H A W E R A.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 46, 13 March 1896, Page 18

H A W E R A.

ARCHBISHOP RBDWOOD ON THE EDUCATION QUESTION.

fFrom an occasional Correspondent.) The Mission conducted here by His Grace Archbishop Bed wood last week was well attended. Each evening Hie Grace delivered a mott eloquent sermon, and during the latter part of tbe week was assisted in heariDg confessions by Eev Fathers Golden (Patea) and Cognet (New Plymouth). On Sunday first Mass was celebrated by His Qrace, who administered first Holy Communion to about thirty children. At the second Haas Very Bey Father Mulvihill officiated, and at the conclusion His Grace gave Conformation to fifty-three candidates. Hia Grace then spoke at considerable length on the Sacred Heart Association, exhorting all who did not already belong to it to join. In tbe afternoon tbe opening and blessing of the new convent took place. At half-past two the town band, under Bandmaster Higham, played several choice selections in their well-koown good styls, and at three o'clock the procession left St Joseph's Presbytery in the Bame order as on the laying of the foundation-stone. After this ceremony Miss K. Whitaker read the following address to His Grace the Most Bey Dr Redwood, S.M., Archbishop of Wellington, Metropolitan, etc:—" My Lord Archbishop, — On behalf of tbe Siaterp, we, tbe children attending St Joseph's schools, beg to bid Tour Grace cordial welcome to the new convent, and humbly ask your blessing not only on the building but also on ourselves and our parents. During tbe past eleven years the dear Sisters have had to pat up with many inconveniences ; but necessity has no law. Whem we remember that the Very Bey Father Mulvihill had to bny this ground, construct tbe convent out of the material at hand, and furnish the building, etc, the wondet is, not that the convent was so poor, but that one soul could effect so much. We have now a convent of which we are proud. As far as we know, there has been nothing left undone to make it what it onght to be — a home for our dear Sisters. We thank Your Grace for laying the foundation-stone ; we thank you for blessing the building to-day. In fine, we hope always to remain Your Grace's most respectful and dutiful children. — The pupils of St Joseph's schools, Hawera." In his reply to the address of the children of St Joseph's School, Hawera, his Grace Archbishop Redwood said :—: — CONGRATULATION. "My dear children and Sisters, lam very grateful to you indeed for the very kind address you have just read to me. When I was here before to lay the foundation stone of your convent I expressed to you feelings of sympathy in respect of the inadequate manner iv which you bad been lodged up to that time. I hoped, I said, shortly to see a convent in keeping with the needs of the Sisters and with their merits and deserts, And now to day I have to address you words of congratulation. I congratulate the Sisters very much on tbe beautiful convent erected for them, and I also congratulate very much those who have been the instruments in God's hands of erecting this building. I congratulate especially the parish priest, who has been all heart and soul in this work ; now he se°a his efforts crowned with the most perfect success. DETERMINATION OF CATHOLICS. 11 This convent is a home now fit for the Sisters who are engaged in teaching the Catholic schools of this parish ; and it is another proof, a substantial proof, of the determination of the Catholics in this Colony, whenever they have the means to see that their children receive complete education— that they shall not only be trained in their intellect and in the knowledge they require for the purposes of this life, but also trained in their consciences and their cbaractersand in the rules of their holy faitb ; so that they may be prepared for another world, a world of far higher importance than this, because this world will soon pass away, but tbe other world is eternal, and there we have to spend our eternity. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we should be prepared for that world, and we Catholics know well that it is impossible to be virtuous, to aspire to a higher life, and to go forward to a higher civilisation unless men's eouls, consciences, and characters are trained by a knowledge of tbe revealed truth of God, the principles of religion. That is why we are determined that our children shall be brought up in an atmosphere of religion, that not only shall their intellects be enlightened, but that their whole being shall be educated. CHILDREN MUST NOT BK LOP-SIDED. "We are determined that they shall not be lop-sided. A child which is simply instructed how to read and write and sum, and is given little or no instruction in manners and morals and none in religion, is not being truly educated ; and it is simply impossible that such a child should be so armed as to be able to come forth victorious in the terrible strife of good against evil in which he has to take part all his life. We know by long experience that it is impossible without teaching religion to educate people in a proper manner ; and also we know it .is impossible to preserve tha foundations of oar

liberties and of our social rights unless we keep intact the same causes that produced them . CATHOLICITY AND ETTBOPEAN CIVILISATION. "They were produced by Christianity; they came in Catholic times. Magna Charts, trial by jury, that great principle that there should be do taxation jwithout representation, all the liberties of which we boast ware given us in Catholic times, when only Catholics were to be found in England and the rest of Europa ; and as these liberties were gained by certain causes, they can only be preserved to us by the causes which led to their establishment, that is by the principles of Christianity— genuine Christianity. If children are to be trained up vithout religion then in a certain time, in a certain number of years, there must come anarchy, despotism, socialism, and everything of that sort. The civilisation and order we now boast of and enjoy can only be preserved by the causes which brought it into existence. It was brought into existence by Christianity, and to take away Christianity and religion from education is to destroy the foundations of civilisation. The Church rescued the world from the tyranny of heathenism and society from tbe horrors of barbarism when all Europe was invaded by it, and securad for ue the liberties we now live under. So will she save us from the disasters which threaten. THE NEW BA.BBA.BISM. "For you are threatened with a worse barbarism than the first barbarism— a new barbarism in the name of civilisation, a civilisation in wh\cb men will set up themselves against God, will seek to do everything against God. This is a<heism, and anarchy, socialism, communism, are the only consequences of man putting away God from him, As the Church rescued the world before so she will again be the saviour of man by insisting upon the principles of Christian education. I have only once more to congratulate the Sisters on the completion of this convent, aad I hope God will t>l. ss them with health and courage, and make them very successful in their efforts to teach the children thoroughly, not only what it is necessary to know to fit them for secular affairs, but to so practise religion faithfully in this world, that in the world to come they may enjoy the blessing of God for all eternity." Mr Milnor, with his usual generosity, subscribed £10, which makes his donation towards tbe convent £70 in all. In the evening the mission was brought to a close with Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The address to his Grace was prettily printed and illuminated by Miss Flynn. During the week the choir sang the Benediction service each evening, and on Sunday at eleven o'clock rendered Weber's Mass in G in exceptionally good style. They were assisted by Mies Smith and Mr Russell, of Pollard's Opera Company. The soprano solos were sustained by Mesdames Flynn and Whitaker ; altos, Mlsies Smith and N. and K. Flynn ; tenor, Mr T. Hall ; and basses, Messrs Higham, Russell, and Whitaker. Miss Smith, who is possessed of a very rich and powerful voice, sang the " Agnus Dei " with splendid effect. At the offertory, Mr Higham's rendering of a very difficult "Veni, Sancte Spiritas," with flute obligato by Mr Russell, was a thorough treat, tbe gentleman being in good voice. At Benediction an 'O Balntaris," composed by Mr Higham, was sung by Mrs Flyun, the composer playing the violin |ob!igato, This solo is most,devotional, and could not have been more sweetly rendered. The " Tantum Ergo " sung on this occasion was a fine chorus composed by Mr F. Oakes, of Wellington .

Messrs Edwards Bros, the enterprising proprietors and manufacturers of Three Crown. Cigarettes, ha»e lately taken Kirk's Hall, ai tbeir previous premises were too small. They are now turning oat this favourite brand of cigarettes in a much impioved manner, and we would advise all smokers to give them a trial, as only the best of tobacco is used in their manufacture, and every precaution taken to have no hurtful ingaedients in the paper used. Hotelk^epera and retail tobacconists would do well to give them a trial.