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FAREWELL TO BISHOP VERDON.

A CROWDED MEETING. Gusty wind and soaking showere notwithstanding. St. Joseph's Hall. Rattray etreec, was overcrowded on the 17th inst. on the occasion of a farewell meeting bo Bishop Verdon prior to his departure for Rome, there to pay his ad liminse visit to his Holiness the Pope. Grouped below th« j platform were the local clergy, the proi fossoits of Holy Cross. College, and MonI seigneur Mackay (Oamaru), Monseigneur i Leary (Lawrence), and Father Lynch (Pal- ! merston North), while the Bishop occupied the chair of honour in the centre. The earlier part of the evening was devoted to a musical programme of exceptional merit. A large and efficient orchestra under the leadership of Mr W. T. "ard contributed an opening number, j whicn was followed by a solo by Mr Carolin. Other soloists were Misses Meenan (encored). N. Hall, Mr J. M'Grath (also ! encored), and Mr Poppelwcll. The Misses Hall contributed a pianoforte duet, ■while Mrs Powell (to the accompaniment of her husband on the violin and Miss Drumm on the piano) sang delightfully and was deservedly encored. The appreciation o£ the audience of the performers' efforts was throughout hearty and spontaneous. The Hon. J. B. Callan, M.L.C., after congratulating the performers upon their pleasing contributions, said they were met together that night for the purpose of bidding his Lordship Bishog Verdon good- , bye, a happy voyage, and a safe return to the tasks of his diocese. He inclined to believe that hie Lordship wquld have liked to slip away quietly, but his parishioners thought otherwise. They had, however, minimised the ceremonial part ac much ac possible, and instead of presenting him with written addresses had asked him (the speaker) to say a few words on behalf of the laity. His Lordship' was not going to Europe for the purpose of pleasure. In his time he had travelled a good deal, and had seen most of the things it was advantageous (o see. This trip was undertaken in the interests of the diocese. It was a rule with the bishops of their Churcb j to make periodical visits to Rome, and this , trip wa« being made in accordance with. that rule. He trusted that when his Lord- | fchip came to report on the state of their j diocese he would be able to give a. good ' account of them. He (the speaker) di<f not I know whether they would be classed amonget I the good, bad, or indifferent, but he ven1 turcd to say their Bishop would make the j best he could of them.— (Laughter.) When speaking of hi 6 own work the Bishop need I not be backward. He had a good record. Amongst many good works which he might claim there were three which they owed I to his foresight and charitable disposition. ' These three institutions stood out promii nently. and were doing a magnificent work, i These were the Orphanage at South DunI edin, tho Home for the Aged Poor at I Anderson's Bay, and the College for the Training of Ecclesiastical Students at Mosfjiel. The speaker proceeded to eulogise the work beinjr done in these institutions, paving a special tribute to the beneficent | labours of the Little Sisters of the Poor. I Tlie result of the work of the college at i Mosgiel. he said, was not so soon apparent as was rhat of the other institutions, but as the country grew and the yeare rolled by that college would become more end I more useful and necessary.. In concluding he need only repeat that he had echoed the sentiments of everyone in the hall and every member of the diocese when he wished his Lordship a happy and pros sperous voyage and that he might return safe and sound to up his work amongst them. On rising to reply, his Lordship was greeted with prolonged applause. He thanked them all most sincerely for their magnificent send-off that evening. Mr Callan, especially, he thanked most cordially for the kind words he had 6aid. As M"r CaJlan had remarked, he was required to so to Rome to pay. hie homage to the Holy Fafher and to give an account of his stewardship. There was no dangpr of anything unfavourable being eaid of the Diocese of Dunedin. bf'cau'e the work of Kit had been so admirable that he, as ! superior of the dioco«e. cou'd not epeak too hiehly of its merits. They had a magnificent set of priests, and they were, without a single exception, thorouphlv devoted to the duty, and laboured with the utmost zeal. They had endeavoured to erect in all their districts churches, convents, schools, and presbyteries, and during the past few yoars nearly every parish had been enriched. The priests had been aided most nobly and most generously by good, faithful people. They had a noble band of people, and all were animated by the true catholic spirit, and since he came to that diocffee he had been everywhere helped by their fervour and jrenerosity. He would be able to make a full and complete statement of the affaire of the diocese; he could say that religion was progressing, that the people were good and earnest, and that the priests «ere thorouphlv devoted to their duty. On his travels he would no doubt ha^e many opixirtunities of doing useful things for the diocese, and these would be availed of. Throughout hie journeyings in foreign shrines, at far-away masses, his prayers would ever be offered for the safety and welfare of his people, and he trusted that they would remember him in their prayers. * He thanked them most cordially for their send-off, and trusted that in a few months they would meet again.— (Applause.)

According to a recent cable from Banjrkok, the King of Siam is publishing a book on his recent European tour under tha title of "Letters to my Daughter.'*

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19080219.2.207

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 52

Word count
Tapeke kupu
983

FAREWELL TO BISHOP VERDON. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 52

FAREWELL TO BISHOP VERDON. Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 52

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