DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 6 April 1911, Page 619

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph from our own correspondent.)

April 3. Rev. Father Gilmartin, C.SS.R., last week gave missions in HelensviHe and Henderson, which were brought to a. close on Sunday. He left on Monday night for" Wellington on his way to the Philippines, where he is to engage in missionary work. ' •

His Lordship the Bishop, being interviewed regarding the poster controversy, said he had been a good deal out of town lately, and had not seen the posters in question. He was therefore unable to pass any verdict upon them but the discussion on the subject raised the bigger question of book and magazine and newspaper illustration and ; "

this connection there 'had; been of late years, specially since the invention of the photogravure . process, sundry developments that .the moralist and patriot must view with profound misgiving -i One of these reflected the neo-pagan school of art, and in Paris and in various other Continental cities it had been for some years past ' slopping over' into what is known as the art poster.' Some of these art posters, he said, that spot and stain the hoardings and dead walls are of a kind that should not be tolerated in any clean commmumty, and their effect upon the impressionable minds of youth can only be evil. Indeed, unfortunately this class of miscalled artistic stuff does not, so tar as I knew seem to have as yet invaded our shores, and 1 trust that the action of the law and the vigilance of those whose duty it is to watch over end guard vouthful innocence will long shoulder them off from use;' Without passing any verdict as to the merits of the discussion on the Auckland posters, he thought it was a healthy sign to find that there was a live public conscience here on such Two missions, which have ranked amongst the most successful held in Auckland, concluded last night. The first at St. Benedict's lasted three weeks, and from near and far in that extensive parish people journeyed to listen to the powerful exhortations and eloquent appeals of the Redemptorist Fathers. Each morning and evening the church was filled and the good effected is incalculable. His Lordship the Bishop attended the close of the mission at bt. Benedict s, on which occasion the church was crowded. Rev. Father Hunt was the preacher. A special mission, under the auspices of the Holv Family, joined by Hibernians, Old Boys' Club, and men of the city which commenced on the last Sunday in March in the Cathedral, was finished last evening. The mission was for men only. Every morning at 6 o'clock large numbers ..f men assisted at Mass and profited by the instructions given J Rev. Father Hunt. It was a cheering sight to see men of all stations of life -attending in such large numbers both morning and evening. On Saturday evening his Lordship the Bishop, Rev. Fathers Hunt, Holbrook, and Ormond, heard the confessions of the men only, and were kept very busy. The 8 o'clock Mass on Sunday morning was celebrated by his Lordship, at which nearly four hundred men received Holy Communion: After Mass all assembled in the large room at St. Patrick's Convent School for breakfast. His Lordship, addressing the men, said it was to him a matter of deep satisfaction to behold so edifying a spectacle as that witnessed that morning, when the flower of the Catholic manhood of Auckland filed up, and filled rail after rail to receive Holy Communion. It went home to his heart, as it did to the hearts of the good missionary and the priests. Your hearts (said his Lordship) have been raised to higher and better things as the result of this mission. There will be a new access of fervor, which mav ions remain i with you. It was a spectacle of religious iaith which he hoped to see renewed many times again . Rev. Father Holbrook, who thanked the Bishop for his attendance, said that never in his recollection had the men attended so constantly. He assured the Bishop of the support of all present in the great work he had in hand, particularly the educational work,, and further all read with admiration his recent defence of Catholic schools. ■ Mr. McKenna proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies tor providing breakfast. He also touched upon the education and urged united action by Catholics to obtain their just rights, and, referring to Mr. Nerheny's candidature for Parliament, urged all to rallv round him. Mr. Nerheny responded on behalf of the ladies in an appropriate speech, and paid tribute to the. good work done by Father Holbrook in organising the Catholic men ot the city. In the evening the mission was brought to a close The Bishop presided and Rev. Father Hunt preached an impressive sermon on the renewal of Baptismal vows. At its conclusion the men, with lighted candles in their hands, renewed their Baptismal vows. Bishop Cleary, who has travelled far and wide, gave it as his opinion that he had never witnessed a more edifying sight.. Pontifical Benediction followed. This concluded the mission.