Commonwealth Notes

New Zealand Tablet, 29 September 1921, Page 30

Commonwealth Notes

NEW SOUTH WALES.

The religious celebrations in connection with the N centenary of St. Mary's/Cathedral, Sydney, have been planned on an elaborate scale. On Friday, October 21, at 10 a.m., there will be Pontifical High Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Adelaide, at which the Archbishop of Perth will preach on "Father Therry and the pioneer priests." On Saturday, 22nd, the Bishop of Maitland will Pontificate, and the Coadjutor-Archbishop of Hobart will preach on the "Centenary of St. Mary's." On Sunday there will be a grand demonstration at the Cathedral. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate will Pontificate at 11a.m., and the Archbishop of Brisbane will preach on ''The Hundred Years of the Progress of the Church in Australia." On Sunday evening, after Pontifical Vespers, the special discourse will be preached by Rev. John. Egan on the "Centenary of the Australian Church." On Monday, October 24, his Grace the Archbishop of Sydney will pontificate at solemn Requiem for the souls of the benefactors of St. Mary's during the hundred years, and the Cathedral should be filled on that morning in remembrance of those pioneers who fought the battle of the Faith during one long century."

VICTORIA. The Rev. Father M. Watson, S.J. ,of St. Patrick's College, Melbourne, celebrated his sacerdotal golden jubilee on Sunday the 11th inst. Father Watson, who is 76 years of age, was ordained at the Jesuit College, Louvain, 50 years ago; but five years of his studies were passed at Maynooth. He came .to Australia in 1872, and has been there ever since. His time has been occupied teaching at St. Patrick's, and Xavier College, and in giving missions in Victoria. Father Watson founded the Australasian Messenger of the Sacred Heart in 1887, and was its editor until 1918. He also established the Madonna in 1897, as a quarterly, and made it a monthly last year. As a writer of stories and verse, Father Watson has been very successful. His many friends and ex-pupils throughout the 1 Commonwealth will wish him many happy years.

At a well-attended Communion breakfast held in the Emerald Hall, South Melbourne, last Sunday morning (says the Freeman's Journal, for September 15), Archbishop Mannix said that when he met de Valera in America recently the Irish leader told him that it would take two or three years to settle matters between England and Ireland. Never would the Irish people accept the partition of Ireland. In the light-' of past events it was no

wonder that the Irish people were afraid to take a place within the Empire. '

A garden fete in aid of the parish debt was opened by his -Grace Most Rev. Dr. Mannix in St. Columba's grounds, Elwood, on Saturday afternoon, September 3 (says the Tribune). His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Redwood accompanied Archbishop Mannix. In the course of an address, Dr. Mannix said he was proud of being Archbishop of Melbourne, when he saw all that the Catholic people had done. "When I was away for fifteen months," said his Grace, "I was never finished boasting, of the people of Melbourne. This was so much so that I could scarcely get people to believe me. But I know that I couldn't exaggerate the sacrifices the people have made. I hope they Will continue. They are the result largely of the good feeling that exists between the priests and the people. It is not the very wealthy people who give all the money. Possibly they remain wealthy because they don't give away much. The poor people who can spare a littleand often are the ones who are most generous. Their generosity is greater, and can be counted on more than their wealth.

. "I would like to make one remark before I conclude. It occurred to me when I was reading this morning's paper— I won't say which one. I don't think I ought to give either paper-an advertisement.; One of the papers this morning had a heading, in large characters, regarding rioting, in Belfast. ' It is very lamentable that there is rioting in Belfast, and it is worth noting that Belfast and its ' neighborhood is the 1 only part of - Ireland that ; has ] not regarded the appeal of the 'King for peace. -Every other.

part of Ireland is as quiet as Elwood, but the King's word fell on deaf ears in-Belfast. Numbers of people in Melbourne are not prepared to hear that, and now when they do hear it they try to color the news to suit themselves. They want to make it appear that the rioting is because of Sinn Fein activities, and that Sinn Feiners have caused disorder. We don't know all the facts, but this we do know: that since the appeal the King made when he opened the Parliament he should never have opened—since then from 100 to 150 houses have been looted and burned around Belfast—the houses of Nationalists and Catholics. The Nationalists and the Catholics are not burning their own houses. We may draw an easy inference, and know who are deaf to the King's appeal. They are not the Sinn Feiners. We know very well who they are. One paper this morning headed its account by saying the Sinn Fein men impudently claim to have begun the disorder. "An Impudent Confession," I think the heading is. I have the paper here, but it' is not worth taking out to see. When you read under the head-line you find that there is absolutely no confession at all. Quite the contrary. It is, 'quite clear that the only thing the Sinn Feiners did wheii the Orange special constables were not keeping order was to come to protect their own property from the disorder already begun— not by them. I call it an impudent headline—just as impudent and just as dishonest as that paper usually is. (Applause.) I'm not talking now of. Irish affairs. I'm talking of Collins Street affairs. Till the truce is successful, or abandoned altogether, I mean to observe the silence I have imposed upon myself. If the negotiations fail, then I'll tell all that I know. We still have hope that a settlement will come, but before any settlement can come the English people will have to recognise what they never have recognised, what they do not recognise yet, that they are negotiating with a nation on a level with themselves— the two nations are on an equal footing.:' Then> when they recognise that, they will be on the road to peace—they will be on the eve of peace. The English people will get nothing from Ireland but hostility as long as the pretences of the past continue. I hope that soon England will be wise.enough to adopt that attitude.". (Applause.)

In conclusion his Grace said: "I congratulate Father McCarthy and the parishioners on the beautiful day you have for the garden fete, and I hope that as the Lord has provided the afternoon you will provide the funds." (Applause.)

Archbishop Redwood said that he had a very easy task to perform. He would give his blessing willingly. He would not say much, because the Archbishop had given him orders to make a short speech. (Laughter.) He was glad to share the joy of the people on meeting their Archbishop again. He agreed with Dr. Mannix that it was the poor people who were most generous. It was the same in New Zealand. The progress in Melbourne— educational, and moral—had been marvellous, and he had nothing but congratulations for them. He had no doubt that Father McCarthy would shortly rejoice in' an excellent Church and a flourishing parish. (Applause.)

QUEENSLAND. Last week (says the Brisbane correspondent of the Catholic Press, for September 15) the fiftieth anniversary of the first general meeting of the Queensland Hibernian Society occurred. The meeting was held in the Town Hall on. Thursday evening, September 7, 1871, and was presided over by the late Dr. Kevin Izod O'Dougherty, who was then M.L.A. for Brisbane, and who delivered the inaugural address. This society was in existence for a good number of. years, and did splendid humanitarian service in friendly society and Irish national work, ' but it was ultimately amalgamated with the present Hibernian Catholic Benefit Society, which now embraces the whole of Australasia in its sphere of influence. ' - *_«

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