Presentation to Mr. P.D. Hoskins

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 52, 30 December 1925, Page 15

Presentation to Mr. P. D. Hoskins

KNIGHT OF ST. GREGORY HONORED.

fel ; : ; . ' . (From our own correspondent.) ,

-i [■■[;._ Wellington, from its four corners, sent representatives to the gathering the other night in St. Francis's Hall, when Mr. P. D. I -Hoskins was the guest of the Catholic com- : munity. , The hall was kindly loaned by Rev. • Father Smythe for the occasion and the p;. clergy of the various parishes were there in "person to do honor to the greatest Catholic & layman in the Dominion. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea presided. On the platform with him were the guests of honor (Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins) and Messrs. P. J. O'Regan, . J. J. L. Burke, J. "Smyth, and J. Scott. .His Grace opened proceedings with a fine eulogy of the guest of the evening. "The task that I have to perform this evening," said his Grace, "is both a pleasant and a difficult one. It is difficult to praise a citizen who has performed such noble work in his presence. However on this occasion the pleasant part of the proceedings will no doubt overcome the other side. I may be permitted to recall to you why the Catholic - community of Wellington, with their b'ishops ; and clergy have resolved to show-their appreciation of the splendid work done by ' Mr. Hoskins on behalf of Catholic activities extending over a period of twenty years. • When, I was a young priest Mr. Hoskins was quite a youth, but even at that stage he § began to take an active part in all things j connected with the Church. I remember ' 'that at that time he took a keen interest in V the Catholic Benefit Society, and it js larget fly due to his efforts that the Hibernian Society holds the strong position in Wellington that it does to-day." Continuing, his Grace stressed the work of Mr. Hoskins in Catholic Federation activities. Indeed he was the ; moving spirit, the initiator of the -Catholic g|Federation. The Catholic Field Service Fund for supplying comforts to the soldiers on the battlefield, was another of his cares, H: and he : had just . recently "triumphantly concluded the campaign for funds for Lewisham Hospital. .t y'M ;_ :-• ,;■;/■ i /.;**•, } '-:.:-"■:~

His Graced remarks were loudly applauded, the applause reaching its loudest when he aptly described this great Catholic as "A humble, self-effacing gentleman." The audience knew it to be tr„ue. _\ "But," he went on, "Mr. Hoskins's great work has .been in the interests of Catholic education. In the organisation of the Catholic Education Fund he has shown rare organising ability. Heedless of obstacles, he has gone on his way, unruffled and calm. Like other people who work in the public interest he 'has had to suffer from the indifference of those from whom he had every right to expect, assistance. As long as he has had the countenance of his ecclesiastical superiors, he has gone ahead quietly with the work in hand. You may 'travel the world over and not find a more amiable and delightful man to work with. If he had sought the limelight there would be more people in this city aware of the debt they owe him. When his advice on occasion was not accepted he never thought of taking offence or sulking but always went, giving his great organising ability to the task in hand. It was for that reason that when I visited the Eternal City, his Grace the Archbishop commissioned me to ask a small decoration for Mr. Hoskins from his Holiness. When I gave the list of his good. works the Secretary of Congregation of Propaganda-said: 'lt is not a small decoration this man merits.' He was given a decoration, perhaps not fully appreciated in this new country. It was, however, a coveted one in the courts of Europe, honored by Government in the Old World— Knighthood of St. Gregory. Mr. Hoskins is one of those lay apostles whose works keep alive the spirit of the Church. Other speakers, members of the laity, will come before you to-night to praise Mr. Hoskins, but none will feel the truth of those praises more deeply than I." Prolonged applause greeted the conclusion of this speech. Then came the presentation.. It was most fitting that it should have been made by Mr. J. J. L. Burke, so many years his coworker in Catholic interests, so many years united with him in a friendship as close as that of David and Jonathan. In a characteristically brief speech he presented him with a wallet containing two hundred guineas and read the address from the Catholic community, an address "which at the request of the Sacred Heart Community, Island Bay, had been finely illuminated by them, in token of gratitude for many kindnesses received from Mr.'Hoskins. Mrs: Hoskins was presented with a beautiful bouquet by Miss Mary O'Gorman. Mr. P. J. O'Regan is always sure of an enthusiastic hearing. : As a fellow-parishioner of Mr. Hoskins he added his tribute. "His work," he said, "is continuous and sustained. You have only to look around you at the magnificent Catholic edifices in this city and you will realise by an association

