DEATH AND OBSEQUIES OF THE MOST REV DR MORAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 5, 31 May 1895, Page 6

DEATH AND OBSEQUIES OF THE MOST REV DR MORAN.

Ok Wednesday last, the 22nd met., at about 6.50 p.m , the tolling of tbe bell of St Joseph's cathedral, Dunedin, announcad to the oity that the Most Rev Dr Moran was dead. Serious fears had been entertained from tbe night before, but, as tbe Bishop's condition had frequently varied, and ho had more than once rallied when he seemed at the extreme point, hope had not been wholly abandoned. About three hours before the end, the funeral of tbe late sacristan, Mr James McOawe, had taken place from the cathedral. The Bishop throughout bis illness had retained all his clearness of mind, remaining conscious until a very short time before he drew his laßt breath, when he fell into a slumber from which he never in this world awoke. He asked that he might ba moved so as to see from hia window the last, as he himself said, of a •' loyal old servant." He asked at the same time for bis spectacles, with which he could see to some distance. He expressed himself contented, but in a few minutes the nurse in attendance on him noticed that a change bad come over his looks. It was found, too, that be waß growing cold—but this he himself did not seem to perceive— replying, in answer to an inquiry, that it was not so. The death-damp, however, was gathering on his forehead.

We may take the opportunity here of testifying to the care bestowed by Miss Anne Mulholland, his personal attendant and nurse, on her venerable charge. No daughter could have teoded a father with a more constant or a more loving care. Through all his long illness she never faltered, and there can be little doubt that the pro-

longation of his life was, in no small degree, due to her devotion. In this respect all who venerate the memory of Bishop Moran remain her debtors.

It is not necessary for us to speak of his medical attendant, Dr Alex. Fergueson. Dr Fergusson is well known as not only a skilful physician, but as one of aa exceptionally kind heart, and all his kindest, as well as his most skilful care, was given to the Bishop, To him, also, a debt that cannot be paid by as, ie due. Nor must we forget to acknowledge the valuable occasional services of Dr Brown— to whom, moreover, the Bishop was indebted for the country residence which gave him so much pleasure and did him so much good last summer.

Tbe Archbishop of Wellington bad arrived the evening bifore, and daring the day Father Newport had come from Port Chalmers. The priests of the cathedral, Fathers Lynch, Murphy, and Howard were also present, aa were the members of the Bishop's household , and the prayers for tbe dying were said. His Grace bad given the last absolution, and was conducting the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin, as he afterwards, in a brief address, made in the cathedral and quoted by us in onr supplement of last week, related, when the end came, peacefully aod hardly perceptibly, as the Archbishop, io effect, said. The Bishop's last words, uttered so as to be barely audible, had been the prayer " My Jesus, mercy."

The tolling of the bell speedily drew a concourse of the people to the church, where, to their great grief, they foand their worst fears confirmed. It was the evenirg of the weekly meeiing of the Confraternity of our Lady of Perpetual Succour, in addition to the usual devotions of the Month of Mary, and prayers were fervently offered for the repose of the departed soul. The address of the Archbishop we have already given, and nothing can be added to that. Next day was the Feast of the Ascension. The occurrence of the Feast prevented the celebration of Maeses of Requiem, but the particular intention cf those offered was for tbe departed soul. The

congregations were largo, The celebrant at 11 a.m. was Father

Murphy, and Father Lynch epoke as follows :—": — " My dear brethren, — I It is painful for me to have to address you tc-day, but it is my duty, 1'

