DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 9 February 1911, Page 239

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph from our own correspondent.) February 3. The Catholic schools opened last week, when the attendances were up to the average. A mission, to be conducted by three Redemptorist Fathers, is to begin at St. Benedict's on February 19. Rev. Father Clark arrived yesterday from Sydney to serve in this diocese. Rev. Father Murphy. Nortlieote, Melbourne, and Very Rev.- Father Carey, St. Mary's, West Melbourne, arrived on Saturday from Rotor A large and enthusiastic meeting was held yesterday afternoon at St. Mary's Convent, Ponsonby, to advance the interests of the bazaar in aid of the Mater Misericordise Hospital, which will be opened on Easter Saturday. An old resident, Mrs. Mulqueeney, died here this afternoon fortified by the rites of the Church. Her daughter is a member of the Sisters of Mercy, Order here. The Prime Minister addressed a very large and enthusiastic meeting here on Saturday night, and was accorded the most cordial reception he has ever received in Auckland. Owing to unforeseen circumstances the welcome to his Lordship the Bishop from the Hibernian branches of the Auckland diocese, which was to have been held last Wednesday evening, has been unavoidably postponed to a future date. About 60 of the Marist Brothers Old Boys' Club journeyed' by the s.s. Kawau yesterday to Motutapu for a day's outing. The weather was beautiful. The boat left the wharf after the conclusion of the 9.30 o'clock Mass, and arrived about noon, allowing sufficient time for the swimming sports before lunch. The championship swimming was arranged in five heats, there being 42 entries. The final resulted in a magnificent finish between McLervan, E. Mahoney, and J. Sheahan (of Napier), the last named winning by a very small margin. He was in the course of the afternoon presented with a bronze medal. The conditions governing the holding of the trophy require the holder to defend its retention at the club's annual picnic against all challengers. Rev. Father Wright, who has been appointed temporarily to the charge of Ngaruawahia and Huntly, "effc to take up his duties on Friday. He was last' night accorded a send off by the people of St. Patrick's, who presented him with a handsome chalice and a purse of

sovereigns. Father Holbrook made the presentations, and said that Father Wright three years ago came amongst them a stranger, and during that period he had proved a zealous and kindly-hearted priest, with v whom it was a pleasure to work. He had endeared himself to them all, and they parted with him with the deepest regret. He would long be remembered with the kindliest feelings by the priests and people of St. Patrick’s, for' whom he had clone so much, particularly through the St. Vincent ds Paul Society and the Guard of Honor. He wished him every blessing and happiness in which the people of the Cathedral parish unitedly and whole-heartedly joined. bather Wright feelingly replied, and thanked Father Holbrook for his many kindnesses extended to him from the nrst day he came to Auckland until the present. He parted with the priests and people of St, Patrick’s with regret. In his he came across no better or Kindlier people. He would never, during life cease fo think of them, and in the holy Mass, when using the chalice, it would be a constant reminder to him of the good people amongst whom he had labored during the last three happy years. Fie would be pleased from time to time to revisit them and renew old friendships. He hoped God would reward them, and he asked them to always pray earnestly that ho may be granted grace and strength to carry out bis mission. & Rev. Father o ’Farrell, C.SS.R., at the last meeting in the Cathedral of the Holy Family Confraternity, began a series of three lectures on Socialism. He traced its origin to over 2000 years ago, but in the last century it developed into a systematic form. Aristotle discussed one form of it, and Plato sketched it as impossible. It was a cardinal feature of the teachings of the Albigenses and Anabaptists. During the eighteenth century the -theories of equality bad found new life. In the days of the French Revolution the framework of Society was broken up, a new gospel as then preached, conditions of happiness were assured, and comforts to be bestowed to compare with which toe world had never yet borne witness. Such a doctrine vas bound to find favor with those who feel the pressure of poverty. A great factor in the growth of Socialism wok the introduction and perfection of machinery. Monopolies multiplied, and the small, man went under, _ while competition became fierce.’ Between employer and employee a bitter antagonism sprang up. What is termed the ‘ deadly parallel ’ —the contrasts between poverty, luxury, and want flaunt themselves before the eyes 111 forms that will not be denied recognition, and the Socialist seeks for his proselyte, amongst those whose hearts are touched and whose indignation is aroused by the contemplation. Karl Marx, by his writing, reduced Socialism to a system, and formulated its' principles in scientific fashion. This did not find favour in the world for some time, but eventually Marx succeeded. In Germany, England, and America it spread, and owing to the pleutitude of cheap literature its pathway was made easy. Followers of Marx determined to capture parliament and the reins of government, and in Germany and France his views are generally adopted at the present day. Socialism carried to an extreme involves a transfer sudden and violent of all capital to the State, and without compensation to the sufferers by the change. Socialism in its extremest form, implying the extinction of private capital and enterprise altogether, would be a huge and intolerable evil, abhorrent alike to the pious Catholic and to every rational human being. The Catholic Church, the divinely-appointed guardian of Truth and Justice, while sternly rebuking the neglect of duty that lias caused this social unrest, must also oppose revolutionary Socialism, for the reaction has over-passed justice, and the proposed remedy is almost worse than the disease. *