GOOD FRIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6362, 8 April 1882, Page 5

GOOD FRIDAY.

Yesterday, being Good Friday, was observed in the city and suburbs as a holiday, not Iu tho general acceptation of the term, but as a day of religious observance. All the shops, stores, and places of business, including the public-houses, were closed, and the only thing to distinguish it from the Sunday was the fact that work was coutiuued on a few contracts, in cases in which the workmen were unwilling to lose a day's wages. Religious services were held in all the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. Even had any large number been inclined to make the day one of recreation by out-door amusements they could not have carried out their intention, for during the early forenoon the sky was dark ami cloudy, and rain began to fall at 11 o'clock, iu that unmistakeable manner which left faint hones that it would cease soon. Indeed, it continued io raiu heavily all day. ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. Services were held in St. Paul's Cathedral twice yesterday. The altar, pulpit, ami reading desk were appropriately draped with black fringed with white. There was a good congregation at the morning service, which was' conducted by the Kev. C. M. Nelson, incumbent of the parish, who preached an appropriate and feeling sermon on the passion of our Lord. The evening service, owing to the tempestuous weather, was but thinly attended. The Rev. C. M. Nelson, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Smallfield, officiated, and the former again preached, taking for his text the 40th verse of the 'j:inl chapter of St. Luke's Gospel as follows -.— "And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said thus He gave up the ghost." , ST. MARY'S, PARNELL. ! Divine service was held in this church yesterday morning. There was also a service in the evening. The sermon in the morning was preached by the Bishop of the diocese (Dr. Cowie) from the Gospel according to St. John, iii., 10, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not peri'ih, but have everlasting life." The Right Rev. preacher having illustrated the bearing of the text, referred to tho disregard of some members of the Church of England for this solemn anniversary. He felt surprised that they should turn the day which commemorates the death of our Lord, by which the Christian dispensation was consummated, into a day of pleasure and amusement. This was not a commemoration of festivity, but of suffering. It seemed astonishing indeed that the meaning of the anniversary should be so little heeded. This anniversary was always regarded by the Church of England as one of great sanctity. His Lordship concluded an impressive discourse by reference to the Divine Love which made such a sacrifice to redeem the world from the penalties of sin. ALL SAINTS' (PONSONBY). The Rev. J. K. Davis, M.A., conducted service at the above place of worship. There was the usual order of service, the moruiug prayer and Litany. The discourse was, "The Seven Last Sentences uttered by the Saviour on the Cross." There was no choral service, but two hymns were sung. There was a fair congregation. ST. MATTHEW'S. At this place of worship the Rev. Robt. Burrows officiated in the morning, and preached from the passage " Woman behold thy son ; son behold thy mother." The ttev. Mr. Walsh conducted the service in the evening. There was no choral service, but several hymns were sung. Considering the inclement weather, there was a good congregation. ST. THOMAS' MISSION CHURCH. The Rev. Mr. Edwards oliiciated morning and evening, and preached appropriate discourses. In the morning there was a good attendance, but in the evening, owing to the bell having been rung through a misunderstanding at (i.30, instead of 7.00, the attendance was not so good. ST. SEPULCHRE'S. There was a iarga congregation at the service at 11 o'clock yesterday, at St. Sepulchre's Church, Kyber Pass-road. The sermon was preached by the Rev. C. Bleu, who chose for his text :—Zachariab, loth chapter lilh verse, "And one shall say unto Him, What are those wounds in thy hands ; then he shall answer, Those with whicli I was wounded in the house of my friends." an Anrr.Ess to women*. In the afternoon the Bishop delivered an address to young women in St. Sepulchre's school-room, iiymoiuls-strect. In consequence of the rain there was only a small attendance. Taking for the text of his discourse the account of the interview between Jesus and Mary and Martha, as contained in the lOtli chapter of St. Luke, he said that the two sisters were evidently very different one from the other. Diversity was the characteristic of all God's works, and the more we understood them the better we appreciated that diversity. We saw in those two sisters a striking difference iu their characters. Mary represented what might be called the contemplative side of the Christian woman, and Martha the active. Both desired to honour Christ when He entered their humble home. Home! Young women could not be too careful to rcmemner that their home was the great sphere of their work for Cod. Neglect of home by any young woman could never be justified, on any Christian principle, by activity abroad. That might be laid down as a I universal principle, a principle which, iu ! these days of activity, and even of Christian activity, waa apt very much to be forgotten. We co'uld not compound with God for the breach of one duty by seeming to discharge another duty very etliciently. Home, therefore, was the great sphere of young women's work, although there were cases, as they all knew, where a young woman was compelled to spend a" great deal of her time away from home, in order to assist iu supporting the family. There was no higher Christian duty than that, and when be said home was the proper sphere of a young woman's duty, be did not cast the slightest reflection upon those who had to go out to work. In regard to religious life at home, young women should be careful to cherish the spirit of religion, not only for their own sakes", but because of their immense power for good, and their influence over young men. In a home where tho young women were without the fear of God there was very little chance of the young men having any true religion in their hearts. It did not, of course, "always follow that, where the daughters were true servants of Christ, the sons were to be found in the right path, but it might be said for a certainty that if the young women were without the fear of God, the young men were likely to be the same. In order to keep alive the religious spirit iu their hearts young women would find it very beneficial and useful to have always at hand some good biography, which they should read carefully and systematically, such, for instance, as the life of Miss Mackenzie, or the life of Catherine Stanley, the mother of the late Dean of Westminster. These books would assist young women in leading a Christian life at home. Young women should be the sunshine of our families. In almost every household domestic jars occurred at times, and then sistcis ought to consider themselves as good angels sent from God, especially qualified to cheek and put an end to such jars. Tliev ought always to be ready to put a kindly interpretation upon the conduct of sister or brother, always watching for an opportunity of reconciling those who are, in any way, alienated one from another. And young women, in the same household, should be very careful to be forbearing to each other, remembering that God'* gifts to his servants differ one from another. Let them learn not to be intolerant of the ways of their sisters or brothers, because they might differ from their own. Not only were we differently constituted, but God gave us different missions. in connection with religious life it was necessary to caution young women not to be too much occupied with the externals of religion. St. Paul's words to the Thcssalonians were very applicable to youug women: "Study to be quiet." There was nothing more worthy of a young woman than to be quiet. The less heard of. a young woman in public the better. Touching or. the intellectual position of women, the Bishop said they were, mentally, inferior to men, because they had not the same opportunities when once engrossed with the cares of a household, of studying books, and keeping abreast of the learning of the day. But young women ought to feel it as an insult when young men would only talk to them on trifling and silly subjects, and ought to strive and cultivate their utellects, so as to be able to takejtheir

