VISIT OF CARDINAL MORAN.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6371, 19 February 1886, Page 3

VISIT OF CARDINAL MORAN.

- The visit of Carlinai Moraa and the vsxioas Australian and New Zealand? v Soman Catholio Bishops accompanyir/g him cante to an end yesterday eveningi wtin tfcey left for Welosgton by steamer. Yesterday morning, prior to the children of the Soman Catholic schools proceeding fp Mount Magdala for their picnic, his Kniaenee and the Blafcopa pad a ; VUttl TO THB OOHVIHT. , :

The children of the Convent School w pta paraded for the occasion, the Children of Mary in blue, and others in cardinal, eacn chifd carrying a banner.' < Thej-mere ranged in front of the Convent; and hie Eminence was seated on a daia. ; The following addrees, signed by Lena 7jdnarg&n on behalf of her schoolfellows, . was. presented to his Eminence:— " -; ". To his Eminence Cardinal Moran,Cardinal Archbishop of Bydney. - May it please your Eminence, —We, the papHe of the Sacred Heart Schools, acMmhfe on tiue j >yfu kecaeic l to greet your Sainence, and to bid you a thousand wel •omes to our city. Aβ we recall to irind the events of tie past few mouth c regarding jour Eminence *c are movvd wi hf«e isgs of pride and inexpressible deiight, especially when we reflect on the words addressed to yjur Eminence by our Holy Father Pope I>eo XDI., when tetothed with the scarlet robes of that Sacred College, be bade yen r turn to those distant lands. Since your Eminence left the Eternal City -se longed for tie bright day tbat would Side you tamely to our shores, and sow at we have seen the happy day we offer your Eminence our filial congratulations. We wish to assure your Eminence evtn in ear young dtys that we understand the great h»ner conferred en us by viai'ing cur schools; srti we shall ever itcol ect wt*b grati'udj your pav?e in the "tity of the Plans/* as your Eminence and the other distinguished prelates have come from the fair south to open in tie metropolis of this ycung oalony -a great eollere dedicated to your pttron saint, the National A pestle of Ireland, and these last word* remind u» your Xroinence •f your lon* and tuxeroful wsifare in the island of • fiaiate ami Tcct »," whose grand virtue j we to day fee realued in the august personage, whom the*suceeasor of St. Petsr has placed among the ptiren of t'-e th»ch. Vβ sha 1 ! ever pray yonr Boineotw that the flock over whom you are now called ' o rule, in your exalted; position, will give the bubo willing ear to your ceusae'a as the one you left in Bie Bee of St. Canice. Whilst st the feet «f ycur Eminence, we ask your blessing for ourselves and those dear to up, to keep us always faithful children of the one, true, Holy Catholic and Apcstolio Church. Sigced oa behalf of the pa Hie, : ItXBA M. LoXAHGAX. Monastery of tie Sacred He*it of Kotre D&mj dcs Missions. Chiistchurca, February 18tb, ISB6. His Emwmca made a kindly reply, ex--pressing hie gratification at the good con-; dock of the echool and the happy appesranceof the children. His Eminence and the Bishops were entertained at breakfast by the Bsverend Mother and the nuns before leaving the Convent. . " The children, to the number of some 800, tiben proceeded to the ground* of the proposed Magdalen Asylum for their picnic. The next event of the Cardinal's visit was laying the foundation of THE MAGDALEN ASYLUM. The lajing of the foundation stone of the Magdalen Asylum, which it is intended tb bulla on the property hitherto known as the Standard Farm, by his Eminence Cardinal Moran, tcot place at 3 p.m. -Tub institution it is intended to establkb is modelled after that of the Convent of the Good Shepherd at AbbofefVrd, sear Melbourne, where 640 inmates reside. It may also be noticed that the first portion of the work of management and establishment of the institution in our midst will be carried out by several Sisters of the Order of the Good Shepherd, who are ooming from Melbourne for that purpose. The head quarters of the order is situate at Angers, in France, and tits Bey. Father Ginaty, who has taken a deep and zealous interest in this' matter, has been in oorainunicatacn with, the authorities there* ~M» molt beieg of -■ I*e. despatch b-ire of- a community of suds to -aewioa the coed work;. By a beqnes* from tbe Maxwell istate, (he Catholics of Cfeateharoh have been enabled to aequite tb# site, and they now purpose to erect ■ft* institntioa thereon. Thcngn under ffl» SHperintendence of the Sisters of the Order, the institution is proposed to be Catholic in the widest sense of .lite, work, being open to all, of whatever rereei, who may desire to live a new life. With a view to bringing the matter under. «0 notice of the public. Father Ginaty lined a circular, from which the following extracts are made:— ' . Ton will welcome', 1 believe, with more