FATHER LARKIN.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2081, 6 January 1870, Page 2

FATHER LARKIN.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir, —Having, with no little astonishment, perceived in your contemporary’s issue of the, 28th ult., a voluminous epistle concerning the relative ecclesiastical position of the Rev. Father Larkin in this Colony, , the greater portion of which assertions, as the author has taken for granted, must he altogether new to the unsophisticated, simple-minded (!) Catholics of this town, to the enlightening of whom his labored effusion must greatly tend. I regret exceedingly that a matter of such paramount importance should have hitherto escaped my observation. I, however, hasten to make up this seeming negligence by requesting a space in your valuable journal for this hurried reply. But to continue. I will leave the production, and proceed, with all due respect, to the “producer.” The general tenor of the letter is such that it leaves in my mind some uncertainty as to the position of its compiler, whether cerical or lay. should he be the former, I, as a Catholic, deem it an incumbent duty to pry all deference to his sacred calling; but if the litevary superfluities of the latter, I unhesitatingly pronounce it a most unwarrantable interference with the private affairs of tbs much misrepresented gentleman, and I throw it aside,as unworthy the consideration of those who have the honor of his acquaintame. Whoever the writer be, the alleged calimniations—-for I cannot but regard them as luch—far from detracting one iota from his good name, both as a priest and as a gentleuan, only tends to elevate it in the minds of ill right-thinking Catholics who are conversant with the miuutai of his unfortunate, thoigh not altogether inglorious- career. Having thus briefly reviewed the threadbare and ephemeral inuendoes to which, with such charitable zeal!! the “Wellington Catlnlic ” has treated the population of this city, I venture, in conclusion, to add that the ase of the rev. gentleman is not quite so hopeess as has been painted, -but that on the tontrary, I feel satislied that the majority of the Catholics of this city, and very many liberal-minded Protestants, are quite sangune that he will eventually triumph over ill difficulties ; and I perceived by your issue (f the 30th December, to my great joy, that In has so far succeeded as to have secured ;,n appointment in this Province. The.'e are persons,"qo dpubf, who wilj say that tie foregoing is but a feeble attempt to vindiede Father Larkin—of this I am perfectly .warc—so far as not making an ela-

borate and labored defence in his behalf; indeed'l studiously avoided answering in detail an effusion which, to any prejudiced mind, must appear malicious in the extreme, and which, strange to say, appeared just as the rev. gentleman left this city. This circumstance, we may conclude, speaks for itself,—l am, &c., A French Catholic. Jan. 2, 1870. [We insert this letter at the particular request of the writer, although we' thihk it should have been sent to the paper in which the letter alluded to was published. Wa must decline any further communication upon this subject.— Ed. E. S. ]