NELSON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 2, 10 January 1901, Page 5

NELSON.

(From our own correspondent.)

December 26.

The Feast of the Nativity was ushered in by the celebration of midnight Mass by the Very Rev. Dean Mahony in the convent ohapel which was very prettily decorated. In one corner of the chapel a crib was very nicely arranged. At the 8 o'clock Mass Very Rev. Dean Mahony was again the celebrant, when there waß a large number of communicants. At the High Mow, wliiUi v*a& celebrated by the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy of Napier, Dean Mahony preached an able discourse on the Nativity. The choir deserve a meed of praise for the finished manner in whioe they sang Palmer's Macs in B flat, under the oonductorship of Mr. L. Frank. Tho9e taking the leading parts were Mesdames A. P. Burns, Pratt, Maohin, Misses I. Prank (soprano), Kelley, and Hyde (altos) ; Messrs. L. Frank and I. Soott, Gondell, Sirling- Butcher, Armrtrong. In the evening- devotions were held at 7.30 when Rossi's ' Tantum Ergo ' was very admirably rendered by Messrs. L. Frank (tenor) and Girling-Butcher (bass). Miss H. Scott presided at the organ in her usual efficient manner. The church was taetefnlly decorated by some of the convent boarders. On the Gospel side of the altar were the words in red on white ground ' Gloria in exoelsis Deo' on the Epistle Bide ' Bt in terra pax ' while the sanctuary, pulpit and the body of the church were festooned with greenery and flowers. The Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy is leaving for home to night after having spent a very pleasant fortnight in Nelson being the guest of the Very Rev. Dean Mahony for that time.