of, ideas that a great many of them are due V to the energy and ability of Mr. Hoskins. The Archbishop mentioned the lay apostolate. Well we are fortunate in our own apostle, Paul. (Laughter.) Besides it is not H as if Mr. Hoskins is a man without-family ties. There is a contingent of young Hoskinses. (Laughter.)." In more serious vein Mr. o'Regan commented on the position of ' Catholic education and the fallacious idea that the State should usurp control of edu- " cation. "I look for the day," he*said, "when'; every Catholic child will- receive free educa- ' tion in its own schools and that day will be the fruition of the activities of men like" Mr. Hoskins." Mr. J. Scott, .in neatly chosen words, supported Mr. O'Regan. "Within the ambit of my experience I have never met another man with the qualities of Mr. Hoskins. I am of a younger generation, but I have watched him and worked beside him, and I r trust the younger Catholics of this Dominion will follow .the trail he. has so gloriously blazed." (Applause.) Mr. Johnson in a human arid reminiscent vein recalled his early association with Mr. Hoskins. He traced his career from a youth- V; ful letter-carrier to his present high position : -d : in the Postal service to-day, a position gainedS entirely by merit and exertion. Any one of the duties Mr. Hoskins had undertaken was sufficient for one man in his spare time, but he went through with them all. In addition he had been auditor for the Catholic Hostel ; for nine years. He was, as Mr. Scott had 1 said, "the universal secretary." ';:'."- W^m The ovation given Mr. Hoskins was so great that he had to wait his opportunity % to speak. He bore out in his speech the Archbishop's dictum, "A humble, self-effac-ing gentleman." "For He's a Jolly Good V Fellow'-.' was sung before he was permitted to begin. "You have given me to-night ; P list of my virtues,", said Mr. Hoskins. "You '< have charitably omitted a catalogue of my '. faults. If you ask Mrs. Hoskins, she will be able to supply them. (Laughter.) Much. has been made of what I have done, but I have only done my duty. It is the bounden : : duty of every Catholic man to assist. in so far as is to him possible in-the promotion., of the grand old Faith to which it is our * privilege to belong." This' profession of faith caried out during a lifetime by deeds ' i was greeted with stirring applause. "A comparison has been made of our Church '■'• and its members as being afloat on the ocean of life in the great barque of St. Peter. It - T is a good comparison. We . cannot all be " passengers on that barque. Some must -be workers. The bishops- are our:.■ stains—the clergy our officers, and we miW -ork to : keep the ship riding the seas. : To ; God the praise is due. rHe has blessed me with good health. Without the hearty co-operation of the hierarchy and the clergy I could not - have accomplished much. I had,- too/ the help of the noble band of men and : women who work for the Church, and the great body of the laity without whose assistance *"ch work is impossible." When in addition to this ? padded -the ; work done by the Sisters and Brothers, not much is left to me." (Laugh tei'.) Mr. Hoskins, after reading fine quotation from Gladstone on the permanent'

