THE CLOSING CEREMONIES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 46, 17 November 1904, Page 2

THE CLOSING CEREMONIES

(From our own correspondent.) Melbourne, November 2. A paper of high interest to be looked for in the published volume is entitled ' The Pope on Ohurch Music' and was read on Friday afternoon by the Archbishop of Adelaide It is rare to lind the combination of qualities that go to •make this paper as interesting as/ it is important Dr O'Heily as a writer excels, and anything that comes from his. pen is invariably more than well wortn the reading. In all that relates to music the Archbishop is a specialist. His Grace's contribution to the subject with which he deals is invaluable. A Remarkably Able Paper was that lead on Friday evening by Dr. O'Donnell, on the Gaelic revival, ot which, as I'have already mentioned, the doctor is a zealous promoter. The plea entered lor the revival of the ancient tongue was supported by a telling appeal to the eftqets that had been pioduced by its use in the bygone years when it was generally spoken and the intellectual deterioration lhat had attended on its decadence. As an example that might be followed with advantage, the writer pointed especially to that of the Czechs, drawing from it, very practical conclusions. As an illustration of the paper a recitation in Irish was given, Mr. Waldron, the gentleman reciting, one who has spoken the language from his infancy, choosing tor the occasion some verses by the peasant-poet Raftery. Mr. Waldron did the verses ample justice, speaking expressively and with the genuine ' bias.' Both paper and recitation received enthusiastic applause. Archbishop Carr spoke highly in praise of Dr. O'Donnell's essay, summing up his encomium in the motto ' O'Donnell aboo.' His Grace added some eloquent words in appreciation of the old language, iamiliar to him'alsio from his childhood. On Saturday forenoon the sessions of the Congress were formally brought to a close. The resolutions

passed at the sectional meetings were put and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to all who had, in any way including personal attendance from a distance, given assistance to the Congress, beginning with the Governor-General anu Lady Northcote, was proposed by the Cardinal and carried by acclamation, as was also a \ote of thanks to Archbishop Carr and the visiting members ot the hierarcliy, p-oposed by his Eminence, excepting himself. The Archbishop of Melbourne, in supplying the omission and proposing a vote of thanks to the Cardinal, gave lus Eminence chief credit for the success that had been gained. The Cardinal, said his Grace, had first of all given them the idea of holding a Catholic Congress and afterwards exerted his influence in promoting the interests of the two Congresses xhjat had been held.

Both the Cardinal and the Archbishop expressed a very high appreciation of the services rendered to the Congress by the secretary, Dr. A. L. Kenny. His Eminence except ed the doctor from the better state of things that, he said in eflect, was to be taken for granted, as existing in the dying out of the jealousy that had prevailed between Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney, he said, was lealous of Melbourne in its possession of Dr. Kenny. The Archbishop told the meeting that no one but he (his Giace), unless Dean Phelan, knew all that had been done by Dr. Kenny and the time he had devoted to the work. The vote of thanks to the secretary proposed was carried by acclamation. In returning thanks Dr. Kenny said lus motto was that which he had learned at a Jesuit college, ' Ad majorem Dei gloriam,' to which he added the motive of the greatest good to the greatest number. His work had been to him a labor of love.

In St. Pati ick's Cathedral on Sunday the Archbishop took for the subject of his sermon the Congress and the results to be expected from the great success that had been achieved. In the evening Perosi's oratorio, 'n. he Transfiguration,' was given.

Although the Congress had terminated on Saturday, two events in connection with it remained to come off en Monday. The first of these was a visit in the afternoon to the Foundling Hospital, conducted at Broadmea'dows by the Sisteis of St. Joseph The district, situated some ten miles in a northerly direction from Melbourne, is pastoral, wide expanses of verdant lands extending as far as the eye can reach The buildings of the hospital are thus surrounded and stand in grounds well planted with shady trees The place is quite an ideal one tor the purpose to which it is devoted. Hut how shall I speak of the inmates— the gentle, self-sacrificing Sisiters and the little ones whose appearance testifies so unmistakably to the tender, watchful care bestowed upon them 7 No more beautiful or pathetic sight can be imagined, and it is impossible to see it without gnmg Gori thanks that such an institution so managed is in existence The second of the events spoken of was a social given to the members of the Congress in the evening by the Celtic Club ni their rooms in Elizabeth street The attendance both of ladies and gentlemen was very large, and the ppacious apartments' of the Club were taxed to their uttermost. An excellent programme had been prepared and the oerformance was in 1-eepmg with it I cannot refrain from making special mention of the touching sweetness with which the Irish song, ' The snowy-b'easted pearl,' was sung by one of the fair vocalists, Miss No rah O'Sullivan, arid what adHod to the pathos of the number was that the sweet singer was blind. Dr O'Donnell gained loud and well-deserved applause by plavine; on the violin, with piano accompaniment by Mrs. O'Donnell, an rid Irish hunting song, ending with the sniiiiod n^tes of the 'Fox-hunters' iig ' The entertainment formeti a fitting close for the hospital ltv which, throughout the week, the Club had shown towards the members of the Congress.