VALEDICTORY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1781, 26 January 1918, Page 3

VALEDICTORY.

FAREWELL TO FATHER

CORLEY,

A valedictory sooial was held in the Town Hall supper-room last night to bid farewell and make a presentation to the Rev. Father A. Corley, who nas been transferred, and who leaves Foxton on Thursday next. The Rev. Father Corley, since he has been in Foxton, has taken a keen and energetic interest in all mailers pertaining to the progress of the district, and lias always been ready and willing to do all in his power in this connection. Ho has boon frequently called upon to deliver addresses of welcome to returned soldiers and speak at patriotic affairs in the district, and has at such times delivered some stirring addresses on patriotism, which have been listened to with great, attention. Although Father Corley know early in .December that he would he leaving Foxton in the New Year, he did not make it known until a week or so ago, and consequently there was very little time to organise a farewell social. The social had been organised hurriedly, and that there was such a good attendance at such short notice showed the esteem in which Father Corley is held locally. There )vas an al tendance of between 70 and 80, and the Mayor (Mr John f'hrystall) presided. The New Zealand Ensign occupied a of between 70 and 80, and the Mayor (Mr John Chrystall) presided. The New Zealand Ensign occupied a position in the centre of the building, and the “Stars gnd Stripes of America," Father Corley’s adopted country, and the Belgian colours, the country in which the guest was bom, were conspicuous. The proceedings were opened by t lie singing of (he National Anthem.

A short programme of vocal items was rendered, at the conclusion of which Mr Chrystall presented Father Corley with an address in nicely bound book form from the parishioners of the parish, and a purse of sovereigns from the parishioners and friends of the guest of the evening in this district. In making the presentation, Mr Chrystall said that he and the people of Foxton were sorry that Father Corley was leaving the district, as he had proved himself a real good citizen, lie had an engaging personality and charming manner, and was ever ready to help forward the interests of the town. As far as his church was concerned, Father Corley had ‘done wofiderful work during-’ his short residence, in the district, to which reference was made in the address. He was always ready to help on any movement that had for its object the progress of the town, and the speaker said ho was genuinely sorry that Foxton was losing him. However, what would he Foxton’s loss would he some oilier town's gain. He was pleased to know that Foxton was to have another good man in Father Corley's place—Fa I her Dore, a man who had proved himself a hero on the hal tiefield. On behalf of Father Corley’s parishioners and friends, he asked him to accent the presentations with their best wishes. The address was as follows, and- contained the signatures of very large number of parishioners: — Foxtap, 25(b January, 101 S. To the Rev. Father Corley. -Reverend and Dear Father.—Me, yonr Parishioners of Foxton, wish to take advantage of this occasion to tender yon the expression of onr appreciation and heartfelt gratitude l *r Die work you have done in our midst for the past eight mouths. It seems almost incredible that in so short a time you have completed such great work. In the first place you have completely wiped out a debt that has been clinging to our Parish for so many years. Secondly, \ yon have secured the funds with which to buy a motor car for the use of the Parish. Thirdly, you have levelled an unsightly hill,so that the property around the Presbytery is now a beautiful plateau. Fourthly, you have built a substantial foolpalb. fourteen chains in length, along the entire from aye of the Convent and church properties. Well do we ask ourselves what else you might: have done hail you remained with us LAr another year. M’ith henris overilowing with gratitude, we thunk Cud for having sent us at such anxious "times so good and zealous a priest. In you, dear Father, we recognise the true type of a Chris/ian gentleman, who is guided hy principles only. M e do Jove to hear you preach; your sermons gre always so practical and convincing, and no doubt, with (tod's grace, these were instrumental in bringing back to the Church many who have been away. from it fox’ years. It was with sad hearts that we learned that the call of duty wilt take you from our midst. M e lose in you, every one a personal friend, and an energetic 'worker, and zealous priest, who never called is time his own, bm bis Church's. Me grieve in lofting' yon, but we console ourselves with the thought that our Joss will be another ,s gain; and wherever yoxi are, doing God's work', none will rejoice in your success,filore than your people here. Me will ever cherish the memory of a good and faithful priest who, like n good father, has cared for our every need, unselfishly in season and out of season. —We remain, dear Rev. Father, your devoted Parishioners. Father Corley, on rising to reply, was greeted with loud and prolongjfd applause. He said;—'“The tri*

