ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9480, 9 April 1894, Page 3

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The 44th anniversary services of Sb. Andrew's Presbyterian Church were held yesterday in the church, Alton Road. The morning service was conducted by the Rev. A. Carrick, pastor of the church, who preached from Matthew xiii. 47. He referred to the fact of the anniversary at the commencement of his sermon. In the afternoon suitable addresses were delivered to the school children by the Rev. J. Hill, of the North Shore, and Mr. Hemery. The evening service were conducted by the Rev. George Burgess, F.R.A.S., minister of the Beresford-street Congregational Church, who preached from I. Timothy iii., 15. The collections at the morning and evening services were in aid of < the Assembly's Church Extension Fund. Special services were held in the Beresfordsbreeb Congregational Church yesterday, in connection with the introduction of the new hymnal. There were large congregations at each service, the singing, which was of a high order of merit, being led by an efficient choir. The Rev. George. Burgess, F.R.A.S., the pastor of the Church, presided at the morning service, and gave an interesting and appropriate address on the "Ministry of Song." In the evening the Rev. A. Carrick, of St. Andrew's, officiated, and preached a suitable sermon. Yesterday the Rev. T. W. Vealie, from the Methodist Episcopal Church of America, anil who has been appointed to the Auckland circuit, opened his commission at the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church, where, at the morning service, he preached an earnest and impressive sermon on " Prayer," taking for his text, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." There was a large .congregation. In the afternoon and evening the rev. gentleman preached at the Mount Albert Wesleyan anniversary. = He will reside in the Mount Albert district. At St. James' Hall yesterday evening the anniversary services of the Sunday School were repeated for the benefit of those who were unable to get seats on the Sunday previous, i There was a large congregation, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. R. F. Macnicol. The celebration of the twenty-second anniversary of the United Methodisb Free Church, Pitt and Vincent-streets, which took place yesterday, went off most successfully from every point of view. There were large congregations, and the services were most hearty. . The morning service was taken by the Rev. A. Peters, late of Wellington, who gave an earnest discourse. Mr. Peters again officiated in the afternoon, when Miss Blakeley, who intends leaving for the China mission field shortly, gave an address which was listened to with the greatest attention. The musical part of the services was an excellent feature, and reflects the greatest credit upon the choir, orchestra, and the conductor, Mr. Frith. The annual soiree and public meeting will be held to-morrow evening, when addresses will be given by clergymen and other friends. At the Auckland Tabernacle, yesterday, the Rev. J. McNeil commenced his mission. In the morning at eleven, there was a large audience. The sermon, which was of a very interesting nature, was taken from Deuteronomy xxii., 8, "When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house if any man fall from thence." The speaker dealt with his subject in an able manner. There was a crowded congregation in the afternoon, when tho Rev. J. McNeil presided at the children's service. In the evening the building was taxed to its utmost capacity by the large number of persons who sought to gain admittance. The Rev. Mr. McNeil delivered astirring discourse, his subject being "The Shut Door." He impressed upon his hearers thefact that this was nob the door of grace, but the door of eternity. By the sin of Adam the door had become shut, but by the death of Christ it had been opened. He pointed oub that this door was open now, and they ought to endeavour to enter before it was shut.

This evening, ab the Tabernacle, the Rev. Mr. McNeil will continue his mission. His address to-night will be "A Voice from the Condemned Cell." The speaker will recount a message received by him from a young man executed in Sydney some years ago, in connection with the . Mount Rennie outrage. There were eight young men condemned to death, and Mr. McNeil was locked up with them all the evening before their execution, and it was then that he received this message. At. St. Benedict's yesterday, the performance of Gounod's " Messe Solonnolle," was quite in accordance with the excellent reputation which the splendid choir of this church justly bears. Although shorn of tho beauty of the orchestral accompaniment, the power, volume, and waves of expression produced in the choral parts were excellent. The soloists were MissLorrigan, Messrs. Fuller and Parish, and the organist, Miss A. Mclhone. The Rev. Dr. Egan conducted as usual, and the Very Rev. Father Downey celebrated tho High Mass. Tho Rev. Gregory discoursed on the subject of "Mesmerism." Ab the offertory Mr. John Fuller sang Murphy's exquisite, "Ave Verum," with great sweetness and feeling. Ab vespers the Very Rev. Father Downey officiated and preached an interesting and devout homily on the subject of the Gospel. At the offertory Miss Lorrigan sang Gounod's "Ave Maria," with violin obligate by Herr Zimmermann, and the choir sang with great spirit Zingarelli's famous " Magnificat." * The anniversary services of the Mount Albert Wesleyan Sunday-school were held yesterday. The Rev. W. J. Williams (principal of tho Three Kings College) preached in the forenoon, the Rev. T. W. Vealie gave an address to scholors and friends in the aftornoon, and also conducted the services in the evening. There were good congregations, and the collections were in aid of the Sunday-school. Mr. C. E. Button delivered an earnest and impressive addross from Numbers xiv, at the City Hall Sunday Evening Service. Mr. Brakenrig presided. There was a good attendance. UNITED SUNDAY - SCHOOL CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL SERVICES. An interesting departure in connection with the Anglican Sunday-schools of Auckland city and suburbs took place yesterday afternoon, when two united services were held. No building in Auckland could be found large enough to afford accommodation for all the schools, so the committee of management fixed St. Matthew's and St. Sepulchre's Churches • as the places for meeting. At St. Matthew' there assembled the children from St. Paul's, St. Thomas', All Saints', Trinity Church, Devonport churches, as well as the children of St. Matthew's parish. Ab St. Sepulchre's the remaining schools in and around Auckland attended. The children assembled at their respective schools before two p.m., and after short services, were marched to St. Matthew's and Sb. Sepulchre's. The service had been under preparation for some time, and was eagerly looked forward to by the pupils. The service ab Sb. Matthew's was largely attended by the pupils of the four schools mentioned. From Sb. Matthew's there must have been fully 300 children, and from All Saints' 400. St. Paul's, St. Thomas', and the Devonporb contingent, numbered from 100 to 200 each. The result was that "all available space was taken up by the children, and only a limited number of onlookers could he admitted. Forms were placed along the passages, and everything was done to find room for all, bub without success, many being compelled to remain outside. The interior of the building was elaborately decorated with evergreens ] and flowers, and presented a brilliant appearance. In the lower end of the church were the words, The Lord is Risen Again." The windows were festooned with choice flowers and toi-toi grass. Prominent amongst the decorations was a handsome bamboo screen, which extended across the chancel. lb was intertwined with red flowers, grain, and foliage. The words, "Behold, a sower went forth to sow," in gold letters, were written across the screen, and ab corresponding angles, forming an arch in the centre, the texts, " Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the Feast," and "For His mercy endurebh for ever." The service opened with the processional hymn " Onward Christian Soldiers," which was sung with great spirit by the children. The first lesson,. I. Kings xvii, was read by the Rev. Canon Nelson, aud the second lesson, St. Luke ii., 39-52, by Rev. Canon Bates. The Rev. Canon Calder intoned the prayers. The address to the children was delivered by the Rev. Mr. FitzGerald, incumbent of Sb. Matthew's parish, who based

\ his remarks upon St. Matthew vi., 10. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is done in Heaven." The service was a very impressive one, and will long be remembered by all who were present. i At St. Sepulchre's the children assembling were from ten schools, viz., St. Sepulchre's (two schools), St. Mary's (two schools, including Orphan Home), St. Mark's. Epiphany, St. Barnabas, St. Alban's, and Sb. Luke's, Mount Albert. The Northcote Sunday-schoolalso contributed a contingent, which came up with Mr, F. H. Templer. The weather was fine ; and accordingly the children, with their parents and friends, mustered in great force. Those from Sb. Luke's drove up in two large 'buses, some 70 in all; Sb. Barnabas' and St. Alban's contributed-130; St. Mary's (two schools), 300, nearly; St. Mark's (say), 150 Epiphany, 150; Northcote, 16 or 18; St. Sepulchre's (two schools), 350. By the time all were seabed there were nob less than 1000 children and 200 adults in the church, parents and visitors filling up the vacant places and crowding the porches and approaches. The church looked lovely in its festal garb, the decorations having been renewed for the occasion. The small organ, played most efficiently by Mr. Rice, was supplemented by a string band, which did excellent service. In the choir stalls were some 40 boys in surplices and cassocks, from Sb. Mary's, St. Mark's, and Sb. Sepulchre's choirs; and a few men from St. Mark's, Remuera. The clergy present were the Revs. Johnston, Larkins, Lush, Mac Murray, Purchas, Richards, Ronaldson, Williams, and Archdeacon Dudley. The prayers were*inboned by the Rev. P. T. Williams, the first lesson was read by the Rev. W. E. Lush, and the second lesson by the Rev. G. Mac Murray ; the sermon, clear, earnesb, and instructive, was by the Rev. I. Richards, who explained that this was called "The Sunday of the Good Shepherd," and took as his text the words of our Saviour, " Fear not, little flock ; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." The conductor, to whom, with Mr. Rice, the highest praise must be accorded for enthusiastic and self-denying labour, was Mr. F. H. Templer. The whole service was most inspiring. The only drawback arose from the fact that two at least of the schools had not been represented at the general practices; considering this, the success was wonderful. The collection, five guineas, was devoted in aid of the Melanesian Missions. Comparing small tilings with great, there were those present to whom this service was specially interesting, as reminding them of the magnificent gatherings of children at St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Certainly such a service vividly brings before those present one of the uses of a large cathedral, or central mother church, in which representatives from all parts of the diocese may be brought together.