EASTER DAY AT THE CHURCHES.

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

EASTER DAY AT THE CHURCHES.

Yesterday being Easter Sunday, one of the great festivals of the ecclesiastical year, the services in the various Anglican and Roman Catholic were of a suitable character. In contrast to the sombre appearance of the surroundings of the services on Good Friday, and the general absence of all ornaments on that occasion, the splendidly profuse and artistic decorations yesterday, were striking and brilliant, and the weather being favourable, the number of churchgoers and communicants was unusually large. In several churches of other denominations, too, the special teachings of Easter were given prominence either in the hymns or sermons, or in both. St. busy's cathkdral. The Easter festival was duly celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral, Paruell, by fitting services. The church decorations were this year carried out on a scale rarely attempted before, and were singularly chaste aud beautiful. The unlimited supply of chrysanthemums, cosmos, and white dahlias enabled the many willing workers to achieve great artistic results, and a truly festive appearance did the Cathedral present, lii his morning sermon the vicar (the Rev. George Mac Murray) referred to the spirit in which the work of decoration should be done—the spirit of love for Christ. He said that if church decorators were moved by this spirit they would gladly lavish gifts of ministry in beautifying God's house. Right lovingly was the work done in St. Mary's if they might judge by results. There wore celebrations of the Holy Communion at 7 a.m., 8 a.m., and 11 a.m., and not for years have there been so many communicants, such large congregations or offertories on Easter Day. The full choral services at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. wer? splendidly rendered by the choir under Mr. R. Leslie Hunt, the Cathedral organist, the anthem in the evening being " Christ, the First Fruits (Herbert Stinney). There was a very large congregation of children at the 3 p.m. service, which was also full choral, The vicar, who was assisted throughout the day by the Ven. Archdeacon Clarke, preached in the morning from Mark xvi., 1 to 3, and in the evening from Matthew xxviii., S. epiphany church. The Easter services at Euiphauy Church, Newton, were well attended, and were of an unusually bright and hearty character. The building was very tastefully decorated with flowers, pampas grass, and lycopodium, the altar, chancel, and font looking especially beautiful. The abundance of white chrysanthemums was a marked feature of the decorations. The singing throughout the day was led by a large and efficient choir, and was decidedly good in every respect. There were two celebrations of the Holy Communion, one at eight a.m. aud the second after Morniug Prayer. At the latter servico the, church was quite full, the Bishop of Melanesia giving an earnest and impressive address on the words "Can these bones live" (Ezekiei xxxvii, 3). The Bishop commeuced by referring to the reasonableness of belief in a future state, and urged that instinct, reason, aud the conditions nf our present lite, each answered in the affirmative the question, " Can these bones live ?" He then proceeded to compare and contrast modem civilisation with life as ho found it among the Melanesiaus. The wonderful appliances and inventions to be seen on every hand among civilised people made it clear that the islanders among whom he worked were in such matters centuries behind. Still there were somo things in which civilised men were not so very far in advance of savage races. They had only to look at their- streets at night and to glance at the newspapers to feel that civilisation had its evils, and that in many respects it was rotten. On the borderlands, such as in parts of Africa, where civilisation and heathendom came in contact, he feared that in the sight of God the comparison would too often be in favour of the latter. Civilised inon heard in their churches the words "Thou shalt do no murder," and yet they deluged heathen lands with spirits of the worst description, and thereby killing the people by thousands, and the same sort of thing had come under his own observation. If this is what men belonging to civilisod countries were doing on the outskirts of civilisation, where they could practically do what they like, would they not do things equally bad .in their own lands were it not for the fear of the law, the prison, and the gallows. Looking at these evils connected with civilisation, they might well ask, "Can these bones live ?" They could live if only Christian people determined to do God's will at all costs, and to keen their hands clean of evils such as he hid pointed out. The Bishop spoke very earnestly, and concluded with a strong appeal to his hearers to make full use of all the means of grace available for them. The address was listened to with the closest attention. The Rev. W. E. Lush read the lessons aud prayers. At the Communion service which followed, the Bishop was celebrant. At the evening service there was another large congregation.

