ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12399, 12 October 1903, Page 6

ECCLESIASTICAL.

BISHOP NELIGAN ON THE DEMANDS OF CHRISTIANITY.

The Right Rev. Dr. Neligan, Bishop of Auckland, delivered the second of his course of sermons upon th© "Nature and Character of the Demands of Christianity," before a crowded congregation, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, yesterday evening. Last week the Bishop showed that Christianity demanded faith in a person, being thus differentiated from every other religion in the world. Its claim was as unique in character as it was daring in nature. The phenomenon of Christianity was that the teacher was greater than the teaching. Following up this train of thought the Bishop pointed out last night that the demand involves us in discipline and trial. During our Lord's ministry many were offended at His sayings. He claimed to be the revelation of the Father, and 'from that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. What happened • then happens now, and the reason was the same, namely, want of recognition of the fact that there must be discipline and trial where you trust a person. There was a desire for scientific demonstration. It was not bad men who raised this cry. Often their lives were generous, pure, and noble; but their negation of faith in Christ was as sad as sit was illogical and inconsistent. Evidence was asked for of a sort neither possible nor reasonable.. All thinking men had difficulties and doubts at times. All sceptics were doubters; but all doubters were not sceptics. There could be no trust or faith' apart from discipline and trial, and there could be no such process as discipline and trial if the appeal were only to intellect. Men demanded certainty in matters of faith but the obvious retort was that where certainty existed faith , must vanish. They asked that Christianty be demonstrated, and then they would believe in it. We all believed in morality, but we had no scientific demonstration of it. The instinct of doubt could be overcome by calling up another instinct— and. faith is justified by the:" experience of life. God had revealed himself along the lines of human experience in the Incarnation. It was far easier not to believe in a personal God at all than to believe that he wornd have left us without evidence of His love. Revealed religion might be beyond reason, but not contrary to reason. Revelation was along the lines of what men might expect. The discipline and trial of faith in the Incarnate Son of God was only what reason led men to expect. That very discipline and trial made them men. The Bishop concluded with the following quotation from Browning:— 0 heart I made, a heart beats here! Pace My hands fashioned, see it in Myself! Thou has no power nor may'st conceive of

Mine, But love' I gave thee, with Myself to love And 'thou must love Me who have died for Thee.

The" series of sermons will bo continued next Sunday, when the Bishop will show what the demand of Christianity involves as regards moral culture.

CONFIRMATION SERVICE. Yesterday afternoon Bishop Neligan field a confirmation service at St. Thomas' Church, Union-street, when 15 candidates were presented by the vicar (th© Rev. W. M. Du Rieu, M.A.). There was a very large congregation, the building being crowded. The Bishop gave two most impressive addresses, one before and one after the act of confirmation. He spoke of the Christian race, which, he said, was always uphill, and of the warnings and encouragements for those engaged in this race contained in Holy Scripture. He also referred to the need of daily prayer, of the study of the life of Christ in the four Gospels, and of regular attendance at the Holy, Communion. The Bishop's earnest words were listened to most attentively. There was a large choir in attendance, and the musical portion of the service was all that could be desired.

BERESFORD-STREET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The 51st anniversary of the Beresford-street Congregational Church Sunday-school was celebrated at special services yesterday. There were good congregations during the day. In the forenoon the Rev. J. G. Chapman conducted the service. In the after- ' noon Air. A. Moßoan (student of Prince Albert College), in the unavoidable absence of the Rev. W. Gray Dixon, delivered an address ;to the children. The Rev. John Wilkins, pastor of the church, conducted the evening service. ' He preached from the text, "Behold I stand at the door and knock," giving, in the course of his sermon, a description of Holman Hunt's picture, "The Light of the "World,". which is one of the collection at Keblo College, Oxford. The children and the choir,rendered special music at all the services. Mr. F. Cousins trained the children in the singing, and it spoke well for his skill that no conducting was necessary yesterday, thus adding to the reverence of the service. The collections taken up during the day were in aid of the Sunday-school anniversary. There will bo a tea and social for the children in the schoolroom to-morrow evening.

MOUNT EDEN BAPTIST SUNDAY- , SCHOOL. Special services in connection with the 39th anniversary of the Mount Eden Baptist Sunday-school were held in the church yesterday. The Rev. A. North preached in the morning, the Rev. W. Day in the afternoon, and the Rev. J. B. Sneyd in the evening. Special hymns were sung at each service by a large number of the Sunday-school children, who had been ably trained by the conductor, Mr. J. Bell. Mesdames Stone and Andrews rendered several solos. The anniversary tea, which will be held to-mor-row evening, will bo followed by a public meeting. THE CENTRAL MISSION. At the. Christian Endeavour meeting, held at the Albert-street Hall on Friday last, it was announced that the number of applications for" membership, in addition to those who were enrolled on that evening, brought the number of Endeavourers to over 100, which makes the Central Mission membership the largest of any Christian Endeavour Society in the colony. The inmates of the lunatic asylum were accorded a treat yesterday afternoon by a visit from the brass band in connection with the mission. The musio and the service were fully appreciated by the inmates. The Rev. J. Burton' Butler preached at the Albert-street Hall powerful sermons yesterday morning and evening. At the latter service he took as his subject, "Nuts for Infidels to Crack," and based his remarks on Hebrews xiii. 8, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Mr. Higgott, who is possessed of a pleasing voice, sang "The Better Land." Selections were given by the orchestra, and the special choir sang. "Cry Out and Shout, Thou Inhabitant of Zion." The superintendent- announced that a missionary meeting would be held at the hall on Friday next, at which costumes of various nations would be worn, and addresses given by two ladies and a gentleman who have been engaged in active missionary work in the East.

*. : ; , CITY HALL. i ■ The usual evangelistic • service was held at the City Hall last evening, when there was a fair attendance. Mi. N. Dannefaerd, director of the Soldiers' Mission, Pooua, India, gave a very interesting address on "Heaven, what it is, and how to get there." Mr. W. Brakenrig was in the chair. Miss Alice Rimmer sang two sacred solos. THAMES WESLEYAN SUNDAYSCHOOL. ' [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thames, Sunday. The anniversary services of the Thames Wesleyan Sunday-school were held to-day in the Central Hall, which was nicely decorated for the occasion. The pastor of the church (the Rev. Robt. Taylor) officiated at each service, and special hymns were sung by the children. In the afternoon a service of song was. most successfully rendered by the children, assisted by a strong choir and orchestra-, under the conductorship of Mr. Wm. Ensoi.