"Chain Letters" - Archbishop's Opinion - 1937

The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 4 October 1937

"CHAIN" LETTERS.

Archbishop's Opinion.

CATHOLICS AND GOOD CITIZENSHIP.

The circulation of "chain" letters was deplored by Archbishop Gilroy during his address after the dedication and blessing of additions to the Roman Catholic Church of St. John of God, Auburn, yesterday afternoon. He said he had received one that stated that the writer was a Catholic, but which he thought had come from an enemy of the Church.

Archbishop Gilroy was speaking of good citizenship. He said that he had received a letter, "purporting to come from some Catholic, and addressed to his fellow Catholics," which urged that Catholics should unite in order to gain authority in Australia, and to depose from authority all persons who were not Catholics.

"There is no need for me to say that this letter is spurious, and did not come from any Catholic authority," said the Archbishop. "There is no such desire among Catholics, and, if any receives such a letter, he can do nothing better than destroy it. It is contrary to Catholic teaching and doctrine."

"While every Catholic had the right to aspire to any position of authority," the Archbishop said, "he must not achieve his ambition by underhand means.

"It would be wrong and inexcusable to strive to depose any honourable man from the position he holds simply because he does not belong to the Catholic Church. I am sure that no Catholic has ever tried to do this. It would be dishonourable and unjust. This letter has come from the enemies of the Church, and clearly shows that their ambition is to put Catholics in a bad light," he added.

PRESS CRITICISED.

Archbishop Gilroy said that facts were misrepresented in "the secular Press," and that matters appeared that were not based on the best moral principles. It was a curious coincidence that newspaper references to Russia and Spain were Communistic in viewpoint.

"The capitalistic Press is at one with the Communists, and in these matters they have found a comradeship," he declared. "In Australia we rejoice in our freedom, and, yet there has been a destruction of that freedom in order to foist upon us matters that are hostile to the best interests of the people in any country.

"There is no security in such a country as Russia except, perhaps, for the dictator and his friends. Your ambitions, I am sure, are to keep your grand democratic institutions, and to make this country a working man's paradise."

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17408818

General Notes - 1916

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 2 May 1916

General Notes.

Plans and specifications are being prepared in the office of Mr. A. McKay, architect, for electric light and power to the Roman Catholic Church and presbytery at Auburn, and for pews, fittings and furniture for the same church.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15645601

Alleged Assault Outside Church - 1936

The Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday 30 September 1936

 

ACCUSED ACQUITTED.

Alleged Assault Outside Church

At the Parramatta Quarter Sessions yesterday a verdict of not guilty was returned in the case in which Edward John Higgins, 29, rubber worker, was charged with having assaulted Archibald Howard Taylor and caused him actual bodily harm by punching him on the face, outside the Roman Catholic Church, Auburn, on the morning of August 30. Higgins was discharged. It had been stated that both men were members of the church, and that Taylor acted as collector there. Accused had entered a plea of self defence and extreme provocation.

Higgins, in evidence, stated that he had approached the church on August 30 and saw Taylor standing on the footpath. Taylor had a newspaper rolled up in his hand and, according to witness, said to Higgins, "What! Are you here again, you hypocritical -.". Higgins declared that Taylor aimed a blow at him with his fist and witness dodged it. The blow struck him on the neck and he then struck Taylor, The latter fell backward and tripped into the gutter. At a meeting of the K.S.C., Higgins said he asked for an investigation into certain statements which he declared had been made against him by Taylor. He said that Taylor protested wildly and said the committee had no authority to do so. The finding of the committee, said witness, was that Higgins had been done a grave injustice. Taylor protested violently, he added, and scribbled out his resignation from the society. Higgins further alleged that Taylor endeavoured to prevent him entering the church for his devotions on numerous occasions as well as pushing him away from the holy water and trying to trip him inside the church.

In an alleged statement made to the police accused said that he had wanted to fight Taylor some time ago, but the latter had refused. "He has been slandering me for a long time, and will not let up," accused said, according to the statement. Detective Sawyer said that accused had informed him that he and Taylor had had an argument about two or three years ago over politics and other matters.

Daniel McCarthy said he was on tho opposite side of the street when he saw Taylor advancing toward Higgins. Taylor made a punch at Higgins and they got into holts. Taylor fell backward into the gutter.

The jury, before returning its verdict, visited the scene of the alleged assault.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17288316

New Works - 1937

The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 9 March 1937

 

NEW WORKS.

Projected Works.

Architects have called tenders, or are preparing plans, for the following works -

C. Glancey, considering tenders, which closed yesterday, for erection of buildings for St John’s Roman Catholic Church, Auburn

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/17350374

Fire at Auburn - 1931

The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 26 June, 1931

FIRE AT AUBURN.

