DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 6, 6 February 1902, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent). February 3. The Very Roy. Daans Martin and Carew returned to their respective parishes via Wellington on Tuesday last. The Rev. Father Alexander McDonnell has left for the Weak Coast as assistant to the Rev. Father King at Ahaura. The l\ev. Solorcon Zainey, of the Marounite mission is at present attending to the spiritual wants of the Syrian residents of this city, and is holding; eer vices daily in the Pro-Cathedral father Zainey has been sojourning in Auckland during the last six months.

The Cathloics of the EUesmere district intend to celebrate Pt. Patrick's Day with a sports gathering, and have secured the Leeston Reoreation Grounds for the purpose. The Very Rev. Father Le Menanfc desChesiaisacceompanied by the Rev. Fathers O'Brien and Robinson, of the Arohdiooese of Melbourne, went north by Monday evening's steamer. The Chriatchurch Catholic Club intend to re-open the weekly meetings in about a month's time with a soc al gathering to which lady friends of the members will be invited. Members of the Eighth Contingent approached the Holy Table at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Addington, at 8 o'clock Mass on Sunday, which was celebrated by the Very Rev. Dean Foley. The Rev. Father George Mahony, of Nelson, vow on a visit to Christchurcb, is the guest of the Rev. Father Marnane at St. Mary's, Manchester street, and preached the sermon at Vespers on Sunday. There was exposition of the Blessed Sacmmeat at the ProCathedral from High Mass on Sunday. At Vespers there was a orowded congregation, when the Rev. Father Galerne preached an impressive sermon on the "Word of God" The mual procession incidental to the first Sunday of the month followed, and was takeu part in by a large number of members of the various sodalities, confraternities, and the H.A C.K. Society. At the Church of St. John the Evangelist., Leeston, a solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated on Tuesday last (the anniversary of his death) for the repose of the soul of the Very Rev. Dean (Joervier, S.M. Owing to temporary indisposition, his Lordship the Bishop was prevented from being present. The celebrant was the Rev. Father Richards ; deacon, Rev. Father Regnault ; sub-deacson, Rev. Father Cooaey. Other members of the clergy present were — Rev. Fathers Marnane, Aubry, Bowers, McDonnell, Kerlly, and^Very Rev. Dean O'Donnell. The Very Rev. D<an Foley, who has undertaken the onerous d i ties of collecting /or the Cathedral building fund, is making a house to house canvass, as time and circumstances permit, for promised subscription?. His Lordship the Bishop is must anxious that the building operations should not be interfered with or suspended for lack of the necessary means, and, together with the Very Rev. Dean, who baß proved himself so devoted to the work, hopes that all who have promised donations will make an effort, not to say a sa r fice, to be prepared with their contributions when called upon. The executive committee of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations met in the parochial library on Tuesday evening last, Mr. W. H.»ban presiding. Mr. P. Burke was elected treasurer. A letter was real from the. Right Hou the Premier according his patronage to the event, offering siurereft congratulations on the inauguration of 1b.6 naheine lor providing the oiiy and district with n home for incurables, th«, suff. ring airi distressed, and wishing the movement every possiole hUL-cesn. Various donations were acknowledged, and a sum of money voted to the ladies committee for the purchase of articles suitable for the purposes of a sale of work, etc., which the ladies intend to hold in marquees ab the fete. Reports were received from the hall, sports, and children's sports sub-committees, the t»vo latter submitting programmes of events which, with a few minor suggested alterations, were adopted Mrs. Stratz (president) and Mra. A. Mewl (secretary) were elected to the executive committee, and reported the progress being made in the disposal of tickets, and other duties undertaken. The meeting adjourned until Tuesday next. There has been much newspaper criticism regarding the fitness of Mr. Wilson Barrett's drama, the ' Sign of the Cross,' to be considered a religious and moral play. Be this as it may, however, Mr. Barrett Hdted in a speech addressed tojthe audience, after the second performance in this city, that his desire m writing and producing the play was actaat d by motives of religion and morality. Speaking of critics both here a <d elsewhere Mr. Farrett said :—: — ' They did not deny the originality and power of the play, but they said it was bringing forward religion as a subject for discussion on the stage, and that religion had no place on the s age. My answer to that objection was th*t if religion had no place on the stage, then morality had none, b 'cause the hightsfc form of morhlUy waa religion.' Continuing with ma y pointed remarks Mr. Barrett said that what was seen and heard on the t-tage was a great power for good or -evil, and that which was thoroughly bad when heard not only tended to c rrupt the mind of the one who heard, but would be taken outside the theatre and repeated to such an extent that moral havoc was wrought in the souls of numberless individuals.