Hibernian Society, Dunedin

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 15, 10 April 1924, Page 26

Hibernian Society, Dunedin

- Speaking on Tuesday night week at the reception tendered to him by the Hibernian Society, his Lordship BishopWliyte said how sorry he was not to have arrived back in; time to meet the Australian prelates during their visit to the diocese—some of whom were personal friends of many years' standing. They all had expressed their amazement at the hospitality extended to them during their travels through the Dominion. "I can quite understand this" said Dr. Whyte "because it was my own experience when I first came here." Referring to the fine summary of newa given in the Tablet relating to the movements of the Australian hierarchy, and to the main objective of their visit to New Zealand, his Lordship strongly urged the claims of this splendid paper to the support of Hibernians generally "Every issue" said the Bishop "contains a splendid selection of articles on subjects of vital importance, and the range of matter provides the choicest reading for allyoung and old." He exhorted his hearers to support the paper, to read it themselves and see that it is always available for their children to read. His Lordship's remarks were received with a hearty round of applause'. His Lordship related numerous interesting and entertaining incidents concerning Catholic life Tn the United States. "Americans," he said, "arc generally pictured as being in perpetual pursuit o? the Almighty dollar' and spare but little time to matters of a religious nature." His (the speaker's) experiences and observations, however, led him lo form quite a different opinion, at any rate so far as the Catholic population was concerned. The Mayor of New York city was a staunch Catholic and the high dignity and responsibility of his office is not permitted to interfere with his discharge of long-held parish duties. He (the Mayor) now, as before assuming office, takes his place every Sunday among the collectors at his parish church. One of the ..oldest churches, in New York (St. Peter's) now finds itself wedged in among warehouses in a busy commercial section of the city, with no residences within a considerable distance; yet all day long quite a number of people may be seen there at their devotions, and their offerings are more than sufficient to provide for officiating clergy and upkeep. Everything (said the Bishop) is done on"a large scale in America. Membership of religious organisations are numbered in tens of thousands, and the processions (there called parades) are wonderful sights An impressive and most edifying sight is, in the event of a. fire alarm, to see the members of the splendidly equipped fire brigade when speeding past a Catholic church raise their brass helmets in honor of the Divine Presence; a public act of Faith which shows the religion the majority of them profess. In humorous vein, has Lordship told many quaint stories of persons—their sayings and doings—which were much appreciated and grently enjoyed bv° all present.