DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 20 January 1916, Page 25

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) January 17. The Rev. Father Barry, C.SS.R., preached in the Cathedral on Sunday evening last to a large congregation. The annual retreat for the secular clergy of the diocese commences at the Cathedral to-day (Monday), and is being conducted by the Rev. Father Barry, C.SS.R. It is understood that the personal bequest made to his successor by the late Bishop Grimes will be used to aid in liquidating the existing liabilities on the Cathedral. In recognition of her long service as treasurer of the Cathedral confraternity of Diocesan Ladies of Charity, the members presented Miss M. Nelson with a beautiful statue of St. Anthony of Padua as a New Year’s gift. Mr. and Mrs. H. Murray, of Avonside, Christchurch, have been advised that their elder son, Mr. H. St. A. Murray, who recently offered himself in Australia for active service, has been gazetted as a lieutenant in the Queensland Field Engineers.

The following letter from the Right Rev. Dr. Canevin, Bishop of Pittsburgh, U.S.A., has been received at the episcopal residence, and its insertion in the N.Z. Tablet may be the means of discovering the relative who is sought: — A James McCarthy, who died in this city some time ago, bequeathed "Five hundred dollars to my sister in New Zealand." This is all the information that can be obtained. There is a report that he once said his sister was in a convent in New Zealand. If any community in New Zealand has a member named McCarthy, who had a brother James in Pittsburgh, let her write to me and I shall present her claim to the executors of James McCarthy's will.'

A very pleasurable event was the garden party on last Saturday afternoon and evening in the spacious and beautifully laid out grounds attached to the Cathedral and episcopal residence. The people gathered in considerable numbers, and in perfect weather spent a most enjoyable time. Every credit is due to the Cathe-

dral school committee, headed by the energetic secretary (Mr. P. A. O’Connell)), for the excellent arrangements made, and as a result of their efforts the handsome sum of over £9O was realised. Derry's Band performed during the afternoon and evening, and effective electric lighting arrangements were in charge of Mr. Wedderspoon. Excellent displays were given by the Marist Brothers’ school boys, and by a squad of little boys from the Addington Catholic School, in charge of Brother Anastasius and Lieutenant Amos respectively. A large refreshment tent was in charge of Mrs. F. Green, a produce stall in charge of Mrs. J. O’Brien, Mrs. Neilson, and Mr. George Nee; sweets and cigarettes stall, Mrs. J. S. Foley; ice cream stall, Miss Fanning; flower stall. Miss El. Cronin; sideshows, Mr. W. Rodgers. All did good business. The gates were in charge of Messrs. Pearce, J. Cummings, F. O’Connell, and L. Corbett, whilst a large number of young ladies were busily engaged pushing business among the gathering. The proceeds are intended to aid the fund being raised for the renovation and improvement of the Marist Brothers’ residence. A largely attended meeting of the committee appointed to arrange for the reception of his Excellency the Most Rev. Archbishop Cerretti, Apostolic Delegate, and for a welcome to the Right Rev. Dr. Brodie, Bishop-elect of Christchurch, was held on last Monday evening in the Hibernian Hall. The Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., presided, the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., being also present. The Very Rev. Chairman explained that at the present stage the principal business to be undertaken was the formation of sectional committees whose duties it would be to arrange and carry out the details of the event. The following -committees were then elected;Address commit—Very Rev. Dean Hills, Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., Sir Georg© Clifford, Bart., Messrs. E. D. Hoben, and J. J. Wilson (secretary) : executive committee— To consist of the above, also Dr. A. B. O’Brien, Dr. Morkane, Messrs. H. H. Loughnan, T. Cotter, T. Cahill, J. R. Hayward, P. J. Young, E. J. P. Wall, and P. A. O’Connell; reception committeemembers of the executive, Dr. Ardagh, Messrs. W. Hayward, jun., Brown, T. B. Gaffney, W. Cassin, R. P. O’Shaughnessy, R. Beveridge, P. Amodeo, A. J. O’Malley, McLaren, G. C. Hayward, and Superintendent Dwyer; entertainment committee Messrs. H. H. Loughnan, M. Garty, T. Cahill, P. J. Augarde, Eric Harper, E. L. McKeon, J. E. Doolan, L. Blake, J, Curry, M. Grimes, W. T. Ward, G. C. Hayward, J. J. O’Gorman, E. J. P. Wall, F. J. Doolan, Mesdames J. C. Palmer, F. Green, P. Herbert, McLaren, J. S. Barrett, T. Cahill, M. Garty, J. O’Brien, Misses M. G. O’Connor, N. Hayward, Conder, Geaney, J. Cronin.

