RETURN OF THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 5, 18 November 1892, Page 18

RETURN OF THE BISHOP OF AUCKLAND.

Tesj following is the text of the addresses presented to the Most Key Dr Luck the other day on hie return from Europe. In our last issue we gave the substance of his Lordship's reply :— * To the Bight Bey Dr Luck, Lord Bißhop of Auckland. ° May it please your Lordship,— We, the clergy and laity of the dioceso of Auckland, respectfully tender to you the expressions of our sincere homage and affection, and cordially welcome youoo your return toy your episcopal city. Daring the interval which has elapsed since your departure from us, we have followed with loving interest your travels through Italy and other countries of Europe, whither your zeal for our spiritual and temporal welfare led you. la Bpirit we accompanied you to the feet of the Supreme Pontiff, the illnstrions Pope Leo XIII., and we are united with your Lordship in your processions of undying allegiance to our Holy Father, and in your emphatic protest against the unjust spoliation of the Holy See, and the indignities with which Christ's vicar has been treated. Keen was our grief when we learned that your Lordship was stricken down with severe illness, and fervent were our prayers to Almighty God to avert a calamity which threateaed to deprive us of oar chief pastor. With painful anxiety we awaited the tidings of jour recovery, and in the glow of this day's rejoicing, we aia not unmindful of our debt of gratitude to God for granting us, on your Lordship's safe return, the realisation of our hopes and prayers. Thanking you for your unceasing labours for our welfare, and wishing you ad multot et plenos annos, we humbly beg your Lardship's blessing." Signed on behalf of the clergy : James Paul, V.G., Administrator of the Diocese of Auckland ;J. J. Hackett, J. Cutbbert Downey, 0.5.8. ; D. Osmond Egan, 0.5.3. ; Geo. M. Lenihan, G. H. Gillan, and Thomas Doyle. Signed on behalf of the laity by P. Dignan, J. A. Tole, Charles Canning, F. Kilfoyle, John McGnire, Michael Fallon, P. Darby, M. J. Sheahan, P. Brophy, James 83. Leahy, Francis Greene, D. G. Macdonnell, Edward Kelly, Nicholas Hutchison, and J. T. Boylan. The following is the address presented by the members of the H.A.0.8. Society :— " We, the officers and members of the Auckland Branch of the Hibernian Society, approach jonr Lordship with feelings of profound respect, to express through you our loyalty and fidelity to the Holy See. It is with glad hearts that we to-day offer you cead millefailthe. We followed you in spirit when you visited that dear old land to which the majority of us owe our birtb, and the boly faith to which our forefathers adhered through centuries of bitter trial. As love of country is next to that of creed, we ever cherish its memory with fondest recollection. Bemembering your ardent zeal, and mindful of the many hardships to which, notwithstanding your delicate health, you exposed yourself in the interests of your people, out anxiety grew deeper, and more intense oar earnest hopes for your safe return. We thank God for your happy arrival, and pray that your Lordship may be long spared to exercise that paternal care over our spiritual interests. That our Society, whose principles are the inculcation of true morality and love of our fellow-men, may prove an auxiliary in carrying on the work of salvation so dear to your heart is our fondest ■desire. In conclusion, we humbly beg for ourselves and our Society your Lordship's prayers and blessing.— P. J. Nerbeny, president ; J. ■3. Dobbs, vice-president ; Daniel Flynn, treasurer ; William Kane, secretary." The following is the address of the Literary and Debating Society :— B "To the Bight Bey Dr Luck, 0.5.8., Bishop of Auckland, « May it please your Lordship,— With heartfelt rejoicing we, the members of the Aucklaud Catholic Literary and Debating Society, welcome you to-day. In yoar Lordship we recognise not only the sacred character of Bishop, but a distinguished representative of the renowned Order established by that great saint in whom the early Christian Church fouad a pillar of strength, and to whom almost all the countries of Europe owe their Christianity and civilisation. Filled with the spirit of their holy founders and edified by his example, the Benedictine Monks went forth scattering the treasures of their own intellect, pouring their own oil into the famished lamps of science, enkindling the fire of faith in the Church, fostering everywhere the love of religion and learning, and reconstructing European society oh the true basis of civilisation. Tbat zeal and solicitude for the'advaucement of trmnedueation which distinguished the glorious Father of Western Mouasticism and his illustrious followers, has been

displayed by yoar Lordship ever since you came amongst us, not only in the establishment of well-equipped schools, but in your eloquent and constant exhortations on behalf of those two great ends foi which our Society was established— spiritual advancement and intellectual culture. Praying God to grant you strength and length of years to accomplish the work so successfully began and already so abundantly blessed by heaven.— We remain, your Lordship's obedient children in Christ.— (Signed on behalf of the members) Wm. E. Hackett, vice-president ; John J. Daly, treasurer ; Jas. B. R. Stead, hon sic." The following is the address of the League of the Gross :— " To the Rigbt Bey J. E. Luck, D.D., 0.5.8., Bishop of Auckland. " May it please your Lordship,— With feelings of joy and gratitude, we, members of the Auckland League of the Cross, tender you, a hearty welcome on yoar return to your diocese, after a protracted absence, during wbich yon have been devoting yourself unreservedly to the furtherance of che interests of religion in our midst, and we rejoice in the thought that your mission has been crowned with wellmerited success. It will, we Cael certain, be most gratifying to your Lordship to learn that the League of the Cross, on whose establish* ment in tbis city, some five years ago, you deigned to bestow your blessing, continues to flourish and to take deep root, and to Bpread among your devoted flock. Thanks, no doubt, to the fostering care of your Lordship, and to the indefatigable zeal and self-sacrifioe of our beloved president, the Very Bey Father Hackett, recently a juvenile branch of the League, with 150 members, has been established. While here professing our attachment to your Lordship, we avail ourselves of this opportunity to proclaim our undying fidelity to the holy and Apostolic Sea, and to its present illnstrious occupant our Holy Father Leo XIII., now so cruelly persecuted by the enemies of religion and of society, and despoiled of the patrimony of St Peter by the revolutionary hordes of young Italy, against whioh spoliation we most emphatically protest. In conclusion, we pray the Giver of every best gift to grant your Lordfhip many years of health and strength to labour for bis greater glory and the salvation of souls in this diocese. Begging your Lordship's blessing.— We remain, your Lordship's devoted children, the members of the League of the Cross Signed on behalf of the members : Michael Tubberty, V.P. ; Frank D. J. Buckley, hon secretary ; Mary E. Nolan, hon treasurer.