CHRISTCHURCH,

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 50, 30 September 1892, Page 18

CHRISTCHURCH,

(From onr own Correspondent.) The fourth of the series of sermons delivered by Bishop Grimes on the " Existence of God," was by no means inferior to the preceding ones in excellence of matter and order, in the eloquent delivery, or in ably drawn conclusions from tha arguments presented by the preacher. Taking for his text the words « lam who am " (Bxod. iii., 14), his Lofdsbip showed that ancient and modern philosophers had written forcibly in support of the belief in a Supreme Beiog, self-existing, eternal, infinite, and possessed of the orber attributes which necessarily appertain to the divinity. Quoting from the decrees of the Vatican Council he showed that it is of faith for Catholics to believe that we may attain to a knowledge of God by the aid of the light of reason. The Church thus pronounces the panegyric of human reason and refutes the charge of being opposed to reason and knowledge. In this connection the preacher cited most beautiful passages from Socrates, Plato, and Cicero, in reference to the belief in God the Supreme, Omnipotent, the Personal God, whose providence so carefully watches over us. The passages quoted were, it was pointed out, bo much in harmony with the decree of the Vatican Council that one felt inclined to believe he was reading the teachings of Catholic theologians rather than the testimonies of pagan philosophers. In dealing with agnostics and atheists his Lordship displayed rare dialectical skill, refuting tbeir arguments and showing the utter absurdity of their subterfuge of "universal doubt," or the doctrine of uncertainty which he proved was in flagrant contradiction to daily experience. Either they doubt of their doubt or not. If they are certain that they doubt there is, at least, one thing of which they are certain. If they axe not certain then they lack the necessary principle to argue— certainty. Surely they are certain they will die. St Augustine, replying to the agnostics of his time, says, " Sifallor ergo turn." We exist therefore God exists. If God exists He must exist of Himself or of something else. If it be something else He would be a contingent being, and not the Supreme Independent Beiog proved in the previous discourses. Contingent beings depend on a first cause. Logic and reason prove that God must be a necessary being, not limited by anything, therefore, infinite and eternal. There cannot be two necessary perfect beings. Progress and development not being compatible with tbe existence of a necessary infinite being, God mast necessarily be perfect from all eternity without limit of any kind. After dwelling upon the immensity, immutability, omniscience and other attributes of God, the learned preacher read most apposite extracts from the philosophical works of Aristotle, Newton, Liebnitz and St Augustine, proving iocontestably the truth of his contentions—the existence of a personal God, infinite, eternal, and omnipotent, "in whom we live and more and have our being." In treating a subject of this nature which involves an amount of metaphysical development, a preacher has no easy task to bring it within the reach of a mixed audience. His Lordship's treatment, by divesting the logical reasonings of all technical terms calculated to confuse rather than enlighten ordinary minds, enables bis hearers to follow his clear and profound arguments step by step with pleasure and admiration to their natural coo* elusions. I regret to record the death of Miss Winefrid Griftlo, daughter of Mr Griffin, an employee of Mr A. J. White. This sad event happened on Saturday last in the 220 d year of her age, and at her father's residence in Barbour street, Opawa. Tbe deceased young lady, who was a native of Ohristchurcb, but of Irish extraction, has bten for the last five years employed with the firm of drapers in this city known as tbe D.1.0. She was about two months ago seized with an acuta attack of the rheumatic fever, wbicb, in spite of the best medical aid, affected tbe heart, and thus proved fatal. Miss Griffin was an honoured member of the Catholic community, and many of her fellow hands, some of whom brought handsome bouquets of flowers, were present at the funeral, and there was also a numerous general attendance. — R.I.P. The Rev Father Cnmmings, V.G., baa for several days been somewhat unwell, but it is pleasing to be able to say "that he is now much better.— The Rev Fathers Aubrey and Bowers visited this parish during the week, and I hear that the latter is about to enlarge his church at Little Biver.— A recently-organised local choir in connection with the Catholic Church at Soutbbridge made a very creditable debut in that edifice on Sunday last. Miss Margaret Mcßvidy, who has received a good musical training from the Sisters of Notre Dame deß Missions of this city, is the organist. In place of tbe usual method of destroyng sparrows with poison, Mr B, Wilder, of Ngapara, Femside, has made a trial of netting them. Tbe net used is stretched on a hoop at the end of a rod which carries also a light. When the net is passed along the hedges at night the birds, being disturbed, make for the light and are caught iin the net. The first night whereon a trial was made over a hundred

