MARLBOROUGH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 151, 24 March 1876, Page 13

MARLBOROUGH.

EPISCOPAL VISIT OF TIIE EIGHT BEVEBEND DB. BEIWVOOD TO KAIKOUEA. His Lordship Dr. Redwood, accompanied by the Rev. Father Sauzeau and Mr Gilbert Ward, left Wairau on the morning of the 22nd ult., for Kaikoura, overland. The distance is between 90 and 100 miles over a country more remarkable for its varied and picturesque scenery than its tacihties for traffic The first part of the road traverses some excellent pastoial country of low hills. Near Flaxbourne, the traveller' passes two line lagoons (the one of salt water, and the other of fresh) which abound with black swans and various other kinds of water fowl. The fresh water lagoon has a very attractive appearance, meandering for mi c* through the low hills bordered by irregular belts of tall green bulrush interspersed with willows. The latter part of the road follows the sea-shoie, in some places on the sand close to the breakers ; in others it trends along side cuttings made in steep wooded hills from which the traveller looks upon the sea dashing and seething against the rocks hundreds of f«.et below. On the journey His Lordship and party were kindly entertained at Starborongh and Flaxas aho by Mr. W. Gibson at Waipapa. On the 21th inst. Dr. *^Redwood was met near Hajjuka by a good number of horsemen who enthusiastically greeted Ilis Lordship, and were individually presented by the Rev. Father Sauzeau to the Bishop, who gave them his blessing. His Lordship accepted the invitation of Mr -mith, arid was driven to Lud^tone in a bu-'gy whither he was escorted by the cavalcade of horsemen On the following morning the formal reception took place, and nearly all the male portion of the congregation assembled to meet their bishop on horseback and conducted him to the church of the district situate at the Koh&i. At the church gate the horsemen, who had ridden in pairs, divided and took up popitions on each side of the entrance ; and as Hi- Lordship was driven through the phalanx, he was heartily cheered, and responded by bowing graciously to the right and to the left alternately. A triumphal arch Lad been erected over the church gate, tastefu'ly arranged with evergreens and flowers, with the word " welcome " for a motto. Dr. Redwood having retired to the vestry, put on liis robes, and in a handsomely jewelled mitre

and crosier came to the principal door of the church to receive the address, which was read and presented by a member of the congregation on behalf of the whole, of which the following is an epitome : They welcomed his Lordship in terms of filial love and admiration, as being almost a son of their adopted country, a most worthy representative of the glorious vicar of Jesus Christ, and a zealous champion of the only real and true system of education — viz., that which admits of religious instruction. They had noticed with the greatest satisfaction that nil through his lar.e diocese he had won golden opinions. They took advantage of the occasion to express their gratitude to th; Right Rev Dr Moran, the first Catholic prelate who had visited their district, to their late beloved pastor the Rev Father Sauzeau, and testified their joy at seeing him o cc more amongst them, who had established the mission, and to whom they owed bo many other signal. services They re 'erred in terma of gratitude and praise to the Be» Father Tresallet'a visit last ye ir, and then, in humble earnest language, they beggfd His Lord-hip to send a resident priest as soon as possible, that the congregation may be advised and directed, that the children may bo in&t ucted, that the sacraments of the church may be admin* istered, that the sick may be visited, and prepired, at the hour of death, for tliat awful passage from life to eternity, and concluded by begging His Lordship's blessing. The Kight Rev Prelate thanked the congregation for their a-ldress, and told them ho would answer it in the church, and there give them his blessing solemnly. He then proceeded to the altar, aud the people entered the church, which had been decorated with everureens, and natural and artificial flower* by the ladies of the)congrdgation. In answering the address His Lordship sai'i he thanked the congregation most sincerely for the kind and hearty demonstration with which they had welcomed him amongst them, and also for the devotion displayed in the address. In his person they honoured the dignity of the successor of the Apostles and vice-regent of the glorious vicar of Jesus Christ on earth. He wai much pleased with the view they had expressed on the important subject of education. Without religious training there might be instruction, but there could not be education in its true sense, nor morality, nor respect for the love of God. He said secularism is a violation and usurpation of the parental rights, and a setting aside of Christianity altogether, it is also a glaring injusticej ustice and tyranny. It is the same as saying we will only suffer Jesus Christ to be present in our churches or closets, and he shall be banished from society, and the knowledge of our children. Catholics did not hold this doctrine, and he appealed to the con regation in most eloquent and forcible language, by every means in their p >wer to obtain tor their children a sound education that would at once develope the mind morally and intellectually. His Lord hip said he admitted the want of a priest in the district to provide for the spiritual wants of the peo, le, but he was compelled to piovide pr ests for larger congregations whtch rendered it impossible for him to send one <o Xaikoura and thus fulfil his most ardent wish. However, he hoped before very long to be able to afford them the consolation they so earnestly wished and legitimately claimed. His Lordship then g we his blessing to the congregation at large and after wards offered the Holy Sacrifice of the m iss. On Sunday, 27th Feb., His Lordship the Bishop celebrated the eleven o'clock mass and preached to a large congregatiou a very excellent sermon on prayer, taking for his text the words — " Ask and ye shall i eceive," and showed in a most lucid manner the miture of prayer, the nece sity, power and eflicacyof it, and the conditions that render our prayers acceptable to G-od and beneficial to ourselves. In the afternoon His Lordship assisted at devotions and preached on Salvation from the w tels — " One thing is necessary," and in a most earnest and impressive manner showed the importance and urgent necessity of it. After mass on Monday 28, Dr Redwood gave a very able instruction on "confession" and " contrition," and explained what was necessary for those to do who have not a priest pear them. On Ash-Wodnesday, His Lordship celebrated mass and delivered a most pathetic aud instructive sermon on death, from the words used by the Church at the ceremony of blessing the ashes — " Remember man that thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return." The learned prelate pictured the parallel cases of the denth of a sinner and a true disciple of Christ in such touching lauguage, that the congregation were gr>'»tly mo^ed by it. On Friday His Lordship preached a very eloquent sermon on mortal sin. which he said was disobedience, rebellion, and black ingratitude against God, an J a Deicide, or G-od murdering. On Sunday, the 3rd inst., His Lordship celebrated mass, administered the sacrament of confirmation, and explained in his usual beautiful and clear language the solemn rights of the Church in respect to that sacrament. In the afternoon he assisted at Devotions aud preached ngain. On Monday His Lordship celebrated mass and gave an instruction to a numerous congregation, a larg» number of whom went to their Easter duties. During His Lordsip's visit the Church was regularly aud numerously attended. Dr Redwood left Kaikoura for the Nurth, via, Blenheim, on Tuesday 7, and took with him the well deserved love ond admiration of the whole Catholic communi'y, whose greatest reg et was that his stay was so limited. — Kaikoura, Bth March, 1876.