ST. PATRICK'S DAY. THE H.A.C.B.S IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 49, 4 April 1874, Page 9

ST. PATRICK'S DAY. THE H.A.C.B.S IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Tnis following report of the dinner given by the above trurccli of the Society to comiiiemoMte tlie inmoitil memory of frelmd's L'atron Saint, is tukon chiefly from tlie sccon 1 notice of tin's dinner which appeared m tlie Ohristchureh ' Press' of the 20di uU. : —

A dinner in connection with this branch ->f tho soci' ty was helil on Tuesdiy evening at St. Patrick's Hall, B irbadocs stroct Tho hall was vc'y tastelully decorated with fla^3 an 1 evergreens, v 1 irj;e ilij; by ing s'lsjieuded over the |iluf'orir. at tho bick of the eh.iriiiau, 01 wliijh the 1111 1. l-< of tlie v ocietv were pninted ovtiv tho Irivh welcome " Ce.id Mille l/ailth 1." About 120 persons sut down to an excollei.t dinner. The eh lirman w.i-, supported on the light by the president of the brnich, Mr J. I'.i.ifo, and the Rev. F. S- Chcrviev, md o,i the 1 ft by the Rev. Fathers Kemer and Francii. Ales-,rs D. i\! Guinness and E. O'connor oeoupie I chars at the head of th ; side tibli I*,1 *, tlie vice chiiis beintt filled by Messrs C. Walsh (vice pre-u I -nt of the biwncl ), .\te-~-r-i J. 13. Sheaili and Bowerman.

Tii' 1 eh urman, on rising to propose the fi »t to.ist on th li^t, vi/., •' He ilih ".ml pro-ip'-ril y to our Sove'visjn L'ontifT," s>iid he v\ ist first read then v f *w lined fiooi an extract whijh had appeared In it morniti!» in tli- ' |j\ttelton I 111103 ' newspiper, which he held i1)i 1 ) iis hind, md was from the ' A'niral i-i in,' a woeklv piper puSlUhi I m Melbourne. He I"' It rather dilli lent in rising to a Idi sn t,i. i, 0.3 ho should hive to do to us a eo-eou->[>irator m 'he ptv.-u ny 1 1 ihi'ir re■mccted cli-rgv, it', sis stated in the ettiuet h s h1 I ] lit iv 1 1 t > thorn, it his correct th it the orgimsiiim of the Roman (J i 1 h >!i i'i.u 'eh was oeing ii"cd to pronnte a conspiracy against c vil uocii i\ .11! modern pi\>_!ivs-< it' that were true, he wi> a cons,>ir i* •<r 1 1t r >' I'^vmeu it liis si le UO' e conspirators with him He doni-d e,,,)l>.ti, Jv tint 1 Ik>v wen- coim irrors 111 ary sense, and if they hid ntn t I ,v he mado id don')' they h itl, th ■ i^s-ifiv of tha A'"iiln- n> n! \\" slia n*t3i ¥ w'ii h ip'ie 11 eel 111 the London ' Mall ' of the 24 h I) e.i'i.T, it'thty 'iati' % id 'hi' mig uficeut ess iy, ihe argiimoiit ol wine ti >' .'c- 1 - nape.' ii \slne lit was publii-h^d pretended to poo.i pooh. > >i i>> \>nco of it-, hi i! g and by culling it a soplns n, they v\oul I -c- 1 'i ia 1 \v 3 they \ vo ' i cd eoiwpirators -against civil society. The th ■■■ ,n 1 t'i v e^say w»- to pro.'o that ciul socie'y hud been rehabilitated 1m t 1 c J -ivi'ij

