ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS

New Zealand Tablet, 27 March 1913, Page 25

ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATIONS

WELLINGTON. (From our own correspondent.) The Hibernian Society, true to its motto, honored the Patron Saint of Ireland by receiving Holy Communion in a body on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick's Day. The members of St. Patrick's and St. Mary's (ladies) branches to the number' of 220 approached the Holy Table at St. Mary of the Angels' Church at the eight o'clock Mass, which was celebrated by Kev. Father Joseph Herring, S.M. (chaplain), with two of the members of Patrick's branch in regalia as servers. Rev. Father, Herring addressed the members briefly. He alluded to the grand motto of the society—Faith, Hope, and Charity—and to the first question put to them when they were being initiated' Are you a practical Catholic?' What better proof could they give of their faith than by turning out in such numbers as they did that morning He reminded them of St. Patrick, and of the struggle their forefathers in Ireland had to preserve the faith, which had been handed down to them. He appealed to them, therefore, to keep that faith pure and undefiled, and to show by their lives a good example to fellow-Catholics and non-Catholics. After Mass the members of both branches marched to the old Marist Brothers' School, Boulcott street, where the annual breakfast was held. Bro. J. A. Sullivan, president of St. Patrick's branch, presided, and on his right was the Rev. Father Herring, and on his left Sister D. McGrath (president of St. Mary's (ladies) branch. There were also present Mr. B. Ellis (president of the St. Vincent de Paul Society), Mr. T. J. McCosker (Catholic Federation), Mr. A.H.Casey (Catholic Club), Mr. Moriarty (representing the Tablet), and Bro. R. P. O'Shaughnessv (P.P., of Christchurch). , ' ; J Bro. Sullivan congratulated the members on the fine muster, which must have proved very edifying to

their fellow-Catholics. He was very pleased to welcome their worthy chaplain, and Messrs. Ellis, T. McCosker, A. H. Casey, and R. P. O'Shaughnessy, and read apologies for the unavoidable absence of Very Rev. Deans O'Shea, S.M., and Regnault, S.M. (Provincial). He said he saw around him others, the honor of whose presence they were gratified to have. He referred to those who had borne the burden and heat of the day their former officers and old members. They were under a debt of gratitude to these members for building the society upon such a solid foundation. He was pleased to record the progress of the society; they now had over 500 branches in Australia and New Zealand, with 40,000. members, and funds totalling £300,000. Wellington was doing good work, but there was still plenty to do, and he urged members to take an active interest in affairs of the society by bringing their Catholic friends in as members. In conclusion he could not let the occasion pass without referring to the untimely death of their late chaplain, the Rev. Father C. J. Venning, whose familiar face they missed that day. Rev. Father Herring addressed the gathering, also congratulating them on the excellent muster. He referred to the bright prospects of Home Rule, which, he hoped, would eventuate before St. Patrick's Day next year. Bro. M. Walsh, P.P., said he was glad to see representatives from kindred societies present. He instanced the great amount of good that the St. Vincent de Paul Society was doing in relieving the distressed and needy, both spiritually and physically. The Catholic Club also had done and was still doing a lot of good for our young- men. He said he was glad to see now firmly established the New Zealand Catholic Federation; it would supply a long-felt want. This was an age for organisation, and he trusted that every Catholic man and women would be enrolled within its ranks. He also wished success to the Tablet, and trusted that the circulation would double in a very short time, as without a Catholic paper our organisation was incomplete. It was therefore essential that all Catholic societies should do all in their power to further the circulation of this excellent paper. Mr. B. Ellis said it was a great pleasure for him to bo present at such a magnificent gathering. The edifying sight that morning moved nam to appeal to Hibernians to join the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Mr. Moriarty in a spirited address appealed to Hibernians to support the Tablet. He trusted that the enthusiasm shown when the Tablet was mentioned would not die out in the room, but would result in an increase of subscribers. Mr. T. J. McCosker, on behalf of the Dominion Executive of the N.Z. Catholic Federation, also spoke and traced the history of the Catholic Federation. He said the message that he brought was, ' Catholics of New Zealand, unite.' Bro. J. J. L. Burke, P.P., spoke on the subject of Catholic education, and appealed to members to take an interest in this great cause by assisting in the scheme launched last year by the society in Wellington. : Bro. J. W. Callaghan, P.P., as vice-chairman of the Wellington Catholic Education Board, also spoke on the education question, and like Bro. Burke appealed to Hibernians to give the scheme launched by them their heartiest support. In conclusion he wished to move a very hearty vote of thanks to the ladies of St. Mary's branch and the committee for the excellent arrangements made for the breakfast. Bro. R. P. O'Shaughnessy, P.P., on behalf of Christchurch, briefly thanked the officers for their kindness to .him whilst in Wellington, and as.he was returning to Christchurch shortly he wished to bid them good-bye. Bro. M. Bohan, P.P., the first elected president in New Zealand, and who is now in advanced years, also briefly addressed the gathering. He said it was a pleasure for him to be present, as he was the founder of the branch, and was also appointed, a deputy to open it, which he did on October 6, 1874. Before he came to Wellington he was instrumental in forming the Charleston, branch, which was opened in 1869 with himself as the first president.

