Visit of Cardinal Moran.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1519, 12 February 1886, Page 5

Visit of Cardinal Moran.

His Eminence Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of Sydney—who, as previously mentioned, was expected from Melbourne—arrived per the s.s. Te Anau on : Sunday evening at the Bluff, where he was met by his Lordship Dr Moran, Bishop ot Dunedin. His Eminence was accompanied by the Most Reverends the Bishops of Adelaide and Maitland, and by his secretary, Dr O'Haran. The Cardinal proceeded to lnvercargill the same evening, and, on the following morning—after being publicly received—himself and ecclesiastical attendants started by rail for the Lakes via Kingston, where his Eminence was received by the Rev. J. Mackay, pastor of this district. On arrival at Queenstown, at about half past 10 o'clock on Monday night, his Eminence was met at the wharf (which was illuminated by electricity) by a large concourse of people, including a great number of members of the Roman Catholic Church from all parts of the district. The Queenstown Band was also in attendance, and played a suitable piece in their best style. His Eminence was conducted to a large room at Eichardt's Hotel, where a Sublic reception took place, after which Mr John 'Meara, on behalf of the congregation of St Joseph's Church, read the following address :

To the most Eminent and most Reverend Cardinal, Archbishop of Sydney, on his Eminence's arrival at Queenstown.

We, the representatives of the Catholics of the Lake district, present ourselves to-night to receive and offer your Eminence an Irish welcome, which means a welcome that comes from the heart of the faithful in this district. We also have to

thank you for visiting our mountain home, and trust that your short stay amongst us will be an enjoyable one. We take advantage of your presence here to-night to acknowledge the honor we feel by your visit, being the first cardinal of the Australian colonies, and wc rejoice at your Eminence's elevation to the carditialate.

Many of us have heard of your very encouraging proceedings in New South Wales, and of your large liberality of spirit which has effected t»thers beyond the children of our own holv Church.

We, therefore, pray God to strengthen your spirit and hands in the very great and important work you have undertaken in these southern climes.

Wc heartily rejoice at the choice made by his Holiness the Pope in the selection of yourself to so high an office. May you see your efforts crowned with every success and blessing* to all.

Again, wc cordially hope you will reap benefit from your visit to these islands of New Zealand, and observe that, once the scene of cannibalism, the new and better dispensation has uprooted the cruelties and pageantry of the heathen. In that good work our holy mother the Church has accomplished much.

We have to thank Almighty God for favoring us with so good a Bishop, also clergy and nuns to guile and educate our children and administer spiritual consolation to ourselves. On behalf of the Catholic ß of the Lakes district, J. (VMf.ara, D. M P.RIDS, P. 81/TLKR, J. M'C/USNET. His Eminence, in replying, returned thanks for the cordial welcome given on his visit to their beautiful district. He was pleased to have been enabled to come amongst such noble men, true citizens and a credit to the Church to which they belonged. He saw in the Australasian colonics a race which bid fair to outrival older nations—a race which by its thrift and industry would take a pre.it place in the nation of the earth. In the North Island of this colony he also believed tiiat the inhabitants were no less noble and devoted to the Mother Church than those of this Island. He had to thank their beloved and venerable bishop for the invitation to visit his diocese. Their bishop was one whom he had watched for many years during his labours in Europe and Africa and latterly in this country, and his flock had reason to Ik* proud and thankful that they had so good and zealous a shepherd. His Eminence concluded by saying that had he l>eeii aware of the present address, he would have been prepared for a better reply.

On Tuesday morning, at seven o'clock, his Eminence Cardinal Moran, assisted by Dr U'llaran, celebrated Mass in the Convent Schools' chapel. In anticipation of the ceremony the sanctuary had been hung with crimson and adorned with festoons of flowers. A circular mutto, "fare linctdoa Mnynu*" in cardinal and j:o!d, surmounted the altar, which was tastefully decorated with a profusion «,f rich flowers. The little church was well rilled with a pious congregation, who not only attended the Cardinal's Mass, but also assisted at the Masses of the Most Hevs. Pr Reynolds and Dr O'Haran. Piivate masses were Celebrated by the Most Revs. Drs Moran and Murray within the cloister.

The Cardinal, Bishops and Rev. Father Mackay drove to the Arrow during the day, and ou their return, at a'<out five o'clock in the evening, the expected visit was made to the convent schools. Preparations had been made for the suitable reception of his Eminence. Flags were fl} inj» and three triumphal arches, covered with greens and ornamented with appropriate mottoes and flaps or banners, had been erected in the convent grounds. The **chOo! children lined the avenue—boys wearing green sashes and the girl.-, dressed in cardinal and white. When the Cardinals carriage arrived at the gate the children of St. Joseph's School burst forth into a song of welcome. His Eminence alighted, and having blessed the children, the distinguished visitors then proceeded to th" convent reception room, where the following address was shortly afterwards presented :

Address to the Most Eminent an.l the Most Rev. Patrick Francis Cardinal Morr.n, on the occasion of his Eminence's vi-it to the Dominican Convent Schools, Uucenstown Otago.

