COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 3228, 15 June 1928, Page 5

COMPLIMENTARY BANQUET

PRESENTATION OF ADDRESS

The crowning event of the day's festivities came in the evening. A moving scene of enthusiasm was witnessed at the Town Hall, when upwards of 350 people assembled at a banquet in honour of the jubilarian. This was presided over by Mr E. E. V. Winter, and favoured with the presence of Bishop Brodie and visiting priests, representatives of local bodies, and two Presbyterian clergymen. The guest was giv- J en an ovation of applause as he entered the hall at seven o 'clock. The catering for the banquet was in charge of the ladies of the parish, who had it under perfect organisation, the wants of so large a crowd being filled adequately and speedily. At the expense of much labour, the tables were temptingly laid. A three-tier jubilee cake, illuminated with 25 candles, was cut by the guest, and distributed. Rare talent was secured for^the musical part of the proceedings, the following ' well-known entertainers from Christchurch rendering a greatly enjoyed selection of items-: Misses Olga Wacked, Eileen Grennell, Messrs Toomey, Poulton and Darragh. Apologies for absence, with accompanying congratulations, were read from the Revs. N. A. Friberg and G. P. Hunt, the Rev. Fathers Healey, Bonetto and J. Finerty, the Sisters of Mercy, Kumara, Mr and Mrs Robert Woodham, Messrs Ben Perry, M. Grimes, and others. A ZEALOUS PASTOR. Unsuppressed enthusiasm was displayed by the large assembly when the chairman proposed the health of "Our Guest," which was heartily drunk. Speaking on behalf of the parishion) ers of Leeston and Southbridge, the chairman extended to the Rev. Fp/her Creed their heartiest congratulations on the attainment of his silver^ jubilee. It was a milestone in his life, and from it he could look back with satisfaction and pride upon his works, both spiritual and temporal, during the last quarter of a century. The property improvements and the new school built since Father Creed had come to the parish were a tribute to his energies. By his thorough-going nature, he had fostered a broad-minded spirit among his parishioners and this had made itself felt among members of other denominations. It should be a great source of satisfaction to him to know that, though buildings had been erected costing in the vicinity of £3,0Q0, there was not a penny owing in the parish at the date of his jubilee, but a plentiful sum of money in hand for future expenses. The collectors for a presentation had met with a ready response. On behalf of the parishioners, the chairman handed to the guest a wallet containing a large cheque, wished him long life and happiness, and expressed the hope that he would celebrate his golden jubilee in this parish. (Loud applause). An illuminated address, worded as under, was read by Mr W. Bohan, and presented to the guest:— "Dear Reverend Father,—lt is with great pleasure and sincerest goodwill that we, the parishioners of Lccston and Southbridge, meet here to-night to offer you our heartiest congratulations on the attainment of your Silver Jubilee. It is also with pride and thankfulness .we ■ call to mind that, of these 25 years, a good half have been spent in devoted care of this extensive parish. We know well how deeply you have at heart the spiritual and temporal welfare of each one of your parishioners. None of us who were in the parish in 1918 can ever forget what a tower of' strength and comfort you were at the time of the great epidemic ' to everyone and how unselfishly and indefatigably -you worked day and night to bring relief of every kind to the sufferers. The kindness and extreme goodness of heart shown in such a conspicuous manner at that memorable time have, as your devoted parishioners know well, been shown on innumerable occasions, the record of which will make a pleasant surprise even for yourself when the Great Books of Eternityare opened. The Sisters, too, tell us that during the whole of your time here you have been more than a father to them, and that it is to your generosity that they owe, not only the beautiful new school for our children, but also the renovation of the Convent, the installation of the electric light, and other favours too numerous to mention. '' The improvements effected in the parish have also been important and in every undertaking it has been the delight of your people to rally round you and show yon by these exterior works tha|profound esteem and gratitude they feel towards a pastor in svhom faith, piety and devotion are found in so r.dmirable a combination. "Begging our Divine Lord to spare you "Ad multos innos" and to give you the best of health and strength to continue your devoted labours on our behalf, with profound respect a:id gratitude, we remain, your devoted parishioners, LEESTON anc i SOUTHBRIDGE.

