HIBERNIAN SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 14 October 1909, Page 1623

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY, DUNEDIN

The annual general Communion of the members of St. Joseph's branch of the H.AG.B. Society took place at St. Joseph s Cathedral, Dunedin, at the nine o'clock Mass on Sunday,- when about 140 members in regalia approached the Holy Table The members marched in procession from St. Joseph's Hall to the Cathedral, where they, occupied the front seats in the nave of the church. His Lordship the Bishop, who was celebrant of the Mass, in the course of his sermon, which was based on the Gospel of the day referred to the encouragement 'given by- the Church -from the earliest ages, and especially in the middle ages, to Ljatholic societies and guilds, the members of which by their actions gave good example to those around them lhere never was a time in which the need of Catholic societies was so pressing as at the present. It < was most im--portant that the young men should be gathered into such societies. There was a great propaganda going on regarding benefit societies, and a boy had no sooner left school than he was urged to join one or other of such societies. When the boy comes put of school they should get him to join some Catholic society, where he would have the' benefit ot the good example and the good advice of those around mm, and would be encouraged to practise his ~lh was of the greatest importance tbfti_our young'men should be induced to join sonaa of our Catholic societies, and he

wished that every young "man should become a member of the Hibernian, Society, which' enjoyed the confidence' of the Bishops and clergy of Australia and New Zealand, and the members of which wore giving a good example as practical Catholics wherever they were. In such a society they would be encouraged to .practise their religion. It gave -him .the -greatest pleasure ithat morning to see such a number of fine.' young men making a profession of their faith, and- giving such a ""good- example to the rest of tbe congregation. ;-'"-. " - - After Mass the • members reformed in procession and marche.d to St. Joseph's Hall, where breakfast was laid. His Lordship the Bishop presided, having on his right Bro. J. J. Marlow (District Deputy), Rev." Father O'Malley (South' Dunedin), and Rev. Brothers Brady, Moore," Cusack, and Redmond, a -id on his left Bro. Bourke (president), Bro. Deehan (V.P.), Miss Staunton (St. Joseph's Ladies' Club), Mrs. Jackson (St. - Vincent de Paul Society), Miss Long (Children of Mary,- South Dunedin), Miss Heley (Children of Mary, St. Joseph's Cathedral), Mr. E. W. : Spain (St. Joseph's Men's Club), and Mr. J. Sims (Inver- ' cargill branch of the H.A.C.B. Society). After justice had been done to the excellent breakfast - provided, Bro. Bourke thanked the members for their excellent attendance, and expressed regret for the absence of Rev. Father Coffey' (chaplain), who was at the Catholic Congress. His Ldfdship Bishop Verdon said it gave him very great pleasure to preside at suph a grand gathering. He had always taken a great interest in the various societies in connection with the Catholic Church. It was of the greatest importance that our young people should join benefit societies, and he did not know of any he .would recommend before the Hibernian Society. Since he came to New. Zealand he had been in many parts of the country and had heard of the work of the society. 'He had heard reports of the work of the society in Australia from Bishops and priests, and they all agreed that the members were faithful to the Church, faithful in their duties, and admirable in observing the rules of the society. They were practical Catholics, ever ready to assist the clergy in theirvarious works, and. were submissive to ecclesiastical authority. His own expsrience had borne all this out, and therefore it gave him ' much . pleasure "to .be there that morning, and to assist and encourage the society "in every way. They made a grand profession of their faith that morning. They had the glorious traditions of what their forefathers had suffered for the faith. Faith and Fatherland were the watchwords of the society. They were true to their holy religion, true to the country of their fatners, and true to the country they lived in. A good Catholic Avas always a good citizen. He knew of no country or people better governed than NeAV Zealand. The members of the society loved their holy religion, and they looked up with respect and reverence to the great Pontiff who ruled and governed the Church. While they loved and reverenced the Sovereign Pontiff, they also had good reason to respect the King, who was a wise and just ruler. He had much pleasure in proposing the toast of the ' Pope and King.' Rev. Brother Brady proposed the toast of the 'Hibernian Society,' and in the course of his address sketched its progress and dwelt on the assistance it had been to the Old Country in giving practical help to the men who have taken upon themselves the work of making Ireland a- nation. He also paid a tribute to the work of the society from Catholic and benevolent points of view. He - suggested means whereby the membership would be largely increased, and concluded by a generous tribute of praise to the devoted work of Bro. J. J. Marlow on behalf of the society. - ' - - -, -" . Bro. J. J. Marlow, in replyirfg, gave some interesting statistics relative to the* progress of the branch for the last ten years. In 1898 he membership was 102, the sick pay was £102 odd, a sum of £108 odd was spent on medicine and medical attendance, and the total worth of the funds was £1105 15s 4d. Five years later (1903), the figures wero-i — Membership, 180; sick -pay, £219 16s 8d; medicine and medical attendance, £162 4s; total funds, £1609 4s. At -the end of the ' following five years (1908), ■ the membership had gone up to 281 ; sick pay, £393 11s 8d ; medicine and medical attendance, £254 3s 6d; total funds, £2070 0s 7d. During the ten years ended December 31 last the branch had expended in sick pay £2224 lls Bd, and on medicine and" medical attendance £2009 lls Bd. The . funeral allowance for the period under review was £210. The membership at present stands at 320, and the worth of. the" funds is estimated at £2100. He also gave comparative statistics relative to the different centres for the" last -five .years. At the end of December, 1903; the financial membership, total funds, and amount of funds per member were as follow: — Auckland, 153, £2632, £17 4s; "Wellington, 164, £647, £4: Christchurch, 89^ £1258, £14 3s; Dunedin, 173, £1450," £8 7s. On December 31, 1908, the figures were: — Auckland, 165 (increase 12),, £2816, £17: Wellington', 179 (increase 15), £389, £2 3s 6d; Christchurch, 158 (increase 69), £1573, £10 ; Dunedin, 256 (increase 83). £1861, £7 ss. The district of Otagband Southland three years ago contained three branches with a membership in ronnct. figures of 300. To-day there are six branches with 600 members^— a- sulendid increase for three years. Fortyfour years ago twelve^iaea started the society without >

funds, to-day- there are . 30,000 1 members, arid £200,00 C invested money. He concluded' by saying, these Ewere results of which any organisation might be justly proud. Bio. T. _ J. Hussey, in proposing . the toast of ' The Clergy, paid a tribute to the great interest whicK tht Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., and the Rev. Father O'Mallej took in the society. > > Rev. Father O'Malley, in replying, said that the clergs had -> always ~ found . the members of the society ready tc assist them in parish^ work. ' r" / _. ■ Bro. .J. B. CaHan,-jun., in speaking to the toast of "the Catholic Press,' paid a tribute to the able manner in which the N.Z. Tablet was conducted. Mr. J. W. Kennedy replied. - - - Bro. J. Hally proposed the 'toast of the 'Christian Brothers/ and referred to the excellent work they had done in Dunedin for the past thirty-five years. Rev. Brother Moore in replying expressed his pleasure • at seeing so many ex-pupils of the Christian Brothers' School members of the Hibernian Society. The toast of 'Kindred Societies' was proposed by Bro. J. Saunders, P.P., and responded to by Mr. E. W. Spain (Catholic Men's Club)." - " . . Other branches of the H.A.C.B. Society was proposed by Bro. Jas. O'Connor, and responded to by Bro. J. Sims (Invercargill branch). A "vote of. thanks, proposed by Bro. Carr, to his Lordship the Bishop for presiding, brought the proceedings to a close.