and I feel compelled to say a few words. You have expressed your sympathy with tbe priests in their loss. On behalf of the clergy permit me to exprefs onr great sympathy with you in your loss. Onr loss is your loss. Wa share in your great sorrow. Our Bishop, oar father, is dead. God baa taken to Himself a good and faithful servant. A taint has gone to his reward. I seed not— this morning I dare not — speak of the life and worth of onr beloved Bißbop. You were privileged to witness the saintliness of bis life for many years —for nearly a quarter of a century. Those who were privileged— and it was a great privilege — to attend on him during nig illness, and kneel by his bedside last evening as his pure soul passed away, can testify that Archbishop Redwood, in his touching address last night, expressed the thoughts in tbe mind of all when he said that the death befitted the life— that a holy death had terminated a saintly life. Need I ask you to pray for him— you who, during his long ill. ness, unremittingly pleaded that God would leave him with you a little longer. Your prayers were then heai*d. That he survived so long was on tbe fringe of the miraculous. Your prayers if, indeed, after bis patiently-borne Bufferings be requires our suffrages — will now, I am sure, be likewise beard. He was always deeply grateful for your charity and the more th>»n kind sympathy so generally expressed throughout t)ie whole Colony. He is gone, and if we follow, guided by his exampfL we will Berve God faithfully, and, like him, end a meritorious life by a happy death. He loved his spiritual children while on earth. Before the throne of God the first Bishop of Dunedin will not forget his diocese and bis faithful people." In the evening there was again a large congregation. The Rosary of the Blessed Virgin was offered for tte repose of tbe Bishop's soul, and it was announced that, at 10 a.m. next day — by a strange coincidence his birthday — tbe mortuary cbapel at the palace would be thrown open — the necessary preparations not permitting this to be any sooner done.

uiem Masses were offered in the morning and at tbe appointed hour tbe chapel was opened. The reception room at the palace had been prepared for tbe purpose. A heavy black curtain, tud back in part with white cord, replaced the door. The walls

were hung from ceiliDg to floor with black cloth, relieved by a white fringe, and concealing the windows and fireplace. On a catafalque in the cen're of the room lay the beloved body fully vested in cope and mitre. The pectoral cross was laid upon the breast ; the hands were gloved and folded, and the pastoral sttff was lying at the right-hand side. A wax candle at each coiner gave all the light admitted into the chamber, and around the bier were floral crosses and wreaths that had been brought as a last offering of affection and esteem. Of the donors and the words of love and regard that marked their gifts we give a list below, The face was changed, indeed ; yet when the long course of suffering that bad preceded death was considered i* could only be wondered tbat the features retained so much of their well.remembered form. The expression was that of one at rest. But the face that hai been lit with a bright intelligence, with a keennesa of intellect tempered by a forbearing and far-reaching kindness and a most considerate wisdom, was the face of the dead. The eyes in whose veiy look there was comfort in the hour of trouble and courage and strength in the hour of weakness were closed, and tbe lips whence the words of instruction, of exhortation, of consolation, sympathy, or counsel, or of genial, wholesome humour and wit had come, were sealed for ever. Who could look upon the sight unmoved ?

The body lay thus in the mortuary chapel until Sunday afterneon. On Saturday night a heavy downpour of rain had suddenly set in. It continued unabated throughout the next day, but, notwithstanding, in the morning the Masses were numerously attended and large numbers of communicants offered their communionß for the departed boul. At the North Bast Valley and at South Dunedin Fathers Murphy and Hunt respectively spoke with deep pathos of the Bishop. At the 11 a.m. Mass in the cathedral, the organist, Mr A. Vallis, played Chopin's •' Funeral March," and, as an outgoing voluntary, the "Dead March" in Paul. Tho celebrant was Father Howard,

On the termination of the Mats Father Lynch made a short address. He alluded to the great loss they had sustained — that of a beloved father. — They had received a great deal of kindness in their

