THE LATE DEAN KIRK

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 13, 31 March 1904, Page 19

THE LATE DEAN KIRK

(From our own correspondent.) Wanganui, March 25. After a long illness of eighteen months our devoted pastor, the Very Rev. Dean Kirk, passed quietly away on Tuesday night, March 22. Reference was made on Sunday to Ins critical condition by Very Rev Dean Crogan and Father o 'Sullivan, who acquainted the congregation wit/h the opinion oi his medical aidvisers urnt the end was not far off, and asked the people to prepare for the worst. This solemn announcement, though not quite unexpected, created profound grief among the people. In spite of all that medical skill could avail, Dean Kirk was called to his reward shortly after ten o'clock on Tuesday night. His death caused a gloom to settle on the whole community. He was beloved by all — Caflhohc and non-Catholic alike. The public press contained appreciative articles on his life and lablors in Wanganui, referring to him as a model priest and a distinguished citizen, and to his death as an irreparable losis to this city and district. At the usual Lenten devotions on Wednesday nigiht Rev. Father O'Sullivan said that he had known Uie late Dean Kirk for 32 years. Dean Kirk was assistant priest at St. Patrick's, Sydney, and it was his (Father O'Sullivan's) privilege to serve as an altarboy at hit, Mass. Now as a priest of the same society it had been his great joy to administer to Dean Kirk the last sacraments. On Thursday, the remailns were conveyed to the church, where they remained until the time of the funeral. Large numbers visited the church to pay their last tiifoute of love to the revered priest, arurt m|any faithful souls kept prayerful watch during The long hours of the night. At 9 o'clock on Friday morning Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, Very Rev. Dean McKenna (New Plymouth) being deacon, Rev Father O'Soillivan, subdeacon, and Rev. Father Tymons (Palmersion North) master of ceremonies. The spacious church was crowded, and am.ong the congregation were noticeable many of Wanganui's mt»st prominent citizens. Indeed, the attendance was representative of every denomination in town, showing jn a striking manner the high esteem in which our late Leloved pastor was held by the whole community. In adfditiotn to those already mentioned the following clergy were present : His Grace Archbisihop Hedwood, Very Rev. leather Lewis, V.G , Very Rev. Dean Grcgan (Wangaimn), Very Rev. Dean Binsfield (Meanee), Very Rev. Fathers Keoe;h (St Patrick's College), Symth (Hastings), and Power (Hawera), Rev 1 Dr Kennedy (Meanee), Rev. Fathers McGrath (Patea), O'Mara (Folding), Coslclloe (Marton), Lacroix (Mangaweka), Ainsworth, Holly, O'Shea, and Moloney (Wellington), T MicKenna (Pahiatua), Mai Hard (Opunake) and T. Dabdajh (Wellington). The solemn music of tlhe Mass was siiJrtg by a choir composed of sevei al of the visiting clcip,}", undei the leadersnip of the Rev. Father \i::s\vorth In keeping with the sad occasion the church was suitably draped wit/h black At Uie conclusion of the Mass, his Grace the Archbishop ascended the pulpit and addressed the large congregation Beiore we take these sacred remains to their resting-place (said his Grace) I have just a few words to address to you I feel, at this moment, mingjlicd Feelyngs of sorrow and of comfort and py. I experience — and I have no doubt all of you do also — feelings of gieat sorrow because the Church of God has lost in our dear departed friend a great minister of its altar, a gxeat apostle ot its Dnine truths and its holy ministrations The Society of Mary sorrows for the loss of a \ery distinguished, zealous, ajid devoted member Tins great congiegation sorrows for the loss of a dear pastor— one who Irulv lo\ed you and who spent his life for m>u, toiled and worked for you for about 29 years This city has lost a distinguished citizen, who was held in the highest esteem by a large ciulp of friends of oveiy denomination I might say the whole city sorrow to-day at the loss of one who w.is most, dear to all, on account of his high qualities, his gonial manner, his chanty and his devotedness to every good and holy cause I myself sorrow 1 to-day bc-cai-sc I, too, have lost an old and true friend, a trusty and wise ad\i4T But while we so sorrow, our hearts are not loft dry without consolation. We have, indeed, threat comfort and consolation and gladness to thuik that the soul has left us has now gone forth as a victor after the battle to receive the victor's crown That scxii 1 has gone forth as an exile, far remo/ved from his faUierhnnd to take possession of his esteemed home to be an intercessor for you, and to bring down upon j r ou moie blessings fiom his throne on high t/han he showered down upon you by his arduous, patient, and King ministration.