and the glory of the Church, in conclusion said: "This evening will remain the most of my life. I again protest that JHhave done nothing to merit your kindness, but it is none the less appreciated." -" Cheers were then given for Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins. . . Inuring the evening songs were finely rendered by Misses McDavitt and Berry, and Mr. C. : Hickmott. Miss Muriel Blake was an efficient accompanist. The duties of secretary for the presenta- - ; tion were most capably carried out by Mr. J. Smyth, of Hataitai. Following was the address: - !. : . Wellington, 17th December, 1925 To Paul Donnellan Hoskins, Esquire, > Knight of St. Gregory. . , Dear Sir, The great work which you as a layman have done for the last twenty years for the cause of Catholicity in Wellington : has been noted with keen and appreciative .interest by the hierarchy, clergy, and your fellow Catholics throughout the city, and it - '-. is the wish of all to place on record the public appreciation of your labors. , V Commencing in an humble way as secretary of the Hibernian-Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, your organising abilities and y alertness for the good of the cause and the welfare of your co-religionists were soon in prominence, and your good work with that •; society soon made you a necessary adjunct for all the Catholic works in the city. : Passing in brief record the Hibernian Society, "the Catholic Federation, the Marist Old Boys' Association, the Catholic Field Service Fund are a few of the many activiti ties with which you have been closely assoWhilst the successful organisation : ana -completion of the Lewisham Bazaar and Art Union are also triumphs of which you may be justly proud. Far outstanding all, however, the monumental work of the Wellington Catholic 'Education Board, which to-day has a fund v. of something like £15,000, will go down in " history as the fruition of your activities and unstinted labors. The fact that his Holiness the Pope has J- been pleased to recognise your great and useful work by conferring on you the dignity of a Knight of St. Gregory is a matter r-qf which, we Catholics are justly proud. : In asking you to accept this address and v the accompanying gift we wish to confirm. ' and place on record our appreciation of your y untiring zeal and energy in the cause of Catholicity not only in Wellington but throughout New Zealand, and in conclusion Vwe trust you will be granted many long and ] ,; useful years in which to carry on the good i; work. , ; , On behalf of the Hierarchy, Clergy, and —Catholic laity of Wellington and your friends ;. generally, '; We remain, Yours very appreciatively and V; : . sincerely, ll* Francis Redwood, S.M., Archbishop of *T. O'Shea, S.M., CoadjutorArchbishop of Wellington; P. F. Cullen, I /Adm.; M. Collins, O.SS.R. ; T. F. Con- / ; nolly, V.F.; J. Kelly, P.P.; S. Mahony,. ■y} S.M.; P. J. Smyth, S.M.; Thos. Devoy, S.M. ; ; Brother Louis, T. O'Brien, J. P.

Corcoran, J. J. L. Burke, J. A. Scott, W. H. Giles, ? M. J. Kennedy, J. B. Hickmott, W. F. Johnson, Thos. B. Guscott, . J. Smyth, J. J. o'Gorman, J. W. Blake, M. O'Kane, Geo. Craig, M. F. Bourke, Jas. Stratford, P. J. o'Regan. ■'» ;••' _^>—— OBITUARY MR. MICHAEL MORAN, MOSSBURN.

There passed away at Riverton hospital on November 23 another of the fast diminishing band of pioneers, in the person of Mr. Michael Moran. Deceased, who was 80 years of age, was born near Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland. He left his native land in his twentieth year, and arrived in the Wakatipu district in August, 1860. . He followed mining for about fourteen years, and afterwards took up land-in conjunction with his cousin, the late John Healy. After the death of the latter some 26 years ago, deceased disposed of his interest in the land and ceased to take any active part in business concerns. He was intimate with most of the visiting clergy in the early days, and usually served at Mass. All his life a faithful member of the church his piety increased as the years passed, and the welfare of his native land was ever before his mind. He is survived by a brother (Mr. James Moran, Woodville). His only sister, the late Mrs. Daniel Enfight, of Temuka, predeceased him some two years ago. He was attended with great regularity by Rev. Father O'Neill, Riversdale, and during his short stay in Riverton hospital by Rev. Father Buckley, and passed away fortified by the rites of Holy Church'. The burial took place at Arrowtown; Requiem Mass being celebrated in the morning by the Rev. Father O'Neill, who also officiated at the graveside. —R.l.P. The death, on Sunday, December 13, of the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Mahar, New Plymouth, was the cause of widespread sorrow and of sympathy for the sorrowing parents and members of the family! The funeral, which took place on Monday, the 14th inst., from St. Joseph's Church-was one

of the largest children's funerals ever seen in New. Plymouth. ,The children of the Catholic schools attended in large numbers 1 : and listened to a beautiful address by Father Minogue. During their short period in New - Plymouth Mr. and Mrs. Mahar and family have done excellent work for the church, and a large circle of friends condole with them in their loss. /