Tag: Ernest O’Bryen

The Tablet Page 13, 23rd March 1912

The Hampstead Catholic Federation.

ADDRESS BY MGR. GROSCH.

The fourth general meeting of the Hampstead Branch of the Catholic Federation was held in the Hampstead Town Hall on Thursday in last week, the President, Reginald O’Bryen, Esq., in the chair. Among those on the platform were the Very Rev. Lewis Thomson, 0.P., Prior of St. Dominic’s, Haverstock Hill, the Very Rev. Charles Nicholson, S.J., the Very Rev. Canon Sutcliffe, the Very Rev. J. P. Bannin, the Revv. F. Henry, G. Keating, S.J., Oswald Thornton, 0.P., Wulstan McCuskern, 0.P., and Fitzgerald ; Mr. Lister Drummond, K.S.G., Alderman J. W. Gilbert, K.S.G., Councillors E. A. O’Bryen and H. W. Snow, Messrs. J. M. McCarthy Barry, A. E. Winstanley, E. Crowe, H. C. John, C. J. Munich, K.S.G., T. E. Lescher, J. B. Lamb, C. V. Whitgreave, E. J. Bellord, G. H. White, C. Moore, and E. W. Sweeny.

The CHAIRMAN drew the lesson of the need of organisation from the various effective organisations of the country ; it was necessary to be well organised before the crisis arose. He called upon Monsignor Grosch to deliver his address.

MONSIGNOR GROSCH began by saying that the duties of every member of the community to the community at large, which were recognised, at least as a general principle, by all, were especially incumbent on Catholics, who recognised as part of their religion the State’s sphere of work and who best understood the full significance of temporal matters. In matters of common interest they could best foster the interests of Christian truth, which must govern society, if it was to attain the end God destined for it. True progress could never be separated from justice and honour. Catholic principle could never be in opposition to laws fundamentally just, nor to those of equal application to all and not in favour of a particular party. It was not difficult to imagine a leader quite unwilling to do injustice, but doing it, nevertheless, in ignorance, owing to the absence of those who ought to have been at hand to prevent him. What was wanted was well informed Catholic men, who had obtained credit from their fellow citizens, who were interested in what affected the public, and who were able to show that the ideas held by the mass regarding Catholicism were absolutely false, men who could get it known that Catholicism, apart from its spiritual character, was a broad human policy, with its foundations deep in those truths which must govern men’s actions, men who could show that Catholicism made for safety and the welfare of the people, because it was founded on authority. Before Catholics could teach these truths they must know them themselves. He pointed out how many of the ” red-hot ” questions of the moment had been dealt with in the utterances of Pope Leo XIII., such as the position of the working classes, the evils of modern society, the duties of Christians and Catholics as citizens, the true meaning of human liberty, its limit and extent, the true teaching with regard to Christian marriage. The well-informed Catholic was well equipped to face the pernicious principles of the present day, and of enormous use in opposing anti-Catholic action and in obtaining equality for all religions. The Catholic citizen ought to be able to stand before the public and tell them that the day of Catholic disabilities was past never to return. Catholics should see to it that no change was made in the Education Act, which gave at least a measure of justice, that no Act was passed except such as should remove the last trace of unfairness, and secure equal treatment for every child in the State alike. Catholic men, yes, and Catholic women too, must study and master their position and should be able to show that their demands were just and reasonable ; should be able to appeal to that sense of justice and fairness their fellow-countrymen possessed and would give them the benefit of, if Catholics were always interested in public matters, that is, did their duty as citizens. If Catholics demonstrated that they were willing to labour, they stood to get a sympathetic hearing. Their fellowcountrymen must be made to understand that in matters affecting Catholic principle there was no dissension or indifference on the part of Catholics ; they were absolutely and uncompromisingly one. Nor should they be seen to seek Catholic interests only, but should show they sought to rouse the sense of moral justice in their fellow citizens. Monsignor Grosch then spoke of the importance of having Catholic members of the House of Commons. Thirty years ago there was one member, for a ” pocket borough ” ; now there were ten representing their Catholic fellow-citizens. Was that the limit of their possibilities? Formerly there had been some excuse. The position had been reserved for those who had leisure and means. Now the position was no longer reserved for such £400 a year was paid from public funds. They thankfully acknowledged that Catholic interests had been guarded by the Irish Party in Parliament. (Applause.) How long would they be dependent on these? Catholic members should be found, and could, he believed, he found, if Catholics all did their duty as citizens. Again, the representatives of Labour had recently made rather a large figure in the House, he asked who could more suitably represent Labour than the Catholic working-man. Brains and public spirit were surely not the monopoly of Protestants or of unbelievers. Why was not a single member of the Cabinet a Catholic? Whether the Government were Liberal or Conservative the importance of the Catholic body necessitated a Catholic member. As to the Board of Education, he asserted that if they had had a Catholic President of the Board there would now no longer be an education question, because justice would have been done all round.

