ECCLESIASTICAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 118, 19 May 1892, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Rev., H. Coombs, of M> elbourne, haß arrived here in order to acb a^ pastor of the Bapcisb Tabernacle for two n."months. |

The Rev. J. D. Giltnore has been ejected President and the Row W- S. Potter Secretary of the Auckland Mitusteijs' Association for the present'term. \ |

■ The Onehunga Presbyteriansi lia-we proBeuted a handsome gold watch to tb& Rev. G. B. Monro, of Remuera, in recognition of various valuable services ropderpd.

Provided asucce3sor to BSshoj^ Selwynis not soon appointed, Bishop N ontgomery, of Tasmania, has offered to ma'-ke $m episcopal tour of the Molanosian Misouori\dioeese.

The Kov. J. Cocker, Primitive Me thodisto minister, from Ashburton, has '^cov^o to Auckland'to supply tho Church in conjunction with Mr Guy at Alexandra-street^ and and Pitb and Edwin-street. \ *< The Rev. Father MoNamara, OiS.M., has resigned the offices of Vicar-Gonera^ and Adrainiatrator of the Catholic parish, of Wellington owing to ill-health, 'and leaves shortly for Australia. \ The BaptisfcUnion has bidden tho Roy. \T. Spargeon farewell from the colony, and wishes him God-speed on his journey to England, to preach.in the London Tabernacle in the place of his late father.

The Rev. H. J. Lewis, Congregational', ministor, preached his farewell sormons; on April 24 in the Newton Congregational. Church. There wore largo congregations at both services. A valedictory Boir^e was held on the following Tuesday. V The anniversary of tho Dovonporbij Wealeyan Church was celebrated on April1.24 by special services in the church, tho Rev,s. J. Berry and 0. H. Laws preaching tho sermons. The annual soiroo was hold1 on the following Wednesday evoning. \

The Gongregationaliats in Auckland afO making efforts to raise £10,000 to wipe off all existing debts on churches, to establish a pastors provident fund, and to provide for further church extension. £3,200 has already been promised in the colony.

Apleasantgathering of the parishioners of St. Barnabas', Mount Eden, took place on Thursday evening, May 5, at Waite's Hall, the occasion being a "welcome" to the Rev. W. IT. Johnston, who has recently arrived to tako charge of the parish, and bis wife.

The Rev. R. J. Lambert, of Melbourne, who has been ministering at the Tabernacle for the past two months, gave farewell addresses on May 8. Nextevoningtherovereiid gentleman was entertained at a social tea in the Tabernacle schoolroom. The Rev. Mr Lambert left for Melbourne on the 11th.

The annual soiree and meeting1 in connection with the anniversary services of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Sunday-school was held on May 4th in the Ponspnby Hall. There was a largo attendance, and Mr S. C. Johnson, superintendent of the school, and made reference to the work of the school during the pasb year. Since tha beginning of the year the attendance ha 3 increased from 120 to 145, the average being now 115, although it imd several fcimoa been ICO. y On Monday evening, April 25th, the\ Auckland Presbyterian Elders' Association held their annual meeting at Sc. Jamee's Church. There was a fair attendance. Mr A. Ramsay, vice-president, occupied the chair. The secretary and treasurer (Mr G. Williams) read tho report and statements of the year, which were very satisfactory. The following wero elected office-bearers for 1892-3 :— President, Mr J. C. Macky ; vice-presidentG, Messrs A. Bell and Brownlie ; secretary and treasurer, Mr_ Thos. Knight ; committee, Messrs T. Richardson, J. McGregor, D. McNab, Kerr, DinniBon, Bennett, and Garriock.

The anniversary services of bhe Parnell Wesleyan Sunday-school, which wore held on May 1, were conducted by the Revs. W. .Lee and S. J. Serpell. The anniversary meeting held In bhe church building next evening was presided over by Mr W. Thorne. The reportstated that the number of scholars en the roll was now 98, with an average attendance of 58, which showed a largo increase on bhab ab the beginning of the year. The library contains 400 volumes. The various branches of the school work are in a flourishing condition. Tho receipts for the year amounted to £15 16s 4d and the expenditure £11 18s 7d, leaving a credit balance of £3 7a 9d.

The Mount Albert Wesloyan Sunday

school celebrated its twenty-third anniver

sary on May lsb, and on the following Tuesday tho annual soiree was held. Mr Thos. Allen presided ab tho public meeting, and on behalf of the congregation and school gave a hearty welcome to the Rev. C. H. Law*, the newly-appointed minister. Tho annual report of the Sunday-school showed that there were 113 scholars on tho roll with an average attendance of .75 : the officers and teachers numbered 10, with an average atbendance of 9. The total income for the school was £30 10s lid, with an expenditure of £22 7s Bd, leaving a credib •balance ab bhe end of the year of £8 3s 3d. ifEhe Revs. J. Berry and Laws gave ad- ' *drosse3, and during the evening hymns were sung by the children under the ' leadership of Mr W. Asbley.

