ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9023, 31 October 1892, Page 5

ECCLESIASTICAL.

ALL SAINTS'. An unusually interesting and somewhat novel children's service was held in All Saints' Church yesterday afternoon, when the incumbent, the Rev. W. Calder, examined the Sunday-school pupils by a catechetical method in the presence of a large number of parents and friends. There were fully 400 children in attendance. At the outset Mr. Calder gave a brief explanation of his method. He said that the church had ordered that all baptised children should be taught the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, and the ten commandments, and certain other things necessary for a Christian to know. These other things the Diocese of Auckland had tabulated in the form of a schedule of Sundayschool work, and in order to_ give effect to this the scheme adopted in his school was to divide the pupils into four sections : Infants, 1. Standard, 11. Standard (juniors), 11. Standard (seniors). Each section came into church in turn to be catechised upon the work done during the previous three Sundays whilst at certain longer intervals, such as great festivals, or where a fifth Sunday came in a month, the whole school was examined. Yesterday's occasion was only the third attempt at a full catechising, and yet the answers, from the infants upwards, were quick and intelligent; but a still more noticeable feature was the splendid order and discipline which prevailed throughout, and extended even to the manner of entering and leaving the church. The singing was led by a choir of fifteen choristers, wearing white surplices, assisted by an efficient orchestra. Before dismissing the scholars, Mr. Calder told them that they had answered well, but reminded them that though it was well" to know/' it was infifinitely better " to do."

ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL. An ordination service was hold, at St. Mary's Cathedral Church, Parnell, yesterday forenoon, conducted by the Right Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, and there was a very large congregation, including a number of clergymen at present visiting Auckland for the purpose of attending the Synod sessions. It wasi intended that two clergy : men—the Rev. P. Larkins and a Maori minister already admitted to deacon's orders —should be ordained to the priesthood, but the Maori minister was unable to be present. The Rev. F. Larkins was presented for ordination by the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley, and an appropriate sermon was preached by the Ven. Archdeacon Willis, of Waikato, who took the words of St. Paul to Timothy, "I have finished my course," etc. Amongst the congregation were His Excellency the Governor, Lady Glasgow, family, and suite. DIOCESAN SYNOD. The annual session of the Auckland Diocesan Synod will commence to-day. A service will be Held in St. Matthew's Church at halfpast ten o'clock, and at three o'clock the Synod will be formally opened by Bishop Cowie in the Bishopscourt Library, Parnell, after which his lordship will deliver his opening address. ORANGE COMMEMORATION SERVICE The Orangemen of Auckland held a commemoration service to celebrate the sth of November yesterday afternoon, in Wesley Hall. The brethren marched in procession from the Protestant Hall to the meeting-place, the Auckland and suburban lodges being all represented. Rev. W. S. Potter, Grand Chaplain, conducted the service. After the singing of a hymn, " Dare to be a Daniel," he read a portion of Scripture, after which the hymn, "The Church's One Foundation," was sung. Mr. Potter took as the basis of his address, Daniel iii., 17, " Our God is able to deliver us, and will deliver us." After referring to and explaining the more immediate surroundings of the text, the rev. gentleman gave a historical resume of the events which led up to the Gunpowder Plot, which was to destroy Protestant ascendancy in England, but which signally failed, a deliverance which the Orangemen were there that day to commemorate by a religious service. The event should be commemorated in a grateful religious spirit, and not observed for the purpose of imitating, or provoking hostility, as that was a grievous breach of the Golden Rule. He had no sympathy with bonfires, and crackers, and carrying round of hideous figures, and jibes and jeers, and every rightminded Orangemen would do his best to suppress such silly and dangerous practices. It was a very different thing to come together for the purpose of honouring the memories of men who had fought and died in the cause of civil and religious liberty, and preserved for them the Altar and the Throne —when they met together to revivify feelings of patriotism to their country, loyalty to their sovereign, and gratitude to their Maker. As the Israelites were commanded to teach their sons and their sons' sons, so they felt it to be a duty and privilege to commemorate in the presence of their children the wonderful preservation of Protestantism at the time of the Gunpowder Plot. The singing of a hymn, and the benediction by Mr. Potter, closed the proceedings.

Yesterday afternoon Mr. Jude gave another of his interesting and instructive lectures, the title being The Discords of Life and the Harmony of Heaven." The oration was interspersed with several sacred songs, and Mr. Jude also gave the organ solo "By Babylon's Wave. There was a very large audience, who appeared thoroughly to appreciate Mr. Jude's remarks, as he was frequently loudly applauded. Mr. Jude presided at the organ at the morning service of the Grafton Road Wesleyan Church, and at the evening service at St. Paul's. There was an excellent attendance at the Y.M.C.A. evangelistic service in the City Hall last night. Mr. J. W. Shackelford preached. The first address was given by Mr. F. Utting, and the second by the Rev. P. G. Evans, from Te Aroha, who took for his subject Proverbs xx., 26—" Son give Me thine heart." At the conclusion of the service last night at St. Matthew's, Mr. Suazelle rendered in magnificent style the solo from Handel's " Messiah," commencing, " Why do the nations rage?"