BISHOP PERIGEUX'S PASTORAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 70, 29 August 1874, Page 9

BISHOP PERIGEUX'S PASTORAL.

The following is a portion of Bishop Perigeux' Pastoral for publishing which the Paris ' Universe', was "suspended" at the instigation of Bismarck : —

" Far then from allowing our hearts to be shaken at the sight of the persecutions which the Holy Church iB suffering, let us raise our courage according to the recommendation of our common Father in that beautiful hymn of victory which he himself has borrowed from St. John Chryeostom, and which in our turn we will gather from his sacred lips. " Many waves and storms threaten us, but Ye are not afraid of being overwhelmed, for we stand upon the rock. Though the sea rage, it cannot melt the rock ; though the waves arise, yet they cannot sink the bark of Jesus. There is nothing mightier than the Church. The Church is stronger than heaven itself. Heaven and earth shall pass aioay 7 but my words shall not pass atoay. What words are thesef? TJiou art Feter, and upon this rock I will duild My Churchy and the gates of hell shall not prevail against. If you do not believe in words, believe in deeds. How many tyrants have tried to oppress the Church ? How many gridiroup, how many furnaces, how many wild beasts, how many swords have been prepared against her ? How much have they accomplished ? Nothing. Where are her foes ? They are forgotten. Where is Jthe Church ? SheJ shines more brightly than the sun.

" Dauntless, unyielding in the faith, lefc us redouble our ftrvour in prayer. If the Church has nothing to fear from persecution, many feeble souls may nevertheless find theFein an occasion of falling and of eternal damnation. Let us seek Divine help, and let us implore with our whole strength that soon the blessed day may come, when the liberated Church shall be able to go forward unimpeded in the natural course of her divine and beneficient mission."

A somewhat romantic case is reported by the Hobart Town ' Mercury 'of July 17 :—": — " Yesterday morning a fair-fronted young fellow, of about 23, who answered to the name of Theophilus Davis was charged at the instance of Mr M'Gregor with having deserted his whaling ship" Asia, now lying at {Recherche Bay. Upon the charge being read, Mr Graves rose and mentioned thut his learned friend Mr Hookey and himself appeared on behalf of the defendant, and at the same time stated that the case was a most extrordinary one and surrounded with singular circumstances. The facts were that the youth before the Bench was heir to a baronetcy, and had lately received a legaoy of £20,000 from his uncle, besides being entitled to several estates in England and Wales. The shipping master, Mr Hawthorne, had received £100 from the executors of his uncle's will, to pay his passage homeward ; and part of this sum has already been expended in clothing the boy as he stood. Mr Graves contended this case was not one of ordinary desertion, and that had Captain Bayley or His Worship been placed under similar circumstances, they would have done no less. Captain Bayley generously withdrew the charge. Our hero left the Court with his counsel, and within 24 hours will be on the way homeward to his father's house in the land of his birth."

Victory lies with the National party in the matter of the Drog* heda petition. Dr. O'Leary retains his seat, paying, however, his own costs. Thiß decision was announced by Judge Barry, and on its becoming known in Droghoda, a scene of popular rejoicing was witnossed in that patriotic town for which there are but few parallels,