CONSCRIPTION OF BROTHERS AND STUDENTS

New Zealand Tablet, 16 August 1917, Page 29

CONSCRIPTION OF BROTHERS AND STUDENTS

RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST. Under the auspices of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association a crowded and most enthusiastic meeting of Catholic laymen was held on Wednesday evening, August 1, in the Hibernian Hall, Auckland. Long before the proceedings commenced the hall was packed : seating accommodation was overtaxed, large numbers being obliged to stand. One could easily discern the simmering excitement and high tension running through the assemblage, and above all there was a downright earnestness in evidence which during the evening was made manifest. The proceedings were from first to last of a dignified, lofty tone, begotten of the sacred and high duty which called those men from every part of the city, and miles beyond it. It was a memorable gathering, and will long remain impressed on the minds of those who had the privilege to participate in it. Mr. Eugene Casey, president of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Club,, presided, and in his opening remarks said:—We have met to consider one of the most serious problems with which the Catholics of the Dominion had as yet been confronted, namely, the conscription of Marist Brothers for military service. They were not there to dictate to other sections of the community as to what they should do in prosecuting the war, but when their clergy and Brothers were threatened with conscription the Catholic people cried "Hands oft'." The Catholics regarded the teaching Orders as an essential part of the system of the Church. They wanted to impress upon the public that the Marist Brothers were as priests engaged in the work of secular and religious instruction of the youth of the Church. In England the clergy, religious teachers, and religious students had not been conscripted, and the Catholics in New Zealand wanted the same treatment. (Applause.) If the Marist Brothers were taken, many of their schools would have to be closed, but they would not relax in their efforts to prevent the cause of Catholic education being sacrificed. Mr. R. McVeagh moved—" That this meeting of Catholic men respectfully protest against the conscription of religious Brothers, and records its solemn determination to prevent by all constitutional means their being taken from their essential and legitimate occupation." Mr. McVeagh said that serious and solemn rights of the Catholics were being invaded, and it was their duty to ask that the matter be remedied immediately. A large number of people did not understand the position, according to resolutions published in the press. The conscription of Marist Brothers imposed a disability that was not put upon any other section of the community, and it was the dutv of any Government with the welfare of the people at heart to prevent that disability and see that right and justice were maintained toward all classes of the community. (Applause.) Mr. M. J. Sheahan on seconding the motion said : The resolution moved by Mr. McVeagh must command not. only the whole-hearted support and sympathy of Catholics, but of every person who believes in and adheres to Christianity. Cardinal Newman defined Christianity as "universal benevolence." To-night we are assembled to demand our rightful share in that "universal benevolence." It cannot be said that the inclusion of a dozen Marist Brothers in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces would hasten bv one day the

latter arrival at .Potsdam^ l It is not, therefore, for military reasons the Brothers' are required, but for quite another reason: -to; injure, "if not to close up, our Catholic schools. No -Government' should be guilty of such a crime. -.,*:•■. •.-....•■•.'•. The following resolution was proposed by Mr. P. J. Nerheny—"That this- meeting of Catholic men extend its sympathy to the : individual members' of religious Orders who as loyal citizens have been placed in a false position by the operation of' the Military Service Act." In speaking to the resolution Mr. Nerheny said it was unnecessary for him to ask for "sympathy for the Brothers in the trial to which they were now subjected. They entered'into the very lives of our people. They took in hand the education of our children from childhood, preparing them for their first confession, communion, and confirmation. A departing soldier had said to him (the speaker), "Should anything happen to me, I ask you to see that my children shall be educated by the Marist Brothers." Was it any wonder, then, that we resented any interference with our ?"•"-'■■■ Mr. Prendergast in seconding the motion said that those organisations and persons, who had thought fit to pass resolutions or-write letters to the newspapers containing reflections on the Marist and Christian Brothers by reason of appeals for exemption having been lodged were not surely fully seized of the position. The Military Service Act. permitted exemption from service being granted where appellants were engaged in essential industries 'or occupations. The Brothers were surely engaged in as essential an industry as one could conceive. It might be said that the public schools were available, but Catholics demanded something more than the public schools could give, they required religious instruction for their children and to be imparted by their own teachers... To compel the Brothers, to render military service was not only an injustice to them when they had. devoted their lives to the great work of education, but was a distinct, injustice to the Catholic community, which has erected and maintained schools at considerable cost, to themselves. WELLINGTON. The following motion was unanimously passed at a meeting of the parishioners of the Thorndon parish, Wellington, to be forwarded to the authorities—" That this meeting of the Thorndon Catholic parish enters its earnest and emphatic protest against the calling up for active service of Brother Oswin (W. P. Doody) under the Military Service Act. In doing so the signatories on behalf of the parish, all of whom have children attending the school, desire to make two points perfectly clear. The first is that if Brother Oswin. is called up the Marist Brothers' School at Thorndon will have to be partially closed. The second point is that the Catholics of Thorndon, as elsewhere, have done such good work in connection with war service that they feel they are entitled to some consideration in this particular respect. Hundreds of the Marist Brothers' pupils in Thorndon alone- fought for the Empire long before compulsion came iirto operation. Some have made the supreme sacrifice, some are wounded,' some have done deeds which: redown to the glory of the Empire. We urge that if .you take a step which will result m the partial closing of, our school you will commit an act inimical to the nation's interest, because there is no more fruitful source of patriotism than the schools in 'charge of the Marist Brothers." .

ORMOND. A large representative meeting of the Catholics of the parish was held for the purpose of protesting against the conscription of religious Brothers and clerical students. Rev. Father Farragher explained the law of the Church regarding religious bound by vows, and showed how unjust it was for any temporal power to infringe upon the rights of the Church in such matters. New Zealand (he said) was the only country under the British flag to conscript the clergy and men bound by religious vows, and contrasted the attitude of the Government of this country with that of the Home Government. Mr. T. Quirk, speaking on behalf of the Catholics, of the district, said they were ready to stand behind their bishops and clergy in this matter, and follow their guidance Mr. P. McLoughlin also spoke, and it was resolved! to send wires of protest to the Prime Minister and tha members for the district. REEFTON. The Catholics at Reefton have (states a press message) unanimously resolved to resist military service by priests, Marist Brothers, and theological students by every constitutional means. Various speakers gave logical reasons in support of the motion, pointing out that while the priests had never failed to do their share as chaplains, and were always most willing to do so, Marist Brothers could do more good in the Dominion than as combatants. A copy of the resolution was telegraphed to the Prime Minister and the member for tho district. DEVONPORT. At a meeting of Catholics of Devon port on Sunday, July 29, it was resolved —"That this meeting, while pledging its unswerving loyalty to the Empire and its utmost assistance towards winning the war, at the same time emphatically protests against the conscription of priests, Brothers, and clerical students, and is. prepared to resist the same by every constitutional means." The resolution was signed by Father Furlong J. Bray, and J. P. Wright. At a meeting of Catholics —Second Division Reservists —held on July 29, it was resolved—" As members of the Second Division, we Catholics protest against sending Marist Brothers to the front, as the education of our children, who will be deprived of our guidance when we are called to the Colors, depends principally on the retention of these teachers in the Dominion, and we further impress on the Government the necessity of exempting them from service."' This resolution was signed by Messrs. L. McGanu and A. A. Cowan.