TESTIMONIAL.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2629, 21 July 1871, Page 2

TESTIMONIAL.

The following testimonial was presented ■yy the Roman Catholics of Dunedin to the Rev J. A. Norris, “ Rev aud dear Father,— “ We, the Roman- Catholic inhabitants of Dunedin, having heard with sincere regret that, in obedience to the call of your worthy Bishop, you are about to leave us, beg leave to testify our esteem and appreciation of your clerical deportment in your exalted sphere pf usefulness. . Your arrival ameng us, Rev and dear Father, was the dawn of many happy tid* ings. Till then, we might say-wo yvero as sheep without a shepherd, .as Hocks without a pastor, as children without a fatheK ~ ; Wp have beheld with hallowed pride your sacerdotal moin in the discharge of the jqany arduous duties of you calling ; 'and .your cheerful disposition, urbanity, and heroic zeal in the-cause of suffering humanity, have won for you the respect arid confidence, of all who knew you. “We are sensible, Rev and dear Father, that it will be no sraall_consolation to your generous, sympathetic heart to feel that you do not leave us'as-orphans but in the vigi 7 lant care of our painstaking, devout, and illustrious Bishop. ' '■, “ We will now, Rev and dear Father, say farewell, and from our heart of hearts, wo wish you success in all your labours {-here below, and hereafter the crown of immrirta!ity. That Almighty God, through the intercession of his ever blessed Mother; may protect you in the paths of happines£ : and peace is the devoted prayer of your ‘ever faithful people. The following is the substance of the reply of the Rev. Father J. A, -Norris. The rev.; gentleman stated 'that ho went from among them at the call of authority. It was a great'sacrifice to leave a people r so dear to a pastor as the people of Otago; with whom* be had been so closely connected in his duties as a priest. He hoped that God would accept this trial of obedience in satisfaction for bisinany defects in those duties. The deputation had ascribed him, in their kindriess, some good qualities : he would endeavor to possess them in the future. For their good wishes he begged to thank them, and" to assure them that he could never forget Dunedin, its holy and learned Bishop, its goo I clergy and people : if he could, he'would ba ungrateful as a man. -As a priest, he reco;ui> ed their true, Catholic spirit; and in the holiest moments of his life he would-put up his unwo.thy prayers for such a good and kind-hearted people.