RECEPTION OF BISHOP REDWOOD.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 275, 29 April 1875, Page 2

RECEPTION OF BISHOP REDWOOD.

Yesterday the Catholic residents of Christchurch and neighborhood met the Right Rev Dr Redwood, Bishop of Wellington, and gave him a hearty welcome on the occasion of his visit to Christchurch. For some time past the reception committee have been busily arranging for his Lordship's reception, and the result of yesterday's proceedings was a complete success. The committee comprised—Count de la Pasture, Messrs W. M. Maskell, I. B. Sheath, A. Malley, Howard Smith, and T. C. Corr (hon secretary) ; and the arrangement made. was, that a carriage and four for his Lordship should await the arrival of the West Coast coach at "Xaldhurst, and that there also those desirous of taking part in the escort to his Lordship should also assemble. Shortly after 2.30 p.m. the coach reached the township, and his Lordship was greeted by the clergy, the Revs Fathers Chervier, Francis, and Belliard, by the members of the reception committee, and representatives of the H. A, C. B. S. A procession was then formed, his Lordship's carriage, drawn by four white horses, leading the way, followed by a carriage containing the clergy, one filled with representatives of the H. A. C. B. S., and a large number of private carriages and horsemen. At the church preparations had been made to receive his Lordship, the children of the schools, and the young lady boarders of the Convent forming a double line from the priest's house to the door of the church, each having a banner bearing a device, the effect being very pretty. In front of the principal entrance to the church flowers had been strewn, with evergreens, &c. His Lordship, attended as above stated, arrived at the priest's house shortly after four p.m., and was received with loud cheers from those assembled to greet him, and the school childreD. Having alighted his Lordship proceeded to the verandah, where the following addresses were presented : " May it please your Lordship,— " We take the first opportunity of personally expressing the satisfaction we experienced on hearing of your Lordship's elevation to the episcopal office. We rejoice that it has pic ased the Head of the Church ".to select for our Bishop one who, not to speak of his higher qualifications, is so intimately acquainted with the history, the requirements, and the men of this colony. Those of your brethren in Christ who preside over the other dioceses of New Zealand, commerced their ecclesiastical rule without the advantages which your early association with the colony have secured for yourself. That they have bj their zeal and ability quickly removed the disadvantages under which they labored, all will bear witness who have had an opportunity of judging. We may say, that this description includes all the people of the colony, for the actions of your brother Bishops are widely known and speak for themselves. While bearing this testimony t their credit, we cannot help feeling grateful that the absence of the necessity to acquire knowledge which weighted them at the commencement of their duties, will be an assistance and a source of satisfaction to yourself. " It is with feelings of thankfulness that we hail this opportunity of heartily welcoming your Lordship. We should have felt pleasure at seeing you sooner after your arrival in the colony, but we are aware that we have had to wait our turn. The diocese over which you preside is large, and its requirements various. Many weighty matters engaged your attention at your cathedral city of Wellington, as was natural, and many places had to be visited, and their necessities provided for, before we could expect the pleasure of seeing your lordship. Now, that you have come, permit us to give you a hearty welcome, to express a hope that the fatigues and privations of your journey have not been excessive, and to congratulate you that they are now over for a time. "Begging a remembrance in your Lordship's prayers, we have the honor to subscribe ourselves, in the bonds of Catholic unity, your Lordship's faithful and obedient children, " The Laity of the Parish of " Christchurch." " Christohurch, April 28th, 1875. " To the Right Rev Dr Redwood, " Bishop of Wellington. " My Lord, —It is with feelings of joy and gladness that we, the members of the Christchurch Branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society, embrace this opportunity of welcoming you to this part of your diocese, and we cannot but feel thankful to Almighty God that we can welcome you not only as our Bishop, but also as a member of our society. " We have been long and ardently waiting for this happy occasion to arrive to tender you our allegiance as true and sincere Catholics, and hope that as members of a Catholic society our actions and example may ever be in conformity to our holy religion, and we trust your Lordship will never have cause to regret the great honor you have conferred upori the society'by becoming a member of it.

