AN APPEAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 43, 31 July 1891, Page 18

AN APPEAL.

Thx circumstances of the times make it necessary for us to appeal to our subscribers. The depression that has existed, and still, in a considerable degree, continues to exist, falls with especial weight on the New Zealand Tablet. Unfortunately our subscribers seem to think that, in the retrenchment made by them, the stoppage of our paper must ccne first of all. Any change, even the slight one of a move from one district to another, appears to suggest this to them. We need not point out to them, nevertheless, the importance of a Catholic paper. They are aware that the Holy Father, who most clearly sees the necessities of the Catholic world, has, over and over again, insisted on the obligation of ■npporting a Catholic Press, and has spoken of the Catholic journalist as occupying a most responsible position. The secular papers, however liberal they may be, from their very nature and all their surroundings, cannot represent Catholic matters fairly. If left to them, Catholics and their Church must continue to be misunderstood, and to be looked upon as qualified only to occupy an inferior position. But we must remember that the world, as a rule, takes men at their own valuation. If Catholics are content to be represented, as the secular Press represents them, as people of a decidedly inferior class, their consent will be accepted as an acknowledgment on their part that such is really the case. The only moans they have of protesting and proving that this is a calumny is by the publication of their own newspapers, in which the truth concerning them and their standing as men and citizens is effectively set forth, and which, above all, keep in check the writers of the secular Press, and oblige them, if only for very shame, to refrain from the damaging statements and the tone of contempt that would otherwise fill their columns. These J writers themselves, in fact, require to be instructed, and by their perusal only of Catholic newspapers can this be done. To ensure to Catholics the respect due to them, and on which their position in the colony so much depends, the publication of a Catholic paper of a character that no one can find fault with or despise, and which must be admitted to be as well conducted as any secular paper, is an absolute necessity. While such a paper exists — and we challenge denial on the part of any one who is unprejudiced and at the same time qualified to judge, that the New Zealand Tablet is such a paper — the results obtained by it may perhaps be taken as a matter of course, and thoughtless or inexperienced people m »y believe they could do as well without it. Were its publication to cease, however, the difference would soon be felt, as indeed it is now evident to any one who remembars the state of things in this colony before the New Zealand Tablet was established, and when the secular Press, as a rule, teemed with matter that was not only grossly insulting but extremely injurious as well to every Catholic in tbe country. It is, therefore, most injudicious to endanger the existence of the New Zealand Tablet by carelessness in supporting it. We would earnestly appeal to our subscribers to give us their aid in resisting so injurious a risk, not only by continuing their personal support to us but by representing the ■ state of the case to their Catholic friends and using their influence with them, so that those of them who are already our subscribers may remain so, and those of them who are not ! may forward their names to be placed on our subscribers' list. We would appeal also to subscribers to be punctual in their ' payments, and most particularly to those who are doing us positive injury by remaining an unwarrantable time in our debt. By kindly aiding us our friends and supporters will be serving the cause of religion and helping to maintain the respectable position of Catholics in New Zealand.

Th» drawing of the art-onion in aid of the Palmertton Presbytery f and will positively take place on the S6tb or 26th of August, the remainder of the prises haying armed by the s.s. Aorangi. The Bey. Father Donnelly requests that the blocks of tickets sold as well as books of tickets remaining unsold may be returned to him not later than August 22nd, so as to facilitate arrangements and prevent accidents. Meantime the few intervening weeks may be devoted to redoubled efforts to dispose of tickets and insure the meets of the undertaking. It has been set on foot for a most necessary object and is worthy of all possible support and assistance.

A concebt will be given in the Choral Hall, Dunedin, on Wednesday evening, August 12th, in aid of the charitable fund of the Society of Bt. Vincent de Paul. The services of tbe Catholic Literary Sociely aad other friends haTe been kindly offered for the occasion, and therefore the manner in which tbe undertaking will be carried out is guaranteed. It is true, indeed, that of Ute there have been many calls made upon tbe charity of the public of this city. Times, however, are exceptionally hard and poverty abounds. The good offices of the Society are brought more pressingly into requisition, and the demands on them for relief are more acute. Their funds, meantime, have reached a very low ebb, or perhaps may justly be said to have no existence, and they are obliged, although unwillingly, to make the appeal referred to. That they will not appeal in vain tbe well-known charity of our citizens assures us. We are confident that every effort will be made to forward their object, and that a substantial sum will be placed at the disposal of these charitable Udies. No one can refuse them sympathy or practical assistance in the matter.

