The Southern Cross

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 7, 25 February 1925, Page 13

The Southern Cross

IRISHMEN AT THE ANTIPODES.

LECTURE BY FATHER JAMES O’NEILL (WAIKIWI).

At the Irish Club on Friday night (says the Munster News for December 10) a singularly interesting lecture dealing with the Irish at the Antipodes was delivered by the Rev. James O’Neill, a Limerick priest now home on holidays from New Zealand. ' Mr. J. J. Johnson, president, presided, and there was a large attendance of members and their friends. The chairman, introducing the lecturer, said: As this is Father O’Neill’s first formal visit to the Irish Club, may I on behalf of the members and friends extend to him a very hearty and sincere welcome (Applause.) In introducing Father O’Neill here to-night I am not introducing him as a stranger. Most of you had the pleasure of meeting him before now and those of us who have not have certainly heard about him and know him to be a sterling soggarth aroon, who, having chosen for the land of his adoption far away New Zealand,' has not forgotten the land of his birth, and if I may paraphrase the words of the poet “he pants

hack again to the place from whence at first he flew.” Father O’Neill has come here tonight to give a lecture which I am sure will be listened to' by all of us with pleasure. Father O’Neill, who was warmly received, said: The first intimation of the existence of this club which I received was during a pleasant fortnight I spent in Kilkee, that most charming of summer resorts. In passing, I would like to add my meed of praise to the unique attractions of that popular Clare watering place, to those of numberless visitors from net only all Ireland blit from many countries far away. Incidental!} I might mention that I recent!} 7 picked up in journey through the country a book entitled Two Months in Kilkee, printed in 1836, written by a lady named Knott, and who, I hope, if she' were a young lady making the best use of her time, was rewarded by the tieing of the matrimonial knot, thus emerging from her happy holiday a beauKnott. I shall be happy to let the members have a glance at this interesting production

to learn what Kilkee was like nearly a century ago. " - ’ - One of your respected members invited me to visit you before my return to my adopted home in New Zealand, and I am here v j. to-night in answer to that invitation. Before I left the Antipodes in March last I the privilege of addressing the Irish Club in New Zealand’s metropolis, Welling- | ton. This is one of several societies in the I far away Dominion that exist for the fostering of a love for the old land in the hearts of the Irish people born under the Southern Cross. In one respect the Wellington society is more comprehensive than your club in this, that it is open to friends of Ireland of every nationality and creed. Amongst its most prominent and useful members is Miss Jessie Mackay, of Scottish extraction, ; and a non-Catholic, who was selected as one of the representatives of the local Irish at ( the Convention of the Irish Race that took . place in Paris about the time the Treaty between England and Ireland was signed. The driving power of the Wellington club is largely derived from members of the Bourke famity, hailing originally from Limerick, and no more enthusiastic ladies are to be found anywhere than the cultured and devoted wives of Mr. James and Mr. Thomas Bourke. A gifted devotee of the muse is also one of the members Eileen Dugganwhose poetic effusions in published form have had a wide circulation; and to complete the enumeration of the notabilities, I have only to say that the eloquent young president is a Nolanwhich at once proclaims his Limerick origin. I shall be happy to tell them on my return to my distant home that the same spirit that animates them is found in Limerick, and that when f ---..members come to see Ireland under her new conditions they will get a hearty cead mile failte from the Limerick club. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” is particularly true of Irish exiles whom I have met in many lands. But it is equally true that many only discovered the deep, abiding sentiment of affection . for home which lay dormant in them while in Ireland, but bloomed into full fruition under foreign skies. I will mention three distinguished names of noted. Irish ecclesiastics who whilst in Ireland were not remarkable for any special sympathy with the people in their long-drawn-out struggle for justice. First in order of time I place my own dear old Bishop, Dr. Moran, who enlisted me many years ago for missionary work in the diocese of Dunedin in southern New Zealand. * Whilst a curate in the ci% of Dublin he lived under a regime in the ’fifties of the last century, when priests in politics were unheard of in that diocese. He often told me that not until he went as Bishop to South Africa, whence after thirteen years he as transferred to New Zealand, did he have any adequate idea of the nature of Ireland’s grievances. Meet- & >; ing with the victims of the unfortunate state : 'of thraldom that prevailed in Erin, who were driven by cruel and unjust laws to make homes far from their native land, all his ; feelings of outraged humanity were aroused

