St. Vincent de Paul Society, Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, 7 August 1913, Page 53

St. Vincent de Paul Society, Christchurch

,;; (From our own correspondent.) ; h * , The meeting on Monday evening -week, of the Particular Council of the Society of -St; Vincent de Paul marked the existence of the organisation in Christchurch (as at present constituted) for a period of twenty-five years. The society established a branch in Christchurch in the days of the earliest Marist missionaries practically at the beginning of settlement of the city. After a number of years' existence a lapse occurred, owing mainly to the : continual changes among the missionary Fathers. Shortly after the arrival of his Lordship Bishop Grimes in Christchurch, one of the first acts of his Lordship was to re-establish the society as it is to-day. The first president of the newly-established Cathedral conference of the society was the late Mr. R. P. Lonergan, who, with the late Mr. Edward O'Connor as secretary, guided its destinies for some years. Mr. O'Connor then became president and held the position for over fifteen years. He was succeeded for a brief period by Mr. Arthur Mead, who in turn vacated the

office, and Mr. G. C. ward, the present president, was appointed. Many of the principal laymen of the Church have been associated with the society.', For a considerable time the Cathedral conference was the only branch of the society -in New Zealand. St. Mary's conference, Christchurch North, was then formed, and with the advent of another addition, a particular council, or governing body, was founded. An energetic propaganda was entered upon, with the result that no fewer than forty conferences were formed in- the Dominion. Associated with the society in the chief centres are ladies' auxiliaries, under various titles. Those in the diocese of Christchurch are known as diocesan Ladies of Charity,' and are of the greatest assistance to the men's society in attending to cases where women and children require care and assistance.