BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3745, 3 February 1913, Page 5

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

ROMAN CATHOLIC OBJECTIONS TO THE SCHEME.

ADDRESS BY BISHOP CLEARY. The Right Rev. H W. Cleary, D.D, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland, who arrived in Gisborne on Friday afternoon, celebrated the 7.30 Mass at the Church, Lowe Street, yesterday morning, when he. also delivered an address to a large congregation on the Bible-in-Schools question and tile attitude of the Church in that .regard. At the 10 o’clock Mass, when the celebrant was Rev. Father Lane, His Lordship again referred to the same question, and before reading a portion of a lengthy pastoral letter on the objects of the Catholic Federation about to be formed in Gisborne, lie briefly touched on the main objections of the Catholic Church against the scheme for the introduction of the Bible into

State schools, -as proposed by the League appointed by other denominations for that purpose. Bishop Cleary said, in the course of his remarks, that, among the eight proposed changes in the law, the State school teachers, irrespective of their beliefs, would be forced under penalty of dismissal to bo the inculcators of a form of “religious instruction” which was at variance with the conscientious convictions of Roman Catholics and of ! various other denominations. Ho add|cd that the League was demanding legislation to force not onl v Catholic-, but Jewish and various Protestant denominations who were objectors to pay taxes for the tSate endowment and State propaganda of a form of “religious teaching” at known variance with their, religious convictions. Roman Catholics deeply revered the Bible, ft was taught to their children in the Roman Catholic Parish schools, and even in public schools, at their own expense. He would gladly see it in the hands of every non-Catholic- child in the State schools of tips Dominion on conditions that would be fair allround, but- he declared’that the League’s proposals were cruelly unfair to conscientiously objecting parents, teachers and p'upils. Dr. Cleary also made reference to the conscience clause which the League had declared to he “the keystone” of its proposals. He said this conscience clause had been devised by astute Irish proselytisers _ for the avowed purpose of tampering with the faith of dissident children. These sectarians had a keen insight into the frailties of average parent-nature and child-nature, and in express terms declared their intention to proselytise dissidents and wean the Irish from “the abuses of Popeny.” Through the adoption of the conscience clause wholesale proselytisin' resulted in Ireland, and children' of the Roman Catholic faith in Australia were also subjected to proselytism in the various Bib!e-in-Schools States in that country.

Bishop Cleary continued that the official organiser of the League boasted, before the Presbyterian Assembly in Wellington, that “32,000 Roman Catholic children, with hardly an exception, read the Scriptural lessons” in the schools of New South Wales—in other words, that they have been successfully proselytised into violation of tho faith and discipline of the Church of their Baptism. After mentioning that he would shortly deliver a lecture in Gisborne in reply to the League’s attack, Dr. Cleary explained the aims and objects of the Catholic Federation, a branch of which it was later decided to form in Gisborne.

There was a large congregation present, and the right reverend gentleman’s remarks were listened to with rapt attention. After Mass a well-attended meeting of parishioners was held to make preliminary arrangements in connection with the lecture to be given by Dr. Cleary, liis Lordship the Bishop presiding. After discussion, it was unanimously derided to obtain a suitable hall for the purpose and a committee consisting of. Rev. Father Father Lane and Messrs Strangman. F. Hale, Guthrie, J. J. Keane and Maney was appointed to make the necessary 'arrangements. THE CATHOLIC FEDERATION GISBORNE BRANCH FORMED.

Immediately after Benediction a meeting of Catholics was held in' St. .Wray’s Hall. His Lordship Bishop Cleary, D.D., presided, and there was a very large attendance, including Rev. Father Lane.

Tile Bishop said the meeting bad been called for the purpose of forming a branch of the Catholic Federation in the rising town of Gisborne, and explained the objects and rules of the Society. The immediate object of such a Federation, he said, was to defend the interests and rights of taxpayers. parents, teachers, and children, and Victoria was instanced as one of the places where the Society had shown wonderful activity. There the Federation had established an immigration bureau, assisting nearly 500 people to get on the land, and obtain employment; it had organised a, whole series of lectures: it had established labor bureaus; it had tackled successfully the deadly subject of unclean literature; it had estalished a Society for the suppression of indecent literature, and this Society was composed of people of various religious faiths, and was one of the greatest triumphs of the Federation. The Federation had only been formed about 12 months ago, and could now boast of 420 branches. This proves what could he done hero if Catholics were properly organised. Then they would be able to defend those menaced rights of conscience of teachers, parents and children, which were rights of God, and not theirs to surrender. There were various other movements connected with the Federation, which had extended to South Australia and NewSouth Wales. There was a vast field for ornnisation and plenty of work for this Federation to undertake, Such as work in connection with literature, education, labor matters, etc. When he (Bishop Cleary") went to Chili on Missionary work lie*was interviewed by a reporter of a Catholic paper, and a pliotorapher also accompanied the interviewer. On going into the office he was greatly surprised to find the wonderful organisation which existed there. That paper was controlled by the Catholic Federation, andl was the best and most widely-read daily newspaper in Chili. The Federation there

had also established two other excellent papers in different places. The labor laws in Chili were far behind I those of New Zealand, which, were unI equalled in any part of the. world ; but the Catholic Federation there was doing some of the good work which the law was doing for the toiler in New Zealand. (Loud applause.) It had formulated a scheme of insurance against sickness and old age, and established hundreds of wholesome and sanitary workers’ homes. This showed what could be accomplished with shilling subscription’s. The Catholics of Gisborne knew what had been done with the pennies donated every Sunday, and in Auckland, too, the interest on a debt had been paid 'by means of penny Subscriptions. Bishop Cleary .concluded his address by saving that the Federation in Gisborne would be very successful if the Catholics concentrated tlheir efforts, and urged f n every Catholic to join tho Federation. (Lqud applause.) Rev. Father Lane said he was very pleased to see so many present, especially as they had so short a notice' of the meeting, and it gave him great encouragement in his work, and promised well for the success of the Federation in Gisborne. He moved that a branch of tho Catholic Federation be formed in Gisborne. Mr S. Liddell seconded the motion. Messrs F. Hale, J.. Smith, FI. Alley, Maney and the President of the Hibernian Society also spoke in favor of the motion-. _ On being put. the motion was carried unanimov ly, amidst much enthusiasm. Rev. Father Lane moved that the names of all p 'xsent bo taken down as members c/ the Catholic Federation. Mr B. Bowman seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. A hearty vote of thanks to Bishop Cleary for his kindness in coining to Gisborne to preside and explain tho objects of the Federation was carried by acclamation. and tile Bishop, having returned thanks, the meeting terminated.