COMMONWEALTH NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 5 August 1920, Page 30

COMMONWEALTH NOTES

VICTORIA. ' " The Administrator of the Melbourne archdiocese, the Very Rev. Father Barry, has voiced a protest against'the establishment of a chair of divinity at Melbourne University. We think 'the Catholic body will cordially endorse his protest (says the Tribune, Melbourne). Some years back, the late Archbishop of Melbourne was approached in such a way that he was able to reply that the conferring of Protestant degrees in religion was a matter that does not concern the Catholic body. But the establishment of a chair in divinity in the interests of the Protestant bodies does concern the Catholic body. Catholics are taxed for the University, its buildings* the professors, their upkeep. To allow a chair of Protestant divinity is the same as to allow Protestantism to be taught in the State schools, and would destroy the unsectarian character of- our education system in its fountain-head.

NEW SOUTH WALES. Although the date of the Consecration of the. Bishop-elect of Bathurst, the Right Rev. Dr. Farrell, has not been definitely fixed, it is now understood that it will be September 8, and that the religious ceremony will take place, in Bathurst. , The Very Rev. Father O’Reilly, C.M., Rector of St. John’s College within the University, will preach the Consecration sermon. The date of the Consecration will be definitely fixed when the Papal Bulls from Rome confirming the appointment of Dr. O’Farrell are received. A cable message from Rome announces the appointment of his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. P. J. O’Connor, Bishop of Armidale, as assistant to the Pontifical Throne.

His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate (Most Rev. Dr. Cattaneo), accompanied by the Rev. Dr. O’Donnell, arrived at Perth on Monday, July 19, on his way back from a visitation of the Northern Territory, Java, and the islands. He is returning to Sydney by the overland route, and is expected at the Delegation about the end of the month.

~ A recent Sunday was a gala day at the Home of the Good Shepherd, Ashfield, the occasion being the laying of the foundation stone of the new and commodious additions to the home. The ceremony was performed by Right Rev. Mgr. Moynagh (diocesan Administrator), in the presence of a large gathering of the parishioners of Ashfield and surrounding districts. In honor of the important occasion, the beautiful grounds of the home were lavishly and artistically decorated with flags and bunting, and over all the green Harp of Erin floated gaily in the breeze.

THE ARCHBISHOP OF SYDNEY IN IRELAND. His Grace the Archbishop of Sydney (Most Rev. Dr. Kelly) arrived in Ireland at the end of May, and was to be the guest for a couple of months of the Fathers of the House of Missions, Enniscorthy, of which he was formerly a member. On June 2 his Grace was presented with an address of welcome by the Urban Council. The presentation took place in the presence of a large gathering in the Market Square. • The Archbishop was accompanied by his secretary, Rev. Father T. Brauer, Very Rev. Father -P. Murphy, M.S.S., and Mr. Roger M. Sweetman, M.P., and was enthusiastically cheered. His Grace, in the course of his reply, having dwelt on the years he spent in Enniscorthy as a missioner, dwelt on Ireland’s national demands. God’s hand, he said, would find out those who disputed and set aside the happy relations which should exist between nation and nation, governed and governments. Again, there must be no partition of Ireland,. Whit, wait, wait till the Day of Judgment before any real, truehearted Irishman will consent to the partition of Ire-

land. They say that there are two Irelands. No such thing. They may say that there are two classes of Irishmen. Well, . maybe. . God allows the ‘ corn and the weeds to grow in the same fields, but what man will tear up the corn because the weeds are growing there, too ? There are Irishmen in Ireland worthy of the name of Irishmen, and there are those not worthy of the name. With that distinction we answer this Government who say we do not know what the people want. The people themselves know. When a man is thirsty he wants a drink. If you are a true-hearted man you will give a thirsty man a drink, and you will give him to drink all he wants. That is the rule for Great Britain and the Parliament of Great Britain to apply to us. We thirst for liberty. We must have a full draught of liberty; as to what you call it—say self-determination, and then leave it to yourselves. Whatever you do, be united. If you find that cannot be done, don’t go against the majority. If you do you are weakening the cause. You may be an honest man, but you are not a wise one. Be very careful, therefore, in self-determination, and in the name of God, for the sake of peace in Ireland and peace between Ireland and every other nation, I say that Ireland must have self-determination by Irishmen as England by Englishmen. With the Irish faith we are holding up the right of the Gospel for the new country, which will yet be a glorious country. As long as you are united here at home on a practical policy, Australia will be at your back. Financially and morally she will help you. God grant that those who have the power will make peace in Ireland. As far as we are concerned, we are ready for peace. Let England disavow anti-Irish ascendancy within- Ireland. Let England moderate her commercial and industrial greed and give fair play to Irish industry, to Irish. commerce, and to the development of Ireland’s resources; let her do for Ireland and towards Ireland what she would wish Ireland to do for England if Ireland were the mistress. The judges say there is no crime in Ireland. The last time I was in Ireland I heard Wexford Gaol was for sale.. Carlow Gaol has been shut up, and I understand they are converting some other gaols into industrial schools. The judges get white gloves in Ireland. I say to England: Take away the provocation of misgovernment, and give peace to Ireland by giving the Irish all you would ask for yourselves. If England would take advice from me as one who seeks for the good of all, she must moderate her selfishness and covetousness. She talks of liberty, but wants a monopoly of liberty; she must not have a monopoly of liberty. What is the use in sending over Englishmen who know nothing of Ireland to tell us how we are to be governed ; what is the use in concocting a Home Rule Bill in the British Parliament without taking the Irish people into their counsels. What kind of a shoemaker would he be who would make a shoe according to his own fancy, and ask another man to wear it? I say that is misgovernment; but we must have patience. The glorious principle of standing persecution for justice’ sake and liberty will be the inheritance of the Irish people until full justice and full liberty is given them, and Ireland stands as an independent nation amongst the nations of the earth. (Cheers.)