"LIGHT BRING ER"

New Zealand Tablet, 25 November 1920, Page 35

"LIGHT BRING ER"

Brixton Prison—August 31, 1920. CA-L.,” the well-known Irish economist and poet, a. non-Catholic, and a genuine Ulsterman, contributed the following beautiful lines to the London Times.] See, though the oil be low, more purely still and higher Hie flame burns in the body s lamp! The watchers still Gaze with unseeing eyes while the Promethean will. the Uncreated Light, the Everlasting Eire, Sustains itself against the torturers’ desire Even as the fabled Titan chained upon the hill. Burn on, shine here, thou immortality, until Me too have lit our lamps at the funereal pyre; J ill we too can be noble, unshakable, undismayed: fill we too can burn with the holy flame, and know There is that within us can triumph over pain, And go to death alone, slowly and unafraid. Jhe candles of God are already burning row on row Ia re well, Lightbringer, fly to thy heaven again! ’

M. 8.0.8. ASSOCIATION, WELLINGTON. (From our own correspondent. Old Boys of the Wellington Marist Brothers’ Schools assembled last week to the number of about 300 at a social re-union in Alexandra Hall. Mr. L. Sievers presided. And among those present were Rev. Fathers S. Mahony, M. Murphy, Connolly, and Cullen (all old boys), and the Marist Brothers. Mr. P. J. O’Regan proposed the toast of “The Hierarchy and Clergy of Now Zealand.” There were, he said, Catholic clergy on Spanish ships which arrived in Dusky Sound in 1793, and the history of the Church in this country was one of which they might all be proud. Had the Christianising of the Maoris been left to the control of the Catholic clergy they would not have lost so much land, and the Maoris would have been better Christians than they are to-day. In the sphere of education it was impossible to estimate the debt of gratitude they owed to the Sisters and Brothers, and if they supported the primary schools the Church would take care of itself. (Applause.) Referring to the recent amendments to the Marriage Bill Mr. O'Regan said: “You have had legislation passed during this session, aimed ostensibly at the Catholic Church, legislation which is a disgrace to the country, but which will prove utterly impotent in practice, and which will bring nothing but humiliation on those who were responsible for it. Yes, our spiritual ancestors have survived the Neros, and the Julians, besides the Diocletians and the Henry the Eighths, and we are not going to haul down our flag because of the Massey Government, the Francis Bells, the McGregors, or the Howard Elliotts. (Applause and cheers.) Whether the recent legislation enacted in New Zealand was repealed or not was a matter of indifference to them. The Catholic Church would go on teaching its doctrines, all laws to the contrary notwithstanding, and although he did not wish to suggest to their

standing, and although lie did not wish to suggest to their Bishops what they might do, it would delight them if they (the Bishops) met the enactment of that legislation by resisting in the most emphatic manner the attack on the

Catholic doctrine of marriage. (Applause.) He deprecated the action of ‘shoncen’ Catholics in assisting to place men in Parliament who were distinctly antagonistic, and had since shown their hatred. These "shoiieeiis” voted on the score of respectability, and because they perhaps had a little stake in the country.”

Resp Hiding to the toast, the Rev. Father S. Alahony fan old hoy of the Bonlcott Street School) paid a high tribute to tho work done in the schools by the Sisters and Brothers. Their work spoke for itself. Their pupils occupied high and honorable position in every walk of life. The cx-Mnrist Brothers' hoys must number some thousands in the city of 'Wellington alone. (Cheers.) He said they were living in an ago when their history and the truths of their holy Church were being vilified on all sides. That should not altogether astonish them, because Our Lord

warned them of the position they would have to encounter when He said : “Even as they have hated Ale they will hate you.” Parliament had shown them that it was in alliance and sympathy with the bitterest of their foes. There was in tho country a crowd of howlers who were continually vomiting forth their “hymn of hate’’hate of tho Catholic Church. It was at a time like the present when they were glad to have the assistance, support, and co-operation of their Catholic people. “As our holy Church has triumphed in tho past, so it will triumph in the present and in the future,” remarked Father Alahony. “J may say that tho Church will triumph and that very soon this enactment made by this vindictive Government will he a. dead letter.” (Loud applause).

Air. P. D. Hoskins proposed the toast of “'Our Alma Mater,” which, he said, he entered 37 years ago. They should feel grateful for tho work the Brothers had done on their behalf, and he made an appeal to the gathering to show their practical gratitude by assisting the funds of tho Catholic Education Board, so as to make - Catholic education free. It was the duty of all “old hoys” to show in a practical manner their appreciation of what the Alarist Brothers had done. Incidentally, he mentioned that two of the hierarchy—Archbishop O’Shea and Bishop Brodie — were ex-Alarist Brothers old boys, and one of the first New Zealanders to win tho coveted Victoria Cross was a Marist Brothers’ old boy, Captain Shout. (Cheers.) The Rev. Brother Adrian, in responding, said it rejoiced the heart of every Brother to see such a- large gathering. , All the Brothers were proud of their “old boys,” and they had every reason to he proud. Their interest in tho boys did not cease when they left school. In doing that they were only doing their duty. Their one. object was to equip the boys for the great battle of life. (Applause. In the education given to tho child by the religious, religion came first*., hut on the secular side; they gave as good education as the State gave. (Voices: “Better.”)

Brother Adrian said their object was to make the education of the child as good as the capabilities of the child would permit. Ilev. Brother Eusebius asked his hearers to let the present-day troubles, be a very strong cement to bind them all together and to give them greater strength to come forward and meet their foes. They should take heed-'.of the noble example set by the late Terence. AlacSweeney, whose martyrdom England would yet bitterly regret. * V „ .J Ir - , L ' ? ie ™ rs , proposed the "toast of ’the “‘Marist Brothers Old Boys Sports Bodies,” and response was made by Rev. Brother Donat us ■ (soccer), Mr. F. Cleary (rugby), and Mr. J. Hopkins (cricket). n Mr - A - Scott, M.A., LL.M., proposed the toast of Catholic Education, and traced the work of the Church in promoting education from its early history to the present day. t , Mr. J. J. L. Burke responded, and paid a tnlmte to the work of the Brothers and Sisters, and to the sacrifices they made Great credit was claimed by Catholics lor their schools, but how many made the sacrifice tor edncaion Y Summed up, only the' teachers and the parents who pay fees. Catholics should all be prepared to make a little sacrifice to continue the grand work of Catholic education. ■>

Tll -^ le f ” was proposed by Mr. J. J. McKeowen and responded to by Mr. P. A. Lawlor. ~ T c n ! t llc ' course of t!l <‘ evening the medals won during the football season were presented by the chairman (Mr. L. Sievers). _ The musical programme was provided hv Messrs. T Ton by, Tv. Dillon, E. B. L. Read©, G. Davis, N. Aithen' and J . Boyce (accompanist).