THE FIRST PAN-SOUTHLAND GATHERING OF THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 19 February 1914, Page 41

THE FIRST PAN-SOUTHLAND GATHERING OF THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION

AN IMMENSE ASSEMBLAGE. THE MEETING AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. (From a special correspondent.) - ' ?‘ •• About two months ago the idea got abroad of organising, in obedience to the directions in the Bishops’ circular, a great meeting, if possible, of all in Southland belonging to and in sympathy with the Catholic Federation. The Invercargill committee communicated with the committees at Riverton, Orepuki, Wrey’s Bush, Winton, Gore, and Mataura. All leaped at the idea; they thought it splendid. Organisation commenced at once. The committees kept in touch with one another. There was a good deal to do secretaries had much writing to get over; the clergy-had to explain the matter to the people and ‘rouse their interest. ... But the result was the magnificent meeting of between 6000 and 7000 Catholic men, women, and children assembled in the beautifully situated Riverton Park on Wednesday of last week. it was grand to see that great crowd kneeling with the attention befitting a cathedral, round the extemporised altar while the Solemn High Mass was being sung. But what grander cathedral could there be than the park so beautifully situated at the junction of the rivers Aparima and Purakina and the sea ? Its roof was the cloudless sky of Wednesday; its light a warm autumnal sun; with the green Longridge Ranges as a background to the altar! What mightier organ ever thundered forth its low breathings at the Consecra-tion-moments than the long, long roll of the Pacific’s waters breaking there or the swish on the sands behind the kneeling multitude ? It was a picture to impress, a memory to retain. Fears had been entertained in regard to the weather but the school children and the pious used their influence with heaven; and the advancing sun soon scattered the morning clouds. Hundreds left their homes as early as 6.30 and 7 a.m. The distances were long; but the people were confident of a fine day. The outside committees had done their work ; the brunt of the battle now fell upon the Riverton committee. The trains arrived between 9.30 and 10.30. First arrived the Tuatapere-Orepuki train, carrying between 700 and 800 people; next, came the Lumsden - Winton train with about the same number. About 10 a.m. , the Wairio-Otautaxi train steamed up to the station and discharged on the platform about 700 persons. The locality about the station was beginning now to be very much alive. Motor cars and buggies were dropping their little parties here and there all over the town. About 10.20 the Invercargill train with 2400 passengers, and the Gore - Mataura train with about 1600 were seen in the * distance like two great black beetles winding and crawling* close upon one another, down the Tisbury incline. In not many moments the merry, talking, laughing, shouting crowds were out about the platform and all over the place. THE PROCESSION AND HIGH MASS. This as an anxious moment for Father Murphy and his marshals. But after " a little, order seemed to grow out of chaos. The band, the boys and girls of the Catholic schools of Southland, the Hibernians, the Children of Mary, about 180 of them, all in badges and regalia, the processional crossbearer followed by the Mass servers of all the churches, the united choirs, and the clergy in processional»robes —all fell into their places. The clergy- present were: The Very Rev. Dean Burke (Invercargill)"? Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary (Lawrence), Rev. Father O’Neill (West Australia), Very Rev. Father Murphy (Riverton), Very Rev. Father O’Donnell (Gore), and Very Rev. Father Lynch (Wrey’s Bush), and Rev. Fathers O’Neill (Win-

