VISIT OF BISHOP GRIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1700, 18 February 1888, Page 2

VISIT OF BISHOP GRIMES.

The Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, arrived in Temuka by the express train yesterday. There was a large number of people of all denominations at the railway station on the arrival of the train, and many more were awaiting his arrival at the church. His Lordship was accompanied on his journey by the Rev. Father Cummings, S.M., who belongs to Sydney, but is at present in Christchurch, ind was met at the railway station by the Revs. Fathers Fauvel, Foley and Brown. On his arrival he was conducted to a carriage and pair belonging to, and in charge of, Mr Philip Wareing, and in this he and the priests took their seats, and were driven to the Church. At the church preparations were made for ins reception. The children attending the school were drtwa up in lines on both sides of the entrance to the church, and were in charge of their teachers, t.ho Sisters of St. Joseph, The peal of bells were rang the moment the train stopped at the station, and continued ringing until the carriage reached the church, On the arrival of the carriage, followed by a largo concourse of people, three cheers for Dc Gimes were called for by Mr Thomas Corcoran, of Winchester, and enthusiastically responded tcv His Lordship then entered the chureh accompanied by the Rev. Father Fauvel and the other priests, ?nd the lines of children closed in and followed him in twos. The people then followed, and when they were all seated the Church was pretty well filled. As soon as the Bishop entered the church the choir sung the Ta Hcthn. While His Lordship was robing, which took about 10 minutes, those present bad an opportunity of admiring the beauties of the Church. It looked really splendid, all the beautiful aod costly ornament* being placed in their respective pluses, and one new feature was the beautiful throne, erected specially for the reception of the Bishop, This was erected byMrßeri, under the direction of Father Fauvel, the drapery of it being the work of the Sisters of St, Joseph. The Bishop and priests, after having robed, came in by the front entrance, passed up to the altar, and after having offered up a silent prayer His Lordship took his seat on the throne, Mr Michael Quinn, accompanied by Mr Thomas Corcoran, then approached the Bishop, and read the following address, which he presented to him accompanied by a purse of sovereigns

“ To the Bight Rev. Dr Grimes, Bishop of

Christchurch.

“ My Lokd,—We, the priest and congregation of St. Joseph's Church, Tomuka, unite together in bidding you a hearty welcome. With feelings of joy and gratitude wo receive you as the accredited representative of the illustrious successor of St. Peter, who has commissioned you to labor in this distant portion of the Lord's vineyard, in preaching to us the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We tender you our sincere congratulations on the high favor conferred on you by the Holy I’ather in calling upon you to govern this newlyconstituted diocese, and wo pray that the Almighty God may pour upon you every grace and blessing you may stand in need of in your high and holy office, “ In the division of the former diocese, which led to the creation of the see over which you preside, we have found cause for regret, inasmuch as that it parted from us a Bishop whom we had learned to love, and under whose wise and moderate rule churches, schools, and colleges have sprung up, and our holy religion has made rapid progres. In the knowledge that in tiis successor we have a prelate distinguished for his learning and piety, who will carry on the good work with equal zeal and ability, we are consoled in everything except in that we have parted with an old aud much-loved friend. In you, however, we feel we, have found a new friend, by whose wisdom we shall profit, and who will readily, if needs be, make for us those personal sacrifices which distinguish the unselfishness, zeal, and devotion of the Catholic priest throughoiiu the world.

“ It will always be our earnest deaire to deserve your good opinion, rod the fact that you have selected this congregation for your first parochial visit after your instillation must necessarily endear you more and more to us, and it will act us an incentive to us to provo ourselves worthy of the great favor you have thus conferred upon us.

“ We ,heg you will accept this purse as e small token of our esteem and love for you. Signed— L. Fauael, S.M. M. Quinn. T. Ookookan. And many others, MrJ. M. Twomey, Chairman of the Reception Committee, accompanied by Mr Robert Lavery, senr., Socretary to the Committee, then read the following address : “ To the Right Rev. Dr Grimes, Bishop of Christchurch. “May it Please Tour Lordship,— We, the members of the comipiitae appointed by the congregation to arrange

