OPENING OF THE NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH AT HASTINGS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 5, 31 May 1895, Page 21

OPENING OF THE NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH AT HASTINGS.

(Harvke's Bay Herald, May 13 )

Thb Catholic community of Hawke's Bay, have for some time past been much interested in the erection of a new church at Hastings, and the opening of the edifice, which took place yesterday, under exceptionally favourable circumstances, attracted a very large congregation, including scores of visitors and non-Catholics from adjacent districts.

Ab no description of the building has yet been given in our columns, we may gta'e hire that the design throughout is simple Gothic. The bell tower is supported to the height of about 60 feet by buttrassee, and is finished with minarets at each corner. From th3se rises the spire, octagonal in chape, to a further height of about 50 feet. Specially strong construction has been needed, as the bell, a grand specimen of the f jundei'd art, from the Fountain Bell Foundry, Dublin, weighs about 10c*vt, and with its bearings a total weight of 17cwt ras to be supported. The bell, supplied with new patent rotary mountinga, bears the following inscription ;—"; — " In honor em, Sancti Patricii donavit Jiererendm P. J. Smyth, A.D., 1595, Hastings. Vox Domini super aquas multas Deus majestatis intonuit Confitebor tibi in populis Domini tecum tibi ingentibus." On entering the chnrch from the spacious vestibule, formed by the lower story of the tower, the proportion and simplicity of the interior at once strike the visitor. Tbe Fanctuary arid nave are in one, the principles supporting tha roof, trusses being carried through on one face, the roof of the main structure necessarily following one height. The sombreness of tbe chameleon either side of the sanctuary form tn excellent setting for tt • highly ornate altar and embellishments of the sanctuary, the wal'^ of which are in the lower part formed by a timbered dado bearing a double row of panels, the lower ones being boarded diagonally, the upper having trefoil tracery headings. The upper portion is at present painted in fit colouring, but it has been specially prepared for the iec< ptu.n of Lincrust's Walton decorations. The roof of the sanctuary is carried on seven half principals with carved and chamfered bearers. Four beautiful stained glasß windows, representing Saints Peter, Pau 1 , John, and Luke, light the sanctuary, the upper windows being gl&zed with ti' ted cathedral lights. The windows, the gifts respectively of Messrs I. H, Loughnan, G. Hughe?, J. Cullen, and H. Scullion, are from U c celebrated works of Messrs Atkinson Bros, of Newcastle-Lpon-1 jDe, dtid for choice colouring and beauty of outline are a credit to that fitm. The altar table is elegantly designed, the top being bupported by li«;bt Gothic figures, the face being formed with niche b f( r the leception of statnes, surmounted by delicate tracery. The colonr.ng is in varied shades of art tints, heavily relieved with gold, wh.cr\ to tell the truth, at present to a certain extent kills the iff ct which the delicate traceries would have given. Above the table rises a canopied throne, enclosing a splendidly •mboßßed tabeicncle of solid brass, gilt, imported specially from Lyons, the upptr portion of which is designed to receive the croBS or the Blessed Sacr&ment. The various niches will be filled with statues, nine in number. The altar is the gift of Sergeant Mitcbe'l. In a car.opieo niche above the altar stands a statue of the Saviour, the Sacrtu LTcai.' being visible ; the statue, aleo from Lyoni,

somewhat over life size, is richly coloured, and stands oat somewhat strikingly from the more sober and delicate tints of the stained windows and general decoration. On the righ tof tbe sanctuary is tbe chApel of the Blessed Virgin, the altar of handsome carved wood being the gift of a lady, who also presented the statue of the Saviour. Above the altar is a statne of the Blessed Virgin with the infant Jesus. From this chapel entrance is obtained to the boys' vestry and a confessional. On tbe left of the sanotuary, and similar in design to the lady chapel, is the chapel of St Joseph, from which the door opens to the priests' vestry and another confessional. The altar rails, which, with the rest of the ironwork ÜBed in tbe church, came from the Christchurch ironworks, are of good design and show up well with their colouring, picked out with gold. The pulpit, an irregular sexagon, is an excellent specimen of tbe joiner's art, and has been presented by Mr and Mrs Ell wood. The auditorium, seated to accommodate 500 people, is lighted with twelve doubleheaded double windows, glazed with cathedral glass in leaded lights of pretty design, the windows having on their base the inscription " Pray for," followed by the names of the various dono s. The clerestory windows are of plain tinted cathedral glass. The roof is closed by diagonal boarding painted. The choir are well provided for in a gallery over the vestibule, the window of which is to be glazed with leaded lights, the work of Mr Thompson, a local man. The organ ia a particularly fine ', Alexandre pere et fils," having two rowa of keys and 22 stops, some of the combinations being extremely effective. The visitors yesterday examined the church and its appointments with great minuteness, and unanimously expressed the opiniou, afterwards voiced by the Archbishop in the course of his Bermon, that it was one of the prettiest churches of the kind in New Zealand

The following ecclesiastics took part in the function: — Archbishop Bedwood, Bishop Grimes, Very Beys Father Devoy, V.G., and Dr Waiters, S.M. (Rector of St Patrick's College, Wellington), Rev Fathers Kirk (Wanganui), J. M'Kenna (Masterton), Murnane (deacon), Huault, Goutenoire, Grogan, Binefield, F. Smythe, and Dr Kennedy. The musical service was under the able direction of Mr A. P. Sheath. The arrangements throughout were perfect, reflecting tha utmbst credit upon the zealous parish pries', and the musical conductor.

