BISHOP CROKE IN AUSTRALIA.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 4602, 24 May 1872, Page 3

BISHOP CROKE IN AUSTRALIA.

The Sydney Freeman's Journal of the 30th April contains a, full report, from its Bathurst correspondent, of the proceedings on the arrival of Bishop Croke at Bathurst. The correspondent states that on Sunday, the 24th April, it was announced that Bishop Croke had arrived at Sydney, and was to pay the Bishop of the diocese of Bathursfc a visit. It was then resolved that some public demonstration of the respect in which Bishop Croka was held should be made on his arrival ; and stated that " his claims to this public demonstration of respect and welcome were manifold. In the first place he has been, for a quarter of a century, the bosom friend, as he was in his youth the class-fellow in Rome, of our Bishop. Secondly, he has been for over five years the acting Vicar-General in Ireland of this diocese, supplying it with good and zealous priests and holy and devoted religious ladies, whose combined labours have turned the once barren wilderness into a lovely garden, abounding with the choicest spiritual fruits and flowers. In compliance with the wishes and desires of our Apostolic Bishop, he travelled not only through the length and breadth of Ireland, but crossed over to France iu search of aids and instruments for the evangelisation of the interior of this vaat diocese. Finally he attended the great Vatican Council in the capacity of representative of the Bishop of Bathurst, where his theological abilities and virtues, and business habits, shone so conspicuously that his Holiness Pope Pius IX. at once nominated him for the vacant See of Auckland." Preliminary meetings were held amongst the people, and a public procession was resolved upon, and addresses of welcome prepared. Groat enthusiasm prevailed, and more than 1,000 people went out to meet Bishop Croke and his party as they approached from Sydney. By the time the procession reached its destination, the Cathedral of Bathurst was crowded, and on arrival ' ' their Lordships Dr. Croke, Dr. O'Mahony, and Dr. Quinn advanced to tho high altar. The 'Te Deum' was then chanted," after which a very flattering address from the Catholics of Bathurst was read to his Lordship by Mr. W. G. Stephens. We regret that the demands upon our space are too great to give the address in full, and it ia one of ,a kind that cannot be abridged satisfactorily. After the reading of the address was finished, an "Address on behalf of the members of the Bathurst branch of the Holy Catholic Guild " was next read by the Warden, Mr. W. O'Keeffe. Both addresses were beautifully executed and illuminated ; and after being banded to Bishop Croke by the gentlemen who read them, Bishop Croke replied at some length. He confessed that he could not" adequately express his emotions at the magnificent reception that had been so generally accorded him. Whilst expecting a welcome of the warmest kind for their Bishop, he candidly avowed that he anticipated no such demonstrations of respect and welcome at their hands. When in the capacity of Vicar - General, he saw the «xtraordinary zeal and energy of their Bishop, and was glad of the great progress religion j had made amongst them. He conscien- i tiously assnred them that they had only seen ; the commencement of the many things God had in store for them and for their children. Wherever he had travelled since his consecration— in San Francisco, New York, the islands of the Pacific, and in New Zealand— extraordinary marks of respect had been paid to him because of his Apostolic office. And now, when he touched the noble continent of Australia, he. found the same love and veneration jwhich greeted his gacred office^ in ; other lands meeting him there. This signal manifestation of reverence and love had not been anywhere more conspicuous than amongst his i ■feHosiNcountrymen of Ireland. The conviction was forced upon him that* they were all Irish or, of; Irish' parentage" bjh their ,re; speotful demeanour and attention since he' had commenced to address them. Heasic'ed them never to forget that glorious landmine home of poets, .scholars, and saintsi- He concluded thus:' "Gowhereyoawill.youwUl find them respectful and obedient td',their pastors," ' an.d« ,,by. t word; .^and wdjbed aiding and assisting inline ■ '.'spread of .their - holy r religion.)«<.'P©rsecutibn/penal enactments, death itself,' cannot shake them" id 'their love U th«' fine <51d' f fditVflourishes now pa ybun&andras fresh as it did eighteen centuries past, and which has put forth its Branohes n anff " r i»ffliBoation8 even thus far— to %he utteimo'st' ends of the earths May God iff His: mercy grant thit when you, and I, and your venerated Bishop, s^iall hav.e passed awajtpthe seeds of oflr* combined' labours may flourish through th« extent of this young and- magnificent continent." : The Bishop of TBathurafr'theii addressed the meeting, and assured', his ihWere that, duringjuienwholeilife, he' had r never found one who was so sincere a friend as 'the Bishop olAuckland;" 1 ' ThVbbngregatio'n' then knelt and received his Lordship's benediction, . after which ~tbeir~Lordships reftired^ab^on^h^foa'^e^igr^^iMiUige wended tfceirw*y homeward*,".