Hawera

New Zealand Tablet, 17 June 1915, Page 31

Hawera

k (By telegraph, from an occasional correspondent.); ; •/■ Sifi L V^ : >%"'*' .-.,\"; i: ■• r;-''L'.; '■:'■ '."■s '■''"'■ ;C>^pune'l:^ :^ ::;':■ :>■•*. •, Speaking at St. ] Joseph's Church on Sunday evening on' Sanctity as a, note of the Church,' Very .Rev; -i Dean/Power said :>'* When instructing converts or teach- . ing the children in the schools, I generally, follow the usual course, and show how the Church must be holy in its Founder, in its aim, in the means it adopts to pursue this aim, and in its children/ who must be in <all ages J eminent for holiness. *1 have rr notv time to go- through all this this evening let me, however, take as a practical " illustration Catholics' > conduct in respect ; of .J the -;;; present unhappy war that is afflicting the- nations. Christ our Lord urges us to be holy : as He Himself is holy, to become His disciples, and He points out to us; in the most touching and beautiful words that this holy ;." discipleship consists in. brotherly love/- which must embrace even the enemy. Now the whole population of this Dominion, like the populations of all the warring countries, may be divided into three classes. The first class embraces - those who fight the enemy with the tongue of scurrility and mendacity. These consider themselves patriots, but their patriotism is"of a spurious kind, and has this disadvantage that, while in. no 1 ; way contributing to defeat the enemy, it brings ample dishonor .upon itself. Spurious patriots have an easy way '; of deciding doubtful matters. -' All rumors that tell against the enemy are true, all that tell against their own side false. ; These, also, are of the stuff of tyrants, for with raucous voice they proclaim that all who will not shriek with them are pro-enemy and anti-patriotic. People of this class are not found in the Catholic Church, or if, unhappily, a Catholic is found here and there amongst them it may, be retorted that one swallow does nq£ make a summer. There are true patriots serving their country, honoring themselves; they are Catholics having at their head the illustrious Pontiff, Benedict XV., who has ordered a three days' fast and penance for the Universal Church, and who has, in Christ-like words, forbidden to his children the use of opprobrious terms towards their foe. If non-Catholics ar-e found in this class it is in the measure in which they come under the influence of the Church, whose note is sanctity, and whose great characteristic is charity. The third class embraces those who, taking advantage of their opportunities, take up. the sword against the foe, and go forth to conquer or to die in defence of the beloved fatherland. These are heroes as well as patriots. Their banners are blessed by Holy Church, and their valiant steps are guarded by her sweetest prayers. ' ' May I add one further remark, not Bearing directly perhaps upon this point, and give it as my humble opinion, that the Government of this country is doing a disgraceful thing in permitting the charitable offerings of the poor to be taken up for wounded and disabled New Zealanders returning from the . war. England's traditional treatment of her incapacitated soldiers brings a blush of shame to every English face, but I am confident that the people of this young, vigorous, and wealthy land, will not tolerate that our brave young men who, month after month, are pouring out from us to face the German and the Turk, will,, if incapacitated, have to depend on the doles of the charitable as a reward for true heroism. They are their country's benefactors, and their country's rulers must be compelled by a healthy public opinion to take them under their care.' •. - ■.-"'-■ "'■'■•■ V- :£