ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL BUILDING FUND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 32, 15 December 1898, Page 19

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL BUILDING FUND.

(From-our Wellington correspondent.) The public meeting which was held in Thomas' Hall on Monday, the sth inst, for the' purpose of raising funds for the rebuilding of St. Mary's Cathedral and erecting a church on the Bite of the sacred edifice recently destroyed, was a grand success from a numerical and financial- point of %iew. Rain set in half an hour before the meeting commenced and for a time it looked as if the element* would militate against the attendance, but this was not so, for there were fully 600 l persons present, who showed the greatest enthusiasm — an enthusiasm which took very practical shape at the end of the meeting when subscription lists were opened. His Grace Arohbishop Redwood presided and there were on the stage Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G., Very Rev. Father Lewis, Administrator of St. Mary's Cathedral ; Very Rev. Father Patterson. Very Rev. Dr. Watters, rector of .St. Patrick's College ; Hon. Dr. Grace, M.L.C. ; Major Collins, Dr. MaoMn, Messrs. John Cumin, Martin Kennedy, N. Reid, H. S. Wardell,.A. A. Corrigan, Driscoll, W. , C. Gasquoine, B. Whitaker, and Raymond Power Collin , Apologies for non-attendance, through illness, were received from the Hon. Charles Johnston and Mr. J. J. Devine, and from Mr. E. W. Gibbs, who' was absent from "Wellington. His Grace Archbishop Redwood said he had received a very large number of telegrams and letters of condolence and sympathy in this great loss that had befallen them, and one of the cablegrams was from the Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney, in which he said : 1 Accept heartiest condolence and sympathy from myself, clery, and people.' He answered that, saying : • Thanks for your sympathy from clergy, self, and people ' (applause). About that hour the previous Monday, his Grace went on to say, there were many sad hearts amongst the Catholics of Wellington, as they came in large numbers to contemplate those charred and unsightly rains that ■marked the spot where once stood their beautiful and beloved cathedral. It would be very hard to convey to the meeting any idea of the grief which filled the hearts of so many of their devoted Catholics during that day when they saw those cruel and fierce flames devouring an edifice which clung to their hearts by the most holy and the most touching association*. He could form s -me idea of what they must have felt from what his own heart endured when,- as he arrived at Masterton, he received a telegram from the Vicar-General in these words : — ' Cathedral on fire. No hope.' He was, as it - wer •, stunned for the moment. Was it possible, he said .to himself, that at this moment that Cathedral with which he had been associated for the last 24 years ; that Cathedral in which, he had officiated for so many years, preached so often, administered so many Sacraments ; been edified by the devotion of the faithful for so long a period ; was it possible that it was gone — gone with the rapidity almost of a flash of lightning ? When a man had officiated in a church for nearly a quarter of a oentary anl had preached and devoted hims-lf to various administrations amongst the faithful for so long a period, he could not see a building like that go d >wn without a very k j en pang ; and yet, what was that, what were his feelings compared to the feelings of the older members of the congregation, and the inhabitants of Wellington, people who could say that .from the"r very earliest childhood they were associated with that building-, with all that was most 'dear and holy and religious, where all their thoughts and association's in regard to religion had been formed and fostered and cherished, and had grown up clustering round the altar of that sacred building. -Many of them were baptised there and confirmed there, and married there ; from the time they could remember they were conducted, trotting alongside their parents, to that cathedral, and now, when their hair was whitened with years, when they looked back to a- lifetime, and they saw that building gone, «md gone for ever, could they realise how deeply their hearts must have been wounded by such a disaster, such a bereavement, such a bursting of so many holy and cherished ties, so many sacred associations that clustered round their hearts and clustered round what was now a mere heap of charred and unsightly ruins ? Well, they sympathised deeply with th9m and understood to some degree what they innst have felt. Bat it was no longer of any avail for them to lament that misfortune, they must bear it with fortitude and undertake to repair it ; and no doubt the younger portion of the congregation and the younger portion of the Catholics of Wellington viewed that event with rather a different appreciation from that which naturally filled the minds and touched the hearts of the older portion of the congregation. They (the younger portion) looked to tne present and to the future. Now, no doubt all honoir was. due to those who were associated with the building of that cathedra 1 . How many saintly men, known to them fur years, were connected with the erection of that building — men saintly and unselfish like Father

