GOOD FRIDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9016, 31 March 1888, Page 6

GOOD FRIDAY.

CHURCH SERVICES.

Yesterday being Good Friday was generally observed as a religious holiday, and services suitable to the solemnity of the day were held in all the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches, as well as in several of the Nonconformist churches of the city.

St. Paul's. services at this church were at eleven and half-past seven o'clock, tho incumbent, ihe Rev. C. M. Nelson, officiating and preaching at both. The altar and lectern were draped in black. St. Matthew's Church. were large attendances at both services yesterday. The Rev. W. Tebbs, the incumbent, in the morning read a short meditation by Dr. Walshamstow, the Bishop of Bedford, on "The Death." In the evening the preacher was the Rev. C. E. Bice, of the Melanesian mission, who has just returned from England, and he based a practical discourse on John xix. IS, "Jesus in the Midst." The service, with its proper psalms and hymns, was very solemn and impressive, especially the Litany of the Passion, with which the service concluded. Tho anthem, Goss's " 0 Saviour of the World," was remarkably well rendered. Holy Sepulchre Church. — At eight o'clock there was a service of the litany and a short address by the Yen. Archdeacon Dudley. The usual morning service was held at eleven o'clock, and a children's service at half-past two. In the evening there was the usual service, and a very appropriate sermon was impressively delivered by the Rev. .T. H. Plant, M.A.

JfLL Saints'. —There were four services at All Saints', one of them being a children's service in the afternoon. The discourses were delivered by the incumbent, and were appropriate to the occasion. St. Thomas.—Good Friday services in St. Thomas church were as follows: — Litany and hymn at S o'clock ; mat tins and ante-communion service at 11, evensong at 7.30. The incumbent preached at matt ins and evensong, and all services were wellattended. In the afternoon a service was conducted in the school-room, when addresses on the Seven Words from the Cross were given, and several suitable hymns on the Passion suns. St. Mary's, Parnell.The services at St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral commenced at seven o'clock yesterday morning with the holy communion. A children's service was held at nine o'clock, and morning prayer at ten o'clock, a suitable sermon being preached by the incumbent, the Rev. Mr. Walpole. in the afternoon, from one to three o'clock, the service took the form of meditations on the last seven sayings on the cross, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Walpole, who also preached at the evening service. The only draping in this church was on the cross on the communion table.

Epiphany Church.—At this church the usual Good Friday services were conducted, and an address given by the Incumbent, the Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan. Holy Trinity Church. —Yesterday the Rev. J. Bates conducted a service of morning prayer at the Holy Trinity Church. Devonport, and delivered a sermon upon a subject suitable to the solemn anniversary. PITT-STKEET WESLEYAN CHURCH.—Two holiness meetings were held yesterday at the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church. Both were presided over by the Rev. H. Bull. The first took place in the afternoon in the lecture-hall, which was fairly filled, when Mr. Bull gave an address on "Holiness," after which there were devotional exercises and personal testimonies. In the evening the meeting was held in the church, and was of a similar character.

St. Patrick's Cathedral.—At ten a.m. yesterday Bishop Luck offered the mass of the Host Presanctified, the Very Rev. Father Hackett being assistant - priest, whilst Fathers Gillan, O'Gara, and Wissel were also present in the sanctuary. The service was most impressive, the mourning vestments of the priests, with the appropriate music of the mass, heightening the solemnity of the effect. Special devotions were held at three p.m., and in the evening the Stations of the Cross were recited, and the "Lamentations" sung, a sermon on " The Passion " being preached by the Rev. Father Kehoe. The music included Dr. Richmond's setting of the Psalms, sung by the Rev. Dr. Egan and Fathers Lenihan and Kehoe, together with choruses by a full choir.

St. Benedict's Church.—The mass of the Host Presanctified was offered in the morning, and at three p.m. the Stations of the Cross were recited. The Rev. Father O'Gara preached in the evening, when the Tenebr® service was chanted, the choir singing the "Lamentations." City Hall.—The evangelistic service in the City Hall last evening was an interesting one. Mr. C. E. Button delivered the first address, taking for his text Matthew xxvii, 35 : " And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which which was spoken by the prophet— ' They parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they cast lots.' And sitting down they watched Him there." The Rev. W. L. Salter then spoke, taking the text "He saved others; Himself He cannot save." The evangelistic choir sang appropriate hymns, among others: "The Cross, the Cross, the Blood-stained Cross," " Man of Sorrows," " O Christ, What Burdens Bowed Thy Head." There was a large attendance, the audience paying marked attention, showing the interest taken in the service. Mr. Brakenrig, general secretary, presided. WATER excursions. As is usual on Good Friday there were but few excursions by sea' yesterday, the majority of the steamboat owners preferring evidently to wait till Easter Monday, when no doubt a large number will, should the weather be fine, take an opportunity "to blow the cobwebs from their brains" by patronising the several trips to the many points of interest and' beauty which are so easily accessible by an hour's steaming. The projected trip yesterday to Mahurangi Heads by the s.s. Clansman was abandoned, because of the small number who books tickets. The excursion by the ferry steamer Britannia to St. Helier's Bay was, owing to the rather unfavourable appearance of the weather yesterday forenoon, not so well patronised as was expected, but still a large number availed themselves of the opportunity to make a trip to the favourite holiday resort, and numerous family picnic parties enjoyed themselves in the green paddocks and under the sheltering trees. All returned safely at five o'clock. [BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Dpnedin, Friday. To-day was a genoral holiday. The excursions on the Otago Central line were largely patronised, and a second train had to be despatched. The day was fine in the morning, but heavy rain fell at four o'clock. The Easter Bowling Tournament was commenced, in which besides local players bowlers from Oamaru and Christchurch and various country clubs took part.