WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 275, 9 August 1878, Page 17

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) August Ist. On Monday, the 21st July, a large congregation assembled at St. Mary s Cathedral, it having been previously announced that the Rev. Father Hennebery, who had arrived from the West Coast, was to preach on the occasion of the formal opening of the cathedral in its complete state— a description of which some time since appeared in the columns of the Tablet. Pontifical high mass was celebrated by his Lordship Dr. Redwood, assisted by the Rev. Fathers McGuinness, Kerregan, and Seauzeau. After mass, the Rev. Father Hennebery ascended the pulpit. He expressed the pleasure he felt of once again the Catholics of Wellington, to whom he had given his ..rstiaaission in New Zealand, and which he rejoiced to learn had been productive of so many happy results. He said it especially afforded him exceeding great pleasure to learn they had so faithfully adhered to the pledge he had given them. The only persons who had broken the pledge, as he had been informed, were " two old rakes and a washerwoman." He then entered into a full description of his missionary labours, the results of which had fully realised his expectan^u' v for wWcn he could not but render his sincere thanks to the catholics of Wellington, whose prayers he knew followed him in the different missions which he had given since leaving Wellington. He stated that in all about 11,100 had enrolled themselves under the Jfnner of Temperance, and that about 5000 had joined the society for the Propagation of the Faith. The Rev. missionary related the circumstances connected with the slanderous statements that had been made by the West Coast Press, and circulated throughout the Colony — of his lectures and preaching, particularly on the subject of mixed marriages. He said that during the whole course of his missionary career in every part of America, he had not been so bitterly assailed or his teachings so flagrantly misrepresented as by some West Coast journalists. Having occupied considerable time in describing his missionary progress, he deferred his lecture until the evening, when he requested they would not only come themselves, but would induce their friends to come also, so that he might be gladdened by the sight i a a Wltnessed during the time of the mission. Vespers being concluded, the Rev. missionary mentioned that there was one thing he had omitted during the mission, and for which he felt sorry ; it was the establishment in Wellington of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, which had been done in the other centres of population where he had given missions. Having at some length explained the objects of the Society, and the manner of its organization, he asked them to make manifest their intention of co-operating in this good work in the same manner as when taking the pledge ; immediately everyone present stood up. One great work having been thus effected, there still remained another, and that was to clear off the debt that was hanging over the cathedral by means of a subscription. He told them of the manner in which the Catholics of Dunedin had determined to erect a new cathedral in their city, and of the munificent sums that had been contributed for that purpose by all classes, and he was confident that the people of Wellington would not be behind hand m a similar work. He then descended from the pulpit, and with the local clergy proceeded through the Church, interviewing each person, which occupied about two hours, the result being that a sum of ™! -6 Was subscribed , which will fully wipe out the existing debt, ihe Rev. Father was prevented by the lateness of the hour from delivering his lecture until the next evening. On Monday evening, owing to the inclemency of the weather, tQ erewas not such a large attendance as no doubt there otherwise would have been. As he had announced the previous evening, the J'™ i r said the sub Ject of his lecture was " The Catholic Church and Modern Revolutions." Taking as his text, " The nation and the P?°P le tbat will not serve thee shall perish," he said the Catholic l/hurch was established by Christ, when on Pentecost Sunday the ■noly Ghost came in the form of many tongues of fire, and sat upon the Apostles, and they were told, " go forth and teach all nations" Christianity such as it is was established by our Lord, and promulgated +iT n apostles. He traced the progress of Christianity, which was the Catholic Church, since its foundation ; how it had elevated the nations and brought them to a high degree of perfection and union until men began to fall away from the Church, particularly by revolutions ; none but God himself understood the world of good the ii+i? Church had effected. A great deal was heard in our time all to the contrary ; amongst the rest that religion had nothing to do with politics ; that the Church must be separated from the State ; that the priest goes beyond his sphere if he mixes with politics ; that the State must be free. The Church had always battled for liberty of action, she had been opposed in every way ; all the nations had opposed her in every age. One thing had always been the result, that those nations that had separated themselves from Christ had gone straightway to destruction, especially when individuals or nations we~v||f the Catholic Church and opposed Christianity. He drew seve^pftremarkable illustrations from ancient history, showing that those who had assailed or opposed the Church most miserably perished. In modern times there were still more examples of " The nation and the people that will not serve the incarnate Son of God will perish." Voltaire was a man that seemingly received from below the power of destruction. He denied everything, He denied God, the incarnation of Christ, the immortality of the soul, everything Christian. He used to say " Let us destroy infamous Jesus." He took an oath to destroy Christianity. He was talented, a beautiful writer, and these talents he employed to write down Christianity. The Rev. lecturer graphically described the dreadful end of Voltaire. The philosophers of the eighteenth century, directed by men of the same stamp as Voltaire, wished to write down Christianity, to destroy it, and promised to those who were foolish enough to believe them, that there was a new era at hand. The first result of the teaching of this philosophy, of the secular teaching of the eighteenth century, was che reign of terror. The reign of terror was a true curse to France and to this day she has not recovered from the shock. That was one manifestation of the secular teaching of. modern times, Referring to Italy : The Father

