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THE REV. FATHER TUBMAN.

PRESENTATION AT ST. ANDREWS.

;6n 'Saturday evening the Catholics of St. Andrews entertained Rev- Father Tubman afea social in the Public Hall, prior to his departure for Europe. About 120 persons, were present —a great many being; kept away owing "to the beautiful harvest- weather and the threatening change—and the proceedings ere entirely enthusiastic. The -short! musical programme opened with a,' pianoforte solo by Miss M. Cameron, followed, by a tastefully rendered scrg; 'M"he Banks of Loch ..Lomond," by T;ic- same young lady. Mr-'D.CaUaghan, president of the ciir.rch committee, was then moved to the and supported on the platform by the members of' the corniiiittee, and" sr.-.i/ '(.'l the leading residents of the The chairman briefly stated the object-, of the gathering—to wish their guest a pleasant and health : giving voyage. It was with regret that they learned he had to take a holiday,/not that he had not earned one, bat it,always brought.sadness to the grateful Jreart, when' it suddenly found that one; who isdear "to it had been injured in its seryice., He then cal ! ed -upon Mr A.. Wiisorj,-io read the address, which ran as follows:.— .;_-- "* f Very .Rev. and Dear Father.— ":(3to.,this,' the eve of ypas depr.rture on a -wei-earned. holiday to/the land of. your -birth;- -we;- the- Catholics of Fit. Andrews, ■gladly embrace the opportunity afforded, to manifest to you our appreciation and gratitude for the unceasing care and attention ~you nave given to out'. scattered district during-the.past.l4 years. --■•-•-.. ... "The solicitude you hiive ever displaced for eyenjthehumblest member of your flock," and your untiring devotion to our spiritual, aya, and eyen our temporal welfare, hasendeared you to all, and although it is mat our thanks you seek, still we would feel ourselves wanting in gratitude if we ; did not on this occasion manifect to you these deep feelings of devotion and loyalty as a -priest, and respect and confidence as a irith which you have inspired us.- ... ■ "To recount the many weary miles; you iiave travelled to bring us the consolations of our hqly faith, and to dwell on the many acts of kindness which each one of as has received from your generous hands, urould doubtless be. distasteful to you. But we cannot refrain from mentioning that' standing monument for all time, of your brilliant administrative qualities and unflagging- energy, the beautiful church of ■which we are all so justly proud. We would ask you to accept the accompanying purse of sovereigns as a, small token of the sincerity of the feelings we have endeavoured to express and we pray that God will bring you safely back perfectly restored in health .Jq continue long your life's work amongst -fig» ' - *' Wishing you God-speed. We beg to remain, very rev and dear -father, ever affectionately yours, Dennis Callaghan, John Bfllony'John O'Laughlin, Patrick Ryan, Majtin Sullivan, Patrick Kennedy, A. Wilson, secretary." The address was splendidly illuminated by the of the Sacred Heart," Tixoaru, and is a handsome and striking work -of art, the lettering is regular and finely finished, and the emblematic designs and relief work showed the artistic touch. Mr Wilson, in asking Rev. Father Tub<asan to accept the address and accompanying purse of sovereigns on behalf of St. Andrews parish, hoped that the gifts would give as -much pleasure to him as the besfamirig- of -them did to the donors, they •were not offered by way of payment for iwnefits received, but as a mite towards the liquidation, of the debt of gratitude and esteem they o#ed him. : ' ; An. apology was then read from Mr Lyall," sympathising with the object of the. gathering and regret as his unavoidable absence..

Mr J. -..O'Connor supported the remarks ■of the preceding speaker. He ■ was-'• acquainted with the St. Andrews.parish from its inception, and had attended the first service ' irt. the pub'.ic school. . He considered that the Catholics of St. Andrews had a lot to thank the rev. father for, indeed without his guidance they would not be •in the proud position they now are, the owners of' eight or nine acres of valuable land, a beautiful church and still with! £SO or £6O to their credit. Their non-Catholic friends had also contributed to this happy result, and he considered it a pleasure to he able to express their indebtedness to -them. Father Tubman would probably see in. the Old Land many stately fanes and magnificent temples reared, to the Most High, but-.jciowhere woit<l he-see such a -handsome church erected by" so small a con-'. gtegatioß.. He concluded by' wishing him «n behalf of every /member of Iris flock, ' bon voyage," a happy time in the Old Xand, and. many,. fruitful. .'years amongst them on his return. Eev. Father Tubman, on rising, was received with loud applause, and spoke as follows:—It gives ms great pleasure- to 1» here to-night to see so many well known faces and to secure your valuable Jndging by the weiglit of the purse It is mot. fi'.led with three-pepjry-bits, . bin with •a material heavier and move pre'.i'us. r.i-d which will enable me to carry <>\v: ,;;,: ; ,- :> _ gramme I have planned. I intend 'yo•ing Home by Australia, and the H~sz

