FAREWELL TO VERY REV. P. MURPHY

New Zealand Tablet, 12 June 1919, Page 11

FAREWELL TO VERY REV. P. MURPHY

V HS.M'.V'iU '«-■>■.- .... | ilf I. PRESENTATION AT RIVERTON. ;V .. When the Very Rev. ■= Father Murphy made; it I known to his, people of the Riverton parish that he was ; going to visit Ireland, where his aged mother is still ;• living,' and that he also wished to take a holiday for the benefit of his health, after 14 years’ service among them, they felt that they could not let him depart without , some tangible token of their appreciation of -f his great; self-sacrifice; hence representatives in each part of his i wide : parish, got to work, and the sum c of. £213 was collected and handed to him, that he might be relieved of all anxiety with regard to expense on his trip (says the 'Western Star). • It was a very fine representative gathering that met in More’s Hall on Thursday, May 29, to honor Father Murphy. Among those present :were Very Rev. Father Hunt, his Worship the Mayor (Dr. : Trotter), Mr. J. C. Thomson,! M.P. for Wallace, and Mr. A. E. Ward. Mr. H. ’ McFeeley, of Tuatapere, presided, and My. M. O’Brien, of Otautau, acted as vice-chairman. " A After the chairman proposed the toast of “The Pope and King,” which was duly honored, he proposed the toast of “The Guest.” - doing so the chairman said:—We are assembled here to-day to do honor to one who during his 14 years among us has shown himself to be an ideal priest, a Christian gentleman, and ; a worthy 'citizen. Our parting with the Very Rev. : Father Murphy, even though it be but temporary, causes us deep sorrow. During his- long residence among us over this wide parish of Riverton, no sacrifice that Father Murphy could make in the interests of his parishioners’ spiritual 4 * welfare was ever too much, i Each year but added to the love and strengthened the ! bond between' priest and people. The erection of j churches and necessary ecclesiastical buildings looms ■ largely in country as well as in city parishes, and let 1 me say that Father Murphy has done all that was necessary in this respect so far as his parochial district is concerned. Since his coming to Riverton . two churches have been built, and the fine convent buildings in this town, fulfiling the noble aim of imparting a Christian education, owe their being largely to the self-sacrifice of Father Murphy, whom we delight to honor to-day. In conclusion Mr. McFeeley said ; I have been asked, Very Rev. Father, on behalf of your parish--ioners, to present you with this cheque, as a small. token of their regard and of their keen appreciation of all you have done for them. In doing this, I may say that you carry with you something better than any material thing we could. give you —the love and grateful thanks of every man, woman, and child you have ministered to in this wide parish of Riverton. May ’ God in His wisdom keep you in health and strength, and send you safe ■ back to us. Mr. M. O’Brien said he was pleased to be present, to pay a tribute to Father Murphy’s work amongst ' them. Their departing priest had labored for 14 years assiduously in the interests of his people, and was ever ready, with . a helping hand to assist those outside his Church. He had worked hard and was deserving of ? a good holiday, and all hoped he would return in good health to carry on his noble work. Father Murphy could rest assured that the good wishes and prayers of-t his devoted people would be with him during his jour- J

neyings, i Dr. Trotter said it afforded him very great-plea-; sure to be present as a personal friend of Father Murphy’s and also as chief citizen of Riverton. The acquaintance of Church and Medicine was a very close one. As members of the Church and the Medical Faculty they met on common ground, that was the cause of suffering , humanity. , During his. work in Riverton he had been closely connected with their bej loved priest j and his predecessors, the late , Fathers Walsh and Sheehan. . Speaking personally, he v could tell them of the faithful work of their beloved priest, how. when the, call came he was ever ready to attend

