REMARKS ON THE PROGRESS OF TOLERATION AT HOME AND IN THESE COLONIES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 93, 6 February 1875, Page 8

REMARKS ON THE PROGRESS OF TOLERATION AT HOME AND IN THESE COLONIES.

FREEMASONS AND CATHOLICS. Sir, (to the Auckland 'Herald/ per favor New Zealand Tablet) — You very justly remark upon the dignified and becoming part the Masonic body in England have acted on the, to them trying, occasion of the retirement of the Marquis of Eipon from thecraft, consequent on his entering the Boman Catholic Church. The " brethren " in this colony seem to have received the news of the important event with a like edifying equanimity and resignation. They have not given expression to anything indicative of ill feeling towards their late distinguished Grand-master ; on the other hand the Catholic body have not shown any unseemly feelings of exultation or triumph on their side. It seems to be felt by both sides that the occasion is far too grave for any display of rude party feeling. The amiable character and unobtrusive habits of the Marquis as a man, and an English, nobleman, altogether irrespective of his present or former religion, seem to have forbidden the display of any strong feeling either on the Masonic or Catholic side. In many most important particulars the noble Marquis is the same now as he was before — a devout Christian and high principled English peer, ready to serve his Queen in any civil office to which she may be pleased to appoint him, and anxious to do justice to all his fellow subjects to whatever religious denomination they may belong. His respect for the rights of conscience will not be diminished but if possible increased by his recent change of creed. You also take an opportuuiny with reference to this subject to advert to the happy absence of all ill blood between the Catholic and Protestant portions of our society here, a state of things which forms so marked a contrast to that existing in some other parts of the world. This is a matter upon which we may all heartily congratulate ourselves, and the Auckland Press contributed, I think^ui no small degree to this gratifying and, I may say, increasing harmony. ' Scarcely a week, indeed, passes without the Protestant Press and community in these colonies doing some graceful and liberal act toward their Boman Catholic neighbours. One very remarkable instance of this kind occurred very recently in Brisbane,

Queensland, in which our present Governor, Lord Normanby, took the lead. On the occasion of Archbishops Polding and Vaughan going to Brisbane to consecrate a new cathedral in that thriving capital, the community, Protestant and Catholic, invited them to a civic banquet in the Town Hall. Lord Normanby presided, and it is needless to say acquitted himself with grace and tact. Considering the purpose for which this large mixed assembly had met, it must have required not a little tact and delicacy in the chairman to avoid giving offence. Among other things he said he could not understand how any feeling of religious animosity should be kept alive in these colonies. The Protestants acted according to their religious convictions ; Catholics had a perfect right to do the same. He added that the Catholics were about to build a cathedral in Brisbane which, when finished, would be a great ornament to the town ; and he only hoped that this would provoke the /Protestants to do the same, but which they were not likely to do in his reign, as he was so soon to leave for New Zealand. This was at once a compliment to the Catholic guests, and a cutting, but good humoured, reproach to the Protestant, more numerous and richer portion of the population. The Catholics of Auckland are about to erect a new cathedral, which it is hoped will be a conspicuous ornament to our picturesque city. The Protestants, who are more numerous and faT richer, and equally religious, Bhould do so likewise. Whether on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of a new St. Patrick's Cathedral in Auckland the community, Catholic and Protestant, will invite the assembled Bishops to a civil banquet, to be presided over by Lord Normanby, as in Brisbane, remains to be seen. Any how, a portion of the funds for erecting that cathedral has already been generally contributed by Protestestants — a proof of good will^which is ,even"more significant than a civic banquet would be. It seems a &*&& but very common error to suppose that Catholics are offended at religious zeal in their Protestant neighbours. Provided that Protestant zeal be tempered with liberality and fraternal charity it ought to gratify and not offend Catholics, because whatever improves the moral and religious tone of Protestant communities exercises a wholesome influence on Catholics, and contrariwise, a low standard of moral and religious feeling and action among Protestants is sure to breed irreligion and vice among their Catholic neighbours. By the way, the Masonic body have gained and not lost by the secession of Lord Eipon, seeing they have now got a Royal, instead of a noble or right hon., Grandmaster by the change. No wonder they comport themselves with dignity ! Whether there be any religious or political significance fairly attributable to the Prince's acceptance of the Grandmastership is a ticklish question, and of a very explosive kind. The London ' Times ' calls the Masonic body a "harmless and benevolent association." This is to speak modestly. But they themselves profess and declare that they have "grand aims." What these gi#nd aims are they know best themselves. The profane vulgar outside the craft are either entirely ignorant of them or know them very partially, Omne ignotum pro magnifico. The grand aims being wrapt in secrecy or mystery must be taken on trust as something really and truly magnificent. If by " grand aims " be meant the promotion of fraternal love, honesty, and justice, we can all understand that. But, then, as a matter of fact the Church over which the Pope presides professes to have the very same grand aims. The Pope and the Prince of Wales preside over rival institutions. Catholics cannot well be faithful to both establishments—the Masonic body and the Church. They must beware of trying to serve two rival masters. No offence to Masons or others. I speak only of Masonic consistency. There is this also to be considered : the Prince, as G.M., and his " Merry Masons " ignore not only the power, but the very existence of all revealed religion. They seek to attain their " grand aims " without its aid. It is unnecessary, or rather obstructive in their view, to the promotion of universal charity or benevolence. Now, being but an ignorant Papist, I cannot be expected to be possessed of Plato's faculty of "reasoning well," yet it does seem to me that the Princes position, as head of the Masonic body, is somewhat anomalous and inconsistent. That body professes to regenerate society without the aid of Christ's religion, or any Church. But the Prince will one day, it is to be hoped, be " Visible Head of the Church of England," and even now is the most prominent member of that Church of England. lam then in a fix to reconcile his two " Headships." Will some Mason help me out ? The only piece of rudeness to Lord Eipon I have seen on this occasion, as well as to Catholics generally, appeared in the * Tunes' article republished lately by you. He there does not hesitate to bint or imply that Lord Eipon' s reason has given way, that he is, in plain English " mad," or, if not that, he has ceased to have any claim to be regarded as an " Englishman." The Catholics who •^ye been born of Catholic parents and reared as Catholics the * Times' thinks "harmless," sheer no-bodies in a political sense, and not worth noticing. But with " converts " like Lord Eipon the case is different. They are not harmless, but likely to be powerful for mischief. Now, all this appears to me not only very unmannerly, but, for such a paper as the London ' Times/ very foolish and nonsensical, A colonial journal would have been ashamed of it. Possibly the Otago • Times' itself would have blushed with shame if it found itself writing anything so senseless and ridiculous, and it is not very nice in .the of weapons wherewith to attack Catholics. By the way, I have formerly seen it hinted or asserted in your paper by some correspondent, and the same has been, if I mistake not, broached even on the Magisterial Bench, that the criminal class in this colony is drawn chiefly from those of the Irish Catholic persuasion. Whatever ground for this opinion may have formerly existed, now the case is altered. Last Criminal Calendar in this province contained only one Catholic. The rest belonged to other .denominations, a fact at which the Catholic* body may well feel gratified. Whether Good Templarism or the influence of the

"Hibernian" Societies may have had anything to do with this happy change I don't know. God grant the change may be permanent. The people and Press of Dunedin and Christchurch don't seem so liberally disposed to Catholics as those of Auckland. Southern Presbyterianism and aristocratic Anglocism seem uncongenial to true charity in the colony. This letter was meant for the Auckland * Herald/ but, as from its length and other obvious reasons it was likely to be rejected, I send it to you for publication. Laic. Auckland, January, 1875.