Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 20 June 1912, Page 34

Notes

The Ferrer Controversy As we so confidently anticipated last week, the challenge issued in the Wanganui Herald by Mr. P. Keogh has not been accepted, and the anonymous prohen ei correspondent, although given repeated opportunities, has entirely failed to ‘ make good.’ Again and again he was invited to face the direct issue, prove his statement, and claim the £5, but to no purpose and after the appearance of the Catholic correspondent’s last letter in the Herald of June 5, the editor declared the correspondence closed. Mr, Keogh maintained his side of the controversy with ability and skill; and his letters afford gratifying evidence of the keen and intelligent interest taken by Wanganui young men in matters Catholic. ‘A Beneficent Chief' Under this heading the N.Z. Failway Officers’ Advocate for May prints a lengthy article which shows that the railway men still hold in kindly and grateful remembrance the years of Sir Joseph, Ward’s administration of the Railways Department. After reciting in detail the reforms effectedin the interests of the men, of the public, and of the Department—by Sir Joseph Ward, the article concludes: ‘ It is now our earnest wish that Sir Joseph may feel that good work rs never lost, and that his thoughtfulness and kindliness will be always remembered with gratitude by the railway staff. lie was generous to a degree, and regularly gave large concessions to the public. From our view-point he sometimes gave too generously, but it is better to be liberal than grudging. This policy, however, by no means diminished our respect for him, or lessened our faith in him as a great Chief.’ Still At It ~ The Maoriland Worker still continues to fill its columns with attacks, direct and indirect, on religion and the Church. The following is from the issue of June 7; ‘Before the fool workers start fighting with

each other on the score of religion, they want to have a look around to see what the “high and mighty’’are' doing. Rothschilds, we are informed, "finance the Vatican in its many undertakings. The fact of the Rothschilds being Jews and the head of the Vatican being the Pope of Rome causes no unpleasantness in business matters. They are too intelligent for that sort of thing. ’Tis only the fool workers who allow sectarianism to stand between them and their mutual interests.’ •KAnd this is from its issue of May 24; ‘ Thus Father Bernard Vaughan; “No one of those who bravely against the Church to-day but owes it to the Church that he can speak at all.’’ Oh, Father, fie for shame. What a story-teller you are! You know that the history of the Church is black — blood-red — with the records of the persecution and punishment, the excommunication and execution, the misery and martyrdom of countless hostsnumberless as the sands on the seashore —who have run counter to the teachings of the Church in the pursuit of knowledge, in the investigation of the mysteries of the Unknown, in the quest of Truth. The records have been written for all to read, including Father Vaughan. Then, how comes it that he hasn’t read them ? Dare he say he has, in the face of his statement? If the Church had had its way, would there ever have been any semblance of ‘ freedom of thought, freedom of speech, freedom of action? Emphatically no!’ Comment is needless.