MARSDEN CENTENARY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14982, 1 June 1914, Page 9

MARSDEN CENTENARY.

PROGRAMME OF CELEBRATIONS.

Christmas Day will be the hundredth anniversary of the first Sunday on which Divine Service was held in Xew Zealand, and it is proposed to mark the event by a special series of commemorative services and gatherings. Tho centenary celebrations will commence on Friday, Deccmhc:- 11th, when there will be a large public meeting in the Auckland Town Hall. On Christmas Day there will be'a Celebration of the Holy Communion at, or uear, the Marsaen Cross, when tho Bishop of Auckland all the Maori clergy of the Diocese, and as luany of tho other clergy as can be spared from their part_hos, will be present.

A special feature of the celebrations will be the Church Congress, to he held in Auckland on Febiuaiy Bth,.9th, and 10th, invitations to which have been sent to tbo leaders of the Anglican communion throughout tho world, and specially to the leaders in Austra".;*.

Tho subjects set down for discussion include:—The Cld Testament, the New Testament in Relation to the Person of Christ, tho Bible and Evolution, tho Ministry. "Reunion, Modern Heresies, tho Church and the Family, Men's Duty, Missionary Work and Problems. After the Congress, on the evening of Wednesday, February 10th (about midnight), a special steamer will leave Auckland to take any members of the Congress, or others desirous of going, to Russell and other .places of interest in connexion with the landing of Marsden and the e_':ablishmeut of Christianity in New Zealand.

In order to bring the celebrations within tho reach of every body in New Zealand, special services will be held on Christmas Day in every Anglican Church throughout the Dominion. In addition it has been resolved to appeal for a special thanksgiving fund of £20,000 for educational purposes, and a further sum of not less than £30,000 for augmenting tho stipends of the clergy.