The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1895. PROGRESS AND JUSTICE IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 38, 18 January 1895, Page 17

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 1895. PROGRESS AND JUSTICE IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.

The Catholics of New Zealand provide, at their own sole expensp, an excellent education for their own children. Yet such is the sense of justice and policy in the New Zealand Legislature thaf, it compels these Catholics, after having manfully provided for iheir own children, to contribute largely towards the free and godless education of other people's children !! 1 This is tyranny, oppression, and plunder.

THE ARMENIAN CHRISTIANS.

V*

IIMENIAN atrocities for some weeks have fur- [ nished material for frequent cable messages. Mr Gladstone has voiced the general indignation of Christian Europe at the inhuman slaughter by Mussulman soldiers of Armenian Christians.

We are not told to what particular Church the unfortunate people belonged. Of one thing we may be pretty well certain : they were not converts to Protestantism made by American missionaries ; if so there wor*d be something more than a protest by the ex-Premier. Our readers will be interested in learning that a large number of Armenians are in union with the Holy £cc. They are called Uniat- Armenians, and their number is steadily and even rapidly increasing. The Non-Uniat or Schismatic Aimenians are still in the great majority. They number over three millions. Notwithstanding the immense sums spent by Protestant missionaries on churches, residences and schools, and the liberal salaries which enable American and Jbritish societies to employ clever teachers and well educated ministers, but little progress is made by Protestantism in the Orient. The natives are quick to perceive the great variance Sith their ancient belief and long-established Ritual. A ,w renounce the practices of the old Armenian Church. The overwhelming majority of those who change enter the fold in which — though their forefathers left it fourteen centuries ago — they find the same Mass, the same Old ftitual, and the same belief on all great points. The Non-Uniat believes in devotion to Mary and the Real Presence and prefers Uniat-Armenianism with loyalty to Rome to Protes-

tantism, which tarns its back on ancient beliefs and ancient forms of worship and quickly tends to destroy Armenian patriotism auu ucuaticnalisi" .Armenia. Conversions to Roman Catholicism daring the last fifty years have been numero.s. lho opposition of Protestant missionaries, and the persecution by Schismatic Armenians have hampered the work of the Uniat priests. God's blessing, however, has been on the mission. Whereas at the beginning of the preient century the Catholics could be counted by hundreds ; now they are found in their thousands over a large tract of country. They have a patriarch whose jurisdiction extends to sixteen dioceses. Armenian students are regularly sent to the Urban College in Rome. In addition to these priests ordained at Propaganda a considerable number make their studies in the seminary in Armenia founded by the present Pontiflf and called after him. Lko shows the greatest interest in the question of reunion of Eastern Churches. His wise Encyclical, which clearly manifests his will to preserve intact the Old (J dental Ritual handed down with Eastern fidelity, has done much to remove the fear that return to unity meant adoption of the Latin Rite, and denationalisation of the Armenians. It is now over thirteen hundred years since the unfortunate schism took place which withdrew many millions from obedience to Rome. Armenia was first evangelised by St Thaddkus the Apostle. St Gregory, styled the " Illuminator," conveited the whole nation and baptised the King Crikedes. Immediately after his conversion King Critoedes, accompanied by St Gregory, went to Rome, and made a formal submission, on behalf of his people, to the successor of St Peter. It is on record that Pope Sylvester conferred the pallium on the Patriarch of the Armenians. In the fifth century the Armenian Schism arose. Since that time the Roman Catholics, who, though small in number, neve- ceased to exist, have been the object of many terrible persecutions at tbe hands of their separated brethren. Although separated from the centre of Unity, the Schismatic Armenian Church has been marvellously tenacious of Catholic truths, and, even at the time of its most bitter opposition to Rome, preferred Catholicism to the truncated Christianity of Protestantism. The reconciliation with the Holy See in hastened by the paternal solicitude of Leo XIII and the devotion of the native clergy. The Armenian Uniat priests are pious and learned. They are heroically devoted to their mission, and constantly practise evangelical poverty. With the minimum of human resources they are obtaining the maximum of good results. The Protestant ministers with their large stipends, comfortably furnished houses, and well cared for families, offer a striking contrast to the selfdenying Uniat missionaries ; who again in their learning and culture are in marked contrast with the crassly-ignorant non- Uniat clergy. Adoption of Protestantism means Armenian denationalisation. Union with Rome means a return to the centre of Unity, so strongly insisted upon in the writings of their own St Gregory, without any essential change in Ritual or sacred practices. Non- Uniat Armenianism is dying away. A few of its adherents go over to Protestantism ; a smaller number, including the schismatic Bithop of Lis, have donned the turban and gone over to Mahomedanism. Ihe greater number of those who withdraw from the Schismatic Church make their submission to Rome. Neither Turkish atrocities, nor Protestant jealousy, nor schismatic persecution, can retard the return of this people to the True Fold. The Vicar of Christ will be listened to with reverence, and obeyed. Rome will conquer.

