BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH'S TESTIMONIAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 43, 31 July 1891, Page 31

BISHOP OF CHRISTCHURCH'S TESTIMONIAL.

CIRCULAR LETTER.

Presbytery, Barbados Street, Chriatchurch, Feast of St. Barnabas, Apostle, June llib, 1891. rDBAR Ret. Fathkr, — In view of the appnaching return of Hh Lordship the Bishop, the Undersigned, as Members of the Executive Committee, have much pleisure in discharging a duty irap-sd upon them by the Clergy, on the occasion hereinafter referred to. From information lately received by the Very Rev. Father Cammings, 8. M., Administrator of the Dioc j se, we hive every reason to believe th*t Hia Lordship, Bight Rev. Dr. Grimes, S. YL., has already left Europe on bis homeward j jurney . We, therefore, deem this a fitting occasion to bring under your notice the " Resolutions " unanimously adop'ed by the Clergy last January, and exhort you to use jour best endeavours to give practical effect to such withes. In hia last letter his Lordship says, " That it has pleased Almighty God to restore me to my normal state of health, and that after visiting the ' Tombs of the Apostles,' and there praying for all, I approached the Sacred Person of the Sapreme Pontiff, Leo XIII, to whom I gave a fall and detailed account of tha Diocese of Christchurch." His Lordship expres3e9, vary touchingly, the great joy he feels •t the prospect of baing soon in the midst oE hi; devoted flock, whose spiritual and temporal welfare ha ha? not b-ian unmindful of in his daily prayers and ia the Holy Sacrifica of tha Ma 93. A duty therefort, is incumbent upon us, a duty which we trust every Catholic in the Diocese will recognise, namely, to reciprocate this affectioa of our father in Goi. Taough his medical advisers insisted on absolute rest, necessary even foi preservation of life, yet filled with zial for the welfare of his flock, we learn hia eff jns wera untiring in ou; behalf. Should wj not then mauifest our de3p appreciation of hid interest in va, and givo substantial projf of oar gratitude ? We cannot better manifest our filial devotion than by following tl c laudable custom, everywhere observe! when a Bish >p retur is to his Diocese after a prolonged absence, to ten'ler him some tangible proof of his people's joy and devotedness. Recognising this duty, the Clergy of the Divese, Secular an 1 Regular, assembled in Corisichurch for their " Annual Retreat," unanimously agreed th it a suitable maaifestatioa of suci jay and gratitude would be made by the Presentation of a joint Testimonial from the Clergy aa 1 L uty, in ailuion to which a Special Preson'atioi would be rmde by the Clergy themselves. Togive practical form to the object in vuw, th- Clfrgv formed themselves into a nommi'tei,vi 1 app Jinte 1 a &m\\\ w >rk':ig E*u_'utive, of w lij'u taj Vir ; Li v 'i'j » I b\ njm Guti vi l^-i, O'D ki a •_■ 1 1 aid Aubrty, wive a ij >i ,tj I 0 ut him, S srjt-ir/ a id IVjasur jr resp-c - ively. In disj'iar^iof; then th 3 duty ratrasYd 'o t iem, th-; Ex3cu'h T e advise : Ist. — ThU in >>ach Parish thyr; be foraud a Sub-Ojtnmittee of which the Parish Pne9t, o- Prij9t ia c tr_jj, bi Ctnirmin e,c a fin it all the Priests b ing injoa'jsn of the Gineral 'Je'itial (Jjmm ttte. 2ad. — Thit these S ib-C^m mtt vs appom' fro n t h ■i r iwi members or oth is ti 'y miv dv ; l>, U ) 'e -^o -;, t ) whom tv accompanying Subscript' ) i Lists sbou i bi issue 1. 3rd. — The 0 >'lecto a 3') appointed oho ll i rcura Lst3 an I Vroceeis of tieir canvass »o ♦'!! -u respective Pri » Uin clnrgj i i titn •to enable the Utter to f )r.var I them to 'ha '• (Jen ral C ) nmi toe " or Treasurer. 4'b. — Thj Executive 0 >nmkt >c w.il 11 <lv; course a hide the Bub-Committee of the ex ic* time an 1 mileo' Presentation. It is the s'tsc re wi-h of thi A hmnHtWor, th» Ev c .tive, 0 >mmittee, ami of the Ckrgy generally, tn it this matter be responded to in a thoroughly warm-hjarteJ, loving, aa I enthusiastic nunner. They, moieover, confi lently an icipat: t h it if s > taken up, the result will not Bu£f >r by c^mparis^n with th> result of any previous aimilir efforts male by any community m New Zetland. We trust, Dear Rev. Father, jou will read this Circulir from the Pulpit at all tho Masses ml Semen, oarnes'ly ox untiug your 11 ick to enter generously and fully into this work, and tuereoy give public expression of our devoted iesa and gra'itude- to our bilov d Bishop and Father ii Goi. the Risht Rev. Dr. Grimes. Earnestly begging your prayers, We remain, Yours humbly in thr^ Lor 1, Stephen Ccmmixg-s, S.M , Dioc. Admin., Chairman jAMfcS J. O'Donnell, Secretary Augustine Aubkey Treasur-r Executhe Committee. On Sunday, July 26, feast of St Anne, a largely-attended meeting was held in the pro-Cathedral for the purpose of devising means for

the reception of his Lordship Dr Grimes on his return to his diocese. TLm meeting was convened by the admiaibliator of the diocese, Very Rev F. Cummings, who also presided at same. He said that owing to a "letter received during the past few days, we might expect his lordship in our midst at any time. On May 8 his lordship arrived in New York, and a few days later ljftfor Louisiam. His lordship expressed his intention of returning at tha earliest date possible to his diocese and flock. Thisd*} 7 , said the vicar-general, was the fourth anniversary of his lordship's conatcration, and a very fitMng occasion for taking immediate steps of tendering his loidship some tangible proof of his people's joy and devotedcess. A double duty oblige! the people to this ; he being not only their bishop, but also the titular rector and parish priest of Christchurch. It was then proposed by tbi Very Rev Father Aubrey, and the motion was carried unanimously, " That a committee bs vow formed which shall take immediate measures, at once, for the successful carrying out of the proposed testimonial to his Lordship the Bishop of Christchurch, and that this same committee shall be empowered, as circumstances may require, to add to their numbers." A strong committee was thereupon formed. After some further discussion the meeting closed, and the choir sang in full chorus, " God blesd oar Pope."