THE BIBLE SOCIETY'S REPORT.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3352, 14 April 1868, Page 4

THE BIBLE SOCIETY'S REPORT.

To the Editor of the Daily Southern Cross. Sib, — At the meeting of the Bible Society held in Auckland a few days ago, there was presented a report containing, among other things, the usual unjust reproaoh against the Catholic Church, of forbidding the circulation and reading of the Holy Scriptures. The passage containing this injurious reflection is rather vaguely and obscurely worded ; bnt there can hardly be much difficulty in understanding its real import. A Bible Society, above all other societies, should be exceedingly tender of the reputation of others ; and ought to be careful how they .violate the truth when animadverting on the principles or oonduot of their neighbours. It is not only against the truth to say, or imply, in general terms, that the Catholic Church forbids the circulation and reading of the Holy Bible in the vulgar tongue ; but the very reverse of this is the truth. She exhorts and urges her lay children to read the Bible, a duty which unhappily for themselves and others is but too often neglected, as many who read the Bible unhappily but too often neglect to practise what it inculcates. For the benefit of those connen.ted with the Auckland Bible Society, and t» prevent their bearing falie witness against the Catholic Church in this matter on a future occasion, I may quote the following passage from a letter addressed by Fope Pius VI. to a learned priest who had made a translation of the Bible for theusaof the Italian laity some ninety years ago, and submitted it to his Holiness. A translation of the Pope's entire letter is prefixed to the English version of the Catholic Bible, which anyone may buy at a bookseller's shop. "You judge exceedingly well," says the Pope, " that the faithful should be excited to the reading of the Holy Scriptures, for these are the most abundant sources which ought to be left open to every one to draw from them purity of morals and of doctrine, to eradicate the -errors which are so widely disseminated ia these corrupt times." In the face of this public exhortation from the chief bishop of the Catholic Church, it is too much for the Bible Society to say or insinuate that she is averse to the reading of the Holy Bible by the laity. It will be noticed that the Catholic laity are not only to be "permitted" but to be " excited" to read the Scriptures. The reason for this also is set forth. It is became the Catholic Church considers the Bible as the source whence men may draw purity of doctrine and of morals. Could the Bible Society itself ■ay more ? In short, the supreme legislative power of the Catholic Church has never enacted any law by which the reading of the sacred volume was prohibited to the body of the laity;, and when the Bible Sooiety of Auckland circulate a report to the contrary effect, they bear false testimony aqiinst, their neighbour. For the sake of our common Christianity this is to be regretted. It is to be hoped that the other statements contained in the report are more candid and accurate than the remark implying that the Catholic Church as a rule exerts her power to prevent the reading of the Bible by the laity. Catholics are so accustomed to seeing their principles misrepresented by all sorts of people that in general'they take/ no notice of such attacks, and the rule is » good one. But when a public body, containing many of our most earnest, pious, liberalminded, and respected citizens, make such attacks in a missionary country like this, the public interests require some notice to be taken of them. The Press, as a general yile, is impartial in these matters. L give the Bible Sooiety every credit for their zeal and the purity of their intentions, but I cannot excuse their violation of the truth in a plain matter of fact. To say that they committed this offence against truth through ignorance and not designedly would be a poor apology in this inquisitive and enlightened •gt. — Yours, &0., Oku or the Laity/.

The Adelaide 1 Advertiser of the 19bh nit. hu the following.: — "By private sources we learn that the arrival »f <HiM.sJi£Brisk»atFreinantle, at 11 o'clock ?*, ™?™» some consternation among the inhabitant^ who}' on hearing the steamer's guns, supposed the long-dreaded Fenian crower had arrived. Tneauthonties were not lew alarmed, and there was • general beat to*rms, wlriph was responded to with raoh aUcnfcy that vi.ten minute, the volunteers and pennoners were at their port., the gun. .hotted, and •jr.rythuig.jeadyu for- action. The feelings of the oitiMn.cW.oon, however, agreeably relieved by of a Britwhwar steamer, and the gallant defenders of toev oountrjt'rettirned to their peaceful homes."