: that the eyes of the entire Province were now upon them, indeed of the Congregation itself: that the prayers of Our Holy Founder in Heaven were with them: that the welfare of the Province, spiritual and temporal, depended upon the Superiors: that putting aside all personal feelings, and having in view only the holy will of God and the good of the Province, they should look to the Holy Spirit for guidance in this most responsible duty.
The names of the Capitular Fathers were then called, each answering "adsum."

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There were found present:
1 V. R. F. Joseph of Our Lady of Mercy, 2nd. Cons. Gen. President.
2 V. R. F. Philip of the Immaculate Conception, Provincial.
3 V. R. F. Malachy of the Seven Dolours, First Consultor.
4 V. R. F. Placid of Our Holy Redeemer, Second Consultor.
5 V. R. F. Felix of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
6 V. R. F. Leonard of St. Andrew.
7 V. R. F. Egwin of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
8 V. R. F. Hilary of the Immaculate Conception.
9 V. R. F. Hubert of St. Mary Magdalen.
10 V. R. F. Athanasius of the Mother of God.
11 V. R. F. Cyprian of the Precious Blood.
The V. Rev. President then intoned the Veni Creator, which was sung, followed by the versicles and prayers. He then asked the Fathers whether they considered the Chapter lawfully and canonically convened, so that its work might be proceeded with. All having answered in the affirmative, the President in his own name, and in the name of all, protested against admitting the disqualified, and excluding those qualified from the elections of the Chapter.
After the customary acts of humility had been performed by the V. Rev. Fr. Philip, Provincial, in his own name and in the name of the Capitulars, the President imparted the absolutio ad cantelam to all: he himself afterwards receiving it from V. Rev. Fr. Philip.
Then were read the decree of the Holy Office, "Contra Solicitantes;" and the prescribed Tridentine decree.
The election of a Secretary was then held, and the V. Rev. Fr. Placid of Our Holy Redeemer was elected by ballot. After this two Scrutators were elected; they were the V. Rev. FF. Felix and Egwin.
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These canonical requirements having been fulfilled, the Secretary received from the President the faculty of publishing the scrutinies, and of framing and publishing the elections. The Chapter then proceeded to the election of a Provincial. As, after several scrutinies, no election was effected, and it was already midday, the session was adjourned till the afternoon.
SEVENTH MEETING.
The Fathers reassembled at 4 p. m. At the second scrutiny, the V. Rev. Fr. Malachy of the Seven Dolours was found to have the requisite number of votes, and his election as Provincial was framed and published by the Secretary in the usual form. The V. Rev. Fr. Malachy thanked the Capitulars for this mark of their confidence, and accepting the office, professed his readiness to carry out its onerous duties to the best of his ability. The Community were then summoned to the chapter room, and they most heartily offered the newly elected Provincial their obedience and congratulations. All then repaired to the church, where Solemn Benediction was given, and the Te Deum sung in thanksgiving.
The Capitulars then returned to the chapter room, and proceeded to the other elections. The V. Rev. Fr. Philip of the Immaculate Conception was elected First Consultor, and the V. Rev. Fr. Hilary of the Immaculate Conception, Second Consultor. Then on the assurance of the V. Rev. Fr. Provincial that the observance could and would be maintained at St. Mungo's, Glasgow, the President declared that a canonical Rector might be elected for that house. After this the elections were continued, and the following were elect-

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ed: the election in each case being framed and published by the Secretary in the form prescribed: - The V. Rev. F. Mark of the Seven Dolours, Master of Novices; the V. Rev. F. Felix of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Rector of St. Joseph's, Highgate; the V. Rev. F. Leonard of St. Andrew, Rector of St. Saviour's, Broadway; the V. Rev. F. Egwin of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Rector of St. Ann's, Sutton; the V. Rev F. Sebastian of the Immaculate Conception, Rector of St. Paul's, Mount Argus, Dublin; the V. Rev. F. Cyprian of the Precious Blood, Rector of St. Mungo's, Glasgow; the V. Rev. F. Hubert of St. Mary Magdalen, Rector of Holy Cross, Belfast; the V. Rev. F. Alban of the Immaculate Conception, Rector of St. Mary's, Harborne. Thus all the elections being happily accomplished, the session was concluded.
EIGHTH MEETING
The Fathers assembled in the chapter room at 9 o'clock on Sunday morning, the 26th. Before proceeding with the business of the Chapter, Fr. Provincial proposed, and all most willingly agreed that F. Wilfrid and Sebastian should be present at the meetings, that the Capitulars might have the benefit of their prudence and experience, without their having power to vote
Fr. President read a direction from the Most Rev. Fr. General, of which the following is a translation: «For the purpose of preventing unpleasant misunderstandings, and of maintaining good order among subordinate Superiors, and chiefly for the promotion of the spiritual welfare of the religious, I hereby declare:
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I. - Renewed all spiritual permissions and faculties, granted by my Most Reverend Predecessors;
II. - Void and null, unless renewed by competent authority, all temporal and material permissions granted by the same;
III. - That requests for such renewals, or for similar permissions will not ordinarily be taken into consideration unless they have the reasonable approval of the subordinate Superiors, especially that of the Provincials. This is ordained to preserve good order and religious discipline.
Retreat of Ss. John and Paul, Rome, July 12th., 1908
Jeremias of the Most Sacred Thorns,
Superior General, C. P.
The Secretary read a telegram from the V. Rev. F. Mark of the Seven Dolours, accepting the Mastership of the Novices. The V. Rev. F. Philip read a letter from the Rev. F. Laurence at Mt. Argus, urging the advisability of our purchasing the five acres belonging to Mr. Nolan, and now sublet to us, lying between the Kimmage Road and our land. The advisability of doing so was universally admitted by the Chapter.
The after mentioned matters having been thoroughly discussed at the preliminary meetings, the following decisions and decrees when proposed by the President to the Capitulars were unanimously passed.
BUILDINGS:
The Chapter admits the necessity of a new Retreat at Sutton, and directs that steps be taken to clear