St. Matthew's. St, Matthew's church was fully decorated throughout, the number of whito wreaths and crosses of choice flowers being a special feature of the decorations. The sanctuary presented an especially beautiful appearance, with masses of white chrysanthemums and cosmos upon a background of box. Upou the screen were suspended baskets of white and scarlet flowers, with hanging passion green, and surmounted by a large white floral cross above a wreath of cosmos and ferns. The organ and font were tastefully adorned with _ white flowers and evergreens, and over the windows some floral trellis - work displayed great taste and industry. Two large texts, in white and scarlet and blue and white, gave the church a very finished appearance. There were celebrations of the holy communion at 6.30, 7.30, aud 11 a.m.; the celebrants being respectively the vicar (Rev, L. FitzGerald) and the Rev. E. Hayter Cox. The communicants during the day numbered 200. At 11 a.m. prayers were said by the vicar, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. E. Hayter Cox upon the text" Now is Christ risen from the Dead'' (I. Cor., xv., 20), pointing out that the truth of the Resurrection carries with it the truth of the whole Gospel and the assurance of the future resurrection of humanity. The anthem was "The Lord is Kins" (Gill); "Te Deum" (Jackson), and " Benedictus" (Stainer). In the evening the vicar preached on Gen., xl., 14, laying stress ou the great truth of the incompleteness of the present state of humau existence to be perfected in the hereafter. The anthem was "Christ being Raised" (Webb), tho solos and duet being especially well rendered by Mrs. and Miss Morrill, The "Magnificat" and "Nunc Dimittis" were Bennett's in F, and the " Te Deum" was sung at the conclusion of the service. The congregations were large throughout the day. ALL SAINTS. The observance of the Feast of the Resurrection commenced at this church with a celebration of Holy Communion at half-past six, when the Rev. John King Davis was the celebrant, the Vicar assisting. There was a choral celebration at half-past seven, the Vicar being celebrant, and the Rev. John King Davis assisting. _ There was an excellent choir (the Catechism choir), 33 strong, and the singing was exceedingly good. A third celebration took place at half-past nine, and a fourth after matins. Altogether there were over 230 communicants, There wag a [ large congregation at eleven, and the singing 1 was most hearty, Sir JohnGoss's, " The Lord is my Strength," being sung during the offertory. Prayers were said, and the lessons read by Mr, Watson, lay preacher, at eleven a.m. and seven p.m. The feature of the day was perhaps the children's Brigade Catechism at a quarter past three p.m., when the church was packed, many standing all through, and large numbers were unable to get in. The organ was supplemented by the All Saints' orchestra (18 strong), and the effect was magnificent. The long procession of choristers with their two banners, one leading, and the other dividing the men from the boys, produced a fine effeor. At evensong the church was again crowded, and Stainer's canticles and the same anthem as that at Matins were well sung. The decorations were on the same lines as those recently adopted, viz., less heavy and more detail work. Six vases were on the super altar, and the choir seats, prayer desk, lectern. and pulpit were hung with white, with delicate wreaths of green leaves aud flowers. The font was all white and green, with a canopy of ferns and flowers. The collections for the day amounted to £1510s. ST. sepulchre's. The decorations of this church were perhaps superior to those of any previous year. There was an abundant supply of lycopodium and white flowers, and the workers were many in number, willing, and capable. There were fiveserviees.includiugthreecelebrationsofthe Holy Communion, the communicants numbering 249, of whom 150 came in the early morning. In the afternoon a bright children's service was held, when an instructive address was delivered by the Rev. J. Kayll. In the evening the church was thronged, the Bishop of Melanesia preaching a most interesting and helpful sermon on " the Power of Christ's Resurrection." The music, especially at the evening service, was excellent , The collections for the day, which were towards the extension of the overdraft, and to provide the cost of painting the exterior of the building, amounted to £118. ...;-., ST. PAOL's. . - ':.•„'-■.',?; At St.' Paul's Church; ■. Symond-ltreet, there were four services, namely, Holy Commuuiou, plainly rendered, at 1 »,m.;' at 8