The VERY REV. J. P. BANNIN, in a brief speech, referred to the excellent work Catholic laymen were already dding, and agreed with Monsignor Grosch in preferring laymen for work on public bodies, as there was often a prejudice against “the cloth.” ALDERMAN GILBERT called attention to a sad reflection about the existing strike. In the struggle going on between employers and employed there was no religious body that could influence the strife one way or another. He bore testimony to the welcome given to Catholics in public life, if they were willing to take a generous share of work. He advocated being forewarned and forearmed in view of the possibility of a new Education Bill. If only they worked together and stood together in defence of their Catholic schools they, as true citizens, would have no fear of a Bill in 1913 nor fear for many years to come. MR. LISTER DRUMMOND pointed to the lack of Catholic organisation in France and Portugal as ‘an object lesson to Catholics in England. An excellent programme of music was rendered during the evening.

The PRIOR OF Sr. DOMINIC’S proposed, and MR. COUNCILLOR O’BRYEN seconded, a vote of thanks to Mgr. Grosch for his address, This and similar votes to the other speakers, and to the performers, were carried unanimously.

The Tablet Page 23, 5th January 1907

THE PROVIDENCE (ROW) NIGHT RFFUGE.—Some four hundred poor people, men, women, and children, irrespective of creed, were entertained to a Christmas dinner at the Providence (Row) Night Refuge, Crispin-street, E., which was founded by the late Mgr. Gilbert in 186o. The large refectories were tastefully decorated for the occasion. Mr. E. J. Bellord (Chairman of the Committee) presided, and was supported by Mr. W. H. Foreman, Mr. J. G. Bellord, Mr. J. W. Gilbert (Secretary), Mr. N. S. B. Kidson, Mr. G. Dutton, Mrs. Bellord, Mrs. E. J. Bellord, Mr. E. M. Barry, Mrs. Rolpb, Miss Gilbert, Mr. G. R. Dutton, Miss Raynes, Mr. R. O’Bryen, Mrs. R. O’Bryen, Miss Barry, Mr. A. Bellord, Mr. C. Bellord, Miss F. B. Goold, the Misses Bellord, and others.

In the men’s refectory before dinner, Mr. E. E. J. Bellord, on behalf of the Committee, wished all the inmates a very happy Christmas. It was a matter of deep regret, he said, to all concerned in the management of the Refuge that they had night after night during the present severe weather to send a numbers of applicants for relief through lack of room. He hoped, however, that the severe distress would soon pass away. He asked them all that day to think very gratefully of the founder of the charity, the late Dr. Gilbert, whose work the Committee were carrying on, and he also trusted that they would remember how much they owed to the Sisters of Charity, who devoted their lives to the service of the poor. The dinner, which consisted of soup, beef, potatoes, bread, and plum-pudding, with oranges by way of dessert, was served by the Sisters and visitors. Afterwards each child received a toy, each man a small packet of tobacco and each woman a small packet of tea, all the gifts generous friends of the charity. Later on in the day there was tea with cake, and entertainments were provided both in the men’s and women’s sections by the girls in the boarders’ and servants’ homes and others.

