PRESENTATION TO BISHOP VERDON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 32, 17 December 1897, Page 18

PRESENTATION TO BISHOP VERDON.

A i the conclusion o" Yesporrs at St Joseph's Cathedral last night, the landau built tit Mr. Robin's f ictory. and which for beauty of design and Hrst-claxs workmanship is as near perfect as possible and a pair of first-class c irriaire horses were formally presented, on Ik hall of the Catholics of the community, to Bishop Verdon, MessiN .1. 15. Callan, F. Mcenan. .1. Lisbon, M. Tynan and J. Blaney assembled in tiic sanctuary and presented an artistically illuminated addri's-, printed on satin. It was read by Mr. Callan, and couched in the iollowing terms :—: —

" Addiess to the Most Rev. M. Verdon, D.D., lttshop of Dunedin. My Lord. — We, the children of your Lordship's diocese, both lay and t-leiic, ha\e. ior a long time past, felt that it has been a great want in tin- diocese that the Bishop has not been provided long ago with a moans of travelling in and around Dunedin suitable to his pu-.it ion. T.ikinu ;u!\;ui(,ige ot tho anniversary of your appointment to tliis diocese, the clergy and laity met together and resolved thai this want should no longer exist. They have, therefore, purchased a carriage and pair of hordes, which they desire to present to your Lordship. In making this offering it is our belief that its use in tins city ol hills will help to prolong your Lordship's life and greatly add to your comfort and convenience in carrying on the active work of the diocese. We hope that you may long be spared to go about amongst v*. and trust that you will accept this offering 1 as an earnest of our desire to loyally co-operate with jour Lord-hip in nil your undertakings, whether on behalf of the Christian education of our children or for the promotion of our most holy faith. — Signed on behalf of the clergy and laity, Rev. P. Murphy. .1. 15. Callan. F. Mcenan, ,1. Liston.J. Blaney, M. Tvnan. December 12, 18!>7."

JUshop Verdon. in reply, said : My dear friends, — It is with no ordinary feeling- of gratiJieiirion that I endeavour to discharge the duty of replying to your address this evening. In res-pectful and aftectionate language you have asked me to accept a magnificent, a mos-t valuable j; it t. i accept your gift with deep feelings of gratitude, and I accept it all the more willingly because it is not the gift of a lew special friends, but the generous offering of all the Catholics of the city ot Dunedin. I accept it as a token of your respect and reverence for the episcopal office, and as a proof of your loyalty to the spiritual ruler of this diocese. 1 am conscious of my many shortcoming*, but I bhould be ungratelul indeed if I did not recognise and publicly acknowledge that I have received marks of the most respectful attention from all the members of my flock, and that a generous, warm-hearted welcome has been extended to me wherever I have gone since I came to this diocese. This is not due to any merit on my part : it must be attributed to the admirable spirit that prevails in this diocese. We have here, indeed, as devoted a body of clergy and us exemplary a body of faithful laity as could be

found in any part of the world ; the priests are all loyal to .their Bishop, and the pastors and the people ore all working moßt harmoniously; together. This happy state of affairs has been brought about by the wise administration of my illustrious praleuessor, your late beloved Bishop. He was a true Bishop — a holy, enlightened and zealous Bishop. He gave you a bright example of every priestly virtue, and he taught you to look up to your Bishop with affection and reverence. Tie it was who gatheied the priests and people round their chief pastor and united them so closely together. God grant that this union may continue for ever. When priests and people are united together, and when they rally round their Bishop and encourage him to push forward, the cause of leligion and truth must triumph. Your valuable gift will, as you hope, enable me to do much of my work more conveniently. It will also enable me to do something that might not be accomplished without it ; and if, as you affectionately desire, it will add days to my life, you must pray that I may use those days widely and may employ them all in the faithful discharge of my duties. Again I thank you most sincerely for your precious gift, and I earnestly pray and confidently hope that God will reward you for your filial devotion and for your unswerving fidelity.