BISHOP GRIMES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2256, 19 September 1891, Page 3

BISHOP GRIMES.

[Abridged from the Lyttelton Times.] Though the weather on Thursday night was not so favourable for an outdoor demonstration as might have been desired by the Catholics of Centerbury on the occasion of the return of the Right Rev. Dr Grimes, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Canterbury and Westland, the attendance was quite equal to that on the occasion of his Lordship's arrival in this city hi" 1888. There was an apparent earnestness and esprit de corps on the part of all those taking part in the proceedings, which gave a distinct proof of the love and respect which his Lordship commands.,. The Bishop arrived in Lyttelton by the Te Anau early on Thursday mornirig and spent the day there until 6 oclock, when he left for Chriatchurch, where great preparations had been made for. the reception. His Lordship on arrival at the railway platform, was escorted by members of the clergy through an immense crowd to his carriage, a carpet being laid all the way. The Addington band played a suit-, able selection while the Bishop took his seat in the carriage. The procession of horsemen, band, Hibernians, Literary Society, St. Albyisus' Guild, Christian doctrine, teachers and- laity of the parish then precededthe carriage to the Presbytery, where all defiled, and the carriages entered the grounds amid a blaze of coloured fires which were burning in different parrts of the grounds. .By the time his Lordship and the clergy had robed and entered the church, that building was filled in every part. The procession up the aisle included the Revs Fathers Marnane, D. P. O'Connor, M. O'Connor, Browne, Vaston, Foley, Regnault, Fauvel, O.'Donnell, Chastagnon, Halbwachs, and Laverty. The Revs. Fathers Chervier and LeMenant de Ghesnais officiated as deacon and sub-deacon respectively, and the Bishop was preceded by the Very Rev Father Cummings and Aubray, the former assisting in , the cope. As the Bishop entered, the choir, under Mr H. H. Loughnan. sang the <• Ecce Sacerdos by Cellini.

As soon as his Lordship was seated and clothed in his episcopal robes, addresses were presented from'the parish of Christchurch, the ' diocese, the society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Hibernians, St. Aloysius' Guild, the Literary Society, and Children of-Mary. The addresses were handsomely illuminated in colours and enclosed in massive gilt frames. Father Cummings, after reading the address, asked his Lordship to accept, as a more substantial token of the love which was borne for nimby the various branches of his diocese, a purse containing £665 — and he read a list of all the parishes in the diocese, and the amounts subscribed by each; none were less than £l7 10s. On behalf of the clergy, he also presented a very handsomely constructed faldstool, with which they hoped his Lordship would long appreciate their love and affection while administering the various sacraments.

The Bishop then ascended the pulpit and addressed the congregation, when it was soon observed that not only was his Lordship's health restored,, but that his powers of speech were far greater than at any time before. He began by expressing his difficulty in finding words to convey the emotions of his heart on this occasion —one which he had been longing for for so many months, and yet at one time dreading it would never arrive—that he would not live to see his own people again. Words could not describe his gratitude to Almighty God for the long-looked-for return to his people, who had never been absent from his thoughts nor forgotten in his prayers. He told briefly the visit to the head-of the Church, and how in private audiences the Pope had closely inquired into the relations between the priests, and the people, and how his Holiness had beamed with delight on learning the happy relations that did exist; how the schools were conducted, and the many kindly enquiries into the class of teachers they had. In thanking them for the beautiful addresses presented he recognised that the keynote in them was their gratitude to the Giver of all good things, and in thus marking their pleasure at his return he also recognised their respect for the Church. He cordially thanked the clergy for the zeal and devotedness they had displayed during his absence. He remarked that it was really wonderful to contemplate the amount of work that had been done, and the surprisingly successful manner in which the reverned administrator of the diocese had discharged the sacred and important duties that had developed upon him. One of the questions on which his Holiness had specially inquired about was the unity of the people, and ho rejoiced to see that unity so well maintained and expressed in the address. Ho concluded a most eloquent address by stating that he was authorised to give them the Apostolic blessing, but he would seek another occasion, and ended by delivering the Episcopal blessing. The Benediction Service, " O Salutaris " (Haydn) was then sung, after which the Te Deum in ancient plain song, brought" the procedings to a ' close. ■ i