ECCLESIASTICAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9187, 17 October 1888, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL ITEMS.

The anniversary tea-meeting in connection with- the Beresford-street Congregational Sunday-school was held last evening, and a fair attendance sat down to tea, which was provided by Mesdames Eacly, Tudehope, Daldy, Chilton, Jones, and Atkin, Misses Hoskins (2), Chew, Nicholas, Brown, Daldy, Hayles, Hill, and Jones. The aftermeeting was held in the church, and Rev. James Chew, pastor of the church, presided and-deiivered one of his characteristic addresses, which was a happy blending of the practical and humorous. Rev. R. Scott West, A. J. Smith, and Mr. A. Airston also spoke upon subjects connected with Sabbath-school work. The annual report of the Sabbath-school was read by Mr. A. C. Atkin, the secretary, and it showed that of bona fide scholars there were 278 on the roll whoso average attendance each Sunday was '255, and there were 2S teachers. Daring the year the school's expenditure had amounted to £102. and there was now a balance of £14 11s Sd to its credit. The loss of three teaehers was regretted. .Musical selections were given at intervals, as follows •—" Rhine Raft Song," (Pinsuti) by the choir, a wellexecuted number ; song, " The Chorister," given in tine voice by Mr. Holloway ; anthem, "0 Lord Our Governor," by the choir ; solos by Miss Hayles and Miss Edmonds, both of which were rendered with care and taste. Votes of thanks to all those who had assisted were proposed by Mr. Tudehope, and passed with acclamation. The meeting closed with the singing of the doxology by the congregation. The anniversary of the Mount Eden Baptist Church was celebrated last night by a tea and public meeting. The church was handsomely decorated for the occasion, and there was a large attendance. The tables were liberally spread, the teachers providing the trays, and after the tea the tables were removed and a very interesting public gathering took place. A feature was the band, which supported the harmonium in the accompaniments to the lively and well-selected hymns which were sung at intervals during the evening, there being two violins, a rlute, and a piccolo, and the effect was very pleasing. Pastor T. Bray, the minister of the church, presided. The proceedings were opened by singing the hymn, "Father, from Thy Throne of Glory," after which Mr. C. Atkin led in prayer. Mr. F. Andrews, the superintendent of the Sunday-school, read the annual report. It commenced by stating that the report was presented with mingled feelings of joy and sorrow. There was much to depress them, but they had also much encouragement. Not one of the Sunday-school children had during the last year joined the Church, but ha asked the prayers of all to aid them in the work they were engaged in. There had been conaiderablealterations during the year through removal of the elder scholars, but they had now 142 scholars on the roll, consisting of S3 boys aud 59 girls, the total being one more than that of last year. They were well supported with teachers, having a full start* of 17 teachers, one superintendent, one visitor, and one librarian, 20 in all, so that they had a full staff. But the attendance of scholars during the last quarter was only an average of SI, and they asked parents to take a greater interest in the Sunday School work, and see that the children attended, as the absence of some pupiLs militated against, the work of a class, and the teacher. The collection for foreign missions during the year was £5 bis, which was considered fairly good, and the response to the appeal made two months ago lor presents for India had been liberally responded to. Their Band of Hope was in a flourishing condition. It had now existed for three years, and had a present membership of 270. The meetings weie held fortnightly, and good attendances were secured. The committee thanked the congregation for the sympathy shown to them, and again asked to bo remembered in their prayers. Suitable addresses were delivered by the Revs. Messrs. Dutton, Smith, Gilmore, and Mr. F. Battley, after which the proceedings closed with devotional exercises.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, September 8. Cardinal \loran, of Sydney, who was supposed to n.ive come over to Ireland purely on a visit to his relations, is said to be occasioning »v- -e concern to the Vatican authorities, on account, of the active part he is taking in Irish politics. He is making a r.our of the different provinces in Ireland, receiving siddresses nere. there, and everywhere, and availing himself of the opportunity to contrast the grievances of impoverished Ireland with the lortanate and prosperous condition of the self-governing colonies ot Australasia, especially the land of his own Apostolic labours. In response to a congratulatory address from the people of luain he declared that the exiles of Krin in Australasia were willing to assist poor Ireland in obtaining the redress of the grievances which weighed down the land and dulled the energies of its people. Australasians, he continued, irrespective of religious differences, were all of one mind on that point, and were determined to do all in their power to remedy the ills of Ireland. Separate Parliaments in Australasia did not weaken but added to the loyalty of the people, and he predicted that Erin would soon receive the boon she claimed, and become, as of yore, the gem of the Western Worid. while her brothers and sisters in Australasia would rejoice that Heaven had once more smiled on the Emerald Isle. The other Australasian Roman Catholic prelates who are over here are all displaying a good deal of energy in getting priests of various religious orders, either to strengthen the orders already in existence in Australasia or to establish new ones. Dr. .Moore, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Ballarat, has arranged to establish a Redemptorist monastery in hie diocese, ami the pioneer members tneVeof will leave Ireland very shortly, under the charge of the Hou. and Rev. W. M. Plunkett. who is uncle of the Earl of Fingall and heir presumptive to the title. He will, however, not be in command of the Order at Ballarat, as the office of Superior has been given to the Rev. J. O'Farrell, who is a member of a branch of the Order established in New South Wales. Th-J Roman Catholic Bishopric of Fiji has been offered to Monsignor Vidal, who is at present Vicar-General of that district, and head of the Marist mission there. Bishop Barry, apparently, will not go to the See of Chester after all. It is announced to-day that Lord Salisbury ha-- nominated Canon Jayne, of Leeds, to succeed Dr. Stubbs. Presbyterians in New Zealand may remember that a year or two ago the Rev. George Dodds created some little sensation in Melbourne, where he was said to be the victim of clerical persecution. To such an extent 1 was this so-called persecution carried on that Mr. Dodds returned home, and for some time has been acting as assistant minister at Kilmarnock. For reasons which do not seem very clear to his congregation he is now seeking fresh woods and pastures. On the occasion of the presentation to him ot a purse of sovereigns in recognition of his services, he took the opportunity of referring to his Australian experiences which he admitted were not very happy. But apart from his personal case he said his experiences of Churcn life in the colonies had not been pleasant. It seemed to him that the clergy were neither a highly respected body nor a great power in the land. The fault was not altogether due to the Church, but seemed to be divided between the Church and the people. This had exercised his mind, and caused him to think I that the days of the Church were over, that j its best work had been done, and that its i ministers were lingering oat the lastdays of ! a profitless existence. However, his experiences at Kilmarnock h-ul dissipated these views, at any rate so far as the Church in Scotland wan concerned. Poesibly, if Mr. Dodds had had a wider experience of colonial life he would have formed a contrary opinion.