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Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 943, 6 December 1881, Page 2

A SOMEWHAT unusual occurrence took place in St. Paliick's Ciitircli, Masterton, mi Sunday hist, Tin- I'ov Father Haitiwnchs stated that, though lie was not in the habit of faking any part iu political contests, a certain indignity which lie in his character as a.prist had sns'ained at the hands of Mr liem,!) showed that, this parliamentary candid re was uiiwor.hy of the support, »f the GYlmlic community. It is certainly not dosiiv.blo that religions teachers should take a prominent part in political contests, and, as we understand) the Rev Father is of the sumo opinion, lint hides th 4 tlnoo were <:prei;il circumstance.! in this case which justified the departure from his oidnary practice. Nun-Ca!lndies, perhaps, ean hardly judgo fairly i'l" ' lie [ie-.:oliir circumstances which led up I" such a decliirati in from the pulpit, iinked as they are necessarily with religious ceremonies, which are held in Local rreronce by members of an aucMit Clui'ch. I' is baldly a question thai can be: el lied by en'side discussion ; it is morn a mailer between the Eev Fnth"r aufl his congregation, and the Rev Father and Ins Bishop. If tie Rev. Father exceeded bis duty, he will no d'Uihi be. censured by his congregation and his superior. If, on the other hand, the peculiar circumstances of the case justified a statement such as lie made, he will, whatever the outside public may say, be sustained in the course which he pursued by the only opinions which lie is likely to value. From what we heard prior to Sunday last, the sentiments of manv Catholic residents are in accord with 'lm.se of their priest. We believe that the Catholics, as a body, urn opposed to Mr Recall, and that they will vote against him, not because the Eev Father Halbwnchs tells them to do so, hut, because they feel that he has insulted the religious community to which they are attached, mid 'hat a man who would do this is not worthy of public confidence. This oecnrtetice is only one in along train nf incidents, which all point to one conclusion, viz, the unfitness of Mr Eenall to hold any public position. Mr Beethani's name has been drugged into the affair in a very muvariantabh) manner, and the fact that he wan present in the Church on the occasion has been made a pretext for assuming that he was cognisant of tho allusion Father Halbwnchs was about to make to the political, contest. Tho truth is- that Mr Beeth m.'s presence was entirely no'denial. Everyone who knows Mr Beetham requires no assurance, that had he known -at anynllution would It vo ' been made to politics he would not h've been present. ;. " ■'; ''■■ r \(\ '.'( -

On two occasions Mr Rhnall has stated from the public; platform that he spends all his money in doing good to his fellowcreatures, Mr Benall's private incnnle is »large one, and \ve : should not be justified in alluding tn it if he did not himself make political .capital out of it. We would ask hinrwhether he does not spend his income by lending money to aettlers about Masterton, and whether the persons to whom he has made advances are not the men who/have worked up his election for him?