affliction. The congregation in Dunedin had shown themselves kind and sympathetic towards the clergy, and they themselves bad received kindness and sympathy from others. Telegrams and letters, very many of them most touching in their expression, had come from many places. They were too numerous to mention in detail. Praise of the Bishop and sorrow for him were heard on all sides. Members of other denominations were most kind. They testified their regard for tbe Bishop most touchingly. He went on to recall some reminiscences of the deceased. — How he had retained to the end the affection of his surviving fellow students and schoolfellows. As an instance of what he had witnessed during the cholera of 1849, the speaker narrated the case of a laly who had been taken ill at her dinner table. The Bishop had seen at once that she was attacked by the pestilence and had given her tbe last Sacraments He then left to attend to others who were in need of his ministry. In a few hours be came back to inquire and found her still sitting in the same place, but dead. Her husband had been unable to obtain aid for the removal of the body, so great was the terror of tbe illness. Friday, he continued, had been the Bishop's birthday, but he bad not lived to see it. It was his (the very rev speaker's), conviction, so great had been bis merits, so heroic his patience, in the wordß vt the Archbishop— that he spent it in Heaven. Father Lynch alluded also to the desire that had been expressed for the burial of tbe body in the cathedral — as that of its founder, and the first Bishop of the diocese— a desire also, he said expressed by non-Catholics. He had spoken to the Bishop about bis approaching end — when duty obliged him to do so, or the venerable invalid himself alluded to the subject. Tbe Bishop had known of the desire referred to, and, for the last time, had said to him, " Father say no more to me abont this matter. Bury me in the midst of my people." That must decide the qnestion. Tbe burial, tberefore would take place in tht Southern cemetery, in tbe ground selected t Father Lynch concluded by giving some directions regarding the f nneral. In reference to the fitneßß of tbe attendance of the children in the conveyance of the body from the palace to tbe cathedral he spoke of the Christian Brothers. Ever since their arrival in Danedin, be said, their relation toward the Bishop had been that of father and child. He afterwards asked the congregation to join him in prayer for the beloved soul— adding a prayer for the soul of Father Coleman— the Bishop's friend, he said, his early fellow-worker in this diocese, whom he had held so dear, and beside whose remains his body would be laid.

It had been arranged that, at 3 p.m., the body should be brought to the cathedral. A spaciouß catafalque had been erected near the Western end of the nave beneath a lofty Gothic canopy. Tbe whole construction, erected on tbe plan and under the personal supervision of Mr W. F. Petre, was of wood, covered with black cloth— which tbe nuns bad braided in a suitable design with white braid. Oroßaes, beneath which the Bishop's arms, in black on a circular shield of white, were placed, surmounted each of four fronting canopies with cusped arches, and at tbe angles were pillars terminating in pinnacles corded down in spirals. On the pillars bblow were placed wreaths of white flowers from which twining garlands dccc >n Jed to the ground. Over the centre of each of four arches, traced severally in white braid on the black cloth of the canopies, hang a wrsath. The interior roofing was divided by groining. The structure was imposing and solemnly beautifnl. At the appointed hour, the rain still falling heavily, a procession set out from tht Cathedral. Oirls of tbe nans' sohools came first, and were followed byboy 8 of the Christian Brothers Then came the members of the H.A.0.8 8., wearing their regalia; the men of the Society of the Sacrad Heart ; tho members of the Catholic Literary Society ; the members of the Confraternity of the Holy Family. On reaching the door of the episcopal palace the procession was headed by a cro3s<bearer and other acolytes, and whtn the school children and the members of the societies and confraternities had passed on in front the priest*, Very Bey Fathers Mackay, O'Leary, and Lyncb, and Bey Fathers Murphy, Hunt and Howard, took up the coffin and bore it with their own hands to tbe church — no light task, indeed, in the teeming rain and through streets running with water almost like the beds of mountain torrents* The children and men, meantime, who had preceded the olergy, on reaching tbe street beneath and before tbe palace, formed a line with tbe members of the women's Societies— the children of Mary, the Sacred Heart, St Vincent de Paul's, Onr Lady of Perpetual Succour— on the other side, both making a passage through which the coffin was carried. On either side of the central passage of the nave of the cathedral wax tapers in tall holders knotted with crape were burning at short intervals, and as tbe coffia was borne up the church and placed on the catafalque, the " Miserere '' was chanted with great solemnity by the choir. A different meaning indeed had that window over the door throngh whioh the mortal remains of the Bishop were borne into the church he had built now taken for us. " Pray for Patrick Moran, Bishop of Dunedin " says the legend beneath its painted angels. Truly we will never neglect tbe appeal of our beloved father that thus abides with db. Tbe light of that window has now become pathetic to us by falling on the coffin through whose lid of glass hia dearly

loved features have been seen by us for tbe last time. The altar, the Bishop's throne, the pulpit, the sanctuary rail, and the pedestals of the statues had been draped by the nans in black, relieved by wreaths and crosses of white flowers. The ladies of the choir had thus draped the front of the organ loft. The catafalque was lit with wax tapers, and wreaths and crosses were placed around the coffin. The gloom of the church had been deepened by the lowering ekies, but it seemed more in keeping with what was going on. It is not hard to divine how the old saying arose, "Happy is the corpse (hat the rain rains on." The unhappioess of the sorrowful heart, at least, ia not mocked by the sunshine then.

