Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 10 November 1910, Page 1844

Notes

Trouble for the Republic The new Republic has struck trouble already. The following is an extract from a message which appeared in the Australian papers which are in receipt of the independent cable service:— Lisbon, October 24. —The Republican Government is uneasy at the attitude of the requirements which made the revolution possible. They are not only insubordinate, but the soldiers, flushed with victory, are showing extreme independence. They are championing the maintenance of a strong power at the hands of the military. The Government’s reason for granting leave of absence on four months’ full pay to the soldiers who took part in the rising is the desire to break up the regiments and temporarily remove the danger of another military rebellion. The majority of the rank and file have refused the offer. The Crystal Palace A writer in the Saturday Review makes fun of the proposal to convert the Crystal Palace into a monument to King Edward. ‘ If Lord Plymouth’s scheme of making the Crystal Palace a monument to King Edward is carried into effect, one may imagine,’ he says, ‘the feelings of Macaulay’s New Zealander as he gazes from his aeroplane upon the Palace —that is, if it is still standing, and for the sake of posterity 1 hope it won’t be: Macaulay’s N.Z.: “What is that big cucumber frame?” Aerochauffeur: “Hush! that’s not a encumber frame; it’s the British nation’s tribute to their great King Edward VII., where you may see all your products and resources displayed, and for a guinea a year get bands, billiards, and ballets.” Macaulay’s N.Z. : “Thanks! I’ll make a note of that for my “ Decline and Fall of the British Empire.” No; we won’t descend. Top speed now for the ruins of St. Paul’s!’” Washington on * Guy Fawkes Day ’ The • celebration ’ of Guy Fawkes Day has now become so entirely obsolete that the Fifth of November comes and goes without even the riotous schoolboy being aware of it. The writer of the Life of- the Rev. John Thayer—a Now England convert to the Catholic faith —recalls an interesting proclamation once issued by General Washington on the subject. The Fifth of November was always celebrated in Washington as in England by burning the Pope in effigy; but the Bostonians received a severe rebuke in 1775 from Washington in the following proclamation; ‘As the Commander-in-chief has been apprised of a design formed for the observance of that ridiculous and childish custom of burning the effigy of the Pope, he cannot help expressing his surprise that there should bo officers and soldiers in this army so. void of common sense as not to see the impropriety of such a step. . . It is so monstrous as not to be suffered or excused; indeed, instead of offering the most remote insult, it is our duty to address public thanks to our (Catholic) brethren, as to them we are indebted • for every late success over the common enemy in Canada.’ A Set=Back for Sectarianism An incident in connection with the downfall of the Wade Government at the recent New South Wales elections which appears to have given a large measure of general satisfaction, and which was certainly particularly gratifying to Catholics, was the defeat of Mr. J. A. Hogue, ex-Minister for Public Instruction. This individual it would he a misnomer to call him gentlemangained a little brief notoriety some time ago by his ill-mannered, illiterate, and in every way offensive reply to Cardinal Moran’s strictures on some supplementary readers that had recently bid'll introduced into the New South Wales Public Schools. Mr. Hogue has now reaped his reward. Of the candidate who defeated this political bigot the writer of political notes,; in the Sydney Catholic Press gives the following description: ‘Mr. Thomas Keegan, who defeated Hogue in Glebe, and who modestly describes himself laborer,” is a sturdy .young Catholic, much admired for his sincerity and earnestness. He is not a polished

speaker, but lias organising gifts of no mean order,’ and the grand fight he made against Hogue even surprised his friends. Like Miualian and McGarry, he is the type of Catholic politician that Protestants respect, for he is a straight-going man with the courage of his convictions.’ * And of the election in general and of the Glebe contest in particular the writer in question has this to say ‘Hogue had all the advantages; he had represented the constituency for sixteen years; he stood before them as a Cabinet Minister, and lie had the daily press fighting fiercely on his behalf. But Hogue signed his political death-warrant by his attack on the Cardinal and his sneers at the Catholic Church. Sectarianism is a scotched snake nowadays. Even the wowsers recognise that the old game of stirring up anti-Catholic bigotry to serve political ends is played out. Glebe, once a stronghold of Orangeism, rose magnificently to the occasion, and, as we predicted, Hogue is planted in the political cemetery, beside his lamented friends, Law, Jessep, Hurley, Wilks, the Andersons, Booth, Young, and Co. * 1 It says much for the new spirit in the community that everybody seemed delighted when the news of Hogue’s defeat spread abroad. Had Wood been outed, too, there would have been extraordinary demonstrations of joy. Even the “ Liberals ” wiped away their tears and smiled when they learned that Dismal Jimmy had been passed out. Ho and Wood have been regarded lately as a couple of Jonahs, and many “Liberals” do nob hesitate to affirm their belief that tho bitter sectarianism of the Minister for Public Instruction and Chief Secretary had much to do with the defeat of the Wade party.’ iMasses for non-Catholics One of the most interesting features of our ever welcome contemporary, the Bombay Examiner, is the clear, crisp explanations, given from time to time by the learned editor, of practical points in moral theology or of pertinent questions regarding the devotional or liturgical practices of the Church. Some time ago there was some discussion among members of the laity not fully informed on'-matters of ritual as to whether it would be in accordance with the regulations of. the Church that public official Mass should be offered for the repose of the soul of our late beloved King, Edward VII. Recently a couple of inquiries on the subject were addressed to the Examiner, and, as they are typical of a large body of questioners, both query and answer are worth recording. One correspondent writes: ‘ Is it true that the Church will not offer Masses for the soul of a non-Catholic? If so, what are her reasons?’ Another writes: ‘lf tolling of church bell and prayers for the repose of the soul of the departed King are permissible, I do not see why there should be any objection to a Requiem .Mass being said for tho late Emperor. I am of opinion that the merits of the Holy Sacrifice are applicable to all persons irrespective of creed.’ * Father Hull answers, in effect, that in the cases mentioned there is nothing to prevent the ringing of bells, or draping of churches, or the. holding of some sort of nonliturgical service with sermon’; but as regards the offering of Mass, a distinction is drawn between a. private and a public Mass, and while the former may, under certain conditions, be offered for non-Catholics, the latter is, by disciplinary regulation, restricted to members of the Church. Here are Father Hull’s own words: ‘ln a strictly private and unofficial way, and with a private and conditional intention, a priest may offer Mass for the souls of those who, though not members of the Church, have shown signs of dying in good faith. The Mass is certainly in the abstract offerable for any soul for whom Christ died, and who is not ascertained to he either in heaven or in hell. But as regards official and liturgical or public offerings of asses, this is forbidden by disciplinary laws. The reason is because the liturgical prayers of the Church suppose Catholic membership, and it would suggest an appearance of laxity of principle and even indifferentism if no distinction were made between members and non-members. The holding of some sort of nou-litnrgical service with sermon, or the ringing of bells, or the draping of churches, arc indifferent matters, and do not touch principle in the same way.’