Saviour of mankind, who had come down from heaven for the express purpose of saving man from the tyranny of their fellow-men, from the despotism of princes nnd governments — no matter of what kind they were. Our blessed Saviour had ehown us in the history of the world eince he came on earth that Christianity was the palladium of our lioerties against the tyranny of states and governments, to prevent men dressed iv a little brief authority from tyrannising over their fellowmen, and that palladium was established in the Church, by authority being given to one man ordained by Christ himself to be the spiritual ruler over all temporal rulers. To St. Peter had been left that Supreme .Authority. But he was to govern by moral force, and to educate mankind by imparting to all a knowledge of God and His law, and by inculcating in all that obedience to the moral law which would make it impossible for any roan or body of mm to tyrannise over others. (Loud and long continued cheering.) Those who complained of the organization in the Church of God, did so because they had so far as 'hey were concerned, disintegrated and resolved society into a jumble of elements perpetually in mutual collision and conflict, hurtful not only to themselves but to the rest of the world. They had no organisation themselves. So much he had felt it imperative on him to say in justification of their proceeding in putting first on the list the toast which he was now to give them, that of the Spiiitual Representative of the Most High, the Vicegerent of the Almighty Ruler of the Universe. He called on them to drink with enthusiasm the Health of the Sovereign Pontiff, His Holiness Pope Pius the Ninth. The toast was drank with honors. Soiig— " The Green Immortal Shamrock," by Mr Austin Sheath. Father Ecuycr, who was received with applause, thanked them for the manner in which they had druuk the health of the Sovereign Pontiff. They were Catholics, and they drank the Pope's health first, though there were many in this country who did not understand why they did so. He would tell them that Catholics were the be3t subjects the Queen had in every country. (Great cheering.) They were obedient ac a matter of conscience, and not because they were forced by the law. As Catholics and Christians they knew that there were two powers here on carth — the spiritual power and the temporal power — and they desired to render unto Ceesar what belonged to Ceesar, and to God what belonged to God. (Cheers.) This was precisely the great principle upon which Pius IX was acting. Not a mun in the world was more respected even by his enemies, than Pius IX was. Our good Queen Victoria — and he desired to call her our good Queen (cheers), though a Protestant— and at the head of a Proteßtant Kingdom — sent her son to Rome to pay a visit to the Pope, (Cheers.) Was not that snfficient proof of the esteem she had for the Pope, and if the Queen could go herself she would have been glad to have spoken to him. Some few years ago the late Emperor of Rassia went to Rome, and the first visit he paid was to the late Pontiff. He remained with him for two hours, and when he left the room he seemed almost thunderstruck. Our Saviour had said, I will give you a name that will make the people understand what jouare. "Thou art Peter" (and that word meant a rock) ; •• and upon this rock I will build this church." The enemies of the church might talk as they liked, but upon that rock the church was built. Napoleon 1 had turned upon the Pope, and when excommunicated had said, " What do I care about it, will the arms drop from my soldier's hands because I am excommunicated." Twelve months after that he went to Russia. He did so in the depth of winter, and it was a most extraordinary project ; but he went there by the will of God, and the arms did drop out of his soldiers' hands, for out of a most magnificent army he returned with less than 40,000 poor miserable soldiers ; and Napoleon never prospered again. Whoever falls upon that rock is crushed. There was an awful persecution going on against Pius IX. now, and those who were persecuting him believed they were going to be victorious; but wait only for a few years, and it would be seen that they would never succeed ; for He had said, " Upon this rock I will build my clrurch, and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it. (Cheers') The Pope was at present in Rome like a lamb in the midst of roaring lions, almost himself alone, and yet not one of them dare take hold of him and lay his hand upon him. (Cheers.) Was there nothing wonderful about this, that it should be so with a poor old man, H2 years old, who had governed the Church for 27 years — two years even more than Peter Did it not seem even supernatural ? Every Catholic and Protestant felt there was something sacred about that holy man. He again wished heartily to thank them for the manner in which the health of Pius IX. had been received. (Applause,) The chairman, in asking them to fill their glasses for the next toast, said he knew they would be impatient to drink it after what their respected pastor had said about her Moat Gracious Majesty, und which expression hai been so heartily received. (Cheers.) He saw they were anxious to express their loyalty to o,ur beloved Queen. Her Mnjesty was the representative of good Government — cheers) — and lie would ask them to drink the health of their beloved Sovereign Quoeu Victoria, and the members of the Royal Family. The toast was drunk with enthusiasm and one cheer more. The next toast was " His Honor the Superintendent and the Provincial Council," which was drunk with cheers. The Chairman said the next toast would require no introduction from him to work them up to drink with proper ieelmg. It was ''The immortal meruor/ oi St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland," coupled with the name of Father Chewier. The toast was duly honored. Song — " The dear lutle shamrock," Mr E. O'Connor. Father Chervier, who was received with cheers on rising, said he had been called upon to respond to a toast which had been drunk us it ought to be. He considered it a very great honur to be culled upon to respond to the toast of the memory of St. Patiicb, and wished it had been placed in better hands. He felt proud to have his name coupled with St. Patrick, and though not an Irishman— [A Voice— "You should have beenj (laughter) — he would do his b-ist to reply to the toast. He thoug it they would all agree with hun wLen^he said that that was ready the first celebration ot

St. Patrick's Day in Christchurch— (cheers) — and why, because it was really and truly in eTery sense of the word a Catholic one. (Cheers ) He rejoiced with them, first as a priest, and secondly as a Frenchman. As a priest, every priest must bare a joyful remembrance of what St. Patrick had done for the Catholic Church and for the glory of God. A few years ago before he was ordained and when going through his course of studies he met a young man who came from England but whose family were Irish, and when he told him what Irishmen had suffered for their faith, it was then that his heart first warmed towards Iri«h Catholics. (Cheers.) As a Frenchman he would ask, were toot Ireland and France like two sisters ? He had the authority of their parish priest for saying so, and he did not think he would tell a story. (Laughter.) Had not Ireland shown that France possessed her good wishes, and has France not had her assistance when it was most needed, and have not thousands of Ireland's children died iti the service of France? (Cheers ) From the year 1691 to 1741 more than 450,000 Irishmen died in the service of France. It is on record, that when*victory has been against France in the hour of battle it has been wrested from her opponents by the Irish Brigade. (Cheers.) When at Fontenoy, when the enemieß of France were all but victorious, th« Irish General said, " Remember Limerick," and the enemies of France could not resist the charge of those brave soldiers, and victory followed, i (Cheers ) Remembering these, and doing co as a Frenchman, he rejoiced with them that day at the meeting to commemorate the anniversary of the Patron Saint of Ireland. St. Patrick had done much for Ireland and Christianity. He had built 365 churches, consecrated 365 bishops, and ordained 3000 priests, and he had left the Irish people an inheritance that fine, imprisonment, persecution, or e\en death, would not deprive them of. (Cheers.) Irishmen were naturally deeply attached to their country, and he hoped they would always be so. In conclusion, he would read them • few lines written in honour of St. Patrick and Ireland —

