MASS IN THE DOMAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16204, 14 April 1916, Page 7

MASS IN THE DOMAIN.

Sir,—My absence from Auckland has prevented me from. replying earlier to Messrs. Woodley's and Temm's letters of the 10th inst, "Both letters are an adroit attempt to turn the position. I havo not changed my ground in the slightest. It is quite evident that in keeping secret tho intention to celebrate Mass in the Domain Ml". Woodley's committee did "liavo it up their sleeve" and did, iiPfact, " trick " the City Council when tho application was made for the use of the Domain for St. Patrick's Day sports. Mr. Temm's distinction between "park" and "domain is singularly unconvincing; but his admission that "on inquiry" he lias found that there is a minute on tho council records forbidding the uso of parks for the purpose complained of , is sufficient acknowledgement of the legal strength of the objection made by tho Loyal Orange Lodge. Mr. Temm's challenge is a clever attempt to create a favourablo impression in the place of a verv unfavourable one. I have not staled that"Mr. Temm's " committee or any member of it approached the council or* any member thereof or any of the civic authorities" for tiio use of tho Domain to celebrate Mass, but I"do state again that Mr. Temm's committee arranged to hold Mass in tho Domain, and that that arrangement' was not carried outaccording to programme, but. surreptitiously a week or two later a Mass celebration was associated with a sports gathering. Oft tho facts, together with 'tho information I had at the time of the proposed Mass, I say that tho 'presumption is that the "sports" Mass was an attempt "to get even." Everything points to that as tho true interpretation. More than that cannot be said in the absence of direct evidence. . It. is sufficient for mo to show .1 raison d'etre for tho peculiar action n{ Mr. Woodley's committee. But this matter is losing point when wo discuss tho action-, of committees. Tho point at issue, tho matter of protest, was the fact of tho celebration of a Mass in a public park in this city. Thab was a contravention of the minute of the council—a cross breach of religions liberty and an offence to all tho Protestants of the city. I trust that the ventilation of this matter through the columns of tin Hi: is alp will serve to emphasise the fact that, though Prote.* tants are tolerant to the last decree, thcro is a point at which toleration must ceaso in the sacred name of llight. How ELLIOTT. Mount Eden, April 12, 1916.