THE RIGHT REV DR GRIMES AT GERALDINE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 25, 8 April 1892, Page 21

THE RIGHT REV DR GRIMES AT GERALDINE.

(From our Temuka Correspondent.) I WAS waiting for the report re the Bight Rev Dr Grimes' visit to Geraldine, to appear in your paper, but, as none has appeared, the one appended may suit all purposes.

The visit of his Lordship the Bight Rev Dr Grimes was looked forward to by our Catholic friends of Geraldine with keen interest the good prelate being no less beloved by them than by us here* Great preparations were made for his reception, and on Saturday,' March 11, Geraldine presented an extremely lively appearance. Marvellous outward signs of faith were shown by the good people.' In due time the people made their way to tht Orari Railway Station' and his Lordship, on arriving there by the express train, was met by a large procession to escort him to Geraldine. The cortege consisted of fully thirty vehicles, besides horsemen. His Lordship was driven in a carriage with a pair of greys, lent by Mr A. White, and with him were Fathers Le Peti (Temuka), Tupmaa (Timaru), and Treacy, Half an hour after his arrival in Geraldine bis Lordship made his episcopal visitation to the church, and on the threshold of the door was met by members of the Church, the following address of welcome being read to him by Mr James Ealaugher :—: — "To the Right Rev Dr Grimes, S.M., Bishop of Ohristchurch.

"My Lord,— We, the pries! and people of Geraldiot, extend our hearty welcome to yon on this your second episcopal visitation to our parish. We recognise in your Lordship the representative of our Most Holy Father the Pope and our spiritual father in God We, in common with the other members of your diocese, felt regret at your f oiced absence from our midst, and have now to express our great joy at your return in good health, and hope that your Lordship may long continue to enjoy that blessing. We followed your movements at Home, and noted with pleasure the result of your visit to His Holiness Pope Leo XIII. Since your return we have had further proof of your solicitude for the welfare of your flock in the fact of your visits to the different parishes. We regret that, owing to the improvements which have been made in tbe church, we have been unable to invite you to our parish before. Your Lordship will be pleased to learn that, since the arrival of the Rev Father Treacy, a long-standing debt has been paid off. and extensive additions made to the church. In the collecting of money for these objects our priest has been obliged to make considerable pecuniary sacrifices, and has been put to a great deal of trouble. la conclusion, we hope that your Lordship may long be spared health and strength to carry on the work in your diocese, and to enable you to perform the arduous duties connected witb your episcopal position, and aek your blessing on ourselves and our families. Signed on behalf of the parish* Patrick Treacy, Kyran Brophy, Timothy Sugrue, Jeremiah Connolly Edmucd Burke, Michael Connolly, P. H. McShane, Timothy Herlihy."

After ascending to tbe sanctuary, his Lordship thanked the mem . bers of the church for the right royal, or, more correctly speaking Catholic welcome which they had given him when he crossed the threshold of their parish church on his episcopal visitation. They had met him at the door of the church and spoken to him in words

of love and loyalty, and, as they put it themselves, they recognised < in him the representative of the Father of the Church, Pope Leo XIII. It was not merely because of his position that he accepted their welcome, bat because they had come to him m aking a profession of faith —it was the outward manifestation of their inward feelings. It was that faith enabled their forefathers to sacrifice everything, even land, home, and country, to transmit to those who followed that precious inheritance which they rightly deemed to be more than all the world beside. So in their welcome they paid a tribute to the holy principles of faith. He thanked them for their kind and cordial expressions regarding his health, and, furthermore! for the prayers they had offered for him during his absence. He was pleased to see that the efforts of their devoted priest, united with their generosity, had provided such a beautiful building, which would bring honour and priory to God, to Whom it was dedicated. He was glad to see the increased accommodation. The church was really too ■mall before, but now it was one which wonld be the pride and glory of Geraldine. When he first came to these parts there was some hesitation before enlarging the church at Geraldine, and it was considered hardly necessary, but he found now that there bad been tbe necessity to increase it twofold. He need not in his presence pass any enlogiums on their priest, bat he thought that the fact of his having cleared the church of debt, and improved it as it now was, wonld be tbe best praise a bishop could make use of. His Lordship then explained the object of his visitation, and the Church laws with respect to the visitation of a bishop, and afterwards spoke on the question of State aid to Catholic schools. He considered that whereas in England, Ireland, and other places in Europe, Catholic schools were placed on an equal footing with other schools, the Government of New Zealand were treating them unfairly . He urged every Catholic present to give bis vote only to those members or Parliament who would fight for their rights. He was quite sorry to see so many Catholic children before him without a school of their own, for children required spiritual education not once a week, but every day in the week.

