TH EWM AN SOCIETY, AUCKLAND
WECOME TO HIS LORDSHIP BISHOP CLEARY (From an occasional correspondent.) Through the kindness of the Rev. Mother of St. Mary’s Convent, the Newman Society were privileged to hold their special meeting of welcome to his Lordship the Bishop of Auckland (and their new patron) in the spacious school hall of St. Mary’s Convent, Ponsonby. For some time past the society had been making preparations to greet his . Lordship in a fitting manner, and they awaited the commencement of the University year and the conclusion of the long vacation in order to enable all their fellow-members to participate in the welcome. Unfortunately, the day changed suddenly from a morning of sunshine to a wet and stormy afternoon, which prevented a large number of persons being present. There was an attendance of about two hundred ladies and gentlemen, most of the members being attired in academic dress, conspicuous among them being Mr. F. H. Levien, M.A., LL.B., the Hon. J. A. Tole, 8.A., LL.B., K.C. (a member of the University Senate and the Auckland University College Council), Rev. Father O’Farrell, 8.A., Mr. D. O’Donohue, 8.A., Mr. E. J. Mahoney, LL.B., in the. hoods of their respective degrees. The hall was excellently arranged like a large drawing-room, the platform at the end being tastefully decorated with screens and palms and other ■ pot plants, the whole of the floor being carpeted. Altogether the effect of the decorations was very tasteful and effective. "His Lordship, who was accompanied by Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), and Right Rev. Mgr. O’Reilly, V.F., was met by the president and members of the executive and escorted to the platform, the students present all rising and greeting his entrance with the ‘ Gaudeamus.’ Nearly all the Catholic professional men of the city were present, in addition to the priests of the town and suburban parishes. In spite of the inclemency of the weather the gathering was a brilliant one. The president (!\Jr. F. H. Levien, M.A., LL.B.) in an introductory address welcomed his Lordship and congratulated him on behalf of the society on his elevation to the episcopate. He thanked him for accepting the position of patron to the society, and hoped he would long be spared to guide its destinies. He assured his Lordship of the loyalty and co-operation of the society, individually and collectively, and trusted that its members would be entrusted with such part of the work of the diocese as would come within their power to perform. Mr. . Levien , then went on to trace the history of the society from its inception by the Very Rev. Father Keogh, S.M., at the Easter Tournament meeting held at Day’s Bay on Easter Sunday, 1909. He further touched on some of the works of the society: that of consolidating the forces of those Catholics who enjoyed the benefits of higher education so that their energies may be of benefit in upholding the 'truths of their holy religion; of adding to their knowledge the true attitude of the Church with regard to modern social and political problems; of assisting their fellow-Catholic students; of answering the calumnies and misrepresentations which find their , way from time to time into the secular press; of defending _ the doctrines of the Church •when assailed; of encouraging the reading of Catholic literature and by such other ways of helping, the work of the Church and of adding to their own and their fellowstudents’ knowledge of the Church’s history and attitude in secular, matters by every means in their power. Mr. Levien congratulated the society on obtaining as their patron one w 7 h(s was so well known throughout the Catholic world as an unflinching champion of Catholic education and one whose assistance and example would assuredly lead the society to higher things and greater achievements than they now dreamed In conclusion, he again expressed to his Lordship the society’s good wishes and filial homage to him as their Bishop and their leader. The president then called upon Mr. J. P. Kavanagh (the society’s hon, secretary) to read the following address to his Lordship ‘ Reverendissime Domine, — ‘ Sodales Societatis Newman nuncupatae summa amicitia et observantia Episcopura nostrum atque Patronum salutamus. Hand minus quam alii Catholici -fideles regionis nostrae gratulamur ob gratura praeclarumque adventure tuum in Dioecesem nostrum. Deo gratias agimus atque Romano Pontifici quod iam habemus Pastorem per totam provinciam nostrum, imo et per regiones longinquas, illustrem Litteris atque Doctrinis. Te gubernante multoque adiuvante dubium non est quin _ Fides Catholica splendent coram consociis nostris praecipueque in ipsis nostris actionibus; ita ut libentiores et promptiores facti simus ad rem Dei et Ecclesiae magis strenue et impigro gerendam. Nobis quidem in animo est semper et unique Episcopo praestare honorem atque servitutem patri dilectissimo debitum. Orabimus ut regum tuum serena luce tranquillitatis collustretur, cum magno animarum fructu et ingenti Ecclesiae aiictu. >. * Pro Sodalibus Societatis praedictae, ‘ FELIX H. LEVIEN, ‘ Praesidens.’
‘ Aucopolitana, a.d. iij Non. Mart. MCMXI.’
