DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 4, 26 January 1899, Page 28

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) January 23, 1899. The subscriptions to the testimonial presented to his Lordship the Bishop are now complete, and the result is that an additional sum of £32 remains to be handed to Dr. Grimes. This will make the total amount of the testimonial £332. The too Christchurch parishes subscribed about £125, and of the country parishes Shand's Track has the honour of heading the list with £33 13s fid. Other amounts were as follows : — Timaru, £25 ; Hokitika, £24 3s 6d ; Ashburton, Darfield. and Greymonth, £20 each : Knmara, £13 9s • Amberley, £13 ; Akaroa, Southbridge, and Waimate, £10 each ; Boss, £8 11b ; Temuka, £7. The complete list reaches £318, and the expenses came to £16. This result must be considered extremely creditable. Now that the reception iB over, and that it has proved so complete a success, one may, without appearing invidious, mention the excellent work done by that earnest priest, the Very Rev.i Father Le Menant des Chesnais, V.G., (the chairman of the reception committee), Mr. E. O'Connor (the secretary), and Mr. P. I Burke (the treasurer). To these three primarily is due the credit for untiring zeal, and they were ably supported by all the members of the executive committee. The address presented to the Bishop at the Pro-Cathedral on his arrival in Christchurch was beautifully engrossed and illuminated, and enclosed in a massive frame. It is doubtful, indeed, if the Sisters of the Mission have ever done a better piece of work of the kind. The lettering was exceedingly tasteful, and the design altogether artistic. Though the Sisters prepared the address at short notice they did it only too willingly, and certainly the skill they have shown could not have been surpassed by any professional designer, or indeed equalled by mauy. The retreat for the nuns of the Convent of Our Lady of the Missions commenced on Monday last and is to end on Wednesday or Thursday. It is being preached by the Bey. Father Hughes, S.J., Melbourne, who conducted the retreat for the priests, which concluded on Monday morning last. 1 understand that at the conclusion of the retreat for the nuns Father Hughes will return to Melbourne. The parish library, established some time ago by the Bishop, is

now being reorganised. This library contains about 2000 volumes, ana Ut.U rimes, on his return from Europe, brought with him two cases of new books, which are to be placed on the shelves this '. 01^ 8 * this n ew collection is, I understand, Sir Gavan JJuffy b History of Ireland. Messrs. J. Finlay and Young are the librarians, and begin work this week. The hall in the JBishop's grounds used for the library has been renovated and painted. *'«!. Pi? new ° hurch at Halswell is to be consecrated on Sunday, sth February, by the Bishop. The church at Hornby will also be on the same day. It is intended to present, his Lordship Wwith an address of welcome at Halswell. A number of the Primitive Methodist representatives, iv conference here the other day, passed a resolution stipulating that applicants for church membership should be total abstainers. lhere ia nothing remarkable in this, to be sure, from a people who seem to imagine that one has merely to give up drinking to become at once qualified for a place in heaven, whatever else be may be } but this innocent-looking resolution has, nevertheless, Had an unlooked-for result. It has brought about a serious difference between Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.H.R., and the Rev. F. W. Isitt. Mr. Isitt, at a meeting the other evening, dissented from the resolution of the Primitive Methodists, whereupon Mr. Taylor, with that characteristic courtesy of his, rose to his feet and informed the meeting that Mr Isitt was standing on the same platform with Mr. Louisson— the last-named, the Mayor of Christchurch, being, be it remarked, a gentleman prominently connected with the brewery interests in this city. He further observed casually that Mr. Isitt was 'floundering about in a quagmire.' The Prohibition cause must be gloomy when the leaders begin to abuse each other. The jubilee of the Rev. Mother of St. Joseph's Convent of the Sisters of Mercy at Lyttelton was observed on Thursday, 19th inst. His Lordship the Bishop celebrated Mass on the occasion. By the s.s. Rotomahana on Thursday, the Right Rev Dr Grimes, accompanied by the Very Rev. Father Le Menant des Chesnais, S.M., V.G., as theologian, also the Very Rev. Dean Martin, S.M., of Hokitika, and Very Rev. Dean O'Donnell, of Ashburton, delegates elected by the clergy of the diocese, left for Wellington to be present at the first Provincial Council of the Church in New Zealand. The half-yearly meeting of St. John the Baptist (ladies) branch of the H.A.C.B.S. was held on Thursday evening last, President Sister Courtney in the chair. The election of officers for the ensuing term resulted as follows : President, Mrs. Burke ; vicepresident, Miss Cronin ; secretary, Miss Courtney ; treasurer, Miss E. McAdams ; assistant secretary, Miss M. Burke ; warden, Miss Nelligan ; guardian, Miss McDonald ; sick visitors, Misses Rennels and McDonald ; auditor, Bro. G. J. Sellars ; delegate to istrict meeting, Mrs. Green. The installation was performed by Bro. G. J. Sellars. P.D.P., assisted by Bros. Burke, P.P., C Courtney, P.P., J. Doolan, V.P., and J. McCormadr. treasurer of St. Patrick's (male) branch. Bro. Burke was heartily thanked for his splendid gift of a full set of officers' collars. Special votes of thanks were accorded Sisters Courtney, P.P., Rennels past secretary, and M. Bradley, treasurer, for valued services to the branch. I On Sunday last the choir of St Mary's, Church. Manchester street, rendered Gounod's ' Messe i'olennelle ' under rho oonduo'-or-ship of Mr. George Gardiner, late of .Melbourne. Ttie polos were taken by Miss.-s Ryan and M-Lauirh'.in. (li-.uly. and O.iko-s a-nl Messrs. Head, Blake, and Peterson. An eIH i^nc orjlu-strj, assisted, Mrs. W. Cronan being organist.