RUSSIAN CATHOLICS IN MODERN TIMES— IRISH CATHOLICS OF THE PENAL DAYS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 37, 11 January 1895, Page 17

RUSSIAN CATHOLICS IN MODERN TIMES— IRISH CATHOLICS OF THE PENAL DAYS.

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ZAtt NICHOLAS, the cable informs us, has summoned the notab'es of the Russian Empire to confer with them as to the promotion of internal peace, and especially to carefully consider the condition of the Poles. The new • mperor, almost immediately on his accession to the throne of Peter the Great, showed a desire to ameliorate the condition of the Catholic Poles. The resignation of the fierce, anti-Catholic General Gottrko, Governor of i'oland, clearly indicated that the Czar meant what he said. We await with intense interest further developments. Will the Autocrat of the Russias be strong enough to over-ride persecuting Russian Officialdom, and revoke the cruel laws and inquitous administration of penal laws which oppress the eleven millions of Russian Catholics ? His Majesty has, if we may rely on recent telegrams, begun well. We fear the sordid interests of the long privileged class will hamper and render nugatory his pacific intentions. For many years the Catholics of Russia have been persecuted with a rigour and cruelty which finds a parallel only in the treatment of Irish Catholics in the accursed penal times. Those who imagine that only the Jews are crushed by Russian tyranny are sadly mistaken. Russia, it is true, has an envoy at the Vatican. Her policy at home is to " Ruxsianise" all her people, and, even by force, to compel her subjects to become members of the State Church. 'Jhe orthodox Grefk Church— the Russian Church — is a political Church, worked for State ends for the carrying out of a long entertained policy. It is the creature of the Czar or of the ruling class, who really direct the policy of the Emperor. As Bishop Delany of Hobart says in his admirable article in the first number of the Australasian Catholic Record: "The Greek Church is chained to the chariot wheels of her secular Lord." Into this Greek Church millions of Russians by enactment and persecution have been forcibly drawn. Catholics have resisted, and, as a consequence, have endured confiscation exile, and death. The faithful Poles have suffered most. The Catholic Polrs number seven of the eleven millions in the Russian Dominions who are recognised as Roman Catholics. The Uniat Catholics by successive sovereigns have been incorporated into the State Church. Very many still practice their religion, but they frequent the closely watched Latin churches at the iisk of exile to Siberia. There should he twelve bihhops for the eleven million Russian Catholics. We said should be. for very frequently the sees are kept vacant by the Government. For twenty years, from 1863 to 188:3, not a single Catholic bishop was appointed. In the latter year, when the present Pope was enabled to' appoint some rulers to vacant dioceses, only three bishops actually administered to the wants of all the Russian Catholics. The Polish Hierarchy, when complete, consists of one archbishop (Warsaw) and six bishops. The Archbishop of Mohileff has four suffragans— the Bishops of Saiatoff, Wilna, Samogitia, and Zitomir. Our readers who wish to have an idea of the state of Catholics— bishops, priests, and people — under the last Czar and his predecessors cannot do better than read the learned article on the suffering of Irish Catholics in the penal dajs in the Australasian Catholic Record. Irish bishops were banished, and outlawed if they returned to minister to their flocks. They had to ordain, and confirm, and perform their episcopal functions by stealth/ To adopt a good disguise and be able to suffer all the inconveniences of secret hiding places were ot necessity added to the qualifications for the episcopate. A certain musical Bishop of Kilmore, dressed as a Highland piper, visited in disguise his diocese, and, when not discoursing sweet music, gave the consolations of religion to his faithful people! '1 hose terrible times have their counterpart in modern Hussia. The history of even the last fifty years contains the record of banishment and imprisonment of many bishops Archbishop Felinski of Warsaw, who gave grave offence to certain officials in 1863, by a report, demanded by the Czar himself, was, without trial, deported arid kept in prison till 1883 ! Others have been treated similarly and in worse manner. The bishops who are allowed to remain in their Sees are hampered in every conceivable way by the Minister of the Interior, without whoso permission they are not allowed to leave their dioceses, and by the Governor of the Province, who must authorise the writing of Pastorals and the visitation of parishes. A Russian Catholic bishop must not hold a