Among those who sorrow for Bishop Moran are many who are not of his creed, and they are not mistaken. The Bishop set a high value on the goodneßß of Protestants. One evening last summer the present w liter had occasion co vieit him on Borne slight matter of business. He found him Bitting alone in the twilight. It was Saturday evening and the priests were in the confessionals. The Bishop expressed a wish that his visitor should stay for a little time, to keep him company, he said. In the course of conversation he alluded to his boyhood. He had, he said, been sent to attend a dayBchool in Dublin. He lodged for the purpose with some connections of his family, an elderly couple with grown-up sons. The old lady, bis mother's relative, her husband being an Englishman, was a strong Protestant of the old-fashioned type and her common practice was to attack the religion of her young charge. c< All my defence," he said, " was taken from tbe catechism. I had no other reliance." The old gentleman wonld sit by greatly amused at the contest— as we may believe, admiring the courage and skill in argument of the boy . One of the sons was a professor of music, an excellent fellow, said the Bishop, who worked hard at bis profession. " One day," he continued, " I went unexpectedly into his room and found him kneeling by his piano praying fervently. My astonishment was great, for I had been told that Protestants never said their prayers." He (the Bisbop) then appealed to his visitor to say if his experience also was not that Protestants could be, and that very many of them actually were, very good Christians. And that was the Bishop— firm as a rock in hia own faith, which was based on clear and manly reasoning and strengthened by profound learning, but charitable towards all understanding the position of those who differed from him, and readily acknowledging all that was good in it. No, indeed, the nonCatholics who mourn for Bishop Moran have made no mistake. Tkey also have kat a Bincere friend.

When the coffin had been placed upon the catafalque, the people ; of whom, notwithstanding the rain, a large crowd was present, withdrew from the church, and the doors were shut. The Dominican nuns then came from their chapel into the nave. The foundresses were the first to approach the catafalque and see the body. But throughout the nights the nuns kept watch, the church being looked up from everyone else. The Christian Brothers had performed the same solemn office in the mortuary chapel. And all must admit that both were in their proper place. Tbe Bishop was most thankful to the teachers of his children. We all know how thoughtful he waa abont tht nuns — how anxious lest their strength should be overtaxed. And, indeed, in the earlier days even his care could hardly prevent this. There are some of us who still remember bow, when they themselves were going borne tired from a day'B work, they often found that the Sisterß, who had risen earlier and worked harder, were but beginning fresh labours. Tbe Bishop owed a heavy debt of grati. tude *■ \ the pioneer nuns — and not the Bishop alone. For the Chris* tian Broth erß he expressed not only admiration but reverence. 'In the course of a conversation with the present writer, a little time agp, he pointed from his window to their house. Their sole object in life, he said, was to sanctify themselves, and to promo'e the interests of their boys. For this they worked and for Ibis they studied. All their time was given to it.

