WELCOME TO BISHOP GRIMES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13608, 30 May 1908, Page 3

WELCOME TO BISHOP GRIMES.

PARISHIONERS' SOCIAL

His Lordship Bishop Grimes, Catholic Bishop of Christchurch, spending a few days in Timaru, tlie parisluoners held, a social gathering in the Assembly Roomslast evening as a means of welcoming his Lordship among them. There was a large attendance, the hall was nicely decorated for the occasion, and the seats were grouped in a manner that made the affair homelike and cheerful. His Lordship arrived iAout eight o clock, accompanied b) Dean Reghault, and Rev. Fathers Tubman, Ijo Floe and McDonald, and was met by the Reception Committee and conducted to the beat- of honour in front of the platform. The chief interest of the evening centred in an address of welcome to His Lordship and his reply. The address was presented by the parishioners and the different Catholic societies. It was read by Mr J. G. Venning, the secretary of the reception committee, and was a fitting tribute from a flourishing body to its most successful leader. It touched on the care which His Lordship had ever shown for the spiritual wants o£ the parish, and also on the part he had taken in all matters of public interest that affected the welfare of the Dominion. It made allusion te the great undertaking, the Christchurch Cathedral, and the undoubted success that had already attended the reduction of the financial* burden which its execution had entailed. It spoke of the need of a new church for ( Timara ,and after paying a tribute to the nuns of the- Sacred Heart—whose celebration of the beatification of tho foundress of their Order had caused His Lordship to anticipate the time of his usual visit —tho ad_dress closed -with hopes for his speedy restoration to perfect health. In replv," His Lordship expressed his gratification at tho splendid welcome accorded him. He did not however take the welcome as personal to himself, but couisidered it as tendered more to the sacerdotal office he held than to tiro person who represented that office. He said lie had a vivid xecollection of lik> first visit to Timaru, twenty years ago, and of the cordial reception then given him, la "right toval reception"—a newspaper of that date described it. In their beautifully worded address they had given him ntc'it for the spiritual and temporal procress of the parish, out- he ctuld only take credit for these 111 the -.'•iiifc wav that a general could tai:e c.edir. for the bravery and the victories of the ooldiers under his command. Timaru had been blessed with a succession of grand priests. he knew to his cost, because m» manv of them bad been called awaj tt. perforin more important duties eiwwhere. He specially referred in saying this to tin- early pioneers; tho work of th* generation still living spoke for itself. The address referred to his having "taken part in public matters In tins regard he would say that, besides ins duty to the Church he had also a duty as a citizen, and he 'exercised his light as a citizen whenever hj» felt called upon to do so. He was very pleased to see that their priest was also a real live citizen of the town. Concerning the Chriftchun ii Cathedral, he need not weary tlimi Indescribing its beauties, or dwelling on the financial struggle its erection had entailed, but he would do himself the pleasure of telling them what the late Governor Lord Ranfurlv had written him about it since his return to the Old Country. Lord Ranfurlv had all along shown great interest m the building whilst it was in the- course of erection, and in the letter referred to he said "\ ou are going i« have the handsomest building in tiie Southern Hemisphere." That was what a good judge thought of the cathedral a» a building. He was Very pleased to hesr that they had a good sum in hand towards the cost of erecting y. new churrii in Timaru. Ife gave a whole-heart-eof sanction to the project, and hoped the building would soon bo begun, and lie would be glad t<» help them in every i>ossib!e way. His present visit was made earlier than usual, ill order that he might take pari in the ceremonies connected with the declaration of the blessedness of thd founder of the Order of the Sacied Heart, Madame Barat. Longbefore he came to Timaru ha was informed that the nuns were coming here, and he rejoiced to hear it, because he felt that a parish organisation without a sisterhood was lacking in completeness. An excellent musical programme was then gone through. This had been arranged by Mrs Mangos, who also acted as accompanist with her usual taste and judgment. The opening item wai> r. pianoforte duet by Misses Dennehy and Twomey, and this wa« followed by song:-, excellently sung and heartily appreciated. The singers were Mesdames C. I'*- Kerr and T. VY. Lynch, and Messrs Mc Bride, De Looze, Jordan, and Andrews. Rev. Father McDonald added violin solos, and Mrs Mangcii and Miss Twomey pianoforte duets. Encores were the order of the evening, and the programme «as greatly enjoyed. Refreshments were then served, and after justfee had b:en done- io the.'.-. Rev. Father Tubman moved a hearty vote of thanks to all who had helped to make tho social such a success, and particularly to those who were not members of the church, and whose assistance had been of great value. He mentioned that the fund for the erection of a new church now amounted to about £SOOO. and lie hoped that they would soon be able to make a start with its erection. The motion was carried by acclamation, and a. pleasant evening was brought to a close with " Auld Land J*'vnc."