The Morning Star And Catholic Messenger

The Pius Verein at Zug.-The Pius Verein held, on August 20,21 and 22, its annual session for 1873, at Zug, Switzerland. The chief matter discussed by the members of the excellent society was, of course, the sad condition of Catholicism in Switzerland. Each one felt himself under a cloud of sadness and depression, for there was not a person present who had not witnessed some one of the many iniquities which have of late disgraced the Helvetian Republic. Saddened by the memory of the past, and fearful for the future, it is not wonderful that the speeches made were listened to not only with earnest attention, but with something akin to anxiety. The character of the assembly was grave, and the signs of depression marked almost every countenance. Is this to be wondered at? These were men who had seen continual insults offered to their religion, the imprisonment of their bishops, the banishment of their priests, and the liberties of the people destroyed by a minority of tyrannical infidels. The members of the Pius Verein proclaimed firmly their intention to boldly resist the encroachments of the enemy, and at the same time protested their fidelity to the Infallible Head of the Church, Pius IX. The hero of the day was the Bishop of Bale, Mgr. Lachat. His eloquence and energy seemed inspired, and when, at the conclusion of his first discourse, the principal members of the society hastened to thank him for his presence, their voices were filled with tears, and they seemed incapable of speaking from emotion. In the evening a serenade was performed in his honor by the musicians of the city of Zug, and he was loudly cheered by the people. The most important movement of the meeting was the composing of a document which is to be circulated all over Switzerland, even in the hamlets of the least frequented mountain, in which the actual condition of the Church is clearly pointed out, and the people called on to protest with all their power against the continuation of the persecution. Dispatches were received from Cardinal Antonelli, giving the society His Holiness's blessing; from the Bishop of Grenoble and his flock, assembled on the mountain of La Salette, in solemn pilgrimage, and from several other prelates. Telegrams were also sent by the society to Mgr. Mermillod, expressing admiration for his bold attitude, also to Mgr. Marilley, to Mgr. Preux, Bishop of Sion, Dean of the Helvetian Episcopacy, and to his Holiness, the Pope.