PRESENTATION TO THE REV. FATHER WALSHE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 1, 26 April 1889, Page 13

PRESENTATION TO THE REV. FATHER WALSHE.

<•* (Kumara Times, April 10.) BT, Patbxck's Catholic school was crowded on Monday evening with parishioners, male and female, on the occasion of a presentation to the Bey. Father Walshe, late assistant priest of St. Patrick's Church, but recently removed to Abaura. Dennis Hanoan, Esq., occupied the chair, On bis right was the gueat of the evening, the tlev. Father Walshe, and the Bey. Father McManus ; aud on bis left the Rev. Fathers O'Hallahan and Laverty. These were supported on either aide by Dr. M'Brearty and other members of the presentation committee, whose names appear in the address which follows. The Catholic brass band was in attendance, and played several appro* priate selections before and during the proceedings. The Chairman said : Bey, Fathers, Ladies and Gentleman — We are assembled here, as you are aware, for the time-honoured custom to do honour to our priesthood. I think you will agree with me that no more honourable man than our late worthy priest, the Bey. Father Walshe, have we met to part with before (hear, hear, and applause). I shall call upon Mr. Chambers, secretary to the committee, to read the address.

Mr. Patrick Chambers then read the address as follows :— Address of the parishioners of Kumara to the Rev. Father Walahe late assistant priest " Rev. Father — Yonr connection with this parish as its assistant priest for the past two and a half years gave your devoted and admiring subscribers an opportunity of witnessing your conduct in the two-fold capacity of priest and nationalist.

"Your career as a priest in Kumara has been one of unblemished reputation. Both io your Bacerdotal and social relations with us we have observed with profit and pleasure that every act and word of yours tended to add dignity to the priesthood, and to reflect public esteem on your character aa the anointed minister of God. " We thank you for your pact sympathy and support in our efforts for the independence of ' loved Brio.' We feel assured that in you our country's cause shall always have a warm and unflinching advocate.

" To the young patriot Irish Priest of the West Coa«t we one and all pay our humble tribute of sincere and earnest veneration. Our daily prayers shall be for your future happiness, and that your missionary labours under God's blestiog be attended with success.

"Accept from your numerous friends the parting gift which will be now presented to you, as a pledge of the sincerity of their feelings.

" (Signed on behalf of the parishioners), Denis Haonan, James M'Brearty, M.D., Patrick Chambers, B. J. Hamill, Patrick Moran, Hugh O'Flaherty. Kumara, Bth April, 1889."

Load applause followed the reading of the address. The address had been very neatly engrossed on vellum, by Miss Catherine Davies, one of ths children attending Bt. Patrick's School.

The Chairman asked Dr. M'Brearty, to present Father Walshe with some thing be had (rot with him.

Dr. M'Brearty said : Mr. Chairman, Reverend Fathers, and Ltdies and Gentlemen, — I have been requested, as treasurer of this testimonial f and, on behalf of the ladies and gentlemen of this parish and surrounding parishes, to present you, the Bey. Father Walshe, with this purse of 60 sovereigns, as an earnest of the esteem and loving affection and veneration in which he has been held by us as a slight recognition of his devotion, not only to bis sacred duties as a priest, but also for his patriotism for our native lan 1, Ireland — a nation of saints and letters— a nation down-trodden and oppressed ; her people tyrannised by alien rulers ; her priests oppressed and imprisoned as they are. No wonder, therefore, they c r y for Home Rule. Thanks to Messrs. Gladstone, Parnell, and others, the time will soon come, and is at hand, when Home Rule is an accomplished fact. Rev. Father Walshe, on behalf of the parishioners of this parish and surrounding parishes, I have much pleasure in banding you this purse ; and, while doing so, let me assure you, no matter where you may be placed by your Bishop, you will have the prayers of the people of this parish that God may give you long life, health, and strength to carry out the onerous duties appertaining to the priesthood, which He in His grace has called you to perform and carry out (applause). The Rev. Father Walshe, who, on rising, was greeted with loud applause, said :—Mr. Chairman, Reverend Fathers, Ladies and Gentlemen, — I am bound to thank you, and to thank you sincerely, for having carried out in mv behalf this 'time-honoured, Irish, Catholic custom, of which this evening's proceedings are a living proof. Every assistant priest has a defined duty to perform, for which he gets a fixed feward 5 and if any further token of appreciation it may be

