ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S ORPHANAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11228, 26 September 1898, Page 3

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S ORPHANAGE.

OPENING CEREMONY.

Tho ceremony in connection with the opening of St. Vincent de Paul's Orphanage and Industrial School took placo at St. Patrick's Basilica yesterday, when, in tho presence of a largo congregation Pontificial High Mass was celebrated by Bishop Verdon, the Rev. Father Ryan acting as deacon, the Rev. Father Coffey as sub-deacon, and the Rev. Father Cleary as master of ceremonies. Gounod's "Messo Solennello " Was rendered by tho choir of St. Joseph's Cathedral aud a full orchestra, under tho conductorship of Mr A. Vallis. The solo parts were taken by Miss Rose Blaney (soprano). Mr P. Carolin (tenor), and Mr J. M'Kenna (bass). Mr O. Naumann was leader of tho orchestra.

Tho occasional sermon was preached by Archbishop Redwood, of Wellington, and was founded on three verses contained in tho Gospel for the day: " Thou shalt love the Lord they God with all they heart and with all they soul and with all thy might. This is the first, and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt levo they neighbour as thyself " (St. Matthew xxii, 36-38). It was, his Grace said, of the utmost importance that they should know how they stood with regard to the fulfilment of that first commandment, because upon that depended their eternal destiny, and it behoved them to have some reliable signs by which they might know whether they truly fulfilled that commandment. In tho first place, did they give to God a childlike obedience? By the very fact that they were His creation—and not to acknowledge that great truth was to stultify their reason—they were bound to obey their Creator. Ho had over them a right that was absolute, and not fettered by any conditions. Their fulfilment of what they owed to Him must begin by their loving Him as their Lord and Supreme Master, and their love must have that sovereign respect for His supreme majesty. They must love Him by obeying Hini. and therefore they must keep tho commandments, and all the commandments, of God. To break one commandment was to expose themselves as if tbey broke them all. and it was not enough that they should keep all the commandments, but they must obey God with a childlike obedience. Then, another mark of whether they genuinely loved.their Master was, Did they give to God reverence over all things? He had a right to that by His infinite,perfection, but while he required their preference, it must be a. rational, and not a sentimental, one. He required such a disposition of their will that nothing would remove tbem from His service. A third characteristic mark was, Had they an interior affection for God? It was absurd and impossible to suppose that tbey had a true love for God without an interior affection. Did they love to think of God? Was He the object of.their thoughts and of their zeal? It was an undoubted fact that'when they had an interior affection for anybody there was a peculiar longing, as it were, to think of that person. If they loved God they would wish to extend His reign; they would long to be witb Him, to see Him face to face, and to bo in His company. The other portion of the Saviour's words, "Thou shalt love they neighbour as thyself," were more appropriate, however, to that day's ceremony. That did not mean that they wero to lovo their neighbours as much as themselves, but they must love their neighbour for God's sake, and for the same motives as they loved thomselves: and they could have no true lovo for themselves unless it was for God's sake, because God was their Master and dear Father. We lived in an age of adulteration. If ever there was a century remarkable for its adulteration it was this nineteenth century with all its boasting. It was a dishonest century, aud they could hardly got anything that. was genuine; and when adulteration v/as applied to the first of all virtues, charity, it was the worat. They heard some talking of charity when it was no more charity than one of the church columns was. Theso people simply loved their neighbour as a fellowman, and sometimes from goodness of heart, out of sheer pity, helped a poor fellow who was down in the world. That was mere philanthropy, and not charity. Charity such as their Saviour required of them existed only when they loved their neighbour for God's sake, but even that was not. strictly speaking, Christian charity, although it was truo charity. Christian charity was something far more touching, far more tender, and far more powerful; it consisted in loving their neighbour for Christ's sake as a member of Christ, whioh he was when ho belonged to the true lohurch. Tho Saviour had put Himself in tho place of the poor, tho neglected, and the miserable of every kind, and His characteristic mark was mercy. That was the spirit that had animated St. Vincent ac Paul, in whose name the orphanage that was that day being opened had been erected. His Grace went on to say that that was a happy day for all of them, and a day of joy and gladness for the bishop who ruled the diocese, because .if thero was any characteristic of the truo Catholic bishop it was attention and devotion to the poor of his flock, for they were the representatives of Christ, and tho bishop, as the true Pascal, went and gathered up the poor lambs into his special affection. If there was anything they should all rejoice about it was the foundation of such a work of charity which was calculated to bring down on thorn the choicest blessings of Heaven. The archbishop concluded by exhorting them to mark their appreciation of what had been done in the parish by contributing generously to pay off any debt thero might be on tho establishment.

