BISHOP MORAN AND THE DUNEDIN ELECTION

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 56, 23 May 1874, Page 10

BISHOP MORAN AND THE DUNEDIN ELECTION

To the Editor of the ' Stab.' Sib, — Be good enough to allow me to deny the truthfulness of one of the implied assertions made by your correspondent '' Prynne" id his letter on the above Bubject, which appeared in your issue of the 18th. 1 refer to the third paragraph, in which c< Prynne " says : " There are one or two questions I would like to put to Bishop Moran anent this election : is he not aware that two or three days before the pollingday (I believe it was on tho night of Tuesday from about 1 1 p.m. till about 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning), a meeting of sound Roman Catholics was held in St. Joseph's School-room, when the question of the course to be pursued upon the candidature of Mr Barton and Mr Wales we* discussed?" Now, sir, I may mention that on Monday, April 20, the usual fortnightly meeting of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was held, of which fact "Prynne" is evidently aware, for he clearly insinuates (when he parenthetically states that, according to his belief the meeting was held about 11 o'clock one night, and not finished till about 2 o'clock next morning) and after the ordinary routine business had been transacted (which generally lasts until 11 p.m.) the meeting formed itself into a political one. for the purpose of discussing the best means to be adopted in order to secure the return of Mr Wales. I was present eir, nnd presided at the meeting of St. Joseph's Lod<*e', No. 73, H.A.C.8.5., on the evening in question, and I solemnly and emphatically etate that, after the ordinary business wa3 over, the meeting was closed, and tho members left the hall. I did not leave the room until the lamps had been put out and the door locked, and T am prepared to swear that nothing of a political nature was' breathed either at or after the meeting. ' It is easy to see that " Prynne " bitterly hates Catholics and everything Cathohe, for he is not content with abusing Dr Moran and the laity as a body, but he must needs have a fling at the H.A.C.B.S , because, I presume, it is a Catholic society. For the edification of " Prynne " and the public, whom he would fain mislead, I may state that the H.A.G.B.P. is a benefit soee'y, under f c immediate of the Church; that it is non-political ; that there is nothin* of a secret nature about it, neither signs nor passwords bein<» used"- and that its meetings are open to the Press. ° ' I hare been to some trouble in inquiring whether a meet in t of my co-religionists, for the purpose mentioned, was really held "in St Joseph's school-room or eles where; an 1 I am in a position to state distinctly that no such meeting was ever held ; and I challenge either " Pfynne or Mr Barton to prove the contrary.— l am, &c, " ' : . ROBFET CaEROLL, President, St. Joseph's Branch :-. „_ on ■ No. 73, H.A.C.B.S. ' rhinedin, 3fay 20.