ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 2

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The closing cervices in connection with the -thirteenth, anniversary of the Grafton Road Weslevau Sunday-chool, came off on December 19, in the school-room, and despite the inclemency of the weather, the large building was comfortably filled. The .gathering took the shape of a concert and readings. The room was tastefully decorated for the occasion. After the introductory hymn, the Kev. Mr. Morley introduced the chairman for .the evening, Mr. I-'. Laybourae, who congratulated the office-bearers upon tho improvement that been effected in the school building, aad fclsi the success whij!i had attended the •efforts at religious instruction by the teachers, which success was apparent by the increased number of scholars on the books, and tbe good average atten danceat both morning and afternoon services. Mr. J. Lawry, the secretary of the school, then read the report, which allowed that during the past year 52 children have entered, and 40 left. The Dumber on the rollbook last year was 183, this year 195 ; while tho ?.verage attendance has been 126. The staff or officers and teachers numbered 26. The liberality of the children in contributing to the missionary boxes, is shown by the Bum of £16 lis contributed. The income for the year has been £49 13s 3d, leaving a debit balance of £7 10s 2d. The remainder of the evening was then spent by ~the audience in listening to a select choir of friends, under the leadership of Mr. C. B. Xing, with Miss Hoyes as pianist, rendering a number of anthems, sacred and seci.-kr songs, readings and recitations, which were discoursed in a v-ry tasteful manner, and merited the applause which was so warmly tendered by an appreciative audience. The Rev. W. Morley's address if as very appropriate, consisting as it di'l, •chiefly of advice to the teachers, and was .- dJititled " Pi'ity, Patience, Promptitude, and i jint." At t 'ie cloae of entertainment. Mr. Mc.Vf asiers xn r ;cl "That the best thanks of the nreetitg he tendered to .the chairman and choir for their services during rtLfi evening," which was seconded by the 2tev, Mr. Bond, an J carried with acclamation.

The armu.il sermon to teachers in connection wi'h the Auckland Sunday-cchool Union wa3 delivered on I7tn December, oy sue h'ev. Alexander Carrick, of St. Andrew's, in the lecture-room of the Young Men' 3 Christian Association. Considering the inclemency of the weather, there waa a very fair attendance. The Rev. A. - \Vebb presided, and conducted the preliminary devotional exercises; after which the Rev. Mr. Carrick gave an eloquent and appropriate discourse, on the injunction of the Saviour to A po3tle Peter, "Feed My lambs." The sinking of one of Moidy and Sankey's hymns, and the benediction by the Chairman, brought an interesting meeting to a close.