TEST OF HIS LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 293, 11 December 1929, Page 10

TEST OF HIS LIFE.

ETERNAL STANDARDS.

"LABOUR AS HZ? DID;" REDEMPTORIST FATHERS EULOGY An eloquent sermon in praise of the many Christian virtues of - the late Bishop Cieary was preached in St, Patrick's Cathedral last evening by the Rev. Father O'Connor, C. SS; R;, of Wellington. The occasion was the first great public service conducted in the cathedral sib.ee the beloved bishop passed away. Every seat Hvas J occupied and many people Wefe content to stand in the rear aisle. The service itself was simple. After the sermon the faithful filed past the casket, Bet between six tall tapers, which. shed a • soft glo.w on the countenance of the dead prelate. The upturned face . against the dark sheen of violet vest- 1 ments was serenely peaceful, as of one who in the moment of death had seen his salvation. "Their Works Follow Tbetii;" Father O'Connor selected for liis text "Blessed are .the dead Who die. in the Lord. From henceforth nowy saitli the Spirit, they may rest froin their labours, for their, works follow theni"— the Apocalypse, chapter xiv., verse 13. , Life Was the preparation for death* I declared tlie preacher. It was possible thai the true greatness of the life of Bishop Cieary might be overlooked if the meaning and purpose of life we're not tinderstood. "During these, days .of sorrow and sadness we are relieved, by the universal expressions of sympathy, and we are comforted by the universal expressions of admiration and respect of tlie life of pur. bishop who has passed," coritihue'd Father, O'Connor. "Admiration has been expressed. ungrudgingly from the pulpits of thdse who differ from us in cur faith. Testimony has been borne to an appreciation of the great qualities of his mind, to his zeal arid ceaseless energy, and the many avenues of his versatile activities. Testimony has been freely offered in the newspapers that his life was an example in our midst. It was an example of how a life should be lived in accordance with the highest purpose; _ "From first till last the guiding principle in. the life of Bishop Cieary was service- in the interests of the flock lie loved so well. His gl - e at influence for good radiated outside the Church We , may lose sight of the true measure of hi« life, and of his greatness, unless we realise that his greatness wak not in his learning, nor in bis literary! nUa.Uuw.nU, nor yet in his energy &U (L courage, nor even in that ceaseless activity in his varied and multifarious interests, lIU greatness was of a kind that could be measured only by the fitjuidArrU of eternity, and Viot oi this Hfc. From tho day he entiM-Cri the «emi.J!i'". v '"' *"'« himself exclusively to the wci'viw? of his Divine Master." *