The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1897. THE IRISH UNIVERSITY QUESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 17, 3 September 1897, Page 17

The New Zealand Tablet. Fiat Justitia. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1897. THE IRISH UNIVERSITY QUESTION.

by one the pretexts upon which justice in the matter of university education has been denied or delayed to Ireland are being removed, and the question has now advanced to such a stage that if the Government do not set themselves to promptly redeem the pledges they have made they will stand discredited and disgraced in the eyes of all honest and fair-minded men. The absolute justice of the Irish claim and the gross unfairness of the existing state of things have, indeed, long ago been most fully and freely admitted by members of the Government, and by none more clearly and explicitly than by the First Lord of the Treasury himself. Speaking at Partick on December 2, ] 889, Mr. Balfour described the existing state of things in Ireland as " not creditable," and as one that he " could not look upon with equanimity." He ppoke of Trinity College, with its Protestant place of worship and Protestant service, and its chairs of Protestant theology, as being still what it always had been, " if not by its constitution, at all events by its composition, a Protestant institution." Referring to the four colleges which at present enjoy the whole of the public endowments, he declared that only one in seven of the students belong to the Church which numbers amongst its adherents four-fifths of the Irish people, and pointed out that in the whole country there were less than two hundred and fifty Catholics who had the advantages of a higher education in endowed colleges, In other words, while four colleges are kept up afc the public expense for the benefit of the Protestant minority, the Catholic majority has either to go without higher education altogether or else try to provide it at their own expense. He spoke of the objections, " the undoubtedly conscientious objections, of Irish Catholics to use the means of university education at present at their disposal," and then fcent on to say :—": — " It is not our business to enquire how far the undoubtedly conscientious objections of the Roman Catholic population to use the means of education at their disposal are wise or unwise. That its not our business. What we have to do is to consider what we can do consistently with our conscience to meet their wants." Finally lie put to his hearers the significant question : " Whether we are not acting a most unwise part if we give any colour to the belief that a large part of her Majesty's subjects in Ireland m.iy claim from our hands the greatest of all boons — the boon of increased knowledge — ;ind that this boon shall be refused to them by our prejudices acting upon the Houses of Parliament." That was eight years ago, and though Mr. Balfour's later utterances are equally clear and equally friendly to the Irish claim, the boon referred to has not yet been granted to the " large part of her Majesty's subjects in Ireland." A good deal has been done, however, in the way of educating the public mind on the mutter, and the indications arc unmistakable that the question is now ripe for settlement. The latest pretext put forward as a ground for postponing action was that the Government could not undertake the settlement of the university question without making certain of its ground beforehand, and that it would be idle to propose a scheme without being tolerably sure that it would be accepted. Complaint was also made that the Government had not had as much guidance- as they could desire from the leaders of Catholic opinion in Ireland, and mention was made of certain specific points which seemed to require some statement or explanation from the hierarchy of Ireland. We publish in another column the clear, conciliatory, and statesmanlike manifesto of the Irish Bishops, from which it will be seen that not only is the desired information supplied, but assurances arc given which leave the Government without a s'ngle loophole of escape from an immediate settlement of this question. The points referred to were ; (1) Do the Bishops desire a preponderance of

ecclesiastics on the governing body of the proposed university. (2) Do they ask an endowment for theological teaching ? (3) Would professors and others have any security against arbitrary dismissal, and (4) Would the university be open to all-comers. On all of these points the answers given by the Bishops are clear and unexceptionable. As regards the first, they do not ask for a preponderance, nor even an equality in number of ecclesiastics on the governing body, but are quite willing to allow the lay element to predominate. As to the second, they ask for no endowment for theological teaching and are ready to agree to any guarantees that may be necessary that the monies voted by Parliament shall be applied exclusively to the teaching of secular knowledge. As regards the third, they are prepared to grant all reasonable guarantees for fixity of tenure in the case of the piofessors, and would provide against hasty or arbitrary dismissal by submitting such questions to a strong Board of Visitors, whose judgment and impartiality would command the confidence of all parties. And in respect to the fourth, they declare that they have no objection whatever to the opening up of the degrees, honours, and emoluments of the university to all comers. On all these points the Bishops have done all in their power to facilitate Mr. Balfour's task, and they have made the path of duty for him both clear and easy. Referring to this matter, the Coadjutor- Bishop of Clonfert, Dr. Healy, once said : ''If Mr. Balfour, after his declaration in the House, cannot or will not induce his party to settle this question, then all we can say is that such a fact will furnish an unanswerable argument in favour of the need of Home Rule for Ireland, and will strike a heavier blow at the Union than ever it received before. If the thing, as all concede, ought to be done, and you admit it cannot be done in London, then, in the name of common sense, let us try our hands in Dublin. At any rate, our failure cannot be more signal than yours.'' If these words were true when they were written, seven years ago, how doubly true and significant are they at the present juncture. There is, in fact, not the ghost of an excuse left to the Government for longer refusing to?perform this great, though tardy, act of justice and reparation to the Catholics of Ireland.

