Presentation to Father Geary at Lawrence

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 12, 22 March 1906, Page 6

Presentation to Father Geary at Lawrence

There was a large and representative attendance in St. Patrick's Schoolroom, Lawrence, on Thursday evening (says the ' Tuapeka Times '), the object being to afford the people, among whom the Rev. Father Geary labored for five and a half years, an opportunity of saying farewell and at the same time presenting him with a tang|i\bile token of their esteem and 'goodwill. The arrival of the Igoiest of the evening, accompanied by the Very, Rev. Mgr. O'Deary and <the Rev. Father ' Lynch,, was the signal for a most enthusiastic demonstration of welcome.

Mr. B. Hart, who presided, after briefly explaining the object of the gathering, quickly got the programme under way, "and from the beginning to the close the proceedings, which were of an enjoyable character, never flagged. Songs were contributed by Mrs. Delany and Messrs. Mullins and Woods. Mr. P. Hastie played a cornet solo, and Miss Hart assisted with her phonograph, on which a numiber of excellent records were produced.

Mr. J. J. Woods said he had a pleasant duty to perform, viz., to present Father Geary with a farewell address and purse of sovereigns. They had heard of

Father Geary's triumphal march through the parish during the past week,, when he had captured all the strongholds and had received numerous golden offerings, all testifying to the high appreciation in which he was held in the other centres of the parish. lie had now reached the metropolis (Lawrence), where the good people bad determined not to be outdone in their manifestations of loyalty and devotion to the esteemed servant of their Church. He then asked Father Geary's acceptance of a purse of sovereigns and accompanying address as a token olf their goodwill and esteem tc wards him. The folllowingj was the address :~ ' Rev. and dear sir, — On behalf of the parishioners of Tuapeka parish, residing at Lawrence, Waipori,Tuapeka West, and adjoining districts, we desire most respectfully! to present you with \an address and pur,se of sovereigns, as a mark of respect and esteem for you as a priest,, also as a small tokten of our appreciation for the services you have rendered to the cause of religion during your sojourn here as curate for the past six years. Your departure from Tuapeka was so sudden that we were unable to give you an official " send-off " or say farewell as we would have wished, but as true soldiers to our Divine Master we fully recognise that priests must at all times be prepared to obey their marching orders, no matter how difficult it may be to sever the ties of friendship or kinship. As curate of this extensive and -scattered district your priestly duties must have been arduous and trying, while yrur weekly journeys to Waipori, Miller's Flat, and Roxburgh, at all seasons of the year, were a physical strain, requiring more than ordinary courage and devotion to the cause 'of religion. While you had the advantage of every counsel and assistance from our beloved parish priest, the Very Rev. Mgr O'Leary, yet, from the scattered positions of the outlying districts, your responsibilities in carrying out the duties of your sacred office must from time to time have caused you more than ordinary anxiety, and graver responsibility in the care of souls. In this district, perhaps the most trying part of a priest's duties is attending to sick calls, especially at long distances, and on these occasions the priest may be truly looked upon as a father, and is brought into immediate contact with those placed under his spiritual care. We readily acknowledge ycur devotion and kindness when visiting the sick and dying, while many can testify their gratitude for your unwearied exertions at those trying times. Your good Bishop has deemed it expedient to remove yom to a more important parish, and, we arc pleased to say, one where jou will be less exposed to the rigors of winter. We wish you every happiness and prosperity in your new sphere of labor, asking you to remember us in your prayers and occasionally to bestow a kindly thought on the friends you have left behind in Tuapeka.' The Rev. Father Geary in responding, .said it was impossible to convey to them in words the feelings of gratitude he felt towards them for the many kind references made to him by the speakers and in the address. He was not conscious that he deserved them, and he thought they had been spoken more from their hearts than their heads. He wished all the good things said of him were deservedly true. However, he thanked the people of Tuapeka for their generosity and esteem. Since he had come among them he had experienced nothing but extreme courtesy, kindness, and hospitality, not only from his own people, but from non-Catholic friends. The past five and a half years had been the happiest of his life, and he felt the parting sorrowful and "hard in the extreme. While he regretted his departure, he was ipLeased that it had given them an opportunity of showing their sincere faith and attachment to tha 'grand old Catholic faith. lie accepted their compliment, as to the priest and not to the man— as a token that he would live in their memories and occupy a warmi corner in their hearts. 'He concluded a feeling speech by again thanking them all, and especially Monsignor O'Leary, for the many kindnesses and consideration he had always received from him, and commende-d Father Lynch, his successor, to their good offices. On resuming his .seat Father Geary was loudly applauded. The Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary, on being called upon for a few remarks, said he had come to the meeting not to make a speech but to listen to others — in short, to bie entertained. He endorsed everything said by Mr. Woods and in the address in reference to Father Geary. He was sorry they were losing him, but, as they knew, this was a (world of change. He was pleased at the extreme kindness and goodwill shown towards Father Geary by the people of this district, and he was also' pleased to be the parish priest of so kind-hearted and generous a people. Father Lynch expressed his pleasure at being present to witness the evidence of their people's kindness and generosity towards their departing priest.