INVERCARGILL'S NEW CHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 20, 19 May 1904, Page 3

INVERCARGILL'S NEW CHURCH

LAYING THE CORNER-STONE (By our Special Reporter.) On Sunday last was performed the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the splendid new church that is in course of erection in Invercargill. The day was well described as the most memorable one in the history of the Catholic Church in Invercargill anid the solemn function itself, in all its setting was a picturesque and commanding demonstration of faith and piety, and was carried out on a scale that would have done honor to any of the greatest centres of population in New Zealand. Smiling skies, dense crowds, and great enthusiasm marked the day's proceedings, and the learned pastor of Invercargill and his generous flock are to be congratulated on the success of the ceremonies which form a landmark in the local annals of their faith. The proceedings opened at eleven o'clock with Solemn High Mass in St. Mary's. The church was densely crowded in every part, every inch of standing room, being fully occupied and the worshippers overflowing even into the sanctuary. The celebrant of the Mass was. the Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary (Lawrence) ; Rev. P O'Donnell (Gore), deacon ; Rev. J. Lynch (Invercargill), sub-dea-con ; and Rev. P. O'Neill (Invercargill), master of ceremonies. There were also present in the sanctuary the Very Rev. J. O'NeWl (Milton), Very Rev. J. Sheehan (Riverton), Very Rev. Dean -Burke (pastor of Invercargill), Rev. J. F. OBDonnellO B Donnell (Queenstown) Rev P O''Neill (Wmton), and Rev. H. W. Cleary (Dunad'in)' The miisic of the Mass was Weber's in G, wit/h the Gloria from Mozart's Twelfth. It was rendered in admirable style by the choir, urfder the conductorstiip of Mr. A. R. Wills. The soloists were Mrs. Murphy (soprano), Mrs. Delany (alto), Mr. Pasco (tenor), and Mr. J. F. Ford (basso). Miss Mitchell was a very capable organist, and an efficient orchestra of nine instruments were under the skilled leadership of Mr. W. Ferguson. The ' Haec Dies ' was sung as an offertory. The Sermon for the occasion was preached by the Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Milton). Taking his text from the Gospel of the day, he referred to the various figures under which Christ portrayed His Church, and the four marks of unity, holiness, Catholicity, and apostahcity, by which tihe sincere and earnest inquirer could not fail to identify her. Then, referring to his text, he drew the attention of his hearers to one other mark which has been with the true Church down the course of centuries, namely, the mark of persecution. Even in centuries of prosperity and peace the Church in some place or other fulfilled the prophetic picture drawn of her by our Lord in the Gospel. It began with Himself —His sufferings and death. H ( is Apostles shared the same inheritance. The first three hundred years of the Ohlurch's history were years of persecution — years in which the light of the world was concealed in the catacombs. Even after the Emperor Constantine had given to the Church the liberty necessary for its full development, there came times when nataons and individuals rose in revolt and broke away from the bond of Christian unity, and waves of persecution swept now aver one country, now over another. The preacher then referred in passing to the sufferings of the faithful in Reformation days in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and, in our own day, to the war against religion in France. Even here in New Zealand, with all the advantages of free institutions, we Catholics have our share in the prediction of our Lord that His Church would always be hated and persecuted. A few days ago our Bishops published a clear, luminous, and statesmanlike manifesto in which they pointed out the serious injustice wihich, in the matter of education, was being inflicted on the Catholic children of the Colony. They likewise called attention to the movement for the introduction of the Bible hito the public schools, leaving, to the teachers— of any religion or of no religion— the ex-

planation of that Word of God. They pointed out the dangers that lurked in those proposals for Catholic children that are compelled by circumstances to attend State schools. That insidious scheme had not yet been effected, and, with God's help and the aid of those who believed injustice and fair play, the injury intended to Catholic children would be warded off. Mother and standing grievance was the double taxation which Catholics—while efficiently conducting their own schools' for more thian a generation— are compelled to contribute towards the education of other children, being thus doubly taxed and penalised for their devotion to piincrple. The preacher repudiated the idea that Catholics desired a State subsidy for the education of Catholic children in Catholic dogmas. The Bishops' manifesto enlightened the public