Sunday last being the anniversary of the death of the late Father Newport, a Requiem Mass was said at Port Chalmers by the Rev. Father McMullan. The congregation also approached the Sacrament in large numbers, uniting their prayers and offering their communions for the repose of their late pastor's soul.

A quiet but interesting and pretty wedding took place at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Wednesday morning, when Mr. John Taylor, of Invercargill, and Miss Adelaide Fuller, of Dunedin, were united in the bonds of holy matrimony. The Rev. Father Murphy performed the ceremony. The bride, who looked very pretty, was attired in a stylish and most becoming dress of slate silk, with ribbons to match. She also wore a white velvet picture hat and carried a very pretty shower bouquet. The bridesmaids were Miss Tottie Fuller and Miss Maggie Taylor, the sisters respectively of the bride and bridegroom. Miss Taylor wai» very pretty in a lovely dress of fawn lustre, trimmed with fawn silk, and Miss Fuller looked beautiful in a charming costume of corn-flower blue with cream silk vest. Mr. Edward Fuller acted as be«;t man. The happy couple left Dunedin by the afternoon train on their honeymoon trip to the south. The wedding presents, which included silver cruets, a silver butter-dish, afternoon tea services, biscuit barrel, cushions, etc., were both numerous, beautiful, and useful.

It is with extreme regret that we have to record the sad and almost sudden death of Charles Woods, aged between nine and ten years, the son of an old and highly respected citizen of Dunediu, Mr. D. W. Woods. The sad affair is surrounded by circumstances which make it specially touching. Little Charlie, who was a bright, lovable lad, the joy and delight of his parents, and a warm favourite with all who knew him. had feet his heart on being allowed to serve the priest at Mass. After due preparation his wish was gratified and on the Sunday before he died Charlie served at the altar for the first and last time. Soon afterwards he began to complain of a constant tired feeling, and by the middle of the week the trouble had developed into acute inflammation of the brain. After a very brief illness the little fellow breathed his last early on Thursday morning. A day or two before his dcatli he received Holy Communion from the Rev. Father Murphy, and just before the end came the last rites of the Church were administered l>y the Rev. Father Ryan. It was a &ad but at the same time a most edifying and consoling death. The burial took place on Saturday afternoon and the deceased was given a true altar-boy's funeral. The altar-boys of St. Joseph's.

robed in their surplices, received the coffin at the entrance to the cathedral and bore it up the aisle to a place in front of the sanctuary. The prescribed portion of the burial service having been gone 1 through, the cortege proceeded to the cemetery, at the entrance to which the altar-boys in their surplices again took the coffin and bore it within the grounds. The service at the grave was conducted in a very impressive manner by the Rev. Father Murphy. On all sides the greatest sympathy has been expressed for the parents in theirf sad bereavement, and Mr. and Mrs. Woods have asked us to express their heartfelt thanks for the countless kind messages of sympathy and condolence which they have received. It was a heavy blow, but the kindness and sympathy extended to them by the whole congregation of the church, and the great favours which the Almighty was pleased to grant their little boy before taking him away, have been a source of great comfort and consolation to the parents in their time of trouble and affliction.

We have received during the past week parcels of stamps for the Maori mission at Tokaanu from the following :— J. Moison, Ashburton ; Amator Hibernine, Queenstown, and from Two Children, Roxburgh. We have also received the following letter from Father Kreymborg which will be of interest to intending helpers in this work :— " Tokaanu, Taupo, August 19, 1897. My dear Sir,— l beg to tender you my very best thanks for having kindly taken up my plan, to build a small chapel for the natives in Tokaanu. It seems to give one renewed hope, when we find somebody who takes an interest in our uphill work. The natives in Tokaanu are not of the best, but this is the very reason why I am so anxious to erect a little church for them. Not only will this be a stimulus for them, but then I will have a place, where I can gather the children regularly and teach them the catechism. The building is only to be a very humble one, and I hope to be able to raise the small fund required. Till now I received from two kind benefactors one pound each, one from Mr. Lonargan, Christchurcb, and one forwarded per Mr. M. Sheahan, Auckland. Would for Our Lady's sake some generous people follow this noble example. I am well aware that in most places the local needs are very great; but still there are many persons who could send me 2s 6d or 5s and no local charity would suffer on this account. Two kind persons have sent me some used postage stamps. Common used postage stamps have not a great value, and I would therefore suggest that the good-hearted people, who intend to help me in this little way, take care that the parcels or letters have sufficient postage otherwise I will have to pay at this end double the amount ; and this was in some cases more than the stamps forwarded were worth If people, sending only used stamps, wish an acknowledgement from me, they would oblige me by adding a stamped addressed envelope It can easily be understood, that a small donation is a more efficient way to further my plan, than a parcel of used postage stamps, unless the stamps are old and rare. In case I succeed to collect about £40 I will build the chapel and leave under the altar a list of the persons, who sent me a donation, however small towards erecting it. If all 1 can collect myself will amount to £ 15' I will be very glad indeed ; the rest I have to get somewhere else ; but how and where Ido not yet know. If you could publish parfc of this letter, it might incline some good people to give some assistance, however little. Thanking you once more for your kind interest and help, believe me dear Mr. Editor,— Yours very faithfully in Christ,— C Kreymboru.

During the past week the following subscriptions to the South Dunedin Catholic Orphanage Fund havo been received •— Mrs. McDonnell (Greymouth), £1 ; Mr. Enright (St. Clair), £1 ■ a friend, os. Contributions towards the erection of theiOrphanage will be thankfully received by the Sisters of Mercy, South Dunedin and by the Catholic clergy of Dunedin, and will be duly acknowl ledged in the columns of the Tablet.

With unfeigned regret, says the Inangalma Timen of August 23, we chronicle the death of Mr. John Butler who passed away about 4 o'clock this afternoon. The cause of death is attributed to no particular disease but to a general break up of the constitution Deceased has been a resident of this district for over twenty years during which time he earned fche respect and good will of everyone he came m contact with, his kind disposition and ever genial manners creating friends in every quarter. Few men have left behind them a more unblemished record of a well spent life to which his peaceful death was a fitting termination. Deceased retained consciousness to the last, recognising all his relations and friends and conversing without any apparent effort. Much sympathy is felt for his wife and only son, as also for his nephew, Mr. P. Butler, who is naturally much affected by the demise of his only relative residing in the Colony. The funeral took place on Wednesday August 2.3, and was attended by a large concourse of mourners from all parts district, as well as from Greymouth and Westport, their presence testifying to the great wide -spread popularity of deceased. At 2 p.m. the remains were conveyed from the late residence of deceased

to the Sacred Heart Church where the burial service was read by the Rev. Father MaoNamara who also delivered a touching address eulogistic of the exemplary life, sterling qualities, and amiable characteristics of the late Mr. Butler. The cortege then proceeded to the new cemetery. Many persons who were unable to attend -the funeral, sent regretful excuses, and sincere condolences, Rev. Father Rolland — who was unavoidably absent down the Grey Valley— being among the number.— Jl.l.P. St. Mary 's Church, Nelson, was beautifully decorated on Sunday the 22nd August, the occasion being the blessing of a beautiful statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, presented to the church by the Misses Franks in memory of their parents, Christopher and Emma. A procession in honour of the Sacred Heart took place around the church, after which Rev. Father Mahoney solemnly blessed the statue and preached a very instructive sermon on devotion to the Sacred Heart. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr. Louis Franks, rendered in a very pleasing manner music suitable to the occasion. A slight error occurred in the last letter of our Westport correspondent in reference to the dimensions of the splendid painting recently placed in the Church. The dimensions of the picture should have been stated as seven feet in height and six feet in width, and the name of the talented artist is Mr. M. J. McMahon. Our correspondent adds that there were 150 men paid off last week by the G. E. Company, so that it would be useless for men from other parts to come to the district in the hope of obtaining work. On Saturday evening last a number of gentlemen representing the Railway Works Department met at Mr. P. Burkes Hotel, Christchuroh, where Mr. W. Rodgers, who has been transferred to Invercargill, was entertained at a smoke concert. Mr. M. W. Reddington presided, and referred to the many sterling qualities of their guest, who had won the esteem and goodwill of all those with whom he had come in contact during his residence in Christchurch. Mr. Reddington congratulated Mr. Rodgers on his promotion, and wished him every success in his new sphere of labour. Other complimentary speeches were made. In replying, Mr. Rodgers expressed regret at parting from so many kind friends, and said that the gathering would ever remain a source of gratification to him. After an excellent repast, several good songs were sung and a rno&t pleasant evening was spent.