The Most Key Dr Moran, accompanied by the Very Rev Father Lynch, left Duoedin this (Wednesday) morning for Milton, where bis Lordship will stay for a few days.

The Dominican Nans, Dunedin, enter their annual retreat on Saturday nexf, the 19. h inst. Daring the following ten days no visitors to the convent will be admitted.

A veby pleasing ceremony (says the Western Star) took place at the Roman Catholic presbytery, South Riverton, on New Year'a day, when the Bey Father Walsbe was presented by his pariabiontra with a beauiiful buggy and harness. Messrs M Hayes, B. Murchieon, and J. Geary were present on behalf of the congregation to read tbe address and make the presentation. Tbe Bey Father, we need pcarcely §ay, replied in suitable term?, as being tbe recipient of so handsome and useful a New Year's gift. Brides the people of Biveiton, those also of Wrey's Bush, Orepuki, Otan'au and Thornburj

all concurred in making the presentation, and these the Rev Father desired to thank most heartily for their kindness and consideration t-i bU wttoit) uu ihe cowuiGuCeuieuu of the T^ar Ycr.r. We may mention that the harness was locally manufactured by Mr 0. Parmenter ia a manner which dors him great credit, whilst the bnggy was turned out by Messrs Widdowson and Fogarty, of Invercargill, in a do less creditable manner.

AT St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin on Smdiy f irenoon, Gjunod's Megge ttlennelle was performed by the choir. The roloi wero tak^n by members of the Williamson Mu«grove Opera Oompiny. Mrs W. Neil son (soprano), Sir W. Neil son (tenor), and Mr J. Brigga (hfls«). The offertories were Rossini'd "Cujus Anicnam," sung by Mr Nei'son ; "Veni Bancte Spiritus" (NeukommV given by Mr Briggs, wiih a flute obbligato by Mr T. Deehan ; and Mascberoni'a " Aye Maria," sung by Mrs Neiloon, Miss Parker contributing a violin obblifra'o. In the evening the offertory before 'he sermon was the duet " ficca Panis "(Myer), by Mr and Mrs Neilson. Mr Neil son sang '• The Holy City " before the collection ; mid the li'er effartoriee were " Pontet'i " Aye Maria," by Mrs Neilson, and " O Salutaris " (Gillespie), by Mr P. Beehav.

A VEBT et joy able social meeting (says an Auckland paper of December 31) eventuated in St Patrick's Hall. Panmare, on Wednesday evening last under the presidency of Monsignor McDonald. The whole affair was managed by the ladies of Monsignore'd congregation, and proved a most decided success. The music was supplied with much acceptance by Mrs Fleming, Miss McDonald, Mr G. Smith, atd Master S. Fleming, while the hall was decorated in a manner tally in keepiog with the present festive season. Th« refreshments generously provided by the ladies were everything that could be desired.

The funeral of the lute Mr Thomas Page, Turanga Creek, who died at New Plymouth, and whose remains were interred in the Catholic Oemetery, Howick, on Wednesday last (says the Auckland Herald of December 31), was attended by a large number of sympathising friends. The dece'sel wn a general favourite in the locality, and a most consistent member of bia Church. Monsignor McDtnald performed the fnneral obsequies in a very feeling and impressive manner.— R.l.P.

The programme for the Session (writes Mr T. P. O'Connor in the Weekly Sun) is made up. It will be, first, We's^ Disestablishment; then, pari pass u, an Irish Lani Bill, and then Registration Reform. The question of the House of Lords will come up at the end of the session and immediately before the appaal to the country. I assume, of course, that the Government will not require a short autumn session for finishing up some of their business. Anyhow I should fay that it is not a very likely contingency.

The Weekly Freeman of December 8, publishes the following telegram from Borne which may be taken for what it is worth :— '• Great importance is attached at tha Vatican to the approaching visit to Rome of Cardinal Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster. His Holiness Leo XIII. has expressed a strong wish that be should come. It is statel that the Pope deßires t-> see the Baalish Cardinal in order to obtain certain iuformation from him before undertaking a work which is calculated to make a great impression throughout Christendom. It is conjectured that Leo XIII, is contemplating an appeal to the Anglican Cbnrcta and English Dissenters, urging them to enter i>to a Catholic Union. Leo XIII., therefore, wishes to know the exact state of the Churches in England. He has ben much gratified and increased by the enormous number of con. versions to Catholicism which have taken place during the past few years.

A yeby effecting funeral service (aaya the Auckland Star of January 8) to k place at Paomure on Sunday last. Mr and Mrs W. Lyncb, of the Clarendon Hotel, Wakefield street, had taken the body of their infant daughter for interment in the pretty little cemetery at Panmare. They were accompanied by a number of Auckland friends. When near the cemetery they were met by a well-organised procession of the children attending Monsignor McDonald's school, four of whom toik charge of the coffin. The children sang eppropria'e hymns both in the church and at the grave. The Mon6ignor, before performing the funeral rites, addressed in very feeling language his de»r Auckland friends, as he termed them, and while expressing his sympathy with the bereaved ones, added that be should never be unmindful of the very many indnesses and sterling friendship received at their bands.

