TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 28, 11 July 1901, Page 6

TIMARU.

(Trom our own correspondent.)

A very pleasant reunion was held in the Catholio Girls' Sohool a few evenings ago when the members of the Altar, Hibernian, Children or Mary, and tne Catholio Youug Jlen'a Societies met Rev. Father Tubman, and fittingly celebrated the feast of 8t John, the Rev. Father's patron saint. The room waa very tastefully arranged as a drawing room, and games of different kinds, interspersed with a musical programme, passed a pleasant evening. The ladies of the congregation were as usual to the fore, and succeeded in their efforts to make all present enjoy themselves. The Rev. Father Tubman knew nothing of the meeting until he was invited to it, and consequently was taken by surprise when he entered the room and was immediately presented with an address from the four societies mentioned. The address, which was as follows, was read by Mr M. Mahoney : 4 It is with feelings of intense pleasure that we, the members of the Children of Mary and Altar Societies, and of the Catholio Young Men's Club, sincerely hail your presence this evening, and we offer you our hearty congratulations on the occasion of your festal day. We are naturally reminded of the auspicious day when you sacrificed the world and its pleasurable attractions to the nobler and more sublime calling of the priesthood. Members of the different societies desire to cordially thank you for the prominent part yoa have always taken in furthering their interests, and rejoioing in the cherished heritage of unbending loyalty and devotion to the priesthood, You will be pleased to hear that the Yonng Men's Club numbers about 50, ail active and erthusiastic members. We all hope and trust that Providence will spare you to us for many years to come, and that yo". may continue to exercise those onerous, though to you pleasing duties, which have endeared you to the hearts of all your flock ; that at no distant date the cherished object of your hopes and ambition — the erection of a new church — will be an accomplished fact ; and that the edifice will be sufficiently commodious to meet the requirements of your large and increasing co/igregation ; and that it will be fittingly pretentious to be in harmony with the rest of the parish property. A very handsome dinner service was then presented to Father Tubman, and immediately after a boy belonging to the boys' school came forward and presented him with a neat little purse. Father Tubman, who was received with applause, expressed his sincere thanks to those who had done him such great honor that evening. Words failed him to express the gratitude he felt. He had not expected to meet with such a pleasant surprise that evening. He knew it was out of the kindness of their hearts that they had given him the presents, and he could assure them that he was deeply grateful for the kindly feeling which they had shown him. He had always taken a very great interest in their societies, as was mentioned in the address which they had given him, and he took a great deal of pride in them. There was no work done in the world by any one individual, but in union there was strength, and the societies in bringing the young people together were doing a good work. What they wanted in the church was united effort, and so long as they had that they must continue to flourish. It was a source of great satisfaction to him that they were able to maintain in a flourishing- condition two such schools as they had. This could not have been done had the people not been united as one. They paid as much as other members of the community towards the support of public schools, and in addition they maintained their own, and that in a very satisfactory way. He had BBked the inspector if he had anything to recommend, and the inspector had replied that he was pleased with things as they were. That was \ cry satisfactory. He had not yet heard the result of the examinations, but had no doubt but that the results would be satisfactory. The Altar Society, he must say, had done and was doing a good work, and when its records came to be handed down a grand report would be written of it. The young ladies were always to the fore in every good work. He was very pleased also to see the flourishing state of the Catholic Young Men's Club, for it was to their young men that tbey must look for support in the future, and he would be failing in his duty if he were not anxious for the boocess of this club. If the elder ones would forgive him for Baying so, he must own that he was proud of the present given him that night by the school boys. He considered it very kind and thoughtful of them to remember him as they had done, Once more he thanked them one and all for their beauiif ul presents, for which he was deeply grateful. During the evening the following contributed to an entertaining programme : — Miss Essie Fitzgerald, overture ; Miss Blandford and Miss M. Yenning, duet ; Mr D. McDonald, song ; Miss McKenna, song ; Mr J. O'Connor, song ; Mr Denneby, recitation ; Miss McGuinness, song. Miss McGuinness also played the accompaniments very tastefully. Bishop Julius of Christchurch preached a sermon at Christchurch on Sunday which has been considered by the agent of the Press association of sufficient importance to be telegraphed all over the Colony. The Timaru Herald, in a leading article has very smartly brought his Lordship to task, and has shown that it is not the first time that he has clearly demonstrated the absence of a ' level head.' It does seem infra dig. for a dignitary of the Anglican Church to so far forget himself as to become a champion of a society whose very existence depends on religions intolerance and bigotry. The Catholic Young Men's Club ia progressing very satisfactorily and by the large attendances at its meetings furnishes evidence that the amalgamation of the different olubs into one strong sodality was a step in the right direotion. The officers elected for

the term are taking a lively interest in the club's business, and the members are very regular in their attendance. The following are the officers: — President, Mr. P. Kane; vice-presidents, Messrs. M. F. Dennehy, and J. Dunne ; treasurer, Mr. N. Knight ; secretary, Mr. J. Vening ; committee, Messrs. T. and M. Mara, T. Gunn, M. Mahoney, E. Vening, A. G. Smith.