HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.—CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 309, 21 March 1879, Page 15

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY.— CHRISTCHURCH BRANCH.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY, 1879.

(From a Special Correspondent.) The members of this Society mustered strongly on St. Patrick's morning to join the procession to Hagley Park, where a liberal proEK 6 ?T%? T % WV^i^' cr W ment ha d been prepared by the Kaitangata Relief Fund Committee. Mass was celebrated in the morning at 7 o clock and again at 9 o'clock, and at 11.30 the mem* gersin full regalia, headed by the Hibernian Band, moved from St. s Hall to take their place in the procession amongst the other e ™f 7 Species, and as they moved along the hearts of all were stirred to that deep emotion which Irishmen alone can feel on St. Patrick s Day by the strains of the band, which was acknowledged on ail sides to have played with great spirit, and to have done credit to their careful leader, Mr. Chapman. On arrival at the Park, the bociety marched round the ground, and after passing uncovered between the ranks and under the banners of the other societies, when loud cheers were exchanged, finally formed a circle round the band who played the familiar old air of " St. Patrick's Day," which drew a large crowd of their friends and countrymen to the sirot. The strictest order prevailed throughout the day, not any of those disgraceful scenes of riot and revelry, so prevalent in some places (and tor which Irishmen are frequently so unjustly blamed as the instigators), being enacted. Devotions at G3O p.m., at which the ladies ot the Convent assisted by their beautiful treatment of the National Hymns, and a short soul-stirring address on the " Virtues of the Wonous Saint," by the Rev. Father Ginaty, were followed by an adjournment to St. Patrick's Hall, where an excellent spread had been provided. The members of the Society with their friends, among whom were several ladies, numbering in all about one hundred and fifty, sat down to dinner shortly after eight o'clock Ihe chair being taken by the president of the Society, Mr. J. Joyce, and the vice-chair by Mr. J. Barrett. When the good cheer provided had been properly treated by all present, the Chairman rose to propose the health of "The Sovereign. Pontiff Leo 13th, and Catholic Hierarchy, which was drunk with that silent yet eloquent enthusiasm which is felt by persons who are conscious that with every wish to do great honour to a great personage, their feeble efforts express but inadequately the emotions of their inmost hearts The Hiberman Band then played the "Adeste Fideles." Shortly 'before the hrst toast was proposed the Rev. Father Ginaty, Avbo had been present, received a call before which all other engagements had to yield. From a scene of innocent rejoicing to one of suffering, but on leaving the hall he received three hearty cheers. " The Queen and Koyal tamily 1 ' was tbe next toast which was drunk with beconrin°honour. The toast of tbe evening was then proposed by Mr. Joyce, who in a few well chosen words alluded to the events of tbe day and the honour paid to the memory of the great Saint Patrick throughout the world. The band played " St. Patrick's Day," and tbe toast was drunk amid loud and prolongucd cheering, Mr. John Barrett, who was warmly received said— Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen.— « c are not assembled here for me to speechify to you or for you to hear my attempts, but theie are occasions when it is necessary that a toast such as that which we have just honoured should receive a response, and I feel that sui rounded as I am at present by so many who are Lei e to do honour to the great saint at whose name every Iribh heart thrills with indescribable emotions. I should be gulity of veay great omissions if I did not respond to the call made upon me to say something more than has already been said in honour of the day we celebrate. Words are inadequate to convey in the faintest manner what we feel. Our hearts as Irishmen are rilled as I have said with an indescribable something. In tbe earliest days of the colonies, on the diggings, in the bu&h—in places where few people would care to dwell— whenever St. Patrick's Day came round there was a feeling almost supernatural, which caused Irishmen to remember in a more particular manner the land which gave them birth. I remember tbe days, gentlemen, wheu Irishmen were so few in number in certain places, and so oppressed, that they scarcely dared mix puMicly with other mcv. To day's demonstration has shown us all that those days arc of tbe past. In our unity we have a strength that must be felt, and where before we were slighted, the time has come when we are treated with our due respect. After all that has been said to day from our pulpit. I need not dwell upon L£ ur duty to-day. We hare known it, and, thank God, have to the Dast of our ability done it manfully. Mr. Barrett resumed his seat, and was loudly and eatlmsiastically applauded. The Legislature of New Zealand was tbe next toast. Mr. Joyce then proposed the Officers and Members of the Hibernian Society throughout the Colonies, coupled with the name of Mr. Edward O'Connor, which toa^t was drunk with musical honours. Mr. O'Connor in replying to the toast congratulated the members of the society upon tbe part taken by them iv the clay's proceedings, which he hoped would disabuse the erroneous impression prevailing with so many that Hibernianism fostered tbe precepts of Fenianism, or descended to tbe level of any society established for uncharitable purposes. Theirs was, in the strictest meaning of the word, a benefit society, which in his own opinion would have been better named a Catholic Benefit Society than that which it bears, inasmuch as in tbe admission of members nationality is ignored provided a. member is a Catholic. Tbe Irish element predominates it is true and perhaps it is well that it is so. The benefits conferred by tbe Society were as gicat iE not greater thau by many other societies. Tbeir motto was '• Faith Hope, and Charity." As Catholics they were bound to honour the reigning monarch and to be loyal, good subjects. All but the ignorant were well aware of this, and they alone were the persons who said uncharitable things about the Society, still it might be as wt-H (o cuntiadict even them. To-day '& piocccdiugs would indicate tbeir readiue&s tv come forward iv aid uf a good caiiic.

The speaker then in a few humourous remaiks advised all Catholic ladies to make their husbands join the Society, and the unmarried ladies not to say the sealing ''Yes" until their sweethearts had joined it. He hoped to see an improvement in each year's gathering in the hall, and deplored the unavoidable absence of the Rev. Father, whose sympathies were entirely with the people who had gathered together to | honour their great patron saint. I The health of " The Ladies" was next drunk and responded to by Mr. D. Howard who, while extolling the beauty af the sex generally, and particularly those who lived in Canteibury, regretted that he had not jet persuaded any 01 them to do him the happiness of joining lots with himself but hinted that before our next gathering on St. Patrick's day he hoped by perseverance to have the knotty point settled and to introduce to us as Mrs. Howard one of those whose health we were drinking. The health of the Dinner Committee and Caterer was next drunk. Mr. Taylor (whose name was cotipled with the toast) in response apologised for any short-comings which theie might have been in the arrangements of the day owing to the short time allowed the committee. He complimented the caterer for the display made on so short notice, and on behalf of the committee thanked the members of the Hibernian Society for their prompt reply to the call made upon them to take part in the procession, which he thought must in some cases have caused previous engagements to have been laid aside for the good cause of charity, and the Band to whom the thanks of the society were due for the material aid which they had rendered. Mr. Barrett then proposed the health and prosperity of the Hibernian Band, which was drunk with enthusiasm. Mr. Chapman made a feeling reply, praising the members of the Band for their perseverance and regular attendance, without which they could never have been so far advanced. He reminded his friends that six months ago the Band was only a thiug talked of, and in regretting changes which had unavoidably been made in the membership, had confidence that the same punctuality and attention would secure that proficiency so necessary in a band which might turn out on public occasions. The health of the Chairman having been heartily drank, the party broke up at 1 1 p.m., having brought to a close an exceedingly pleasant evening. . The speeches were interspersed with music by the band and songs by several ladies and gentlemen. '* The Wearing of the Green" by Mr. Chapman : '' The Minstrel Boy" by Mr. Duffy ; a song very sweetly rendered by Miss Slattery, and one equally well sung by Miss M'Adain, being specially deserving of notice.