Nelson

New Zealand Tablet, 25 September 1919, Page 39

Nelson

- (From our own correspondent.) Brother Basil spent last week here in an effective canvass of the parish for funds to erect the new novitiate house of the Order at Inglewood. Father McGrath made a stirring appeal for the support of the excellent and urgent work which the Brothers have in hand. He referred to the world-wide reputation of the Order, with its 7000 zealous members. In New Zealand they®were now thrown on their own resources by the granting of “Homo Rule,” and as they n;ero entirely without revenue, they could carry on only by an appeal to the self-sacrificing spirit of the .Catholic people. Father McGrath feelingly referred to the treatment the Brothers had received from the bigots of Nelson, and called on Catholics to make the amende. The exemption of the Brothers from military service had been clamored for; now was the time to show that Catholic education mattered. What was said to tho public when war loans were being canvassed —“They (the soldiers) have given their lives, you are only asked to lend your money” could he applied to the Brothers’ appeal. It was only a loan when they gave in charity, for God would restore all with usury. “If,” said Father McGrath, in conclusion, “wo are going to continue the work '• of building schools (as we were doing) and fail to look to the future and provide for their being staffed, by tin* establishment of the proposed novitiate, then we had better build them strong, for they will he wanted for gaols.” Brother Basil was much gratified by tho response, and is now making his appeal in Marlborough.

Father Fraher, of Hastings, was a visitor last weekend, and preached a well-reasoned and cogent sermon on the Catholic educational claims. Parishioners were pleased to meet their former priest after seven years' absence, and were grieved to learn that he was en route to Greymouth, where the last sad rites for bis mother were being performed. The sympathy of all will go out to Father Fraher in his sorrow. —— ■—'