CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 23 July 1914, Page 29

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

WELLINGTON. (From our own correspondent.) There was a- large attendance 'at the annual meeting of the Island Lay branch of the N.Z. Catholic Federation at the Church of St. Francis in that district last Sunday evening. The Yen. Archdeacon Dcvoy, Vice-Provincial j was in the chair, and his Grace Archbishop O’Shea was present. The renort of the branch read disclosed a very satisfactory position, and was adopted on the motion of Messrs. Hoskins and Whitaker. Mr. P. J. O’Regan moved a resolution against the proposed introduction of the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill, and in the course of a spirited speech in support thereof severely criticised'(he policy of the Bible-in-Schools League. lie referred to the iniquitous proposal of deciding a question of religion by a plebiscite, and showed by instances from the early history of New Zealand that at the very birth of ordered government the great principle of religious equality had been insisted upon. The injustice that would be inflicted upon the teachers would be intolerable, and represented nothing more nor less than a breach of faith with them. Mr. O’ Regan concluded-by touching upon the position of Catholics in districts where by necessity they were compelled to use the State schools, and luted out the inevitable aggravation of their present conscientious difficulties. lis Grace Archbishop O’Shea seconded he resolution, and pointed out (he inconsistencies of the socalled Bible -in-. Schools League, and the confusing issues to be placed before the electors. Some people said that the passing of this so-called referendum would be the best means of obtaining State aid for Catholic schools. Even take it for granted that that were so, nevertheless Catholics would cry out at the injustice of a majority ruling the minority in matter;, affecting conscience. Personally, he would always l.e on the side of minorities to"do all in his power to assist, in combating such iniquitous measures as the one proposed. Mr. Girling-Butehcr supported the resolution, which was unanimously carried. The following committee was elected for the ensuing twelve months: Messrs Krohu, Whitaker, Rcdican, Dallow, and Pender. AUCKLAND. (From the club correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Auckland Diocesan Council was held in St. Benedict’s Catholic Clubrooms, Auckland, on Wednesday, July 15, 1914. . Mr. B. McLaughlin (vice-pros- ’cut) presided. The following branches were repress • :—St. Patrick’s, St. Benedict’s, Ponsonby, Grey i Devonport, Parnell, Ellerslie, Onehunga, Utah, I'uakau, Huntly, Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, Cambric 1. otorua, Paeroa, Waihi, Thames, Te Awamutu, Trmmarunui, Dargaville, Coromandel, Tauranga, Puhoi, Ormond, Gisborne, Mata, Okailiau, Opotiki, aid Whangarei. Apologies for absence were received from his Lordship Bishop Cleary and Yen. Archdeacon Hackett. The president, in his opening remarks, welcomed the delegates, especially those who had come great distances and -at some personal sacrifice and inconvenience. - This showed they had tie cause of the Federation at heart and augured well for the movef merit. The annual report was in part as follows: — One of the most important matters arranged during the year has been the obtaining of an office in the' city for the conduct of the Federation’s business. This was due to the courtesy of Mr. J. C. Glecson of this city, who gave to the use of the Federation an office in High street. The committee has established an employment bureau, and has already been successful in placing several of our members in positions. Wo have also formed an accommodation bureau, and in this con-