My Lord Cardinal,- Welcome to New Zealand ! Welcome to Queenstown! We are very small, and altogether unprepared for tfu- reception o! a Prince of our Holy Church, but we wish to tell your Eminence, that tt ha' e learnetl to value the honor you are us in coming to visit us. We also thank our own dear lii-hop for bringing you to *cc us. If you had come before vacation, we might have entertained you with a little performance, but now we have no amusement ready, as we have only returned to school after our holidays. Wc promise, however, in gratitude to our distinguished visitors, that we will resume our studies with lncrea«:d earnestness, that we will try to correspond with the efforts of the dear Nuns for our welfare, and, above all, that we will try to become true Christians—worthy children of ihe One True Church.—Begging your Eminence's blessing, we are, no Lord Cardinal, your affectionate children, TIIK Pi PILH OK TH* CoNVE.NT SCHOOLS. Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Qucenstown, February, IsSfi.

The address, printed in blue ou whit* satin, lined with cardinal and mounted with a rich gold fringe, was most intelligently read by a little chill (Miss Jancy M'Kwcn), who was accompanied by six equally small children, elegantly attired in cardinal and white.

The followiug programme was then gene through most creditably by the pupils of the High School:—. FianoforUj duet, " Diabeili's duet in I>," Misses J. and L. Worthington, B. and M. Bond: chorus, "Joyous Reapers;" pianoforte duet, " Ron bier's (Irand March;" song, "I saw from the heath," MUses Mala;:han, K. Robertson, J. and L. Worthington; pianoforte duet, "Rondo;" chorus, "Homeward Bound."

At the conclusion of this performance the episcopal party proceeded to the school chapel, into which crowds of people, who had assembled in the convent grounds to witness the Cardinal's reception, were collected. His Eminence addressed them in the following terms :

His Eminence said he begged to thank the children of the school—whom it might be truly said were the angels of the Church—for the treat afforded him that afternoon, and lie sincerely hoped that, as they increased in knowledge, they would also grow in grace and sanctity. He congratulated their pious teachers as well as themselves in having such a beautiful school, which had so far proved such a success. He could certify for the sisterhood of the Holy Church—the sisters of St. Dominic—which was second to none in gifts and talents to make them devout and learned. He did not remember that he had ever seen better trained and better behaved children. He had had the great Cleasure that day of visiting, with their good ishop, other parts of their lovely district, and of seeing more of the immortal scenery of their beautiful Lake country. In the midst of such beautiful sights and such a healthy climate—which had the effect of lifting their minds above everything sordid —the people could hardly help being good. Aftef a few more remarks his Eminence concluded, and, having pronounced the Benediction, the assemblage diayened.

Our Arrow correspondent, under date 11th inst., writes:—The town of Arrowtown « as en!i« cued last Tuesday, by the visit of Cardinal Moran (Archbishop of Sydney), accompanied by Bishop Moran (Dunedin), Bishop Murray (Maitland), Bishop Reynolds (Adelaide), and the Rev. Father J. Mackay (Arrow). The Cardinal's secretary, Mr O'Hara, also accompanied his Eminence. After visiting StPatrick'sChurch the Cardinal and cortege then entered the large school-house adjacent, where he was received by ilie scholars, headed by Miss Matilda M'Entyre, who read the following address of welcome :

To his Eminence the Cardinal, Archbishop Moran. We, the children of St. Patrick's School, Arrow, hail with unbounded pleasure this opportunity of welcoming your Eminence to this remote, yet Catholic part of New Zealand, and beg to assure your Eminence that we must consider ourselves specially honored and blessed, as being the first Catholic school in New Zealand which has been visited by a Prince of

the Church, and we beg to take advantage of this occasion to assure your Eminence that we will always endeavor to maintain the faith of our parents and forefathers, and we must not forget to mention our dear Bishop who has so zealously fought for us during the la<t 15 years, and beg to subscribe ourselves, your faithful and Catholic children, Matilda M'Entyre, etc.

The Cardinal affectionately thanked the children, and passed a kindly compliment to them for their appropriate address. His Eminence also alluded to their beautiful church, stating that the school and it had been erected chiefly through the energy and zeal of their pastor, Father J. Mackay. The Cardinal and suite then drove to the private residence of Father Mackay, where they partook of lunch, and afterwards returned to Queenstown.

On Wednesday—the weather being very fine—his Eminence went up to the Head of the Lake, and expressed himself as having been highly delighted with the magnificent scenery witnessed. Early on Thursday morning Cardinal Moran and the rest of the ecclesiastical party left per the Mountaineer for Dunedin (via Kingston), where they arrived on the evening of the same day, preparatory to the opening of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday next.