ST. JOSEPH'S LADIES? CLUB, DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 13 March 1919, Page 39

ST. JOSEPH'S LADIES? CLUB, DUNEDIN

~ PRESENTATION TO MRS. M. A. JACKSON. | The members of St. Joseph's Ladies' Club and friends assembled on Tuesday evening, March 4, in the clubrooms, St. Joseph's Hall, on the occasion of a complimentary social evening, tendered to Mrs. M. A. Jackson, president of the club, who is retiring from office after ten years' devoted service. Miss Eileen Murphy (vice-president) acted as hostess. An enjoyable programme was contributed to by Mrs. Sandy.'. Misses Schoen, K. Sullivan, E. Murphy, and Gwen Wilson, Messrs. M. Coughlan, D. and F. Fogarty, and T. J. Hussey (songs); Miss K. Sullivan gave a pianoforte solo, and Miss Heley several recitations. : Mr. T. J. Hussey, on behalf of the members of St. Joseph's Ladies' Club, read and presented Mrs. Jackson with an address, expressive of gratitude for the whole-hearted interest she had taken in the welfare of the club and its members. The esteem held by the members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society towards Mrs. Jackson in regard to the generosity of spirit exhibited towards her fellow-workers, and appreciation of and admiration for her noble self-sacrifice in behalf of the poor, the sick, and the orphaned, shown by her in her capacity of president of the society, were also recorded. Regret was expressed, in conclusion, that pressure of work compelled Mrs. Jackson to relinquish office. The address, which was artistically printed oh white satin by the N.Z. Tabid Company, chastely embellished with floral pen paintings by the' Dominican Nuns, and encased in a massive oak frame, was signed by Rev. B. Kaveney (spiritual director), A. Skinner and E. Murphy (vice-presidents), and E. O'Rourke (secretary). Mr. Hussey, in asking Mrs. Jackson's acceptance of the address, accompanied by the gift of a beautiful gold bangle watch, suitably inscribecf, paid an eloquent tribute to the retiring president's long connection of thirty years with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, during twenty-five years of which she had held the chief official position with dignity and success. Mrs. Jackson, he said, had been the mainstay of Catholic philantropy in Dunedin for over a quarter of a century, and her influence, diligence, and discretion was evidenced on all sides. Her work in the social uplift of the community had been done secretly, but nevertheless effectively. In her public;capacity of representative on the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Mrs. Jackson had most capably filled that position, consecutively, for three terms, each of three years' duration, and he (the speaker): trusted Mrs. Jackson would continue to be a member of that body, on which she had proved herself so qualified to act! Speaking of Mrs. Jackson's lengthy term.as president of St. Joseph's Ladies' Club Mr. Hussey recalled the numerous occasions on which the club, headed by the president, had, from the very beginning of the war, arranged farewells to our Catholic boys on their departure, and welcomes home to them on their return from the front one such notable occasion he mentioned being the club's social to the men in camp in 1914 on Tab una Park, when no fewer than 289 men carried away pleasant recollections of the kind treatment they had experienced at the instance of members. Mr. M. Coughlan replied on behalf of Mrs. Jackson. Dainty refreshments were then served, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."