EASTER DAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10098, 6 April 1896, Page 3

EASTER DAY.

Easter Day was duly celebrated yesterday at all the Anglican aud Roman Catholic Churches, and though, for the most part, the churches of other communions were not as lavishly decorated, the services were specially appropriate to the occasion. EASTER SERVICES. St. Mary's Cathedral. — The Easter decorations at St. Mary's Cathedral were of a most chaste and elaborate character, reflecting the utmost credit on the ladies and others ,who assisted in preparing them. The altar bore magnificent bouquets of white chrysanthemums, and the front of the chancel, the gas pillars, the pulpit, lectern, and font were wreathed with evergreens and white chrysanthemums and cosmos. There were so many services that the church was virtually open all day. Holy Communion was celebrated at seven o'clock and again at eight; at half-past nine o'clock the usual service appointed for Easter, with special psalms, etc., was rendered, the Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers officiating. At 11 o'clock the Holy Communion service was chorally rendered, the Most Rev. Dr. Cowie, Primate of New Zealand, taking part in the service. He preached from St. John, xx., 20—" Then wero the disciples glad when they saw the Lord." In an earnest, thoughtful sermon, he demonstrated that the Resurrection ol Our Lord was the fundamental base as well as the motive power of Christianity. The processional hymn was hymn 134—"Jesus Chrst is Risen to-day,"and during the service hymn 140, "Jesus Lives," was sung. During the Communion service hymn 322, " And now, O Father, mindful of Thy Love," was sung impressively. At the evening service there was a crowded congregation. The anthem, "Christ is Risen." was beautifully rendered. The Rev. W. CurzonSiggers, acting vicar, preached a sermon on the historic and scientific truths attending the Resurrection of Christ.

St. Paul's.—At St. Paul's there were four services, viz., celebrations of Holy Communion at seven and eight a.m., festival service with choral communion at eleven a.m., and sermon by the vicar on Mark xvi.,9, 10; and festival service with sermon at. seven p.m. At this latter service the Primate read the second lesson and preached a thoughtful sermon, arguing the reasonableness of the future life beyond the grave from the text I. Corinthians xv., 16. The principal musical features were, in the morning, the anthem, " Christ Being Raised" (Elvey), and Cooper's communion service ; and in the evening, "Magnificat," and "Dimittis," to " Field in D," and Barnby's anthem, " Break Forth Into Joy." The church was very chastely decorated with nikau, pampas, lycopodium, box, etc., and white flowers; the pulpit, lectern, and chancel rails being specially noticeable. Over the eastern window there was the legend, "Sing Ye to the Lord for He hath triumphed gloriously,'' and 011 tho re-table another, lie is risen." All the services, and more especially tiie evensong, were largely attended, and the communicants numbered some twenty more than lust year.

All Saints. — The observance of the festival of K.ister begun at this Church with a Choral Celebration of Holy Communion at (i..'!o, when the music was in the hands of the Catechism Choir, accompanied by Mr. J. A. Beale, who sang thoroughly well, the usual Oegori in Service with Benedict lis and Agnus Dei. The Vicar was the celebrant, assisted by the Rsv. H. English. There were 87 communicants. At eight there was a plain celebration taken by the Rev. 11. English, assisted by the Vicar, there were 82 communicants. There was a full congregation at eleven, and a large choir. Pravers were said by the lay reader, Mr. J. S. Kayll, who lias kindly laid himself at the disposal of the Vicar during his recent illness, and the lessons were read by Mr. A. Vyvyan Hunt. The celebrant was the Rev. 11. English, and the Vicar ventured upon a short sermon on Easter Doctrines, there were 62 communicants. Barnby's Festal Te Deum, and Barnby's anthem " Break Forth Into Joy" were the musical features of this service, There was a brigade service of the whole Sunday-school at a quarter past three, when the Church was packed. Tho Catechism Choir, accompanied by Mr. Philpot and some of tho school orchestra, had charge of the music. The offertory at this service was in aid of the lit tic ones left fatherless bv the late mining disaster. It amounted to £2 lis fid. The preacher in the evening was the Veil. Archdeacon Dudley. The church was crowded, and the singing hearty. The anthem, "God hath appointed a day," was sung during the offertory. The decorations were distinctly good—crimson altar hangings and a new carpet for the foot pace and gospel step being new for the festival, and welt repaid the zeal and labour of the friends who collected the funds for, and did the work necessary for this new adornment. Im mortelles' appeared in great numbers—white for the sanctuary lights, pink for the choir, and -gold for the prayer desk, lectern, and pulpit. The font was done with moss, chrysanthemums, and cosmos, and looked well. The text, " For as in Adam all die, oven so in Christ shall all be made alive," ran across the chancel walls, and " l'liis is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice aud be glad in it," filled the windows in the nave.

