The Late Dr Moran.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5271, 30 May 1895, Page 2

The Late Dr Moran.

THE FUNERAL. I [fbom ottr special cokbispondxnt.] DUNEDIN, Mat 29. The obsequies of the late Bishop Moran to-day were attended with much impressive ceremony. In the forenoon St Joseph's Cathedral was crowded with members of the congregation and others while the solemn office of the dead and mass were celebrated by Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch. Thirty-two of the Bp man Catholic clergy, including priests from Hawke'e Bay, Wellington, Christchnroh and all parts of Ofcago, were present at the service. Archbishop Redwood delivered a lengthy eulogiura on the deceased prelate, based upon the words applied .by the Saviour to one whom He Btyled. aa holding the highest place as a prophet among the children of men. His Grace said that these words, with due proportion, might be fitly applied to the pontiff whose remains they were honouiing for the laat time. The cathedral was heavily draped in black, but the sombre symbols of mourning everywhere apparent were relieved by the white of the pillars, and still more by the masses of wreaths and crosses, principally composed of white chrysanthemums, which almost smothered the glass-topped coffin as it reposed upon the catafalque that had been erected in front of the sanctuary. At the close of the service nearly all present embraced the opportunity of taking a laeb look at the remains of the beloved Bishop, aod there were few ii the congregation who were not deeply affected.

The fuperal in the afternoon was attended by all classes of the community, and waa one of tbe largest funerals seen in Dunedin for the last ten years; the other two being that of Dr Stuart last year and the military funeral accorded SergeantMajor Bavin, one of the Balaclava heroes, a few years ago. The girls and boys of the Roman Catholic schools and societies took part in the procession to the number of several hundred, and various organisations, such as Hibernian societies, the Dunedin Catholic Literary Society, Sacred Heart Society and Confraternity of the Holy Family, with the congregations of the cathedral and the two churches which Dr Moran opened in Dunedin were largely represented; in fact, it may be said that every male Catholic whom sickness or other unavoidable cause did not prevent from, attending was present in the funeral procession.

The Soman Catholio clergy occupied eight carriages in front of the hearse, and I four of the local priests acted as pallbearers. Ther a were also .about twenty carriages of Protestant and other denominations present, among them being Bieliop Neville and representatives of the Presbyterian, . Congregational, and Jewish Churches. The attendance of the general public was exceedingly large, and distinctly representative. The Mayor and City Council attended in a body, and other local bodies were all strongly represented. Sir Patrick: Buckley attended in a dual capacity, on behalf of the Ministry and aa a delegate from the Catholics of Wellington. Over a dozea members of the Legislature were present, among them Sir Sober t Stout, with whom the late Bishop crossed many a sword/but for whom he always entertained the highest respect, and the -lon W. J* M. Larnach, who was Dr Moran's successful opponent when the Bishop stood for the Peninsula seat many years ago. If a ' complete list were given of the prominent citizens who took part in the procession it would involve the enumeration of nearly every person of standing in commercial, social, educational and ecclesiastical circles in the city. Large numbers of representative Catholics from the churches which the deceased prelate established throughout Otago, wherever the population justified it, and representatives from Catholic congregations in Canterbury arrived by train daring the last day or two and swelled the number of mourners.

The cortege was timed as it passed different points on the line of route, and it was found that the procession, which marched to the strains of Beethoven's Funeral March, played by the Citizen-* Band, took twenty-five minutes to pass a givea spot. Traffic in the thoroughfares through which the funeral moved wsb entirely suspended, and the streets were thronged with thousands of people, whose respectful demeanour and orderly conduct sufficiently reflected the general feeling of sincere regret at the heavy loss sustained, not only by the Roman Catholio body, bub by the community at large, in the removal of one whose simplicity o£ lite and nobility of character made him a model whom all might imitate.

[Per Pbebb Association.]

The remains of the late Bishop Moran were conveyed to their last resting-place in the Southern Cemetery this afternoon. At 2.30 large crowds had congregated about the cathedral, and the streets were thronged with dense masßes, and every window and place from which the procession could be seen was lined with people. The tolling of the bell gave the aignal to start. The Citizens' Band was leading, followed by over a hundred girls, pupils of the Dominican Nuns, and about one hundred boys. Then came the members :of the Hibernian Sooiety and Literary {Society, the male members of the Confraternity of the Holy Family, and acolytes with the cross, f ollowedby thirty prießt a from various districts, Bishop Grimeß and Archbishop Redwood. The hearse, drawn by four horßes, came next, with four local priests as pall - bearers. The Bishop's medical advisers and memberß of the household, in carriages, followed. Then came Bishop Neville and English Church clergy, members of the City Council, Harbour Board, Charitable Aid Board and i Benevolent Trustees. Clergy of all denominations were largely represented. There was a large turn-out of leading citizens and members of Parliament. Sir P. Buckley and the Hon S. E. Sbrimßki were in a carriage, while Sir R. Stout was I on foot. Archbishop Eedwood conducted the service at the grave. Many wreaths were received from ail parts of the colony, and there were delegates from each diocese. "