Petitjean, for instance (applause) — men like his sirintly_ predecessor,Dr. Viard, who had his heart in that cathedral, who thought he had achieved something really grevt. And so he had, for they mu3t not forget this fact, that that cathedral was a real historic buildiag. It was' begun in 1850, and completed to a certain degree, so as to be used -in 1851, and blessed by- him (Bishop Viard).f.- Lat3r on. in 1865, when it had become too small for the purpose .required. Bishop" Viard issued a pastoral letter to his diocese and he exerted all his energy in gathering funds for the erection of a larger cathedral, and. in 1866 he blessed in the most solemn manner that building which had been there for about 33 years very -much in the" same condition as when it was destroyed — at least in regard to. externals. Internally, aa they knew, he (Archbishop" Red wood) completed it. They spent £1200 in completing the interior of that Cathedral, irrespective of the price of the altar and the many other things required. They must not forget that for nearly 40 years, that was the finest Catholic cathedral in all New Zealand (applause). When he came to the , diocese, 21 years ago, there was no Catholic church in New Zealand comparable to it, and he said all honour to those who erected it. But looking at it now,, with the e yes of the youth of the present day, thongh it was beautiful, graceful, it was too small for their requirements ; it had become, through the progress of the Colony, entirely behind the age, and looking at it in that light (and he did look at it in that light)," seeing other cathedrals arise around him in other dioceses with les3 resources than this diocese, naturally it seemed to be dwarfed and effaced, and to be pointed at as behind the times. Nevertheless, so sacred was that building by its associations, above all by its being this place of repose of the ashes of his predecessor. So sacred was it in every way, that they were almost afraid to touch it or hint at its removal. Yet, either it had_ to be removed, or another cathedral built somewhere else, and it was a very difficult and delicate question to know how to come forward and appeal to the Catholics of New Zealand at large and the Catholics of Wellington in regard to a new cathedral. That was the positiou. Suddenly Providence came in, acting in that mysterious manner which seemed inscrutable, and by an accident that cathedral disappeared, and they were_ forced to face • the position, and it was their duty, as it would be their honour and privilege ' and glory, to erect a cathedral up-to-date, up to the requirements of this metropolis of New Zealand ( applause ). There was no doubt that the wave of population in Wellington had been .going /n the direction of Te Aro and Newtown, so that the cathedral was entirely stranded ; the waves had gone the other way. He found himself, as it were, separated,from his flock ; large congregations in Te Aro, & comparative handful in his cathedral. The position was_ impossible, it was becoming intolerable, and so Providence came in, and by an apparent disaster gave them a blessing in disguise. (Applause.) They had, then, to face the fact that they had no cathedral and must erect another one, and it must be up to the times, well built, solid, worthy of themselves, worthy of this oity, worthy of the metropolitan see. That was the problem they had to face, and if they were all united, as he hoped they were, the task would be a comparatively easy one. Because, if Wellington did its duty, if the Catholics here showed themselves what they ought to be in this noble work, they would meet with the deepest sympathy and the greatest support from the whole of the archdiocese, which would be canvassed to assist in erecting that cathedral, because it was the metropolitan cathedral, the centre, not only of this diocese but of all New Zealand ; and not only would the archdiocese help them, but they would have assistance and sympathy from the suffragan dioceses, which would to a certain extent assist the metropolitan see, So they would see that their task became comparatively easy when they looked upon it in that light ; but they must themselves show that . they had the thing at heart, and were determined to go forward nobly and give this work a magnificent start. And once the impetus was given the movement would go on of itself, and in future years they would have the"" satisfaction of erecting a building worthy of their Catholic faith, worthy of this city, and worthy of all New Zealand (applause). He felt sure they would have some donations even from far Australia, because that telegram from his Eminence had no litt c significance. Australia would remember the connection she had had with New Zealand, and they would got help from her and from, other countries, because the conflagration of a cathedral was an occurrence which appealed to the sympathy, to the miads, to the hearts of very remote countries, and they might have donations from far distant lands. They h<*d come to the conclusion to build the new cathedral in a central part of Wellington, where they had the people, and where they could gather them in large congregations. They had not finally determined the site, but it would be somewhere in the centre of the city at all events, and therefore it would command the sympathy of the vast majority of the Wellington Catholics. Yet it would not be separated entirely from the other parish where the cathedral had been standing so long. It was intended that that parish' should be included in the cathedral parish. There would be a good parish church erected there, and it would be part of the great parish of the cathedral ; and there he himself would reside. That parish church would be erected largely out of the insurance money^-a good, solid, substantial building, giving more accommodation than the cathedral they had lost, and certainly far more imposing in its interior. He had put before them what they had to do, and that meeting had been convened to take the very best means to carry out that purpose, so that they might have the satisfaction of erecting and utilising a noble edifice, worhy of themselves, worthy of the Catholic faith, worthy of this metropolis .