ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12017, 14 July 1902, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

THE REV. JAMES LYALL'S MISSION. There were large : congregations in St. Andrew's .. Church: yesterday, "when Mr. Lyall conducted both services. In the morning he preached on /',', The Great Expediency," based on John xvi. 7. and made' an earnest appeal to his hearers not to quench or resist, the Holy Spirit, '■- but rather to surrender themselves to His blessed ; indwelling. In the evening he urged the acceptance of Christ's offer, to; bestow: abundant life upon all who would receive .it. -i A deep impression was produced'upon the congregations. Mr. Lyall's mission continues all the week in St. Andrew's. The meetings commence each evening at a-quarter to eight.; ;,: ' " THE PROCESSION OF LIFE." Last night, at the Baptist Church, I'onspnby, the- Rev. J. A. Soper preached to a largo congregation. The sermon was on the ''Procession of Life." The preacher opened by saying the tramp of armed-men, accoutred in brilliant uniforms,'..-the roll of chariot wheels, the crash of music; and the streaming of banners in the streets of London when Ring Edward goes to Westminster to got his crown, will form .-'.* one of the grandest pageants ever witnessed. But the greatest of all processions is the procession of life. In this procession we all have a share —the meanest as well as the mightiest of men have a place somewhere in. the ranks. Wo are classified by the merest: external circumstances. : Hero is a mar with a brain fit to rule an Empire,; and he is laying bricks. Here is a man, an M.H.R., trying to make laws, and he ought to be in a blacksmith's shop making horse shoe?. There is nothing in all the world so honourable as honest industry. ;: Here they march, regiment after regiment, of farmers/miners, builders, operatives, : professors, Teditors, students, all aro workers; some with hand and some with brain, but all help to build up their country's wealth. The sermon, which was deeply interesting, closed with a vivid picture, of the judgment seat of Christ, .where the procession will halt and a true classification take place, and men who have marched side by side in time will go away either into heaven or hell according to their true character. CITY HALL SERVICE. There is an increasing interest manifested in this service. Last night; Mr. J. W. Lyall gave a stirring address : from 1. John iv. 8, which the speaker characterised as the greatest text in the Bible. : Mrs. .1. Stewart sang one of Sankey'3 solos. There was a brief after-meeting.