CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 4 August 1893, Page 31

CHRISTCHURCH.

(Prom our own Correspondent.) THK Bight Bey Dr Grimes received information by cable on Thursday afternoon last of the death, which took place on Wednesday laat ttt Lyons in France, of the Rev Mother Marie St Gabriel, prioress of the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Barbadoes street. The Bey Mother St Gabriel left New Zealand on the 13th April last, in com* pany with Mother Bt John and Mother St Peter, to attend a geDtral Chapter of her Order convened for the election of a successor to the late Bey Mother Superior-General. For the latter position the Bey Mother St Peter was chosen, and the last accounts from the Bey Mother Bt Gabriel gave hopes of her early return in good health and ■pirits. The news of her sudden death, which is supposed to be doe to heart disease and to the coldness of the northern climate, has dissipated these bright expectations and caused a widespread grief amongst the Catholic community, by whom she was tenderly loved and will be greatly missed. The deceased lady was born at Castlebellingham, near Dundalk County, South Ireland, in 1853. At the early age of 13 years she left her parental home and went to Lyons, where, when 16 years of age, she joined the Order of the Sisters of Onr Lady of Missions. During her several years' residence in France she acquired a perfect knowledge of the French tongne, which she spoke with correctness and ease. Her admirable dispositions dev«lop«d under the judicious training of the novitiate, and in Sister Marie St Gabriel the hopes of her superiors were fully recognised. While still young she was appointed prioress at the convent in this city, where she arrived about seventeen years ago. She at once took cbarga of the convent, and in a few years later her jurisdiction was extended to other houses. The convent in this city was then a small wooden building not capable of accommodating many Bisters. Principally through her exertions the fine structure now used for a convent and for the high school was erected, She founded the convent at Ash burton, and the parish school in that cure is also under the control of Sisters of her Order. She was a ceusin of the Bey Father L. M. Ginaty, who for many ytars was parish priest of Christchurch, and assisted him greatly in founding the Mount Magdala Asylum. Had she returned to New Zealand she would have been appointed Bey Mother Proviacial cf her Order in the Colony. She was principal of the high school in Barbadoes street, and made it the novitiate wherefrom Sisters have been sent to taka charge of a number of other convents, Asa principal she did excellent work, aud many highly-educated ladies, who received their training there, will learn with regret the loss the Sisters have sustained by tbe premature death of such a worthy and able prioress. Tbe Rev Mother St Gabriel, who was ever foremost in all that was for the welfare of religion, and was a constaot visitor of the tick, widows and orphans, and a wise counsellor to many persons who sought her advice, was a remarkable person, and displayed high administrative ability, great tact and prudence, which, combined with her long experience, truly religious spirit, and the influence which her excellent qualities gave her over others, contributed in no imall measure to tbe success which haa attended her Order in this colony. Intelligence, general aptitude at studies, open, frank, genial character and gentle manners, combined with great firmness and decision rendered her one of the foundation stones of the Order. Her great talents and amiable qualities fitted her eminently for tbe responsible position wherein ene was placed, and during the time that Bhe has been prioress, Bhe has won the admiration of every one who came in contact with her and the undying affection of tbe members of the Order whose privilege was to be under her direction. The Sisters have received in their bereavement many letters and other expressions of sympathy and condolence, and a number of prayers and Masses have been said for tbe repose of the soul of the departed prioress. For the same purpose a solemn Requiem Mass, l*t which the faithful, also the Bishop and a number of priestß will assist, will be said in the pro-Cathedral on Thursday next. Fervent and eloquent panegyrics have been delivered on the deceased at the various services in both parishes, and at the pro-Cathedral at the Btationß of the Crosß on Friday evening last, also after Vespers on Bunday last tbe " Dead March in Saul " was played ou the organ bb a tribute of respect to her memory. — R.I.P. A special collection was mada on Sunday week in aid of tbe funds of the local branches of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, Both at High Mass, which the Very Rev Father Cummiogs said, and at Vespers there were large congregations, and the sum collected was very satisfactory. The music for the morning was Webbe's Mass in G, which is a florid and charming production, written with a full appreciation of the text of tbe Mass, and with a masterly realisation of tbe fact that music in order to fulfil its mission must magnify and elaborate the expression bo as to be a more comprehensive rendering than would be possible with unaided language. Mr F. Funston wielded theJdftm with his usual success, and the Mass was well rendered by ttojbtoir, which was powerful and well balanced and gave evidence of capital training on the part of the painstaking instructor, the Bey Father Briand, aud the ever-assiduous organist, Miss Funston, who played the accompaniments and solos with her unfailing reliability

