PRESENTATION TO THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XV, Issue 27, 28 October 1887, Page 13

PRESENTATION TO THE BISHOP OF DUNEDIN.

Thb Most Rev. Dr. Moran arrived in Dunedin on Tuesday evening by the southern express, his Lordship having left the s.s. Wairarapa from Melbourne at the Bluff on Monday and proceeded to Invercargill. The Bishop was met at Mosgiel by the Yen. Archdeacon Coleman and several other members of the clergy, and was received at the Dunedin terminus by Messrs. Carroll, Meenan, Petie, Callan, Woods, Connor and Deehan, members of the Presentation Committee! and several others of the Catholic laity. On arriving at his house his Lordship was heartily cheered by a number of the Catholic people who had assembled in the street below. On Wednesday evening, Benediction of the Most Holy Sacrament was given in St. Joseph's Cathedral. The Bishop entered the church in procession, attended by the Yen. Archdeacon Coleman and the Bey. Fathers Lynch, Mackay, O'Neill, Burke, O'Leary, Vereker, and Donnelly, the choir meanwhile singing the " Ecce Sacerdos Magnus." The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin was then conducted by the Rev. Father Lynch, the prayers being said alternately by the congregation on either side of the altar. After this, Benediction took place the Venerable Archdeacon Coleman officiating, the " Te Deum " being sung by the choir as well as the usual hymns, and, afterwards Zingarelli's " Laudate Pueri." The Blessed Sacrament being removed from the Tabernacle, the Presentation Committee entered the sanctuary, and the following address from the Catholics of Otago and Southland was read by the Venerable Archdeacon Coleman, who said that as the priests as well as the laity had taken part in the matter, he had- been deputed to read the address. The laity, however, he added, had been by far the chief actors in the matter and.the clergy had only given comparatively inconsiderable assistance. " To the Most Rev. Dr. Moran :— •• During your visit to Adelaide, from which we are glad to welcome you back, a wide-spread feeling arose that the time was a moat fitting one for the Catholic people of your diocese to do something to mark their seuse of the reverence and esteem in which they hold you. " The present is an epoch in the history of the Catholic Church in these Colonies. Its surprising growth has just been recognised by the conferring of new dignities and appointments. Nowhere, we will venture to say, has that growth — taking into account the small number and worldly circumstances of the people — been more marked than in Otago and Southland. Many of us who are old colonists cannot but be amazed when we look round and behold churches and convents and schools scattered over the land, and remember what was the state of Catholic religion before your Lordship's arrival here. The Catholic population consisted then of less than 7000, scattered over a territory of 300 miles in length by about 130 in breadth. Danedin, as many of us remember, possessed no church deserving of the name, no presbytery, and no proper schoolroom, so that you found yourself destitute, and were forced to begin from commencements that may be fully described aa most deplorable, having, besides, the assistance, in all your vast diocese, of only three priests. " We think we would be truly ungratef ul-that we would be wanting in our duty — if we, amongst whom you have lived for the last 17 years, and who, therefore know you best, did not seize the present time to make it known how grateful we are to you for your unceasing efforts on our behalf. You may rest assured that we recognise that it is mainly to your indomitable perseverance we owe our beautiful cathedral. " Your Lordship's services to Catholic education deserve especial commemoration by us. Commencing from your arrival in Dunedin you succeeded, by your vigorous and constant warning and advocacy, in fully arousing the sentiment of the Catholic people, and making them in every part of the Colony alive to the dangers that threatened, and active and earnest in resisting them. If your efforts in bringing the educational grievances of the Catholic people frequently before the non •Catholic people and the Parliament of the Colony have not as yet been crowned with success, they certainly hav*e succeeded in making the nature of the Catholic claims known, and if a measure of justice is obtained— as we see reason to hope it will be in the near future obtained— it must necessarily rest on the foundation laid by you. We trust, meantime, that you will continue to act as our leader in the matter, for we desire to march to victory under the banner beneath which the contest was begun and has been so far valiantly maintained, " Another tie which binds an overwhelming majority of us to you is a "common Fatherland." We have always noted with joy and pride that though you have been for many years living away from your native land your voice and pen have have ever been employed in aid of her just rights. You have ever inculcated the true principle that the man who is taught to forget and despise the land of his birth will not be slew to turn his back upon his religion also. "It is a source of pleasure and pride to the Irishman of to-day to read in history of the great Irish bishops who, early in the century, laid the foundations of the Catholic religion in America j and we think we are not presumptuous when we say that hereafter when the history of the Catholic Church in New Zealand comes to be written your name will not be the least conspicuous amongst that great army of Irish ecclesiastics who, under God, have been the chief means of spreading the knowledge of and establishing the Catholic Church in