for your reception, approach you with feelings of sincere affection for yourself, and of loyalty to the illustrious Sovereign Pontiff, at whose command you have come to govern this distant diocese of the Church, We desire to tend you a genuine 1 G*ad Mill* Failthe ,’ and to express our thankfulness to Almighty God fot His mercy in permitting us to enjoy the pleasure of witnessing your safe arrival in our midst. / “This being chiefly a rural district, the congregation is scattered over a large area of land, an I consequently we have not yet established many institutions which are the pride of more populous parishes. We have, however, two schools, which are under the gentle and pious care of the good Sisters of St, Joseph, whose refining and kindly influence is already felt in our midst. Adjoining the schools are houses in which the Sisters reside, and which we hope to see replaced by buildings deserving of being called convents. There is also a presbytery, and, what we take most pride in, the beautiful Church in which wo have now the felicity of receiving Your Lordship. “ With regard to the congregation’s share of the work of bringing these institutions into existence, it becomes us to say as little as possible; but we feel that it is meet and just to make Your Lordship acquainted with the part taken in it by our beloved pastor, more especially as it indicates that priest and people are bound to each other in this parish by ties of sympathy, unity, and affection, which enable them to work harmoniously together, and which we sincerely trust will not be broken until it pleases the Great Giver of Life and Death to sever them.

“ The first step towards the erection of the Church was taken in September, 1878, at the close of a mission conducted here by Father Hannsberry, when a collection was made, with the result that £I9OO was subscribed. In November, 1879, the foundation stone was laid by His Grace the Archbishop of Wellington, and nine months after the Church was built. The principal part of the material of which it is built was carted, free of charge, a distance of about 12 miles, by the parishioners, and frequently was witnessed during those nine months the edifying spectacle of ten, and sometimes twenty, drays laden with stone on their way from the quarry to the site of the Church, and recalling to mind the way in which the early Christians combined together to raise temples to the worship of the true God. This was done at the suggestion of the Eev. Father Fauvel, while the example of his own activity and untiring energy animated all with a spirit of emulation. The Chorcb was built from plans prepared by him ; he acted as Clerk of Works, and, literally speaking, superintended the laying of every stone of its walls* Even when the artisians employed 1 for the purpose failed in fixing the cross on the top of the steeple Father Fauvel succeeded in placing it in its proper position By his great energy, his zeal, and his careful administration he has erected all these edifices at a great deal leas cost than would have been possible had the work been done in the ordinary way, whilst almost every penny which ought to have gone into his own private purse has boen sunk by him in beautifying this Church. Daring the nine months it look to build the Ocurch, his days were spent on its walls, and much of his nights in designing, planning, and writing. From France ho got the stained-glass windows which adorn the Church; from America the pnal of bells which but now rang out their joyous welcome to Your Lordship, and from London the clock which ornaments the tower. It is only right, too, My Lo'd, that we should gratefully acknowledge our indebtedness to the whole community, irrespective of creed or nationality, for the liberal manner in which they subscribed to the fund for purchasing the clock, and also to many members of other denominations who contributed freely to the Church building fund. In all, we trust you will find ample proof of the seal and earnestness of our revered pastor. His life is a negation of seif. He lives only for the glory of God and the spiritual care of the flick committed to his charge, and we beg that you will pray that he may ba long spared to us.

“ In conclusion, wo beg you will permit us to express the pride wo feel in giving evidence that here, in this far-off dependency of Great Britain, the children of Graen Erin, of whom the vast majority of this congregation is composed, still cling to the faith of their fathers with a tenacity not unworthy of the history of their race, Next to their faithfulness to the Church comes their deep and undying love for their native land, and they know no stronger feeling at present than that which prompts them to hope that the day is cot far distant when she will enjoy the blessed and inalienable right of making her own laws. It adds to the great plea, sure we feel in giving a hearty welcome to Your Lordship to know that in this we shall have your sympathy and co-opera-tion.

“ We beg to be permitted to subscribe ourselves, Your Lordship's faithful and devoted childreo in Christ, “ (Signed) “ J. M. TwoMET, Chairman, “ Bober® Latekt, Secretary, “And other Members of the Committee, ” His Lordship said he hardly knew what to say to them, or how to say what he thought he might say on the occasion. But he knew he had no need of any language but the language of the heart, and ibL they would readily understand, They would believe that he came there with great pleasure. He had looked forward to coming, and lie could say a’ 1 ; the outset that their devoted pastor, speak ing in hie own and their name, on hearing of his appointment to the diocese sent him their congratulations, and assured him of a genuine Oead Milk Failthe— though when the great responsibility of the office was considered he had more need of condolence than congratulation. Their pastor said he spoke on their behalf, and promised him (His Lordship) a hearty welcome. And then he (their pastor) came at the moment of hia installation aqd asked him whether be would coirs soon. He told him it should be one of the first places he would visit, and so it was. This was the first, He felt it due to them, and he made it a duty—a pleasant duty —lo come to see them, and meet them in their church. He thanked their pastor

