ECCLESIASTICAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13498, 27 May 1907, Page 7

ECCLESIASTICAL.

| ORDINATION AT ALL SAINTS". An ordination service was held at All Saints' Church, PonsOnby, yesterday morning, when Mr, F. Carew Thomas, who has been acting as a lay-reader at Whangarei, ! and who recently passed his- examination. I for deacon's orders, admitted by the | Bishop to the diaconate. The service, | which was a most impressive one through- ! out, was opened by singing the processional ; hymn 392. The "sermon was preached by the Rev. P. Williams, warden of St. John's College. The candidi)ite was presented by the Ven. Archdeacon Calder, who sang the litany. The choir, under Mr. S. K. Phillips, M.8., organist, rendered "The Sursum Corda" and " Sanctus," and : " Gloria in Excelsis," from Merbecke, in a very capable manner. ■. " < THE CENTRAL MISSION. The Rev. E. A. Kirwood preached at the Theatre service, in connection with the Central Mission, last evening, taking as his text, '* What Must IDoto Be Saved?" Mr. A. E. Whiter was the 'cello soloist for the orchastra, which played with telling effect the march, " Heavenward " (Vibre). Mr. G. W. Johnstone sang, " Where is My Boy Tonight ?" Mr. C. J. Hemery, the deputysuperintendent, conducted the service. f ' ? THE PEOPLE'S MISSION. At the People's Mission services at the Opera House yesterday afternoon and evening there were large attendances. - In" the evening the singing of a- company of bluejackets was a feature of the service. . Mr. Black gave an address, in the afternoon .to • men only, .taking as his subject, "A Clean City." In the evening he preached from the text, " The Name whereby we may be saved." Large offerings were received towards mission funds.. '; ' ANGLICAN LAY READERS'' CONFERENCE. A conference of lay readers of the Angli-can-Church was held on Friday at Bishops- ' court, Parnell. Members were present from Whangarei and Eaipara Flats. According to the report submitted, the lay readers' had conducted about 1300 services during the year. Holy Communion, at half-past .ten a.m., was administered in . the Bishop's Chapel, about 21 lay readers attending. The conference opened at half-past eleven in St. Mary's schoolroom, and at half-past one the members were entertained at dinner by Dr. and Mrs. Neligan, after which the conference was resumed. Mr. F. G. Ewington ' gave an interesting address upon " Lay -Readers at Work," dealing with their call, responsibilities, privileges, duties, dangers, and final reward. Messrs. Hudson, Grosvenor, Churton, , Tunks, Wilson, Bridgewater, and others, took part in a discussion of the subject of the address, and afterwards on Sunday-school work. Bishop Neligan impressively summed up the debate. Thanks were accorded Dr. and Mrs._ Neligan, Mr. T. Charter for honorary services as secretary, and the vicar and wardens of St. Mary's Church, for use of the hall. ■-.CHRISTL4N ENDEAVOUR CON- ,,, .'■■■■.-. . FERENCE. .. The Auckland Provincial Christian Endeavour Union held ; its. winter conference and rally in St. James' Church on Friday. Mr. Barry, president of the union, presided, ami there was a good attendance. The ' subjects for discussion were introduced as follows: — The Christian Endeavour as an Auxiliary of the Sunday-school," the Rev. Mr,, Miller; The Essential Committees,' Mr. S. Falls ; " The Model Junior Society," Miss Abbott; " The Relationship of the Junior to the- Senior Society," Mies Lush. Free:discussion followed. ■ At half-past five p.m. the conference adjourned for tea, which was presided over by the members of St. : James' Society. • .At half-past seven . the rally took place in St, James' Hall, at which there was a large attendance. The meet■ing"was opened by the singing of favourite hymns of • Endeavomers. The; Rev. I. E. Bertram" delivered an; address . on ; t "The Relationship of the Christian' Endeavour to the' Home," and Mr. Barry outlined the meaning and object of ■ the quarter-century memorial, for which movement a collection was made. Mr. Harold Hercus then gave an address on " Perseverance." The evening Was interspersed with vocal items by Misses Hall and Ellingham and Messrs. Fry and Kendon. . •' ,

ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL. The blessing of the new .Stations of the Cross, erected in St. Patrick's Cathedral, took place last evening. ■.:- The service, which was conducted by Bishop -Lenihan, assisted •;' by the Revs. Fathers Holbrook, Murphy, Farthing, and Thomas, commenced with the singing of the hymn, " Veni Creator*" Then followed the ■ blessing of the stations. There are 14 of these pieces of statuary,, each costing £17. They were imported from Belgium, and have been donated to the church by the parishioners of , ; St, Patrick's Cathedral. They represent the different scenes in the " Via Dolorosa" (the way of our Lord to Calvary). The stations are of a most handsome description, and- are said- to be the best in Australasia. Under each station is a marble slab showing the name of the donor, and:; to whom it Was erected. After the stations had been blessed, His Lordship delivered an. address. : Then tile ." Te Deuto" was sung by the Cathedral choir, and:; the service terminated with- the pronouncing of the solemn benediction.. ■-

"At the rooms of the Auckland Theosophical Society, Mutual Life Buildings, last'. evening, the usual weekly public lecture was delivered by Mr. W. ; T. Raymond, under the title of " Human Evolu-tion--A Story of the Past." Mr. J. H. Simpson delivered a lecture last night, at the.H.P.B. branch of the Theosophical Society,'on "The Proofs of the Higher Self in Man." f