THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE

New Zealand Tablet, 20 January 1916, Page 29

THE APOSTOLIC DELEGATE

ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME IN WELLINGTON .. < r / ;• V r-‘, RECEPTION IN THE TOWN HALL (By telegraph, from our own correspondent.) < AC;- January 18. His Excellency the Most Rev. Archbishop Cerretti, Apostolic Delegate, arrived by the Ulimaroa from Sydney about -9 o’clock on Monday morning. On the wharf to receive his Excellency were his Grace Archbishop Redwood, his Grace Coadjutor-Archbishop O’Shea, his Lordship Bishop Verdbu (Dunedin), his Lordship Bishop Cleary (Auckland), Right Rev. Dr. Brodie (Bishop-elect of Christchurch), the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, the Very Rev. Dean Smyth, S.M. (Provincial), the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Adm., Thorndon), Very Rev. Father Roche, C.SS.R., Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M.. Rev. Father Hurley, 5.M.,» Adm., and a ‘representative. gathering of the Catholic laity.. There was no ceremony in connection with. the arrival of the distinguished visitor, who, after a few introductions, was driven to the residence of his Grace Archbishop Redwood.

At the official reception at the Sacred Heart Basilica at 7.30 p.m. - every seat in the. great church was filled long before the'time set for the commencement of the ceremony, and when the procession of clergy set out from his Grace Archbishop Redwood’s residence for the church a great crowd had assembled to see it pass by. Among the clergy present in the procession, in addition to the distinguished 1 visitor himself, were his Grace Archbishop Redwood, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, his Lordship Bishop Yerdon (Dunedin), his Lordship Bishop Cleary (Auckland), Right Rev. Dr. Brodie (Bishop-elect of Christchurch), Right Rev. Mgr. McKenna, V.G., Rev. Dr. Ormond (secretary to his Excellency), Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, Very Rev. Dean Power (Hawera), Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., Very Rev. Dean Smyth, S.M. (Provincial), Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., and the Hon. T. Dalton, K.S.G. Some fifty priests, practically the whole of the clergy of the archdiocese, were also present, and the members of the Hibernian Society in regalia formed a guard of honor. On his arrival at the Basilica .his Excellency, who was greeted with the hymn of welcome, ‘ Ecce Sacerdos Magnus ’ (Stadler) by the combined choirs of the Wellington Catholic churches, imparted the Papal Blessing to the congregation, and the official reception of his Excellency by his Grace Archbishop Redwood in the name of the hierarchy and priests of New Zealand then took place. His Excellency then proceeded up the aisle to the Archbishop’s throne at the Gospel side of the altar, and was vested in his episcopal robes, after which the ‘ Benedictus ’ duet from Glover’s Third Mass was sung. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was then given by his Excellency, Very Rev. T. Roche, C.SS.R., being deacon, and the Very Rev. Father i O’Connell subdeacon. In addition to the items already mentioned the musical part of the service, rendered by the combined city choirs, under the oonductorship of Mr. E. J. Healey (conductor of the Basilica Choir), also included the ‘ O Salutaris ’ * (Elgas-), ‘ Tantum Ergo (Verdussen), and ‘ Adoremus ’ (Mendelssohn). j Mr. Bernard Page (city organist) very ably presided at the organ, and played an appropriate march as the procession reformed "at the close of the service, and left the sacred edifice to return to the residence of his Grace Archbishop Redwood. V • , . A RECEPTION AT THE TOWN HALL. ; Long before the appointed time for the reception in -the Town Hall on Tuesday evening every seat was occupied, and. the 'aisles and passages were thronged. The . Hibernian Society, in strong numbers, acted as •a guard of honor and lined the entrance from the street to the hall. The arrival of his Excellency, attended by /his Grace. Archbishop Redwood, his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, his Lordship ; Bishop Y§rdon, his Lord-