nection have been of considerable use and assistance to visiting Catholics from other parts of the Dominion, in securing Catholic hotels and boarding-houses. • Catholic Immigration.'Since the last meeting of the Council, a strong Catholic Immigration Committee has been established for the port of Auckland, and is doing good work. In connection with school committee elections the Diocesan Executive, acting under the instructions of the Dominion Executive, arranged for our branches to take an interest in the elections. he Auckland branch of the Federation has entered into the fight against the Bible-in-schools movement with a will, and a strong determination to do its utmost to defeat the objects of the League. All our branches arc working on this question, and have passed resolutions of protests and forwarded same on to the Government. Much publicity has been given these protests in the press. The committee desires to impress upon each delegate present the extreme importance of dealing with this important matter with all our strength, and requests each parish committee and local committee to show their weight on this question. Your committee here desire to bring before your notice the- great volume of work being put into this fight on behalf of the Federation and the Catholic* people by his Lordship Dr. Cleary, and hereby cal'upon each branch in this diocese to support and second the efforts of our champion in this struggle for our freedom. Every branch is again reminded of the importance of getting all our people on the rolls. The committee is pleased to record that the important matter of organisation is steadily improving, and that parish committees are generally increasing their membership. Several new branches have recently been formed, and altogether the position of our organisation is steadily improving. Before concluding this report, we wish to record our regret that Mr. J. J. Furlong was, owing to being transferred to Invercargill, compelled to resign his position a month ago. The good work of Mr. Furlong was much appreciated by his fellow-members of the committee. A large quantity of correspondence was read to the meeting from a number of parishes, and showed that the Federation was steadily improving. A letter was also received from the Westminster Catholic Federation of England, enclosing a copy of their last annual report. A telegram was also received from the Dominion Executive wishing heartiest congratulations to the meeting. The treasurer’s report showed that branches were sending in their remittances better this year. A remittance of £IOO had been sent on to the Dominion Executive, and the council had a balance of £33 in hand. The delegates present submitted a report upon the affairs of the ■ Federation in their respective parishes, which showed that the branches were endeavoring to promote the interests of the FederaHon. Every branch had taken up very strongly the fight in connection with the Bible-in-schools movement. Resolutions of protest were passed by every branch. The election, of officers resulted as follows: —Presi- • dent, Mr. B. McLaughlin; vice-presidents, Messrs. A. Rose and P. J. Nerheny ; diocesan secretary, Mr. F. G. J. Temm; assistant diocesan secretary, Mr. M. C. Tully ; diocesan treasurer, Mr. M. J. Sheahan : delegate to Dominion Council — Messrs. B. McLaughlin, F. G. J. Temm, and one of the vice-presidents as may be mutually arranged between them at time of council meetings. . Remits from Parish Committees. —The Hamilton branch moved to increase the subscriptions from one shilling to two shillings per annum, and to admit all under 21 years of age free. The motion was lost. Rev. Father Murphy (Cambridge) moved ‘ That the next half-yearly meeting of the Diocesan Council be held at Hamilton.-’ Mr. F. G. JATemm seconded, considering that it was in the best interests of the country branches to assist them in this connection. It would

give that portion of the diocese an impetus in Federation matters. The motion was carried. The meeting concluded with usual votes of thanks to chair, etc. PARNELL. , (From our own correspondent.) The annual meeting of the Parnell branch of the Catholic Federation was held on Sunday, June 28, and was attended by ,a majority of the members. The Rev. Father Patterson - presided. The secretary's report was read and adopted. The president expressed Ins appreciation of the efforts of his committee in the enrolment of members during the year, and thanked the members for the fine way in which they had responded to the call. He hoped before long to see every man, woman, and child in the parish enrolled. in the Federation. Resolutions (three) of protest against the proposal to grant a. referendum on the question of Bible-reading in the State schools were passed by the Federation, the Sacred Heart Society, the Altar Society, Children of Mary, and Young Men’s Club combined. Copies of these resolutions have been forwarded to the Minister of Education and to the Member for the district. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:Vice-president, Mr. J. O'Sullivan: committee—Messrs. 11. J. Skinner, 11. Young, P. J. Barry, A. Markov, John O’Sullivan, T. M. Taylor (secretary and treasurer), Mesdames O’Keeffe, O’Shea, and Blackburn, Misses M. O’Sullivan, K. Taylor, and C. Taylor, and Messrs. G. Kolias and Andrew Markey. A vote of thanks to the Rev. Father Patterson, for the whole-hearted manner in which he had directed the organisation of this branch, was carried by acclamation. LAWRENCE. (From our own correspondent.) July 20. At large and enthusiastic meetings of the branches of the Catholic Federation of Roxburgh and Miller’s Flat, held on Sunday, strong resolutions were passed against the proposed referendum on the Bible-iu-schools question. In both centres Rev. Father O’Connell addressed the meetings and put before the members the reasons why Catholics object (1) to the referendum, and (2) to the 'League’s platform. In Miller’s Flat the motion of protest was moved by Mr. D. Mullane and seconded by Mr. J. Hand, while in Roxburgh the resolution was moved and seconded by Mr. H. Waigth, jun., and Mr, 11. Brady respectively. In each case the motion was carried with enthusiastic unanimity. These protests were wired to Mr. ' Scott, Member for the district, and to leaders of the two parties in the House. WINTON. (From our own correspondent.) The annual meeting of the local branch of the Catholic Federation was held on July 5, when a great deal of interest and enthusiasm was shown. The Rev. Father O’Neill, in addressing the congregation, explained the objects of the Federation, and the good work it had already -accomplished in various parts of New Zealand, and strongly urged all his parishioners to join. It being inconvenient for himself to act as president, Mr. Timothy Cosgrove wap - appointed. The election of the committee resulted as follows: —Vicepresidents, Messrs. M. Daley and D. O’Malley hon. secretary, Mr. H. O’Reilly; hon. treasurer, Mr. M. O’Reilly: committee —Messrs. P. Kerr, A. McDonald; Sacred Heart Society, Messrs. J. Kerr and M. Holland ; Children of Mary, Misses M. Dugan and M. Ryan. During the evening a strong resolution of protest against the proposed referendum on the Bible-in-schools question was carried. The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing committee.