PRESENTATION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2574, 28 October 1893, Page 3

PRESENTATION.

A large number of the members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Geraldine, met at the Oddfellows' Hall on Thursday evening, to present the Rev. Father Treacy with an address and purse of sovereigns. Mr Jeremiah Connolly, who was in the chair, said they had met to express their gratitude to Father Treacy, and to show how grieved they were to part with him as their parish priest. He then called upon Mr Timothy Connolly to read the address as follows: » Geraldine, Oct. 26, 1893. " To the Rev. Father Treacy. "Rev. and Dear Father, —We, the undersingned Catholics, of the Geraldine district, wish to express our heartfelt sorrow ou hearing of your leaving the Geraldine Parish, and to offer you our sincere thanks for the many good works you have been engaged in and completed since you came amongst us. We also thank you for the excellent teaching of the Catholic doctrine to ourselves and our children, which will never be forgotten. Your zealous endeavours to administer the consolation of religion frequently, and in all weathers, even to the most remote parts of the parish, have been the admiration of all. Coming, as you did, to a parish heavily encumbered, and with very little prospect of cleariug off the debt (which is now quite the opposite), have placed yon in a position so as to be ever remembered by us. The few people iu the parish who were opposed to you, dear father, because you did your duty, aud always told the truth, have tried every means in their power, and used every influence to mar your good work, amongst the faithful people of Geraldine. We, therefore, regret that the time i 8 so short on this, probably your last visit to Geraldine, and that we cannot express our sincere thanks for all your untiring Z9al, kindness, and your excellent sermons, which were always admired and looked forward to. We thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts, and beg you to accept the accompaniDg purse of sovereigus from us, your devoted children. We assure you, dear father, that your memory will live with the Catholics of the Geraldine district as long as our lives; prayers and good wishes will accompany you. Wishing you success wherever you go, we are, dear and devoted father, your very devoted children. (Signed) "Jeremiah Connolly "Timothy Connolly "Thomas Markham " Edmund Burke. " Charles Boland " Thomas Maloney " Daniel Guthrie "John M. Keane "John Sugrue "Michael Guerin "James Guerin "Maurice Breen."

The Rev. Father Treacy, in reply, spoke of the sorrow it gave him to part with his people, and yet it might be a joy, because his leaving them might put them in a better position. The work of the ministry was a work of change. As a priest, he deserved nothing at their hands because he did his work houestly and faithfully before God, and if he was not faithful to his charge he was not a good priest. Of his work ho could say without egotism, that he had met them 4£ years ago with a debt of £4lO. Since then he had cleared off the debt, and now left them with £4O in th 3 bank, after expending other £4OO. In conclusion, he B dd in a short time ho would have the opportunity of speaking to them on the subject of drunkenness, when he would explain certain matters more minutely. He had experienced his people's love, jagard, and kindness for tl)e past 4.} years, and, if he never say them again, he fpould have them before him at the alter, when they would be with him in his prayers. He wished them every r> rr> gperity. -.- . . „ .v, ui thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.