THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

New Zealand Tablet, 11 May 1916, Page 23

THE HIBERNIAN SOCIETY

PRESENTATION TO HIS LORDSHIP BISHOP BRODIE.

(From our Christchurch, correspondent.") The Hibernian Hall was crowded on last Monday even-

ing on the occasion of a reception and presentation to his Lordship Bishop Brodie —an event in which every branch in the diocese was interested. The gathering was most enthusiastic, and representatives of the society were present from Timaru, Temuka, Geraldine, Ashburton, New Headford, and St. Mary’s (Christchurch North), whilst the jnerifbers of the local branch (St. Patrick’s) were present with lady friends in very strong force.

The president of St. Patrick’s branch (Bro. J. Curry) presided, and on the platform with his Lordship the Bishop were the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (wearing the regalia of a past-president), the Rev. Fathers Long (chaplain), O’Hare, and Sir George Clifford. Also among those present were the Rev. Fathers Hoare, S.M., and Murphy, B.A. On arrival, his Lordship the Bishop was received by a guard of honor, consisting of officers and members in regalia. The stage was very appropriately decorated. On the front were the words Cead mile failte, whilst the Irish and New Zealand flags were suspended overhead. Quite an effective feature was the presidential honors’ boards displayed as a gackground, and containing a long list of the names of all the presidents, of St. Patrick’s branch from the society’s first beginning to the present day. An enjoyable musical and elocutionary programme was contributed by Mrs. Baxter, Misses M. G. O’Connor,

Lawlor, Donnell, and Thomson, Messrs. J. Joyce, F. Rowe, and R. Beveridge. Mrs. Baxter, and Miss K. O’Connor were accompanists. V The president, in an appropriate speech, presented his Lordship the Bishop with a magnificent 15 carat gold Celtic pectoral cross, set with four large emeralds, the cost of which, he said, had been subscribed to by every branch, and every member of every branch in the diocese. No more appropriate gift could.be made, and it was one which would be an enduring reminder of the faith and loyalty of the givers, and of their love and veneration for his Lordship, now their chief pastor. He had, too (continued the president), another most pleasing duty to perform, and that was to present his Lordship, on behalf of the Hibernians of Waihi, with an enlarged framed photograph, showing entire, block of church buildings of that town, in which his Lordship so long ministered, and with such conspicuous success, as pastor. He then announced his Lordship’s appointment as a honorary ' lifemember of St. Patrick’s (Christchurch) branch of the society. His Lordship Dr. Brodie thereupon signed the register. The Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (pastor of St. Mary’s) said: I look upon it as a great honor and a great privilege to bo associated with the Hibernians of this diocese, so soon after my return to their midst, in wishing a hearty welcome, and making a presentation to his Lordship the Bishop. I beg to thank the Hibernians for the honor they have conferred on me. My Lord, I fully endorse all that the worthy president of St. Patrick’s branch has said so well. We, the Hibernians of this diocese, welcome you with filial respect and affection, because you are the delegate of our Holy Father the Pope; we welcome you because you are our Bishop; we are proud of you because of the work you have already done, and because of your personal worth- which we are learning every day to appreciate more and more. The ideals of our society, as you are aware, are religion, patriotism, and benevolence. The Hibernians of the diocese 1 of Christchurch are true to their high ideals. In the course of the visitation of your diocese, you will meet many Hibernians; you will meet them in fifteen parishes. There is one thing you may rest assured of, and it is this: Wherever you meet a Hibernian, you will meet a man who is proud of his religion and true to it; who is devoted to his pastor, and at the same time a man who looks to Ireland with affection, and does -all in his power to help her in her struggle for freedom and happiness, and sympathises with her in the hour of sorrow and trial. At the present time a cloud is passing over Ireland, and the heart of every Hibernian is bleeding. Because a Hibernian is true to his faith, true to his country, or the country of his fathers, he is also true to his adopted or native country, true to New Zealand, true to the Empire, under whose flag he has enjoyed, in this country, liberty, happiness, and prosperity. Hence, when the bugle has sounded the alarm, no one has responded to the call of the Empire with more enthusiasm, with greater generosity, than the Hibernians, or the sons of Hibernians. Their heroic deeds are recorded on the hills of Gallipoli, and their names will shine gloriously on the most glorious page of New Zealand’s history. Yes; the descendants of the Irish race, have, in fairly large numbers, joined the ranks of our society, and by their contact with Hibernians, they learn to emulate the heroism of their forefathers in defence of faith and fatherland, and to emulate the young , men of their race, who have played such an important, such a brilliant part in the building up of other nations. The foundations of the society in your diocese were laid in August, 1873, when thirteen Irishmen, men loyal and true, met together and decided to • apply to the district board, Dunedin, for a dispensation to open a branch in Christchurch, The dispensation was obtained, and the branch was opened by Bro. Carroll (district president) on September 4 of the same year. Most of the officers elected on that occasion, have been called to their reward. Bro. T. O’Connell, one of the trustees, and Bros. Pope; Nelson, and Joyce, are still amongst us, with all the signs of perennial youth. Great progress has been made since then; yet there is room for more. There are still many Catholic youths along the highways and hedges who ought to be compelled to come in.