English speaking communities all over the world. We beg your acceptance of the accompanying cheque for £1140 45." Messrs. Woods and Meenan the hon. treasurers, then presented hie Lordship with a cheque for £1140 4s, being the contributions of the Catholics of Otagoand Southland, as well as of several of those living in other parts of the Colony and of some non-Catholic friends. Mr. Whitty next read the following address from the H.A.C.8.8., St. Patrick's Branch, Wellington, which had been engrossed on vellum and beautifully illuminated by Mr. Bock. " May it please your Lordship, — We, the members of the H.A.C.8.5., of Wellington, beg to unite in the general felicitation! now being extended to your Lordship. We gladly avail ourselves of this occasion to express the fervent sentiments of veneration and esteem which we entertain towards your Lordship as a Catholic prelate and illustrious Irishman. We were rejoiced to learn through the Tablet that your Lordship recently celebrated the fortieth anniversary of your sacerdotal ordination, and to perceive that your Lordship was then the recipient of many beautiful addresses expressive of the sincere and loving regard in which your Lordship is h aid by the faithful children of your diocese. Many of us remember with pleasure the period when your Lordship was in temporary ecclesiastical charge of this diocese, and are graterul for the many good works then effected by you. Since your return to your own diocese we have with joy witnessed the able labours of your Lordship by voice and pen. in the cause of Christian and Catholic education as opposed to the godless Government system, to the danger of which you early sounded the alarm and which you have since fearlessly assailed. As be fitting our Society, we desire to especially address your Lordship in your exalted character of an Irish Catholic priest and Bishop for we feel that as such you have a claim upon the sympathies of your countrymen throughout tb« colony. We are proud to recognise that your Lordship as a prelate of Holy church has ever been foremost in pointing oat to Irishmen and their children the great consequences to Holy Faith in New Zealand of asserting their national distinctions and denouncing any timid or time-serving policy which would cause them to lay these aside in order to avoid the prejudice, or to merit the complacent sympathy or esteem of their fellow colonists. We are convinced that any Irishman or son of an Irishman that fails to exhibit a reverence for his native country and when occasion requires to give practical expression of his nationality will at no remote period yield in the matter of religion alßo, and hence it is oar great desire (as so frequently indicated by your Lordship to us) to instil into the hearts of our children, with the teachings of our holy religion, a love of Ireland, a knowledge of the history of our race and nation, and of the struggles of their forefathers for faith and fatherland. In common with the Catholics of the Colony at large we feel deeply indebted to your Lardship for the establishment of the Tablet and for the great fostering care since bestowed upon it, by which it is now enabled to raise its voice in no weak or uncertain key to champion our rights as Catholics and Irishmen, We are grateful in an especial manner to your Lordship for the esteemed patronage at all times extended by your Lordship to our Society, the warm interest displayed in its organisation and welfare, and the frequent kindly recommendations made in its behalf to the Catholics, and particularly to the Irish Catholics of the Colony for adherence and support as a Catholic Society, combining all the elements of a religious and benefit society, while preserving among its members — the scattered children of Erin — a spirit of nationality and a bond of union and co-operation. We are sensible how inadequately we have expressed our true feelings towards your Lordship, but as an Irish priest and bishop— our soggarth aroon — we must only rely on your warm heart to supply our deficiencies. In conclusion, our sincere prayer is that Almighty God may long spare you amongst us, a pillar of our Church, and the pride of our race. We beg to subscribe ourselves, on behalf of the Society — John Curry, President ; Jeremiah Scanlon, Vice- President ; Giles Bradley, P. President, Michael Bohan, Treasurer ; Peter Moroney, Secretary ; Thomas Cahili, M.D." Mr. Perrin, then read the following four addresses, stating that he had been requested to act on behalf of the Catholics presenting them. He added that with that from Leeston and Southbridge a donation of £40 had been forwarded which was included in the cheque handed to his lordship. "To the Most Bey. Dr. Moran, Bishop of Dunedin. " May it please your Lordship, — We, the undersigned Irish Catholics of Southbridge and Leeston, beg your Lordship to accept the accompanying testimonial. Your deep religious fervour and enduring patriotism, your paternal solicitude for the children of our Holy Church, the sons and danghters of the dear Cld Lund, deserve more recognition than we can give ; but we do not forget the sincere and kindly regard shown for our welfare, whea you once visited us, and we hope your Lordship will, in the same kindly spirit, accept thia small token of our esteem. " And we desire to congratulate your Lordship on the number of years it has pleased God to give you health and strength to labour in His vineyard ; and while thus labouring in the service of your Divine Master, to perform duties that few others could do, we recognise yonr noble efforts to assist Irish patriots in their struggle for freedom. " When Catholics were in a very small minority in this Colony, divided, contemned by other religious bodies, yours was the voice that championed thpir cause and asserted their rights ; and, recognising the prodigious task before you, you at once saw the necessity of a Catholic newspaper and established the New Zealand tablet. To the teaching of the Tablet may be attributed the respectable and united position held by the Catholics of this Colony to-day. From almost nothing, they have been converted into an acknowledged power, and with justice we can ask — ' What bursts the chain far o'er the main, And brightens the captive's den ? ' and answer ♦ 'Tis the fearless voice and the pen of power : Hurrah for the voice and pen, Hurrah I Hurrah for the voice and pen,"