a.m., a semi-choral celebration; and at 11 a.m. a festival service, with choral Communion ; and at 7 p.m. festival service, with sermon. The services were well attended throughout, the attendance of communicants only being twice exceeded in the time of the present vicar, and that by little. All the services were taken by the Rev. Canon Nelson, assisted by Mr. G. D. Ingall, lay reader. The anthem in the morning was " Christ our Passover" (Goss), the solo of which was sung by Miss Buttiinore. The evening anthem was Come, Ye Faithful" (Hall), which is likely to be a favourite anthem of its kind, the solo parts of the same being taken by Messrs. Lewis and Briggs. During the offertory Madame Chambers sang Handel's wellknown aria, "I know that my Redeemer liveth," in a manner which was most devotional and expressive. The music throughout was worthy of the great festival. The sermons by the vicar were founded on I. Corinthians v., 7, and Mark ix., 9 and 10. At the evening service the church was filled to its utmost capacity, The sacred edifice was most tastefully decorated with white flowers, ferns, and foliage; possibly surpassing anything that has been done before at St. Paul's, which is Baying a great deal. Mr. J, H. Phillpot presided ac the organ in a manner that left nothing to be desired. ST. MARK '8. At St. Mark's, Remuera, Easter services were held at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., the congregations being large at each service. The decorations were abundant and tasteful, and reflected great credit on all concerned, At 8 a.m., and after Morning Prayer there were celebrations of Holy Communion. The vicar (the Rev. W. Beatty) preached eloquent and impressive sermons both in the morning and evening. The services were choral, the anthem in the evening being Gadsby's " He is Risen." During the offertory Mr. J. Ryan gave a spirited rendering of " Arm, Arm ye Brave." The music reflected great credit on the organist (Mr. Macmillan) and the choir, st. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL The great festival of Easter was celebrated with great solemnity, and at the different services the church wis thronged. At the early Mass (7-30 a.m.) a very large number received holy communion, and the Guard of Honour Society sang the mass with great taste and effect. Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at 11 a.m. by Dr. Lenihau, Father Purton being assistant priest, Fathers Croke and Buckley, deacon and sub-deacon respectively, and Father Mulvihill and T. Guscott, masters of ceremonies. The choir, under Mr. Hiscoeks, gave a magnificent rendering of Haydn's Imperial Mass, crowning the beautiful and pathetic Passion music rendered during the different evenings of the Holy Week. The decoration of the high altar received much admiration for the profusion of beautiful flowers, and the taste with which they were arranged. In the evening Vespers were sung in the presence of His Lordship the Bishop, who afterwards spoke to a crowded congregation. He thanked the different Sooietics of the parish for their assistance in carrying out the ceremonies of Holy Week; t hen dwelt on the great dogma of Christian faith— resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was listened to with great attention. As His Lordship the Bishop entered the Cathedral, the organist (Mr, Hart well) played a stately "Entree de Procession" of broad diatonic character, which he had composed expressly for the occasion.

ST. BENEDICT'S. At St. Benedict's Church, Newton, the early masses were numerously attended, and there was a large number of communicants. The Revs. Fathers Brodie and O'Gallagher, officiated, the latter also conducting a special service at Surrey Hills Chapel. A solemn high mass was snng at 11 o'clock, the celebrant being the Very Rev. Dr. Egau, 0.5.8., assisted by the Rev, Fathers Brodie and O'Gallagher as deacons. The Rev. Dr. Euan addressed the congregation on the festival of Easter, and conveyed the season's greetings to all the parishoners, and also expressed his appreciation of the cordial welcome that had been extended on all sides to his newlyappointed assistants, the Rev. Fathers Brodie and O'Gallugher. The mass chosen for the festival was Haydn's Imperial Mass, which was sung by the choir, assisted by several friends, the soloists being the Misses Lorrigan and Mr. \V. Whelan. Mr. H. T. Bosworth, the newly-appointed conductor, wielded the baton, and gave ample proof of his ability in the excellent result which he produced. In the evening, vespers were sung and followed by a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The service was concluded by solemn Benediction, given by the Rev. Dr. Egan, 0.5.8., assisted by the Rev. Fathers Brodie and O'Gallagher, _as deacons. A feature of the musical portion of the evening service was a " Laudate Pneri," composed for the occasion by Mr. H. T. Bosworth. CITY hall. At the City Hall service, on Sunday evening, Mr. John Sinythe occupied the chair. The Rev. A. Mitchell giving an address from I. Corinthians, xv., 13, 16, dealing with the evidences of the Resurrection. Appropriate Easter hymns were sung. There was a good attendance. ONEHUNGA. Easter sermons were preached in all the churches yesterday at Onehunga. The services at the Anglican Church were conducted by the Rev, Canon Haselden, and appropriate anthems were rendered by the choir. Special anthems were also sung at the Wesleyan Church, where the Revs. J. 8. Rishworth and S. Lawry were tile preachers for the day, At the Presyyterian and Congregational churches the preachers were the Revs. James Hill and B. Rhodes respectively. At the Roman Catholic Church the chief feature that characterised the devotions of Easter Sunday was the large number of the congregation that approached Holy Communion.