Tho annual 3ocial gathering in connection with tho aunivareary of bhe Young Men's Christian Association was held on April the 29bh in tho rooms, Alberb-streob. The Chairman, in his opening remarks, made reference to the causo they were gathered to celebrate, and said he was glad that the new year's work was commenced under such auspicious circumstances. Although they had nob made any noise during the past year, yet> much g^od work had been done. Rev. L. H. Outram, M.A., gave a very earnest address on the work of tho Association. Interesting and instructive addresses were also given by Mr Twentyman, on "Character Building, tho Motive of Our Association Work;" Mr C. W. Homery, on ♦' Responsibility of Membership; Mr Norrie on "Consistency;" Mr Kokwick, on " Why Aro Young Men Indifferent to the Claims of tho Association 1"

On May Ist the anniversary of the Alex-andra-street Primitive Methodist Church was celebrated by special services, the Rev. Guy and G. 15. Monro preaching eer-nons for the occasion. The anniversary w&Boiree waa held on tho following Tuesday 'evening. Tea was laid in the, schoolroom a-J half-past six, and aboub 150 guests sab down to the tables. The following ladiea presided at the tables :—Mesdames Guy, TVlewburn, Saunders, Potter, Kerr, Jaffrey. Tarlin Langdale, Annibage, Misses Gillespie mid Blomfiald. Alter the tea a public meeting was held in the church, af, which Mr J«Jhn Trenvvith presided. The annual report waa read by Roy. J. Guy, and stated that m effort was being made to pay off part of the debt of £3CC upon the puvsonapo, tho only liability upon tho property. The balance-sheet showed that tha receipts for the year had amounted to £302 JOs Id. Addresses wero then delivered by tho Revs. J. Lambert, K. F. Maoniv'"!, W. S. Potter and J. Guy.

*' Tho Roy. W. Morley, who has been .Dpointed bo the ehargo of tho Three Kinga College, arrived from the South on April akfcfa ° Before leaviui? Christchurch a large number of the Wanda of tho Roy. Mr Morlev and Mrs Morloy assemb ed in the Purham-sbreeb Wesloyun schoolroom on the 16th April for tho purpose pi taking Srfc. in the celebration of thenr aUvej ydWL Hcv. W.. Baummjr, en bo »U of Cmfterbury btib&A. Presented Mr^ey wading, by his brother rainißters m Can-

terbury, April, 1892." Mr /E. C. Brown then, on behalf of the ladies and gentlemen presend and a few absenb friends, requested Mr and Mrs Morley's acceptance of a handsome silver salver, which, as appropriate to { the occasion, was tilled with silver coins fresh from the mint. It bore the inscription, "Filled with silver coins, and presented, to the Rev. W. and Mrs Morley on the occ£> ( kion of their silver wedding by a few frionds ab Christchurch, 16th April, 1892." T/he Rev. Mr Morley accepted the gifts, ami in a few appropriate words thanked tbiem for their kindness ond expressed his re grot ab leaving Christchurch.

The annual Conference ofj'the Churches of Christ in the Provincial Dietrich of Auckland wa3 held on Friday, April 15, when there were present representatives from the churches ab Papakurai Papakura Valley, Pukekohe, Porb Alberb, Wellsford, Tauhoa, Hoteo Norton, Wayby, Turua, Thames, Avondalo, North Alberblapd, and Omaurnau. Bro. E. Browne, of North Albertland, was appointed; chairman. The Evangelists Committee's reporb waa very gratifying as regards 1 additions, work amongst the members, and |*iho young men and women particularly,* alto ia Band of Hopo wprk. Bro. F. W.;' i Greenwood had been labouring for tl./e whoJe year in and around Auckland, at/id Bro. Edward Lewis parb of the year in the AlbertJand districts ; also, Bro. Ip&ac Selby, the anbi-freethoughb lecturor, .und Bro. Sydney Black, the great fiocioi, reformer, had lectured here, and preached in the Opera House and Pother places during their visits. The .Treasurer's reporb also was very , satisfactory, showing tho total contrfputiona during the year, with last year's ba knee on hand, to have been* £259 13s 2d, a fid after all expenses had been paid a balance of some £21 remained. Brother \"F. W. Greenwood was ongaged for . another year, and tho Conferonco recommended the new committee, if possible, to endeavour to keep ab leasb two evangelists in the Held ' .for the nexb twelve months, beicic 60 woll i satisfiedjwith tho work of the past r .(j 5 ,, f