EASTER SUNDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11347, 16 April 1900, Page 6

EASTER SUNDAY.

Speoiai Easter services were held yesterday. Many of the churches were beautifully decorat6d ST. MARY'S CATHEDRAL.

St. Mary's Cathedral was arrayed in its brightest garb for the festival, a profusion of white and yellow chrysanthemums, dahlias, and cosmos rendering the task of the decorating guild a pleasant one. As the number of workers was larger than on previous occasions, the /deoorations were carried out on an extensive scale. The services were specially bright. ; The number of communicants at the seran and eight o'clock celebrations, when the Most Rev. the Primate and Archdeacon Clarke celebrated, was larger than usual. The Rev. George Mac Murray preachod and celebrated at the eleven o'clock service, when I there was choral morning prayer, followed by' choral communion. Tho vioar's sermori ; dealt with the relation of Christ's resurrection to human life beyond and on this sido of the grave. At a children's service in tho afternoon the licar gave an address on Christ's resurrection. The anthem/ at the evening service was " No Longer Must the Mourners Weep." Mr. Pollock sraig as an offertory solo, "lhou Didst Not; Leave My Soul in Hell." The singing was bright and hearty, notwithstanding tho fact that many of the malo members of the choir wero absent holiday-making. Tho vicar • ipreachcd from Col. iii. 4," Christ, Who is, our' Life." . Mr. R. Leslie Hunt, the organist, played tho " Hallelujah Chorus" at the; close of tho service in a masterly manner. I ST. PAUL'S.

At this church there were four services, viz.: Holy Communion (plain), at seven a.m.; second celebration (choral), at eight a.m.: festival service and Holy Communion (choral), at eleven a.m.; and festival service, with sermon, at seven p.m. At the first the vicar was j celebrant; .at the second the Rev. J. Campbell, M.A., waR celebrant, assisted by tho vicar; at the third, the vicar sang the service and celebrated. The lessons were read by the Rev. J. Campbell, who preached a striking sermon founded on Hosea vi. 2. At this service His Excellency the Governor, the Ocuntessof Ranfurly, and suite were present. The musio at eight a.m. was Cooper's " Service No. 4," while at eleven a.m. Cooper's "No. 2" was rendered, also Dykes' "To Deum in F" and Elvery's anthem, "Christ, Being Raised." The congregations were very largo at the morning services, the communicant attendance exceeding last year's by two, and being one of the best on record. In the evening there was again a very large congregation. The vicar took the first part, and tho lessons and second part were road and said respectively by Mr. A. J. Alloway, lay-reader. Tho choral portion, which was admirably rendered, included Field's " Magnificat and Dimittis in D," and King Hall's fine anthem, " Come, Ye Faithful." As an offertory solo, Mr. Ferriday gave in splendid style Handel's "But Thou Didst Not Leave," with the. preceding recitatives. The vicar preached a forcible sermon, foundod on Acts xvii. 18, "Jesus and the Rosurrection." The church was most tastefully decorated with nikau, box, ivy, Iycopodium, etc., and white flowers, chiefly chrysanthemums and dahlias. The,font, pillars, windows, lectern, pulpit, chancel rails, and altar were all decorated in a way that was both artistic and pleasing, the work of a little band of faithful helpers, of which this year a goodly number of young men, fortunately, formed a part. Mr. Phill. pot presided at the organ at all the services.

