DIOCESE OP DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 14 April 1910, Page 583

DIOCESE OP DUNEDIN

The annual meeting of St. Joseph’s Men’s Club will be held in St. Joseph’s Hall on Friday evening. There will be Solemn High Mass at 11 o’clock on Sunday, the feast of the Patronage of St. Joseph, in St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., addressing the congregation in St. Joseph’s Cathedral on Sunday, earnestly exhorted his hearers to take more interest in the affairs of the parish, and especially to give better support to the various parochial societies. He also strongly urged youths to take advantage of the opportunities offered at the Technical School. • The progressive euchre tournament, organised by the Hibernian Society in aid of a brother who has been seriously ill for some time, was a great success. There was an attendance of nearly four hundred persons on Friday night in St. Joseph’s Hall. Prior to the commencement of the proceedings, the Rev. Father Coffey, Adm., thanked the audience for attending in such large numbers, thus showing in a pratical manner their sympathy with the object for which the tournament was held. Items were given during the evening by Miss Carter and Mr. T. J. Hussey, and Messrs. Rcxton, assisted by Mr. V clone, gave an exhibition of conjuring. The accompaniments were supplied by Miss Drumm and Mr. Frost. Writing on ‘Catholic Church Music’ in the Advocate, Mr. Frederic Beard, musical director of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, who paid a visit some months ago to New Zealand, says:—Dr. Verdon, Bishop of Dunedin, has instituted most effective reform in his diocese. Being quite an authority on the Chant; the official music, through his Lordship’s patient, yet earnest, recommendation and perseverance, has become fairly understood and appreciated by the singers and the people. 1 heard two Plain Song Masses sung in one day in St. Joseph’s Cathedral, and on each occasion the edifice was crowded. _ The Christian Brothers’ choir supplied the music at the children’s service, and the regular choir did likewise at the last Mass. Many difficulties here, as elsewhere, present themselves, the principal one being, as usual, to get musicians sufficiently conversant with the traditional music of the Church. Yet, even under adverse circumstances, what has already been accomplished is proof of the earnestness of purpose and zeal thrown into the work.