CATHOLIC FEDERATIONContinued (Continued from page 43.) pupils attending other than private, secondary, and high schools. Now, this system is designed to make/the conditions of acquiring education open to all. But, as a matter of fact, it is rarely that a person in poor circumstances can afford to keep his cliildren so long without earning. After the primary course, a boy’s needs are greater in the matter of clothing and general maintenance, and, even when a poor parent can allow him to avail himself of the advantages offered by the State, it is only after a very severe and prolonged struggle. Hence it is that in the majority of instances only those who are in fairly easy circumstances can .benefit by these liberal provisions. But, if this is the case in regard to those who can conscientiously avail themselves of the State’s , bounty, how much harder is the lot of the poor Catholic who has not only to pay for the primary education of his children, but is debarred by unjust and iniquitous legislation from availing himself of the advantages offered to others, out of public funds, and has again to put his hand in his pocket and find every penny of money necessary for his children’s education right up to the end. With a struggle he might manage to keep his children longer at their studies, if the fees were remitted, but in many cases he cannot at the same time pay fees, clothe, and provide for his children during their student years, and allow them the necessary time away from work, in order to equip themselves as educationally equal to their fellow companions of other denominations. Surely, here is gross and glaring injustice ; for, bear in mind, that all the money that is spent by the State in education is provided out of public funds derived from taxes and other public sources of revenue to which Catholics as citizens of New Zealand contribute equally with others. And how, we ask, can our legislators claim that they have succeeded in attaining their aim of giving equal opportunities of education to all, if by, the very instrument of foundation they debar such a large body as the Catholics, from profiting by the advantages they offer? As a matter of fact, Dr. Kennedy, the Rector of St. Patrick’s College, stated in his evidence before the Education Commission in 1912 that

90 per cent of the boys entering St. Patrick's come there with , their proficiency certificates. All these boys are thus debarred from enjoying the rewards and privileges that they have lawfully won and are legally entitled to."

Not Asking a Favor.

We are not asking the Government for any favor. We are asking simple justice. We demand that, as we share the burdens, we should not be debarred from reaping the advantages. We do not object to the right of Government inspection. We do not deny the right of the Government to see that the secular education of all its children is carried out effectively. But we do demand that, if we do the Government's work in the matter of secular education to the Government's satisfaction, that we should receive the Government's money out of the funds to which we contribute equally with others from which it pays for similar work in the schools it has established. We pay in.taxes for education. We cannot on grounds of conscience and religion accept the article the Government offers us in return for our money. Therefore, we demand, that the Government returns our money or gives us an article we can accept by allowing us our own schools on an equal footing in every way with its own. These are our demands, our just rights. We alone of all the Christian bodies cannot accept the secular system and, therefore, must, while contributing to this system for the benefit of others, establish, equip, and support our schools at considerable and additional expense. Surely, we should have some voice in the disposal of our. own money..

Failure of Secular System.

