SOLEMN. REQUIEM AND MASS OF INTERCESSION.

New Zealand Tablet, 21 January 1915, Page 26

SOLEMN. REQUIEM AND MASS OF INTERCESSION.

(From our Christchurch correspondent.)

Commencing at 9 o’clock on last Thursday morning, a Solemn Requiem and Mass of Intercession was celebrated in the Cathedral in the presence of a large congregation.- The Very Rev. Chancellor Price, Adm., was celebrant, Very Rev. Father Graham, S.M., M.A., deacon, Rev. Father Bowden, S.M., M.A., subdeacon, and Rev. Dr. Kennedy master of ceremonies. As the annual retreat of the diocesan clergy was in progress, all the priests of the diocese were present. After the First Gospel the Very Rev. Dean Hills, S.M., V.G., ascended the pulpit’ and spoke as follows:

I enter this pulpit this morning with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, joy at seeing so large a number present, sorrow at the absence of our Bishop, who, as he is at present unfortunately in hospital, cannot, of course, be here in person. In spirit he is certainly with us this morning and it was by his special instructions that our annual retreat was interrupted to carry out this function. Why are we gathered here this morning ? Our reunion has a two-fold object, first as an act of intercession to the God of Nations on His Throne of Mercy, that He may, in His mercy, put an end to this horrid slaughter, which has for months now shocked the world, and all this slaughter brought about by the unbridled and unprincipled ambition of a crowned lunatic, who blasphemously claims the Almighty as his ally. War is always a curse, but in all ages differences have been settled by arms. Very often war has been waged for no other reason than love of conquest, but never I think in the history of the world have we seen anything like the present Armageddon. On the one side unbridled ambition and total want of principle, on the other a fierce struggle for liberty, for life itself. Let us pray then to the God of All to stay His hand and give peace to those who are at present engaged *5 n fratricidal conflict. Another reason moves us this morning and brings us all tog>ther. As we all know full well we can be of great assistance to those who have already passed before the great Judgment Seat. ‘ It is a holy and a wholesome thought to pray for the dead.’ This Solemn Requiem Mass is being offered up to the Throne of Mercy for the souls of all those who have died through this cursed war, either as combatants or as foul victims of a super-barbarous invasion and especially the poor Belgians, men, women, and children. The British race has shown itself all over the world worthy of its traditions, unbounded hospitality and generosity from every part of the Empire, and our own New Zealand has already done her share. By the Home papers we see how great is the hospitality shown at Home to the poor refugees, who are nearly all Catholics. Temporal relief is being freely given and in a sense spiritual relief. These poor people are nearly all in want of everything and small prayer books have been printed in Walloon and Flemish, the chief languages of Belgium, and are sold at Id, so that the poor outcasts may have the comfort all find in prayer. Our hearts must go out in sympathy to those poor exiles without country, without home, many without breadwinner's, in a foreign if friendly land, and those left behind face to face with starvation. Belgium, as you know, is on© of the smallest European States, five times smaller than our South Island, but with a population of over 7,000,000, or over 600 to the square mile. Belgium was purposely created by the great Powers of Europe a buffer State and guaranteed its neutrality. It bad mad© wonderful strides in every branch, was the workshop of Europe, remarkable for its network of railways all over the country. Politically it had made great advances in the labor question, especially since its freedom from Holland in 1830. There is no State religion, but ministers of all denominations are salaried by Government, which also subsidises building of churches. .' That the people were happy and contented is shown by the fact that the present Government has been in office over thirty years and that through many elections. And this is the

country which has been practically wiped off the map of Europe by the Huns of Germany, who, wishing to strike a quick and sudden blow at France,, ordered Belgium to give them, contrary to all treaties, passage through their country, adding, of course, heavy bribes as .inducement, but brave little Belgium preferred honor above all, and alone defied the Teuton giant, with what results ,we know. She alone stayed for- a time the march of the hordes of the Potsdam maniac. But at what cost? Poor little Belgium, hereafter to future generations known as the Saviour of Europe. This morning we publicly offer our united prayers to Almighty God that He may save and protect our afflicted co-religionists in their day of sorrow. This act of intercession, started this morning in the Cathedral, the mother church, at a time when all the priests of the diocese are assembled for their annual retreat, will be continued in every parish church throughout the diocese at the earliest opportunitynext Friday week, January 22, at St. Mary’s, Manchester street. I conclude these few remarks, which have exceeded the time intended, with the fervent prayer in which all may join. ‘ May their souls, the souls of those killed during this war, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.’ The music of the Mass was Gregorian Plain Chant, very effectively rendered by a choir of priests. At the conclusion of the service the organist, Mr. W. H. Thorley, played Chopin’s ' ‘ Funeral March.’