Immediately after High Mass a procession, consisting of the clergy and members of sodalities connected with tho church, marched to the Orphanage Buildings, where the ceremony of the blessing was performed by Bishop Verdon. Subsequently an address was presented to the archbishop on behalf of the Catholics of South Dunedin. It was read by Mr 3. J. Marlow, and was couched in the following terms:—

To the Most Rev. Francis Redwood, S.M., Archbishop of Wellington and' Metropolitan of New Zoaland. May it please Your Grace, On behalf of the Catholic congregation of South Dunedin, we beg to tender to your Grace our grateful thanks for the part which you have taken'in connection with tho opening of tho S£. Vincent do Paul's Orphanage iv our midst. When we consider the many calls upon your Grace's time, which are involved in tho care of a large archdiocese, we esteem it a great favour that you should have come amongst us to assist at a function which marks a now departure in the religious activities of this Diocese of Dunedin.

The many establishments of a kindred nature which aro so efficiently doing God's good work for orphaned and stricken children in the Archdiocese of Wellington are sufficient evidence of your Grace's zeal for, and interest in, this great branch of the church's charity. Your presence amongst us to-day is a further evidence that your love of the good work is not confined by the material boundary marks that separate the various parts of this colony of New Zealand.

It is a source of deep gratification to us that your Grace's name' will bo ever associated in our minds with the inauguration of an institute which we trust may, under God, grow into a great centre of charity that will radiate many a blessing throughout the length and breadth of Otago.—Wo are, etc., Rev. James Coffoy, J. Blaney, D. M'Gurr, J. O'Neill, M. M'Kay, D. O'Mahoney, J. Fitzpatrick. T. M'Gowan, F. W. Petre, W. Mead, J. M'Curdy, J. O'Connor, J. J. Marlow. September 24, 189 S.

Tho Archbishop, in reply, expressed his thanks for the very kind address. He assured them that it seldom happened that he attended a function with more pleasure and satisfaction than he did on that occasion. They were right when they said there were no material boundary marks which confined his love of good works in the colony, for, although unworthy, he had under his caro the whole of the province of New Zealand, and there was not a church erected, a school founded, or a work o? any kind instituted throughout the whole of the colony that did not have his deepest sympathy and interest. Ho was happy, indeed, to have his name associated with the opening of that admirable institution. He hoped that thoy would see it in its youth, and oven in its manhood and perfection, disseminating _ its kindly influence around. Charity was a virtue that never died. All other virtues expired in the other world. Faith did not exist in Heaven; there was uo hope there, but charity never fadeth. ; .It reigned supreme. He trusted that the institution that they had opened that day would become a great institution, and would hold up in a noble manner the virtue of Christian charity.

A GOOD CHARACTER. Pears' Soap has an agreeable perfume, a beautiful appearance, and soothing properties, which commend it as the greatest luxury of the toilet. Pears' Soap makes the hands white and fair, tho complexion bright and clear, and the skin soft ancl smooth as velvet.

Tlie orphanage is a two-storeyed brick building, situated on the north side of the Baslhca, and of sufficiently large proportions to be seen from most parts of the Flat. What, so far, htus been erected will in reality form but the wing of the completed building. Another wing of similar dimensions will, when occasion ro--quires, bo erected on the opposite side, while tho intervening space at either end will also bo occupied by, buildings. When the full dosign of the orphanage has been given effect to, the.whole establishment will enclose a spacious quadrangle. Tho building already erected has the main entrance at tho west side, ancl on passing through the vestibule one enters a spacious study-hall. Adjoining this is the dining hall, which communicates with the kitchen. The latter is fitted with all modern appurtenances pertaining to the culinary art, such as storerooms, hot and cold water supply, a 16gal copper heated by gas, plate racks, scullery, etc. Tho kitchen door opens out on to a concreted verandah, which gives access to the main staircase communicating with the upper storey. Here the dormitories are located, the infirmary ward, lavatories, etc. Tho principal dormitory is.soft by. 20ft. It is admirably lighted, and commands a maguificent view. The infirmary is also fitted up with every adjunct that a solicitous care for the sick can suggest. It is completely isolated from the rest of the orphanage, and fitted with a bathroom, etc. Along the upper storey is a balcony flanked on either side with the projecting building so as to form a sunny, sheltered promenade. The sanitary arrangements connected with the orphanage have received special attention. All tho rooms are provided with fresh-air inlets and foul-air extractors. Tlie latter are in communication with a foul-air caso _in tho roof, and are cleared by means of six cowl extractors. Another building on tho ground is a completely-equipped establishment for carrying on the business of a laundry. There are a receiving-room, fumigating-room. washhouse (which is fitted with permanent tubs, copper boiler, hot and cold water, and provision for future steaming apparatus), a dryintrroom, ironing and mangling rom, and packing and sorting room. Tho main building was constructed by Mr D. W. Woods, contractor, the laundry buildings by Mr James Small, contractor; gas fittings, 'water and drainage pipes by Mr Blaedon, of Caversham : and the fittings of tho drying-room by Messrs Falconer and 00. The whole work has been carried out from the plans, and under tho supervision of Mr F. W. Potre, engineer and architect, Duuedin.