Visit of Roman Catholic Dignitaries.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2826, 6 March 1878, Page 2

Visit of Roman Catholic Dignitaries.

We resume our report of the visit of Drs Moran and Redwood yesterday. After the addresses (presented by the boys of St. Thomas' School and published in yesterday's issue) had been read, Dr Moran replied at considerable length. He was glad and delighted at the warm reception giren to him and to his Lord' ship the Bishop of Wellington (who would speak for himself.) He was more delighted to see the boys than they were to see him, and he could assure them that if there was any faror conferred it was altogether on his side. He felt touched by the kind way in which they alluded to his labors in their behalf; but had he done less he would be guilty of a serious dereliction of his duty. They had said, " they made no boast of their knowledge," but from what he saw. of their graceful manner and the truly Catholic and handsome address which they so kindly presented to him, they had very great grounds to hare done so-without incurring any of the sin. of pride. ; He was also delighted at the correct view they had expressed on education: for what is this life against eternity P What good is a life or an education without religion P In his opinion they were valueless. He ae;ain warmly thanked them for their kind welcome. He had not words to express bis pleasure; and had he no other thanks for the long jour ney he had made from Dunedin, the gratification he received that day of seeing education and religion prospering so well would be a sufficient recompense for his labors.

Bishop Redwood also.replied at length. He cordially united with his Lordship, Dr. iVJoran, in wishing them every success. Me folly endorsed the sentiments of their addresses, and rejoiced to be so far able to hope for a good future for New Zealand. If the " hearts of the children rejoiced to see him," his heart more warmly rejoiced to see them. The future of this country will depend upon her youth, and if religion and knowledge were blended together, then we should hare a virtuous and thoroughly educated race ; and he was strongly animated, he was almost certain, that success would crown the efforts of the Catholics to obtain justice to their schools from the laws of their country, and by that meant would be instrumental in.baring done good to other portions of society. He then expressed his warmest thanks for the kind words addressed to him.

The exercise books, containing examples of letters on various subjects, book-keep-ing, Ac., were then inspected by their Lordships and the visitors, and were very satisfactory. Dr Moran said: This school ia not excelled in writing by any one that I have seen in this Province. I have nowhere seen more carefully kept copy-books, and in no school that I have seen were the bead lines so closely imitated, except in a Maori school in the north of this island.

Dr Moran then gave an exercise in arithmetical fractions, to the first class, to be done on the blackboard, which was satisfactorily solred. . Next, a dialogue between Masters Dodd and P. Murphy was gone through, and a recitation by Master A. Dunn was exceedingly well delivered. Dr Moran credited Master Dunn's execution of his recitation to be as good as he ever heard. * Ou leaving the school Bishop Moran madb the following entry in the "Visitors' Book :— "I visited this school to day, examined the copies, tested some of the boys in arithmetic, and heard some pieces most admirably recited. The appearance of the boys, the tone of the school, aod the general arrangements pleased me exceedingly. This visit has afforded me the greatest gratification, and I am happy to be able to say that, in my opinion, this is an ad-mirably-conducted and most efficient school.—P. Mohan, Bishop of Duncdin." Dr liedwood wrote as follows : I have this' day the honour of accompanying His Lordship Dr Moran in his visitation of tins school,,and I am much pleased with?the mVriners and proficiency* of the pupils; their recitation I found particularly good.—-Fbancis Redwood, Bisbop of Wellington.—March sth, 1878.

The party visited St. Joseph's (girls') school, where the children ana their preceptresses, the nuns, were waiting to receive them. The pupils sang a glee emitted " The Evening Bells," and Dt Moran and Dr lied wood addressed the pupils, expressing satisfaction at the appearance of the children, and txhortcd them to diligence in their studies. Several recitations, songs, etc., were given by the children. During the proceedings the following address was. read by Miss Alice Langbam, which was suitably responded to by their Lordships :— To the Eight Bsvbkxnd Db. Morajt, Bishop of Dunedin, r.nd Administrator of Hi* Diocese of Auckland. May it plfr.se your Lordship—Wo, tfie pupils of St Joseph's Convent School, beg to offer you on this jour fir*t visit to our school, our cordial and most respectful welcome. We feel extremely delighted to see your Lordship, and gludly do we welcome you as the vigilant guardiun, the zealous defender of our rxx'ollent scho:>l» t wherein we have learnt the inestimable blessing of a Christian education and training ; and for these advantages our deepest gratitude iv return is but ■ poor expref :ipn of the priceless favors placed within our reach— '' far >vho can value the triumphs of the mind ; > Ujy truth illumih'd ajid by tanto refined." To you our distinguished visitor, the Bight Her. Dr Bed wood, Bishop of Wellington, we aleo offer our tribute of veneration and affec-

tionnte welcome, and we hope you may hare many years before you to bices and adorn our Holy Church. We again most respectfully offer yourJLordehips our hearty welcome. We hope you will not regret tho lime spent with us, and begging your Lordship's blessing, ' We remain your most humble ancl uffectiout»to children, Thk Popils of St. Joseph 8 Content School. Thames, Ma eh sth, 1878. The St. Thomas' Select School was then visited by their Lordships and Fathers Fynea and Chastagnon. Miss Louise Smith then read tho following address:—• . To the Bight Bevbbbkd Db Mobait, Bishop of Dunedin, and Administrator of tho Diocese of Auckland. lluy it please your Lordship-—Wo, the pupils of St. Thomas' Superior School, rejoice to eeo your Lordship ia our midst, und with feelings of the greatest respect and veneration offer you, < n this jour first visit, swjrm and heaitfelb reception. Since your Lordship has come to the Thames, we deem il a great favour conferred on iit that you ebould honor our school with a visit; and although our words ara but. a peor, expression of our feelings of gratitude for your Lordship's kindno>a, your Lordship may feel assured that our young hearts "are truly and deeply grateful, and that we shall ever retain a lively recollection of your valued visit. We ask your Lordship's kind indulgence while wo offer our feeble efforts to show how great have bf en the toil and anxiety of our dear Nuns to itupnrt useful knowledge to bur minds. We have learnt what true Christian education is, how it enlighten* the mind, improves the heart, and gives k polish to manners, and while not at all indifferent to the ndvan t lges *of physical sciences, we have learned how to Unite those sciences with that mo>t nobler one — the science of the. Saints, which relates to Grod, and to which we give the foremost place in our attention. We again offer to you our warm welcome ; we hope you will not regret the time spent with us, and praying the Apostolic benediction. We remain your dutiful and affectionate children, - Tub Potiw of St. Thomas' Bupbbiob School Thames, March 6th, 1878. . To you, the Bight Rev. Dr Redwood, we also present our sincere and affectionate welcome. We pray that Odd may be pleased, to long spare both your Lordships to ble<s His Holy Church, and to guard and defend true education. .■ , ,■i, „ I , , ;•• ,•. „. ■ We most respsctfully beg you, Right Bey. Dr Redwood, to accept our coidial and hear.'y welcome. ' ' ' We are, my Lord, your affectionate cbi'dren, , i ' Pupils of St. Thomas' Superior School. A short programme of instrumental music, singing, recitations, etc, was then gone through, after which Dr Moran briefly thanked the scholars for the address, and expressed the pleasure in visiting the school. l)r Bed wood also briefly responded, referring especially to the kind feeling expressed in the address to the Nuns. After an exceedingly busy day, their Lordships and Father Fynes proceeded to Auckland in the Eotomahana last night.