" On this joyous occasion we have a favor to ask of your Lordship, which is, that you will be pleased to appoint a chaplain to this branch of the society ; it is a want which has been long felt amongst us, and we hope that you will accede to our request. " Your Lordship's great piety and learning has been long made known to us, and our earnest prayer to Almightj God is that, under your guidance, we may ever remain faithful to our holy religion. "Wishing you in your arduous labors every grace and blessing, and recommending our*

selves to your prayers, we ask your paternal benediction. " Signed on behalf of this branch of the ociety. „ ~ , "C. Walsh, President. " Joseph B. Sheath, " Assistant Secretary." The presentation of addresses being concluded, his Lordship retired to robe, and shortly afterwards a procession was formed, headed by censer and cross bearers, his Lordship robed in full episcopal costume, with mitre and crozier, walking under a canopy, supported by Fathers Chervier and Frances, the members of the H.A.C.8.5., walking two-and-two, coming next, the brass band playing " Adestes Fideles." On arriving at the church door, Father Belliard in the name of the clergy, read the following address of welcome:— "To the Bight Rev Dr Redwood, Bishop of Wellington. "My Lord,—We read in the Holy Scripture that our Blessed Saviour, during His mortal life, went about doing good, transit hencfa*iendo.)When He ascended unto heaven He wished to perpetuate among men that divine mission of charity, and He said to His apostles, and in their persons to their successors, ' as the father has sent Me, I also send you ... I have given you an example that as I have done to you, so you do also.' My Lord, the Son of God does not cease to watch »ver His Church. He still directs her, for he is with her all days, even to the consummation of the world. As He had chosen His first apostles, He still chooses their successors. Himself has chosen you, my lord; He hai chosen you out of thousands, electus ex millilms; He has chosen you to carry among men the good tidings, to teach them the faith, the hope, and the charity which will save them. He has chosen you to take His place in this part of His vineyard, to go also about doing good, and we hope that your passage among us will be the source of many blessings. Our Saviour has chosen you out of His people, exaltari electum deplete mea, and He has exalted you. He has raised you to the dignity of those Bishops of- whom the Holy Ghost has said that they have been placed to rule the Church of God. j'osvit Episcopus regere Ueclesiam Dei. Yes, my lord, even to rule the Church of God is your dignity—sublime dignity, which claims not only our admiration and respect,, but also our submission. That submission will be complete, for we know that in union with the Holy Father, and under the Divine guidance which protects Him, you cannot lead us astray. Speak, then, my lord, speak without fear, and we shall obey. Show us the way, and with the help of God we shall follow." His Lordship, attended by his clergy and cross-bearers, then proceeded to the altar, followed by the young ladies and children and a large number of persons. Mass was then said by the Bishop and Fathers Francis and Chervier. At the conclusion of the mass the Bishop said he desired most heartily to thank them for the warm and cordial welcome which had been extended to him. He regarded it as an earnest of their faith, and it gave him hopes that he might be enabled during his visit to do some good' amongst them. He did not receive the grand and lavish display of welcome that he saw around him as for himself ; he took it as for Him in whose name he came, the descendant of St Peter who, with the power to bind and to loose in his hands, and a prisoner in his own city, was yet remembered in the hearts of his faithful people. He thanked all present for their welcome, the fine body of men who came out to meet and welcome him, the children who, with their beauty, and their banners floating in the breeze, had gathered together to do him honor. He would now take the opportunity of replying to the various addresses he had received. First, then, he thanked the laity for their kind manifestations of esteem to himself personally, and he only trusted he would be enabled to do and be what their address had expressed so well. They had said that they promised docility, but he fell sure such a promise was not needed, and he trusted with their help and their prayers to be enabled, to do much work in the Lord's vineyard. He next desired to thank the members of the Hibernian Society for their kind address, and he did so with more pleasure, because if they acted up to the rules of the society it tended to make them better members of society, better Christians, and, above all, good Catholics. It was for this reason that he prayed that the blessing of God might descend upon them. To the clergy he returned his thanks for their address of welcome, because they welcomed him as a Bishop of God. He hoped that the clergy, with himself, would so work as to bring down a rich blessing from heaven upon their labors.

His Lordship then bestowed the episcopal blessing upon those present. Prior to the conclusion of the mass, hui Lordship took occasion to say a few wordii respecting the contributions of the congregation to a fund now being raised for the purpose of procuring priests from home to supply the wants of many congregations. His Lordship, in a very eloquent address, pointed out the large field of work open to the laborers and their scarcity at present, and concluded by urging upon his hearers to subscribe liberally, according to their means, to so good an object as the one he had brought before their notice. The large congregation then dispersed.