ton), Lynch (Palmerton), Tobin (Gore), and Woods (Invercargill). The banners and badges of. ’ the societies and the surplices of the altar boys and~the processional . dress and cloth of gold of the ministers give color to the moving mass. The band led the way. The clergy and the choirs closed the procession singing the Litaniae Sanctorum. The marching swing and high sharp rises and solemn responses of ‘ the old Gregorian chant sounded weird and preternatural in the streets of ‘commerce. Sancte-Antoni, Sahete Benedicts, Sancte Bernards, Orate pro nobis were —and, in the circumstances, awe-inspiring—invocations resounding in the air of Presbyterian Riverton. An _ altar 1 covered in, placed on a platform two feet high, and - adorned with all the requisites for a High Mass, occu- * pied a raised spot on the east side of the' park. The I. Very Rev. Father Murphy, pastor of the parish, acted as master of ceremonies at the Mass and presided over the whole meeting. The celebrant was the- Rev. Father Woods, the deacon, the Rev., Father Tobin, of Invercargill, and the subdeacon, the Rev. Father Lynch, of Palmerston. The Mass was most devotional. The celebrant’s strong clear voice rang out like a bell and the body of voices, strong and distinct, of the choirs fell clearly on the ears of those at a good distance. The . silence and rapt attention of the kneeling thou—some reading their prayer-books, others saying their beads—struck visitors. They were heard saying: ‘ These Southlanders have got the faith; clearly with them their religion is not a mere Sunday ornament quite obviously, it is their most solemn affair.’ At the conclusion of Mass, Father Murphy preached from the _ text, ‘You are a chosen, a holy nation.’ He began by welcoming the people of the other Southland parishes to Riverton, and by expressing the hope that the meeting would be for all pleasurable and profitable. He then went on to show that amidst the growing infidelity, materialism, and atheism the duty of standing up for the faith once delivered to saints, of maintaining the principles of virtue, Christian wisdom, charity, and justice was falling upon the shoulders of the members of the Catholic Church. That was true throughout the world. It depended on us, the children of St. Patrick, to bear the burden of supporting whatsoever was true, lovely, and of good repute in the British Empire. On the whole we were doing it nobly ; though individually there might be failures. The preacher then pointed out that good example, companionship, union were the beneficent powers that supported individuals in their vocations and kept them up to true ideals. Hence all those religious confraternities and societies. Now came the latest of these unions—the Catholic Federation.' It sprang from the necessity of united action in social and sometimes in political matters bearing on religion. Its aims were the glory of God, the good of souls, the spread of the Christian virtues, and "the maintenance of Christian ideals in social and political life. This great rqeeting was an evidence that the aims of the Federation recommended themselves to the Catholic people of Southland and that they were going to take it up seriously and make for those aims like brave men and sincere Christians. THE LUNCHEON AND SPORTS. At 12.30 a telegram from the Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr. Verdon, was read by the president:—“l heartily approve of the Pan-Southland Gathering. I 'trust it will be under every aspect successful. I pray that God will bless . the organisers and all who take part in the proceedings.” The reading of this telegram was received with enthusiastic cheers, and a reply was despatched at once from the grounds; * The thousands assembled at this first Pan-Southland gathering of the Catholic Federation are very pleased with your Lordship’s message of approval, and thank you for your words of encouragement and blessing.’ Many •had been up' from an early hour and had come a far ’ way, so they were glad to disperse now for luncheon ; and further speech-making was put off to the close of the meeting. The ladies’ : committees of Riverton and. Invercargill had fitted up a large tent for ladies and chil-

dren, and another for officials anxious to use its shade. They provided . an, excellent luncheon- for clergy, Bro- * thers, and those taking an active official part in the proceedings. The decoration of the tables ; .and the attendance was taken up by the Riverton ladies’ conn mittce, and carried out with taste and attention. Their' . guests Wore certainly pleased. The Riverton committee, under the direction of Rev. Father Murphy and Mr. Geary, deserved, the emphatic thanks of the meeting (and they got it) for the amount of work they had put into preparing the grounds —erecting the altar with its awning and carpeted predella, the speakers’ platform, the tents, the mothers’ rest, the children’s swings, the public luncheon-counters, and the roped-off divisions of the field for the sports. A plentiful supply of water and milk was there ; nothing was forgotten. Mr. Jas. Collins, of the Invercargill committee, an old, experienced hand, took charge" of the sports. These began soon after 1 o’clock and kept on till 4. . There were children’s races, youths’ races, young ladies’ races, wheelbarrow races, bag races, high jumps, a hop-step-and-jump, 440yds race for youths, a 440 for men, and an inter-parochial tug-of-war. The events were .so many that members of the committees were told off to carry on several at the same time. Substantial prizes, for which the committees had previously canvassed and .collected, were given. Mr. Collins was decided in his f raise of those members of the country committees who helped him to get the items off so quickly and smoothly. It was amusing to see the secretary’s tent stormed by the contestants with their tickets claiming first, second or third prize, as the case might be. THE SPEECHES. At 4 p.m. the ringing of the bell brought tho crowd round the platform : and the final part of the day’s proceedings, namely, the speeches, were delivered. The president of the gathering, the Very Rev. Father Murphy, introduced Dean Burke. He said their learned and cultured Dean was the brain and life of the movement, but like tho brain and vital force in every organism he worked with little noise. He returned from-France and Germany some years ago deeply impressed with the value of representative meetings ; and he proposed" to his brother priests the advisability of holding a great assembly of all the Catholics of the province. The clergy saw that it would be a means of promoting union, harmony, and a consciousness of strength, yet they did not see, when tho people were •so scattered, how a great meeting could be organised. Fortunately the machinery turned up in the shape of the parish committees of the Catholic Federation. Meetings, social functions, speeches, lectures, the circulation of literature, was to be part of their work. At the Dean’s suggestion the Invercargill parish committee moved in tho matter of a Pan-Southland gathering. The other parish committees embraced the idea eagerly. All the secretaries got into communication ; and behold the result in this great meeting of between 6000 and 7000 people whom he asked the Dean now to address. The Dean then spoke of the results that have come in France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, and Holland from the great Catholic congresses and meetings. Why should similar benefits not result here? And if so, why should not all— and cleric— themselves as members of societies, as committee-men, as secretaries, and as interested workers ? Some hustle was needed to organise this great meeting ; but it was amply repaid by . the forming of new acquaintances and the making of new friends all round. The secretaries, committee-men, choirs, and active members of the various committees had a reward in that way, besides the consciousness that they were engaged in a work which held magnificent prospects. The speaker expressed his gratification at seeing an old dream of his so splendidly’ realised. v , _

