SILVER JUBILEE OF THE VERY REV. DR. EGAN, O.S.B.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11537, 23 November 1900, Page 6

SILVER JUBILEE OF THE VERY REV. DR. EGAN, 0.5.8.

The silver jubilee of the Very Rev. Dr. Egan, 0.5.8., was celebrated last evening by an entertainment, given by the pupils of the Sacred Heart Convent School, attached to the Sacred Heart Church, of which he is the parish priest. The building was crowded to excess, and was tastefully decorated with arum lilies and roses. The mottoes displayed wore; ' God Bless Our Soggarth Aroon," "Dr. Egan's Silver Jubilee—lß7s—

31—1900," "Welcome to Our Beloved Bishop." These were the handiwork of Captain Blackmore. In the background of the stage was the Irish harp (surmounted by a crown), onwreathod in shamrocks. The singing of the children was good, and reflected great credit, not only on themselves, but on their teachers, the Sisters of Mercy. There wore present: His Lordship Bishop Lenihan, Monsignor O'Reilly, the Very Rev. Dr.Egan, 0.5.8. (on right of Bishop), Fathers Purton, Patterson, Darby, Brodie, Gallagher, and O'Hara. The following programme was gone through by the children, with great acceptance:—Piano duet, "Sans Souei," Misses Ruth von and Jones; chorus, "Welcome," pupils; ohorus, "Union Jack," pupils; dance, "Tommy Atkins" (encored), Misses . Wilson and Barry; reoit., solo, and chorus, "The Dear Little Shamrock" and "Old Ireland," pupils; donoe, " Irish Jig" (encored), Misses Wilson and Barry; piano duet, "Sonata," Misses Ruthvon and Jones; action song, "Japanese Fan," pupils; song, "Show Me Your Slate," boys; dance, " Coon" (encored), Misses Wilson and Barry; vocal duet, " I Don't Want to Play in Your Yard" (encored). Misses Murray; tableau, " Our Girls" ; chorus, " Gipsies' Holiday," pupils (Gipsy Queen, Miss Rose Harking); " Jubilee Sang," composed for the occasion ; tableaux, *' A Benedictine's Reward," and "Flower Fairies" (Flower Queen, Mies A. Courtney); chorus, " God Bless tho Friends Wo Love;" violin solo, Master B. Ralph, r.ccempanied by Mrs. R&loh. During the evening Miss Annie Courtney presented addresses to the Bishop and to Dr. Egan, who were also presented with handsome bouquets of flowers. Bouquets were also presented to Monsignor O'Reilly and Father Purton.

The Right Res-. Dr. Lenihan. My Lord.—lt is with delight we hail your presence to-night, which. • amply repays us for our disappointment at your absence from our concert. We •- : ' l not .allow Very Rev. Dr. Egan to have all the honours to-night, for we mean to take a share in them by comforting ourselves with the idea that you have come to our schoolroom to see how we have grown, and how much we have progressed since you baptised some of us 10 or 12 years ago. We would like to make you feel proud of us, and we sincerely hope that our performances will prove a pleasure to your Lordship. We are told by our teachers that you are indefatigable in advancing; the interests of our schools, and how kind and good you have ever been to the children of your parish schools, and, if wo may whisper it, how cross yon would appear if they were chastised. Keeping this in mind, we -trust you will be lenient, to us tonight, as we are only little folks. We must tell you how much we missed you, and how fervently we prayed for you while you were at Home working so energetically for the benefit of yonr diocese. Need we say how anxiously wo expected your Lordship's return, end. though we were the last of the city children to erect you,.none had a wanner welcome in their hearts. Our bashfulness purhaps kept us from showing our delight, or wo were too overjoyed to give expression to our sentiments. We are grateful to the very lev. fathers and kind friends who have come to encourage us. and we earnestly desire that they and our dear parents will be pleased with us. Thanking your Lordship for the houcur paid us through coming to our entertainment, and assuring you that, wo will try to give you hapniness by being the very best of your flock, with profound respect, we remain, your Lordship's devoted children, The Punils of the Sacred Heart Convent School.. Very Rev. and Dear Father Egan,—lt is wita hearts full of love and gratitude that we gather to-night to offer you greetings and congatulations on this, the 25th anniversary <■! your ordination to the priesthood— silver iubilee. We congratulate you on the grace which first led von to enter the Benedictine Order, to serve"God under the shadow of the pajietuatry. Wo congratulate you on the fidelity with which you have corresponded with that grace, and tne untiring zeal with which yon have fulfilleJ the manifold obligations of your chosen calling. Wo congratulate you on the numerous good works which yon have so cheerfully performed during these 25 years. How many sufferers have lywl their burdens lightened oy your words of cheer. How many whose feet were straying from the " narrow nath" have been led back by your loving words of warning and counsel. How many have learned from your lips the beautiful lesson of our holy faith, and have had instilled into iheir mind 3 those principles of righteousness whi3h will enahle them to serve God faithfully, and to perform their duties as upright. God-fear-ing men and women. Truly you are to bo congratulated on these precious years. Twen-ty-five silver years, bound together by the golden chain of God's love, and graven into forms of t"">iit,y l;>v labour, self-denial, and prayer. We pray that God may pour on ><>u his choicest blessings during the years that are to come, that it may be your hapny privilege for thy harvest to yield three hundredfold, and live to see these 25 silver years crowned with gold.—Your devoted and respectful Children, The Pupils of the Sacred Heart Convent School. The Bishop thanked the children for the entertainment they had given, and the addross presented to him. Dr. Egan said he must express his gratitude to the children for the honour they had done him. It came upon him as a pleasant surprise. He celebrated his " silver jubilee" in Sydney on October 31. but the children had followed him there, for on November 2 he received by post a photographic group of the children of the Sacred Heart Convent school, so that he was kept in memory by them. If he were spared to see his golden jubilee, he hoped to do his duty to the end, and to be kept in remembrance by them all. Light refreshments were dispensed by the parents of the children. The function was a great success. The children have also prosented Dr. Egan with a dinner service.