Obituaries Australia

For many a year few men have been more widely known and none more respected in the city than Mr. Edward J. Hollingdale, senior, and it is but feebly expressing the general and genuine feeling of sorrowful regret with which the announcement of his death has been received on all sides, to say that his decease is deeply deplored by citizens of all classes and creeds. As a successful man of business and one whose probity and uprightness was never questioned, Mr. Hollingdale occupied for a lengthy period a prominent and an honourable position in Sydney, while to Catholics not only in the metropolis but throughout the whole colony his name has become familiar by reason of his magnificent generosity , and his enthusiastic yet unostentatious efforts in every movement having for its object the advancement of the Church, or any of her institutions. It would be impossible to properly estimate the services, extending over many years, rendered by Mr. Hollingdale to the Cathedral, the Convent of the Good Samaritan, St. Vincent's Hospital, and the various public charities, for he not only opened his purse with a ready and liberal hand whenever occasion required, but when he entered into any good cause, he assisted with heart and soul, and was never more happy than when assisting in the building of some church or convent, or school, or in relieving the distressed and the unfortunate. For over twelve years as one of the treasurers of St. Mary's Building Fund — a position of grave responsibility and unceasing labour, and anxiety — he bore without flinching the heat and burden of the struggle, and although he was unable to take a prominent part in the opening ceremonies owing to ill health combined with grief caused by the loss of his wife, he attended one of the first services in the Cathedral, and expressed his gratitude and thankfulness that he was spared to see the completion of the good work in which he had taken so important part. In these columns repeated reference has been made to the almost proverbial large-heartedness of Mr. Hollingdale. Scarcely a subscription list ever appeared in which his name did not figure; and his generosity in this respect, which was necessarily of a public character, was exceeded by his private acts of benevolence and true Christian charity. A man of good heart and sound, liberal principles, he set his face against shame, but always had a willing ear and an open purse for every real tale of want and affliction; and there's many a poor man who will regret his death. Mr. Hollingdale was a convert, and by many practical proofs he manifested his attachment to the Church, in whose bosom by the Grace of God he expired peacefully on the morning of Thursday, 5th inst. Few Catholics in the colony have done more for religion than the gentleman to whose memory we offer this humble tribute, and his long services of priceless value claim for him the grateful and kindly remembrance of all good hearts. Mr. Hollingdale was a native of the colony, and at the time of his death was fifty years old. He leaves one son, Mr. E. J. Hollingdale of Goldsmith's Hall, King-street, and two daughters; one of whom is the wife of Mr. W. T. Coonan, Solicitor. On Saturday morning 7th ult., a Dirge and Requiem Mass will be sung in the Cathedral, after which the funeral to Petersham takes place.