THE NEW ARCHBISHOP.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1832, 19 August 1913, Page 6

THE NEW ARCHBISHOP.

CONSECRATION CELEBRATIONS. BIG GATHERING IN TOWN HALL CHEQUE FOR £400. Tho consecration of his Grace Archbishop O'Shea to the post of Cp-adjutor Archbishop of Wellington was celebrated by a great {fathering held last evening in the Town Hall. Every available seat was ocoupied,. while hundreds had to be contented'witli standing room. Seated in the front of the audience was his Grace Archbishop Redwood, Archbishop O'Shea, and Hi shops Clcary (Auckland) and Verdon, (Dunedin. Near them were many members of the clergy and prominent members of the laity. Tho audience also included several clergymen of other'denominations. , Archbishop O'Shea was conducted to the hall by e. torchlight- prooession of members ot the" Hibernian Society, and other Roman Catholic organisations. A guard of honour from St. Patrick's Collego Cadets was drawn up at the main dcor. The new Archbishop received an onthusiastic welcome as he came.up the hall to his seat. A long list of apologies for absence was read, amongst them being those from his Excellency the Governor, Sir Joseph

Ward. Hon. W. P. Maessy (Primo Minister), Mr. J. P. Luka (Mayor of Wellington), Hon. P. M. B. Pisher, Hon. A. L.. Hewlman, Hon. W. Fnaser, Hon. Dr. Poinare, Archbishop Kelly (Sydney), Archbishop Delaney (Melbourne), Mr. R. Fletcher (oliairman of tho Harbour Board), and members of the clergy in all parts of Australasia., A Life of Hard, Constant Work. Mr. Martin Kennedy, C.S.G., who prosided, extended tho hearty congratulations' of the Catholic community of Wellington to the Archbishop on his appoint-' 1110111. They could congratulate him more readily \beoause they realised his great fitness for the position, ond_ because of their obedience and affection' for his Holiness tha Pope, whose wisdom had been shown in tho _ selection of Archbishop O'Shea for this high and important dignity.' Such an assembly a3 that there gathered together demonstrated the unity of affection between the laity aid hierarchy throughout the world. The priesthood had proved its affection for the Laity in many a hard-fought.bat-tle, ■ to the advantage of both classes of the community. All round them in this diocese they could see the monuments erected to the self-sacrifice of the priests —the churches, colleges, schools, convents, and seminaries. They did honour to his' Grace because his' life had been one of hardand constant work, in which he had acquired that wide administrative experience so essential to the high office to which he had been called; also beoanse he had risen from the ranks. They all felt that his career w:ould be blessed, and that he would receive the hearty co-operation of both clergy and laity. ' Like Archbishop Redwood, he was a member of that wide-world order, the Society of Mary. He had received his whole education in New Zealand, at St. Patrick's College and the Meeaneo Seminary. Considering the youth of the country, and the slender resources of theRomain Catholic community, it must be agreed that the priests of the diocese, had worked wonders ini the matter of education. '

An Address from the Clergy. Dean Power (Hawera) presented an address to Archbishop O'Shea oil behalf of the clergy of the diocese. He apologised for tire absence of Archdeacon Devoy, who was unable to be present, through exhaustion following on' the iong ceremonies of Sunday, and who was to have made the presentation. . He was pleased to have the opportunity of expressing his love and esteem 'for the newly-appointed Archbishop. Dean Power said that ha was practically Archbishop O'Shea's parish priest, for it was in his parish that the Archbifrnop had been brought up, and, had Hved until he left home. The apt poinitment was a glory to the parish. The speaker expressed bis pleasure that such an eminent and able member of the clergy had been chosen to take over, when-the proper time' came, the reins of .office from the Metropolitan. Archbishop O'Shea was a man who had kept abreast of the times, and such' a man was needed at the head of the . Church in the Dominion. Those who, could read the ■signs of, the times knew that the Homnn Catholic.community had grave reason to fear great persecution •in the future. Heads would not, perhaps, fall from tho

executioner's block as in past ,day 9, but the age would use its refinements to find means to torture them in body, mind,, and heart. They would need a skilled head to guide them'through the dark night of persecution, and "they could have no better, wiser guide than the new Archbishop. ' Tribute from the Laity. Mir. J. J. L. Burke, -who presented an address on/behalf of the laity, recalled his student days at St. Patrick's" College,, when Archbishop O'Shea was ca'ptam of the football team.'. In those days they did not da-cam of tlhe' honom-s in store for hiin. He was always ft diligent student, and wcls one of the first scholars to go to the Seminary at Meeanee. His work in the priesthood Showed how successful he had been in his studios. Now a great assembly had met to do honour -tofliim on the crowning victory of his career. His appointment was' a personal triumjm, but

