Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 20 March 1913, Page 34

Notes

Socialists as an Example To the question, ‘ What do you think of Socialists?’ the Rev. Bernard Vaughan, S.J., answered in a recent lecture: ‘ I think that they are a wonderful example to us in devotion to a cause and in self-sacrifice for the promotion of its interests. My quarrel is not ■with Socialists, but with Socialism, which is economically unsound, ethically false, and politically impossible. Our cry, then, must be not “On to Socialism!’’ but “Back to Christianity!” —and so to social and industrial reformation.’ That Cable A Nelson correspondent sends us an explanation of the cable regarding the Caldy Island Benedictines which shows that the inaccuracy on which we commented had a local origin. The message as it appeared in the Dunedin papers read: * Sixty-four of the Caldy Island Benedictines have been secured by Rome. The Pope insisted on the brotherhood eliminating from their breviary the missal doctrines of the Immaculate Conception and the corporal assumption of the Virgin, and on a discontinuance of the exposition of the Sacrament and the Benediction.’ Our correspondent mentions that in other dailies the message stated that it was ‘ Bishop Gore ’the Caldy Island Benedictines’ own Anglican Bishop-who had ‘ insisted on the brotherhood eliminating ’ the doctrines mentioned. Apparently the Dunedin ‘ flimsy ’ was not very legible.

The U.S. Parcels Post The United States has just started a Parcels Post, and the Postmaster-General posted the first parcel. The American papers are getting some fun out of the new scheme, as these quotations show:—'Our information is that about 89,977 men received the first package sent by parcel post.’ And some man will probably carry about in his pocket for days the 11pound parcel that his wife gives him to mail.’- Detroit Free Dress . ‘ Two parcel-post packages mailed in Yonkers were a brindle bulldog and a piece of meat, both of which were finally delivered in one bundle.’ 1 The provision against sending infernal machines by parcel post can not be so construed as to cover the egg that has lingered unduly in storage.’ Washington Star. Irish Opinion on the Derry Election In a leading article on the result of the election at Derry, entitled ‘ The Relief of Derry,’ the Freeman’s Journal writes— ‘ Derry has replied to the Lords. The turn is all Ireland’s now. The rejection of the Bill may be ineffective, but the challenge contained in the speeches of the Unionist leaders to the national sentiment of Ireland must be answered. They have denied the reality of the Home Rule opinion. They have asserted that their policy has been successful, and that national feeling is dead wherever the Irish peasant has been converted into an owner of the soil. They have scoffed at the notion that there is any enthusiasm in Ireland for the Home Rule Bill. Ireland cannot convince the Lords, but it can prevent their misrepresentations from being accepted or having any effect. Already there is evidence that we are about to witness a great manifestation of the national will. The intensity of the anxiety with which the contest at Derry has been watched throughout Ireland is an index of the strong feeling that exists on the greatest of Irish questions. The feeling is about to find expression. Dublin is moving, Tipperary is moving. All Ireland will bestir itself, and Lord Lansdowne shall have his answer.’