BISHOP CROKE AT THE THAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 470, 13 July 1871, Page 3

BISHOP CROKE AT THE THAMES.

We hn.vc been requested to publish the following : —The* anniversary of the Right Rev. Bishop Croke's consecration to the Roman Catholic diocese of Auckland was celebrated at tho Thames on Sunday by special services, at which his Lordship presided. The church was thronged morning and evening. In tho morning Messrs. JNorlon, Bricn, Mcllhone, Twohill, Coolahan, Riordan, O'Meara, Lundon, aud P. Griffin, presented the following address :—" Shortland, Thames Goldfields, July 9, 1871. May it please jour Lordship, —We, tho Catholic inhabitants of the Thames, feel that we are indeed highly favoured in having an opportunity of congratulating your Lordship on this the first anniversary of your consecration, and of thus displaying to you our gratification at having you amongst us on this auspicious day. Tho Bhort time -which has elapsed since you Lordship's arrival in your dioceso has most amply borno out the high character which had preceded you, and we hope to look forward to the timo when, by our increased love and reverence, necessarily consequent on your continued rule, we may, in a great dogreo, reconcile you to your severance from a country and peoplo near and doar to us all. Gifted with the ruro faculty of winning all hearts, your Lordship has already brought many, not united with us in the bonds of faith, to emulate us in our esteora and respect for your varied talents and urbanity. Wo earnestly pray that your Lordship may enjoy in health many anniversaries of this day, each one bringing further assurance of the increased spiritual well-being of your flock and of the social peace and prosperity of the people among whom you aro placed ; aud when in the fullness of years it may please the Almighty to remove you hence, may you largely share, in common with other apostolic men, all the honors and rewards of a long, a useful, and a well-spent life. With sincere filial love, and most profound respect, wo ask you Lordship's paternal blessing, and hare the happine?s to be, your Lordship's faithful servants, for the Catholic inhabitants of the Thames.—The Bight Rev. Dr. Croke, Bishop of Auckland." His Lordship read the following reply : —

"My dear Friends, —I thank you sincerely for your kind address, and for the thoughtful friendship that suggested it. This is, indeed, the anniversary of tke most important event in my life, for on to-day twelvemonth I was raised to thp Episcopacy. Since then 1 have passed seven months in the midst of my people ; and it is no small comfort to me to learn, as on all sides I do, that, in so far, I have neither displeased nor disappointed one of them. , If, in addition to satisfying the members of my own fold, I havo been fortunate enough withal to conciliate those whoso views on religious matters ar not in accordance with my own, I confess I should esteem myself extremely happy ; nor shall I ever purposely do anything either by word or deed that may diminish, much less destroy, that social harmony and good will which should at all times subsist between tho different branches ol the great Christian Commonwealth.

" Here I feel quite at homo. Amongst the foremost and heartiest to give me welcome, both as Bishop and Irishman, the Catholics at the Thames have on all occasions gathered in great- numbers round me to encourage mo by their presence, and to hear from me that message from above which our holy mother the Church has charged me to convey. For your great kindness and abiding good wishes lam intensely grateful; and, should difficulties at any timo beset my path in the discharge of my duties as bishop, or rights be withheld from you or me which the safety or progress of our faith in I best) islands may call for or require, I shall confidently look to the Catholic peoplo of my diocese at large for reliable support, but to none trith more firm assurance of receiving it than to the staunch

and sturdy inhabitants of this district. I thank you again for your address, and remain, my dear friends, your devoted friend and bishop, "t T. W. Ceoke, "Bishop of Auckland. " July 9, 1871."