WELCOME TO THE VERY REV, FATHER MAHONEY.

Colonist, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7814, 15 December 1893, Page 3

WELCOME TO THE VERY REV, FATHER MAHONEY.

B? yesterday's steamer from Wellington the Very Rev Father Mahoney returned to Nelson, after an absence of some five months, and was welcomed by many friends. In the evening a social gathering was organised in his honor by members of his congregation, and at eight o'clock there was a large attendance in the large room of the old Boys' Orphanage Building. Dr Duff occupied the chair, and there were also on the platform his Worship the Mayor and the Bey Father Landouar. On the Very Eev Father Mahoney entering the room he was received with marked expressions of cordial affection, and the Choir tsang a hymn of thanksgiving' Dr Duff then read and presented an address of welcome, which had been nicely engrossed on parchment, and which read as follows :— " To the Very Rev. Father Mahoney, S.M. " Reverend and Dear Father,— On behalf of the members of the congregations of the various Churches in this district under your charge, we beg to tender you our most cordial and hearty greetings and welcome on your return from your trip to America. " While we have been rejoicing that cireumstanoes have enabled you to enjoy a greatly needed ohange after the arduous labors of so many years amongst us, we have greatly missed you from our midst, and we are deeply grateful to the Almighty whose oare has restored you to us, as we, trust, refreshed physically and mentally. " We cannot conclude this, our address of welcome, without dwelling on the loving care and assiduous attention to our spiritual wants ■which has been Bhown by our friend and priest, Father Landouar, and we feel assured you will gladly learn that nig ministrations have been appreciated by all. "Again tendering you our warmest and most cordial welcome and greeting, we beg to remain, Very Rev and Dear Father, A. Gsoves Duff, M,D. M. J. Hunt John Pbatt A. Seyjioub Jas. Aemsteong Louis J. Feank. Nelson, New Zealand, 14th Dec, 1893," On the reoipient of the address stepping forward to spaak, Mr M. J. Hunt asked to be allowed, on behalf of the congregation to present the Very Rev. Father with a purse of sovereigns. (Applause.) The Very Rev. Father Mahcney, who was again received with applause, said he need not tell them how very glad he was to be back again with them, and how-gratified he was on receiving their address of welcome. During his five months absence he had travelled about 30,000 miles. They had jutt sung a Te Deum, a thanksgiving hymn, and he himself was thankful, and he added that in America he had been exposed to dangers For six weeks he had been on the ocean, but it was the Pacific ocean, and he had not had a moments sickness since he left Nelson. In America they had travelled 12,000 miles by train, and though the New Zealand papers did not contain many telegrams from America he could tell them that railway accidents and robberies were very common there. They had escaped these, and it was fitting thai they should join in that hymn of thanksgiving. He was also thankful to them for their beautiful address. He. had' been some 18 years in Nelson, and their goodwill bad been always with him, and, as he bad said in the presence of Americans, with all the vastness and riob.es of America, he would much Booner live in New Zealand than in that great country, and, more minutely, he preferred little Kelson to all. (Applause.) After all he had seen, he had foand notning so beautiful as the scenery and climate of New Zealand. Indeed, in America they could not have had a better advocate of their scenery and climate than Arohbishop Redwood, who has spoken on this theme before an audience of 20,000 people. He himself was in a Jarge school in New Yorfe, and the children did no* know where New Zealand was. Of course there were exceptions, but the youth of America were generally ingorant of New Zealand. The Archbishop enlightened many, and he, as a listener, could say that the people were impressed with what they heard. He gave some very interesting reminiscence of experiences, and related inoidenta of trave • that cfeated amusement. They travelled on j the Canadian-Pacific line, and saw the Rooky ! Mountains, and rejoiced to see thejJßritish j flag waving at Vancouver. In the United States he was bound to say that Su.nd.ays were very poorly observed. The newspapers published as usual-indeed they issued enlarged editions— and cars were' running, but when they came to British soil once more they found that the Sunday was observed. It wag not that they put on any sanctimonious wra, fox ha did not believe in, that, ba(f ft wa^ &

