CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 28 October 1915, Page 51

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

I'; ~ DOMINION EXECUTIVE. | (From our k Wellington correspondent.) | '-: ,'," ,/ October 16.* §._ The Dominion Executive of the Catholic Federation met ; last Wednesday evening, Mr. J. J. L. Burke presiding. There were' also present—-Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., Adm., Messrs. Duggan, Ellis, Johnson, Hoskins, Reichel, and Sievers. Correspondence in connection with the censorship of picture films | was dealt with, and disclosed that the action of the had met with widespread approval. Matters arising out of the conference which the Federation had with the Minister for Education were discussed. The sub-committee set up to report 'upon" the question of resuscitating the ' Bulletin' presented its .report, recommending the issue of that publication once every two months. The report was adopted, and ; Messrs. Hoskins, Johnson, and Duggan were appointed a press sub-committee to publish the 'Bulletin' in J accordance with the report presented. The Wellington •Diocesan Council sent in a remittance of £94 Os lid,

representing £.72 Os lid for dues, and £22 for the Trentham Kail building fund. The secretary reported that every city and borough council, education board, and educational institute in New Zealand had been written to 'in' connection with the censorship of picture films, and replies were coming in day by day, and in almost every case favorable. These bodies had also, at the suggestion of the Federation, expressed their intention of writing to the, Minister for Internal Affairs, requesting him to establish a censorship over picture films. As a result of a letter which had appeared in the Tablet anent the building of a Catholic hall at the Tauherenikau Camp, the sum of £1 was received through the editor of the Tablet, also an offer of a lady, who does not wish her name disclosed, to provide a piano for the entertainment of the Catholic soldiers. AUCKLAND DIOCESAN COUNCIL. (From a correspondent.) A special meeting of the committee of the Auckland Diocesan Council was held on Wednesday, October 13, in the Federation office, High street, Auckland. There were present A. Rose (president), Right. Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G., Rev. Father Forde, and Messrs. Fitzgerald, Hanson, Dromgool, and Temm. A deputation from St. Benedict's parish committee waited on the committee for the purpose of asking the Diocesan Council's assistance in connection with the providing of a marquee at the Avondale military camp. Rev. Father Forde stated he had been specially requested to attend the meeting, and explain that from further information, since received, it was not now necessary to provide a marquee at the camp. He had attended the camp that afternoon, and the men themselves expressed the opinion that it was not necessary for the Federation to go to the expense in providing a marquee. It was, however, considered desirable that the Federation should have a marquee for use in military camps wherever needed, and it was decided to purchase one on the first opportunity. Rev. Father Forde (who is acting as chaplain to the Avondale Camp) expressed the opinion that the Federation might be able to assist the men in camp in other directions. It was decided to take up the matter of catering for the spiritual needs of the men by supplying them with prayer books, Rosary beads, and. other aids to devotion. A letter was received from the diocesan secretary in connection with the proposal to establish a Catholic hostel in the city for women and girls. . It was decided to call a special meeting to deal with this matter.

Mr. E. G. JT: 'Tfeinm ’ submitted a' comprehensive report on , his recent visit to several branches in . the diocese. The report showed that good work in the matter of reorganising some of the country branches h a been done. ; In some cases the committee was not in 'existence,. and : ho, meeting had been held for over twelve months. In these-cases • new - committees were elected, and the Federation resuscitated. In other cases Federation matters were found to be in : a flourishing condition. Mr. Temm also reported on "the hospitality and cordial welcome and assistance accorded him by the clergy, parish secretaries, and parish committees. Mr. Fitzgerald, in moving that the report be received and adopted, expressed pleasure at the success of Mr. Temm’s visits.

A. letter was also received from the Westminster Catholic Federation forwarding, a copy of a letter that body had received from his Holiness the Pope, expressing pleasure at the good work , the . Catholic Federation of England was-doing in the interests 'of religion. ' ■£

Right Rev. Mgr. Brodie, V.G., asked the Federation to take part in a public function to be held in honor of his Grace Archbishop O’Shea on the occasion of his first episcopal visit to Auckland. Monsignor Brodie stated he would like the Federation to represent the ■ laity by presenting an address to his Grace. It was decided that Mr. Hanson and the secretary draw up a suitable address, and submit same to Monsignor Brodie for approval. : A letter was also received in connection with an objectionable picture film, and it was decided to v refer the matter to the literature and vigilance committee for a report and recommendation. - The secretary reported he had acted successfully in connection with the exhibition of an offensive picture which was regarded as a travesty of the Catholic religion. Pleasure was expressed that so many public bodies and educational institutions had congratulated the Federation on its action in connection with the censorship of picture films. The treasurer submitted a report which showed that the sum of £7O had been expended by the Auckland Diocesan Council in connection with the providing for the Catholic troops in the Expeditionary Forces. /

Owing to pressure of business the Auckland Diocesan Committee decided to meet fortnightly in future.