And the reason for all this injustice and persecution is because the State, some 38 years ago, committed itself to the principle of free, secular, and compulsory

education the establishment and promotion of unity amongst a community of mixed religious opinions, by setting up a so-called neutral system calculated to be offensive to none and acceptable to all. Though professedly neutral as regards religion, our present system, as Dr. Cleary pointed out in his evidence before the Education Commission in 1912, is founded on at least two dogmatic • principles: Ist religion has no necessary or useful place in the schoolroom; 2nd—that a political majority has a right to exclude religion from a place it has occupied from immemorial ages. Hence, far'from being a neutral system, it is founded on very positive religious dogmas that are, I venture to say, unacceptable to a very large number of citizens other than Catholics. That the system is a failure is evidenced by the fact that at least it is not acceptable to a very large section of the communityviz., the Catholics— have shown their disapproval by the refusal to accept it and by the consequent expenditure of thousands of pounds annually for the provision of a system that they consider suitable. They cannot thus be said to have acted merely on sentimental grounds, when they have dipped their hands so deeply into their pockets. Moreover, the secular system has proved itself unacceptable to a large number of people of other religious beliefs, as was shown by the serious agitation recently in New Zealand in favor of the introduction of some form of religious training known as the Bible-in-schools movement. In face of this vigorous and open opposition, it would seem high time for some of our politicians to come out courageously and openly from the inane and unjust conservatism under which they have sheltered themselves in the past, and more for the abolition of these odious laws to set up in their place some Fair and just system that would be acceptable to all and unjust to none.

1 repeat that we are asking no favors. We are demanding our just rights. No majority, no matter how great, has the right to impose its opinions in religious matters upon a- minority. We pay taxes with others. We cannot on grounds of conscience and religious belief accept the form of education that is offered us in return for our money. Hence in strict justice we demand a system that our conscience will allow us to accept. We are no shirkers. We do not wish to side-step our responsibilities. We are ready to bear the burdens of the State equally with others. Our sons have responded to the call of King and Empire in the present struggle and have poured out their blood freely on the battlefields of Europe. And so with all the burdens of citizenship. But, then, if we share the burdens, if we help in the labors, surely it is but right that we should demand a portion of the privileges, our share of the rewards.

Necessary to Make Known Our Views.

I would be the last to think that the New Zealander is a bigot. lam sure that he is keen and ready to remedy injustice, when he has the injustice pointed out to him. And, I feel certain, that we suffer injustice because the majority of citizens of this country have not seriously considered our claims, are but imperfectly seized of our position. It devolves upon us, then, as Catholics, to educate public opinion in this respect. We have in the Catholic Federation an organisation wherein we can ventilate and discuss our grievances, an organisation through which we can speak with a united voice of our aims and aspirations as Catholic citizens. It is on questions such as this that the influence of the Federation can be exercised, and should be exercised, and I congratulate the diocesan council upon the very opportune protest that they are making, and, at the same time, I thank them for the opportunity and privilege they have given me of setting out in brief outline the questions at issue.

In the few. remarks I have made I have endeavored to confine myself to. the main issues. I have not touched on the many anomalies that exist in the State system, as at present administered. My object has been not to promote controversy, but merely to Outline our case as clearly and briefly as possible. If I have succeeded in enlightening any members here present

and given them a clearer insight into the general position of Catholics 1 am amply rewarded. We have a just cause to fight, and we should fight it by every means in our power and keep on fighting . till justice is done. No doubt it will be a hard fight, a bitter fight, a long, long fight. Rut, I feel sure, that in the end justice will triumph. Perhaps it is too much to expect a speedy amelioration of all our grievances. Rut there is' no reason to despair of the removal of at least some of them. We have so far, in some places at least, enjoyed the privilege of taking out in our own secondary schools the scholarships our children have won. This privilege is now threatened by the adverse resolution of the present Council of Education. Let our efforts at the present moment be concentrated against this purpose. Let us not be satisfied with a mere verbal assurance. But let us fight till we see on the Statute Book in plain unmistakable language a law recognising and consolidating our claims under this head. We have enjoyed the benefit of the leaving" certificate : to preserve and solidify this concession let our energies at the present time be directed. Then, when we have gained these demands and established them by a clear and unambiguous wording of the law, it will be time to fight for what must logically and inevitably followthe right of holding free places in our secondary schools. The scholarship and the leaving certificate are but very small concessions. Still, we have had the principle of our right thereto recognised, and it would be disastrous for us to allow these small gains to slip from our grasp. These are our ; present aims, and but the stepping-stones to our real demands —viz., an equal right with others to our lawful share of public moneys for the support of our education.