HOLY TRINITY (DEYONPORT). This church was very tastefully decorated with wreaths of greenery and white flowers, thanks to the liberality of friends in and out of the district. A largo contingent of workers wero kept hard at it the previous day, and of their work the sanctuary and reading-desk were specially noticeable for the artistic taste displayed. There were celebrations of tho Holy Communion at six, seven', eight, and eleven a.m., the latter being fully choral (Agutter). Church parado at halfpast nine a.m. was well attended by the volunteers at present in camp, who assisted materially in tho music, part of their band playing the hymns One of the hymns sung was written by a sister of General Hildvard. Children's service .was held in the schoolroom at three p.m., when the prizes were distributed by the vicar. Tho offertory of the children was for the Indian famine fund, and amounted to £1 3s lid. At seven p.m. festal evensong was sung, at which there was a large congregation. The vicar attain preached. Mrs. Wildman sang "Thou Shalt not Leave His Soul, in Hell," from the "Messiah," as an offertorium, and the music throughout tho day reflects the highest credit on the painstaking choirmaster. ALL SAINTS (PONSONBY). ■ The observance of Easter began with plain celebration of Holy Communion at a quarter to seven, when there were 68. communicants. There was a choral celebration at oight a.m., the catechism choir being in good force, considering how sadly volunteer encampments and holiday trips interfere with masculino church-going. Thore were 107 communicants, and tho singing was excellent. At those two services the vicar was assisted by the Rer. C. A. B. Watson. A good congregation was present at eleven a.m. The hymn 498 A. and M., "The Foe Behind," was sung at the offertory. In the placo of a sermon the vicar gave a short address, urging upon his hearers the duty of intercession for tho many bereaved ones, made desolate and broken-hearted by the horrors of tho present war, emphasising the powers of the resurrection as the great consoler. There were 70 communicants, making a total for the day of 245, a falling-off from last year. Tho brigado service in the afternoon was crowded as usual, and at evensong tho church was again full. Tho anthem, "The Lord is Exalted," and tho hymn 498 were sung by a full choir. The decorations far surpass anything that has ever been achieved thore, the wholo church being done entirely with lycopodium, asparagus ferns, and maiden hair, with quantities of white and gold chrysanthemums in every available place, tho wholo being dono with a light gracefulness which left nothing to bo desired.

ST. MARK'S. Easter services wore held yesterday in St. Mark's Church. At eight a.m. there was Holy Communion, and at eleven morning prayer and Communion, and evensong at seven p.m. Tho Rev. W. Realty preached morning and evening, his subjects being: Morning, . "Keeping the Feast," evening, ")Christ, tho Headstone." Thoro was a children's servico in the afternoon conduoted by the Rev. A, F. Smith. Tho musio during the day was appropriate to the occasion, the anthems being: Morning, " Christ Our Passover," by John Goff; evening, "Praise the Lord, 0 Jehovah," by J. H. Maunder, both of which wero well rendered by tho choir, under Mr. H.Connell. Madamo Wigmore was particularly happy in her choice of voluntaries, which wero of a bright and ehoorful character. The church was beautifully decorated with white flowers and evergreens, and th« congregations at fill services . v/ere large. - Service was also held in the Lower Eemuera Hall at eleven o'clock, conduoted by Dr. I'urchas, and the Rev. A. F. Smith. The latter. also took the evening service at Remuera Hall.

■ ST. PATRICK'S. The ceremonies appropriate to Holy Saturday commenced at seven a.m. Tho Very Rev Dean O'Reilly was celebrant, the Rev. Fathers Moore and Hennessey deacon and sub-deacon respectively, Father Purton master of ceremonies.' The Rev. Father O'Hara was also present. The Marist Brothers also assisted the clery by reading prophecies. On Easter Sunday the early Masses wore exceedingly well attended. _ There was ft vory large number of communicants at the first Mass, nearly the whole of the congregation receiving Holy The Guard of Honour choir gavo an exquisite "Concone's Mass." . During the nine o'clock Mass, which was ■ celebrated by the Rev. Father Moore, of Bendigo," who delivered an improssivo address to the children, the juvenile choir sang appropriate hymns. Thoro was a solemn High Mass at eleven o'clock, there being present a very good congregation. Tho Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly was celebrant, Father Moore deacon, Father Hennessey subdeacon. The choir, under Mr. Hiscocks, rendered very efficiently Mozart's "Twelfth Mass."' In the evening at vespers, thoro was a crowded congregation. • Father Hennessey presided fit vespers. The Very Rev. Dean preachod a telling sormon on tho resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Josus Christ, in which ho incidentally referred to the fact that a local minister of religion defended the views of a scientist who expressed his disbelief in tho resurrection, the preaehor expressing his surprise that one who believed in the Bible as tho rule of faith of Protestants, could publicly from his pulpit support such views. Benodiction of tho Most Holy Sacrament, by, tho Rev. Father Moore, assisted by tho Rev. Fathers Purton, 0.5.8., and . Hennessay,, as doacon and subdeacon, , followed, . tlio Dean being abo ' present ' in . the sanctuary. Tho choir, who 'musterod in full forco, was heard to full advantage, particularly in Zingarolli's ; " Laudato": and - Rossi's ' Tantum Ergo." Mr. Hartwcll presided at the organ in his usual efficient manner, Mr. HißCoekß agsin wielding the baton., '

