Trends

Martyrs Rewarded. In Sept. 1792, the Bishops of Aries, of Beauvais, of Nantes, with priests, deacons, monks, nuns and some laymen of the Church, were butchered in French provincial prisons. This was by invitation of a circular letter, sent to outlying cities by the victorious Paris Commune, anxious to give impression of its strength before the pending election. Danton and Roland, concerned for their own heads, hinted disapproval but did not venture more. The list of victims, definitely though they had disappeared, was long lost, and the Roman Catholic Church remained uncertain of the claims of many to martyrdom.

Now the claims of 191 are established--22 denied. The most imposing beatifications in centuries took place last week at St. Peter's. The reading of the papal decree, proclaiming these martyrs blessed, fell appropriately to Mgr. Gromier, French Prelate, and preceded the pontifical mass. Then his Holiness, Pius XI, in snowy white, seated in the sedia gestatoria (sanctified chair) and escorted by twenty cardinals in scarlet, was borne through enormous crowds--full diplomatic corps and all other distinguished Rome--to the basilica, to venerate the newly canonized. Incense rose, heads bowed, throngs cheered.

College Chapel. To test the present trend regarding compulsory religious education in U. S. colleges, the National Student Federation of America sent questionnaires to 315 college presidents and heard from practically every one. The vote: in favor of compulsory Sunday chapel attendance, 136, against 176; in favor of compulsory daily chapel, 220, against, 90.

"Soul Surgeon" Frank N. D. Buchman, exponent of an extraordinary technique for saving souls which has only recently come to public attention (TIME, Oct. 18), returned last week to the U. S. from Siam, having been called thither for consultation by the plump and moon-faced empress.

As usual Mr. Buchman returned comfortably--this time on the Leviathan where he was observed to dine once with Prince Nicholas and to chat one afternoon with Queen Marie.

Queried, Mr. Buchman refused to say whether Queen Marie had consulted him professionally during the voyage, but admitted that she had given him a Rumanian religious painting, and asserted that she had promised while in Manhattan to attend a Buchmanite service at which his associate "soul surgeon" or "life changer," S. M. Shoemaker would preside.