Mr. F. G. O’Beirne, a member of the Invercargill branch of the Catholic Federation, was then called upon v and spoke in part as follows We are, here to-day to inaugurate a series of annual gatherings of all the Catholics of Southland. Such gatherings must do good in

bringing us together and giving us ,an opportunity to meet • one another ' and" discuss questions pertaining, to • our social welfare, besides creating the good-fellowship that should always exist amongst us. This gathering is not a picnic merelyit is the first Pan-Southland gathering of Catholics under the auspices of the Catholic Federation. So far as I know, Invercargill has the honor of being the first parochial body to inaugurate such a gathering;; and too much praise cannot be given to Dean Burke, to whom, we are indebted for the idea, and to whose zeal and labors, aided by the. parish committees, and especially by tho ladies and by Messrs. Pound" and McNamara, we owe this most successful day. In unity is strength, and unity can only be attained , by federation. Leaders of thought the whole world over have come to recognise the power that lies in the unions -that have been developed of late years. These are as much, the weapons of political and social welfare as the Dreadnoughts are in naval warfare ; and they are more lasting, for Dreadnoughts are fast becoming things of the past, whereas unions seem to be only in their infancy. Unions properly controlled are valuable as giving official expression to the wishes of their members, and so bringing before the public their views on matters relating to their rights and interests and general welfare, and thus preventing injury and injustice. Our Federation —the Catholic Federation — good because it. gives official expression to the wishes of its members and brings before the public its views on matters relating to our social welfare. After quoting from the Constitution the statement as to the objects of the Federation, Mr. O’Beirne went on to show that the organisation is not, in the recognised sense of the expression, a political body. This, he said, could be esen by reading clauses 1 and 2 of the constitution as amended by the Dominion Council and as amplified by the explanation given in the X.Z. Tablet. By way of further, proof, the speaker pointed out that when Catholics made a stand—as, for example, on tho education question—on a matter of religion and conscience, their action, so far from being a political one, was a deliberate abstaining from politics for conscience’ sake: He hoped that the Federation would accomplish all the good it had set out to do ; and if all did their part they could feel assured that, sooner or later, .success would crown their efforts. The Rev. Father James O’Neill, formerly of Milton parish and one of the best known priests in Otago, said he saw by this great gathering that the Catholic people of Southland were growing to be a large, intelligent, and important body —a body conscious of their rights, and conscious of their strength to maintain them. Self-reliance and courage were great elements in success, great elements in securing the respect and often the admiration of others. This meeting was an evidence of the intelligence, self-reliance, and communityconsciousness of the people of Southland.' It was a lesson to the people of other districts and provinces; and when he returned to Western Australia he would at once set about enquiring what could be don© there to imitate it. It gave him a peculiar pleasure to be present at this meeting, first, because, it was a great Catholic meeting; secondly, because it was a meeting mostly of his fellow-countrymen and of their children and, again, because after a lapse of years, he met there so many dear old friends. Mr. D. L. Poppejwell, of Gore, who represents the Southland branches of the Federation on the Dominion Council, said: ‘We live in an age of organisation. ,On every side we have societies and parties forming themselves into compact bodies in order that their united efforts may be concentrated in the direction of their common interest. ■< Those who fail to organise are helpless to assist one another, and become the victims of their own ineptitude, or of the whims of some thought'less faddists, or, worse still, of ; the machinations of their enemies. Recognising this, it becomes a necessary act of self-defence on our part to federate. In doing so we do not desire to interfere with our fellow-citizens. ■We ask no favor; ,we seek no privileges which we are not

