ECCLESIASTICAL

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 168, 29 July 1901, Page 2

ECCLESIASTICAL

ST. PAUL'S DIAMOND JUBILEE

St. Paul's Church celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, the sixtieth anniversary of its foundation, by special services yesterday. In the morning a church parade of a portion of the blue battalion was held, the corps represented being "A" Battery, under Captain O'Brien and Lieut. Bosworth; Engineers, under Captain Walker and Lieut. Tapper; Devonport Submarine Miners, under Lieut. Davis; and the Bearer Corps, under Surgeon-Captain Knight. The men assembled at the Drill Hall site, and headed by the Gayison Band marched to the church under the command of Captain O'Brien. After the service they marched back to the parade ground, where they were dismissed. The church was decorated with camellias and lycopodium for the occasion, while the altar was decorated with arum lilies and other white flowers. The morning service was well attended. His Lordship the Primate, Bishop Cowie, preached the sermon, taking as his text Acts xxvii. 31. lie referred to the shipwreck of St. Paul at Malta, and pointed out that the action of. St. Paul, in telling the soldiers that if the sailors left the ship all would be drowned, when he had previously been told in a dream that the vessel would not be wrecked while lie was aboard, was typical of the fundamental state of Christian religion. If any good was to be obtained the right means must be used, and if the evils of life were to be cornbatted the spirit of mutual help must be encouraged. The anniversary brought to mind one of the ordinary means of helping others. The erection of a church was a means of becoming fellow labourers with God. The chief purposes of a church were the teaching of the truth concerning God, and the warning of our fellowmen against sin. St. Paul's Church was not now standing on its original site. Some had objected to its removal, on account of the historical associations connected with the first site. But probably in time to come the present church would be as rich in its historical'associations as the old site had become. The Primate likened the Christian Church to a ship at sen. As a modern man-o'-vvar had continually to be improved, so the organisation of the church had to advance, in order to keep pace with the times, the people, and the age. His Lordship, in conclusion, said that St. Paul's Church might be even more glorious in its traditions if their workers were more and more earnest, and strove to perform their work as the Father willed.

The choir rendered the anthem "Blessed Are They" (Hertholtl Tours), and as an offertory solo -Miss Lang sang the aria "0 Host in the Lord." In the evening the Rev. Canon .Nelson, vkar, preached from Sam. vii. 12. He sketched the history of St.. Paul's, and referred to the notable men connected with it, especially during the 33 years during which he had charge 31 years during which he had charge of the parish. Among these he mentioned Hon. W. Swainson, first Attor-ney-General; Major Tisdall, Sir F. WhitakcT, Messrs. F. D. Fcnton, (Thief Judge of the Native Land Court; J. M. Butt, .Task Embling, J. H. B. Coates, Drs. Ellis and Dawson, and many others. , .

The offertories for the day, which totalled £128 8/5, will be devoted to the church debt fund.