RELIGIOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 115, 23 May 1885, Page 5

RELIGIOUS.

IA new Presbyterian Church to cost £6,000, is to be built at Wellington on the fl'.ta of Sf. John's Church, burned down last yrar. f.'.'e foundation stone of rhe nprr building was laid on Thursday, Aiay 14, by Sir James Prendergast. Thehandsomenew Congregational Church for the Mount Eden district, which was erected in View Road at a cost of £1,400, was opened on Sunday, May 3. The morn ing service was conducted by the Rev. Mr Closs, M.A., who preached an interesting and appropriate discourse from the words, "And who is sufficient for these things ?" (2nd Cor., XVI eh. 2nd v.). In the afternoon the reverend gentleman, assisted by the Rev. J. Robertson, M.A., held a children's service. Tho evening service was conducted by Mr Robertson. Mr Closs filling his place in tho Berosford Church pulpit. Mr Closs, who recently arrived from Sydney to enter on the pastorate of the Mount Eden Church, was a student of Cainden College.

Tho Dovonport Wesleyan Church is to be enlarged so that it will be capable of accommodating 390 persons, and in order to obtain funda to carry out this necessary work a bazaar was opened in the Devonport Hall on May 14. The inside of the building is tastefully decorated with flags, flowers and foliage, and a fine collection of articles which are for sale is exhibited at four stalls which are arranged in different parts of the room. These articles include both plain and fancy work, useful and ornamental goods, in great variety. For nine months previously the ladies of the congregation held sewing meetings once a week, and a lurgo quantity of the work now in the hall is tho result of their labours, while the other contributions are tromtheir friends. The bazaar realised £250. The Ladies' Committee was aa follows:—Mesdames Le Sueur (President), Edson, Burnett, and Landers, Misses Edson (Treasurer) and Hooker (Secretary). Stall-holders : No. 1, Mesdames Edson and Buddie ; No. 2, Mesdames Lo Suer and Mason ; No. 3, Mesdames Eurnott and James ; No. 4, Mesdames Hendorson and Spraggon ; plant stall, Mosdamns Tanfield and Owen ; refreshment stall, Mesdames Ford and Clark, and Miss Cooke.

The opening soiree of the Mount Eden Congregational Church, View Road, washeld on Tuesday, May 5, for the purpose of giving % welcome to the new pastor from England, the Rev. W. J. Closs. The little church was tastefully decorated for the occasion with flowers, banners, and appropriate mottos in wreaths of foliage. Tea was provided at the stated hour, and visitors and friends received attention at the hands of the several ladies. At the after-meeting tho Rev. Joseph Robertson, M.A., presided, supported by Revs. T. Adams, Hamer, S. Macfarlane, Miller, and Spurgeon. The Chairman, in his address, made special reference to the new church, which was creditable alike to architect and builder. He sincerely congratulated Mr Closs on his pastoral prospects with bucli a band of Christian workers around him, and he trusted that the friends w«uld render him needful, practical assistance, and give him their sympathies and prayers. Messrs Potter and Davidson then welcomed the Rev. Mr Closs in tho name of the congregation. Mr Cloas replied in feeling terms, and subsequently short, pithy addresses were spoken by the Rev. S. Macfarlane, Thos. Spurgeon, Adams, nnd Miller ; also, by Captain Daldy and Miller. The meeting was pleasantly conducted, and closed with the Benediction.

Auckland Baptist Tabernacle,

The first of tho series of services which mark tho opening of tho new Baptist Tabernacle took place on Tuesday, May 12, and was very largely attended. Sealß are provided for a congregation of 11.50, and these were fully occupied.

Mr Thomas Spurgeon (pastor of the congregation) of course presided, while behind him on the platform were seated other Baptist clergymon, viz., tho Roy. P. H. Cornford (former pastor of Wellosloy ■ street Church), J. G. Wilson (Cambridge), A. Fairbrother (missionary to tho Maoris), J. Woolley (Thames), H. Jones (Ponscnby), and H. Driver (Pastor's Associate). Mr Spurgeon, on entering upon the platform, said, "Our first word here must be a word of praise. ' Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.'" The Doxology was accordingly sung, and at its close the paßtor offorod up a prayer ot thanksgiving. Mr Spurgoon read the lesson which was taken from the Ist Book of Kings, Bth chapter, and first thirty verses. Tho 13th hymn, " All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name " was sung, the Roy. P. H. Cornford engaged in prayer, and then followed another hymn, the /th of the collection, "Light Up this House with Glory, Lord." Mr Spurgeon then dolivored an impressive sermon, taking as his text a portion of tho 30th verso of tho lesson, "Hear Thou in Heaven Thy Dwelling-place, and whon Thou Hearest, Forgive." On May 13, a praise and thanksgiving servioo was held in tho Tabernacle in connection with its opening, but tho attendance was only moderate. Mr Spurgoon again presided,and,aa on tho preceding evening,he was supportod on the platform by the Revs. P. 11. Cornford, Woolley, Jones, Fail-brother, Wilson, and Driver. After praise and prayer the pastor read as lesson the 132 nd I'salm, and then in his introductory speech availed himself of the opportunity to thank all who had assisted them to complete tho work on which they had set"! heir hearts. In closing the Gervico, Mr Spurgeon presented as his gift to the Tabernacle a pulpit table with readingdesk, both being fac- sbnifes of those in use in the Metropolitan Tabernacle. The desk bears a silver plate with inscription, " Presented by the pastor to the church and congregation."

