Irish News

New Zealand Tablet, 11 May 1916, Page 35

Irish News

GENERAL.

Mr. John Kavanagh, late of Broadford, Limerick, has five sons with the colors. . His sixth son is too young to join.

An enthusiastic reception was given to Lord and Lady De Freyne on their return after their marriage to the family seat, Frenchpark House, Co. Roscommon. The road was spanned with . arches of evergreens. At night bonfires were lighted. The houses in the town were brilliantly illuminated, and cheering crowds, accompanied by the local band, assembled to greet the young pair. The Most Rev. Dr. Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, in the course of his Lenten Pastoral, said that the man who struck a blow against the Prussian struck a blow for justice, freedom, and right. Every acre the Prussian rules over has been acquired by injustice and rapine. Albert of Brandenburg laid the foundations of his kingdom in perjury and fraud, and his successors enlarged it by the same means.

The Right Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Cloyne, in his Lenten Pastoral said that Ireland had shown, by the voluntary presence in the armies of the Allied nations of 150,000 dauntless soldiers from this sparsely populated little island, and by as many more of her scattered sons from abroad, that she was determined to protect herself against such a fate as has overtaken Belgium she was determined to defend her homes, her farms, her industries, her religious freedom, her educational institutions— a word, her hard-won liberties. The little community of Irish nuns from Ypres safely reached their new home at Merton, Co. Wexford, on March 3. The Sisters rfumbered thirteenthe Laddy Abbess, the Mother Prioress, seven Choir Dames, and four lay Sisters. They were accompanied by Rev. Father Lambert Beauduin. Dame Teresa (Miss Howard) is a niece of Mr. John E. Redmond, M.P., the Irish leader; Dame Placid is Miss Druhon, member of a well-known family in the Lady’s Island, County Wexford; and Dame Aloysius is her cousin, Miss Rossiter, of an old Kflmore family. County Wexford. The death has occurred at Portlaw, Co. Waterford, of the Very Rev. Richard Henebry, D.Ph. Born in 1864, he was at one time on the mission in Manchester, and went from there to become Professor of Irish at the Catholic University, Washington, U.S.A. He was regarded as a leadjng authority on the ancient language. For some years after resigning this appointment he was a much-loved and highly-esteemed personality in Irish circles in Cork city and county, especially at Ballingeary, and in his capacity of Professor of Irish at the University College, Cork, was extremely popular with the students and staffs of the institute, and, too, of the Irish College at Ring, Co. Waterford, where he taught during the summer months.

IRISH LEADER’S OPTIMISM.

On the evening of St. Patrick’s Day, Mr. John Redmond visited the King Edward Hospital, in London, where are a large number of wounded Irish soldiers. A concert had been arranged for the men of Lady Tree, and the Irish leader sounded a note of cheery, optimism in a short speech, in which he said: ‘We in Ireland are proud of what Irishmen have done fighting side by side with Englishmen, Frenchmen, Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, and Belgians, and the consolation to all of you is that you have fought in the noblest cause that tongue or sword of man ever defended, the cause of true religious liberty, your own liberty, and that of others, the protection of small and weak nations against the most wicked oppression that has ever been attempted in the history of the whole£ world. Men who have fought and suffered in so noble a 1 cause have earned the eternal gratitude of the whole civilised world. You can carry that consolation in your souls.’ Mr. Redmond went on to say that he had recently visited France, Belgium, and Flanders, and had seen what soldiers had to go through. , ‘ Since then,’ he said, ‘ I have been thinking day and night of what our troops have been going through out there. I congratulate you men that your lives at any rate have been spared. I congratulate you on your honorable wounds. We , are reaching, I believe, the turn of the tide in this war, and the time is at hand when we shall be able to pay those villains and bullies out for the way in which \hey have attempted to pull, down the liberties of the world.’ Mr. Redmond added that he had seen no pessimists or depressed- men at the front. He was told they were all on this side, and he wished such people could be sent out to see for themselves the cheeriness of men who were defending their lives and their liberties. *

, MR. REDMOND’S VIEWS. Mr. J. E. Redmond, in an interview, said that his first feeling on hearing of the Sinn Fein revolt was one of horror, discouragement, and almost of despair. In forty years Ireland had emerged from pauperism and slavery to prosperity and freedom. When the war came she sided with liberty and democracy—any other course was impossible. That same section which to-day is the catspaw of Germany,’ he added, ‘has throughout the Home Rule struggle thwarted and opposed us. >. This wicked move is their last blow at Home Rule. It has been plotted, organised, and paid for by Germany and is equivalent to a German invasion of Ireland as cynical as that of Belgium. It is not Germany’s fault that Ireland is not a second Belgium. hat can I say of those men in America who aided the movement while they remained safe in remoteness? They are guilty of treason to America, which gives them a home, and to , Ireland, their birthplace.’ Mr. Redmond commented on the fact that while the Dublin Fusiliers were being shot in Dublin, the Irish * Brigade re-took some trenches at Loos. * The German plot, however, has failed,’ said Mr. Redmond.- Home Rule has not been destroyed. It is indestructible.’ Mr. Redmond placed himself at the disposal of the authorities, with whom he was in . constant touch. He instructed the Nationalist Volunteers throughout Ireland to hold themselves at the disposal of the military authorities. The Volunteers had already of 'their own accord, mobilised in support of the troops.