St. Matthew's.—There were celebrations of the Holy Communion at seven, eight, and eleven o'clock, the celebrants being the Vicar and the Rev. Dr. I'tirchas, respectively. The communicants at the three services amounted to ISO There were large congregations both in the morning and evening, and at the latter the church was full to overflowing. The Rev. L. FitzCerald preached at eleven a.m. upon the text, Exodus xv., 21, and showed the points of resemblance between the Israelitisb victory there commemorated, mid the Christian victory of Easter Day. but said that the victory bore no fruits to those who could not appropriate it personally. The singing of the hymns and chants was bright and hearty, but the service was somewhat marred by a musical setting of the Athanasian Creed, which apparently neither clergyman, choir, nor people wore acquainted with. In the evening the sermon was from Revelation i., IS, and the preacher pointed out that when the words were spoken to the exile of I'atmos, Christianity seemed well nigh extinct in the Domitian persecution, and St. John was cheered by visions which showed him tho glory of the crucified, and the future triumph of the Church. Since then the church had lasted much over 1800 years, and yet showed no signs of decay; that could only be accounted for as the work of a living Christ, guiding, and protecting, and preserving. The decorations, which were very tasteful, were of a most finished character, white flowers, evergreens, and lycopodiuni being displayed in profusion on altar, pulpit, and screen. A handsome new altar cloth was used for the first time. The anthem, " Break forth and Sing" (liarnhv), was sung in the evening, and during the offertory "Thou Did'st not Leave" was feelingly played by Mr. A. Towsey.

St. Sepulchre's.—Easter Day was commemorated yesterday at St. Sepulchre's by services at half-past six, half-past_ seven, eleven, and seven p.m. The children's service was unavoidably postponed until Sunday next. At the three early services there we re 235 partakers of Holy Communion, and throughout the day the congregations were very large. The Venerable Archdeacon Dudley preached in the morning from the text Mark xiv. 3, and delivered a helpful discourse. In the evening the Rev, Mr, Beck preached and took as his text John, xx., 1, "The first day of the week comcth Mary Magdalene, early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and scelh the stone taken away from the sepulchre." The Rev. Dr. Purchas assisted at both services. The decorations were better organised, more profuse, and more carefully carried out than (or many years past, and the church looked very beautiful. Special Easter music was rendered by the choir, and at the evening service tho instrumental part was augmented by several stringed instruments, with marked effect.

St. Thomas's— Cortainly one of the most tastefully decorated of the Auckland churches for the Easter festival was St. Thomas's, Union-street, where services of a very bright and attractive character were held during the day. Special attention had been paid to the adornment of the altar, an effect which was at once chaste and impressive, being secured. Tho chancel screen, the choir, and the body of the church were also artistically decorated with carefully arranged flowers and evergreens, whiloihe pulpit wasquitea work of art. The attendances on the various occasions W'.re very satisfactory. The services were choral, the singing being most hearty. At morning prayer the Rev. \V. M. Dußieu, the vicar, officiated, being assisted by the Rev. J. W. Alio way. The vicar preached an appropriate sermon, urging that Easter was a time of rejoicing for Christians, and was also a time when men should for a while look away from their own weakness and frailty to tho strong Christ. At tho evening service there was a very largo congregation, tho music being again a special feature. There were, a large number of communicants at the celebrations at eight o'clock Mid after Morning Prayer, and altogether tho festival at St. Thomas was an unusually bright and earnest one from every point of view. EPIPHANY.—At the Epiphany Church,yesterday morning and evening, the usual Easter-day services were held, the Rev. Mr. Lush (incumbent) preaching on both occasions. In the afternoon the Rev. gentleman addressed tno Sunday-school scholars, of whom there were a largo number present, and distributed the prizes to the young tolks for the past year's work. Specif*l anthems were sung by tho full strength of the choir, I the "Te Ueuin,' in particular, being most I effectively rendered. The interior of the

