N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 25 July 1918, Page 34

N.Z. CATHOLIC FEDERATION

WELLINGTON DIOCESAN COUNCIL HALFYEARLY MEETING. The eleventh half-yearly meeting of the Diocesan Council was held at St. Anne’s Hall, Green Street, Wellington, on Thursday, July 11,' 1918. The proceedings commenced with Mass in the parish church, celebrated by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., their Graces Archbishops Redwood and O’Shea being present in the sanctuary, and there was a crowded congregation. The Very Rev. Dean Power (Hawera) delivered the occasional sermon in his well-known masterly style. A report of the discourse appears on page 11 of this issue of the Tablet. The council assembled at 10 a.m., and were given a sincere welcome by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., the following members being present:-—Presi-dent, Rev. Father Hurley, S.M. : vice-presidents, Messrs. W. M. Lnxford and O. P. Lynch: treasurer, Ma Halpin : hon. secretary, Mr. W. F. Johnson; members of the executive Messrs. J. E. Gamble, B. A. Guise, P. D. Hoskins. J. A. Scott, B. Nolan, and J. P. Kavanagh; parish representatives: Carterton, Rev. Father Cronin: Dannevirke, Mrs. Swan: Eltham, Mr. Alex. McLaughlin; Feilding, Mr. J. P. Kavanagh; Hamua, Mr. John McKenna; Hastings, Rev. Father G. Mahony, S.M. : llawera, Very Rev. Dean Power: Masterton, The Right Rev. Mgr. McKenna, A T .G. : Napier, Mr. J. W. Callaghan ;" Nelson, Mr. W. F. Johnson: New Plymouth, Mr. W. T. Jennings, AI.P. ; Otaki, Mr. O. P. Lynch ; Pahiatua, Very Rev. Dean McKenna, Air. E. Sullivan, Mr. D. Boyle; Palmerston, Rev. Father Power, Air. J. Brady, Mr. J. Hodgens; Petone, Rev. Father Quealv, Mrs. Ryder, Mr. Burke, Mr. P. E. Cairns; Waipawa, Mr. T. Butler; Wairoa, Major T. P. Halpin; Wanganui, Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.AL, Mrs. W. F. Lnxford, Mr. J. Collins ; Woodville, Very Rev. Dean McKenna : Westport, Mr. AA. F. Johnson; Wellington City—St. Anne’s, Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.AL, Air. J. E. Gamble, Mr. B. A. Guise: St. Gerard’s, Major James O’Sullivan: St. Joseph’s, Rev. Father Hurley, SAL, Adm., Air. D. Donovan, Mr. B. Nolan : St. Mary’s, Rev. Father S. Mahony, S.AL, Mr. IF. AlcKcown, Mr. J. A. Scott: Thorndon, Rev. Father Smyth, S.M., Air. E. D. Dunne, Mr. M. Walsh: Catholic Knitting Guild, Miss Wheeler : Catholic Immigration Committee, Mrs. Cornish. The president (Rev. D. Hurley, S.M., Adm.) said that he was gratified to see such a large and representative attendance of delegates, and expressed the wish that the proceedings, of the day would result in making the objects and the principles of the Federation better known and understood amongst the people. Continuing he said: On behalf of the council I wish to thank Archdeacon Devoy for his very kind words of welcome, and I feel sure that his hospitality will be much appreciated. I desire also to congratulate Dean Power on his eloquent and instructive address, and I hope that the cogent arguments expressed therein will be remembered by his hearers and used at opportune times. Interest in the Federation has been well sustained during the year throughout the diocese, and if the membership is not as large as the previous year, I express the hope that it is merely a passing phase from which we will quickly recover. You will, I am sure, agree with me that the healthy condition of the Federation in the archdiocese is due, in a very great measure, to the energy and tact of our capable diocesan secretary, Mr. W. F. Johnson, to whom we owe our sincere thanks. The Field Service Fund, our principal work during the war, has received very generous support, and the receipts show that the sum of £9Bl 11s has been received during the year. Hastings, Napier, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Feilding, Palmerston North, deserve special recognition for their splendid contribu-

