THE MIDNIGHT MASS AT ST. MARY'S.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 289, 6 December 1867, Page 2

THE MIDNIGHT MASS AT ST. MARY'S.

To the Editor of the Nelson Evening Mail.

Sir — I am sorry to hear that what I said last Sunday morning to my congregation concerning the arrangements to be made for the service at St Mary's on Christmas Eve, has been misconstrued. It has, lam told, been reported that I said that this year Protestants would not be admitted, because they behaved improperly last year. This is certainly a misrepresentation, or at least a misapprehension of my words. What I did say on this subject was, as some Protestants whe were present may recollect, thafc our church was evidently too small to hold all those who were desirous of being present at the service on Christmas Eve, and it was hard to see Catholics who had come from the country, frequently from a very long distance, on that night, unable to find room in the church. I then added that we should unavoidably be compelled on this occasion only to admit Catholics and their Protestant relations, and went on to praise the good intentions and behaviour of very many Protestants who usually attended that service, regretting, at the same time, that certain exceptions had occurred. This was, it must be admitted, very different from saying that Protestants would not be admitted this year, because they misbehaved themselves last year.

I gladly avail myself of this opportunity to acknowledge the liberality and good feeling of the Protestants of Nelson in general towards their Catholic brethren, and itis with the deepest regret that I see that we are not able to accommodate them better on such occasions. The population however is increasing, and it is difficult indeed to meet these exigencies. Many, I know, last Christmas Eve came provided with tickets, and naturally expecting to find places, who were disappointed in obtaining entrance to the church. However, if we see the possibility of providing sufficient room, we shall use our best endeavors to accommodate the public as far as the present limited capabilities of the building will allow.

Yours, etc., A. M. Garin, P.P. St. Mary's, December 5, 1867.