THE COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10862, 11 January 1901, Page 5

THE COMMONWEALTH CELEBRATIONS.

WHY CARDINAL MORAN ABSENTED

HIMSELF. United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. (Received January 10th, 9.33 a.m.) SYDNEY, January 10. It transpires that Cardinal Moran's absence from the Commonwealth procession was due, not so much to the question of precedence, a* to trouble about the prayer to be offered at the swearing-in ceremony. The Primate suggested the offering of a prayer, end his suggestion on the matter was referred to the Cardinal, but the latter declined to take any part in a suggested joint prayer. At the last minute the Cardinal submitted n prayer which he proposed to offer, but he waa informed that it was too late to make ar- alteration. Consequently, he took no part in the procession. (Received January 10th, 9.35 a.m.) It now appears that the rule regarding precedence by seniority refers only to Government House functions, and docs not affect precedence at public functions. (Received January 10th, 9.45 a.m.) The Baptist Union has adopted a resolution, emphatically protesting against any one Church at a public function being given precedence over other Churches other than that arising from their relative nunif-rical position, and especially denies the right-of preced.uce claimed by tha Cardinal as a Catholic dignitary.