CHURCH SERVICES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13812, 28 January 1907, Page 3

CHURCH SERVICES.

ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. The congregations at St. Paul's Cathedral yesterday were somewhat larger than usual in conscqnenco of tho presence of two bishops as preachers.' At matins tho preacher wns the Bishop of Auckland, who took occasion in eloquent words to emphasise from tho life of St. l'aul Ilio necessity of recognising and accepting tho objectivo fads of ilio Gospel on tho mystery of the Incarnation, and subjectively responding to Ihoso facts in tho progressive development of tho Christian life. The Bishop of .Wellington preached at evensong from (Jus text, "The church which, is His Body," and dwelt very earnestly upon the function of the Church as a. continuation and reproduction of tho life of Christ and tho work of Christ. Sullivan's "Tβ Deum" was sung at matins, and at evensong tho music of tho Canticles was by Dr Vurloy Roberts, and the anthem an arrangement of tho hymn "The day Thou gavest" by Rev. IT. Woodward. St. MATTHEW'S.

At St. Matthew's in the morning the Bishop of Christchurch preached on tho text "Tho kingdom of Heaven sutfercth violence and tho violent takelli it by force," showing that it was the men of energy, tho fighters, who gave themselves to successful pursuits, and it was this 6amo kind of men that was required to win tho world for Christ. The sermon was marked by tho well-known acumen, reasoning power, and diction of the Bishop. In tho evening the Bishop of Melanesia preached on tho words "Thy will bo done," and pointed out there wero two ways of doing God's will—a passive, and an active way. Tho passive way was called resignation, and was well set out in one of the favourito hymns. But tho actiyo way was what our Lord demanded of Hie Church in order to evanseliso the world. After thanking St. Matthew's congregation for supporting a missionary in Jho Molanesian Mission for Bo many year3—first Mr lidgoll and now Mr Durrad,-tho Bishop briefly described the lattcr's sphere of work and graphically reviewed the deaths of the two Melanesian martyrs-Bishop Patteson and Mr Godden. Tho Kishon appealed for help by prayer and freewill offerings for the Patteson memorial wing at St. John's, Tamaki, Auckland, bo that men might -bo trained to go as missionaries, and for a medical, missionary for tho hospital work, and for houses for tho missionaries. In our advertising columns will bo found particulars of the lecture to bo given on Wednesday in file Choral Hall, with magio lantern slides, on the aspect of tho work from the Bishop's recent trip round the Islands, during which, ho eaid, Iho Southern Cross showed its value as a boat. He hoped to make three trips a year, carrying the Gospel to islands yet to bo converted to Christ. ALL SAINTS'. Tho services at, All Saints' Church yesterday were well attended, tho evening congregation being very large. In the morning tho Bishop of Melanesia preached on the parablo of the poor woman who poured the precious ointment on Christ's feet, tho sermon being listened to with close attention. The choir sail", in addition to Byko's setting of tho "Te Deuin," Macfarren's anthem ''The Lord is mv Shepliord." In flio evening tho Bishop of Auckland occupied the pulpit, and preached an eloquent and impressive sermon on the Gospel appointed for heptuagosima. ■ Clarkc-Whitfeld's Canticles ami _ ronrs's grand anthem "God hath appointed a day " were eung by the choir, under the direction of Mr J. A. Hag»itt who occupied his usual post at the organ'