Wanganui

New Zealand Tablet, 19 June 1919, Page 19

Wanganui

' (From out own correspondent.) . June IL ; : Father Bowden is getting on very well, so xxiubh better than anyone expected. The serious operation has been successful, but Father Bowden will be in hospital for a little time yet. Last Sunday, Feast of Pentecost, was the 42nd anniversary of the opening of St. Mary’s Church is to say, of the old portion. The church was built during the administration of the late revered and much beloved Dean Kirk, and was the centre building of a group consisting of presbytery, church, and convent. As time went on the church was enlarged and altered, and the Brothers’ school was added to the group, but now all the buildings except the central figure have disappeared to make room for busy shops and theatres. Only the church remains, mellowed with age, but as sound as a bell, the living monument of the faith and generosity of the pioneers of St. Mary’s and their good pastor. Father A. McDonald, S.M., has been good enough to promise us a series of lectures dealing with the campaign of the mounted men in the East, and so far we have had two most interesting discourses on Sunday nights instead of regular sermons. The story as Father McDonald tells it has to do mostly with the life of the men and the work of the chaplains, and deals with the religious rather than the military side of things. Much ■of it is so new to us that it has the effect of adding to, rather than taking from, what we already know of the grit and ginger of our soldiers, and the devotion of our priests. As the life and actions of our men in the Sinai desert have not been written up to any great extent, and as few of us are even on nodding terms with the Holy Land, the details of this twentieth century pilgrimage— indeed they were weary pilgrims are what we have been wishing and waiting for. The Marist Brothers’ Old Boys held their second annual social at the Druids’ Hall last week, it being a tremendous success. The secretary (Mr. C. Mox'gaxx) and the boys worked untiringly to have everything in perfect working order, with the result that the evening passed off in the most enjoyable manner possible. Good music was provided, the M.C.’s, Messx’s. La Roche and Coxdiss (3), left nothing to be desired, and a delicious supper was arranged and presided over by Mesdames Richardson and Coxon. So well did these ladies succeed that the boys declare that they could not have managed without them. -The sum of £23 goes to the club against travelling and exxtertainixxg expenses at some future date. Mr. and Mrs. H. McArtney, Bell Street, have official wo that their only soxx, Mervyxx, is oxx his way home per Prinz Essexx, due ixx a couple of weeks. Corporal McArtxxey went out with the 20th Machine Gunners, and during last year was seriously wounded. He made a good recovery though, got back to the field again, was in at the death, and with the N.Z. Divisioxx when they traversed Belgium axxd oxx to the Rhine. , The many friends of the family rejoice with Mr. and Mrs. McArtney, axxd will be glad to welcome Mexwyxx whexx he comes to his home towxx. Durixxg the past fortnight death has been busy ixx our midst, three families in the coxxgregatioxx being bereft of loved ones. Mrs. Mary Morrow, relict of Hugh Morrow, both old axxd well-kxxowxx residexxts of Wanganui, died at the grand old age of 87. For some years Mrs. Morrow had been in failixxg health, and had been living with her kinsfolk, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens and little ones. The exxd, xxot unexpected, was quiet and peaceful.—R.l.P. Mr. J. G. Morgaxx, Gonville, died after a short and sharp attack of pneumonia, at the early age of 39, leaving a wife and five little children. Much sympathy is extended /to his widow, also to his mother, Mrs. Morgaxx, sen., of Dublin Street, and his brothers and sisters.— Died also after a painful illness borne patiently, Mrs. W.

Dow," third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. Trainer, of Pitt Street. -„■ Only 28 years, of age, Mrs. , Dow has left a small daughter and r her ? husband, Private Dow, now on his way home from active service, whose loss is. a sad one. Much sorrow is. felt for Mr. and Mrs. Trainor, who also lost their- son Peter some little time ago, on the field of honor.—R.l.P. , ', : 'rjuii

Mail news is to hand from Father Barra, who, when writing, was still on military duty at Walton-on-Thames. By this time probably the well-known and energetic chaplain will be leaving 'for, or on his way to, New Zealand, the country of his adoption, and many will be glad to hear of his safe return. While on active service Father Barra has had some, although not a great deal of, opportunity of looking up his own relations in far-away France, and the quite natural sorrow of his warm heart when he has to leave them will be lessened perhaps by the thought that we over here will be glad to welcome 'him back again.