Current Topics.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 39, 16 January 1885, Page 1

Current Topics.

AT HOM. a IND ABROAD.

)j There is nebbing which more fully shows the vile nature of aritV Catholic agitation than the characOCCUPATIONB. ter of the men who lead in it. We are reminded of the fact by seeing that a certain fellow nailed "Ex-monk Widdotfs" has been recently engaged in preaching a movement of the! kind in one of the London suburbs. " Ex-monk Widdows " appeared two or three years ago at Dundee whence he was obliged to depart, as proving too much for even the stomachs of Scotch bigot?, on the publication by Lord Archibald Douglas of a telegram from the chief of police at San Francisco to the effect that the " Ex-monk "—who had never been a Catholic monk or a Catholic of any kind— had been lately dismissed from prison where be had served a term for the commission of an abominable offence. But yet this vile fellow can bring together an audience to listen to his disgraceful inventions. Now it is an abominable offender ; now it is a begging-letter [writer— ludicrous, even if disgusting, in the palpable falsehoods told by him— but, whoever it is, men and women claiming to be respectable are found willing to listen to him, if only he can declaim infamously against the Church — and infamous declamation comes easy to the denizens of the kennel— or satisfy, under the pretence of religion, that craving for filth that is one of the most shameful features in a fallen human nature, but which godly people, debarred by their religious scruples from satisfying it in ways less disgraceful on the whole, take their fill of in this way — wallowing in filth and hatred both together. Now it is pretendel revelations of convent life that such fellows pour into the itching ears of the men and women who sit all agape around them— convent life being meantime testified to by the deeds that proceed from it— if Christ be true, and men do not gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles. Of seventeen ladies, says a London Times correspondent who are knights of the Legion of Honour " nine are superiors or sisters of orders who attend in hospitals"— and two of them, he tells us, were appointed this year in recognition of their services during the cholera by General Campenon the enemy of religion, but conquered by their heroism. And, again, hear the Anglican rector, Dr. Hayman preaching at Bolton parish church, as reported by the Anglican paper Chvrch Bells of November 22, and speaking of the religious orders of France. '• No danger, he said, would daunt them, no failure discourage them, and their enthusiasm would kindle only the more keenly the faster they themselves fell victims. The great city suddenly stiicken would, the Doctor foretold, look to those whom it thought too humble, and would find Christianity true to its mission. Though trampled on and outraged it would take the noblest revenge —that of self-sacrifice ; it alone would be capable of .leading the forlorn hope of public safety in the crisis. There would be found bands of devoted men and women belonging to that persecuted Church whom nc danger would daunt, whom no failure would damp or discourage." Now it is the confessional these fellow 3 mock for the surfect of those greedy of filth around them— but there, for example, are the official figures to show us Protestant Englan I nearly twice, and Presbyterian Scotland nearly four times as immoral as Ireland frequenting the confessional. There is the Provost of Edinburgh publicly lamenting the dishonour of his country— and pointing to the contrast with the pure Irish women. Or, again, some of these fellows' followers quote their authority again9t our Catholic schools. Let us then take as an example !of secularism and its effects that orphanage at Cempuis, out of which the Catholic teachers were driven, in order that a light from New Caledonia might assume the direction, with the result that, the inhabitants of the neighbourhood have been obliged to petition the Minister of Public Instruction with regard to the indecent behaviour of the unfortunate pupils. When these respectable men, therefore, go with their women by their sides to wallow in filth and hatred beneath a Widdows or a Chiniquy, and return to belch out against Catholics the abomination they have so greedily taken in, we point to the potent testimony of deeds that have gained the admiration of the world— and whose motiveß are to be found in our • convent life. We can retort their accusations on themselves by showing" '-the I ' undeniable 'proofs of their own gross immorality—and we cab.vjjro'duce testimony /to bear put our firm

