DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH. DEPARTURE OF THE VERY REV. FATHER CUMMINGS, S.M., V.G.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 2, 13 May 1898, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH. DEPARTURE OF THE VERY REV. FATHER CUMMINGS, S.M., V.G.

PAREWELL GATHERING AND PRESENTATION. (From our Christchurch correspondent.) THE large audience, which gathered in the Opera House on Tuesday evening last to bid farewell to the Very Rev. Father Cummings on his departure from Christchurch in search of health, was a notable testimony b< th with the members of his own Chuich and with the public generally. Sir George Clifford presided, and on the platform were many priests from different parts of Canterbury, the Rev. Canon Knowles, Mr. Charles Louisson (Mayor of Christehumh.i, and other prominent citizens. The stage was effectively furnished and decorated by Mr. A. J. White. The programme began by Mr. H. Rossiter's orchestra playing the '" Boulanger March" very well. Mr. Maitland Gardner sang " Largo al Factotum " with such vivacity as to be encored. Miss J. Moir sang- Parker's " Houp la carina " very sweetly. Mr. C. Read's rendering of '-Tell her I lover her so" pruned him a recall. Misses Burke and Poff played a pianoforte duet, Mattel's "Grand Valse" pleasingly. Miss Mary Pender, in singing " Kathleen Mavourneen," showed that she has a good contcalto voice, and uses it effectively. She was encored, as was Mr. A. Miller for his forceful rendering of Bevan's •' Rose of the desert." An instrumental trio, Von Suppe's " Poet and Peasant," was admirably played by Signori A. Curcio and D. Spaddafora (violins) and T. Cerbasi (harp) who gained an enthusiastic double encore. After an interval Mr. Rossi ter's orchestra played his '• Onslow Waltz," and Sir George Clifford called on Mr. E. O'Connor, secretary of the committee, to read the address, and said that he wished to thank the ladies of the convent who had so beautifully illuminated it. Mr. O'Connor read the following address, which was handsomely bound in the form of an album, in crimson morocco, and enriched with tasteful illumination :—: — " To the Very Rev. Stephen Gumming-, S.M. (late Vicar-General of the diocese of Christchurch). Very Rev. and Dear Sir, — it was with extreme regret that we recently heard that, in consequence of ill-health, you were compelled to cease labour amongst us, and for

a time at least to leave New Zealand. Our sorrow for your departure is increased by the cause which produces our separation. The illnesß which you suffer has been chiefly indjeed by the sielf-saerificinff and zealous manner in which you have discharged the duties of your holy offioe during 1 the many years you laboured amongst us. More especially has this been the ease while you have administered the diocese in the absence of his liordship the Bishop. Your parishioners know, from the disinterested manner in which you have attended to their spiritual wants, lluit it is not to any recognition of theirs you look for your reward. But, nevertheless, the Catholics of Christchurch, and, indeed, of the whole diocese, would be wanting in gratitude if they aid not, in a» fitting a manner as possible, to?' 'her with the citizens of Christohureh, acknowledge their indebtedness to you, and their affection lor all you have done on their behalf, and al<-o in recognition of your many good qualities as a citizen. To all under your care you were a kind and considerate friend. On the eve of your departure it must be a source of great consolation to you to know that your labours have not been in vain. You have succeeded in almost clearing your parish of debt, and your incessant efforts and advocacy on behalf of Catholic education have been largely crowned with success. Our prayers and best wishes are yours for a speedy renewal of the strength you sacrificed in our interest. We earnestly hope that, relieved of your arduous arduous duties, you may speedily be restored to health. We assure you that nothing would please us better than your return to this diocese at no distant date to resume that work you have always had so much at heart, and which tended in so marked a degree to the advancement of our holy religion. Signed on behalf of the Catholcs of Christchurch, — Sir George Clifford, chairman ; E. O'Connor, secretary ; P. Burke, treasurer." Sir Ceorge Clifford said that he felt unfit to be the mouthpiece of the general sorrow which had been awakened by the departure of the Very Rev. Father Cummings. For eleven years Father Cummings had worked in Christchurch, and duringipart