A CATHOLIC PRIEST ON THE LATE RIOT.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 489, 7 January 1880, Page 2

A CATHOLIC PRIEST ON THE LATE RIOT.

At tlic Roman Catholic Church, Timarn, on Sunday, 27th December, Father Chataigner said, addressing his congregation, that they probably expected him to say something on what took place in Christchurch and Timarn on the previous Friday, He would say something as he considered himself duty bound to speak. He had among them a mission which they all acknowledged, and ought all to respect. He would then begin with a few Gospel words. When our Lord Jesus Christ was teaching his disciples how they ought to behave towards those who were their enemies, he said, “ Ho good to those who hate you ; pray for those who persecute and calumniate you.” Now, was there any of bis hearers prepared to say that last Friday’s demonstration here, and violent blood-shedding and maiming in Christchurch, had done any good to the enemies of the Catholic Faith ? No argument would prove it. Home will say that they have taught a lesson to Orangemen- Bo it so, but let them listen. Here was the lesson which they would read on the pages oi history, written on Friday :n the streets. i'hey would read Irom it, tnat Catholics have given ibem tire right to look on them as people who had rorgotten nothing of the old religious and political feuds; and that hostile feelings against their antagonists rise as high as ever in their breasts, and in their Lodge, and elsewhere, they will brood over the means to have a revenge on Catholics, as soon as opportunity offers, and it may come much sooner than desirable. .Some apostate priest has only to bring the curse of bis presence among them; blaspheme Catholic faith, and slander tlw* Church

and its holy institutions in Dieir hearing and he will revive the .anti-C«thoiic Orange spirit. Will no £ h, s t Friday’s doings full like oil on t! m. fire ? They,'' have been greatly auir<r y'i. and should’ they mean to make sc jib day a public? show of their colors, th .ev will lake goc 'I ‘ * , • ■ care to muster strong 1 enough to siktwd your opposition. Tf toy had only one means to bring Ora rig i-iism to the ground; and that was not to at lice it. It "would have died out long ago. only t'<or the opposition it had vncomuered. Contempt would have - .'killed it: a result which will never bet obtained by opposition as long as ‘Cathodes re chain a minority, small in. number, in wealth, and in authority. Me should n.dt omit to say that tin? glow Zealand CVmstittitiou gave lliern tue pow.-r to gain the goodwill and the assistance of some members of .1 *: irhament to pas? a law, forbidding all Ever the laud processions which threatc a\ to cause a In cacti of the peace amou; ;sit oihenvise pvncdnl citi/'■“ns. 11 1 ;hey did that they would really do gi /o'd (o those that, liated them, and merit later their gratitude and that of i ,hj;» public at large. T’ney should no t say it was galling to look on f bannersr ,nd insignia tvhichlakl caused ruin and bloodshed for emitlulAj though ihev insulted their laith and dearest hopes. They treed not look on th.din ; hut if they could certainly Hml courage enough in their faith to accept the ioreod sight of the irnld remnant of a oribe fierce persecution,' and thank Cod that it was now only a harmless memorial of worse days. A kittle reminder of persecution !o-pt fad li alive. They were not. ignorant of tin*, historical fact that persecution was ahmost the normal state of the Church oij, earth. u They willTiale you, because i'ney hate me,” says Jesus C’mist to his Disciples. And Ho also says that the .Disciples ought not. to envy Him whilst lie is treated as bis master. The rev. gentleman concluded :—Now, do notsav that not being uu irishman I do not feel as Irish do. iam one with you in faith ; m}’ hopes are yonr hopes: your interests are dear to me ; and whenever your religion is insulted, 1 feel with yon the insult, and teel for you as well as for mys-lf. But I am obliged to boar in mind, an 1 not let yon forget, that judgement and award belong to Cod, and that should justice he denied to you here, yon shall have it in frillicss on the day when universal justice shall be meted to everyone accord mg as he shall have deserved. Du now unite in thanking Co 1 that, the representatives of law and order in Timant have, taken timely measures to insure peace as iar has they could. Their forethought ami prompt decision have saved the town the reproach of a disgraceful tragedy. '>m know that you owe it to the reprc.s.-nia-tives of authority that the wanton unsheathing of the sword was not followed liy a murderous onslaught.