THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 46, 18 November 1907, Page 8

THE CHURCHES.

AT THE TOWN HALL,

EVANGELISTIC ADDRESSES,

The Rev. J Flanagan, the well-known London evangelist, addressed -two meetings m tho Concert Hall yesterday. In tlw afternoon when men only were present! every seat was. oqcupied. . Owing to the unavoidable absence of the Hon. 6, Fowlds (Minuter for Education),. the chair was ™ Ld Ul 'T M . r - fi a " agilu »»"»W how ha glar, o Christ. First of all he described slum-life- n Soiithwark, the district in winch he has laboured so successfully for so many years Jt was,.,he said, in a "dosshouse in this, quarter that Jack, who, had served terms of imprisonment aggregating thirty years, first heard of him.. One day Jack called at his house for financial assistance, and the opportunity to. preach . Christ to him was availed of, tho result being that Jack was converted. Afterwards he led a very respectable life. Long before the address was concluded numbers of those present' wore so touched by its pathos that they could not refrain from showing their feelings, one auditor Doing so affected, that he moaned loud en ° u g" to bo heard all over tho hall. The hall was crowded to ■ excess in tho evening, when the Rev, Mr. Flanagan preached, from Acts vii., 52: "Ye do always resist-the Holy Ghost." He stated, among other, things, that when Stephen-used the words of the text he was-full of grace and power, and before the Jewish Council, face to face with tho men'who had raised the civil, power against Jesus. Rising in heat and argument, Stephen's feelings seemed -to master, him...-. Their sin appeared to stand before his imagination. in all its native horror. It was, the rev. gentloman said, tho mistake of ignorant men •to 'supposo that keen utterance and the preaching of the terrors of God - were:. reserved for the poor and tho. suffering—the dwellers in the back street. . It was not the "Clarion" crciv that dived deep into the 'dens of wretchedness to. heal and save.'; . that • was loft; to the' men and women who . follow Christ. Stephen preached God's terrors, to the clean-skinned, silken-robed worshippers of the Temple. It was upon them that he had burst, with the words of the text. Little wonder that Stephen suffered, martyrdom. These people murdered their conscience before they crucified the-Saviour;' nay, in slaying Him they slew their own conscience. There were men who; came perilousjy near their- offence in these days, but whose condemnation would .be all iie greater. The difference between'men wits' not a question of God's decree, but of. inward choice., After instancing several noteworthy conversions which had come- under his notice, he appealed to those'who. had neglected their religious 'obligations to accept. Christ without delay. In consequence of' the very large! attendances, it-has been decided :to hold .tha. week-night meetings in the Concert Hall,instead of tho Webb Street. Church, .as""pre- > viously addressed. . .

Y.M.C.A. . :.;{/"..

:■" THANKSGIVING SERVICE.-. .;' -. At the usual Sunday afternoon meeting of' the Y.M.C.A., & ThankßgiTing Service ■ was held'to mark the Association's gratitude' for the: remarkable success of the various, building campaigns which; were recently organised throughout the Dominion. '• ' • ' • The attendance was ;a very large orie, •juitc a number being crowded out.; Mr. J. G. W. Aitken delivered a;short address, the keynote of which was gratitude for tho results of their offorts. It was a striking and significant feature; of-thoEe campaigns that' responses had come from all classes of' the communities in : which' these appeals had been made. During three years of- steady and; enthusiastic . work, ', said- Mr. Aitken, .no" less'-, than x £70,000 had been raised, and he could not,hut .think that's bencficient Providence iiad.'assistedj' inspired, and strengthened'their workers.' • Mr. H. N. Holmes, general" secretary to the Y.M.C.A., in-a few words, paid; a'high tribute to the zeal and enthusiasm of'-thV workers. , . . \"

DEDICATION..OF. A. PULPIT,

The pulpit erected bythe priests of tha Archdiocese of Wellington to the'memory of the late Very ReV. in the basilica of. the Sacred Heart, •■ Hill Street, was, blessed and: dedicated by His Grace the/Archbishop at-the 9 o'clock mass yesterday. The pulpit was designed by Mr. John S. Swan, architect,- and'erected under his supervision by Messrs. Hickmott Bros., of Chnstchurch. The base is a semi-octagon, with pilasters and panels all of Oamarti stone, except the inscription panel, which is of white marble, with the following lettering:—"ln Mcmoriam: Tho Very Rev. Father. 'I wis, S.M.V.G. ,Jnno 27,' 1907. ■ Erected, by the Priests of: the Archdiocese." The upper'-part of. the pulpit is corbelled out oyer the base, the'four sides being formed of. stone arches, with stone pilasters and marble angle pilasters. The arch-moulds', caps of columns; and capping are carved in good .taste. ■; The pulpit is. approached by- five, stone steps, with panelled span-drills • and the'balustrade is formed of wrought-iron ■ standards and ornamental work i with polished" hand-rails.. The fitting as finished is-a beautiful piece of work, and is an-ornament to the •; church and a. credit to all concerned. The cost' of- th» pulpit was about £100. '. Trio day of dedication was made impressivel throughout. Solemn High' Mass was celebrated at 10.30 a.m., with the Rev.' Father Moloney as celebrant, Rev. Father Macarthy as Deacon, Rev. Father Bowden as SubDeacon, and the Rev. Father O'Reilly as master of ceremonies. Processions took place after tho Mass ; Which ushered .- in the lorty Hours' Adoration. Last: evening the Rev. Father Ainsworth (Newtown) ■ an able sermon on ''The Mass," giving a.clear definition of this essential' part of thedoctrinal servico of thej Roman . Catholic Church. Devotions' in connection- with the Forty Hours' Adoration will bo continued to-day and to-morrow. The ' Rev,. Father Macarthy will preach at this evening'*

ISLAND BAY ANGLICAN CHURCH.' Special services were' held at tho Island Bay Anglican Church yesterday tioii of its patronal festival—St. Hilda's Day. Holy Communion was celebrated at 9 a.m., there was a children's service at 11.15 a.m., conducted bv -the A 7 icar, and at the evoning service the,"Rev. A. -L. Hansell, Vicar ,_of Karori, .preached the sermon. TheJ-'se'rvice was fully choral, and the choir sang the anthem "Seek ye the Lord" (Roberts), and Woodward's solemn "To Deum'.." Tho Bishop will hold a confirmation service at 7.30 this evening. , ■