CHURCH AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6253, 1 December 1881, Page 3

CHURCH AMUSEMENTS.

TO THE EDITOR. SiK, —Will you allow yet another parishioner space for a few lines on matters ecclesiastical. " i'arishoners." 1 and 2, make special complaints, bu'; propose no remedy. I would draw their attention, and that of rill earnest churchmen, who care more ior Mi" extrusion and establishment of the dim ■■. of Clirist than for the maintenance o; vj.-'if own ecclesiastical isolation, to the fact, th;U there is a place where prayer is wont to I e made, to whit the Young Men's Christian Association Kooms (every Saturday at 7.30 p.m.); there, the name which is above every name, is alone the boud of union, and in that name any special petitions may be offered, and will find sincere response in the hearts of those present, and will surely be answered by God. There is at the present time a matter of special interest which might ivoll engay: tie prayers of ull churenmen, if jit)t o: Ch;-!;t.':'us geuetaU/, in this plac , -, namely, tho appointment of a successor to Dr. Mauusell in the charge of St. Mary's, Parnell. Why should churchmen come to the Young Men's rooms with such or the like petitions? Because their own services do not α-flord the opj.'-jrtunity for special petitions ((.>;., of course, practically)—because apart Irani this it is good to break down ecclesiastical isolation; because secondary motives do not influence the attendance. "And it shall be, as with the people so with the priest." If the people of the Church of England here are content with things ecclesiastical as they are, let them not lay the blame on the clergy, or say that God does not answer prayer, when they find that we are going from bad to worse, for "as they are" they cannot continue. God will send blessing, the number of His elect will be accomplished ; if the increase is not within our ecclesiastical borders who is to blame but ourselves, who care for none of these things so long as our organists are good, our choirs passable, and our seats in church as comfortable as may be? —I run, &c., Yet Another Parishioner. Auckland. 25.