ARCHBISHOP MANNIX

New Zealand Tablet, 14 November 1918, Page 34

ARCHBISHOP MANNIX

TRIBUTES FROM BROTHER PRELATES.

The ■■ Argus has again bitterly attacked Archbishop Mannix in connection with his recent utterance on Ireland and peace. The Prahran Council has also refused the use of the City Hall for a lecture by Father Walsh, at which Archbishop Mannix was to preside. There was a crowded 'gathering in St. Joseph's Parish Hall, South Yarra, on Thursday evening, October 10, when an Irish concert in aid of the parish funds was given. The hall committee of the Prahran Council had refused the use of the town hall for this concert, but this silly action was not only resented by the Catholic people, but also by all fair-minded Protestant citizens. A largely attended meeting of St. Joseph's parishioners was held subsequent to the refusal, and strong indignation was expressed at the contemptible action of the committee. At any rate, the concert did not suffer in any way, because it was held in St. Joseph's Parish Hall. Every seat was occupied, and the passages and doorways were blocked. A scene of remarkable enthusiasm prevailed, and the programme was greatly enjoyed. Archbishop Mannix, who was accorded a magnificent reception and greeted with enthusiastic cheers, expressed regret at the inability of his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate to be present, and he also referred in appreciative terms to the excellence of the concert. He was glad so many distinguished ecclesiastics were present, and he was delighted to have it in his power to offer them a we'come to Melbourne. (Applause.) Whenever they came to Melbourne—he hoped it would be possible for them to come every yearthey could count on receiving a warm welcome from him and the people. The visiting prelates had seen in Melbourne magnificent manifestations of- faith and loyalty to the Catholic Church,- and of loyalty and devotion to the Blessed Mother of God. lie was deeply moved by the love and affection shown him by the people on every occasion. Archbishop Redwood (Wellington) said that no matter what the daily press might say, or how foolish it was, the people could disregard it when they had such a great leader as the Archbishop of Melbourne. (App'ause.) One word from his Grace had more effect with the people than all the articles that the Af/e and the Aryu» could write. (Loud cheers.) New Zealand had a great leader in the late Mr. Seddon, whose voice had more influence than a.l the New Zealand press. The more the press wrote against Mr. Seddon, the greater did he appear before the people. (Applause.) That was exactly the case with the Archbishop of Melbourne. If the press continued to speak against his Grace, the more the people would follow him, and the more he would control their hearts. Under their great leader he was confident that the Melbourne people would be an enthusiastic, enlightened, and good people, and would ever rally round the Catholic Church. With the wonderful union between the Archbishop and his people there was no reason why they ehould not achieve even greater things than in the past. (Applause.) Archbishop Spence (Adelaide) said the demonstrations were extraordinary, and they were due completely and entirely to the greatness of the Archbishop of Melbourne, who gathered his people about him in their thousands wherever he went. (Applause.) The people never failed to show, in an unmistakable manner, what they thought of their great Archbishop. If the demonstrations had taken place in Adelaide, where the Catholics were only one in seven of the population, he was confident that full reports would have appeared in the daily papers there. The press of Melbourne had acted in a contemptible manner. They were fairmindfeA people in Adelaide, and the Catholics got their due there. (Applause.) He hoped before long that the Archbishop of Melbourne would visit Adelaide, and he could be sure of getting different treatment from

the Adelaide press than he received from the Melbourne daily papers. -* Archbishop Duhig (Brisbane) said unhesitatingly that the great Archbishop of Melbourne was the grandest gift that Ireland had given Australia since the Irish immigrants first set foot on the shores of Australia. He had been in many countries, and he had admired the wonderful union of pastors and people in various places, but he had never seen the union so strong or so affectionate as in Melbourne between the Archbishop and his people. (Loud cheers.) The magnificent demonstrations they had witnessed on the Sunday and Monday were unequalled in the world, and they showed the depth of the Catholic spirit of Melbourne. The Archbishop did not belong to Melbourne alone—he belonged to Australia. (Applause.) Not only were the priests and people proud of Archbishop Mannix, but the hierarchy of Australia was infinitely proud of him. The Bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes (Dr. Hayden) said that never in his life had he seen such a tremendous gathering as had assembled at Camberwell in honor of the Mother of God. (Applause.) He was also impressed with the great demonstration at the Exhibition Building. The people were drawn to the great functions in their tens of thousands by the magnetic influence and personality of the great Archbishop of Melbourne. He was present at Maynooth at the consecration of Archbishop Mannix on October 6, 1913, and he remembered writing to Sydney his impressions of the new Archbishop. He said the Archbishop would stay any distance and fight out the finish. The refusal of the Prahran Town Hall was really a blessing in disguise, because it had tended to solidify the people as nothing else could. He was delighted to be associated with the great Archbishop of Melbourne, and he trusted he would pay a visit to the great industrial centre of Broken Hill at the first suitable opportunity. (Applause.) •