[ share in conversation of ,i higher character. That women had the power of cultivating their intellects to a high state was exemplified by the works of such writers as Mary Summerville, George Khot, and Sarah Coleridge. It was to be hoped that there would soon be a college in Auckland where young wonu-n would he aided in iheir studies, as'their brothers were now aided. There h.-id boon many mistaken notions as to what kinds of work it was proper for a young woman to c-iilm -c in for her living, but they were now disappearing, and so long as the work was honourable, a young woman should not be too much influenced !,y outside opinions on the subject. The Bishop then warned youiv women against becoming the slaves of fashion, and counselled them to study simplicity and modesty, winch, lie said, were the great charms and attractions of young women. Away from home they .should be the salt of society, and should be cartful to guard against improprieties in the conversation of their male friends. N'o greater insult could be paid to a young woman by a young man than to tell her an anecdote bearing on the indelicate. In itself it implied that \ he had a iow opinion of her. Young women ; should be very careful to cheek this kind of i thing. A single look was oiten enough, it ) was a great mistake for young women to ape the ways of men, and lie cautioned them against becomi/ig, like so many young men, absorbed in the amusements and recreations of life. In conclusion, he asked them, in their daily pursuits, to remember the maxim of St. Paul, and "study to be quiet." ADOKKSS TO MK.V. At St. Sepulchre's Church yesterday afternoon the Rev. A. Penny delivered an admirable address, specially to men, from the text: "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2, Tim. 11. 3. In consequence of the extreme inclemency of the weather, there were scarcely thirty men present. The rain, wind, and darkness, combined with the state of the roads, operated also to diminish the evening congregation, at 7.T0, when Mr. Penny delivered what was, in the opinion of some at least of those who heard it, one of the most powerful and instructive sermons of the whole course, on "Christ's sympathy in temptation," the text keing Hebrews n. 17, IS. It is understood that, should the state of the weather prevent the Southern Cross from sailing until Monday, Mr. Penny will deliver the last sermon of the course, on "Conquerors through Christ," on Easter Sunday (tomorrow) evening. ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL. A very large congregation crowded St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral at the 0 o'clock service yesterday. Instead of the daily mass the special services for Good Friday were held, the Revs. Fathers Riordan, Sullivan, and Walter Macdonald officiating. The ceremony of unveiling the Cross took place during the service, and the devotions were very impressive. In the evening, notwithstanding the downpour of rain, there was again a large congregation. The Rev. Father Downey preached an eloquent sermon on the great subject which the day commemorated, and was listened to with most marked attention.