THE GEEMA.N AGGRESSION

and therefore, it is to be concluded'by all rational people that the expedition in question will not take place. It could only be justified on the understanding that what the New Zealand Government shbuld undertake in the matter would be fully supported by the Imperial authorities and that they were prepared to meet all the results that might follow. The state of the case is in fact, that either the German Government has no intention of interfering with Samoa, in which event any demonstration on the part of oar colony would be a mere vain show without end or object ; or else the German Government have resolved to annex or establish their authority over the island, in which case we may be fully persuaded that they are prepared to carry out their project let what opposition there will arise, and are so prepared with a complete understanding of the situation. — Prince Bismarck is hardly the man to enter upon any such enterprise at haphazard and without having his eyes fully open to all the surroundings actual or contingent. And what is more, whatever action Prince Bismarck has now taken or is still about to take, is very^ certainly, if not the direct consequence of the late meeting of the three Emperors, at least not out of harmony with what took place at that meeting and the agreements that were there entered into. — The seizure of Samoa then by the Government of New Zealand with the consent and determination of the Imperial Government would be little less than a declaration of war against Germany, allied as she ia with Austria and Russia. It could only be revoked with the utmost humiliation to Great Britain, and if followed up by the outbreak of hostilities who could Bay to what a conclusion it might lead ? And, let us remark in passing it is a most astonishing feature in connection with the matter that a Cabinet over which the Hon. Robert Stout presides, and for wbo»e decisions he is, at any rate, nominally responsible should display such an alacrity in risking a tremendous and bloody war. Mr. Stout's constantly published opinionshave all bean opposed to war, as they have been even obtrusively in favour of universal brotherhood, and yet under Mr. Stout's leadership a reckless attempt is set on foot to dare the outbreak of war, and to check the course of brotherhood by repelling German settlement. — We really begin to feel puzzled as to the nature of Mir. Stout's sincerity, but we admit it would be in some degree satisfactory to us to find that the Premier of the Colony was only in appearance identified with the fustian that passes current for philosophy aid science at the Lyceum. Meantime, has it occurred to any of our readers, that our Premier may very possibly be one of the principal causes for the German Aggression 1 The thought has probably occurred to our Premier himself and that may perhaps in some degree account for his read), ness to run the risk of exciting warj and to tfiwart the universal brotherhood, for is not self-preservation a law of human-nature ? We have heard of the acknowledgement on the part of authoritative German organs that Prince Bismarck was intriguing against the Gladstone cabinet. But is not the liberality of Mr. Stout, as proclaimed over and over again at the Lyceum, far more advanced than that of Mr. Gladstone, and is he not a pillar of extreme democracy in these southern seas ?— that is it we may trust his utterances from the philosophic platform. Who shall say, then, that the German inroads are not made chiefly a3 a demonstration against the Hon. Robert Stout, and to check the evils arising from his prominence 7 If genius is always admirable, it is sometimes dangcious as well. But let Prince Bismarck not be unduly alarmed. Mr. Stout, as we see, is very capable of conforming himself to circumstances, or, as vulgar people have it, knows on which side his bread is buttered. There can at all events be little doubt but that the statesmen who now control the German empire would view with little favour the growth in this hemisphere of another great democratic power of republican ten. dencies. In fact we might perhaps without great extravagance surmise that the prevention of such a growth bad entered into the counsels of Prince Bismarck, or had even formed a part of the discussion that lately took place between the three Emperors and which almost certainly, had for its end the overthrow of the democratic

assertion that secularism means the corruption of the young, But abominable criminals— begging-letter writers — and those who avail themselves of their services to gratify filthy instincts under a godly pretence, will continue their occupations and pastimes to the end.

At the time when we are writing the latest development of the Hinemoa affair is that Lord Derby, has refused to sanction the annexation of Samoa,

advance. And it is certainly suggestive thai.the invasion of the Pacific has followed so soon on the interview alluded to! vßntv ßnt if this were the case the interference' of the Australasian colonies would be. a mere convenient playing into the hand of Prince Bismarck And- his col. leagues. The wiser plan, then, will be' to rjßfraiii from futile interference and vain protests. Lord Derby, in all probability, iain no way deserving of the blame lhatiias been thrown on him and his refusal to sanction a ra3h undertaking may have saved the Colonies from running into a trap prepared for them. The situation is certainly disquieting but caution and prudence are very necessary in dealing with it.

