Up a Tree

New Zealand Tablet, 9 August 1906, Page 22

Up a Tree

Father Smythe has ' treed ' the ' yellow ' clergyman—a newcomer to Hastings— who spun at a recent Orange gathering in that town a story to the effect that a 'Catholic woman was compelled by a priest to do a cruel penance 'on her bare knees ' not far from the spot where the biethren were assembled. The fable ha.s been more than amply dynamited. But we hope the over-credulous newcomer and the ' motley few ' will take to heart the lesson read to him and them in the following words by the Catholic pastor of Hastings : 'It is now over twenty years since I came to Hastings, and this is the first time that I have been painfully obliged to write in such a strain. As far as I know, differences in religious beliefs and practices have not been, in the past, a source of discord in Hastings. On the contrary, non-Catholics and Catholics alike have joined hands in their weal and woe, and stood by one another in their ups and downs. But, whilst so doing, they will not tolerate any interference in their religious beliefs or any attempt at casting a public, and, at times, a false, slur on their sacred piacfices. And I feel sure that it is the desire of one and all that such a state of things may long continue, despite the unkindly feelings and efforts of a motley few.'

' Tay-Pay ' did not ' mistake the temper of the House '. By 231 votes to 72, it clubbed the application for leave to bring in the Bill for the inspection of convents. We are reminded hereby that in 1835, the British Parliament passed Bills for the inspection of Orange lodges— with the result that the organisation was suppressed. Why do not the brethren move for another inspection ? Consistency, as well as charity, begins best at home.