e not open to the
Catholics of the neighborhood--an increase of 11 on 1884. These places
of worship are served by 2,576 priests as against 2,522 last year. Since
the beginning of the year 91 priests have been ordained, of whom 56 are
secular and 35 regular.

* * * * *

A ROSY OUTLOOK.--_Chicago News:_ The new year dawns upon the United
States as the most favored nation in the world. Business is reviving in
every department. Our storehouses and granaries are full to overflowing.
We are free from all foreign entanglements. The public health is good,
and with reasonable care there is nothing to dread from foreign
pestilence. We can look back upon 1885 with grateful hearts, and forward
to 1886 with hope and confidence.

* * * * *

CATHOLICS IN PARLIAMENT.--Catholics have no need to complain of the
result of the elections, so far as it affects their special interest,
observes the _Liverpool Catholic Times_. In the late House of Commons
representatives of the Faith had sixty seats. In the new House they will
have eighty-two. Of these, Catholic Ireland contributes seventy-nine,
England two, and Scotland one. We have already commented upon the return
for the Oban Division of Argyllshire of Mr. D. H. MacFarlane, who enjoys
the distinction of being the first Catholic member of Parliament
returned by Scotland since the so-called Reformation. English Catholics
cannot, however, be congratulated upon the part they took in the
electoral struggle. To the last Parliament they sent but one
representative, Mr. H. E. H. Jerningham; and to that which will commence
its labors in a couple of months they have returned only two--Mr.
Charles Russell, Q.C., for South Hackney, and Mr. T. P. O'Connor, for
the Scotland Division of Liverpool. And more than half the credit of
securing the return of these two gentlemen is due to the Irish electors
in this country.

* * * * *

For the first time in the history of Boston a colored man has obtained a
political office--he has actually received a policeman's baton. This is
wonderful news, indeed, for, although Massachusetts has been prominent
in denouncing the South for her treatment of the colored man, whom she
has extensively favored with office, Boston, at least, has now had the
first opportunity of practicing her doctrine; and let us hope that the
man's name--Homer--will be classical enough to counteract