THE CHURCHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 42

THE CHURCHES.

THANKS OP THE COMMUNITY DUE TO THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. On Sunday morning tho Rev Father Costello, preaching at St. Mary's Cathedral, gave powerful warning against the dangers of bad company, and said that to this evil might be traced tho ruin of many a soul. Thoy would invariably find that men who gave way to drunkonness or gambling or any other of tho vices were led into these sms first of all through the influence of wicked companions. They might see round them every day instances of the evil effects of bad company. They had all rea 1 tho exposures made by the morning paper as to what was going on in tile city ; and he must say that the thanks of the community were due to the morning paper for its action. Father Costello went on to say that it would probably bo found that tho criminals of whom they read and whom they saw owed their first downfall to wicked companions. He warned parents that they failed wofully in their duty if they allowed their children to wander about tho streets without control and at all hours of the clay and night. Ho also enforced the duty of showing good example. The choir sang Haydn’s “ Sixteenth Mass,” tho soloists being Mrs Mac Duff Boyd, Miss Pender, Miss” Gibbs, Messrs Laishloy and Loughnan. Mr Mac Duff Boyd was leader of the orchestra and Mr Cimino conducted. After vespers on Sunday night, tho funeral anthem “ Brother thou art gone before us,” from Sullivan’s “ Martyr of Antioch,” was sung by the choir in memory of the late Sir Patrick Buckley. CHURCH PARADE AT ST. PETER’S. A church parado of tho various Voluntoor corps was held on Sunday morning, in honour of the Queen’s Birthday. The various companies assembled at tho Drillshed, and marched, headed by tho Garrison Band, to St. Peter’s Church, whoro the service was conducted by the chaplain, Rev W. C. Waters. At tho conclusion of tho service, “ God Save the Queen ” was sung by tho men and congregation. After church the men marched back to the Drillshed and wore dismissed. Tho state of parado was as follows : Permanent Artillery, 41, undor Captain Coleman ; Torpedo Corps, 12, Captain Falconer ; Wellington Navals, 50, Captain Duncan ; Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, 11, Lieutenant Hyde : D Battery, 33, Captain Warren ; City Biiles, 47, Captain Duthie; Guards, 33, Captain Paterson; Garrison Band, 20, Bandmaster Herd. Colonel Fox, Lieutenant - Colonel Nowall, Lieutenant - Commander Ilislop and Sergeant - Major Firm were also present. At evensong, when tho church was crowded, a processional hymn, “ Abovo tho Starry Spheres,” was sung to a tune fiom the St. Albans Hymnbook. Tho Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis were sung to Stainer in D. The anthem was “ Let Not Your Hearts be Troubled,” the tenor solo being taken by Mr G. 11. Collgrovo. Mr Tripo read tho lessons morning and ovoning, and Mr Trinincll, Mas. Bao , presided at tho organ, and played as a final voluntary a magnilicont overture composed for tho Jubileo of Georgo 111., which had tho National Anthem as a finale. After tho morning and evening service tho bells rang out a merry peal. Tho vicar (Rev W. C. Waters) preached at the various sorvicos. ST. PAUL’S. Tin re was celebration of the Holy Communion at 8 a.m., and at 11 o’clock the vicar (Kev T. H. Sprott), who preached, was assisted by the Rev H. P. Tuckey and Rev H. W. Bean, vicar of Addington, Christchurch. At tho children’s sorvico in tho afternoon, at which a large number of adults were present, tho Rev Check Hong Cheong, Superintendent of Missions among the Chinese in Victoria, gave an interesting address, and spoke of the advantages of China as a mission fiold. In tho evening the Rev H. W. Bean preached from Galatians v., verso 10, “ Walk in tho spirit, and ye shall not fulfil tho lust of tho flesh.” He pointed out that this principle of St. Paul’s dealt much more effectually with all questions of excess than prohibition leagues, anti - gambling leagues, and so on. Ho then wont on to speak of the limitations that Christianity puts upon liberty. Liborty was sometimes supposed to moan doing what ono pleased, ar.d such a theory would mean anarchy and confusion in socioty. Liberty must bo limited by conscience, by tho general well-being and by tho eternal law of right. Further, this principle of doing what ono ploasod, even if they wero at liberty to follow it, meant really slavery, because in that way their lusts and passions would got the upper hand, and make them slaves. Tho National Anthem was sung at tho close of tho service. VISIT OF BISHOP MURRAY, OF MAITLAND. At tho 11 o’clock mass at St. Mary of the Angels on Sunday tho Rev Father Ainsworth, was celebrant, tho preacher boing Dr Murray, Bishop of Maitland. Dr Murray based his discourse on Acts ii., vorsos 1 - 12, and tho subject was tho Feast of Pentecost. The Bishop preached in the evening at St. .Joseph’s Church, Buckle street, when he continued bis discourse on tho feast of the day. Dr. Murray referred to the Irish Text-book, and said the book had not been in use in tho Rational schools in Ireland for some years, and, in fact, its introduction had always been opposed by the Catholic Hierarchy. At. Buckle street in the morning Farmer's Mass in 1! flat was performed by the choir and orchestra. Miss N. Gu!l:i.:h"r sang as an offertory niece Hummers ” O Salutaris ” most effectively. The solos in the Mass wore taken by Misses Diedrich, T. Rigg, N. Gallagher, sopranos ; Misses Curtioo and K. Jiigg, contraltos ; Messrs W. Ross and Griffin, tenors ; Messrs Corliss, C. Ellison and Dunno, bass. Tn tho evening Miss May Sullivan sang Cherubini’s “ Avh Maria,” and with Mr Corliss Rossi’s “ Tantum Ergo.” Mr A. liigg sang “ Laudato Pueri Dominum,” by Zingarolli, splendidly. TLe musical portion of both services was under tho direction of Mr 11. MoC'ardoll. Tho church was crowded both morning and evening. ST. mark's TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY. Full choral servieeswere held at St. Mark’s on Sunday for Whit Sunday. Jn the morning Tour’s Communion in F was taken, and the Rev 11. L. Monckton preached. In the! evening a special thanksgiving service was held in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of tho consecration of tho church (which took place on 21st May, 1876) and also of the church being freo from debt. Hymns suitable for tho ocasion wero taken, and the anthem “God came from Teman” (>teggall) was well rendered by the choir, Miss Muir taking the soprano solo with much taste. In honour of tho Queen’s Birthday tho National Anthem was sung at the close of the service by thechoirand large congregation. In the evening the Veil Archdeacon Fancourt preached a thanksgiving sermon, and boforo the Benediction the Bev R. Coffey thanked