of the time, though he knew that his health was failing, he had carried on the work with the courage of a hero, who was as worthy of a Victoria Cross as the hero of Rorke's Drift. * ather Cummings had been a skilful administrator, and though he had come to the parish in troublous times, he was leaving 1 it in a greatly improved position. The debt on the parish had been nearly liquidated and large sums had been expended on education and on other good works. He had also been the sympathetic friend of his people in their daily lives, in sickness and in health, and a citizen with a broad-minded conception of his duty to the community. His going away was a great loss, and all would join in regretting it. If Father Cummings — who, throughout his career here, had achieved one great distinction, he had made no enemies and lost no friends — returned, he might be assured he would be welcomed with an ovation. The chairman then presented Father Cummings with a pocket-book containing a draft on the Bank of London, for the sum of £lf>2 2s (id. This amount does not include the subscriptions towards the testimonial, which are yet to come in, and which Mr. O'Connor will forward in a few days to Father Cummings. Mr. C. Loussion, who was warmly received on rising, said he had been called away to Tirnaru that day, but had managed to get back in order to add his testimony to the work of Father Cummings as a citizen. He had done his duty amongst them nobly and well, and all, not only his parishiomrs, but the citizens of Cnristchurch generally, were sorry to part with him. He (Mr. Loussion) had never heard Father Cumming'e name mentioned except something good was said about him. The testimonial and the address, valuable and beautiful as they were, were only ihe expression of that far more valuable testimonial which Father Cummings had gained in the hearts of the people. The Very Rev. Father Cummings, who was greeted with hearty applause, said that he felt perfectly humbled when he thought of all that had been rtcently done for him. He was not worthy of it (A Voice, " You are." Prolonged applause). He had grown to love the people of Christchurch, and the rich return from the few seeds of good he had beon able to sow here showed how favourable the soil was— how good the people of Christchurch were. He hoped that, if it were God's will, he might return to Canterbury to labour, even though in a humbler capacity. He must return his sincerest thauks to Sir Georga Clifford, the representative Catholic of the diocese — he might say of the Colony — (applause), and to Mr. Charles Louisson, Mayor of Christchurch. "Mr. Louisson," he said, '"haa t*aid that lam a good citizen. 1 hope all Catholics will follow the teachings of their Church and be good and loyal citizens. I myself am loyal and I will always be so (prolonged applause). lam very glad to see Canon Knowles present (applause). No one is truer to his faith than I am, but 1 have always tried to learn good from everybody, and in the Church of England there are a large number of noble, holy, good souls, and though we differ in points of religion, we must not differ in one thing that must unite us together, the golden rule of charity (applause). I must thank our ex-Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. T. Gapi>) for being present, the members of the committee, and the people of Christchurch. The poor, the sick, the children, and the yuun^ men have ever lived in my heart, and I hepe will dwell in the hearts of those who will succeed me. I will not say much about education, but if you do not educate your children in a Christian manner they will grow up a pagan nation. I a»"ain th.mk all most hetrtily, and my si mere prayer will ever be : '• God bless the people of Christohurch" (prolonged applause). Miss Lilian hmith. then sang '• The carnival'" so well as to be encored. Mr. Read sai.g " Bid me Lo love." Ihe Italian ti io played a selection, " 11 Trovatore," and the boys of the Mansi Brothers' school, under the I' ader^hip of Brother Arthur, sang Mendelssohn's '"Parting." Mr-i. C. ii'lgar and .Miss 1 . Pender wen very efficient accompanists. A vote of thanks to the chairman, moved by the Very Rev. Father Le M* nant d.±s Chesnais. V.G., closed the gathering. On Wednesday evening last the Very liev. Father Cummings left by the s s. " ilararca " for Sydney, whence he will proceed in one oi the Messageriea-Mantiuie's buats to London, where he will

