PRESENTATION TO CARDINAL MORAN

New Zealand Tablet, 7 April 1910, Page 539

PRESENTATION TO CARDINAL MORAN

t> + Aftf 1 ’ the ceremonies in St. Mary’s Cathedral on St. i atuck s Day (says the Sydney Freeman’s Journal) a number of representatives of the laity waited upon the Cardinal at St. Mary s presbytery, and presented him with the balance of the jubilee gift of the laity, totalling £2500. Ine gentlemen were received by his Eminence in the red drawing-room, where the presentation was made by the Hon ihomas Hughes, M.L.C. In a brief speech he congi atulated the Cardinal, in the name of the laity, upon the success of his work during the twenty-five years he had been Archbishop of Sydney. He expressed the hope that his Eminence might be spared many more years to continue his great work among them. ' In replying, his Eminence the Cardinal thanked the laity most cordially for- this new expression of their affection and sympathy with the administration of the diocese. Whilst he thanked them for this, and their co-operation, in every good work which had been carried on in the cause of religion, charity, and education, he wished these thanks to be at the same time sincere congratulations on their admirable, generous Catholic spirit. The whole mission of the Catholic Church, he said, was to spread in every Christian home the blessings of religion, morality, and enlightenment, hnd when they co-operated in and made offerings for these works he took them as personal favors and gifts. Grand results were shown as the fruits of their generosity and enthusiasm in the cause of religion and charity and education. On every side they saw grand institutions springing up, of which not only Australians, but visitors amongst them, were justly filled with admiration and pride; and he hoped that at no distant future those institutions would produce the best fruits which they in their enthusiasm could desire. It was sometimes said that the Church only looked to the future, but her mission was also to bring to her people here every consolation, blessing, and joy the Christian heart could aspire to. He hoped that as a result of their generous enthusiasm, their admirable piety, and their generous help, these blessings would be multiplied both in the heavenly future which awaited them and for the days of their earthly pilgrimage. To refer to one instance, his Eminence said very few of the Congresses of modern times had been crowned with more success than the one held in Sydney a few months ago, and they were indebted for that to the true enthusiasm of their people in Sydney, who took up the cause and carried it on to completion. The secret of the success which attended their various efforts was the happy union that prevailed amongst them. He did not think that they would find in any church in Christendom a more perfect union than that- which prevailed amongst themselves and throughout Australia between Bishops, priests, and devoted, faithful people. A few, of course, were to be found who thought differently from the greilt body of the Catholic citizens, and who would wish to pursue the development of Australian piety or patriotism on their own lines. Regarding them, he would give only one advice to the Catholic body, and it would be to forgive them. Meantime the Catholic body would, as it has done in the past, continue to encourage and develop in union with its clergy the grand institutions, which were the pride, of their citizens and were the outcome at the same time of Catholic principles and of the traditions of. the Irish race.