Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 16 October 1913, Page 23

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE of WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) ■.. October 11. His Grace Archbishop Redwood left for the south by the Wahine last Monday night. A number of the clergy, including the Very Rev. Dean Regnault and the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, journeyed to Hastings to assist at the funeral of the mother of the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M., B.A. Mr. A. H. Casey, who left for Canada yesterday, was entertained by the members of the Catholic Club on Thursday evening at St. Patrick’s Hall. Mr. J. P. McGowan presided. Those present voiced their regret at Mr. Casey’s departure, and wished him every success in his future life. Mr. M. Walsh has been elected secretary to the Northland Church Committee in place of Mr. J. W. Callaghan, and at a meeting held last week it was decided to go on with the Christmas tree and garden fete, which was being organised by the late Mrs. Connor prior to her death. The church ground is in urgent need of a fence and other improvements, and the members of the committee would be grateful for any donations in the shape of toys, etc., to assist them in their good work. Mr. Walsh will be pleased to take delivery of any article at his place of business, 54 Willis street.

A successful plain and fancy dress social was held in St. Anne's Hall on Monday evening, the occasion being the wind-up of the Monday weekly assembly. There were over 160 persons present, and the hall was gay with a diversity of fancy costumes. The ladies' prizes were voted to the Misses Beech and McAleer, who were representing Irish girls, and the gentlemen's to a very effective representation of Lord Nelson. The following committee worked hard to make the function enjoyable: —Messrs. T. Murphy, Bradley, Stratford, McCarthy, Fagan, and McErlean. Messrs. Murphy, Bradley, and McErlean acted as M.C.'s, and Mr. W. H. Giles was secretary.

The Wellington Catholic Education Board met at the Catholic Federation office last Thursday evening, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea presiding. The election of officers for the current year resulted as follows: Patron, his Grace Archbishop Redwoo'd; chairman, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea; vice-chairman, Mr. J. J. L. Burke; secretary, Mr. P. D. Haskins; treasurer, Mr. B. Doherty; auditors, Messrs. W. H. Giles and Jas. Stratford; trustees, the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), and Messrs. B. Doherty and J. J. L. Burke. Mr. Martin Kennedy, K.S.G., wrote congratulating the board on the result of its first year’s work, and enclosing a donation of £3O. To further augment the fund, it was decided to hold a picture entertainment and concert in the Town Hall on a date to be decided on, and it was further decided to select suitable grounds for the Boxing Day picnic. The sum of £350 being available, it was handed over to the trustees for investment. - - A "'”’ c o of, sovereigns was presented to Mr. Thomas Redmond, on his retßv,:uc" J Lorn the Government service, by private secretaries to Ministers and other Civil Servants, as an acknowledgement of the ready help and unfailing courtesy at all times extended to them by Mr. Redmond, who was a well-known figure for . a considerable time in all parts of the Dominion. For years he travelled about with the late Mr, Seddon, and previously with Sir Joseph Ward. He was appointed messenger to the present Leader of the Opposition in 1891, and continued with him for a period of seven years. Sir Joseph had a severe illness during Mr. Redmond’s service with him, and ‘ Old Tom ’ was always in attendance. In more recent years he acted as messenger for the Hons. T. Y. Duncan, R. McNab, T. Mackenzie, and F. M. B. Fisher. Old Wellingtonians