ttia happiness or misfortune to receive on an occasion such as the present, it due either to hii own extra labours or to the kindness an 4 generosity of hit flock. To the Utter only I lay claim. Frankly do I »ay, and from no feigned spirit of humility, that I hare barely 'done my dnty, if even so much, during my term in Kumara. But the good people of this district have never allowed a priest to depart without manifesting in some tangible form their feelings of sorrow, because of his sacred character and of that undying attachment te the priesthood so peouliar to that race whence yon have sprung (hear, hear, and applause). Yes ; the Irish Catholic lovei the Irish priest, for he is in turn loved by him. And if proof were needed for this bold assertion, the present indiscriminate imprisonment of the clergy in that land of our affection establishes this truth beyond doubt. From north to south, from east to west—throughout the land — the minister of our holy faith, the troe seggarth arum, ia fearlessly fighting for that honoured cause which br*ve O'Brien ia now sacrificing bis very life to gain (loud applause). You have given me credit, in your too flattering address, for having spoken something to this effect. But I must confess you have unduly, though perhaps unconsciously, overrated my efforts. The cinse of our native land I have, to the utmost of my feeble ability, endeavoured to uphold ; and were I to act otherwise, I should be a traitor to yon and to that Gxl whom we all ndore (applause). It is certain, the Irish Catholics of Kumara, with few insignificant exceptions, have ever felt, and keenly too, the misfortunes of their oppressed brothers at Home, and this they have nobly proved. When was aid solicited that you did not respond with a generosity perhaps exceeding your means 1 Was it not in Kumara, unless I have bean incorrectly informed, that the first branch of the Land League, in now the NationaJ League, in New Zealand, was etartad ? (applause). I have witnessed your liberality towards every national movement ; and my esteemed friend, the Bey. Father M'Manus, who has come here this evening at such inconvenience, will heartily endorse these statements I have mads. Of his character as a priest, a patriot, a gentleman, no words of mine are required to convince you. Suffice it to say that as long as Kimara lives, so long will he live in the grateful remembrance of her grateful people (applause). Your present admirable priests will soon experience your «rorth, and will gain a repatation for integrity and true nationality— a reputation now so traceable throughout the parish of Abaura which they have just left. But I fear that I have overtaxed your patience. Let me say, in conclusion, that I am sincerely thankful for your address and testimonial ; that I will remember you with the deepest gratitude, and will ever pray that your generosity here may be rewarded hereafter by the all just sad generous God (loud and long-continued applause). I The Bey. Father M'Manus said : Mr. Chairman, Reverend Fathers, ladies and gentlemen , — It is with the greatest of pleasure 1 [ have endeavoured to be present at this celebration. Though it is not more than three years that I have been on the West Coast, it is the third presentation I have witnessed in this very hall (applause). For kind treatment of the priesthood, judging from my own experience, I must give the palm to Kam&ra. Io Father Walshe I have bad a worthy assistant, and I look btck with pleasure to the days spent in Kumara. Religion kaa in him a true, devoted, and zealous priest and patriot ; and Ireland will find in him a true and devoted friend (applause).

The Bar. Father O'Hallahan said : Mr. Chairman, Rev. Fathers, ladies and gentlemen, — It aff jrds me much pleasure to ba present to hear this beautiful address and presentation ; but it is always 80 with Catholics, and I mast say the people of Knmara are not behindhand. I can count five presentations made during the fire years I have been in the Colony, and there has been bo occasion in which the people have been more united than on the praaent. I hare been a three*and-a-half-years' personal friend of Father Walahe. I hope the time is not far distant when Ireland will be deolared a ftakion ooce again (applause). Father Laverty said: Mr. Chairman, Bay. Fathers, ladies and gentlemen, — I have little to add to what has been so aptly and eloqueatly said by the gentlemen who have just spoken , yet I cannot refrain from giving exprsssioo, at least in part, to my mingled feelings of joy aad satisfaction— joy at the ooDscieotions and zealous way io which my fiiend, Father Walshe, has discharged hip priestly duties for the two yean and a half that he has been here among you, and satislactvon at your noble, warm-hearted, and generous appreciation thereof.