In conclusion allow us to express a wish and prayer that God in his mercy may long spare you to do battle for religion, education and patriotism, and when «t length your labours done here and you have passed 1o receive your eternal reward, that your soul may abide wifch the saints of our Isle, and your memory e»er live green in the hearts of our people, a light to the brave, a strength to the wavering. " John Barrett, Edward Boban, Peter Moßvedey, P. J. Henley, John Fay, Pat. O'Boyle, Wm. Kelly, Joseph Young, John O'Boyle Win. M'Cormick, Archie Campbell, Jas* Leahy, ;Bdw. Bgan, Ch is.' Campbell, Wm. Harris, Thoß. Ford, John Mangan, Jas. Haughey, •! Joseph Carroll, Redmond Condon, Patrick O'Connor, Mauric* Riordan. Pat. Walsh, Bdwari Gorman, Jas. M'Crosen, Jeremiah Hopan, Owen Donohoe, John Flood, Anthony Fay, Jas. Kilbride, John Kilbride, John Leamy, Thos. Donohoe, Thos. Kelly, Mat. O'Neill, Jno. Murphy, Michael Stapleton, Edward Stapleton, Wm. Gittens, Thos. Greenan, M. McPoland, M. Needham, Jno. Walsh, Mat. O'Brien, and 21 others.

To the Right Rev, Dr. Moran Bishop of Dunedin. 11 My Lord, — We desire on behalf of Catholic residents of Timaru, to convey to your lordship our heartiest congratulations on the attainment of your fortieth anniversary in the priesthood, and of your thirtieth in the episcopate, and to emphasize our deep sense of your native genius and taleut, your brilliant gifts, and match les« eloquence, alike as an orator, scholar, patriot, and bishop. We recognise in your "eighteen years ministerial labours in this Colony the fruits of re.igion and education in the noble monuments of your energy for the furtherance of Catholicity, the magnificent churches, convents and schools erected throughout your extensive diocese. When a hostile Press and biassed minds eagerly seized every available opportunity to defame our kith and kin, and tarnish our national aspirations, happily, while other influential personages maintained a stoical indifference, we found in your lordship a chivalrous champion of our rights, when by your facility of masterly resource, and single-minded zeal, you launched into existence the Ne\t Zealand Tablet — an organ which has grown into unquestionable power under your able supervision, we feel, therefore, that to your lordship alone a universal tribute of admiration for the Bplendid services you have rendered the Catholics of New Zealand is pre-eminently due ; and we trust, in conclusion, that your lordship may long continue to labour amongst us in God's holy vineyard, an ornament to the Church, and the beloved of our race.

T. Sullivan, D. Mahoney, B. Kgan, M. Sugrue, T. Gorman, P. O'Meeghan, J- Kenny, J. O'Rorke, W. Moore, P. Ryan. «*■* This address was splendidly engrossed and illuminated, and formed a, work of art most creditable to Mr. Wade of Timaru, by whom it had been executed. The following two addresses were minted in ornamental characters on white satin, and, like those from Wellington and Timaru, enclosed in handsome gilt frames.