and he became both in Africa and New Zealand a Tower of Strength to the Irish Cause. In New Zealand he found be had to cope with an intense and unreasoning bigotry that tried his soul to the utmost but brought out those fine qualities which enabled him to so rule his flock and defend them from unmerited obloquy that he gained the respect of all classes, and when he was called to his reward his remains were honored with the largest and most representative funeral demonstration that ever took place in that intensely Protestant city of Dunedin. More than fifty years ago Dr. Moran found himself under the necessity of establishing a Catholic journal to counteract the baneful influence of the hostile press of the country. That journal, the New Zealand Tablet, has flourished, and borne abundant fruit in the half-century of its existence, and is still under efficient management and enlightened editing, winning; golden opinions from all parts of the world. “Faith and Fatherland” have been the inspiring ideals underlying the conduct of the Tablet, and no better or more devoted paper exists for the defence of both against the attacks of nemies. In New Zealand the Catholics are under a double taxation, which weighs heavily on them. They build and support their own schools and run them efficiently, as testified by the reports of Government inspectors, but they get no aid to carry them on, whilst they have to pay their share for the support of the State schools, of which they cannot avail themselves except in the scattered and thinly populated districts of the country. Dr. Moran set himself to endeavor to remedy the injustice, and for years every session of Parliament saw a private schools Bill introduced, the voting on which gave the Catholics a knowledge of who their friends and who their enemies were. A black list published in the Tablet after each such vote in the House enabled the Catholic voters to remember where their duty lay in giving their votes subsequently to candidates for Parliament. Dr. Moran encouraged the study of Irish History in the Catholic schools, and his work has borne fruit, for every year there is an examination in Irish History, which draws competitors from all parts of the Dominion. I may mention that I am bringing out some Limerick lace from the Good Shepherd 'Convent as prizes for the girls in the Irish History classes in New Zealand. Every delegation coming from Ireland in the years gone by to enlist sympathy in the cause of 'Home Rule was enthusiastically welcomed by Bishop Moran, and received his whole-hearted support. Though nearly thirty years have passed since he was called to his reward, his memory is still green amongst the friends of Ireland in New Zealand, and remains an inspiration for all who desire to help in any way the cause of the land that was so dear to him. Cardinal Moran during his years as Bishop in Ireland did not identify himself with the Irish struggle as many of his fellow-prelates did. His

writings on historic subjects remain as monuments of his desire to see the Ireland of the past rescued from oblivion, but the living Ireland, with its crying needs, had to wait for his translation to the sunny lands of Australia, where he soon took a leading part in all movements for the amelioration of the condition of his countrymen at home. When going out for the first time to Sydney he met a prominent New Zealand Catholic business man returning from a trip, and discussed with him the merits of his naftnesake, the Bishop of Dunedin. Hearing that Bishop Moran had descended to the hustings and become a candidate for a seat in Parliament, he , expressed surprise that a Catholic Bishop should so act, but The Irony of Fate was illustrated in his own case, for, some years later, he himself became a' candidate, for a seat in the Australian Parliament, and, though defeated, as Bishop Moran was,"' he had the satisfaction of knowing that his action had focussed the attention of the fairminded Australians on the grievances under which the Catholics labored in educational and social matters. Till the end the Cardinal was the trusted adviser of Ireland’s political leaders, and when he passed away his loss was deplored as that of a giant in the cause of Nationality. Archbishop Mannix came to Melbourne in the vigor of his manhood, and with a record for scholarship made in the National College of Maynooth that gave joy to the Catholics of the Southern Hemisphere. Whilst Coadjutor to the Venerable Dr. Carr, he set himself to erect a college in the Melbourne University which, under the name of Newman College, has done splendid work in improving the status of Catholics engaged in University studies. The vast sum required for this work was raised by the exertions of the Coadjutor Archbishop, helped by generous legacies, and it is now a flourishing institute, which alone would hand down his name to posterity in honor. More recently he has purchased for £75,000 a property of a thousand acres within 20 miles of the city of Melbourne, on which one of those palatial residences of one of the early wool kings was erected. This is now the Catholic college for the training of priests for the province of Victoria, and bids fair, under the Archbishop’s fostering care, to become one of the most up-to-date ecclesiastical seminaries for the supply of the missionary needs of the province. These are only some of the many permanent monuments of Dr. Mannix’s zeal for the extension of God’s kingdom on earth a zeal which has endeared him to his people, and made the Catholics of the Southern Hemisphere proud to have . such a man from Ireland ruling in their midst. Now it is well known that Dr, Mannix did not take part prominently in the National struggle whilst in Ireland, but no sooner had he found himself in the midst of one of the most intensely Irish *bodies of priests and people than he took his place as leader and worked with devotion and consistency for the cause of Ireland.