For your testimonial, substantial is it is generoup, and your address., beautiful aa it is true in every lin«, presented ie the name of and by the Catholics, ooe and all, of the parish of Kumars, ia the pregeno/e of this vast assembly, are lasting preofs aot oaly of the love a*d esteem la which Father Walehe is and ever will be held by the people of this parish, but it proves, I s»y, beyond coa'radiction toat he has bean a holy and devoted priest and an ardent and loving Irishman — and that he has grasped the great philosophic truth, namely, that whatever may be said of other nations, the love of holy faith and love of country can never, never be separated in Irishmen. They are so bound up with one another, and with the genius and character, the history and traditions of the Irish race at home and abroad by the coarse of ages and by

the wise decrees of Heaven, that the Iriihmaa who denies or ge s

ashamed of his country makes • shipwreck of his faith, with himself and his children shortly after. Hence Father Walshs concluded rightly that tha twofold duty of the pritst is, by word and example to teach

men to l»ve the first cause — ris., God anl their holy faith — before

and above all things or beings and native land dearer than their lives. That Father Walehe acted up to Mb convictions and discharged

faithfully and well this great twofold duty, yoa men of Kumara bear

a williog aud unanimous testimony to-night. And, ladies bad gentlemen, I oannol tell you bow delighted I am to see you here in your huadreds, because it shows that neither length of time, nor distance of place, nor various associations has bean able to 000 lor dimmish your love for the faith or priesthood of St. Patrick. My most ardent wish and desire is, and always will be, that you and your children's children may ever remain so, and that my frieod, Father Walshe. may live many years to carry on the great work anil be au fttnamect to the priesthood (cheers).

The Rev. Father Walsbe said it was an oversight on his part in not having alluded to the engrossing of the address, which reflected great credit on the young person who wrote it. He also thanked the members of the Band, who had graced the proceedings. It was not necessary, perhaps, to acknowledge the kind allusions of the reverend gentlemen who had just spoken ; but he must express his thanks for having derived pleasure from mutual intercourse with them. The Rev. Father O'Hallahan bad spoken well in his favour. He rejoiced that he (Father O'Hallahan) had been elevated to this good position ; with the thundering young priest, Father Laverty, who hails lately from the Old Country (applause). Flattery is hurtful ; but truth is not flattery. The happiest year and a half was that spent with Father M'Manus. It was a continual eeison of pleasure and profit. He might add, Let by-gones be by-gones I and he only asked tbat they would let them be so also. May the people of Kumara live happy I •ad may they nourish, and their children walk in their footsteps 1 And may we all meet together in our Heavenly Home ! The Chairman here desired, on behalf of the congregation, to welcome their new parish priests, Fathers O'Hallahan and Laverty. He hoped they would give them a hearty welcome (loud cheers). The Rev. Father O'Hallahan thanked them for their compliment. He hoped they would always find them willing and ready to do tbeir duty. He thanked one and all for their kind sentiments.

A vote of thanks to the chairman and another selection by the band concluded the proceedings. " Address of the pupils of St. Patrick's school, Kumara to Rev. Father

Walsoe.

" Rev and dear Father. — Having beard of your intention to visit us to-day for the purpose of bidding us good-bye, we ventured to procure thii small token for your acceptance. We hope it will remind you of the children of St. Patrick's school.

" During the last two and a half years you have been in Kumara many of us had the happiness of making our first Communion, and of receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, after being carefully prepared and instructed by you. You have been at %\\ times most kind to üb, mixing in our amusements, and thus by your presence adding to our enjoyment. We shall not forget those attentions.

" For these accept our most grateful thanks and our cordial good wishes for your future happiness. As a memento of your last visit to us, we beg your blessing, and we sincerely pray that God may give you every grace necessary for the discharge of the duties of your holy office.

"Signed on behalf of the pupils Catherine Davies, Ellen Hamill, Susan Byan, Bridget Moran, Kate Warren, Maria Hassall, Denis Hannan, Mathew Gilbert, John Hamill, James Phelan, John O'Flaherty, Jose ph Mcßrearty. "St. Patrick's school, Kumara, Bth March 1879.'