SPEECH BY THE REV. DR. GLEESON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 16, 12 August 1887, Page 17

SPEECH BY THE REV. DR. GLEESON.

On Tuesday, August 2, the Rev. Dr. Gleeson, of Lannceston, accompanied by the Rev. Father Halbwachs and Rev. Father O'Hallahan, attended the meeting of the Canterbury Literary Society. There were over 60 members present. The President introduced the Rev. Dr. to the meeting. The Rev. Dr. Gleeaon spoke to the following effect : — Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, — I could not conceive why my brother clergymen were so anxious that I should come out with them this evening. I thought, perhaps, a cheque for a substantial amount would be presented to me, but I now find that I am expected to make a speech. I was expecting to enjoy a rest from public speaking, at least for a 9hort time. Recently I preached a retreat to the priests of Auckland, also a course of sermons in the Wellington Cathedral. I am informed the name of your Society is the " Catholic Literary Society. " The title of " Catholic "is a glorious one. You have received from your Irish parents a grand record of faith. When the people of Germany were bowing before gods of wood and rtone — in fact every other race except those who clustered around the Eternal City — whilst all these nations were sunk in idolatry, St. Patrick carried the torch of faith on the hill-tops and through the valleys of Erin. A short time ago I was privileged'to speak to His Holiness the Pope, the Vicar of Christ. I informed him that I had come from the Antipodes ; that I had left my home and my kindred in order to carry the Gospel to the uttermost ends of the earth "Ah 1 " exclaimed the Pope, "you are from ' holy, faithful Ireland.' " Two predominant weaknesses are characteristic of the youth of the day, especially the youth of the colonies : The reading of corrupt literature that cannot fail to destroy man's noblest qualities, whilst it stimulates the basest of the passions. Some read through curiosity, others through preference. A Protestant gentleman said to me at a public meeting held in Launceston — when Mr. W. Redmond was lecturing— that the youth of tne colonies should not cherish the recollections of their fathers who came from *he Old World. The chief ennoblement of man condsta in two things : love of God and love of hia country. A man is not a man if he does not love God ; A man is not a man if he does not love his native land. In this land you have lovely hills, picturesque valleys, and splendid herds, but a history you have not. This country is only a babe. It is about 50 years that this Colony has been inhabited by wbito people. The history of a country only gets mellow with :t^e therefore you must depend ro^ the history of your p-ucuts' country, Not long ago I waf, in America, where the great majority of the people were the descendants of Germans and IrL-k. And I invariably found the children of Germans were more Germai than the people of Germany, whilst the Irish-Americans were more Irieh than the people of Ireland. It would do anyone good to sue those children of Erin sending their " dollars " to the National League, enabling it to continue the struggle for Ireland's demands. I have been through the 32 counties of Ireland. As I speak from experience you may rely on what lam about to tell you. The poverty, the oppression under Trhick the people of Ireland have to labour is dreadful to contemplate. When in Ireland I was subjected to the most dreadful espionage. I was

followed about through the fields— into the house-aye, I was even followed to the pulpit. Officials questioned me closely. They asked • Do you speak the sentiments of a number of people in Australia 1" Are you a leader of public opinion?" "Caa we continue our treatment of Ireland without losing our hold of the colonies V My dear friends, I do not hate England, neither do I make any objection to Englishmen, but I want to Bee the movement initiated by Mr. Gladstone carried to a successful issue. I want to see Ireland the sister and equal of England, not her slave. In the colonies we have everything we want— so far as I know. England is our friend This is the position I want to see Ireland placed in.— Now on the word literary a great many things may be said, but I will limit myself. f*t me take the immortal Thomas Moors ; his worki are to be found in everj clime. They are read by the rich ; they are to be found in almost every respectable library ; in the kitchens of the poor are to be found his works. So long as the English language is spoken, the writings of Tom Moore will never be superseded. The band of orators sent by Ireland to the English Parliament cannot be excelled. . w ln o StraD lerß'I erß ' Gallery and listened to the matchless eloquence « fj 1 "^ 1011 M he uttered his rounded periods which fell on the ear « th f. j\ OU8e » astonishing his listeners. Now, to come to the platform ot solid fact. Who disciplines the English army? Who rules the navy ? is it not Irishmen 1 lam not a very old man, but part of my education was received from a " hedge schoolmaster." Teachers in those days were looked npon as very suspicious characters. Those who desired to become priests could not do so in Ireland ; they had to go to France or some other country. This, th*nk God, is a thing of the past. If »ny amongst you have uneducated parents do not despise them m execrate the "system that caused them to be unlearned. • * £? ReT * Father who is a 8 wonderful an orator as he is a defender or faith and fatherland, was listened to with breathless attenMon. A vote of thanks was carried by acclamation and the Rev Father retired.— N BW Zbalandeb. ' Chnstchurch, August 6, 1887.