Diocese of Auckland.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 29, 13 November 1896, Page 29

Diocese of Auckland.

(From our own correspondent.) Thursday, October, 29th, 18%. His Lordbhip, owing to the indisposition of Father Kehoe, said the early Mass at 7.30 a.m., last Sunday morning at St John's, Parnell. At St Patrick's Cathedral he preached at the eleven o'clock Mas?, and in the evening gave the Rosary and Benediction again at Parnell. Pride in and love for duty makes it light, so it is with our Bishop. The cost of the memorial inscription to our late dear Bishop, upon the marble altar in the Bishop's palace, Ponsonby, and to which I have made reference in a former letter, was borne by Mr. Patrick Darby, a most exemplary Catholic, who for years in this diocese has been to the Church a prop and a pillar. G-od spare him. St. Patrick's Convent Schools of the Sisters of Mercy are being repainted, so also is the fencing around the cathedral. This should tend to beautify these dear old historic places. The episcopal ring of Dr. Lenihan is a splendid specimen of art and superbness. The top is massive gold of opal shape into which is let a splendid diamond, and into each side of the ring is cut the form of the shamrock. This magnificent gift to his Lordship came from the hands of a good Catholic lady in Ponsonby, Miss Tole. Several new priests from the old country for this diocese are shortly expected to arrive. This is good news, for we are short of priests . St Benedict's club held in St George's Hall last Monday evening, its final social for the season. These entertainments during the winter have served a good and deserving purpose by assisting the Benedictines to meet the heavy calls upon their by no means plenary exchequer. The young men of the club deserve every commendation for their untiring efforts. The interior and exterior decorations of the cathedral for the consecration ceremony have been designed by Mr. Thomas Mahoney, and their execution has been entrusted respectively to Messrs J. J. Daly and P. J. Nerheny, a guarantee that they will be effectively accomplished. It is intended that after the conclusion of the conversazione on Monday evening, November 1(5, in the Choral Hall His Lordship the Bishop and visiting prelates are to go North in the s.s. Clansman returning to Auckland on the following Friday morning. This trip up the east coast is a most enjoyable one, and will recuperate the prelates after the labours of the previous week. His Lordship Bishop Grimes is to give his lecture on the Passion Play, illustrated by views shown by a powerful lantern, at the City Hall on Monday evening. November 2.Srd. A great treat is anticipated, and there is certain to be a crowded audience. Reverend Brother Felix, Provincial of the Marist Order, arrived from Sydney by the " Tarawera " last Monday. He is on hib annual tour of inspection of the houses throughout the colonies. \ isiting New Caledonia and Fiji, and expects to accomplish his round m about six months. On Wednesday evening he proceeded to the Thames to consult with the indetatigable Father O'Reilly, who is about to introduce to his people the — to a Catholic people — indispensable Marist Brothers, whose untiring labours on behalf ot our youth are well nigh incalculable. I congratulate our Thames brethren on their good fortune. Brother Felii. proceeds south neit week. One ot the new Stations of the Cross was hung last Sunday in St. Patrick's, and came in tor general admiration. The Guard ot Honour is presenting them in fond commemoration of the memory of the late Miss Kate Sheehan, who. during her life, did yeoman service at the cathedral. The Society is also to erect to her memory in the church a mural tablet. The memorial monument to be erected at Panmure over the remains of the late dear Brother Joseph is nearly completed, and by next month it will be unveiled before a large gathering. With execrable taste the organisation dubbing itself the Navy League pursued its intention ot rekindling old animosities by exhorting the citizens to commemorate the battle of Trafalgar. To the credit of the latter they refrained, for beyond a few ships in the Waitemata the pole-masts m the city were bare. The Government and municipal authorities like the general body show ed the same good sense. This jingo policy and spirit are exotic in these parts. An entertainment in connection with one of the confraternities at the cathedral was lately held in the Catholic Institute, and I regret to say that the proverbial stage Irishman in all the majesty of his tatters and rags cut up his antics and mimicry behind the footlights, and worst ot all was applauded by, with shame be it said, an almost Irish audience. When are we to respect Ourselves, and banish for ever the disgusting and degrading stage Irishman ! The Hon. J. A. Tole was presented, in recognition of his valuable services as speaker during the last two sessions at the Union Parliament, by that body with a well-bound copy of the ' Times Atlas." The Anglican Diocesan Synod met last week, and the Primate in his opening address in view ot the recent vacancy ot the Canterbury See seized upon this to reiterate the kinship ot the "establishment "with St. Augustine. Constant and persistent repetition of distorted history, taken up parrot-like must in the long run entrap the unwary, aye, and even persuade the chirrupers that they ai - e giving Gospel truth. It was amusing to witness the way in which the synod grappled with the education question. They seemed as I wide apart as the poles upon it. To solve the quandary a " teaching guild" was carried whose duty it would be to visit the schools and teach religion. What arrant nonsense ' Why not show consistency by maintaining their own schools. Finally the hat was sent around to enable the Primate to attend the Lambeth Conference, and the response was so hearty that the " most reverend " said he would now be enabled to take with him his wife. Has the new woman a place at Lambeth 1

The validity of the Anglican Orders came forward like an avenging spirit at the local synod. Dr. Cowie, though affecting not to care one jot for the opinion of his Holiness on the subject, yet quoted him at length. Conscience makes cowards of us all, and whether they will it or otherwise, their " invalidity " will ever remain till they give up, as Froude in a lucid interval once styled it, the "Church of yesterday." In order to afford our own people the first chance of securing tickets to admit them to the consecration ceremony, they were afforded an opportunity last Sunday at the various church doors to purchase them. From various parts of the diocese orders for tickets have been sent, and the accommodation of the cathedral on the great day is sure to be taxed to its utmost. The scrip market is unusually quiet. Speaking of mining, the local papers are at war on the subject of the alleged slackening of English capital for the local mines. One journal asserts that it is so, while the other avers that it is untrue, and charges its contemporary with ulterior political motives in " fouling its own nest " that it might damage the Seddon Government. A feature at the conversazione given in honour of the Bishop and visiting prelates will be the children's choruses, for which they are being trained by the good Sisters of Mercy. The addresses from the laity and various societies to the Bishop are also to be presented there. The local cricketers are getting into trim to try conclusions with the redoubtable Australian eleven, due next week by the 'Frisco mail steamer. Auckland plays eighteen men. Against Trott and Co. our boys «an have no show, but if it were our national game — football — we might look to the result with more confidence.