HERALDIARY Two notable 'firsts' Two notable examples of "first time

since the Reformation" occur this week. One in Mass being said in Westminster Abbey on Saturday for members of Our Lady of Ransom at the shrine of St Edward the Confessor. It is purely a private occasion in connection with a pilgrimage in the Confessor's honour, and is being
possible through the kindness of the Dean of the
Abbey.
The other "first" is the arrival in England of the Grand Master of the Knights of Malta on a visit whose full particulars will, I'm assured, be fully covered next week, It will include a meeting with Her Majesty the Queen.
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Such events are no longer considered as examples of "Papal agression" in any form. In this connection an in.teresting anniversary slipped by almost unnoticed last week. To he exact it was really the anniversary of an anniversary; for at the very end of September, 1950, the then Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Griffin, was appointed special Papal Legate in view of the importance of certain events in England.
These were the centenary celebrations of the restoration of the Catholic Hierarchy to England and Wales. When this originally occurred, it was referred to in certain circles as the "Papal Aggression."
I notice that Basil Goldstone has been elected as President of the Liberal Party for 1976/7. He is a parishioner of the Church of Our Lady at Kings Lynn and serves on the parish committee. He is a member of the Catholic Union of Great Britain, The Guild of Ransom, Catholic Truth Society and The Latin Mass Society as well as on the executive of the local Council of Churches.
Mr. Goldstone has taken an active stand against pressures within the Liberal Party for abortion on demand and has spoken for S.P.U.C. He depends on Papal social encyclicals for his support for the underlying principles of Liberal industrial policy. He will he the first Catholic to become President of the English Liberal Party.
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Denis Christian, Prospective Liberal Parliamentary Can didate for Colchester, and a Catholic who contested the October 1974 Election tells me that:
"Basil Goldstone has become President Elect of the Liberal. Party in competition with others of intellect and distinction. His vitality and rapport with the yOung belie the fact that he has contested eight general elections covering a span of almost 40 years. Basil did it "his way" which meant that he was speaking and writing in Liberal circles, against abortion on demand and current law even as the ballot was being taken for the Presidency and without concern as to the votes he might lose. He wanted this honour and will take rightful pride in the fact that Liberals saw him as a man of integrity."
* * This is perhaps an appropriate moment to deny
the oft repeated allegation that "the liberals brought in the Abortion Act." The Bill was introduced as a Private Member's Bill by David Steel but the Liberal Party was in no position to "bring in legislation' having
having only 12 Members in the House at the time.
Thus the Act which followed the passing of the Bill in Parliament was, if anything, the result of the actions of the numerically greater Members of other Parties. Also there exists within the Party a "Liberals Against Abortion" lobby composed of Catholics and non-Catholics.
It says a great deal for the "liberalsim" of the Party that they accept as candidates some who openly declare their opposition to Abortion and free contraceptives; it might also say something for candidates who risk votes by their outspokenness on these subjects.
GEN