and brilliancy, and wm really a tower of strength at the organ. The solos were executed with great finish and taste. Mrs J. P. Kelly's telling soprano voice waa heard to great advantage in the " Inc*rnAtaa," and in the gem of the music on the occasion— the grand " Benedictua " quartette. The alto soloe ware divided between Misses Cronin and Bryant, who both sacceoded in imparting great feeling in their siogiog. The leaos ealoa were rendered by the lUv Father Briand, who sang the difficult piece, " Qai tollia," effectively, also by Meßera Funston, Hennessy, and McGregor ; and Messrs G. Cronin, McOormack, and Hynes were very sacceMfnl with the bass department. As an offertory piece, Father Briand sang Webbe'a " Istorum animm " very nicely. The Very Bey Father Gammings, who preached on the occasion, took for a text, " By this all men shall know that you are My disciples." After a reference to the present local depression, the very rev preacher pointed oat that those persons present could do their share towards alleviating the distress by giving their offerings, which would be very wisely distributed, to the St Vincent de Paul Society, whose founder had spent himself in rescuing the poor, providing hospitals and asylums at a time when charity was not so universally practised as at preßtnt. Since then the association had spread all over the world, and there was hardly a Catholic parish which has not a branch. In its members all classes of the commnnity were comprised, and all took part in relieving God's poor. The Very Bey Father regretted that swing, be thought, to the erroneous notion that there were no poor in the city, that only a few persons took part in the good work. This was a great mistake, and in distributing tbe funds, no distinction of race or religion was rtcognissd. It was sufficient that poverty existed, and no recipients were required to come before any boards or committees to be pat through. In London Lord Mayor Enill was a regular attendant at the meetings, and the present Governor-General of India was also a very active member of the Society. The Very Bey Father Oummiogs concluded his splendid sermon with a powerful appeal and with a tribute oE prais* to the members of the ladies' branch, which he was pleased to say had done a large amount of practical work during the past year. Two artists of well-known ability, Mies Spensley aad Mr Paschsll, were secured for the service at Vespers, and their efforts provided a great treat for the congregation. Miss Spensley sang Stradella's wonderful present, " Lord God, have mercy," exquisitely and in a manner which brought out all the marvellous finish and pathos of this great com* position. Mr Puschcll sang " With all your heart," from Elijah, with much feeling and sweetness, and his smooth legato style enabled him to give an exceedingly good rendering of HummeH's " O Salutaris/, The Key Father Briand, who took for a text the words, " Blessed is he that understandeth the poor and the needy," continued the appeal, which was a powerfal address to persons whose means would permit them to give liberally. The rev preacher showed in explicit and forcible language tb&t poverty — which state he characterised a great mystery—and wealth enter into the providential plan of management of this world, and that charity is the link or bond of union between the two. The order and the harmony and the infinite variety of elements in tbe universe were mentioned to demonstrate this proposition. Graphic pictures were drawn of the conditions of great wealth and abject poverty, and he showed that persons who are rich are morally bound to assist the poor and needy. Many more points were ably explained, and at tbe end of the discouise, the faithful were earnestly requested to contribute towards the relief of the poor in the parish. A very fiae entertainment in aid of the pro-Cathedral liquidation fund took place in connection with the St Aloysius Guild in their rooms on Thursday evening last. There was a large attendance, and the programme, which was well executed, was very attractive and national. Mr C. A. Oakes presided at the piano, and the first item was a duet which he and Miss M. Oakes performed tastefully on that instrument. Mr 0. Goggin sang well "Nellie O'Neill," and Mr C. A. Oakes, janr., " Teaching McFadden to waltz," and as an encore "John Maloney." Quite a gem of the evening was " Sbamus O'BrieD," which Mr T, Finiay recited in a masterly manner, and which elicited a most enthusiastic encore, to which he responded by rendering in good style " Mulkay'sdoag." Miss B. Gamble rendered the song " Eileen Alannab," Mr A. Dobbs, " Maggie Murphy's borne," also Mr F. Feat an Irish jig, and later on a comic eong and dance, in splendid style. The second part of the programme opened with a pianoforte overture, which was well rendered by Mis McAnally. Mr J. Hennessy gave, with much expression, the vocal selection " Sweet Dublin Bay," and Miss Burke, " Kathleen Mavourneen," for which she received a well-merited encore. Miss Cunningham Gang, in a finished manner, " Come back to Erin," and Messrs M. McNamara and A. Bagley were happy in executing the conga " How Rafferty won the mile," and '■ Like the bright lanm" The whole concluded with the pleasing farce, " Paddy Miles, tbe Limerick boy," which was very amusingly performed by Messrs T. Finiay, 0. Goggin, A. Dobbs, H. Hnghes, M. McNamara, T. Connelly, and T. Carr. Mr T. Finiay, who gives fair promise of equalling the professional comedian, sustained very ablj tbe leading character in the play.