(loud applause). Mr. H. S. Wardell moved the first resolution, which was as follows : — ' That this large and representative meeting expresses its deepest sympathy with his Grace Archbishop Redwood and the Catholic community, particularly the Catholics of Thorndon, at the loss of the venerated and historic church, St. Mary's Cathedral.' Speaking in support of the resolution Mr. Wardell said they all

felt the greateet sympathy with his Grace and the Catholiesj of Thorndou at the great loss sustained by them. Perhaps many of those listening, to him had been baptised in that historic ciiurch, had received their first communion, and very likely the remains of many of their parents or relatives were taken there before being: laid in their last resting place. He urged upon the Catholics of Wellington to work strenuously to rebuild the church, and, to erect a cathedral something like worthy of the great purpose to which it was to be devoted. The motion was seconded by Mr. John Ournin and carried unanimously. The Hon. Dr. Grace, in the course of a very el- quent speech, moved ' That this meeting approves of the action of the organiseis of the preliminary meeting in selecting a committee to arrange for calling together this representative meeting, and that the aforesaid commit cc be appointed a permanent committee with power to add to their number. In concluding his speech he said that the prompt aotion of the Archbishop was a happy presage of the suoaess of this movement, and he hoped all would assist to the best of their ability. The resolution was seconded by Mr. Nicholas Reid and carried with applause. Mr. Martin Kennedy, in proposing the next resolution, said it was necessary that their sympathy shoull be of a practical nature. Although they may get assistance from outside of the city, still it was the duty of the Wellington people to provide the main portion of the funds. The resolution entrusted to him was : ♦ That immediate steps be taken to organise a general collection towards a building fund for the new cathedral, and that a subscription list be now open.' There were two funds to provide for— a parish church and the new cathedral. He would give £50 as his own contribution to the fund for the" parish church, and would give, on behalf of himself and Mrs. Kennedy £1,000 towards the new cathedral (tremendous applause). Mr. A. A. Corrigan seconded the motion which on being put to the meeting was carried by acclamation, the applause lasting for some time. Mr. Kennedy here explained that as the proposed cathedral would cost from £20,000 to £30,000 it would take some years to build, bo that subscriptions could be promised and paid by instalments extending over a period of, say, five years. It would be prudent, however, that at least half of the money should be in. hand before commencing the work. Subscription lists were then handed round, and in a short time His Grace was able to announce that the amount promised in the room was about £2400, which in addition to that reported at the preliminary meeting — £1200 — made £3660. On the motion of Major Collins, seconded by Dr. Mackin, it was decided to form a committee of ladies to assist in collecting f .mds. At the conclusion of the meeting His Gra c thanked Messrs. Haybittle and Bristow for the use of the hall, which was given free of cost. Some of the principal subscriptions to date are : — Mr. and Mrp. Martin Kennedy £10.">0. His Grace Archbishop Redwood £.">OO, Mr. Raymond P. Collins £200. Very Rev. Father Devoy V.G. £100, St. Patrick's College £100. Hon. Dr. and Mrs. Grace £100, Dr. Mackin £100, Mr* Mauiice O'Counor £100, Mesbrs. Dwan Brothers £100, Mr. John Cumin £."0, Hon. Charles Johnston £00, Mr. J. O'M-ara £50, Sir George Clifford £50, Mr. Nicholas Reid £50, Very Rev. Father Lewis £30. In connect iou vith the object and result of the meeting the Jthiening Post says :—: — 'The meeting held in Thorras's Hall last night, under the presidency of Archbishop Redwo >d, supplies one more instance of the devotion fe't by Catholics for the Church of their fathers. No other religion hap, during the long course of centuries, won from its adherents a truer allegiance, and this characteristic is never more clearly expressed than in face of adversity. Seldom, if ever, do the spiritual li aders of the Church appeal in vain to the generosity of her children, and in this open-handed loyalty to the faith that is in them, our Catholic fellow-citizens set a shining example to the whole community.' The N".w Zi aland Times says : — ' The Roman Catholics of Wellington are to be warmly comncended for the loyalty and generosity they have shown in subscribing towards erecting a cathedral and parish church to take the place of St. Mary's Cathedral, recently destroyed by fire. Already, jutt eight days after the calamity, a sum of £3684 has been promised. As misfortune often develops the best qualities in the individual, so does it evoke the higher powers of a community. A few weeks of united effort t-hould place the finances of the new Roman Catholic Cathedral on a sound basis.'