The news of the Biskop's death brought to the Very Bey Father Lynch telegrams and letters of condolence and sympathy from every quarter of the Colony and from people of all classes and denominations. So numerous were these that we are obliged to confine ourselves to a very few extracts as example!. We take them at random, as samples of the whole :— " I desire to say that as an Anglican I have always admired the late Most Bey Dr Moran " ; " All here deeply regret Bishop's death an 4 share in universal grief. Begret not being able to attend funeral ;" "Your church has lost an able and zealous leader, but the memory of his good works and sterling qualities will be ever green ; " " Profound sorrow of clergy and laity here for your irreparable loss ;" " Allow me as an outsider who had received kind, ness at the hands of your Bishop and admired him for his many virtues, to ofEei you and your congregation my sincerest sympathy in your great bereavement ; " " Accept in behalf of my wife and myself this expression of onr deep sympathy with you and yonr people in tbe loss you sustain by the death of the good Bishop. One of his latest acts of thoughtfulnesß was to ask you to express bis sympathy with my relations in their bereavement aad this makes our feelings tbe more heartfelt ; " " Kindly accept our most profound sympathy in this very sad hour. A servant of the Most High has reached that haven of rest prepared for all those who love and serve our blessed

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ;" "Will you allow me to cay how deeply I sympathise with the clergy and people of your communion in the loss of their venerable chief Pastor. The loss: is indeed one which will be felt not only by them but by the entire community' To all who came however slightly into contact with him he inspired feelings of respect and affection, It has indeed seldom been my lot to encounter a more attraative personality ;" "Allow me to expres s my sincere sympathy with you and your brethren in the great loss which your church and indeed the whole commuuity has sustained in the death of the Rev Dr Moran ;" " Without distinction of creed 1 believe in. a good man, and the actions, through a long life of the dear departed have always tended to good ; " " Ona cannot feel Borry for himself, his work being done and himself released from a life of pain, but I hope yon will allow me to express my sympathy with you in your great personal loss and with the Catholic community in its even greater loss. You have the comfort of knowing that your Bishop was nniversally esteemed in the Colony by Protestantß as well a 8 Catholicß;" "Accept earnest expressions of our sympathy. D Moran is dead, his work I believe to ba imperishable." "Although j knew the dear saint so short a time, he reached my heart. Hi s patience, gentleness and brave suffering we shall never forget."

