THE LENTEN PASTORAL OF HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 16, 5 February 1892, Page 2

THE LENTEN PASTORAL OF HIS GRACE THE ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

Francis, by the Grace of God and favour of the Apostolic See, Archbishop of Wellington and Metropolitan. To the Clergy and Faitkf al of the said diocese, health and benedictiou in the Lord. Dearly Beloved Brethren and Dear Children in Jesus Christ, The holy seas >n of Lent beginß this year on Ash Wednesday, March 2, and ends on Easter Bunday, April 17. We exhort you most earnestly to spend it ia a worthy aad profitable manner, by the due observance of fasting and abstinence according to your age, health and labour, by prayer and alms-deeds, br frequent and devout meditation on the sufferings of Our Lord, by true repentance of your sins and the fervent reception of the Sacraments, by increased devotion to the

PARCEL No I.— A. and T. Inglis' Summer Dress Parcel (the greatest bargain of the season) contains 12yds fine all-wool foule Serge, 24in wide, solendid value at Is 3d per yard ; lvd choice coloured Silk ; and 2doz fashionable buttons to match ; 2£yds good Bodice Lining ; 3£yds Skirt Lining ; Silk Twist, Binding Braid, Hooks and Byes, Belting, Dreis Bones ; 1 pair of Dent's best 4-spring button Kid Gloves in black or tan ; and 1 muslin or print Garibaldi Jacket. The serge is a very fine soft make of pure wool, and can be bad in the following new shades :— Electric blue, fawn, drab, terracotta, reseda, vieux rose, light slate, stone drab, and goblin. The whole of the above, carriage paid, for 255.

PARCEL No 2.— FANCY DRESS PARCEL- containing 6yds of splendid quality light mixture broken checked Beige. 42in wide (worth at leaßt 2s per yard) ; 2ioz fashionable Buttons. 6ydc of good quality Lining ; Twist, Binding Braid, Hooks and Eyes, Belting, Dress Boneß ; lyd choice fancy silk Trimming to match ; a handsome new muslin Apron called the " Sweet Lavender," being quite thp noveltj of the season ; and £doz good Irish lawn pocket Handkerchiefs. The whole lot, carriage paid, for 20s.

PARCEL No 3.— A VERY SPECIAL TRIAL PARCEL— containing 2 very nice Dresses of 12yds each— one a flaked costume Tweed in various shades of colouring, and the other a very pretty Ecarte Spot ; 2doz choice dresß Buttons to match each dress ; and 4yds good twilled bodice LiniDg. The whole, carriage paid to any address, for 13s 6d.

PARCEL No 16.— MEN'S BOOTS at 10s 6d ; 1 pair heavy Balmorals, 1 pair Oxford Shoes with heel and toe plates, 1 pair extra quality kid Bluchers, 1 pair stont Oxford Shoes. Any of these at 10s 6d per pair, postage free to any address.

PARCEL No 6 contains one pair Dent's patent 4-epring button Kid Gloves, black or tan ; 6yds narrow fine Embroidery ; 2 pairs ladieß' fine quality black Caßhmere Hose ; 6yds medium width white Embroidery ; 1 pair ladieß' coloured or black taffeta Gloves ; 6yds all-silk neck ribbon, any colour ; £doz ladies' white Irish lawn Handkerchiefs : 1 ladies' handsome leather Belt, black or tan. State size of gloves and colour of ribbon when ordering. The whole, carriage paid to any address, for 20s.

PARCEL No 4 —THE WASHING DRESS PARCEL— contains 12yds good quality Galatea, cither Btriped or checked ; Byds of the new spot Cambric (extra wide) in navy and white or light blue and white, eplendid quality, largo or small pattern ; 12yds unbleached Calico (82in wide) ; 6jdß unbleached Calico, extra heavy (36in wide), pure Mexican inish ; 12yds of very superior universal medium Calico (32in wide), suitable for ladies or children's underclothing ; 7yds extra good quality checked cotton Shirting ; 6yds good Flannelette, choice pattern ; 6ydß extra good twilled Flannelette (33in wide). We will send this Marvellous Parcel to any address, carriage paid, for 33s 6d.

