Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 16 March 1922, Page 30

Commonwealth Notes

VICTORIA.

Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, March 11, 12, and 13, promise to be red-letter days for the Catholics of Gippsland (says the Tribune). His Gracce the Archbishop of Melbourne, their Lordships the Bishops of Ballarat, Sandhurst, and Wagga Wagga will arrive in Sale at 1.26 on Saturday. On that day the procession and annual sports will be held, and Dr. Mannix will address the multitude on the grounds. The prelates will be present at the Irish national concert that evening. The Archbishop, assisted by the bishops and priests, will solemnly bless the college at 3 p.m. on Sunday, and his Grace is remaining over Monday to open the bazaar organised to reduce the heavy debt on the college.

When in Melbourne the Bishop (Dr. Phelan) met several of his old brother priests of the city, who promised to bo with him either for the Sunday's event or for the bazaar during the week. It is impossible for many to get away from their Sunday's work. However, his Lordship expects the Very Rev. Dean Carey, Very Rev. Prior Kindelan, Rev. M. C. Gough, and the Rev. It. Collins on Saturday. And on Tuesday the following city priests (and likely many more) will visit Sale:Very Rev. Dean Martin, Rev. John Norris, Rev. John Gleeson, Rev. John Collins, and Rev. James Byrne.

Enthusiasm, such as is scarcely seen at any meeting, was manifested when a meeting of returned soldiers and sailors was held in the Cathedral Hall to protest against the action of the City Council in refusing permission to hold the St. Patrick's Day procession.

The hall was crowded to capacity with returned soldiers, and a large number of ladies almost filled the gallery. In view of the action of the City Council in refusing permission to the committee to hold the procession, a Huge meeting was anticipated, and these hopes were not disappointed. The 10,000 soldiers who took part in the procession in 1920 were represented in force, and manifested their indignation at the outrageous action of the City Council, for these men, though they have returned to private life, are still interested in the procession and the cause for which they fought—that of the small nations.

Mr. E. W. Frawley presided, and Rev. Father Barry (Adm. of the diocese) and Mr. J. H. Kennedy (general secretary of the A.C.F.) were also present. Before the opening of the meeting a number of vocal items were received with tremendous applause. Irish airs wero played, and the Irish songs rendered by Mr. Pat Coleman were at times inaudible owing to the deafening and prolonged cheering which greeted almost every line of his songs. The singing of "A Nation Once Again" culminated in the audience as a whole rising with one accord at the concluding line and cheering for some minutes.

The following resolution was read by Mr. Frawley: "That this meeting of returned soldiers and sailors is of opinion that the time-honored St. Patrick's Day procession should be held as usual, and pledges itself to support and assist the St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee in any action they may take."

Mr. J. J. Collins, in moving the resolution, said that now was the time for the "diggers" to show their loyalty to the cause of freedom. The celebration committee had met trouble, and the soldiers would stick by them as they had done in France. If the "diggers" made up their minds to march, nothing would stop them, and it had been the same on the other side. (Cheers.) He would, however, like to add a sub-clause to the resolution, which was to the effect that a deputation be sent to the State Government to ask them to intervene. (Cries of "No!" and "March!") When Father Barry rose (in response to a request from the President) he was prevented from proceeding by continuous cheers. When the applause had subsided, Father Barry said: I desire to thank you for your presence here in such large numbers, and to thank you for the resolutions you have just carried. I just want to say that,we are going to hold a procession—we hope, still, with the permission of the City Council. But we are going to hold a procession. That procession is going to be the largest* ever : held in Melbourne, and I am going to say it is going to be the most orderly. (Applause.) We are going to "show that our Irish people, while resenting the insult offered them and

the infringing of their rights, are nevertheless, able to exercise self-control. I hope the privilege of marching at the head of the procession will be accorded the "diggers," reserving for myself the right to be at your head, in the company— hope—of his Grace the Archbishop. And I desire especially to thank the non-Catholic "diggers" who have come hero to support, by their presence and their words, the action of the St. Patrick's Day Celebration Committee. Their presence here is the best answer to those who allege that our procession is sectarian. (Applause.)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

. The Rev. Dr. E. Maguire, head of the Irish Mission to China in Australia, who is visiting Adelaide in order to enlist sympathy and monetary aid in the work, has every reason to be gratified at the success of his efforts so far. There have been two fine demonstrations at the Town Hall when pictures in connection with the mission were shown and explained by Dr. Maguire. Some 3000 children from the Catholic schools of the metropolitan area, together with their teachers, attended the exhibition of pictures and lecture, and about 1000 more who desired to attend could not obtain admission. The lecture (which was given for the first time in the Commonwealth) was illustrated with a very fine series of lantern views and cinema pictures, taken in the heart of China, 600 miles inland, and depicting missionary work, interesting scenes, and country and home life in the Celestial Empire. By this means the young people were able to gain much information regarding the mission and customs of the East.

After an interval of two or three days the Town Hall was again crowded to see the pictures and hear the lecture, and great interest and enthusiasm were shown. Among those present were the Archbishop and a large number of priests and brothers, and the Lord Mayor (Mr. L. Cohen), who said afterwards that he would not have missed it for anything. His Grace and the Lord Mayor were loudly cheered on entering the hall. The entertainment consisted of a series of lantern slides and moving pictures, specially taken, which depicted life and scenes in China, and illustrated the work of the missions. They were, Dr.. Maguire remarked, all genuine pictures, and not, like some of those shown in the theatres, "faked."

The Adelaide Archdiocese has suffered severely in recent months through the death of prominent priests. It is now its turn to sympathise with the Diocese of Port Augusta, which has lost one of its best known and most esteemed priests in the person of the Rev. John O'Mahony, who died recently, after a long illness. He was 52 years of age, and was born in Adelaide, He was educated at the Christian Brothers' College, and later went to the Manly College (Sydney). Thence he went to Italy, and he completed his studies in Rome, where he was ordained. On his return to South Australia he was stationed at Port Augusta, as assistant to Father Doyle, and seven months later he became parish priest. In that capacity he was able to exercise his talent as a financier. After staying eight years at Port Augusta, Father O'Mahony was transferred to Port Pirieseventeen years ago. Here he won the respect and esteem of all classes and creeds. He was largely responsible for paying off the liabilities on the convent, St. Mark's Church, and the presbytery. By his inspiration and help additions have been made to St. Mark's Church and the hall, and St. Andrew's new school, and the church at Warnertown have been built. Unostentatious philanthropy entered very largely into his nature, and he was characteristically broad-minded and tolerant in religious matters.