genuine pleasure to see once again the propef observance of the Sunday. > c spoke of his journeyings ia Columbia and Minneapolis, and alluded more particularly to Chicago, which, although it was destroyed by fire about 20 year* ago, now contained a population of about 1,800,000 persons, and at the time of the Exhibition had in addition about half a million of strangers . He referred to the bustle, and the buildings, some of which contained 22 storeys and said you really had to take off your hat to look up to their summit. The people had big ideas, and their buildings were on the same scale. The Exhibition was about sixmilea from the oity, and it covered 600 acres of land— they could form some idea from that. He would not attempt to desoribe the Exhibition i • He spoke of his visits to Niagara Falls, to Boston and New Fork, and of the hospitality extended to him generally, acknowledging the kindness of friends, who, having written to their friends, the latter had met him, with the result that he had felt no stranger. Incidentally he alluded to hotel life in the States, and toe expense of living there, the bare hotel bill being about 20s a day. The jubilee of Cardinal Gibbons was then referred to, and a tribute of praise paid to that prince of the Church. His experiences in Washington and Philadelphia were touched upon, and bis visit to New Orleans was mentioned. After this he went to Texas, and then made his way to California, arriving at San ,Franoisoo ( about three weeks ago Some amusing incidents of his jouroeyings were told with considerable humor. Such an experience as he had had enlightened the mind. He oould not, however, he said, have enjoyed the trip had he not felt assured that the Churoh work and that of (he Orphanage would go on satisfactorily in his absenoe ; and he spoke of what he had learnt sinoe his return a3 to the manner in which the several duties had been performed with very evident appiffioiation. The very eeverend gentleman spoke at some length about the Parliament of Beligion in America, which, he said, reminded one of the Day of Periteoost. People of every olaas and nation assembled there at the Congress of Religions, whioh lasted three weeks, sitting from 10 a.m. till 11 at night, with usually seven or eight thousand present. At the opening all joined in the Lord's Prayer, thus showing that while they differed on many points they all united ia acknowledging the Lord Jesus Christ. But with all the boasted liberty of the United States, he still preferred New Zealand. (Applause.) He said they had as much liberty in New Zealand as in any part of Amerioa— liberty in their religion, liberty in their laws, liberty of conscience, and their lives and property were more seoure under the British flag than they were in any part of America. Considerable disrespect was paid to the law in America, and he related how the Mayor of Chicago was shot down by a laundryman. Neither was property safe there, and he said what was the good of wealth if men were not eeoure. As to the climate he mentioned the great variations from something below zero to a greater heat thao wa3 experienced in New Zealand. He thought they had been the means of educating men to admire Australia and New Zealand, but after all his travels he was happy to be home, where he had always found that men of all shades of religious belief respected his convictions, and where he had been able to respect others. (Cheers.) He mentioned the extension of the franchise to women, which had been granted since his departure, spoke of what had been said on the subject, and congratulated the ladies on obtaining new privileges. He spoke of his gratification on learning, on reaching Auckland, that Mr Trask had been re-elected Mayor of Nelson, spoke of his good qualities, and congratulated him on his reelection. He then thanked them heartily fur their presentation of a purse of sovereigns, and said he should have to consider what to do with them, for they had almost fore* stalled his wants in the past and having expressed his genuine pleasure at being amongst them once more, sat down amidst loud applause. His Worship the Mayor said he was present to welcome back his worthy friend the Very Eev Father Mahoney, and in his official capacity he could also extend a welcome. He spoke highly of the esteem in whioh the very reverend gentleman is universally held, and was able to say of his own knowledge that his work in certain directions— presumably the Orphanage— had been ably conducted in his absence. (Applause.) The Very Eev Father Mahoney thanked the Mayor for his kind words. Subsequently those present took advantage of the opportunity to offer their congratulations to the very v#r. geotleman on his safe return, and their pleasure at seeing him back in Nelson. Eefreshments were handed round, and music was also supplied, the evening passing away all too rapidly.