A NEW KNIGHT OE ST. SYLVESTER . MR. J. W. GILBERT’S  INVESTITURE. —On Friday last, at the Convent of Mercy, 50, Crispin street, E., the Archbishop of Westminster invested Mr. J. W. Gilbert with the insignia of the knighthood of St. Sylvester, which has recently been conferred upon him by the Holy Father. A large gathering of friends witnessed the ceremony in the guild room of the Convent. The visitors included the Archbishop of Westminster, the Bishop of Southwark, Mgr. Brown, Canon St. John, Canon Murnane, Canon Moncrieff Symth, the Very Rev. Prior Kelly, D.D., 0.S.A., the Revv. T. Ring, D. McCarthy, W. Cooksey, 0. Fitzgerald, A. Walsh, D.D., 0.S.A., P. W. O’Connor, C. Donovan, G. II. Palmer, W. Donovan, H. E. Daly, and B. McFadden, the Rev. Mother and Sisters of the Convent of Mercy, Lady Parker, Messrs. E. J. Bellord and W. H Foreman, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Bellord, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. W. Towsey, Messrs. J. Arthur Walton, E. A. O’Bryen, R. O’Byren, S. P. Jacques, Wm. J. Price, Mr. T. G. King, K.S.G., and Mrs. King, Messrs. V. M. Dunford, K.S.G., C. J. Munich, K.S.G., J. P. McAdam, W. Keane, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Ryan, Messrs. J. Fox, J. Fentiman, G. E. Anstruther, P. Johnston, Misses Munk, Gilbert, Pattman, Upton, W. Campbell, H. Barton, Fox, Dunn, Feeney, Goss, Keeffe, Ryan, M. Head, M. S. Weale, K. McCathy, V. Edwards, Lenihan, K. Leithan, M. Dwane, P. McCrudden, and others. The Archbishop of Westminster, who presided, said that he did not think it would be necessary to say many words as to the object of their meeting that afternoon. Mr. Gilbert’s work for the Catholic cause was known not only in London, but throughout the country. It was most fitting that the presentation of the insignia should be made at Crispin-street, where the chief work of Mr. Gilbert’s life—his work amongst the poor in connexion with the Night Refuge—was carried on. They had all had opportunities of witnessing how the charity, since the death of his uncle, Mgr. Gilbert, had under his care not only maintained its position, but had gradually developed. Mr. Gilbert had also done much for the cause of Catholic education. They would remember that upon him had fallen the greater share of the work in connexion with the organisation of the Albert Hall demonstration in 1906 against Mr. Birrell’s Bill, the results of which meeting had been so striking. Mr. Gilbert had also rendered particularly valuable service in London in connexion with their efforts to obtain equal treatment for their schools from the local authority, and in their struggle against the other Education Bills of the Government. He made no reference to work in connexion with the Eucharistic Congress, except in passing. They had felt—and he knew that Mr. Gilbert agreed with him—that the unique success of that gathering, and the public thanks of the Holy Father, were sufficient reward for all those who had taken part in its organisation. The knighthood of St. Sylvester was a distinction which was not easily given. It had been granted to only a few in this country, and the Holy See had had this in consideration in conferring this honour on Mr. Gilbert for his exceptional work. He would like to conclude by expressing his own personal gratitude to Mr. Gilbert for the valuable service he had rendered him both whilst Bishop of Southwark and since he had been Archbishop. He thought he could not put it more strongly than by saying that whenever he had called upon Mr. Gilbert for his help, he had never failed him.

The Bishop of Southwark cordially supported everything that the. Archbishop had said. He pointed out that although much of Mr. Gilbert’s work lay within the archdiocese of Westminster, he lived in the diocese of Southwark, and therefore was a subject of his diocese. Catholics in Southwark had a good reason to be grateful to Mr. Gilbert for his work in connexion with their schools since the London County Council had become a local education authority, for his efforts on behalf of the Southwark Rescue Society, and for the valuable assistance he had given in connexion with the Catholic Boys’ Brigade. Mgr. Brown, on behalf of the Sisters of Mercy at Crispin-street, spoke of the happy relations that had existed for more than twelve years between them and Mr. Gilbert in all affairs connected with the conduct of the charity which had been founded by his uncle. He also personally wished to express his thanks to Mr. Gilbert for his work for education in Southwark, attributing his own success at two London School Board elections to Mr. Gilbert’s organising capabilities. Mr. E. J. Bellord, on behalf of the Committee of the Providence Row Night Refuge, of which he is Chairman, expressed the thanks of all concerned for the work which Mr. Gilbert had carried on in connexion with the Refuge for the past twelve years. Mr. Gilbert, in reply, expressed his very grateful thanks to the Holy Father for the honour he had conferred upon him. There was no honour more valued by a Catholic than a distinction granted by the Sovereign Pontiff, whom the whole of Christendom regards with the deepest veneration, respect, loyalty, and affection, and who has won universal admiration and devotion by his unique work as priest, Bishop, and Sovereign Pontiff, and by his saintliness and charm of character. Mr. Gilbert also expressed his thanks to his Grace the Archbishop of Westminster, to whom he was indebted, not only for this honour, but for all the marked kindness he had always met with from him, both as Bishop of Southwark and as Archbishop. He attributed any success that might have attended his efforts on behalf of the Catholic cause to the generous encouragement and practical help of the leader of the Catholic Church in this country, who last September was acclaimed by the whole Catholic world as the champion of Catholic liberty, who had not hesitated to join issue with an English Prime Minister, and who came out of the conflict triumphant. He also offered his sincere thanks to the Bishop of Southwark, to Mgr. Brown, to Mr. Bellord, and to the Sisters of Mercy, who were really responsible for the gathering. Mr. Gilbert spoke with the warmest praise of the self-sacrificing zeal and perseverance of the Sisters in their work amongst the poor.