CHURCH MISSION FUND FESTIVAL.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9182, 13 August 1895, Page 6

CHURCH MISSION FUND FESTIVAL.

» There was a large attendance at the Opera House, Tuam street, last evening, when a concert, at which addresses were also given, was held in connection with the Chnrch Mission Fund Festival. Oα the platform were hie Lordship Bishop Julius, the Very Rev. Dean Hoveli, the Yen. Archdeacon Cholmondeley, the Rev. J. F. Teakle, Professor Cook, and Messrs H. W. Bishop and H. J. Aiuger, and a large mixed choir. After the einging of a veree of the National Anthem and the hymn '* Soldiers of the Cross," His Lokdsihp the Bishop paid a tribute to the Rev. J. F. Teakle, the organising Secretary of the fund, for his work in connection therewith, and extended a welcome to the Dean of Napier. The Bishop went on to say that in hie recent addreae to his Synod, the Bishop of Salisbury remarked that the Church of England derived a great advantage from ncr endowments at home, and said he had observed in the colooy on his recent visit how difficult it was to relieve the parishes and clergy of their anxiety to pay their way. The Church at Home wae thus able to give her mind to other things. There was a good deal of truth in what the Bishop of Salisbury had said, but it was wonderful how well the parishes had fulfilled their obligations. The Church Mission Fund was nuinly for the purpose of relieving parishes . f their anxieties, and by its tide they v.ould recognise the uiocesan character of its work and service. The fund would be. diwvn very largely vipou this iyear through tiie work that would !u.ve to be undertaken at Cheviot. He commended the parishes for the liberal way in which they had suppotted the fund. (Applause) The Cathedral choir then sang successfully the part songs " The night is calm and cloudless" and "0, gladsome light," the solo in the former being well taken by Master Robert Lake. Mr Lovell was in good voice and pang with great acceptance " The children's home," aod in response to the encore gave " Thou shalt break them." The choir of St. John's Church then sang nicely the part song " Hark, their notes the hautboye swell," the next number being a skilfully played string quartette by Misses Packer and Julius and Messrs Painter and Wells. Mrs Burns was enthusiastically encored for her tasteful rendering of the solo " Bid mc discourse," in which her voice was heard to advantage. She bowed her acknowledgments, as owing to the length of the programme encores had to be debarred. The Mottet Society next gave the chorus "Gloria in excelsis," and Miss Davie followed with the solo " The promise of life," which she sang excellently. Mise C. Lingard contributed iho piano solo " Die Jagd," playing with her usual skill and taste, and the aria " Honour and Arms" was finely sung by Mr Millar. The accompanists were Miss C. Lingard, and Messrs Wells, Tendall and Watkins. The Very Rev. Dean Hoveli. alluded to the growth of the city and the changes that had taken place since he was in Christchurch twenty years ago. He made a graceful and feeling reference to the late Bishop Harper, the Archdeacons and other well known churchmen who had paused away. He pointed out the growth of the .church in Canterbury during the last twenty years, and went on to emphasise the importance of the Church Mission Fund. It was necessary for the success of the fund that there should be systematic and regular, and not spasmodic giving. He concluded a most eloquent and earnest address by an appeal for support to the fund. Mr H. W. Bishop explained how the fund had been formed, aud stated that the overdraft at the present time was £225 19* lid. During the last financial year the subscriptions aud donations to the fund had been £58 Oβ 2d lees, and the offertories £10 7s 3d less. The fund was decreasing, but their wants were no less. Was it not a bounden duty, as a matter of honour alone, that this fund should be kept in a sound financial position ? They were not doing their duly when they allowed their clergy to beg time after time on behalf of the fund. Though the times were admittedly bad a great many of the laity were ia a position to give more liberally than they did. He had paid a visit to the Graucl National Meeting on Thursday last, and the thought etrnck him there that some of the money spent on personal adornment or passed through the tntaltsator might be given for the benefit of the Church. He suggested that a guarantee fund of say £1500 should be formed by about 200 laymen, each agreeing to give according to his means. He would be pleased to undertake the management of such a fund, and do the secretarial work. (Applause.) Too Rev. J. F. Teakle announced that the offertories on Sunday, excluding four churches which had not yet sent in returns, amounted to £150 7s 10d, as against £114 last year. (Applause.) After the singing of the hymn, " Lord of our Life," the meeting closed with the Benediction.