HIBERNIANS TO THE FRONT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 90, 16 January 1875, Page 9

HIBERNIANS TO THE FRONT.

PUBLICITY OF THEIB PROCEEDINGS.

A PABAaKAPH lately appeared in a sub-leader of the ' Auckland Herald/ in which it was stated that the Auckland Branch of the Hibernian Society, though only about 12 months old, already numbers 130 members, and promises ere long to attain to a prominent position in the colony. I notice that the parent society at Ballarat, in the preface to the second edition of their notes published last year, say that " Since the amalgamation of the separate societies in 1871 the H.A-.C.8.5. has continued to progress steadily. At the present time it numbers several thousand members in 85 branches, which are firmly established in Victoria, New South "Wales, and New Zealand." In this colony 17 "branches have already been established, of which one of the most imporbant, if not the first in importance, is the Auckland Branch. As yet the association consists almost exclusively of the humbler classes, or the working men, I believe, Jand it must always consist of those principally, because it is the most numerous class, and it is for the special benefit of them and their families that it has been got up. It is a pity that the more substantial class of Catholics do not see their way to become members — honorary, if not beneficial, members — or the sake of countenancing and encouraging their humbler coreligionists in so good a work. From what I hear many respectable Catholics still entertain a suspicion tlisit, in spite of all the assurances to the contrary, the society is of a secret and political kind. Time and the fullest publicity to all that passes at the meetings of the society can alone effectually remove this suspicion from the public mind. It is expressly provided, by one of the rules of the society, that the meetings shall be open to the Press. If this rule be departed from, and the gentlemen of the Press be on any pretence excluded, it will tend to confirm tlie suspicion I refer to, and which must be injurious to the credit and prosperity of the association. The society is not a secret one — it is not even a private one — and the outside public, both Catholic and Protestant, have a right to know all that goes on at its meetings. Why should the members be afraid of publicity. The proceedings would be conducted with all the more decorum from the knowledge that a reporter was present. The fear of public opinion often makes men stand upon their good manners when otherwise they might be inclined to forgst themselves and give way to their temper. If there be nothing of sufficient importance to report, of eoiirse nothing would be reported ; but the meetings, as a rule, should be open to the Press, as a matter of course, and a reporter should not be required to ask permission to enter the room. The very circumstance of a reporter attending any meeting of a public land is a compliment to those who are to take part in it, and his exclusion always gives rise to unpleasant surmises. Bishop Moran, on occasion of a late visit to Hokitika, said, in reference to the Hibernians, " "Whenever there was secrecy in any society there was suspicion. Men who meant right had nothing to fear from an open, disclosure of their proceedings." There is another tiling calculated to excite suspicion in the outside public that the society exists for party or political purposes : the name "Hibernian" coupled with " the wearing of the green "in public processions. These are innocent things in themselves, and, in a certain sense, laudable as indicative .of filial attachment to old Ireland, the native land of most of the members. Still, this is a Catholic, and not an Irish, society, and is meant to include men of all nations. When once the society is firmly established, therefore, it might be worth, -while to consider if it might not with advantage be divested of its present very decided Irish character, and assume more of a purely Catholic appearance in name and otherwise. Even the constitution of the society makes allusions to Irish wrongs and sufferings which had better be avoided. These wrongs, God knows, have been grievous enough, and they can never pass from the memory of Irish men; but better not refer to them in the laws of a Catholic, benefit society. Irish Catholics must, if possible, forget past wrongs, and forgive those who are descended from the men who inflicted them. What they have to do is to look hopefully to the future, and to unite in harmony and good-will with all classes for the promotion of the common good. Let them do this, and the Catholic benefit society need fear neither publicity to their proceedings nor anything else. In the meantime, all honor to " the Hibernians." But for Irishmen we should, in all human probability, have been at this day withoxit anything Catholic in this colony, and they have a good, right to occupy the foremost place in every Catholic movement. N. B.