Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 12 August 1915, Page 26

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCE3E OF WELLINGTON t (From our own correspondent.) August 7. Mr. Bernard Page, city organist and conductor of St. Joseph's Choir, has been appointed conductor of the Royal Choral Society. During the week Mr. Allen Doone has played to very good audiences here. During his stay he has not forgotten the schools, with the result that the boys of St. Patrick's College and of the Marist Brothers' School were invited to his plays. At a recent, meeting of the Wellington Catholic Club's literary and debating society, Mr. J. J. Sullivan, of Auckland, delivered a particularly interesting address on the subject of Ireland and Her Heroes.' There was a good attendance of members and their friends, who highly appreciated the speaker's remarks. The Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., gave a very interesting lecture on the present war at St. Anne's Hall on last Wednesday evening in aid of the funds of the St. Vincent de Paul Society (St. Anne's con

ference).- There was 3 large attendance, and the Dean was accorded a hearty vote of thanks at the conclusion of the. lecture. ' '.'.-. x . ■■■"■.',■ < : ..... .:.\Vr v %}"' In connection with the war declaration anniversary celebrations, his Grace Archbishop. Redwood was one of the principal speakers at the huge patriotic: meeting at the Town Hall last Wednesday, and roused the audience to a pitch of great enthusiasm by his stirring and able speech, which was delivered amidst great burstsof applause. At the conclusion of his speech he called for cheers for brave little Belgium. _ Mr. Andrew Barron, second clerk in the office of the Collector of Customs, Wellington, died last night, aged 35. Deceased was a son of Mr. Alexander Barron, of Waitahuna, Otago. Death occurred after a few days' illness. The late Mr. Barron has left a widow (a daughter of the late Mr. M. Gaffney, of Temuka), and three children. He was attended in his last illness by the Rev. Father Peoples, S.M., and died fortified by all the rites of the Church.—R.l.P. In the course of the very interesting address which he gave at the meeting of the Wellington Catholic Club, Mr. J. J. Sullivan, of Auckland, traced much of the misunderstanding that exists between any section of the American people and the British almost wholly to the attitude of the English pi-ess. ' For miserable party purposes,' ,said Mr. Sullivan, 'great international friendships have been sacrificed, and the suggestions offered, to bring about the lasting friendship of the American people, by Lord Russell of Killowen and Michael Davitt before the Parnell Commission in 1890, have been studiously ignored.' Mr. J. A. Scott, LL.B., late of the Agricultural Department, was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court by Mr. Justice Cooper at Auckland last week, on the motion of Mr. J. M. Shera. Mr. Scott, who was congratulated by Mr. Justice Cooper on getting his degree at such an early age, graduated at the Victoria College last year. He is the elder son of Mrs. A. Scott, an old and esteemed member of St. Mary's congregation, and was educated at the Marist Brothers' School and the Sacred Heart College, Auckland. The following letter has been sent by his Grace Archbishop Redwood to the clergy of his archdiocese: ' Rev. Dear Father, —Sunday, August 8, has been chosen as Intercession Day in this Dominion on account of the great European war. Accordingly, we enjoin that, in all the churches and public oratories of the archdiocese, the last Mass shall be celebrated for the intentions of the conflictnamely, that the gracious and merciful Almighty may vouchsafe to grant to the brave and heroic armies of the Allies a speedy and complete victory. Also at Benediction, after the "O Salutaris," the Litany of the Blessed Virgin shall be either recited or sung. The clergy are exhorted to put this matter forcibly before -their congregations in order to stimulate their piety, patriotism, and fervor.' At the Basilica last Sunday night his Grace Archbishop Redwood preached a powerful and impressive sermon to a large congregation on the great European, war. lie traced the origin of the war, and showed Bow it was attributable not to the Kaiser and his military: entourage, but to the whole German people, . who, if victims of the war party, were not only willing but eager victims, and proved this by the unparalleled enthusiasm of the German people at the declaration of war. The best proof that neither the French nor the English were the cause of the war was their manifest unpreparedness, while Germany's preparedness was perfect in. every particular. His Grace showed the magnitude of the interests at stake. We were fighting for honor, liberty, justice, and true civilisation. The principles underlying the war were on the German side nay, anti-human. His Grace also , forcibly pointed out the duty of all members of the British Empire to aid the noble cause by every means; in their powerby men, money, self-sacrifice, economy, and by prayer. ~ ~

•'7 A * very enjoyable smoke concert was held at St. Patrick's Clubrooms oh the 24th ult., when Messrs. E. W. Dunne and R. Girling-Butcher were presented with substantial cheques from the club members, in connection with their approaching marriages. ■ There was an attendance of over thirty, and Mr. G. Dee, who was in the chair, made the presentations, eulogising the recipients' sterling qualities and continuous activities in connection with the club. The usual toasts were duly honored. The Guests of the Evening' was proposed by Messrs. J. McGowan and M. O'Kane, and Messrs. Dunne and Girling-Butcher responded. They thanked the members for their kindness, and said they would do all in their power to further the interests of the club.- Mr. J. Webb ably conducted the musical part of the programme, and a very enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the singing of ' Auld lang syne.' Last Tuesday, the debating society held its usual weekly meeting, when Mr. L. T. Reichel presided over a fair attendance of members. Six members submitted very excellent papers, on various topics. The chairman asked the spiritual director (Rev. Father A-: Yenning) to criticise the papers, and some useful hints were given to members. The respect in which the late Mrs. W. F. llealy was held was fully evidenced by the large attendance at her funeral last Monday. St.. Mary of the Angels' Church, Boulcott street, where Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., was well filled. The Rev. Father Schaeffer, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, presided at the organ, and the music of the Mass was chanted by the Rev. Fathers Kimbell, 5.M.,. Hurley, S.M., Venning, S.M., Peoples, S.M., Smyth, S.M., and Barra, S.M., aided by the members of St. Mary's Choir, of which the deceased's son (Mr. E. J. llealy) is conductor. The Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., was present in the sanctuary, and the Sisters of Mercy, of which Order the deceased lady's daughter is a member, were also present. The Very Rev. Father O'Connell said that he could not let the occasion pass without referring to the many good qualities of the deceased--her great faith and simple piety, her frequent reception of the Sacraments, and her efforts for the cause of her holy faith in the suburb of Brooklyn, where, before the erection of a church, she had placed at the disposal of the clergy her house on Sundays for the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice. Her life was one well worthy of emulation, and she died a happy and most edifying death. The funeral cortege was a lengthy one. Representatives of the Hibernian Society in regalia and the Wellington Harbor Board staff in uniform, Mr. Healy being a member of both bodies, were present. The interment took place at Karori, the Rev. Father A. Venning, S.M., assisted by the Rev. Fathers Peoples, S.M., and Smyth, S.M., officiated at the graveside. The deceased lady. was born at Templemore, County Tipperary, and came out to New Zealand in 1875. She was married in the same church in which the Requiem Mass was celebratedSt. Mary of the Angels'—forty years ago. She leaves a husband, five sons—Messrs. W. P. Healy (with the Australian Forces at the Dardanelles), E. J. Healy (of R. Martin's, Ltd.), P. D. Healy (of the Harbor Board staff), Emmett Healy (of the Union Steam Ship Co.), and Michael Healy (with the Australian Forces at the Dardanelles) —and two daughters (Miss Leila Healy, and Sister Mary, of the Sisters of Mercy, Christchurch). As a mark of respect last Saturday the flag of the Harbor Board Offices was flown at half-mast.—R.LP.