ship Bishop Cleary, • the Right Rev. ■ Dr. Brodie, and Monsignor McKenna, and . the clergy, was the signal for .prolonged cheers. His Excellency robed in the Mayor’s room, which was very kindly placed at his disposal by the Mayor of Wellington. The committee, headed ‘by the chairman (Mr-. Burke) conducted his Excellency and the other distinguished prelates to the places assigned for them, when they were most heartily cheered and enthusiastically received, and the large audience stood up, and sang with great enthusiasm ‘ God save the King.’ The first part of the proceedings opened with the rendition by the five combined city choirs, under the conductorship of Mr. E. J. Healey, of the chorus, ‘Edce Sacerdos Magnus,’ with organ accompaniment by Mr. Bernard F. Page (city organist). Miss Teresa McEnroe gave a fine rendering of the song, ‘ I will extol Thee,’ for which she received a vociferous encore, and responded with ‘ Believe me, if all those endearing young charms.’ Mr. Bernard F. Page played an organ solo, which was greatly appreciated by the large audience. Miss Morrison very sweetly sang the ‘ Three fishers,’ and she, too, had to respond to a well-deserved encore. The chairman (Mr. J. J. L. Burke) then delivered an eloquent address, which was marked by frequent outbursts of applause. His Grace Archbishop Redwood, who was most enthusiastically received, welcomed, on his own behalf, as Metropolitan of the Province, and on behalf of his colleagues in the hierarchy, his devoted clergy and laity, his * Excellency to New Zealand. His illustrious presence in their midst marked a new era in the history of the Church in this Dominion, as it was the first reception *to the first Apostolic Delegate for Australasia in New Zealand. He welcomed his Excellency to New Zealand, the favored land, and already the mother of heroes, for had she not sent her sons, and had they not sacrificed themselves in the fight for justice, truth, and civilisation, which had won for her the admiration of the whole world. This fairest gem in the British Crown welcomed the illustrious representative of our Most Holy Father, Benedict XV., successor of St. Peter and Vicar of Christ, who could not come himself, but sent his Excellency. He (his Grace) wished to express his gratitude to his Holiness for the great privilege and blessing they enjoyed by the presence of his illustrious representative that evening. THE ADDRESSES. His Grace then read the following address from the Hierarchy, Clergy, and Laity of New Zealand: ‘May it pleace your Excellency, —ln our own name and on behalf of the Catholic clergy and laity of the Dominion of New, Zealand, we bid your Excellency a cordial welcome to . our shores. We welcome you for your own established work and worth. With a most particular affection we welcome you as the representative in these southern lands of the Supreme Pontiff who through you wishes to come into closer touch with our religious life, with our spiritual labors, trials, dangers, hopes, and fears. ‘Your Excellency’s personal gifts and qualities have already won for you in other lands a high place in the esteem of men. ‘ We pray that in the higher and more responsible position to which you have been called, God’s fruitful and abiding blessing will make these endowments the instruments of a fresh impetus to religion, and bring our hearts nearer to the pulsing centre of our faith on earth, and thereby nearer to the Heavenly centre in the Sacred Heart of our Divine Lord. ‘ With much respect and affection we subscribe ourselves ' your Excellency’s faithful servants in Christ » * Francis Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington. ‘ Michael Verdon, ‘ Bishop of Dunedin. ‘Henry W. Cleary, , ‘ Bishop of Auckland. ' f Matthew W. Brodie, ‘ Bishop-elect of Christchurch. • ‘ Thomas O’Shea, • • . ‘ Coadjutor-Archbishop of Wellington,’

~.."-,?:The chairman (Mr. ; Burke) read the address from the Catholic.-laity.-, of ? the varchdiocese of Wellington, which was as follows :—■ Y : '£*?.• ' ' :^: "', ~ '--VC /''-"-'-.

