SUNDAY ADDRESSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9369, 20 May 1889, Page 6

SUNDAY ADDRESSES.

Ik the Roman Catholic Churches yesterday mention was made of the death of the Rev. Father Damien. Speaking at St. Patrick's Cathedral, at the evening service, the Rev. Father Hackett said the deceased priest was regretted by all Christian bodies, He was the only man who went forth to care for the poor lepers of the island of Molokai, and his was a most glorious duty, and its accomplishment a grand triumph. They could imagine the state of the lepers, covered from head to foot with their dreadful disease, their food thrown to them from boats, as if they were so many dogs. This poor priest had severed all ties—the ties of home and of kindred, and had left the world to live amongst the lepers, and to die a martyr to his zeal. He asked the prayers of the congregation for the repose of his soul.

The Rev. J. S. Hill continued yesterday afternoon at the lecture hall of the Young Men's Christian Association his lectures on social topics. The subject was " Wealth and Wages," and there was a crowded attendance, a number being of opinion if they could not attain to the first named, or get the latter, they would at least have the melancholy pleasure of listening to the talk about them. Mr. Hill dealt with the question of the relative differences of pay to men and women, and said that inequality did : not arise from any inferiority on the part of women, but because the man had on an average three persons dependant upon him, the woman on the average only one. He was in favour of an Act of Assembly for regulating the hours of labour, and for putting down the slavery in the shops outside Queen-street, where he had seen the assistants behind the counter at half-past eleven o'clock at night. These men were being degraded and demoralised, unfit for anything on Sunday relating to the higher life. This thing in time would come into Queen-street, and with longer hours would come lower wages, and an extension of the grinding system. It was just as right for the State to interfere in this matter as in the matter for protection of women and children in factories, as the men had to endure the wrong, being helpless. High wages were a sign of prosperity, of progress, and low wages of decadence. With the eight hours system there would be more work for all, better pay, and all experience proved that captital itself would benefit by this state of things. At the close of the lecture, some questions were asked. One gentleman asked how about the capitalists in Auckland at present who were getting no interest for their money. Mr. Hill said their troubles were nearly all self-inflicted. They had had "the land hunger," and indulged in land and other speculations, which was the way most of them lost their money. Mr. W. Hodge solicited Mr. Hill's opinion as to the hours of labour in a case he gave, the week being divided between 12 hours and lb' hours a-day, with -hours for meals, and seven and a-half hours on alternate Sundays. Mr. Hill replied that was the sort of thing which was done by soulless companies, and without the State intervention by legislation, as he suggested, the men were helpless. Yesterday afternoon a conversational Bible class was inaugurated under the presidency of the Rev. J. H. Simmonds. The class, which is open to all adults, will be held in the building on the corner of Karangahape Road and Pitt-street, which will in the future.be known as Wesley Hall. Mr. Simmonds delivered the opening address yesterday afternoon, the subject being " How to Study the Bible." His remarkj indicated very broad and liberal viewffof theology and Biblical truths. The address was attentively listened to by a numerous audience, several of whom took part in ' • subsequent discussion. The president announced that the subject for !

next week's consideration would be, " Who Gave the Commandments -God or Moses?" It was also announced that a question box would be provided, to be opened once a month, the box being opened the week before the questions would be considered. The committee is greatly pleased with the success which has attended its opening effort, and trust that this class will prove a great assistance to those who are earnestly seeking after the truth. The Rev. E. G. Porter, delegate from the American Mission Board, lectured in St. David's Presbyterian Church, yesterday forenoon, on "Missions in Turkey," and gave an interesting account of the progress of the Gosper in that decaying Empire. He had been in Bulgaria, Macedonia, Armenia, and also at Constantinople and other leading cities. The Turk was a fair average man, with considerable mental ability, but the governing classes were sensual and corrupt, and in the rural districts, Turkish courts of justice were a farce. In Bulgaria there were all the evidences of civilisation, good roads, law and order, newspapers, &c., and the Bulgarians deserved the liberty they had won. By contrast he referred to Macedonia, where there were bad roads,, no newspapers, and where the traveller could not go a few miles without danger of being captured and held to ransom by the brigands. In the evening Mr. Porter gave an address on "Christian Work in Japan," in St. James' Hall, Wellingtonstreet. He gave a graphic account of the American missions in that land of progress, and showed the change coming over Unit intelligent nation, through the influence of Christianity, socially, commercially, and politically. The Mikado, of his own free will, had recently divested himself of his despotic power, wielded by his ancestors for 2500 years, and promulgated a constitution granting constitutional government. If the Czar of Russia would take a leaf out of the Mikado's book, and give his people liberty, he would bo a happier man, and would be rid of attempts upon his life and the bombs of assassins. Mr. Porter's address was listened to with great attention by the congregation. He has been on a tour of inspection of American missions, and in returning to America took the opportunity of seeing Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Porter came from Melbourne to the Bluff, and visited Whakatipu and other Southern lakes, afterwards coming on up the coast. It was his intention to have got off at Napier, and to have gone overland to the Lake country, but it being reported to him that the streams were in flood through the late heavy rains, he refrained. Mr. Porter leaves this afternoon, by the Zealandia, for San Francisco, en route for Boston, where he resides.