NEW CATHEDRAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1378, 13 February 1905, Page 2

NEW CATHEDRAL.

DEDICATION CEREMONY. •• THE chu rce of the adorable .. SACRAMENT.” (Per Press Association.) ; :| Ghriutcliurcn, last £ Tho ceremony of the dodiculioiigH||S new Roluuu Catholic Cathedra.jr~ ' < titlo of “ Tbo Church of.| Sacrament,” to ok place this S:§f§ji|£* | magnificent wcatbor and in i ™ *tromondouS gathering oi tbtfr* (jbolic I community. M»ny dignitaries, aod lay, attended from all pa£/s of the .* Australasian colonies. Among thoso present at tho snrvico were bia Excellonoy the Governor, Lady Piunket and spite, ' !bo Right Hon. F.. J. Seddoci (Premier) , and Mrs Seddou, Sir Joseph Ward, his Grac" Dr/Curr (Archbishop of Molbourne), j S. Grice ihc Coadjutor. Dr. Kelly (Arch- / bishop of Sydney), tbo .Right Rev. Corlett (Bishop of Sale), Dr. Rovillo (Bishop of Sandhurst). Dr. Vcrdoc (Bishop of Dunedin), Dr. Deuihan (Bishop of .. Auckland), and the Very Rov. Moneignor Maccay (North Otago). Apologies were . received from Cardinal -Moran, the Cardinol Archbishop of Baltimore (U.S-A-). the Very Rev. Dean of the Australasian y Episcopate, the Bishop of the Archbishop of Adelaide, and the Bishop of Rockhampton. Armidale, Hobart, Bathurst, Now Pomerania, Samoa, Central * Ocean, and many others, as well as a sheaf of private letters and telegrams from other y- . dignitaries. , . 0 _ The proceedings were opened by a pro. cession of clergy to tho Cathedral m .full canonicals and with solemn blessings, and the dedicatory service was conducted hy his Grace tho Archbishop of Melbourne. At eleven o’clock Pontifical High Mass was snug by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Coolett, Bishop of Sale, Gounod s solemn ana im-. presßive “ Messe Solentelle” being ohoaen for the occasion. i/j L„ i /3 The dedication sermon was preached by Dr Kelly, Archbishop of Sydney, whi.st tbo Very Rev. Father Cleary was assistant priest at tbo mass, and the Very Rey- « Father Keogh, rector of St. Patricks college, Wellington, and Father O Donnell of Ashburton, were deaconE and auodoaeons respectively. The Rev. Fathers O’Connell and Cooney wore masters of ceremonies. , , , „ „■ The Archbishop preached from Psalm -- 117, “ This is the day which the hath mode; let -us bo glad and rejoicqJ* therein.” He first referred to a letter of congratulation received by Bishop Grimes from the Pope, aod said that after the service that morning and in tho evening;ho would take occasion to communicate to the faithful tho benevolence so paternally granted by His Holiness. The Oharch, ho e»id, was being dedicated to the service of God. the salvation of taan.A, and the peace and welfare of 60cic ty, and tho people of the colony and the Catholics of the world rejoiced on such, an oocasicn. He referred to tho prevailing sceptioism of tho ago, but said that centuries had shown • the truth and stability of the Christian faith. Many yearned for happiness and tranquility and peace of soul, for possession ct' perfect truth and aDSoluts goodness j and this was tho end proposed fer him by a Creator of infinite wisdom and perfection. No materialistic . docrino satisfied. Men felt he had come 1 from God and had relation with God, and God had appeared in the person of Christ; perfect God and perfect man to the light of the world, and,saviour of man- . kind. He dealt with the benefits of the blessed Eucharist, and he said it was ths foundation of all true humility. All sinned * daily and should repent daily. Men must bo oontri.te, must confess the number of ... their transgressions and make amendment to those who had suffered, and on those conditions would receive assurance of pardon from God. Roason told them that God was tho instructor, and then through t Christ they acoepted the word of God as infallibly true. That was the foundation of their religion, and the nation might change through political theories, might come and go, but the faith • that was founded on the word of God would continue for ever. In conclusion he urged upon all tho need for further generosity in order that the new cathedral might bo handed over to God free of eny debt. . Tho service was a long and impressivc.-i one, and it was a quarter to two before sup was concluded. The acoustic proporthslfir of tho building were found to be from all points e.f view, and the large congregation could hear every word -of ths service even in tho remotest corners, of the grand edifice. The musical arrangements were particularly good, a strong local choir having been reinforced by contiogents from St. Joseph’s, Dunedin, and from Wellington, Tho principal soloists were Mrs Gowe-E Burns and Mrs Costello, of Dnnodin. The amount of the collection is not yet ascertained, but the sum of £347 was taken in tho sanctuary alone. At the close of the service, Bishop Grimes, addressing the congregation, kaid be oould not exprees the one-thousandth part of what he felt. He wished to thank the Eternal God especially for the untold happiness Ho had given them all in bringing their beautiful temple to completion. He wished also to thank his devoted clergy and his people who had been goneroue even unto sacrifice. in their<iefforts. This indood had been the keynote' of all that had boon achieved. TTia thanks, indeed, wore due to one and all; to His Excelienoy and his illustrious consort and suite ; to the members of the. Ministry who wore present; to the'V venerable Prelates who had come thousands of miles in recognition of their beliof in tbo great dogma. After the eervice the visiting ecclesiastic cal dignitaries, and the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward were entertained at a dinner at the Presbytery. It was late in tho aftr-rooon before what the Bishop described as they ” abomination of after dinner speaking’’-* - was reached.

The toast of “ the Church and State” .4: was proposed by Bishop Grimes, who said Y "YI that loyalty whs a tenet of the Catholic -‘4 faith ; and loyalty to the Church meant' Yj : I loyaity to the State. He spoke appreciatively of the gracious act of the Governor in attending the services, and referred tQ him as a broad minded man, who reflectedrY the broad mindedness of the earthly be represented. In proposing the toast of Yi [ the Ministry he spoke of the great assist- Yv-V 1 ance that had been volunteered to him by Mr _ Seddon during a period of great A anxiety, although at the time the \ himself was suffering from severe distress. His thanks were also due to Sir #; 1 Joseph Ward for much kind and tm?- § ostentatious consideration and advice. I The Premier and Sir Joseph Ward wero te replying late in the afternoon. r' To night the Most Bev. DrCarr, YYYj Archbishop'of Melbourne, will preaoh, and there will be a Beries of festival services YYY; throughout the week. ; r.