In estimating the value’of those news- ; paper references to him with which the people are sometimes regaled, it is well to remember that the cable agencies have never been remarkable for consideration for .the v feelings: of Irishmen. “Down under” we have often to protest against the unfair way in which matters are handled by what we ..all the cable crammers.” You will remem- . her that Dr. Mannix took a prominent and successful part in opposing conscription as a blot on the fair fame of free Australia. The vast number of Volunteers would have seem- ;. ed to make it unnecessary that it should be adopted in order to help to end the Great War. The reputation and existence of Australia’s then Premier, Hughes, seemed staked on the issue, and Dr. Mannix’s success meant Hughes’s defeat. Now, the daily ess of Australia has never ceased to vilify Dr. Mannix for his democratic campaign. They hold him up to obloquy as a disloyalist, and as they are well aware of the divisions that unfortunately exist in Ireland, they miss no opportunity of sending, snippets and sentences taken from his speeches to fan the flame of disunion. When you read a week ago that he had proclaimed himself as loyal to the established authorities as any man in the Commonwealth, you were not told that it was to ease the minds of the numbers of non-Catholics who joined in welcoming him at a function in New South Wales, and who had read in the local rags that Dr. Mannix was disloyal. All these country papers take their cue from their big brothers in the city and join in the hue-and-cry against a man who wherever he appears commands the unstinted admiration of the Irish people and their friends and receives ovations of welcome due to the man who has much in his dearest affections for his devotion to the cause of justice, t Dr. Mannix has a way of silencing his bigoted enemies that works more effectively than wasting ink in newspaper columns. When a cry was raised after the Great War that The Irish Did Not Do Their Fair Share in helping to win it, Dr. Mannix, leaving ... the statistics to those who were in the best ,/ position of refuting the charges against the f* Austral i Irish, selected the next St. PatA rick’s Day demonstration in Melbourne, which has been a fixture almost since the foundation of the city, and Had ten thousand returned Irish-Australian soldiers in uniform, with a bodyguard of fully Fourteen V.C.’s. X riding as an escort. This proceeding, if it f did . not silence the bigots, at least gave an t object-lesson to the fair-minded people who r rejoice at the triumph, of truth over calumny, • When the self-determination-for-Ireland > movement was at its height, Dr. Mannix : invited the Irish and their sympathisers from all; parts of Australia and New Zealand to a Convention in Melbourne. A more representative gathering of the Irish race had never met beneath, the Southern Cross. From y all V parts ;of the Australian continent they came in large numbers, and the proceedings were marked by the greatest unanimity and enthusiasm. One of the prelates who made a speech that will long be remembered was | . an Englishman born who, had an opportunr

