Farewell to Bishop Higgins at Rockhampton

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 22, 1 June 1905, Page 29

Farewell to Bishop Higgins at Rockhampton

On Tuesday, May 9, St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rockhamptoti| iwas the scene of a memorable farewell to the Right Rev. Dr. Higgins, now Bishop of Ballarat. Addresses were read from the clergy, laity, H.A.C.B. Soaiety, the Children of Mary, Altar Society, anS pupils of the Christian Brothers' schools, anid a reply by his Lordship,, worthy of the occasion and of the departing prelate, brought to a conclusion a meeting tjhe memory of wihitfh and of their Bishop t|he people of Rockhamiption shall never forget. There was a large attendance of the clergy, whilst the sacred edifice was crowded with the laity. The Very Rev. Father M. Walsh (Townsville) read the address from the clergy, and Mr. T. Kelly that from the laity of the diocese. In the course of his reply his Lordship said : It becomes my fluty to a/dd that what I received from you, who were the more constant object of my care, I Had the happliness of meeting at every stage of my travels through your extensive diocese, I found the same reverence for my office and the same respect for myself, the same 'deference to my wishes, and generous co-oper-ation in Church work, the same spirit of self-sacrifice and the same fidelity in the fulfilment of religious duties, and, I bhall add,, the same plenteous harvest of spiritual fruit. At the head of such a people, ' those religious and educational works ' which you credit to me were found easy of accomplishment. My part in them was* small indeed. It was the loyal 'co-operation and untiring zeal of my goo<l priests, who were more often the leaders in the movement than myself ; it was the generous spitrit of the people, who often forgot personal need 9in their desire to promote the good cause, that have raised up these ecclesiastical structures to which you refer, and which are to-day producing hopeful fruit in their respective centres. This development of Church work was not confined to important centres like yours. Every parisih, from Gladstone in the south, to Longreach and Winton in the West, Richmond and Ilughenden and Charters Towers in the north, Mackay, Bowen, and Townsville on the seaboard, all assumed their part in the movement, so that to-day every township with a priest has a convent of teaching Sisters, except one, and every centlre of population has a church except three, and I am happy to add that provision has already been made for a speedy supply of these latter wants. Perhaps it may interest you to be further told that the efforts of the Catholics of this diocese during the last six years haAe resulted in the erection of twenty-five churches — twenty-two of which are humble structures no doubt, but sufficient to meet the needs of their district ; twehe Catholic schools, of which eight are also schoolchurcheP ; eight convents for teaching Sisters ; one residence for teaching Brothers ; and five presbyteries ; and that three small churohes arid two consents are in course of construction. I need hardly remind you that all this demanded the exercise of generosity on the part of the Catholic body , and whan we reflect on the unfavorable conditions under which it was called into play, the long-continued and widespread depression of these six years, t<he losses in stock and agricultural produce, the shrinkage in trade and commerce,' and the consequent diminution of revenue that miust have been felt by every section of the community, works such as these bespeak a devotion to the interests of religion, wnich should compare not unfa\ orably with that of our 00-religionists in any part of the Australian Common wealth. In concluding, his Lorasnip said : I feel that I should not close these remarks without some pasSing reference to that spirit of liberality and goodwill which has ever animated all sections of our community, irrespective of creed or clas«. Sectarian prejudice and ill-will, whioh sometimes disturbs the social peace of other communities, seem to T)e unknown in Roolfaannp'tan, or, at least, to recefv r e no encour'a&emeint from its broad-minclod citizens. I shall' carry away with me pleasi'n/e: memories of lall this— pleasing, memories of my social intercourse, perhaps I might say my friendly intercourse, with many who wete n(ot members of my Ohurch, but who never allowed the question of religion to interfere with the kindness iand goodwill with which they honored me, and nerHianfc II oa-rtnot ocmchide better than to express the hope tlhat the demon of religious strife may never be allowed to disturb thlose haopy relations which it ffhould be the djuty of every Christian man to cherish. It only remains for me to express the earnest wish and prayer that every temporal and spiritual blessing may abide with yoci anfl yk>ur families and tbjat every conrWg. year c«f the fututre may prove a period of domestic peace &nd enddirifrg prosperity.