ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 2

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Poverty Bay has been fortunate enough in recently securing to itself one of the most devoted and popular clergymen in the colony—the Rev. E. Williams, incumbent of Naacby, Otago. Since tho departure of Mr. Murphy for California, some months ago, the district of Poverty Bay has been without a minister of the Episcopalian persuasion, and as it tvas desirable that the vacancy should bo filled with as little delay as possible, the bishop of Waiapu invited Mr. Williams to visit tho district, in order to give the people an opportunity of hearing him J)reach, and if they liked him, to choose him for their pastor. He acccptcd the invitation, and his pulpit prelections have given such satisfaction that he has been unammonsly requested by tho congregation at Gisborne to become their minister at a salary of £300 a-year and a parsonage. Tho rev. gentleman has consented to do so, and his induction will take place shortly. Mr. Williams' views are most evangelical, and as he is also known to be both earnest and indefatigable, the sphere of his future usefulness will doubtless reap much benefit from his labours.

Tho church building at Hamilton West has been purchased ny tho Times proprietors, for conversion into a printing office. What changes may not a building meet with in colonial life 1

The Rev. Mr. Hassard delivered another of a series of lectures at tho St. Mattliow's School on the 17th June, on the subject of tho "Reformation" in the reign of Henry tho Eighth. There was a fair attendance. Tho rev. gentleman in tho course of the lecture, which was of a very interesting description and ably prepared, gave brief sketches of the characters of Henry, Wolsey, and Cranmor. The alteration in the Church consequent upon tho Reformation, he considered, consisted only in the removal of certain superstitions which had crept in with the progress of time. That there was no new Church was sufficiently proved by the fact that the old clergy remained. At the conclusion of the lecture, a cordial vote of thanks was bestowed upon the rev, gentleman for his instructive discourse.