CITY'S TRIBUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 162, 11 July 1930, Page 7

CITY'S TRIBUTE.

SOLEMN REQUIEM MASS. AUCKLAND REMEMBRANCE. ADDRESS BY BISHOP. LISTON. GREAT CONGREGATION. "Xew Zealand will always honour the deceased statesman as a good patriot," said Bishop Lieton this morning in his address delivered at the Solemn Pontifical Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Sir Joseph Ward. A great congregation filled St. Patrick's Cathedral. It included representatives of the Government, the Legislative Council, the Auckland City Council, the Auckland Consular Corps, the University College, the Police Department, the Harbour and Transport Boards, civic officials and representatives of educational bodies and many religious denominations. Before the high altar, stripped of everything except the draped candles, proper to a .Requiem Mass, stood the catafalque, covered with the liturgical black and gold. The four great candles set beside it burned with steady flame. At the strike of 10 a hush spread , over the congregation, and' the organ pealed forth the opening, strains of Beethoven's "Funeral March" and the procession of clery entered the church. It was led by a black-robed acolyte bearing aloft a gleaming crucifix. Then, in double file, came the junior acolytes in their red cassocks, followed by priests from all the city and suburban parishes, and others from as far away as Hamilton. After the priests came the deacons and sub-deacons of the Mass, robed in the black and gold vestments appropriate to the occasion. At the end of the procession was the Bishop, similarly vested, and wearing a white mitre. The procession approached the altar to make preparation for the offering of the great service, which is the very centre and heart of the Catholic religion. A choir of diocesan priests, under the banner of the Rev. Father Terry, chanted the sombre mueic of ' the introit, "Requiem acternam dona ei, Domine" — '■'Grant him eternal rest, O Lord," and the magnificent remembrance of the statesman who had passed was commenced by the Bishop. After the collect, the epistle was read by the deacon, the Rev. Archdeacon Holbrook, following which the choir rendered the mournfully beautiful sequence, "Dies irae dies ilia," a prayer that the departed eoul might escape the day of wrath and be granted eternal rest.

Order of Service. Following the gospel came the majestic strains of "0 Salutaris Hostia," and the offertory was chanted by the Rev. Father Gavin. As incense rose from the altar the preface was recited —"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth"; then the Host was elevated and the clergy knelt devoutly before the altar. A note of intense solemnity was sounded as the commemoration of the dead was recited by the Bishop—"Be mindful, 0 Lord, of Thy servant Joseph who is gone before Thee with the sign of faith. May he rest in the sleep of peace." Then came the choir's answering refrain, "Eternal rest grant unto him, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him." With the mighty swell of the "Agnus Dei" the Mass moved to its dramatic climax, with the Bishop's final pronouncement, "Requiescat in pace." Bishop Liston's address, which followed, occupied a quarter of an hour, and the procession, headed by the Rev. Father O'Leary, slowly filed out of the cathedral. The officiating clergy were the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Cahill; Rt. Rev. Archdeacon Holbrook, deacon of the Mass; the Rev. Father O'Leary, S.M., subdeacon; the Very Rev. Dean Van Dijik and the Very Rev. Dean Murphy, Rev. Dr. Buxton and the Rev. Father McKeefry, masters of ceremonies. The Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral, represented the Government, and the Hon. G. J. Garland, M.L.C., the Legislative Council. There were also present Mr. George. Baildon, Mayor of Auckland; Mr. J. S. Brigham, town clerk, and members of the City Council; M. Paul Serre, dean of the Consular Corps, and members; the Hon. Sir George Fowlds, president of the Auckland University College Council; Superintendent W. G. Wohlmanii, and Inspectors J. W. Hollis, and J. Mcllveney, Police Department; Major J. Redmond, Defence Department; Captain H. H. Sergeant and Mr. H. B. Burnett, Harbour Board; Mr. J. A. C. Allum, Auckland Transport Board; Mr. W. A. Beddoe, Canadian Trade Commissioner; Captain Algie, deputy Mayor of Takapuna borough; Mr. A. E. Greenslade, Mayor of Northcote; and a number of Government officials representing various Departments. The United party was represented by Mr. F. H. Burbush (chairman), Auckland East, Dr. W. H. Horton. Major T. P. Halpin, Messrs. R. T. Michaels, E. J. O'Keefe; Auckland West, Messrs. H. O'Brien. G. Casey, J. McVeagh; Auckland Central, Messrs. F. S. Johnson, E. Leydon and M. J. Sheahan; Parnell, Messrs. A. W. A. Donald. E. A. Osmond, J. Adams. G. P. Smith. J. R. Powell; Eden. Messrs. B. Marshall. T. Foley, W. McNiele; Roskill, Messrs. T. Buchanan and T. Foley; GreyLynn, Messrs. D. Cooper and W. Shearer? Waitemata, Messrs. J. Woodall, R. H. Greville; Franklin. Messrs. J. Rae, H. E. McEntee: Rotorua. Mr. T. H. Glass; junior organisation, Messrs. C. Clark and W. Quigley.

SERVICE NEXT SUNDAY.

The Rev. W. Walker will pay a tribute to the memory of the late Sir Joseph Ward during the service in the Pitt Street Methodist Church on Sunday evening. Appropriate music will be* rendered.