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FROM OUR Venerabile CORRESPONDENT. To the Editor of THE COTTONIAN. DEAR SIR,
I think it was Horace who said : " Non semper imbres nubibus hispidos manant in agros," and it is only now that I can see the point of this remark -for after a Winter conspicuous for its rain and " glacies iners," Spring is here, and it is surprising what wonders the yearly miracle can work even in the Northern climate of Lancashire.
But despite the weather and the war, life at the Venerabile is progressing normally and I would have said rather too normally had it not been that a minor outbreak of measles served to relieve the monotony of term. But this has (fortunately or perhaps for some unfortunately) been localised by prompt action on the part of the local authorities. The cold weather however does bring its rewards and all February and the first week of March were particularly favourable for skating-a popular sport performed on the reservoirs of the Lancashire County Council (whom God preserve). The Rugger and Soccer seasons were quite good, but the snow put an end to them and they never really recovered although in Easter Week we are hoping to play a team of old Venerabilini at Soccer. Next year we are expecting great things of the Rugger since G. W. Shelton will be in charge.
Now that Spring is here patriotism demands that we should dig for victory and most afternoons a gang of stalwarts (quorum pars magna fui) can be seen putting a few more acres of England's " green and pleasant land " under cultivation.
But besides the physical activity, we have not been neglecting to cultivate our minds and although most of our time is taken up with Scholastic lore yet the Literary Society has been addressed by such eminent men as Fr. Brodrick, Dr. Grimley and Shane Leslie, while during the last five months also two plays were produced which are familiar with Cotton audiences-The Case of the Frightened Lady, and For the Love of Mike. While not to be outdone by anyone we were " on the air " on the first Sunday of Lent and broadcast a service on the Pacific service of the B.B.C. which we hear was well received. But the main item of interest
to Cottonians is that on Septuagesima Sunday Douglas Key was ordained to the priesthood at Nottingham by Bishop McNulty, and we take this opportunity of offering him our hearty congratulations. He has now returned and will continue his studies here until called out on to the Mission sometime in July-another O.C., J. T. Daley, will be receiving the Subdiaconate at Trinity.
At the time of writing lectures have finished until after Easter and our activity is at present being concentrated on preparing for the Retreat and the Holy Week services. But now I am afraid I must stop ; not only have I remembered the paper scarcity but what is far more to the point I have no more news, and as we say in the schools " Nemo dat quod non habet "-and so with these words of profound philosophical meaning, I will close.
I remain, Sir,
YOUR Venerabile CORRESPONDENT.
OBITUARY
THE RIGHT REVEREND MONSIGNOR CHARLES J•
CRONIN, D.D., V.G.
(O.C. 1882-88).
It is with regret that we record the death of Monsignor Charles Cronin, who died at St. Paul's Convent, Selly Park, on January 8th, 1942, after many weeks of illness. A solemn Requiem Mass was sung by His Lordship Bishop Griffin in St. Chad's Cathedral in the presence of His Grace the Archbishop, and after the Mass his body was taken for interment to Oscott College. The following tribute was paid him by the Archbishop :
" Many of you know that my own personal feeling is all against sermons at funerals, and I would rather assist at the last rites and pray for the soul of the dead with the prayers and ceremonies according to the liturgy of the Church. Yet there is always a tribute of gratitude and respect which men like to offer to those whom they have known intimately and with whom they have worked in close contact. And my association with Monsignor Cronin has been so close during the past twelve and a half years that I should like