" Civis " writes as follows in the Otago Witnest : — •• An illustration of the blessings of secular education," says a correspondent! enclosing me the following :—": — " Sunday evening : Tea time in the home of one of our well-known citizens (who, by the way, takes a kceo interest in racing matters, and is a regular patroniser of the DJ.C. meetings). Present: Father, mother, two or three young schoolboys, sons of the house, and some friends. Conversation turned on Biblical matters, when father asked one of the boys, ♦ George, who » was Pontius Pilate V To which the reply was given, ' I don't know father ; but I suppose he was a racehorse 1 ' " A very reasonable supposition. The youngster knew nothing about the Bible, but be did know something about bis father's sporting proclivities— what would you have 1 " Pontius Pilate " doesn't sound an altogether unlikely name for a racehorse. Under the heading " Sporting Intelligence " I have myself seen names quite as Scriptural. As to the blank ignorance of children nowadays on Bible subjects, blank ignorance is what we bargain for in secular education, and blank ignorance of course we get. It would be very surprising if we didn't. And a boy may be a very Bmart boy— Sir Robert Stout and other apostles of secularism will assure vs — may be able to tell how many beans make five and know enough to vote the " Liberal " ticket when he gets old enough, though totally unable to say whether Pontius Pilate was a biped or a quadruped. Let us not expect too much. We enjoy the immense boon of education free, secular, and compulsory. By strict devotion to this trinity we may hope, in the course of a few generations, to prodoce a Chinese morality of thrift and 'cuteness, sufficient for all the practical purposes of this work-a-day world, and what more do we want ? Religion, the Bible, Pontiuß Pilate, and other remnants, of superstition we can leave to the Roman Catholics.

Mb. Geobge Fishes. M.H.8., writes to one or two of the Weiling ton papers explaining that no excuse for Hot voting on the Private Schools Bill had been leit to any Member of the House. Mr. George Fieher's motive of course, waa to uae the papers in question as a cat's paw to exercise his personal spite against the Government. The Hon Member, however, unwittingly, and in spite of himself, confirmß a statement made by us in oar last issue, to the effect that the abstinence from voting of 7 Members might be reckoned, among the rest, in our (avour. If these 7 Members, as Mr. Fisher says, knew when the division was to take place, they kept away voluntarily. They were, therefore, either ashamed or afraid to vote. If they were ashamed it shows their consciences are touched, and there is always hope of me aso affected. If they were afraid it shows that the influence of the Catholics, and their compliance with the advice we have always given them, are making themselves felt. Mr. George Fisher, therefore, has unwillingly confirmed and encouraged us. As to the spite Mr. Fisher attempts to gratify towards the Government — we shall consistently oppose those Ministers who oppose our interests— but we, like every other Catholic who respects himself, will do nothing to carry out Mr. Fisher's designs. Bad as the Ministers may be, be is worse. Indesd, only it suits our purpose, we would not allow a word uttered by him ioto our columns. H j will never maka a oat's paw of the Tablet.

IN connection with the Encyclical of the Holy Father, it strikes as as a somewhat remarkable fact that an insistence has been immediately made that the utterance is not infallible. We do not reoollaot

that in any former instance such haste was thown in tbe explanation. Tbe London Tablet, for example, in the self same issue, as we have said elsewhere, in which it gives the authorised translation, publishes an authoritative and emphatic decision from Canon Moyea that infallibility is not exercised. In the case of the moreove , this is especially remarkable. When a much leas important document was published, for example, one referring to a particular people only, and even among them to a particular matter, that if, tbe Papal rescript dealing with the Plan of Campaign, the Tablet made no such explanation. On the contrary, it baa always referred to that rescript, at least indirectly, as if it were infallible, and has invariably condemned those whom it accused of disobedience to it of sacrilegious impiety. For ourselves, as we have said, it is not our part to pronounce ia the matter. We have neither the requisite knowledge nor the authority needed for the task — though, most probably, at> tbe question has been raised elsewhere, we shall in due time publish an explanation possessed of the necessary qualities. For the time being what we perceive from the words of the Encyclical is tbat the Pope makes a special claim to write with tbe authority of tbe Holy See. "We approach the subject," he sayß, for instance, " with confidence, and in the exercise of the rights which belong to us." Are not these wotds alone sufficient for all faithful Catholics 1