I halve had the prhilege of knowing the late Dean Kirfc for about 35 years. He was torn in that land of saints, in the County of Monaghan, Ireland. He was brought up in a virtuous manner by good parents, instructed in his holy religion and received joy and happiness in the service of God. He wished to become a priest, to consecrate' his talents to the service of God for the whole of his life-tfrne While he was studying he heard of flic Society of Mary anil its doings in "distant lands, e\en among savages, and he longed to be a member. He came, therefore, to prepare himself for 1-hd.t ijuipu.se as a novice, as a student, and 11 was in that capacity that he came in contact with me, and I umy say tiiat, as a novice, as a student, he was always a model member of the society to which he belonged. And then he had his wish gratified when his Supeiior sent him far away from his old home in Sydney, where he was assistant priest at St. Patrick's tor abiout three years. Meanwhile I still remained m Ireland a Professor of theology, until I was appointed successor to the first Bisihop of Wellington I came out with one priest only, and we went as far as Melbourne, and then took the steamer for New Zealand I was in communication with Father Kirk in Sydney, and he asked ihis superior to allow him to devote his services to my diocese in New Zealand. Three priests— Fathers Carew, Mahoney, and Yardin— now of Meanee— had just come to Sydney, and it was a good opportunity for Fatihej Kirk to accompany them to New Zealand. So in 1875 he came to New Zealand, and as T wanted a priest for Wanganui I sent him here, knowing his -/eal and devotedness . I now see that I did well, that I was well guided in that choice, and be has been here working in your midst almost for 29 years Who could tell all the xeal of that devoted heart ? See what he has done around you ! Witness the marks of that ?oal in the works he has accomplished ' This beautiful church which he built and afterwards enlarged on the rums of the church he found here. The convent that he raised in your midst, and the Order of nuns which he was successful in founding and which has been so useful to you and to other parishes of the archdiocese See what he has done for your schools and for the orphans, the properties he has acquired for you Thp Brothers' school, for instance— a fine pro,pcTiv ' Look around and everywhere you will see the marks of his zeal.

Father Kirk had a frail constitution, in fact he was kept back in his studies for the priesthood two years on account of his health. He was never robust in any way, yet he never spared himself in his labors in your interests. He worked in your midst and he became reduced by sickness to a mere shadow of his former self, but he never failed to be here on Sunday morning He missed only one Sunday in the 18 months of his trying sickness What strength of will was there in his weak frame, what determination to do v>is duty at any "ost, to spend himself and be spent in your service Concluding, his Grace said :We now say to him farewell — farewell, indeed, true father, lo'vine; pastor, affectionate friend, wise guide, farewell, until we moot m the better world to sine: together for all Merniiv tho dory of Jes/us Christ, the glory of the Ilbly Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

At 10 45 the large funeral procession loft the church and wended its wav to tho cemetery Tho Greets yore crowded, and never before has there been a li.ke eathering; in Wanpanui The order was as follows Boys of the Marist Brothers' Soh'ool • girls of the convent and St. Jlosonh's Schools ; Children of Mary ; Tnsh lines (of which the Lite Dea-n was hon. chaplain) , the Sisters of St Joseph ; the clergy • carriage containing Archbishop Redwood, Archdeacon Devov, and A T orv Rp.v Father Lewis , hearse ; ladies of the congregation ; general public

At the entrance to the cemetery the Irisih Rifles drew nn in two lines, through which the procession parsed The pall-bearers were Messrs. T. Lloytl. R. T. Nohl^-TCeaslev, G McCullorh, J. Derrvnsev. T Wixcev, A McDonald, M Folev, E. KoDrev, D MeLenttan, IT E" A v^s, TCloa/e', J Donovan, F Nevlon, and .To^pnfi Purcell The service at the graveside was conducted by his Grace the Archbishop, and the assembled clergy sanr the ' Beredictus '

The Very Rev. Dean Orogan snoke a carting word I T e thanked the Archbishop. Archdeacon Devov, and Ihe visiting clerfv who bad put themselves to treat into attend the Requiem Mass anrl funeral He also thanked the people of Wanpanni for their kinrlne'ss during the late Dean Kirk's trvin? illness, and also since his decease. He wished particularly to thank the press for their appreciative references during the great trial they had all undergone.