Hibernian Society, Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, 15 October 1908, Page 12

Hibernian Society, Dunedin

- The annual Communion of the members of St Tosenh', branch of the Hibernian Society, Dunedin, took place in e t Ml

joining its members together. . They act -upon instinct. Man, ; however, stands on a .higher sphere. He is bound by • the law of God to love his fellow-man. Men should do ' good to. one another an this life, with the hope of being brothers- for all; eternity in the next... Jesus Christ gaye. us an example of thislove when He laid down His life for. the salvation of all;- even of his enemies'. A characteristic -of. charity is that it must be; efficacious — it must be in the direction of helping the needy, andhealing those who' are" sick,, bodily and spiritually. Our love, for our fellow-man must be pure, chaste, and unselfish, and must extend to all. No man should be excluded from our love; and. help. He was proud to, see -a society composed of the men of, Dunedin there that morning imbued with the love Christ 'hadfor vs — a society which had for its principles the command of our Divine Lord to love one another. The very. reason for. its existence was to do in its own way works of charity, -corporal works of mercy — to help the needy, feed and clothe the hungry, and bury the dead. These are the very works which the Hibernian Society has been established to carry out. During the past year the society distributed in Dunedin the sum -of by way of assisting those members who were ill, or had been the victims of some other misfortune. "Now, this was a splendid testimonial to the benefit of being a member, of the society. By contributing a small sum weekly members are guaranteed against a rainy day, and furthermore they are strengthened and united in other ways. No other society in this city had done so much for those in need during the past year. In addition .to tn e already mentioned the society had spent nearly another in doctors' fees and medicine, so that in all it distributed nearly in real, true charity. No words of his could give a better testimonial to the benefits derived from membership of the society than the figures he had just given. The society was carrying out to the fullest the highest and most perfect application of fraternal charily, love, and help. He could not give a better reason for joining the society than the work" which it was doing, the proof of which was given in the figures quoted. He trusted that every young man in the parish would become a member of the society, and that the fathers and mothers of young men would not rest content until their sons had joined. Notonly would such have the benefit of Catholic associations, but by a small weekly contribution they would be laying up assistance for a time of need. He again appealed to all the young men to join the society and assist one another so that they may be brothers for time and for eternity. At the conclusion of, Mass the members reformed in procession and marched to St. Joseph's Hall, where the annual breakfast was laid. Rev. Father Coffey, Adm. (chaplain), presjded, having on his right Bro. J. J. Marlow (P.P.), District Deputy, and on his left Bro. J. Saunders (President). There were also present Rev. Fathers Howard and Cleary, Rev. Brothers Brady and Moore, and Mrs. Jackson (St. Vincent de Paul Society), Miss Staunton (St. Joseph's Ladies' Club), Miss A. Heley (Children of Mary, St. Joseph's Cathedral), and Miss Long (Children- of Mary, South Dunedin). After justice had been done to the excellent breakfast Bro. J. Saunders thanked the members for their excellent attendance that morning. Rev. Father Coffey then proposed the toast of the ' Pope and King,' and in doing so referred to the great interest which the Holy Father takes in Catholic societies, and paid a tribute to the broadmindedness of King Edward, and to the liberty enjoyed under his rule in these countries. In proposing the ' H.A.C.B. Society' Father Coffey said it was unnecessary for him to say much, as he had dealt with the matter in the course of his stimon. He again impressed upon the young men the necessity of becoming members. The late Pope in his Encyclical on labor laid special stress- on the advantages arising from membership of Catholic associations. - The Hibernian Society deserved well of the\ support of the Catholic people for the' work it was doing. He thought, however, some of the members were not doing as much as they ought to increase its ranks. There were now 270 members, whilst ten years ago it had only 100. The gain of 170 members in ten years 'was good, but it was not enough, considering the number of young men In the parish. If the older members took a more active interest in its welfare, and induced the young men to join, >he considered they would be able in twelve months to double the membership. Bro. Marlow had been instrumental in- -starting a very successful branch in Invercargill, and would open a branch in Gore in the near future. ' -.-». Bro. J. J. Marlow spoke of the necessity of having branches of the society in the smaller centres so that members from the city branches should not be lost to the society when they went

to reside in the country. r The importance' of this was forcibly brought under his- notice quite recently?- "A Catholic young man who was a member of another --friendly " society died, and the members, of .that society wa_nted" to'3>old-a"burial service over the remains at the graveside.-- VThe -parents, however, did not allow it. Some time afterwards four or'fTve Catholic young men of the place, whose character was irreproachable, were put up for membership of the same' society, ' but they were blackballed. Other friendly societies- were making strenuous- efforts' to obtain members at the, present time,'» and <. he realised that if- the 'Hiber-. nian Society took up the- matter in an energetic' manner, .the membership could -.be greatly increased within ; _ the. .next twelve months. - • • -.„'.-.- „- - Bro. J. B; -Callan.jun., in proposing the. toast of the clergy,, said it-was hardly necessary, speaking.. -Jo an audience of Irishmen, to refer to the good work of r the. clergy. Irish Catholics had always been « remarkable for the strong affection which- bound them to their priests, and -this was- as it" should be. That .bond of affection was created in the -troublous times of the past, and continued unimpaired up to the present. They regretted the kindly presence of his Lordship the Bishop, and all "trusted that he- would return in good health, and would -be spared for many years to preside at the society's breakfasts-. ■„ Rev. Father Howard, in replying, spoke of the dignity and responsibilities of the priesthood, and said/that the office was the highest and noblest created for "the. public good. The longer a man labored, in the sacred ministry the more he appreciated the favors conferred on him. The work of the priest in Dunedin was lightened by the generosity and goodness of the people. Bro. T. J. Hussey proposed the Catholic pressl and in doing so paid a tribute to the far-reaching influence of the N.Z. Tablet and the ability with which it was conducted. Rev. Father Cleary replied. Bro. O'Connor (secretary) proposed the ' Christian Brothers,' to which Brother Brady responded. He said that the Christian Brothers had always received the warmest encouragement from the Hibernian Society. A vote of thanks to the Rev. Father Coffey for presiding brought the proceedings to a close.