THE AUCKLAND CHRISTIAN YOUNG MEN'S SOCIETY: THE CHRISTAIN DOCTRINE SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 15, 9 August 1873, Page 13

THE AUCKLAND CHRISTIAN YOUNG MEN'S SOCIETY: THE CHRISTAIN DOCTRINE SOCIETY.

(By J. W.)

In Auckland, the Corinth of New Zealand, we hive m:iny sociokes devoted to the cultivation of literature and science. Two of these — • the Protestaut Christian Yoanj; Men's .Society (unsecciriau), and its young brother the Christian Doctrine Society (Catholic) — are botli meant to encourage the study and practice of the Christian religi»n, and are very likely to be useful. They have each attached to them a library of useful and 'entertaining books. In connection with the Christian Young Men's Society is a " discussion class." On a recent occasion the subject under discussion was " The Massacre of Sb. Bartholomew." One of our best Protestant schoolmasters had the courage or manliness to refer to Dr Lingard's history in the course of the discussion, with a view to n more full and impartial elucidation of tha sabect. For his temerity in adopting sucfra course he was attacked and abused anonymously in the public press by some party. The idea of attaching any importance to what a " Romish " historian, and he a * Priest," said on sireh a top'c seemed to the newspaper assail xnt to bo the height of absurdity. It i> a hopeful sign, however, to see an able' Protestant schoolmaster, like Mr Brabazon, making use of Lingard'shiatory for any purpose. Hitherto the minds of Protestant students of history have boen poisoned and perverted by such ronvmcing. and untruthful histories as Hume's, of which there id a Protestant school edition recently p-üblished. This is a great practical evil, and we may havo to thank- Mr Brabazon and tho Auckland Christian Young Men's Society for helping to put an end to tha evil. Wo need not despair of seeing the Anckland Protestant Young Men's Soriety yet instrumental in vindicating the Catholic cause, by exposing tho ignorance or maliceof the euemiesof the Catholic Church. This is no doubt quite foi-eigiv to the purpose for which the above respectable society was established ;, or, rather, is- directly opposed to that purpose. But truth' will ont r wherever fair and free and manly controversy is encouraged. We may be pretty sure that any discussion iv which Mr Bvabazon takos a part will be of that character —so far as he is concerned-. When wo pet our opponents to boar testimouy in our favor, it is a> good sign. We hare no enemies,- properly speaking, in thi3 place. Those opposed to us are so only because they have been inislod, and do not know our real tenets, or a true and full history of the Church. They are to be pitted* rather than censured*