ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 14

ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD.

GREAT CRISIS OF A LIFE.

ENTRY INTO THE CHURCH.

TURNING POINT OF A CAREER.

The story of liow he entered the priesthood was told by Archbishop Redwood in the course of an address at a garden party held in his honour at tho Nelson Convent grounds on the occasion of his recent visit to tho scenes of his boyhood days.

"I cannot speak hero without recalling one of tho greatest moments of iny life, which happened where you are now sitting," said tho archbishop. "This is the spot where I attended the school taught by the venerable Father Gavin. Everything was the same. Th* chapel was there, the schoolroom here, and in this very room I decided my vocation. In this room tho great crisis of my life, tho decisive turning-point of my careei 1 , took place. "When Father Garin was sure I-had a vocation for the priesthood ho told me that I should go to France, enter a college there, study completely, and become a priest. But how would Divine Provideneo provide tho means! They were shown with unexpected suddenness, and in this wise. A small vessel, the Mountain Maid, came from Wellington. She was not a usual trader, but she had come because I'rovidenco had foredoomed her coming. Father C'omte, a Marisfc niissioner, was on board, bound foi Sydney, and from Sydney to London. "Father Garin saw at once tho unmistakable hand of Providence. He came to me and said: 'Frank, Providence ha«s acted in your behalf in answer to my long wishes and prayers. One of our Fathers is leaving the Maori missions for good and is retiring to France. Ho will take you to Sydney, and thence to Fiance, where ho will introduce you to ouo of our colleges, where you can study, and so in time, please God, become a priest. The vessel is to sail away on the third day from now. Mako up your mind and seize the opportunity held out to you by God's mercy and favour. Will you go?"

Preparing For Departure. Proceeding, the archbishop said: — I went to the little chapel and prayed as I never prayed before. A great, an extraordinary grace was given me, and that grace was for life. I went to Lather Garin and said: 'I will go.' 'God be praised,' he said. 'And now there is no time to lose.' So he prepared a letter to my father, and I started on my way home with the news. 1 tried on my arrival to compose my features, and temporarily conceal niv errand. My sister, Mrs. Goulter, happened to bo staying with her husband at opr house. At once she guessed the errand and exclaimed: 'Frank, you are going to leave us! You are going to France, I see it in your face!' And sho began to cry, womanlike. 'Yes,' I said with firm voice. 'J am come to wish you all good-bve, and I am leaving Nelson 011 tho Mountain Maid on the day after to-morrow.' I handed the letter to my father. He read it, got tho gig ready at once, and started his fast trot for Nelson, to arrange all matters for my departure. "I had to wish good-bye to niv mother in very distressing circumstances. She had met with a bad accident while driving home in the gig and her leg was broken. Dr. Monro, who was our doctor at the time, set it fairly well, but she was unable to move when I left her. She consented to my. departure, with tears indeed, hut resolutely, seeing in it the hand of God. 'But,' she said, 'you have no proper outfit for a voyage to Europe. A few shirts and socks won't do. How shall wo manage ?" Linen With Two Markings.

"She thought awhile in silence, and at length said: 'I hjive it. 1 see a way to meet vour needs.' Now a young English gentleman, a non-Catholic, named Whitehead, had a line outfit left at our house, while ho was learning sheepfarming at the Wairau. I used, for practice in letter-writing, to correspond with Him and we were firm friends.

"My mother said: 'I will take what you want from Whitehead's outfit, and replace it, by articles of equal quality.' This was done, so that some of my linen was marked Whitehead and some Rodwood. And when, afterwards, I was at. college in France, the old French laundress said: 'How's this? Soige articles are marked Redwood and some Whitehead.' 'Oh,' I said, 'Whitehead and Redwood in English must mean to you tho same tiling. It's all right.' She never asked another question, and 'Whitehead' and 'Redwood' served the sntrto purpose admirably all through my college course."