THE LATE FATHER O'REILLY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 12, 13 July 1883, Page 5

THE LATE FATHER O'REILLY.

(Wellington Evening Post, July 3.)

A meeting to take steps for the erection of a monument to the memory of the late Very Rev. Father O'Reilly, was held at the Marist Brothers' Hall, Boulcott street, last night. On the motion of Mr. P. S. Garvey, the Hon. Dr. Grace was voted to the chair. Among those present on tbe platform were Sir George Grey, Hon. P. Dignan, Hon. P. A. Buckley, Mr. C. Johnston, M.H.R., Mr. Tole, M.H.R, and the Rev. P. Kerrigan.

The chairman, in opening the proceedings, read a letter from Mr. W. H. Levin, M.H.R., expressing a hope that those outside the Church to which the deceased priest belonged might be allowed to join in a tribute of respect to his memory. The writer enclosed a cheque for £5 ss. towards the fund, arid the reading of the letter was received with considerable applause. The chairman then addressed the meeting. After explaining the reason of the delay which had taken place in initiating the movement, he said that no people was worthy of greatness that was not mindful of the meinoiy of its illustrious dead ; and the Very Rev. Father O'Reilly was illustrious in the heroic unselfishness which he exhibited in an intensely selfish age. (Loud applause.) Mr. C. J. Johnstoue, M. H.R., moved, " That this meeting is of opinion that a suitable monument should be erected to the memory of the late Father O'Reilly." He held that they had never had among them a man who so truly deserved a mark of respect and affection. (Cheers.) If he remembered rightly, Father O'Reilly arrived in the Colony in 1842, and very soon afterward his name became a household word in the community. In all that he endeavoured to do, it might fairly ' be said that charity and good- will were his guidiDg principles. (Applause.) The record of his life emboldened one to say that it was not altogether vain for a man to hope to follow, in great part, the footsteps of our Savioar. The speaker then read an extract from a highly eulogistic address presented to Father O'Reilly in 1867, at a public meeting in Wellington, prior to his leaving for Rome. That address, he mentioned, was signed by Sir George Grey, General Chute, most of the members of the then Government and previous Governments, )^r other ministers of religion, and by almost every noteworthy personage in Wellington. In conclusion, the speaker mentioned that tbe Hon. Mr, Brindon, on hearing of the meeting being called for that evening, had said to him—" I am very glad to hear it. Father O'Reilly was a noble man ; he did an immensity of good ; and I shall be very glad to subscribe." (Applause.) Mr. N. Reid, who seconded the motion, expressed a hope that the life of the deceased clergyman would be published. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. The Hon. P. A. Buckley then moved, " That a- committee consisting of the following gentlemen, with power to add to their number, be appointed to carry out the object in view : — Hon. Dr. Grace, Hon. P. A. Buckley, Messrs. W. W. Johnston, M.H.8., C. Johnston, M.H.8., N. Reid, J. O'Shea, Burke, P. S. Garvey, O'Meaia, Gemino, A. McDonald, B. McDonald, Casey, T. Dwan, Sheridan, O'Brien, Dignan, Mahony, Hoskins, Bohan, Madden, J. Saunders, Daly, Curnen, Carrigan, A. Burnes, and O'Connor." In moving the resolution, Mr. Buckley expressed the belief that gentlemen outside the Catholic denomination would be found anxious to contribute. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Dwan seconded the motion, which was carried.

On the motion of Mr. J. O'Shea, seconded by Mr. Burke, Messrs. O'Brien and Collins were appointed treasurers of the fund, the list to close in one month from date. Mr. J. P. Macalister then moved a special vote of thanks to Sir George Grey for his attendance, which was seconded by Mr. Coogan, and carried with acclamation. Sir George Grey, in reply, said he did not know why he should be thanked for performing a duty which friendship and admiration for one who was departed imposed upon him. He did not himself attach much importance to monuments, least of all did he attach importance to a monument to such a man as Father O'Reilly. It had been his (the speaker's) lot in a long life to visit many countries, and he had been brought into contact with 'many men. Now, in old age, one of the greatest pleasures he had was in thinking after all how good a world it was and of the good men he had known. When he thought of this galaxy of worth and goodness; none of those whose forms came up bsfore his mind claimed more veneration and regard than Father O'Reilly. (Applause.) The recollection of him had done him (the speaker) good on many occasions, and he believed it did good to many others also. Whether they erected a monument or not, the good that he did upon earth would never die. (Cheers.) " Gentlemen," said the speaker in conclusion, " put up your monument ;it will decay and fall to pieces— that will go— but the good he has done will not pass away. Its effects will ever remain, and let ua while we live, recount to others how good, how prudent, how wise he was, and endeavour, if possible, to encourage all others to follow the good example which he has set us." (Loud applause.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman then concluded the proceed-