IRELAND IN CANADA

New Zealand Tablet, 23 October 1913, Page 47

IRELAND IN CANADA

It was a brilliant August afternoon when I found my way to the Archbishop's Palace at Toronto (writes a correspondent of the Irish Catholic). I had the honor of an introduction to his Grace from London, and when I rang up the Archbishop's private secretary he informed me that I could have an interview that afternoon. In Toronto, as in all Canadian cities, an immense amount of work is done by telephoning; everyone has a telephone, and I am glad to say the system is much better than in London. The Archbishop's Palace is pleasantly situated in the suburbs of Toronto, and when I arrived and sent up my card I was told his Grace would see me at once. Presently Archbishop Neil McNeil, entered, and gave me his ring to kiss. I found myself in the presence of a tall man, rather spare of frame, with'keen eyes, which, though rather severe in expression, were capable of smiling when his whole face underwent a change. ' ~ \ He was kind enough to show interest in my visit to Canada, and when I asked if he would give me a message for the Irish Catholic he paused for a moment or two and reflected. He thought it rather difficult to frame a message, as many of the things he wished to speak about could not be considered readily. Ireland has been sending Sisters to teach all .over the British Empire (he said) but she sends very few to Canada. I know a few do come to Canada, but there is a great demand for the teaching Sisterhoods here and great good work can be done by them in the Dominion. Many vocations ought to be had in Ireland, but we want hundreds of nuns out here to teach and

carry on the work in this vast Dominion. Few realise that the need of teachers, Catholic teachers, in Canada is very great. We look to the Catholic teachers to safeguard the faith here.' He considered that if the young women of Ireland who find themselves called by God to the religious life knew of this urgent need in Canada, that they would enter some of the many teaching Orders already established there, but which must die out unless they have a large number of entrants to maintain the various foundations. Girls called to the conventual life go from Ireland to convents in Africa, Asia, and other far-off lands, and the Archbishop thinks that if they understood how hard it is to get recruits for the Canadian dioceses, some of which are situated in the faraway sparsely-populated Western portions of the Dominion, that girls with a vocation would volunteer to come to Canada instead and enter convents there. Speaking of the Irish in Canada, his Grace said that after travelling in various parts he found that the Irish do not colonise like the Germans, Italians, and people of other nationalities. It was hard to understand why this was so. Another point his Grace wished to draw attention to was that in many farming districts where the original settlers were • from Ireland, owing to some family arrangement the sons and daughters did not get married until the parents had died. This often meant that a man was advanced in life before he was free to take a wife, and then he very often did not get married at all. Owing to this there was a likelihood that many of these old Irish Catholic families would die out. In Montreal the Irish Catholics were in a very large proportion. In Toronto there were about 30,000 to 35,000 Irish Catholics. Irish Catholics were to be found in Halifax, and Vancouver, and Ontario. A very large number of Irish, clergy were to be found all over Canada.

There are many prominent Irish Catholics in Canada who were most liberal in their donations and gifts to the Church. 'ln Toronto,' said his Grace, Mr. Eugene O'Keefe, the banker, had given £BO,OOO to build a Catholic seminary for training the Catholic theological students of that diocese. Mr. O'Keele is always generous, and he gives 500 dollars to every new church foundation in this diocese, besides other gifts which no one hears of. Another great Irish Catholic is. the Right Hon. Sir Charles Fitzpatrick, .P. 0., G.C., M.G., the Chief Justice. Archbishop McNeil told me that Sir Charles goes to Mass every day, and is a most devout Catholic. During the absence of the Duke ■ of Connaught, the Governor-General, Sir Charles acts for him. A short time ago the Chief Justice was, as usual, attending morning Mass when the server became ill and was unable to remain at the altar. Seeing this, Sir Charles at once took the acolyte's place, and the congregation had the unique experience of seeing the Chief Justice of Canada and Acting Governor-General giving the responses and serving Mass just the same as if he were a boy again serving the priest in far-away Ireland. No doubt, the anti-Catholic party would not have approved of the occurrence, but it only goes to show that despite the honors which have been heaped on him Sir Charles remains the same ardent follower of the Church to which he is so proud to belong.