A Visit From Father Hays.

Manawatu Herald, 5 November 1904, Page 3

A Visit From Father Hays.

The announcement comes from the Antipodes, says the Irish Catholic of 10th September, that the Very Rev. Father Hays, the Apostle of Temperance, has been invited by His Grace the Most Rev. T, J. Carr, D.D., Archbish p of Melbourne, to be present at the triennial Australian Catholic Congress to be held this year in Melbourne from 23rd to 30th October, and to deal with “ the Catholic Church and the Temperance Problem.” Many Archbishops and Bishops, large numbers of priests, and leading laity from all parts of Australia and New Zealand are expected to be present at what promises to be a thoroughly representative gathering of the Church in the Antipodes. An invitation from so illustrious a body to one of our best known priests, whose entire life has been devoted to the social and moral improvement of the Irish race in England and Ireland, is significant. The name and fame of his great work has travelled beyond the seas, and the wise bishops and pastors of Australia’s Church have determined, '"followingthe examples of such great leaders of the working men as Leo XIII., on a deadly blow at the great ! cnrse of our race at home and abroad - the dreadful evil of intemperance, which devastates our people and effaces the best features of faith and fatherland. The parent of many sins, no effort for social and moral advancement is complete which does not include Temperance reform. There are many schemes and methods of Temperance, and happily, Father Hays is broad-minded and experienced enough to utilise for the welfare of his fellows any effort, no matter how moderate; and whilst an uncompromising total abstainer himself, he patronises any scheme of Temperance, and quite recently he has done much to establish the “Anti-treating Crusade.” THE MAN AND HIS WORK. The successor of the eminent Father Mathew - the disciple of Cardinal Manning - the nephew of Liverpool’s philanthropist, Father Nugent—Father Hays has during the past ten years addressed immense meetings in all the cities and towns of the British Isles, and hundreds of -thousands have taken the pledge at his hands. One night on the platform with Catholic Bishops and Mayors, another night with Bishops of the Church of England, sometimes in great public halls and cathedrals and churches, side by side with clergymen of all religious denominations, Father Hays has lifted his great “ Crusade for God and Humanity ” above the strife of religious controversy. Like the Saviour of men he has “ gone about doing good to all,” knowing no distinction of creed or race where he gould save a home from ruin, feed or clothe the poor, bring light and warmth to the cheerless cottage, comfort the last hours of the dying, or rescue the waifs and strays of the streets. The prospect of a visit from the leader of the Catholic Temperance Crusade has naturally created the t.i keenest interest amongst the Temperance workers of every creed throughout Australia and New Zealand. Fondly have they cherished the hope that" he would preach and lecture in some of the leading towns and cities, and establish new societies and stimulate old ones. His meetings are also a boon to the civic life, for being run on broad humanitarian . lines, he stipulates that they must be organised by a citizen’s committee with representatives of every creed, thus bringing together all religious denominations and mutually encouraging the goodwill of the ' community at large. To a press representative the Secretary of the Temperance Crusade ■aid Father Hays had received an invitation from the Archbishop of Melbourne, and other invitations from New Zealand and Australia, with some of which he had been deeply impressed, as they were sent to him “ in the Name of God and for the sake of perishing souls.” He does not purpose attending the

Congress. The large amount of •ork devolving upon him in these countries demands his presence. The doctors have ordered him to lo less work and to take a holiday •est. The Secretary of the Crusade stated that Father Hays had given a definite promise to visit Australia and New Zealand next year in January. HONOURS FROM TWO POPES, Before concluding, it is well to recall that in 1900 Pope Leo XllL spoke of Father Says as “ a true Apostle,” while the present- Pope, Pius X., in November, 1903, showed his personal esteem and regard for Father Hays by bestowing upon him his highest "commendation and “ Apostolic Benediction,” and in a Brief from Rome said he took the deepest interest in his noble Work.’