THE NEW ARMAGH AND PROJECTED AUCKLAND CATHEDRALS—ST. PATRICK'S VISION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 46, 14 March 1874, Page 9

THE NEW ARMAGH AND PROJECTED AUCKLAND CATHEDRALS —ST. PATRICK'S VISION.

The Catholics of Auckland are about to begin a work which the Catholics of Armagh have just completed — the building of a National Cathedral. It may interest your readers, whether Catholic or Protestant, to know something about the new Armagh Cathedral, which in August last was with all the pomp and circumstance of the Catholic Ritual prescribed for such occasions, dedicated to St. Patrick, the Patron and Apostle of Ireland— as the new Auckland Cathedral in due time will be dedicated. The ceremony must have been grand and imposing in the extreme, and a source of joy not only to the Catholics but to all the Irish people, without distinction of sect or party, for the papers tell that even the bells of the old — once Catholic but now Protestant Cathedral of Armagh — actually rang out a joyful peal on the ocoasion. The whole town was one scene of harmonious rejoicing, not one indication of ill-feeling in any quarter marred the pleasure of the crowds which the ceremony attracted. The Cathedral was designed and in part built so long ago as 1841. Then for a period of seven years the works were suspended. On their resumption the style of architecture was changed. These changes we are told have added to the boldness of the outline, as well as to the grandeur and picturesqueness of the Cathedral. So our Auckland friends need not be disappointed if their Cathedral too should occupy some years in the building. Let us hope that when completed they will have something " bold, picturesque and grand * to shew, in the way of architecture ; something which shall be worthy of their creed, and of the capital of their Province. To judge from what they have already done in providing the necessary funds duriug the past eighteen months, there does not seem to be much reason to fear anything on the score of finances for the future. At the dedication of the Armagh Cathedral, no less than fifteen Archbishops and Bishops officiated, in prpsence of a Prince of the Church, Cardinal Cullen, attended by nearly five hundred priests. The unavoidable absence of Archbishop Manning \(ias deeply regretted. At the conclusion of the ceremony, a collection was made, amounting to the extraordiaary total of £7000. The collectors were two noblemen and several members of Parliament. The building of this Cathedral is considered " a greit event in the history of Ireland, and full of hope for its future." May we ere long have to say that the building of the new Auckland Cathedral is a great event in the history of this province, aud full of hope for the future of New Zealand. The Rev. Isaac Moore, a Jesuit, preached an eloquent sermon at the dedication. He ran rapidly over the history of Ireland, shewing the long and terrible sufferings which the Irish Catholic people had undergone at the hands of Protestant England for their ffuth. That state of things had passed away. No recognised Catholic organ of public opinion in Ireland now urges the people to sectarian hatred ou account of these past wrongs. Were they to do so, that would belie the teachings of the religion for which they had suffered so much. The highest office of trust which the Sovereign can bestow on a subject is at present exercised by an Ulster Catholic. Still, in parts of the country where the Catholics are twenty to one, civil and corporate dignities are given even now in thrice their full proportion to Protestants. The Catholics of Ireland have only as yet got an instalment, and but a small instalment of the rights which belong to them. Iv connection vsitli this subject, a London Catholic journal quotes ♦he following legend regarding St. Patrick. Protestants must be reminded that the belief of such a legend is not of faith, and like any other historical fact or alleged fact, it must go for what it is wo:-th. It is told that once on a time St. Patrick had a vision. First he saw Ireland bathed in in a flood of light. This is supposed to represent her state when first she embodied the faith. Then he saw thick darkness settle upon the whole island, amid whnh only a few small shining spots of light were to be seen. This is supposed to betoken her condition — afterwards and during the Protestants ascendancy, when the profession of the Catholic faith was held to be a crime — against the State. Again he beheld the suu arise and break through this thick gloom, dispei-smg the darkness by his cheering rays; and which is held to indicate the present happy revival of the Catholic Church in Ireland after her emancipation from the hand of her oppressors, one striking sign of which is witnessed iv the opening of this new Armagh Cathedral. Mr Gladstoue, in his great oration on the disestablishment of the Irish Church, mentioned that, so far from its converting tlie Irish Catholics to the Protestant creed, the population of Catholics had increased and was iv creasing iv Ireland every year. St. Patrick's vision is fulfilled.