The clergy of France, encouraged by the exhortations and example of our Holy Father, who has not only raised his voice in favour of the poor exiles, but has founded a college for them in Rome—the clergy of France, always active and zealous in the protection and propagation of the faith, have instituted a society, with the view not only of providing for the present wants of the Poles now scattered through Europe, but also of taking steps to secure in times to come the existence of our holy religion in that unhappy country, by educating young students to fill the ranks of the priesthood.
A most distinguished prelate, Monseigneur Segur, well known for his innumerable works of charity and religion, is at the head of the society just mentioned, and the Very Rev. Abbé Perraud, a learned priest of the Oratory, and author of an admirable work on the state of Ireland, is its secretary. The society is patronised by the bishops and nobles of France.
Wishing you, reverend gentlemen, every blessing and every success, I remain, your obedient servant,
Paul Cullen.
The president and secretary have addressed to me the two documents here annexed, which give a full and true account of the unhappy state of the Polish exiles, and of the sufferings of the clergy.
May I beg of you to publish them in the next number of the Record, a periodical which I hope will do good service to Irish ecclesiastical literature.
I will send £10 myself, to assist in relieving the persecuted Poles. If any of your readers wish to confide their contributions to me, I will be happy to remit them to that good friend, both of Ireland and Poland, the Abbé Perraud.
Letter addressed to their Lordships the Archbishops and Bishops of England and Ireland by the President of the Association.
The 30th of July, 1864, date of the circular of the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IX., addressed to the Archbishops and Bishops of Poland, will ever be a memorable epoch for the martyred nation. From that day she may look with confidence to the future; Catholicism is saved in Poland, and with Catholicism the past history of the Polish nation.