synod or gather his clergy for retreat. Indeed, for solemn functions he is not allowed to call in more than three of the neighbouring priests to aid the regular clergy of the church. The Government may suspend any priest without acquainting the bishop, but the bishop must not suspend an unworthy priest without the official permission. Bishops cannot ordain without leave, and names of seminarists must be submitted to the civil authorities. All communications with Rome in reference to the appointment of bishops must go through the Government, which is most anxious to intrude its own creatures into the episcopal chair. Men like the notorious Liemasko of Lithuania, who apostatised, are thus sometimes consecrated. It iB a question often of accepting the Government nominee or leaving the people without a pastor. In Russia, as in Ireland during the latter half of the 17th and the 1 8th century, the priests have very often to give the sacraments by stealth and at the risk of imprisonment and exile. Thore is this difference. In Russia there is recognition of Catholicity afterja fashion, while all the time the diabolical, crushing engine of persecution is relentlessly at work. In Ireland priests were outlawed, a price was put upon tbeir heads — £20, sometimes £50, were paid to the "discoverer" of a priest, and as much as £150 as reward for " discovering " a bishop. In the short time when priests were registered and permitted to perform their sacred duties, they were not allowed to have a curate or to say Mass or administer sacraments outside their district. This restricted permission was a rare thing. Banishment and outlawry were the common lot of Irish ecclesiastics. When they said Mass in the bogs and mountains they sometimes veiled their faces or had a curtain placed between them and the people that their faces might not be seen by the people, who were often called upon to give testimony on oath as to the person who secretly said Mass for them. The history of these noble Irish priests, true confessors and true martyrs of the penal days, has comforted and sustained many a Polish pri< st in his heroic work. In Russia perpetual imprisonment and exile of Catholic priests are common. It is a very difficult matter for a fervent, conscientious priest in any diocese to escape punishment, ho priest can leave his parish without special permission of the Government authorities. He cannot, in another district, baptise children, or even give Extreme Unction to the dying. A Catholic dying and asking for confession must call in a schismatic priest or die without absolution ! Piiests are removed and others not sent in their stead. This is of painfully frequent occurrence. In the meantime, neighbouring 1 priests are forbidden to administer sacraments hy a Government which officially proclaims the necessity of baptism and confession. The Irish priest who, like Father John Hely of Tipperary, " perverted a dying Protestant " was outlawed. The Russian Catholic priest who converts a member of the State Church is sent to the mines. If he suggests conversion to a schismatic he is liable to a year's imprisonment. If he ppeaks or writes against the Greek Church be gets ten years in a Russian prison. All sermons have to be submitted to the official censor. Religious instruction of children in the Catholic Faith is forbidden. Ihe Russians, like the English, wish to stamp out Catholicity by keeping people in ignorance. Much the same policy has been pursued by both nations. In Ireland Catholics were excluded from all offices of trust — from the legal profession, from Parliament. Even the common duty of night-watchman was interdicted to a Papist. They were not allowed to bear arms, and could not become gamekeepers or enter the army. To wear a soldier's uniform was to be considered a Protestant. No Catholic could keep a horse over the value of £5. Hence the term " Protestant horses." A Protestant could pay a Catholic five guineas and forcibly take his horse. Often the people like MaoGeoghan, of Meath, shot them down rather than hand them over to the ruffianly Protestant claimants. To send Catholic children abroad for education meant forfeiture? of lands and possessions. To keep a schoolmaster at home meant a fine of £20 for first offence, £40 for second, and confiscation of property for third. On the head of the unfortunate schoolmaster or the priest, a price was put. Popish holidays were abolished, and the man who refused to work on feast days was punished by fine or whipping. The country was overrun with "discoverers," who, like the liouiau officials, had interest in preserving a cruel, degrading state of things. Catholic Irish were debarred from engaging in herring and other industries. The distinguished writer in the Record tell us, in illustration, that a petition was presented to the Irish House