A MISSIONARY FAMILY.

‘lreland’s glory is Ireland’s faith,’ is a saying we have often heard. ■ And ’tis true that the thing a good, Irish family glories in most is its faith and that faith’s evidence in the family (says the Catholic Standard and Times). The story here told of an Irish family— story that abounds in cheerful sacrifice for God’s faith and God’s Church —a whole family of five sons and one only daughter giving themselves to the service of religionthis is a story that could be told of many a family in dear old Erin. We give the story in the words of one of the priestsons, Father Laurence Rogan, of the Philippine Islands. ‘ By this mail,’ writes Father Rogan, ‘ I am sending you a photograph of the family to which I belong. It is a veritable missionary photo., and hence I know it will interest you. - Four of the sons on this photo, are now foreign missionary priests, while the fifth is still studying for the foreign missions. St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, is our alma mater. The only daughter, Kathleen, is a professed Redemptoristine nun in Drumcondra, Dublin. Our dear father, now going on towards seventy, lives all alone in dear old Ireland, and is most happy, hard at work, hale and hearty. His farm and house are situated some three miles from the church, yet for years and years—in fact, as far back as I can remember —he has never failed to attend daily Mass. In truth, this has been his custom since boyhood— to go to daily Mass if it were at all possible to get there. Daily Mass has been his practice all through life, and for many years he has been a daily communicant. Small wonder, then, that he raised a family of missionaries! With wonderful mastery over self, and with wondrous cheer and readiness did he make each new sacrifice as each newly ordained son bade him farewell to go forth and follow that Divine command. “Preach the Gospel to every creattfre.” One solace was still left him here on earth, the company of his only daughter Kathleen, when, lo! she, too, heard the same gentle, constant voice and left all to join her Divine Spouse in the enclosed cloister of the Redemptoristine nuns. God be praised, and may His will be done. Even good people used sometimes remonstrate with him and say it was too much; that he should not allow all to go. His answer was always the same: “God gave me these children ; if He want them for Himself, He shall have them.” ’

THE NEW BISHOP OF WATERFORD.

The late Dr. Sheehan’s successor in the See of Waterford and Lismore, the Right Rev. Bernard Hackett, C.SS.R., was consecrated at the Cathedral, Waterford, on Sunday, March 19. The sacred building was not large enough to accommodate all who sought admission. Thousands travelled long distances in unfavorable weather to be present. Special trains were run from Limerick, where the Bishop labored for many years. Dungarvan, his native place, was represented by a very largo contingent. The Most Rev. Dr. Harty, Archbishop of Cashel, was the consecrating prelate, and the Assistant Bishops were Right Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of Ross, and the Right Rev. Dr. Browne, Bishop of Cloyne. .The other - 'members of the hierarchy present were Right Rev. Dr. O’Dwyer, Bishop of Limerick; Right Rev. Dr. Mangan, Bishop of Kerry; Right Rev. Dr. Cohalan, Assistant-Bishop of Cork; the

Right : Rev. the Abbot of - Mount Melleray; and the Right Rev. Dr. Higgins, Auxiliary Bishop of Tuam. The sermon' was preached by tne Bishop of Limerick, who was responsible for the consecration .sermon, over twenty-four years ago, when Dr. Sheehan was raised to the .Episcopate. After having paid a warm tribute to the late. Bishop, he said that no episcopate could begin under happier omens than that of Dr. Hackett. We all know your young Bishop,’ he continued ‘ and to know him is to love and to respect him. Amongst the devoted sons of St. Alphonsus Liguori he had little thought of becoming Bishop of Waterford, but God can work out the designs of His providence in other than human ways, and now the Holy See, with its unfailing providence, has made its choice and given you Dr. Hackett for your Bishop.’ Around the throne of Benedict XV. (continued Bishop O’Dwyer) there gathered a few weeks ago a number of Cardinals, amongst whom were Cardinal Mercier, the patriot Primate of Belgium; Cardinal von Hartmann, of Germany; Cardinal Bourne, of England, and Cardinal Begin, of Quebec, each of them, he dared say, as enthusiastic for the cause of his country as any soldier in the trenches, but all of them drawn together in the higher and holier union which binds them to the Chair of Peter. Their own Bishop (Dr. Hackett) was the evidence and the symbol of their place in the union with Rome. After the religious service, the Blessed Sacrament was removed from the altar, and addresses of congratulation were presented to the new Bishop by the priests of the diocese; the priests of the diocese laboring in the archdiocese of Glasgow; the new Bishop’s class-fellows; the Corporations of Waterford, Limerick, and Clonmel; Waterford County Council, and many other representative bodies. The Limerick Boys’ Confraternity presented an umbrella with their address, and the Men’s Confraternity a costly chalice.

Dr. Hackett replied feelingly. He said it would be hard to conceive how a man could enter on the high office of Bishop under brighter auspices. He found himself confronted with a sight that only in dear old Ireland would be possible. He found himself welcomed on all sides by priests and people. He eulogised the work of the Christian Brothers and the National teachers, and though unable to speak Irish himself, promised to do all that he could for the teaching and speaking of the language, a language that entered into the nation’s life.