FATHER LONDERGAN AND THE THAMES " HIBERNIANS."

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 85, 12 December 1874, Page 8

FATHER LONDERGAN AND THE THAMES " HIBERNIANS."

Father Londbegan some time ago preached, "by desire," a special sermon for the benefit of the Thames Hibernians, on the occasion of their going to mass in a body. It appears some bits of the sermon were more plain than agreeable to certain members of the Society. The enemies of the Hibernians chuckled at the Eev. Father's stinging reproaches. Of course they applied to a portion — and to a small portion only, it is to be hoped — of the Society. Some well-wishers of the Emeralds thought the Bey. Father's public rebuke rather severe, as well as inopportune and injudicious. Yet he must have his good reasons to move him to say what he did, and it is to be hoped those Hibernians to whom his remarks applied -will lay them to heart and profit by them. The Hibernians are not, strictly speaking, a religious society ; yet they profess to admit among them "respectable" Catholics only. No Catholic can be said to be respectable who neglects or refuses to comply with the essential duties of his religion. Such, a man is a sham Catholic — a pretender — a kind of Judas, and the fewer of these there are among the Hibernians the better for the credit of the j Society. Besides, the Thames Catholics, if I recollect right, in- | duced Bishop Croke to become their chaplain. His lordship would never have consented to occupy such a position if he thought the Society was to embrace sham Catholics among its members — men who show such contempt for God and His Church as to absent themselves from the sacraments for years, as it is said some of the Thames Hibernians do. But better late, than never do well. Sham Catholics can, if they have a mind, become real genuine Catholics. The good Thames Hibernians must pray for the bad ones, and show them a good example. Look at the Wellington Hibernians. There is a sample of the right sort. Some Irish Catholics are very demonstrative about their religion. They will give money liberally for it — talk in favor of it vehemently — even fight for it ; but there is one thing they will not do : practice it. The Hibernians have not only a character for worldly respe ct " ability to maintain, but also a character for religious consisten CT I tind fidelity to uphold in presence of the public, both Catholic an* 1 Protestant. They ought to be the very cream of the Catholic com" munity j models of prudence, temperance, industry, and integrity to say nothing of charity and piety. By being so they -will become a great moral power in the State, and earn the respect and confidence of men of all creeds. Their enemies will fear them. They have begun well, and should strive to obtain the grace of perseverance. The formation of a corps of Hibernian cadets or a' juvenile contingent is a great point. It would be difficult to" over-estimate the importance of that. Rightly handled it will give to the priests and the elders of the Catholic body a powerful hold on the rising race of Catholics. When old boys strive in earnest to improve their juniors they usually go a great way towards their own improvement. The junior Catholics of our day very much require some wholesome and controlling social influence outside their homes, factories and shops. This the Hibernian Society is likely to furnish to them. The art of amusing the young properly is not an easy one. In every age, but in ours especially, public amusements have been very apt to degenerate into something vicious, or bordering on that— excitement, at any price or sacrifice, being the main end. Music, good music — vocal and instrumental — amusing and innocent books and theatricals, games of skill, these are some of the amusements which, when properly diversified, never prove wearisome, and all these the Hibernians may supply to ther juveniles and themselves almost without end. The Auckland Hibernians are fortunate in having a spiritual director who is an enthusiast in music and theatricals, and has infused a portion of his own enthusiasm into them. They and their families owe Father O'Dwyer much for his exertions on behalf of the juveniles. The Hibernians are, properly speaking, only a benefit society ; but, practically, they may be regarded as a- society for the promotion of Catholic interests of every kind — religious, charitable and educational. We may expect, ere long, they will have a " hall " of their own, with suitable appliances for music, literature and theatricals, and other innocent amusements. What the members of the Auckland Catholic Literary Institute have already done shows that the passion for letters which has characterised the Irish Catholics of all ranks ever since the days of St. Patrick, still survives in that portion of their descendants who have settled in this city. Letters, and music, and oratory naturally go together. Eeligion sanctifies them all. Some time ago Father O'Dyer formed a fife and drum band for the juveniles, which is very popular with them, and they are making good progress. They have performed well at two public entertainments which they have given in St. Patrick's Hall. He has also formed a small library for them, as yet a very small one; but the liberality of the Catholic community, it is hoped, will enable him to enlarge it. He has now purchased for the Hibernians a complete set of instruments for a brass band. They are quite new from the maker's hand, and are of a very superior kind, with all modern improvements, I believe, and cost a large sum. If the performers prove as good as the instruments in all probability the band of the Auckland Hibernians will be the best in town, or even in the colony. As yet none of the bigger ov richer Catholics have seen their way to join the Hibernians, For reasons which it is not for me to censure, or even inquire into, they hold off, and do not countenance the Societyj laudable though its objects be, and though it consist of men oi respectable^character only. If anyone entertain the suspicion that the Society is of a political kind the suspicion is groundless and unjust. Among its other objects it aims at encouraging Catholics to practice, their religion honestly — a religion which teaches the purest and widest charity, and inculcates loyalty to the sovereign ;*s a most sacred duty, v _ Auckland.