Ever bloss and defend the sweet land of our birth, Where tha shamrock still bloJtns as when thou wert on earth ; And our hearts shall yet burn wheresoever we roam — For Ood, and St. Patrick, and our dear native home. (Cheers.) The Chairman gave the next toast, " Our native land and Irishmen all over the globe," coupled with the name of the Tice-chairman. Mr C. Walsh. The toast was enthusiastically drunk. Song—" Pat Malloy," Mr Barrett. The Vice-Chairman said the toast he had been called upon to res* pond to appealed to the heart of every Irishman present, for with it was associated the love of his country. Scotchmen might love their bonny hills, and Englishmen the pleasant shores of England, but to Irishmen the green hills of holy Ireland, with her sorrows and sufferings, were dear indeed. (Cheers.) Those very sorrows had endeared her the more to them, and when stricken with famine and pestilence, their love of their country had been none the less. Bright days were surely in store for a land that had produced so many martyrs and patriots — martyrs in many ages, and patriots and orators, among whom were such names as Burke, Grattan, Plunkett, and last, though by no means least, the immortal O'Oonnell. (Cheers.) In poets, Ireland has produced Swift, Goldsmith, Moore, and a host of others, and claiming men like these, suffering as she had, depend upon it bright day* were dawning for Ireland. If they desired to be called Irishmen, let them show by their actions that they were worthy of the name' and let it be their duty to impress on the minds of the rising generation a love for the race from which they had sprung. (Cheers.) The Chairman next proposed the toast " Health and 6ucces3 to our school committees," coupled with the name of Mr Bowerman which was enthusiast icaliy received. Song -" Terence's farewell to his Kathleen," Mr Daniel Howard. Mr Bowermr.n, in responding to the toast, touched upon the present position of the schools as resting entirely on their own resources, and recommended till to contribute to their support as liberally as pos* sible, in order that the prestige of the schools might be properly maintained. He sai I that since the disendow in en tof the schools the Committee had some very hard work, but they hoped by perseverance and the assistance of the congregation that their efforts would prove successful. The Chairman then gave the toast of the " Chief President and Executive Directory of the H.A.C.8.5," coupled with the name of Mr Taaffe, President of the Christchurch branch. The toast was most enthusiastically received. Mr Taaffe responded to the last in a very appropriate manner at the same time stating that there wore now about 1)6 lodges vritli betweeu 6000 and 7000 members in the Australian colonies. The Chairman next proposed " Health and success to the ofßcers and brothers of the H.A.C.B S. throughout the colonies more particularly those of the Dunedin Branch." coupled with the name of Mr Ling, which was drunk most warmly. Song — One of Moore's melodics — Mr Austin Sheath. Mr Ling briefly responded to the toast and thanked the company for the manner in which they had drunk the health of his lodge. The Vice-chairman then proposed " Success to the New Zealand Tablet," coupled with the name of Mr Loughnan, which wa9 warmly was warmly received. Song — Mr Barrett Mr Loughnan •< -ponded at considerable 'ength, shewing the benefit the New Zk. -.• md Tablet had conferred on the people of this colony general!;, by th<s dissemination of sound views on education, by doing wlr <■'• and aiding Catholics ia their struggle against education, talsely m> called, it had drawn upon itself in common with i the body whose ■vkws it so ably advocated, the attacks of the organs of those sections oi our fellow colonists who are adverse to religion as the foundation of education ; as for instance the ' Lyttelton Times,' the ' uncompromibiug but inconsistent advocate of the so called secular I system. That journal had attacked the Catholic community of \ this province j tiie committee whom they had appointed to watch ■ over their rights ia thia matter, alter cogitating for 18 days on an

answer to its leader of the 7th February, had refuted it. The • Times ' renewed the attack in the words of this At stra'asian Newspaper, the very next day,— that is on this day set apart for the celebration of the feast of their patron saint — words which he had quoted earlier in the evening. It was plain the Tablet wns now the only medium through which they were to be allowed to make known their views and wishes and grievances in connection with the most vital question of education, and to defend themseir^s against the aspersion of the local journals. The Tablet deserved trell of the well-wishers of genuine education, and the Catholics of the province more particularly, and it would be a disgrace to them and their cause if it were not supported. "The Ladies, and the Chairman" having been proposed and responded to, the company broke up after having spent a most enjoyable evening.