RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. (From March 20 to April 18 )

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1571, 18 April 1872, Page 7

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. (From March 20 to April 18 )

A public meeting of the residents in the Mount Albeit district was held iu the schoolroom, Morningside, on March 26, for the purpose of considering what steps should be taken to erect a church in connection with the Episcopalian body. On the motion of Mr. A. K. Taylor, Captain James was voted to the chair. The meeting was opened by the Rev. Mr. Dudley engaging in prayer. — Mr. Taylor, in order to test the feeling of the meeting, moved, "That it is deniable that a church be erected, in a suitable position, in the Mount Albert district, as soon as possible." So far as a site was concerned there need be no difficulty about it. He had already offered a site for a church and a burial-ground, and he would give a subscription towards the erection of the church besides. — Mr. Johnson seconded the motion. — The motion was put, and agreed to unanimously.— The Kev. Mr. Dudley moved, " That sitting accommodation for not less than cight3>- if possible be provided in the chinch proposed to be erected." — Mr. Taylor seconded the motion, which was .agreed to.— Mr. Johnson moved, " That a committee be appointed to get up plans, subset iptions, donations, &c, and to make all necessary arrangements for such a work."' — Captain Clayton f-econded the motion, which was agreed to. — On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Dudley, seconded by Captain Clayton, the following gentlemen weie elected a commit ee to carry jout the above resolutions :— Mr. A. K. Taylor, Captain James, Mr. Ogilvie, Captain Clayton, Mr. Johnson, Mr. McElwain, Mr, Edward Sad grove, Mr. G. B. Davy, Mr. Martin, Mr. Thomas Barnes, and the mover, with power to add to their number. The annual meeting of the members and adherents of the Papakura Piesbyterian congregation was held in the church on the 18th March, the Rev. T. Nome in the chair. The report for the year 1871 was submitted to the meeting, from which it appeared that the following sums had been icilised, namely : -Stipend fund, £52 13s. 4Ad. ; manse fund, £12 3s.; schemes of the Church, £1 13s. 10d.; local expense", 69.: total, t'GG 1G3. 2id. Tup leport of the bianch station at Papakura Valley was also submitted, of which thd following is an abstract:— Stipend fund, £11 5s. Id.; schemes of the Church, 7s. Sd.; ' Dayspiing' fund, collected by Mi&s Emma do Carteret, Cl 2s. Gd.; Miss k Balhuitine, 13s.; M. L. Butterworth, 4s.: in all for thia purpose, El 10a. oil, Tot.il for P.ip.ilvur.i V.illoy, £14 2a. 3d. (irand total for Papakura congiegatioii, £80 18s. i5Jd. The leports ver<s approved of, and thanks given to the retiiing cmnnttee. A vote of thanks was also given to Mr. Litnkham for conducting a singing class, and for ably leading the psalmody, aud to Mi<*s Fanny Willis for presiding at the harmonium. The following gentlemen were appointed a committee of management for the cu-rent year, namely :— Jiev. I". Norrie (chairman) ; W. Hay, Esq., M.L\C.; Messrs. E. Clymont, (4. Claikson, J. B. Young (treasurer), and Captain J. B. Hay (secretaiy). Messrs. B.viclay and Mnir were appointed a subcommittee for Papakura Valley. Bishop Croke visited Ngaiuawahia on Friday, March22,to open the newchurch. It is the fii&t ever built in Ngaruawahia for the use of the Roman Catholics. It is a beautiful little building, 40ft. by 20ft, neatly lined and fixed off. The dedication took place at 11 o'clock. The church was ciowded hy members of all denominations, many having come from Hamilton, Cambridge, and Alexandra. The Rev. Mr. Hoyue officiated ; and immediately after service his Loidship address.-d the people. The addiess gave universal satisfaction. The church is dedicated to St. Paul, the Apostle ; and the Bishop explained the ceremony of consecration, and the fact that churches are dedicated to particular saints, in the same spirit as books are dedicated by authors to great peisouages, to ensure their patronage and protection. The members of the -Anglican Church acted most handsomely on the occasion, for, besides contributing to the collation, which realised £17, they postponed their service from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and gave the use of forms also. This was an act which the Bishop would not be likely to forget. On Sunday, March 24, the annual services of the Waiuku Wesleyan 'unday- school were held in the chapel, when three impiessive sermons wt re preached by the Rev. J. Lewis, of Auckland, to a larue and appreciative audience. The collection amounted to £2 18s. 6d. On Monday, March 25, the friends and well-wishers of the Sunday-school met in the chapel to partake of a public tea. Trays were kindly provided by Mesdames Barriball, sen., Flexniao, O. T. Jrlosking, and Miss Dickey. After tea, Mr. C. Barriball, sen., was called to the chair. Our