MR. LYONS' TOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 130, 4 June 1935, Page 5

MR. LYONS' TOUR.

EDINBURGH'S EDICT.

FREEDOM OF CITY WITHHELD.

CHURCHES AND PUBLIC liIFE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, May 28; One of the most unfortunate incidents of Mr. Lyons' tour at Home was recorded yesterday, when a cable message informed us that at a meeting of the Edinburgh Town Council it was proposed that the name of the Australian Prime Minister should be deleted from the list of those on whom it was proposed to confer the freedom of the city. It is true that but little support was secured for this resolution. But the only reason advanced for it was that Mr. Lyons is a Ro.nan Catholic, and some of the "straight and narrow" adherents of other ecclesiastical institutions refused to ".kow-tow to the Rorhaniets."

The objectors, it is true, were heavily defeated, but it is none the less deplorable that eiich an argument should find place in public political discussion in one of the chief cities of the Empire. We can fairly claim that we manage our public affairs better, in this respect, in Australia. For in this land no difference in creed or religious affiliation is permitted to obscure the merit or lessen the fame of those who, in the opinion of their fellow citizens, have deserved well of their country. When Archbishop Kelly was seriously ill a few months ago", the references to his distinguished public career and the eulogies on his fine personal character which appeared in all our leading newspapers, irrespective of religious distinctions, were as .enthusiastic and sincere as his most ardent Roman Catholic admirers could have desired.

Archbishop of Perth. Another case in point comes ready to hand this week. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth, Dr. CJune, died a few clays ago, and his obituary notices were quite as flattering as our most eminent; and_Eatrioti<fc^batesmett.<KH4d.

deserve. The "Sun," which is certainly not a Roman Catholic organ, described him as "a splendid orator, a keen visionary, an able leader, a strong personality—a man of high cultural attainments, and an exampler of peace." On the death of King Edward VII. he preached a panegyric which received world-wide acclamation, and so impressed the citizens of Perth that they had it embossed in gold and presented to Queen Alexandra. For nearly 50 years he laboured in the interests of his Church and for the benefit of his adopted country. An able financier, he paid off £70,000 of debts on his church in the first year of his administration, and he built Perth Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in Australia, at a cost of £SO,OOO. When the Great War came he served in Egypt and France as Catholic chaplain, and on the Somine. he was able to minister by 'the side of his brother, Father Francis Chine.

Distinguished Mourners. The "Sydney Morning Herald," which, like the "Sun," is most unlikely to be mistaken for a Roman Catholic apologist, joined in the general eulogy evoked by Archbishop Clime's death. Among the pall-bearers and chief mourners at the graveside were the LieutenantGovernor of West Australia, the Chief Justice, the President of the Senate, two Cabinet Ministers, the Lord Mayor and loading officials of the Returned Soldiers' League.

Probably the Edinburgh councillors who wished to ostracise Mr. Lyons would say that all these distinguished people were simply "kowtowing to the Romanists." But Australians will continue to maintain that in this matter they have "chosen the better path," and that no man's religious beliefs should ever be weighed in the balance against a fine record of honourable public spirit and public service.