HOLY NAME SOCIETY

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

WORLD-WIDE ORGANISATION

An impressive religious ceremonyconnected with the Holy Name Society w«s held at St. Patrick's Collegegrounds, Silverstream, yesterday afternoon. There was an attendance of about 1500. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea presided, and there were also present many members of the clergy, and, in addition to students of St. Patrick's College, there were representatives of the .society from thoj Sacred Heart parish (Thorndon), St.' Patrick's (Kilbirnie), St. Joseph's] (Buckle Street), St. Peter and St. Paul] (Lower Hutt), St. Patrick's (Masters ton), St. Anne's (Newtown), St. Fairick's (Palmerston North), St. Josephfs "(Upper Hutt), St. Mary of the Aiigels (Boulcott Street), and of various othfcr churches in the Wellington district This was the first ceremony of 'the kind held in Wellington. For the past two weeks members of the socijety have been preparing for the evfent, ■which it is hoped will be an annual one in the future.

The society was founded in the thirteenth century by St. Dominic*. The members of the society promise to labour individually for the glory of God's Name, and to make it Iknown to those who are ignorant of it. Members have also other obligations, and monthly they renew their pledges, included in which is the support of all lawful authority, both civil :and religious. .

The society is world-wide, being particularly active in North America, where Holy Name rallies of 50,000 men are' quite a feature of the Catholic life of America and where some 500,000 men are enrolled.

The procession yesterday from the college to' the beautiful adjoining grounds was headed by some 200 college students, then followed representatives from city, suburban,) and country parishes numbering about 1000 members. The altar was that erected for the ceremony in connection with the celebration of the jubilee of the late Archbishop Redwood. .This was removed to Silverstrjeam College grounds and re-erected on a plateau above the school playing area. The Blessed' Sacrament was borne in the procession by his Grace Archbishop O'Shea. The assisting, clergy were the Rev. Father Scanlon and the Rev. Father O'Brien (St. Patrick's College, Silverstream). The master of ceremonies was the Rev. Father C. Hcesh, and the chaplain of .the Holy- Name Society for the day was the Rev. Father Fletcher.

After the singing of the hymn 'JSweet Sacrament Divine" by the assembled gathering, an address was given by the Rev. Father Spillane, of Island Bay, who spoke on the words "Behold the Lamb of God; behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world." He said those present heard these .words every time they assisted at the Holy" Sacrifice of the Mass, and the words brought them all back to_ the time when our Blessed Lord' Himself walked upon the earth. When John the Baptist had been telling his followers about the long promised Messiah, he saw' our Lord approaching them, and he said, "Behold the Lamb of' God; behold Him who taketh away the sins of the world." »Jhe -pr.eacher. then referred to' the Holy Eucharist and its meaning' and dwelt upon the solemn pledge whichthose present would take that day— that they would be faithful, to the principles laid down by Jesus Christ. "C* Salutaris" was sung by, - the gathering, and the ceremony was concluded by'the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. '

After the ceremony, thanks were given to all those who had rendered help in connection with' the arrangements for the day; and the college was thrown open for inspection by the director (the Rev. Father .Dowling).