The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-19 00:00:00

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CATHOLIC REUNION AND SOIREE.

On Monday last, a Catholic re-union and soiree
was held in the Vlctoria Hall. Stourbridge, and
was !argely attended. The Earl of Denbigh pre-
sided and there were present Canon Longman (vicar
general), Rev. Dr. McCave, Rev. G. Daly (vice.
president of Oscott dlege), Rev. W. Hall (Wolver-
hampton), Rev. L. G Torond (Kidderminster),
Rev. Wheelan (Brierley Bev. M. A.
Power (Bilston), and Messrs. H. Haskew, H.
James. and T. Wall.

The Chairman said that it was with very great
pleasure he had aecepted the invitation to be
present that evening at the first of these Catholic
re-unions, whioh, he hoped may be held annually
in future. It was of great use in many ways that
they should meet annually. He spoke of the value
of such re-unions for enabling different classes to
know each other better- One of the greatest dis-
orders in France was that in time past there was
not that mixing of classes, but all classes of society
stood aloof from each other. The aristocratic
class were a class keeping to themselves, the middle
classes again were separated from the others, and
the lower classes were left to fish for themselves.
The consequence was that they found the greatest
distrust of each other, and none of them seemed to
think that what was the interest of one was the in-
terest of the other. Society was the one great
complex machine. In ord'er to know what their
different work was there was nothing like meeting
together. They got to understand each others
modes of feeling, and by these means misappre-
hensions disappear they began to value each other.
By these means they gained confidence in each
other, friendship gradually sprung up, and when
they came to work together they found the oil of
chtistiaoity prevailed over everything and the whole
thing worked well together. At this moment
Great Britain was in a very critical position, and
there was a great strain upon them in every way.
What they wanted now was to arouse in all men
a feeng of patriotism—of enlightened patriotism—
and they should keep in view that in saving them-
selves they were saving their country. They
wanted intelligence and great patience—patience
because they must not look at one's difficulties and
because their neighbour does not agree with
' them that he or she was absolutely wrong and they
were right. They must be very patient with each
other. They wanted intelligence to known how to
act in difficult circumstances and in order to do that
they wanted education. They could not cultivate
their intelligence properly without being educated.
They wanted also courage. There were a great
many who knew what was right but had not got
the courage to go according to their opinion. The
enemy was abroad in the country sowing tares
amongst the wheat, starting all sorts of doctrines
in order to try and set all classes by the ears. and
uproot all their old habits of loyalty and religien,
of confidence in their rulers, and charity among
themselves. A feeling of selfishness was
glowing up among them, that, he believed, was the
great error of the present day. Although that
meeting was called together by a Catholic and pre •
sided ever by a Catholic, there were a great many
there who were not Catholics, and he was glad to
think that the more they were gathered together,
the more misapprehensions would disappear. He
was delighted to see that that hostility that ex-
isted against Catholics was dying away. He was
inclined to think that hostility was due to ignorance
Therefore, the more they knew of each other they
would understand each other and respect each
other; and greater would be the cordial connection
among them, As to the patriotism of which he had
spoken. there was a right patriotism and a wrong
patriotism. There was a high patriotism—the
duty which they owed to their country, her laws
and rulers, and those who were set over them by
Almighty God. As far as the laws went in the
line which was laid down to them by religion they
were bound to obey them. The very fact of re-
ligion itself made them willing to make sacrifices
for their country, society, and everything that was
good befote them. Those who attempted to per-
suade them that education could be given without
religion were a set of fools. He believed education
to mean the fitting of a man morally, physically
and spiritually for everything, to carry out the end
for which ha was put into the world. What were
they put into the world for? The object of their
life here was to love, honour' and serve God, and
how were they to do that if they knew nothing
about God. Some people say educate everyone but
'don't let us have religion. They were not to be
led astray, they who were not Catholics, there
could be no education without religion. They
could deal with a man that bad got a conscience,
but when they had a man that had not got a con-
science they had a mischievous individual. If they
cultivated religion in their hearts they would be
guided as to what was there real duty as citizens.
