RELIGIOUS RIOT IN MELBOURNE.
By Editor
A RIOT of considerable dimensions occurred between Catholics and Orangemen in Brunswick, a suburb of Melbourne, Sunday afternoon, July 19. An announcement and arrangements for an Orange procession in this suburb at the time stated, incited a counter-call for a general massing of Catholics from all over Melbourne and its suburbs at the same time and place. This call brought out fully 15,000 men, and, altho the Orange procession was abandoned, the assembled mob was so bent on having a “fray” that rioting was freely indulged in. Men and horses were knocked down, ladies’ boquets and scarfs were seized, a Wesleyan church, in which the Orangemen were holding their meeting, was besieged, and, altogether, says the report, “such a sight was never seen in Brunswick before.” Protesting against the proposed procession, the “Rev. Father” Luby, Catholic priest of the place, had previously “declared that if the procession were held there would be bloodshed.” But when his assembled co-religionists, notwithstanding there was no procession, began to wreak their vengeance on individuals and everything with a spot or show of yellow on it, he ran into their midst and tried to quell the riot, telling the men “there was now no necessity for this,” as there was to be no march that day, and that their conduct would be made known all over the world to their disgrace. But they were past his control. “The vast concourse swayed from side to side of the broadway like a human sea in violent commotion,” and for four hours held in possession the principal street of the suburb in spite of priest and local police. One hundred police and mounted troopers had to be called to hold the mob in check. We wish it to be known that we have no sympathy whatever with any opposition to the Papacy along papal lines. The weapons of the Christian’s warfare are not carnal, neither must the servant of the Lord strive, but be gentle unto all men, meekly instructing those who oppose themselves. 2 Cor. 10:3, 4; 2 Tim. 2:24, 25. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the word of God are the only lawful weapons for Christians to use in opposing error. But if any think religious animosities have all died out, or that the spirit actuating the Papacy is less relentless or less violent in its nature now than formerly, such scenes as the one just described should undeceive them.—Melbourne Bible Echo.