Fifteen Nations Represented

Well-known Englishmen Present
Social And Cultural Improvement
From Our Special Correspondent
ANTWERP.
SMALL BUT UTTERLY REPRESENTATIVE WAS THE GATHERING OF DELEGATES LAST WEEK AT ANTWERP FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE APOSTLESHIP OF THE SEA.
One hundred persons were present. They came from fifteen countries. Great Britain was represented by Vice-Admiral Hornell, D.S.O., Mr. A. Gannon, Mgr. Myers, Mgr. Canon Hall, Fr. Martindale, and Fr. Ivor Daniel, all connected directly or indirectly with the welfare of British sailors.
NEED FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION
The congressists met at St. Ignace, the Jesuit Commercial Institute in Antwerp, under the presidency of Mgr. Myers, auxiliary Bishop of Westminster.
Mgr. Carton de Wiart, auxiliary Bishop of Malines, representing Cardinal Van Roey, sat beside him. Vice-Admiral Hornell, D.S.O., chairman of the Apostolatus Mans, acted as vice-president of the congress. The French Vice-Admiral Joubcrt, president of the Societe des gens de Mer, with Abbe Boogacrs, chaplain of the Port of Antwerp, completed the board.
Mgr.. Carton de Wiart welcomed the congressists on behalf of the Cardinal. The Director of the Ministry of the Belgian Marine greeted the congress on behalf of the Belgian Government, saying that the Belgian Government had done much to better the material lot of the seaman, but it was for the Apostles of the Sea to look to the moral welfare, in which aim the Government would always help.
Mgr. Myers rose to say that he was the envoy of the English Catholics. But the word Catholic was. he said, the real " internationalc." Too much stress had been placed of late on the national idea; hut the Catholic idea was hiahcr. It was international. And the saving of souls, and the souls of the mariners, was international.
Britain's Support
Vice-Admiral Hornell told how the Apostolatus Mans Internationale Concilium had come into being and what strong support it had had from English Catholics and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster.
He rendered eloquent testimony to Fr. Martindale, S.J., for his support and achievement and rejoiced that Belgium, a Catholic land, was now to know the privilege of this first congress in Belgium, and to shoulder its burden in taking up the apostleship of the sea and thus maintain the kingdom of Christ upon the seas.
Cultural Life at Sea
The " Cultural Life of the Seamen " was the central theme of the congress on Friday.
The level of cultural life of the Belgian seaman was disappointingly low amongst Belgian crews and it must be improved, was the conclusion arrived at by Captain Lauweryns in his paper read on behalf of the College Royal Maritime Beige. The Sea Apostolatc, he said, comes appropriately in aid to fill a timely need.
Then Captain Lemere severely criticised conditions in the Belgian Marchant Marine. Here was vast scope for action by the Amic.
Maitre Collard, a Belgian advocate, treated of the problem of the professional honour of the seamen which badly needs the vigilance of the Apostolattis Mans. Father Martindale, S.J., spoke of the apostolic role the sailor himself must play by becoming an apostle among his likes. Sailor must save sailor. Later, Fr. Martindale made a stirring appeal for a League of Prayer for Seamen, living and dead.
Libraries for seamen was the topic treated by Mille. Alice Dewit, secretary of the Antwerp AMIC Club. The Antwerp library contains 6,660 volumes and this year's records show 40,000 borrowings.
" Open Door on the Ground Floor"
Father Ivor Daniel, of Pembroke Dock, brought the atmosphere of South Wales into congress when he breezily spoke of the cultural powers of the seamen's clubs. His policy is the policy of the open door" but " let it be on the ground floor " with a " walk right in " welcome and homely comfort and greeting within. Such is the way to save the sailor, body and soul.
French Federation activity was detailed by Pere Chardavoine, of Paris. In a period of 12 years from its foundation it has grouped no less than 42 works for seamen in every branch.
A Capucin "loup de nter," Pere Begouen-Demeaux, of Le Havre, was the true type of sea apostle. His stories and methods of " capturing" the sailor were thrillers that would make best sellers. His " maison de marins" is a feature of Le Havre, and his name among the men of the Normandie is one to conjure with.
The Shipowner's Point of View
Pere de Cleyn, S.J., read a masterly report drawn from his long experience of the port of Antwerp on " The Shipowners' Point of View."
It was a human tale of the poor understanding of the seaman shown by the shipowner. He insisted strohgly on the need for truer sentiments of humanity in the shipowner towards the mariner.
