H. A. C. B. S.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 25, 15 October 1886, Page 17

H. A. C. B. S.

A GENERAL meeting of the Catholics of Rangiora was held on Sunday, October 3rd , at the old church, for the purpose of establishing a branch of the Hibernian Society in the district. It was announced fiom the altar by Rev. Father Binsfield, and was very well attended, and was in the first instance called by the subjoined circular : — " Dear Sir,— lt having been suggested that it would be wise to call a general meeting of the Catholic Irishmen of the Parochial district of Rangiora, to be held in the old church of the aforesaid place, at 1 o'clock p.m., on Sunday, October 3rd, 1886, you are reapectfully requested to attend. The object of our meeting is, to bring together a representative body of our countrymen, to discuss the policy of establishing and inaugarating in our midst the only national organisation we have in this country, viz., the Hibernian Society. We would gladly avoid the labour to many inseparable from attendance at this meeting, but an attempt to solicit apart the sympathy of the various districts having proved ineffectual, we see no better course open to us to pursue. Indolence and indifference seem to have got hold of some ; apathy and distrust of others ; ignorance an£ selfishness of many more. Let us, fellow-countrymen and children of one Church, meet together, and the first will be succeeded by activity and enthusiasm ; the second will give way to friendliness and confidence ; and the third will yield to knowledge aud generosity. " We are painfully aware that many of our young men have little knowledge of the nature, rules, and object of the Hibernian Society. On the day of meeting a full explanation will -be given by delegates from Christchurch, and you can see and judge for yourselves the wisdom of establishing it or not. It is to be hoped that those difficulties which seem now to deter many from joining will then be satisfactorily explained away : that those rules only which are considered essential to the maintenance of the Society will be enforced ; that others which are impracticable for scattered districts like this, will be merely optional ; and so in things of vital importance there must be unity ; in matters of lesser moment a reasonable liberty ; but in all things brotherly and Christian love. Why should we of Rangiora be behind our countrymen in other places in fidelity to our Church, devotion to our native land, and regard for our own interests. Unity is strength, and if each individual only throws his soul into the work, it will doubtless be a marked success. " Signed on behalf of the H. A. C. B. S. < " John J. Conroy." Rev. Father Binsfield was moved to the chair, and expressed his desire to see a branch of what he regarded as av> vorthy institution eitablished amongst them. The benefits to b. arrived from it were of great importance, especially to married men with families. It also encouraged the love of country, which was one of the purest emotions in the human breast. Although he (Rev. Father Binstield) was not Irish, yet from his long residence with them, both in New Zealand and America, he was intimately acquainted with all their aspirations, and knew from experience (hat the good Irish man was also the good Catholic. If, then, the Society would work in harmony with the Church, the members would be better men in every respect. The rev. father then regretted being unable to sit through the

meeting, owing to a slight indisposition, and suggested Mr. Sellars, of Christchurcb, District Past President, to occupy the chair. Mr. Sellars was then voted to the chair, and Mr. Leahy, of Ohristchurch, acted as minute secretary to the meeting. The Chairman then explained the object for which the meeting was convened, and went fully into the nature and advantages of the Society, giving its threefold character, namely— benefits :— Medical, or the attendance of doctor and medicine for self and family during illness ; £1 per week during sickness, and £10 on the death of wife, and on the death of a member, his wife or nearest relation receives £20. National : Fostering the love of Ireland amongst its members —the Society being composed mainly of Irishmen, or of Irish descent —and in this respect it gave him great pleasure to observe the colonial Irish taking so keen an interest in the Society as they do ; and, thirdly, Religious: its members must be good, practical Catholics, and more especially the officers should show a good example. While in Auckland, he was edified to see so large a Society there, and to albo see so many of its members approach Holy Oommunion in a body. He then called on Mr. Lonargan, delegate of Christchurch, who appealed to those present to join, and pointed out that this was the only Catholic organisation in the Colony ; the anti-Catholic spirit of the other Friendly Societies ; the necessity and advantages of uniting in one body all parts of New Zealand Catholics for any given purpose— say the education question, for instance. He went over the ground of its benefits : how it tended to thrift and economy amongst the members, and made them better Catholics ; more especially, it kept the younger men from society where Catholic practices were sneered at, and where young men of weak minds were ashamed, and frequently denied the religion of their forefathers. It was to avoid and provide against this state of things that the Society was established. He was morally certain now that the Society had the approval of Hi 9 Holiness Leo XIII. through the Sydney Council. He concluded by moving, " That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable that a branch of the H.A.C.B.S. be established in Rangiora." This was seconded by Mr. Pope, of Christchurch, and supported by Messrs. Malcolm, Duncan, Anderson, Quill, Conroy, of Rangiora. Messrs. Leahy and O'Shaughnessy, of Christchurch, also spoke in favour of the motion, and, after some questions were answered, the question was put, and unanimously carried. The following gentlemen were then appointed as a committee to give effect to the resolution : Messrs. Anderson, Duncan, Conroy, Qaill ; after which several names were handed in as members. The meeting concluded with votes of thanks to Father Binsfield, the chairman, and Christchurch delegate.

