CATHEDRAL PILGRIMAGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 1

CATHEDRAL PILGRIMAGE

Mourners for Bishop Cleary CHILDREN’S REQUIEM MASS Impressive Scene at St. Patrick’s WITH tall candles flanking the bier, a mitred Bishop layfacing his children. His first care in life, they came at his death, crowding the big Cathedral to overflowing, to pay their last tribute to their beloved Bishop and friend.

i T St. Patrick’s Cathedral this morning a solemn Requiem Mass wits offered up tor the late Dr. Cleary ia the presence of the Catholic children of the diocese. At this Mass the children from the orphanages were g?.ren first place—the place they occupied in the dead bishop's heart. To the accompaniment of music softly pealing from the great organ of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and headed by cross-bearers and scarlet-frocked altar boys, two long lines of clergy filed in the main doors of the isthedral and slowly passed the bier. Last of all came the dead bishop s fellow prelates, Dr. Liston, his coadjutor, Dr. Brodie, Bishop of Christchurch, and Dr. Whyte, Bishop of Dunedin. The Bishop of Christchurch was the celebrant, and with him on the altar were the Right Rev. Monsignor Lane, assistant priest; the Ven. Archdeacon Holbrook, deacon; the Very Rev. Father Gondringer, S.M., subdeacon; and the Rev. Fathers Furlong and Speirings, of St. Joseph's Missionary Society, assistant deacons. The Rev. Dr. Buxton, Administrator of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, was master of ceremonies, with the Rev. Father McKeefry assisting. LOVE FOR CHILDREN The sermon, couched in plain, simple language that the children might easily understand. was preached by the Bishop of Dunedin. “And Jesus said to them, ‘Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me: for of lueh is the Kingdom of Heaven.’ ” Quoting verse 14, from chapter 19, of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, Dr. Whyte reminded the children of their Lord’s love for His children. They were reminded of this frequently in the Gospel, and also of the terrible punishment that would be given to those who scandalised them. The great love that Jesus bore for little children emphasised the importance of little children being here this clay to pray for their bishop and friend, said the bishop. The prayers of children are considered to be of great value, and we who have come from a distance are delighted at this beautiful tribute that is being paid by the children to their bishop. "It is a beautiful idea that the children should ‘have this special opportunity of participating in the sacrifice of the Mass,” added the Bishop. He reminded them of the very special affection that Bishop Cleary had held for little children. Special mention had been made of this in the beautiful tributes paid by the Fress of Auckland and by the c ergy of other denominations. He had seen Dr. Cleary addressing c lildren and they had seemed to hang oil his every word. His ability to win tie confidence and affection of the children was a delightful trait of a beautiful character, said Dr. Whyte. He exhorted them to pray for the repose of the soul of their beloved Bishop. "As in life, when he came to b s great reward their Bishop would not forget them. He would remember *hem and their preachers and teachers. He would pray for them that they "light receive the joy eternal—the ] >y of being with God for ever and ever.” The solemn Requiem was sung by a choir of diocesan priests conducted by Mr. Leo Whittaker, and at the conclusion of the Mass Chopin’s “Fan; r il March” was played by Miss Nellie Ormond. The children then filed out of tiie church past the bier, and the eerom°ny concluded. A PEOPLE MOURNING thousands view body lying IN STATE Prayers for the dead were recited ast evening, when the Cathedral was Packed, many people being compelled o kneel in the porch in order to parl'c'Pate in the proceedings. The body lay in state. The church ®as heavily draped in black and gold. he candles around the coffin burned “teadily, then flickered in a gentle “taught, and the soft murmuring “ices of a thousand mourners filled Jie vast recesses of the high cathedral ~a people’s prayer for the soul of ‘heir dead prelate. A sh°rt address upon the example 1 the late Bishop's life was delivered the Rev. Father T. O’Connor, SS.R., of Wellington, who was a personal associate of Bishop Cleary In eland, and who presented a realistic word picture of the life of Bishop eary, dwelling upon the example it nrn t 0 those who remained. Then began a silent procession of “lour iers past the coffin. Nearly 2,000 People paid this tribute. The sound th shuffling feet died away. Men of he SL Vincent de Paul Society then fathered and chanted some prayers or the dead as they stood around the °°uy of the Bishop. I he watch was kept throughout the lg “t by members of the various men’s

sodalities, who will resume the vigil this evening after a service has been held in the Cathedral. At 7.30 o'clock, members of the clergy will recite the Solemn Office of the Dead, and later the lid of the coffin will be replaced. NOT LIVED IN VAIN LIFE OF LATE BISHOP FORMER STUDENT’S TRIBUTE "In our natural sorrow we have reason to rejoice that his great life was not lived in vain." These words, taken from the address of Rev. Father T. O’Connor, C.SS.R., of Wellington, at St. Patrick’s Cathedral last evening, were quoted to convey to the hearts of the huge congregation that the life of Bishop Cleary had been one of noble example and rich in moral greatness. It was appropriate that Father O’Connor should have been chosen to speak about the Bishop’s life, for he had been a pupil of Dr. Cleary, then Father Cleary, in Ireland, and was

master or ceremonies at tne nsisnop s consecration at his home town, Enniscorthy. » ‘‘Life is our preparation for death," the speaker reminded Ills hearers. “During these days of our sadness we have been relieved by the universal expressions of sympathy and the universal expressions of admiration oi the life of him who has passed away from us —expressions which have come from the pulpits of those who differ from us in faith, and tributes eloquently expressed in the Press to the zeal, energy and the marvellously versatile ability shown in the life of your esteemed bishop. That life has been an example in our midst, an expression of hc-w life should be lived in accordance with the highest principles. "His greatness was not in his wonderful learning, nor in the wealth of expression in his literary activities nor in his continual energy and courage in other fields. No; the true greatness of that life was, and. can only be, measured in terms, not of life, but of eternity. Looking back into his life we can believe that from the moment in his youth when he left his home he was inspired by a high ideal —to enter a seminary and give himself exclusively in the service of his Divine Master.” The early life of the Bishop was briefly recalled by Father O Connor, who added that ill-health had proved to be a blessing in disguise to those who lived beneath the Southern Cross, for it compelled the great man to migrate from Ireland to Australia, and New Zealand, and there give his people the benefit of his remarkable talents. . "Learn this lesson from his life—that we are not living merely for this world,” the preacher added in conclusion. "He sought to inspire

you by his own example. The principles which were the guiding feature of his life must be the guiding feature of ours. Life for us must be a preparation for death.” PUBLIC TRIBUTES RESOLUTION FROM PRESBYTERIANS Sincere regret at the death of Bishop Cleary was expressed by members of the Auckland Presbytery yesterday, when a resolution embracing these sentiments was recorded. Fitting reference to the occasion was made by the Moderator, the Rev. W D Morrison-Sutherland, who said Bishop Liston sent him a telegram informing him that the bishop had breathed his last and inviting him to the funeral service in St. Patrick s Cathedral. He had replied expressing his sincere sympathy and intimating his acceptance of the invitation. The minute was so worded as to ■ convey the sympathy of the Presbytery members to the people of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland. The Auckland Harbour Board added its word of regret yesterday, when the chairman, Mr. H. M. Wynyard. in moling a suitable motion, described the late Bishop as a broadminded man who possessed the respect of all denominations and of all classes in the community.