„ ‘ May it pleas© your Excellency,—On this your first visit to the Dominion of New Zealand, the Catholic laity of the archdiocese of Wellington desire to extend to you a 'sincere welcome, and to give expression to our feelings of loyalty and devotion to our Most Holy Father Pope Benedict XV., whom you so worthily represent in this distant portion of the Master’s vineyard. Your Excellency will be pleased to learn that the grain of mustard seed sown by the early missionaries in this Dominion has been fruitful in results, , and we full of gratitude to the Most High, that He has, through\our beloved Sovereign Pontiff, and His predecessors, provided ms with prelates and pastors, who, by their holy liyes and : shining example, have shed . lustre on our Holy Mother the Church. We trust that this visit will be the first ,of many, and we beg to assure your Excellency of a loyal and hearty welcome from the Catholics of the Metropolitan See; of New - Zealand on each occasion. ■ * . ‘ Wishing your. Excellency the choicest of God’s blessings in your exalted office, we remain, on behalf of the laity of .the archdiocese of Wellington, your Excellency’s most humble and obedient children, *J. J. L. Burke ‘ Martin Kennedy .. . Maurice O’Connor ‘P. D. Hoskins ‘ J. E. Gamble ‘ T. P. Halpi.n

* ‘ W. F. Johnson.’ Mr. P. D. Hoskins, district deputy, read the following address on behalf of the district executive of the Hibernian ' Society : ‘ May it please your Excellency,— The members of the New Zealand District of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, eagerly avail themselves of your presence amongst us to extend to you a cordial welcome to the Dominion; to respectfully, offer our warmest congratulations on your appointment to your exalted office and to convey to you, and through you to our beloved Pontiff, Benedict XV., our unswerving loyalty and devotion to our Holy Mother the Church,' of which he is the Supreme Pastor, and your Excellency a trusted and worthy representative. • N ’ ‘Your Excellency will be interested to know that the driving force of our society is the union of the two sacred principles of. Faith and Fatherland; that our membership is composed exclusively of practical Catholics ; and that while we deeply love this beautiful land of our birth or adoption, we also affectionately , cherish the memory of that “first flower of, the earth and first gem of the sea’’dear Ireland, through which so many of us have inherited the priceless jewel of the faith. ■ ~ .’; ‘We earnestly pray that your visit to the Dominion may redound to the greater glory of God ; .that it may be productive of lasting spiritual benefits to our . people; and that vigorous health may be yours to labor in the sacred cause of religion- ‘Ad multos annos.’ ; ‘ Your-Excellency’s most humble servants — James Smith, : ... • ‘ District President. , t : H. F. Holbrook, ..■;i \ • ‘ District Vice-President. ■ ‘ D. Flynn,,-. ' v. • ‘ District Past President. i?.,,. i ‘ M. J. She AH AN, ... .. > ‘ District Treasurer. ■ - ‘ William Kane, •• ■ : r ' * District Secretary. -v?; ‘Auckland, New Zealand,, • ' •: ‘ 14th January, 1916.’ ‘ v

