MEMORIAL CHURCH AT PETONE

New Zealand Tablet, 1 November 1917, Page 38

MEMORIAL CHURCH AT PETONE

AN APPEAL.

:At a largely-attended meeting of parishioners of Petone, held on Sunday, July 29, it was unanimously decided to inaugurate a fund to be known as the "Father McMenamin Memorial Fund," to be devoted to the erection of a new and much-needed church, as a fitting memorial to the late Father McMenamin, who was parish priest at Petone at the commencement of the war, was among the first chaplains appointed for active service,.and who died a hero priest in the service of his God, his country, and his fellow-man. His ministry at Petone won for him the love of his parishioners, and the highest esteem of those outside the Church". Even at the front his thoughts continually reverted to his flock, and in his last letter to Rev. Father Quealy he mentioned the necessity of Church extension in the following words : "The Petone Church certainly needs enlarging and otherwise improving. I would like to send one of the many beautiful churches from here over to you by aeroplane. Each wee village has a stone church larger than the Petone one. Usually they have three altars, and are all beautifully furnished. The statuary is always a treat to look at. When we build in Petone we must go in for something good." The movement has the hearty approval of his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, S.M. £llO was subscribed at the inaugural meeting. District collectors were, appointed

capitalist hopes to postpone the day of reckoningthe. balancing of the account — men and labor. Therefore, you will see that the volunteers of 19141915, the vast majority of whom are Socialists, or Trade Unionists, are going now to put their end in to prevent Capitalist “Imperialism.” The lines indicated by the Russian Republicand in a less distinct form by President Wilsonare those which the Labor Party in England are demanding. As these are so closely in touch with the soul of Ireland, there should be no difficulty. - The IrishAmericans must be with us. This war, therefore, must be the last war —of this I am sure every man in the ranks of the many armies engaged is quite clear— it also must not end in a peace which is dictated by the interests of an interested class. Peace when it comes must be a people’s peace, not that ephemeral thing, a capitalist one. I do not know how these opinions agree with yours. If they do, let them be known as far as you can in l America. What I have said in this letter as to the futility of the Irish Parliamentarians is my honest view looking at the matter, while deeply interested, from the outside. There is no strong man among them —and if there is he is still kept in bonds by the machine. So if I may be allowed to suggest —take the wider Irish line. Sinn Fein, often extreme in position, is now the only Irish policy. It is narrow often, but this is because the leaders are sometimes narrow, but behind it all is the son! of Ireland, which fights and struggles against injustice and wrong, just as much when the wrong is done to another as to itself. This is chivalry. Francis Fletcher-Vane, of Hutton.