DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 24 July 1913, Page 26

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph, from our own correspondent.)

July 21. The diocesan council of the Catholic Federation met on last Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon at St. Benedict's Catholic Clubroom. The president (Mr. James Furlong) was in the chair, and the secretary (Mr. F. Temm) read the correspondence and financial statement. A large amount of business was transacted. Allen Doone concluded a fortnight's season on Saturday night. The pupils of the Marist Brothers' School presented him wich a fine walking stick, suitably inscribed. The Marist Brothers' Old Boys' senior Rugby team, on • Saturday night, presented him with a fine travelling rug. He was an interested spectator at the Auckland v. Wellington Rugby match on Saturday afternoon, and before he left for Sydney this evening, the Auckland Rugby Union presented him with the ball used in the match, which bore a silverplate with suitable inscription. Yesterday he dined with his Lordship Bishop Cleary. On Tuesday evening Rev. Father O'Doherty lectured to the Holy Family Confraternity on the H.A.C.B. Society. We are (said the rev. lecturer) at an important crisis in the history of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. We are a small percentage of the population, still we can make ourselves felt. We have many means at our disposal, but the greatest and grandest is that which joins us together in love for our faith and fatherland. We have, thank Gqd, here in New Zealand a society of which every Catholic should feel justly proud. I refer, of course, to the Hibernian Society. This society has done much good in the past in furthering the cause of Catholicity, and it will be a powerful factor in the future. It will bo the drilling school for those soldiers who must fight out to the bitter end the Catholic cause. For its members are practical Catholics, monthly communicants, and it is such men that are destined to fight successfully the battles of the Lord. An individual, no matter how good and well-meaning he may be, cannot of himself do much, but it is almost incredible what can be done when his efforts and will are united with those of many. Take, for instance, a little string of copper, it breaks at the first snap. Put two together, they are inorp difficult to break. Keep on adding till we get a rope an inch in diameter and it will hold sway over the tempests. Consequently if you wish to be of any service to your religion and your country enlist in the ranks of the H.A.C.B. Society. Cast aside your prejudice and your fears; throw in your lot with those good men and women; swell up the ranks of the society, and though you be small in numbers you shall be great in possibilities. After having spoken on the common and v individual benefits derivable from the society, the rev. lecturer explained the aims, object, and formation of the society, and concluded by expressing a wish that his remarks would have their desired effect. i

LECTURE BY BISHOP CLEARY . (From our own correspondent.) July 12. His Lordship Bishop Cleary delivered a lecture on the Bible-in-Schools question on Wednesday evening in the large Criterion Hall, Paeroa, the building being taxed to its utmost holding capacity. Those on the platform were the Ven. Archdeacon Hackett, Messrs. W. D. Nicholas, George Crosby, P. R. Parker, P. Treanor, Aitken, and Langford. Mr. E. W. Porritt, who occupied the chair, in introducing his Lordship, said that Dr. Cleary while in Dunedin had the reputation of being a very able journalist and controversialist, and since his elevation

to the episcopate he had proved himself a leader in the Church. He (the chairman) had much pleasure in introducing Dr. Cleary. His Lordship's lecture was on the lines of those delivered by him in other parts of New Zealand. He received a very attentive hearing, and was frequently and warmly applauded during the delivery of his lecture.

At the conclusion of his address his Lordship answered several questions. On the motion of Mr. J. Nathan his Lordship received a very hearty vote of thanks for his very able address.

Bishop Cleary in reply thanked the audience for the attentive hearing which they had given him, and asked for a similar compliment to the chairman, which was carried.

On the following evening his Lordship addressed a crowded meeting in Montgomery's Hall, Karangahake, on the same subject. Mr. T. F. Mayn, who occupied the chair, briefly introduced Bishop Cleary. In reply to a number of questions, the Bishop said that he was always prepared to accept challenges, and answer any relevant question in a straightforward manner; he had never had but one opportunity of questioning any of the League members, and on that occasion an Anglican Archdeacon admitted that the League orator was tangled up. He was prepared to offer a hall in this or any other district to any League representative who would stand up to his questions for an hour, and he would be glad" to answer League questions for two or three hours if required.