TO BE POUNDED AT LAST,

The Catholic Church, it would appear, remains still to be founded — that is if we may accept as true the decision of a party of Protestant divines assembled together the other day for the purpose

of discussing religious matters at Biel in Switzerland. Their decision was that while adhering to the Reformation and Protestantism generally, they still must recognize the necessity of the Catholic ideal. " This proposition," added they, " rests on the belief in a Universal Christian Church. The Rom:in Church claim i to be the Universal Church, but in reality is nothing of the kin d. But the Protestant Clmrch, too, is not tlie realisation of tlie ideal. Then first, when she finds a higher union (as well between the sundered churches and denominations belonging to her as with the remainivg Christian Chtirclies —the union in the World-Gospel of Jesus Christ), then first does she help to fulfil the ideal of a really Catholic Church." We are further informed by Church Bellg, t tiom which we have taken our quotation, that the conference decided that the realisation of their ideal was to be found in separating Catholicism from Papalism, and we are given t> understand that on a closer conformity with Old Catholicism is at length to be founded— the true Catholic Church. But Old Catholicism itself is also assuming a new phase, and bids fair, instead of causing a wide schism in the Church of Rome to become another sect largely recruited from the Protestant ranks, "It id extremely likely," says the Church Quarterly Review, " that the direction in which we may first look for any considerable accession to the numbers of the Old Catholics is not that of Romanism but of Protestantism. We have referred to Professor •Beyschlag's pamphlet as the expression of a dissatisfaction very widely felt at the coldness of Protestant services, the meagreness of Protestant ritual (especially in reference to the Eucharist), the indefiniteness of Protestant belief, the antiquated and unsatisfactory nature of Protestant formulae, and the general tendency to merge all distinctive teaching in a dead Erastianism. When struggling for a bare existence the Old Catholic leadew very properly forbore from any effort "at proßelytism from the Protestant communities. They had received they said, much brotherly kindness from them in their difficulties; they could not requite it by anything that seemed like treachery. But .the younger Protestants were attracted to them nevertheless* Some few have formally joined them. We begin to read of Protestants taking part in their Easter services, and we may rely upon it that when once the Old Catholic cause is firmly rooted, and the services efficiently performed, they will have the same attraction for the younger members of Protestant families that Tractarian worship has had among ourselves." Professor Beyschlag's insight into the nature of Protestantism, indeed, appears very just, and it Jraay well be that religious minds, wearied of such a dry and miserable system will turn to anything that seems to them more promising of life. Even as the Church of England, which, according to Mr. Gladstone was Puritan at its origin, and only after the lapse of time received its Anglican doctrine from Hooker, may, perhaps, have rejoiced at the prospect, vain though it proved, of escaping from soulless abstractions and negations into a spiritual world possessing the marks of reality. But as for those Protestants who seek rest in Old Catholicism, and those Swiss divines who separate between Catholicism and Papalism, wt would direct their eyes to the East, where they will find the example of men who before them have walked in the same path 9. Let them take warning by the miserable remnants of Neslorians and Monophysiteß. Let them look to tbe degradation^ the Russian Church, and if they be wise they will learn the falsehood of their assertion that the piety and charity of a Catholic people are not dependant on their relationship to the Papacy. Meantime, we note the absurdity, if not the absolute blasphemy of maintaining that Christ left Ilis workjundone, and that the Catholic Church is still, 2000 years after His ascension, to found. We had already noted the inconsistency with Anglican views as to the antiquity and authority of their Church, of Mr. Gladstone's representation of her as at first a " heterogeneous mass," bound together by a strong pressure from without, and undergoing her religions movement a century after the external' framework of her ecclesiastical polity had been established. Above all we note the unrest of Protestantism and how it continues without ceasing on its course of variations— divided in everything but in jts denial of the Catholic Church and' its opposition to her.

