CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VIII, Issue 415, 25 March 1881, Page 14

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From oui own Correspondent.) March 21st, 1881. His Excellency the Governor has paid a flying visit to the " City of the Plains" since last communication. He received of course many addresses indicative of love and loyalty, and, poor man, replied to them as be*t he could without offending anybody. The only address I demur at is the one signed by the President, Treasurer, and Secretary of the so-called " Canterbury Sunday-school Union," which I characterise as the highest piece of bunkum I have ever read under the disguise of an address. In the first place the children were all drafted from the two main government schools of the city, namely. East and West Christchurch, and the Columbo-road Bchool,\vhich, if we believe what "the powers that be," say, are strictly secular institutions, where children of all forms of belief aie supposed to attend. Why then this hypocrisy 1 Is not this plain proof that these so-called secular schools are after all secretly denominational, in as much as those children who attend them a*e intioducrd ro the <Jovrrnor as belonging to the " Union." A mean advantage is taken, to tell those who care to know that the " Union " numbers 800 teachers and 9,000 scholars, but His Excellency was not told that this crowd is very considerably kept by the hard earned cash of Catholics, bis best and truest subjects. They essayed to sing the National Anthem on the appearance of Iris Excellency, but failed most miserably, which neither adds to their aptitude nor loyalty, Had they started one of

Moody and Sankey's hymtiß they would have been most succe-sful. We now see the diift of secularisation; those children -who attend Godless schools belong to tliis army of 9,000 scholars who make up tbe " Union," no matter whether they be Jew or Gentile, Protestant or Catholic ; another sign to Catholics that though they are made to support such schools they cannot a^ail themselves nnder aoy pretence of them for the education of their children. " St. Patrick's Day," the national holiday for poor old Ireland, was duly celebrated by many of his faithful children here on the 17th instant. Happening as it does during the penitential time of Lent, a dinner was dispensed with, many preferring to approach the table of the Lord in honour of their patron Saint. Besides, those who misunderstand us are only too anxious to get an opportunity of making a public demonstration on that day, a party one, and rather than be classed on a level with Orangemen, whose recent processions were solely for the purpose of exasperating Catholics, the latter, guided by their priests and their own good, common sense, chose the better way of spending the day, and dispensed with everything but that most becoming to themselves and their religion. Though not a holiday of obligation it was kept as one by hundreds, as -was evident from the number of people (mostly men;, who attended the various Masses and Vespers in the evening. The children attended the 10 o'clock Mass, which was said by Rev. Father O'Donnell, Father Ginaty being also present. A hymn to the old air of " St. Patrick's Day" was sung by them, led by our good sisters, and accompanied on the organ by Mr. Towel, which must have brought to the mind of many present, scenes and memories of the " Old Soil." May those children who sang the praises of the patron Saint <>f Ireland on that day never forget their duty to him, and show, by their actions, their love for the land he Christianised, the laud of their fathers. At the end they sang, " Faith of Our Fathers," with a will as if they were determined to die if necessary in its defence. I only wish His Excellency the Governor had been present to hear them sing, he would have heard words from the very heart sang with all the life and energy of gui eless children. No fear of " breakdowns" like those of the scholars of the " Union " a few days ago when essaying " God Save tbe Queen," and I think I may say if he ever visits the Catholic Schools here (which, thank God, have nothing to do with the " Union"), he will hear the National Anthutn sung as it ought to be, and in a manner notably melodious, because sincere. Saturday, the 19th instant, being the Feast of St. Joseph, pation of the Universal Church, was celebrated with even greater respect and devotion than St. Patrick's Day. There were two Masses, and Vespers and Benediction in the evening. A neat and moderately sized altar, beautifully decorated, and. containing a large statue of St. Joseph with the infant Jesus in his arms, stood in thesanctuary on the Gospel side, which is to remain during the present month, as it is one dedicated by the Church to him. On Sunday, Rev. Father Ginaty gave an instructive sermon on the many good qualities of Joseph, exhorting his people to imitate him as nearly as possible. He casually referred to the present deplorable condition of Ireland, and from his words and feelings, there was no difficulty in understanding where his sympathy lies. Whilst condemning agrarian outrages and other crimes he thought much consideration should be given to what those poor people have suffered and put up with for years from cruel and tyrannical landlords. He thought it was the duty of every man, by fair and constitutional means, to help the Irish in their present struggles with landlordism. The St. Leo's High School is now taught by Mr. Vincent, Mr. Bathurst having resigned, he having been called to England on urgent business. Tie pupils had a friendly game of cricket with those attending St. Patrick School, on the 11th, which resulted in favouring the latter. A second game was played on St. Patrick's Day, and resulted greatly in favour of St. Leo's.