ANNUAL CHORAL FESTIVAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4669, 31 October 1876, Page 2

ANNUAL CHORAL FESTIVAL.

The annual choral festival service was held | last evening at St. Matthew's Church, which was quite crowded. The choir was very strong, being composed of members of the different choirs which are enrolled in the association. Mr. J. Brown officiated as conductor, and Mr. V. E. Rice as organist. All the clergymen nov/ in Auckland in attendance on U synod, were pres"?ii. The Rev. Mr. Cvdci-, of Hamilton, read the first part of t ie prayers, the Rev. Mr. Tomhnson, of Onehunga, the first lessen; the Rev. Mr. Has ard, the second let son; the Rev. Mr. Newon, the second part of the prayers. The '.vhole of the service was monotoned, while t":-e canticles were suns to a Orregonan cnaat. Mr. Rice played at the confession the Lord's Prayer, the Ueneral Thanksgiving, and the Creed, a shadowing accompaniment of a very appropriate and peaceful character. One of Dr. Neale s pieces was sung as a Processional Hymn, to music by Mr. F. E. Gladstone, v-n „ ~8 weTe aun g to chants by BattistuU, Hopkms, and J. Barnsby. The words of the Anthem were from Rev. vii., 13-17, the music, which is very beautiful, being by J. Stainer, Mus. Doc. The music of the hymn was by the same composer. During the collection of the offertory one of Dr. Neale's hymns was sung, and at the conclusion, the . y ll^' ,'' Who are these little stars appearv . ; jo music from the Darmstadt Gesangbnen, 1698. The service ended with a Recessional hymn : musio by Frances R. Havergal.: An eloquent and. appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Codrington, of the -Melanesian Mission, from St. Mark 36v., tc And when they had sung a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives."