IN THE NAME OF CHARITY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2266, 28 September 1914, Page 8

IN THE NAME OF CHARITY

NEW CRECHE OFFICIALLY OPENED. \ The new, creche in Buckle Street, which is to be conducted by the Sisters of Compassion, was formally opened yesterday' afternoon. Tho creche is an institution associated with the namo of tho Rev. Mother Alary Joseph Aubort, who arrived in Wellington iilany years ago with the eum of half'-a-crown in her possession, whose bank, was (as she once put it) the Bank of Providence, and who has in the 1 intervening years performed so many works of charity, and piloted, so many undertakings in the interests of tho poor and the afllicted, that her name is now a household word. His Grace Archbishop 'O'Sliea presided at the ceremony; and among those present, also, were the Mayor of the City (Mr.. J. P. Luke), Hon.' F. M. B. i'isher, Sir Joseph Ward, and Mr. Martin Kennedy. The Prime. Minister (Right. Hon-.' W. F; Massey) was unable to attend.

Addressing the assemblage, Archbishop O'fcjhea said that the work was of a ' kind which was'not extensively known in Now Zealand. Tho idea was to care during the day for'the children of families both beads of.which had to go cut to work. In the evening, the mothers called for their little ones, and took them to their homes. • Ho referral to the new building in which this good work would bo continued in •■Wellington as -another proof of the all-embracing work of the Sisters of Compassion— they looked after the young,. as well ne tho old They did their work in ,1 very quiet and unostentatious .way, and sought no reward here beloiv. 'Few, he ventured to say, even knew tho names of these sisters. The sisters.'had tried •to open the building free' of debt, but 6ome money was stiJJ owing on it. The Mayor said that the public appreciated the work of tho Sisters of Oompassion, and ho expressed regret that circumstances had prevented • the Rev. •Mother Aubert from being present at the ceremony. Ho referred in terms of' particular praiso to the work which was'being,'done at the Home for Incurables at Island Bay.' Sir Joseph Ward 6aid that it- was an extraordinary thing-that women with no means were able to accomplish such great undertakings in the interests of humanity, lie had on many • occasions observed the heroism' of Mother Mary Aubort, who undertook, and successfully carried through, projects which would frighten most men.;' Another striking thing about' Mother' Aubert was that sho possessed a magnetism hy which ! B'he seemed able to go to most stolid men and. obtain from them something which would bo'of vise to her for her works. He thought tho creche idea a magnilioent; ;qne, of • great -use to the mothers, and value to babies. • The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher remarked that the. sisters ■ were even at that moment practising solf-deni.il—that, while the public had crowded into the building, the sisters wore outside, unable to hear the glowing tributes to. their work. Ho went on' to observe that it was a striking thing that while the country was. dispatching men to a war, which was in progress on the other side of the world, it was, also, on this .side., making provision for the babie.t, It should be observed that, besides being of great value to tho State, by providing for the children, the; crecho was ! going to prove of considetable w;orth to mothers who had to leave their babies is. the day time. The work was one which must commend itself to everybody. '■:'■' In behalf of tho, sisters, Mr. Martin •Kennedy returned thanks to' the public for theii attendance at the ceremony, and to the speakers lor the kind words. Tho following amounts were donated to the Creche Fund:— ' ■> ■'■•:">■ '-' .& s.' d. Mr. Martin Kennedy 25 0 0 Sir Joseph Ward 10 10 0 Messrs. Campbell and Burke 10 0 0 Mr. M. O'-Conhor • 10 0 0 Mr. M. Clark 1 ...... 5 0 0 Mr. J. P. Luke : 2 2 0 Hon. F. M. B. Fisher 2 2 0 Mr.-M.Segrief 2 2 0 Mrs'. Segri-sf 2. 2 -0 Mr. J.-S. Swan. ---2 2.0 Archdeacon Dovoy 2 2 0 Other donations from various sources bring the total up to £105.