A quantity of wreaths, cross* ", and other floral designs were sent. Very many of them were of grrit beauty, and would well deserve description. But at that we can make no attempt; We give the following list of the senders, with such of the mottoes as we have been able to obtain. Any mistake or omissions will ba corrected on being pointed out to us. Mr and Mrs W. J. Hall ; Children of Mr and Mrs W. J. Hall ; Mr and Mrs J. S. McDonald, "In memoriam"; Mr and Mrs J. B. Callao, "In affectiorate remembrance of Bishop Moran " ; Hon Dr Grace, Count of the holy Roman Empire, " From Dr Grace in affectionate remembrance of Bishop Morao " ; Captain and Mrs Bernech, " In loving memory of our dear beloved Bishop " ; Society of St Vincent de Paul, Dunedin, " With deepest sympathy and respect" ; H.A.C.B.S, Dunedin, 'Iv loving memory of our dear Bishop and true patriot"; Sisters of Me^cy, Gore, "With devoted sympathy"; Catholics of Invercargill, "In loving memory of our beloved Bishop. from St Mary 's congregation" ; M. Hannan, " With deepest sympathy " ; K. Hannan, "With deepest sympathy " ; Miss Philips, '' To our dear Bishop with deepest sympathy " ; Mrs J. Carroll, "Io loving memory of our dear Bishop " ; Mr and Mrs Morkane, "With loving sympathy "; Dr and Mrs A. J. Fergusson, " With deepest sympathy " ; Mr and Mrs ListoD, '• In loving memory of our dear Bishop " ; Mr and Mrs J. F. Perrio, -'Fiat Voluntas Tna" ; Mr and Mrs W. D. Houston, " With deepest sympathy "; L dies' Association of Knox Church, "With deepest sympathy"; Mrs L. Court, " with deep resrret" ; Mrs Philip H. Rnesell, " With deep sympathy ";Mrand Mrs J. J. Connor and family, " In loving remembrance of our holy Bishop enshrined in our heart* for ever '*; Shareholders of the New Zealand Tablet, "In affectionate remembrance of its founder, Bishop Moran "; Ex-pupils of St Josephs School, "With loving remembrance of our dear Bishop"; Mrs L. Court, "With deep regret"; Dr and Mrs H. Liodo Ferguson, "With sincerest sympathy"; St Patrick's pupils, Lawrence; Mr and Mrs D. W. Woods ; Mr N. and the Misses Smith ; Miss Gawne ; Mr and Miss Crawford ; Mr and Mrs Radcliffe Taylor ; Mr and Mrs Hooper ; Mr and Mrs Mcc ; Miss Maggie Dormer ; bister Bordao ; Mrs Eoche ; family of M-8 Roche ; Mr and Mrs James O'Neill ; Mrs Reid ; Miss Annie Reid ; Mrs Joho Griffen and family ; Mrs Hesford ; Miss Hisford ; Miss Macedo ; Miss M'Cartby ; Mr and Mrß Dallas ; Miss Dallas ; Children of Mr and Mrs Ratcliff j Taylor " Lord teach us how topray "; James Walsh ; Mr and Mrs J, Carroll ;Mr and Mr W. D. Houston ; Mr and Mrs Meenan ; Mr and Mrs J. McKewen ; St Joseph's Choir; Mrs Lewis; Mr and Mis W. J. Hall; the Misses H ill ; Sophie Hall, "In loving memory of our dear Bishop"; Mrs O'Connor, "With deepest sympathy " ; Mr J. O'Toole, " With deepest sorrow for our Bishop "; Mr and Mrs F. Meenan and family, " With sincere sympathy "; the Sisters of the Missions, Christcburch ; the Hospital nurses, with kind messages and regrets ; Mr aod Mrs Trinder and family'" With deepest sympathy "; the Misses Millea ; Members of the Sussex ; Mr W. Rossbotham and family, "With deepest sympathy"; Mr and Mrs R. Rosebotham, "With deepe3t synrpathy"; Miss Darrow ; Mr and Mrs J. Hally ; St Robert and Lady Stout ; Mr and Mrs R. Burke ; Mrs Mon man ; Mr and Mrs Greenslade ; the Mieses Wall, " With deep regiet and sympathy"; Mrs Lennon ; Mrs Pigott and family, •« In loviDg memory of 'our dear Bishop— may bis boul rest in peace"; Mrs O'Connor; Miss Cottei' ; Mrs Johnston, "In loving memory of our dear Bishop "; Mrs Simpson ; Mr and Mrs Falkner and family, " la deep sympathy for oar beloved Rishop "; Catholics of Chri6tcliurcn, " In Memoriam— Souvenir from Catholics of Christchurch '; Boarders of the Dominican Convent, " Wilh loving Bympaihy"; Dismct officers H.A.C.8.5., Aunk'and. " In loving memory of Bißhop Moran, our own Boggartb aroon "; the Blißses Drumm, " With deepest sympathy "; Dr and Mrs Brown, " With deepest regret and sympathy "; Mrs Toal ; Catherine and Amelia Harrop ; Mr and Mrs Haydon ; Mrs Wise, Oamaru ; Mrs Shea and Sissie Feo^n ; Children of N. B. Valley ; Mrs Scanlan, MiltoD ; Mrs Falconer ; Mr and Mrs Colehan, Waitati ; Mr Oouston ; The Dresden ; Hugh Gourley ; Mr and Mrs Gollar and family, "In loving memory of our dear Bishop" ; Dominican nune, Dunedin, anchor with the Holy Name " Jesus " ; Dominican nuns, Oamaru, lavercargill, Milton, Lawrence ; Patients of Dunedin Hospital ; Mr and Mrs McNamara, " fn loving and gratetul memory "' ; Mrs Towler, •' May he rest in peace." The coffin, which was made of figured red pinp, polished, with silver mountings, the inscription on the wooden lid beug

