ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 6

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD.

. A CHARACTER SKETCH. (Br a Ci/FRio.) ' On last Thursday, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, tho Metropolitan of the CatholicChurch in. New Zealand, completed his seventieth year. To look at him, above all. to scohiin walk the streets of tho city, 1 ono would'not. take him to he that ago, for'; ho" wears his years exceedingly well. Physically ho is a very strong man, and in his day he was no mean exponent of muscular Christianity. Ho used to ho a splendid shot as a young man, for ho had a keen oy« and steady hand. Even now nothing ho moro enjoys than looking on at a well-contested game of football, or a first-class cricket, match. But it is, of course, to his mental gifts that ho owes his, high Rosition in the , Church, which possesses so many able mou. Ho was a brilliant student, and having re- = coived most of his college education he showed such wonderful ability!: Vto beat the, French fellow-students of lus college at their own native tongue. So successful was ho that ho was for some time tho president of their literary and debating society. Not only did lj! prove himself a fine classical, scholar, but he soon' became recognised as a . deep and sound theologian, and it was from . the chair of theology in Dublin that he was called, in 1874, to tho See of Wellington. It is said that when a man becomes a bishop ho must say good-bye to his books, and this is true to a certain extent, especially in a missionary country such as New Zealand 1 has' been, Tho cares' of the administration of a largo and growing dioceso leave a man littlo time to devote ■ to bringing out talonts of another kind. Butihis Grace has, amid all his cares and tho worries inseparable from his position, found time for some of these things. Ho soon proved in his newoffioethat ho could bo a magnificent pulpit orator, foi ho possessed all the qualities necessary thereto. Endowed, with a fine presence, a splendid voice, a logical mind, and wide command of language, he soon won his way into tho very front rank of preachers. Ho has boon chosen in connection with most of tho groat functions of his Church in Australasia during the last quarter of a century to be tho special preacher.- .- During- tho ■ thirty-five years that ho has ■• ruled as bishop and archbishop he has been ' a very..busy.mau. He has seen his dioceso grow_ from comparatively small proportions to be tho,third m importance in Australasia) . ranking only, after Sydney and Melbourne. .Ho has been a wise and successful administrator, gentle in hjs _ methods, but at tho saroo tinip. firm and just. Ho allpws those under. him to cxerciso a good deal of' dis-""" cretion, and.oneo he considers a man fit for a position to which he advances him-he docs not interfere with him, save in very exceptional circumstances.. He is a man,of sound ' judgment, and is of a strong and determined character. When, after due deliberation, ho resolves upon a certain course of action, no- *' thing will make him change his decision, save tho will of-his ecclesiastical superiors, -and | they generally uphold him. because what ho decides is always wiso and just. In private life the archbishop is the essence of gentleness and kindnoss, and is a great favourite with all who como into close contact, with ;) him. , -"'.-' Ho takes a great interest in the work of religious-education, firmly believing •'that upon this especially depends the welfare of this country. To his.keen foresight'.:.tho "v Catholic community and the Dominion' owe ■ j the splendid College of St. Patrick in this > - city, whoso, students, despite its compara- ' tivoly short existence, now hold honourable'; positions in every profession and walkpf life, throughout tho land. It is really -.owing' to '. his desiro that tho educational'needs 01 his'; Archdiocese should bo first attended to' that the building of the - metropolitan Cathedral has not boon gono on with, sooner. A large" sum of monoy-jis for this work, but his Grace lias -toot-.pushed the matter at all. Ho wishes tho,schools of the place to bo put. upon the ver'v''best'f6otinfe~bcfbfo'lio under--';,' takes any otlier work. 'This ho lias almost; succeeded in doing, and wo "may soon expect him to dovoto his attention to tho work of rasing in tho capital of the Dominion a cathedral that will ho worthy of the Catholio body and worthy of the Empire city. His Grace is fond of music, and plays tho violin with no moan skill. Ho is the fortunate possessor of a genuino Stradiyarius, and nearly all tho distinguished , violinists who have found time to visit the: Dominion generally liave found their way to the Archibshop's house have been rowardod' with the opportunity 'of trying ono of the world's famed, instruments. - _- His Graco is practically a New Zealandor, for although born in England ho was., brought by his parents to the country when only three years of age, 'He remained for a short time'in Wellington, and then wont to Nelson, settling in Waimoa. When he wasfifteen, ho"''was sent to Europe, and spent somo timo in tho Marisi Collego of St. Chamond, Loire. Ho was ordained priest in. 1865, taught in St. Mary's College, Dundalk. Ireland, and at Dublin for somo years until he was called to tho Seo of Wellington in 1874. On Wellington being made into an Archdiocese by the Holy See in 1887, Dr. Redwood was niado its first Archbishop and tho Metropolitan of Now Zealand. On Thursday next his Grace is to bo en-,-tortainod by tho priests of the Archdioceso at a function to bo s held at Godbor's rooms. Ho has received a'shcaf of letters and telegrams from all parts of New Zealand and Australia congratulating him on his birthday, and embodying tho wish that ho may bo spared for many moro years of activity in the service of tho Church. Among many presents received is a' beautiful carpet for his Grace's oratory, presented by the Sisters of tho Sacred Heart in Wellington.