Supporting the. toast, His Lordship Bishop Brodie said it was a great pleasure fer him to associate with the people of Leeston in honouring their priest. The gathering had surpassed his expectations. He had attended similar gatherings in other places, but none of such a widely representative nature, so thoroughly enthusiastic and spontaneous. Twenty-five years of zealous and successful work deserved to be honoured. Father Creed had had no easy task in the priesthood. The Bishop spoke of his first visit to Father Creed's parish of Kumara. He did not have a comfortable car to travel in at that time, but had a champion horse and was a champion rider. He had to ride often through torrents of rain in order to fulfil his appointments. Thus his life on the Coast was a hard one, and here he had lived a similar life. He had not spared himself in any degree, and in addition to carrying out. his duties as a priest, Ufed entered with heart and soul into the work of his fel-low-citizens in advancing the good of the community. His Lordship congratulated Father Creed on the attainment of his' silver jubilee, and trusted that God would give him many years of glowing health in which to carry on the great work he had done during the last 25 years. COLLEGE DAYS. The Rev. Father O'Connor, of Addington; in a speech flowing with humour, recalled a number of incidents occurring during his College days with Father Creed in Ireland, and also on the West Coast. "Although there is only one Father Creed here, I am,pleased that there are representatives of many other creeds here also," he said. "This is a very fine spirit here in Ellesmere, and to my mind it is a spirit that should be fostered everywhere. J believe that the young priests of the diocese will be anxious, after to-night, to come at some future time, even though they may have to wait for 50 years, to the parish of Leeston. I offer my sincere congratulations to Father Creed on the occasion" of his silver jubilee, and to the Catholics of this parish for the enthusiastic way they have taken up this festivity, and for the affection they have shown their priest and the loyalty «they have extended to him. You are paying Father Creed to-day the greatest compliment that you could pay him, and Father Creed is taking it as a very fine com- | pliment, although knowing him as I do I am sure that at the present moment he is going through a very great ordeal. '' Father O 'Connor also congratulated the ladies fos the transformation they had made of the hall and for what they had provided on the tables. "It is a long time since I knew Father Creed for the first time," continued Father O'Connor. "We .met once as boys on a football field, but I never met him there again, and always played with him after that," he proceeded amid laughter from his hearers. "That same fire that Father Creed has now, he had as a boy. He not only knocked everybody he came in contact with, but gave a jump and a cheer which overt} more hurtful than the fall, and seemed to give him a special satisfaction. All through life he has shown great grit and determination, which have brought him through many a sough patch on the football field, and may have pulled him into many a row, but always pulled him out again." "I am pleased to see honoured as one of my brother priests one who was with me in College, and whom I have known through life. Father Creed and myself went to neighbouring-1 schools and both attended the same colleges. He came after me to College, after me to New Zealand, and afto- j me to the West Coast, i wout before \ him to Canterbury, and I hope I go before him to heaven. (Laughter). The speaker stated that while Father Leen, Father Creed and himself were on the Coast, they had spent very pleasant times, and Father Creed had done him many good turns. When the speaker was on a round of his own parish, which occupied six weeks, Father Creed, in addition to his own work, had ridden long distances on horseback and on push cycle in order to relieve him. He congratulated Father Creed upon his jubilee. PRESBYTERIAN SENTIMENTS. The Rev. W. G. Hannah, Presbyterian minister at Southbridge, said that he had only once previously met Father Creed since coming to the district last August. The action of the parish-" ioners in thus acknowledging Father Creed's years of service among them was helping to show to the world a spirit of fellowship, a spirit that led to a better understanding and to the accomplishment of greater work for the Kingdom of God, which was a wider kingdom than any one particular denomination. He added his congratulations to the guest of the evening. The Rev. J. C. Young, 8.A., Presbyterian minister at Leeston, before leaving- the hall earlier in the evening, voiced his pleasure at the opportunitygiven him to join in the happy proceeding and to convey good wxsh.es. ta the

