THE CHURCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1264, 21 May 1896, Page 42

THE CHURCHES.

ST. PETER’S. Sunday last being the Sunday within the octave of the Ascension, the services at St. Peter’s Church were of a specially festal character. The altar looked exceedingly beautiful with its vases of pure white flowers, its superb white festal cloth and its handsome cross and candlesticks and its dignified background of rich velvet curtains. Suitable processional and other hymns were sung durirg the day. At evensong, when the church was crowded, the processional was Charles Wesley’s wellknown hymn “Hail the day that sees Him rise,” to a tune by Professor Monk. The “Magnificat” and “Nunc Dimittis ” wore set to ordinary chants by Trimncll and Megly respectively. The Ascension anthem, “ Leave us not,” by Hr Stainer, was well sung by the choir. Mr Tripe read the lessons, Mr T. Tallis Trimncll, Mils. Bac. played a fine voluntary during the oifertoiy, and another while the congregation were dispersing. The service was brought to a close by the recessional hymn, “ Our Day of Praise is Done,” and the bells rang out a merry peal, as they always do after evensong on the greater festivals. ST. PAUL’S. The Eev C. Tisdall preached at the morning serving, and was assisted by the Itov H. P. Tuckey, the vicar (Eev T. 11. Sprott) taking the children’s service at the church room, Tinakori road. In the evening tho vicar continued his addresses on the book of Job. Mr H. Brooke acted as organist in the absence of Air K. Parker. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BOWEN STREET. The pastor, Rev J. It. Glasson, preached both morning and evening, at tho latter service his text being the Ist chapter of Revelations, portion of tho 11th verse, “ What thou seest, write in a book.” The preacher spoke of the value of books, giving excellent advice as to what books to road, and of what books have done for tho minds of men. In conclusion, lie referred to that supreme hook the Bible, which, he said, had done more for human life than all the principalities and powers, which had raised tho foundations of society, inspired nations with the desire for liberty, fostered the light of knowledge, created the higher civilisation and opened before humanity long reaches of attainments and hopes. st. mary’s cathedral. At St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday morning the Rev Father Costello celebrated the 11 o’clock Mass, and gave nil instructive address to the congregation, urging the necessity for fervour in the service of God. The music was composed of Haydn's Imperial and Mozart's hirst Masses. In the evening, at Vespers, a feature of tho musical servico was the duet “ Beata Nobis Gaudia” (Bottiehi), admirably sung by Messrs Rowe and Loughnan. Lambilotto’s “Magnificat” and “ Tantum Ergo ” were given by a full choir and orchestra. Mr S. Cimino conducted. COURTENAY PLACE CONGREGATIONAL CM UKOI.

At the morning service the Rev B. T. Hallowes took his text from the Bth chapter of Luko, 23rd verso. In tho evening a special address was given upon Bible - reading in schools : “ And these words which I command thee this day shall bo in thine heart; and thou .-shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest in the way, and when thou best down, and when thou risest up ” (Deut. vi., 6,7). These words, said Mr Hallowes, were spoken to parents about the home training of their own children, and liavo nothing to do with religious teaching in State schools. Our present excellent system of education, ho said, was established with the roasonab e hope that the State would do its duty m attending to the secular instruction of tho young, and that all sectarian strife would ho avoided by leaving their religious training to be taken in hand by parents, churches and Sunday schools. Many of us object to tho State attempting to impart religious instruction, because we have so high an idea of what real religion means that wo feel that only truly Christian men can teach it. It is on religious grounds, not because wc are opposed to religion, that wo wish tho State simply to attend to its own work of secular education. If the State interferes in this work, there will then be a danger of tho public school teachers being chosen, not on account of their general merits, but on account of thoir religious views. Our present educational system wifi be endangered by the proposed introduction of the Irish Text-books. Tho next thing that will bo attempted will he denominational schools supported ’ey Government grants, and then wo shall have no end onoo more of sectarian strife and bitterness, poor schools and badly paid teachers. The present agitation is chiefly ecclesiastical, stirred up by the clergymen of some of the leading denominations, but not sought after by the people generally. In .South Australia, where the mat ter was recently referred to the vote of the people, they decided by an overwhelming majority in favour of their present secular system. Let parents and churches and hunday schools, added Mr Hallowes. do their work among the young more efficiently, and then there will he no need to add to the work of the already over-taxed public school teachers. ST. mark’s. The Rev Archdeacon Stock, B.A , preached in the morning on the subject of Christ's Ascension, taking lor his text ot. Mar!;, xvi., 19. I he Lev 1 1. Coffey preached in the j evening from St. John, xx., 17, dealing with I the Ascension of our Lord, which was the 1 great thought for tho day. At the close of i the service hymn 399 was sung, and Mr A. H. 1 Hamerton, organist, played the Dead March j in “ Saul ” as a memorial of the late Mr Walter Whitton, who was an old and respected member of Hie Young Men’s Society connected with the church. sr. joiin's. In the absence ot the Rev J. Paterson, who i- at present in Christchurch, the Kev VV. ■"'hirer preached at the morning service at St. John s on Sunday, taking for his text St. Matthew, chapter iii., versos 13, 1 f and 10. In the evening tho Rev Mr Redstone officiated, preaching a sermon from Job, chapter xxxvii , verse 21. KENT TERRACE J’KESiI YTERIAN CHURCH. On Sunday morning tho Rev J. Kennedy Eiliott preached a sermon with special reference to the approaching ceremony of laying the memorial stone of tho new church. The text was Psalm exxvi., 3: “ The Lord hath done groat things for us; whereof we are glad. '1 he preacher reviewed tho progress which the congregation had made, and exhorted the people to gratitude for tho success that they luei Me.-m enabled with tho Divine blessing to aeieevo The subject at night was temptation. I he discourse wus based on the sixth petition ot the Lord’s Prayer, “ And lead us not into temptation,” Matthew vi., 13. Koferenco was made to the prevailing evils of the present day, particularly the