MA.T it please Yojr Lordship,— We, the Catholics of Geraldine, following the example of your Kumara friends, beg lea^e to unite oar voices with those of your diocesanß in offering you our warmest congratulations on this the fortieth year of your priesthood. As an Iri&h Catholic Bishop you have, during a period of sixteen years, earned our deepest gratitude and excited our highest admiration. You have ever been in the vanguard of our progress as Catholics, and as Irishmen your guidance and your counsel have cheered us through all oar difficulties. Others may strive to imitate your zeal and your patriotism, but rone can surpass you in devotedness to God's Church and in loyalty to the Irish race. The New Zealand Tablet you established at a time when no Catholic paper existed in this country ; yon have maintained it till now in all the freshness and vigour of its early days. We beg also to state, Lord Bishop, that we fully appreciate your untiring labours in tbe cause of Catholic education, and to assure you that they, as well as your equally able advocacy of Irish national aspirations, are indelibly printed upon our memories. We, therefore, gladly embrace tlie opportunity to tender you our warmest thanks, and to express a fervent wish that our soggarth aroon may long be spared to sympathise with us, to defend us, and to direct us. " Signed by Kyran Brophy, Wm. Fitzpatrick, Jeremiah Connolly, Thoman Markham, Edmund Burke, John Flannery, Thomas Corcoran, William Scully, Patrick Brophy, Martin Burke, Michael Spillane, John Scott, John Woulfe, Timothy McGillacuddy, John Farrell, James Riordan, Michael Cookery, James McQuillane, John Brett, John Quinihan, John McKnight, P. H. McShane, Martin Bropby, Daniel Cregan, Andrew Lysaght, James Gregan, Lawrence Coogan, Michael Guerin, Arthur Flynn, Michael Connolly, Timothy Kelliher, Patrick Ryan, Thomas Buckley, John Charles, P. O'Raw, William Earle, A. W. McDonald, John Clancy, Edward O'Brien, Roger McCarthy.

" Lobd Bishop, — The undersigned have been'commiesioned, by public meetings held at the various centres of population in the Grey Valley, to prepare and sign on behalf of the Catholic body, an address of congratulation to your Lordship on your attaining the fortieth anniversary of your priesthood. " We regret that the actual anniversary passed by unknown to us, as we would have desired to celebrate that auspicious event in union with your own children of Dunedin, and to testify our esteem, veneration, and deepest love for our soggarth par excellence. Many soggarths we have, of our own flesh and blood, sympathising in everything with our feelings and aspirations ; but it is no depreciation cf them to say that you, Lord Bishop, are our beau ideal of an Irish priest and bishop. •' Indeed we know that they, as we, are proud of our only Irish bishop, and consider as redounding to their own honour whatever is done in your lordship's honour. We may not say etto perpetuus, but we say from our hearts ad multos annas.

" Many be your years yet amongst us to voice our feeling and aspirations, to champion our rights, and to defend our national character as you have so nobly done in the past, in that creation of your own — the inimitable, incomparable New Zealand Tablet, Many be your years during which to rejoice us with truly priestly and Irish addresses as we were privileged to hear when we had the

honour of a pastoral visit from you. Ad multos annos. We heartily wish, at least, that a decade hence we shall find you still in our midst, *nd then we hope to enjoy the privilege of congratulating you iv comm »n with Irishmen everywhere in New Z mland. 4 | In conclusion, we.beg to expri'ss our satisfaction at the announcement; recently made of your Lordship's intention t> soon re-open St. Aloysius College, because we know that to any institution under your care no suspicion of anti-Irish or un-Irish leaning can attach, and in such an institution, at least, young N.-w Zealand is certain to be trained to cherish the traditions of its Irish parent. " Signed on behalf of the Catholics of the Grey Vail y. " Ahaura : — J. J. O'Donnell, John Kennedy, James Barry, James lfcLaughlin, Benj vmm Gougi. Marsden : James Finn, Peter GifEney, Matthew Murphy. Maori Creek : Arthur Flaherty, John O'Sullivan, Jeremiah O'.Jonnell, Patrick BlanchfiefcL Maori Gully : John Hogan, James Kelly, Bernard McGuire. Notown : John Flynn, JohnDeegan, Patrick Gillin, Thomas Hilliar. Nelson Creek: Michael Noonan, Richard Larkin, Michael Drennan. Henry McGill, Michael Savage, Michael Brskine, Hugh McLaughlin." The Bishop replied as follows : My Dear Friends,— How can I suitably thank you for .these too Mattering addresses, and the very large cheque for £1140 ss, which you have now handed me ? In former time*, on similar occasions, I have been obliged to acknowle ige that I had not words to express my sense of my obligations to you; but never, I assure you, has my inability to convey to you my sentiments been so keenly felt by me as on the present occ ision. Your kindness, consideration, and generosity to me overpower me and bring home to me the conviction that there are occasions on which words are a very inadequate medium for conveying an idea of what one really feels. And so far as lam concerned the present is one of these occasions.

