A DEPARTING RECTOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 540, 22 June 1909, Page 6

A DEPARTING RECTOR.

'SEND-OFF TO FATHER KEOCH. A PRESENTATION. ' On the eve of his departure.to'/tako up tho duties of parish priest at Hastings, the Very Hev. Father Keogh was accorded a farewell by his'many friends in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last ovening. Dr. T. Cahill was chairman, and among, othors prosont wero: Tho Hon. D, Bmlilo (Minister for Intoriml affairs), the Hon. It. A. Loughnan, M.L.C., tho Hon. T. W. Hislop, tho Itov. H. Van Stavoren, Dr. Pollen, Dr. Borghetti. Piofessor Von Zedlitz, Colonel R. J. Collins, Messrs. D. J. Nathan, M. Kennedy, J. D. Harcourfc, Frank Hendry, E. G. Fitzgibbon, and 11. S. Wardcll. Tho chairman, in presenting Father Koogh with an illuminated address and a purse .containing over oho hundred sovereigns, said that thoy hoped it was only "Good-bye" for a very short timo to their old and sterling friend. Whilo they regretted losing Father Keogh, they could congratulate their friends at Hastings in getting so worthy a pastor. (Applause.) Ho hoped it would not be long beforo thoy were pormitted to wclcomb 'him back. (Applause.)

The text of the address (which had" boon illuminated by Mr. S.-.6. Ross) was as follows :—

•To,tho Very-Eev. Angnstino. Keogh, S.M., ' B.A.—Bear. Father—The. News of yonr. de---partnrc from'the position'of Rector of St. •Patrick's OclleßO.has been received by your many-friends:-with great as wo feel that during tho nine years you have held that important oißco you have filled it with : Ijreat efficiency.■ . ■' '» v >:v . Wβ,'recog.niso-.that by the , educational :methada you -have. adopted, and by tho encouragement you , have given to outdoor sports, and to .the trainiriß of tho.OollcEe cadctsi; you nave, enabled thoboys of^St. Gollego to tako a -.good place in the ..examination--room, on , the BPorts' field, and on .'the. parade gronnd. Moreover, you have, by your personality, imbued them with ■ a spirit, of patriotism, and a pride-in theirschool which will-- help to fit them hereafter for the higher'duties of life. " ' ■ ,<■ While you have maintained tho high-tra-.rditions- of--your.-priestly ofßco, you have; l as head of St. Patrick's College, become closely associated with.the public and social, life of ■Wellington, and have won your, way into " the hearts.of tho, community.. ! ' . You will, take ■■with you our warmest.regards and best wishes, and we beg your acceptance of the accompanying tribute, which ' is intended to adtljto your personal- comforts inyour new sphere"-of duty; •>' 1: ; , Signed oh.behalf.of yonr many Wellington friends—.: , ~,../ . ■■...■■■.":■, ■ Dr. Oahill,-chairman; M.\ Kennedy, treas- . nrer.: ■ Very. Ecv. Doari Recnanlt,' S.lli,- Very Bov.' Father O'Shea, S.M., 8.A.. Very. Rov. Father Goggan.'S.M.; R.-A. , Loaghnan, M.L.0., ' 8.-TJ. Collins. J. O'Sullivan. H. Pollen. M. W. ■Bo'urke, H.v S; Wardell, B. Doherty. F.. Fitz-gibbon.-P. J:«.O'Rcgan, L. Dwan.CTeo. Winder, T.;Madden, W. .Pinlay,. F. Eyan, and A. "Fay ,-. (secretary). - : )'.■■' .:

