H. A. C. B. S. H. A. C. B. S.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 3 August 1894, Page 27

H. A. C. B. S.

H. A. C. B. S.

The half yearly meeting of St Patrick's branch, No 192, was held in the echool-room, New Headford, Lincoln, on Thursday, J ,ly 12 h. Despite the inclemency of the weather and the prevalence of Influenzi, to which several persons ii this district have fallen victims, there was an unusually large attendance of m^rnberp, Bro B. O'Hork^, president, in th<? chair. Tb* balanc -sheet for the quarter ending, was real aid alopted. The members expressed their satisfaction on the steady increase of the funds of the branch, and complimented the out-going effijers on their exce.leat management during their term of office. One member w*s reported oo the Bick fund. The list of newly elected cilicers was then read by the secretary, after which the retiring president, Bro 0 Korke, rote and extended a very hearty welcome to the ladies and gentlemen who were present by invitation to witness the c j rem my of installation which would shortly be performed. Father Foley also expressed bis sense of pleasure at thi* new departure to invite fiicniig to be present with them on this in treating occasion. This was doubly gratifying to him :— Firstly, because the creoioay of in»Ulla'ion was a very imprees ye one — worded upon tiu'y Catbuho pnnciples ; •econdly, ag we must expect lecruits c uefly amongst the young mm of the parish, it is desirable that the fathers, mother*, aqJ sisters of our boys would witness and judge for themselves what a laudable •tcp their James has taken irj this rmmeatous period of his life. He on this account strongly exhorted all parents to advisj their sons in this direction, who would find it to their advantage from a gpiritu-tl and temporal point of view— for Done but practical Catholics were eligible as members. This first fundamental condition proved the genuineness of the colours of Hibernianism. If a member happened to be stricken down by illness or accident he received aid as a matter of justice out of the accumulated funds to enable h-m to procure medical advice, and take rest till he was agaia aMe to rp^ume hn former occupation. Besides, this being the on'y Catholic bjnifit Society in New Zealand, should be another incentive that all Ouhohc young men would avail themselves of becoming members in due time. Before sitting down, the rev speaker endorse i the welc me accorded the visitors by the retiring pu'sident, ami expressed a wish that on future occasions if a like character they would, in atill larger numbers, grace this hall by their presence. — Ceud yule farlte to the visitors. The installation ceremony was then read by the genial Past President Bro Doherty. The following are the names of thu newly elected : — President, Bro William Ryan ; vice-piesident, Bro Tuomas Henley ; secretary, Bro Richard Lloyd (re-elected) ; treasurer, Bio, K. O'Rorke ; warden, Bro P. O'Grady ; guardian, Bro M. O'Neill; sick visitors, Fathers Foley and Bro D. McVeigh. T.,e newly installed officers returned thanks to the members for the confi lence reposed in them, and promised to do all in their poorer tv leave as bright a record at the close of their effice as thai set them by their

worthy predecessors. The president and vice-president were commended bII round for the apt and eloquent ipeech in which they returned thanks.

Bro McTeigh, at the request of Father Foley, gave his experience i.f the advantage to be derived from membership. After tailing how the CH/CK'ty.came to be established in the parish he instanced a gentlenun who allowed himself to become unfimncial, and therefore lost Ins claim to bernfitH. Snuitly after a member of his family fell il 1 , and in tho course ot h few months the doctor's bill for attendance on he tick member coHt him upwards of £30. Many like incidents are met, vmh in oiher branches, therefore he had no hesitation in saying that every member would find it to his own interest to persevere after enrolment. Looking around him to-night he could not but feel p'easei to witness ao many good friends bidiing them, as it were by their presenc, God speed in their brotherly union. He regretted the absence of some gentlemen, who formerly were honoured members of this branch, and he hoped these gentlemen wou'd again allow themselves to be enrolled honorary members to keep up the ancient prestige of the Sojiey. Taia would be a red letter day in tl.a Society. The business of the meeting being now concluded Father Foley closed the meeting with the usu il prayer.

R. freshments, w!,hh ware provided by the wives and listers of membtrr, were now handed round by the ladies, and after Bsme Bongs, the members dispersed.