ALL SAINTS CHURCH.

Evening Star, Issue 4967, 3 February 1879, Page 4

ALL SAINTS CHURCH.

Yesterday morning the Rev. A. R. Fitchett donned the surplice' and entered upon his duties as incumbent ©f the parish of All Saints." His introductory sermon was on the the text “Brethren, pray forus;” He said that sympathy was the very key and passport - to the region in which clergymen labored, and unless sympathy and affection existed between a minister and his flock the service of God would almost necessarily be performed in a frigid and perfunctory manner. Probably few people apprehended the difficulty of preaching to an unsympathetic audience. Many people took up this attitude in church towards ■the clergyman : If you are brilliant enough toaerest my attention, - you shall have it; If'not, I will get into the cosiest corner of my pew and go to sleep. This was not fair, And no ministration could be successful with such a congregation. He would appeal specially on his own, behalf for the prayers and sympathy of those present. There were special circumstances which he need not mention why he 'should prefer this request. He would simply ask the people to,, give their help in this way, and with him to pray that the relationship between his charge and himself might be sympathetic, and heightened, elevated, purified, by humble, common prayer. In the evening Mr Fitchett’s text was “ I am a debtor both to the Greeks and the barbarians; both to the wise and the unwise'." On this passage he preached a plain-Engiish, common-sense sermon, the object of which ■was td show that the religion of Christ was one of: charity, gentleness, and self-abnega-tion for the good of humanity at large. This was,a gospel which the world dared not im-peach-and which no one need blush to profess. Yen. Archdeacon Edwards assisted at thp morning service. The matinal psalms were chanted, and the musical portion of the services,, especially in the evening, was creditably rendered, Mamraatt’s' “Deiis Misereatur," being a feature of the latter. The collections in aid of the Sunday-school amounted to LlB 7s. With respect to Mr Fitchett’s appointment the ‘ Churchman ’ remarks :—“ As a good deal of misapprehension prevails on the subject of Mr Fitchett’s appointment to this cure, it is as well to state that the Bishop of Dunedin’s commissary has throughout been guided by the Primate’s advice.”