DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 17, 12 February 1892, Page 18

DUNEDIN CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

An informal meeting of D.O.L.S. was held in the Christian Brothers' schoolroom on Wednesday evening last, when Mr 0. E. Haughton, M.A., Vice-president, occupied the ohair. Thsre were present — His Lordship Bishop Moran, the Very Rev Father Vaughan, C.BS.R., Very Bey Father Plunkett, 0,55.8., and several others of the clergy.

Previous to the commencement of the business, which was similar in character to that of the ordinary meetings, Mr W. H. McKeay, junr., who has recently entered the matrimonial state, was presented with a silver cruetstand by Mr Haughton on behalf of the Society.

Mr James Eager, in a very humorous speech, replied on behalf of tbe recipient, who afterwards, in a few well-chosen words, thanked the members himself for their gift.

Recitations were then given by Messrs J. Halley, J. Cantwell, B. BimmondSj and T. Lynch, all of which were well delivered, and were loudly applauded.

A paper was given by Mr P. Halley on " Some Characteristics of the Irish Baot," Amongst other characteristics, he referred to their love and devotion lor the faith, their loyalty, their valour, and their desire for education, and also to their übiquity, for which they were more remarkable even than the proverbial Scotchman. The paper was well put together, and thoroughly merited the applause which it receivtd.

A paper by Mr M. Miller on " The Battle of Lepanto " gave evidence of considerable study. He gave a short outline of the rise of the Mahommedans' power until that great naval battle, in which, although greatly outnumbering tbe Christians, they were signally defeated, owing, there can be no doubt, to the direct interposition of God in answer to the prayers of Pops Pine V. and of the Christian world.

A paper by Mr P. Carolin was the concluding item of the prearranged programme, which, when we say that it was quite up to Mr Carolin' susnal style, will need no further comment.

Mr D. Popple well, in a brief speech, said that the presence of the Bishop amongßt them that evening suggested the occasion as a fitting one to renew on behalf of the Society their expression of thankfulness for his great efforts on the education question. It is almost needless, he said, to again express the opinion of the members upon this subject. On a previous occasion, in the presence of his Lordship, they fully expressed their sense of the injustice done to Catholics by the State in this matter, and on tbeir behalf, and on behalf of the Catholic youth generally, he could assure him of their continued loyalty to him as their bishop and their determination to do all in their power to forward the great cause so dear to his heart. The members of the Society, he said, were the more desirous of expressing their renewed confidence in his leadership, because of tbe recent unjust and unwarrantable attack made upon him by a section of tbe public Press of this city. He was present at the Milton address, and so far from considering his Lordship's remarks extravagant, he was surprised rather at the mildness of his address on that important subject. In conclusion he said be was sure he was only expressing the opinion of all present when be saidthatby whatsoever paths he deemed it necessary to go forward in this struggle the Catholic youth of the colony would be prepared to follow him, and by every possible means to second his efforts.

His Lordship expressed himself very pleased with Mr Popplewell's speech and the unanimity with which it was received. He reiterated his opinion that if the policy laid down were acted upon success would be inevitable ; that if the 20,000 Catholic voters in the Colony were to band themselves together and to refuse to vote for anyone opposed to their claims ; if they were to act up to this policy with fidelity, there would be no doubt whatever as to the ultimate result. In reply to the argument that if Catholics used the block Tote as a weapon to enforce their claims others would do the same, he said it was ridiculous to suppose that the whole country would vote against them, as he knew from experience that there were vast numbers of outsiders who were with them in this movement, and that the number of their friends was daily on the increase, Another consideration was that the majority of voters in the Colony wanted religion in some shape or form io the schools, and on this account were opposed to the present system of education. He again urged them to unite and to put asicte all other considerations until this object was attained, as it was on account of the divisions amongst themselves that the struggle had been so much prolonged. He would oppose anyone who would not grant what he asked. He would oppose Tole, or Sheeban, if he were alive, if he refused to rote for this measure. We should be together in voting on this great

measure, he said, upon which depended the very existence of our faith and of Christian unity itself,

Short speeches were also made by Fathers Hunt, O'Donnell, Newport and Coffey, and by Messrs J. B. Callan, D. W. Woods, and W. T. Ward, after which, with the customary compliment to the chair, the meeting broke up.