prepared to concede to all. We have no intention ;of stirring up the sometimes muddy pool of party politics. It is not our purpose to touch politics at all unless politics should touch our religion, or where our civil rights or liberties are affected. In the words of its constitution, ‘ the Catholic Federation stands for the Christian life of the nation ; for the Christian education of youth; for the repression of intemperance, for the sanctity and indissolubility of the Christian marriage; for the safeguarding of the Christian home; it asserts the necessity, of Christian principles in social and public life, in the State, in business, and in all financial and industrial relations.’ These are its aims, and none can deny that they are both high and patriotic.' It is now for the Catholics of New Zealand to make this movement effective in the fulfilment of its great intention. We have no desire to be aggressive, but we must steadily withstand all encroachments on our rights as free citizens and good Catholics. The organisation is broadbased and thoroughly democratic. The voting power lies with all members over sixteen years of age. The members elect the parish committees, who in turn elect the diocesan councils. These bodies elect the Dominion Council, which‘is the managing authority of the Federation. The latter body is strengthened by the ex officio membership of the Catholic Archbishops and Bishops of the Dominion. Thus it is that the traditional unity of the priests and people makes for the common good and gives weight and moment to the deliberations and conclusions of the responsible governing body. When I go to Wellington next week to the half-yearly meeting of the Dominion Council it will be my duty, as it will be my pleasure, to report to that meeting how the Catholics of Southland, mindful of their high obligations, have successfully carried out this great demonstration, and how they can be relied on to further the efforts of the Federation to assist and protect all members of the community in their aspirations for full and free rights of citizenship, and to prevent any section of the community from being penalised on account of it? religious beliefs. The Very Rev. Father O’Donnell, of Gore, said he was for the moment at a loss to know what to say after the fine speeches they had listened to. But this was a great and inspiring meeting, and it suggested many ideas. This meeting was organised by the Catholic Federation, a rising movement which stood foxjustice and charity in public life— justice and charity, the basic principles of a genuine sociology. It is the rule of eternal justice and Christian charity—not of majorities, not of referendums, not of the weight of numbers— forms a free, proud, and independent nation. States, forms of government, are not ultimate : they are not the highest ; they have not absolute authority over individuals, families, or communities. - We are not statolatrists, worshippers of States or governments, be they monarchies, aristocracies, or democracies. No- divinity hedges these ‘forms’ round; they are our own creations. But eternal justice and Christian charity ax-e the highest, they are the guides and masters of rulers and subjects. And justice and charity are the two pillars of our Federation — such justice as will give every man his rights; such- charity as, in the warmth of its love, will always hear the cry of the unfortunate. Justice and fair play to all ; charity to those too weak to maintain their place in the race of .life. We ask for no privileges : but we insist on our rights— our views and principles shall be respected as are the views and principles of all othersthat ideas as to education, the rights of the family, divorce, and kindred questions, pleasing to other bodies, be they wealthy minorities or numerically powerful majorities, shall not be forced upon us. We insist on our place in society and the State. No fear! no favor! Justice and charity, Christian wisdom and virtue—in other words, the rule of the Creator in His own —these are ultimates with us, and these ape the aims and objects of . the Catholic Federation. ‘I have .no doubt;’ said b the speaker, ‘ that the Catholic Federation will, in, course of time, b make itself felt-in the ; social and public life of South-