arrive in about two months hence Several of the local clergy, also several members of the committee, and a large number of ladies antf gentlemen accompanied him to Port Lyttelton, and the Rev. Fathers Marnane and RaitVity went with him as far as Wellington. As the vessel moved slowly out of tho harbour at about 8 p.m., Father Cumminirp, who was very cheerful though evidently much fatigued and affucti d at parting Iro.n his people, returned the iarewell salutations of those who stood on the jetty to bid him a last farewell. FATHER CUMMINGS AND THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY. At the ordinary weekly meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, held on Wednesday evening, April 27, the Very Rev. Father Cummings, for many years spiritual director to the Society, took advanlngt 1 of the occasion to say farewell to the members. He said that it being the last opportunity offered him he would like to say a few woi'd-* before p'irtir<jf In eloquent terms he reviewed the work of the Society, and impressed upon his hearers the necessity of persevering in their efforts ot relieving to some extent tha wants of the sick, destitute, and troubled. From the poor, he said, he had learnt a great lesson, a lesson that teach' s in to imitate Chrisb. who : said "the poor we have always with us." He spoke of the virtues of St. Vincent de Paul, who laboured and suffered for the relief of the poor, the feiok, and the orphans. lie held that a gieat duty devolved upon tho Society in insisting on careless parents sending thfir children to Catholic schools, and as.>i--tin<.>- them, when necessary, iv incidental expenses, by so doing counteracting the, in some quarters, prevalent practice of sending children to State schools because of the imaginary cost of sending them to those of their own faith. He commended the Society lor the att ntion he always noticed members gave to cases brought under their notice. When on hia travels he intended visiting the conferences of Paris, London, Dublin, and elsewhere, and whilst relating to our confreres in those distant parta the work of St. Vincent going on in New Zealand, he would endeavour to gain information that would bo useful to this branch with whom he would keep in communication. In conclusion, he again expressed his great affection for the poor and his regret that through the will of God he was sorrowfully obliged to sever his connection with them, and the people of Christchurch generally, to whom he was so greatly attached. As a parting donation he handed the treasurer a substantial sum. Bro. E. O'Connor (President) said that for the past ten years the Society had held its own mainly owing to the assistance given by the Very Rev. Father Cummings and his Lordship the Bishop, adding that whenever the Rev. Father had made an appeal it had always been crowned with success. He thanked the Rev. Father, on behalf of the Brothers present and absent, for his generous action that night, incidentally remarking that the Society should be giving to him rather than receiving from him. but as they were merely the custodians of the goods of those whom he like his Divine Master, loved, there was no alternative but to accept. Bro. J. J. Wilson (Treasurer) wished to fully endorse all that the President had said. To speak of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul was to speak of the Very Rev. Father Cummings, who had always done his utmost for the Society. In his opinion the greatest favour they could show their la^e spiritual director in his absence would be to keep tho Society flourishing, and stated that it was never in a better condition than at present. Bros. Hennessey, Power, and Fox expressed deep sorrow at the Rev. Father's departure, and sincere wishes for a renewal of health and strength and a return to Christchurch to take up his duties again. The Very Rev. Father thanked the members for their kind wishes for hid welfare, and spoke of the virtues of his successor. adding that no matter what he (Father Cummings) had done the Very Rev. Father Le Menant would do more, having come amongst us in great vigour and full of health. He would be always glad to hear of the continued progress of the Society. The Very Rev. Father Le Menant de Chesnais said he could not listen to the words of Father Cummings without expressing his sorrow at parting. He would endeavour to imitate the example of his predecessor in orlice, entertaining as he did a great regard for the poor, and having established almost everywhere he. hud been a Society of St. Vincent de Paul. On behali of this branch ho had great pkasure in accepting from the Society the very handsome framtd picture of their patron saint that evening presented by the President.