PARCEL No 7.— OUR SPECIAL HOUSEHOLD PARCEL— contains 1 good quality Marcella Quilt, 2fydß long, with new satin finish and very choice raised pattern (worth at least 18s 9d) ; syds extra strong and good quality white twilled SheetiDg (2yds wide) ; 1 lovely quality handsome pattern pure white linen Damask Tablecloth 2yds long ; 12yds (36in) good Longcloth for ladies use ; 2 large size brown Turkish bath Towels ; 2 white honeycomb Toilet Covers (.l^yds long). The whole contents of this wonderful Parcel sent to any address, carriage paid, for 355.

PARCEL No 5 contains 3 pairs women's Ribbed black cashmere Hot>e ; 1 pair ladies' Corsets (the " La Crossine ") with cross bones at side and perfectly unbreakable, colour drab, size 19 to 29 ; 1 pair Dent's patent 4-spring button Kid Gloves, black or tan (any size) ; 1 ladies' Cmbrella with handsome black handle, covering indestructable ; and £dcz ladies' white Irish lawn Handkerchiefs. In ordering ■tate size for corsets and gloves. The lot for 21s.

PAROEL No 15.— MEN'S BOOTS at 13s 6d ; 1 pair heavy pegged Watertighta, 1 pair heavy pegged Balmorals, 1 pair light Balmoral with heel and toe plates (no nails), 1 pair calf Shoes, pegged or sewn. Any of above post free to any address for 13s 6d per pair.

PARCEL No H.—WOMEN'S BOOTS at 10b ; 1 pair all leathe Elastic with heel and toe plates, 1 pair high leg Balmorals light make or nailed, 1 pair superior calf or seal Oxford Shoes (sewn), 1 pair stout calf button Shoes (sewn). Any of these post free to any address, for 10s per pair.

PAKCEL No 18.— WOMEN'S BOOTS at 12s 6d. 1 pair high leg calf Balm oral 8, 1 pair high leg kid Balmorals, 1 pair high leg kid Balmorals with seal fronts (sewn). Any of these post free to any address for 12s 6d per pair.

OUR COLLECTION OF DRESS FABRICS this season is finer than evei, aDd includes a variety of new materials and colourings in exclusive designs such as no other bouse can equal. Any length cut at absolutely wholesale prices. A matchless collection of the world's finest productions at lowest cash prices. Our black French Merinos and Casbmereß are unapproachable for value or price in the colony. Try them and you will never buy elsewhere. Patterns free by post.

PARCEL No 9.— LADIES UNDERCLOTHING PARCEL— A Great Specialty— 2 ladies' good quality Chemiseß, nicely trimmed with Embroidery ; 2 good Nightdresses, trimmed with Embroidery, 2 nice quality Knicker Drawers, handsomely trimmed with Embroidery and made of pure useful calico ; 2 pairs of ladies' black cashmere ribbed Hose ; 1 Uvieß* Muslin or Print Garibaldi ; and 1 good quality Ladies' knitted cotton Skirt. The whole, carriage paid to any address, for 25s 9d.

PARCEL No 10— This wonderful Black Cashmere Parcel contains 7yds lovely black Cashmere (44in wide) ; 6yds good quality glovefinish twill Lining ; 2Joz fashionable Buttons ; lyd handsome black broche Silk for Trimming ; I pair Dent's best quality 4-spring button Gloves, either in tan or black. The whole, carriage paid to any address, for 31s 6d.

PARCEL No 11 contains one of our celebrated light texture silk finish ladies Macintoshes, which can be ÜBed either as a summei duetcoat or waterproof, and well worth a guinea ; 7yds of lovely quality French Merino (all wool) ; 6yds good twilled Lining, soft finish; 2doz fashionable Buttons ; lyd choice broche Silk for trimming ; and 1 pair of very superior quality Dent's 4-clasp black Kid Gloves. The whole lot, carriage paid, for 425.

PARCEL No 12— OUR FAVOUBITE BOYS' COLONIAL TWEED KNICKER SUIT PARCEL— contains 1 good Tweed Knicker Suit (all wool), splendid quality, cut and finished by experienced workmen and lined throughout. We will forward one of these suita jfi any size from 1 to 6 to any address, carriage paid, for 14s, or eizes*7 to 12 in same quality for 163 6d.

