GOLDEN WEDDING

New Zealand Tablet, 10 December 1908, Page 23

GOLDEN WEDDING

(From an occasional correspondent.}

On November 19, 1858, the Right Rev. J>r. Pompallier, first Bishop of Auckland, ■ m arried Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Darby in old St. Patrick's Cathedral, ' Auckland, so that Thursday, November 19, 1908; was the golden jubilee of their wedding. Mr. and Mrs.' Darby were blessed by God with thirteen children, of whom seven sons and tliree daughters still live. • The sons are Dr. William John Darby, Auckland; Messrs. Patrick and Walter Darby, merchants; Auckland ; Messrs. Edward and Thomas Darby, agents, Auckland; Mr". Bernard Darby,-, chemist, Christchurch, and Rev. Joseph Croke Darby, parish priest of Hamilton. The daughters are Mrs. R. Mackay, Auckland; Mrs. V. Kenealy, Te Puke, Auckland; Mrs. T. Lonergau, Kaponga, Taranaki. On account of the advanced age and failing health of Mt. arid Mrs. Darby the jubilee rejoicings x^ere kept within the family circle. As all during life Mr. Darby has gone to daily Mass, the family decided that the Holy Mass should be the principal family act -of thanksgiving. Fifty Masses were said as an a,ct" of thanksgiving to God for His blessings during the fifty years. .On the morning of the golden wedding all the cliildren met at the old family home, New street, PonsonTjy, By special permission the Holy Sacrifice of the Ma.ss was offered in the house by the Rev. Father Darby; and the father ajad mother and all the children received Holy Communion — a worthy recompense for one who, all during life,- was so devoted to the Holy Mass. - Mr. Darby all through life has given most generously to every good work; in fact, his generosity in the diocese of Auckland has become proverbial, his guiding principle being that no man became poor because he gives to God. I^'rom earliest times in the' Church life of Auckland he has been the true and constant friend of the successive Bishops, priests, and nuns of Auckland, and it is owing in great • measure to his foresight and generosity that the Catholic Church in Auckland still retains some of its most valuable properties, such, for example, as the .properties known as the Bishop's residence, Ponsonby, and the " orphanage property at Takapuna.

When Dr. Croke, the late Archbishop of • Cashel, was transferred from Auckland to Cashel, he-made Mr; Patrick Darby sole -trustee for the funds of St.. Patrick's Cathodral, and when tko Right Rev. Dr. Lenilian, the present Bishop of Auckland, visited Dr. Croke in- 1899 he made Dr: Lenihan the bearer of a handsome gold pen "to his old friend, Patrick Darby, of Auckland. As a young man, Mr. Darby took his share in forming the future city of Auckland, being a member of Auckland's first City Board.

During breakfast Father Darby returned , thanks to God for His blessings so*,genorously bestowed on. the family, and exhorted the family to walk in the footsteps of their father, who, like Davicl, could now say to his children : ' I have been young, and I am now old, - and I have never seen the just,man forsaken, nor his seed cast off for ever.' Dr. Darby suitably replied on behalf of his parents, brothers, and sisteis.

To-day, with their own children, besides twenty-four grandchildren^ Mr. and Mrs. Darby spend the evening of their life amidst tlio comforts of religion and the consolations begotten" of good children, j£k! full of gratitude to God for His blessings to them -in this lifo tliey await with hope and" resignation the call of God to tho next.