This is bow that bright light and leader of Orangeism Mr De Cobain explains bis refusal to meet the abominable charge that has been brought against him. We quote from the London correspondence of the Otago Daily Time*. " lhe authorities are now engaged in procuring the necessary evidence that De Cobain is evading the service of the warrant against him ; and as soon us it is complete a motion will be made for its production, and the First Lord of the Treasury will move the expulsion of the member for East Belfast. A letter bearing no address has been received by the secretary cE the East Belfast Conservative Association from De Cobain, in which be ■ays : — ' Ido not feel that the Lord points out to me as a path of duty to meet my accusers and peril my life and liberty by swearing in self-defence against a crowd ; and even to piease my friends I caDnot, in light of God's guidance, sacrifice myself. Besides, my physical condition is such I could not come were tbe warrant cancelled to-morrow. To assume that, because my friends believe in me rather than in the perjured ruffianism that has sold its evidence for briber's gold, 1 sbould place myself under arrest, is a sacrifice no true friend would wish me to incur.'" The gentleman is eminently fit for the office that baa been found for him — that of preaching Evangelicalism to tbe benighted Spaniards. The Spaniards, benign ted though they be, will know bow to appreciate that phase of gospel truth that inspires euch missionaries. Widows, De CobaiD, O'Gnrman, Chiniquy. — Tbe list is a goodly one. Is there not, by the wayi a name or two among ourselves in Dunedin tbat might justly be added to it?

The death of Mi«s Larnacb, eMsat daughter of the Hon. W. J. M. Larnacb, which has occurred at Wellington from typhoid fever, is very widely regretted. Ihe young lady was deservedly held in affection by a large circle of friends. Sincere gym pa thy is felt for Mr Larnach and his family in their bereavement.

We learn with regret that Mr Byrne, teacher of the Catholic school at Lawrence, feels himself obliged by delicate health to resign his situation.

Thb following letter has been written to the Wellington P»tt by Mr. Vincent Pyko :— " The opponents of the Private Schools BUI do not appear to recognise the dilemma in which they involve themselves by their contention that granting as istance to euch schools would be destructive of the National system. If the teaching of religion in a few schools would bring about such a result, what a rotten system the State school system must be, and if the arguments of it* supporters are valid in this respect, nothing but good could result in a radical change. But the fact is, the subsidising of private schools in large centres of population would beneficially affect the public schools, by inducing a healthy spirit of emulation "

A cobbbbpoxdent of the Dunedin Evening Star, signing himself " WicklifEe," in a letter published on Monday, charged the New Zealand Tablet as follows: — "In the issue of the 17. h inst.it covertly suggests that one of our own citizens should be dynamited.'* Our reply is, this charge is gross, infamous, andlyiog. There is no foundation or pretence whatever for it, as the writer muse have known perfectly well when he made it. The person to blame principally for the publication, however, is the A'Sociate Editor of the Ecening Star, who should have ascertained the truth before he allowed each a charge against a contemporary — plainly an actionable libel — to appear in his columns. But, on the one hand, we have " Wickliffe," a representative of flatulent Evangelicalism ; on the other hand the Associate Editor of the Evening Star, a representative of that class of meo who,

having lost their own ancient faith, though strangely retaining the fury of their forefathers against the Messiah, lead the attempt to destroy Christianity in every civilised conntry. The union, as we have before now remarked, proves the truth of the Saviour's word that Satan cannot be divided against himrelt. Evangelical, Jew, Turk and Infidel will unite against the Catholic Church.

Thb following cablegram must be taken as representing the theological acquirements of the cable agency. It is not necessary for us to comment any further on it :— " Borne, July 35. The Pope has sanctioned forgiveness of eina to pilgrims visiting the ' Holy Coat ' of Treves, in Bheoish Prussia."

Thb Rev. Mark Gay Pearse, a London missionary who is making a tour of New Zealand, and who lately visited Duntdin— where, how. ever we heard comparatively little about him, has been talking rank heresy at Wellington. One of the dailies reports him as follows :— " The church tbat will make tbe best use of its women is the chnrch that boldb the future. Protestants often complained of tbe aggression of the Church of Borne, but so long as the Roman Catholic Church was willing to make sacrifices for the Lord Jesus Christ, which Protestants refuse, they had no right to wonder or to complain. In tbe Catholic Church men of position are expeoted to give one of their daughters to the service of Christ with a dowry just as if they were going to be married, while they (the Protestants), as a rale, were content with giving a small donation for the employ mint of Bible women. The culture, the love, the tact, the tenderness, and tbe thousand gifts of their girls were withheld from the service of the poor.' 1 This contrasts nobly with the estimation in which the heroic devotion of Catholic women is frequeitly held. Not to speak of the O'Gormans, and other viragoes of either sex, set up from time to time to belie and insult them, we find jast now that the memory of one who was ohief among such women is grossly outraged, to the approbation of many people. We allude to Mr Oalderon's foal painting of ths " Dear Saint Elisabeth," a woman who renounced royal state to give herself up to the service of the poor and sick, and • whose example has inspired a multitude of those to whom Mr Pearse has sympathetically pointed.