THE NEW COMMONWEALTH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 4, 24 January 1901, Page 10

THE NEW COMMONWEALTH.

ADDRESS BY THE HIERARCHY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. Ok Saturday, January f>, his Eminence the Cardinal presented at Government House an address to his Excellency Lord Hopetoun, on behalf of the Hierarchy of New South Wales. Accompanying the Cardinal were his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne ; the Right Rev. Dr. Murray, Bishop of Maitland ; the Right Rev. Dr. Doyle, Bishop of Liamore ; the Right Rev. Dr. Gallagher, Bishop of Goulburn ; and the Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran. Tho address, which wa» iienliy illunUaUal 1^ {.Lo Sacred Heart nuns, Rose Bay was a' follows :—: — * May it please your E^cdlcuoy,— On the part of the Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, and clergy of Australia, it is my privilege on this auspicious occasion to present to you as the representative of her Most Gracious Majesty and first Governor-General of the Australasian Commonwealth this expression of our devoted homage, and to accord you a most hearty welcome. In the Commonwealth which you have come to inaugurate, the aspirations and fond desires of Australian patriots, past and present, are at length realised, and Australia, arrayed in the freshness of freedom and the vigor of youth, yet unimpaired in her affection to the Sovereign and in her loyalty to the throne, enters on the glorious career that destiny has marked out for her. It will be our constant prayer that, through the blessing of Divine Providence, prosperity and peace may never oease to smile upon this Australian Commonwealth, and that for ages yet to run it may uninterruptedly pursue the pleasant paths of Christian enlightenment and genuine progress. May it ever stand erect before the world, a beacon and a model to other nations by the devotedness and energy and harmony of all classes of its citizens, the loyalty and patriotism of its sons, and the virtuous deed of all its children. Once more we offer your Excellency a hearty welcome, and we trust and pray that your administration, by its beneficent measures and brilliant results, may assert its place as a golden page in Australian history, and that every happiness may attend you during your stay in this fair land. Signed on behalf of the Catholic Archbishops, Bishops, and olergy of Australia. * Patrick F. Cardinal Moran, Archbishop of Sydney. 'Ihe Governor-General replied :—: — To his Eminence the Cardinal- Archbishop of Australia. Your Eminence —I received with very great pleasure the address whioh you have just presented, and most cordially accept the expressions of welcome and the good wishes which it contains. lam further gratified to receive your assurance of the continued loyalty and devotion to her Most Gracious Majesty of the members of the great Roman Catholic Church resident in these portions of her dominions. I am fully aware of the vast aid lent by the members of your denomination in securing the consummation of this great work of the federation of the Australian colonies, and I join with you in th<3 fervent hoje that the new era upon which we are just entering may be marked from the outtet by the social advancement and the spiritual well-being of the people of the Commonwealth. lam d'eply a n-inle of the heavy responsibilities attaching to the high < rli c of the first Governor-General of the Commonwealth, but the knowledge that I have, in the fulfilment of my many difficult duties, the assistance of your prayers will always tend to cheer, help, and support me. For your good wishes for ray future welfare pray accept my v o »t heartfelt thanks.