ttaan ordinary feelings of delight the announcement I am about to bring under yoor notice. For several years past we 'liave'been β-nxi us to find ameans to tnateh from eternal ruin a certain portion of tie erring flock comraitfc d to our care, but all; along we have Iβ n prevented from establishing such an asylum, tecausi of the many demands that neceeearily had to be "made on your generosity and charty. Lately, however, by the dispensation of Diyioe Providence, a legacy of jB2OOO has been left for the purpose, and at once, with fi» sanction of his Lordship, the Bight Bey. Dr. Bedwood, we took effectual steps to realise our long-cheriahed de-are. His Lordship, accordingly, eecured the Sisters of the " Good Shepherd," and the trustees «f the above legacy selected the most deefrabie site aeat Chrktchurch for this pnrpose.Wetrust,thertfore,thatyouwillhonor -the occasion with your presence, and thus •now that you have at he*rfc a work which "by its excellence must coma: and the active co-operation of every one whe wishes to awe from destruction the poor Magdalen, who, when tired of a life of crime, often aeska a shelter, and not finding it, ends her •wretched career in a manner ever to be deplored. Bishop Bedwood has also expressed his Tiearty sympathy with the movement, as .may be seen by the following letter sent by Torn to Father Ginatjy.— Chrietohurch, February 9,1896. My dear father Ginaty,—Now that we save racoeeded.by God's grace, in obtaining a foundation of the Good Shepherd nuns in Canterbury, and have also been able to acquire a very large and excellent property in the vicinity of Chris tchnrch lor vtas institution, we have to take steps to carry out with promptness and energy this great design. It has m? best wishes, my aaost fervent prayer, aad toy most copious Ueolßfß. I feel but© that it will meet with the heartiest co-operation from all nlariiic ii aad creeds, and wiS be productive of incalculable good, while it will draw down the special blessings of God on all fee other work* of yonr diatriot. I remain, yours faithfully in J.C., t FSjLNQS REDWOOD. Advantage waa taken of the visit to New Zealand of his Eminence Cardinal Moran, to request him to lay the foundation stone of the institution, and he consented to do •o. Hence tie proceedings of to-day. : A great crowd assembled in Barbadoee atnettowarde two p.m. yesterday afternoon to witnesa the start of the prooeauon to

Koant Mafdala, and a still greater number took part in it. Toe various details of the affair had been well eoßsiaered, and the organisation genenrifar was so complete that not the lain delay or difficultly occurred at any peat. Shortly before the time appointed *J***Bft_ somber of carriages was formed "» T&*t and entering the Presbytery tgMw from fewer down Barbadoea ■5*% were driven round the gravel sweep «Bd_appeared before the Presbytery *x*». Aboat the middle one of the *j"j*« was drawn by four handsome Waek hone*, and was accompanied by wssemen forming a guard of honor. This was intended for the Cardinal, and drew "ep eracHy in front of the Presbytery steps. A large number of eeslesiastica was assembfed at this point, aad juet before the - !?? 3 waß IDcreaae d by the appearance i lofArcadeacen Coteman, who had only jnat ll derived in town. His Eminence the Oardescended the steps shortly after two o'clock, and took his seat in Hμ carriage. He was accompanied by Dr. Bedwood, the Bishop of the Diooeaei Br. CHara, his secretary; and Father Gaiaty. In the two carriages preceding were Bishop Lock, of Auckland; Bishop Beyaolds, of Adelaide! Bishop Moran, of Banedin; and Bishop Murray, of Mait«i Besides a large number of the la%< both ladles and gentlemen, Sowtst andfialbwackV, of Chrisi-

church; Keene, of Geraldine; Paul, of (rDazateU, of Akaroa; Walshe, of Kuroata; O'Connor, of Lyttelton; P. W/Aheree, of Bo»; McKenna, 61 Wellington t Hurley, of Bangiora; Kickham, of Napier j and Father Shaffrey, 0.C.C., ot Melbourne; and the Working Committee — Messrs W. B. Perceval, B. P. Lonargan, T. M. Lonargan, EL H. Loughnan, M. MaUey, J. Barrett, J. O'Neill, H. Nolan, A. J. White, Macnamara, Sellars, and Courtney. The procession, which was ably marshalled by Mr O'Neill, suitably attired in uniform, «v quite half a mile long, and presented a very pretty eight, the rich colon of the Cardinal's robes ■ad those of the Bishops accompanying him, aiaking quite a blaze of color in £baparieon to the sombre black attire of the large number of priests in the pro- j cession. All along the line of route the footpaths were thronged with spectators, aad the display, as a whole, was one such m has rarely been seen before in Christchurch. The procession proceeded via j High street and Caabel street along j Oxford terrace to the Lincoln road. The site of the institution, it may be stated, is near the