Subsequent History
The prosecutions, however, were battles won in a losing war. In 1906, a Royal Commission effectively nullified the act by admitting that more pluralism in public worship was needed. The selfless example of SSC priests in ministering to the lowest orders of society and their strong stands on social justice had also endeared them to the general public.
Alexander Penrose Forbes, Bishop of Brechin in the Scottish Episcopal Church from 1847 till his death in 1874, was probably the first of many SSC bishops around the world, including the saintly Frank Weston of Zanzibar.
As a Catholic society, SSC has taken a conservative line in the church controversies of the late 20th century, particularly over the interpretation of scripture and the ordination of women.
Today, there are over 2,000 members of the society organized into provinces for England and Scotland, the Americas, Wales and Australasia, each under a provincial master reporting to an international master-general. The current master general of the society is Father David Houlding, who resides in England.
In April 2005, the society celebrated its 150th anniversary with a week-long festival, "Stand Up For Jesus". The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, addressed the gathering and the Royal Albert Hall was filled to capacity for the closing mass.
The fortunes of SSC have waxed and waned since the early days of the Catholic Revival, but for its members it has always been an important source of priestly formation, discipline and fraternity. Priests of the society can be recognised by the small gold lapel cross that they generally wear. On it is inscribed the motto of the society, In Hoc Signo Vinces (In This Sign Conquer).
There is also a section of the society, the Pusey Guild, for seminarians and approved candidates for training for the priesthood.
Read more about this topic: Society Of The Holy Cross
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