church was suitably decorated with flowers and evergreens, and large attendances were present at the services. Holy' Trinity (Devonport).— Good Friday there were three services ac the Holy Trinity Church, all fairly well attended. The service at 2.30 p.m. was devoted to the seven addresses 011 the saving of our Lord uttered on the Cross and which is becoming a very popular devotion both at home and in the colonies. The attendance was good and the attention all that could be wished: the hymns between each address were sung unaccompanied. The locum tenens, the Rev. W. M. Edwardes preached, and the addresses must have been found useful as impressive. On Saturday the last Lenten service was held and at 7.30 the first vespers of Easter were sung. _On Easter Day there were four services, including two celebrations of Holy Communion, the second of which, at eleven a. 111 , formed a complete service, to which all the congregation stayed, as is the mind of the Book of Common Prayer. There were largo numbers of communicants at both. The large mixed choir rendered the music most devotionally, and the organist made the most of the very unworthy harmonium at present in use. It is hoped chat before another Easter dawns, a projected new organ will be a realised fact. The church was most i-Vnrely decorated with real flowers, by a hand of ladies who have taken up the work of tending the chancel and sanctuary, and working at the decorations, on Sundays and feasts. The font, pulpit, reading pew and, last not least, the altar, were beautiful and appropriate in their adornments, and speak of loving labour and care. The sermon in the morning, preached by the locum tenuis, was on the text " This is the day which the Lord hath made,' Psalm cxviii, 24, and in the evening, when the service was full choral, on the words " What mean ye by this service ?" from the morning's first lesson. The anthem, which was very well rendered, was "Blessed he the Lord God," by S. Wesley, the solo being sung by Miss H. Burgess. St. Mark's, Rumouiia.—At this place of worship, yesterday, services were held at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The incumbent preached at the forenoon service and the curate at the evening service. Mr. McMillan presided at the organ. Dykes's festal service throughout was used in the morning, the Athanasian Creed being chanted to Tall is in C. Tour's setting to the "Magnificat" and "Nunc Diinittis" was chosen for the evening service, which was fully choral. The anthem, "They have taken away my Lord' 1 was effectively rendered by the choir, the solo being artistically sung by Miss Crnwther. The organist as a concluding voluntary gave the " Hallelujah Chorus." The church was beautifully decorated with chrysanthemums, the array of pot plants being very tasteful. Newton Congregational.—There were large congregations at the Newton Congregational Church at which special Easter services were held. The Rev. F. Warner preached, in the morniug nn the subject "The Dawn Breaks over the Empty Grave." and. in the evening 011 "The Conquering Christ." Special hymns and anthems were rendered. There were a large number of communicants at the communion service.

St. Patrick's.—At St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral yesterday special services were held throughout the day. At early Mass the Rev. Father Mnlvihill officiated, and large numbers approached and received Holv Communion. The Rev. .Father Madden conducted the ceremonies at nine o'clock, and at eleven o'clock the Rev. Father Buckley sang the " Missa Cantata." Father Mulvihill gave vespers in the evening, and the Rev. Father Madden preached an eloquent sermon on tho resurrection, the text being "He is Risen." After the service the procession of the Blessed Sacrament, comprising the children of St. Mary, the Guard of Honour, and the girl pupils of the Convent School walked through the aisles, and at the Benediction the children lined round the altar rails bearing lighted candles, the effect produced being most impressive and imposing. The canopy was borne by four Marist Brothers. In the morning Haydn's Imperial Mass was superbly rendered by the choir, under the able conductorship of Mr. Hiscock, Mr. Hartwell presiding at the organ. The difficult solos in the " Eyrie" received full justice at the hands of Miss H'.irgreavcs. In the "Gloria" the soloists were Miss C. Lorriiran (soprano). Miss Ivcenan (alto), Mons. Casier (tenor), and Mr. Thompson (basso), the special feature of which was Mr. Thompson's rendition of the bass solo, " Qui Tollis." Tho beautiful solo, " Incarnatus," was sweetly sung by Miss Quinn, and the " Agnus Dei," a lovely alto solo, was in the capable hands of Miss Lonergan. The feature of the evening was Mons. Casier's rendering of the tenor solo in the "Ode to St. Cecilia," which was given for the second time in Auckland, and received full justice. The instrumentalists were; Messrs. Tunis, 'I'. O'Beirne, Amodeo Bros., Parker, Edmonds, Edmonds, j unhand Master 11. Hiscock.

