DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 37, 12 September 1901, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) September 9. During one of his mission sermons the Bishop incidently stated that the cause of beatification of the venerable founder of the Marist Order was introduced at Rome, and it was trusted that soon the process of canonisation would be an accomplished f»ot. After Vespers at the Pro-Cathedral on Sunday Mibb Crichton and Mr Max Eugene were reoeived by the Bishop at the episcopal residence, and gratefully thanked for their artistio singing at the Church services. . , Q Members of Musgrove's Opera Company assisted the choir of St. Mary's, Manchester Btreet, on Sunday. At 11 o'clock Weber a Mass in G was sung, the soprano solos being taken by Miss Enriqueta Crichton, and the baritone solos by Mr. Lawrence Mooney. At tne offertory Miss Crichton sang Cherubini's ' Aye Maria, and during the Maßs Hargalt's ' 0 Salutaris.' At Vesperß Miss B. Luscombe Bang Gounod's ' Aye Maria,' with violin obligate by Mr. Sandstem. Mr. W. H. Corrigan conducted, and Miss Kate Young presided at the organ with much ability. A valuable gift of music has been made by Mr. H. H. Loughnan to the Pro-Cathedral choir, including a complete set of Rossini s 'Stabat Mater' with full band parts. This presentation is highly appreciated by Mins Funston, the organist, and members of the choir and emphasises the deep and enduring interest manifested by Mr Loughuan in the music ot the church and conduct of the choir ' This gift of Mr. Loughnan is, I understand, but one of his many acts of kindly thoughtfulneas at various times. His Lordship the Bishop, on Sunday, publicly thanked in most complimentary terms the talented artists (eight in number), members of the Opera Company, for the manner in which they had so eenerously enhanced the musical portion of the day s ceremonies. They were he said, endowed with talents far above the average, and being so highly gifted by God it was pleasing beyond expression to see and hear how they were ever ready to exercise those gifti in His service and those of His Church, and, continued his Lordship

should it be possible to enlist their services on the occasion of solemnly opening the basilic* now in coarse of erection even if brought to Christchuroh for the occasion he felt very tempted to do so.

At the recent examinations of the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music the following candidates from St. Mary's Convent, Colombo street, conducted by the Sifters of Mercy, were successful. School examinations : Higher divisior— Harmony, Guy Haskina. Local centre : Elements of music, Miss Margaret L. Flynn. Elementary division: Ehmeits of music, Misses Nellie Robins, Mollie Robins, Hilda Flynn, Nellie Turner, Peggie Bain, and Gertrude Smith.

The mission services and Jubilee exercises, conducted in the Pro-Cathedral daring the week by his Lordship the Bishop and assistant olergy, have been attended with conspicuous success. Large congregations have been the rale ; in the evenings especially the church has been invariably orowded. Mass has been oelebrated each morning at 6, 7.30, and 9 o'clook. The first Mas?, essentially for men, with an instruction, is said by the Very Rev. Father La Menant des Chesnais, the second is celebrated by the Bishop, and the last, also with an instruction, by the Very Rev. Dean Foley. On the fir-t four evenings of the week, mission pennons were preached by the Bishop on ' Eternal destiny,' ' Mortal sin,' * Death,' and the ' Last Judgment.' On Thursday evening the second public procession in conformity with the Jubilee was formed up at the episcopal residence at seven o'clock, and proceeded by the same route a 9 on the previous Sunday to the church, which was completely filled. On Friday there was Exposition of the Bletsed Sacrament. In the evening a sermon on the Blessed Eucharist was preached by the Very Rev. Dean Foley. The congregation was exceedingly large the high altar and sanctuary being brilliantly illuminated and profusely decorated by the ladies of the Altar Society. High Mass was celebrated in the Pro-Cathedral at eleven o'clock on Sunday last by the Rev. Father Galerne, and the Very Rev. Dean Foley preached. The music on the occasion was of an especially high order of merit. Weber's Mass in G was the one selected, the choir receiving the assistance of a number of the principal members of the opera company. The soloists were — Soprano, Miss Cecile Lorraine ; alto, Miss White and Miss Annie Bryant (of the choir) ; tenor, Mr. Sutton ; and bass, Mr. Briggs. After the first Gospel Mr. Lemperiere Pringle gave a very fine rendering of the ' Pro Peccatis ' from Rossini's ' Stabat Mater,' and at the offertory Miss Holden sang Gounod's ' Aye Maria.' In the evening there was again a very large public procession (the third) of the Jubilee exercises. The Pro-Cathedral was packed to the utmost limit. Additional seating accommodation had to be provided, the aisles and even the sanctuary having to be utilised, whilst every possible Btaadiijg space was occupied. His Lordship the Bishop continued hie course of mission sermons, discoursing on ' Hell and eternity.' Many of those in attendance throughout the day were undoubtedly non-Catholics, who could not fail to be both edified and astonished at what they were privileged to see and hear After the sermon Miss Euriqueta Crichton sang most exquisitely Cherubim's ' Aye Maria,' and Mr. Max Eugene the * Pro Peccatis' from Rossini's ' Stabat Mater ' in a finished manner. Both these talented artists are leading members of the opera company. Miss Funston presided at the organ at all the services with her accustomed ability.