PARCEL No H— OUR FAR-FAMED MEN'S CLOTHING PARCEL—contains 1 Bplendid all-wool Colonial Tweed Suit specially designed for the requirements of our country friends who have rarely an opportunity of visiting town. In finish they are equal to bespoke suits at double the money and can be recommended as a well-fitting hird-wearing lot. Sizes, 3to 7. This parcel, carriage paid to any address, for 37s 6d.

PARCEL No B— THE WONDERFUL HOUSEHOLD PARCEL— containo 1 pair Whitney Blankets (2^yds long), nice fleecy goods ; 1 pair real Bolton twilled Sheets (2Jyds long), will wash white in one or two washings ; 1 good white honeycomb Quilt (2£yds long) ; 6yds white or Shetland flannel ; 6yds of good quality white Calico, suitable for ladies or children's wear ; 1 pure linen Dama«k Tablecloth (2yds long) ; 2 large brown Turkish Towels (42in long). The whole lot, carriage paid to any address, for 40s.

Blessed Mother of God and her spouse Saint Joseph, and by the daily advancement in every Christian virtue.

On many former occasions we have availed ourselves of our Lenten Pastoral to deal with some qu -stions of great importance to religion and society. Two years ago we warned you against the insidious and widespread evil of lndiffirentism in matters of religion ; last year we unfolded to you the dignity, rights, and duties of labour, thus anticipating, though we were unaware of it at the time, tbu masterly and more complete exposition of these matters by the August Vicar of Christ in his immortal Encyclical. This year wi! shall point out to you the imminent dangers of S)cialism. And we do co, first of all, to icho in your ears the grave worda of his Holiness Pope Leo XIII., upeaking from his watchtower in Rrnne to all the nations of the earth in hia great Encyclical of October 5, 1890 :—: — * One of the greatest and most formidable dangers of society at the 'present day is the agitation of the Socialists, who threaten to uplift it from its very foundations. Their system is so criminal in its nature, so great in its power of organisation and the audacity of its designs that there is need of uniting all conservative forces, if we are to arrest its progress and successfully prevent its triumph. Of these forces the first, and chief one, is that which can be supplied by religion and the Church; without this the strictest laws, the severest tribunals, and even the force of arms, will prove useless or insufficient ; as, in old times, material force was of no avail against the hordes of barbarians, but only the power of the Christian religion, which, entering into their ooali, quenched their ferocity, civilised their manners, and made them docile to the voice of truth and to the voice of the Gospel, so against the fury of lawless multitudes there will be no effectual dtfence without the salutary power of religion. It is only this power which, casting into their minds the light of truth, and instilling into their hearts the holy moral precepts of Jesus Christ, can make them listen to the voice of conscience and duty, and before restraining their hearts restrain their minds, and allay the violence of passion."

Another potent cause influencing our choice is this :— We have noticed an ominous fact which must strike every attentive and observant mind, namely, that society in our day is subject, in many nations, European and extra-European, to periodical convulsions. Now, these disastrous social upheavals suppose, within the bosom of society, some permanent chronic evil which is their cause. That evil, in a very large measure, goes by the name of Socialism. against which you have been again specially warned in the Pope's Encyclical on the conditions of labour. Hidden half a century ago in the dim twilight of theory, or partially perceived under the veil of Utopia, it has of late years stood out bold, menacing, aggressive, and formidable. It was detected clandestinely spreading over the world the network ot the International, it was seen rending the bosom of France under the very eye of the victorious Prussian, and turning French cannonß against the remnants of the French army. It set fire to Paris, it deluged its streets with fratricidal bloodßhed, it massacred tbe hostages and sent a thrill of horror through the whole world. In Russia the countless conspiracies of Nihilists are its direful work ; its spirit pervades to a degree not adequately appreciated, the lamentable strikes which have desolated so many lands, while in Germany two attempts to assassinate the Emperor tanght even Bismarck to tremble for the existence of that empire which his mighty and unscrupulous genius had created, and which he madly sought to consolidate by the most cruel and sacrilegious persecution of the Catholic Chnrch. Had be heeded the warnings of the Popes he would have bad no such peril to dread. Prudent and clear-sighted Pope Pius IX., of bleesed and immortal memory, had energetically condemned Socialism and Communism in his encyclical Qui pluribus of 1846, in his allocution Quibut quantisque and encyclical Aoscitis et nobiscum of 1849, and in the allocution Singulari quadam of 1854 t His worthy successor, whom we pray God may long preserve, Leo XIII., had confirmed all the condemnations in his encyclical published a short time before the first attempt at the German Emperor's assassination. Then the aged Emperor understood at last that " to arrest the revolutionary movement it was above all necessary to prevent the people from losing faith and religion." So he told his ministers shortly after his attempted assassination by Hoedel, and, ten days later, the statesman charged to defend in the Imperial Parliament the Bill brought in againßt the Socialists, echoed his master's wordß when he said : " The straggle against Socialism belongs not only to the Press and to association but especially to religion. For the deepest wound inflicted on us by Socialism is not in tbe sphere of economy, but consists in averting from working men the very thing which bestows the highest dignity upon human nature — religion. 1 ' Golden words indeed, and worthy of everlasting remembrance.

