ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9712, 7 January 1895, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

At St. Mary's Cathedral Church, ParnftlL, yesterday (Epiphany day), th<?, interesting service of the ordination of d/eacons was made roiore interesting still by the fact that the candidate for ordination was a Maori, and that) a large number of Maori clergy and laity now attending the Maori Church Board in Auckland, were present, and took part in the service, a portion of which was conducted in the Maori language. The Most Rev. Dr. Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, and Primate of New Zealand officiated, and was assisted -by the Ven. Archdeacon Clarke and the Rev. G. MaeMurray, incumbent of St. Mary's, while twelve native clergymen joined in the procession. The service was opened by the Rev. Hone Papahia, of Hokianga, who commenced with Erayer, and then preached in Maorion " The tar of Bethelem," his text being Matthew ii., 2, " Where is He that is born King of the Jews for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him." The Ven. Archdeacon Clarke presented Ranapia Mokena to His Lordship to be admitted as a deacon, and the Litany was intoned by the- Rev. G. MaeMurray. The anteCommunion service was read by Archdeacon Clarke, and the Epistle was read by the Rev. Heta Tarawhiti, in Maori. The newly-ordained deacon read the Gospel, Luke xii. 35.

A Primitive Methodisb camp meeting was held yesterday afternoon, at Glenmore, Great North Road. There was a good attendance, and the Rev. G. H. Mann conducted the service. The annual thank-offering services were held yesterday at the Auckland Tabernacle. The pastor (Rev. Jas. Blaikie) preached morning and evening. In the morning from the motto of the year, " Go Forward," and in the evening he gave an excellent address to young men from Romans vi, 23, " For the wages of sia is death ; bub the gift of God is eternal lifo through Jesus Christ our Lord," The thank-offering amounted to £52 16s 9d, and to other funds £5 4s 3d, making a total for the day of £58 Is. During the past week a rumour prevailed thab the Rev. Father Lenihan was bo be removed from Parnell parish toSt. Patrick's. The rumour created a very painful feeling in Parnell, where Father Lenihan has endeared himself, nob only to his congregation bub to all the residents. He referred to the matter ab both services in St. John tho Baptist Church yesterday. He had, he said, been asked by the Bishop to take charge of St. Patrick's, but he had declined to leave Parnell unloss ordered. The Bishop had nob ordered him to do so, bub if ordered he must obey. The congregation would understand if he did leave them it was because he had been ordered to do so, but he hoped arrangements would be made by which he would be able to remain in Parnell.

The feast of the Epiphany was celebrated yesterday at St. Patrick's Cathedral in a moat appropriate manner. In addition to the ordinary masses there was a "Missa Cantata" or High Mass Coram Epiecopo at eleven a.m., the celebrant being the Rev. Father Walsh. Haydn's "No. 2 Mass," with full orchestral accompaniment, was sung in a devotional manner by the choir of the Cathedral, under the lead of Mr. Hiscocke, Mr. Hartwell presiding at the organ with bis well-known ability. His Lordship Bishop Luck preached a sermon on the' "Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ." At vespers the Rev. FatherWalsh officiated, and there was at this service (as at all the others of the day) a large congregation. The Rev. Father Riordan preached on the Epiphany. There was a procession of the Most Blessed Sacrament, in which the clergy and religious societies took part. At the City Hall service last night the Rev. T. F. Robertson gave an earnest and suitable address on the Now Year, basing his remarks upon the life, experiences, and death of Abraham, xxv., 8. There was a very large attendance, and the choir rendered a number of suitable hymns.