guest on his anniversary. In thus honouring their priest, the parishioners displayed a deep sense of appreciation of the living, which was the only appreciation worth while. Lapsing into a pun, the speaker remarked that one thing the Church in this district could be proud of was the fact that it had a real live Creed. FOOTBALLERS' APPRECIATION. Mr 11. D. Jones, president of the Lecston Football Club, said that Father Creed had been a keen supporter of the Club, aud the members always welcomed his attendance at the matches. The Club had requested him to attend to convey its congratulations to Father Creed, and to ask his acceptance of a token of esteen in which the members held him. The Club's gift to Father Creed was a silver-mounted pipe. Mr J. C. Free, after voicing congratulations, spoke of his acquaintance of Father Creed while on the hospitable West Coast. The good qualities of the guest had been enriched while on the West Coast, and he had brought them with him to Lecston. GUEST'S GRATITUDE. When Father Creed stood to respond, the large assembly gave full vent to its feelings by breaking into a prolonged outburst of applause and cheering, ,and the guest's health was again toasted. After some preliminary remarks confessing diffidence in his command of the language for such an occasion, Father. Creed thanked all, individually and collectively, for the magnificent celebrations arranged in his honour. His Lordship the Bishop had honoured him by his presence, and had also honoured the Catholic people and the whole community. He tendered to him his deepest thanks for his. presence and for his past sympathy and kindness. To his brother priests, he was deeply grateful, and tendered manifold thanks. It was a great source of consolation to him to know that he had their friendship and sympathy. He thanked the Rev. Mr Hannah who, though a comparative newcomer, had come out to honour one he had scarcely met. (Applause). He also expressed thanks to the chairman, who had not only filled the chair ably for the evening, but had done in addition much organisation work. Td the members of local bodies he expressed thanks for their presence. He appreciated the generous spirit of the footballers and othef sports in Leeston in making him a gift. There were many non-Catholics present, and they were a thousand times welcome. It would not be his fault if they were not all good friends in Ellesmere. Lastly, he thanked his own parishioners who had organised the banquet in his honour and made it so magnificent a success, mentioning in par-, t^cular the ladies, and expressed appreciation of the share performed by the entertainers for the evening* "Ithank you for your beautiful and artistic address, and for the handsome gift you have made me. I thank one and all from the bottom of. my heart for the magnificence of these celebrations," were his final words, which were followed by a further outbreak of long sustained applause. >\ COUNTRY SETTLEMENT. Mr T. Holley proposed the health of the Bishop, Dr.- Brodie,- and welcomed ,him on behalf of the Leeston people. He congratulated his Lordship upon the work 'he had done for the diocese since his arrival in Christehureh, in the building of schools, presbyteries, convents, and so on. He mentioned the interest displayed by the Bishop in education, and his care to see that even the smallest communities were provided with schools and churches. "I appreciate very deeply the way my health has been proposed," said Bishop Brodie in responding. "It is very inspiring for me to assist at this /gathering and to see your worthy priest honoured in such an enthusiastic way by" members of local bodies and representatives of all sections of the community." The Bishop took the opportunity of urging upon his audience the advantages of settlement in the country, rather than the crowding of population into the cities. One thing that was saving New Zealand, he considered, was the fact that our population was so evenly distributed. This was not the case in other countries. In the State of New South Wales, for example, half the population lived in the city of Sydney. "When I come to a district such as this, and find a strong, vigorous people, I say that our young country must certainly thrive, and I make it a rule when going to a country district to exhort the people to remain in their country homes," he proceeded. "The life is healthier, more vigorous, more noble and uplifting in the sight of God than the city life. The words of Goldsmith will remain true till the end of time: 'Princes and lords may flourish or may fade; A breath can make them as a breath has made; But a bold peasantry, their country's pride, When once destroyed, can never be supplied. ' "When I come to your community