I haraes correspondent says that the soil e"e on March 27, in aid of the new Congregational chui ch there, was in every respect a success. Over 400 persons sat down to tea, and afterwards adjourned to the church, where addresses were given by Captain Daldy, the chairman, the Rev. Mr. Butlaud, Mr. J. C. Firth, the Rev. Messrs. W. Davies, ; J. Buller, P. H. Cornford, and Mr. Mason. Mr. Hudson, the secretary, read a detailed report, which showed that the total cost of the new building, including house-rent for the minister, was £633 8s. lOd. Towards the liquidation of th<a sum £563 19s, 211. had been subscribed, leaving a balance of £69 9s. 8d., which, would be lessened £30 by the estimated return of the soire'e. A great many visitors from Auckland, including Captain j Daldy, Messrs. Firth and W. L. Bees, the Rev. Mr. Hauler, of Onehunga, and a number of ladies, attended and returned i by the 'Golden Crown,' which left at halfpast nine o'clock. The solemn and imposing services of Holy Week commenced on Thursday. March 28,in St. Patrick's Church, by the celebration of High Mass. His Lordship the Right If ev. Dr. Croke was the celebrant ; deacon, the Rev. Walter McDonald ; and sub-deacon, the Rev. J. A. Norris. There was also preseut in the sanctuary the Rev. J. Golden. At the conclusion of High Mass the procession of the Holy Sacrament took place. On arriving at the altar the procession remained standing while the deacons received the Holy Sacrament from the celebrant, which he placed in the repository. The repository is placed on the Gospel side of the cathedral, and on Holy Thursday it had been arranged with much care and taste by the Sisters of. Mercy, the whole being brilliantly illuminated by numbers of tapers, so placed as to cast a bright effulgence over it. The effect was very imposing, as every part of the church wa9 kept in subdued harmony, to give to the repository thafc prominence which was intended. On Good Friday The Passion of our Lord, according to, St. John, w«8 chanted by the above three clergy-

men. In the evening, at half-past G, after some exercises appropriate to the day, an eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev. J. A. Norm. On Holy Saturday, the services wore also carried out according to the rubric. On Easter Sunday, the church w.is admirably decorated, and the music very line. At 11 o'clock, the Bishop celebrated a pontifical high mass, and assisted at vespers in the evening, at the , conclusion of which ho addressed the con- I gragation with refeienco to his intended visit to Australia, and closed his remarks by giving his blessing to those present. On Mai ch 29, at C o'clock, a soirde was held in the Wesleyan School, Union-street. It waa given for the purpose of inducing the parents of the children who attend the Sunday school to meet together in a friendly manner. The number of those who attended was gieat ; in fact the tmall school-room was crowded, and tbb suffocation endured by those inside ! was such as to cry loudly for a more thorough system of ventilation. A tea meeting was held on Friday, March 29, at the Primitive Methodist chapel, 1 hames, for the purpose of raising funds to defray a debt inclined in lining that place of worship, Thei e were about 2uO persons present. Trays were provided by the following ladies .* — Mesdames Baker, Brett, Bennett, Thomas, Weekes, Griks, Manners, Hart, and Johnson. After tea, the Rev. C. Waters, of Auckland, took the chair, and several addresses were given. A farewell tea meeting was held on Tuesday, April 2, iu the Pitt-street Wesleyau Church. A large number of the congregation were present to pay their respects to the Her. Mr. Berry, who has, during the last three years, ministered so faithfully and with such good results in the circuit. The Rev. J. Buller presided. After partaking of tea in the school-room those present adjourned to the church, when the meeting was opened iu the usual manner by prayer. As the occasion happened to be the quarterly meeting of the Church, Mr. Edson was called on to read the financial statement of the Church during the past three months, which was considered as very favourable, and showed that the congregation had not been unmindful of the material as well as the spiritual needs of the Church. A soiree in aid of the funds of St. George's Church School was held at Shortland on Tuesday, April 2. Financially it was a great success, the tea-tables being crowded ; they were provided in the most liberal manner by Mesdames Puckey, Lush, Pye, Wright, Butt, Joslin, Langford, West, Honiss, Hollis, Gibbons, Simpson ; Misses Errington, Lusb, j Ricket, Winder, and Blakey. i The ordinary quarterly meeting of the Auckland Presbytery was held on April 3, in St. Andrew's Church. There were present — The Rev. Messrs. T.Norrie (Moderator), D. Bruce (Clerk to the Presbytery), Macnicol, J. Mackay, R. Mc T timiey, James Hill, and F. P. McKenzie, The elders present were —Messrs. Stevenson, Sommerville, Hamilton, and Dingwell. The