ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9402, 8 January 1894, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

In the absence of the Rev. G. Mac Murray incumbent of St. Mary's Cathedral Church, at (present in Hobart, the services, yesterday, were conducted by other ministers, and there were large congregations, both morning and evening. At the morning service, the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, of Waiupu, read the prayers, and the Rev. F. D. Pritt read the lessons, and preached an able sermon in aid of the Melanesian Mission fund, to which the collections for the day were devoted. Tho Ven. Archdeacon Williams was to preach in the evening, but unfortunately he was taken suddenly ill, and was unable to fulfil his engagement. The Ven. Archdeacon Clarko kindly consented to meet the emergency. The Most Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland and Primate of New Zealand, read the lessons, Archdeacon Clarke reading the prayers, and preaching from Psalm cxvL, 10. The collections in aid of the Melaneßian fund were £11 0s 4d in the morning, and £6 12a 5d in the evening, making a total for the day of £1712* 9d. At St. Matthew's Church, yesterday, at the morning service the lessons were read by Mr Dunnage, and the Rev. A. P. McFarlane said the prayers. The incumbent, the Rev. L. FitzGerald, preached an earnest sermon, impressing upon his hearers the duty and privilege *>i baking advantage of every opportunity of doing good to ail men and contributing to the funds of the Melanesian Mission, in aid of which the collections for the day were set apart. At the evening service the Rev. A. P. McFarlano preached from the text, Matthew ii., 3. At the offertory in the morning, Master Lake, leading soprano of the Chrisfcchurch Cathedral, sang "Lord at all Times I will Praise Thee " (" Lauda Sion "), while the sweet voice of this gifted chorister was heard to great advantage in the evening an "I Know that My Redeemer Liveth" (« ' Messiah "). There were good congregations at each service. In the Anglican churches yesterday the offertories of the day were in aid of the Melanesian Mission. At St. Sepulchres, in the morning, the Right Rev. Bishop Cowie preached an interesting discourse on that work. . , „ •:.'"•'• At St. Benedict's Church, Newton, yesterday, the choir sang Haydn's Thirteenth Mass with their usual excellence.. The Kev. Dr. Egan conducted, and Herr lutaohka effectively played a 'cello obligate to the organ accompaniment, which was played by Miss A. Mcllhone. Mr. John Fuller sang Moorat's " Sancta Maria" with great taste, as also the tenor parts in the Adeste Fideles. The other soloists were Misses Lorrigan, Brannigan, and Mr. Thomson. The Very Rev. Father Downey celebrated, and the Rev. Father Gregory preached on the power and influence of the devil. In tho evening, at Vespers, the very Rev. Father Downey preached an impressive sermon, and the choir sang music appropriate to the season. ' -