Junction Hotel. On antral at the avenue leading to the site the school children, to the number of some 800, were drawn up. The carriages halted, and a procession was formed, headed by the Garrison Band, followed by the children, with banners, &c. There were three or four pretty triumphal arches en route. On arrival at the site, the Cardinal was conducted by the Bishops and clergy in attendance, to the temporary dais, the school children eioging the Benedictus. Having robed himself in his veetmentf, and assumed the mitre, the Cardinal, preceded by the acolytes and priests, and attended by the various Bishops in their robes, proceeded to bless the stone, and laid it with ths uEual formalities. On the southern face of the stone is the following inscription:— "Hie Lapis a Patritio Francisco Card. Moran Alpo: Sydneyen: Leo. Papa X (11. Beguante et Frariciscoßedwcod,Duc decimo Anno DiocesmWellingtonen, Begente Hac. Die XIII. CaL Mart. A.D., M.D.C.CC, LXXXVX, Bite Benedicitus et positus." A very handsome silver trowel was presented to the Cardinal by the Missionary Sector Father Ginaty on the part of the architect, Mr Petre, and the parishioners of Christcherch, bearing the following inscription :—" A.M.D.G. Presented to his Excellency Cardinal Moran by the Mission Bsctor of Ohrietchurch and his parishioners on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the Magdalen Asylum at Mount Magdala, Feb. 18th, 1886." The procession having marched round the grounds, singing the"Magnificat/ returned to the dais. Under the stone was deposited the "Tablet," the "Freeman's Journal of Auckland, and Sydney " Freeman's Journal," the local papers, asd coins. ■' • His Eminence, Cardinal Mobajt, than addressed those present: — Hβ said the purpose 'for which they were assembled was one which commended itself to every true' Christian, and it could not fail to awaken their sympathies and win their cordiel cooperation. They had assembled for the purpose of preparing an asylum of refuge, a sanctuary, a home, for the poorest, for the most desolate, the most afflicted and the most forlorn of their fellow creatures. He need not set before them the many titles of the virtue of Christian charity. He need not present to them the eulogies of this great virtue recorded in every page of the eacred Scripture, which were domestic words in every homestead all over the Catholic lands. The virtue of charity, itself a fhwer of their hope, itself a fruit of divine love, was the crown of evsry other virtue. Their Divine Saviour taught them that charity went hand in hand with every other virtue, but every other virtue could not be pleasing unless accompanied by charity. He who hath the virtue of charity God abide th in, and he abideth in God. He who rescued one little lamb or one sheep from spiritnal death saved bis own soul. And they were further taught that he who gave a.cup of'water in Ms Saviour's name shonld have eternal reward. What then should it be when the hand of charity was extended to the relief of those who were in the very depth of misery, in the deepest distress, imparting to them the greatest of blessings, the greatest of mercies. The poor fallen Magdalen had once a happy home, a home of. peace, of comfort, and of joy, but the prodigal child entered upon devious paths, and she was scorned and turned from door to door. Even at her, own home she dared not present herself. Bhe was cast out from every family. Was there no hope for the poor fallen Magdalen? Moat she pursue the sinful couree upon which Bhe had entered ? There was one: hope, that she would be brought to the feet of the Shepherd of Good Souls. They read in Scripture that their Divine Saviour when he entered a certain house of mourning, he spoke to a maiden who was bound in death bonds, and she arose with the freshnesß and vigor of early life. It was even bo with the Magdalen. She was spiritually dead, but was,, upon returning to the feet of her Saviour, made to arise, and a soul was saved. Hβ would" not speak much to them of the experience of the Institution which had sprung up in the older lands of Christendom. The experience of these institutions taught, then, that there were no souls more purified in the eight of God, and more bright in the radiance of their own sanctity, than those who once strayed from the fold, and had been brought back to the feet of the loving Saviour. His Eminence recounted the history of Mary Magdalen's treatment by the Sadduceea and the Pharisees, and the Saviour's declaration that her Bins had been pardoned. The Gospel of redemption was made known to her, and whether it was preached in the older lands of Imperial Borne, or here under the Southern Cross, the name of Msry Magdalen would ever remain to show the goodness of His mercy and love. As the' mercy of the Divine Baviour had been extended