sin of gambling, Avhich was described as one of the greatest curses of colonial life. Watchfulness and prayer were recommended, but the sovereign means of escape was said to be continuous application to Him who died to redeem us, and who is mighty to keep as well as mighty to save. MR CRABB’S ADDRESS. At the Choral Hall on Sunday Mr Crabb preached from the Sth chapter of Isaiah and the 1 ftli verso, and spoke of the truth of the Bible. He pointed out the value of the Book from a temperance point of view, and urged that laxity was shown by tho Christian churches in connection with Biblical Lemperanco teachings. There was, lie said, great power in the hands of tho Christian churches, if they only carno out from their present circumscribed sphere that would at once banish the liquor fiend from our lovely country. WESLEY' CHURCH. Tho Wesley Church service on Sunday morning was taken by the Rev W. Morfcy, the president of the General Conference, who preaclmd from St. John, xvi., verses 13, 11 and 15, and spoke of the works of the Spirit being themes greatly neglected in tho Christian church, and their special importance now tho Reason of Whitsuntide wus approaching. In the evening the Rev Mr Chappell preached from 11. Corinthians, xii., 9, “ My strength is made perfect in my weakness.” st. Andrew’s. In St. Andrew’s Church on Sunday morning the Rev C. S. Ogg preached from I. Corinthians, xiv., 20, “ Brethren, be not children in understanding ; howbeit in malice he ye children; but in understanding bo men." We, like the Greeks of St. Paul’s time, said the preacher, have a craving for things which are beyond our reach, but wo should put away childish cravings and c-avo only lor spiritual things. VIVIAN SThKET BAPTIST CHURCH. At this church on Sunday afternoon, Miss Bacon, agent of tho New Zealand Baptist Missionary Society, gave a most interesting address on Indian mission work. In tho evening, the Rev C. Dallaston gave an address dealing with inis.-ionary work, quoting figures to show the great good that was being done. Afterwards Miss Bacon made an earnest appeal for help in the work.

There was a good attendance at tho Baptist Church schoolroom last week, considering the boisterous state of the weather, when Miss Bacon, New Zealand agent of tho Baptist Missionary Society, delivered an address on missionary work in India. Miss Bacon, during her address, showod to what extent tho missionary work in that part of tho world was carried, and said that through tho influence of Bible classes many wero converted to Christianity. Tract distribution also did a lot of good, many of the natives receiving their first lesson in Christianity by that means. The Rev C. Dallaston said tint ho was sure that the Baptists of Wellington were willing to assist the Missionary Society in London by contributing to tho funds, and fully recognised tho good work that was being done. A number of Indian curios wero exhibited, and several children xvero dressed in native costumes.

During her addross last week on missionary work in India, Miss Bacon said that, having had some training in dispensing medicines, she opened a dispensary for tho benefit of the native women, but some of tho questions askod by tho men were very funny. She had prescribed powders, and she was stopped in the streot and allied if tho paper had lo be taken also. Pills they could not understand, and many wero the questions asked about them. She was also asked to treat cows and horses, and a manono day brought her a mad dog to cure. But, said Miss Bacon, she had to draw the line somewhere. St. Peter’s Church lias had a magnificent white festal altar cloth presented to it by tho ladies of the working party. Mrs Linncll has also given a beautiful violot cloth for Advent and Lent. Both of llioso have been designed and executed by Messrs Jones and Willis, of London and Birmingham. Mrs Edward Anderson has generously addod some velvet curtains for the side wings of the altar. The now festal cloth was placed on the altar for tho first timo on Ascension Day, and was used at all tho services on Sunday and through tho rest of tho octave.

In the event of Bishop Wallis being sufficiently recovered from his illness an ordination service will he held at St. Paul’s Pro* Cathe lral on Trinity riun 1 iy, wiion the Rev It. Young, canto at Palmerston North, will be ordaino 1 priest.