DAY OF DEVOTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 14

DAY OF DEVOTION

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES procession of witness PRAYERS AND ADDRESSES A Procession of Witness, organised by the New Zealand Gliufc'h Fellowship, formed one of the principal religions observances of Good FridAy in Auckland. This impressive ceremony had its origin three years ago and had as its chief object the stressiug of the sanctity of the day. Most of the Anglican congregations in the city were represented, and the procession was headed by a combined choir of over 50 men and boys, while there wore present 15 members of the clergy. At the commencement there wcro well ovex* 100 of the laity in the procession, which number was considerably increased before St. Paul's Church was reached.

The procession was formed in Little Queen Street and after preliminary prayers, moved along Quay Street, where the first halt was made. Here :i short 'service was conducted by the Rev. C. E. Moroton, while the Rev. H. K. Vickcry spoke briefly on the meaning in present-day lifo of the Crucifixion. After the singing of a hymn,- the procession moved slowly up Queen Strept and turned into Victoria Street. East, where another halt was made. Here the Rev. H. K.. Archdall. headmaster of King's College, said the prayers and the Rev. P. Houghton, vicar of St. Mark's, pointed out that after 2000 years of history the Christian Church was still gaining in strength. From here the procession proceeded by way of AVellesley Street to St. Patd's Church, which was already well filled and, by the time the procession had filed in, every soat was taken. A simple service was conducted by Archbishop Averill, who, in his sermon, stressed the true significance of the Crucifixion, which had brought a new and nobler conception of God and of brotherhood and service. By the Crucifixion every Christian had been pledged to a life of obedience, and only , by the redemption of that pledge could Christians enter into the life of Christ. At the conclusion of the service a collection wjis taken in aid of the Jerusalem and East Mission. A similar 1 ceremony took place last night at Otahuhu, when the Anglican and Methodist congregations and the members of the Salvation Army united. Three halts were made, addresses were given and the procession terminated in n. combined service in Holy Trinity Church, hundreds of people being present.

SERVICES IN CHURCHES TO-MORROW'S AR KANGEMENTS Good Friday was also commemorated yesterday by special services at most of the city and. suburban churches. The preacher at tho morning service in St. Mary's Cathedral, Parnell, was Archdeacon W. J. Sinikin, and Canon W. T. Fancourt conducted the three hours' devotional service from noon until 3 p.m. In the evening Stainer'e sacred cantata "Crucifixion" was rendered by the choir, with Mr. J. Cantlay, tenor, and Mr. Harold Davis, bass, as the soloists. At St. Matthew's Church, Archdeacon G. Mac Murray was the preacher at the morning service. In the evening a short service was conducted outside the church by the Rev. Martin Sullivan, followed by a lantern service in tho church by Canon C. H. Grant Co wen.

The Mass of tho Pre-Sanetified was commemorated in the morning in St. Patrick's Cathedral, and in the afternoon tho Stations of the Cross were observed. At the Office of Tenebrae iu the evening the preacher was tho Rev. Father Terry.

In a number of cases, neighbouring congregations of non-episcopal churches united in their devotions. At the Baptist Tabernacle, the congregations of St. James' Presbyterian, the Pitt Street Methodist and the Beresford Street Congregational Churches joined in a service, at which tho Rev. Evan R. Harries was the preacher. A united service and communion was held in the evening at the Beresford Street Church. Services were held by the Salvation Army at different centres, with a combined service in the Congress Hall, Grey's Avenue, in tho evening. To-morrow, special Easter Sunday services will be held in all the Auckland churches. Archbishop Averill will preach at St. Matthew's Church in tho morning and at St. Mary's Cathedral in the evening. At St. Patrick's Cathedral, the preacher in the morning will be Bishop Liston and in tho evening, tho Rt. Rev. Dr. Nicholas, Bishop of Fiji. The Rev. J. J. North and the Rev. W. Graham Scroggie will take the services at tho Baptist Tabernacle, and at tho Beresford Street Congregational Church the preacher will be the Rev. A. V. Whiting. The Easter Day services at Pitt Street Methodist Church will be taken by the Rev. P. N. Knight and the Rev. W. T. Blight.