Luncheon

THE LUNCHEON.

Upon the conclusion of the morning service a reception was held by Cardinal Vaughan in the lower room of St. Paul’s School. A large number of presentations of Catholics from all parts of the district were made to his Eminence. After the reception luncheon was served in the room above, which was very prettily draped and decorated for the occasion. The chair was occupied by Cardinal Vaughan who was supported at the chief table by the Right Rev.B ishop Hedley, O.S.B., the Mayor of Cardiff (Councillor W. E. Vaughan),Alderman D. Lewis, Mr. Ll. Wood (President of the Cardiff Chamber of Commerce), Alderman T. W. Jacobs, Alderman Carey, Mr. F.Primavesi, Mr. Henry Heywood, CoI. Cux, the Rev. Father Cormack and Mr. C. J. Jackson.

About 200 guests sat down to the repast which was catered for by Mrs. George, of Cathays. Cardinal Vaughan, in proposing the toast of "The Health of His Holiness the Pope," said they, as Catholics, looked upon this as a quasi-religious act, just as they did the saying of grace, holding the Pope to be the Vicar of Christ and head of their Church.—The toast was received enthusiastically. Cardinal Vaughan then in suitable terms proposed the "Queen," of whom they were all loyal and loving subjects. (Applause.) Bishop Hedley offered the toast of "The health of Cardinal Vaughan,•’ whom he most cordially thanked for his visit to Cardiff; though his Eminence saw the town when it was experiencing a reverse owing to the strike in the colliery districts. In regard to that difficulty what was wanted was conciliation on both sides; not war, not 1itigation not mere organizat!on. None of these though they might be a sad necessity sometimes—were enough. Conciliation was the key to peace, and peace was the only way to profit and prosperity.

In Cardiff the Catholic community numbered twelve or thirteen thousand, most of them generous-hearted sons of Erin, though there were a good many from other parts of the world. They had their twelve or thirteen clergy, who found work around them in all directions. They were therefore glad to welcome among them the chief of their hierarchy, that he might see with his own eyes what was going on here. (applause.) The toast was drunk with great enthusiasm. Cardinal Vaughan, in responding, said it was always a most a pleasurable thing for him to come to Wales, for although he was born in England, and although he had not made personally a very intimate acquaintance with the hills and vales of beautiful Wales, still he knew that his name was Welsh—(applause)—and that though a Hereford man, he was somewhat like the Mayor of Cardiff, who also bore the same name, and was a man from Herefordshire. (applause.)
 

Living on the borders of Wales for several years in his youth, he had so strong an inclination towards Wales that his one desire for some time was to be allowed to go to Brecon to become a Welsh priest and missioner. That was not allowed, and he had been placed in London. The town of Cardiff must be a place that could not fail to interest any person who took a pride in or a deep view of the welfare of the Principality. Cardiff was the capital of the Principality, and the Press of Cardiff was looked upon as stronger and more influential than the Press of any other part of Wales. The fair tone adopted by the local Press in its dealings with all classes must spread by degrees, and overcome the most deep-rooted and inveterate prejudice. In point of fact, what they wanted was light; light, an,still more light. He would not say that Wales was benighted, but he would say that no part of the country desired light more anxiously than Wales herself. This being so Cardiff had a great and very noble mission before it, by means of the Press, by means of its intellectual power. by means of its wealth, by means of its various resources which were brought together in this great and flourishing neighbourhood. in spreading the light. Variouskinds of light were produced by different men, literary light, commercial light, political light ; by all means let all the lights flourish. But his own particular avocation was to produce religious Iight—(applause)

And he desired that the light of which he was the chief agent should be carried all over Wales and that the people should see it ; and his conviction was that when the people thoroughly saw his light they would say there was no light like it. (Laughter and applause). Just on that account would he like to live in Cardiff, as from Cardiff he could advertise his light better than from any other town in Wales. His Eminence then proceeded to refer to the work of Father Butler, whom he knew to be a most popular man, and whose name was carried all over the country by the Press of Cardiff. The population among whom Father Butler worked were the hard-working industrious people who toiled at the docks of Cardiff, and who, with their large families, were multiplying at a rate that was uncommon in Wales. It was most important that this community should have its church in its midst, its own school, its own priests, and everything of its own. This he held to be a very considerable service rendered to the town of Cardiff. to the large body of fourteen or fifteen thousand Cardiff Catholics. making his people better Christians, and, therefore, better citizens. He held that to be a service rendered to the Mayor and Corporation of Cardifl. (Applause.) That Father Butler’s services in this direction were appreciated was evidenced by the Mayor and members of the Corporation honouring that gathering with their presence. Father Butler was looking after an important part of the population, and was making them better Christians and better citizens.

His Eminence concluded by giving the toast of Father Butler’s health, and it was drunk with musical honours. The Rev. Father Butler, in a thoroughly characteristic speech, returned thanks, and mentioned the great kindness and sympathetic letters he had received from all sections of the community in connection with his work. Though the work had been carried on through many draw-backs, it had progressed, and the new church was a credit in all respects to its designer. Mr. Jones, and its builder, Mr. Gibson. Numerous gifts had been received, many of them most valuable, though they came from the poor. One man, having given half the price of a new pulpit, returned the other day with the other half. The first to give anything was a policeman. All these showed how cordial was the feeling between all classes of the community.

Bishop Hedley in a few words, proposed "The Health of the Mayor, the Deputy-Mayor, and the Corporation of’ Cardiff.’ The Mayor, in responding, said he hoped the new church would be the means of increased good in the neighbourhood. On the Con-tinent he (the mayor) had worshipped as sincerely in a Roman Catholic chapel as in a Wesleyan chapel, although he could not understand everything that took place. but he felt he was among those who were earnest and faithful. Alderman Daniel Lewis said he trusted the day was not far distant when in matters of religion there would be one fold and one Shepherd. Alderman Carey referred to the zeal and energy which were displayed for the well-being of his flock by Bishop Hedley, while Monsignor Williams, the Vicar-General, performed a marvellous amount of work in every direction where his services were required. He proposed the toast of " The Bishop and Clergy of the Diocese."

Bishop Hedley briefly responded, as also did Mgr. Williams. who remarked that if there was one thing more than another which afforded the clergy satisfaction it was to show they had the goodwill of their people. This concluded the toast list.