chief business was the entci raining of the petitions of the residents of the Whau and Waipu districts, praying that the Rev. Mr. Hamilton might be appointed minister to the former district, and tho Rev. Mr. McCrao to the latter. The prayer of both petitions waa granted. A great part of the proceedings was of a formal and routine character. Tho annual soiriie, in connection with St. Paul's Sunday-school was held on Thursday, April 4, in the school-room, inEdenCiescent. The tables were served with tea at half-past u' o'clock. To give au indication of the number of persons presenf, it is sufficient to say that tables wore laid out in every pait of the large school-room, and every seat at each table was filled, notwithstanding the very unfavourable condition of the weather. After a substantial tea had been done ample justice to, the tables were remove 1, and the spats re-arranged to enable the audience to enjoy the intellectual and musical portion of the entertainment. The musical portion conoiotcil of instrumental aud vocal music Most of the instrumentalists weie wellknown membeis of the Choral Society, and the vocalists were members of St. Paul's choir. We have been asked not to give any of their names, but we may be permitted to say that Mr. Livingstone, the oi gainst of St. Paul's, presided at the piano. The programme was divided into two parts, and before the overture was pi iycd the Rev. C. M. Nelson delivered a few introductory remarks, — Mr. Hammond, superintendent of the school, then delivered a short address. The finances were satisfactory. The balance for last year on the general account was £10 15s. 10d.; total receipts, £34 5s. 8d. ; making a total of .£51 Is. Gil. Expenditure : School feast, £8 Q.3. lOcl. ; small books, tickets, &c, £3 2s. lOd.j library, £1 7s. 8d. ; stationery, 14s. 7d. ; printing, £2 17s.; furniture, £2 6s. Gd. ; insurance of Sunday-school property, 18s. ; loss by fire, £5 15s. ; balance iu hand, £25 19s. Id.; total, £51 Is. 6d. The Library Account : Balance from lost year, 15s. Cd. ; collected during the year, £2 6s. 8d,; total, £3 2s. 2d., which was in baud. Melanesian Mission Fund : Collected during the year, £11 5s. Expenditure : Paul to the Rev. Mr. Dudley, £10; balance in hand, £1 5s. A meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's washeldon b'iid<iy,April5,atSt Paul'sSehoolroom, Eden Crescent, at half-past 7 o'clock, to hear the report of the Hymnal Committee. The Rev. CM. Nelson occupied the chair. The attendance was not numerous. The report of the committee was read, which was in substauce a recommendation to adopt the New Zealand Hymnal, as printed by the Messrs. Collins and Sons, during the currency of the contract with the firm. At St. Paul's Church on Sunday, Apvil 7, special services were held and collections made on behalf of the Home Mission Fund. The Mev. C. M. Nelson preached in the morning, and the collection made amounted to £31 Is., which was largely due to the munificence of one donor. In the evening the Right Rev. Bishop of Auckland preached, when the offertory amounted to £12 10s. 9d., making a total of £43 11s. 9J. The Right Rev. Dr. Croke proceeded to Australia by the ' City of Melbourne ' on important duties. An address, signed by a number of leading Roman Catholics of Auckland, vi as presented to him on March 30, During his 18 months' residence in Auckland Dr. Croke has made many friends. There are very few if any portions of his diooese that he has not visited. Several churches and schools have been opened under his direction, and new spirit has been infused into tho members of the Church over which he presides. His Lordship, we understand, will not be long absent. He takes with him the good wishes of all sections of the community. A handsome chancel-screen has recently been prected ill St. Andrew's Church.Epsom, from a design by Mr. Rumsey, architect, formerly resident iu Auckland. The work has been executed very beautifully by Mr. Edward Bartley, of this city, and is a great ornament to this pretty country church. The annual soire'e in connection with the Presbyterian Church at Papakura was held on Thursday evening, March 28, and was very successful, the church being well tilled. Tho tables were abundantly provided with the good things of this life by the following ladies :— Mrs. Norrie, Miss Hay, Mrs. Watters.Mrs. Willis, and Mrs. Smith. An excellent choir from Wairoa was in attendance, under the leadership of Mr. Lankham, who sang several pieces of music with precision and good effect. Mr. D. J. Scott and Miss Fanny Willis presided at the harmonium. After tea, the Chairman (Rev. T. Norrie) apologised forthe absence of several speakers, and gave an account of the work of tbe congregation for the past year. Captain J. B. Hay read a financial statement, which showed the funds to be in a satisfactory state. W. Hay, Esq., M.P.C.* followed with some practical remarks. The Rev. D. Bruce gave an interesting account of his visit to the home country. The meeting was also addressed by Messrs. Barclay and Read, of Papakura Valley. A vote of thanks' was moved by Mr.' J. S. Wi'soh, of Wairoa, to the ladies who had so kindly furnished the tables, and Mr. W. M. Hay responded on their behalf: Mr. Barclay ably moved a vote of thanks to the choir, which was acI knowledged by Mr. Lankham. The Chair

