WANGANUI

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 31, 30 July 1903, Page 20

WANGANUI

(By telegraph from our own correspondent.)

July 28. The news of the death of the late Pontiff was rereived in Wanganui with profound sorrow, not only by those who owe allegiance to the Chair of St. Peter, but also by many who are not of the household of the a uxl- P n c recei P t of th e sad nefws his Grace the Archbishop immediately telegraphed to the parishes of the archdiocese authorising the tolling of the church bells for one hour and the celebration of Solemn Requiem Mass at the earliest suitable date. For the^ast few days the church has put on the outward signs of sorrow, at once bringing home forcibly to the minds of the worshippers that the Catholic Church throughout the world now mourns the loss of its head and spiritual guide. On Monday night the Very Rev. Dean Grogan delivered an eloquent panegyric on the late Pope, taking for his text the words, ' Behold the high priest.' The preacher outlined the life of Leo XIII. Even from his boyhood days his brilliant career as a student in the Roman colleges, his achievements as Nuncio at Brussels and as Archbishop of Perugia, his appointment to the Cardinalate, and his final elevation to the highest dig2.V ty « 0 which lt is given man to attain— the Chair of St. I eter. For a quarter of a century (said the Very Rev. Dean) the late Pope ruled with marvellous tact and energy the greatest empire in the world— greatest because it includes all the republics, monarchies, and empires of the world. Dean Grogan spoke for upwards of an hour, and his masterly treatment of the subject made a deep impression on the large congregation This morning (Tuesday) a Solemn Requiem Mass was offered for the repose of the soul of the late Pope. Despite the early hour (8 o'clock) a large congregation assembled to pay their last tribute of love and respect to the memory of their late spiritual Father. Mass was sung by Dean Grogan, Rev. Fathers Lacroix and O'Sullivan* being deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The choir was in attendance and rendered the solemn music appropriate to Ihe occasion in a creditable manner.