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HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF LISBON COLLEGE.
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to meet the current expenses. This deficiency had been of gradual growth, and was attributable to three special causes. First: the disease in the vines which for the most part desolated the wine producing countries of Europe had made its appearance, diminishing very considerably the profit accruing from the College vineyard, and entailing considerable expense in the purchase of wine for the daily use of the Community. Secondly: the purchasing power of gold had considerably diminished and was followed by the consequent rise in the prices of the commodities necessary for food and clothing. This arose from the sudden accession of gold from the newly-discovered gold mines of America and Australia. Thirdly: the revenues of the College were greatly reduced by the conversion of the English Funds in which they were invested into issues bearing a less rate of interest. To meet this latter difficulty it was decided, after mature deliberation and with the approval of the Ecclesiastical Authorities in England, to change the investments of the College funds into the Securities of different nations thus securing, instead of three, a return of four or five per cent. The President proceeded to England for the purpose of carrying out this conversion, and on his return the Secular School which he had handed over to the College in a flourishing state, and which had for some time proved a source of income, was returned to him as its numbers were found to be gradually diminishing, and it seemed no longer to compensate for the trouble it involved.

A project important from its bearing upon a matter necessary to the more perfect and satisfactory training for the Priesthood, was also carried out at this time. By means of the ceremonial with which the Church accompanies the more solemn performance of her central act of worship and also gives, as it were, a kind of dramatic representation to the various mysteries commemorated in her Festivals throughout the year, she seeks to enlist the aid of the senses in impressing these mysteries more vividly on the mind, and thus intensifying the influence