will remember Mr. Redmond when he acted as storeman to the late Captain George Thomas, who, started the auctioneering, grain, and produce business still carried on under the style of ‘ Georg© Thomas and Co.’ Mr. Redmond, who is now 75 years of age, was an •cipprontic© ■ on Id os. I’d tile stsctmGi* Piiccfcc in "the yocix* 1856, and was on that vessel when she carried despatches during the Crimean war between Malta and Constantinople. In 1862 he obtained a chief officer’s certificate in the English coastal trade, . and was on the steamer Penguin, which afterwards cam© to the Dominion and was wrecked near Cape Terawhiti. He was on© of the founders of St. Patrick’s branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, which was established in 1874. He occupied the office of president, and is still a member. Mr. Redmond, though 75 years of age, is still hale and hearty, and has a varied store of reminiscences to draw, from. Rosary Sunday was the occasion of a remarkable demonstration of faith by the congregation [of iSt. Anne’s, at which church the archconfraternity of the Holy Rosary is erected, and. at which special facilities for the obtaining of great indulgences are availed of by its members. At the 7.30 o’clock Mass, which was celebrated by the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M. I , the church was crowded, it being necessary to throw open the choir gallery to accommodate the large congregation. A number of children made their First Communion, and the Children of Mary, the members of the Sacred Heart Sodality, St. Aloysius’ branch of the Hibernian Society, and the parishioners generally, made a general Communion. Over five hundred approached the Holy Table, which was a most edifying sight. The Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, before addressing the First Communion children, made feeling reference to the fine manifestation of faith that morning, and congratulated the various sodalities on their excellent muster. He paticularly recommended to the congregation the Hibernian Society, the members of which were found foremost in every good work for -the advancement of their holy faith. After Mass the children, made their First Communion, were taken to St. Anne’s Hall, where breakfast was provided. In the afternoon a beautiful stone statu© of our Blessed Lady was blessed, and erected in the grounds of the Sisters of Mercy. There was a large attendance, and the Ven. Archdeacon Devoy officiated. At the conclusion of the ceremony a procession was formed, and marched from the convent grounds to the church singing hymns in honor of the Blessed Virgin. On arrival at the church, which was again thronged, the children who made their First Communion renewed their Baptismal vows, after which there was Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. In the evening the church was again thronged, when the Rev. Father Bartley, S.M., M.A., of St. Patrick’s College, preached an eloquent sermon on the Holy Rosary. After the sermon many of those present were enrolled in the arch confraternity of the Holy Rosary, after which there -was a procession in honor of our Blessed Lady, a full muster of the Children of Mary participating. Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed. Thus concluded one the the most edifying ceremonies ; n the history of St. Anne’s Church. LECTURE BY FATHER HURLEY. - The Rev. Father Hurley delivered an interesting lecture on Trade Guilds in the Middle Ages at St. Peter’s Schoolroom last night, under the auspices of the Catholic Federation. Mr. G. Gilding-Butcher, organiser of the Federation, presided, and amongst those present on the platform were his • Grace' Archbishop O’Shea and a number of the clergy. , Mr. G. Girling-Butcher, in introducing the rev. lecturer, announced that an immigration and labor bureau will be amongst the features of the Federation. No charge will be made to employer or employee, but if either wishes to make a donation he may do so. Full particulars are to be given to those desirous of getting their relatives out from the Old Country, the necessary forms will be supplied, and every assistance given to them. Through the generosity of Mr. M. Kennedy, the

Federation had secured a boardroom and secretary's office in Lower Cuba street, and the office would be open all day, so that no Catholic who cam© to Wellington need be without a word of cheer and a friend. .

Father Hurley, who was greeted with applause, traced the history of the guilds, from the apprenticeship period up to that of employer. He showed that many of the reforms which workmen were now agitating for existed in those so-called 'dark ages,' such as limitation of apprentices to the number of journeymen employed, the provision of baths for the workmen, arbitration and conciliation. Indeed, in the rev. lecturer's opinion, the only way to get rid of the present unrest, and the grinding of the unfortunate workpeople by greedy capitalists, particularly in older countries, was to return in some modified way to the methods of the Mediaeval trade guilds, whose watchwords were 'Justice and Charity.' The lecturer indicated how bad work and dishonorable actions were rendered almost impossible by the rules of the guilds, and no workman could rise to the rank of employer till he had proved his fitness for the position. Hospitals, churches, and other charitable institutions were built and endowed by the guilds. There was no pauperism in those days. Various hostels were provided for the needy, and workmen in search of employment had the right of putting up at these hostels for a night or two. ' Pauperism was not a relic of the so-called dark ages,' said the rev. lecturer. That came after the Reformation had destroyed the guilds and confiscated their properties.'

On the motion of Archbishop O'Shea, and Mr. J. J. N L. Burke, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Father Hurley for his lecture. His Grace also spoke briefly as to the objects of the Federation. Master O'Brien played a violin solo, ' The last rose of summer,' during an interval of the lecture, and was warmly applauded for his clever execution.