CHARITY SUNDAY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 3 August 1894, Page 15

CHARITY SUNDAY IN CHRISTCHURCH.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

The annual report and balance-sheet of the year's working of the Society of St Vincent de Paul was distributed on Sunday last, and shows most conclusively what an amount of good can bo done in a community by a few willing and unostentatious workers. To very many people, perhaps, a perusal of tbe contents of this report comes somewhat as a revelation. The poverty, wrttchednese, and, alas, depravation in the larger centres of these colonies is an unknown and undreamt of quantity to a majority of the citizens. In this respect we are fast drifting to the condition to manifest in old countries, Societies, therefore, such as that of St Vincent de Paul are to be commended for th« exertions they are making to if not wholly bring about a butter state of tbinge, at least to point the way and render the lot of tbe poor and oppressed, with the slender means in their power, a great deal easier to bear. The only resources the local conference of the Order hay«, apart l from the individual members' contributions, is tbe result of an annua appeal made to the aongregation. This was fixed for Sunday, and collections were taken up at all the services by tbe Brothers of the Society in place of the usual collectors. At the Pro-Cathedral at tbe High Mass an annual charity sermon was preached by the Very Bey Father Cumminga, S.M., V.G. (spiritual director). Taking for his text the divine woidp, " By this shall all men know ye are my disciples ; if ye have love one for another." The very rev preacher delivered a powerful discourse on the virtue of charity, and an eloquent appeal to all to contribute, in however smill a w*y, to the fund to aid our more unfortunate brethren. A full and efficient choir rttdered special Mass for the occasion. Haydn's grand Imperial Mass was performed remarkably wel>, the soprano solos being taken very effectively by Mrs J. P. Kelly. At the offertory Mr F. R. Woodhouse, a professional vocalist of wide repute, sang tbe tenor solo, " Aye Maria," by Luigi Luzzi, most artistically. At Vespers the Rev F«tber Bell, B.M, preached also on the subject of charity taking for his text the words of our Biassed Lord, "Whatsoever ye ihall do unto the least of these, my brethren, ye do unto me." The sermon was a homely one and in describing the simple, though pathetic story of the life of St Vincent de Paul tbe preacher's remarks reached the hearts of bis hearers. Before Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament tbe solo, "0 Best in the Lord," by Mendelssohn, was beautifully rendered by Miss Annie Hayward, the rich low notes of this accomplished young lady's voice being breught out to great advantage. At Benediction Miss A. Bryant sang a pretty " O Salutarit " with much effect. Large congregations were the rule throughout tbe day and the funds of the society should be materially augmented.