RETURN OF BISHOP CRIMES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 28 February 1907, Page 13

RETURN OF BISHOP CRIMES

AN ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME

(From our Christchuroh correspondent.)

His Lordship Bishop Grimes arrived in Wellington from Sydney on Wednesday afternoon, and during his stay in that city was the guest of his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington. His Lordship was met at the wharf by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M. (Provincial), the Very Rev. Father Lewis, S.M., V.G., Rev. Father A ins worth, S.M., and others of the clergy. Resuming his voyage in the ' Monowai ' he arrived at Lyttelton on Friday morning, where he was met by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M., V.G., the Rev. Fathers, Cooney and O'Cdnnell, and later by a large number of the clergy of the diocese. Members of the reception committee, including Messrs. E.

O'Connor, P. Burke, P. Pender, ami. D. Anderson, also met his Lordship. He. was the guest of the Rev. Father Cooney during the day, and during ' the afternoon 'visited' the JSis'ters of ' Mercy and St. Joseph's Catholic school, where he addressed those present, and received a very cordial welcome. .At the Christchuroh Kail way Station in the evening- he was met by the g eat body of the clergy, and by the members of the reception committee; and driven to the episcopal residence. Over the main gateway there was erected a tastefully -designed arch bearing the inscription, ' Welcome to oliir Bishop.' Each " side of the ■ carriage drive was lined by the children of the Catholic schools r in charge of their teachers— the Sisters of the Mission and the Marist Brothers. Cheers were raised at the approach of the carriage containing his. Lordship, and on his arrival he was the recipient. of a gneat demonstration of welcome. The brilliantly illuminated by electricity,, were thronged by those who Jiad_ passed in by __ ticket, whilst crowds were congregated in the precincts. Derry's Band, stationed on the lawn, discoursed appropriate music, and the. Cathedral 'bells rang out a merry peal. - The illuminations of the Cathedral and convent were very effective, and the evening itself proved most suitable for such a memorable display. .. Soon after a procession was formed and . entered the Cathedral, which was filled to excess. The high altar and sanctuary presented a spectacle of , unsurpassing beauty, and, as the procession slowly'wended .onwad the ' War march of the priests ' Irom ' Athalic ' was played by the C'athodral"organist. -The Vicar-Gteneral, in a brief address, extended a hearty welcome to the Bishop, and gave a summary of, the work that had been done in the -diocese -during Ms ab-sence,'and-a committee consisting of "Messrs.- P. Burke, W. Hayward, E. O'Connor, and D. Anderson, ex-Inspec-tor Pender, "and Sub-Inspector Dwyer, presented him ' with a purse of 200 guineas on behalf of his friends. His' Lordship's Address. . _' . Ascending - v.the pulpit, his Lordship addressed the . people. He was deeply impressed, he said, with the welcome "that had been given to him. It had been ably expressed by the. Vicar-General, and it had taken the form of a .magnificent demonstration. He would be vain, very vain, if he took to himself the. honors and the glory of that grand demonstration, ,and he would,, quote the words, • Not to us, oh Lord, but to Thy rfame be the honor and the glory.' T;he demonstration was .far beyond any expectation or thought" of his. It was. the outcome of the people's loyalty. The Vicar-General had said, that it was their loyalty to their Bishop. It was, in reality, their loyalty to the Church of Jesus Christ. It was the outcome of their loyalty to that grand principle of authority which . was the secret of the resource, and the strength of the grand old, glorious Church. .By virtue of that authority, there was a bond which knitted closely together bishops, priests and faithful laity. But as his coming amongsit them again was the cause of the demonstration, he asked them to accept his heartfelt . thankjs. He thanked the Vicar-General, who had carefully guarded -and watched over the- interests of the diocese, and who had worked -with the utmost zeal. He thanked the devoted priests, and those who had labored in the schools. He thanked those who displayed great skill in organisation,, c as _shown that evening by the manner, in which the 'manifestation of loyalty had been made. He thanked' Gpd^;.foi> bringing him. safely through his long journey by" land and sea. He could not tell his people all. that had .happened - during his absence, > bu,t he would allude specially to his visit to the Apostolic See. He had seen the .Sovereign Pontiff. 'He had conversed 1 witjh him,- awd - he would never lose the impression he received. His Holiness was most courteous. He showed himself to be a true siicoessor of St. Peter, and a true Father to the Faithful.^ He made the' Bishop feel quite at home. He entered into the. most minute details of af- " fairs in the diocese, showing special interest in regard to the children., He inquired as tci the Bishop's coivnection with people outside the diocese, asked what .the revenue of the diocese was, how- far the generosity of the people extended, and what works were the out; come of that generosity. The Bishop told him of the churches, convents, "presbyteries,- the schools, 'the great institute at Mount' Magdala, of Nazareth House, and other. --institutions, and said: 'These are the fruits of the people's generosity.' In reply to a . question, he - told his Holiness that- the Government did not assist, then, said his Holiness^ "If it does riot assist, it does - not prevent you" from doing all the good you can.' ' What about your. Press ?' was another question -he asked, and he was informed of a journal which was a host in itself, and of which the editor was an ec-

