LATE BISHOP CLEARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1929, Page 5

LATE BISHOP CLEARY

LTING-IN-STATEI CEREMONIES. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 10. The body of the late Bishop Cleary was taken' to St. Patrick’s Cathedral this afternoon for the lying-iii-state, until the funeral, which will be on Thursday morning. There was a constant stream of worshippers to the Cathedral this afternoon and evening. The prayers for the dead were recited in the Cathedral tonight, when the attendance was overflowing.' Father T. O’Connor, of Wellington, who was a pupil of the late Bishop Cleary, at St. Peter’s College at Wexford, Ireland, preached a short sermon to-night. CHILDREN’S SERVICE. AUCKLAND, December 11. Three thousand children knelt in prayer for the repose of the soul of Bishop Cleary, who in his life had made them his special care. When Pontifical Mass of Requiem was sung at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, to-day, the children of the schools and orphanages came from all parts of the city and suburbs. Bishop White, of Dunedin, preached a sermon appropriate to the children, urging them to take the late Bishop’s example, as a guide for life. GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S MESSAGE AUCKLAND, December 10. The Governor-General has telegraphed to Bishop Liston as follows:—“Her Excellency and I are deeply grieved to hear of the death of Bishop Cleary, and we send you our most sincere sympathy in the loss of one who will be greatly missed, and for whom we had a great regard.” SIR J. WARD’S SYMPATHY. AUCKLAND, December 10. A message regarding the death of Bishop Cleary from the Prime Minister to Bishop Liston reads: “I have received with deep regret your telegram announcing the death of Bishop Cleary and I hasten to express to you and to the members of the Catholic Church in the Auckland Diocese my sincere sympathy in. the loss of its distinguished head. The late Bishop Cleary possessed a lovable personality,- which endeared him to a very large circle of friends, both in and out of his church. I am very sorry that my present indisposition will prevent me being able personally to attend the last rites.” ANGLICAN PRIMATE’S TRIBUTE. AUCKLAND, December 10. The following tribute to the memory of Bishop Cleary was paid by the Pri-. mate, Archbishop Averill: — ‘‘ln this great” hour of sadness our hearts go out to our brethren of Bishop Cleary’s Church in their great loss. With him has passed a zealous missionary, who devoted every one of his many talents to the dissemination of the Gospel and to strengthening the Church in the fields wherein he laboured. We have seen him creating new parishes and giving a lead in courage and fortitude and charity to the people and priests of his large and scattered diocese. We know that th« distant backblock® settlement was as much to him as the more easy paths of the city. We have seen him also giving fully of his energy and time in establishing schools for the education of the b'oys and girls of his flock. The poor and orphans have been his especial care, and W® know that he spent no more happy hours than those when he was with the children. In addition, he engaged himself in bringing the point of view of his Church before the people in questions of public interest. Bishop Cleary’s life was a full one and a very useful one, and because of that I think we may say it was a happy one. For the past fifteen years I have naturally beeen brought into close contact with Bishop Cleary, and although we could not, of course, see eye to eye with one another in many matters, yet I have always found him, to be extremely courteous, and I shall always remember him as a Christian gentleman as well as a Bishop of God’s Church.” '' FATHER LONG’S REFERENCE. At the Convent School yesterday, Rev. Father Long made reference to the death of Bishop Cleary, of Auckland, who had done much to further the interests of education in New Zealand. He said that Dr Cleary had set down enlightend lines on which the Dominion’s education system could be developed, and had indicated clearly to all of the advocates of religious instruction in the schools the means whereby the inculcation of moral as well as intellectual principles could be assured in accordance with the wishes of the parents of the pupils. TYPICAL GENEROSITY. • (To the Editor.) Sir, —The reports of the appreciative references of the Anglican and Nonconformist Church authorities to the late Bishop Cleary, bring to mind an instance of his natural courtesy and brotherliness, which, illustr/ates the kindly spirit that evoked these appreciations. A few years ago when the new Methodist Training College was being built in Auckland, Wesleyan souvenirs were being sought. The late Bishop had in his possession an autograph letter of John Wesley, and he sent it as a gift, with a most kindly letter, to the then President of the Methodist Conference, who warmly replied, thanking the Bishop for his kindly act.' A report of this was' published in the Methodist Connectional Paper at the ) time, with a fine appreciation of this | courtesy of a great Christian man. — Yours etc.

METHODIST, Greymouth, December 10.