CATHOLIC CHURCH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 13, 16 January 1936, Page 5

CATHOLIC CHURCH

HISTORY REQUIRED PIONEER MISSIONARIES The necessity in New Zealand of a history of the Catholic Church from the lirst coming of its missionaries 98 years ago, showing its valuable contribution to the Dominion’s natio-ial growth, was urged by the Rev, Fath - I’. AlcKeefry, editor of Zealandia, in an address to the Catholic Teacners’ Conference at. Auckland on Thursday (states the Auckland Htari. Fatuci McKeefry pointed out that in the early history of the missionaries there was colour and romance which would lend itself most attractively to (he compilation of an interesting history "iiich would be useful in tile schools. The idea was accepted with enthusiasm by three speakers, Alother Josephine, oi ihc Histers of Mercy, Takapuna, Histei Ijuuiitille, Litt.D., of Sacred Heart Col'ege, Christchurch, and Father Smith, of Ht. Bede's College, Christchjich, who pointed out that Giere was already a good deal of material avail able lor such a compilation. “Looking back over nearly a . ?n tury of our national life we feel iluit no ether religious or social factor b .s mure steadfastly advanced the best in teresls of our country than th? Catholic Church,” said fatner McKeefry. “In more, than one respect the Chuuh is the greatest single asset lor t,.c sp ritual, educational, and patriot: : formation of our land. From Bishop Pompallier's day down to the presCii: ] the Church's teaching and life nave | been in harmony with all that is best jin nur national ideals. These assertions we know' to be true, but let us i make them publicly to-day. and what reception would they have?” If these statements were to be made badly without convincing evidem ■ they would not, be believed, he sa<d, and if the Church failed to gather and preserve authentic records and io present them to the reading public tliev could not blame, the. historian of the future if his judgment went astray. All that, had been done so far was chieflv of a narrative character and might be classified as spade work. • Lamentable Aspect. •‘On? of th? lamentable aspects nf nur educational system in New Zealand is that, through Departmental control it has at times assumed an almost mechanistic aspect and that, the cul tural side has been shelved in favour of the practical side,” said Father AleKeefry. When the cultural side of education had suffered it was easy to see how Church history had been more or less neglected. He did not. itfer that criticism in the nature of a com plaint. It had to be remembered I hat in the years between 18-10 and 1923 the country was absorbing a population that, from the point of view of ; environment, was “foreign.” The people of New Zealand had . hacked their way through a territory larger than England and Scotland, settling scattered communities and I linking them together to form a national unit —works that had occupied older nations for hundreds of years. While carrying througn huge enter prises, New Zealand had had to stand several shocks which would have rocked other countries to their founda lions. “We must rememb?'-that the Church has been associated with them all. he ! said. “She has giver, the, pioneer hop? in his undertaking*; s - >e has sustained and consoled him in bis vicissitudes, and her influence has had a, telling effect in the building up of the structure that, to-day gives us full claim to nationhood. All the mere reason then that vvp. should hi'?, our proper history recorded now so it at the story of the magnificent work carried out against overwhelming odds may be preserved for the future and that, those who hip to follow may be able to find inspiration in the heroic works of our pioneers. ’ ’ “No Pietistic Trimmings.” Dealing with the plan which h 4 * pro posed should be, adopted, father M.*’ Keefry said that it should allow for the full use of methods which allow for the creating of interest and that gave no opportunity for indifferent treatment. From the material (hat existed al. present, a. beginning could be made. He. suggested that narratives should be built up about, persons and events allowing for graphic, writing and vivid portrayal. Where the religious dement entered it. should be < introduced naturally and be complete | Iv free from all pietisti? trimmings. There need be no attempt to make it a complete history in itself. Anything ( of a debatal.de nature could be ex | eluded. “We hear incessant!' of the journeys of Selnyn, but do wp hear of the journeys of Pompallier ami his priests!" asked the speaker. "If not, it, is simple that «e have not troubled about them. Whatever arouses enthusiasm is based ou interest, and our lack of enthusiasm, knowledge, and interest is due to nn ignorance that can be removed, if <v« correlate our teaching I of geography with our history. A | knowledge of geography explains wliv Bishop Pompallier chose the Bay "t Islands to be his headquarters, and | geography helps to destroy the asset- I tion’ that he was a French agent. Continuing his thesis, fathei • ( Keefrv pointed out that, items of interest' connected with .journeying* of the earlv pioneer missionaries would be made'use of with eagerness by the i tourist, departments and agencies, and that in Other ways the Church could do much to remove false impression* concerning the historical background of the. Dominion. In other countries there were Catholic Historical Societies, and he suggested that, such a -ociety in New Zealand could undertak' the’work he proposed.