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Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 148, 24 June 1889, Page 4

Sb. Matthew's Church was crowded last night, when the incumbent preached a sermon on "Is Christianity the Religion of the Future ?" being the first of a series of discourses entitled "Readings From the Life of Jesus of Nazareth." Basing his remarks on John ivch. 42v. (revised version), " They said to the woman, ' now we believe, not because of thy speaking ; for wo have heard for ourselves, and know that - this is indeed the Saviour of the world,'" the preacher pointed to the pending social and theological revolution, showing that the latter will modify the former. He pointed out that the change in religious teaching would be in form, which was human, not in substance which was divine, and that the change would be the stripping off the'worn out clothing of human giofes, and the reversion to the simple revelation of the Gospel. The new Christianity so-called, he said, was the samo old Arminianism under a new name, and claimed that the teaching of " Robert Elsmere , " was falacious, and was put out of court by another teacher of the same school, who denounces as forgeries those portions of the gospels which Ellesmere accepts as genuine, but states they were just the deluded notions that might be expected, aud that proves his case. He then proceeded to expouse what he called the fallacious and illogical teaching of Robert Elsmero by showing that he teaches his new Christianity upon the authority of a history which he has already rejected as unauthentic, and then went on to demonstrate the existence of God from nature, science, and human need, the Divinity of Christ from the nature of God and His relation to man, the story of the life of Jesus from the revelation of His Sonship to the Eternal Father, and he showed that the new Gospel was contained in the realisation olf that ideal life. At the conclusion of the service, which was very perfectly rendered, Mrs Kilgour sang in the most beautiful and tasteful manner, " Angels Ever Bright and Fair," from Handel's " Theodora," Mrs Tebbs presiding at the organ.

The usual entertainment in connection with the Total Abstinence Society was held last Saturday in the Temperance Hall. Mr Tremain occupied the phair. The proceedings opened with a piano solo by Miss Goodacre. Mr J. Oi Robinson gave a very interesting address en " Puzzles ;' sono-, Mr Criglinton ; recitation, Miss Wheeler; song, Mies Shepherd; recitation, Miss Handle ; recitation, Miss Amy Wheeler; recitation, Master Shepherd ; duet, Misses Goodacre ; Mr J. Harding, of Napier, gfive a very instructive address ; recitation, Master Hampton, The meeting closed with the usual vote of thanks. Next week will be the first of a eeries of entertainments given by church choirs and Bands of Hope. The Cook-etreeb choir will enterfcaia aexi week-.