Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1879.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 626, 14 February 1879, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald AND East Coast News Letter. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1879.

The Rev. Father Hennebery delivered the first of a series of Mission services to his Gisborne co-religionists, last night, jn the new Roman Catholic Church, /there was a good attendance, but not sufficient to fill the building, which has been erected as {much to provide for the requirements of the future, as for the accommodation of the comparatively small body of Roman Catholics now resident m the Bay. Those present listened Very attentively' to the discourse of the missionary. The sermon was varied, and, m .its -way attractive. The preacher, who, on occasion, can speak fluently, mixed exhortation with entreaty, and entreaty with dire threats of "what would be the consequences to uni'epenting sinners m the life to come. The rev. Father interpersed his discourse with numer<ms anecdotes which caused his hearers to laugh heartily, and what he told, had it been told on a public platform instead of m the sanctuary, would have much applause and clapping of hands. We are sorry to hear that so many people m Gisborne are going "fast to Hell/ ; which were the words uttered by Father Hennebery last evening. We hope Father Hennebery is mistaken, and that the people of Gis-, borne are not m such a bad state as he conceives. ,A newspaper, devoted to general information^ is scarcely the medium for the report of a long sermon, or for the analysis of one f; but we cannot help thinking that the subject of Hell has been quite preached out by preachers of a peculiar school of divinity. We do not presume to criticise the Rev. Father Hennebery's style. He must best know what is likely to suit his hearers ; but if we be not greatly mistaken, Father Hennebery has greatly underrated the-, intelligence of those who gave attention to his discourse. The Roman Catholics, as with other religious bodies, m Poverty Bay, -are great respecters of their institutions, and support them liberally ; and when one gentleman, towards the close of the service, who had been suffering from acute internal pain was compelled to retire, which he did as silently as possible, it was m bad taste that the preacher should call after him telling him to go and bring m another sinner as big as himself. The preacher might earn a laugh from the hearers and might be thought to haVe said something I "very" funny, but we do not think it was calculated to increase tie respect which people may feel towards a divine. ] We doubt hot that Father Hennebery may be very earnest m the causeof his faith,, and is anxious to turn sinners from the wickedness of their ways, but we must hesitate m expressing our belief that he will make many converts. When the Reverend Father told his people that they should go more often on their " benders," meaning they should be more constant to kneel m prayer, he simply made the ignorant to . laugh, /and/ $0 intelligent to be greatly shocked. Slang coming fromii the ipulpit jars upon the sense. If Father IJennebery be capable of delivering a higher class of discourse, than he did Jast night, we think he 'willrjay himself less open to hostile criticism. We can imagine there be places: where Father Hennebery's deliveries might be relished for the spice he puts into them, but Gisborne is not one of the places. We do not think that the reverend gentleman's ministrations will be very effective. The Roman Catholics here have hitherto been presided over by priests, gentle and kindly of manner. Priests who have been accustomed to address their congregations m the true spirit of Christian love, and m the manner of Christian gentlemen. As we have the subject of Hell has been made so common by popular and eccentric clergymen that it has long ceased to strike terror ; and even were this the case, terror is not so effectual as the preaching of Hope, and the infinite love and mercy of Almighty God to his creatures on earth. The repetition after repetition of Hell, Hell's flames, consuming and everlasting fire, and such like expressions may terrify poor, unthinking, unreflecting men, but it is only for the m stant. They leave the Church, and the possibility of a material Hell never more troubles their thoughts. Were it otherwise, the lives of such men would be wretched indeed. Wishing Father Henneberry all success m his mission, we trust he wilUisten to a* suggestion. This is, thairpreaching the love of, God, His great and manifold mercies, His wonderful- attributes, will be found more effectual m turning sinners from their paths. The human heart is so much more easily touched and softened ;by tender appeals, and kindly exhortations, than by all the threats of i damnation' Which can be fulminated from the pulpit. Father Hennebery is not th« best type of the earnest and devout Roman Catholic Missionery we have been accustomed to listen m .other .countries and colonies where have sojourned. The Father is wanting m. that higher class education

which so many of his brother-workers have the good fortune to possess. We doubt not, Father Hennebery will tell his hearers that the Apostles were not educated men. This will be true enough ; but we do ,not. think the Apostles told men to go down' on their " benders." Neither did they tell them of a man who was " a thundering big sinner."'' 'It/is ?aid it takes all sorts of people to make up a world, and so it is that Fatlier'HEtfJftrbery lives and discourses. *