ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11347, 16 April 1900, Page 3

ECCLESIASTICAL.

O-SUNDAY-SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. • At the Pitt-street Wcsleyan Church yesterday the services held in connection with the Sunday-school anniversary were well attended and very successful. The church was tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens, while tho national flag, displayed in front of the organ, greatly enhanced the effect produced. A special feature of the services was the singing of appropriate hymns by. the Sunday-school children, assistod by the orchestra. The singing was conducted by Mr. W. F. Forbes, while Mr. A. Peak presided at the organ, and Miss Millie Peak led '.be orchestra. At the morning service the Rev. W. Ready preached, basing his. discourse on Paul's shipwrecks, and_ pointing out the shoals and rocks to be avoided in tho voyage of life. The afternoon 1 service • was conducted by the Rev. W. Beckett, and in the evening. the Rev. J. G. Chapman preached on " Tho Religious Character of Joseph." Tho annual soiree in connection with' this anniversary will be held on Wednesday.evening. " . " '.

CONFERENCE OF. CHURCHES OF - ' CHRIST. ' ' The 17th annual" conference _ ofsOhurotics of Christ in the Auckland district, co-operat-ing together for evangelistic .purposes, was held in the Church Meeting House, Ronton by Road, on Good Friday, the chair being taken by Mr. J. L. Scott. Business commenced at half-past nine a.m. Delegates were present from Papakura, Warkworth, Pukekohe, Turua, Port Albert, North Albertland,' Wellsford, Glorit, and Te Arai. After a biiof and appropriate address from tho chairman, the time till luncheon at -half-pasttwelve was busily occupied in hearing and discussing reports from the various .committees, and other agencies, showing good work done during the past year, and considering and suggesting openings for fresh effort in the coming year. The treasurer's report showed a substantial balance ■ to. credit, after paying all expenses, and the promises for the coming year by churches and individuals were most gratifying, totalling up far in excess of the previous year, and justifying the recommendation to the new Evangelist Committee to engage an additional labourer to go further afield. Mr. Bull was cordially invited to labour in Auckland district for another year. After lunch the meeting was resumed at halfpast one, and arrangements completod for carrying on the work in the ensuing year. A resolution was passed, cordially agreeing with a proposal from the Middle , District Conference at Wellington, to co-operate in an effort to bring about a united conference of the various districts in New Zealand, about the dawn of tho new century, with a view to a united effort to extend Christ's Kingdom in this colony. A very earnest spirit animated the meeting, manifesting itself especially in the liberal manner in which each one came forward to supply the needful funds. This closed the actual business, the remainder of the afternoon being spent in listening to an essay on "Meditation: Its Pleasure and Profit," by Mr. H. Downey, which was well received and discussed. After partaking of a very enjoyable tea, the day's proceedings were fittingly brought to a close by a social meeting, presided over by Mr. J. C. Morton, when select musical items, recitations, and brief addresses filled up a programme thoroughly enjoyed by all present.