The Irish standard., 1891-11-14
FOR FAITH AND COUNTRY.
The Crime for Which Three Irishmen
We're Transported to 55 &.
81 5} Botany Bay.
ARK AND Elll DAYS OF 1913.
Particulars of Marked Interest REGARDING
Il Irish Patriots and /:
S. l. Missionaries. 81

J.
evil days Of '98 who first planted the
faith on the Australian continent,
Some very Interesting particulars regard
ing these heroic Irish patriots and mis-.
sionaries are furnished in an article lin
q recent issue of the Catholic Magazine
(Melbourne, .Australia,) from the pen
OF Father r. Power of Cobar, New
South Wales tAustralia). We make
the following extract: H. 81
T. Characteristically enough, it has been
Esald the pioneer missionaries Of the
Catholic church Of this country were
the convict priests. Unfortunate, how
ever. for the attempt, the offences Ia
which Fathers Harold, ONeil and
Dixon were convicted were all purely
Epolitica], and it is now established be-
yond anv doubt that all three were un~
justly, and oAe at least OF them Illegally,
convicted. MIR. J. f. Hogan is slightly
inaccurate IN assigning 1899 as the year
ia which the Catholic population of the
infant settlement Of Port jackson were
gratiti I'd for the first time s'by the sight
st three prdained clergymen in their
church." }Holt, in his memoirs, states
| that Father Harold. the first priest to
set footon Australian soil, did not reacn
Port jackson till 1900 the 105h of Jams
uary OF that year, per transport Minerva:
Ii was not till towards the end Of the
same year.; or the beginning Of 1901,
that Father O'Nelll arrived, per trans
port Annie. Father DiXon's arrival
was slightly later still. Love OF faith
haala ootlalsf crlzne, but she
[law. or rather the Irish administration
Of the day, called their offence by some
other name, Father Dixon was priest
of the diocese of Ferns, the principal
theatre OF the pitchcapplng outrages
that preceded and caused the rebellion.
| A brother of Father Dixon's was impli~
Gated ID the 1lsing-a sutfcia ant reason
why Father Dixon should be senua con-
vict to Botany Bay. Father Harold
had been parish priest of tha diocese
Of Dublin. He was arrested and trans
ported on the gratuitous suppoaltion
that Gas some of. his people had Joined
the rebellion) they must have done so
with his cognlzance and approval.
Father O'Neill was parish priest Of
Ba]lymacoda Tin the diocese OF Cloyne,
county Cork. 81 .s
The details Of Father @ 'NeilHs arrest
for completely in the murder Of an in
former named Murphy, an ex-soldier,
are set forth, and particulars given OF
the logging in Youghal. Transporta-
|tion followed, Father O.Neill coming
|out to Sydney iu the convict ship Annie,
& From the time of Father O'Neills
arrest his friends in Cork had not
ceased making representations to the
proper authorities Of the harshness OF
his treatment and the illegality Of his
convlctlon. It was not, however, ,untill
1902 that the governments could be
brought to consider the represent ntations
and then, animated probably as much
by good humor over the passing Of the
Act Of the Union as BY q spirit of'jds-
tics. they ordered the convict priests
release. Father O'Neill iiwes away lin
Norfolk Island when the order for his
release arrived. and consequently sit
was not till some considerable time af-.
tor its reception by 6 Governor King that
its import was made known TO him,
whom it most sconcernet The COVER
nor, not wishing to part easily with
Father O'Neill's services, went 80 far
as to offee the good priest 500 q year
to remain, in the settlement. Father
O'Neill destined the offer, but prom .sed
Ito return at no distant date and TO
bring two more priests with him. On
the departure OF tber g Neili5 Tor
Ireland about a prII. sO8, Father ItIIar !.
old and Dixon we're released, Father
Dixon assumed charge nf the Catholic
population of the Fort. j ackson settle.
msnr, while Father Harold exiled him
self to n Norfolk Island. Father @, ,fIIsili
was, on his return home. restored uo3his
old charge of BallYmacoaa BY Doctor
Wiiliam er.s 4 succssssr 10 Doctor
Nc cKenna I11 s5ee.o lt1ioYne hIoveu
thereto bs the u.isdes OF frlendss
Father* seter aDal donedz his intentIon
st lInlll 1stra 1,ere ,lil;,.
Go si1ieatlli, the Mar kssof
the teli lls aIne Ii f fis
iiot Il thstandi din s1ehl as
,S
NEE |..S5 "