FAREWELL TO REV. FATHER HARNETT, MASTERTON

New Zealand Tablet, 21 May 1914, Page 45

FAREWELL TO REV. FATHER HARNETT, MASTERTON

'I (From an occasional correspondent.) On Tuesday evening, May 5, the pupils of St. Bride's Convent'Boarding and High. Schools met in the concert hall to bid farewell to Rev. Father Harnett, who has been appointed to the charge of the parish of Opunake. Among the clergy present were the Rev. Fathers McKenna (Pahiatua) and Guinane (Masterton). Apologies were received from the Very Rev. Dean McKenna, V.G., who was attending the military camp at Takapau, and from the Rev. Father Kinkead (Carterton). The entertainment opened with the reading of a valedictory address (neatly illuminated), after which a presentation was made to the guest of the evening (Rev. Father .Harnett). Then followed the concert. The address, which was happily worded and appropriately conceived, breathed a spirit of warm affection for Father Harnett, of profound gratitude for all his kindness, and of deep regret at his departure from the district. ' We wish you, dear Father,' it concluded, ' every success in your new parish, and we pray that God may give you many years to -work for His glory with the same zeal and devotion that you have evinced in the past. In conclusion, we promise to pray often for you, and we trust that you will sometimes remember in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the many wants of the children of St. Bride's Convent, Masterton.' The following was the concert programme : Address, Miss Aileen Dennis; presentation made by Misses Peggy Cooper, Gladys Singleton, and Carla Lungquist; song, 'Remember, boy, you're Irish,' soloists, Misses Hodgins and Bunny; recitation, 'Erin's flag,' Miss Molly Bunny; song, 'The Irish emigrant,' Miss K. Hodgins; recitation, 'Vision of King Brian,' Miss Eileen Bunny; scene from the Belfast Police Court, October 2, 1879, Misses Dennis, Bunny, and Hodgins; instrumental solo, 'lrish diamonds,' Miss Grey, A.T.C.L.; chorus, 'A nation once again,' Singing Class; recitation, 'The memory of the dead,' Miss Eileen Bunny; song, 'Come back to Erin,' Miss Molly Bunny; vocal duet, 'Farewell, but whenever,' Misses M. and E. Bunny. At the conclusion of the concert, the Rev. Father Harnett made a very eloquent speech, in which he thanked the children for the address which they had read to him, and for the useful gifts which they had presented to him. Commenting on the address, he said he thought they represented him more as he ought to be than as he really was. He had, he said, spent many hours with the children of iSt. Bride's, in whom he had always taken a great interest. He paid a high tribute to the manner in which they had rendered the various items on the programme, particularly the elocutionary ones. In this department he hoped for great things from the pupils of St. Bride's. He exhorted them to be faithful to the teaching which they received from the nuns, and to reflect it in their conduct. ■: Three hearty cheers were then . given for Father Harnett, and the proceedings were terminated. The scholars of St. Patrick's School assembled on the 6th inst. to bid good-bye to the Rev. Father Harnett, and on that occasion a gold watch, accompanied by an address, was presented on behalf of the school by Master Claude Hodgins. - The address, which was couched in simple and felicitous terms, evinced the most affectionate regard for Father Harnett and the children's genuine and unaffected sorrow at losing' one who had so greatly endeared himself to them. Reference was made to the lively interest which the Rev. Father had always taken in the children's outdoor games and .'to the fact that ' it was owing to your enthusiasm that we were enabled to hold sports on the feast of St. Patrick, the patron of our school, in. out recreation ground—-the'old Fishpondsa spot in which, during many months of the year that has passed, you spent so much of your time and energy in making it wear the beautiful appearance it to-day presents.' ; • j , •,. ; • .'' ,-<.' - ,' -i - ..' " .

I In the course of an appropriate and feeling speech to the. children, the Rev. Father returned thanks for the address, which, he said, was a credit to the school To say farewell was hard at all times, but particularly under the present circumstances, as in all probability never again would they meet face to face in their present capacities, i.e., they .as the children of St. Patrick s, School and he himself as their priest, who had ministered to them for the past three years. The education they were receiving was second to none in New Zealand, and of that the examination results were a standing proof. He hoped that his successor would in time to come be able to speak in the same terms in which he himself now spoke. Before parting he gave .the children some sound advice—to be a credit to their parents, to their teachers, and to their school should be their constant aim. He urged them to enable the world to see by their virtuous lives the beauty of the religion which they profess, and, when beyond the precincts of the school, ever to remain faithful to the faith and morals in which they were daily instructed. The singing of ' Auld lang syne' brought the proceedings to a close, and the Rev. Father, in accordance with his usual kindness, granted the children an extra day's holiday. PRESENTATION BY THE PARISHIONERS. St. Patrick's School was taxed to its utmost capacity on Thursday night, May 7, by Father Harnett's many friends, who came to do him honor, and to show their appreciation of his services for the past three years. On the stage were the guest of the evening (Rev. Father Harnett), Very Rev. Dean McKenna, V.G., Rev. Father Kinkead (Carterton), and Rev. Father Guinane (Masterton), members of the church committee, testimonial committee, and the ladies' committee. The entertainment opened with a euchre tournament, which was thoroughly enjoyed. The ladies' first and second prizes were won respectively by Mrs. Dennis and Mrs. Windle, and the gentlemen's first and second by Mr. McKenna. and Mr. Boyd respectively.< \The prizes were donated by Mrs. Bunny, Mrs. Fred Welch, and Misses McKillop and Cashion. Mr. Bunny* (chairman of the testimonial committee) .then addressed the meeting. He said that they had assembled on that occasion to bid the Rev. Father Harnett farewell and to wish him God-speed. He was to be congratulated on his well-merited promotion. Those present, as well as the parishioners of the outlying districts, were deeply grieved at his departure, for it meant severing his connection with them. .Should he ever return to Masterton, a warm welcome would be his. His position as curate in the parish was the first received after his arrival in the Dominion. During his stay of three years, he had interested himself deeply in their spiritual and temporal welfare.- Mr. Bunny, then tendered him their sincere thanks for the many kindnesses they had received at his kindnesses which were greatly appreciated. During the Very Rev. Dean's, absence the duties of the parish had fallen on his shoulders, and the additional burden during that period had resulted in a complete success, as was testified by the excellent progress it had made, and the flourishing condition in which the Dean received it again from his hands. Reference was made to. the vast improvement made in the Fishponds property, the amount of "free labor, and the spontaneity with which right-spirited parishioners answered his calls for help. The result was that the Dean was agreeably surprised at the transformation on his return. The parishioners of Opunake (said Mr. Bunny) were to be congratulated on the acquisition of a priest so eminently fitted for the position. That every step in his priestly career would be marked with success, and that he would rise by degrees to the top rung of, the ladder was the sincere wish of each and all. ' : - Mr. Bunny then read the following v Address. Rev. and Dear Father, —We, the parishioners of the . Masterton parish, wish to offer you our sincere congratulations on your promotion to the position of parish