clesiastic and a most able and painstaking. editor. 'The l power .of the Press is very great for good,' was the reply ; ' and what about your secular Press ?' 4< 1 am glad to say, ' " the speaker replied, ' that, as a rule, and generally "speaking, the Press of New Zealand is. in ' the hands of - excellent men. In many matters, how- - ever, affecting the_ general "interests of. the Catholic body he- regretted the secular press did- not take their' ' information from more reliable sources. - Allow me to repeat what 1 said to your illustrious predecessor, the press of Chris tchurch, which is more familiar to " me than the press of the rest of the Colony, is in the hands of editors, and is managed by staffs, which, I think, are equal to any in the noble profession ; and of the daily newspapers which are read in Christchurch and sent abroad, we ask no favor from them, but we expect to be treated fairly, and, • genelally speaking, we are-f they - are "exceedingly fair. The gentlemen who manage the newspapers of" Christcnurch, will never pander to the prurient -tastes of depraved' people.' ' God bless them, I hope they will always be so,' was the response. At a second- audience, he pre- " sented the beautiful address seait by the people of the diocese. .He could still see before him the Holy Father as he turned the pages of that splendid album, prepared so tastefully and artistically as" to be the ad- ' miration of all ar lists. He would never forget the expression in the eyes ci the Sovereign Pontiff when "he saw the photographs of that grand monument, the Cathedral. His face was. exceedingly mobile, and capable of expressing thoughts that passed through his mind from time to time, and •by his features could be read the working of his mind. ' Stupendous, marvellous, most beautiful, rich, most artistic. This is a far-away diocese ! How have you managed it, and, as 1 see and read, only the work of a very few years!' These were' the expressions. The speaker explained that the result had been brought about by the loyalty of the people. ' You know that they are loyal to you,' he -said; 'they are loyal because they are .full of faith, and that faith makes them' " practical" and leads them to be generous, and to make many great sacrifices..' He specially mentioned the names of Mr.

Patrick Henley, Mr. G. CMalley, and others who had made large donations to the Cathedral Fund, and also those who had given from their hard earnings, and the children, who contributed from their pocketmoney. He thought he saw a tear in his Holiness : eye when he said that one poor woman brought the •savings of a lifetime, put by week aft/er week and month after month, and given to the work .of Jesus Christ. ' I am surprised,' his Holiness said, ' I really cannot find words to express my surprise and my ad-

miration.' He asked that his Apostolic Blessing should be conveyed to those whci had helped in the erection of the Cathedral and other works.- 'I will give you a donation,' he added, and he gave a generous one. ' I will write you a letter,' he continued, 'in which I. will congratulate you and all those who have contributed to this grand work in honor of the Mosir High.' He then took a large photograph of himself, and wrote some lines upon it. This later on would be framed and hung *at the Cathedral entrance probably. . Iha ApostoKc Blessing, Bishop Grimes announced, would be delivered on Sunday night, -after the Benediction. The people would be very grateful to the Sovereign Pontiff for the interest he had taken in the. noble work. In conclusion, he thanked them for the ' expression of their love, and for the magnificent demonstration they had made in his honor. Their generosity had taken a golden form,, as' it was represented -by a purse of. sovereigns. He "appreciated their thoughtfulness, but their gclden gift would -be merged into other gifts' of a similar character, which they, in their 'generosity, had -given to that Church and to the ' honor and glory of God* Or used in the erection of a permanent memorial within the Cathedral. He had been to unany lands, and had visited many sacred places, and he always thought of his people here and prayed for them. They prayed for him, and their prayers had been heard, otherwise ' he would not have been there that night. He thanked them for what they had done, and God for His goodness.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament then followed, after which the ' people,, again gathered in the grounds \ where the Bishop went amongst them and personally met as many as possible. Here the' band played until about -10.30, fireworks were displayed, colored fifes burned, and general rejoicings were indulged in -by all in a thorough whole-hearted manner. ■

There, are now opening at the D.LC, • Dtme&in, new silk blousings and dress materials. Patterns sent by posT.