HIBERIAN-AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 14, 2 August 1873, Page 13

HIBERIAN-AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC BENEFIT SOCIETY.

OPBirixa OP THE MOUNT IDA BBA.ITOH. Wl take from the « Mount Ida Chronicle' the following particulars of tho opening of the branch of the H.A.C.B.S. in that district :— A branch of the Hibernian- Australasian Catholic Benefit Society wai opened at Naseby on the evening of Monday week by Mr Fred. J. Bunny, the delegate appointed by St. Joseph's Branch No. 78, Ihinediii, The ceremony was opened by the Rev. Mr Royer with prayer. Mr Bunny, after reading the authority he had received from Melbourne to open the branch, delivered the following address :— Brethren,— We are assembled on this occasion for the performance of an interesting and important duty, the formal opening of a new Branch of the H.A.C.B.S. It is by such means the benefits of the Society will be widely spread throughout Australia and New Zealand, and its principles more fully understood. The object of our society in the first place is by mutual co- operation to provide against those casualties of life which all are subject to in a corporeal manner, and further the advancement of our lives in the paths of virtue, -maaom, and happiness, by promoting the social, Jmoral, and intellectual condition of its members. He who would become a brother of ttut new branch, must prove his fitness by submitting his character to the Mutiny of those with whom he seeks to associate, and if that ch«racter -will not bear a strict test, he is at once rejected ; nor can any branch neglect the solemn duty of testing the character of its candidate without sinking into degradation, and endangering its own existence. In opening this Branch, another link in the social chain of the Society is about to be accomplished, and thos» who becom* members of it will take upon themselves a share of the responsibility connected with it. The ruling power of the Society, its Executive Efcrectory, m sanctioning the establishment of this Branch, does so on the express condition that the principle of subjection to the supreme power of the Society will always be recognised, and that no deviation ftom its laws and regulations will at any time take place. The government of our association being elective, a participation in its management » open to all, but power without responsibility will not be permitted, or office without ability and integrity tolerated; these principles are no less enforced in its individual branches, than in its supreme government. Now, my brethren, having called your attention to the aspirations of the Society, I have only to say— Remember aud Keep the instructions and promises of your initiation, and may you S^? 6 '^ ored Wlth the bles9in g9 expressed through its motto of "Faith, Hope, and Charity." The dispensation was then read and toe delegate declared as follows :— By authority of the dispensation W. v' £i d 1^ 6 of my Prerogative, Ido hereby declare this branch No. 74. of the H A.0.8.5. duly opened, aud legally established for the carrying out of all the objects and purposes of the said Society, now w operation, or hereafter to be adopted. The initiation of the Members was then proceeded with after which the following officers wne i elected and duly installed— President, Joseph Kealy: Viceft»sident, Bernard Gordon; Secretary, P. M. Moroney; Treasurer, Micfcael Lennane ; Warden, John Clancy ; Guardian, .Tames Byrne! O» delegate after delirering a closing charge to the Society spoke as follows : Mr President, Vice-President, Officers, and Brothers-I congratulate you upon the opening of a branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society in Naseby. The benefits derivable from it are too numerous to mention, one great blessing however, to be derived from it is that it will be the means of bringing thft Catholics closer and closer together, and then again you will be able to spena many pleasant evenings at your fortnightly or monthly meetings. Bye-and-bye when you grow richer and stronger, you might have a library in connection with the Society— the winter evening would taen be spentjas they should be, viz., in improving the mind. lam doing my utmost to open branches of the Society in Invercargill and Lawrence, and I am determined not to rest until branches are opened in these places. I may tell you that the Catholics of Ohristchurch have been communicating with me regarding the establishment of branches in the Canterbury Province, and as I have supplied tha necessary information, I trust shortly to hear of branches being opened in all the important districts in the Province. Gentlemen,— Sup pos?V ,! c *i° ? r i pe Old 5ge ' and that ifc ia the wili of Providence^ that .1 should plod along withont benefiting in any way my fellow Catholics yet I shall cast my dim eyes with feelings of pride upon the different branches of the Hibernian-Australasian Catholic Benefit Society aad the thought c-f the part that I have played in usherin- them into Otago will make me to say to myself « Well, after all, my We has not been altogether worthless !" Mr President and Brothers, --.Let me again congratulate you upon the inauguratian of your braach. I sincerely wish you every success, and I trust the 21st July will ever be regarded as a red letter day by the Catholics of Naseby I take this opportunity of thanking the Rev. Mr Royer for the deep interest he has taken in the Society. 1 can assure you that had it not been for your good clergyman, despite my arrival in Naseby, I could not have opened the Society. lam sure, my brothers, that this branch ™ grow and nourish, because it has been opened by him with prayer and he kindly intends to close it with the benediction of the Most ?oy 7e7 cr S wUa ce e n benS:tir mOny """* * «* ="• M <

The brethren afterwards adjourned to Cohan's Melbourne Hotel, Where refreshments in the shape of cake, wiaes, fruits, and confections were served up in tempting style, and in abundance. The Bey. Fwtherßoyer was m the chair, and the newly elected President of the Society, Mr Joseph Kealy, in the vice-chair. The President said that as the Society was religious one, he would propose the toast of " His Holiness Pope Pius the IX " ♦v !?*£ Fath6r ?? y !i' "S ref ! n '| Q g t0 tQ e toast just drunk, hoped that the brethren would attend strictly to the dutiea imposed on them in connection with this society, and trusted that, as true Catholics, they woula exert themselves to fulfil the duties expected of them ♦n. l^ ? re , Bidenfc next Ba™8 a ™ the •• Queen and Royal family!" Drunk with all the honors. J

Mr Gordon said the Queen was the greatest monarch that ever sat on the English throne. He had nerved her Majesty on the battlefield,. aad would do so again if occasion required it. Recitation—" The laat momenta of Montrose."— Mr Bunny. The President next gave the "Health of Mr Bunny." with tho usual accompaniment of " He's a jolly good fellow." Mr Bunny thanked them for the warm and hearty reception' given him. Since he arrived among them he bad m!et with the greatest hospitality from one and all. Song—" The Minitrel Boy," by Mr Wilson, Mr Bunny proposed "The Kindred Societies," .coupled with tirename of Mr Brooke*. Mr Brookes, in responding, said that since he had become a member of the order of Oddfellows, be had seen nothing but good fellowship existing, and he was convinced the Hibernian Society would not be an exception to the rule. He expressed the wish that all thevarious societies in Naseby would act cordially together, an J that harmony and good fellowship would prevail among all classes. Song—" Oh ! Erin my country," by Mr J. Kealy. The President next gave " The Municipality of Naseby," coupled with the name of the Mayor-elect ' The Mayor-elect, Mr L. W. Busch, replied. Song—" The Anchor's Weighed," by Mr Wilson. Mr Bunny gave /'Success to the Naseby Branch of the H.A.0.8 »., coupled with the name of Mr Moroney. He hoped that the members would exert themselves to carry out faithfully the objects of the Society, and that in doing so they would benefit themselves and be * credit to the order. Mr Moroney replied, and said that although it was the last branch of the parent tree that had shot out, yet he trusted it would not be the least. Song—" Ladies' Eyes Around, Boys,"— Mr Gordon. "The Ladies," by the President, was responded to by Mr Busch-. Recitation— " The Spanish Champion" —by Mrßu-nny. ' " The Host and Hostess," by Mr Brookas, was reiponde'd ta by Mr Oogan. l J Song—" Annie Laurie"— by Mr Brooke*. " The Rev. Father Royer," by Mr Busch. The Rev gentlomv* replied. Song—" The Shamrock"— by Mr Lennane. j " Th r3r 3 P Jt??'" COtt P led with the name of Mr Wilson, by the President. Mr Wilson replied. ieveral other toasts and songs followed, ani the mooting, which' was a most agreeable ona, broke up at an early hour.