EASTER DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5729, 29 March 1880, Page 5

EASTER DAY.

The churches yestorday were attended by exceptionally large congregations. St "aul s was crowded at both services, a larce number of the company of H.M. s. Cormorant being present in tho morning. The choir was particularly full. The pulpit organ gallery, and other parts of the church were elegantly decorated. St. Matthew's was also well attended at both services. The pulpit, choir gallery, and chancel were decorated. Mornin™ • Hymn 115, _Easter Anthems (Tallis, Grand)', 3 (proper), Gray. Service: Dyke s in F Anthem, 41 Christ being raised" • hymn 119, hymn 231, kyrie 9<?. Weber.' Evening : Hymn 120. psalms 113, 114, US (lioyce Jacobs). Service: Jackson's in F anthem, "Praise the Lord"; hymn 118, hymn 115.

At St Sepulchre's there was a very larmj congregation at both services, and the Ho?y Communion was administered throo times in St. Sepulchre's Church, and once at the Epiphany Church in St. Sepulchre's parish. At St. Mary's, Parnell, both services were well attended, Dr. Maunsell being the preacher.

The Presbyterian, Wesleyan, Baptist, and Congregational Churche3 were well filled both morning and evening. St. Thomas's Church, Freeman's Bay, was prettily decorated with cereals and fruits. Upou the altar were placed offerings of wheat, maize, apples, tomatos, and grapes. Over the altar were texts appropriate to the season, bordered with ivy, and on either side a handsome thield. The shafts of the chancel-pillars were surrounded with leaves of maize, relieved by heads of bright grain, and intermixed with plumes of the graceful pampas-grass, the capitals and bases being encircled with chapletß of bright-coloured ferns. Choir-seats, prayer-desks, and lectern were similarly ornamentsd. Over the entrance and vestry dcors .were illuminated text?, edged with wreaths, tastefully constructed of box, intermixed with the llowera of the toitni. The services consisted of morning aud evening prayer, and an early celebration of the Holy Communion, the Rev. R. B. Comins, of the Melanesian Mission, being celebrant. The success which has attended the operations of the Church in the district surrounding >t. Thomas's is attested to by the earnest spirit animating the members of the congregation, and especially by the heartiness of the services, with which a casual visitor will not fail to be impressed. In the morning the text upon which the preacher fonuded his sermou was Luke xxiv., 1; that in the evening was Luke x., 25.

Yesterday (Easter Sunday) Bin Gratis Archbishop Steins celebrated a Pontifical 1 High Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedra). There was a very large congregation. The music on the occasion was of a high order. Deacon at mass. Father Walter McDonald ; sub-deacon, Father O'Dwyer. In the even in?, at 7 o'clock, there were also Pontifical Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The Archbishop presided, attended by the clergy already named, at which servica there was also a large attendance. At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church there wa* a crowded congregation, the Rev. J. Ryley, from Otago, haviog been announced to preach in the morning; Rev. Mr. Carrick preached in the evening. The" principal feature of the church yesterday was the recently-erected organ loft, which was occupied by a most effective choir. The usual Sunday evening service at the Theatre Royal was also well att-:ndod yesterday evening.