In the afternoon the nave of the Cathedral was again filled with people assembled to hear addresses. bearing on the subject of the day's. celebrations.
The first of these was delivered by Prof, Paul Sabatier, of Strasbourg, the famous biographer of St. Francis of Assisi, He took as hi topic "The Message of St. Francis Has it lost, its opportuneness? and Speaking in French, the Professor said England had understood St. Francis better, perhaps, than any other nation. The brethren who 700 years ugo arrived in Canterbury were poor and humble, but nevertheless they were imbued great plans and the conviction th they would realize them. They ha faith, and history revealed them to us, realizing their dreams and creating that British Franciscan provineg which was to remain for long. years the most faithful to the thoughts and the wishes of the poor saint.
The poor saint was more living now than ever, because he had never been more needed than now. The world at the present time suffered Infinitely more from the struggles which were reflected as having exivted in the days of St. Francis, The 18th Century knew war, but what should we say of the eataelysms from which we still suffered Europe and many other countries were threatening to make shipwreck in a tempest of Materialism.
St. Francis was pre-eminently the ble saint. He created a new method to arrest the irresistible advance of heresy. The _disappearance of heresy, which was brought about by the mere presence of St. Francis and his disciples, was the central fact of the 13th Cen tury.
Many good Christians, and also persons"outside the Churches, had understood into what an abyss Materialism wax dragging the whole: of civilization, and had wished to react aguinst it, and to adopt the Franciscan methods. If the world fpf the present day was surrounded by an ocean of Materialism, nevertheless they could perceive the dawn of a new era.
Mr. F. G, Little followed with 1a address describing recent rescarches in Franciscan study.
The Franciscan Gardens After the service in the-Cathedral, Major James, accompani Rev. Canon" Gardner and James, held u reception in tha gardens, and entertained a large company at tea,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.