CJaoal and may probably be priviU:o-ed to / see the Holy Father. France. Eua-wwi. -and Scotland, will be -next taken ;ukF rhen after a more "engthenecl torr in rl>e land -of my birth. I will return vi;i 2Cew Yf-L-fc

and San Francisco.'A shepherd who takes interest in the welfare of his flock naturally likes to be near them, and as we have been joined together since the foundation of this parish it~wouid be .unnatural on my part if this even temporary separation was not keenly ielt.' -'Yon say "The holiday is well deserved.*' I know I. have not done all I could but my intentions were honourable, and you in,your kindness and generosity have,overlooked my shortcomings. It gave me greatpleasure to hear Mr O'Connor's eulogium on : our non-Catholic"■ friends. Indeed, without their help .we could, hardly have put up the splendid church we now have, and .the Catholics of the district should ever be grateful for the kindness shown and the assistance given. During' my absence ypu will be well looked after, Father Le Floe's untiring zeal rr-ill be at your servke ;;s usual and the linaru parish- will presided-over, by Father Bowden, M.A., [ whom I had th*e~ pleasure of knowing in Dundalk many years ago. He was a- pro- ■ Iciijor in St. Patrick's College and Meanee ijr many years, and has lately had charge of the parish in Palmsrston North, so that you will gain instead. of, lose by my absence. It will take a long time to. make me forget the" circumstances leading to the acquirement of the church property we new possess. Hearing that the Presbyterian congregation had acquired from the Pareora Company five acres of land, we choughs that if we applied a. grant might also be given ns. So Father Hurlin and I drove down one morning to put forward bur request. We stopped for a few minutes at- "the house of ah' old parishioner, and were horrified on looking out to sea the' horse dashing headlong devr-n the read quite put of control. After circling part Pt Jhe towEghip it set off. for the beacli, and —as only "stopped in time to aveiL a serious accidcntl After quietening th= hoise we once more started when we saw Mr Lyall and the general manager of the company coming towards us. They invited us to the homestead, hospitably "made us step to dinner, and gr.vs r.s the b'ock 6f.lir.d-we required at £9 per.acre. Here were veiv few Catholics heie in those" days, but with the cutting up of the e-tate before nametl the number has -gro&Silly • come up to iis piesent respectable trtal. The emrgv and devotedness of the I: dies of the paifch and the friendly feeling which exists between ourselves and all other denominations are the chief; factors in the material progress we have made: I should here mention the kindness and courtesy . which I have always received amongst others from. Mr G: Lyall, Mr C. H. Besley and Mr Bush, they "have; always been most generous and. are worthy of our warmest thanks. To meet you in this social hall is. indeed a pleasure, it was urgently wanted for this district, and I hope you will enjoy-many pleasant evenings here. lam going:ito r ..leave you-,- butonly for a little while. T presume it will do me good physically,, dad revive in me the fire of faith and-'faUjerland,- if it hr..3 been deadened by lapse time and distance. The address you nave given L.e is finely worded and has been much read. The emblems which adorn it, the Round Tower, Shamrock . and Cross, are fitting reminders of our faith and our csuntry. I intend '■. to bring out with".me some shamrocks, which it will give me much plea-1 ; sure to distribute. I could keep you here for hours yet, but- know that no matter how long I spoke still I should not have said all I desire. I thank you most sincerely for the kindness and "liberality you have always shown to me, and during nwabsence yon will always be remembered m my prayers.' (Loud cheers.) Mr C. H. Besley thanked Rev Father Tubman for .his : kind references to him. He had known him for many years, and it was always a pleasure to meet him. He was. a man -of education and refinement of fe?lings, with whom a conversation was an uplifting event. . Rev. Father Bowden expressed his pleasure at meeting the St. Andrews people. He had known their pastor for many years and he was pleased to be able to'act as jus locum tenens so as to let him off for his well-earned holidays. He would be only in: Thnaru for "a* short time and he would do his best to keep the work goiirntill their popular pastor returned. ■■■■' a - Mr Bush, stationmaster at St. Andrews wished the departing voyager a pleasant holiday. He was a. man that was but ta be known to 4>e esteemed, and he always found him ready to help forward anv woVk for the good of the district. ; *

_Mv J. Connor then formally welcomed Rev., Father Bowden, and hoped he would enjoy his stay in.the Timaxa parish A vote.of thanks to the chairman closed the formal proceedings.

-.A-;.bountifai' supper was then served in the adjoininig hall by? the ladies -of the parish, and-a short .toast list was honoured During, the evening step-dances were given by : Messrs McCarthy and Kennedy the violin music being supplied by Mr E Hoare. . ', .•

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19060226.2.35

Bibliographic details

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12910, 26 February 1906, Page 6

Word Count
1,766

THE REV. FATHER TUBMAN. Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12910, 26 February 1906, Page 6

THE REV. FATHER TUBMAN. Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12910, 26 February 1906, Page 6