ALL SAINTS' NSW CHURCH.

OPENED BY BISHOP SPROTT. The opening of All Saints' new Anglican Church took place yesterday afternoon, Bishop Sprott of Wellington, conducting the ceremony. Long hefore the appointed hour people begun to assemble at the Church. Not only did members of the local churches participate. but a number of people including ministers journeyed from other districts to take part in the ceremony. At noon the building was packed and the later arrivals had some difficulty in finding seating accommodation, more especially as there was a considerable influx of local business people and their employees shortly after the business premises closed. The weather was beautifully line and it seemed a fitting reminder of the bright morning in .1872 when the lirst religious service was held in Manawatu. There was however a contrast, for the Pilgrim Fathers of Manawatu assembled in a sawmill on rough seats while their descendants congregated in large numbers in a substantial new and commodious building which does credit to the town and district and sets an example to other communities and has a far-reaching effect to show that religious matters are not neglected in Palmerston.

The flag of St. George, the Patron Saint of the Church, was flown on the tower.

The altar was specially decorated for the occasion.

The service commenced with the appropriate hymn "The Church's One Foundation," which was sung with great earnestness by the congregation During the singing the procession of clergy and choir passed down the aisle to the front of the Church where the font is situated and there the Bishop performed the Consecration ceremony. The procession returned to the altar by the middle aisle, the congregation singing the 24th Psalm. The consecration of the altar then took place, the congregation afterwards being led in the "Te Deum" by the choir. At the close of the service Holy Communion was administered in which the visiting clergy assisted.

Archdeacon Harper, who took an active part in the movement to erect the new church some nine years ago was unavoidably absent owing to being on holiday leave. THE BISHOP'S SERMON. The sermon was preached by the Bishop of Wellington from Ephesians iv. 11-12. — 44 And He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.'' The Bishop began by congratulating heartily the Vicar, the Churchwardens, the Vestry and the parishioners of Palmerston upon the success with which their efforts to build a now church had that day been crowned. To them it had been given to take up and carry into effect the work initiated by the Veil. Archdeacon Harper, the former Vicar of the parish. This achievement opened a new chapter in the church's work and led them to consider the great ends' for which the church existed. Old conceptions which regarded the people as the passengers of a vessel who having paid their | fare had m more to do than to take I life easily and leave the working of the ship to the officers and the crew

were passing away, certainly at any rate in this parish. A nobler conception was taking its place. St. Paul in the text seemed at first sight to conceive of the Christian Ministry as existing for a threefold purpose. A clearer reading of the text, however, led one to see that lie probably had in his mind but a single thought, viz., that the ministry of the church existed for the equipment of all the baptised for the performance of . that work which should issue in the building up of the life and character of all the members. How ought we to try to carry this out? The first way was by setting for the example of Christ, but since a High Example might create despair it must be supplemented by a realisation of the Power of the Holy Spirit in human life. During the latter part of the nineteenth century th*3 ideas that held sway were materialistic. Life was considered as a product of mechanism. It was through matter that life was to be influenced. All was law. Legislation was to effect everything. Now a change had come over thought. A complete view prevailed. And life, "boiling, surging life,'' was felt to be the highest of all influence. Personality was the force, and it was on personality that Christianity laid the emphasis. It was personality the world needed, and the creation of personality was the work of the church—to produce men and women animated by the Spirit of Christ arul the Spirit of service and sacrifice. Thus might we be led on to realise the vision of the City of God set forth in the Book of the Revelation of St. John the Divine. In keeping with the morning service the evening service was largely attended. The offertories at the services were given to the building fund. THE VISITING CLERGY. The Et. Rev. the Bishop of Wellington, the Venerable the Archdeacon of Wellington, Venerable the Archdeacon Cummins of Waitotara, Rev. Canon Eccles (Woodville), Revs. V. H. Kitcat (Marton), R. Young (Carterton), A. T. Page (Greytown), J. E. Blackburne (Bulls), A. S. Innes

Jones (Feilding), J. Edwin Jones (Paraparaumu), A. W. Payne (Patea), C. Palmer (Shannon), 0. M. Stent (Opunake), J. C. Abbott (Raetihi), L. H. , Fenn (Pahiatua), 11. W. Klingender j ( Manga weka), H. T. Stealev (Levin), ! C. E. O'H. Tobin (Pongaroa), T. H. I Jvatene (Rangitikei Maori District), 1 G. Y. Woodward (Foxton), C. Price (Wanganui Collegiate School), W. . Tye (Ashhurst). | LIST OF GIFTS. ' "Messrs Kuhtze Bros., library desk; W. Pegden, lectern; Hiliner and Gilchrist, prayer book for chapel; Kells and Pike, table; Hopwood, vestry table: Isaacs, boxes for doors; Watson Bros., massive brass carpet rods; Collinson and Cunninghame, cork linoleums; Robert. new alms bags; Clark and Thompson, repainting board; Hancock, work on wall and font; Penketh, leading candles; League of Manliness. flags; A. E. Bennett, book shelves; Kingston, notice boards; Sollit Bros., altar, carved riddels posts; S.P.C.K., books; Coles, font cover; Frank Harris, work on font; -T. R. Ross and Co., altar covers; Smith and Co., linoleum for vestry, hangings for sedilie; Rolt'e and Dickie, table for porch; Perrin Bros, and Ne°dham, vestry table; A. Turner, mirrors for

vestries; Garner and Garner, table cloths; Durward and Co., kneeler for font; Macfarren, kneeler; Lmklater, mirror; W. Park, inkstand for vestry.