CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 12, 6 January 1893, Page 6

CHRISTCHURCH.

asthma, wherefrom he was at times a great sufferer. This malady tamed recently into dropsy, which occasioned his death, in the 66th year of his age. Mr Oronin, who was bora in the county of Limerick, Ireland, and an honoured member of the Catholic com* munity, leaves to mourn bis loss a widow and three sons, also tbree daughters, the eecond eldest of whom married recently Mr T. B. Gaffney, the genial host of the New Zealaoder Hotel. The Very Bey Father Cummings, V.G,, who officiated in the church and at the grave, where he delivered an address, attended the deceased during his brief last sickness, and his demise was most peaceful and Christian. He was interred on Tuesday afternoon last at the old Catholio cemetery in Barbadoes street,— R.l.P.

The very impressive ceremony of the religious profession and clothing with the religious habit waa performed on Tuesday, the Feast of St John the Evangelist, in the convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions in Barbadoes street. Fire ladies made on the occasion their solemn profession, and two ladies, who are postulants, received the religious habit. The Very Bey Father Oummings conducted the ceremony, which was of a most solemn character, and commenced immediately after the 7 a.m. Mass. The Bey Father Le Menant des Chesnais preached an eloquent and pathetio sermon on the religious state. In the sanctutry were present the Bey Fathen Ginaty and Marnane, alio the Bey Father Bell, who acted as master of ceremonies.

The Bight Bey Dr Grimes gave a most intersßting and instructive lecture under the auspices of the Canterbury Catholio Literary Society on Thursday evening last in St Patrick's Hall, which had beeo prepared for the occasion. The Very Bey Father Oummings, also Fathers Ls Menant, Ball, and Marnane were present, and there was a fair attendance. But instead of a few hundred persons being present, a thousand people should at least have attended, and those Catholics and other persons who did not attend lost certaioly a rare and great intellectual treat. The lecture, which Mr Seager illustrated admirably with large and splendid limelight views, was on " Picturesque Italy," and was a personal and graphic narrative of his Lordship's recent sojourn for some months in that far-famed clime.

(From our own Correspondent. 1 Thi pro-Cathedral was elaborately decorated with evergreens, festoons, and flowers, for the celebration of the grand festival of the Nativity, and a most beautiful Christmas crib was constructed. The Bight Bey Dr Grimes, who was assisted by the Very Bey Father Oummings, V.0., and the Bey Fathers Bell and Ooutenoire, was otlebrant at the Pontifical High Mass. Haydn's No. 2 Mass, which ii one of the most beautiful Masses composed by this celebrated musician, was admirably rendered, with full orchestral accompaniment, under the leadership of Mr Funston. Miss Funston presided •>t the organ, and the soprano and contralto solos were artistically ♦xtcuted by Mrs J. P. Kelly, Misa Bryant, and Miss E. Cronin. Messrs Dongal and G. Cronin sung well the bass solos, and Mr Hyncs executed the " Incarnatus" in a finished manner. The Offertory piece, " Adeste Fideles," was beautifully and impressively eung during the Mass and at the Pontifical Vespers which followed. With much regret I record the de.ith of Mr Patrick Cronin. This mournful event happened shortly after midnight on Christmas •ye lust at his late residence in Matherson's road, Linwood. In the person of Mr Cronin, who arrived to Canterbury 32 yearn ago, another fairly old settler has passed away. The deceased was for upwards of 24 years employed at a storeman by the late Mr Bobert Wilkin, but Mr Cronin could not for some years back leave his home to attend even the church on Sundays in consequence of a cronio

Mr B. Dobbin, the president, occupied the chair, and introduced the right rev lecturer, whom Mr Dobbin thanked for the very great interest that the Bishop has ever taken in the welfare of the Literary Society, Misa G. Pender and Miss Funaton each favoured during an interval the audience with a choice and well-rendered vocal selection. Miss Funston played also an accompaniment to a select instrumental item which Mr Funston on the violin and Mr A. Nottingham on the violincello tastefully executed. His Lordsbip, who began his tour at Turin, jonrneyed the north and the south of the Peninsula, and ended hit travels at Venice. He passed by Borne, wherein, he said, are so many objects of interest that a description of them would require a separate lecture, which he kindly promised to give on a future occasion, Among a host of other scenss exhibited and particularised were splendid views of the superb city of Milan, and of its gorgeous cathedral, with its thousands of spires, most of which are capped with marble statues of exquisite beauty and workmanship. Views were displayed of the city and of the wonderful religious and other buildings of Florence, celebrated as the birthplace of the great medieval Catholic poet Dante, and of Genoa, famous as the place of nativity of Oolum. bus. The grand monuments of these two distinguished persons weie shown. While at Genoa his Lordsbip was entertained at a convent whose very hospitable superioress is no other person than a sister of the venerated parish priest at 8t Mary's, the Bey Father Le Meoant des Chesnuis. Imposing scenes and interesting notices were given of the city and the bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius, the City of the Dead— Pompeii, the river Po and of the lakes Maggiore and Oomo. Both these lakes are impressively grand, but the scenery around the former is more sublime, yet less pretty than that around the latter. MaDy beautiful views were given of Venice. The Bialto, Bt Mark's Cathedral, ducal palaces, and the famous bridge of Sighs were shown. While the latter structure was on the screen his Lordship repeated the opening stanza of the fourth Canto of Ohilde Harold :— " I stood in Venice, on the Bridge of Sighs — A palace and a prison on each hand ; I saw from out the wave her structures rise, As from a stroke of the enchanter's wand,"

The objects shown in the Bishop's lecture make certain that religion, especially the true religion, curbs not but gives wings to genius. A splendid building, which was shown in Venice, ranks high among the many pretty sights in this very pretty place. On a colonnade in front of this building are four horses in bronze. Napoleon the First conveyed theße horsey which are enii to be the handiwork of some ancient R man or Greek sculptor, to France, but after the Battle of Waterloo they were sent back to Venice and replaced in their former position. They are life-sized and so natural that they seem alive. They show that the constant and proud boast of the superiority of the people of these times over former races and generations of men is as hollow as the very winds A cordial vote of thanks, which was proposed by Mr F. Cooper and seconded by Mr R. P. Lon&rgan, J.P., was accorded to his Lordship for his lecture and to Mr Seager for hia display of views. The Bishop replied to the vote of thanks on behalf of himself and Mr Seager, and when his Lordship bad thanked Miss Pender and other musicians for the part which they had performed the proceedings ended.

Preparations are being made to hold in the pro-Cathedral a diocesan synod which will open on the 17th of January and end on the 19th of the same month. Previous to the synod, the Bight Rev Dr Grimes and his clergy from all parts of the diocese will attend a retreat which will commence on the 11th of this month. On the last day of the retreat Pontifical High Mass will be said and then the synod will begin. On the second day of the synod Mass will be said for the dead and to invoke the Holy Ghost on the third and last day. The faithful will be at liberty to attend these Massts, also Vespers, but during the day the doors of the church will be closed for the synod to bejheld. The faithful are exhorted to say some short prayers each day that the spirit of wisdom may be vouchsafed to his Lordship and his clergy who alone will comprise the synod, and for the same purpose prayers are said during each Mass celebrated throughout the diocese.