of Victor Emmanuel who commenced robbing the churches, died la exile in Portugal. Victor Emmanrel followed in his father's footsteps, and for a long period was led on by the revolutionary spirit of the age, to destroy Christianity in Italy. He had his views, which were to spread his rule over the whole earth and make it what it was when Christ came on earth. But he was a mere mortal. He has nowgone to his end with his hopes unfulfilled, and the Church remains. Napoleon the first ruled with a strong arm for eleven years. He subjected kingdoms and set up his friends in the kingdoms he had conquered. He confiscated the Church property. He kept Pope Pius the Seventh a prisoner in Foutainebleau for three years. Soon after this, he took an army into Russia. Pius the Seventh foretold him that all his victories would become defeats. Every reader of history knows how that noble army was annihilated. Napoleon, who wanted to extend his sway over the world, to be another Alexander the Great, who wanted to be a God of all men, who wanted to rule all men, who wanted to rule all men and make the Church subject to his will, who wanted the Pope to bow down to him, ended his days in exile. There was a Nap6leon the third. He voted against the Pope, and always had his intentions against the Church. He sent word to Vicar Emanuel to invade the Papal States. No luck afterwards attended Napoleon's arms. On that very day eight years later, he declared the war against Germany, which was the commencement of his ruin, and of France on his account. The same day on which the French troops evacuated Rome, the French army suffered their first defeat. France had always been the defender of the Catholic Church, and the day she went with the enemies of the Church, and forsook the Church, the punishment of God fell upon the French people. The rev. lecturer then described the state of civilisation, to which the Franciscan missionaries had brought the Indians of Mexico 1 and central America, and how Christianity was progressing there, until the revolutionary spirit broke out which confiscated all Church property and everything the missionaries had. At the present day there was nothing to be seen in those countries but wreck and degradation. Looking at the United States of America, that grand nation that has been so much spoken of, and" which is the wonder of all the nations^ of the east, he had seen America forty years ago, when it was insignificant, and he had seen it at the pinnacle of glory, and it is well nigh on the brink of a precipice. This had resulted from the system of revolutionary education that had been established there, by which the minds of the generation are weaned away from God. As a result of that secular system of teaching in America we have the sad state of twenty millions of infidels ; infidels who have broken away from God, who tear down everything that concerns belief. That America is going straightway to destruction he had no dcubt. Looking at the Germany of to-day ; they have introduced godless education with a vengeance there. The Catholic Church can make no use of the systems of education there ; a stern persecution against Christianity is now in Germany, led on by Bismarck. In early years Bismarck went through different countries in Europe to study their weak points. He came to power in his own country. After the late war he gained further power, and this he made use of to persecute the bishops, priests and nuns ; since then endless nuisances have come upon the Catholic Church there. We need not have to wait very long to see the fall of Germany, which is now on the verge of a precipice, and it may thank secular education for the revolutionary spirit now there. The Church is like a grand old mountain that elevates itself into the heavens. Storms break in upon it from every side, and possibly the people in the valley below think the good old mountain will be destroyed. No danger ; the breath of heaven will dispel the same. The Catholic Church is founded upon a rock ; let storms and persecutions rage, let the nations revolt, let the revolutionary spirit endeavour to destroy, they cannot succeed, for, " the gates of hell shall not prevail against thee." Cavour, Mazzini, Victor Emanuel, Napoleon, and many others who assailed the Church, are gone, but the Churah still remains. There is nothing for us but to cling to the Church of God, she is the post of safety for us, she is the ark of Noah. The Catholic Church, the pillar and the ground of truth, through which we shall see and possess God for ever. The Catholics have gained a staunch Mend to advocate their rights in the matter of education, in the person of Mr. P. A. Buckley, the well-known Wellington barrister, who has been called to the Legislative Council. At every meeting held here connected with Catholic education he has come prominently forward, and by voice and purse helped on the good cause. In seconding the address in reply to the Governor's speech, on Wednesday last, he said that the subject of education had been too lightly dismissed. If to work an injustice to a portion of the community was immaterial, then he did not know what was material. He was surprised the matter had bepn treated so lightly. Socialism was rampant in Prussia, Nihilism in Russia, and many other isms in America, and he thought that before long the system of education which was being pursued here would be felt. On the same day, in the House of Representatives, Mr. Walter Johnston asked the Premier if the Government intended to place a sum on the estimates this Session in aid of Roman Catholic schools. He called the Premier's attention to what he had said at a public meeting in Wellington, when he asserted the rights of the Roman Catholics to special consideration. The Government replied that it was not their intention to make special provision for any denominational schools.