PRESENTATION TO THE REV FATHER KEANE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1525, 29 June 1886, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO THE REV FATHER KEANE.

At the conclusion of the service at the Roman Catholic Church, Geraldine, on Sunday morning last, the members of the congregation presented the Rev. Father Keane with an illuminated address, and a purse containing 52 sovereigns, previous to his departure for Sydney. The presentation was made by Messrs T. Corcoran, T. Farrell,?. McShane, E. Bourke, and K. Brophy, Mr Corcoran, in addressing Father Keane, expressed the deep regret they felt at his departure from among them. They appreciated him as a priest, a gentleman, and a scholar, and it was seldom that a parish was blessed with such a good priest as Father Keane had proved himself to be to them. He again expressed the very deep regret they felt at his departure, and read the following address, which, with the purse, was afterwards presented to the rev. gentleman :

“To the Bar. Father Keane, P.P.,

Geraldine.

“Rev. amd Dear Sib,—We, your parishioners, desire to express our sincere regret at your intended departure, but we hope than you may soon be restored to health, to enable you to resume those ministrations that have endeared you to us all.

“ Rev. and Dear Sir,—We cannot allow you to depart without bearing willing testimony to your untiring zeal in the service of the Lord, and also to your fervent patriotism often exerted in favor of Ireland in her noble struggle for Home Buie. Such qualities we know bare endeared you to many people far beyoad the boundaries of your own parish. Hoping that you will remember us in your prayers, as we shall never forget you in ours, we be jr you to accept this address and testimonial as a slight token of our affection and esteem.—We are, rev. and dear sir, on behalf of the parishioners, yours very affectionately, “P. H. McShank, “ Kyran Bropht, “ Daniel Gtrmßrß,. “ Thos. Corcoran, “ Jeremiah Connelly, “ Edward Bodeke, “Thos. Farrell.”

Father Keane, who was evidently deeply affected by the kindness and sympathy shown him by the members of his flock, replied in feeling terms, staling his thankfulness for the kind expressions conveyed in the address. It was by no menus necessary for them to tell him of their affection and kind regards j be

was perfectly assured of that. With regard to the presentation of money, that was a thing he by no means expected, and had he koown before it. was too late he would have prevented it. As a congregation they were not rich, and they were called upon in a. variety of other ways to give money, especially of late, and a present of money-from them to their priest he therefore looked upon as extraordinary, especially such a one as they had made. He had left the idea of going away upon these grounds •> well as ■pon others. Ho was by np- means prepared to keep them long that morning, but he thanked them extremely, again and again, for all the kindness, and regard they had shown - him-during bis term among them. He had done wbat he could to aid them, and he trusted; bis efforts as a paster would be by no means He prayed that the blessing.of God might be upon the little- he .bad done among them during the past two and a-half years, and that it might prove to be to their good. It would be a very hard thing if, during the past ..two and a-half years, nothing had been. I aid up for the honor and glory- of God. £( he oily knew he had done something for the honor and glory of. God* and the real good of His people, it would be a great satisfaction to him. But they did not know these things, it was all left in the hands of God, and they must ask Him to accept what they had done for Him. As to a final ‘f good-bye” he might be able- to -wish; them that during the coming week, sir, the priest who was to succeed* him would not probably arrive till the next. Sunday, and be (Father Keane) might have; to stay and initiate him into hia poet. He bad not bad final instructions from the Bishop, •s he happened to be away; some where about Westport, where ; it wae difficult to communicita with him. Ho would let ‘ them know what the final arrangements were when be bad received a reply from the Bishop. He could assurwthem it was with deep regret be left them. He liked the pariah on account ofc;; the singular mildness of the climate ; it had beautiful surroundings,, and it was a perfect parish to manage. These circumstances tended to knit him to the place, but hie health had broken down completely. Some drives he bad taken last spring seemed to have injured his health, so-much that he found it impossible in the winter months, and even in ; the. spring, to ; do country work. So it was his health that compelled him to go, and no other consideration should have induced him, and should he aver be able to return and apply to the Bishop for a place on the diocese be would like to come back to Geraldine. But he did not think he would ever be able to come back. He think be would be able to take to a climate that had never suited him, because of ite peculiarities, especially that of changeableness. He was almost certain never to return again. He hoped to get a place in Sydney. This, parting. wae a matter that should lead them to-serious reflection. Friends parted. He. had made friendships here, he knew them all, and when ha parted from them he separated from frienda whom be would never forget. Let them hope it would not be forevar. Ah I that was tbo question. Ha bad left friends, and so had they brothers and sisters. The question was, Would they ever see them again? It would be a sad thing if did not. There wbuld'be always partings if in this life. Everything here was deatruc* table, and their life would some day come to an cod, and they would have to separate from their nearest and dearest friends. So the great question for him and them was in regard to tha eternal home, that when they died they might all bs together with their friends. He called their attention to a beautiful little book he had seen; called “ In Heaven we shall ail know our own.” The great question was to meet their own in heaven. Thai was what they should seek for. Heaven would be most perfect society; wanting in nothing to supply each- with contentment and peace throughout eternity. So they must despise this world and labor each in hia sphere to secure a happy eternity. For his part lie might not be very far from eternity. Take hia case. He was in a very bad state of health ; the voyage to Sydney and the excitement might perhaps kill him, as in the case of Father McGuinness, who went from Titnaru, but did not long survive the voyage. If God saw fit to call him away, he said well and good. But the thing was they might die before him. Fourteen years ago he had been told by a person who had been in the most robust health that he (Father Keane) would die within twelve months. But that; same person had been in his grave ten years. It was very hard to say who might die first. They might have an acute disease, which might carry them away. If he came to medical terms, his disease was what was called chronic consumption; now, any of them might get what was called galloping consumption, and die‘before him. It was, however, all in the hands of Qod. The rev. gentleman exhorted them to endeavor to - practice the gcod things which he had always taught them. Then when they diedjthey would'be together in that happy fellowship-of heaven; that eternal and happy home which God had prepared for them, fie would now say no more. During the next week be would communicate to them the arrangements that had been made aa soon as possible. He would now; say to each of them, “ Farewell, and may God bless you.”

