BISHOP LENIHAN AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 380, 22 November 1898, Page 2

BISHOP LENIHAN AT HAMILTON.

As announced in last issue, the Right Rev. Dr. Lenihan, Catholic Bishop of Auckland, reached Hamilton on Friday. On .Saturday morning he inspected the schools conducted by the Sisters of St. .Mary's Monastery, and expressed himself as highly pleased at the state of efficiency in which he found them. In the afternoon his lordship held a public reception in the school, and was presented by Mr W. Jones with the following address : —To the Right Rev. G. M. Lenihan, D.D., Lord Bishop of Auckland : May it please your Lordship,—We, the Catholics of St. Maiy's Hamilton, bid you welcome to the Mother Church of the Waikato. We greet your accession to the dignity of the Mitre, W r e hail you as the represeutative of the Great Leo in this distant diocese of the church. We acknowledge you as our Pastor-in-Chief, and offer you the homage of our loyalty and devotion. We wish you long life and happiness in the enjoyment of that high distinction to which you have attained. We lastly crave your blessing and a memento in your prayers. Signed on behalf of the congregation : L. Cvjssen, Hamilton, 19th November, 1898. The address was accompanied by a purse of sovereigns and a biretta, the gifts of the parishioners of Hamilton.

The Bishop, in replying, said he had the kindest feelings for Hamilton, and expressed regret that so long a time had elapsed after his consecration before visiting it. He had, however, been very busy, aud iu addition had been called away to Sydney to assist in the consecration of the Cathedral. The gifts of the people evidenced their good feeling. He was surprised that he had been appointed Bishop. He thought some wealthy man should have been appointed, as Bishops had so many calls upon them. He had hesitated to accept the position, but he received such strong assurances of support and assistance that he felt justified in doing so. He had received that assistance and had found the duties easy to perform. He usually made a practice of returning one-half of the sum presented to him,but on this occasion Father Amandolini insisted that he should retain the whole. He was desirous of going home to Rome, but want of funds had prevented his doing so. The liberal sum they had contributed would pay his expenses iu visiting the Waikato and leave a balance to be put aside for travelling expenses. He trusted that the people would support their Priest. He held Father Amandolini in the highest respect. When studying for the Priesthood, Father Amandolini had been one of his instructors. He was glad to learn that the Catholic people were held iu high esteem in the community and that they lived on amicable terms with the people of other denominations. Before resuming his seat, the Bishop again thanked the people for their offerings, and ugain impressed upon them the duty of loyally supporting their good Priest. Two young ladies, the Alisse.s Bastings and Fairweather, pupils of St. Mary's school, played a duet in a most pleasing manner. The assemblage then dispersed. SUNDAY'S SERVICES. On Sunday St. Mary's Church. Hamilton, was packed to overflowing long before the usual service hour, visitors attending from all parts of the district. The first part of the service consisted of the ceremony of " The Visitation of the Church," which was solemnised by the Rev. Father Amandolini. His Lordship the Bishop, in a short address, set forth the Church's teaching regarding prayers for the dead, and appealed to the congregation to remember their departed friends, as they believed in the Communion of Saints. Death was universal ; so also was sorrow for the dead, aud, although after a while they might forget their friends, the Church taught her members to remember taem in their prayers, and set forth the doctrine of heaven for the blest, hell fov the wicked, and a place of penance for those who were not perfect. At the dissolution of soul and body, the latter returned through various stages to the dust whence it came, but the former winged its way to the eternal shores. If they lived a life of enmity against God, and died guilty of mortal sin, then they could depend upon it there was no hope for them ; but if they strove, however blindly, after better things, their souls would after death, be purified and perfected, for the enjoyment of eternal bliss. If he were a Protestant, he would, to take a typical case, be unable to answer the question as to wdiat would happen the soul of a righteous man who was taken off suddenly, when not wholly prepared to meet his Creator. The Catholic Church taught that the soul would be purified ; but Protestants did not believe in purification after death, yet they were explicitly told that nothing impure or imperfect could enter Heaven. In concluding his address, His Lordship appealed to the congregation to worthily support their priest, and in doing so paid a high tribute to Father Amandolini for his devotedness in looking after the spiritual welfare of his flick, remarking that he had often knelt at the feet of the rev. Father in bygone days for instruction in the Christian virtues, and, although their position were now altereds.he had a great veneration and love for their Priest of the Hamilton Parish, and expressed himself as well pleased with the work being done here. Prayers for the dead were then offered.

The Sacrament of Confirmation was then administered, there being 62 presented—4s girls and 17 boys. In addressing the young people the Bishop pointed out 'the position they would henceforth occupy in the church. In societies the members were divided into two classes—honorary and practical. The former assisted by contributions, but all the work of the society was left to the practical members. The church was a society, hut it did not require any honorary members, and they must be ail practical. He counselled them to be diligent in attending the sacraments provided by their church as a means of grace, and to train themselves in their daily walk and conversation in such a manner as their fcllowmen could see that they were endeavouring to serve their Lord and Master.

The Benediction brought the service to a close.

In the afternoon His Lordship visited Ngaruawahia and administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 13 male and Id female candidates,