to Lazarus and the fallen Magdalen, bo it would be to those who prajei, who might have been pursuing a devious course, perhaps bound in the bonds of death, who had sinned agaicßt God, or whose eyes were closed against the light of heaven which shone around them. When the Divine Saviour had perfected Hie ministry He was entered upon the cross of Calvary. With one exception the apostles had fled, His disciples had abandoned Him, and there only remained with Him save His immaculate Mother, the fallen Her privilege it was to assist the mother of the Blessed Xord, to her He appeared after cracifirion, and commanded her to carry the glad tidings to the apost'ea that Hβ who was dead was living. She became an apostle of love, of j->y, and of God. And until the end of time His mercy should be extended to those who may have followed in the footsteps of the sinful Magdalen, and who had followed in the footsteps of her return to the feet of the Shepherd of Souls. For this purpose were they assembled that day, to be able to help those who, like Magdalen, aball return to the Good Shepherd. Almighty God could, if he pleased, stretch forth his bountiful hand and bring consolation and joy in the ordinary ways of providence, but he wished them to merit tt?» eternal reward by cooperating with Diviae providence in preparing such a homo and such a Banotuary, as the noble Christian institutiou which they were commencing to erect, and in lifting up from the depths of misery those of His creatures whom he could. If they co-operated with the Holy Spirit tbew Bins would be cancelled, the fire o<the Divine Saviour's love would be kxndled in tbeir hearts, and they would participate in the love whkh *8B first bestowed on the humbled and repentant It was their work to prepare themselves, and he trusted they would, by their generous contributione so strengthen.the hands of their zealous Pastor, and so assist their Bishop, that they might go forward with that asylum, that sanctoag, that homefor the most miserable and the most forlorn of their fellow creatures. The Bey. Father Ginatt then addressed the- congregation, and appealed to them for He read several telegrams and letters of congratulation, and -humorously observed that theywere no doubt the predecessors of very very big rliequeo. He bad ie-

oeived many apoiogies for Wjeence"; and b*d kimwlf X«W toward* the funds, and JUO had been gived bytheßchoolchildren. (Hear,hear.) He had, daring nine years, passed .£85,000 hi* haxtds for works in Chri*tchurch, and he had never undertaken a work which he more desired to see completed ti h * w this one. He was informed that the Sisters were ready to commence their duties as soon as the building was ready to receive them. He concluded with a pressing invitation to his auditors to place upon the stone all they could afford. In response to the appeal made by Bey. Father Ginaty some £200 was laid on the stone, and a large amount of subscriptions also entered in the books provided for the purpose. : Bishop Bbdwood said he desired to say a few words expressive of their thankfulness to hia imminence for having come there that day to perform the ceremony. He had only to tell them that he had re* eeived a letter from the nuns of the Good Shepherd, stating that theywere ready to come when the people were ready to receive them. He asked them therefore to do their beat to get the building advanced for the reception of the nuns. He asked them j to give liberally to this institution, and he would Bet them an example; because it waa a great and holy work to rescue these perishing women and set them up on high once more. The institution they were now providing would enable them to do this, and it was a work in which he took the greatest possible interest. No doubt also the reverend prelates who had come there that day to grace the ceremony would aid, by their contributions, in the work. There was nothing in the diocese in which he took a greater interest t*»ftif this, and to show his practical sympathy, he would give them .£IOO. [Cheers.] Hβ never asked his people to do anything without showing them the way, and though tbe amount he proffered was but small, it was given with all his heart, and in the sincere wish to do what little he could to further the great and good work they had met there that day to inaugurate. .[Cheers.] He hoped they would do their share, and that the institution would soon be established in their ! midst. [Cheers] The Bey. Father Ginatt eaid though he was as poor as a church mouse, and would have to scratch tip the sum, somehow, he would follow the noble example of His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington, and give JEIOO also. [Cheers.] This concluded the formal part of the proceedings, and the procession, now augmented by the school children, returned to town.