During the service many, both men and women, were visibly affected by the parting. ■•••••

walking behind the dray and holding on to it. 1 walked on, and after haying gone abbot half a mile 1 heard the team trotting behind me. When I came to a cross road which led towards his boose, 1 beard no more of him, as he went one way and I another. 1 taw him next morning dead at the river. James Smith ; i am a farmer, residing St Smitbfield. 1 beard some one coooy- • Ing about 10 minutes past 2 o’clock yesterday morning. I got up and went out,; ■ hat beard nothing. About 10 minutes afterwards 1 heard another cooey. The ■oaod came from tb« Winchester road. I pat on my clothes, and went along the road towards Winchester ; turned back, and want towards the bank of the river. 1 tfaaaght tome one was iu trouble. I was on the bank of the river near —.l found deceased next morning, but could sea nothing. In the morning I sent % boy to look about the river for harses. He told me he saw two horses, one of which bad harness dragging about bis feat. I went to the river and fonnd one horse a”n bed to a dray in the river and a man lj i>g alongside of them. The two leaders were ont. The man was the deceased, Denis Sugrue. 1 sent for assistance and got the body out of the rivet' and sent for the police, who bad tbs body removed to the Winchester Hotel. The deceased wan lying down on the off side of the shaft horse, in a line with the horse’s head, fits head was covered to the shoulders. The water was about 18 inches deep. He was off .the ford. It was deep where the dray was. The old ford whs partly ' washed away, leaving a drop of about two feel. He went fair enough in. He had aboutbalf a ton of iron on his dray. The ford baa not been used since the last flood. There is a ford abont ten chains above and one about two chains below. He would know the ford well enough because be passed over the river nearly every other day. Hie coats were on the dray and bis whip around his shoulders. The head-stall of the shaft horse was off, and one of the draft books was broken on one of tba leaders’ chains, • William Webster : I am a laborer, residing in Winchester. 1 was with him in this hotel before he started for home. He drank about half a small glass of beer, and threw away the other half. You would have known he had a glass, but was nothing the worse for it. 1 had not the •lightest misgiving as to his ability to go home. I have never known him to go to sleep on bis dray. 1 have known him for years. He mentioned that lie had a moat dangerous place to cross. J. S. Hayes: 1 have made a superficial examination of the body. There were : no recent marks of violence on it. The appearances are quite consistent with drowning. The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidentally drowned while slightly intoxicated.” The foreman represented that the ford wanted repairing, and said if ho had been - going there in the dark he would have gone in the same way. The Coroner promised to represent the matter to the Itoad Board.