CATHOLIC FEDERATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2188, 29 June 1914, Page 6

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

AND THE BIBtE-IN-SCHOOLS. The annual meeting of St. : Marv of, the Angek • Branch of the 1 Catholic Federation was held in St. Mary of the 'Angels Church, Bonlcott'Street, last night. There was a very large attendance of parishioners. Tlio mcetipg \vas held subsequent to the usual Sunday service. His Grace Archbishop, O'Shea gave, an' address in which, he touclied on th.e' Bible'-ih-Schools question, ... The following resolution, moved by Mr. H. F. O'Leary, was carried unanimously:—

"That this meeting of St. Mary of tlie Angels Branch of the Catholic Federation, representing 2500 Catholics of this parish, • whilst fully appreciating the efforts of non-Catholics to provide moral teachings in schools based upon religious principles, nevertheless most emphatically protests against the introduction of Biblo reading into Stateschools and against the proposed referendum 011 tho question as a violation of the nights of conscience of a.large section of the citizens, an injustice to teachers, and an iniquitous proposal to tax all the people for the teaching of a religion acceptable to certain denominations only and utterly obnoxious to others, and further resolves that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Right Honourable the Primo Minister, tho Leader of the Opposition, and members for the districts of Wellington , Central. Wellington North, and Wellington Suburbs (tho three constituencies being in St. Mary of' the Angels vParish)." N Tho Parish Committee for the coming year was elected as follows: —Messrs. Martin Kennedv, A. A. Corrigan, D. R. Lawlor, T, P. Halpin, and T. O'Brien. ST. ANNE'S BRANCH. The annual meeting of St. Anne's Branch of the. Catholic Federation was held last nieht in St. Anne's Church, Ven. Archdeacon Devoy presided. ' There were also present the Rev. Fathers Hickson, Peoples, and Herring. The annual report and balancesheet, disclosing a very ; satisfactory state of affairs, were adopted.

The chairman addressed those present on the Bible-in-Scliools question, and on tho progress of the Catholic Federation. Messrs. E. J. Fitzgibbon, P. D. Hoskins, and J. J. L. Bourko also spoke. The former detailed and criticised the Referendum Bill.

Tho parish representatives to tho Federation were elected as follow: —Messrs. W. P. M'Laghlan, B. A. Guise, J. B: Gamble, T. .L Power, J. Fagraii, and T. •Phelan. The various societies _and sodalities of the parish are each entitled to elect,two representatives to this number,'and these will bo' elected in due course. • -

A motion similar in terms to that passed at St. Mary's Church was carried unanimously;