DEATH OF THE REV. DEAN MAHONEY.

Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10708, 4 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEATH OF THE REV. DEAN MAHONEY.

On Friday April 17, word was received from Father Devoy, of Wellington, that he had received a cablegram announcing the death of the Very Rev. Dean Mahoney, which occurred on Easter Sunday, at Dublin. The news has been received with very great regret by the whole community, and among the adherents of the Roman Catholic Church there will be widespread sorrow. The late Dean was a man of a sociable, lovable disposition, and he made many close friends outside his own Church, his wide sympathies and his tolerance breaking down barriers that too often keep good men who differ in their faith apart. This charity with regard to the views of others in nowise rendered the late T)ean a less zealous churchman, and his devotion to his people was such that he was a loved pastor whose memory will long be revered by tKe present and rising generation. When the sad news was received the bell at St. Mary's Church was tolled for an hour, and flags were half-masted all over the city. The circumstances of the Dean's visit to his native land and his illness there will be fresh in the minds of our readers, and need not be recapitulated. Though the news, after hope had fled, of a wonderful recovery led to anticipations of the safe return of the Dean to Nelson, later news was such that a fatal termination was expected, and the blow therefore has not fallen unaware, though it is not ! the less heavy on that account. Those who loved the Dean were glad to think that he had been able to revisit his relations and his old home, but vyere saddened by the thought of the long days of weary illness which he suffered while yearning to see once more the people with whom he had faithfully labored for over a quarter of a century, and the place where, we believe it is not too much to say, he had not a single enemy. The late Dean Mahoney was born at Garrydoolis Pallas Green, County Limerick, on the 31st July, 1848. He was educated at Mount Mellary Seminary, Waterford, and St. Mary's College, Dundalk. His studies were completed at Dublin at a time when Archbishop Redwood was a professoi there. The Dean was ordained as a priest at Dundalk College by the late Most Rev. Dr. McGettighan, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate oi Ireland. On February 10th, 1874, he landed in New Zealand, and early the following year came to Nelson tc succeed Father Binsfield as the' assistant of that venerated man, the late Yen. Arch Priest Garin. As is well known, the failing health ol Father Garin laid the, more active part of the duties of the large parish upon the shoulders of Fathei Mahoney, till in 1889 he lost his old friend, and himself became head ol his church in this part. Added tc the parochial duties which ordinarily fall to the priest's lot, there came to the Dean the responsibility and care connected with the administration, as manager, of the Orphanage, which gradually developed to sucti rr.,,, 0 .--1— J - **—•<• - CU._l,~ .-n.pi.ofc~ .nor purchased to provide for the boySj and the large buildings erected ir Manuka street to accommodate tht giris. The personal zeal and interest of Dean Mahoney had largely to dc with the extension of these institu tions, and consequently when the great controversy, culminating in i public enquiry, arose with regard tc the Stoke School, he- felt very keenl) the position. It is not fitting here to refer at length to this matter, bui there is no doubt that it had a serL ous effect upon the Dean's health, anc equally certain it is that there was no charge of participation in the things complained of laid at hi< door, During Dean Mahoney'f residence in Nelson he saw,.., and was largely instrumental in carrying tc a successfu.l issue, the erection o! the present church at a cost of ovei £3.000, the Presbytery, Memoria! Church to the late Father Garin. Girls' Orphanage, Convent and Stoke Schools, &.c, the aggregate sum re presented running into n^iny thou sands of pounds. It was a great source of satisfactior to his people when at the time ol Archbishop's Redwood's Jubilee, about four years ago, Father Mahonej was elevated to the dignity of « Dean, and early in 1900, when cele brating his own jubilee as priest ir Nelson, he was the recipient of j handsome presentation, including an illuminated address and a purse oj sovereigns, the latter being spent oe defraying the cost of the iron railing that fronts the church. Prior tc leaving for Ireland he was presented with a purse of 140 sovereigns, and at various times smaller gifts and presentations were made ou special occasions, as marks of esteem and affection. The late Dean always took a keen interest in athletic sports, and held honorary office in connection with a number of local club 3, and he was at all times most open handed in contributing to the relief of the distressed and suffering. Archbishop Redwood, who expressed a desire to do so, will, with several priests, arrive here on Monday morning for the purpose of officiating at a solemn requiem mass, which will be held on Wednesday morning next, at nine o'clock. According to his own request the remains of the late Dean will be interred at his native place. On Wednesday 22ud, two solemn requiem masses for the repose of the soul of tho Very Rftv. Dean Mahoney were celebrated at St. Mary's Church one at half-past seven and the other at half-past nine. At both masses there were very large conregations and those present were deeply impressed with the solemn services. The first mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father George Mahony and <the one at half-past nine by the Rev. ' Father Clancy. Throughout the masses special prayers for the departed were said and the choir rendered parts of the second mass in the Gregorian chant while an offertory "Out of the Depths" (De profundis), was also sung. The Rev. Father Clancy, in addressing the congregation, returned thanks on behalf of the congregation to all those who, though not belonging to their faith, had shown their sympathy -with the Catholic people of Nelson in the loss they had sustained in the death of their late beloved pastor, it was not necessary for him to re "mind those present of the late Dean's work, their surroundings apoke far more eloquently than he could. The Church, which was the work of the late Dean's hands, was now draped in mourning, and the walla which had so often rung with the late Dean's voice, to raise, to instruct, and to sustain, were draped ; i*nd the

pulpit, wnere tne x/eans preseuw had so often made itself felt, was pilent and dark. The altar, where j the late Dean had so often rased his consecrated hands to bless the living and pray for the dead, would know | him no more. Unqualified to judge, [they bowed their heads in sorrow, and prayed that God might give their late beloved Dean eternal rest. They would go frequently, in the communion of saints, to pray beside that newly-made grave at Garrydoolis which contained the mortal remains of their late beloved pastor amongst the martyred dead of Ireland. As one of Ireland's poets had sung : " Where the sunbeams rest When they promise a glorious morrow. They'll shine oe'r his sleep like a smile from the West, From his own loved island of sorrow." Before the conclusion of the Church mass "Ye Souls of the Faithful" was sung by the choir and the Dead March in Saul played uy the oragnist, Miss Duff.