PRESENTATION TO FATHER MURPHY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2685, 30 August 1905, Page 13

PRESENTATION TO FATHER MURPHY.

There was a large and very enthusiastic gathering* of adherents of the Roman Catholic Church in St. Joseph's Hall on the 22»d, ' on the occasion of the presentation of several addresses and other marks of goodwill to the Rev. Father Murphy, who has been promoted to the charge of the E-iverton parish. The chair was taken by Mr J. B. Oallan, surrounding whom were a r large number of the energy, representing tajjn and ootmtry churches. Amongst them w«re the Right Rev. Monsignor Mackay, Very Rev. Monsignor O'Leary, Very Rev. J. O'Neill, Very Rev. P. O'Donnell, the Revs. P. ODea, W. Macmullan, J. J. Lynch, P. Hearn, J. CofFey, J. Geary, J. P. Delaney, M. Ryan, J. O'Malley, W. Corcoran, and H. W. Cleary. Several of the laity also occupied seats on the platfoim. The Chairman said that the object of the lre-eting was to express regret at the departure from Dunedin of the Rev. Father Murphy, a' devoted Catholic priest, whose name was a household word amongst them. The feelings of esbe-em and attachment in which he was held were well expressed in the various addresses that would be presented that evening. On behalf of the laity of Bunedin, he could, assure Father Murphy fee would take away with him to his new sphere of labour the respect, esteem, and affection of the entire parish. — (Loud applause.) All, -He was sure, would wish Father Murphy good luck, and that God's blessing would follow him in the new sphere of his duties. — (Continued applause.)

The Chairra<yi then presented to Father Murphy a very handsome illuminated address, framed in oak and gold, a.nd bearing photos of the interior and exterior of the Cathedral, the Bishop's Palace, and the Dominican Priory. The illumination was executed by Mr Eawcridge (Wilkie and Co.), and the words of the address were as follows : —

Rev. Father Murphy. Rev. and Dear Sir, — We. the Catholic laity of Dunedin, learned with unfeigned regret that you were leaving us. During yqur long residence here, extending over a period of 14 years, you have gained the respect and esteem of us all. As administrator of J;he Cathedral you have always laboured 'in an unostentatious manner, but we wish to assure you that your tinselfiph and unwearied devotion to yam- circuit duties, especially to the care of the sick and poor, are well known and highly appreciated by the entire congregation. Indeed, you have been so long amongst us that we had come to regard you as inseparably connected with the Cathedral, and it is impossible for us to part with one so intimately associated with the work of the parish, and so dear to us all, without a deep feeling of pain. We recognise, however, that the needs of the diocese demand a separation. W« know you have been transferred to a large and growing parish, which requires for its head a pastor of experieuce and tried worth, and this knowledge helps us to bear the parting niore easily. We cannot, however, allow you to leave St. Joseph's without expressing our deep sense of your valuable services, and we would ask your acceptance of the accompanying purs© of sovereigns as a toketn, however, inadequate, of our gratitude for your past services, and of our appreciation of yoiir sterling character. Wishing you every happiness and success in your new sphere of duty, we beg to remain, Rev. and Dear Sir, very affectionately yours (signed) — J. B. Callan, Thos. Htisssy (hon. secretary), Tkos. Deehan, D. W. Woods, P. O'Neill, on behalf of the laity of Dunedin parish. Dunedin, 22nd August, 1905.

A purse of sovereigns was also presented with the address. There was a hearty round of continuous applause when the presentation was made.

Ths Right Rev. JMonsignor Mackay, on behalf of the laity and priests, said' that residents in the parish of Dunedin kftiew the many good qualities of Father Murphy much better than the country priests, but tlve latter oould not shut their eyes to the immense amount of good work he had performed amongst them, and the amiable disposition he had shown when visiting amongst the people, and in entertaining his visitors. He congratulated Father Murphy on his appointment ta a pariah, of hj§ o.wn A ajid

was sure that appointment met with no ' opposition from Jus fellow priests, because they all feit that not cue amongst them was more deserving- of tho pcsitiou. Ho wisl.cd Father Murphy every happiness and success in his new parish, that he would li\ c long to enjoy the fruits of his labour, and begged him to accept the gold warch that had been purchased to mark their appreciation of his many g-cod qualities. — (Continued applause.) Mr T. Husssy then read and presented framed addresses from the St. Vincent e'e Paul Society and the Confraternity of the Ladies of Perpetual Succor. Mr J. B. Callan 4 jun., also presented addresses irom the lades of St. Jos-sph's Club and the Children of St. Mary. The Rev. Father Murphy, on rising to acknowledge the many presentations, was very heartily applauded for sonic moments. He said it gave him great pleasure to receive so many tokens of appreciation from those amongst whom he had laboured, but was f.orry to say good-bye to them after they had lived co happily together for more than 14- years; but, still, he realised that he was called on to go forth into the country that God had shown him. He was sorry to leave them, for he had always experienced great kindness in Dunedin, and therefore could reciprocate the kind wishes expressed in the. addresses presented. He had always felt he could not do enough to repay the kindness of the rcople of the parish, and his only regret wbs that h© had not done more for them. He urged them all to bo united together in thoir various societies and to break down all walls of partition that would separate them from union 'in Christ Jesu«. He thanked them for the handsome gift of a- purse, but said ho would not apply its contents to his own use. but would set it apart for the establishment of a Convent School in his new parish.—(Applause.) He also thanked them for the watch presented, and assured the people of Dunedin they were served by tha most honourable body of priests to be found in the Australian Churoh.—(Applause.) j The honour done to him by their presentation he would never forget, and he hoped always to follow in the footsteps of those grand pioneers of the diocese of Duncdjn. Father Murphy again thanked them for the presentations, and was heartily applauded on resuming his seat. The Very Rev. Monsignor O'Leary (Lawrence), on behalf of the country priests, presented a. cheque to the Rev. J. Coffey, lats of South Dunedin (who has succeeded I Father Murphy), in recognition of the hospitable manner in winch he had always entertained visiting priests. _ - The Rev. J. Coffsv, in acknowledging the gift, said he had always, from a s^ense of duty, been glad to entertain country priests, for if the clergy were to do their work properly it was being a united body and not as separate individuals. He hoped it would still be in his power to continue such acts of kindness, so that they might all work tosretner in the cause of religion and the Lord Jemis Christ. He felt it was^ot 'n his power to carry on th-f work in Dunedin as Father Murnhv had done, but he would try. as had been suggested, to worfchilv fill his boots — (Laughte-v.) Tho meetine closed with a chorus raised In the boclv of the meeting. a For he s a jolly good fellow." i