DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, 27 August 1914, Page 35

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

At the Savoy Tea Rooms on Friday afternoon (says the Otago Daily Times), Mr. A. J. Sullivan, district manager of the Australian Alliance Assurance Company, who is retiring to take up sheep-farming, was met by practically a full muster of his fellow fire, marine, and accident underwriters, and presented with a pair of suitable field-glasses, and a handbag for Mrs. Sullivan. Mr. W. I. Bolam made the presentation, and in doing so referred in an appreciative manner to the valuable services Mr. Sullivan had rendered to underwriting over a great many years, and to the personal good qualities of their guest, and concluded by wishing him good health and prosperity in his new undertaking. Several others endorsed the remarks and good wishes of the chairman. Mr. Sullivan suitably responded. On Wednesday morning a Solemn Pontifical Requim Mass was celebrated in St. Joseph’s Cathedral for the repose of the soul of his Holiness. Pope Pius X. His Lordship Bishop Verdon was celebrant. Very Rev. Monsignor O’Leary, assistant priest ; Rev. D. Buckley, deacon ; Rev. W. Corcoran, sub-deacon. Rev/J. Coffey, Adm., master .of ceremonies. In the sanctuary were present —Right Rev. Monsignor Mackay (Oamaru),

(Ranfurly), Rev. J. Lynch (Palmerston South), Rev D. O’Neill (South Dunedin), Rev. N. Maloney (Wanganui), Rev. Fathers J. Liston, C. Morkane, and C. Collins (Holy Cross College). The music of the Mass was rendered by a choir composed of the priests and a number of the students from Holy Cross College. 1 reaching at the 11 o’clock Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Sunday, the Rev. Father Coffey referred in feeling and impressive terms to the blow which had fallen upon Christendom in the lamented death of the Holy Father. he speaker passed in comprehensive and effective review the leading features of the late pontificate, lie referred first of all to the great reform in Chinch music, and to the Holy Father’s determined efforts to combat the odious practice of coming to Church merely to listen to theatrical and highly-figured compositions- which were calculated to" distract rather than to assist devotion. The deceased Pontiff was "then referred to in his capacity as ‘ the Pope of the Blessed Sacianient : and in this connection mention was made of his generous dispensations to the sick, of bis recommendations regarding the First Communion of children, and of his practical and whole-hearted encouragement of the Eucharistic Congresses. In respect to the present practice regarding children’s Communion, the speaker said that though the innovation had at first met with some .criticism, experience had already shown how immensely beneficial the change had been. A full account was given of the Holy Father’s work in defence of the purity of the faith, special emphasis being laid on the condemnation of Modernism and on the reform of ecclesiastical seminaries and the raising of the standard of educational attainments required of candidates for the sacred ministry. The important codification of the Canon Law, with its much-needed simplification of the regulations regarding marriage, was fully dealt with, and detailed reference was made to the political aspects of this important and eventful pontificate. Father Coffey concluded by urging upon the congregation the duty of praying for the soul of one to whom they owed so much and for the guidance of the Church in the important work of electing a successor.