Ten are pleased to recall to mind the position of the Church in this diocese at the time of its erection ; to contrast that position with what obtains here now ; and to attribute to me the chief credit for the improvement. Many of you now presentin this cathedral, erected mainly through your generosity and filial co-operation with your clergy are competent witnesses of the truth of the statements contained in these addresses. You were here when the late venerable Poatiff made Dunedin a diocese, and you have been here ever since ; you know what you state to be a truthful description ; and I cannot gainsay any of the statements made by you. But 1, too, have a long memory, and I remember that, from the very first, the laity of this diocese have gladly, earnestly, and ungrudgingly come forward on all occasions when their co-operation was asked, to aid us in all good worke undertaken for the advancement of religion, the glory of <*od, and the spread of Catholic education. Without you we could do next to nothing, and if to-day Catholicity in tbis country has attained to that position which has been recently recognised by the establish* ment of a hierarchy and an ecclesiastical province, this is mainly due to the faith, zeal, and open-bandedness of the laity. The eulogium, therefore, which you so unselfishly bestow on me rebounds upon yourselves, and in recounting what you are pleased to designate as my services to religion and education here, you are unconsciously 6ounding your own praises. Instead ot being elated at this grand demonstration and magnificent testimonial, I can, in all sincerity, assure you that I feel bumbled and distressed, recalling to mind, as I cannot help doing, the little that I have done, and the many opportunities I have lost of doing more for a people so forgetful of shortcomings and to grateful for even little services. My position here has indeed been an enviable one, situated, as I have been, in the midst of loyal devoted Catholic congregations, and helped in every way by an admirable body of priests, nuns, and brothers. As to Catholic education what I could d", both by word and pen, to promote it I have^lndeed done gladly and perseveringly, and am prepared to continue the battle till success shall crown our efforts. This success may be near or it may be far ofE ; there are indications that it is nearer at hand than some people think, but whether Government will do us Ihe simple justice that is oui due or not, there shall never be any relaxation in our efforts to multiply our Catholic schools and render them still more efficient than they have been in the past. Nor do I regret the fight that has been fought and the obstinacy with which justice has been denied us. The result has been most fortunate for us as a body. This long- continued contest hits been the means of thoroughly instructing our people in the true principles of education, of hardening them in the conviction of these principles, and developing a zeal that will tell npon future generations. From a wide experience in many colonies, I am enabled to say unhesitatingly that our Catholic children who attend Catholic schools are admirably taught, not only in their religion but also in secular subjects, not only thoroughly instructed, but mentally developed in a way that will enable them to take and hold a high place amongst their fellow-citizens in the battle of life. lam satisfied that no such development would or, indeed, could have taken place had they not the advantages they possess in their own Catholic schools, whilst, in the absence of these, their ignorance of their religion, as experience proves, would have been lamentable, and even most injurious to society and the State. I cannot feel that I am entitled to the credit you are disposed to give me for my patriotism as a son of Holy Ireland. Being an Irishman by birth, in heart and feel ing, knowing the glorious yet Bad history of my country, proud of belonging to the oldest nationality in Europe, and that race whiah was engaged in evangelising a great part of Europe before Alfred conquered the invaders of his county, or Charlemagne received the Imperial crown from the hands of the successor of S> rv.r, feeling intensely for the wrongs and sufferings of a people expatriated by inhuman laws, and detestable administrations it stiikes me I should be less than a man were I not a] patriot, and ready to lend a helping hand in raising up the oppressed, feeding the hungry and homeless, and lifting up my voice, poor and little influential as it is, in denunciation of eviction and unjustifiable coercion. To me it appears the most natural thing in the world for an liishiaau u> be an Irish patriot and Home Ruler, and the moat unnaturiil ihuig were he not both. Nevertheless, I thank

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