CEREMONIES AT THE CATHEDRAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 46, 17 November 1904, Page 4

CEREMONIES AT THE CATHEDRAL

Hi.h m C ccf t? 11 f on ?? d oon gregation at Pontifical High Mass m St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday, 30th October. Ihe procession of prelates, priests, and acoytes directed -by the Very Rev. Dean Phelan, entered the Cathedral from the main door, with the same ceremonial as on the previous Sunday. The following: gentlemen, who nad received distinctions from his Holiness the Pope, preceded the prelates and clergy i n the rrocpssioti .-Hon N Fitzgerald, K.S.G., M.LC. • Dr a L Kenny, K.S.G. ; Mr. W. H. Archer, K.S.G. ; Sir William Manning, D C ; Alderman Hughes, KO S G • John Meagher, K.S.G., M.L.C. ; Mr. \. J. Dal ton, K.S.G • Mr. J. Regan, K.S.G.; Major Freehill, D.C. The Cardinal Archbishop of Sydney was present on throne, his Grace the Arch-bishop of Melbourne occupying a temporary throne on the Epistle side of the sanctuary. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated by His Lordship Bishop Grimes. The occasional sermon was preached by the Archbiyhopt'or Melbourne, in the course of which he referred to the results of the Catholic Congress in regard to religion, charity, science, and arts. In the different sessions of the Australasian Catholic Congress (said his Grace) matters relating to the honor and ejlory and the general welfare of the Church had been discussed Religious, charitable, social, scientific, and medical subjects had been dealt with. The Congress had been attended by Catholics from every State in the Commonwealth and of New Zealand, and the interest in its proceedings would embrace the whole of the EnglLshapfeaking world. Over 2000 members had joined the Congress, and most of them attended its sessions The large vairiety of subjects were dismissed with the utmost freedom, and yet with perfect unanimity. It was not easy to fully realise how much the greater hoftor and glory ol God had been advanced by such harmonious discussions. It was difficult, where so much was beneficial, practical, trustworthy, and calculated to do an immensity of good, not merely for the present, but for future generations, to single out particular portions of the work. Still, there were three aspects to which be desired to direct their attention. The first was The Splendid Vindication of the Irish priests and the Irish people during the nineteenth centruy. They had been cruelly maligned and the false statements had been scattered throughout Australia. It might be said that the archbishops, bishops, and priests of Australia were not specially called upon to vindicate the character of the Irish clergy and people. But were such a calumny allowed to spread, it would bo bound to do harm, and it was therefore an act of friendship, and an act of charity, and in some measure an act of justice to vindicate so thoroughly, and yet so temperately, the Irish priests of the last century. The Second Aspect of the Congress was the successful establishment of the Australasian Catholic Truth Society. The Catholic Truth Society would afford the best and most effective means of promulgating Catholic doctrines. These, they knew, were distorted among non-Catholics to a shameful extent. There was often misrepresentations, not through malice, but because ot ignorance, and one eftect of the society would be to give to Catholics and non-Catholics alike opportunity of learning what Catholic doctrines were on every point of importance. His Grace said that it was not easy to refer to the matters treated of in the medical section of the Congress, and if the evil was not so widespread, not only with regard to individuals, but in modern times, with regard to whole nations, there would be no need to refer to the matter in particular. He had no doubt that the information given in that section, and the resolutions adopted, would do a great deal to preserve the Catholic people from practices which were undermining the very foundations of society, which were rotting human nature at its roots, and which were so bringing down some nations, which were once the glory of the Church, so that the devil seemed to have complete control over a large section of the inhabitants. They had every reason to rejoice that the Congress had been atteneded with Such Highly Gratifying Success. The life of the Church in any country resembled very much the life of an individual. During infancy, it had to be protected from danger. As the child grew up provision had to be made for its spiritual and temporal wants. Religious knowledge, combined with secular instruction, and everything which could sweeten and eievate the life of the individual had to be provided. So was it in regard to the Church. The first thing :equired wasi material aid in the building, of churches, convents,, and schools. Then the spiritual progress of the Church must be attended to. Priests musit be provided, and the sacraments administered. But when the Church was fully established, it was not content to

supply merely the spiritual or moral wants of men, but it sought to provide those sources of knowledge which would make the Catholic people equal in learning, dignity, power, and influence to the professors of any other form of Christian belief. This had been the work of their Congress, and it marked the highest point of Christian taith and Christian progress. Not a word was uttered from the beginning to the end of the Conference That Could Offend the Most Fastidious Non-Catholic. In that manner they had given an example to others. It was often a shame and a scandal amongst Clnistian people that members came together, not to praise God or to advance the interests of humanity, but to revile those who differed from them in religious practices', and to impute to Catholics opinions they never held, and principled which 'they ( had never Whilst eafch member of the Congress had a right to his own opinions o n every question proposed, he had been careful to be mindful of the opinions of others. This example of fair play, of consideration, chanty, and good feeling towards those who differed from them should be taken as a model by themselves and others ; and it was further an answer to the charge sometimes made against Catholics that they were wanting in feelings of tolerance or charity towards other people. He hoped that the lesiults of the Congress might be lasting ; might be for the advancement of charity amongst men ; for the vindication of truth in the Catholic Church ; for the enlightenment of those who differed from them, and finally lead them to live as good citizens and good Cnristians in this fair land which God had given to them.' In the evening there was an immense congregationcomputed at fully 10,000 persons — in the Cathedral when Father Perosi's oratorio, ' The Transfiguration,' was given by t<he. choir, under Here Otto linden's direction. The Cardinal, the metropolitan, and tihe visiting prelates, and many of the clergy, parochial and regular, were in the sanctuary. This was the first presentation of the famous oratorio in the Commonwealth, and experts were not slow to give it as their opinion that very great credit was due to the conductor and the forces undefr his command — voices, orchestra, and organist. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament brought the ceremonies to a close.