Silver Jubilee of Dean Smyth, Hastings

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 36, 3 September 1903, Page 5

Silver Jubilee of Dean Smyth, Hastings

The Catholic school, Hastings (says the local paper), was crowded on Tuesday evening, not only by members of the Catholic congregations, but also by representatives of other denominations to do honor to the Very Rev. Dean Smyth, S.M., on the attainment of his silver jubilee as a priest, and also to assist in presenting him with an address and purse of sovereigns to mark the esteem in which he is held by all classes of the community The school was artistically arranged and the walls draped with banners and evergreens, whilst Chinese lanterns swayed from the roof, and the stage surroundings were set forth in blue and silver, the tout ensemble having a most admirable eflect and reflecting the highest credit on the Sisters, who spared no pains over the details. On the stage were also the gold chalice and silver gilt ciborium, valued at £40, presented on Friday to the Very Rev. Dean by the Catholic school children besides a surplice fringed with lace, worked by the nuns, and an alb, trimmed with Limerick lace, the gift of the Sisters. In the front of the stage the Very Rev. Dean was seated, supported on the right by the \en Aichdeacon Devoy, and on the left by the Very Rev Father Lewis, V.G. The other priests present were : Rev. Fathers Yardin, T. McKenna, O^'Shea, McNamara, Ainsworlh, and Rev. Dr. Kennedy. The Mayor (Mr. W. Y. Dennett), who presided, read apologies liom Sir William Russell, M.H.R., and Mr. A. L D Frascr, Mll R., regretting their unavoidable absence Continuing, he said :— We have met this evening as a little social gathering to do honor to our worthy and much-respected parish pnest, Dean Smyth, and to congratulate him on attaining the silver jubilee of his priesthood, seventeen years of which have been spent in our midst, laboring both for our temporal and spiritual welfare. There is a good and tiue saying which is very appropriate on this occasion, \i/ , 'By their works ye shall know them.' Seventeen yeais ago, when Father Smyth took chaige of this parish, theie were not many buildings on this block of land. The present old building, now doing duty as a boys' school,, was our lit Lie chapel, but, in the course of time, A had lo take a back place to make room for something better, and there has arisen in its stead one of the prettiest little churches to be found in New Zealand. There is a good presbytery, with beautiful grounds, a substantial and up-to-date convent, and those commodious school buildings we are now in. All those stand out as monuments of our revered Father's good works, his eneigy and enterprise, which will make his memory shine c\cr \ery brightly in our hearts. Certainly he has had your co-operation and assistance, but it was he who devised and schemed, and it was by his strenuous exertions that the works were carried out. They are not only a credit to the parish, but an ornament to the borough of Hastings, and we look upon them with pride. But as proud as we are of them, prouder still are we of our beloved priest, whom we all reverence, love, and esteem. We are not, however, ungrateful, and to-night we will prove this, not only by kindly words, but by actions and deeds. The Address. The Mayor then read the following address :— ' Very Revered and dear Father,— Upon the occasion of the silver jubilee of your priesthood, your parishioners desire to express their joy that you have been spared to celebrate so happy an event. When we remember that for seventeen years you have been in charge of the parish, our priest, adviser, and consoler, we are bound in affection and gratitude, to acknowledge, although the words be feeble, the place which you hold in our hearts. How many hundreds, aye thousands of souls had been blessed by your ministry. The church, the convent and schools will be an abiding monument of your work ; but they will not be more permanent than our remembrance and esteem and love. We pray for the blessing- of God upon you that He may grant you life and health and grace to do His will, and that you may see more and more fruitfully the result of your labors.'

