CATHOLIC VIEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 231, 28 September 1903, Page 3

CATHOLIC VIEWS.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral yesterday reference to the running of Sunday trams was made at all the masses. All the speakers were strongly in favour of running the trams.

Speaking at the eleven o'clock mass Rev. Fr. Benedict. 0.P., said in determining on tnis question Catholics should consider the laws of the Church, and then consider how they stood as Catholics. They were bound to assist at mass, and afterwards could spend the day in whatever innocent form they thought fit. He recognised that one day's rest in the week was little enough, but by rest was not meant lolling about in rooms. The ruling of "the. Church on the running of vehicles on Sunday was that for the convenience or accommodation of the multitude the few may sacrifice themselves, but not before they.have assisted at their religious duties. Therefore there could be no objection raised by the Church to the running of trams on Sunday. He said the Catholic Church did not fear that the running of the trams would interfere with the attendances at services, and the religions that opposed the trams on those grounds must be a very poor religion indeed. Much had been said about the Continental Sunday, but lie only wished that tho same could obtain in Auckland. The people on tbe Continent went to early mas;?, and i"or the remainder of the ray they enjoyed them„ei vers, and the superb happiness portrayed on their faces who in marked contrast to the sanctimonious Englishmen who went to service late, and searched the streets for mat\ rial to talk about and scandalise. Oi course there were abuses, especially in France,, where builders might be seen carrying on their trade- but on tha whole the Sunday was observed in a for more sincere and holy manner than in England and the colonies. In conclusion he stated that the Church did not dictate to the men the question of the running of the trams. At the poll on Wednesday if they thought the trains would be a convenience and benefit to the citizens at large they could conscientiously vote in that direction, and whether or not they took that view they were perfectly free to do as they pleased. Personally he did not like the idea of having the rattle of the trams in the streets, but when he came to think of the many poor people who would benefit by the innovation he had decided that Sunday trams were absolutely necessary. St. Augustine had said that a man observes Sunday fully who spends some part of it in good works, and how, said the preacher, were the sick tc be visited, the widows and orphaus comforted in affliction, unless the conveniences that were only reasonable to expect were not at hand?

The Rev. Fr. Gillan spoke briefly on the tram question at the eleven o'clock masis at St. Benedict's. He thought the trams would be a great boon to the working-classes and to people in the country who wished to attend, tlie services at the city churches. The clergy, too, would find the trams a great convenience. In voting for the trams on Wediiesday they would be conferring an everlasting benefit on the working-men of Auckland.

At St. John's Church, Parnell, the Rev. Fr. Meaghie/r spoke strongly in favour of running the trams.

At the first mass, and again at nine o'clock, the Rev. Father Patterson, Administrator, said most unfair representations had been made by persons opposed to the running of Sunday trams, and who would selfishly deny innocent pleasure to workingmen, and, above, all, their wives, who did not get any holiday except Sunday. Misrepresentations had also been made concerning the Continental Sunday, pnd which, he contended, was far from being a day of frivolous pleasure with Catholics, who through all attended the dictates of their religion. Sunday trams would facilitate an increased attendance at all the churches, and would be used particularly by the poor and middle classes, who could not afford cabs or vehicles of their own. Provided the trams did not run during church hours, he thought there was no valid objection to their running on Sundays. Auckland should not be more backward than the other cities of Australasia in running trams on Sunday.