as to what the real grievances of Catholics were and •as to what we do and do not demand. Our claims were grounded on justice: Through our seliVsacriflce the country has been saved one and a half million sterling, which would have to be paid out of the Treasury if Catholic children were sent to the public schools. They might take it that the action of the Bishops was only beginning. The Catholic body in New Zealand was still suffering from an injustice They numbered over 100,000 souls. Of these, some ISO, OOO enjoyed the franchise. If united, if combined in the cause of justice, no Government could stand against * them. In the past, agitation had secured their self-respect anjd won them the respect of outsiders. They remembered how on one occasion the Private Schools Bill was defeated by a narrow majority. In union and determination lay their only hope of putting an end to the injustice under which they had so long been groaning. In proof of the good results of combination and union, lie referred to the action of the Irish Party in the Plouse of Commons which resulted in the Land Purchase Act of last year. Another evidence of the value of combination was furnished by an organisation nearer home— an organisation that was scorned and laughed at as harebrained fanatics. They combined to regwlate the drink traffic, and though one of the planks of their platform meant the confiscation of property, they, by dint o$ perseverance, forced public opinion They (his hearers) know what those had done and what, for good or for evil, they might do. The Catholic claims were founded on the eternal principles of justice. For more than twenty years priests had been striving at personal inconvenience and personal loss to keep up the efficiency of our schools ; they put into them the scanty savings that might be a provision for old age and illness , they had a right to speak out and not to be like dumb dogs instead of being the leaders of their people. The teachers too, who have had to endure for all trfiese' years sacrifices and privations, with salaries scarcely sufficient to keep soul and body together— they had a right to be considered in this mutter. The Biyhops had spoken in clear and unmistakable tones ; the priests were with them ; it remained for the laity to boldly sustain the action of their hierarchy and to show the outside world that it must not be hoodwinked into the belief that Catholics are incapable of combination when combination is needed. Their duty was to do their share in the work. It seemed to him providential that siuch a great gathering of Catholics should take place so soon after the issue of the Bishops' manifesto in the most populous centre of the diocese outside Dunedin. The preaoher concluded by congratulating pastor and people on the noble building which was to petfpetjuate to future generations the evidence of their piety and zeal, and made a brief and effective appeal to their spirit of generosity and self-sacrifice. Laying the Corner-stone. Immediately after High Mass a procession was formed. It was headed by the Batttahon Band in their handsome uniforms. Then followed all the school children bearing gay banners. After these came a great concourse of people. At the rear of the procession marched the clergy. The procession was about three-quar-ters of a mile in length. It was under the charge of some twelve marshals, and with its great length, handsome banners, and the sacred vestments of the officiating priests and numerous other glints of local color, presented a gay and imposing spectacle. It was viewed by great numbers of people as it moved majestically along a circuitous route to the place in Tyne street where the massive proportions of the new church already stand some forty feet above the ground, adorned with a bright and festive display of flags and streamers. The tall framework of one of the great arches, which was in position, served to give the spectators an idea of the fine proportions of the new church. A great crowd, numbering (it was estimated) 4000 persons, surrounded the sacred edifice. The ceremony of blessing and laying the corner-stone was performed by the Very Rev. Mgr. O'Leary, assisted by the deacon and subdeacon of the Mass and the visiting clergy, and the miusic appropriate to the occasion was rendered by

the choir. The corner-stone bears in Latin an inscription stating that the ciftifch Is dedicated to God under the invocation of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. At the conclusion of the ceremony the Right Rev. Mgr. O'Leary briefly addressed the gathering. He bpoke as one of the pioneer priests of the diocese, and lecalled the time, 28 years ago, when he first saw the site of the new church. It was then an unidrained swamp, and he little thought then that he would hve to see so noble a church rising upon that ground and so vast a crowd assembled who by their presence amd their contributions showed theiT sympathy with that grefit work. It was a grand demonstration of their faith, and the work they were doing was an act of faith ■ it was to promote the glory of God and wrtuld bring down blessings on them, on their children, and on their children's children. In brief and happy terms the preacher then sketched the great work or civilisation carried on by the Catholic Church, dwelling particularly on her glorious achievements in the realm of architecture, and exhorted his hearers to contribute cheerfully and generously towards the erection of the beautiful building which was to be used for instilling into the minds of generations to come the principles of the truest and highest civilisation. The Mayor (Mr. Scandrett) then briefly addressed the audience. He remembered when St. Mary's was built. It had been twice enlarged since then, and the larger and handsomer building then being erected showed the progress that was being made, was the means of circulating a great deal of money, and would be a great adornment to Invereargill. He eulogised the Catholic Church on its convents and schools and the generous sacrifices that its people were making in their erection and maintenance (applause). Mr. Hanan, M.H.R., spoke of New Zealand as one of the freest and happiest countries on the face of the earth. The people were singularly free from national animosities and sectarian jealousies, and he hoped that mutual good-will would always prevail among its inhabitants and that they would be one people, mighty, and serving God. He congratulated the local Catholic body on the erection of an edifice which would be one of the architectural beauties of Invereargill (applause). The Very Rev. Dean Burke then thanked all who had assisted in bringing the ceremony to such a successful issue. He thanked the visiting clergy and the absent clergy who cheered him with their good wishes and substantial contributions. He also thanked the Mayor and Mr. Hanan, M.H.R., the choir, the orchestra, and the Battalion Band. The days of bitter animosities were (he said) gone. They were a heritage of semi-barbarous times and should be despised in our day, and all, no matter at what altar they knelt, would heartily join, in peace and harmony, in building up this bea/utiful country into a great State in the Southern Pacific (applause) . The Building Described. The following is a description of the new Church of the Immaculate :— The style chosen for this "building is the Byzantine, an old style not much used in modern days till ouite recent years, which have marked quite a revival of the use of this style in church building, headed by the great Catholic Cathedral of Westminster. The special features of the use of this style for churches is what might be termed the compactness of the space arrangement and the great height of ele/vation. The form of plan generally chosen is tihat of a great central space, round which is grouped all the subservient accommodation, the central feature being carried up and finished with, a high dome. The finest example of this style is the Church of St. Sophia in Constantinople, now a Tutikisfi mosque, which was built by tttie Emperor Justinian in the early part of the sixth century from trie designs of the celebrated architect Anthemius and his colleague, Isidorus of Miletus, and which took nearly 50 years to complete. It now stands in perfect preservation after twelve hundred years, in a part of the world which has been constantly subjected to great earthquakes. Although this style of construction is wanting in some of trtie chief beauties of the ancient architecture of Greece and Rome and does not come up to the best examples of either the Gothic or the Renaissance churches of Southern Europe, it is well suited to our purposes in this Colony, as a great effect and complete accommodation can be got for very much less outlay than can be got by the use of the styles mentioned above. The architect of St. Sophia was the first to invent and use the true dome construction, although in the instance of the 1 great church the dome has very little rise in it, being only one-sixth of its diameter. The church now building at Invereargill has been designed as nearly as possible on the constructional features shown in the best examples, and although the element of cost has curtailed to a iarge extent the architectural freedom which the style gives, the build-