On the day on which your Lordship will give the signal, and speak the word of command, these dutiful sons of the Church will walk in. The Church, * indeed, has need of them to promote her . welfare, to' fight her battles, but what assistance can they give unless they are banded together under a banner, the banner of Hibernianism. Their country has need of them, they must sit in its councils, and take their place in popular assemblies; they must help to build up this new nation on the solid rocks of religion and morality, but how can they succeed in that noble task unless united, unless they wield the influence their number and their principles entitle them to. Those amongst them who have been the victims of misfortune or sickness have need- of them, they have need of their warm sympathy, of their charity and prayers how can they bestow those blessings either by the bedside of the sick or the open grave of the dead, unless they are trained and united under the banner of a Catholic benefit society. These are the ideals to which we aspire. Under your guidance, helped by your wise counsels and your encouragement , we shall attain them, and then we may be your consolation, perhaps your joy, and certainly willing instruments in your hands to carry on the work of our Divine Master. We wish you many long years of happiness, prosperity, and a fruitful episcopate. The Rev. Fathers Long and O’Hare, and Sir George Clifford also addressed the gathering. His Lordship Bishop Brodie (who was greeted with prolonged cheers) expressed deep gratitude for the beautiful gifts made to him that evening, and for the spirit animating the officers and. members of the society in honoring him in such a whole-hearted manner. He paid an eloquent tribute to the loyalty and' faithfulness of the members of the society, everywhere in the Dominion, and said he was greatly pleased to know that in every one of the principal parishes in the diocese there was a prosperous and flourishing branch. Loyalty towards, and love of, Holy Church and its pastors were a tradition of the society, and it cheered him beyond expression as their Bishop to know that he would receive their assistance and generous co-operation in a similar measure to that extended, through a very long episcopate, to his well-beloved and justly venerated predecessor. Any misgivings, he might have entertained on his entry into the diocese as their chief pastor were speedily dispelled by the truly Catholic, warm-hearted way he was received by clergy and laity alike, and especially so by the Hibernians. His constant endea-vor would be to repay this devoted trustfulness, so far as was in his power. All he could do to advance the interests of the society and other Qatholic organisations would be an earnest duty. His desire was to see the society multiply in membership, and its influence extend. The photograph of the church buildings of Waihi, said his Lordship, brought vividly before his mind the happy and eventful years spent in that town and parish, and its people. He would greatly prize it, reminding him, as it did, of the , great work accomplished there by a faithful congregation. Refreshments were handed round, and the gathering resolved itself into a conversazione, the whole event proving most successful and pleasing, and certainly very creditable to those who had the ordering of the arrangements.