bute of homage which has been paid me causes me to blush, and would fain ovenvhelra me where I not awarc that you have all been -eyewitnesses of my constant endeavour for the cause of my church and of this district. I have given my work the best that was within me, and I have even gone to this work with the grit and perseverance that you, citizens of the great British Empire, have learned to admire and appreciate in that little country of which I am a native son —heroic, suffering little Belgium. (Applause). I naturally feel elated at the applause that greets me when I mention the name of my native land, the more since it is the noble land that sacrificed itself willingly on the altar of liberty to save the world unto dcraorcracy. Let all the peoples of the earth come forward, and they will tell you to what magic poetry, to what generous resolves, to what sublime enthusiasm, to what heroic sacrifices the sweet love of their native land at times gives hhjth. Says the poet: ‘‘Man through all ages of revolving time, Unchanging men, in every varying clime, Deems his own land of every land the pride, Beloved by heaven o'er all the world beside; His home the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest."

“We all burn incense to ouv native laud. The love thereof, however, is silenced when its interests come in conflict with the duties we owe to the country of our adoption. We are natives of a country merely by accident, whereas we become citizens of another country by the liberty of free choice, and in this instance, we in New Zealand, how many reasons have we not to love New Zealand? New Zealand is a land of promise, a wonderland. "So liberally, in fact, has Almighty God scattered His blessings bore that they have beautified the heavens, fertilised the lent enchantment to the hills and mountains, to the valleys and the lakes, and the streams. New • Zealand, from one end to another of her free domain, is covered with w udders of all kinds. Why, then, should we not love such a glorious country? Now, patriotism stands for the love of country: it stands for an undivided allegiance to the flag that protects this country, and that has saved it from sharing the unhappy fate of the martyred lands of Belgium and Northern France. "Wonder ye, Iherefore, that the (lag of the country is ever proudly flattering unto the breezes, and is an inspiration unto the people? Needless to say, there may he discordant notes In the genei’al symphony, but these are merely the children of petty differences and of prejudices. The superior man, the reputable citizen, must rise above prejudices. Prejudices that are nursed may only injure the faculty of intuition and distort the vision of the mind. The love of country is akin to the love of religion, and as such must be straightforward. ‘The Christian,’ says Bishop Him ban, rector of the Catholic University of Washington, “is bound by duty, bound by divine law, bound by the entire history of the Clumdi, hound by the spirit of the Church itself, to defend Ins country when its independence is at stake, or its sovereignity, or its interests, or its rights, or i(s honour/ During the few months I have been in your midst I have tried, as far as was humanly possible, to be straightforward in my dealings with my church and with all concerned. T have not been among yon a respecter of persons, I wanted to live a life of principles, apt! njany of you in church and in public gatherings have heard mo quote this n)olto very often; ‘I love men. apd women, but I love principles more/ It is because of this that I love my church, (bat I love my native land, that I love the country of my adoption, and |:he country under whose Hag I am living. And he if repeated that however ,jiuU‘b I prize yonr favours and yonr esteem, should (he alternative come that T would have to choose between same and the disregard of my principles, I would incontinently cast yonr favour unto the four winds of heaven.” ''Father Corley comduded by thanking the people of Foxton for their kindness to him, the parishioners and others present that evening for their gifts and good wishes, and expressed the hope that the future would hold for all of them happiness and prosperity.

Father Corley resumed bis seat amidst tumultuous applause.

During the evening vocal items were contributed by Mrs Teviotdale, Misses Bryant and Signal, and Messrs Collins, Colder and Hornblow, and little Molly Robson. The accompaniments were, played by Miss Lepihan and Mr Collins. Supper was provided by the ladies of the parish, and fit the conclusion of same Mr Janies Hurley, secretary of the Church Committee, who occupied the chair on the left of the guest of the evening, moved a very hearty vote of thanks to the performers for their kindness in assisting tit the function, and a vote of thanks to the Mayor for, presiding at the farewell to his (the Mayor’s) friend and their pastor,