CENTENNIAL RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 241, 11 February 1888, Page 4 (Supplement)

CENTENNIAL RELIGIOUS SERVICES.

It was a refrsshuig sight to pee every i branch of Protestantism — Churchman and ! Dissenter— occupying a common platform at the Exhibition Building on Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately, no buildingin Sydney was of sufficient capacity to hold the vast concourse of people who desired to participate in this remarkable service. Although 8,000 were packed into fcho Exhibition Building, as many more were crowded out. The military force of the colony, to the number of 691, aleo paraded for this set vice. The Vice-regal party present consisted of Lord Carrington, Lady Carrington, Lord Carnarvon, Lady Carnarvon, Sir Henry Loch, Governor of Victoria ; Sir William Jervoi?, Governor of New Zealand ; Sir Robert Hamilton, Governor of Tasmania ; Sir Charles Mitchell, ex-Governor of Fiji ; Major Phillimore, Major Gascoigne, and Mr Wellington. The Primate, Dr. Barry, who presided with that strong good sense which distinguishes nil his utterance?, struck a happy key in his opening address. " Those who were to address the congregation," he said, " would speak the clearest truth that they knew, and yet in their utterances there should be no distinctive variation of principle, there should not be a word said j that would not strike a chord fit to vibrato in sympathy in the hearts of all. In the i dear* old hymns in which they would join they were that day Christians and nothing but Christians, as they hoped they would one day be in heaven. On all great days of national enthusiasm, the frost work of division is quelled as by a glorious flame ; but how much more when tuch enthusiasm was so kindled by the divine fire from the altar of God that it went up in a cloud of incense to the heavens, where all were one in Him ? Freedom under a moral necessity, unity of action— a unity ultimately in God — were not these exactly the forces which, under His providence, would make for national blessing and greatness, such as they could desire for a young country just growing to a knowledge of its capacity and destiny ?" The Rev. Dr. Steel (Presbyterian), the Rev. Dr. Kelynach (Wesleyan), and the Rev. Dr. Jofferis (Congregationalist), who followed, echoed the 6ame tone, in addresses conspicuous for their earnestness and eloquence. In the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary's imposing services were also held. In the procession of prelates which prectd^d, high mass the following high church dignitaries iC<>k part :—Cardinal Moron, who presided ; the Most Row Dr. Carr, Archbishop of Melbourne j J'lie Most Eev. Dr. Dunne, Archbishop of Brisbane; the Most Rev. Dr. Reynolds, Archbishop of Ade'aide; the Right Rev. Dr. Murray, Bishop of Maitland : the Right Rev. Dr. Lannigan, Bishop of Goulburn ; the Bight Rev. Dr. Torregglani, Bishop of Armidale ; the Right Bey. Dr. Byrne, Bishop of Bathurst ; the Right Rev. Dr. Dunne, Bishop of Wilcannia ; the Right Rev. Dr. Doyle, Bishop of Graf ton , the Right Rev. Dr. Corbefct, Bishop of Sale, Victoria ; and the Right Rev. Dr. O'ReUly, Bishop-elect of Port Augusta, South Australia. A large number of other prominent members of the clergy from all the colonies were also present. Cardinal Moran delivered an instructive address, taking his text from the Book of Wisdom, Bth chapter — ''Divine wisdom vcacheth from end to end mightily, and disposeth all tilings sweetly. " The musical service was powerfully rendered by a choir of 100 voices accompanied by the organ and an orchestra of strings and reeds. At tho Jewish Synagogue a service was held to initiate the annual Hospital Sunday service, which has been chOßen as. (i fitting means of commemorating the centennial anniversary. The collection amounted to £150. While on the subject of the religious centenary services, mention may be made of a somewhat curious controversy which arose out of the public ceremonials. Bishop Thornton, of Ballarat, on his return to Victoria, complained publicly of the domination of Roman Catholics at the various ceremonies, and said that grace was not said at the State banquet, although 1000 representative persons attended, and he attributed the omission to tbo presence of Roman Catholics. Upon the publication of this speech the Sydney " Evening News " promptly sent a reporter to interview Cardinal Moran, who, in answer to queries, talked freely on the subject. He characterised Dr. Thornton's complaint as a groundless one. "Although," he said, "we had so large a number of archbishops and bishops present in Sydney, wo only sent a deputation of three, as representing the whole body, to each public ceremony to which we were invited, as, for instance, the unveiling of the Queen's statue, and laying the foundation stone of the Houses of Parliament. We did this in otfdev that we might avoid any appeal ance of undue display." With regard to the omission of grace at the State banquet, the Cardinal observed that "as the first ecclesiastic dignitary of any church there, I should have been asked to say grace if any was required to be said." He thought, however, that "in the case of a public banquet afc which dignitaries of various churches are present, the Governor ought to say a public grace if such was thought desirable," He mentioned, however, that "ab the ,Lord Lieutenant's banquets in Dublin* the Cardinal of Dublin- invariably says grace,' although bishops' of the "Protestant Church tittenu, a cafdinaVs rank being f,he highest ecclesiastical rank in the'eountry." The prganisers 6f the State banquet appear to have anticipated 'and' avoided the knotty problem (if ecclesiastic precedence by omitting grace altogether, 'and the company, according' to the Cardinal, were not much disturbed by the omission, for they fell to as soon' as victuals were placed befpre them, without waiting fora Blessing.