DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 22, 4 June 1908, Page 19

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph from cur own correspondent.) June 1. Rev. Father Holbrook is recuperating in Waikalo alter ins recent severe illness. -He is expected to return to the city this week. His many irieuds will rejoice at Ins convalescence. St. Benedict's was last night (Sunday) filled, when tlie parish was consecrated to our Blessed Lady. Father tfrennan preached a fine sermon on devotion to tlie Blessed Virgin. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed, and the service was most impressive. At the Cathedral a large congregation assembled in tlie evening. Pather Farthing preached an instructive discourse on devotion to Mary, and exhorted all to practise it A most instructive and interesting lecture was given on last Monday evening by Father Edge. The subject was The Introduction of Christianity into Rome ' The lecture was under the auspices of the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Club. The president (Brother George) presided, and the Hibernian Hall was well filled with ladies and gentlemen. The lecturer depicted Rome in all its mighty grandeur, its advancement in the arts of building and road-making, the oratory' and brilliance of its leaders, their world-wide conquests, and the subjugation of every people- upon whom they laid their hands. But behind all this paganism, debauchery, extravagance, and all unmentionable crimes ran rampant ; millions were squandered to gratify the morbid tastes of the populace ; human lives were of no value ; the known world was Roman, and Rome defied the world. Their strength had been tested, and through many an ordeal it had triumphed. A lonely wanderer on the Appian Way had said : T Rome shall be humbled, and shall follow in the league of the Cross.' He was laughed at, and considered mentally affected. Slowly but surely the seed of Christianity watered in martyrs' blood, gathered and spread ; it took many centuries to accomplish. In graphic and inspiring language the lecturer described Constantino's overwhelming victory, against four to- one in numbers, over the Roman legions, the body of whose general floated dead in the Tiber when the battle of the Pons Milvius was over. Amidst rounds of appiause the lecturer resumed his seat. A vote of thanks was proposed and seconded by Messrs. Knight and Mulholland. Brother George, before putting the motion, agreed that all present had been afforded a rare treat, one which none of them would care to miss. Father Edge briefly returned thanks, and said if he had succeeded a little in interesting them in the story of the Church he was' amply rewarded. Every page and place of her history were intensely interesting— none more so. He .advised them to study it, and their reward would be great. During the interval songs were rendered by Mr. ' Owen 'Pritchard, recitations by Mr. Harry Herbert and - Mr. Alan Mcllwain.. Mr. Harry Hiscocks played the accompaniments.

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