His Lordship Bishop Verdon, oh behalf of himself, the priests, and the laity of the diocese of .Dunedin, tendered his grateful, homage to • his Excellency as representative of our Holy Father Benedict XV. He assured his Excellency that the people, of Dunedin would not allow themselves to be outdone in welcoming his Excellency, when he visited that diocese. It was with feelings of great'joy that they had heard of the creation of an Apostolic Delegation, and of the appointment of his Excellency as first occupant of .that position. He trusted that when' his Excellency left these shores, he would take away with him happy memories of his visit to New Zealand. (Applause.) ' V His Lordship Bishop Cleary was the next speaker* and as it was his first appearance after his recent serious illness he was accorded a most flattering reception. His Lordship said he . deemed it a high privilege to welcome his Excellency on behalf of the priests and people of the diocese of Auckland. They hailed with great delight the arrival of his Excellency. His presence amongst us would expedite dealing with ecclesiastical affairs. He offered him a thousand welcomes on the occasion of his first visit to New Zealand, and trusted that he would have a pleasant time here. He referred in humorous terms to the behaviour of Wellington weather and gave his Excellency the Maori welcome, and also the Italian welcome, which would be more familiar to the ears of his Excellency cead mile failte. (Laughter and prolonged applause.) The ..Right Rev. Dr. Brodie, who was cordially received, expressed on his own behalf and on behalf of the people of Christchurch, their unswerving loyalty. The gathering that night was a happy coincidence, as it was the day set apart for the feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome. To that chair to-day close on 300,000,000 loving people owed obedience. He dwelt on the solicitude of the- Holy Father for each and every member of his vast flock, as evidenced by the creation of the Apostolic Delegation, and the appointment of his Excellency as the illustrious occupant of that exalted office. Well might the. eyes of the Catholics of New Zealand be on Wellington that evening. The diocese of Christchurch was to be specially favored, as his Excellency would, before he departed, have raised to the episcopate the second occupant of that See. ' ...-,. ,

Sir Joseph Ward, who was most enthusiastically received, on behalf of the National Government of New Zealand, and as representative of the Prim© Minister, who was unable to be present that evening, offered a hearty welcome to his Excellency, and trusted his stay would be a most pleasant one. The expansion of the population in these southern lands necessitated changes in the Civil administration, and it was only a natural sequence that the Church should also find that the expansion necessitated the creation of an Apostolic Delegation and the appointment of an Ambassador. Not only was the visit of his Excellency as a representative of our Holy Father the Pope, beneficial in the religious term, but equally so for secular reasons, as it may be that, when the war is over, the ' Holy Father will be one of the factors to bring about peace, and draw up the terms and conditions. In conclusion, he trusted that his Excellency would have a very pleasant time here. HIS EXCELLENCY'S REPLY. His Excellency then rose amidst tumultuous applause and deafening cheers, and it was some time before he could speak, so prolonged and enthusiastic I was the greeting he received. His Excellency thanked {.hem most heartily for the magnificent reception given him that evening. For some time past he was anxious to visit New Zealand, and now he was happy to 1*» here and his desire realised. Other motives for 1 his visit were to study the social and political legislation •of the' country. This and the beautiful climate and ■ wonderful scenery of the country caused ‘ him; to visit New Zealand as soon as his duties permitted; S He had come to Wellington first in order to pay his respects

to the illustrious Metropolitan of the Province, .his Grace Archbishop Redwood, - and his Grace . Archbishop O Shea. He had long ago heard of the reputation of Archbishop Redwood when he was in America, and of his mental gifts, his great works, and early pioneer missionary efforts, now so apparent in the country. He paid a glowing tribute to the Society of Mary, which had not only produced two illustrious Archbishops to rule over the Province, bdt had implanted in this young land the seeds of faith through the efforts of early missionary Fathers. The Society of Mary was full of vigor and life, and he appreciated very much the work of both the Marist and the secular clergy. The faith sown by them had taken deep root, as evidenced by the progress of the Church in this land, and the cordial welcome, extended to him that evening recalled the splendid receptions accorded to him by the Australian dioceses. His Excellency then outlined the Holy Father’s policy in connection with the present war and his efforts on; behalf of the prisoners and wounded. He thanked Providence that there had been raised to the Chair of Peter in these troublous times such a man as Benedict XV., who was eminently fitted to deal with the present situation. He would be pleased to convey to the Holy Father their manifestations l of faith, which would be most consoling to him. He was pleased to see the Suffragan Bishops gathered around their Metropolitan. In .conclusion, his Excellency thanked all who had helped to make his sojourn a pleasant one-the Government, the Harbor Board, the civic authorities, the performers, and the local committee. (Applause.)

One of the most successful functions in connection with the Church in this city concluded with the singing of Faith of our Fathers by the whole audience, to the accompaniment of the large organ.