I have a pleasant duty to perform, and am thankful for having "the honor of doing it (continued the Mayor). On behalf of the congregation of Hastings and Clive allow me to present you with this purse of sovereigns. It is a memento of this auspicious occasion, and I can assure you it poorly represents the great wealth of regard and esteem which we all have for you. It has been subscribed freely and willingly, and I can assure you it is accompanied by good wishes and kindly feelings from the bottom of the hearts of the givers, which, to my mind, are more valuable than the gold this purse contains. Since you have sojourned amongst us you have been to us as a father to his children, and treated us with that affection and love which has made a very deep impression on our hearts. I am safe in saying that I voice the sentiments and feelings of every lady and gentleman present in wishing you long life, good health and happiness, and it is our sincere prayer that Almighty God may spare you to celebrate your golden jubilee amongst us. Dean Smyth's Reply. Very Rev. Dean Smyth, in replying, said that the proceedings of the last few days reminded him of the old Latin motto, 'De mortuis nil nisi bonum.' It seemed to him in listening to all the kind things lately said that they must be talking of someone else, and that he must be dead, and that the people were observing the spirit of the terse Latin motto. It had been a continuous strain of praise. His imagination had run away with him for the time, and he almost thought he must be deceased and that the Archbishop had made Father Galerne parish priest— perhaps this was only an anticipation. However, he had assured himself that he was still alive, but undergoing an ordeal of kindness, which would nerve him for further exertions. He could not find words to fully give expression to his feelings for all that had been said and done. Dean Smyth then gave a resume of his career, detailed his ordination by the Archbishop of Armagh, spoke of his life as a student, and of the careers of his fellow-students. All, he said, had their special ambition. Many had since distinguished themselves in literature, science, an»d art, and other walks of life. A priest, too, may have his ambitions to carry out properly his work in the Church, and may even fairly hope for distinction in the Church. He had not desired or expected the honor of a deanship, but as the Archbishop had said that he had earned it, it would not be for him to refuse it as it would be contradicting his Grace. Father Smyth, alluding to the purse of sovereigns, said that the wish had been expressed that he might see his golden jubilee. He hoped so too. But in one sense he had already enjoyed both the silver and golden jubilee by their handsome presents. Dean Smyth spoke at some length upon his mission in Hastings since his arrival here on January 30, 1886. He gave a resume of the cost of the various buildings. The presbytery had cost £730 ; altering old church for school purposes, £100 ; school buildings, £1170 ; convent, £1400 ; and church, £3300. He concluded by repeating his deep gratitude, to the clergy who had come, some of them great distances, to do him honor, to the congregation for their presents and affectionate sentiments to him, and last and perhaps greatest, to the Sisters and children whose beautiful present and ciborium and address had filled him with holy joy and holy pride. The Mayor then made a presentation of a silvermounted walking stick to Father Galerne, as a mark of the parishioners' esteem during the short time he had been amongst them. The Rev. Father Galerne acknowledged the gift in suitable terms. During the evening the following rendered vocal and instrumental items : Mr. McDuff Boyd's orchestra, Misses Caulton and Vickers, Mesdames Woolley and McDuff Boyd, Father Galerne, Messrt. W. "Vickers, McDuff Boyd, A. L. Ryan, and Father Ainsworth. ...At the conclusion of the programme the ladies of the congregation waited on those present with light refreshments, consisting of tea and coflee and delightful confectionary and fruit, which were greatly appreciated. Sunday, August 23, being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the ordination to the priesthood of the Very Rev. Dean Smyth (says the ' Hastings Standard ') Solemn High Mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church at 11 o'clock. Very Rev. Dean Smyth was celebrant, Rev. Father Huault deacon, and Rev. Father Lazaire sub-deacon. Among the clergy present were the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy and Very Rev. Father Lewis, V.G. Rev. Father Galerne assisted the choir, who sang Farmer's Mass in B flat. The sermon was preached by Archdeacon Devoy, who took for his text, ' Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.' The preacher dwelt on the dignity and duties of the priesthood. They were there, he said, to assist at the silver jubilee of Father Smyth. Of the twenty-five years he had held the sacerdotal dignity, seventeen years, with only a short interval, had been spent in the parish of Hastings. It was a subject of rejoicing, not only among

i,™ P m nshlon f r ; s , of Hastings,, but also amongst the entire clergy of the archdiocese, that after so mucti arduous and anxious work he was still in possession of health and strength to go on with the good work. The proofs of his zeal and energy were all around them, in the magnificent church, the presbytery, the schools, and the convent. Father Smyth could only say with the Psalmist, I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of Thy house.' These works were a standing memorial not only to his labors in the parish but also to the co-operation of the parishl?ft?% .. Arc WW e aeon Devoy sUted that his frlendship with Father Smyth had commenced 35 years ago. when they were students together, both in Ireland and France «™ + £ c (^^eacon Devoy) had assisted at Father bmyth s- first Mass, and had bade him * good-bye ' on his departure for America, little thinking that they would be working together in distant New Zealand. The preacher concluded by hoping that Father Smyth would celebrate >is golden jubilee. After the Mass the Vicar-General of the archdiocese (Father Lewis) stated that Archbishop Redwood had charged him to tell them that he wished to join them in the congratulation to Father Smyth, and as a token of his Grace's appreciation of Father Smyth's long and valuable services a letter was read from the Archbishop formally appointing him Dean of Hastings, father Smyth, who was much affected, replied briefly, accepting, with gratitude, both the congratulations of the clergy and laity, and the honor conferred on him by the Archbishop. In the evening there were solemn Vespers and Benediction, with a sermon by the Very Rev. Father Lewis.