INTERCESSIONS FOR MISSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4694, 29 November 1876, Page 2

INTERCESSIONS FOR MISSIONS.

Yesterday evening a special service of intercession for missions was held in St. Matthew's Church, at 8 o'clock. There was a good attendance, and much interest waß manifested. The Rev. Mr. Penny, one of the Melanesian missionaries, preached an eloquent and impressive sermon from John, iv., 35, 36, in which he appropriately discoursed on missionary labours amongst the heathen. He adverted briefly to the labours of the missionaries in the Melanesian Islands, in which the Gospel had been propagated during the last fifteen or twenty years with satisfactory results. The solemn obligation of intercessory prayer on the part of Christians was dwelt upon at some length, as was also the necessity of supporting missions pecuniarily. At the close of the service, a collection in aid of the Melanesian Mission Fund was made, the amount being £6 7s 3d. After the service, a Missionary meeting was held in the schoolroom adjoining the church, the attendance being good. The Venerable Archdeacon Maunsell occupied the chair. On the platform we noticed the Rev. Dr. Purchas, Rev. Messrs. Hassard, Nelson, Dudley, and Burrows.—The Chairman stated that at the suggestion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, it was arranged that intercessionary services for missions in connection with the Church of England should be held throughout the world at the present season. The outponring of the Holy Spirit was essential to success in all mission work, and it therefore behoved all true Christians to pray to that effect. — Dr. Mannsell then reviewed the missionary labours of Carey and Marshman in India—labours which were eminently blessed of God, and which stirred up a missionary spirit amongst the respective Christian denominations in the mother country. The rev. gentleman earnestly inculcated prayer for the Blessed Spirit, without the aid of which missionary work could not really prosper.— The Rev. Mr. Penny then addressed' the assemblage on missionary work in the Melanesian Islands, which work he described as being in a satisfactory state.—The Rev. Mr. Hassard, at the request of the Chairman, made some appropriate remarks in reference to missions, in which he urged prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit.— The meeting was closed with prayer, and the benediction by the Chairman.