Timaru

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 28, 13 July 1905, Page 5

Timaru

(From our own correspondent.)

July 7. On Tuesday Confirmation will be administered in St. Andrew's Church to about 27 candidates. The first round of the Friendly Societies' ca£'d tournament is now finished, and the Hibernians have proved the winners. On Monday night last St. Mary's branch of the 11.A.C.8. Society held its usua.l half-yearly meeting in St. John's Hall. The principal business of the evening, the election of officers, resulted as follows :— President,, Bio. J. Y earning), ■vice-president, Bro. ,M. Y 1 a no^gjan ;'secretary, Bro. J. O. Fitzgerald (re-elected) ; treasurer, Bro. J. Sullhan (re-elected) ; sick \isitors, Bros. Moriarty and Yenning ; assistant secretary, Bro. M. F. Dennehy ; auditors, Bros. Lynch and Doyle. On the termination'of the formal business an adjournment was made to the boys' school, where a banquet was tendered the retiring president, Bro. T. Connor. The chair was taken by Bro. J. Yenning, and he was supported on the right by the Rev. Father Tub'man, and on tac left by the guest of 'the evening. ' A lengthy programme of toasts, songs, and speeches was gone through, all the speakers making mention of their guest as a thorough Catholic, a '.patriotic Irishman, and a true Hibernian, who had contributed by his tact and judgment in bringing about the pleasant state of unity and brotherly feeling which pervades the Timaru branch. Father Tubman, on behalf of the branch, asked Bro. Connor to accept a handsomely framed past president's certificate as a perpetual reminaer to him -A the good work he had done in the branch, first as member and then as president, and further renw/rked that he subscribed fully to the sentiments expressed by his brother Hibernians regarding him. Bro. Connor replied in a .short and feeling speech, thankinlg the members for their handsome gift, "which he would look upon as one of his greatest treasures. The ' old boys ' of our Catholic school met the present pupils at a friendly game of football on the Athletic Grounds on Thursday. Though the school showed superior play, the weight and size of the ex-pupils secured them the uctory by three points to nil. His Lords Lip Bishop Grimes commenced his notation of the parish on Friday. On Sunday morning he celebrated the nine o'clock Mass and also preached. Large numbers approached the Holy Table at the early Masses, among them being those who were preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. At three o'clock, the hour fixed for the administration of Confirmation, the church was filled to itls utmost capacity. The candidates numbered 1 GO — 7>p girls, G5 boys, and 20 adults, 10 of the lastmentioned being: converts. The boys had been instructed by Brother Martin, and the girls by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart and Rev. Father Finnerty, who also had instructed about 25 children fiom country schools. After a thorough examination of their knowledge of Christian doctrine, his Lordship expressed himself as highly pleased at their proficiency, and after a short address hd proceeded with the administration of the Sacrament, being assisted by Rev Fathers Tubman, Finnerty, and Buckley. In the evewine; his Lordship preached, addressing his remarks principally to the newly confirmed. At the conclusion of an eloquent sermon the children renewed their baptismal vows, and took a pledge to abstain from all intoxicating drink till their 21st year. Then Master Gerald Yertue, on behalf of the boys, read a consecration to St. Joseph, and Miss M Schaab read a similar act to the Blessed Virgin for the a;irls His Lordship officiated at Benediction, 'assisted by the Rev. Fathers Tubfman and Finnerty, and a procession was then formed to the Priory grounds, wihcre, after a few words from his Lordship, the children dispersed.