to the patient; and many hard journeys ,he v had had to make. As Mayor, ,he , could assure Father Murphy of the appreciation .in- which he was held by the citi- | zens. The public would miss for a time tlie^well-known, l ’ erect figure .with ..the kind and sympathetic ... countenance that daily walked their streets. ;As Father Mur- ,' 1 phy’s medical adviser he was happy to know t he. was taking a holiday, because he knew the great strain was gradually undermining his system. He wished him a pleasant holiday, and furthermore that he would • find his aged mother safe and well, and that he would, return with renewed vigor. (Applause.) ■S Very Rev. Father Hunt said it was with mixed feeling's that he rose to speak. On one hand it was sad . to say good-bye to one he loved so well; but, on the (other hand, he was glad to see so many present to . (honor one who so . well deserved it. Speaking on his f own behalf and that of his, fellow priests, there was no one who stood so high in their esteem in the diocese as Father Murphy. The self-sacrifice of the guest had been mentioned, and he might say that self-sacrifice made the good priest, and without it his labors would-" be of very little value. Tie hoped that those around him would -.pray for Father Murphy that he might return in health , and renewed vigor. Father Hunt, on behalf of the priests of the dio-cese,-presented Father Murphy with a cheque for £7l, and in doing so conveyed to him their love and good wishes for a pleasant holiday.' Father Murphy, on rising to reply, was greeted with prolonged applause. He said that those present had honored him much more than he deserved. During the fourteen years he had spent among them he had received nothing but kindness. The chairman and vice-chairman had given him credit for building churches and the school, but he could have done very little if he did not have a faithful people at his back. He relied on their faith and their . charity ; and it was never in vain. From Catholics and ; non-Catholics alike throughout his wide parish he re- . ceived the greatest kindness. He felt that the time I had come when he must take a holiday. The first duty ; that devolved upon him was a sacred one, that of the I dutiful son to his mother. And when his mother called on him he could not refuse, and therefore he made up his mind to hasten to her side. Dr. Trotter knew I?well the state of his health. He could not adequately | express his gratitude to them who that day had left. S their businesses in distant parts of his wide parish by £ their faith to give him strength and courage to face ji the dangers of the sea and the journey, and present |him with that which will, and more, relieve him of any anxiety. The friendship existing between himself and Father Hunt was a close one, and as time has gone on it has greatly increased. To their chairman ;> and gentlemen of the parish who had so ably assisted | him he extended his love and gratitude. Of Dr. Trotter and the hospital staff he could not say enough. § The several matrons had always kept him in touch | with-the patients, and in fact had often made special ij effort on his behalf. Dr. Gordon he found always | ready to assist him, and genuine friendship had sprung up between-them. He hoped during his absence they | would not fail in supporting the school and that they % would continue to send their children regularly to | school. |. The toast of “The Member for Wallace’’ was pro:posed by Mr. John Griffin, sen. who mentioned the high esteem in which Mr. Thomson was held. Mr. J. C. Thomson, M,P,, in reply, said he had pleasure in joining with those present in honoring their | worthy pastor. Father Murphy’s parish was a very | wide one, and covered almost half of his (the speaker’s) % electorate. Wherever he had gone he had heard no- | thing but good words of the guest. There was truly some attraction in Father Murphy, and it was his self- | sacrifice that could attract so many around him that H day. In kind words and kind thoughts he was leaving |l a monument •< behind > him in the hearts of his people. i . Father Murphy thanked Mr Thomson for his ex- | pression of such kindly , sentiments, and said he. could

return the compliment, lie had always found Mr. Thomson a hard-working man, n most attentive to his duties, and he wished him many years of useful public ?!•>„ ♦vw*’ r : k J ,1 , l , w life, and that he Would reign long as the people’s representative in Wallace. (Applause.) rttoW I 7 - • > The "toast of f ‘.‘.The y Visitors” was ’ replied to by Father Hunt, who said lr he was proud of the spirit of sacrifice shown by the good . people around him, who had come to do honor to Father Murphy. Mr. A. E. Ward felt 'honored at being coupled with the toast > and to assist at the function . £ He had known Father Murphy for some years, and could claim a personal friendship. He had always found him a thorough .gentleman. He could join with everyone in wishing Father Murphy a pleasant holiday. • | Mr. J. C. Thomson proposed the toast of “The Chairman,” and eulogised the good qualities of Mr. McFeeley. He had risen by his efforts to C class, and from a small school Of 13 pupils the attendance had risen to 95. He was-sure to make a name for, himself. Mr. McFeeley briefly replied;' thanking Mr. Thomson for ' his • kind remarks;•••- ’ : Mr. McCann proposed the toast of “Mrs. Mooney and Staff,” who had provided such an excellent luncheon. Father Murphy said Mrs. Mooney had been always a good worker in the Church.. The singing of the National Anthem brought a pleasant function to a close. : '■ - ! ' Many telegrams tendering good wishes were received, also apologies from Dr. Gordon, who was visiting Orepuki, and the Very Rev. Father Coffey, Administrator of the diocese, whose many duties withheld him from being present.