The sermon was preached just before the " Credo," by the Archbishop, who took for his text a passage from the 18tb Psalm, " Thy hands have fashioned me, make me to know thy will." Tbe words he pointed out, reminded man of the high purpose of his life as well as of his origin. The Psalmist extols God's sovereignty and begs Him to show what is his will. The erection of tbe church in which they were now met, was itßolf an act of faith, and an admission of responsibility. The Creator had a right of jurisdiction, as well as a right of property, over us. Human authority was limited in its scope as well as acquired, but divine authority was the essence of the Godhead. The possession of no talent, no personal greatnesp, could excuse man from doing his duty to God, And as God was our supreme benefactor, He had the first claim on our gratitude. By the Atonement He had made U9 His debtors in love. Thus it was both our duty and our interest to serve God. If we neglected to serve Him we were in danger of destruction. How we may best serve him, is to live according to the light of conscience, which be has placed within us. His ten commandments gave us a summary of our duties to God and man, and one of our duties was certainly to worship Him at appointed times and places. He (the Archbishop) congratulated tne people on the erection of this beautifal church, one uf t"e most beautiful of its kind in the colony ; he congratulated their noble pariah priest on his zeal, and the people on their generosity, In conclusion, having thanked all who had had any part in the erection of the building, the Archbishop exhorted the people to give liberally toward extinguishing a small debt that I remained on it.

The collection yielded about £150, and this Bum was substantially supplemented in the evening.

At Vespers there was a crowded congregation, and Pontifical Vespers were sung by Archbishop Bedwood. Toe sermon was preached by Bishop Grimes, who took for his text the double passage, •' How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Israel 1" and " Lo ! I am with yon always, even unto the consummation of the world." The popular prelate in the course of an eloquent and pregnant discourse, remarked that the text was specially appropriate under the circumstances of the day. The insurance of our Blessed Lord, which formed the latter part of the text, was the great sustaining idea of the Catholic Church. The Divine commission and promise given to 8t Peter, first Bishop of Rome, had amply been carried out. Empires had sunk into oblivion, sects and schisms had had their little day, and the Chnrch to-day stood unmoved, and stronger than ever. Millions of people in all quarters of the world recognised in the old man who ruled from the Vatican, a mighty, because divinely-commissioned, power. The preacher then explained and vindicated the claim of the Church for the infallibility of the Pope. As a man not infallible, the Pope waß but in his official capacity

aa the teacher of faith and morale he was the divinely commissioned representative of Jesus Christ. The Bishop then in graphic passages traced the history of the Church, and dwelt upon the evidence its growlh afforded of its divine origin. It had conquered the paganism of the past, and it was triumphing over the infidelity and schisms of the present day. The Bishop concluded with an eloquent piroration. His sermon was delivered in a masterly and telling manner, and was listened to with rapt attention.

The visitors from Napier returned to town about half past eleven last night, having thoroughly enjoyed the function and tbe outing. They express, as do the church authorities, the most grateful acknowlegdments to Mr O'Reilly, of the Railway Hotel, who provided a sumptuous dinner and tea for them at his own cost— a very substantial and practical token of Catholic enthusiasm. The day was memorable aud delightful, It seems a pity that the railway authorities did not put on a special train for the occasion.

On Saturday evening a number of prominent members of the Catholic communion approached the Archbishop and Bishop Grimes and presented them with copies printed on satin, of the following addresees :— (1) "To the Archbishop— Your Grace,— lt is wiihfeel. ings of joy and gratitude to Almighty God that we are gathered this evening to bid you a hearty welcome to Hastings on the occasion of the completion of our new church, which you are about to bless and dedicate, and to inaugurate to morrow by the celebration of the Divine mysteries within its walls. It is but a few Bhort months since your Grace laid the foundation stone of this church, and we are sure it will be as great a 6ource of satisfaction to yourself as it is to us, to witness its successful completion, and to be amongst us again to-day, though at much inconvenience to yourself to open it. We are conscious of the sacrifice your Grace must be making to be with us to-day, and though we know it is a labour of love with you, we are not the less grateful. We wish to record our appreciation of the great energy and zeal of our revered pastor in bringing the work to a successful issue. He has bad to bear the brunt of the labour and responsibility, and we share in the joy he feels to-day. Offering to your Grace our respectful and most hearty welcome, and begging your blessing for our pastor, our families, aud ourselves, we are, your Grace's faithful children, the Catholics cf tbe parish of Hastings ; per I. H. Lougbnan, A. J, Mitchell, J. P. Elwood, G. B. Lee." (2) "To Bishop Grimes — My Lord,— The Catholics of Hastings cannot worthily express their gratitude to you for the kindly interest which you have always taken in the affairs of their parish and district. Years ago you graced with your presence the opening of our school, which has since its existence been a succass, and a means of true education for our children. Yonr presence tc-day on the occasion of the benediction of our new church, is evidence that your Lordship is still desirous to assist in the work of the Church in our district ; and when we consider the various calls which you have upon your time in relation to the affairs of your own diocese, we are donbly thankful for your graciousness in coming to assist us, We pray that Almighty God may reward you by giving you length of years and happiness in this life, and in the world to come. We beg to subscribe ourselves on behalf of the congregation, — Your most obedient servants, J. P. Elwood, A. J. Mitchell, I. H. Loughnan, aad G. Jffi. Lee.