A RELIGIOUS PRESS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 46, 15 November 1900, Page 3

A RELIGIOUS PRESS.

HOW TO PROMOTE IT.

Among the many interesting papers read at the Catholic Congress was one entitled ' What can be done to promote a Religious Press * by the Rev. T. Fitzgerald, 0 F.M. After some introductory remarks Father Fitzgerald said : « The writers of a Catholic paper have a sacred trust committed to them, and a nob'e mission to fulfil for they are the gu irdians whose high office it is to watch over the faith of their readers and def.nd them against the fatal virus of infidelity. Who can glance at the nauseous tide of paganism which is inundating every Christian land, and beari g on its seething bosom innumerable victims, without pondering on the necessity ( ,f raising a barrier against the rushing flood. That barrier is a *ound Catholic paper. On its pages the faith of the youth who has just left school will be nurtured and fed with the food of the strong in the reported sermons of the dignitaries of the Church, and in set articles sneers and jibeg against the exigence of God and the truths of revelation will be answered and pulverised, and the inexperienced soul which has felt the first shock of the t. mpest will be shielded from harm. From the reading of his weekly paper the youth will be furnished with information and arguments on the questions of the hour, which are discussed in the offi.se or the workshop, and he will be able to silence the, scoffer or strengthen a vacillating brother. Such a paper is an aid of far-reaching

INFLUENCE AND BENEFICENT AID TO PARENTS who are naturally jealous for their children's welfare, and anxious to shield them from the innumerable contaminating influences wnicn await them when they have passed the thre>hold ot their homes and entered the arena of life. In an age when athiism is eating into social, civil, political and individual life, indifferently is growing apace, and the dogmas of religion are openly availed the trenchant paragraphic should be in urgent request to explode' the latest fallacy, and by solid argument defend the sacred treasure of faith, lne inviting fields of ultra-liberahsin are more attractive to-day than ever, and a cosmopolitan spirit in matters religious may be inclined to overlook the lines of demarcation that derine the domain of truth ; but a well-directed paper prunes the excr.-* ences of lively imaginations, and knows where tue policy of coueesbion must cease

The writer lays it down that the aim of a Catholic journalist Bhould not be to go scavenging for abuses in Protestantism, bur to set forth in temperate language the claims which the Catholic Church has on the allegiance, the mind and heart of man. Insight courage to speak out, and delicicy of treatment in favor of our neighbors sensibilities are a most desirable equipment tor those who have to deal in a public way with the errors, antipathies, and foibles of mankind. It is difficult to overestimate

THB VALUE OF A GOOD CATHOLIC NEWSP\PER in plaoes where churches are remote and visits of the priest necessarily rare. _ A paper providing sound Christian reading in one f urm or another is a blessing in the hut or the hornet, ad, brings the tidingaof important religious events to the solitary settlers in remote places, and to the unsullied souls, whose only temple is that of nature, and dispenses celestial thoughts, 'like the rustling of angelic wings. It is not exactly desirable that a Catholic paper ■hould pursue a policy of wheedling importun.ty when independent sincerity obtains the same results. Catholics have an unquestionable right to a fair P hare in the emoluments of the State, and year after year their convents and colleges turn out youthful citizens as well equipped for the battle of life and as well qualified to do honor to posts of responsibility and trust as those of any other creed If they wish to obtain that position in the community which their numbers entitle them to, civil, social, or political, 'they mnst be true to tnemßtlveß, and the newspapers which profess to serve them must voice their claims, and, if needs be, their indignation As the Hoop keens the staves together, a well-conducted paper generates unity of thought and action, and when there ii no false ring in iti sound leaders of the people are desirous of knowing what it cays because it represents reserved power, and wields a sway of no unoeruin kind. Nor is that bogey of hopeful candidates of a certain line, the solid Catholic rote," harborei for a moment in the above remarki, because it is simply non-existent and indication* are not wanting that none are more impartial vi their choice of representatives than the members of our Church '

