SUBIACO AND LYNDHURST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 184, 6 October 1876, Page 15

SUBIACO AND LYNDHURST.

(To the Editor of the ' Freemans'fi Journal.') Sir, — In your issue of the 12th instant, you gave an extract from an Irish paper relating to the purchase of a house called Cl&remont, which eighty years ago belonged to a certain Denis Browne, who had been in his days a persecutor of the Catholics, and the writer goei on to say that the house is about being converted into a convent, which will be no doubo very galling to the bigots of this country as well as those of |Ireland. But the "miraculous change " anticipated by the conversion of the house into a convent, although a source of exultation to every one who, like myself, takes an interest in the triumphs of the true Church, is quite thrown into the shade by events of a similar character that have occurred in this country in half the time mentioned by the writer of the extract above quoted. In Ireland a well-devised plan has been prepared, but we have the work completed in a manner surpassing all human expectation in — say forty years — as I will presently show, that is if you kindly consent to give the following extract a place in your valuable journal : — Eleven years ago, after the burning of old St M«ry'e, at the solicitation of some of my friends I wrote and published " Reminiscences of Catholicism in the early days of the colony," and as there are many now in the country who never read these scraps (and who may not be aware of the truly wonderful change that has taken place in the social position of our people), they may find not only information, but a just cause to glorify God, who has given His people bo great a victory over the enemies of His Church. The following is the extract : — Oh, what a change in one short life, to see as I have seen the Catholic disabled by statute from holding any office of trust, derided by the bigot and pitied by the welldisposed — to see him able to take his place amongst other men without any one darnig to make allusion to his opinions — to see that religion, which, in the days of my boyhood was a badge of disgrace, now the proud boast of men seeking Parliametary honours — to see it the religion of doctors, lawyers, judges,j udges, and governors, to see us allowed to educate our childreu as we like — this is indeed a change. This train of thinking brings me back to Parramatta. Although I have not the slightest wish to write what would offend any one, I think I would not be doing justice to posterity if I did not mention one or two facts that may serve as a beacon to others to warn them from interfering wiih that Church with which Christ has promised to remain until time shall be no more. Shortly after the daportation of Father O'Flynn, Hannibal M'Arthur, who was then the great man of Parramatta, met a poor Catholic man and asked him why his children were not at Sunday school ? The man said his wife was a free woman, and that she would not allow him to interfere with the children, "Very well," said Mr. M'Arthur, "no odds," if your children are not at the Sunday school next Sunday you may expect my severest displeasure." The man went home and told his wife all that passed, but she was free and started off to Sydney, where she and they were out of his reach, and where she reared them all strict Catholics, which they still remain. One of these children holds now a higher situation under Government than ever Mr. M'Arthur filled. But this is not all. Mr. M'Arthur was of the public men about Parramatta the most bitter opponent of Catholicity, I hope and trust his opposition was conscientious. Well, what has been the consequence of this opposition ? Why an all- wise Providence has punished him in a way that may serve as a warning to others not to interfere with His Church. By the working of an inscrutable Providence that splendid mansion, built by Mr. M'Arthur without care of the cost, that beautiful farm on which he bestowed so much care to render it worthy of the name he gave it, viz., the Vineyard, has turned into — what ? into a stockyard or into a brewery ? No, but into what is much worse, into a hotbed for Popery, into a Benedictine Convent ! Yes, the great man's Vineyard is turned into Sabiaco, and now Aroh.bish.op Poldinar, the Pope's delegate, rules the vineyard. There must be something in this ! Well, so much for Parramatta. Now we will go past Subiaco on the steamer to Sydney, and as we near Sydney we see before us, a little to the right, a splendid mansion. What place is that ? Oh, says a f eHow-passenger, " that is what they call Lyndhurst." And well I know LyndEurst, and the man that built it — he, too, was opposed to Catholicity ; I hope it was conscientiously, but he was opposed to it without any mistake • and he, too, built a splendid mansion for himself — Dr Bowman built it for his own private residence, and now it is converted, just like the Vineyard, into a college for making young priests, for educating the rising youth in what the doctor would call Popery. Here again at Lyndhurst Archbishop Polding rules for the Pope. There is y something strange in this ! Now, Mr. Editor, these are facts patent to all us old hands, for I can appeal to Dr Lang as to the truth of these statements. But how is it to be accounted for that two gentlemen, who above all others were pre-eminent for their opposition to Catholicity, should, by some means or other, be thwarted in this extraordinary manner, in being themselves made the means for the aggrandisement of the Church they disliked ? Is the finger of Providence visible here ? I think it is. I remain, your obedient servant, C. Fitzpateick. G-oulbourn, August 2 1st, 1876.