ani themselves for the happy words of the addresses in which they had expressed their welcome. In the first he wis told that he was received as the v< preservative of the illustrious successor ol St, Peter, who had commissloued him to labor hero. He had sent him to preach here, Here the thought must bo er pressed that had been upon him si ce he had decided to accept this cl uge. It was dreadful to know that one would have to answer at the judgment seat of God for every w ird of one’s life, good, bad, or ip. different, and for this all would have to answer. It was a great responsibility to have .to answer for a flock. If, and God forbid, a sick call were forforgotten in the many and pressing duties which devolved upon a priest it would be awful. But when a Bishop thought that he should have to answer for all his private thoughts and feelings, for all that bo bad failed to encourage, that be would haye to answer for a whole diocese, it was a great responsibility, and it made him shrink from accepting it. The Holy Father appealed to him to accept the charge, and when ho appealed be (His Lordship) said “ be it dope tome according to thy word.” He felt he had the Divine assistance. He felt they were all united iu one flock under one Shepherd. It was because of this they had received him as they had. They had not received him as a man. They recognised the Bishop in the man, and they saw in the Bishop a sue* cessor of the Apostle, and the representative of Jesus Christ. They accepted him and welcomed him though a stranger, as their Bishop and chief pastor. He wished to be received as their devoted father, and he hoped they would be obedient children. He felt greatly touched by the addresses. When he heard those touching remarks be kaew that they came from the heart, though they were uttered by (he lips. As aa evidence of the good feeling existing between their pastor and themselves he would read an extract from a letter received by him that morning from the Rev. Father Fauvel:—“ My Lord, — Please don’t take any notice of the compliments they (meaning his flock) bestow on me, but on the contrary let all the honor and glory of their church, etc., redound to the parishioners—to their goodwill, active co-operation, and generosity. If I have done anything in this place, it is, after Almighty God, to the goodwill and generosity of my people, that I am indebted for it. Let all praise and glory be given to whom it is due.” The beautiful words in the address told everything. It would be supetiousto add anything to what had been said in the last address with regard to their pastor. It had come from those who knew him, who loved him, and if they bad not spoken there was their beautiful church and its surroundings, which spoke more eloquently than human lips could. He had only to look around at the beautiful church and its splendid appointments. All told him what their pastor had done, and when he looked around he saw a sight still more pleasing—those dear little children all rapt in attention and devotion to (heir God. He Bad. heard of them all for many a year, and he said, “ Here is the greatest blessing which could be given to any pastor, Would that every priest could have such a telling address, ** When ho came among them as a stranger he might have bad some misgivings as to. how he would be. received, but he was certain they would not be anxious about his teachings. When a Catholic bishop was sent people had no doubt about what he would preach. They knew he would preach the Gospel of jesus Christ. He thanked them for the prayers which they stated they had offered up for him for the grace and blessings he stood in need of in bis high and holy office, Their interests should bo bis. He would watch over them with the greatest anxiety and take a liveliest interest in all that concerned them and theirs—their temporal and spiritual wants. The graceful allusion iu the first address to the Archbishop from whom they had parted he would forward to His Grace. In their, last address they expressed their aspirations regarding their native land, and asked for his sympathy with that noble race. Yes I Certainly Faith and ; Fatherland go hand in hand. The true love of faith, as it has been put so happily in the address, makes one love one’s fatherland, and when one has such a native land one has reason to bo proud of it. Why proud of it I Was it because she stood among the foremost nations of the world by the might of her rule! Nay 1 For the last three hundred years every page of her history was written in the blood of her martyrs and patriots. But every page of that history bore the impress of her undying attachment to the true faith, which always goes hand in hand with true love of Fatherland. Awful laws had been passed against the children of that long suffering race, but through ail they had been true to their faith and their country. Both went together—love of Faith and Fatherland—and he thought that they might look forward confidently and sanguinely to the happy time when they would see Ireland taking her proper place in the world in being privileged to make her own laws. Certainly they had his true and hearty sympathy in their aspirations. His Lordship said he had not intended to keep thenj so long, and concluded by staking that His Holiness the Pope bad commissioned him to give them his (His Holiness’) blessing, and he would do so on the following Sunday. In the meantime he would impart to them the Pontifical Blessing, as prescribed by the Church’s ritual, His Lorship, after expressing his willingness to see any member of the congregation at any time they desired to call on him, then descended from the pulpit and approached the altar. The Rev. Father Cummings, S.M., read in Latin, and then translated into English, the brief authorising the Bishop to grant an indulgence to all the faithful present. After the Contiteor and other prayers were recited His Lordship pronounced the solemn Blessing, and the ceremony terminated.

After the ceremony was over His Lordship received the members of the Reception Qommittee and a large number of the congregation at the Presbytery. He will preach at both the morning and evening services to-morrow.