ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 5 August 1915, Page 49

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY, WELLINGTON

(From an occasional correspondent.) The quarterly meeting of the Particular Council of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Wellington, was held in the .Guilford Street Schoolroom on Sunday afternoon, July 25. His Grace Archbishop Redwood presided, and was supported by Messrs. L. T. Reichel (president), and M. -Kennedy, Iv.S.G. There were present Rev. Father Travers (of Hobart), Rev. Father A. Venning, and forty members of the various conferences. Representatives of the various conferences read reports on their work, which demonstrated the activity of the society in the work of charity. After the formal business had been transacted, the possibilities of further activities of the society in the direction of the boys’ guild movement were discussed. His Grace complimented the society on its virility, and particularly on the fact that so many young men were apparently actively engaged in the splendid work of the organisation. He then gave a very interesting address, in which he mentioned some of his experiences on the Continent. His Grace was in France at the outbreak of the war, and instanced the difficulties in regard to persons travelling in suddenly finding that their letters of credit, for the time being, were valueless, and were faced with the urgent necessity of finding money. From Lourdes his Grace journeyed to Spain, where he had the misfortune of being laid no lor some little time, but which he turned lo good account in improving his acquaintance with the Spanish language. His Grace gave some very interesting particulars, illustrating the great strides education is making in Spain. The Salamanca University had seven thousand students, and he spoke of the Irish College established there lor the education of priests for Ireland a- a most successful institution. lie was the guest of the English College at Valladolid during winch he was overtaken by the illness he had mentioned, and on his recovery he gave a retreat there, and during his stay ordained a priest and a deacon in 1 lie College chapel. 1i is Grace gave a description of the beauty uf the churches and particularly of the sancluries. These gave evidence of the great, wealth possessed bv Spain in the heyday of its success, and to-day are memorials of the custom oi Applying to religious objects a full share of worldly wealth, thus demonstrating the faith of the people. At that period it was the custom to hoard gold, and which to-day is so much in evidence in the decora! ion ol the altars, and in the sacred vessels in the treasury ol the old churches. At Madrid he was shown, amongst other striking treasures, a very beautiful mantle used for the decoration ol a statue of our Lady on festal occasions, in which there were no less than 80,000 pearls, and it was ol surprising beauty. In the same church there was also the flag taken by the Christians from the Mohammedans at the great battle of Lepanto. Referring to France, his Grace instanced the extraordinary revival of Catholicity, and the change that had come over the spirit of the people. Instead of the volatile character of the people, there was a wonderful quietness and soberness, demonstrating the terrible earnestness by which they are animated in this great war. The people frequented the churches in extraordinary numbers, and in many churches a continuous system of prayer was in vogue throughout the entire twenty-four hours of the clay. He spoke of the extraordinary determination of the French soldier, and how piety, which was hitherto considered out of place in the army, was so marked. In this respect it was shown how a Government bent upon destroying the Catholic spirit in France had passed a law by which the clergy and seminarists were compelled to serve in the army without distinction. The presence of 25,000 of the clergy as combatants in the ranks has brought a leaven of piety, and provided an avenue by which so many return to their duty. The bravery and distinction of these priests has been demonstrated before the whole army by the fact that so many have

already received decorations . -for distinguished- bravery. His Grace instanced the case of a Jesuit priest, who, owing to so. many, officers being killed or wounded, had become the trusted commandant of a section composed entirely of Garibaldians. 5 the Rev. Father Travers spoke in regard to the boys guild, concerning which a paper, showing the activities in England, and in which he himself had a hand, was read. At the introduction of the boys’ brigade in the quarter in London in which he was engaged in his duties, he attended the initial movement which was held in a blacksmith’s shop. Since then the movement had spread, until now it was a power in England. The Rev. Father Venning congratulated the society upon the genuine personal character of the work they were occupied in, which approximated the religious more than any other guild or society in the Church. Mr. Martin Kennedy, K.S.G., in his remarks, park ticularly complimented the younger men who were coming forward and taking on-the work of this great society, and he expressed his pleasure that there was no dearth of new workers, and that (lie younger generation were taking up the society in the right spirit. A vote of thanks to his Grace the Archbishop for his attendance and for his most interesting address terminated the meeting.