HAMILTON

New Zealand Tablet, 15 February 1912, Page 7

HAMILTON

ST. MARY'S NEW DEANERY The years 1911-12 will always occupy a prominent place in the annals of Catholic nistory in Hamilton as marking an epoch in the life . of, the Church (says the Waikato An/us of February 1), for in the latter end of last year, the work of building the beautiful structure now assuming definite proportions was commenced,while the New Year was : usne.-ed in by laying the foundations of a deanery in keeping with the sacred edifice. Our Catholic friends have truly done wonders in' a very short time, and most of the success which has crowned their efforts is the outcome of the business acumen displayed by Dean Darby, the popular rector of the parish. - "" '''*,'!* ' .The event of yesterday, the laying of the stone of the new deanery, was somewhat overshadowed by a similar function recently enacted in connection with the new church; but nevertheless there was a large attendance at the ceremony which was performed by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, who) in placing the stone in position, employed a handsome silver trowel bearing the following inscription : ' Presented by Andrew Casey, Esq., in token of his respect and devotion for the Bishop of Auckland, the Right Rev. Henry William Cleary, DrD., who laid the foundation stone of St. Mary's Deanery at Hamilton, Waikato, on January 31, 1912, the Rev. J. C. Darby being Dean.' -This stone bore the following inscription in Latin:— To God, Most Good, Most High. On the 31st,January in the year of Our Lord, 1912, Right Rev. Henry William Cleary, D.D., Sixth Bishop of Auckland, placed and laid this foundation stone, the Rector being the Very Rev. Joseph Croke Darby, V.S.' * / His Lordship delivered the following' address: There is a dangerous rock in the full fair way of the great tide of sea-borne traffic off the coast of England, known as the Eddystone Rock. Divers managed to work down upon it; they worked late • and early and very hard, but the result of their labors could not be seen for many a long day. They were engaged in laying a foundation deep, strong, and clear, and in the course of time, above the troubled waters arose the fair and beautiful form .of the Eddystone Lighthouse, warning mariners on the deep and leading them on the -sure way to their destinations.' A great storm came and carried away this lighthouse" to destruction; but a second line of pioneers came and built upon the foundation, and then and there arose a stronger and more beautiful lighthouse, which sheds its red beams over the waters beyond the South of England. Long ago the pioneer missionaries came here and for many a day a different stamp of men built foundations— were working beneath the surface of things, and the result at the outset was scarcely to be seen ; but they in* the course of time raised above the waters of the Waikato, on the rock of faith, an edifice just like the Eddystone Lighthouse on the coast of England. They had a similar experience in Waikato for the Maori wars came and swept away the work they had been carrying and in the same way the; second line of pioneers came and built upon the foundations of old, and there arose a second structure, and now you are raising this beautiful edifice—a monument to your faith and J piety—walking in. the true footsteps of those who have, gone before you t in the path. Census papers.show that Hamilton is increasing at a rate not equalled by any other centre in this Dominion, and it was only in accordance with the fitness of things that alongside the material progress the ecclesiastical side of life should mark its course. In consequence of the high position which it has attained, and the -higher position awaiting us in the- near • future I have raised this town so as to. be the centre of a new deanery ; (hear, hear), and given to it a better and ? wider district,. including I the parish, of Cambridge right down to the borders of the ; province -of Taranaki. •■ We have only to look around to see that you are also building; in faith and in hope; in ; faith in the present of your fair town; and district, and high hope-of what it is to be in the future. You - ; have hero

a church which will be a bright monument to the Catholic people of this district, and to-day we have laid successfully the present: stone, not of a: new Presbytery, but a higher and proper name, a new Deanery of the Waikato. (Hear, hear). I have referred to you as the third line of pioneers; now I have passed over some portions of the African desert, where in the long past, the pioneer Arabs had made it possible for the people who followed them to carry on trade along these difficult sandy roads of the far interior. A singularly appropriate quotation arises in my mind: An Arab sheik in deserts wide. Once sorrowed so for thirsting man, He led before the caravan, And digging wells he thirsting died. He died of thirst! The wells remain ! Oh, dashing, patient, pioneer, S God's angels, what a triumph here To know no well is digged in vain. We plant a tree beside this well Of knowledge in the west most west Yon peaks rise up and call it blest They stand eternal sentinel. .* Some far off day when we are dust, And all this vast vale teems with life, 1 » • Some brave souls fainting in the strife s May rest them here and speak us just. Mav say we few through worlds of time - \ Blazed out new ways for worlds to come; And mourned not but bravely dumb, So died, full trusting God and time. We also are one line of pioneers digging wells of truth, charity, and love of God in the distant West, and when the time comes we can rest calm and serene in the knowledge that no well has been digged in vain. We are here to lay the foundation of a new edifice, of new works of charity and religion; we will lay them as the

old Arab pioneers laid them, trusting God all the time, and so we lay the stone to-day as we did the larger stone of a more important building a few days ago, trusting God all the time ; trusting God that the progress in the, civil and religious life which has marked this historic town and district may continue, and when this broad vale beyond its boundaries is teeming with life, they will speak of you as pioneers of the third line, - as we have spoken of the second line and the first. And so to-day in the name of all you in the third line I declare this foundation stone, which is an evidence of the progress and prosperity in your district, well and truly laid. Very Rev. Dean Darby thanked his Lordship for the high honor conferred upon him in making him Dean of Waikato. All his life he had trusted in God all his-life he would continue to do so, and he would never be confounded. Some Providence favoured them and favoured him. He had with him the Bishop of Auckland, the Dean of Sydney, and the Dean of Masterton, and his brother priests; he had his own people with him— more could any man desire? He had lived in the district for many years; he had endeavoured to do his best for Almighty God, and he hoped to do more for Him. His Lordship's quotation reminded him of another—a poem referring to the dying man who had two sons, which was recited by the Dean. Continuing, he said he felt that in the days to come he was going to be in a district which would become the backbone of Auckland district which held a ' high distinction for him. Not only was it going to become a great material centre, but .also a great spiritual centre. It was glorious to see young women consecrating themselves to Almighty God, and already in this district seven young women had given up their lives to His service; -but the vocation of priest was much rarer than that of the convent, and he prayed that God would.bless the district and its church, so that we might be able to give back to Him not merely gifts of a material kind, but the highest gifts, we could bestow —the sons and daughters of men to become His priests. " - -J '-•'■ ;'. :£ '■'" j

Amongst those who were present at' the ceremony were:—The Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., Auckland, and * Right Rev. Mgr. '• O aran,\ Sydney Very Rev. Dean 'i McKenna,-Masterton; Yen. Archdeacon Brodie, Waihi; Very Rev. Dean Hackett, Paeroa; Very Rev. Dean - Mahoney, ■ of Onehunga; and Rev. Fathers Holbrook, Murphy, McGuinness, Brennan, and Lynch.