H. A. C. B. S.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 27, 28 October 1887, Page 29

H. A. C. B. S.

TO THE IDITOE N.Z. TABLHT.

Slß,— Tour sub-leader on the above Society in your issue of 7th inrt» is worthy of the attention of every Catholic in the Colony. Thlt attention and support are necessary, although the Society is well established for a number of years, and has branches in all the priacipal towns and many of the smaller towns, yet nowhere, exc»pfc perhaps in Auckland, do its numbers approach anything like what they ought to number. There must be some cause for this, whick ought to be sought and removed. The Society, as you point out, oomef clearly within the recommendations of the Holy Father to join and support Catholic societies. That it is a benefit society is another reason why it should be joined. That it is Hibernian is a reason why some, who are not Irish by birth or descent, may not join it, bat thig ought to be a powerful motive to those who are Bach to join it. Various causes may be assigned for this. The faot, bow. ever, remains that many do not. The Society is either good or bad. If the latter, matters ought not to ba minced, bat it should be shown that it is so aud a remedy applied ; while if, oa th«. contrary, which is, I contend, a fact, the former is the case, er«ry encouragement should be given, and as the Society is raoognised by the Church in Australasia, it ought to receive a general active and consistent support here. If, in the interests of Catholicity, the Society ever accomplishes much, it is only by a systematic organisation it caa be done. But while matters are allowed to shift for themselves the Society will never develop into the power for good of which it ig capable. The question of establishing any other society or sodality is not likely to achieve much success if the H.A.0.8.8. fail. The maj jrity of Catholics in the Colony are unfortunately iv a social scale, which cannot boast of mnch worldly possessions, and bat comparatively few of them practise the Scotch virtue —thrift ; and therefore when accident or illness befalls them they have nothing to fall back on. If no other reason than this alone existed every single man, and more especially every married man, ought to belong to the H.A.O B.S. There are many most amiable-minded persons who object to the title Hibernian, seeing in it Feniaaism, dynamite, and such kindred elements. Among men schooled to such ideas, one can smile at the hard death of national prejudices, but it is lamentable to find among men of Irish birth many who are ashamed to belong to a society, and that the only Irish one in the Colony. The rules of the Society debar it from discussing politics. Th« wisdom of this decree is debateable, but, however, until it is altered there it is, and none can charge it truthfully as a body with taking part in local or national politics. Of course, like any other body, iti individual members may hold any political views they like, although what is an inconsistency appears in the initiation ceremony : ih» candidate is aaked to cherish, etc., the memory of Ireland. It im scarcely fair to ask this question indiscriminately, but these are minor matters, easily remedied. The exclusion of politics and the cherishing the memory of Erin are not in harmony, and one ought to give way. There are many, the writer among the number, who would much pre» fer to retain the politics, as a society bearing the title of Hibernian is unworthy of its name, if, during the crisis that Ireland ib now passing through it does not rise to the occasion and in some way manifest that their people in New Zealand are in sympathy and active co-operation with O'Brien and Dillon to resist that vilest of Ooercioa Acts. Thanking you for your advocacy, which, I trust, will in future be. sustained.— l am, etc., Mbmbhb.