26.12.2013 Views

TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

TRANSPLANTED IRISH INSTITUTIONS - University of Canterbury

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

total abstinence pledge.<br />

Also among the New Zealand Tablet reports were general<br />

92<br />

comments about how some families were experiencing great happiness as a result <strong>of</strong> one or<br />

both parents giving up drink and becoming sober. 51<br />

This 'successful' mission by<br />

Hennebery was soon to be tested by Pastor Charles Chiniquy.<br />

Chiniquy was probably one <strong>of</strong> the most colourful lecturers ever to tour New<br />

Zealand. His life and writings had all the ingredients for an interesting tour. 52<br />

He had<br />

transformed from "an ultramontane Roman Catholic French-Canadian priest into a worldrenowned<br />

English-speaking Protestant anti-Catholic crusader. "53 The New Zealand leg <strong>of</strong><br />

his Australasian tour was preceded by the Boxing Day riots in Christchurch and Timaru on<br />

26 December 1879. These events, even though they had their own impetus, did coincide<br />

with Chiniquy's arrival. Chiniquy's lecturing in Hobart had led to riots and this rioting did<br />

occur before he arrived in New Zealand. 54 There were mixed reviews <strong>of</strong> Chiniquy's<br />

reception in New Zealand. When he arrived, the committee formed to oversee his tour was<br />

asked by Superintendent Thompson under instructions from Wellington, whether or not<br />

they would take responsibility for any disturbances.<br />

The committee accepted any<br />

responsibility. This indicated that there were precautions being taken to avoid a repeat <strong>of</strong><br />

the riots in Timaru and Christchurch or even Chiniquy's recent foray <strong>of</strong> potential<br />

martyrdom in Hobart. 55<br />

Chiniquy had been invited to New Zealand by the Grand Orange Lodge <strong>of</strong> the<br />

North Island for the express reason that "the public mind was full <strong>of</strong> expectancy to hear his<br />

51 New Zealand Tablet, 23 May 1879.<br />

52See Chiniquy's books, Fifty Years in the Church <strong>of</strong> Rome, London, Robert Banks & Son, 1911, and<br />

Forty Years in the Church <strong>of</strong> Christ, London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1900.<br />

53Paul Laverdure, 'Creating an Anti-Catholic Crusader: Charles Chiniquy,' Journal <strong>of</strong> Religious History,<br />

vol. 15, no. 1, June 1988, p. 94.<br />

54For further information on the Hobart events see E.M. Dollery, 'fhe Chiniquy Riots, Hobart',<br />

Tasmanian Historical Research Association Papers and Proceedings, vol. 9, no. 4, March 1962. For a<br />

contemporary account <strong>of</strong> the events see, 'A Full Account <strong>of</strong> the Hobart Town Riots, in Connection with<br />

Pastor Chiniquy's Lectures Together with Correspondence from Reverend H.C.M. Watson', Dunedin,<br />

John Graham, 1879.<br />

55Press, I January 1880.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!