Religious.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 5

Religious.

The running fit Sunday cars wai stroDgly condemned by the Rev. Dr Stuart on Sunday, in the hearing of a large congregation. We understand, however, that some members ef hi» congregation avail themselves of them, and they are certainly a great convenience to many oity residents.

The religious service in the Queen's Theatre on Sunday was largely attended. Mr D. Wright delivered an address, Mr Boot presided, and the choir conducted the singing.

In a sermon preached at Seel street Eoman Catholic Church, Liverpool, recently, Dr O'Roilly remarked that although Catholics knew they could not intermarry with near relations, nor with those who were not Catholics, attachments of this kind were allowed to grow up, and then dispensations were asked for because these attachments had grewn so strong. He would repeat to them an anwer whioh had come from the Holy S*e on this very point. He had, unfortunately, been forded to apply for a dispensation for the marriage of two first cousins. The Pope said that the scandalous facility with wiioh the clergy wore lending themselvei to indulge the fancies of the people wm bringing all law into contempt. No priest oould read the nuptial blessing at a mixed marriage. We he»r that letters have been received bjr last mail from Bishop Nevill, dated 20th Jua«. He had returned from Sweden, and Wai once more engaged in the arduous task of extracting money from the British public for Church purposes. It seems the Bishop's labour* have been those of a moral Hercules. It takes the pull of 500 corkscrews to extract; toch pound from the breeches pockets of the wealthy for Colonial Church purposes. They think, forsooth, that we are rich here and ought to help ourselves. However, we underunderstand Bißhop Nevill had, by dint of exertions which hare shortened his days, extracted something like L 110 0; and, as there is a little less stringency in the Church money market, he is going to stay a little longer to obtain some more if possible, but how long he does not say. Churchmen in the diocese must restrain their eager impatience for his return a little longer.

Protentanti, who notoriously are fond of Jews (says the Church Review) will be interested in reading the account of the late Baron Rothschild's funeral. Thig interesting and respectable community is said to have entirely stripped itself of superstition, as well as of all forms of idolatry. Modern Judaism is an example of an entirely mental— that is, in the Protestant sense of the word, an entirely spiritual — religion: But the funeral service used over the remains of the lamented baron last Saturday was plentifully sprinkled with prayers for the ioul of the departed. Prayers even were offered that his sins might be forgiven, and the closing requiescat in pace on leaving the grave was pronounced in full and affecting terms. This corroborates the statement that praying for the departed was a universal custom in our Lord's day, and if the practice were open to the extreme objections which Protestants allege, it seems impossible that our Lord would not have denounced it. But if the soul of a departed Jew may be rightly prayed for, a fortiori even much more fit are such commendations in the case of the baptised. The Protestant in bis dreary and distant notions about the invisible state will have to look for sympathy among the atheists. No ancient religion will serve him, not even Makommedaniam.

A#etvicoof song, entitled "Paradise," was givenat the First Church onMonday nigkthy the choir of that church, in the presence of a large congr«gation. The choir numbered 30 male and female performers. Mr Francis conducted the service; Mr Ferguson acted as harmoniutnist; and the connective readirgs, which were taken from the Book ol Revelation, were rendered by the Rev. Lind«ay Mackie. The service was very creditably performed. Noteworthy among the musical illustrations were the solos, " I know that »y Redeemer liveth," " Comfort ye " and "He shall feed His flock," the hymns "Ther are waiting" and "Precious promise," and the anthem entitled " Ye gates."

At the Temperance Hall on Monday night Mr Alfred Brunton delivered tie first of a series of threa lectures on " The Great Pyramid of Jeeieh." The attendance was very large The lecture, which was simply of an introductory character, was illustrated by large and carefully-prepared diagrams, giving the elevation! and perspectivf of the pyramid. The various passages and chambers of the pyramid were minutely described, and a brief historical and geographical sketch was entered into. At the clos» of the account, which wai rendered exceedingly interesting, a vote of thanks was, on the motion of Mr M. W. Green, heartily accorded to Mr Brunton. On Thursday the lecturer will deal with the subject from a pJientific point of view, and on Friday he wiX endeavour to establish a connection between the pyramid and the Bible. Those who/Present last night will no doubt make a poM* °* attending; tke concluding lactarn,