ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10098, 6 April 1896, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The anniversary sorvices of the Newmarket Primitive Methodist Church wero held yesterday, and wore largely attended. The morning service was conducted by Mr. David Goldio, tho afternoon service by Mr. J. W. Burton, and the evening service by the Rev. R. RiUne. Suitable sermons wore preached on each occasion. A tea meeting in connection with tho anniversary will be held to-morrow evening. , The anniversary of the Franklin Road Primitive Methodist Sunday-school was commemorated yesterday by threo special services, The Rev. W. A. Sinclair preached in the morning to a full congregation, and in the afternoon Mr. J. W. Burton addressed a largo gathering of young people on tho text, " Watch and pray." Special anniversary hymns woro very well sung by a largochoir, under the conductorship of Mr. W. ifemory, with Mr. A. Woolloy at tho organ. The Rev. R. Raino, pastor of tho church, took tho ovening service, which was al«o well attended, A public meeting will be held in connection with tho celebration on Tuesday next, and tho scholars' lea takes place oil the following Wednesday.

The anniversary services of tlio Pibbstreet Wesleyan Church Sunday - school we 10 held yesterday. The Rev. W.J. Williams preached in tho morning from Luke xxiii., 43, ami xviii., 10. In the afternoon tlio Rev. .Mr. Sinclair, or the Helping Hand Mission, gavo an address to scholars and parents on " .Manliness" The evening service was taken by the Rev. S. F. Prior, who preached from the passage " Thou God sees tine." All theservices were crowded, and in tho oveningnumbers were unable toobtain admission, the aisles being also filled with people sitting on forms. At tho various services the children sang choice hymns, under tho conductor6hip of Air. Forbes, Professor Lambert officiating as organist. Tho collections of the day amounted to £33 83 Id. Tho church was beautifully decorated with floral devices of every description, and also with nikau fronds, pungas, cabbago tree, hanging baskets of flowers and ferns, and wreaths of leaves intertwined carried round the pillars of the gallery. In front of the pulpit was tho sentence, "Christ is Rison," and 011 the sides and opposite end of the church as legends, " Ebenezer," " Jehovah Jireh," and " Emmanuel." These wore tho handiwork of Mr. Davis; were admirably and artistically executed, and must have entailed a largo amount of personal labour. On Wednesday thero will bo the usual tea and public meeting and special music by tho scholars and orchestra.

Tho Rev. S. F. Prior farewollod at St. John'* Wesloyan Church, Ponsonby, yesterday forenoon. He preached from the passage, " Feed My Lambs," and in closing briefly alluded to his approaching departure for Nelson. Ho loaves for his now circuit oil Monday week. Yesterday afternoon] at the Y.M.C.A. Rooms, Mr. Tlieo. Coopor gavo a vory earnest and thoughtful address on "Tho Resurrection," He dealt in an able manner with tiio objections ol present day sceptics to tho doctrine of tho resurrection, and showed how that doctrine was the keystone of Christianity, without which t;ho wholo structure would uttorly collapse. There was a large audience, which listened attentively to his arguments, and appeared to highly appreciate them. Mr. Thomas Buddlo was in the chair.

At tlio City Hall Sunday Evening Service, Mr. Choong, the Cliinose Missionary from Molbourno, pave an earnost address. He spoke from the parable of tho Good Samaritan, and gave in earnest and eloquent language a beautiful illustration of Christian spirit; and duty. His remarks wero closoly followed by tho largo audience and made a deep impression. On the platform were Mr. Joseph Lue, Chinese Missionary in Auckland, and Mr. Tlieo. Cooper. Mr. Thomas Buddlo, honorary secretary of tho Young Man's Christian Association presided. The Evangelistic choir, under the leadership of Mr. J no. 8011, rendered a number of Eastor hymns. At 6.30 yesterday evening, Mr. Cheong addressed an audience of his countrymen n't tho Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, in thoir native tongue. Some of them tnmo as far as from Otifihunga to hear him. Ho is a gifted and talented speaker.

R. Markham, a Kentish fruitgrower, writos as follows about the apple known as the Newton Wonder : —This comparatively new introduction of Messrs. Pearson, of Chilwell, is apparently a cross between the Blenheim Orange Pippin and Wellington, having a resemblance to both these varieties. I have not as yet grown it, but its good qualities are highly spoken of by Messrs. G. Bunyard, at whose nursery place I recently saw some heavy and handsome fruits. If the troos bear early, and aro fairly free from canker, then wo have in Newton Wonder a first-rate apple, which can bo kept in sound condition 1 ' till the inon(jh of May. It was exhibited by the rai-ei's before tho Royal Horticultural Society in 1887, receiving a first-class certificate. It is said to he eminently suited to cold soils aud districts, ' ■}