Diocese of Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 17, 13 May 1925, Page 29

Diocese of Auckland

(From our own Correspondent.) May 5. The Rev. Father Mansfield, who has been parish priest of Ponsonby for some time, is leaving Auckland on an eight months’ health trip to the Old Country. Father Mansfield was met and entertained by his parishioners the other evening when a. most enjoyable time was spent. Archdeacon Holbrook presided over a large attendance of friends and well-wishers, and spoke in eloquent terms of a pastor who had done his duty nobly and well amongst his people. As a testimony to the popularity and esteem in

which Father Mansfield was held, Archdeacon Holbrook handed him a well filled wallet of notes, and expressed a wish that he would have a very enjoyable trip and return to his people thoroughly restored to health= Mgr. Cahill, Dean Brennan, Dean Murphy, and the Rev. Fathers O’Malley, O’Brien, O’Byrne, and Doherty spoke in a similar strain. Father Mansfield, who was given a very enthusiastic reception, feelingly thanked his people for their great generosity, and hoped to return in the best of health to serve them again. The Sacred Heart Choir under the direction of Mr. Guthrie, rendered appropriate items during the evening. The children of the schools also made a fitting presentation to Father Mansfield,, who was also entertained by the Children of Mary prior "to bis departure. The members of the choir of the Church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart are holding, this week, a “500” tournament to raise funds to purchase music for the choir’s use. The choir since its inauguration has done excellent work, and it is anticipated that the committee will have a big success with their social evening. The fund of the Marist Fathers’ proposed bazaar should be well augmented by the proceeds of a recent entertainment held in the King’s Theatre, which was very kindly placed at the disposal of the committee by Messrs. Hayward’s Limited. The main feature of the programme was a condensation of the drama. “Trilby,” the various parts being very ably personated. Those responsible for clever acting were Mr. C. Archer (“Svengali”), Air. G. McDermott in the part of “Gecho,” Air. J. P. Ward as “Billy”, Mr. Davis as “Zou Zon,” and A. Maurice as the “Impressario.” Last, but by no means least, was the artistic performance of Miss Lorraine Barnes in ’ the name part. She is a young and promising artiste. Miss Gertrude Esdaille gave a most sympathetic rendering of “Madame Viard.” The vaudeville portion of the programme was of a clever and amusing standard, and was greatly appreciated by the large audience. A picture —“Modern Matrimony”—was also exhibited and caused much diversion. The entertainment reflected the greatest credit upon those responsible for its organisation. Tin* .many friends of Airs. K. Wells, of Parnell, who underwent a successful operation at the Mater will be pleased to hear that she has made a rapid.recovery, and has been able to return to her home. A sale of work was held in the Town Hall last week in the interests of the Big Brother Movement.’ It was a very successful function, and the proceeds will greatly help the movement. In addition to a substantial array of work a number of charming items were rendered by well known performers. Among ethers, Miss Audrey Dickinson (vocalist); Mr. A. Austin (humorist), and Air. Reg. Oakley (conjurer) rendered items that were greatly appreciated. THE AUCKLAND CATHOLIC GUILD. The first meeting of the Auckland Catholic Guild was held on Sunday last, the opening session for 1925 giving the largest attendance that the guild has yet had.

A paper entitled—Communism, its history and its principles read by Rev. Brother Ormond, 8.A., B.Sc., Dip. Ed; Communism, was defined as that form of social policy that requires all productive pro- . perty to be held in common and not by individuals. Hence land, railways, factories, houses, food, clothing, should be the property of all, while rent, wages, and taxation should be abolished. A contract was then drawn between Communion and socialism. In the first section Crete and Sparta were discussed and also the principles laid down in Plato’s Republic. In the medieval sub-division it was shown how the Communism of that time was strongly interwoven with religious sentiments. It was the foundation age of the great religious Dominican, Franciscans, Augustinians, and Carmelites, whose democratic tendencies had wide-spread influence, Sects arose such as the Alauicheans, Albigensians, and Vaudois ,r' v who taught that Christian Communism was obligatory, but such was condemned by the Church. Present-day Communism is political and economic and the product of the present century. Its acceptance in Russia and its world-wide activities were referred to. Its principles as embodied in Chapter XIII of the Soviet Constitution were then discussed, also the effect of such principles in Russia on the (1) laud problem, (2) private properly, pi) production and exchange, (4) agriculture, (5) finance. These were all nationalised. The land was parcelled out amongst the peasants and private ownership abolished. The necessity of private ownership was based on expreience, as St. Thomas of Aquin says, and as the Roman lawyers centuries ago concluded. The industries vent to ruin for the workers had not the technical skill requisite for success. In agriculture production dwindled. Food was needed for the Red Army and therefore requisitioned from the peasants who in turn produced just enough for their own needs, thus preparing the way for the great famine. The final section dealt with finance and the changes recently brought about in .Communistic principles. Conclusions were drawn showing that Communism is not a practicable working proposition but one that can lead only to national misery and disaster. 'CMKJ'OOO*O ■ : ; •