THE LATE BISHOP LUCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10037, 25 January 1896, Page 5

THE LATE BISHOP LUCK.

The body of the late* Bishop Luofe was brought in a hearse yesterday at) . three o'clock from th.e Bishop's Palace, Ponsonby, to St. Patrick's Cathedral, and placed in front of the altar, where it lay in state in full ecclesiastical vestments, in a lead coffin, placed insido a jlmndsome casket of stained kauri with, solid brass mountings, prepared, by Mr, Little, undertaker. The lid of the coffin bore the following inscription, "Joannes Edmundus Luck, 0.5.8. Episcopus Aucopolitanus QuArtus. Obiit die •2;i January,. 1890. $tat 55 ami. R.1.P." There were a number of wreaths from the various literary societies—St, Patrick's, Sacred Heart, St. Benedict's-and St. Benedict's Club, placed round the coffin, and' by the Sancta Maria Branch of the H.A.C.B. Society, Guard of Honour, Children of Mary, of St. Patrick's, St. Benedict's", and I'oftsonby parishes. The rfo\r Zealand district officers of the H.A.C.B. Society, and the Dunedin and Auckland branches of the same society, furnished a wreath, Dunedin communicating its instructions by toiegraphic message. Besido the coffin was a beautiful Uoral device, executed in passion flowers on a purple ground, in which the motto of the Benedictine Order, Pax," was artistically workod out. This was the handiwork of Miss Helena Lundon, daughter of Mr. John Lundon. , At seven p.m. a solemn dirge was chanted by the'clergy, the Rev. Father Lenihan, administrator, being tho celebrant, and the chanters. being Dr. Egan, 0.5.8,, and Father Madden. The cathedral was crowded to excess. The Office of Matins W!;8 recited, and then Father Gillan pronounced an eloquent panogyrio on the deceased Bishop. The Bishop, ho stated, being a member of the Order of St. Benedict, died as he had professed in spirit and in deed, according to his vow of poverty. By his will lie had left everything to the Church and diocese instead of to his successors personally. This in a man born to wealth showed his sslf-sacrificing spirit, and his desire to make what he bequeathed as widely useful as possible. Tho Bishop had often spolteii to those present with his living voice; lie now spoke to them by his death of tho necessity of being ever prepared to meet death. The preacher de'duced some solemn lessons from the death of the Bishop, and referred to some of the beautiful traits in his life. Shortly after the servico the leaden coffin was sealed down.

A number of telegrams of condolence were received yesterday from the South, One was receivod from the Premier, from Otaki, by the Rev. Father Lenihun, Administrator, Parnell:—' I heartily sympathise with the clergy and laity of your church iu the great losa they have suffered by the death of the distinguished and New Zealand' prolate, Bishop Luck." The Premier also sent a kindly message to Father Luck, tendering his hearty sympathy to him in his bereavement. The editor of the New Zealand .Tablet (Father Lynch) sent a message of condolence. Flags were flying yesterday both on account of the death of the deceased prelate and of' that of Prince Henry of Battenberg.

TO DAY'S PROOKEDINQS. A solemn Requiem Mass will be sung at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 11 a.m., when Bishop Grimes, of Christclwrch, is expected to preach. The Requiem Mass will be sung by, the choir, Dr. Egan presiding at the organ, under the direction of Father Kehoe. The-funeral cortfje will leave St ; Patrick's Cathedral at 2 p.m. for Qnehunga, where the interment will take place, the body being buried in the Roman Catholic Church of that township, the coffin being placed in a bed of concrete at a depth of several feet below the surface of the floor,

The orjjor of the procession will be, we understand, somewhat as follows : — H.A.C.B. Society, the local clergy, in .several carriages, Bishop Grimes' carriage, the hearse, the deceased Bishop's carriage, Father Luck s carriage, Messrs. Mahony (solicitor), and P. Darby, in carriage, two carriages with the late Bishop's immediate friends, then the Children of Mary, Guard of Honftur, tho various Literary Societies, and St. Benedict's Club, and the general public. We are informed that a train will leave for Onehunga at two p.m., to enable the general public to witness the burial service there, which will be conducted by Bishop rimes. Tho district officers, and the officers of the Auckland Branch of ,the H.A.C.B. Sociotv, together with their brethren from the Thames and Onehunga, will proceed to Onehunga in brakes. St Patrick's Cathedral will be open from five o'clock this morning for services. It may be mentioned that as soon as Bishop Luck's death beifame known, telephone messages were sent to the various churches, and sereives held within a few minutes after his decease by Father Kehoe, at St. Patrick's -Cathedral; by Dr. Egan, 0.5.8., at St. Benedict's; hy Father Gillan, at Sacred Heart; and Father Purton, at the Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor.

[by tkleqiiaph.— own correspondent.] Wellington, Friday. A solemn High Mass in memory of the late Bishop Luck will be celebrated to morrow morning by the Archbishop and the Roman Catholic clergy of Wellington.

[BY TELEOBAPH.— ASSOCIATION.) Dunkdin, Friday. Requeim Mass will be celebrated tomorrow in St. Joseph's Cathedral for Bishop Luck, Prayers were offered last night for the deceased prelate.