What, then, is this formidable evil which the Church has so solemnly and repeatedly denounced ? It behoves all Catholics to have an accurate notion of it in order to escape its baneful influence and to justify the attitude of the Church against it. What is contemporary Socialism ? First of all, what idea has inspired it, from what thought has it issued as the plant from the germ ? That idea first came forth in the attractive guise of Bocial reform ; for in this chequered world of sin and suffering there is always so much to

mend and reform. What could be more seducing than the utopia of suppressing all disorders and producing universal harmony — the harmony of minds in truth, of hearts in affection, of wills in liberty, of passions in pleasure, of interests in community, of labour in organisation, of men in fraternity, of families in the State, of peoples in the unity of one and the same form of government ? From the hazy heights of speculation, this fair dream came down to the workshop and laid hold of the fervent soul of the people. Ere long it became e»identthat society could not be reformed without its previous radical transformation. Hitherto the Revolution had been exclusively political. It had subverted thrones, created republics, extemporised, made, unmade, and remade cons nutions. Henc forth it was determined to be social ; it was bent on tha total overthrow of society from its deepest depths, from the vital conditions of its existence. True, such a transformation was nothing short of sheer destruction, but what of that 1 Thorough radical Socialism shrank not from the awful task of destroying society in its actual state. And this destruction of society, under the plea of transformation, it has the impious audacity to compare with the reformation brought about by Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ attacked nothing by violence, and destroyed nothing by force. He sowed truth in minds and love in hearts as the husbandman scatters seed on the farrowed soil. No doubt He spoke severely to the rich, or rather to the abuse of riches, to riches devoid of compassion, fellow-feeling, or affection ; but He never stirred up (he poor against the rich, while He set charity between them as a weak and powerful mediatrix. He never aimed the slave against his master, but, as His doctrine gained stray over the master's heart, the chains fell spotaneously from the bondman's limbs, without shock or perturbation. H s diviue work was a creation, not a destruction. He founded the kiugdom of souls aud thereby exalted civil society, and, instead of fanning the luiid fire of hatred and envy, He introduced social devoted ness and the animation of a new love.

But what is Socialism determined to destroy ? The threefold foundation of the whole structure of society, viz., property, Jamily and religion.

It suppresses property, which is the material basis of society. It openly deni?s the right of property, declaring it to be theft. It proclaims a<l the goods of the earth a common inheritance, out of which every man rightly claims his part ; and, refusing to consider alms given to the poor as a donation of charity, it boldly calls them a first instalment of justice. And this destruction of property is equally the work of those Socialists who pretend only to transform it — that is, to take it from individuals and invest it in the State. In this system a man has no ownership, no species of domestic royalty, no home, no liberty, no spontaneity ; so that domestic and civil society, deprived of their material support, exhibit neither dignity nor stability.

Again, Socialißm ovei throws the family, which is the human basis of society. The family waa constituted by God from the origin of mankind, and, throughout the course of agoa, haa always been hallowed by religion. But Socialism substitutes in its &tead universal libertinism, or, at all events, it attacks the unity of the family by the license of the passions, it 9 indissolubility by divorce, and ita perpetuity by the abolition of nheritance ; and so the morals of Socialism are on a par with its principles.