His lordship after referring to matters in France,
Italy, and Germany, said they should take warn-
ing from their neighbours and while they professed
their selves to be good Englishmen let them not
forget the higher duties which belonged to them.
At a meeting where he had to speak, similar to
that, he took the advantage of the opportunity of
saying to a me Irish Catholics who had been
making themselves rather prominent in holding
aloof from English Catholics, that their feeling of
patriotism should not blind them from the fact
that they were Cetholics and had a common bond
of faith. Then he made a remark which had been
quoted a good deal siuce, that he was an English-
man, but he was a Catholic first People tried to
make out that he was disloyal to the Queen and
willing to sacrifice her at any, moment, but what he
meant was that their duty to God came first, and
then their duty to their country. If they were not
disposed to be loyal, their very religion would
force them to be 60, for it inculcate l loyalty to the
powers that be, and that respect and honour which
was due to authority. Therefore, when they said
they were Catholics it ought to mean that they
were good citizens and good subjects of the
Sovereign, who, by the grace of God, had beeu
placed over them—(applause), These were days
when they must speak openly aud plainly and go
back to what thy called first principles, seeing
how apt men were to be led astray. Obey tho-e
woo were set over them and they would set an ex•
ample to their children. They would earn the
respect of their county, and have (hit reward
which has been promised to those who were good
and faithful servants—(applause).
The Rev, Father Daly proposed " flat the best
thanks of this meeting be given to those ladies who
had presided over the tea tebl. s."
Mr. Henry James seconded the resolution and it
was heartily received.
The Rev, Dr. McCave in moving the sec mid reso-
lir ion said there wai no time to be lo,tin tendeeing
their cordial thanks to their many valuable friends,
who, despite the unfavourable weather, had given
to this re-union the honour of their presence.
Some said that they never knew the real
value of f. i rids till they had lost them. He could
not bele. Viinking and exclaiming that night that
he only knew the real value of his friends because
he had lost so few of them at the present cr:sis.
Kidderminster, Dudley, Brisrlsy Hill, and neigh
.bouring towns had sent their representatives to
this Catholic re-union. Catholics in that town-
ship could never be charged with any want of will.
or any want of skill, in the important questioa of
public elementary education. 5h17.0 the School
Boardreleetion, the rate, instead of being thirteen.
pence ea the pound as the annual school rate, the
ratepayers of Stourbridge could look back upoe the
last 12 months and see that the bill was now teree-
pence in the pound for educational purposes—(ap-
plause). If that result had been realized at the
sac:ifice of some progress in the work of educe.
no doubt critics would have • denounced them as
cheap and nasty educationists. It was beyoed all
controversy that never had the public schools of
Stourbridge earned o much f,r the public funds
as they had done at the recent examinations under
Her Majesty's inspector—(applause). if now it
had beta a pleasure to them to work and work
manfully at that 'work, the results of which were
so momentous to the township, it was gratifying to
observe that their friends at the School Board
election had continued to give them. the renewal of
their votes—(.ipplause). There were many shades
of belief in that hall, but all were blended into one
broad ray by the God of peace, and whether
protestant or papist they were as good Samaritans.
It was a sincere pleasure to him to ask them to
receive the following resolution "That thethanks
of the Catholics of Stourbridge be heartily awarded
to their visitors and kind friends who had joined in
welcoming the noble chairman, aud to render that
re-union a triumphia.l success.
Mr. Haskew seconded the resolution and it was
carried.

Canon Longman, in responding, said they had
heard of.Stourbridge far beyond the precints of that
interesting town. They had a name abroad and
therefore they (the visitors) were glad of coming to
see them, and he must say that their worthy
rector had given him a hearty welcome, and he was
charmed with what he had seen in that town. lie
had visited the church and admired the 1)u:111U:ill
ornaments, so telling of their taste and generosity.
It was a church of a thousand, a credit to their
worthy rector and themselves. He had also visited
their efficient schools and heard that at the last ex.
amination heir scholars hid past most successfully
and it was duo to the teachers. He had also seen
the recenty erected rectory—a house beautifully
built—and he found that everything had been
economically carried out. He then referred to the
cemetery, and said that they bad a most complete
plant, and he did not know another town that had
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