Illmus et Revmuß, PATRITIUS MORAN, Episcopuß Dnnedinenais Primus, Annos 72 Natue, Die 22a Maii, 1895. Placide in Domino Qaievit. R.1.P., remained until Wednesday on the catafalque. Cn Monday and Tuesday morning Masses for the dead were celebrated every half hour from 7to 10.30, In the evenings the Rosary of the Bl ,sed Virgin, appointed by the Bishop himself on his turival here to be said every evening, and never since omitted, waß offered for the departed soul. There were, besides, with a similar intention added, devotions proper to the Month of Mary, and the office for the dead whs also recited. The church was constantly crowded. All day long large numbers visited it, and in the evening there were throngs. He lay there with his boys about him — his altar boys — attending to the lighting and renewing of candles and other leaser matters that come within the sphere of their duties, and with his people coming to look their laet at his dear face and to pray beside his body. Many others came as well, and all seemed reverent and impressed. Many , and not Catholics only, showed signs of deep emotion. On Tuesday evening the Archbishop of Wellington returned from Gore, where he had gone on the day succeeding the deatb, and the Bishop of Christchurch came from bis episcopal city. Several members of the clergy, too, came from divers places to show their respect and to do honour to the Bishop's memory. On Wednesday morning the Masses began at 6 30. His Grace the Archbishop was celebrant at the high altar at eight. Still tht church kept full, and people came to take a loving farewell look. At 10 a.m. solemn office for the dead and Pontifical High Mass of Requiem were begun. The celebrant of the Mass was the Right Bey Dr Grimes, Bishop of Christchurcb ; the deacon, the Very Rev Father Walsh (Riveiton) ; sub-deacon, Very Rev Father O'Leary (Lawrence) ; assistant-prieat, Very Rev Father Pestre, S.M., (Meanee) ; first master of ceremonies, Father Murphy (Duoedin) ; second master of ceremonies, Father Howard (Dunedin). The prelates and those fulfilling the office of prelates at the absolution were the Archbishop of Wellington, theßishopof Christchurch (officiating miuister) ; Very Rev Fatners Mackay (Gam »ru) ; Lynch, Rector cf St Joseph's Cathedral; and CummiDS, S. M , V,G., (Christchurch). The lessons at the office were read by the Very Rev Dr Watters, S.M. r (Wellington") ; Very Rev Father Devoy, S.M., V.G., (Wellington) ; Very Rev Caoon O'Donnell (Ashburtoo) ; Very Rev Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M. (Obristchurch) ; the Rev Fathers Regnault, S.M. (Waimate) ; HurliD, S.M. (Timaru) ; Bowers (Geraldine) ; and Foley, S.M. (Leeston). The chanters were the Very Rev Canon O'Donnell and the Rev J. O'Neill. The Archbishop read tbe last lesson. The other priests present were the Very Rev Father Sheehan (Ophir) ; the Rev Fathers Laverty (Hawarden) ; O'Connor (Rangiora) ; Hunt (Dunedin) ; P. O'Donnell, P. O'Neill (Gore) ; N Vcreker, P. ODea (Invercugill) ; J Coffey (Lawrence) ; J. Ryan (Yliltnn) ; W. McMullen (Oamaru) ; J. O'Donnell (Palmerston South) ; W, Newport (Port Chalmers) ; W. Burke (Queenstown) ; J. Lynch (Arrowtown) ; and M. Keenan (Winton).

The scene was one of great solemnity. The mourning into which the church had been put — the black hangings of the sanctuary, of the altar, the pulpit, the organ-loft, the Bishop's throne— with the great canop? over the catafalque towering up into the clerestory, and the tapers ibat again burned in a row on each 6ide of the central pasrage of the nave gave the building an appropriate funereal appearance. The congregation by which the church was densely thronged for the most part wore black garments. Some half an hour before the ceremonies began the organist of the cathedral played a funeral march by Mendelssohn. The •• Miserere " followed chantpd by the choir, and then the organist played Guilleman's " Marche Fuc&bre." The " Benedictns " was sun? during tbe office, antiphonally by the sanctuary choir, singing in unison, and the choir of the church, who eang in harmony. T&e Mass was sung in plain chant, and after it was chan'ed the "Absolutio." The flne Gregorian music was finely sung, and what so fit to express a pleading for the dead ? Tue chanting of the priests also was most affecting. The score of (be Mass was contained in a book for which the Bishop had given hi 9 imprimatur, and his portrait was on i's cover. The book also contained pictures of the cathedral and ( Continued on page 13.)

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