DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 23, 4 June 1903, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

June l-i

The devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration was commenced on Sunday last in St. Joseph's Church, Lyttelton. The Rev. Fathers Richards (Lincoln) and O'Connell (Pro-Cathedral) are assisting the Rev. Father Cooney. The yearly diocesan collection in aid of the seminary fund, usually taken on Whit Sunday, has been transferred in the Pro-Cathedral to Sunday next. Addressing the congregation on the subject his Lordship the Bishop said that on that day (Whit Sunday) a young priest, Father Creed, was ordained in Ireland for the diocese. At a council meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association held last week, a letter was read from the Nelson Athletic and Cycling Club stating that it intended to give a benefit sports meetinig, and the surplus would be devoted to the funds of the Stoke Orphanage. In connection therewith the council granted various concessions asked for. This spirited action of the Nelson sporting people is certainly deserving of warm commendation, and it is to be sincerely hoped their generous efforts on behalf of so worthy an object will prove entirely successful. St. Mary's school hall, Manchester street, was crowded on last Monday evening, on the occasion of an ' At Home ' given by the ladies of the parochial Altar Society in aid of some of their laudable undertakings. Among the large assemblage were a number of the clergy from the city and some of the outlying districts. Games of various kinds were indulged in, evidently much to the enjoyment of the company, whilst musical items and an abundance of excellent refreshments formed pleasant features of the gathering. The president, Mrs J. C Chase, aided by other laddes of the Society, left nothing undone in the way of making the event a great social success. Addressing the congregation of St. Patrick's Church, Akaroa, on a recent Sunday, the Hey. Dr. Kennedy directed attention to the neglected and generally uncared for state of what is locally known as the old French Cemetery, where many of the earliest settlers and pioneers of colonisation in Canterbury have found their last resting place. There is now every probability of this historic spot being put in decent order and kept so. On Whit Sunday Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at 11 o'clock by his Lordship the Bishop, the Very Rev. Vicar-General was assistant-priest, the Rev. Fathers O'Connell and McDonnell deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The choir, conducted by Mr. H. H. Loughnan, rendered Beethoven's Mass in C. Miss Pender sang the treble solos, other leading parts being taken by Mrs. A. Mead, Messrs. R. Hayward, and R. Beveridge. Miss Katie Young was at the organ. His Lordship the Bishop preached at Vespers on the subject of the day's festival, and afterwards pontificated at Benediction, attended by the Very Rev Father Le Menant des Chesnais and Rev. Father McDonnell. A leading article in Saturday's ' Press.' with the heading, ' London's Religious Life,' constituting an editorial review of a work, entitled ' Religious Influences,' by Mr. Charles Booth, contains the following extract r&lating to the Catholic Church 'He (Mr Booth) has much to say in praise of the Church of Rome, asserting that the reality of its power is " as remarkable with the cultivated classes as with the rougher, with the educated as well as with the ignorant, with those who have all worldly ad\antages no less than with those who have none. . . . Amongst those of rank, wealth, and fashion, whether hereditary Catholics or newly-won converts, thoir faith enters into, and T think go\erns, their lives to a degree raro among Protestants." ' At an executive committee meeting of the projected carnival, in aid of the Cathedral building fund, on last Thursday evening, his Lordship the Bishop presiding, a large number of suggested titles for the series of enter-

tainments were submitted. It was unanimously decided to adopt one designated ' Polvorama or World's Fair.' Mr. Fj. O'Connor was elected permanent secretary, and an entertainment committee comprising some of the beatknown musical people and organisers was nominated: The following is a synopsis of the programme :— l.— English stall : Costumes of England in various times, old English dances, minuets, glees, and tableaux vivante from English history. 2.— lrish stall : Irish costumes dances, songs, and choruses, and tableaux vivants from Irish history. 3.— Scottish stall : Costumes, Highland and fashionable Scottish costume-Scottish dances, songs and choruses, and tableaux vivants from the history of Scotland. 4— trench stall: Parisian and Breton costumes, country dances, the Cloches of Corneville and tableaux from trench history. s.— Spanish stall: Castilian and Cataloman costumes, Spanish dances and songs with mandoline obligato, and tableaux from the history of Spain. 6.— Roman stall : Costumes of ancient Rome, the dance of the vestals with lighted torches and orchestral accompaniment, tableaux vivants from. Roman history, scenes from Fabiola, Callixta and the Sign of the Cross. 7.— Grecian stall : Costumes of ancient Greece, Grecian procession and dance with orchestral accompaniment, and tableaux from the history of Greece. 8 — Japanese stall : Japanese costumes and dances, and tableaux vivants from Japan. 9.— Maori stall : Maori costumes, songs and dances and tableaux vivants from New Zealand. 10.— The Fairies stall : Fairies and gipies costumes, a fairy dance, gipsy camp and historical fairy tableaux. J