THE ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 16, 22 April 1909, Page 614

THE ARCHBISHOP OF WELLINGTON

His Grace Archbisliop Redwood was entertained at dinner by the clergy of the archdiocese of Wellington on Thursday evening, the function being to celebrate his seventieth birthday. Very Rev/ Father O'Shea, S.M., V.G., presided, and among otlier members of the clergy present were Very Rev. Dean Regnatilt (Provincial), Very Rev. Father Clune, C.SS.R., Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, Very' Rev. Dean Grogan (Wanganui)," Very Rev. Dean Smyth (Hastings), Very Rev. Father Keogh (St. Patrick's College), Rev. Father Holley (Blenheim), and Rev. Father Hickson. The only toast given (says the Dominion) was that 'of ' the health of the Archbishop,' which was proposed by Dean Regnault, and supported by the Very Rev. Father Clune, and Rev. Father Maples, of Petone. Reference was made by them to the growth of the diocese since the Archbishop came liere as Bishop in 1874. At tlat time, it was pointed out, the diocese included the present diocese 1 of Christchurch. There were then, in all, only 20,000 Catholics in the combined diocese ;now there were over 50,000 in the archdiocese of Wellington alone. Thirty-five years ago there weie only 27 priests in the then combined diocese, against 78 now in the archdiocese. Then, again, when the Archbishop took office as Bishop, there was no qollege or places in which ecclesiastical students could be trained ; now there "was a fine college at Wellington, another in Auckland, and also two colleges for the , /training of priests at Meanee and Mosgiel. At that time there were in the diocese very few nuns; now in the archdiocese alone there were no fewer than 345 nuns. In reply, his Grace said he came ~to New Zealand when he was only three years of age. When' he was 15 years old he went to Europe to complete his education. Twenty years later he had -returned as Bishop of the diocese. He was still strong and vigorous, and hoped to be able to do much more. One of the first things which he did .when he came to Wellington as Bishop was %o hold a synod, in order to secure uniformity of Church discipline. What he considered to be his great work was the foundation of St. Patrick's College.' The next great work to which he would direct his attention was the erection of a cathedral that would be worthy of the capital of New Zealand and worthy of the Catholic body. He hoped that with the co-operation of the clergy and laity the work would be commenced as soon as practicable.

On last Thursday (April 8) his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Metropolitan of ' the Catholic Church in New Zealand, completed his "seventieth year (writes ' A Cleric * in the Dominion). To look at him, above all to see him walk the streets of the city, one would not take him to be that age, for he wears his years exceedingly well. Physically he is r a very strong man, and in his day he was no mean exponent of muscular Christianity. He used to be a splendid shot as a young man n ,for he had a keen eye and steady hand. Even now nothing he more enjoys than looking on .at a well contested game of football, or a first-class^ cricket- match. But it is, of course, to his mental gifts that he owes his high position in the Church, which possesses so many able men. ■He was a brilliant student, sand having received most of his college education in France, lie showed such- wonderful ability as to beat the French fellow-students of his college at their own native tongue. So successful was he that he was for some time the president of their literary and debating society. Not only did he prove himself a fine classical scholar, but he soon became recognised as a deep and

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sound theologian, and it was from the cfiair of theology in Dublin that he was called, in 1874, to the See -of Wellington. It is said that when a man becomes a bishop he must say good-bye to his books, and this is true to a certain extent, especially in -a missionary country such as New Zealand has been. The cares of the administration of a large and growing diocese leave a man little > time to devote to bringing out talents of another kind. But his Grace has, amid all his cares- and the worries inseparable from his position, found time for some of these things. He soon proved in his new office that he could be a magnificent pulpit orator, for he possessed all the qualities necessary thereto. Endowed with a fine presence, a splendid voice, a logical mind, and wide command of language, he soon won his way into the very front rank of preachers. , He has been chosen in connection with most of the great functions of his ChurcK in Australasia during the last quarter of a century to be the special preacher.

During the" thirty-five years that he has ruled as • .Jbishop and archbishop he has been a very busy man. He has seen his diocese grow from comparatively small proportions • to be the thjid in importance in Australasia, ranking only after Sydney and Melbourne. He has been a wise' and ' successful administrator, gentle in his methods, but at the same time firm and just. He allows those under him

to exercise a good deal of discretion^ and once he considers a man fit for a position to which he advances him he does not' interfere with him, save in very exceptional circumstances. He is a man of sound judgment, and is of a strong and determined character. When, after duo deliberation, he resolves upon a certain course of action, nothing will make him change his decision, save the will of his ecclesiastical superiors, and they generally uphold" him, because Avhat he decides is" always wise and just. In private life the Archbishop is the essence of gentleness and kindness ,and is a great favorite with all who come into close contact with him.

He takes a great interest in the work of religious education, firmly believing that upon this especially depends the welfare of this cotintry. To his keen foresight the Catholic community and the Dominion owe th-e splendid College of St. Patrick in this city, whose students, despite its comparatively short existence, now hold honorable positions in every profession and walk of life throughout the land. It is really owing to his desire that the educational needs of his archdiocese should be first attended to that the "building of the metropolitan Cathedral has not been gone on with sooner. A large sum of money is in hand for this work, but his Grace lias not pushed the matter <\t all. He wishes the schools of the place to be put uponthe very best footing before he undertakes any other work. This he has almost succeeded in doing, and we may soon expect 'him to devote his attention to the work of raising in the capital of the Dominion a Cathedral that will be worthy of the Catholic body and worthy of the Empire City.

His Grace is fond of niusic, and plays the violin with no mean skill. He is the fortunate possessor of a genuine Stradivarius, and nearly all the distinguished violinists who have found time to visit the Dominion generally have found their way to the Archbishop's house, and have been reivarded with the opportunity of trying one o| "the world J s famed instruments.

His Grace is practically a New Zealander, for although born in England he was "brought by his parents to the country when only tliree_ ; years of age. He remained for a short time in Wellington, und then went to Nelson, settling in Waimea. When he was fifteen he was sent to Europe, -and spent some time in--*the Marist College of St. diamond, Loire. He was ordained priest in 1865, taught in St. Mary's College, Dundalk, Ireland, and at Dublin, for some years until he was called to the See of Wellington in 1874. On Wellington "being made, into an archdiocese by the Holy See in 1887, Dr. Redwood was made its first Archbishop anH the Metropolitan of New Zealand.