DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 50, 12 December 1901, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.) December 2 A number of marriages took place just prior to the commencement of advent Large numbers have visited the Antartic exploring vessel since her arrival "in Lyttelton. The Discovery is now in dook, and a good opportunity is afforded of viewing her somewhat remarkable construction. The Rev. Father Kehoe. of Parnell, Auckland, passed through Christchurijh lat-t week on his way to Australia, and was the guest of the el rgy during his brief Htay. The Rev. Father Moloney. of St. I'utriok's College, also made a call on his w«y South. Following oa a retreit given by the Veiy Rdv. Dean Foley to the children at St Mary's. M.neheiter str.-et, a number made their Frst Coiuinu'.iioti on Sunday, the Feist of the [mmaculate Conception. After High Mass his Lordship the Ui.-hop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to over lUO candidates.

It baa been decided to take down immediately the damaged portion of the Anglican cathedral ipire. The scaffolding when erected for this purpo-e is to ba allowed to remain indefinitely, no present effort, according 1 to the cathedral chapter, will be made to re-build the spire, the work being allowed to remain until the cathedral itself is c rnpleted. A bazaar in aid of the l<w»l churoh funds and eppeoially to assist in paying for a section of land recently acquired close to tho church property was opeuH in the Oddfellows' Hall, Kaiapoi, by Mr. I> RiifHo. M H.U., on Wertne day evening in the presence of a large gathering of people trom ail parts of the dis-triol. There was an excellent display of nbeiul and ornamental articles on the various stalls, which were presided over by ladies of the congregation. Good bu«inesß was done on the opening and succeeding evenings, and the net results whould prove very satisfactory A meeting of the executivo committee, appointed to arrange for the fitting celebration of St. Patrick's Day, was held in the presbytery on Tuesday evening. His Lordship the Bishop presided and there were also present the Very Rev. Father Le Menant deß Chesnais, Messrs. P. Bourke, W. Hoban. G. J. Sellars, R. Hayward, G. R. Hart, E. O'Connor, W. Fox, and J. J. Wilson. Sir George Clifford and Mr. G. Moon were added to the committee. Messrs. E. O'Connor and W. Fox were appointed joint secretaries. Sir George Clifford offered to give a trophy valued at £5 5s to be allotted to the leading amateur event at the sports. After some discussion it was resolved to celebrate the event by a sports meeting with a grand national concert in the evening. After several subcommittees had been appointed the meeting adjourned until next Tuesday. The Fro-Cathredral School committee met at the presbytery on Thursday evening last, Mr. H. H. Loughnan (Chairman) presided, the Very Rev. Vicar-General being present and a full attendance of members. A letter was read from the Lancaster Park Swimming Club through the Rev. Brother Arthur, principal of the boys' school, offering free use of the baths to 20 pupils, and at a very reasonable charge to the while school, for two days in the week throughout the season. The offer was accepted. Use of the schoolroom was granted to the Olympic Dramatic Club (composed of members of the Christ church Catholic Club, under separate management) for a ' basket social ' in ajjd of its wardrobe fund. This Club has in rehearsal, under a professional tutor, the drama, ' The Lancashire Lass,' which they propose staging in the Theatre Royal early next year for the benefit of different parish enterprises. Who is there among us who has not heard of Mozart's 'Twelfth Maas ' or listened to the sublime strains of the noble composition ? Very few, indeed, one would venture to assert, could be found to know or have heard much about Mozart's Twelfth ' Service,' or ever suppose that the immortal composer vould characterise, probably the greatest success ever attained in sacred music, other than by the loved Catholic name of ' Mass.' It remains, however, after all these years, for our Presbyterian friends, of a rather obscure local church, to discover that Mozart's Twelfth ' Service ' is the correct thing, and so accordingly reads an advertisement in the papers announcing a production of this grand Catholic work. They want our beautiful music, and evidently appreciate it, but would like to disassociate the legitimate title ' Mass ' from it and substitute the more prosaic and lees despised term. • Service.' Our Methodist friends appear to exercise no such compunction, for some time ago they gave a rendering of Weber's ' Mass in G ' and Gounod's ' Messe Solennelle,' but under the original and correct titles, be it said.