tions. This is a work on which the Federation should concentrate every effort. The Catholic Church is the mother of charity. She has been remarkable in every age for her solicitude towards the suffering and her zeal for souls, and we must in our own day and place continue "those traditions in the works of mercy which were enjoined on us by our Divine Founder. , In regard to the future of the Federation, what are we really going to' do ? The Scholarship proposals for one thing will be brought before you to-day, and I am sure they will receive careful consideration. But besides that what efforts are we going to make to carry out our programme ? Is our organisation to l consist merely in the enrolment of members ? The Federation is, as I understand it, an organisation of our Catholic laity for the purpose of bringing to bear on public opinion those God-given principles which, if applied, will save society and civilisation at its very roots. Ihe nations of the world are seriously disturbed by the statistics of diminishing population, caused not by shot and shell, but by a deliberate violation of Divine piecepts. Thoughtful men in the world, feeling by means of the war the religions pulse of the nations, are aghast at the weakness of religious life, the poverty of religious knowledge and ideals. The unequal distribution of wealth and social injustices will, if not remedied bring about an immense upheaval, burying perhaps both oppressed and oppressors in its ruin. We have in our hands the means to save the nations and relieve the social ills of men. They are principles founded on the immutable laws of an all-wise Lawgiver, and woe to us if we wrap them up in a napkin and bury them. It is true that as Catholics we are unflinching in preserving the sanctity and indissolubility of Christian marriage. Attacks are likely to be made on this great bulwark of society at any time and it behoves us to be on our guard against any further evil in this direction. We cheerfully make sacrifices for the Christian education of youth, and the results we have achieved in making our generation Christian are inducing others to follow our example. In this work Catholics as a united body must continue to back up their leaders with unswerving loyalty and devotion. But in reference to the third evil, social injustices, which are countered and removed by asserting the necessity of Christian principles in social and public life in the State, in business, and in all financial and industrial relations, we have, I am afraid, done but little, and that because our people are not well informed on these matters. They have a certain instinct which tells them what is right and what is wrong, but they have not sufficient constructive knowledge. On this question there is great and interesting work before us. Social study and the dissemination of Catholic literature, especially in the form of the Catholic Truth Society pamphlets, are the best means to instruct our laity on these all-important subjects, and when they have the light they may let it shine before others. We received a direction twelve months ago from Archbishop O’Shea. I would that every committee would take it to heart. Loyalty seems to be taken as the measure of a man’s worth at the present day by a number of people. If loyalty is defined as wishing well to the State and doing good to the State, we can safely claim that the programme of the Catholic Federation is thoroughly loyal, and is able on this ground to hold its own with the platform of any organisation in the country. When we were in session at Wanganui it was decided to have an address or paper on some question of the day delivered and discussed at each meeting of the council. This afternoon yon will have the privilege of an address by Mr. J. A. Scott on “The Church and Labor.” In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I hope that to-day’s meeting will be a very pleasant and profitable one. The president then invited Archbishop O’Shea to address the council. [His Grace’s address appeared in the July 18 issue of the Tablet. ]

His Grace Archbishop Redwood said that one idea mentioned by Archbishop O’Shea was particularly op* portune at this time, that of the great work that was before the lay apostolate. The clergy would always give the Federation their fullest support, but the work itself must devolve upon the laity. As an instance of what an earnest layman can accomplish, • his Grace read an interesting letter from a nephew, who had been instrumental in instituting the Catholic Evidence League in London, which, with the approval of Cardinal Bourne, visited the parks and open spaces in London and publicly expounded Catholic doctrine to the people, and did much in this way to nullify the efforts of the atheists and other irreligious organisations. These men went through a course of training at the hands of a priest and the interest taken in their work was simply wonderful. Many persons heard Catholic doctrine and Catholic truth explained for the first time in their lives, and it was most encouraging to see the change that was coming over the people with respect to Catholic doctrines and practice. His Grace also spoke of the work of the Guild of Ransom, and of the Walk to Tyburn, where thousands knelt in the open air to receive Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The work referred to was essentially one for laymen, for the priests could not go out into the open air without being subjected to insult. His Grace concluded by exhorting the members to persevere in the great work of elevating and purifying the world. Mr. J. W. Callaghan moved a very sincere vote of thanks to the Archbishops for their inspiring addresses, and that both be embodied in the report of the proceedings. He spoke of the practical character of that of Archbishop O’Shea, and regretted that the council could not meet oftener, to hear such instructive and encouraging words as they had listened to that morning. The opposition to the Church would soon be silenced if non-Catholics could be brought into closer touch with Catholic principles, and suggested that a class of instruction should be commenced on the lines suggested by Archbishop Redwood. The report of the executive committee, which appeared in the Tablet of July 4, was then read. The following were elected officers of the Diocesan Council for .the year 1918-19 : President, Rev. Father Hurley, S.M. (re-elected) : vice-presidents, Mr! Luxford (Wanganui), Mr. O. P. Lynch (Otaki), both re-elected, and Mr. F. P ini ley (Hastings) ; treasurer, Major T. P. Halpin (re-elected) : secretary, Mr. W. F. Johnson (re-elected), committee—Messrs. J. A. Corry, J. E. Gamble, P. D. Hoskins, J. A. Scott, J. P. McGowan ; representatives of country committees, Mr. J. W. Callaghan (Napier) and Mr. P. E. Cairns (Petone) ; delegates to Dominion Council- — Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M. (in place of Rev. Father Hurley, who declined nomination), Major Halpin, and Mr. W. M. Luxford (both re-elected).