Visit of Archbishop Steins.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3483, 23 February 1880, Page 2

Visit of Archbishop Steins.

At four o'clock on Saturday a large congregation assembled at the Willoughby street Chapel to welcome the newlyappointed Archbishop upon his first visit to the Thames. The usual services were cpnducted, after which an address of welcome from the congregation was presented to him by Mr Landers, and then the following from the Christian Doctrine Society was read by Mr J. J. Foy.:-, " To the Most .Reverend Walter Steins, S.J., D.D., Archbishop, Bishop of Auckland.-^- May it please your Grace,-^We, the members of trie Christian^Doctriue Society* Thames, bog leave to avail ourselves of your Grace's first arrival amongst as, to tender our congratulations on your appointment, and to assure you that we have looked forward with feelings of intense delight, to ttie opportunity your episcopal visitation to this portion of the diocese affords us, of couveying to you

the pleasure we feel at seeing one of the illustrious Order to which you belong as our Bishop, after such a iong interregnum. We believe we but echo the sentiments of every Catholic in this diocese, when we say, that our hearts were filled with joy and gladness when the tkUngs reached our shores from the centre of Catholic Unity, that the Holy Father was pleased to appoint a son of St. Ignatius to fill the vacant See of Auckland. Knowing full well the benefits the Order, founded by the soldier saint, confer on every community^ in which they are established, and the success attending their labours, notably in the domains of religion, education, and science, meriting I from friends and foes alike the highest I encomiums for their zeal in the service of their Divine Master and the salvation of j souls, we may be permitted to entertain a pardonable amount of pride and exultation in anticipating,the bright future that is in stove for the Church in this distant part'of the world. We desire, whi'e recognising the wisdom of His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII. in the appointment of Your Grace as our chief pastor and teacher, to record our feeling and attachment to the holy father and our deep, abiding, and united faith in the teaching >of the holy Catholic Church through the Aposties and their successors, now represented in the person of his holiuess as vicar of Christ upon earth. Our society, as its name implies, is a purely religious one, and was established. Jte'Hri by our worthy poster a ffftle over twelve monib*~ago; to provide for a growing want, viz., suitable teachers to impart the knowledge of Christian doctrine to the children of the congregation on Sundays; and we believe we are not guilty of egotism when we state that we have, through the blessings of Divine providence, succeeded beyond our most sanguine expectations. We conceive that we are doing a laudable work, a work we feel that will merit your Grace's approval in associating together as an auxiliary of the Church, to inculcate its tenets and doctrines on. the minds of the rising generation, as we have it on the authority of the Roman Pontiffs in their Allocutions and Encyclicals, that it is highly desirable for the faithful to form such societies to combat the tide of rationalism and indiffereritism, which at the present day is setting in with such pernicious results. Before closing the address we desire to bear testimony to the great zeal displayed, and the valuable services rendered our Society by our worthy Spiritual Director (iiev. Father O'Reilly) in presiding at our meetings, and his constant presence in the Sunday School as well as his solicitude for our spiritual welfare and the children under bur care. In conclusion, we; humbly beg your Grace's blessing on ourselves and the work 'we are engaged in, fcrrently beseeching the Almighty in the plenitude of His power, to grant you a great length of years, and the necessary health and strength to perform your duties in the service of your Divine Master. We beg to subscribe ourselves—-Your humble servants in Christ:—James J. Fot, President; E. Noonan, Treasurer ;J. H. Gillies, Librarian; M. Landebs, Secretary.

Mr Mcllhone, on behalf of the Hibernian Society, also presented an address. His Grace suitably replied, expressing his pleasure at receiving such a cordial reception from the Thames people. He spoke at some length upon matters touching the future welfare of the congregation, and his intentions as their spiritual head in direct ing Church affairs; Large- congregations attended both services yesterday, and in the forenoon over ICO children were confirmed. The choir reudeced their portion"of the service admirably, some of oar well-known lady" amateurs singing the principal selections very creditably. The Bishop has expressed himself very much gratified with his visit, and speaks highly of the manner in which the business of the parish is conducted bj- the Rev.- Father O'Keilly.

This morning His Grace, accompanied by the Keys. O'Beilly and McDonald, the latter so favorably known iv Auckland, visited the common school in Willoughby street, in the senior department of which there were 50 scholars, and in the junior 75 children of both sexes. On entering His Grace gave his benediction, after which Miss Lizzie Gleeson read an address of welcome from the scholars attending the school, and Miss Maud Jianlen followed with a recitation. All the classes in the school were examined very minutely by the Archbishop. Master 15. Twohill^ave a humorous recitation in a very creditable manner. After the examination His Lordship replied to the address from the scholars in very feeling and kind terras, fie was extremely pleased at (he proficiency shown by the scholars, the clean and tidy appearance of schooi, and the orderly and becoming manner showa by the children to the teachers. The select school in connection with the Convent was next, vi ited, where there were about 40 young ladies in attendance, composed of all denominations. In the schoolroom were Dv and Mrs Callan, Mr and Mrs Konald McDonald, Miss Coney, Mrs Ehrenfried, Misses Marks aad Hart, Dr and Mrs Kiigour, Mr Mcllhone, and a number of other ladies and gentlemen. Several duets and solos were given, after which His Grace examined the young ladies in their various studies, and said he was very much' pleased, in fact surprised to rind such proficiency shown by them, which reflected the greatest credit upon the kind and good sisters who superintended the establishment. He urged upon the pupils the necessity of improving their time and taking the best advantage of the instruction so freely imparted to them by their teachers. At 2 o'clock theBoys' School in Walter street was examined. His Grace leaves for Auckland to-morrow afternoom