PRESENTATION TO FATHER E. LYNCH, OAMARU

New Zealand Tablet, 17 June 1915, Page 36

PRESENTATION TO FATHER E. LYNCH, OAMARU

St. Patrick’s 'Hall, Oamaru, was; taxed on. Friday : evening to' hoi d-t large gathering that attended the -presentation and farewell social to Rev. Father. E. Lynch, who has been transferred to Mosgiel. Mr. P. C. iHjorriiig: presided,- and had with him on the platform •> Rev. Fathers Farthing, Lynch (2), and O’Connell, and Messrs. P. Corcoran',’ and P. -Kelly.. ? V ‘;v . v ;• The chairman said that the first part of the proceedings would be a musical progamme;' etc., but that ■ he desired, on behalf, of the parish of Oamaru, to extend to Father OConnell, the 7 successor to Father Lynch, a public welcome, as this was the first occasion on which they had had an . opportunity of so . doing. He also desired to welcome Father Lynch, of Palmerston, amongst them. , • _ • -

Apologies for absence'were received from the Right Rev. Mgr. Mackay,.; V.G., and Messrs. J. B. Grave and Taylor (Windsor). ’ ’ N "-. / V . The following. programme was then proceeded with: Piano solo, Miss M. O’Grady ' song, Miss L. Barry; recitation, Rev. Father O’Connell; song, Mr. J. H. Rowe/ song, Mr. J. Roxburgh. Miss M. O’Grady acted throughout the programme as accompanist, and encores were frequent. The chairman said that all were aware of the object of the gathering. It was‘to show their esteem. and affectionate regard for Father Lynch, who had been transferred from amongst them .some four months ago, and whom they were now formally farewelling. It was the custom among Catholic communities to recognise the value of their priests’ services, and on their departure for fresh fields to show that recognition in a public manner. It would be ill indeed if Oamaru and district did not do so in the case of Father Lynch. The parishioners all knew and esteemed the great abilities of Father Lynch, and his Lordship the Bishop had so soon recognised them as to transfer him to a wider sphere of labor, where he would find congenial work in teaching and forming the minds, moulding the characters, and guiding the destinies of, the students he would have charge of. Father Lynch had never sought the limelight, but rather had he sought the quietude of the booklover.-'' At all times had he paid full attention to the duties of his office and parish, and the representative meeting that night showed the esteem in which he was held. Their rev. guest’s duties had extended over a wide area, and he was ever ready to assist the sick and to comfort the dying. All would watch: his career with close interest, and pray that he might have health and strength to continue his priestly duties. To-night they wished his acceptance of a purse of sovereigns, which he would ask Father Lynch to receive in the spirit in which it was given—namely, as a token of the respect and affectionate esteem in which

the Catholics of the/ community held him.

Rev. Father Farthing said that it was about three years since he first met Father Lynch, and from the first to the last moment he had found him a warm friend. Not only was he a faithful priest_ and faithful friend, but also a fine scholar,' who never tried to inflict the fact on the less learned, but which, nevertheless, they always recognised. He, personally, had never enjoyed the society of any other priest so much, and he trusted that wherever Father Lynch went God would prosper him. yv

Rev. Father O’Connell returned thanks for his cordial public welcome to the parish of Oamaru. He was in the unique position and- privilege of knowing their guest longer and more intimately than any of them, as he had attended college with him and been a class-mate with him for three years, and the speaker was therefore in a position to speak-, with an intimate personal knowledge. , He had always found their guest a true gentleman, and a priest in the highest sense. He was a man of very high intellectual attainments, and ’ a close student. /Tie wished him health and happiness

in his new sphere .of action. * Mr. D. Joyce regretted that he was not sufficiently fluent to express the respect and esteem in which he and

all in the Enfield district held Father Lynch. From" the moment the people of Enfield had heard of Father Lynch's removal they had been sorry, but were reconciled to his departure Von learning that he had been appointed to a wider 'field of labor. V / - " ' Rev. Father Lynch, in replying, thanked the people of Oamaru -very * warmly for ■ their generous - presentation. He had no need, he said,'"of this substantial gift to vince .him of -their generous warm-heartedness. His stay in Oamaru had been one continuous round of kindnesses towards him. It had -been his lot: to appealrto them on many occasions and for various objects, and: he always found them respond iii a ' manner worthy of f the best .'..traditions of the warm-hearted, generous, Irish Celt. Their generosity was doubly manifest, considering the circumstances and conditions of the present time,' when there were so many demands to meet and such numerous funds to subscribe to. He would, therefore, deal generously with them by handing over' part of their presentation to the funds of the church they were about to erect between Enfield and Windsor. The rev. speaker paid a high tribute "to the courtesy and geniality of the clergy with whom he. was associated in Oamaru, and spoke in terms of unstinted praise and admiration of Rev. Father O'Connell, his successor. He returned thanks to ; the chairman (Mr. Hjorring), who, though a busy professional man, found time, to preside at their social function. He thanked the committee and'Mr. Molloy, the secretary, for having made all the necessary arrangements : also all those who contributed to: the pleasant evening's entertainment. . ' I thank you one and all,' concluded Father Lynch, ' for having come in your numbers on such a cold night to give me such a warm send-off. Thanks, and evermore thanks! May God, the Giver of all good gifts, for ever bless and prosper you.' ,- : |y>. A dainty supper was then handed round by the ladies. During this interval Miss E. Kelly and Mr. Roxburgh sang solos, much to the enjoyment of all present, and the singing of the National Anthem concluded a pleasant evening.