DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 21 August 1913, Page 31

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) y. : V- ~ ' August 18. In tile course of-his instruction on the Assumption , of the Blessed Virgin, in the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Sumner, on last Sunday morning, the Rev. Father Murphy, 8.A., alluding to appeals to the secular press for information on Catholic doctrine, an instance of which appeared only the day previous in one of the'local newspapers on the very subject of which he was then .treating, said it was proof of a woful lack I. of sincerity on. the. part of writers. It was incomprehensible ; to the Catholic mind, that such a source . of enlightenment should be sought, where little or no -knowledge of the Church’s teaching was obtainable, whilst such willing and ever-ready mediums Church- itself and the Catholic press — available to supply a reliable answer in regard to such matters. - As it was necessary for the Sisters of Nazareth to forego this year the annual benefit entertainment, given on St. Patrick’s Day, and which for many years had provided very welcome help to their institution, Mrs. Arthur Mead and her pupils, assisted by Mr. Ernest Empson, have decided to give a musical recital in the Theatre Royal on Monday evening, September 8. The whole of the proceeds will be devoted to the aid of Nazareth House. Although the merits of the recital alone, to say nothing of the most deserving object, is . sure to, draw a crowded audience, still it is the ardent desire of many friends to enhance the benefit whilst the opportunity offers, and for this reason strenuous efforts are being made, in its interests, and tickets are being bought up rapidly. The Marist Brothers Old Boys’ Association musical and dramatic section gave an enjoyable entertainment in the King’s Theatre on last Saturday evening to a good audience. As a result the fund for furnishing the association’s section at the forthcoming Cathedral carnival should be considerably augmented. The items were varied in character and were well received, recalls being frequent. Vocal items were given by Mrs P. Worsdale, by the Misses I. Main and Gardner, and by Messrs. S. I. Jameson, Trewern, B. Rennell, and Falvey. Mr. Bob Penman sang several Scottish humorous songs very successfully, and Mr, S. I. Jameson and the M. 8.0.8. company ..gave the song and chorus and dance, .‘Boys of the ocean-blue,’ very .effectively. An Irish jig was admirably danced by Miss Gladys McCallum and Mr. J. Budge, Miss O’Connor’s pupils gave an eight-handed reel very nicely, and Miss Melba Sargison and Mr. Budge were successful in the Danube waltz clog. Mr. Wilson gave a cornet solo acceptably. The M. 8.0.8. orchestra played several selections. The concert concluded with the farce ‘ Judge Justice,’ in which the parts were taken by Messrs. S. I. Jameson, • M. Toomey, W. J. Barnett, C. G. Baker, A. McDonald, . J. , Currey, J. Budge, J. McCarthy, and Master N. Morrison. The concert was in aid of a stall at the bazaar, and the honorary secretaries were Messrs C. C. Baker and W. J. Barnett, and the stage managers Messrs. J. Budge and H. Kennedy. ‘ Ozanam Lodge,’ the newly-erected compact and commodious meeting rooms for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and other parish organisations of St. Mary’s, Christchurch North, was formally opened on last Tuesday evening. St. Mary’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul held their usual weekly meeting there, and then adjourned to-spend what was a most enjoyable social evening. The Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G., in handing over the building for the purpose for which it was erected, welcomed the brothers of the conference to their new and comfortable quarters, and also the mem- / bers of the other conferences who were present. A want long felt in the parish, he was pleased to say, had now been supplied, and he knew the members of the society would make the best use of the facilities now provided for carrying on their charitable work. The rooms would, too, be available for meetings of other bodies working in the interests of the parish and the Catholic cause generally. Already their convenience

had been tested by a meeting of the branch of . the Catholic Federation, and what was of the most con- ? sideration, the : accommodation provided would obviate;the necessity of ; disturbing the existing arrangements . . of the schoolroom which hitherto was the only other : meeting place available. .. ’. -. 1- ’-- r The Rev. Fathers Hoare, S.M., and Dignan, S.M., • were among those present. The former, on behalf of the conference, very cordially thanked Dean Hills for the splendid hall he had provided, together with the ’ furnishings and all necessaries. It was but one more proof, if such were needed, and a most generous proof - of the deep and consistent interest the Dean took in the society, and he trusted it would remain for a very long time a centre of charitable and parochial activity, - as it would be a monument to the zeal and thoughtful- i ness of their revered rector. " \ Bro. F. C. Delany, president of St. Mary’s con- ?• ference, on behalf of the members, through. Father ■ Hoare, presented the Very Rev. Dean Hills with an i; enlarged photograph of himself (the Dean) .in oakframe, to be hung in the new rooms. , ; The president of the particular council of Christchurch congratulated the conference on the possession > of its own meeting rooms. This was a privilege not exclusively enjoyed, to his knowledge, by any other ' conference. He expressed to the Dean the appreciation ; of the society generally for this signal mark of his regard for the well-being of the branch. In accepting the gift of the conference, the Very ; Rev. Dean said it was a pleasure to- him to help a society which was doing so much' real good in the parish. They were all workers, and they not alone discharged the dutiesand not always pleasant ones incidental to their society, diligently and zealously, but they often sought other work from him, so desirous were they of being helpful to himself, his priests, and the parish. The conference, he said, had largely in- - creased in membership, but he had set his mind on attaining at least fifty. When this number was gained, he would probably, like the oft-quoted character- in a famous book, want more,’ but fifty was his present limit. . Ozanam Lodge is partitioned into two spacious apartments one, 30ft by 20ft, is that occupied by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the other, 20ft" by 15ft, by St. Mary’s Confraternity of Diocesan Ladies of Charity. Along the interior walls of each room are wardrobes and cupboards for various purposes. There are separate entrances, and the building is well- lighted and heated. It was designed by and erected under the personal supervision of the Very Rev. Dean, Hills, and in each regard it does him infinite credit. It stands on a concrete foundation, and was erected at a cost of £220. Messrs. W. Shaw, and Son were the builders, day labor being employed, during slack times—an arrangement so well suiting the builders that they put their best work into the structure at a considerable reduction on ordinary cost.