The only weapons we have with which to fight our battle are agitation and fearless proclamation of our views. Let us demand our rights as a body. Let us use our influence as individuals. We should avail ourselves of every opportunity of educating public opinion to the justice of our claims. We can do this in our public utterances. We can do it in private conversation with our fellows. If thus one and all we do our share, I feel sure that we will exercise a great influence over our fellow citizens, and that at length we shall see the happy day when our disabilities are removed and all our claims granted. (To be concluded next week.)

A NEW ZEALAND VISITOR IN MELBOURNE. Mr. John Duggan, a prominent member of the executive of the New Zealand Catholic Federation, who is spending a holiday in Melbourne, was present at the last meeting of the State Council, on Wednesday, December 22, and was most cordially welcomed (says the Melbourne Advocate ). Mr. F. E. O’Connell, the president, said that Mr. Duggan took the deepest interest in the work of the Federation, as he had shown since his arrival in Melbourne. Though the New Zealand Federation had taken the Victorian Federation as its model, he did not think we could give them any points in Federation work, assisted as they were by that fin© prelate, Dr. Cleary. f Mr. Duggan had brought a letter of introduction from the president of the New Zealand Federation, and the secretary (Mr. Girling-Butcher), and he asked the meeting to welcome him cordially. Mr. Duggan was received with hearty cheering. In the course of an interesting speech, he said he was keenly appreciative of the kind words of the president, and the warm welcome given to him by the members, and of the attention he had received since his arrival from the general secretary. Mr. Duggan then reviewed the work of the Federation in New Zealand, and in conclusion said ; I shall have great pleasure, when , I return to New Zealand, in conveying to the Dominion Council and Executive an expression of the very kind sentiments I have heard this evening. It will b© a source of great satisfaction to them to know that you here take such am interest in our proceedings, but I

can assure you that it is only a reflex of the interest which we have always taken in your Federation, as the founder and model of air the Federations. Once more I thank you for your splendid welcome.’ ST. MARY’S PARISH, CHRISTCHURCH. The following is the report of St. Mary's parish committee, Christchurch, for the year ended December 31: —Your committee held five meetings during the past six months with an average attendance of twelve members. Four members. representing sodalities and one parish representative vacated their seats on the committee, and steps have been taken to fill these vacancies. A parochial library has now been established. The library committee has selected the best books obtainable by leading Catholic authors, and made arrangements for a continuous supply of such literature. A speciality has been made of providing suitable books for juveniles, and it is expected that Catholic parents will take full advantage of this fact, and encourage the young people to become subscribers at the nominal fee of 5s per annum. The committee will be grateful for suggestions concerning the library from the clergy and members of the Federation. Members visited outlying churches in the parish, and enrolments from these sources were satisfactory. The total enrolment for the year numbers 715, which shows a substantial increase on previous years. Acting on instructions from the diocesan executive, the committee took steps to inquire into the class of books distributed as prizes in the State schools within the parish, and also made inquiries regarding text-books in use in these institutions. Reports to hand so far reveal nothing inimical to Catholic interests. The question of furthering the establishment of Catholic schools in the outlying parts of the parish has received the attention of your committee, and, on receipt of reliable figures concerning Catholic children attending) State schools in these districts, this important question will receive further consideration. In the opinion of your committee, Catholic primary education and the equipment and upkeep of our Catholic schools should be matters of first importance in the work of the Federation.