PRESENTATION TO THE VERY REV. FATHER COLEMAN.

Evening Star, Issue 3710, 13 January 1875, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO THE VERY REV. FATHER COLEMAN.

Over two hundred persons assembled ip St. Joseph’s Chhrch last evening, when a parse containing 210 sovereigns, and also a handsome illuminated address—the latter the work of Mr T. George, lithographic artist—were presented to Father Coleman, In recognition of the zeal he has uui. formly displayed in promoting the interests of the Church, and more espe* cially on account of the great success that has resulted from his late journey Home. The Most Rev. Dr. Moran occupied the chair. •

The proceedings were opened by Mr Dp’NQAW, who read the following address;— “To the Very Rev. Mr Coleman, ’ VicarGeneral qf the Diocese of Dunedin.—Very Rev, Sir,—-We, the undersigned, on behalf of the Catholics of the diocese, beg-to offer you our hearty congratulations and welcome on your safe return to Dunedin from your late most successful mission to Europe. Aware that your great and unexpected success in pro Tiding priests, nuns, and ecclesiastical students for this diocese has entailed a very large outlay, we avail ourselves of the opportunity to ask yov; to accept the accompanying purse pf soye. reigns, tp api you jn mating this expenditure and as an expression of our high appreciation qf your unwearied zeal and indefatigable labors for our spiritual welfare. We thank God for all that he has enabled you to do for us, and pray most earnestly that you may be. long spared to labor amongst us. and-that as hereto* fore your efforts for the advancement of faith au d piety may be always crowned with success. (Here followed thirty-three signatures.) Mr Dung an then called upon Miss M'Kay, the lady who had been selected to make the prr ftentatiohj tq step forward. 5 '■ Miss M ‘Kay then handed the pprsp o| sovereigns to Father Coleman. The Kev. Father Coleman, who was evidently much affected, thanked the congrega* tiou for the subs'antial expression of their good-will, not only upon Iris own account, but also on behalf of his Lordship the Bishop The rev. gentleman then recounted the difficulties the Bishop and clergy had met with since the r arrival in the Brovin pm and stated that although tHey wfeye discouraged at first by the obstacles they encountered, yet he was happy to say that owmg to the co-operation of the congrega. gation these obstacles had been in a great measure overcome. The rev. gentleman then spoke in the highest terms of the Bishop, and said that while he was extremely grateful to them for the mark of their kindness, yet the praise was due to his Lordship, whom he looked upon as his guide, and under whose directions he had proceeded to Burotfi in order to supply the wants of the diocese. After gmng an interesting account of how he earned out his mission, thq rev. gentle* man stated that although he had suoeeded in procuring the services of six clergymen, as well as two nuns and two postulants, he re* he had been unable to bring out any f the Christian Brothers with him, owing to the great demand that exists for them at Home. However, thanks mainly to the li'ndnesp of Cardinal Cullen, he had sunceeded in getting a promise that two or three of the Brothers would be at their dis* posal in about eighteen months from the present time. The members of the Church here had done a great deal in the past, but they would have to do still more in the future ; and notwithstanding they were few m numbers at' present, yet' a3 thev increased he hoped they would 'grow in g-Todpess and generosity. ' be had great claims upop him. such, fqr instance, »s establishing Catholic schools throughout the Province, as Catholic parents couldnutoonscientiouslv send their child en to the pubic schools, where their faith was likely to be under ined • and he considered. it manifestly unfair that Catholics should be doubly taxed, in having to maintain their owp schools and being compelled to contribut • to the support of the Mate schools. However, he hoped the day was not far distant when their right to have control of their own money for purposes would be recognised. He again sincerely thanked the subscribers for their fceß^ on,al - and Baid he felt more gratified for their expression of good-feeling than for the money itself. The fert g<£tl e .

man, after stating that he did not want money, said it was necessary to provide schools and as. house for the Christian Brothers on-their arrival here, and he therefore handed the purse to the Bishop as the nucleus of a fund to be subscribed for that purpose. Father Coleman resumed his seat amidst loud and continued applause. The Most Kev, Dr Moran thanked Father Coleman for his munificent donation, and paid a very high compliment to him fo- his untiring zeal and energy in the cause of the Church His Lordship expressed his thanks to the ongregation for the liberal support he had received from them, the result of which was that they were not in debt. He also thanked them for the graceful compliment they had paid Father Coleman, who deserved much more from them and from himself. A vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried unanimously, brought the meeting to a close. Mr Sykes, the organist of St. Joseph s, in the course of the eveuing played in fine style several selections, concluding wi'b the Hallelujah Chorus from “The Messiah.”