THE 'CHARLESTON HERALD' AND BISHOPS CROKE AND MORAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 60, 3 May 1873, Page 14

THE 'CHARLESTON HERALD' AND BISHOPS CROKE AND MORAN.

Some (ime ago, on the occasion of Sir George Bowcn's departure from Auckland, Bishop Croke wrote a letter to His Excellency, explaining his reasons for not joining in the public demonstration of his fellow Colonists. This letter, it appears, has given great offence to the learned editor of the * Charleston Herald,' who declares the following passage as " utterly wanting in truth " :— " I need not tell Sir George Bowen what Orangemen are. Coming, as he does, from the North of Ireland, he must know that they are sworn enemies of the recognised head of the Catholic Church ; that one of their chartered toasts in reference to him is too vile to be recorded here ; that, generally speaking, they hate with a Satanic hatred everything most cherished by the Christian community which I, however unworthily, represent ; and that their chief aim at home and abroad, seems to be to foster and foment social discord, and to array one section of the people in deadly hostility against another." Let us examine these words which the very well informed editor of the ' Charleston Herald,' &c, pronounces to be " utterly wanting in truth." First. Bishop Croke states that Orangemen, for it is to such he refers, are the sworn enemies of the recognised head of the Catholic Church. Is this statement utterly wanting in truth ? We appeal to the written rules of the Society.. These will answer — the Bishop's statement is true to the letter. Secondly. The Bishop states that one of their chartered toasts, in reference to him, is too vile to be recorded here. Is this statement utterly devoid of truth ? If so, then the toast in question is not too vile to be recorded in a letter to His Excellency. The toast is, "To Hell with the Pope ;" and the public will form their own estimate of a writer of the hardihood of the editor who presides over the 'Charleston Herald,' &c. Lastly. Bishop Croke says that, " Generally speaking, they hate with a Satanic hatred, everything most cherished by the Christian community which I, however unworthily, represent ; and that their chief aim at home and abroad seems to be to fostei and foment social discord, and to array one section of the people in deadly hostility against another." Is this passage utterly wanting in truth ? Now, what is to be thought of the recklessness of the man who, in defiance of the written rules of the Orange Society, and almost in presence of the riots and bloodshed that have recently taken place in Ireland, particularly in Belfast, has the courage to say that Bishop Croke's statements are utterly wanting in truth. But the editor of the c Charleston Herald,' &c, is not content with grievously insulting one Bishop ; he must needs run a tile with a second — Bishop Moran, who has done nothing to provoke any honest man's anger. Bishop Moran, it appears, when visiting the West Coast lately, felt it his duty to warn his people, in their own churches,

against secret societies, and the Freemason Society amongst others. It appeal's the Bishop told his people that this society was condemned by their Church, and that its members and abettors were excommunicated. The Bishop also explained the reasons of- this condemnation. But, for doing this— his duty— the Editor of the ' Charleston Herald,' &c, attacks him in no measured terms. Well, then, has it come to this — that the lovers of liberty! will not permit a Catholic Bishop to explain the lawi of his Church to his own people in their pwn places of worship, without misrepresenting him and endeavoring to excite public odium and indignation against him?