ECCLESIASTICAL.

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

ECCLESIASTICAL.

St. Mary's Cathedral.— harvest festival was celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral Church yostorday, and it was manifest that a deep interest was taken in ib, for the church was artistically decorated, and an abundant display was made of fruits, vegetables, and sheaves of corn. Tho front of the chancol was almost smothered in appropriate groupings erected round the posts and candelabra, sheaves interwoven with flowers and evergreens forming tho principal feature here as well as on the gas pillars in tho body of the church. The raised stop which extends along tho fronb of the chancol, as well as the base of the pulpit and the font at tho other end of the church wero piled with handsome fruit and vegetables, which will form it welcome treat to tho charitable institutions of the parish amongst which they will be distributed. The Rev. W. Curzon Siggors officiated, and in tho morning tho subject of his sermon was Tho Creation having its climax in Harvest as witnessing to Sacramental life. The next feature dealt with was Beauty as being the living expression of the highest mind only requiring material to mo it manifestation. Ho then proceoded to show that tho Incarnation was the highest expression of mind, and man must realise the life of Christ in order to give material expression to the beauty implied by his ireaticin in the imago of Cod. In the oven>ie, Garrett's evening sorvice was rendered, and tho anthem was, " Blessed be tho namo of tho Lord." The Rov. W. Curzon-Siggera again officiated, and preached on the Incarnation, as relating to the sacraments as a climax of the principle underlying Cone sis, viii., 22, While tho oarth remaineth, seod time and harvest shall not fail, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Special harvest thanksgiving services were hold at St. Thomas's Church, Unionstreot,' yesterday. The building was very tastefully decorated with a plentiful supply of Qowors, fruit, vegetables, and foliage. The general effect was most attractive. Holy Coommunlon was celebrated at eight a.m. and eleven a.m. Rev. W. M. Du Riotl officiated and preached an appropriate sermon. In the evening Rev, W. H. Wilson was the preacher. The attendance was very largo. The ministers attending the Wesleyan Conference filled the pulpits of the Wesloyan Churches in tho city and suburbs yesterday, and also kindly furnished tho ministerial supply for Bomo of the churches of sister denominations. The usual evangelistic address was given at tho City Hal! last evening. There was a good attendance. Mr. C. E. Button, M.H.R., presided. The Rev. Mr. Griffith gave an address en " The Meaning of Our Lifetime," from Psalm xo., 12, which was listened to with great attention, NAVAL SERVICES.

The Rev. Mr. Hartley, chaptain of tho fleet, kindly arranged with the authorities of the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Churches for special services at 9.30 a.m. for the seamen and marinos belonging to these communions serving in the squadron. There was a good congregation of Presbyterians at the service at St. Andrew's Prosbyterian Church, Alton Road, which was conducted by tho Rev. R. Somerville, of St. Petor's, Surrey Hills, his discourse being based on the incidonb in the gospels, of "Christ Stilling tho Storm." The office-bearers of the church presented each of the men with a copy of a pamphlet entitled, " Old St. Andrew's, the ' Mother Church' of Auckland Presbytorianism,' (originally published in a series of articles in the Herald), so that they might) know something of the historical reminiscences of the old church-extending over half a century—in which they had thab day worshipped for the first time. The services ac the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church was attended by aboubono hundred soaraen and marines. The |Rev. W. J. Watkin delivered a characteristic discourse, based on Nelson's last signal message at Trafalgar, "England expects this day each man will do his duty." He spiritualised the message, and showed that not only their coutpy expected them to do their duty, but their follow countrymon in oar colonial Empire, the world at large, and that it was required at their hands by their Creator. The preacher held up a high ideal of duty as tho one thing which became a man and a Christian, giving; unto Ctßsar that which is Camr's, and unto God that which is God's. The Methodists olaim to have over 25,000 men in Her Majesty's forces, and are now the fourth denomination having chaplains, the other three being the Church of England, Presbyterian, ana Roman Catholics.