THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 52, 25 November 1907, Page 10

THE CHURCHES.

CONFIRMATION. , His, Grace Archbishop Redwood yesterday morning administered tho Sacrament,of Confirmation at the Lower Hutt. His Grace also preached at both morning and evening services. CHILDREN'S ANNIVERSARY. Even after tho, provision of extra seating, tho , Newtown - Congregational Church was not large enough for the numbers who attended the Sunday School anniversary services yesterday. The Rev. T. Koith Ewen preached in tho morning. Rev. Macdonakl .Aspland in the afternoon, and Rev. W. A. Evans in tho evening. Mr. Evans's sermon was an address to parents on their responsibilities in respect of tho religious education of their children. hymns were sung at all the services by the children under tho conductorship of Mr. J. H. Johnson. The musical accompaniment was also reinforced by special instruments. The school annual report, to bo presented at the public meeting to-morrow evening, states that work has gono> on steadily: and unostentatiously. Changes in the staff aro recorded, and it is stated that the increaso in the attendance of children has necessitated the formation of a Junior Bible Class of girls and an extra class of boys. In consequence of this, tho secretary (Mr. A. E. Burge), has become a teacher, his position being filled for the ensuing year by Mr. Arnold Johnson, with Mr. llobcrt Sloan as assistant. The Young Men's Bible Class has boon discontinued for the present, but as opportunity offers its reorganisation will take place. The average school attendance has boon 110, as against 92 last year. Fifteen scholars entered for the annual Scripture examination , ? of whom ten passed, Amy Anderson obtaining tho highest possible marks.

Special services will be held again next Sunday, and a "Scholars' Evening" will be held to-morrow week. ) Y.M.C.A. There was a large attendance at the-usual afternoon meeting of the Young Men's Christian, Association yesterday. Mr. Evan Cameron gave a short address, during which he referred briefly to the work of tho Allian'co of Honour, an organisation which/has for its object the creation of a spirit of purity among men. Tho Alliance was founded by Dr. Harry Grattan Guiness, and has proved to bo a powerful influence for good among young men in the Old Country. , REV. J. FLANAGAN'S MISSION. Tho Rev. J.' Flanagan preached in the Sydney Street Primitive Methodist Church yesterday morning on Psalms xc. —17. After giving a lucid exposition of the verse, in which things new and old were well put, he showed in clear, and at times, eloquent, language, with illustrations drawn, from slum life, the power'of the religion of Christ! During tho discourse Mr. Flanagan paid a kindly tribute to tho memory of the late Eov. Hugh Price Hughes. "We are talking a good deal just now about the union of the Churches," remarked the.Rev. W. A. Evans, at the Newtown Congregational Church last evening, after referring to the presence of members of other denominations at tho. children's service. "It seems to me that it is only a question of tinie, really. It is not a thing to.push, but a thing to grow." The Rev. W. A. Evans declared at the Constable. Street Congregational Church last evening, that Sunday school work was tho most important work in connection with tho Church in modern times. He stated that he desired to rtiise funds'as soon as possible to divide the schoolroom into separate classrooms, so that teaching could be' : more efficiently carried out.