The writer then contends that a good paper makes the people more enthusiastic, more enlightened, more fervent, and more ready to aid in movements of a charitable or religious character Pastors

may do a great deal to aid a religious rap ,. r by re.-omm. T,din e it to th.-ir Hocks ' It, mast ■ot be 10-t Murht of (wvh Father Fitz '.'raid) thit those thousmdsof hard-w nrkmer p- opl form th.- hulk < f our members, an 1 are the nackbon ■ of mrei.g'h »"r th rhur C >.\ wflf.irennd pmtrresHin AiH-rnlm. It i* r,or dom, d that M,me of the rich < atholics do their duty in this re^peet. bu* what an- fennel the ma^mUNt be taken into wcon it when «h» uhiV-t of the price ot a ( .itholie paper in raked. They deserve to h* c .nni. ered a* it ii mostly to their uenero-fti that th- building of churc ie« and' schools aud the supp >rt of the clergy are due. 'Unhappily there are many better circnmsfanc d fa iliea who nvcnd .rcc.y i~. the m .tier o e amu-cm nt and d-c--, avA <—iv*cp *o a Catholic paper a yearly subscription which would be represented by the 0.«,t of a small theatre p aty. Trashy novels also d( ma-d their little annual stream of silver, serving only to rob the mind of fibre, and to lay wa«te the a Mil by the vicious tone of double entendre and innuendo that pervades their pestiferous pages. ' 1 1 is only a truism to state that the good ' habits whioh should be engrafted on the CHRISTIAN SOUL MUST BE INCULCATED IN CHILDHOOD AND

Now, granted that it is desirable that young men and women, when they leave school and engage in the occupations of life should read a good Catholic newspaper, the suggestion that grown boys and girls should be taught to read it, or should be accustomed to hear it read at school, does not set m to present its If in an unreasonable t light. Tl>re are many interesting event*, such as the laying of foundation atones, when prelates and distinguished laymen make speeches and addresses, accounts of whi< h might be abbreviated and re.d for the children,* edification. The-e speeches are very often full of instiuction and practical remarks, and by their uncompromising firmn.s- teach the children the role expected of them as Catholic citizens when they arrive at (he age of maturity It miy often happen that a speech of this kind by a prominent layman, learned or not, does more good than that made \y a representat-ve of the Church, inasmuch as it encourages lay people to take an mterest in Church ma ters, and to be energetic and courageous for the cause of God. If grown boys and girls may read in th< lr school days the history of Julius Caesar and his times, they surely may have read to them the contemporaneous history of their own Church in \ustralia. They will, perforce, become interested eventually when they often hear of what is being achieved in this or that parish for the jrlory of God and the welfare of religion If the varied information to be found in a Catholic paper is useful and necessary for adults, then the perioi of youth, when habits and tastes are formed, is the proper period to habituate them to its use. Oc -asi.m, too, is often afforded for i istruction of a religious and geographical character by news which comes from countries which are the theatre of war. Information regarding the position of the Church there would not ft»il to excite interest in the pupils. ' If a Cath )lic paper did no other work than IMPART AND CULTIVATE A TASTE FOU USEFUL READING among its subscribers it would have achieved a great good. That (-pace commensurate with the importance of the eubjeoi should be dedicated in every i*nue to some department of literature, requires no proof. For i.ne rea-o» or another our city youth of Australia after leaving .school, devote very little time to books of any kind, ex-ept under the compulsion of necessary examinations. The beautiful climate i.s no doubt responsible for the love of outside sports and a walk in the street or the public park seems a legitimate pastime after a hot day in the stuffy shop or workroom. The absence of legendary lore, too, which through stress of weather and long 1 nights, is penned with such pleasure by the children of other lands, fails to act here as an intro uction to the fie'iis of literary fancy. Country parts or Australia are not included in the-e remarks, for even the r-luctwit are there compelled to read by isolation 'and monotony. and onirmality of thought i« not usually strangled, and disgust for buoks not engendered by examination in multuudinous Mibj cts during scho..l iifv, whiufl often strain the brain and impair th^ (onnt!t ltion A Catholic paper confers a lasting heriefir on its naders when, by its devouon to literary subjects, it i-hows how time may be usefully and pleasantly spent, thereby contributing also to form what all look on an a oesi.leratum of home life.'