•• ANOPIQtf „.'" DE FIANCE, i

them as personally! stained with abominable crime, or as having been f reckless as to the manner in which accused men were convicted; on the evidence of perjure"! informers .suborned by thd employees of -the Caetle, every one should know' the open and defiant* manner in which the Irish national press repeat their accusations and daily publish challenges that can only be neglected and overlooked because they dare not be met. Concerning the Maamtrasoa case for example, one of the Dublin papers not 6nly asserts that Miles Joyce and the four men in penal servitude, had nothing to do with the crime, but boldly names the murderers as well' as the perjurers by whose means they escaped the pursuit of justice, and calls upon them to proceed against its editor for libel if the statement published is questioned. — The article runs as follows : — " By the grace and favour of Earl Spencer and the protection and sympathy of his police, the three principal assassins in the Maamtrasnfjf massacre are to day at liberty and in the enjoyment of their usual 'health and spirits. Believing that there has been enough of beating about the bush, with regard to the names of these men, we desire hereby to notify to all whom it may concern, that the chief murderers of a helpless family at Maamtrasna, whom the police decline to proceed against and to whom Earl Spencer extends his protection are the following : — John Casey, sen., of Bunnacunnic, paymaster and principal of the gang ; John Casey , jun., his son, second murderer ; and Patrick Lyden, of Cappanacreeha , who smashed the skulls of several of the victims with an iron weapon. Immediately upon receiving intelligence cf the crime, the police arrested the elder Casey, but forthwith released him, as the unimpeachable witnesses declined to implicate the chief gombeen and meal man of the neighbourhood, to whom, no doubt, they were under many obligations. Lyden has since fled to England, and, it may be, is now beyond the reach of justice, but the two Caseys are still upon the spot, and if there is a law in the land, father and son should be prosecuted and hanged by the neck until they are dead. So far, the assassins owe their freedom and escape from punishment to the connivance of the Lord Lieutenant, who knows their guilt as well as we do, and declines to allow them to be arrested because their conviction would throw discredit on his unimpeachables-the excellent John and Anthony Joyce, who have pocketed £1,500 blood-money for sending four innocent persons to penal servitude and one to the gallows. The public will now thoroughly understand the objection which the Lord Lieutenant had to grant the ' full inquiry ' promised by the Marquis of Harrington into the confessions of Casey and Philbin. An investigation such as that conducted by Mr. Carton, Q.C,, at Arran in Kilmartin's case would have completely exposed the conduct of Mr. George Bolton, and would have demonstrated tbe peijury of the Unimpeachables, and have shown that the real criminals were not Myles Joyce and the four men in jail, but a totally different set of persons. A more frightful miscaniage of justice has, in our opinion, never taken place in any country, ihe mind shiinks with horror alike from dwelling on the holocaust at Maam trasna or the succeeding horror got up by the Crown. We solemnly arraign the Government for their share in the butchery, which is as criminal and odious as that of the original assassins, and we challenge Lord Spencer to allow the facts to be inquired into if he dares. If scoundrels of the type of Anthony and John Joyce are to be privileged to earn bloodmoney by sacrificing the lives and liberties of guiltless men, and if murderers like Lyden and the Caseys be suffered to go at large with the connivance of the police, the Resident Magistrates and the Viceroy, there is an end to even the pretence of Government in this country. The Irish people have been taunted by the Lord Lieutenant and his Chief Secretary with protecting criminals and screening crime. We retort the charge upon themselves, and we say that their crime is the blacker and more heinous because of the position which they occupy. If our firm and gentle Viceroy will not grant the investigation into the death of Myles Joyce demanded by the Archbishop of Tuam, he can at least egg on his police to induce either Murderers Casey or Perjurers Anttony and John Joyce to bring a libel action a la Fiench against this journal. The trial which would ensue would almost serve the same purpose. At any rate, we for our part are determined that this business shall not be allowed to rest. The ghost of Myles Joyce will haunt the Castle for many a long day, and we do not believe that, partisan as is the Parliament of England, its members will be content to allow the second Maam trasna massacre to be hushed up in Dublin Castle.' — Our readers will see that in this article not only are charges made against men as murderers and informers — which, brought against innocent men, would deserve for their author the severest punishment that the law could allow — but that the accusations made of Lord Spencer are, supposing them false, treasonable and infamous in the extreme. The only excuse to be offered for such a publication is that the matter published is true, and necessary to be published in the cause of justice and liberty. And that it is true has been established beyond all doubt by the fact that the paper publishing it has done bo with complete immunity

As the attempt' has been made in many quarters' to B.hbw that the Trish nationalists have been engaged in the pefarious work qf trying to blacken the characters of, high officials, and falsely to represent

Lord Spencer, and his goyernment dare not take steps that would end in justifying the author of the charges, and ' publicly covering themselves with shame) and blood-guiltiness. But let this example suffics in reply to all the efforts made tr> screen detestable criminals in Ireland.

