REQUIEM MASS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1021, 11 July 1930, Page 12

REQUIEM MASS

SOLEMN OBSEQUIES FOR SIR JOSEPH WARD SERVICE AT ST. PATRICK S With the altar, crucifixes and images draped in gold-embroidered black cloth. Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick’s Cathedral this morning for the late Sir Joseph Ward. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Liston, Bishop of Auckland, gave an impressive panegyric on the dead statesman, speaking of his courage, his tolerance. and his faith. Before the congregation stood a black-draped catafalque, candles burning at each of its four corners. I yNTIL. 10 o'clock people made their i way up AVyndham Street to St. • Patrick’s. The Cathedral was full ; when the Mass began. Bishop Liston ■was the celebrant and he was assisted : by the Very Rev. Monsignor Cahill. The Yen. Archdeacon Holbrook was deacon, with the Very Rev. Dean Van , Dijk, superior of St. Joseph's Missionary Society, and the Very Rev. Dean Murphy, assistant deacons. The Rev. Dr. Buxton, assisted by the Rev. Father McKeefry, acted as Master of Ceremonies. A choir of clergy sang the “Dies Irae”—one of the most solemn religious poems every written. There was quiet in the Cathedral as Archdeacon Holbrook chanted the gospel. ■ () Salutaris Hostia” followed: then came the offertory. The priests stood bare-headed during the incensing of the altar. The choir chanted the preface and the consecration took place. The commemoration of the dead was given: “Be mindful, O Lord, of Thy servant. Joseph, who is gone before Thee with the sign of faith. O rest iu the sleep of peace.” Bishop Liston chanted the Lord’s Prayer. After the communion came ! the blessing “Requiescat. in Pace” and j rhe last gospel, beginning “In prin- . dpio erat Verbum” (“In the beginning . waa the Word . . .’*)• The Bishop then gave his address. THE BISHOP'S ADDRESS ‘ The Catholic custom is not to pass a eulogy on the dead, for the Master alone shall praise and the Master alone shall blame, but to gather round Christian altar of sacrifice aud olfe" the sacred prayers of the Church for the eternal rest and peace of the de- ! parted. Yet the circumstances of the ' , present occasion demand that the I thoughts of many hearts be spoken i and our tribute of esteem and grat.i- ! tide be paid to the memory of Sir i Joseph Ward. "Whenever we call to mind the dead whom we have known aud respected and maybe loved, we think not so much of their honours and high office u, of the soul that made them what they were —we think of their spirit, the intellectual and moral outlook, a.ud the llabits that made them wise, brave, true, loyal, just, helpful in their dealings with their fellows, reverential and obedient in their relations with their Maker. To be drawn to a genuine, noble man it Is not necessary that ws accept his opinions without reserve or approve all his actions. All that is required is faith in his intelligence, honesty, courage, goodwill, tolerance and disinterestedness. New Zealand Is at one today in attributing these dualities to Sir Joseph. His aims were high, his industry and persevfh ance exceptional. Hls alert mind saw into the heart of many problems • hat concern the general welfare. His faith in the people was profound and i he believed that government by the people may be so organised and admin--1 istered as to make it a blessing to all. And In addition he possessed the grace of urbane courtesy that was at once simple and attractive, like a rose touched by the soft light of a windless summer dawn. "New Zealand will always honour the deceased statesman as a good patriot and in the last analysis a good patriot is a good man—one who fears God, honours the King, is true to himself, his home and his fellow-country-men. It is the patriot’s business to strengthen the institutions by which rhe nation is built up—the family, the Church and the State. It is in the Tamily that each one receives hls better self aud learns that truth and justice and love of God and neighbour are the solid pillars of human happiness and virtue. The Church has her divinely appointed work and no less has the State its divinely authorised sphere of activity. "FOUND FAITHFUL” “In each of these institutions was Sir Joseph Ward found faithful. Affectionate by nature he loved intensely his Irish parents, his wife and home and children. His devotion to his God, his Saviour, and his Church never failed or faltered. Only truth can make men free and only righteousness can serve as an everlasting foundation for a nation’s greatness. In vain will our numbers grow and our lines of commerce lengthen out. if we ourselves decay and lose Arm grasp of the spiritual realities, that make the worth and the honour of human life. Sir Joseph—and I speak of him as I know him in a close friendship of 26 years—was always reverent and obedient to his God; he trusted in his Saviour; he possessed a simple, childlike faith in the Church’s teaching, and he Joined to a beautiful spirit of prayer an ever practical devotion to hls religious duties. “On the several occasions I visited him during the last few months at Rotorua I was deeply edified by his Christian fortitude in suffering, his fervent spirit of prayer, and his consolation in the Church’s Sacraments, which he received week by week; he was meeting; death like a true soldier of Christ. Of his devoted and lifelong service to the State there Is no need for me to speak, and 1 content myself with saying i.hat a career like his should remind ns all to think with gratitude of the splendid services given to this favoured land by our public men in Parliament and on public; bodies, and should inspire the young New Zealander with the noble ambition to serve his fellows. “It was well that sorrow, deep sorrow, should have visited the home of Sir Joseph Ward, that reverses aud disappointments should have come to him in his public career, as it is well they should come to every son of Adam, for without them and the suffering they brought, the deepest c hords of his nature would never have been touched to their finest music. “Thus did Sir Joseph live out his life, in reverence for God, in love for

his home, in service of his country, until death came with gentle summons to bring the aged frame to rest. We may well hope—Christian faith bids us hope—and this is the burden of our prayer today—that as the light of earth faded from his qyes it did but melt into the tender radiance that falls from the eternal throne of God, for ‘if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.’ ”

LARGE CONGREGATION Besides the priests taking part in the Mass, all the Roman Catholic clergy in the City and suburbs were present, as well as many from the province. The Government was represented by the Postmaster-General, the Hon. J. B. Donald, and the City Council by the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon. Other councillors who attended the Mass were Messrs. Coyle, Burton, Hutchison, Ashley, Murray, Lundon, Bagnail, Bennett, and the Town Clerk, Mr. J. S. Brigham. Officials of the Harbour Board were present. The Consular Corps, with the exception of the Consul for Yugoslavia, attended. Sir George Fowlds represented the Auckland University College Council. Others present included; Messrs. A. W. P. Morrison, T. H. Giles, A. E. Greenslade. W. A. Beddoe, M. Guthrie, G. J. Garland, M.L.C., P. Hally, M. A. Ferri, J. J. Kearney, Captain J. A. Algie. Superintendent Wohlmann. Inspector Hollis and Mr. J. Mcllveney represented the police. The Auckland Central division of the United Party was represented by Mr. F. H. Burbush, while the branches of the party were represented as follow:

Auckland East. Dr. W. H. Horton, Major T. P. Halpiu, Messrs. R. T. Michaels, E. J. H. O’Keefe; Auckland West. Messrs. H. O’Brien. G. Casey, J. McVeagh; Auckland Central, Messrs. F. S. Johnson, E. Leydon, M. J. Sheahan; Parnell, Messrs. Alan Donald, E. A. Osmond, J. Adams, G. P. Smith, J. R. Powell; Eden, Messrs. B. Marshall, T. Foley, W. McNiele; Roskill, Messrs. T. Buchanan, A. Foley; Grey Lynn. Messrs. D. Cooper, W. Shearer; Waitemata, Messrs. J. Woodall, R. H. Greville; Franklin, Messrs. Joseph Rea, H. E. Mclntee; Rotorua, Mr. T. H. Glass; Junior Organisation, Messrs. C. Clark, W. Quigley.