Laßtly, Socialism destroys Religion which is the Divine basis of Society— not this or that particular Religion, but ail Religion, all efficient intercourse between God and man. Thorough-going Socialism will have neither altar, nor priest, nor temple, nor sacrifice, nor worship, nor ceremonies, nor religious festivals. Aware of tbe allpervading influence of Religion, Socialists feel that it stands as the last rampart of the political and sjcial order, anl hence they assail it with implacable animosity. Such is the Socialistic idea, the pretended reformation, but the real destruction of the threefold foundation of Society, viz., property, family, and Religion.

But the idea soon begets a fierce passion which may be fitly called social hatred, a passion bo tremendous that it verges on madness. It corrodes social life and corrupts its very elements. It changes order into disorder, union into division, fertility into barrenness, production into destruction, progress into decay, civilisation into barbarism. By kindling hatred in the hearts of the nations and jealousy in the classes which compose them, it renders the exertions of genius and art, eloquence and scitnee, industry and wealth, diplomacy and politics utterly useless for the welfare of Society ; it bhghta prosperity . A Society of men who hate each other resembles a pack of demons. Its Beed is in the doctrines of the so-called new school ; it circulates in the myriad books, newspapers, and other publications of that anti-Christian portion of the Press which is entirely devoted to the Revolution, of which Socialism is the acme and consummation. It vents itself in those meetings, and assemblies in which invective against the great, and blasphemy aguoßt the holy are equally applauded. It descends fiercely into the political arena, and joining insult to calumny, not unfrequen'ly bursts forth into awtul threats, oblivious of its temporary watchwords of order and moderation. Who can listen to the ominous mutterings of those multitudes of discontented working classes and nut dread the most terrific commotions in Society ? That pent up hatred is now in many lands ready to explode, and only awaits a favourable opportunity.

What is tbe ohief cause of this terrible, concentrated animosity 1 Though naturally arising from the Socialistic idea, it has, however, three main causes. The first is Secularisation, or the Separation of Society from God. Formerly Christian generations rud a common centre cf love in the heart of Jesus Christ. There was the meetingplace of all classes. There tbe great learned to respect the lowly, and the lowly to love the great ; the rich freely gave to the poor, and tbe poor responded with gratitude to the favour of the rich. Tbe love of Christ, or Christian charity, expelled that hatred and envy which is now a standing menace to social order. Then, indeed , there were partial hatreds, individual animosities and feuds ; but universal social hatred was unknown. But since impiety raised the mad cry of "down with Christ and tbe Catholic Church," tbe divine chain which united souls has been broken ; the icy breath of selfishness and strife has marred social concord, and men exasperated against each other contend like wild beasts for the possession of their prey— the perishable enjoyment of the tbinzs of earth. Tbe second cause of Socialistic hatred is human depravity, that 11 general moral deterioration," as Pope Leo calls it. Moral depravity, which manifests itself in excessive cupidity, in the public abuse of wealth, in unbridled luxury, in the scandalous exhibition of sensualism, face to face with destitution, hunger, misery, And abject degraded pauperism. Tbank God this picture is overcharged in regard to New Zealand, bat not so in older and wealthier lands. Literary depravity, which is ever pandering to Socialistic hatred by every species of publication — newspapers, novels, reviews, poems, discourses, and histories. Philosophical depravity, by which religious belief has been sapped, and the wildest passions let loose. Pretended science has obscured truth, while it has filled the minds of men with doubt, their hearts with egotism, and their senses with a mad craving for ignoble gratification. Deprived of faith and hope, dead to all love and respect for Qod, they throw off tbe yoke of obedience and become a perpetual threat of society. Society, as a matter of course, resists by tbe invincible instinct of self-preservation, and hence arises the third cause of Socialistic hatred, Society must defend itself, must uphold, in ths presence of rebellions multitudes a thirst for wealth and pleasure, the sacred rights of prop3rty, family, religion, authority, and justice. Hence a hundredfold intensified rage and hate on the part of Socialism — against the army, because it is tbe guardian of public authority, against the proprietor, the owner of private property, whom it calls a usurper, and against the capitalist, whom it indiscriminately styles the blood-sucker of the workingman ; against the magistrate appointed to maintain justice and right, two divine things ; and if ever Socialism gains the mastery, justice will depart from public life.

{To be concluded.)