THE stream of fine printing. associated with the names of Hilary Pepler and Eric Gill, has branched out again with the foundation of St. Albert's Press at Aylesford, for it is in the charge of Fr. Brocard Sewell 0, Caren„ who before he joined the Carmelites was at Pepler's St. Dominic's Press and associated with the Gill Pigotts Press. The press at Aylesford, both hand and machine, goes with the carpentry workshop and with a pottery, to be directed by David Leach, son of Bernard Leach, the well-known potter of St. Ives. A particular value of these workshops. apart from the economy they effect for the Priory itself, lies in the fact that they encourage the vocation of laybrothers who are craftsmen, rather than servants, according to the mind of the Church. At one time. the large majority of religious were not priests. but lay or choir monks. and with developments like this one of Aylesford and the older one at Prinknash, many. without specialised learning, may realise a wonderful vocation to contemplative and active religious life.
3,000,000 crosses WHEN I met the Bishop of Leeds while he was in London for the Bishops' Low Week meeting, I noticed that he was wearing a tiny gold cross in his lapel. He told me that he thought that a little cross like this. neat, inconspicuous and yet easily recognisable, was the answer to many Catholics who would wish to carry an outward symbol of their Faith without, as it were, throwing their religious weight about in an aggressive or ostentatious manner. He was having a large quantity manufactured. I see now that he has referred to the cross at a meeting of the Leeds Civil Service Guild. I feel sure that. with sufficient publicity, up to—shall we say— three million crosses will be needed. Apart from a positive confession of Faith, there are many advantages in Catholics knowing one another as Catholics in the come-and-go of ordinary life. The same is true of Christians recognising one another as Christians—and the Bishop, I know, would like to see the cross worn by all real Christians. Of course. Bishops have extra advantages. Dr. Heenan's car flies a Papal flag on the bonnet, and this has been known more than once to solve the parking problem. It did near Fleet Street—and that is saying something.