ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1299, 14 January 1868, Page 3

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Am. Saints' Ohtjecii.—(Episcopalian.)—The half-yearly meeting of the members of All Saints' Parish Church will take place this evening in the Church, at half-past 7 o'clock. St. Septjxchbe.—(Episcopalian.) —The annual meeting of the Juvenile Missionary Society in connection with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, will be held in the Church, this evening, at 7 p.m. Pbesbtterian Chtjbch, Papaktjba. — The annual soiree in connection with _ the above Church will take place this evening; tea on the table at 6 o'clock. An efficient choir will perform some choice musical selections during the evening. Baptist Chapel, Wellesley-stbeet.—Ac-cording to announcement in the local papers, the Eev. J. Langdon Parsons, of Dunedin, conducted the services in the above Chapel, on Sunday last, talcing for his text in the morning the passage, "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." (Isaiah xi., v. 1.) The prophet's mission (he observed) was a varied one; now to rebuke, denounce, and convict ; anon to console the distressed, and hold forth those truths which soften human grief, and lessen the fretting cares of life. In the antideluviau days, when sin's shadows were lengthening upon the earth, that mission was not without its representatives; in after ages came a brilliant roll of prophets, and when Malachi's last words were spoken, there still remained those who "spake often one to

another." A mission and a message yet remained—as fresh to-day as of yore—though, some men were half dismayed, half-despairing of Christianity's future, because Ritualism was filling the Church with formalists and hypocrites, and burying beneath its splendid mummery whatever was inanl-y and simple. The " comfort" which his theme suggested was always timely and suited. The great Consoler was never before or behind the hour. Sometimes when we saw sorrow we knew not its cause, or knowing could not remove it; our eyes were too dim to see, and our hands too rough to perform, the gentle ministry required by many a human soul. Men would be found in every grade of life—the withered leaves of whose hopes were strewn across their path—before whose sorrow words fell helpless. Here and there would be found those whose closest friendships and dearest ties had been snapped by life's last dread mystery—yet their heart's bitterness we might not know, their tears we might not stanch. To such—to heedful men, this "comfort" came, if they would grasp its blessings—given by Him who. knew the depths of earthly sorrow, tested the frailty of human endurance, and had ennobled the littleness of human existence. The " comfort" spoken of was characterised by being sweet and abiding ; He who knew where the wound rankled, himself applied the balm— where the girth galled, and adjusted the burthen. It was abiding—for by blessed experience many had enjoyed it in the past, all might enjoy it in the present, and it would never fail them througli life's fitful strife, till the " golden bowl wns broken " and the weary throbbing heart had ceased its labour.—ln the evening the rev. gentleman took for his text John xir., v. 21 (last clause), " Sir, we would see Jesus ?" After a brief resume of the historical details grouped around the incident in the apostle's narrative which led to the above question, put by some Greek proselytes to a disciple—the preacher, abandoning the letter of the narrative, proceeded to sketch therefrom some suggestive lessons which its perusal had evoked.

Independent Chapei, If igh-steeet.—The JRev. P. H. Cornford (Baptist), preached in the above place of worship on. Sunday last, owing to the absence of the Jiev. A. Macdonald (the pastor), who had gone to the Thames the previous day, in order to fulfil a clerical engagement at the gold-fields. Sanctuary Childben Excursion.—Yesterday, the sanctuary boys attending St. Patrick's Cathedral, St. Francis de Sales Cemetery, and the Immaculate Conception, Mount St. Mary's, were indulged with a pleasant trip to liiverhead, chaperoned by the Rev. Father Walter McDonald. Captain Casey, with his accustomed liberality, had. placed his smart little steamer at the disposal of the clergymen and pupils. The excursionists started on their trip at noon, and on arriving at liiverhead proceeded to Mr. Deacon's paddock, where a very pleasant day was spent, refreshments beiag provided in profusion. . The party returned to town at nine o'clock p.m., highly delighted with their trip, and grateful for the kindness they had received from Captain Casey and his crew, and Mr. Deacon.