Hebe is another piece of that domestic news that one goes abroad to hear. " Many of the people of New Zealand (says the New York Weekly") are seriously meditating the poisoning of all the residents after they have attained their seventieth year." Not that we are at all prepared to deny it. Who can answer for his neigh-

bout's meditations ?— in a country, too, where si muoh that it queer is seriously meditated and expressed .

On Monday (says the Weekly Freeman of December 8) Jadga Harrison opening the commission in Dublin, bore emphatic testimony to the crimelessness of the metropolis. The Lord Chief Baron in Cork, opening the winter assize', was not lets emphatic in his congrat'llmnns on the eminently satisfactory condition of the whole province of Munster. Similarly Judge MaddeD, presiding at the Leinster Winter Assiae* at Wicklow, bud only thirty-seven cases of the ordinary type before him from the twelve counties. Here is the true answer to Mr Balfour and his Coercion Act. Here is the answer to the Beit sb Pharisee* who hold up their p»rtiealarly dirty bands in horror at the imputed savagery and criminality of Ireland, who break out into insult and vituperatio i at any outburst, no matter how strong the provocation, while any one of their own big towns shows as much crima as the whole of Ireland. Mr Morley's Government is nearer to Home Rule than Mr Balfour'e, and it is proportionately more successful in the maintenance of law and order.

Db Wobdswobth (Bishop of Salisbury), (says the Oatnaru Mail) who ia now on a visit to this district, is the first Bishop of an English see who has visited the colony, and holds a high place among the bishopß of the church of the Mother Country. He is the eldest son of the late celebrated Bishop of Lincoln. He is about 52 years of age. He graduated at Oxford in 1865. Two years later he was elected Fellow, and afterwards Tutor of Brisenose College. He was appointed Prebendary of Lincoln in 1876, B»mpton Lecturer in 1881 1 Oriel Professor of the Interpretation of Hoi/ Scripture and Canon of Rochester ia 1883. He was appointed Bishop of Salisbury in 1885 on the death of Dr Moberly. Dr Wordsworth is a man of ripe scholarship, and is the author of several works on religions subjects and classical literature.

Mb John B. Redmond, M. P., joined the Danottar Oastle at Southampton, on Saturday, December Ist for a trip to Sonth Africa. Mr Carew, late M.P. for Kildare County, saw him off. Mr Redmond has been suffering from acute pains in his lower jaw, and his doctors ordered him a rest and a sea voyage.

From country exchanges we gather the following i'ems :— The harvest in North Otago promises to be one of the best seen in the district fcr several years. The breadth of land under crops, however, is comparatively small.— Ferrets are working havoc among the fowls at Glenorchy, where, blbo, they are said to be fraternising with the rabbits— A fungus, which settles on the stems, is destroying the gorsa in tne Pahautaoui district.— A pigeon post has been established to convey to Wanganui from Pipiriki news as to the navigation of the upper part of the river. The distance ia travelled by the birds in less than an nour.— Farmers in the Taieri district are said to be contemplating a reduction of harvesters' wages from 8i and 9J to 7d.— A farmer's co-operative association, oq tha plan of that working in Christchurch, is about to be established in Otago.

The Holy Father (says the Catholic Timet of December 7) is said to astonish those about him by his activity and energy. His health was never better than it is at present.

In our review last month of the exhibits in the show of work at the D >m ; nican Convent High School, Dunedtn, we accidentally omitted a beautiful fox-glove pmel, shown by Miss M. Miller, daughter of our esteemed f Jlow-colonist Mr J. Miller, Roseneath, Sawyer's Bay, which wasex cuted with fine taste and skill, and gained geaeral admirati >n.

On the field of Waterloo recently a topaz seal set in gold waa found, bearing the arms and motto of Viscount Barrington. It belonged to Ensign Barrington, who was killed at Qaatre Bras, June 16, 18!5, and had lain undiscovered for eighty years. Nuttall, the champion swimmer of the world, lately appeared in Edinburgh before an enormous crow 1, which packed the baths in every available corner of tha vast building, even the roof being taken possession of. Nuttall wad received with tremendous enthusiasm . The world's record for 220 yards reads 2min 49jec, the Scotch 2tnin 58sec. Nuttall swam in superb styln. and got inside the world's record by doing the distance in 2min 37arc. The feat is unrivalled in the annals of swimming.

Mybbs and Co., Dentists, Octagon, corner of George street The guarantee highest class work at moderate fees. Their artificial teeth give general satisfaction, and the fact of them supplying a te%* porary dentnre while the gr.ms are healing does away with the incoDvenience of being months without teeth. They manufacture * single artificial tooth for Ten Shillings, and se's equally moderate. The administration of nitrous oxide gas is also a great boon to those needing (be extraction of a tooth. Read — [Advt.