ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 634, 15 May 1878, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

o ;\\'u arc ti"t t\.r the '•/imi'Hise.vpiesseil InOU! CoiTCSjiitllitelltS. j ❖ I'O Till; EDITOR 01" THE EVENING MAIL. In Monday night's M-Ut, n, letter appeared -siyiiud. l ' A Roman Catholic." in reference to it permit me to say a. few WOl'ds. I admit that the statements made in that letter are true. It is true that the Government i.-; treating; us unjustly, cruelly, by forcing us to pay money for schools of which conscience, forbids ns to avail ourselves, and then to refuse any share of that m<>ney for our own schools. If is true that we look on those Catholics who use the Secular schools where Catholic schools are established as low, unprincipled people, who saeriiiee conscience ami the souls of their children for base lucre ; or. as ' ; A Roman Catholic " put it. we look upon such persons as soupers of the lowest typo. " A Roman Catholic" drew a comparison between the Irish soupnrs and those nominal Catholics who use the secular schools, and to my view, the. conclusion is correct ; but he omitted to add that the Irish soupers were fed with soup and meat given them in exchange, for their religious convictions, but purchased by the money of Protestant Mible .Societies ; whereas here, in this country, the money is forced out of the pockets of Catholics, and is then made use of to help tin; unprincipled and slavish portion of the Catholic people to abandon their faith and to expose their children to Ihe imminent danger of never having that faith, and, as we believe, bringing eternal ruin on themselves and their unfortunate children, It is aiso true that Mr. Shrimski has expressed .himself as an advocate of the secular education system, and has declared his hope to see Catholics availing themselves of that system. The reply seems to me to be harsh, though true and forcible. If Mr. Shrimski was aware of the fact that it is religious conviction and. conscience that make us reject the secular system and cling to education under the guidance of our religion—if he knew that every honest and conscientious Catholic would sacrifice his own life and that of his offspring" rather than give up his faith and obedience to the Catholic Church, 1 am of opinion our respected fellow-citizen would never have made any light allusions to us, or expressed his hope that we would abandon principles that are clearer to us than life. Of course, as lie proclaims himself an advocate of a system, that oppresses us, Tio honest Catholic can vote for him. Nevertheless, he will not cease to have the esteem of the Catholic body, for men nf worth and goodness deserve well of their fellow-beings : and I must bear testimony to the fact that Mr. Shrimski is ever among the first to share in any work for the public good. He had a large, even the principal, share in establishing our Hospital, Mechanics' Institute, and our excellent harbor, both by his influence and by his large contributions ; and even when the Catholics require help for church or schools or any charity, Mr. Shrimski is ever ready with his contribution. And, moreover, now, when ho is advocating secular education, he gave me, five or six weeks since, L 5 os. to establish Christian Brothers in this town. In due time, I intend thanking him and our fellowcolonists who help us in the same way. But if Mr. Shrimski gave us all ho possesses, it would not make us abandon principles ; and on principle every honest Catholic will refuse him, and everyone like him, all aid when seeking to represent us again. Now, as 1 am on this subject, allow me to add that I deprecate letter-writing and speeches tending to arouse bitter feelings between class and class, therefore it

would have been well if Mr. Shrimski had not spoken of us as he did ; but as he did so, I can scarcely blame "A Roman Catholic" for replying to him. But at the same time I think it would have been better he did not reply, for the reply, or

any 'reply in words, is of very little use. The reply tliafcwe Catholics must give to all sueh statements and speeches is an unceasing practical effort to maintain our schools, and a determined resolution, proved by real work, to establish firstclass Catholic, and, therefore, Christian schools. If we prove by a persevering consistent course that we are honest and conscientious in what we are doing, I am persuaded we will get, even from those who differ from us, a large support and generous help to establish our own schools. In fact, I now state publicly for the first time that we Catholics here in Oamaru district are pursuing a course that is winning for us the sympathy and pecuniary aid of many generous persons who differ from us in our views even on education, but who help us because they see the earnestness with which their Catholic fellow-citizens are working. "We have already secured a sum of over LBOO, collected in this district from all classes within the last two years, for the purpose of establishing Christian Brothers in this this town. We will require at least as much more to enable us to carry out the intended work, but we have not the slightest fear but that we shall have the required amount in time ; in fact, within four months from this day wo would have everything ready for the Christian Brothers if they were prepared to come. Unfortunately it is not money or means that are wanting, but the men. Tho calls are so many on this noble and devoted Christian .Society that it is utterly impossible for them to meet every demand ; but, according to agreement already entered into, we shall get them when our turn comes, and we shall be prepared when they are read v. Thus, Mr. Editor, f think we are by our work proving that Mr. Shrimski's hopes of seeing Catholics making use of the Government secular schools are groundless, and that he will soon learn that what wo are doing is no solitary instance of the determination of all honest Cathofios not to use tin " souper" schools. Whether the Government makes any change in the laws or not, Catholic schools will be established and maintained, and I. think if 1 asked members of the Government for help I would got it. 1 got from their advocate, Mr. Slirimski, and 1 know he will give again when asked. Finally, would it no! lie well for the Government to give tin Catholics a share of the money forced from them, so that the Government ma; have control over these schools, and tin Catholics may be content that a spirit ot emulation may be encouraged between the several schools, that thus cducatioi may be promoted without bitterness or party spirit, but all of us may eo-operat( in promoting the general welfare of tin inhabitants of these islands, where everything except this education difficulty pro misus the brightest future.—l am, iV/c, Wji. Coleman.