ST. BENEDICT'S. The Holy "Week and Easter sorvioca were carried out in this 'church with solemnity and I' caro. ■ The . altar of repose for the Maundy Thursday services, «nd.the altars

for .Easter were decorated very beautifully by Miss O'Oonnell and Miss Dorley, assisted by the ladies of the Altar Society and . the children of Mary. The High Mass was sung at seven o'clock on Thursday morning, _ at which most of the children of the parish made their Easter ' communion, under tho care of ? their teaohers. The Convent' choir of the Surrev Hills sung the 'Mass both on Thursday • and Saturday mornings. The " Tenebrae" was recited on the Thursday and Good Friday nights, and the customary sermons were preached., At the eleven clock Mass.on Easter Sunday, Father Inness was the celebrant, Fathers farby and Gillan, deacon and sub-deacon. j The volunteers assisted at church parade. The services concluded last night with the solemn renewal of baptismal vows, procession; and benediction. There were largo congregations at all the services. ' ■

ST. DAVID'S. i Speoial services were conducted at- St. David's Presbyterian Church by tlio minister, the Rev. W. G. Dixon, M.A. In the forenoon the preacher discussed the ' question: "Did the actual body of Jesus Christ rise from the grave ?" and showed tho inadequacy of the various hypotheses advanced to explain away the fact of the resurrection. The evening service took the form of a service of praise. The proceedings commenced by the choir singing Palmer's " Jesus Christ has risen • to-day." Appropriate hymns and psalms were rendered. Palmer's' "Jesus Christ Died for Us and Rose Again" was sung as a quartette. Tho anthem was Caleb Semper's This is the Day. which the Lord has Made." There were largo congregations.

, ■ BERESFORD-STREET. - V At the Beresford-street Church yesterday morning the Rov. Joseph Parker preached on "Paul's testimony to the Resurrection."' Tho choir sang the anthem "Christ is Risen From the Dead." There were good congregations morning and evening.

KNOX CHURCH, PARNELL. The special Easter sen-ices yesterday wero well attended. The sermons preached were appropriate to the occasion, and the music exceedingly good. In the morning Mr. Kelly spoke on the "Descent into Hell" and the sequel, pointing out the various interpretations given to that part of our Saviour's experience. God could not leave Christ in tho grave. Tho resurrection vindicated Christ again3t the slanders and Jinbelief of the world, was a stage in His bodily development and a guarantee of the completeness of our redemption. In the ovening tho subject was "Consequences of Denying Christ's Resurrection." These were shown to be the falsification of Apostolic testimony, the loss of our personal hope, tho perishing of the pious dead, and tho misery of presentday believers. An earnest appeal was made to all to allow Christ, as risen Lord to become their Master, The anthems. ' Jubilate Deo" and "Rejoice in the Lord" were well rendered by a large choir under Mr. Bennett.

CENTRAL MISSION. ,v The Good Friday services at the Central Mission were well attended, and consisted principally of praise meetings, of which there were four. Yesterday there were three services, all well attended. That in the morning was a praise meeting, and at the evening service addresses were given by the Rev. Mr. Walker and Miss Baker. Sister Howard contributed a sacred solo.

CITY HALL. At the City Hall service last night the address was givon bv the Rev. Winchester Jackson, from Ecclesiastes vii. 8. Mr. W. Brakonrig was in the chair. Appropriate Easter hymns were sung. >' 1 ]

THE UNITARIAN SERVICE. In the Pitt-street Unitarian Church," the Rov. W. Jellie dealt with the subject of Easter, from the point of view of his church. Ho said: In the northfcm hemisphere there is a singular appropriateness in the religious festival of Easter which we cannot feel here. It is the beautiful season of the spring. The earth is arising, as it were, from its long slumber of i winter, and putting forth witnesses of the everlasting life, which lay concealed under the white nipping frosts and the snows of the storms. Long before Christianity our Teutonic forefathers celebrated Easter as symbolic of immortal life.:; The very name comes down from our Pagan ancestors. Long before Christ other northern nations were accustomed to hold festival at the same time for the same reason, and many beautiful stories are told embodying the return of the flowers and the joyousness of summer life. ! The Christian Church, as it spread over Pagan lands, tried in ram to eradicate these nature festivals. It . therefore wisely determined to transform them into Christian festivals. Mr. Jellie went on to show 'that our faith in the immortality ol Jesus and ourselves did not rest on the resurrection ot the body of Christ at all.

panmure. The ceremonies of the Holy Week were carried out strictly ,at the Panmure Catholic Church. A new organ was opened at the Panmure Catholic Church, and also at Ho wick, on Easter Sunday. The decorations of the Catholic Church at Panmure surpassed those of former years for the Easter season.