THE LATE FATHER CUMMINGS

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10266, 8 February 1899, Page 6

THE LATE FATHER CUMMINGS

REQUIEM MASS.

. If anything were wanted to show most conclusively the wide spread respect and esteem in which the memory of the late Very Rev. Father.Cummings, V.G., was held, not alone by the members of his church, but also by tho general community, tho crowded congregation which assembled yc'terJay at the solemn Requiem Mass in the Pro-Cathedral would have furnished it. Every seat in the Pro-Cathedral was occupied, and not only by Catholics, but also members of other denominations anxious to pay tne last tribute ot re-qrect to a man who so fully and highly deserved it. The two great, characteristics ot the late Father Cumlmngs were his intense and widespread syni-pa-liiy with the poor and afflicted and marked consideration lor the opinions ol those of diilerent religions views iruin his own. It was scarcely to be wondered at therefore that on the occasion of his obsequies those who telt they had—us the Bishop nwiingly put it—ios; a lriu.nl. v consoler "lid an -uvimt. .should muster m large numbers to do the la.'rt sad office.-*- to his memory. Nor was the gathering confined in the parishes of the I'roCuthwJral and .St. .»laiy s. From limaru, from Uarlield, from the north and the south of the. province tame tiie mouruers to be present on the occasion. His brethren of the priest hoed also mustered strongly Irom all parts, and (he ceiemoiiy was a most impressive and touching one. Amongst the priests present were the Wry Rev. Fathers Le Meh.iiit dj Chesnais, \.G., and Gina-ty. Rev. Fathers Chcrvier, Salvador, O'lhiuucll. Gall rue. .Uainane, Gogguti. Foley. i'nuiy, Tubman, Richards. Deby, (Jrott-y, Price, Aubrey, and Bojiiie. His Lordship Bishop Grimes coiikltict-ed the cere.nony. the tatalfalquc was placed before the altar rails, and the sanctuary and pulpit were draped in black. The requiem mass was most impressive throughout. Miss i\.aue I'oung presided at the organ, the mass being to Gregorian chants.

liis Lordship preached an impressive serine.'!, and was evidently, as were all the congregation, deeply moved. He took for.his text t lie woids "1 will raise him up a faithful priest, who shall do according t> my heart and my soul.' He said that during the past lew days the hand of death h.td removed the luithtul wiest who had laboured

so many years iv their midst. His venerable brethren iv the ministry had come that day irom all parts of the diocese to give expression, by their prayers, of their sympatny with the people. He (tho Bishop) would much rather liave mingled his tears and prayers with those of Ins clergy and people limit have spoken to them from the pulpit; but as his silence might be misconstrued, ho was there to speak to them that day, though it was a very painful effort on his part to do so. There were times when the neart could not give expression to its feelings, and that was the case tlien. He must say something, but what could he say. There came to his mind the words of a great Pagan orator uttered two thousand years ago. He had said, "One run- a great risk in speaking of the dead, either to say too little and thus deceive the expectations of the survivors, or else to say too much, and be taxed with exaggeration, and not believed." It was about thirty years ago that he (the Bishop), at the College in Dundalk, became first acquainted with him who was to become his first vicar-general, and the devoted administrator of the diocese in this far off land. For a decade of years he had lived in close communion with Father Cummings, and had got to know that the mainspring of his fife was a living, devoted sacrifice of his own to the adorable will of God. He had an enlightened, childlike spirit of faith, and an earnest zeal, tempered with prudence, together with a fund of sound, practical common sense. Need ho say more than to 'give them a few details of Father Cummings's daily life, and what lie had done in their midst to rouse the feelings of filial gratitude, and evoke their prayers. After a brief sketch of Father Cummings's early life, the Bishop went on to say that bis first religious profession was made in September, 1875, and after studying at the College in Dundalk, whore both Bishop Lenihan and himself (the Bishop) were also students, he was sent to a housetof tho Society of Mary, in France. Subsequently, when he was ordained, he took up his first ministry in the East End of London, in the beautiful church of St. Ann, where liis memory was still kept green in the hearts of the people. Here he worked amongst the poor, and tbe slums and the hospitals knew him well. In 1887 he (the Bishop) was made first Catholic Bishop of Christchurcb. At that time there was one who was in authority here, who had begun that great colonial work connected with Mount Magdala, to which he had consecrated so successfully his life and labours. He (the Bishop) was therefore deprived of his services and aid in his diocese, and those in authority sent to him Father Cummings, who had been sent to Australia. He began 'his ministrations in the diocese by giving a mission, the work of which they would all remember resulting in' his giving no loss than 1200 medals of the Sacred Heart to adults. Then Father Cummings was appointed as administrator of the parish, and subsequently, on illness laying him (the Bishop) aside for a while, administrator of the diocese. On his return to the colony ho (Dr. Grimes) gave him the only proof of his gratitude he could give, by making him the first vicar-general, and he became truly liis right hand, his faithful friend, and wisest counsellor. The work that lie had done was all around them. The erection of the Brothers' House, the extension of the accommodation of the Presbytery, the improvement of the schools, tho keeping up and, adorning the church, and the adjoining churches all spoke of the devoted labours of Father Cummings and his unflagging efforts in the work of tlie diocese. The pulpit, the altar, and the confessional, dumb though they were, could speak more eloquently than words of the unceasing devotion of Father Cummings to the cause of their holy religion and practical holiness. To the poor, the sick, and the afflicted lie showed a tender devotion, which had made his name a household word in tho city of Christchurch, as well as in the great City qf London. The children knew the friend they had lost, and would remember liis fatiherly words and genial looks. They would all miss him, and none more so than he himself. His Lordship then went on to describe how he had met Further Cunimings in the South of France,; when lie came home, and how shocked he was at the creat change which had taken place in him. He had spent his last day in London with Father Cummings. His heart was with nis people in JfJew Zealand, and he craved to return to them. He had spoken of the Cathedral which it was proposed to build, and would have regarded that as the crowning work of his life had he been permitted to come back and help in the erection of it. They had now to bid him a sad farewell, yet they did not sorrow as those having no hope, for the words "I am tbe resurrection and the life" i consoled and strengthened them. Let them I apply to their lives the lessons that Father Cummings had so faithfully preached to them J »o often from that pulpit, and they would meet again in their own country, where there ' would be no more partings nor sorrow. Meanwhile, lef them keep the* memory of their dear friend green within their hearts. The ceremony- was then continued round the catafalque, and as the procession slowly passed down the-aisle of tne Pro-Cathedral Miss Young played "The Dead March" in "Saul," and the impressive and solemn ceremony concluded. • „