CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 32, 8 December 1893, Page 29

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) Thb mission for the children was continued during tbe week, the attendance being well maintained till its close. On Friday a special service in honour of the Blessed Sacrament was held, and on Saturday tbe consscration of the children to the Blessed Virgin took place. Several hundred of the young people received Holy Communion on Saturday morning in most edifying dispositions. The exercises were brought to a close on Sunday by a procession round the church grounds, followed by an instruction and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The pission for adults opened on Sunday at 11 o'clock. The Rev Father Burke preached an eloquent sermon on the Epistle of the day. He nrged all to come to the mission. This was a special time of grace. At Vespers, before commencing tbe Rosary, Father Burke gave a beautiful instruction on the Holy Rosary and also explained the meaning of each mystery and the lessons to be derived therefrom. After the Roeary, which really was a combination of prayer, instruction, and sermoo, the choir sang a hymn to our Lady, which was followed by the sermon proper, delivered by tbe Rev Father Mangan. He took for his text " What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul ? " Plainly and forcibly he pointed out how foolish it was to give the things of this world the first place and, so to say, leave the next to look after itself. He selected striking observations and instances from lifp, te placed opposite characters in proper contrast, made us realise the difference between vice and virtue, and I am ■ore every one of that vast congregation left the church with the intention of following tbe simple rules which he has laid down— "that of spending the day well "—for if one day be spent well it may mean that every day will be spent well, and oh, the picture he drew of the reward, I hardly think anyone will ever forget it. If th°re is one thing above another tba t goes straight to one's heart it is the way in which Father Burke (glorious name) frequently refers to " our dear native land." Memory in a flash changes onr present surroundings into tha home of our first love. We see again the pretty little chapel, the old convent on tbe hill overlooking tbe lovely bay. We go back in spirit, oh, so many years, to tbe quiet happy days spent there. We think of our First Communion day, that which is to every Catholic child a day of sacred memory. Then the friends that are near and dear to us whom we left in that dear old land. I feel I must leave off as lam getting serious.

Election day is a thing of the past. The prohibitionists are jubilant, and regard the return of Mr Bmith as a tremendous victory. They tell as the near future will bee our cathedral city with all her palatial pubs shut up It is also runnoured (by the direct-vetoists) that they don't despair of the conversion of the Minister for Labour, and where will the licensed victuallers ba then ? One thing in conneotion with the affiir is that the teetotalers are in the m j >r.ty, and it might pay Mr Reeves to see his why clear to join them. MrS.-d-don, too (the bad man), cuna to Lyttleton to secure the return of Mr Joyce who is, by the bye, a prohibitionist, so perhaps after all our hotel-keepers have made a mistake. Time will tell.