CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 40, 27 January 1888, Page 3

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

The ordinary weekly meeting of this Society took place on Tuesday evening, January 16. Vice-President W. O'Shaugh^essy presided, and 28 members were present. Mr. McManaway waa elected vice-president in place of. Mr. J. McKay who for a time is about to proceed to another part, of the country. The meeting was honoured with the presence of three gentlemen, natives of Syria.who are Catholics and recent arrivals in New Zealand. The visitors were formally introduced. Mr. Tannus Nachul, one of the three, and who wore his national costume, addi eased the meeting. In the course of his remarks he spoke of what he had noted in New Zealand, also of several things that obtained in his native land. In this country, he said, there are only an archbishop, 3 bishops, some priests, and not very many Catholics. In Syria there is a great number of priests and bishops and there area million of Catholics. Further, that in the Turkish Empires there are two patriarchs, and that one of the two is in Syria. The Syrian patriarch is upwards of 87 years of age, and has occupied his present position for 23 years. That the Syrians have such regard for Catholicity that it is impossible to establish in their country any other form of religion, aB no one will sell or let land for such a purpose. Also that in the Holy Land, from a provision of the Church, »ny Roman Catholic can travel in order to witness interesting objects and places free of charge. To any other tourist, however, travelling expenses amount to a guinea a day. Mr. Nachul, in conclusion, expressed the great pleasure it afforded him to address a few words to the members, and thanked them for the kind reception given to him and to his two friends. An anonymous paper on sports and outside recreation, also on tha benefit to youth of clubs and Literary Societies, was then read, and which being duly critisied, songs, readings, and recitations, were Bl T, e «^Ls es , 8 . rß> M oManaway, Holland, Blake, Courtney, Honghey. and O'Connell, The meeting th«n terminated.