YOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10080, 16 March 1896, Page 3

YOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

CHURCH PARADE. SERMON BYTHE PRIMATE. A Church Parade of the Garrison Corps, was convened for yesterday, and there was a most hearty response to the district order issued by calling the parade. The weather was bright, and large crowds assembled in the street to witness the march to St. Paul's Church, in Symonds-street. The companies fell in at the drill-shed, and after being numbered off and inspected by Colonel Goring, tho command was handed over to Major Morrow. The Churchwardens of St. Paul's saw to it that the troops were provided with seating accommodation. All the companies, except the Infantry, had good musters, and the order of march was as follows Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Hunter; Auckland Naval Artillery, Lieutenant-Comman-der Little, Lieutenants Clemens and Oakes; Dovonport Navals, Lieutenant-Commander, Parker, Lioutenants Davis and Thomas I (these two companies wore white uniforms). Ponsonby Naval Artillery, LieutenantCommander Graham, and Lieutenant Watson; "A" Battery Artillery, Captain O'Brien, Lioutenant Lipscombo, and Surgeon Watson; Victoria Rifles and City Rifles, Captain Skinner, Lieutenants Dormer and Hutb, and Surgeon • Major Dawson. There was also a largo muster of the Wellesley - street School cadets, under the command of Mr. Draflin, head assistant toacher of the school. Amongst other officers present were Lieu-tenant-Adjutant Grant and Sergeant-Major Carpenter of the staff, and Major Skinner and Hon. Lioutenant Norrie of tho "A" Battery. When St. Paul's was reached the Roman Catholics fell out, and forming a separate column, marched to St. Benedict's Church, headed by tho band, whilst tho main body filed into St. Paul's through the main entrance, and whilst they were doing so, His Eicelloncy the Governor, accompanied by Lady Glasgow and Captain Preston, A.D.C., drove up. It is needless to say that with such a large addition to the ordinary congregation, the Church was crowded. The prayers wore intoned by the incumbent, the Rev. Canon Nelson, and the second lesson was read by the Mont Rev. Dr. Cowie, Primate of New Zealand. The Primate, who is chaplain of tho " A" Battery of Artillery, wore two Indian war medals on his breast. Ho selected for his text St. Mark viii., 35," For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, bub whosoever will lose his life for My sako and the gospel's, tho same shall save it." His Lordship preached a suitable sermon from the text, and in concluding said that if asked what special lesson to their volunteers was con-

tained in the text, ho should reply it was that they should use every effort to perfect themselves in their drill and dutios, leab when the time for duty came thoy should bring themselves and the noble corps to which they belonged into contempt. All required to stand to their colours. Ihey should nob be afraid to acknowledge Christ and His Word. How many men and women seeraod to live dual lives. On Sunday they joined in worship and acknowledged themselves to be miserable sinners, but on Monday, when they went out into society, they were quite different. It was not necessary that they should be continually advising and lecturing, or reproving, thoso with whom they were brought into contact; but thoy could show that they disapproved of tho ribald joke and tho blasphemous expression, and they wero nob required to laugh whon the only fun was in the ribaldry, or blasphemy, or indeconcy. If they were ashamed of Christ now Ho would be ashamed of them when He came again in the glory of His Father. At tho close of the service the troops fell in and marched back to the Drillshed, where the parade was dismissed.