ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH. HUNTLY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 304, 22 December 1903, Page 2 (Supplement)

ST. ANTHONY'S CHURCH. HUNTLY.

THE OPENING niIJEMOX-Y. The formal opening of the pretty little I church of St. Aulhouy, which was solemnly \ blessed and consecrated some wecta uzo i by His Lordship. Dr. Lenihan, Bishop ol I tbe Dion-sc took pla<-.' on Snnday. when ore of the largest crowds ever assembled in" the mini.!" township met to take part In | and allow their with so good a e-ause A six-Mai train, which arrived Dune- | tnally at 10.40 a.m.. brought nearly a hua- • dred passengers from the city: several | brakes from Hamilton. Cambridge and Naaruawalua were well patronised; while Driver* vehicles of all Muds from Cliurch- i hill * BanglrlrL. Tauplri and lh« surroun.l- ' in-' districts eoutributed their quota to ; swell The crowd and that notwithstanding the aspect of the wpather, whi.-h appeared ! very threatening. l"iom the station a start , wa3 made for the church, the procession : being headed by the brans band under Uami- \ nmster Alf. Turner and the local Uiiie V<>!- ; uuteere nnder Lieut. A. Wilson. The musical portion of tbe service - -is j provided by a splendid cuoir from St. Benedict's and the Sacred n-nrt j Churches, Auckland \W solos being takfiu by Mesdainea Lorrlgan and. W. J. Ralph, and Mr W. .7. Rnlph. the whole fo-min" p. comliiuation which provided in i the way of sacred mush an exposition such j as was a revelation to those whose esporl- i ence'of choral services is limited. Taking j os his text, "Come uTito mc all ye that are i wpar y mid heavily burthencd. and I will : refresh' j< , . " Dμ" o ITarkett preached an : able' eloqnnut, nnd appeal iug ser-1 „,(,,, iv announcinir the Cnnncial j position. Father pnlrt a, warm tribute to hi 3 parishioners, and »■ . neclallv to 'bos.- of oilier cherches who i hnd not only en.-ourased Mm by tbelr p.vh>- ! pathy, nut with their money. He stated | th-tt the collfi.-tlons and subacrlptlons of the day totalled Inst over a hundred pounds, to j which sum Miss and Mr W. J. Ralph had | donatwl twenty gninens. Mr A. Casey (Ham- ; llron) £10. Mr Macrlce O'Connor £5. Mr , ].. ]<~ Hiirrln, .i'va. £."i nrwl Xfr E V. Ralph ; £5 The result was that a trifling flpbt | would be l^ft—so small that with a Ftuill j effort he anticipated seeing J* wiped off sbyirily. I

The church, which has seating capacity for from 300 to 330, was strained to the utmost, the scores unable to nnd even standing room remaining outside or listening at the windows. After service an adjournment was made to the hotel, where Mr and Mrs L. B. Harris' powers as caterers were tax-ed to the uttermost: and it speaks volumes in their favour when It is seated 'that in spite of the unanticipated crowd the supply of nil the d-elieacie? of the season more than sufficed to satisfy all. The encomiums on the cuislnp as passed by the visitors was a splendid and a desewfd compliment to the host and hostess.

In the evening Dean Hackett addressed a crowded congregation on the subject, "Misunderstandings Among Christian Communities," specially iv reference to the popular misrepresen unions ul Catholic 'ites.

The functions were brought to a happy conclusion ou Monday evening with a social in the Volunteer Hall. A very pleasant evening , was spent, music and dancing filling the bill, the music being supplied by Messrs Turner and Northinore's string band. Song's -were well rendered by Miss C. narris. Mr It. B. Rang.er, Miss Lizzie Ralph, and Mr R. K. Ralph.