DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 16, 21 April 1904, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) April 18. His Lordship Bishop Grimes leaves to-day (Monday) for Wellington. ' A census of the Catholic population of the city and suburbs is in course of compilation. The Rev. Father Mangan, C.SS.R., having completed his missionary labors in the Rangiora parochial district, lc-it for Australia last week. Mr. J. Quinlan, of the Telegraph staff, and secretary of the Catholic Club, was entertained &y the members at a social gathering last week, and was presented by the president, Mr. R. O. Duncan, on behalf of the clmb with several useful articles. A little fellow named Charles APphonso Sloan, aged nine years, son of Mrs. Sloan, Spreydon, lost his life by a rather peculiar accident last week. He attended the Addington Catholic school, and in the evening, on his way home, was driving a cow which kicked him on the left side of the face near the temple. Although knocked down and shaken he did not appear to be seriously hurt. During the early hours of the morning, however, he was seized with serious illness, and although medical assistance was at hand, he suddenly expired. Much sympathy is lelt for the bereaved parent. Speaking at the High Mass in the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday the Rev. Father Mahony commented strongly on the wilful persistence of some Catholic parents in sending their children to the State schools. It seemed superfluous, after all that had been said times cHit of number, to point out the grievous wrong they were inflicting on their children in subjecting them to a godless system when a superior education and above all sound teugious instruction and a thorough moral training werev attainable at our own Catholic schools, simply for the asking. He knew from experience what our Catholic schools were capable of, and also what they need expect from those of the State, and what was more, he was satisfied in his own mind that probably all those of our faith who advocated the State system on the score of greater efficiency and the children's speedier acquisition of knowledge, were for the most part incapable of forming a sound judgment.