DR. MORAN IN SYDNEY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 23, 26 September 1884, Page 29

DR. MORAN IN SYDNEY.

(Prom the Express.")

Ir in tendering our tribute of loyal and loving welcome to Archbishop Moran on Saturday last we, in a measure, forecast the splendid demonstration which greeted His Grace on his ar ival in Bnnny Port Jackeon, we are glad and happy to think that our proud anticipations were so much under the magnificent reality ; and we most earnestly and heartily congratulate our fellow citizens upon the eminently and unitedly Catholic spirit they displayed upon so memorable an occasion— an occasion which has now passed into history, and which will be cherished amongst the archives of the Church in Australia. We have to thank our brethren, too, of other denominations, foremost amongst them his Excellency the Governor, for much graceful and kindly courtesy in their chivalrous acknowledgments of bis Grace's distinguished claims up on their hospitality and reverential respect— claims which have been generously recognised and most royally and nobly discharged, so that bright and joyous indeed are the auspices under which Dr. Mbran's Episcopate in this distant land open?. With the lofty reputation for learning, ability and scholarly culture his Grace brings with him, commensurate will be the efforts and results expected on all sides from his labours in his new and unquestionably important sphere. But it must be remembered that if Dr. Moran's qualifications and at'ainments are great, so are the diffi julties an/1 stumb-ling-blocks that will meet him at every step. Here he will find a new order and a new spirit as far removed from that which prevail in the -land he has left as we are from the poles. Under the silvery gleam of the Southern Cross, with all its boasted liberty, he will find Catholics in the forefront doing battle for their fair share of political freedom just as warmly, just as earnestly a3 in the Green Isle over the sea, where its dawn is only just tinging the sky. He will, to his horror and pained surprise no donbt, find the education of the people of the future in a certain sense advanced beyond the sjstem oE the parent country, but in the most vital and most essential one centuries behind, back to the blackest and gloomiest of timeB — that of the practical denial of the power, of the v^ry existence of a God 1 He will find the very principles of Christianity—the sacred teachings of a Saviour — carefully expunged from the pages of the Primer. And, worse than all, he will find some of the would-be leaders —so-called Catholic representatives— in the ranks of its best friends and most ardent supporters. Although some of i he first intellects in ihe community have already declared themselves openly opposed to the present most unholy fabric, his Grace will have arrayed against him in his brave and manly protest asainst " the tyranny of Infidelity and Secularism " some master spirits — men who have long since whetted their swords in the conflict with Christ, and who unblushingly declare their preference for the harebrained doctrines of latter-day Keformers and ideal Revolutionists, men who Bcorn the sweet and saintly teachings of those who have walked in the footsteps of the Anointed Son of God, and who would gladly and willingly set up in their place the creed of the Iconoclast and the Socialist. But mighty as is the task before him, rocky and rugged the way, we have no fears that the successor of Archbishop Vaughan will faint or falter in his work. His path has been marked out for him, the lines laid down by a hand that never trembled where duty pointed the way, and nobly and eminently worthy we are sure he is of the high post assigned him— leader of the Vanguard iv the glorious struggle. But equally sure are we that his Grace will take no false step, that he will commit himself to do nothing until he sees the road clear to guide his army to victory. Happily, in any event, under the sacred banner of so enlightened a chieftain we can rest contented for the present, feeling sure with the advent of our Archbishop the dawn of a brighter day is at hand — a dawn which only needß the heart-given efforts of a loyal and u&ited people to ripen into a dazzling noon. But to^bring about this glorious consummation there must be no idling— no selfish " waiting for the turn of the tide." Catholics— aye, every one worthy of the name of Christian — should be up and doing, The opportunity is nigh : let not the shame of neglecting it fall upon us.v