Congregational United Flower Service.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 298, 18 December 1886, Page 2

Congregational United Flower Service.

♦ .; At 3 o'clock this afternoon a united gather ing of the various Congregational Sundiiyschools of tlie city and suburbs was held in ' Beresfcrd-street Church. The affair was ti connection with the Union District Meet- ' ings, it having been decided to hold a united flower eervice. A .committee oJ ladies and gentlemen from the -Mount Eden Congregational Church; were 'bußy ' yesterday afternoon and evening decorating the building, and their Isbonr resulted in making the interior'of the church present a remarkably beautiful appearance. Across the front of'the organ chamber was a handsomely-designed motto; •' bearing the words "I am the Rose of Sharon ' and the Lily of the Valley." Tho word! "Hose" and "Lily" were executed in the respective flowers, and the effect was very good. Tho Corinthian cohimns 'it either side of the organ a re tastefully entwined with ivy and other'creepers, while their base was one mass of evergreen foliage, from amidst which rose the graceful plumes of the toitoi grass,' and along the Iront of the rostrum were numerous foliage plants in pots, The various, pillars supporting the gallery were also nicely deporatod, and between each ware haDg festoons of flowers and ferns. From the centre of these festoons ■ depended small baskets rilled with ferns, white lilies, *nd °'ncr flowers. The result of the tasteful decorations was to make the church very Beautiful—an effect which was wonderfully increased when the building was thronged with well-dreeeed children, each bearing a largo bouquet of flowers. Then, indeed, tie room presented a scene resplendent in beauty. About 3 o'clock the Key. LaUhley • . took the chair, and the proceedings commenced. Special hymns were sung by the ■ children, also musical selections as follows: Duet, " Tho Master Stood ia His Gardei), MUses Edmondes: bolo, "Consider the • Lilies," Mr R. Abel. A solo entitled " Tho Rose of Sharon," by Hughes, of Sydney, was then sung, for the first time .. in Auckland, by Mr L.Harbutt, whose well managed voice did full juetico to the production. The Rev, Mr Clobs also delivered an addreas on "Flowers," basing his remarks on the text inscribed on.the motto previously alluded to. At tho conclusion of. the service, the flowers were all gathered and despatched in vehicles, to bedistributed at the various charitable institutions of tM,. city, including the Boys' Rest and the Avon-, , dale Asylum. During the service a collec-Yi tion was taken in order to defray expeDßMi any surplus to ba devoted to the district funds.