THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 184, 4 July 1874, Page 2

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF WELLINGTON.

The following report of a dinner held subsequent to the consecration of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Wellington, appears in the London Tablet:— Sir Charles Clifford rose to propose the health of the newly-consecrated Bishop of Wellington. He said : This is one of the greatest pleasures 1 have ever experienced. Outside of my own family there are none whom I have loved and respected more than the family of the Redwoods. The Bishop of Wellington and myself went out to New Zealand together in the same vessel, and though we resided it different provinces on our arrival, we kept up a pleasant communication with each other. The family of the Redwoods have done wonders in New Zealand, and to that family the spread of the faith’ was much owing. It may surprise you to hear that I lay claim to be the first pastor of the Diocese of Wellington. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) In the year 1842, when I landed in New Zealand, there was not a priest there. Well, the Catholics were very numerous, and they agreed to assemble at my house on Sundays and other holidays, in order as much as possible to sanctify those days. So through this 1 claim to be the first priest of the congregation of the Bishop of Wellington. (Hear, hear.) Shortly after came out zealous missionaries from Ireland, and to them succeeded the good Marist fathers, who have been the most zealous in the duties of their sacred ministry, and succeeded in spreading the faith rapidly. (Applause.) Sir Charles Clifford then proceeded to give a most interesting and entertaining account of the progress of the faith in the New Zraland Colonies. He said that that feeling .known as the “ No Popery feeling” was scotched and killed in the early days of his Colonial experiences. In electing members for the House of Assemblv the Colonial Government chose to raise the cry of “No Popery,” and to protest against such a cry, he (Sir Charles Clifford) was elected a member for Wellington at the head of the poll. They would not stand any bigotry, and, to show their great toleration, they elected a Catholic to the House of Assembly at the head of the poll. At one time the Colonial Government were at a loss to know

whether they would say prayers, and of whnt sort, at the opening of the diseusJtmr of lhe Assembly. At lasi, after much discussion as to the sort of prayers to say. and what clergyman should say them, he (Sir C. Clifford) was nominated one of a committee to

prayer- —(laughter, and hear, hear) —and they made a very devotional one, which was repeated by every member of the Association. Again, it was proposed to give a Protestant Bishop £6OO a year, and the wisdom of the payment was approved of, but when the same demand was made for clergy men of other denominations, Catholic included, it was not found to work so well. Tn course of time all these matters were satisfactorily managed, and now he was happy to state that in no country under the laws of Great Britain can Catholics exercise their religion with more freedom: (Loud applause.) In conclusion, Sir Charles Clifford dwelt on the great satisfaction which the consecration of the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood would afford to the inhabitants of the Colony.