THE CHURCHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 2846, 15 June 1896, Page 3

THE CHURCHES.

At St. Potor’a Church yesterday, the congregation was particularly good at the evening service. The Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis wore sung to Trimnellin I l ’. The anthem was, “ I will keep in Perfect Peace," also by Trimnell. Mr J. A. Tripe road the first lesson and the Bishop of Wellington the second, and ho also presented the alms and gave the benediction. Mr T. Tallis Trimnell, Mus. Bao., presided at the organ, and played a magnificent offertory by Storndalo Bennett. The vicar preached morning, afternoon and evening. ST. MARY OF TJIE ANGELS’. The llev Father Clancy celebrated the eleven o'clock Mass, when the Rev Father Ainsworth preached on the subject of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The choir sang Gounod’s “Messe Solon■nollo." There was an unusually large congregation. B'r. caul's. 'There was the usual celebration of Holy Communion at 8 a.m. At the 11 o’clock service the Bishop of Wellington preached from St. Matthew xxii., v. 21, “ Render therefore unto Cicsar the things that are Caisar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” The whole duty of man’s life, he pointed out, is obedience to the will of God, and they must see to it that everything they did, whether it was called sacred orsooular, was in accordance) with God’s honour and God’s will. In the evening the Rev 11. P. Tuckey read the lessons and the Rev CTisdall preached from I. Tim., iv., v. 7 and 8, He stated that athletics, sport and all bodily exercise are noble and good when used to God’s glory, but become evil when they are made the chief end of a man’s life. st. mabk’s. The Rev H. L. Monckton, assistant curate, preached in the morning, taking for his text Acts ii.. v. 23 —" Who when he came and had seen the grace of God was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord ” —dealing with the life of St. Barnabas. At the evening service the Rev R. Coffey preached from Genesis, chap, i., v. 1—" In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth"—and dealt chiefly with the objection raised to this chapter by scientific men. The anthem sung in the evening was Uuseley’s " Prom the Rising of the Sun." At the close of the service Mr L. F. Watkins, the new organist, played throe voluntaries, which were much appreciated. st. John’s. The services, morning and evening, wero conducted by the Rev James Paterson. The subject of the morning sermon was 11. Chronicles xix., 2-3, “The good and bad tilings found in Jehoshaphat.” The good things wore his piety; his preparing his heart to seek the Lord; his zeal in the reformation of religion ; his wise public policy in organising the array, in placing strong garrisons in fortified cities, in appointing store cities for storing up corn against times of dearth or war j his caring for the religious education of the people and for the _ pure administration of justice,and his solicitude for the real welfare of the nation. The bad things found in him wero a too easy temper, a softness and yieldingness of character which led him into altogether wrong relations, as in his affinity with Ahab, in which his religious principles and integrity were more or less compromised. There was an example to us in what was good in liis character, a warning in what was tad. The evening sermon was from Matthew xxii., 42, "What think ye of Christ?” the question of questions for every one. This, the preacher said, was a doctrinal question bearing on the life and power of the Church! and a personal question for each individual. KENT TERRACE TRESSVTERIAN CHURCH. The Rev. O. Soltau began a 10 days’ mission at the Kent terrace Presbyterian Church yesterday. In the morning he spoke on human nature in the Disciples in Christ’s own times and the change in our character after Pentecost, and Jlrawirg comparisons with the Disciples of Christ of the present time, and pointing out the remedy for low Christian vitality. In the afternoon a childrens’ service was held, there being a largo number present, to whom Mr Soltau gave his first object-lesson, entitled “ Red or White,” which proved of deop interest. At the evening service there was a very large attendance, seats having to be placed in the aisles to accommodate the people. Mr Soltau took for his topic “ Illegal pardon and its consequences,’’ taken from the narrative of David’s treatment of his son Absalom, restoring him to favour and pardoning his sin in the murder of his brother illegally, which led to Absalom conspiring and attempting to overthrow his father’s throne. He pointed out that such pardon of sin on the part of God was impossible, legal satisfaction being necessary. The mission will bo continued for ten days. COURTENAY PLACE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. At this place of worship the Rev B. T. Hallowes presided. In the morning he gave a most. instructive discourse on modem discoveries bearing out ancient Scripture, going back 4000 years (Genesis xiv., 22-23). In the evening Mr Hallowes preached from Matt, vi., 8, " Tour Father knowoth what things ye have need of before‘ye ask Him.” Our Lord, said the preacher, encourages us to pray without the use of vain repetitions, because God is our Father, and gives willingly, not un-. willingly. His fore-knowledge of orr needs is also a great encouragement to prayer, because it implies that He has already made arrangement to answer our prayers. WESLEY CHURCH. The pulpit at the Wesley Church, Taranaki street, was occupied yesterday morning by the Rev J. T. Nott, M.A., who based his discourse on Genesis, chap. 4, v. 9, “Am X my brother’s keeper.” The Rev W. Baumber preached in the evening, the text being Daniel, chap. 6, v. 5. " Then, said these men, wo_ shall not find any occasion against this .Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God." The preacher showed that Daniel was no time server. He got his position not by political change of view and conduct, but _by uprightness. He was faithful in all his duties, and, above all, in loyalty to his God. The life in which God was honoured would always be a life of service for the good of man. Men were still inclined to’ measure other people by themselves. It was hard for them to believe that other man were better than they were. Their life before men should make them feel that God was more to them than life, and that they would suffer the loss of all things rather than deny Christ. This was the kind of Christianity the world needed. The anthem in the evening was “ Let not your Heart bo Troubled," the solo being taken by Mr B. B. Williams.