" Civis " of the Daily Times— Thinks that lngersoll the bmal must regard his discomfiture as peculiarly ignoadvebsaries minious and his freethought campaign as checked in a OP infidelity, particularly inglorious way iv as much as these

were accomplished, not, by, a corypbaaus of the '■ Gospel " bat by some Catholic priest quite unknown to fame. But he sadly mistakes whom they, are that freethinkers regard as their most formidable adversaries. Mr. Ward quoting in' his Cantos the Protestant historian Dr.Heylin, describes the early parsons „-— "Bagpipers, fiddlers, tanners, tinkers, Carters, catch polas, chimney-sweepers, Bricklayers, blacksmiths, weavers,' tailors. ' Fishmongers, scavengers and jailors. To rail against the Church of Borne. To preach its downfall and its doom. And curse the Pope, as they were mad, > - Was the main article they had ; And who performed it best were then • : Cry'd up for mighty gifted men. * « ♦ * Such was the learning such the arts Of th'sse first clergymen of parts ; But much improv'd by handing down To BM»t-great-grandson of the gown. To rail against the Church of Rome, still continues the main article of the stock in Iradeof the sons of the great-great-grandsons of those accomphshed Elizabethan preachers ; but our experience leads us to doubt whether the learning or the parts of the children have been much improved by the; long continued inheritance of the .clerical gown. We have too many reasons to incline us to think not. But supposing much improvement had really taken place among them, infidels need have very little fear of the preachers of a religioui system, the fundamental principles of which are so absurd as that they justify all the errors and delusions of the [past, the sickening din ol the contradictions of the present, and all the possible religious impositions which lie in the fruitful bossom of the future-fund-amental principles so un-Christian and so utterly illogical as that they naturally lead to an endless multiplication of quarrelling.contradicting sects, change Christianity into a ridiculous Babel of confusion and, consequently, introduce indifference to all religion, contempt for the teaching of Christ, and impiety of every kind. So far from fearing the weapons of the giants of this camp the freethinkers may well look upon it as the feeding ground whence their ranks may be plentifully recruited. It is a fact, remarks Dr.Spalding, that before the Reformation, infidel were scarcely known in the world: it is a fact that they come forth in swarms from its bjsom. It was from the writings of Herbert, Hobbes, Bloura, Shaftsbury, Polingbroke and Boyle, that Voltaire and his party drew the objections and errow, which they have brought so generally into fashion in the world. According to Diderot and D'Alembert, the first Btep that the untractab'.e Catholic takfs is to adopt the Protestant principle of private judgment. He establishes himself judge of his religion, leaves it and joins the Reform. Dissatisfied with the incoherent doctrines he then discovers, he passes to the Socinians, whose inconsequences soon drive him into Deism : still pursued by unexpected difficulties, he throws himself into universal doubt, where still experiencing uneasiness, he at last resolves to take the final step, and proceeds to terminate the long chain of his errors in Atheism. Let us not forget that the first link in this fatal chain is attached to the fundamental maxim of private judgment. It is therefore historically correct, that the same principle that created Protestantism three centuries ago, has never ceased since that time to spin it out into a thousand different sects, and has concluded by covering Europe with that multitude of freethinkers who place European society on the verge of ruin. But putting aside theory and history, what do the freethinkers themselves say as to the adversaries they fear 1 Let us hear Mr. Huxley : "Lay Sermons," p. 67. The clergy are at present divisible into three sections : An immense body who are ignorant and speak out ; n small proportion who know and are silent ; and a minute minority who know and speak according to their knowledge. By ttie clergy I mean especially the Protestant clergy. Our 'great I speak as a man of science— the Roman Catholic Church, the one great spiritual organization which is able to resibt, and must as a matter of life and death, resist, 'the progress of science and modern civilization, manages her affairs much better. It was my fortune some time ago to pay a visit to one of the most important of the institutions in which the clergy of the Roman Catholic Church in these islands are trained j and it seemed to me that the difference between these men and the comfortable champions of Anglicanism and Dissent, was comparable to the difference between our gallant Volunteers and the trained veterans of Napoleon's Old Guard. The Catholic ptiest is trained to know his business, and to do it effectually. The professors of the College in question, learned; 1 zealous' and determinediinen, permitted