man closed tho meeting by pronouncing the blessing. The Rev. James Hill, of the Thames, Presbyterian minister, preached on Sun-lay, April 7, at the Upper and Lower Townships, Coroniandel. Both services were well attended. A subscription has been set on foot with great success among the numerous Presbyterian inhabitants of this district for the erection of a church ; to which Mr. John Keir, one of the fortunate Tokatea shareholders, has given the munificent sum of £100, an example which might be followed with great benefit by others who have drawn an increase of fortune from the resources of the district. A vHy interesting meeting was held on April 9, in St. Paul's Church, to bid farewell to the Rev. R. H. Codrington, who is about to take his departure to Norfolk Island, which is the central station of the Melaneaian Mission. The Right Rev. Bishop Cowie presided. Mr. Codrington gave a very interesting account of his visit to Queensland and some of the Melanesian Islands. In detailing the spiritual and physical conditions of the natives, he explained tho unfair methods which were adopted to kidnap them from their settlements. He was ready to admit that the natives were not by any means, as a rule, ill treated by the planters, but they were grossly deceived as to the term over which their engagements were to extend. In many cases the Sandwich Islanders, who could speak the language, were used as decoys to entice the natives away. They would make them believe they were only to serve as many months as they afterwards discovered they had engaged themselves for years. Several of the islands which at one time were thickly populated now only contained a few male inhabitants, and as a consequence children and females, unable to support themselves, were rapidly dying out. The Rev. Archdeacon, on the part of the meeting, thanked Mr. Codrington for the interesting account he had Riven of the experience of his Christian travels. The Rev. R. Burrows begged to record his thanks to the rev. gentleman who was about to take his departure from their uiMst. The Right Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, has returned from his Northern tour. His Lordship visited Mangawai before returning to Auckland, and conducted services, &c, in St. Michael's Church, Hakaru. On Thursday, March 28th, the j annual festival in connection with Sfc. Michael's Church Sunday-school was celebrated in such a manner as will cause the day to be one long remembered by both old and young. The children enjoyed themselves as heretofore in games of various descriptions. On April 9, the Rev. David Jones was united in marriage with Mrs. Greenacre at St. Matthew's Church, of which living the rev. gentleman is the incumbent. The ceremony was performed by the Right Rev. Bishop Cowie, the bride being given away by the Rev. V. Lush. The Rev. C. M. Nelson, with Mr. Bell, acted as groomsmen. The Rev. Archdeacon Maunsell assisted at the altar. Full choral service, with Keble's matrimonial hymn, preceded the ceremony, which concluded with Mendelssohn's "Wedding March." Nearly 500 children in the gayest holiday attire, attendants at the church or scholars at the school, were present, and added greatly to the interest felt on the occasion. The bridal breakfast was held at Mr. Real's residence, Parnell. The sum of £34 4s. 4d. was collected on account of the Home Mission at the morning and evening services at St. Matthew's Church. The morning service was conducted on Sunday by the Rev. Mr. Burrows, and the evening by the Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of Auckland. On Saturday morning at 7.30 a solemn requiem mass was celebrated in the a!>ove church for the soul of the late Right Rev. Dr. Pompallior, ex-Bishop of Auckland. In tbo absence of his Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Croke, Father Walter McDonald, was celebrant ; Father Francis, deacon ; and Father Norn's, sub-deacon. There were also present in the sanctuary Fathers Fynes and Mahoney. We understand that Biabop Pompalher was consecrated at Rome on the 30th of June, 1836, and shortly afterwards left for New Zealand. On Sunday the anniversary services were held in the Wesleyau church, Grahamstown. There was a largo congregation present both in the morning aud evening. The Rev. J. J. Lewis, of Auckland, preached on both occasions. In tho evening he took for bis text the 1st verse of the 5fch chapter of Romans : "Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Mr. Lewis delivered a moat eloquent sermon therefrom on justification by faith. At the close of the service a collection was made, and liberally re sponded to in aid of the trust funds.