of Commons by the coal porters of Dublin, complaining that Darby Ryan, a head coal porter, employed several Papists in that trade. The eldest son who became a Protestant secured for himself the property of his Catholic father. The Protestant who became a Catholic was placed " out of the king's protection." We have enumerated a few of the hardships of Irish Catholics. Let us turn to Russia. Those wlio become Catholics have to qi.it the country. Madame Swetchine and Prince Gallitzin are cases in point. Again and again the emperois have compelled the population of whole districts to be enrolled in the Greek Church. Reading of Catholic literature, unless that sanctioned by the prefect of police, is forbidden. A Catholic college was actually closed because some copies of the Messenger of the Sacred Heart were found among the students. With difficulty Catholics repair or build churches. Generally when permission is given it is on the express understanding that they build in addition to their own a church for the use of the State Church Religionists. How like the conduct of our own paternal Government which allows us to build and support our own schools but compels us to contribute to the erection of the palaces ot' godlessness and free and godless education of other people's children. We need not go to Hussia to find tyrants and to meet with a system of " tyranny, oppression, and plunder." Tbe Russians persecute because of their State policy. The ruling classes in Russia, says Bryan J. Clinch in the Catholic World, " regard the spread of the Russian creed and the Russian language as the great means of making Russia the leading power of the earth." The ruling class in New Zealand oppress Catholics, in the matter of education, through downright bigotry. The " good of the State " is only a cloak for religious intolerance. We trust that Czar Nicholas will continue the desire and have power to mend the ways of Russian officialdom. Association of ideas incites us to express the hope that the day is not far distant when a Government will arise in New Zealand manly and powerful enough to mend the ways of New Zealand bigots.

On SuDday, the Fea3t of the Epiphany, High Mass, coram episcopo, was celebrated in St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedm. The Tery Rev Father Lynch, Rector, acted as celebrant, tbe Rev Father Murphy as deacon, and the Hey Father Howard as sab-deacon. Father Murphy, taking as his text Istiab Ix 1 , preached an excellent sermon on the festival. The Twelfth Maß3 wis performed by the choir, which was aided by several members of the Williamson Mus^iove Opora Company. There was a fu 1 orchestra, and the music waa very finely rfDilered. Iho soloists were Miss M. T. Campion (sopran ), Misses K. Marphyaml R Dru mm (altos), Messrs Fitzgerald and P. Behan (tenors), and Mr J. Briggs (bass). The offertories were Mercadante's '' Salve Mnrid," suDg by Miss Campion, and the " Adeste Fideles," in which the soloists were Mies A. M'Lean (so[.r.ino), S;gnora Venosta (contralto), Mr E. Eager (tenor), and Mr J. B lgis (baes). In the eveig, at Vespers and Benediction, Mss Campion aud Messrs Bchan and Briggs again gave their valuable md.

A REV subscriber in another colony in forwarding bis subscription in response to the app°al lately published by us, givea na the following kind a d highly app.ec.a.Ld encouragement, for which we return him our most grateful ihanks:— "lt seems strange, almost unaccountable, that you shou d bo obli^d to is:sue such a strongly worded r»ppe»l to your subscribers, miny of wtum appear to be much in arrear, to pay their lawful debts, ani thus enable you to continue the publication of tha Tablet, which, I venture to say, is second to no o'her Catholic paper published in the colonies. It seems but too plain that Irishmen, or at lesst a great number of them who reside in New Zealand, do not v«lue the great blessing which a paper co brilliantly conducted, so varied in its information' and so literary in tone, is cilculated to bring to every Catholic home in New Zealand. It seema a thousand pities it is not more widely read and more generously supported The firm, uncompromising stand the Tablet takes in dealing with every Bubject of vital importance to IrUhmen and Catholics entitles your paper to a larger number of subscribers than it appears to have. I bave been reading it for the last three or four years and I always look forward to its advent with pleasure. You will allow me to express a desire that the Tablet circulation may increase from year t~> year, and that Irishmen in New Zealand may appreciate the value of yoor paper which is exclusively devoted to the defence of everything which Irishmen hold dear."

7hk Gaelic Journal for November ia an excellent number, It contains a great deal that is of interest both in verse and prose. A contribution of folk-lore by the liev Father O'Leary, P.P. of Uastel*

Lyons, is described as one of the best, if not the very best sample of Mnnster Irish that has ever been printed. This periodical certainly deserves a wide circulation among those who are interested in Ireland, her history, and her place among the nations. Applications for agencies for the Journal are invited by the manager, Dollard's Printiog-house, Dublin.