priest at Opunake. ~ While rejoicing at your, promotion, it is-to us a matter of regret that this necessitates your departure from amongst us. You came to us as curate on your arrival from the Old Land, and during the three years you have been with us, you have by your assiduity in, ministering to our wants, both spiritually and temporally, and by your kind and paternal consideration for us at all times, won from us our wholehearted and spontaneous respect and affection, and your departure from amongst us will be keenly felt by us all. While you were in charge of this parish, during the absence of our Very Rev. Dean, you displayed that energy, tactfulness, and ability which not only justifies your promotion, but which we are certain will be the means of eventually attaining for you a prominent position in the service .of God and -His Church in this Dominion. We all join most heartily in wishing you every happiness in the future, and trust that you may long be spared to carry out the sacred duties of your priestly office, for the glory of God, and the propagation of the faith in this country.’ * Dean McKenna, V.G., then addressed the meeting. Pie said:—-Mr. Bunny has given expression to my feelings regarding Father Harnett’s priestly qualities. Since he came amongst us, now a little over three years, I have watched him and ever found him a faithful friend and true priest. I am sorry we are losing Father Harnett, but I rejoice to think that he is now going to take charge of a parish of his own. I look forward with great certainty to Father Harnett’s making a name for himself, because any work that he gets to do will be carefully carried out. Not only was Father Harnett a friend to me, but he was a counsellor also in matters relating to the work of the parish. We, have lived together now for some years, and during that time we have never had one difference except when we took different views of certain questions, and when we discussed matters closely, in nearly all cases I had to yield to Father Harnett’s opinion. As a companion, Father Harnett always proved that he was able to make those associated with him happy, though he was now going to lead a hermit’s life, as far as the society of his brother priests is concerned. I wish to make this testimony before the presentation of the testimonial. I join in all the sentiments expressed in your address, and wish Father Harnett every success. Mr. Bunny then presented Father Harnett with a purse of sovereigns as a token of the esteem and affection of the parishioners. On rising to respond, Father Harnett received a great ovation. He said:-—One of the hardest things that a man is called upon to do is to subdue his feelings. We are told that to conquer one’s self is the greatest of all victories. Of all the feelings that play upon the heart of man, there is not one that makes itself master more than that of sadness. At different times in our lives we all experience this, and I can assure you, that, on taking leave of my friends in Te Nui about three weeks ago, I felt as sad and as lonely as when I was leaving Ireland for the New Zealand mission, three years ago. To my mind there is one very convincing reason why you should not have met me here to-night, and that is that I have received before now singular marks of appreciation from you, yet that very reason may be used to explain why you have met me here to-night, because it is a public endorsement of the tokens of appreciation which I have received from you every week since I arrived in the Wairarapa. From Castlepoint to Putara, throughout the whole district, I have received nothing but kindness. Last year was a strenuous one in some respects, but much of the worry and work attached to it was made easy for me by the spontaneous and whole-hearted manner in which the people responded to my calls on them. It is true I was alone, without the companionship of my brother priests, yet, to the credit of those inside and outside of the parish be it said, everything thev could do to make me happy was done. As proof of this I will make just one statement. The net profit from St. Patrick’s Night social this year axriounted. to £44—an unprecedented thing in the parish. The many gifts which I received from the people enabled

me ; to beautify the . Fishponds property, and . I regret that I am not capable of expressing my gratitude to them, In your address, read by Mr. Bunny, you have wished me pride of place in' the Church of New Zealand. I regret that at the present time, owing to the number of luminaries in the firmament, including two Archbishops, two ■, Vicars-General, two , Provincials, Deans, and lesser dignitaries galore, there is not, if you will pardon the colonialism; a billet of sufficient magnitude in the whole job, to give realisation to that hope. 1 again thank you, one and all, for coming here tonight to honor me, and I wish particularly to thank my friends who were unable to come. I shall be pleased to re-visit the Wairarapa and to see all my old parishioners. A ceud mile, faille awaits my old friends who will visit me in Opunake, and, although I shall be ■thirty miles from the railway station, I shall expect to see you from time to time. (Loud applause.) The singing of ‘ Auld lang syne’ after supper brought to a close one of the most enthusiastic and enjoyable entertainments ever held in Masterton. Great credit is due to the various members of the different committees, particularly the ladies, for the manner in which one and all worked for the success of the entertainment.