land. • We . have here good material—the sons -of the clans of Connaught— children of * a brave and haughty race’ who ‘ learned liberty and independence ‘ from-crashing wind and" lashing sea’ in their remote Western home. It is said that the Scottish people are clannish he believed the Irish people, especially those from the West, were more clannish, more conservative, more contemptuous of empty fads and silly modernisms. The old principles; of the Catholic Church are safe in the hands of such people. The destiny of the Catholic Federation is assured in Southland.’ The Very Rev. Mgr. O’Leary, one of the pioneer priests of Southland, said he was delighted to be there that day. He was one of the old pioneers, and his mind naturally went back to the early ‘days. It was he who sang the Mass at the opening of the church on the hill yonder, forty years ago. The distinguished Jesuit, Father William Kelly, preached the -sermon, and Bishop Moran blessed the building. These two 1 remarkable men and most of the congregation present that day have passed away. But if the old pioneers are gone they have left behind them—race-suicide was not fashionable ,in their timelarge families in possession of many wide acres of this lovely land, and in possession of what is far bettter and nobler—in possession of the faith, the religious and patriotic traditions, and the. chastity and purity of morals of their ancestors. He said he was moved to tears as he saw the deep recollection of that vast kneeling assembly that morning at Mass ; and his mind instinctively went back to the time, after all not so long ago, when their fathers in the Faith heard Mass on the mountain and in the glen. The devotion of to-day is the devotion of that time transmitted and inherited. It is in the blood —that deep faith, that grasp of the supernatural, that love of the religiously poetical, the pure and the ideal. These are noble traditions,’ said the speaker; ‘treasure them. Never become poor sneaking imitators of the spirit of apostasy from faith and purity of life. ■ Don’t demean yourselves by copying it. You are the children of an older, higher, purer civilisation than it represents. That is one of the aims of the Catholic Federation—to Christianise our half-pagan materialistic society. I am proud of you Catholics of Southland, and proud of your clergy. Quales paroclii tales populi is an old and a true saying, illustrated here to-day. Maintain your old Catholic spirit; be united, let there be no leakage let every man, woman, and child join the Federation continue your parish committee meetings ; let this be the first of a series of great annual Pan-Southland gatherings of the Catholic Federation, and may the future meetings be like the present one— acts of profession of the faith, declarations of fair hopes for the future, and evidences of a truly Catholic charity and solidarity.’ ‘ ■ At this stage in the proceedings some representative country laymen spoke; but -with a modesty natural to them on being called upon unexpectedly to address a mixed meeting of over six thousand persons, they confined themselves to the usual ‘ few words.’ - The Rev. Father Lynch, of Wrey’s Bush, speaking for his people, said the Pan-Southland gathering would prove an inspiration to country people, who were usually somewhat careless in public matters ; it would prove a rouser and refresher to his back-blockers, miners, and ‘ hatters ’ from Birchwood and Manapiri, who visited civilisation only at intervals of years, but who had been travelling, some of them, - from six that morning to reach that meeting and see old friends from all the country-side. They were not disappointed. One old man had just told him that he wished the gathering would last three days : he had not yet got through a quarter of what he had to say to and hear from his old friends,. This meeting was not merely a pageant (added the speaker), it was- a power for much good. . The Rev. Father O’Neill, of Winton, who had brought a very large contingent, amongst them a pretty body of 40 Children of Mary in badges and blue cloaks, expressed the . hope/ that this great meeting would- be the.firm founding of the Federation in Southland, : the awakening of the Catholic) people to a consciousness -of

their solidarity and strength, and the forerunner of like - greater gatherings yet to .come. ...... The religious ; ceremonial and the singing of the united choirs gave, lie said, a unique tone, calm, and elevation to the meeting. The proceedings were now coming to a close; and yet hot a particle of evidence that .this was not a dry’district had appeared on the field. In fact, the railway officials told him, just now, that this was the most orderly and well-behaved, as well as the largest, mass of people they had handled for years. The children, under the management of the Marist Brothers, were not fussy, and gave no trouble. They, too—and what a credit to their teachersshowed habits of obedience and selfcontrol. i-; When the speechmaking ceased, the united choirs, led by Mr. Searle, choir-master, Invercargill, sang the' ‘ Faith of our Fathers ’ and the ‘ Song for tho Pope'';— hundreds in the crowd joining in. The open-air effect, in the calm evening, was very fine. Cheers for. the Rivferton, Invercargill, and country committees, and in particular for the energetic secretaries, Messrs. Geary, Pound, and McNamara, brought a memorable meeting to a close. There was not the slightest accident or mishap from beginning to end. This was owing to the foresight of the secretaries, and the extreme care bestowed by the railway management on the arrangements. ■ V .