the people for their hearty co-operation in tho work of the parish. The first officebearers for the parochial district of St. Mark’s were elected in 1876 as follow : Clergyman’s churohwarden, Mr K. Wilson; parishioners’ churchwarden, Mr H. Gaby ; vestry, Messrs S. Brown, G. E. Tolhurst, R. C. Hamerton, F. Stevens and A. Crowe. Tho first incumbent was tho Rev Mr Grainger, but that gentleman resigned before the church was built, and tho Rev Richard Coffey, 8.A., was appointed in October, 1876, and has hold tho position since then. TERRACE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

The morning service was conducted by the Rev B. T. Hallowes, who preached from St. Mark, sth chapter, 22nd and23rd verses,Christ raising from death of Jairus’ daughter. In closing his sermon, tho preacher, in a few well-chosen words, referred to the fact of that day being the Queen’s Birthday, and said that the Queen’s reign had been a wise and beneficent ono. At the close of the sermon tho National Anthem was sung. The pastor (Rev .T. Reed Glasson) preached. in the evening, taking for his subject, “Tho Higher Criticism of the Bible.” To tho province of the Higher Criticism, he said, belonged the questions that arose as to the authorship, authenticity, composition and integrity of the books of the Bible. That criticism was not tho monopoly of any critical party, and was not necessarily irreverent or rationalistic. As to the positive aspects of the question the only final and satisfactory proof that the Scriptures are divine was in the effect which they produced on the mind which came into contact with them. If they exerted a spiritual power which nothing else did, if they came as the voice of God, then verily they were moro than human, they had a distinctive quality of their own, and stamped them indelibly as tho word of God. st. John’s. Tho services were conducted morning and evening by tho Rev .J. Paterson. The subject in tho morning was, tho Omniscient Providence of God, 11. Chron. xvi., 9. “For the eyes of tho Lord run to and fro throughout tho whole earth to show Himsolf strong in the behalf of them whoso heart is perfect toward Him.” The subject in tho evening was “ The power of God’s Word,” Hub. iv, 12, 13 ; “ For the Word of God is quick and powerful, Ac.” COURTENAY PLACE CONGREGATIONAL CU URCII. Tho Rev J. R. Glasson preached in the morning, taking as his text the advice of Paul to the Philippians (Ith chapter, 4th verse), “ Rejoice in tho Lord Jesus Christ ; again I say, rejoice.” For his evening’s discourse, tho Rev B. T. Hallowes took an incident in tho religious history of the Jews, “And they sot the altar upon its base ” (Ezra iii., 3). During the sorvico tho National Anthem was sung, and rcforenco was made to tho fact that Queen Victoria had completed that day 77 yoars of her lifo, and that this yoar she will have reigned 59 years. Her long and beneficent reign, it was pointed out, had been unexampled for tho progress made throughout tho Empire, and for tho picture of purity in home life and wisdom in public affairs which has been sot by tho Queen before her people. WESLEY CHURCH. Tho pulpit at the Wesley Church, Taranaki street, was occupied on Sunday morning by tho Rev H. B. Redstone, who preached from 11. Corinthians, chap. 3, v. 18. 'J lioßovW. Baumbor proaehod in tho evening, basing his discourse on Acts, chap. 2, v. 1, “ And when the day of Pentecost was fully como, they wero ail with one accord in one place.” Tho proachor said that Christians sometimes sang “, Wo are not divided, but of one body wo.” At tho same time thoy wero appalled in tho presence of all the cli visions that existed; but while thoy mourned these divisions, thoy rejoiced in tho real unity underlying them. Anything that brought thorn oven in thought to the early days of the Christian Church was good, that which brought them nearer in spirit was better still. They wero that day rejoicing becauso a contribution had been made towards the union of Christendom. Ho then referred to tho unity of the early Church and tho Pontocostal blessing that resulted. In their caso there was not only a unity of spirit, but a visible unity. Tho preacher then referred especially to tho union of tho tlireo Methodist churches, a union which strengthened Christ’s Church ill the Colony. The music was of a special character, owing to it being tho day set apart for tho services in connection with the union of the churches. In the morning the anthem was, “ Yo Shall Dwoll in tho Land” (Stainer), Mr Postgato taking the solo. “As Pants tho Hart ” (Spohr) was the anthem in tho evening, Miss Hicks taking the solo. Mr R. B. Williams sang tho “Holy City” by request. At tho evening service tho wholo of the congregation sang the National Anthem.