The' address was engrossed in Gothic script on vellum and in appearance was reminiscent of a page from an old MSS. Bible—the lettering being in black with red capitals. It was surmounted by a puriri scroll into which the address E roper folded. At the foot hung a handsome leather seal having on one side his Lordship’s coat-of-arms and on the other the arms of the Auckland University College stamped in gold. „ His; Lordship’s Reply. . His Lordship, who was received with loud and prolonged applause, then _ formally replied .as follows s ‘ Consodales dilectissimi, —• ‘ Magni mihi esset aptis declarare verbis quam gratus sum erga vos, quam raemor benevolentiae yestrae. Vobis tota mente gratulor de felici Societatis vestrae exitu, deque beneficiis in sodales collatis. Optime meremini de Catholicis civitatis nostrae et polliceor me vestram Societatera orani studio iuvaturum, me rationibus vestris pro viribus consulturum. Et Deum Omnipotentem ex ammo precor ut diem de die, et gratia et veritate et virtute multa proficiatis, ut pro Deo et Ecclesiae Dei propugnetis, ut vcs met ipsos praebeatis fortes Christi athletas. Sic vos adjuvet semper Deus I Velitis, consodales, hunc jjieum responsum libenter excipere, et Deus vos. diu ihcolumes servet !’ Turning into English his Lordship then gave to his 1 Fellow-members ’ a most interesting address, which was greatly appreciated by all present. His Lordship remarked that it was a great and a glorious thing to see these young men and women who, having experienced the advantages of higher education, now set themselves to devote their young energies and their talents to the work of their Church. It was a most edifying sight to see them take up their place in the front of the battle and by assisting one another also help to defend the doctrines and teaching of their holy religion. A society such as the Newman Society could not fail to do good work, and the very fact that its members were in the most useful and energetic period of their lifetime showed that their work must prove to be of lasting and continued value. He then quoted from Disraeli’s Coningsby to show how the work of the world’s greatest sons, in the Church, in the State, in the armies, and in politics was done while they were in the golden prime of early manhood. He showed what great work there was before them to dolabors which would be of‘assistance to their pastors and of lasting benefit to and deserving of eternal reward for themselves. He touched on the great question of Catholic Education and- the path which lay before the Church’s leaders in that direction. He said that in the programme of the society’s activities or intended activities as outlined by the president hardly any branch of the Church’s work had been overlooked, and he personally looked for great things and lasting good from the Newman Society. He promised them every help and assistance that lay in his power and trusted that the members would rely on him to watch over their interests. He again thanked them for their address and wished the society a long and successful, career.
The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., then addressed a short speech of welcome to his Lordship, who, he said, while not previously known to many of those present personally, was an old friend when looked upon as a great Catholic literary man and a noble champion of Catholic truth and „ Catholic education. Even his Lordship’s first Pastoral went to the very foundation of true and sound education, and he thanked him on behalf of the Catholics of New ’ Zealand for his lucid and masterly exposition therein of the Catholic claims in respect.to education. His Lordship was also _to be greeted as a controversialist whose logic was irresistible and whose moderation and bearing towards the bitterest opponent only drew towards him as friends those who had met him originally as constitutional foes Mr. Tole 'welcomed his Lordship to the diocese and congratulated the society on the acquisition of a patron whose qualifications for the position of their leader stood alone. He concluded by thanking his Lordship for his most interesting and stirring reply, and wished him, on his own behalf and on that of the society, ‘Ad.multos annos.’
His Lordship, in replying to Mr. Tole’s words of welcome, emphasised the benefit to the society imported •by the presence of its lady members, by whose assistance and influence their brother members would be stirred to
greater achievements. He spoke interestingly of woman’s right to higher education, and hoped that the Catholic girls would continue to progress in their school work and to proceed to the University on the conclusion of their secondary course of study. He thanked Mr. Tole for Ins kind words towards himself, and concluded a delightful little speech, which was pleasingly interpolated with anecdotes and quotations from French and other authors, amidst continued applause. The president then announced that the formal business being finished the members would oe free to spend the rest of the afternoon in a sociable manner. The
Bishop then went among the persons present and had a short conversation with each onethe sound of a cnnscrir, in French or in the more liquid Italian tongue from time to time demonstrating his Lordship’s linguistic powers and the diverse nationality of the society’s members. . Afternoon tea was handed round by lady members in cap and gown and, after about an hour’s pleasant chat, the gathering adjourned to the convent chapel for Benediction. Here his Lordship the Bishop officiated, being -assisted. by Rev,-
Father Edge (the society’s spiritual director) and the Rev. Father Holbrook, Adm. O Salutaris’ was sung by Mr. F. Bourke, and Messrs. Egan and Adeane tastefully rendered the ‘ Tantum Ergo,’ Mr. H. Hiscocks, the talented organist of the Cathedral, presiding at the organ And with Benediction the afternoon’s pleasant proceedings terminated.
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New Zealand Tablet, 23 March 1911, Page 513
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1,791TH EWM AN SOCIETY, AUCKLAND New Zealand Tablet, 23 March 1911, Page 513
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