■ ; Jlrv H. ,S. ■ Wardell. congratulated Father. Keogh on the efficiency. which had' been reached by. the boys of St. patrickfs College imder his.carefuLguidahoe. They"had gathered to express, their, feelings.of ..pleasure at ■Ehei had: been< attendant on at St.' Patrick's Col-, lego, : known their regret that, the duties of, fits'office had compelled him' to resign a '.position,: whioh. ho; had proved him■self; to be;,.so'.'ca ; p!ible to fnlfiL (Applause.) They wtsEed-hiin^good 1 health 'and all success in his new'sphere!' '(Applause.). :, ... •;:■.. i Mr.fjMtaitiaSKenieJy,: speaking ae one who hlad bebn.ipl6sely,,.interested in St; Patrick's College &?nce ite.'fpnndMg,: remarked that the retiring'robtpr-ihacl.creditably carried out.tihe tra^ttjqnk;.6i..:'i)so';college, and the.'Catholic .conkiirnifcy':.,'vvoul4,: greatly ■ regret his dopar-, ture. ;;(App)ause.);. l ,!I!he coUego'bad been c»-' : and/a reHgious 'education,'andat'wae to, be. a. reorniting grottnd: .for ■ tlio "priesthood: . Since'...vFather Kebgh-hivd .been.at tho head.of'th'e. college it ■had^ , . been, arranged .that the-college masters ' should ihav« •' the.'.op'portunity of 7 taking. tmivorsity'dogrees at Victoria College, and,.furtlief, he. belieyed thoA. tweirty-teio '■ students hndjbodnscrrt.to.Meeaneo for the priustihood. They'Vtoped 4 soon "bo have a Native priesthood in the. l)pminion. Service as a parish priest was the' proper training for a bishop—(applause);—and he had nb doubt Father Keogh 'would be ready : to ans\Tor "any call of ..his ecclesTasticaj/sTjperiors.' He; felt surothaif tho .'exigency oconrred he v .would*!be pre pared to return to , the college later on.; (A? plause.)■•■'■■■.'■' ■.-'•■.'■■'■•'■ 'i ■■'■■■ ■ v. , ',■:'■'

Professor Von ZecHifcz spoke in appreciation of 'Father Keogh : as a teacher and as a man. It was not,sufficient, he said, for one in., tho. teaching profession to have> a [ mastery of his snbjects ; aiid tho power to impart his knowledge: ; There must l be. a "personality behind ■ all'thai' which would influenceMs'pupils. , Tho/ ; Hon.vE;> 'A; : , Loughnanpreferred 'to Father;Keogb's: quality,of ; high thinking, his hospitality, and his. original: wit. >>.:'■': . . The;;Hon!-;;D.:Buddorspoke of Ms } school remarked oh the value'of - the' personal element k toaching.' Wellingtoii's loss on thisi-occasiW would undoubtedly be Hasting'sigainii: (Applause.) " \ /'■■' ;,. ''■ , . Three :cheors greeted 'Father;Keogh when hd.rbso.to make acknowledgment, of thdgjft.. It. was', kind, hesaid,| that one's friends always ;lpoked with-'a magnifying glass , , on the good- quajities. ono might ■ have ■ and -determinedly p turned the blind eyo on the : others' He; could., not but be flattered at the kinil words spoken, and,\ after' the public reception ■ last .August,, he had not looked for 'such Ue.had: expected to leavo \Vellington' aB quietly. as a .small ' mpuse. 1; (iaughtor.) : 'Hβ had every''hope and assurance that the work done; at St. Patrick's College daring the'past nine years would bo'pushed on to greater' Perfection under the new.regime: With; thpi KeT. Dγ, . Kennedy' m ; charge of the 'cellege,; they might, be able"to proyo that: the ,snushine was brighter hero-than anywhere . else." , (Laughter. 1 ) ' The '. college was ■a. living orginism, and was continually growing. :It .was. an. evidence of the spirit manifested .throughout the, college'that'two : studentsj :whp''last ; yoar/had" qualified' for the> •'M.A,-: degree, ■ wero .■ ; now commencing : the ■ science course, and they had been teabhing in .tba college all the tfmo. As : in -stadies,: the'collegejboys had.done well in sports,^and ■the cadets /were flourishing.' It a .good thing for'a country to' haveevery man ready to. take up the .gun when necessary, and no nation worthy', of tho name should bo satisfied with men who were;unable to prevent an enemy; from iniruding. He'was. pleased to ■Have'.'among---Ms- friends representatives of the_ Government; the.'tlniversity, tho Education Department, and the .learned profossipns, and the distance'between "Wellington and Hastings would: make no difference in his ; friendsMps. ; It was gratifying to know that'tho gift'wMch ho had received was not from a political coterio, or from one religions He would find pleasuro in telling the new rector of - tho immenso fund of kindlinesis'.and assistance to I be had from all classes of Wellington citizens. (Applause.) :llore cheers wero given for/ tHo .departing rector, and tho proceedings concluded with "God Save.the King." ~" :'. ".>. ,-: ;-• Musical items were contributed by Misses ,'Driscoll efli Edith,,' Martin, and -Messrs; -E., Parkes, .Wisoman, I?., Hondry, Archer, and Hobman, Mr. D. A. Kenny playing the ac'companimente.,,'„,... '.. ■ .'■"'.,'. -