On Sunday morning at 8 o'clock a Mass was held, his Lordship conducting. The weather was very wet, but the attendance was large. At eleven o'clock, when the weather had cleared up, the church wai full of people who had assembled to witness the dedication of tbe church to God. His Lordship read the Ist Epistle to the Thessalonians, iv., 1 to 7, and the Gospel of St Matthew, xvii., 1 to 9. and afterwards preached an eloquent sermon on the Transfiguration of Christ, winding up with reference to the tabernacle of old and the temple of to-day. Tbe time bad long since come with the fulfilment of Christ's words with regard to the Temple of God. That day they had met to witness a fulfilment of the divinely-inspired words. They had a small building, but God in His infinite goodness accepted such as a temporary habitation for Himself and His tabernacle. They had united with i heir devoted priest in longing for something better to present before God, and the day had come when they could dedicate a new temple to God, although not one as erected by their forefathers of old, wno had wealth at their disposal, Tbeir temple would henceforth be a house of prayer, and not oniy a house of prayer, for the whole eartti should be a house of prayer. Every thought and every action should be so many prayers raising as it were from the visible to the invisible. God, however, had exacted that there should be a place of prayer erected, but they wanted something more, they wanted a Hoase of God — the Tabernacle of God with men — a home for all the faithful. This was what their church would be from that day forward— a House of God. It was this that made the Catholic Church what it is. What, he asked, was it that gave strength to a Father Datnieo, and those who had made themselves lepers for the lepers of the earth ? What gave them such heroism ? The tabernacle of the Catholic Church and the House of tbe Tabernacle. What made those Sisters of Mercy go into the battle-fields? Again it was the tabernacle. What male the Catholic priesthood what it is, and made young men give up home and all tb.it was dear to them and consecrate to God tbeir bodies, senses, faculties, and powers ? It was the tabernacle and the altir. Hi wished tnat the temples they were building were a million times batter than they were, but God was satisfied so long as thy did their best.

Daring this Bervica Mass was celebrated by the Rjv Father Le Peti, the Eev Father Tupman being master of ceremonies. His Lordship the Bishop presided, assisted by the Rev Father Treacy. A collection was taken up at the conclusion, which proved very satisfactory, leaving the church free of debt. Y~ In the afternoon at 4 o'clock there was even a larger attendance than in the forenoon, and every sent in the building was occupied. Presented for tbe Sacrament of Confirmation were fifty. sii persons, comprising four adults, and of young people twenty-six females an 1 twenty-sfx males. His Lordship examined the youog subjects minutely on tbeir knowledge of the Christian doctrine, aud the lacility with which they answered his questions showed thut they tad been well trained by Father Treacy. His Lordship gave them praise for their knowledge, and addressed them on the obligations tkey would take upon tbemielves in Confirmation. Christ had pro-

mised to send them the Paraclete, the comforter, which would give them understanding of right and wrong. They had received God's virtue, which would enable them to avoid evil and choose the good • He closed his discourse by advising them to be constant in prayer, morning and evening. The Sacrament of Confirmation was then administered by his Lordship to the subjects, after which he imparted to the congregation the Papal Benediction, which it is customary for a bishop to do on his visitation to a parish after his return from Borne.

During the several services, the choir, which was seated in the gallery, with Mrs Willougbby at the instrument, rendered some excellent music. The church had a very pleasing appearance when filed with people and with all the candles on tbe altar lit. On tbe recommendation of tbe Bishop the congregation intend immediately to go on with the erection of a spire and other alterations which will add more beauty to the building.

It is nesdless to bespeak the co-operation of the good people with the Eev Father Treacy in the erection of the spire, as the priest and people there are one. Father Treacy, as is well known, has been bat a short time in Geraldine, and since bis arrival there has cleared off a debt of £400, and made extensive additions to the church. The people owe him a gteat deal, and I am sure in all his labours it will be a pleasure to them to assist him. Father Treacy is indeed a real worker in his master's vineyard, aod it is hoped he will be long spared to the people of Geraldine, as he is the right man in tbe right place. The church now looks very pretty, and Father Treacy must be complimented on bringing this state of things about.