DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 19 May 1910, Page 774

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.)

May 16. . The Cathedral Tennis Club and Catholic Club, at the wish of the former, have decided to combine forces in arranging for a stall at the carnival in aid of the Cathedral funds. It is to be designated the Cathedral Tennis and Catholic Club Stall.’

On Sunday, the feast of Pentecost, there was Solemn High Mass in the Cathedral at 11 o’clock. The Rev. Dr, Kennedy was celebrant, Rev. Father Daull, S.M.A., deacon Rev. Father McDonnell subdeacon, and Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., master of ceremonies. An instructive sermon on the subject of the day’s festival was preached by the Very Rev. Father Price. The sanctuary and high altar were most chastely adorned, and at Benediction presented a particularly beautiful spectacle.

At a special executive committee meeting of the Christchurch Catholic Club, held on last Monday evening, it was decided to postpone the programme (‘ A Trial by Jury ’) fixed for the following evening to this (Monday) evening, as a mark of respect to the late King. This will effect a slight alteration of dates in connection with the club’s syllabus. Competitive recitations will thus be taken on Tuesday

May 24, and on the following Tuesday a debate, Whether National Prohibition would be to the welfare of the Dominion?’

The dramatic branch of the Hibernian Society are assiduously rehearsing for their initial performance, which is to take place in the Choral Hall on Monday and Tuesday, May 23 and 24. The piece, a military farcical comedy in three acts, entitled ‘My Soldier Boy,’ is very cleverly written, and abounds in mirth-provoking situations and humorous dialogue. A very strong cast has been selected to sustain the different characters, and, judging by the talent displayed at rehearsals, a fine production should be the result. An efficient orchestra of nine performers, conducted by Miss Dunn, will supply the incidental music. The stage management is in the capable hands of Mr. Harry Glubb. It is always pleasing to observe a note of appreciation of the efforts of Church workers generally, and more especially of choirs, the labors of which are almost incessant if anything approaching perfection is to be attained. All true lovers of Church music, properly and devotionally rendered, will be gratified at the notice the zealous and painstaking organist and choirmaster of the Christchurch Cathedral (Mr. Alfred Biinz) and his diligent supporters have received at the hands of an exacting musical authority, Mr, Frederic Beard, musical director, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne. Writing in the Melbourne Advocate of Catholic Church music in Australia and New Zealand, and in Christchurch in this particular instance, he says:—‘Perhaps, on the whole, the music rendered by the choir at the Cathedral, Christchurch, is the nearest approach to what is desired by the Holy Father, as far as New Zealand is concerned. It is generally of the subdued and reverential order. ‘Churchman,’ writing in the Triad on the lines of Mr. Frederic Beard’s criticism, says: ‘lt is some little time since we were privileged to listen to the achievements of the choir at the beautiful Cathedral in Christchurch. It is hoped that Bishop Grimes has been able to continue the good work that was being done. It was possible, at the period I allude to, to listen to the Proper of the Mass,, sung by a few male voices, to the traditional plain chant, in a very acceptable manner, and the harmonised music, which was rightly of the somewhat subdued order, was rendered in a fairly devotional manner.’

Greymouth

♦ (From our own correspondent.) May 13. . , On last Saturday Rev. Father McCarthy paid his first visit to Barrytown and celebrated Mass there on Sunday, morning. An unusually large number approached the Holy J. able. There was a large congregation at St. Patrick's Church last Sunday evening when Very Rev. Dean Carew preached ?i. m ?fu lm P ressive sermon. He explained the relation of the Church to the State, and in the course of his sermon made feeling reference to the death of King Edward VII. • Tue usual weekly meeting of the St. Columba Catholic Uiili was held last Monday evening. The president (Mr. A. t. O Donoghue) occupied the chair, and about forty members were present. Three new members were elected and two candidates proposed for membership. A feature of the club this year is the large attendance at the weekly meetings, the average since the beginning of the current session being 35 members. The item on the syllabus for the evening was a Shakespearian dialogue (Brutus and Lassius). Twenty members took part, most of whom did very well. St. Patrick's Church was the scene of a very pretty wedding last Monday, when Mr. Ernest Taylor, youngest son of Mr. William Taylor, of Dunedin, and Miss Elizabeth Galligan, youngest daughter of Mr. Thomas Galligan of Kumara, were united in the bonds of Matrimony The ceremony was performed by the Very Rev. Dean'Carew ihe bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a handsome princess gown of white ninon-de-soie, richly trimmed with silver and crystal embroidery, and wore the customary wreath and veil. She was attended by her sister, Miss May Galhgan. The bridegroom was attended by Mr. E. Casey The bride's gift to the bridegroom was a silver-mounted shaving outfit, and the bridegroom's eift to the bride was a beautiful ring-and to the bridesmaid a cable bangle. After the ceremony the bridal party drove to the residence of Mrs T. P. Fogarty (sister of the bride;, where the wedding breakfast was partaken of and the usual toasts honored. Many handsome and useful presents were received The happy couple left for Westport and the north, where the honeymoon will be spent.