BISHOP MORAN AND THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3507, 20 May 1874, Page 3

BISHOP MORAN AND THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

To the Editor. Sir, Be good enough to allow me to deny the truthfulness of'oue of the iaplied assertions made by your correspondent" 41 Prynue ’ in his letter on the above subject, which appeared in your issue of the 18th. I refer to the third paragraph, in which “Prynne” says:— 44 !hero are one or two questional would like to put to Bishop Moran anent this election : is he not aware that two or three days before the polling-day ([ believe it was ( on the night of Tuesday from about 11pm. till about 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning), a meeting of sound Roman Catholics was held in St. Joseph’s Schoolroom, when the question of the course to be pursued upon the candidature of Mr Barton and Mr Wales was discussed ?” Now, sir, I may mention that on Monday, April 20, the usual foitnightly meeting of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society was held, of which fact 44 Prynne” is evidently aware, for he clearly insinuates (when he parenthetically states that, according to his relief, the meeting was held about II o’clock one night, and not finished until about two o’clock next morning) that after the ordinary routine business had been transacted (which generally lasts until 11 pm) the meeting formed itself into a political one, for the purpose of discussing the best means to be adopted in order to secure the return of Mr Walts. I was present, sir, and presided tyk the meeting of St. Joseph’s Lodge,

No. 73, H. A.0’.8, 8., on the evening in question, and I solemnly and emphatically state that, after the ordinary business was over, the meeting wan closed, and the members lelt the hall. 1 did not leave the room uni.il the lamps had been put out and the door locked, and 1 am prepared to swear that nothing of a political nature was breathed, either at or alter the meeting. It is «asy to see that “ Prynne” bitterly hates Catholics and everything Catholic, for he is not content with abusing Dr Moran and the laity as a body, but he must needs have a fling at the H.A.C.8.5., became, I presume, it is a Catholic society. For the edification of “Prynne” and the public, whom he would fain mislead, I may state that the H.A.C.B.S, is a benefit society, under the immediate sanction of the Church ; that it is non-political; that there is nothing of a secret nature about it, neither signt nor pass-words being used; and that its meetings are open to the Press. I have been to some trouble in inquiring whether a meeting of my co-religionists, for the purpose mentioned, was really held in St. Joseph’s school-room or elsewhere ; and I am in a position to state distinctly that no such meeting was ever held ; and I challenge either “Prynne” or Mr Baiton to prove the contrary.—l am, Ac., Egbert Carroll, President, JSt. Joseph’s Branch, i o. 73, H. A.C.B.S. Dunedin, May 20.