The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 1874. A WORTHY EXAMPLE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 302, 22 December 1874, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22 1874. A WORTHY EXAMPLE.

A Queensland paper, the Brisbane Telegraph, of November Bth, giv?g an account of a seriou? riot at Tp'awuh on the previous evening. The Rev Mr Porteu3, ft Protestant clergyman, had annoanced that he would »kt a lecture on Martin Luther in the Ipswich School of Arts on the evening named, "on which occasion," saya our contemporary, "the cen'.re of the Halt was packed with Roman Catholics, who, when the lecture was half through, attempted to rush tbe platform. The rev. lecturer and the chairman managed to escape by the back doors. The crowd then broke tbe chairs, and used tbe pieces as weapons, and a scene of indescribable confusion ensued." Severnl persons sustained serious j injuries, and one man was stabbed in i the eide, though, fortunately, not dangerously. It appears that a picnir, under the auspices of tbe Orange Association, had been previously arranged to t«»ke place on the following Monday, and this was, after what had already taken place, looked forward to with no iittlo anxiety. Oa the Sunday, (herefore, after mass, the Roman Catholic Bishop Qoina exhorted the Catholics not to interfere with the Orange party, and, in order that lie might check any disposition on the part of his flock to molest them, hg travelled to the scene of the picnic in company with Mr Porteus, the Master of the Orange Lodge. Nearly 2000 persons mustered in the paddock where the festivities were to be held, and, shortly after all had arrived, one of the Orange officials mcuutod on the platform and introduced Bishop Quinn to the assemblage. The novelty of a Roman Catholic Bishop coming forward to address a party of Orangemen on a holiday festival secured for his Lordfcliip a cordial reception, and bis address was well calculated to win the renpect of his hearers, nnd of all who may chnnce to read it. We ure to id that "he expressed his pleasure at finding, by the welcome accorded bin?, that he was among friends, and went on to remark that he could not see why such should not be the case. They were ali Queenslanders, be they Orangemen or Catholics, although be feared that a {rood many, himself among the Dumber, bad the misfortune to be born Irishmen. They were there, as he understood, to assert the causa of civil and religious liberty, and, that being the case, he felt he had a right to be among them. Throughout bis career no object had been dearer to him than the advaucement of liberty, both civil and religious. Though they might be travelling by different roads, their ohjoct was tbe same, and he could not but feel that under tbe circumstances he was in his right place He waa happy to see so many people glorying in the name of Orangemeu. (Great cheering and laughter.) He felt confident that if the idea emlodied ia Orangeisra rcers better understood, it would teod materially to remove the hostility with whichtho association was regarded by others. With regard to — what should he call it? — well, say Popery — he ought to be able to epeak with Boniß authority. He had attained a certain grade in Popery, and he would declare to them that he knew of no principle in Popery which objected to calling his Orange auditors, friends, and brothers. (Much applause.) He would not detain them longer, but would give place to Mr Porleae, He was not prepared to subscribe to everything Mr Porteuß might say, but he would hear him with much pleasure. The Bishop was much applauded at the conclusion o( his address. Mr Porteus then camo forward, and, in the course of his remarks, stated that there was nothing in tbo Orange constitution intended to be offensive to his Roman Catholic brethren. "It was founded on the broad principles of mutual toleration— a most necessary feeling in a young colony like Queensland. Certain resolutions, passed the previous day by a meeting of Roman Catholics, had bean placed in his hands by his Lordship the Bishop. To one of these he must demur. Now, one of the prime objects of the Orenge institutions was to maiulain the laws of the realm. Would it be maintaining the laws if they sought to deprive Roman Catholics of any of their rights and privileges, us that resolution stated they desired to do? Such a course would be entirely opposed to their principles It wes a part of their constitution that no norm vra3 to l>B insulted on account of his religious belief. Oa tbe contrary, every Orangomnn was under an obligation not to withhold aid and relief to B»ch of bis Roman Catholic fellow-citizens as should happen to be in want of it. Of course, instances of individuals traDsgressing this rule might occur. No large society like their own could guard against tbe admission of a few troublesome members. But if a charge of insulting behaviour to a Roman Cathol'C could be brought home to a member of an Orauge Lodge, the offender would without fail be summoued to appear before the lodge, and would be speedily brought to account. He could answer for it that in the lodge to which he himself belonged, and of which he wus not aabamed to state he was Master, such an offender would be sharply dealt with. " After continuing some time in the same strain, Mr Porteue announced his intention to give his interrupted lecture ut Ipswich, without delay.

'J he Bishop again enme forward, and 6tated that if the iecture in question were to be given, he should hava great il'Bftire in occupying the chair on the occasion. " The denouncement was received with loud plaudits, and the crowd dispersed in pursuit of amusement." Were tha worthy example set by Bishop Quinn more generally followed, {here would be fewer bickering 3 nnd . heartburnings amongst thoae who in religious matters acknowledge but one Master,