birds were caught. An old bird-catcher says that persons who intend to adopt Mr Wilder's method of destroying sparrows should select for the occasion a very dark night, also get several persons to beat with branches the bashes wherein the birds are roosting. The local nauseam has been closed daring the past week in order to make improvements in connection with several exhibits which have been hitherto almost concealed in the Moa room. The Canterbury Museum, it seems, is the only one ia the Colony to form a collection of New Zealand relics which would prove of great interest now and in future, and the curator hopes that suitable donations of this olass of specimens will be made. Among the items of this order already in the museum is the first stirrup iron used ia the Chatham Islands. It was made about half a century ago, from the handle of a frying pan, by Mr F. Hunt, and presented by him to the Museum. There are a piece of copper and a nail from tbe wreck of the H.M.B. Orpheus, and from an old grave in Port Levy a brass plate, which bears a very unique inscription. A flint-lock musket, dating back to the beginning of the presebt century, and brought to Akaria by the French in 1839, also a flint-lock doable-barrelled fowling piece which the Hon J. Bryce presented once to the Maori king, are to be seen. Then there are a fragment of ribbon and some plaited woman's tresses found with a male skeleton in a coffin, made, doubtless, a century ago, of European timber, and baried in the New Brighton sands, What tale do these and other interesting exhibits tell ? Mr B. Dobbin, president, presided at a fairly-attended meeting of the Catholic Literary Society on Tuesday evening last. The programme consisted of Bhort addresses by members. The Bey Father Bell made an excellent speech on the labour question. Under the Southern Cross, he said, two thousand men and three hundred women, excited, yelling, cursing and calling for blood, and armed with sticks* ■tones, heavy bottles and revolvers are battering and crushing the windows of a passing train. The unarmed citzens in the train are trying to shelter themselves, and along with them are the constables, who, exercised in patience and heroic discipline, forbear to use their weapons Then in Pittsburgh, in the land of freedom and under the Stars and Stripes, are thousands of men out on strike. On one occasion 270 armed detectives in a ship contend with 5000 men. The fight begins on shore. Had the petroleum oil, wbicb was poured upon the water, taken fire, the Pinkerton men would bave been roasted alive. Tbey surrendered, and many were barbarous'y murdered. What is all this about ? These crowds of men and women are solving the labour question. These events pa9B under our eyes, and, for the sake of humanity, is there do one to speak with authority on the momentous matter? He explained fully many important points discussed in the recent Papal Encyclical on Socialism and on tbe condition of labour. The Church had in the firat thousand ycara of her existence emancipated the slaves, and emancipated woman and raised her to her proper dignity ; and tbe Church alone could settle the labour question. Who but the immaculate spouse of Christ could inform mankind that they are the children of God ? — Mr W. Holland followed with a short address on submarine navigation. — Mr B. O'Connor spoke ably oa au often-asked question, " What are we to do with oar boys?" — Mr J. J. Wilson's contention was, though the orator has greit power, yet the Press influences the masses more than the platform.— Mr Dobbin gave an excellent lectare on earthquakes, and when the discourses were over they were criticised by Messrs Clark■on, Power, and others, A representative of a local paper interviewed, oa Thursday last, Mr E. J. Parker, one of the partners in a firm well known in Australia as large shipping owners. The object of Mr Parker's visit to this city, i i to arrange tbe inauguration of a line of steamers — the first of which will make the trip early next month — between New Zealand and Australia. "We have built two steamers," he said, " the Warrimoo, and the Miowera, on tbe latest method, and fitted with all recent

improvements. The Warrimoo is 4000 tons burthen. She is 350 feet long over all, with 43 beam, and has a speed of 17 knots an boor. For the benefit of persons who suffer from sea-sickness, a rolling keel, which will make her perfectly steady in tbe heaviest sea, has been fixed on this vessel. She is water ballasted, and has a cellular bottom, and, therefore, is practically unsinkable. She will carry 200 saloon and 100 steerage passengers, and will have an unbroken promenade of 270 feet in length." Indeed, judging from Mr Parker's minute account of the nature and position of the saloon and a variety of other important matters, the vessel is really a grand and a unique structure. As to the fares, there will be a redaction. Messrs Kinsey and Co have bjen appointed agents for the new company in Canterbury, and the Warrimoo will make a special trip from New Zealand for the Melbourne Cap, and passengers will be able to live on board at hotel prices duriog the stay of the steamer. Stormy weather set in again on Wednesday last, and cold showers have fallen at intervals. From a local paper it appears that severe weather has been experienced daring the week at Ashburton and at Hokitika.