Father Sicnkewiaz, of Poland, described conditions reigning in the port of G'ydnia. Interesting and satisfactory progress.
Pere Arts, S.J., spoke of Catholic Action amongst sailors. The first effort must be to reform seamen's conditions and environ
ment. Communists, he said, very properly championed the cause for the betterment of the material condition of the sailor, but they can never be forgiven for inciting sailors to disregard their duties and obligations. Catholic action, he urged, must tend to study terrain and milieu; make shipowners conscious of their obligations; urge Catholic officers to show the example. Catholic populations must be taught to realise the need for their co-operation in seamen's welfare and in the work of the apostleship's clubs.
Canon Cardijn, of the Belgian Jocists, told the congressists of the excellent work done amongst the young working folk of Belgium and appealed for sorne measure of co-operation between the Joeist movement and the Apostolatus Mans.
M. Tannay briefly resumed what was being done in France for the Christian youth of maritime districts exemplifying how the leisure of theseyouths is being utilised for a religious and moral end.
Plight of Sea-fishers
The Belgian Inspector of Fisheries, M. Lefevrc, at Ostend, read an interesting paper on Belgian Fishermen, recalling the deplorable debauchery and alcoholism of pre-war days contrasting it with the im provement secured by the work of the Ibis in securing better housing, removal of fishing slums, training youth to resist vice, and obtaining higher rates of pay. The status of the Belgian fisherman has thereby been improved.
Pere Lebret, OP., of Saint Mato, spoke of the " Cultural Life of the Fisherman.'
The archaic form of fishing has succumbed to the industrial form. This has had grave consequences for the fishing people. True, in intellectual culture there has been progress in instruction but it does not embody culture or instruction in Faith. The fisherman's culture is personal and comes from his experiences and travels in other countries and knowledge of other customs. These awaken their ideas and broaden their views.
Formerly between trips the stay at home was longer, • and the soul and mind renewed by the Christian home atmosphere and religious practices.
Now, under the industrialisation of fishing, the " turn round " after reaching port is quick. No sooner home than off again—fishing without interruption; constant absence from home means loss of Christian support.
" The duty of Society towards these men is to form a vast international organisation to defend the fisherman."
A special compliment to the Apostles ot the Sea was shown by the lunch offered by the leading Belgian Maritime Company on Sunday after the conclusion of the ceremony to the sea heroes.
Bishop Myers presided at the lunch, sitting between the directors of the Company. In a toast his Lordship expressed the gratitude of the congressists for the hospitality shown them.
The Antwerp Chaplain, Abbe Boogacrt, told of the solid support the shipping company always gave him in his work of suc couring the seamen in the port of Antwerp.
Vice-Admiral Hornell rose and paid a feeling tribute to Abbe Boogaert for his magnificent work in establishing the Antwerp Apostleship Club.
" It is essential," he said, that each Catholic strain every nerve and be equipped, as Our Holy Father expresses it, to be himself an apostle to his fellowseamen and citizens."
Belgium Honours Sea Victims Closing day, Sunday, coincided with Belgium's commemoration day for its " gens de mer " who died at sea for Belgium.
It was fitting that the Sea Apostles and Delegates and all official Belgium and people should mingle at the one service in commemoration.
Mgr. Canon H. F. Hall, of Westminster Cathedral, sang High Mass.
The plain chant was rendered in a way that would rejoice those whose delight is the liturgical spirit. I mention this being mindful of discussions here anent in the Catholic Herald.
The mystic marriage between the Catholic Church and the Sea was the theme of Fr. Arts, S.J., allocution in Flemish to the citizen congregation of Antwerp, unfolding the aim and achievements of the Apostolatus Mans.
After mass, the congressists joined the procession of naval men and officials of Belgium to the seamen's cenotaph at the Pilotage on the Scheldt.
Closing Manifestation
The finale was the manifestation organised by the people of Antwerp in honour of the Sea Apostles. Cardinal Van Roey, who presided, wound up the congress.
Cardinal Van Roey thereupon rose and said what a joy it was for him to witness the apostolic activity displayed by the members of the Apostolicus Mans. He uttered the hope that the Congress now closed would yield fertile results and henceforth assume wide development.
This account of the Congress cannot be concluded • without mentioning the success with which Mr. A. Gannon, the organising secretary of the AMIC. headquarters, arranged and directed this Congress of over one hundred delegates.