ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 8 April 1907, Page 8

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Tin: CENTRAL mission. Thh Central Mi>«ion shipping visitors conducted service yesterday morn in yj amongst the crew on board I lie -.-. Star of New Zealand. Mr. Harold Hercus preached yesterday forenoon in the Alhert-stred Hail, and at night in His Majesty's Theatre. The musical portion of the service was under the condtictorship of Mr. (i. \V. Johnstone. OI'ENINt; OF A CHURCH OKCAN. Special services for ihe dedication of the new organ recently acquired for Si. Bene diet's Church were held in the church yesterday morning and evening, and were largely attended. At eleven o'clock mass Bishop Tamilian performed the offiee of hissing and dedicating the organ before the handsome instrument wits played upon, and then followed the service of solemn mass. The choir, with Mr. Samuel Jackson as con-

ductor, sang tin' appointed music, the soloins including Mrs. Jackson (soprano), Miss 1.. Bcehan (contralto), Mr. W. 1.. Movlnn (tenor), and Mr. \Y. 11. Whelnn (bass). Mr. I!. Leslie Hunt, who officiated as organist, played the well-known march from "Athalie." an "Andantino." by Lcniarc, and fugue from Pergalesi's (Jrana Mas-. The Common of the Mass was from Silas' Mais in C, which was produced for the. first, time in New Zealand. Another noteworthy feature of this niass was that it was written for the great international competition pf saciod music held in Belgium, competing with 76 compositions of 12 different nations, unci gaining the first prize. At vospors the Bishop delivered an eloquent sermon, making special reference to the organ. At the benediction the choir sang "O Salutaris," which was specially composed by Sehmiti for the opening of St. Benedict'.-, and was rendered as a tribute to his memory. The Farm-stre-et Litany and Wie-gand's "Tanttiui Ergo" were also sung, the service being concluded with ail effective rendering of "Adoremus," a composition by Mr. 11. Lamb, the organist of the church. Tim collections for the day were set apart for the. purpose of wiping off the remaining debt on the organ, and a satisfactory amount was contributed.

ST. JAMES' SUNDAY-SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY.

The Sunday-school anniversary services in oonneKion with St. .lames' 'Presbyterian Church, Wel'-ington-sireet, were held yeaterclay ;n the St. .fames' Hall. The morning service was conducted by tin; Rr-v. G. \V. Spurted, of Grafton Road Methodist Chureli, the afternoon service by the Rev. A. 0. Wocklerspoon, and the evening service by the Rov. R. I/. Walker. There were large attendances at each service, and the collections totalled over £18. The singing of the scholars was a prominent feature of the services. They were assisted by the members of the church choir. and an orchestra, under Mr. S. Mil'.ai. Mr. W. linpett conducted. At the evening service Mr. W. Aspinall sang "The Beautiful Prayer. MELAXESIAX MISSION". Addressing a meeting at Holy Trinity Church schoolroom at Devonpori on missionary work- ill Melanesia Bishop Wilson, who is on a visit to Auckland, told his hearers of the good result* «>f the labour expended in that field. Only 50 years ago the inhabitants of (lie islands wore cannibals, but to-day our of between 50 and 60 islands only one was inhabited by people who could be called dangerous. Although some trouble was likely to be caused by the deportation of kanakas from the Australian sugar plantations, the presence of so many who had become Christians would bo a great blessing and of material assistance. The righting of the labour problem, a curse while, unsettled, would now tend to speedier pacification and civilisation of the islands. A strong appeal was made for generous assistance to the work. Bishop Neligan also spoke on the importance of the work.

PITT-STREET METHODIST CHURCH

The Pitt-street _ Methodist Church was crowded last evening, when the Rev. W. Slade. who li-> been transferred in Dunedin, preached his farewell sermon, choosing his text from Romans xv. 20.

At the quarterly meeting of the Pittstreet circuit it. was reported that the quarter began wilh h debit balance of over £100. and there had been a falling off in some of the collections during the quarter. In addition, however, to the ordinary income there were special subscriptions and promises amounting to £167. which will not only pay off the deficiency but will leave a balance in hand. Mr. .1. W. .Shackelford reported that the Conference bad endorsed the proposals tent forward for the division of the circuit. The ministers appointed for the Auckland, Pitt-street circuit, were the Revs. .1. A. Lux ford, W. C. Oliver, and A. X. Seotter. B.A. This new circuit includes Pitt-street, Mount Albert. Kingsland. Archhill, Avoiidale, VVaikumete. Oratia. and Henderson. The Auckland West circuit has the Itev. Ceorge Bond, and include-, St. .John's. Ponsouby. and Bayfield. The ministers for the Auckland Ka«i circuit are the Revs. <;. W. .1. Speuee. VV. It. Tuck, and T. Thomas. The circuit includes (irafton Road, Mount Ivlen, Newmarket, Parncll, Remuora, Pakurangn, Kllerslie, and Panmure. At the looms of the Auckland Theosophical Society, Mutual Life Buildings, last, evening the usual weekly public lecture was delivered by Mr. .S. Stuart. It was entitled "Mystic Ideas ami Astronomical Pacts." The lecturer endeavoured to show that the main facts i>j modern a.-tronoiny appeared to have been known to the ancients.