The president, before declaring the proceedings closed, returned thanks to all who attended, and to the committee who so successfully carried out the details in connection with that morning's proceedings. A howling northerly, bringing with it thick palls of swiftly moving lowering clouds, smote (Wellington on St. Patrick's Day, and in a measure spoilt the holiday. Nevertheless, this did not deter the committee from carrying out the demonstration which it had decided upon. a quarter to 10 a procession composed of St. Patrick's College Senior Cadets, numbering 100, and the junior cadets from the Marist Brothers' Schools of Thorndon and Te Aro, numbering 300, and the Hibernians, formed up in Boulcott street, and, headed by the Waterside Workers' Band, marched by way of Manners street, Courtenay place, and Kent terrace to Newtown Park. Two huge tramcars conveyed the remainder of the school children to the Newtown Park from Te Aro and Thorndon. The morning was devoted to children's sports, which were superintended by the Rev. Brothers Basil, Louis, and Donatus, and Messrs. J. Burke and B. Guise. Amongst those who were present at the celebrations were the Mayor (Mr. D. McLaren), and Messrs. A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P., and J. P. Luke, and members of the clergy, including Very Rev. Deans O'Shea, S.M., V.G., Regnault, S.M. (Provincial), Ven. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., Rev. Fathers Hickson, Gilbert, Herring (2), Hurley, and Peoples. Mr. H. McKeowen was secretary of the proceedings. In the afternoon the main portions of the programme Avere gone through in the presence of several hundred people. The committee is to be congratulated on the successful results of the sports, which, notwithstanding the very unpleasant weather, will show a fair profit for the education fund. A deep debt of gratitude is due Mrs. Sommerville, who gave up so much of her time to conducting a sweets stall, which returned a handsome profit, and also to the ladies of the H.A.C.B. Society, who conducted the refreshment booth. A feature of the afternoon's entertainment was the display of Swedish drill under Instructor J. Duffy. Some 300 boys took part, and their movements were interestingly watched by a large crowd. The drill. made a fine spectacular event, and reflected great credit on Mr. Duffy, the instructor. As a fitting conclusion to the celebration of St. Patrick's Day an Irish national concert was held in the Town Hall, and the event proved to be a powerful attraction. Mr. D. Kenny opened with a selection of popular and characteristic Irish airs, played on the organ in creditable style. Two choruses by the Marist Brothers' schoolboys, who made a good volume of sound for their number, were well received. These were ' Erin the tear' and ' A toast to Erin,' the latter, with its stirring chorus, being loudly encored. Mr. J. Parker pleased the audience with more Irish airs, played on the cornet, and he introduced several wellknown tunes. Messrs. Phipps, Fletcher, Allwright, and Hutton, as the ' Orpheus Quartette,' were highly successful in ' The minstrel boy,' their voices blending agreeably. As an encore they gave ' Kathleen Mavourneen.' Miss Agnes M. Segrief's pleasant mezzo was heard to advantage in 'Kate O'Shane' and 'Birth of morn,' and she was the recipient of a handsome bouquet. An enthusiastic reception was accorded Master Pankhurst, a small boy with a sweet soprano, who gave a capital rendering of Moore's famous song, 'Believe me, if all those endearing young charms/ and as encore he sang 'Little pilgrim.' A quartette of ladiesMisses McEnroe, R. Segrief, Martin, and Morrisonsang ■' The coulin' in excellent harmony, and were duly encored. Mr. H. N. Fletcher was successful with ' She is far from the land.' Some creditable work on the flute was done by Miss Nellie Simpson, who played the tunes of ' The last rose of summer' and ' Killarney ' in a manner that made the audience request her reappearance. Master Pankhurst #ave a pleasant rendering of 'Thelharp that once.' 'Eileen Allanah' and 'The Rosary' gave the Orpheus Quartette scope for some very harmonious and melting sweetness. Somewhat of an ovation was accorded Miss Teresa McEnroe,

who used her fine soprano intelligently and well in 'Rich and rare' and Hush, little child.' Miss Shaw —a little girl— a fine Irish jig to the accompaniment of the bagpipes. Mr. Allwright was ■ well received with The Irish emigrant' and Father O'Flynn.' The concert concluded with a rousing chorus, ' God save Ireland,' sung by the Marist boys in spirited style. Mr. D. Kenny was accompanist. Mr. J. W. Callaghan acted as hon. secretary, and to him and his hardworking committee is due the success of the concert.