RELIGIOUS.

Lyttelton Times, Issue 1510, 14 October 1865, Page 4

RELIGIOUS.

Church of England.—The Lord Bishop of the Diocese returned from a tour to Hokitika on the 23rd ult. During his stay there he was engaged in organising the Church arrangements. A clergyman has been sent for from England, and, pending his arrival, measures will be taken for providing the ministrations of the Anglican Church iu that district. We learn that tiie inhabitants will guarantee the stipend of a minister, together with the minor expenses connected with bis establishment amongst them. — The new church of St. Mark, situated at Opawa, was consecrated, on October .Ith, by the Lord Bishop of the Diocese. A full aceouut of the ceremony will be found in another column.

Romax Catholic Church.—Since our last summary there have been no events of any great importance to record in connection with this church, The congregations attending the church in the Perry road, Christchurch, and that in Lyttelton, are steadily on the increase. The " Mission Oceanique "to which the Catholic Churches in the Southern Hemisphere are attached, is endeavouring to establish a branch church in Banks Peninsula. The new church at Brackenbridge is approaching completion. PitESBYTEutAN' CuLftcH,—ln Ciiristcliorch the churches of St. Andrew and of St. Paul continue to be well attended, and the Sabbath schools are making progress both in numbers and efficiency.

Wesleyan Church.—The circuit meeting for the quarter was held in the church, Durham street, on Monday, October 2. The morning meeting of the ministers and laypreaeliers was very numerously attended. The usual questions as to the Christian characters and general qualifications of the preachers on the circuit plan were put, and Bat isfaetorily answered. The general business meeting was held in the evening. About forty office-bearers attended from various parts of the eireuit. The customary questions were addressed, and, from the replies, it appeared that during the recent pastoral visitation of the eireuit by the ministers, tickets of membership had been given to 507 persons, and, in addition, tickets on trial to 113, shewing a net increase on the return of the previous quarter of 76 fully accredited church - members, with 113 on probation for membership. The schedule showed that the increase was general throughout the circuit, several societies having reported an accession to their numbers. The financial statement was read, and the result was a very satisfactory one, the income for the quarter being iasa 0s sd, against an expenditure of A' 335 15s. Mr. Hodgson, from lJrotullands, near Rangiora, reported that the new church there was nearly completed. It was also stated that the small church near ltangiora would be ready for occupation early in December. A very interesting report was given in from the Rev. G. S. Harper. It mentioned that great opportunities for the spread of the society existed at Hokitika, but that the etforts of the ministers were greatly hindered by the almost universal practice of Sunday - trading. 1 {evolutions were passed, desiring that the West Coast should be constituted a separate circuit at the next Conference. That a minister should be specially appointed, so that the l{t.v. U, S Harper might return to his duties at Kaiapois but that it the. Conference should decide not to j erect Hokitika into a separate district, that a j llfth minister should be upjKiinted to Canterbury. Resolutions were unanimously passed, thanking the Uevs. J. Crump, U. S. Harper, ami \\. Lee tor their zealous and faithful fiemecs, and the District Meeting was requested to co-operate with the Conference for their re-appointment. It being known that the conference would not again so far relax its rule as to permit the Kev. J. Buller to remain in Canterbury, a special resolution whs agreed to recognising the important serviws which he has so faithfully and so cheerfully rendered during his pastorate in the province, recording the sense of the affectionate regard felt by the members of the society for him, and expressing their hope that the Grout Head of the Church would continue to own and bless his labours " for the conversion of sinners aiul the building u-i.i. I'f , rc^' ' The circuit stewards ♦ 1 to invite a minister from i f ? UCC^ d Mr - I,u,tcp lw "»«'Bter at SS ir' 1 ' , lr - »■"« olccted a circuit steward in the room of Mr. Turner heidSltf e lhl»° f °7 C ° oX ? irctl at tho time o ding the meeting. I a the evening a teameeting wiiß held in tho church, which was crowded with visitor* The RevV J. Buller,

