CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 399, 3 December 1880, Page 15

CHRISTCHURCH CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN'S LITERARY SOCIETY.

The usual weekly meeting of the Young Men's Society took place on last "Wednesday evening, when the members were treated to a sketch of Irish history, during that very remarkable period extending from 1828 to 1849. This was delivered by Brother Mahalm in a lucid, concise, and well-digested manner, which, with an ease and humour, showed his command and knowledge of the subject.

He began by stating the difficulty Englishmen and foreigners experience before they become acquainted with true Irish history, on account of the widespread circulation of false and partial publications, which are written by men whose interest it is to defame Ireland. But biassed readers will not see these evil motives, and will thus allow themselves to be deceived, and, in fact, refuse to be informed on the matter, by excluding all books and papers tbat pertain to it from their libraries and reading rooms. To this cause alone may be attributed the lamentable fact that Englishmen to-day, as a rule, are as ignorant of their Irish neighours, over whom their ancestors have held sway for centuries, as if they were subjects of his late majesty Cetewayo. He next showed the abject serfdom of the people d uring the eighteenth century, when all that man holds most dear was completely destroyed. Yes, liberty 1 religious and political, was extinct. There was, however, one noble attempt made to Testore national freedom by the United Irishmen of '98, which was unsuccessful, and, to many of its chief leaders, fatal. This collapse had the effect of rivetting more securely the chains which ignominiously fettered the people, and bitterly in that condition did they remain, until the extraordinary efforts of O'Connell won Catholic emancipation. His mind and energies were next directed to a repeal of the Union, towards the accomplishment of which he created Bepeal Associations, and instructed the people in the doctrine of " moral force." He organised meetings, and conducted marches with wonderful order and peace, until many of his supporters grew weary of these meetings and parades, when no practical result was apparent. Among these young men, who were so bold as to oppose O'Oonnell, were the gifted Davis, the talented Meagher, the defiant and courageous Mitchell, honest John Martin, the steady and unflinching Duffy, and, eventually, the calm and dignified O'Brien. O'Connell was alarmed by the independent attitude, and by the power these young men exercised over the minds of the people through the columns of the Nation, still his confidence was unsbaken, although the strength of the Association fled with its seceders, who formed the "Young Ireland" party. They had the same object in view, and only differed from O'Connell in the means to be employed to its attainment. They were goaded on, partly by approaching famine, and partly by the Government, who foresaw and dreaded the maturity of this confederation, that openly instructed the people in guerilla warfare. He here gave interesting incidents of their respective lives, their illustrious characters, their sacrifices, their steady and determined resolve to secure to their country those chaiacteristics which distinguish a free count ry and a free people, their subsequent arrest, trial, and sentence. He terminated by an account of their after careers in the several countries in which it was their fate to live and die.

In the temporary absence of Eev. Father Devoy, bis usual place, beside the President, was occupied by the Rev. Father CPDonnell, who was warmly greeted by the Society on the occasion of his first visit.

Mr. N. Moloney has added to the attractions of his popular and well-conducted hotel at South Dunedin, by the erection of a fine ball alley, where the exhilarating game in question may be enjoyed by its lovers and adepts to perfection. Mr. J. T. Roberts, Manse street, Dundein, continues to offer for sale several valuable properties in. Dunedin and its suburbs, and to carry on transactions in bank and insurance shaics with promptness and attention. Messrs. Thos. Paterson and Co., Stafford street, Dunedin, are prepared to exfeute with the utmost satisfaction to tbeir patrons, all orders with which they may be favoured for timber of every description. Their scale of charges is extremely moderate. «^ We desire to draw the especial attention of our readers to the advertisement, to be found in another column, of Mr. M. Fleming's art-union. The opportunity here offered of obtaining a valuable section of land is one that seldom offers, and should not by any means be neglected. It gives us much pleasure to announce that the Very Rev. Dr. Cleary, P.P. of Duugavvan, has been appointed bishop of the important dioce-c of Kingston, in Canada. Dr. Cleary's elevation to the episcopate was officially declared in Home yesterday, October 1. The inhabitants of Dungarvan will have reason tc regret the removal from amongst them of one in whom they have always lound a leader. But they will at the same time lejoice that the conspicuous merits of their re&pected pastor have received signal recognition from the Holy Sec.— Cork Examiner,