GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20505, 26 March 1932, Page 16

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES.

THE CATHEDRAL. ADDRESS BY DEAN JULIUS. "There is a desire in these days, to forsake the old Law Court idea of the atonement and to see in the word its real meaning—one of "at-onement," a being at one with Christ in His sacrifice," said Dean Julius in his address during the ante-communion service m the Cathedral yesterday morning. We needed, as Paul had argued, a reconciliation to God. A change was required in us .'n our attitude to God and not a change in God. "If we have not realised much of the meaning of the Cross for ourselves, we must realise the fact that so many have found in Christ crucified the manifestation of the wisdom and the power of God." . The very history of the Crucifixion showed that it was not Christ the Crucified but Christ the conqueror who had inspired the religion of God since the Saviour's death, the Dean said. The Crucifixion was a strange event —strange because at the time man was at his highest and his best. There were many religions; some were very foul, full of darkness and mystery, but the zeligion of God, the religion of the Jew, was at its highest. It was the Jew with his deep veneration for God, who crucified Christ. And the nation that crucified Him, was the Roman Empire, famous for its justice and integrity. It was the world at its best. But there were motives. The Pharisees had believed that Christ was destroying the religion of the prophets; the Romans saw a political danger, and the priests saw Christ interfering with their pecuniary gains. So that these men, in their rage against Christ, were doing only what a man of to-day would do in trying to serve his country and his religion. Looking at these and at Christ's struggle against all these rowers, one saw the real magnitude of His victory. He faced the Church, the State, and Democracy. It was one man against the whole world. It was a sacrifice that brought peaco and rest to our souls. i i ... Mattins were at 8 a.m. yesterday, the ante-communion service (a cnorai one) at 10.30 a.m. and the three hours devotion, conducted by the Bishop, from noon to 3 p.m. with evensong ..t 3.30 p.m. Tn the evening the Passion music of Bach was repeated 1)V the Cathedral Choir. All offerings vestcrday were gnen to St. Saviour's Orphanages.

CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. Largo congregations attended the Holy "Week ceremonies in the Catholic Cathedral. His Lordship Bishop Brodie, with a choir of priests, chanted the office of Tenebrae on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. The plaintive wail of the Lamentations and the Miserere , brought the atmosphere of sorrow and grief suitable for the commemoration of tho death of tho Saviour. The so emu celebration of the Holy.Eucharist on Thursday to commemorate tho anniversary, of y its institution at the Last .Supper was carried out Lordship► Bidwp Brodie; Assistant Priest, Very Kev. Dr. Kennedy; paeons, of Honour Bov. A. Burger,, S.M., and Father aVHanraban; Deacon and-Subdeacon off the Massy Daly, and, A Keane, S.M., respectively. At the blessing of the Hoi* Oils six deacons, and eix sub-deacons was kept UP through out the day and night at ot. Kepose, a large number of men takm„ the nocturnal vigil in_order to atone for the neglect Our Lord suffered when He reproved the Apostles, "Could you not watch one hour with Me < Three extraordinarily large.congregations were present on Good Fnday. The morning service consisted of the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, . the Adoration of the Cross, and the siting of St. John's narrative of the ™ipn. Bishop Brodie was again celebrant and preached fronv the text They shall look on Him Whom tney Sewed» Father E. A. Anderson 52[assistant priest, Father G. Daly and Father T. Browne deacon and sub-deacon respectively. The deacons of the Passion were Fathers J. Hanrahan P. Joyce, and J. Magmre. At three o'clock in the afternoon The Stations of the Crossand a sermon on tho Sorrows of Our, Lady were eiven by the Bishop. Again at 7 15 the Tenebrae was chanted and af Passion sermon was preached by the Bishop. UNITED SERVICE.

"Love to the . uttermost''' was the phase of Christ's death on the Cross that was the Jhcme emphasised by the Rev L A. North; tho preacher at the ' United Good Friday service ftrf ranged by the Christchurch Ministers. Association, held in St. Andrew's bvterian Church yesterday morning. There was a largo congregation. The service, which was a communion service, was conducted by the Rev. J. Lawson Robinson. "As we meet around the table of our Lord, this morning," said the preacher, "the words will our foarts spoken by Our Lord Vhen He instituted this supper.for His. disciples and all who love Him-'This is My body, broken for you.' »'; Etoter time, he continued, brought them face to face asnun with the amazing mystery of the' Cross of Christ. In the midst of the migbtv changes wrought by time, there had stood in the centre of the world's sorrows and problems lor nineteen.centuries this symbol of love to the uttermost. Many had scorned it, many had passed it by in indifference but to countless numbers it had brought comfort and cheer, and in some wav it cast a new light on life's uroblems* and all its sin and .suffering. They met as representatives of the different branches of tho Church of Cod yet all were one in their love for Him Who had opened for them the fates of hope, ! and joy, .and heartsease Tt was a most significant thing that tho Sacrament of the Lord's Supper had'taken its place right at the heait of Christian worship, in all branches of tho Church, with the exception of the Salvation Army and amongst tho .Quakers. ; The mystery of the Cross was deeper than thr- human mind could ever plumb, many had tried, hut had failed to set-forth its inner truth. It. was something* that they not reach, something that eluded the keenest intellect, something that could be grasped only by a faith which completely abandoned itself to infinite love and mercy. There were those whose intellects were frail and feeble, and yet," because then- hearts were filled with love, found in the Cross of Christ their hope, their joy. and their love. If, men did not see in the Cross not only their own hope of salvation, hut the hope of all men of salvation by redeeming love, then they had failed to see what the true love of God should ■he.'. , "i_- ..■■:■ IN OTHER CHURCHES. At all the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches special Good Friday services were held throughout the day. Xn 6*. Jakob and St. M&ry*% Meari-

vale, children's services were held. After the evening service at St. Luke's pictures of the Sacred Passion were shown, and at Holy Trinity. Avonside, a programme of sacred music followed she evensong.