Secularism and its FRUITS

object and its end, in order that the designs of wicked men may be carriel out. 'And the steps taken^o promote such an object have beeu ably devised for the purpose ; they have moreover, been applauded among ourselves, as indeed it was fitting since we also have the system established among us, which they support— as we shall have the like fruits also, all in good time. Men, nevertheless,' vrho have an opportunity of judging, opposed" though they may be to the Catholic church, — opposition to which, was the means cunningly availed of among ourselves to, accomplish the designs of the enemies of all religion — are becoming alarmed at what they witness.,,, and, .jopenly profess their abhorrence of it. Here for example is a report of an address on the subject' delivered at Salisbury, by the Anglican Dean of t&e diocese oa October 26, and which we clip from an Eoglish paper :— " The Dean of Salisbury spoke very strongly at Salisbury, on Saturday, on the question of secular education. He said that he had spent two months this year in France, and he heard from many intelligent, people there— from Roman Catholics and Protestants alike— of the miserable condition which was being produced in France by the gradual secularisation of the schools, The French Government had, he might say, headed an active crusade against all that was distinctive in religious teaching in any shape whatever, and the results were now beginning to be 80 horribly apparent that even those most in favour of this policy were beginning to be startled. When it was— as was the case in some parts of France— almost a crime to utter the word of God, it was time for persons to consider whether they had not gone a little too far, and whether this movement in favour of .secular education was likely to produce permanent advantage to the country. In one day a distinguished Roman. Catholic and a Protestant pastor said to him, •In the name of God stick to your religious education.' The same expression had come from persons who differ greatly in their faith, but who, at the same time, were profoundly impressed, with the horrible future that was awaiting their own country whilst this secularisation of education was going , on." — But a more detailed example of the , nature of the secularisation in. question will be found in the'following extract :— " The respectable French papers are calling the attention of the Government to the following scandalous facts which require little comment, and which* unfortunately, cannot be narrated in all their enormity in,au English paper. The Catholic Orphanage 1 at Cempuis in 1 the d'epartmen q

me to speak frankly with them. We talked like oVtposta of opposed armies during a truceWs friendly enemies ; andwhenl 1 venture! & point out the difficulties their students would have to encounter frofti scientific thought, they replied ; Our Church has lasted, many ages and has passed safely through many storms.- The, present" is but a new gust of the old tempest and we do not tarn out our young men less fitted to weather it than they have been in former times to cope with the difficulties of those times. The heresies of the day are explained to them by their professors of philosophy and science and they are taught how these heresies are to be met.— l heartily respect an organization whioh faces its enemies in this way ; and I wish that all ecclesiastical organizations were in as effective a condition, I think it would be better not only for them but for us. ,The army of liberal thought is at present in very loos 9 order ; and many a spirited freethinker makes use of his freedom mainly to vent nonsense. We should b? the better for a vigorous and watchful enemy to hammer us into cohesion aud discipline." ' ' '

SINISTER FIGUBEB.

least, the four years ending with !83 show a most discouraging retnrn, and are almost enough to make the philanthropist despair as.'.to the hope of ! the future; We allude to intemperance, which, during the four years in question, -has made a very large increase. The figures are as follows, relating to the number of persons proceeded against for being drunk or drunk and disorderly :'— lßßo, 172,859; 1881, 174,481 ; 1882, 189,697 ; 1883, 192,905. Hence it will be seen that the sinister increase in the four years has been 20,000— a tolerably large figure. Drunkenness, moreover, is proved to be a vice that unlike crime properly so-called; is attendant on periods of prosperity, for during the years represented trade has been comparatively brisk r-as was the case also in the years 1876-7-8, when the statistics of intemperance were again unusually high. But drunkenness is the fruitful source of crime, being calculated to produce, directly or indirectly, three- fourths of that cdmmitted in the country. If pros* perity produces drunkenness, then, and drunkenness is the cause of crime, while neither the advance of educationnor the many civilising agencies at work in the England of to-day offer any 'effectual resistance to the, degrading habit, matters look sufficiently, black-,' and it is hard to say what restraining power may be found. v

The march of education, and the various improvements of the times in England seem hardly to be producing that better condition of things generally looked for. In one very important particular, at

Godless education -in France becomes more and more marked by the abominable fruits that it is producing— the corruption of .the young. . the degradation of those ' of mature age — these are its

