CATHOLIC FEDERATION

New Zealand Tablet, 26 June 1913, Page 26

CATHOLIC FEDERATION

ADDRESS by COADJUTOR-ARCH BISHOP O’SHEA (From our Wellington correspondent.) " There was a large attendance at St. Peter’s Schoolroom last night to hear a lecture on the ‘ Aims and Objects of the Catholic Federation,’ by the Most Rev. Dr, 0 Shea, S.M. Mr. Geo. Girling-Butcher presided, and there were seated on the stage his Grace Archbishop Redwood, S.M., Yen. Archdeacon Dovoy, S.M., and ■ Rev Fathers J. Gbggan, S.M., Tymons, S.M., Barra, S.M., Hurley, S.M., and J. Herring, S.M., and the members of the Dominion Executive. The proceedings opened with a pianoforte solo by Miss Carroll and a song by Miss' Sullivan. . The chairman (Mr. Girling-Butcher), ■ in’ introduring the Archbishop, traced the formation of New Zealand Federation and the work accpmplished rip to the present. The watchword of the: Federation was unity, and its ambition was to have enrolled within its ranks every Catholic man, every Catholic woman, and every Catholic child. He concluded as follows:—‘Because we are, Catholics, and have been divided in the past, we have been unjustly treated. In the future/ banded together to fight for our rights, can we not get them? * His Grace Archbishop O’Shea on rising was given a very hearty reception. In the course of his address he said that they were now launching a body which it was hoped would mean a great deal to the Catholic body of the Dominion in the near future. The Catholic Federation had . only recently been formed. It was a lay Federation working under the guidance of the hierarchy for the religious, social, and civil interests of the Catholic body. The Federation did not aim _ at interference with other denominations, and would, of course, grant to others what it asked for itself. It did not seek to obtain for the Catholic body any privileges. _ It sought, among other things, to promote Christian education, to destroy bigotry * - to place Catholics and their Church in their true light thus removing the obstacles which in the past had impeded their progress; and also to remove such errors as socialism and divorce, and such practices as dishonesty in business and corruption in public life. As to the need for federation, the Catholic Church had in all ages to fight enemies of some kind, from the pagans onward. Since the terrible days of Henry VIII. and Elizabeth the outlook for the Church in the English world had improved, and to-day the prospects were very bright. His Grace outlined the benefits federa- - tion and organisation had obtained for the Church in Germany, America, England, and France. Catholic organisation, he said, had forced even the great Bismarck to do exactly what he declared he would never do. The Federation was quite willing to work in with any section of the community for the benefit of Christianity * and for the prevention of evil. Among the various education difficulties which Catholics had to contend with was the proposal to teach in the State schools a kind of Protestantism which they did not believe in, and could not bear proposal 1 which would ;

compel Catholic school-teachers - to impart it to the children or lose their situations, notwithstanding that if these teachers imparted it they would violate ..their consciences. One object would be to educate public opinion. The great majority of their fellow-citizens were perfectly fair-minded men, and* believed 'in secular education because they sincerely believed it was the only solution of the educational difficulties, and did not support it out Of hostility to religion.! To educate these fair-minded people as to how these difficulties could be overcome would be one of the objects of the Federation. The Catholics were educating 14,000 children in their own schools at their own expense, and, in addition, were paying their share towards the upkeep of the State schools, which they did not use. For years the Catholics were the only people who raised any objection to the secular system of education, but lately other objectors had risen up, and the agitation for the Bible in State schools had unwittingly done good by hastening the formation of the Catholic Federation. The Federation was not a political organisation, and did not touch politics except where politics touched religion. Catholics of every political color would be within its ranks, and the members could please themselves individually as to what party they belonged to. Discussion on party politics would be strictly barred at its meetings. But, supposing a man who wanted the Catholic vote was in favor of the Bible-in-schools referendum, Catholics of the same political color as that candidate would sink their party feelings and vote against him, because if Catholics did not look after their own welfare no one would. It often happened in international politics that Parliamentarians, for the common good, sank party feeling to support measures brought down by their bitterest opponents. To refute lies told about the Catholic Church would be another object of the Federation also to check the influence of bad literature, including the cheap problem-novels which were doing so much harm, especially among women. He felt that the Federation was going to be a huge success. All that would be asked for was justice; not favors. He had so much confidence in the sense of fairness of the public generally that he felt that when misunderstanding was removed Catholics would be given the rights they claimed. At this stage Mr. W. B. Keany rendered a humorous item and Master B. O’Brien gave a violin solo, which were much appreciated. His Grace Archbishop -Redwood, who was greeted with applause, said that he thoroughly enjoyed the lecture of his Coadjutor, and complimented him on the able manner in which he had dealt with the subject. On the motion of Mr. H. F. O’Leary, seconded by Mr. R. P. Flanagan, Archbishop O’Shea was accorded a vote of thanks for his address.

The combined Wellington Federation * parish committees are to be congratulated on arranging a series of lectures on subjects within the scope of the Federation, of which this was the first, and the “hall has been again pencilled for the 17th July for a second lecture, which will be arranged for that date.

• -v DUNEDIN. ' - ' ‘ V-V There was a meeting of the executive of the Dun-' edin branch of the Catholic Federation- in St. Joseph’s Hall on Sunday afternoon. Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., presided and there was a very good attendance, After the transaction of the ordinary routine business, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :—.. ‘ That the secretary be instructed to write to the other parishes of the ’diocese,- pointing out that each parish committee is required to - elect or appoint two representatives to the Diocesan Council of the Federation asking that the • names •of delegates .so appointed be % sent to the secretary of the Dunedin branch, and requesting, if delegates have not been appointed, that steps be taken without delay to have them elected;: as required.’ ' - I That the president be empowered on his own. motion, or at the request of three members, to call a meeting of the committee.’ ' ■ : P££ ] ‘ That in cases of, emergency the president, two.; vice-presidents, the secretary, and treasurer have power to act on behalf of the branch, and with instructions to report to the next meeting.’ ; ' ? It was resolved that a systematic canvass of theCatholics of the city and suburbs be made for the. purpose of obtaining signatures to the petitions now. in circulation, and also for the, purpose of enrolling members of the Catholic Federation. The canvassers. were expressly instructed to take every possible pre- i caution against duplication of signatures to the petitions. - ‘ The parish was divided into districts, and canvassers were allotted to each district.