THE H. A. C. B. SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 60, 3 May 1873, Page 6

THE H. A. C. B. SOCIETY.

A bbakch of the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society was, it may be stated, inaugurated in the school-room, Dunedin, on the evening of St. Patrick's Day last. This society was established in Melb»urne some years ago, and has proved most successful, numerous branches being now i n existence throughout the colony of Victoria. Some months previously a movement was set on foot by Mr T. B. chapter for the establishment of branches of the society in Dunedin and throughout the Province of Otago. Mr Shapter shortly afterwards left Dunedin, but the movement has since teen carried to a successful issue by the energetic efforts of Mr F. J. Bunny (Secretary pro tern), and a few other gentlemen who joined the society at the first meeting. A sufficient number of members having joined, officebearers were appointed, and the services of Mr M C. Joyce (of the St. Ignatius branch, Richmond, Victoria) were secured for the opening of the new branch in Dunedin. On the occasion of the formal inauguration in St. Joseph's school-room, the room wss tastefully decorated with flags and evergreens in honor of the occasion. There was a numerous attendance of members and intending members, as well as j.a * 68 ' r ovee > a 8 presiding officer, having read an opening address, the members were initiated, and the office-bearers installed as follows :— President, Mr E. Carroll ; Vice-president, Mr Robert Carroll (late of No. 1 branch, St Francis, Melbourne) ; Secretary, Mr F. J. Bunny j Warden, Mr C Bunny ; Guardian, Mr C. Fearon ; Treasurer, Mr E. Downey. Ihe Secretary read a telegram from Mr Shapter, congratulating the members on the success so far obtained. The Secretary, after referring to the obstacles which the movement had encountered, and which had been overcome, said that those present would doubtless be pleased to learn that, notwithstanding the fact that their expenses up to the present had been very heavy, they were now only a few pounds on the wrong side. The objects of the society were, it was said, aid in case of sickness or death, and the promotion of social intercourse between its members. llieDunediu brauch now numbers twenty-six benefit members and six honorary member?, and it is expected that fresh accessions to its ranks will soon be made. Branches ot the society have also been established in New Zealand, in almost every town on the West Coast, and at the Thames. Authority for opening branches at Oamaru and St. Bathans has been received. Already thirty have iutimated their intention of joining the Oamaru ibraiich. Active steps are now being taken for tho formation of branches at Lawrence and at Invercargill, and the Lawrence one will probubly^iave a very large members' roll. We hope to be soon in a position to give details of the several branches of this excellent society in New- Zealand. On the occasion of his late visit to Hokitika, the Right Rev. Dr Moran, in refeniug to an address from a local branch of the Hibernian Society, was reported iv the 'West Coast Times ' as follows :—: — •' His lordship expressed the pleasure with which he received it. He said he was asked in the address to give the society his patronage, and he gave it moet willingly, because he approved of it, and he would be very glad to see that .all in the community who could joiu it would do so. It was not every society of which he could say he same. There were societies and societies. Some were banned by the Church, and others were blessed. The Hibernian Society was one of the latter. There was no secrecy in it, and the Church abhorred secrecy. Whenever there was seciecy there was suspicion. Men who meant to do right had nothing to fear from an open disclosure of their proceedings ; but where those proceedings were kept secret, there were just grounds to guspect that there were evils," From the preface to the manual of the rules of the society, we learn that, at a conference of delegates from the Irish Australian, Hibernian, and Albury Catholic Benefit Societies, held in Melbourne in April, 1871» these societies were amalgamated, ana formed the nucleus of the present flourishing H. A. C. Society, with its large roll of members and numerous branches. The much desired union of the several Catholic Benefit Societies having been effected, was regarded as a matter for sincere congratulation, and it was believed that rapid as had been the progress of these societies wlieu acting independently of each othei, it would be far surpassed by the present society. The hope entertained at the amalgamatioa of the societies, to judge from the reports appearing from time to time in the Melbourne ' Advocate,' aud from what we have heard here, has been in tho last two years abundantly fulfilled. " The Hibernian Catholic Society," the preface says, "as its name implies, is essentially a Catholic Benefit Society, and as such is open to Catholics of every nationality, yet, bearing in mind what

Ireland has done and is now doing for the faith, it is felt that to cherish the memory of that dear old land, from which nino-tenthi of our members hail, is not incompatible with the objects of the society." It may be necessary to call the attention of non-members of the society to the facts that it is a benefit society under the immediate sanction of the Church ; that it ia non-political ; that there ia nothing of a secret nature about it, neither signs nor pass-words being used, and that its meetings are open to the press. The entrance fees and rate* of subscription are as moderate ft* practicable, having regard to the benefits secured, a synopsis of which we subjoin :—A benefit member receives during illness one pound per week for twenty-six weeks, 15s. for the next thirteen weeks, and 10«. for a further period of twenty-six weeks j on death of wife, £10 ; at his own death his relatives receive £20. He has medical attendance and medicine for himself and family immediately on joining. If a single man, with a widowed mother and brothers and sisters uuder 18 years of age, he lias medical gttendance and medicine for them. He has these on payment of an entrance fee, varying according to his age, fi-om £1 5s to £3, and a weekly contribution of not. less than, one shilling or more than one shilling and sixpence, and a shilling per quarter to the incidental fund. Members must, at admission, be between 18 and 40 years of age, but a person above 40 and under 45 years can be admitted on paying an entrance fee of £3, together with h Bum equal to what he would have paid had he beeii a member from the time be was 40 years old. Honorary and life-honorary members aw provided for, and may, on payment of a small weekly contribution, secure medical attendance. A member removing has a clearance, which admits him into the branch of the Sooiety iv the locality to which he moves ; and here we may remark that, with the number of branches which are so suddenly starting into existence in New Zealand of late, we may safely anticipate that every district or hamlet in New Zealand, having 30 Catholic mm, will have a branch, and that to whatever part of the Colony a member removes, he will find a branch of his society and frieids to extend the hand of welcome to him. The benefits, religiously, socially, and intellectually arising from this society are self-evident, and it has our best wishes.