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off the present permanent debt, and that funds be collected for the commencement of the work as soon as possible.
The Chapter is in favor of rebuilding the "professed" portion of the Retreat at Broadway without delay, since a sum of money has been left for this purpose, and the necessity is universally admitted.
In view of new buildings to be erected, and of repairs necessary to existing buildings, the Chapter selects F. Hubert and Cyprian to act as advisory committee to the Provincial and his Consultors on these matters.
VACATIONS:
In consequence of abuses which have arisen, the Chapter decrees that all requests for vacations, and absence from home at other times, should be made by the local Superior to the Provincial.
The time and place of vacation should be definitely arranged beforehand, and should be sanctioned by the Provincial.
The Chapter reminds our religious that when in "transitu," they are subject to the Superior of any house in which they may happen to stay.
PUBLICATION:
The Chapter orders that no communication be sent to the public press, unless it have previously received the sanction of the Provincial, or Local Superior.
The session then concluded.
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NINTH MEETING.
The Capitulars, as usual, reassembled at 4 o'clock. As the matters requiring attention had been already fully debated in the preliminary meetings the following decisions and decrees, when proposed by the President were unanimously passed.
THE SACRED MINISTRY.
Since Parochial work has been undertaken with the approval of the Higher Superiors, and since the Ordinaries require such work to be efficiently done, the Chapter affirms the right of Superiors to employ their religious in such work.
The Chapter considering that in the present circumstances of the Province, parochial work is at least of equal importance with missions and retreats, and recognizing the strict obligations incumbent on Superiors of having it done efficiently, exhorts all employed in Parishes, Institutions, etc., to fulfil their duties in a zealous spirit, mindful of the rigorous account which they shall have to render to God.
The Directors of Confraternities are reminded that in their management they must act with entire dependence on the Local Superiors, as regards both spiritual and temporal matters.
The Chapter directs the Superiors of missions to see that the Rosary and the Instruction before the sermon should not exceed half-an-hour; nor the whole service, an hour and a half.
The Chapter recommends that the course of Instructions given on missions should embrace both the Commandments and the Sacraments.

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The religious are reminded that the time of rest after missions and retreats may not be extended beyond that allowed by the Regulations.
In accordance with the decree of the late General Chapter, F.F. Philip and Joseph are appointed by the Chapter to examine the sermons and instructions of the missionaries, ordained within the last six years. The above named fathers are also charged with the duty of examining confessors in accordance with the above decree.
The Chapter orders that the Compendium of Decrees prepared by the Provincial and his Consultors should be read in our houses on the Friday of each "Quater-Tense".
The Chapter orders that the two houses of Marrickville and Adelaide should contribute 50 Pounds, each, per annum, to the Pro-Provincial for Australia, for the Golburn house, and other common purposes.
Finally the Chapter, in accordance with the Holy Rule, considered the conduct of the Lay-brothers.
The Chapter also declared: Vicars are reminded that their duty is to afford help to the Rector, or other Local Superior, in whose absence they should be guided by his wishes and instructions.
This session was concluded at 7 o'clock on the 26th.
TENTH MEETING.
The Capitular Fathers assembled at nine o'clock on the 28th. The acts of the Chapter were read by the Secretary, and unanimously approved. The V. Rev. President then asked each of the Capitulars if he had any-
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thing else to suggest, and all replied in the negative. The President by virtue of his authority, then confirmed the newly-elected Rectors and Master of Novices in their offices with the usual formality.
A warm vote of thanks to the V. Rev. Fr. Joseph of the Mother of Mercy was then proposed by the V. Rev. F. Malachy, Provincial, and carried by acclamation. In responding, the V. Rev. F. President expressed the pleasure he had felt in many ways, during his visit especially at seeing that all the Fathers had so thoroughly at heart the good of their beloved Province, which would always find in him a sincere freind.
The Capitular Fathers then subscribed their names to these acts, in the following order; when the newly elected Superiors had made the prescribed profession of faith.
Joseph a Matre Misericordia, 2 Consult. Generalis, Præses. Philippus ab Imm. Conceptione. Præpositus Provincialis.
Malachias a VII Doloribus, Primus Consultor Provincialis Placidus a SSmo. Redemptore, Secundus Cons. Provincialis.
Felix a Matre Boni Consilii, Rector Recessus Sti. Joseph.
Leonardus a S. Andrea, Rector SS. Salvatoris, Broadway.
Egwinus a SS. Corde Jesu, Rector Recessus Stae. Annae, apud Sutton.
Hilarius ab Imm. Conceptione, Rector Rec. S. Pauli a Cruce, apud Dublinum.
Hubertus a S. Maria Magdalena, Rector Rec. SS. Crucis, Belfast. Athanasius a Matre Dei, Rector Rec. S. Mariae, apud Harborne. Cyprianus a Pret. Sanguine, ex privileg. concess. a S. Congreg. EE. et RR.
Placicus a SSmo. Redemptore, Secretarius Capitularis
Ex Recessu S. Joseph, Highgate, die 28 Julii, 1908
Concordant in omnibus cum originalibus
Malachias a VII Dol. Præ Prov
To be read publicly in Chois or Refectory.