Mr John HugheB 1 Carriers Arms Hotel, Invercargill, has just been rebuilt in brick, and furnished in first-class style. The house is now among the best of its kind in the Colony, and offers to its customers and the public generally unsurpassed accommodation. The stables attached to the hotel are extremely well planned and conducted. Messrs Morrison and Mitchell, Auctioneers, Dunedin, announce that their sale for horses will henceforward be held on the same day as that for dairy cows, that is every Friday. A weekly sale of furniture will be held each Saturday at the rooms of the Firm, Rattray street. Mr George Dwyer, late of Messrs. Keast and McCarthy's, has taken the Grange Hotel, Dunedin. The establishment is situated in a most agreeable and convenient position, and the method in which it will be conducted will leave nothing to be desired. Messrs J. Jamison, Merchant Tailors, Princes street, Dunedin, may be visited with confidence by gentlemen desirous of obtaining really genuine articles of clothing. A pilgrimage of Italian priests to Rome on the occasion of the Pope's Jubilee will take place in the Fall of 1887. Cardinal Ahmonda, Archbishop of Turin, has blessed the project, and the director of the pilgrimage will be Cardinal Parocohi, Vicar-General of the Sovereign Pontiff. In September, 1883, a like pilgrimage of the Italian clergy, to the number of 5,000, was made under the presidency of Cardinal Alimonda. New York, Aug. 24.— O'Brien, Deasy, and Redmond arrived on Sunday from Chicago. After witnessing the swimming of Niagara rapids performed by W. J. Kendall, they drove to the Fifth-avenue Hotel, then through the Park, and afterward went down to Manhattan Beach. Tney sailed for Queenstown to-day. Bon voyage to the trinity of patriots who represented Parnell at Chicago. The city of Breslau lately celebrated the 500 th anniversary of an occurrence which was memorable in the history of the town and ib known wherever German poetry finds a home. The bell which hangs in the southern tower of St. Mary Magdalen's church and is named " St. Mary's bell," but is usually known as " the poor sinners bell, rang out morning and evening on thel7th of July to remind all who heard it that it was cast on that day 500 years ago. Next day, Sunday, the preacher reminded his congregation of the pathetic story which has made it singular among bells, how, when all was ready for the casting, the bell-founder withdrew for a few moments, leaving a boy in charge of the furnace, warning him not to meddle with the catch that secured the seething metal in the caldron. But the boy disregarded the caution, and then terrified on seeing the molten metal beginning to flow into the mould, called to the bell-founder for help. Rushing in and seeing what he had intended to be his masterpiece ruined, as he thought, angered to madness, he slew the boy on the spot. When the metal had cooled and the mould was opened, the bell was found to bean exquisite work, perfect in finish, and of marvellous sweetness of tone. Coming to his senses, he recognised his bloody work and straightway g wo himself up to the magistrates. " Blood for blood " was the law ; ne was cond :mued to die, and he went to his doom while his beautiful bell pealed an invitation to all to pray for " the poor sinner," whence its name. W. Muller haß enshrined the sad story in a ballad of touching simplicity.- fimet.