A soiree nnd public meeting, to celebrate tho completion and formal opening of the Tabernacle wore hold on tho 14th inst.

At tho after meeting the pastor (Mr Thomas Spurgeon) took the chair, while around him on the platform were seated the Revs. P. H. Cornford, J. G. Wilson, H. Ujrivor, (Baptist), Alex. Carrick, R. F.. Macnicol, G. 13. Monro, McKenzie, Fra?er (Presbyterian), H. Bull, T. Q. Carr, Taylor, W. Gittos (Weslayan}, S. Macfarlane (United j'vea Methodist), J. Robertson, Adams, and Miller (Congregational). Apologies for non-attendance were received from the Roy. J. Wallis and Mr J. C. Firth, and Bishop Cowie and Archdeacon Dudley. The meeting having beon opened with religious exercises, the Chaivmsw made o. few prefatory remarks oppressive of the gratitude of birasolf and people to God especially, and also to all friends who had helped them in tho long-sustained effort they had been making. He then called upon tho Treasurer (Mr John Chambers) to present the financial statement of the Bailding Fund.

Mr Chambers read the records of income and expenditure were, which as follow ;— Receipts.—Sale of WfiUoßlsystreet property, £2,500; proportion oj coos of piece o£ land with cottage, dedicate,! as home lor poor memoors, &>23 23 lid; receipts from bazaar, Christmas, 18S2, 51 .003 6s Cd X receipts from sale of work, May. 1835. £179 Us 8d; collected by ladies October, 1879, to April, 1885, £1,377 6s 6d; receipts from sewing mattings, £183 16s 2d; collected in Great Britain, by Pastors C, H. and Thomas Spurgeon, £2,55016s fid,; collections in colonies and donations by Pastor Thomas Spuraeon, £S6G 13s M: lectures by Pastor Thomas Spurgeon. £58 5a 9d: total receipts through the puator and his father, apart from all their gifts at bazaar and sale of work, £3,175 163; conversazione, leoture. and collections. Pastor Rice £181 IC3 Id; receipts from other sources, collected by members, subscriptions, etc.. £1,850 5g ltd; collections, opening of Tabernacle, May 12th, 13th, £75; total. £1i,320 2a. '7d. Leaving still to raise to cover the total, expenditure, £308 128 7d. Kxpenicturr.—Cost of land, £3,120; original noucrabt for building (from which numerous items of "flnlshin» T' had been omitted, to bring tho coat within the amount they then reckoned thoy couldovertake),£B,239;iron work, girders, front of gallery, gas-fittings, eta. riot includedl in contract, which the clinch had to supply. also extra work, finishing, e to., as above, architoct'6 fees, etc., S?.las ißs; furniture, seats, etc.. church and soho'ol, £6<7iss4d; retaining wall, north sido of allotment, £127: total cost of proporty, with Tabernacle completed and furnished. £U,628 IBs 2d.

Contingent Assets.—Anticipated profltfrom poireo,£So; promised by Dr. Kenderdine, conditionally on oponing free of debt, £50; promised by Mr J. C. Firth on the same conditions, the last£100: total, £230. Required from the colloc. tibni of that evening and he Sunday services.' £78 13s 7d, leaving the stalling, fenc>ng, Jaying out of grounds, yet to do. "

The. opening services of tho Tabernacle were brought to a oonolusion on Sunday, May 16, Mr Thos, Spurgeon preaching both morning and evening to crowded congregations. In the morning, the congregation was counted, and 1,392 people found to be presont. On that occasion tl;o pastor preachod eloquently from Joiin, ohap. 4 and verses 20-24, showing (1) that God was not to be worshipped in any particular place Gi< at any special season ; (2) that as He was a spirit the worship of Him must bo an emanation from the heart in gratitude for hie watohful care an,d pervading love; and (3.) that the manner of worship should be simple but fervid. The offertory amounted to £38 14s 6d. In the evening fqlly 1,700 must have been in the building, for it was packed. Mr Spuvgeqn preached at) some length from Ephesianß, on. iv. v. 5, One or two persona fainted. The collection yielded £31. In the afternoon the Rev, P. H. Cornford oondnpted a children's service and delivered an address, The Revs. J. Wpolley ap4 H, Driver, al^o spefcq, Qn.

this occasion the offertory was £7 9s _4d, making a total of £77 odd. In the evening Mr Spurgeon announced that the Sundayschool anniversary services would be held next Sunday. He also stated that the Tabernacle would be as free to tho general public as tho services at the Choral Hall had been. There would be no seat lents, but regular attenders, after next Sunday, could select tho Boats they preferred, and theso would be kopt till fivo minutes beforo tho service commenced, after which they would bo opon to bo occupied by anybody.