RECEPTION TO VISITING HIBERNIANS

New Zealand Tablet, 16 March 1916, Page 43

RECEPTION TO VISITING HIBERNIANS

: ; - (From our Christchurch correspondent.) Probably never before in the history of Hibernianism has such a representative gathering assembled at any centre as was present in Christchurch on the occasion of the visit of the Apostolic Delegate and consecration of his Lordship Bishop Brodie. _ Among those attending from the other chief cities were several priests and dignitaries of the Church, who have done splendid and enduring work for the Order in the Dominion. With a fine spirit of hospitality the local branches rose to the occasion, and right royally entertained their brothers, clerical and lay, from other parts of the Dominion. A banquet was planned on an extensive scale, and this took place in the Hibernian Hall on Saturday evening, February 26, the sight, when all were seated, to the number of approaching 300, was an impressive and memorable one. Bro. J. Curry (president of St. Patrick’s branch) presided, and representatives ’ were ; present from Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington, and all the diocesan branches. The president, in an appropriate address, cordially welcojned the clergy and other delegates to the gathering, emphasising the fact thjat although often before it had been the privilege and pleasure "of the 'local Hibernians to meet and entertain visitors, never previously had there assembled so many distinguished

members bf the v society as were now in the city. V; He trusted all would thoroughly enjoy their . visit/and to this/ end 'no effort would be : lacking on the part ;of the Christchurch Hibernians: . y’-;- "

Among those seated on each side ,of . the president -were the Right v Rev. Mgr. - Hackett ; (Paeroa) Rev Father O’Donnell (Ashburton), Very Rev. .•'Father Coffey (Adm., Dunedin), Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M. (Wellington), Very Rev. ■ Chancellor Holbrook (Auckland); Rev. Father Golden (Auckland),: and Rev. Father O’Hare, Rev. Brother Basil, and the . local Marist Brothers. Bros. M. J. Sheahan , and i Flynn (Auckland)), Bro. J. .F. Gilbert (president, Kumara), Bro. P. Fogarty (P.P.% Greymouth), Bro. J. R. Gill (secretary, Darfield), Bro”. ‘ Mahoney ( ■ (district deputy, Timaru), Bro- Foley (Waimate), also occupied seats of honor: The toast of ‘ His. Holiness the Pope ’ was proposed by the president, and - enthusiastically honored. /T . .

■ The Right Rev. Mgr. Hackett made a fine speech in proposing the toast of ‘ His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate.’. He spoke of the high office held by his Excellency, and th§ evident important standing the Church had attained in Australia and New Zealand, and emphasised the exceptional., qualification of the most distinguished ecclesiastic, first'selected to fill theoffice of direct representative of our Holy Father the Pope. The significance of the . high office, held by his Excellency the Most-Rev. Archbishop Cerretti, and his, visit to the . dominion could be thus briefly summed up as follows: First, to bless all there is good in our democracy; secondly, to add another link to the golden ■chain that has bound our . Catholic hearts to the See of Peter from the days_of St. Patrick down to Pope Benedict XV. thirdly,, to raise to the episcopate, and to the episcopal See of Christchurch, one who will champion our .Catholic rights and liberties, and be a tower of strength to the H.A.C.B. Society. (Applause.)' -V . Mr. M. Grimes (secretary, St. Patrick’s branch), in eloquent, terms, proposed the toast of tji© clergy This was responded to by the Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, Very Rev. Father Coffey, Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., Rev. Fathers O’Donnell and Golden, the latter . raising a. chorus of cheers when he stated /that he had been a member of the H.A. Society for 43 years. . A number of other toasts were proposed and honored. . During the evening several musical and elocutionarv , items were given, and an exceedingly enjoyable and pleasant evening was spent. I • Lance-Corporal J. .Poss, of the National Bank of New Zealand, and an old pupil of the Marist Brothers (writes an Island Bay, Wellington, correspondent), was farewelled at his home, Island Bay House, and was presented with a wristlet watch and a leather waistcoat. He has left for the front, . .