ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10420, 19 April 1897, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARIES. As usual the Pitt-street Wesleyan Sundayschool held its anniversary yesterday, when the church at each of the services was crowded, bat more excessively in the evening, when large numbers must have been turned away. The church looked exceedingly pretty under the decorations, consisting of hanging baskets of flowers and native heather, festooning of macrocarpa aud white and yellow chrysanthemums, relieved by cabbage tree bunches, pampas grass, and uikau branches right round the gallery, producing a very pretty and tasteful effect. The pillars of the gallery were wreathed as usual, whilst the rostrum was filled with pot plants, and with the school banner decorated at the back made the pulpit quite a feature of the decorations. On the front of the gallery facing the pulpit was the legend, tastefully executed, "Christ is Risen," in paper, with bordering, executed by Mr. Davis, the well-known church decorator, The Rev. E. Best preached in the morning, from Luke xxiv, 31, " And their eyes were opened, and they _ knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight." In the afternoon, the Rev. T. R. Richards gave an address to the children, on " Light," from the passage, "Ye are all the children of the light. In the evening, the Rev. W. J. Williams preached from 11. Timothy, i., 5. The collections for the day amounted to £39 Is 3d. Mr. W. F. Forbes officiated as conductor, and Mr. J. P. Hoot-on, as organist, the result being that the musical portion of the services was highly successful. The usual soiree takes place on Wednesday evening, with public meeting afterwards, The Rev. H. Bull presided, and the scholars, assisted by the orchestra, will render some of the anniversary music. The anniversary services of the Primitive Methodist Church Sunday-school (Franklin Road) were held yesterday, and were largely attended. The church was tastefully decorated for the occasion. A special selection of hymns was sung by the children, who were ranged in a choir at the head of the church. The morning, afternoon, and evening services were conducted by the Revs. R. F. Macnicol, J. F. Jones, aud J. Sharp, respectively. ________