CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7824, 18 December 1886, Page 6

CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY.

The opening aervicea in the Epiphan] Church, Karangahape Road, were held laal evening, the aermon on the oooaaion of th« dedication being preaohed by the Righi Ke\r. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auokland. Th< other clargy present were: Arohdeaoont Dudley and Clarke, and the Reve. G. H. S. Walpole, W. Tebbs, W. Beatly, A. G. Par ohte, J. K. Davie, J. Phillips, and Dγ, Callaghan, inoambent of the diatriot. Then was a large congregation preient. The aervioe commenced with the einging ol * he Hymn 393 in " Hymns Ancient and Modern,' and a short evoning eervioe ol prayer was said by tho incumbent, the special prayers used on the opening of a church being read by the Bishop. Ae anthem from let Chronicles, xxix., verae 11, was sung by the church ohoir. Bishop Cowie then delivered a sermon, oi which the following ie an abstract, the text being Rev. ii., 7: "" To him that overoometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which Is in the midst of the paradise of God": — Theae worde were originally addressed to the angel of the Church of Ephesus, and through him to the members of that churoh. This passage, and others of the Book of the Reve iation, are specially appointed to be read by our people ou the days just before Christmas and the end of the year. It is Intended, of oourae, that onr clergy and people should take home to themselves the warnings and encouragements of these messages to the ancient ohurchee of Asia Minor. The Churoh of Ephesua in the days of St. John consisted probably of a single congregation, so that we have the less difficulty in applying the Lord's message to people of a particular district, as those of thia Church of the Epiphany. The enoouragement and the warning are to the minister and his people. At this time of the opening of a new house of prayer, it ia epeoially suitable to recall words of encouragement and warning that have been written ae the heritage of the Church in all ages. " I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience." To enable the minister of a district like this to be faithful to his trust, it is needful that he should remember that the Master's eye is upon him ; that he will be required to render a strict account of his stewardship; and that all he does is known to Him who is "The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls." That work may be roughly divided into active exertion and passive endurance. To take only ono department of the clergyman's work in a district like this—the house-to-houee visitation of the people, how energetic and methodical he must be if he would mike full proof of his ministry. It ia not only, or even chiefly, those who live near thia building that he is to minister to, but those who live at a distance, those who have to be sought out in tho deep gullies between this site and the New North Road—those who cannot, even if they would, come often to the public worship of the

church. Those who aro in trouble— of mind, body, or estate—are a ohief part of the clergyman's charge. Patience and perseverance are specially needed also by clergy in our circumstances in this our adopted country. Wβ have many blessings that do not fall to the portion of many clergymen in English cities, but we have alao our special difficulties. Our congregations are without the traditions of the older countries of the world. There are not those local bonds between the people and their church that exist in England. There is, ac cordingly, a special claim on the people of the diitrict, who realise their responsibilities to give to their clergyman their active sympathy, their zealous co-operation. I have good hope of the people of the Epiphany in this matter, by reason of the spirit that they have always shown in determining to ereot this house of prayer. Let eaoh one be encouraged to do his or her best for the glory of 'God and the qood of His people in this district, by the reflection that He knows their works ; He sees how muoh pains they put themselves to in order that they may do His will, and how mnoh self-denial and patience they practice for His sake. The Master had somewhat against the Church of Ephesim, because their first love had waxed cold. Wβ all need to be warned that active exertion and patient endurance are not necessarily tokens of love for God. They may be merely the outcome of natural temperament, or even of vanity and self-seekiug. Our hearts are what God asks for. The work of the Church is to make God known to men, and to lead men to love Him. "Tbieisthe first and the great commandment ;" and the second is like unto it, namely, that we should deal lovingly with the other sons and daughters of the one God and Father of all. Those who now have no love for Him should be the special object of our care. The more godless residents in the district are those to whom most attention is to be given by the Church. It is not with the miniitrations of the Church as it is with a commercial undertaking. The supply is not to be ragulated by the demand ; but, aa it has been said, by the need, which is often in immense disproportion to the demand. Let us not be disrrayed by difficulties. No work done for God will bo in vain. In due season all faithful labourers shall reap if they faint not. The words "he that overcomefch " imply that difficulties will be encountered. They also imply that they are not insurmountable. In proportion to efforts to overcome them, shall we know the present blessedness of God's servants, namely, that enjoyment of life eternal which is union with God through Jesus Christ, and which is nourished by daily feeding on the Bre»a that cornea down from heaven. The service concluded with hymn 565 and the benediction. An offertory was taken a the close, and a recessional hymn was sung,