Church of Tin: Sacked Heart.—At the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ponsonby, High Mass was held at 7 and 10 a.m. The Very Rev. Father Lenihan wits celebrant and Weber's Mass in 0 was well performed by the choir, with full orchestra ami organ. The solos were tastefully rendered bv Misses Tole, Staunton, Ivearncv. and Carrigan, Mrs. Ralph and Messrs. Ralph and Darby, the exquisite Benedictus especially being rendered in a finished manner. At vespers Groeya's beautiful service was given in its entirety. Mr. Wallet skilfully led the orchestra, Mrs. Ralph ably presided at the organ, and the whole was produced under the conduotorship of Mr. 8. Adams. At the evening service Mr. T. Adams played on tho trumpet as mi offertory piece " Sullivan's " Lost Chord" in tin impressive manner. There were iarge congregations at all the services and the altar was beautifully decorated.

St. Joiik the Baptist.—The whole of the services at St. John the Baptist's Church (Parnell) were conducted yesterday by the Rev. Father Kehoe. parish priest. The altar of the church was most tastefully decorated with evergreens and white cosines and chrysanthemums. Masses were celebrated at 7.30 and at 10.30 a.m., at both of which the rev. father made a few appropriate remarks. In the evening at vespers ami Benediction he preached an eloquent address oil tho subject of the Resurrection.

Onehuniia.—Appropriate Easter sermons were preached yesterday at the several churches at Onehuncju. At St. Peter's Anglic in Church the Rev. J. Hewlett ofliciatcd at the morning service, and preached an eloquent sermon from the text, " He is risen." The rev. gentleman also preached again at the evening service, Suitable anthems were rendered at both services, Miss Jackson presiding at the organ. At the Presbyterian Church the Rev. W. Watt, Moderator of the New Zealand Assembly, preached at eleven a.m. ftom the text, If ye love Me, keep My Commandments." At the close of the service the pastor, tho Rev. R. Ferguson, administered Holy Communion. A children's service was held in tho afternoon, conducted by the Rev. R. Ferguson, who _ gave an address on the "Auckland Chimes." At the evening service the pastor preached an eloquent sermon from tho subject, "The Market of Grace.'" The morning service at the Wesleyan Church was conducted by the Rev. J. S. Risliworth, who preached from the text. "Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell; neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption." In a lucid address the preacher combated tho popular idea of people entering into heaven immediately after death. He said that all men at death, both good and bad, go to the spirit world, to which Christ went at his death and preached to tlio spirits in prison. Commenting on Christ's ministry to the imprisoned spirits the rev, gentleman could not hold out any hope of a second probation to the ungodly, but confessed that the fact of Christ preaching to the disobedient was to him a mystery, The pastor, Rev. W. J. Williams, preached at the evening service to a large congregaRation, and urged upon all present to " taste and see that the Lord is good." At the close of the service the members partook of the Lord's Supper. Both services at the Congregational Church were conducted yesterday by the pastor, Rev. B. Rhodes. At the morning service the learned gentleman delivered a thoughtful address, taking for his subject. "Relation of the Resurrection to Christian Thought." At the Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption mass was celebrated by the Rov. Father Paul at 7 a.m. and at 10 a.m. At 6.30 p.m. the rosary and benediction was said by the Rev. Father Paul.

MANOERK.-At the Mangere Presbyterian Church the pastor, Rev. J. Headrick, preached sermons appropriate to the day; as also did the Rev. H. Bull at tho Mangere Wcsleyau Church. St. Benedict's.—At early masses at St. Benedict's yesterday, largo numbers approached Holy Communion, the Revs. Dr. Egan and Father Gregory officiating. At High Mass, at 11 o'clock, the choir, under the able conductorship of Mr. W. E. Baxter, assisted by an orchestra (led by Mr. Kent), rendered Gounod's "Messe Solcnnelle," tho solos being taken by Messrs. John Fuller and P. E. Ediniston. At the offertory Mr. Puller sang Murphy's " Ave Verum." The orchestra also played a magnificent march by Carl Volti, entitled "The Melbourne March." Father Egau spoke powerfully and suitably to the season. Ac vespers, the" Dominium" and "Dixit," by Est, ami Millard's brilliant ''Magnificat" were given, the soloists being Miss ALorrigan and Messrs. Fuller and 0. Lorrigan. Miss Clara Lorrigan also sang Waucampt's "Ave Maria," and Mr. Fuller rendered Zingarelli's "Laudate," and "If with all your hearts." The altar was very neatly and tastefully decorated,and reflected great credit upon the ladies who took charge of the work. Masses were also celebrated at the Surrey Hills Convent.