also a triumph for the Soman Catholic schools. - Bioman Catholics of to-day "would strive to uphold thoso schools as - their parents had done. One of tho at-, tributes of an archbishop was learning, and it was a manifestation of the Holy Fatlher's confidence in the New Zealand Catholic schools that lie should choose for such an exalted office one who had been educated eolely in those schools. •Vfter "this, 110 one could a?sert uiat the Eohools wero failing in the matter of education. • ■ . ' . , An address from the Hibernian Society of New Zealand was presented by Mr. D. Flynn (Auckland), who was supported bv Monsignor <Brodie. and Father O 0011nell. Another address was presented on behalf of the Wellington and suburban bninche.-. of the H.A.C.B.S. by Jlr. P. D. Mr.'J. J. L. Burke further presented to his Grace a cheque for .£4OO, subscribed by the Koniau Catholics of Wellington ° l Ardiibiihop Redwood, who was received with cheers, delivered a short Address. He ■ wid that the name of Archbishop O'Shea had breome a household word throughout Australasia. The meeting was a great manifestation of tho love and esteem of the people of the arch-diocese for their new archbishop. He was proud and delighted to-have been the instrument in th» hands of God for giving them the Tight man in t'lio right pines. The appointment of Archbishop O'Shea helped him to look forward to the future with hope and oheorfulness, and he hoped, with his,co-adjutor'a assistance, to live .many more years in their midst. ■ (Applause.) lie was glad to bo ablo to add his voice to tho chorus of congratulations which had greeted Archbishop O'Shea from all parts of Australasia. Concerning Education. Bishop Cleary, of Auckland, on behalf of visitors to Wellington, thanked tho clergy and laity of tho archdioceso for the hospitality extended to them during their stay in the city. Tho zeal, energy, and organising capacity of Archbishop O'Shea were well known, and, as the years went on, they would probably find still greater virtues in him. One of the features of Archbishop O'Shea's work in the past had : been his zeal in the cause of education. Tho enthusiasm of Roman Catholics in | this matter was, perlwps, due to the fact , that they realised better than others the command of God to train up their children in the way fliey should go. They realised furthermore that neithor Christian ministers nor parents could afford to fling 0119 portion of that sacred duty on State officials of any creed or no creed at all. True zeal, for the ,welfare of tho children would find a .path for discharge, just as did an electric current. Any denomination which neglected its duty to its ohildren, or which fanned out the souls of its children' to State officials, i would have to wait only a few years to ; find tho grass growing at the doors of its [ churches. Bishop Cleary concluded nn i eloquent speech with a eulogy of the now i Archbishop, who, ho said, would bring

into the work of Christianity in their midst his great organising talents. Archbishop O'Shea's Reply. Archbishop O'Shea was received with cheers. He first read formal replies to tho addresses which had been presented to him. He went on to say that ho would be an'unfceling man were he not touched to the heart by this magnificent demonstration. . It was not only to himself personally that they were doing honour, but to the high office to which he had been elevated. A great honour had been done to the Dominion by'the Holy See in choosing a New Zealander for the post. Tho reflations between Bishops, clergy, and laity were nowliero more cordial thaii they were in Wellington. He thanked the clergy and laity for many kindnesses in tho past. Young New owed a debt of gratitude to the priests who had come from the older countries, and had founded the Church'so solidly. It was due to their wisdom and foresight that tho means were given whereby New Zealandei'3 could enter the ranks of the priesthood; and to their self-sacrifice and devotion that New Zealanders could, and did, rise to the highest offices in tho hierarchy. Reference had been made in the addresses presented to liim to his efforts in the cause of education. It was not, however, due to the priests alono that the cause had so flourished in tire Dominion'. If the parents did not put their hands in their pockets there would be no bucll thing as Roman Catholic, education. The addresses had also referred to his work in the cause of unity. In this, he had only been carrying out the wishes of the bishops and the clergy, who 'had realised that Roman Catholics needed to bo band'ed into a body—not offensive, but defensive—for their proteo 'tion as citizens and Roman Catholics. Referring to the addresses from Hibernians, Archbishop O'Shea said that the strong position of the Clrnrclv in New Zealand wis duo to the exiles of Brim, both priests and people, who had been its mainstay in the Dominion. (Anplause.) 'Before the presentation of the addresses an excellent musical programme was gone .through. The choir of St. Mary of the Angels sang the choruses "Ecce Sacerdos Magnus" (Hadle.r), ■ and "Huntsman's Chorus," from "Dorothy" (Benedict). Miss Morrison sang "Tho Enchantress" (Hutton), Signor A. P. Truda played a flute solo, 'Tantaisie' (A. Terschak), Misses Agnes Segrief and T. M"Enroo sang tho duet. "Venetian Boat Song" (Benedict), and Mr. C. Ilickinott pang "Th'e Queen of Connemara." A number'of selections on the grand organ were played l by Mr. W. M'Laughlin.