By a C.H. Reporter
The Catholic women of London are to make a pilgrimage on Sunday, October 17, to implore the aid of the English Martyrs and Our Lady Queen of Martyrs for the preservation of the Catholic schools.
Alljthe principal CAOlit. Woittell'S socirriCS and those with iitheil Meal. berships have promised their active co-operation. It Ls hoped that there may be groups from every parish and 'drat those who can shall bring banners with the device " Marryrs of Englund, save oar Schools" and the Witte of the parish.
The decision to hold this pilgrifnage was made at a meeting of the Deans of Westminster and special representatives of the Bishops of Southwark and Brentwood, together with representatives of the various Catholic soCieties. Bishop Myers presided.
Those taking part in the ptlgtimage will gather between 2 and 2.30 pm. at Tower Hill, where there will be a short address and prayers. The procession will then go to Prescott Street
Church of the English Martyrs, where an outdoor blessing will he given. Finally. they will go to Commercial Road to the Church of St. Mary and St. Michael. and here Bishop Myers _ will officiate at Benediction and give an address.
SCHOOLMASTER MARTYR
It is signiticant that October 17 is the least of Blessed Richard White. the only schOolmaster martyr. The appropriateness of invoking the English Martyrs in .this cause was further emphasised by the Pilgrimage Secretary, Mrs. Given Wilson, in an interview with THE CATHOLIC HERALD, She said: " We will remember on that day especially Blessed Margaret Clitherom who actually was martyred because of her determination to send her children to a Catholic school. Blessed Margaret had three children, and although her husband was, and remained, a Protestant he allowed her to bring her children up in her own faith.
" At that time, however, all Catholic schools were abolished and when her son arrived at school age he was smuggled out of the country. This was
a penal offence. and Margaret Clitheroe's husband was hailed before the magistrates.
" The house was searched, and what welt found there led to the discovery that she had indeed been helping Catholics, hiding priests and using her house for Catholics to meet. She refused to plead before the magistrates because she did not want her two smaller children to give evidence, and she suffered the penalty of being pressed to death.
All enquiries regarding the pilgrimage should he made to the Pilgrimage Secretary, care of the Catholic Women's League, 39, Eccleston Square, London, S.W.I.