ity, during a prolonged residence in Ireland, of knowing at first hand what the condition of affairs was there. The Most Rev, Dr. Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington, in New Zealand, the prelate to whom I refer, expressed in eloquent terms his indignation at the manner in which : The British Government Misruled Ireland. Whilst yielding to none in his loyalty to' the British authority he yet was compelled , to protest by his love of fair play against the manner in which up to that time Ireland’s claims for justice had been persistently flouted. It will interest you to know that Dr. Redwood is the oldest prelate in. the Church, and, notwithstanding his weight of years, made a visit to Ireland recently on his way to Rome. When, last February, he celebrated the golden jubilee of his episcopal consecration, he had all the archbishops and bishops and large numbers of priests from all parts of Australia and New Zealand to do him honor amidst rejoicings in which the whole city took part. Dr. Mannix was one of-the visiting prelates who had come 1300 miles to do honor to the venerable jubilarian, and was received with the most unbounded enthusiasm in every part of the Dominion. I had the pleasure of hearing from his own lips an account of the manner in which he was arrested on the high seas by order of Lloyd George— proceeding which made the whole world wonder at the tactlessness of the Welsh statesman. On that occasion, too, I heard from Dr. Mannix’s lips a statement of his views on the situation in Ireland. He would not, he said, have signed that Treaty, but as the people of Ireland had, through their representatives, ratified the agreement it should he The Duty of the Friends of Ireland to do or say nothing that would prevent the authority set up in the 26 counties from functioning. Give them a chance to see if they can make a success of the government of Ireland with the heavy handicaps that press on them. And if Ireland is satisfied their friends abroad will all follow suit. Now, I have detained you too long (“No, no”) dwell upon the great Irishmen that have. made, good abroad, and I will conclude by saying that, having had many opportunities during the few months I have been travelling around the country visiting old friends and college mates, how hearing of the sad events through which the country has lived during recent years, I yet feel that pessimism is ' ! ; ■ Almost a Crime Against Ireland, and that a nation that has gone through greater sorrows than those recently experienced is destined to triumph over the difficulties which the future has in store; and I join you all in the hearty wish which, I am sure, you cherish in your hearts, that in God s good time the clouds and shadows will disappear and the light of full freedom will dawn upon the land we all love; , (Applause.) Mr. W. S. Burke proposed a vote of 'thanks to the lecturer, and in the course of his remarks said that the similarity in artistic r style between Irish and’Maori stone carving, v mentioned by Father O’Neill, might be ac-

counted tor by the fact that in ages past earth a tmmel .through the earth between Ireland and New Zealand T speaker agreed , that there s no cause for pessimism as regards the outlook m Ireland and joined in hoping that ru?t r .“proved times ,a y ahead P r S thi permitted X X He ™ like to he permitted to «- half a dozen lines , of a song written by Mr. Alfred Percival Graves about another typical sowsr+K TTo+w n>n>i epical soggarth aroon rather 0 F ‘yn»-ond to say to the lecturer Here’s good luck to you. Father O’Neill I bless you, wn cott n, lr i GO te b feel; U ’” " e Say > a " d we Say what Yes; we say what we feel, and We envy New Zealand, Fair, fruitful, and free land Because you’re its own. ’ Of J thaifks H saW nii l ht ’ in seconding the vote Ztot’jrS-i "’ aS Ve,y Prosed when has give., Ti th 6 tote of thanks as it Father O’hTu. f °P portun ity of thanking forded fb' 611 for th Pleasure he has afforded this evening, and also because I have the lqH e PnVileg \° f ha ™« h -rd him a ™ beluXl ,T m - When he del,Vered another beautifu! address m the hall of the Cathode iaiy Institute well over twenty golden years ago. Father O’Neill has shown he fa ", 311 the of a leeuier. He has a well stored mind—the advantage of extensive travel-a great power of ebservat lo .,, a . wonderful memory, and As Mr R 1“, ’ a g °° d Sense of humor. micht i Burke has dropped into poetry J »ht in a feeble way do likewise and say Time has writ no wrinkle on his brow; As lie was then, so is he now. Before tendering the vote of thanks the Stb I" 1 expressed himself highly pleased with the lecture and he was quite sure that fVN T -|p° “ was as "’ell. Father O Neill s reference to distinguished Irishmen m Australia and New Zealand and the part they played in helping Ireland in the past was indeed a matter not likely to be forgotten by this or future generations. In referring to Cardinal Moran, the president observed that that great dignitary of the Church and patriotic Irishman gave in his day unswerving loyalty and support to the Irish Party, and when he died the late Mr. Redmond cabled to Australia that “a cedar SfJJn?v n -ii^ shanon ” He was glad that Father 0 Neill s experience during his stay m Ireland did not permit him to carry away any pessimistic views about Ireland’s future and he was pleased to think that his opinion was ours— the day was not very remote when, after the great sacrifices that were made, Irishmen will all join in making her a tree, happy, prosperous, and contented country (applause). Father O’Neill, replying, thanked the members for their appreciation and said that, in reference to the tunnel through, the earth, there may have been a spiritual one between Ireland and New Zealand, in which there were no snakes, which were found in Australia;, so that, when St. Patrick drove the serpents out of Ireland his prayers may have had a similar result in New Zealand, which is exactly opposite on the other side of the earth (laughter).