A weatherboard and iron building at the corner of Alice and Queen streets, Auburn, which was used by the Roman Catholic Trust as a school hall, was practically destroyed by fire yesterday. No one was about the building at the time, and the cause of the fire is unknown. Auburn Fire Brigade saved a small portion of the hall.

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/16789004

Cardinal Moran visits Auburn - 1893

The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 27 March, 1893 

CARDINAL MORAN AT AUBURN.

OPENING OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC SCHOOL-CHURCH.

Yesterday afternoon Cardinal Moran journeyed to Auburn for the purpose of blessing and laying the foundation-stone of the school-church now in course of erection there. The Cardinal was met at the station by several reverend gentlemen of the district, and conveyed in a carriage to the Auburn Sanatorium, from where he headed a procession across the street to the site where the building is to be erected. The ceremony of laying and blessing the foundation-stone was performed in the presence of about 300 residents of Auburn and district, among whom were—Alderman G. Wright (Mayor of Auburn), Alderman A. Gee (Mayor of Rookwood), Aldermen Roper, Blacket, Dyer, and Taylor, Revs. Walsh (Granville), J. J. O'Reilly (Rookwood), T. O'Reilly (Parramatta). Messrs. W. Miles, A. Miles, W. H. Windsor, Bailey, Baker, Hayes, and others. 

Cardinal Moran said he congratulated the residents of the district on the very beautiful site they had succeeded in obtaining for their school-church, and he presumed that the opening of the sanatorium in the town had induced the residents to put forth their best efforts to carry on the good work that had been so successfully started last year when he had the pleasure of visiting the town. On the last occasion of his being in Auburn he had accompanied their late and esteemed Governor, his Excellency Lord Jersey, whoso absence he felt sure they all deplored that afternoon. Lord Jersey would be missed very much. During his stay in tho colony he had always been forward in helping along all good work He felt sure that it would have given Lord Jersey much pleasure to be present that day had he been in the colony.

The speaker then proceeded to comment favourably on tho appearance of the beautiful district of which Auburn was the centre. Some people were to be found who were ready to assert that the world was still in its golden age, while some went to the other extreme and considered it had now reached the lowest stage of depression. In his opinion both were wrong. Those who thought things were in anything like a perfect condition were contradicted by the daily experience of everyone. Every day on opening their newspaper they found ignorance and vice were still amongst them. If theses extremists were in error, those who considered things were at their lowest were no less wrong. He considered the times were not half as bad today as they had been at various stages in tho world’s history. One of these times was that when tho Lord came to reside amongst us, and even one hundred years ago, when infidelity was rampant, and had blazoned on its banner, "Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality.” Men enthroned slavery as liberty, beheaded one another by way of fraternity, and in place of equality produced misery and degradation to thousands. All would admit that at the present day the times were not as bad as they were on the occasion referred to. And it must he remembered that throughout all the bad stages of the world’s history they could trace the reflections of the Divine light our saviour come to the world to shed amongst men. So at present, when the night was so dark, they could realise how great was the light shed by the Divine Pharos.  Though the tempest never ceased to rage the Divine light from Heaven would never fail. This should induce them to take heart and realise that the work of God could never fail. A collection was then made, and subsequently the Cardinal announced that this, added to amounts previously promised, has resulted in the raising of a sum of £140. This, he said, was a very good beginning, and he hoped that similar support would be given tho promoters to carry on the school church after it was erected. There would be plenty of opportunities of contributing after the building was opened. He concluded by thanking those who bid contributed, and expressing a hope that they would be repaid a thousandfold.

Alderman George Wright, Mayor of Auburn, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to his Eminence for his presence.

Alderman A. Gee, Mayor of Rookwood, seconded the motion, which was carried by acclamation.

Cardinal Moran thanked them for tho compliment they had paid him. He congratulated the district on the happy feeling that prevailed therein and trusted they would always remain united, and that no discord would ever rise amongst them.

Hearty cheers for the Cardinal were then given by all present.

Tho site of the proposed school-church is just opposite that of the sanatorium, and has frontages to Queen-street and North-parade. The contractor for the erection of tho building is Mr. P. Hayes, of Newtown. The main edifice will be 45ft by 23ft, and the altar space 13ft by 12ft, the sacristy being 10ft by 10ft. Tho foundation-stone bears the following inscription: - “This memorial stone was solemnly blessed and laid by his Eminence Cardinal Moran, March 26th, 1893" The building committee consists of Messrs J. McHugh, John Murphy, D Larkin, T Loughrea, T. Gannon, J Miller, and W. Miles. Mr. A. W. Miles is the secretary, and Mr. T. Loughrea the treasurer.

 

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/13902637