"HIGH MASS"

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21546, 18 July 1933, Page 13

"HIGH MASS"

Sir, —In your issue of July 15 you give an account of a "high mass" of thanksgiving eclobrated the previous day in an Anglican Church, the preacher an Anglican, the choir coinposed ol clergy. One wonders if the latter were all Anglican or partly emissaries of the Roman Church, who would ensure the correct performance of the " mass." Puzzled. Sir, —1 read with interest the comment nimle by the Primate, Archbishop Averill, to the effect, that the " high mass " of thanksgiving at St. Thomas' Church last Friday in commemoration of the Ox lord Movement was not part of the official celebrations. His Grace added that he had no sympathy with the use of the term, " high mass," and that it was unfortunate, indeed, that such an expression had been used. Seeing that the service in question was conducted by certain of his grace's priests at St. Thomas' Anglican Church perhaps the archbishop will enlighten your readers as to the precise nature of the service in question, as to its legality according to Church of England rites, and as to whether he deprecates the service itself as well as the name given to it. Centenarian.