J. Crump, W. lice, and M Garrick and nowahury /I'»r u ,. COXORBOATIONAt. CHUKWI *' of members attending u lf . "®'»imL Church, M.nche.icr «,, et continues to increase, and the' ./», Mch, W rolls show a steady *<.<*„ j ()n "nJ ®«* n » tor establishing br!i, 1(;h , " I*"% Lytic! ton, and in other p| ;4 „. s i( ' , r ;it of the parent church. v '"i: llt7 MKTI!(>f»If)T Frkb meeting of the member* of ti>U ,i, ~~ A K was held Sept. M, at th, dlll j ton. The tea wan kindly D n vut \ friends of the cause. Aft.. r ■ y v «n«meeting took place. The i U;V V'* occupied the chair, and t»L rs were Mesm. Booth, Ay<. r * Auk, ' 1 ""-nt other gentlemen, several 0 f who.' !"''*• *4 addresses. The object of the n ,«.,, 1 "H quarterly circuit assembly of u, ' The Re*. T. R. Fw, lftr in [ f! From this document, it at>p ( .', r . f ] : r ' ; ' r '. society was in a pro*perou< ' h '- financially and religiously. The n ' v/l . fall members in one hundred and f/)'' " f f r on trial, twenty , showing « n r '". quarter of thirty.tfm*. T hf . „ . f ; come I* £49 6s, giving an inr Tf . a ,'. f f should be mentioned that,pwir, n ,|.A''' - . 1 * tea meeting, the usual quarter'* r''' meeting was held. It w> u ani.'!^ r '' N the society was working w<i! \ A ' tnoniously, and that the rnrmW, h*/ '" r " reason to be thankful for the The members of this denomina^^/' 1 " active measures to provide a ? own. A piece of land in Colombo been selected, and the society arc j, . M ingfor intelligence from Auckhn 1 f r ' owner* of the section to rompM* chase. Nearly £m ha* been R w" ''' scribed. BAFTIST CtfCßCjr. —A n . . members of this denomination ' Monday, the 2nd inst., in the chap*! street. The tea provided h\ tij. ! composing the congregation The vv- •' '' waa a very numerous one, more > t , promoters of the meeting had After tea a meeting whs held, mV w Baker occupying the chair. Mr. S Ji. ' ' read the fioancial statement, from * ' ; appears that the debt on the cUp<! " . ' fund had been paid off recently, a / tion-list wai opened towards' rVrv. debt remaining on the section of' L>r V • which the chapel stands. Ab iit i', be required for this purpose, <>f *hi-h £100 was cither collected or / r The Rev. James Thornton, rh<' - t 1 of the congregation was prexn;, 3i i several gentlemen who take an in ?: - 4 . . ■ the Baptist cause. It *a< annonßo-i • • . the members in communion ami/uut; iixty. Some pieces of music «ere cuted by the choral claas, undrr t',- ' l tion of Mr. E. Long, the k-a-kc. .. . credit is due to the committee uf ■ suggested and carried out the nrr-ir,/ - -V of the tea-meeting. We learn r ni - •'.! number of children on the roll < f th .- J school is steadily on the increa--:-. | TUB KOIXOWBRS OF Sw3DF.>i'>.:-{6 —~- t j denomination of Christians kno*:-, >» Swedenborgians are holdinz raf:-:'in;. •> Odd-fellows' Hall, Lichfield street. * i: . days, for the purpose of reading .in■] ur ; ing the writings of their foun i.r. thVlHr:. t Von Swedenborg. Ilia {.>Ho*6r« cu, selves the New Church or the Ntw Jer-:i.i t Church. The members hold that r. 31 spiritual seme of the words of } revealed to other churches, h v . They altogether reject the d ?ctr > : , puted righteousness, and hold th u « ; cannot be obtained except by faith i: i; •: " works. In England there are :-,j congregations attached to the »ec:. in', i works of the originator, whi h nre r-i: i vague, mystic interpretation of . & accepted as their ru?e of belief. Tai Hbbhew congregation Hx< ■ \ p synagogue at Hokitika— one > f • : i- buildings erected for the purpose? o:;. r. :> e worship in that locality. i The various societies which hare: r: - ; t object either the elevation of :h-„ ~ *i. : , the amelioration of the physical, '-r/r f s the inhabitants of Cancert irv. i.-. r t prospering. I The Debating Society and the Y Sir. i r Christian Association ?re im rei- fi: : s number of their members Tlicl:.-::'!-r received several donations of bo iks a !r. » s possesses a very fair library f.>r th* >' ' - I patients, whilst the Bencrolen: A i - e is generously supported by the pitu-