THE RECEPTION OF BISHOP GRIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1695, 7 February 1888, Page 4

THE RECEPTION OF BISHOP GRIMES.

His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr Grime 3, S.M., arrived at Lyttolton on Thursday morning. He was accompanied by his Greco Archbishop Redwood, S.M.; the Very Rev. Fathor Prior Butler, S.M. • the Very Rev. Father Seduzean, S.M. ; Rev. Fathers Martin, B'nsfield, Ginaty, Lewie, and Smyth. They were met by the Rev. Fathers Le Menant dos Chesnais, S.M., O'Donne'.l, Kickham, and Brother Joseph, Superior of the Marist Brothers Christchurch ; Meß»ra T. M. Lonargan, Sheath, A. J. White, P. Burke and R. J. Loughnan, and members of of the Catholic community of Lyttelton were also present. The clerical party proceeded to St. Joseph's Church where the first mass was takon by his Lordship the Bishop at 9 a.m., and the second mass at balf-post nine, by his Grace ths Archbishop. During the day the visitors were the guests of the Rev. Father Kickham, and were shown the various places of interest. At 4.25 p.m. a specially-engaged train left Christchurch. It had on board the Revs. Prior Butler, Fathers Le Menant de Chesnais, Binsfield, O'Donnell, Foley, Fauvel, Ssauzaau, Chervier, Chastagnon, Krown, and Goutenoire, Messrs O'Brien, Perceval, R. J. Loughnan, Sheath, T. M. Lonargan, J. Barret, V. Flynn, P. Henley, and M. Malley, all of whom were introduced to the Bishop at the Church of St. Joseph, Lyttelton. The train returned to Christchurch at 5.35 p.m., aud arrived shortly before 6. His Lordship was met by Father Halbwach, who conducted him to his carriage, which, with a pair of bay horse*, was subsequently pre-1 sent9d by the laity. A procession was tben formed in the following order, marshalled by Mr O'Neill :—Canterbury Catholic Literary Society's Band, members of the Hibernian Society, carriage of Arohbishop Redwood and Father Ginaty, carriage of Bishop Grimes, Fathers Le Menant and Halbwach, with outriders, and carriages containing the remainder of the priests and members of the Committee. The route taken was direct from the railway station to the priests' house in B.irbadoes street, where the carriage drive was lined with boys from the Bchool, the girls from Ihe Convent School, the children of Mary, and the twelve Sisters forming a guard of honor occupied a prominent positioa. Over the gate in front of the Cathedral was the Irish welcome, CtadMilleFailihe ; the inscription "Long Live Leo. XIII. and Our New Bishop " formed an arch under which Dr Griniss paswd; and over the entrances of the bonses were the inscriptions " Welcome Prince of the Church," and " Long Live our Bishop," The boys carried flags cf various colors, principally green; the smaller children were dressed in white, with green sashes, flags, aid head wreaths ; the children of Mary woie blue cloaks, and the guard of honor soarlet, ♦he whole scene being extremely pretty. The Cathedral had been beautifully decorated for the Installation Service. There were innumerable candles alight in the sanctuary, the paraphernalia of which was illuminated with much splendour. The Cathedral was densely filled with people. As the procession left the priests' house the assembly of people outside cheered His Lordship as loudly as when he drove up in his carriage. The acolytes entered the church first, followed by" the priests, cross-bearers, Archbishop Redwood, attended by Father Ginaty; Bishop Grimes, attended by Father Fauvel; and several members of the Committee; the choir singing the "Ecee Sacerdos" as the procession walked up the aisle. His Grace Archbishop Redwood was conducted by Father Ginaty to his throne on the right, and Bishop Grimes knelt at the entrance to the sanctuary in front of the altar. The Rev. Father Lewis, commissioned by His Grace the Archbishop, read the papal brief, constituting the new diocese of Christchurch, und then that appointing Dr Grimeß as Bishop of the newly erected see. His Grace the Archbishop conducted Bishop Grimes to his throne on the left, at which the assistant w<*a the Rav. Father Fauvel. Addresses were then read from the Rev. Father Le Menant desChssnalK, tho Clergy, the Laity, and the Hibernian and Literary Societies. Hiß Lordship made a most earnest and affecting reply. In the course of it he said he had been moved, and deeply moved, and felt profoundly grateful for the welcome which hr-d been given him that evening. He had little to give in return, but what he had he gave thsm from his heart, and he had nothing more to give. Doubtless it was little of itself but he gave it to them wholly, truly, and ungrudgingly ; it was every energy of his nrnd, of his heart, and of hia strength. All he. had was th»irs from that day, and God was his witness at the foot of His Altar, that after Hia Glory their interests should be his (bis Lordship's). Their sorrows he would lovingly share with them. He would willingly prevent them from having them were it God's holy will, but he knew He loved to see others suffer that they might be brought to Him—that they might be brought to the Tabernacle and blessed and saved. Once more would ho thank them for their welcome, for the " Oead MilkFailthe" which he saw written up and received when he entered Christchurch. He thaDked them from the bottom of his neart, and he promised that those gifts which they had eo kindly presented to him would be treasured by him as praotical proof that I hey gave him their goodwill when he first came in their midst. He would ask that the Father of all Mercies would give them and their respective pastors His grace and His lovp, that He would shower down upon them all those blessings which were a million times better than any he could give them. Mr W. B. Perceval on behalf of a layman, then presented hia Lordship with a pectoral gold cross and chain. An address was then presented to Archbishop Redwood, to which he replied, and the proceedings terminated. —(Abridged from the Press).