Oise has been deprived of all religious teaching, the -care of the establishment being given over to a returned Communist from New Caledonia, It may be easily imagined how this gaol bir,d has cleared away all notion of God and religion from the teaching of Cempuis. The chapel has been turned into a carpenter's shop and the children are forbidden to go to Mass on Sundays on the plea that their school duties would be interfered with by the fulfilment of this obligation. The Manuals of M. Paul Bert and. Madame G-reville are the text-books used by the Communist principal, who interlards bis teaching with occasional blasphemies against the Incarnation, the Blessed Sacrament, and the Existence of God. Not one of the pupils has been allowed to make his First Communion, and even in sickness the priest is kept away from the patient; The chief hobby of the Communist is the intermingling of the sexes on the senseless plea that he is imitating the robust system in vogue in the United States ; k after tliis it will be easily believed that the Oempuis Orphanage is a scandal to the neighbourhood, aud that the inhabitants of Mers have petitioned the Minister of Public Instruction to forbid the scenes which take place on the beach during the bathing season. The godless orphans of Cempuis, male and female, are already beginning to be the scourge of decent people, and they afford an excellent example of the rising generation of Frenchmen and Frenchwomen, whose parents are weak enough to bring them up in an atmosphere of dogmatic atheism and crude immodesty." — But as the system is ia France, so must it prove in New Zealand, — Its origin is the same — that is, the secret lodges of Europe. — Its object is the same— namely the destruction of Christianity— and the like abominable results must sooner or later everywhere follow from it.

We once read somewhere or another a weird tale of a violin wherein the soul of some great musician

M. REMENYI.

had been imprisoned, and which was in consequence 'wont to give out strains that filled all who heard them with wonder and delight. We might almost think that ' Buch a bewitched instrument had come into the possession of M. Remenyi, for verily the tones that proceed from it seem more than those which the natural hand of man could awaken. The soul, however, whence the strains of M. Remenyi's violin flow is no imprisoned one, but free as the air and strong as that of genius to convey to others the glories and beauties of its own unfettered experiences. The distinguishing mark of this great artist's performances is the vivid expression of intense feeling, and, if it cannot be said of him, fortunately, as it was said of the renowned Rachel, that he has a "soul of gas in a body of gauze," it can at least be said with equal truth that he has a soul capable of the most fervid and varied emotions, and that, through the medium of his magnificent instrument and his unrivalled, unequalled power over it, he can move those who are listening to him to the inmost recesses of their being. We do not pretend to an ability of criticising M. Remenyi's performance regularly or exactly ; those who will do so must first themselves acquire an intimate knowledge of the violin, and learn what all its possibilities are — nay, even its impossibilities, that they may wonder at their being overcome — but there'are none who cannot recognise the touch of the inspired master wherever it is found, and M. Remgnyi possesses it most fully. The wonderful execution the master makes use of, in any other performer, if indeed any other performer could display it, would form a chief attraction, but to the performance of M. Remenyi it becomes merely subsidiary and is secondary to the more noble meaning contained in the music and its adequate interpretation. Sweetness, softness, sadness, mirtb, martial ardour — there is no feeling in • all the life of man that the great artist fails to express, and in his hands the violin becomes, indeed, as a living thing endowed with a thousand varying moods. But no pen could describe those strains, those various measures, that go through all the marvellous changes from tones that may be rather felt than heard — from veritable angels^whisperings to the glorious chords that might guide the march of armies, or celebrate a people's accession to freedom. Or, to come more to particulars, what can be more exquisite than, for example, the master's interpretation of the iLast Rose of Summer " with the wail of the truly Irish prelude by hich the melody is introduced, and whosa very first notes recall to «a visions of the far off land, overcoming in their intensity as the strain proceeds. What can be more pathetic than his playing of the heart-breaking "Auld Robin Grey "; what grander or more spiritstirring than his Hungarian National March or what more passionately exciting than his "La Marseillaise " ? But it is vain to make an attempt to set down in writing the perfections of M. Rem6nyi's violin-playing. We know of nothing in- prose or verse that may adequately describe it, except, perhaps, those lines in which Tennyson describes the song of the dying swan. They are these— and with them we shall conclude :-—

'— — " At first to the ear The warble was low, and full and clear ; And floating about the under-sky, Prevailing in weakness the coronach stole, Sometimes afar, and .sometimes aoear ; But anon her awful jubilant voice,

With a music strange and manifold, - Flow'd forth on a carol free and bold. As when a mighty people rejoice With shawms, and with cymbals, and harps of gold, | And the tumult of their acclaim is roll'd ! '■ ] Thro' the open gates of the city afar, ■• ' To the shepherd who watcheth the evening star."