in.g will mark.' a distinct new departure in Catholic church architecture here. The ground plan of the church is in toe torm of a Latin cross, witfh the arms, head, ami feet all of equal lengths, each showing equal dimensions of 16ftx36ft, with a height from floor to ceiling of 36ft. These Jour wings have outside features of four low-pitched gables with moulded copings and summer stones, and each surmounted with a cross Cft high- The flank and front walls of each of these wings have sunk arches, hoth inside and outside, four to each wing, which form panels to carry the windows. The four wings communicate with the centre portion of the building by means of four large arches, and this centre portion has an inside area of 36ftx36ft, with a height to the ceiling of 62ft from the floor level. This centre portion is carried up externally and finished with a broach roof, that is to say a steep four-hipped roof, rising to a total height from the floor level to the toip of the cross of 108 ft. The whole of the roofs described ai}e to be ofsiMarseilles .ti'tes. The feves (of the wilfl be of pressed bricks set in black cement, and having their projection carried on small toothed arches Tne upper portion of the broach tower will be lighted by means of twenty arch-heatied windows of cast iron framing, filled in with cathedral glass, and finished internally with sill panels suitable for future decoration either in mosaic or fresco painting. The lighting generally of the other portions of the church is arranged for by means of 14 large round headed windows, each Bftxl2ft, having cast-iron frames cut up into many lights and glazed with cathedral glass. In addition 'to these windows there will be a 15-foot rose window in the sanctuary and two smaller windows under the organ loft. The sanctuary will occupy the whole of the head of the cross, forming in the plan a space of 16ftx36ft, a nuns' chapel and sacristy being on either side of it, formed by building on to the main building. The arch, which opens from the sanctuary into the main body of the church, will be somewhat narrower than the other three arches, and will have on either side of it doors admitting into the sanctuary from the main body of the church. On either side of the sanctuary there will be fixed a triple arch screen, so tihat on ordinary occasions the flanking spaces entered by the doors described can be shut off with curtains. The organ loft will extend right across the end immediately opposite the sanctuary aroh, and will be Bftx36ft, with a projecting rostrum for the conductor. The main entrance will be in tine centre of the cross foot under the organ loft, and will be sheltered by a good-sized porch. There will be also two other entrances for the congregation in the flanks of the two arms of the cross. The building is of very solid construction, having cement-concrete foundations fend base well raised above the ground. The walls are of brickwork in, hydraulic lime mortar and the numerous arches both open and blind, which form one" of .the features of the building, are to be in ce-ment-mortar. The whole of the external faces are to be decorated with cement finishings peculiar to the style, and the brick faces finished in pressed bricks set in black cement joints. The arches of the window openings will be turned in white stone, set in black cement. The doors, with hooded arches and label mouldings, will be finished in dog-tdothing and diamond-point-ed details. The interior of the building will have a cement plastered dado and plain plastered walls, with sill mouldings, labels, etc., similar to those on tihe outside, ajid all tine ceilings will be finished in embossed /mc set in coffer design decorated. The architect (to whom we are indebted for the above details) is Mr. F. W. Petre of Dunedin, and the work is being carried out in an excellent manner under the" able direction of Mr. Frain. Vespers. The proceedings of the day— so memorable in the Catholic history of Invereargill— closed with solemn Vespers and Benediction in the evening. The celebrant was t|he Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Milton) ; Re,v. J. F. O Donnell (Queenstown) deacon ; Rev. J. Lynch (Invereargill) siubdeacon ; Rev. P. O'Neill (Invereargill) master of ceremonies. Hummel's ' 0 Salutaris ' was sung by Mr. Pasco. Then followed Schultes's litany, and Rossi's ' TantJum Ergo ' was rendered by Mrs. Murphy and Miss Hishon. The church was densely packed in every part. The Rev. P. O'Donhell (Gore) preached a very able and practical discourse based on the Gospel of the day, showing how the peace that Christ promised to give to His followers was to be secured only by conflict with evil. He dealt with the means left by Christ" in His ClVurch for securing that true peace. He spoke in a very interesting and instructive way of those who are unconsciously and in good faith opposed to the truth as it is in Christ, and instanced in point the popular Protestant slanders regarding the attitude of Catholics towards the Bible, the perpetual 'clean oblation' or Sacrifice foretold by the prophet, the ceremony of

anointing the sick, and the veneration of relics. The rev. preacher vindicated in a very able and interesting manner, and with a wealth- of apt illustration, the Catholic doctrines on the points referred to, and concluded with words of earnest and practical exhortation to his hearers, especially to the young men who were before him. The sum of £374 was received at Mass and Vespers, and, in addition, some £650 have been contributed within a short period towards the erection of Uhe new Church of the Immaculate.