ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE

New Zealand Tablet, 10 April 1913, Page 13

ARCHDIOCESE OF MELBOURNE

RECEPTION OF ARCHBISHOP MANNIX His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix, CoadjutorArchbishop of Melbourne, arrived on Easter Sunday morning in Melbourne by express train from Adelaide, and received a most enthusiastic welcome at Spencer street, where he was met by his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne and a very large concourse of priests and laity. Amongst the crowd at Spencer street was the Prime Minister (Mr. Fisher), who cordially welcomed the distinguished ecclesiastic to Australia. His Grace was accompanied by the Right Rev. Dr. Shiel, Bishop of Rockhampton. Every available foot of standing and sitting room in St. Patrick's Cathedral was availed of on Sunday evening by the vast congregation which assembled to formally welcome the new Archbishop. At the welcoming ceremony addresses were read to Dr. Mannix, who sat on a dais, accompanied by Archbishop Carr and Bishop Shiel. The address by the priests was read by Dean Hegarty, who, in the course of a few prefatory remarks, said the endowments and works of Archbishop Mannix placed him in a conspicuous position among the distinguished eccclesiastics of Christendom. The event, he added, was one which must be considered of the highest importance, not only to the priests, but also to the people of that great archdiocese, and, indeed, to the Catholics of the Commonwealth. The address welcomed Archbishop Mannix with joy and gratitude. After referring to the way in which Archbishop Carr had maintained the traditions of the Irish Church, with power, dignity, and Christ-like charity, the clergy stated that his Grace came to them with the highest seal which the Church could set on the scholarship of her clergy, and the highest reputation for wisdom and experience which merit could win or confidence bestow. Dr. Leo Kenny, who wore the decoration of "a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, read the address prepared on behalf of the laity,' who expressed the belief that Archbishop Mannix would, by the exercise of a similar wisdom, prudence, and devotion as had been exercised by Archbishop Carr, contribute largely to the increase of the expansion of the Church, and they fervently hoped for an increase in the days of their great Archbishop. There were 32 signatures attached to the address, including Augustus Leo Kenny, John Gavan Duffy, Frank Gavan Duffy, Benjamin Hoare, D. G. Cullen, M. Mornane, T. J. O'Brien, and twelve societies connected with the Church. Archbishop Mannix in Reply. Archbishop Mannix, upon rising, was received with prolonged applause. Standing well up towards six feet in height, with a clean-cut, even-featured face, and strong, searching eyes, the Archbishop made a commanding and striking figure. He speaks with clear enunciation and ready eloquence, and uses his clear, pleasant-toned voice with practised effect. The Archbishop expressed himself as deeply touched by the cordial welcome of the congregation upon his arrival at his new home. It was a long way from Ireland to Australia, from Maynooth to Melbourne, and, if he might confess the truth, it was a great sorrow and a great wrench to turn his face away from his own dear country and kindred. With congenial work and kind friends around him in the cloisters of Maynooth, he might have hoped to look out for many years to come from a peaceful and happy, seclusion, to the increasing prosperity' of Ireland, which would soon, he hoped, be mistress of her own destiny. If that was not to be, and if the burden of the episcopal office was to be laid upon him, then he was bound to confess, with equal sincerity and candor, that the Holy Father could have laid upon him no more pleasing and acceptable command than to join the priests of the archdiocese of Melbourne in their loyal and devoted services to their revered Archbishop. He knew, in coming to Australia, that he would be associated with the youngest, the fairest, and the most promising daughter of the Church. He came among, them as a stranger, and all untried, and he recognised,