GREYMOUTH

New Zealand Tablet, 15 June 1916, Page 47

GREYMOUTH

■'iv (From our own correspondent.) . Large and enthusiastic was the audience that greeted his Lordship Bishop Brodie on his entrance to the Town Hall, when he was tendered by Very Rev. Dean Carey (on behalf of his congregation) and by his .Worship the Mayor (on behalf of the citizens), a hearty welcome to Grey mouth. On the stage with his Lordship were the Mayor (in the chair), Very Rev. Dean Carew, Rev. . Fanners Lacroix, and Fraher, members of the borough and county councils, and several of the members of the Catholic congregation. His Worshiip expressed his pleasure at being asked to preside, and from what they had heard of Dr. Brodie it was safe to say that, he would prove a worthy successor to the late Bishop Grimes, whom he had met on various occasions. Mr. H. F. Doogan, on behalf of the parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church, then read the following address of welcome : 1 May it please your Lordship, —We, the Catholics of Grey mouth, have the greatest pleasure in welcoming you on this, your first visit to our parish. Whilst doing so we desire to heartily congratulate you on your elevation -to the high dignity of the Episcopate, an honor which has fallen to you as a natural result of your many years of zealous and devoted work. We are well aware that your many gifts and wide experience render you eminently fitted for the high position you have attained. We recognise the magnitude of the work which confronts you as Bishop of this diocese, and beg to assure you of our ardent co-operation and assistance. We wish you good health, long life, and a fruitful episcopate, and we recognise that your well-known tact and judgment will ensure that your relations with the community, of which we form a part, will be of a happy and cordial nature. ‘ With hope that you will fully enjoy your visit to this part of your diocese, we subscribe ourselves on behalf of the parishioners, ‘ E. A. Burke, F. Campbell, M. Hannan, J. Higgins, J. Kennedy, M. Phillips. ‘ Greymouth, May 19, 1916.’ * The address, which was printed upon white satin, had been finished off by the Sisters of Mercy, who are to be highly complimented upon the artistic manner in which the work was done. During the evening an excellent musical programme was gone through, every performer being called upon to respond to an encore. The gem of the evening proved to be the French National Anthem, sung in French, by the Rev. Father Lacroix. The following' contributed items: —Misses L. and M. Higgins, M. Egan, Hanrahan, V. Hannan, Messrs. Kiely, F. Hargreaves, W. McGrath, and H. F. Doogan. On his Lordship rising to reply to the address he was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. He heartily thanked the Mayor and members of the local bodies and the audience for their hearty welcome. It was, he said, what he was led to expect. He had always kindly feelings towards the Coast. He was the son of a miner, and, looking over the marriage register at the church, he had found that his parents had been - t-'-i or) in Greymouth fifty years ago. From Greymouth his parents had moved to Charleston, where two of his brothers were born. . The next move was to Auckland, where he first saw the light, so that he could claim some connection with the Coast. His present visit was a hurried one ; later on he would make a longer stay. Continuing, his Lordship said that he had only been one day in their parish,-but he had seen sufficient, to cause him to marvel at what had been accomplished by their worthy .pastor, Dean Carew, and his devoted people. One might have throughout Australasia not found a better equipped parish. Not only was it splendidly equipped from an essential point , of view, with its splendid church, presbytery, and the churches and schools - in . other parts of the district, but it was (and the most ■ important of all) well supplied with schools,v in: which Brothers and nuns

taught, without fee or reward, hundreds of children the principles of the Catholic religion, and the annual examinations proved that secular subjects were also efficiently taught. Dr. Brodie paid a glowing tribute .o ms predecessor. Bishop' Grimes. It was amazing what he, with the aid of devoted priests and the generous congregations, had accomplished. If Grey mouth was the best equipped parish’ in Australasia, certainly the diocese of Christchurch was for the number of Catholics it contained, in advance of anything he knew of.

The St. Columba Hall was packed to overflowing when the various societies in connection with St. Patrick’s parish extended a welcome to their new Bishop. The members of the Hibernian Society acted as a guard of honor and escorted his Lordship from the presbytery to the hall, where he was formally welcomed by the president of the H.A.C.B. Society (Mr. M. ,J. McGilligan), who, in introducing his Lordship to the large audience, said that the societies took this occasion to extend a very cordial welcome to his Lordship. Addresses of welcome from the Hibernian Society, St. Columba Club, and the combined ladies’ societies of the parish were then read by Messrs Keating (Hibernians), Doogan (St. Columba), and Miss Greajiey (ladies). A presentation of mineral specimens from the Hibernians was also made by the president of the society.

His Lordship, in replying, regretted that his stay in Greymouth on this occasion would be of such short duration. He desired to -return his sincere thanks to the various parish societies for their very hearty welcome, and from what he had seen of the Greymouth parish he said that the societies had every reason to feel proud of the great work they had accomplished. The Catholic school was the place for instilling the foundations of holy faith into the minds of the rising generation, but it was left to the societies to carry on and perpetuate the work, of the schools. His Lordship paid a glowing tribute to the H.A.C.B. Society and urged the members to give the question of Catholic education their earnest consideration. His Lordship said that although Greymouth had exceptional facilities in this direction, he still thought that there were ample opportunities for the society to do good and useful work in this direction. They would then be helping their worthy pastor, Dean Carew, to instil a love of holy faith into the minds and hearts of the young. His Lordship congratulated the St. Cojumba Club on the great work it had already accomplished in the parish, and, from what he had seen since his arrival in Greymouth, the club had every reason to feel proud of its past achievements. His Lordship also referred to the work which is being carried on by the ladies’ societies. Great and noble work, such as is being done by the Ladies of Charity, will certainly bring its own reward. In conclusion, his Lordship wished to especially thank the parishioners for the very hearty welcome they had at all times accorded him and he would eagerly look forward to his next visit to the West Coast.

A programme of rare excellence was then given, the following performers taking part:Misses Y. Hannan, L. Higgins, Hanrahan, Messrs. L. Mcßrearty, T. Minehan, J. Deere, F. Hargreaves, A. Giffney, W. McGrath, and the members of the Boys’ Club. Refreshments were then handed round, and a most successful and enjoyable function was brought to a close.