OBITUARY Mgr. Canon Hudson

" Father Hudson's Homes, Coleshill." Not alone in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, but practically all over England, those words were known, reminders of a wellorganised piece of practical charity, in the Midlands, on behalf of abandoned, suffering, and crippled Catholic children. News that Mgr. Canon G. V. Hudson, founder of the homes, died last Sunday in the Clifton Down nursing home, makes sad hearing; for, although Mgr. Hudson had been away from active work, owing to ill-health, for nearly two years, it was hoped that he would live to see, over a long period, the further progress of the good work which he set on foot.
George Vincent Hudson was born near Pershore in 1873, the son of the late Captain C. E. Mogridge Hudson. Coleshill absorbed almost his entire energies during his working life; for when, his studies at OscOtt finished, he became a priest in 1898, he was appointed pastor in that parish and chaplain and secretary to St. Paul's Home for boys. At that time Mgr. Edward Ilsley was Bishop of Birmingham; he speedily discerned in the young priest the qualities needful in art organiser, and to him he entrusted the building up of an extensive machinery of rescue work in the diocese.
How well that work succeeded is common knowledge. Father Hudson's foundations include St. Vincent's Home for working boys; St. Edward's Home; Our Lady's Home; St. Gerard's Hospital; St. James's Home; St. George's Home; St, Joan's Home for girls; St. Edward's School; and St. Paul's Central School. All these institutions are at Cokshill. Together they constitute a monument, to one man's zeal, little short of remarkable.
During his active years, Mgr. Hudson made thirty trips to Canada in the interests of eleven thousand children who, thanks to him, have found settlement overseas. In 1920 he was created a Domestic Prelate; seven years later he became a member of the Birmingham Chapter. His silver jubilee in the priesthood brought him a tribute of regard in the form of cheques amounting to £2,000, the whole of which money, he intimated, would be applied to the work so near to his heart, that of the children's welfare.
The requiem Mass and the burial took plane at Coleshill on Wednesday last.
Mr. F. N. Blundell, J.P.
When the Catholic Relief .Act of 1926 was successfully piloted through Parliament to its place on the Statute Book, a special message of thanks was addressed to the chief promoters of that measure, one of whom was the then M.P. for Ormskirk, Mr. Francis Nicholas Blundell. News of Mr. Blundell's death, which occurred at Blundellsands on Wednesday last, will recall to Catholics throughout the country the debt of gratitude owing to the memory of that zealous worker, not alone for his services during the years when he sat i the House of Conunons, but also for mac valued work on behalf of Catholic educz tion.
The Blundells of Crosby, as many knov are one of the most ancient and famou of England's Catholic families. For seve hundred years they have had their horn at Blundellsands, preserving the faith, an giving to the Church priests and religiou through the dark times of persecution.
Francis Nicholas Blundell, born in 1881 was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. le Blundell. He lost his father at the age c four; his mother, widely known by he pen-name " M. E. Francis," died six yea! ago. After education in two Catholi schools: Stonyhurst, end the Orator School, he went to Oxford (Merton Co lege), where he took his B.A. degree. H was for some time President of the Nev. man Society,
Mr. Blundell succeeded to the Crash Hall estate in 1909, on the death of hi uncle, Mr. William Joseph Blundell. 'Hi interest in local public life found him member of the Lancashire County Cour cil, for the Crosby district, from 1913 unt last year: during the latter few years a that period he served as Alderman. Mili tary service as a Captain in the Great Wa brought him mention in despatches.
It was in 1922 that Mr. Blundell entere. the House of Commons, as Unionist mem ber for the Ormskirk Division. His Par liamentary tenure came to an end seve years later. Gladly would his co-religion ists, and others besides, have seen hir again in the House, and it is something o a disquieting reflection that his decisio not to stand as a candidate, a few year ago, was prompted by the knowledge tha prejudice, in some quarters, against hi religion, might cut across the party in terests.
In 1927 Mr. Blundell became Chairmai of the Catholic Education Council. Tha body loses in him a valued worker who cal ill be spared. For his services to th Church he was honoured by appointmen as a Privy Chamberlain of Sword an Cape.
An industry which greatly appealed e Mr. Blundell's interest was that of poultr farming, so much so that in 1934 he be came Director of the National Poulte Scheme set up by the Ministry of Agricul ture. He had written on A New Polk. for Agriculture, and on The Agricultura Problem.
Mr. Blundell married, in 1918, Mis Theresa Ward, younger daughter of th late Mr. Wilfrid Ward.
Brother Casimir
A message from Nantes, France, bring news of the death on Tuesday last o Brother Casimir, who was Director of St Joseph's College, Norwood, S.E., from 1931 until last year. The burial takes place to day (Friday), at Nantes and Requiem Max; is being celebrated this morning at St Joseph's College.