A grand minstrel and variety entertaiument was given tinder the auspices of the League of the Crosp, Christchurch, on Thursday, sth instant, in St Patrick's Hall, Barbadoeo street, every item being well sustained, especially that of Miss Frith, who received an encore for her singing the famous song "Yes'erday." Mr J. S. Peterson's solo " Break it gently to my mother," was also exceedingly good. Mr E. Bagley's clogg dance was given in very good style, The long shoe song and dance by Mr E. Bagley and Mr Naughton wan given in a manner for which those two gentlemen deserve credit. Songs were sung by Mr Henessy, A. Bagley, J, Tattersal, E. B igley, J. Foley, and C. Oakes. Two recitations by Mr M. O'Reilly and Mr Hashes were capital, and were listened to attentively. Great prai-e is due to Mr C. A. Oake°, for the way in which the choruses were rendered. The whole concluded with the amusing farce " The Omnibus," jarts being taken by Messrs E. Bagley, J. Foley, M, Hughes, B. PetersoD, J. Griffin, and J. Flanagan.

The ceremonies in connection with the great festival of Christmas (says tbe Auckland Herald, of December 31) were carried out in yt Patrick's Church, P nmure, aDd St Mary'e, Howick, with moie than ordinary solemnity. M^nsignor McDonald celebrated Maas at 7.30 atd 9, Panraure, and a third, Howick, at 11 o'clock, the congregations in both churches being large. Tbe Monsignor in the course of his homely remarks, referred to tbe appropriate and exceedingly pretty decorations of the sacred edifices, and mentioned particularly the "Christmas flower," which appeared prominent. The refreshing appearance of the buildings, as well t-8 the neatness of the grounds surrounding the Bam* 1 , formed the subject of mucn piaise by ihose attending Holy Mass on Christmas Day.

The bazaar in aid of the building of a Roman Catholic church in Petone (aajs the Wellington Ptst of the 2nd inst) concluded on Saturday evenir g. As a large number of returns of tbe art-union tickets have not yet come in, the drawing has been postponed for a Bhort time. A promenade concert and dance in aid of the fund was he'd in the Petone Oddfellow's Hall last evening, and was very largely attend* d. Songs weie contributed by Mr J. Donovan, Misses Murphy and MDuik, duets by Misees M'Duik and Cudby and others, Mr H. Arnold actirg as M.C.

It will be seen from our advertising columns that the drawing of the monster art-union in aid of Bt Patrick's Cathedral building fund, Melbourne, has been unavoidably postponed until 2nd March, 1895. The prizes are valued at over £2000. The fiist four are cash prizes for £500, £100, £75, and £25. Blocks of tickets and remittances should be returned to Re» R, P. Collies, St Patrick's Melbourne, not later than 23rd February, 1895, as the art-union will be positively drawn on the date named in the Melbourne Exhibition.

The list of winning numbers in the Palmerston N rth art-union will be found in another place.

Brother Skbaphin, of the English Passionists, who has just died in Paris (says the Catholic Times of November 30), for fifty years served as a lay Brother, chiefly in London and Paris. His dimple piety and austerity, combined with great benevolence to the needy or bereaved, endeared him greatly to his oreligionists.

Brother Seraphic was often visited by royal personages passing through Paris, and by each Papal Nuncio after his appointment.

In onr report of the distribution of prizes at tbe Dominican Convent High School, Dunedin, we accidentally omitted to state that the school will reopen, after the holidays, on Monday, February 4. The combination of the useful with the ornamental by the nuni f w« may add, gives to their high school quite a remarkable standing. Tbe dux of the school, for example, this year took also the prize for the homely, though valuable, accomplishment of darning. Classes for dressmaking and cookery are regularly conducted, and young ladies have a full opportunity of being educated as housewives well versed in every branch of domestic economy, as well as musicians, painters, linguist*, and adepts in literature and science. Parents and guardians are requested to be careful in ensuring the punctual attendance of their children. Either in commencing or returning early attendance is very desirable.