ST. JOSEPH’S PARISH, WELLINGTON. If the large attendance at the first, quarterly .meeting of parishioners on Sunday evening, October 10, is anything to go by, St. Joseph’s parish committee should be satisfied with its. new departure. At the annual meeting, the retiring committee suggested, as a means of bringing Federation matters more prominently before members, that quarterly meetings be held at which a report of the work done by the committee during the quarter be presented, and an address delivered on some interesting subject. The Rev. Father Hurley, S.M., Adm., was in the chair, and there were present Rev, Father Barra, S.M. (president of the branch), Messrs. ; Poppelwell (president of ; the Dominion Council), J. J. L. Burke (chairman of the Dominion Executive), G. Girling-Butcher (general secretary) and W. F. Johnson (secretary of the Wellington Diocesan Committee). The rev. chairman in a few remarks explained the object of the meeting, and then called upon the Rev. Father Barra to read the secretary’s report of the quarter’s work, which was in part as follows; •' '

Your committee again very much regret that results are not up to anticipations, inasmuch that there is still a considerable number of our people in 'the parish who have not paid their subscriptions: Arrangements are now being made for members of the committee to visit these parishioners personally, and we trust that at our next quarterly meeting we shall be in a position to report that every Catholic in the parish has joined the Federation. Your committee held three meetings, and many matters affecting /the interests of our .people were considered. Special at-

S tention has been given to the sale of improper books ; and pictures, and the exhibition of cinematograph films. The social aspect of the Federation had to -be abandoned, as we were 'not able to procure a hall. Mr.; Poppelwell, 'president of the Dominion Council, x offered your committee to lecture on ' New Zealand Plant Life,' but no suitable hall being available the lecture, which was very interesting and illustrated with . a number of beautiful lantern slides, was delivered in the study hall of St. Patrick's College. The need of an up-to-date Catholic hall has come home to us very forcibly, and we trust that in the near future steps will be taken to supply this urgent want. Your committee continue to attend to the comforts of our boys at the front, and several pai eels of literature have been forwarded to them. Your committee also proposed that a Dominion Roll of Honor should be taken, and your committee will be thankful to parishioners to hand in the names of relatives or friends who have gone to the front. The Rev. Father Hurley, in moving the adoption of the report, which was agreed to, said it was pleasing to note that the committee had not been idle, and that much good work had been 'accomplished. The Rev. Father Hurley then gave a very instructive and interesting address on Proportional Representation.' At the close of the address a very hearty vote of thanks was accorded the rev. lecturer on the motion of Messrs. Poppelwell and Johnson. On the whole the meeting was very successful, and St. Joseph's committee should feel proud of its efforts in inaugurating something which is likely to become very useful, and the example might well be adopted by other parish committees throughout the Dominion. P AERO A. (From our own correspondent.) October 7. A meeting of the Paeroa branch of the Catholic Federation was held in the Central Theatre a few nights ago, when an interesting address was given by Mr. F. G. Temm, a member of the Auckland executive committee, on the works and objects of the Federation. Mr. J. Donovan presided, and in introducing the speaker, referred to the sacrifice made by Mr. Temm in giving up his holiday to the cause and travelling the province addressing meetings of the branches. Mr. Temm, in the course of an eloquent address, dealt with the aims and objects of the Catholic Federation, and the good work it had done since it was established three years ago. In reply to questions Mr. Temm said that the Federation had supported many candidates at the last general election who were not of the Catholic religion because they were opposed to the policy of the Bible in State Schools League. The speaker was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. , Right Rev. Monsignor Hackett, in speaking to the motion, said that the speaker had given, in a concise and eloquent manner, a bird's-eye view of the history of the Federation.