CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY'S VIEWS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XL, Issue 4, 5 January 1907, Page 4

CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY'S VIEWS.

Speaking at St. Benedict's Church, Sydney, the other night, Archbishop Kelly said that he was particularly anxious that his audience should sympathise with the good Catholics of France. What was now happening in France was to happen in Spain, Italy, Austria, and Belgium, as soon as those who were called Liberals could effect their purpose. Those in Australia should be warned by the experience of others. It was almost incredible that the Catholics of France could jio longer hold Ma§s on a Sunday, except under police inspection and under the threat of having penalites hanging over them, although they had been holding Mass for 1600 years. Except in the time of the French revolution, they,were free to go to Mass in,any manner they liked. What was taking place to-day was done in the name of the law, but he would say that-the law was against reasonl and against the rights of God and of Christianity. However regularly that law might be voted, it was an unjust law, aiid he would not have it come to Australia without a challenge that any Parliament was entitled to make any law it pleased, irrespective of the rights of God, or of the rights: of the people. There was another cry which he was afraid had proved deceptive to many. " Let the Church and let the Sta^teTTTe separated," they said. The Catholics said the same thing. As far as the proper sphere of the Church and of the State was concerned, they said " Give to Ca?sar what belongs to Caisar, and give to God wha/t belongs to God." But in France separation meant suppression. It meant as far as the people were concerned extinction. Ever since the war of 1850 there had been plotting and plotting, especially in Belgium, France, and Italy, against Catholicity^ in every shape and form.' In Australia people should keep in mind that Divine Providence recognised for the benefit of mankind two great-principles. One was the State, which should provide' for man's liberty and security, and progress. The- other was the .Church, which should teach man his duty, and feelp him to keep uprignt.and virtuous. Those were the two- great departments of Divine Providence—the Church and the State. Let it never be forgotten that if in Australia public opinion was democratic and liberal, so was the opinion which everyone religiously held to as a member "of the Catholic Church. They gave every man liberty to profess what faith he pleased, and to practise that faith. They should specially, remember that they were the main body of Christendom. Therefore their words should receive some weight. There were fully 250,000,000 who were united in this principle—the principle which formed our present civilisation— and the vigour of this principle was necessary in order that their civilisation should continue. Let them have liberty of every kind, and harmony between Church and State. They should ' F.a.V"that Catholics of France remain iaithtul, and exercise their political rights, and be properly represented in Parliament. Australians should take a lesson from the experience of France and see that their legislators'made laws which were just to religion and to the community. " Don't mind what any man says," said the Archbishop, in conclusion. "Look at his works, arid atMxe works of the party to which he belongs. If that party does not embrace in its policy man's interest here and hereafter, and is against religion in the schools, down with that man, whoever he is. Cut off your right hand before you give him your vote."

The extraordinary extent to which so-called fortune-tellers impose upon the credulous section of the Australian public was described in a series of .articles. n.uhlished_:iu_.th©... Age—a- feiv months ago. The articles clearly showed that this busiuess is one of the most impudent forms of imposition extant, and that its victims are drawn from rich and poor alike. The Victorian Attorney-General has now taken advantage !of a Bill which he is introducing to amend the Police Offences Act with regard to vagrants, rogues, and vagabonds, to insert a clause making fortune-telling an offence. It is in the following terms: — "Any person pretending or professing to tell fortunes or using any subtle craft, means, or device by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive or impose upon any other person, shall be liable upon conviction to pay a penalty not exceeding £25, and in default of payment to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months."