THE RELIGIOUS COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 63

THE RELIGIOUS COLUMN.

The services at St. Andrew's Church on Sunday marked the twentieth anniversary of Dr Waddell's settlement there. In the morning the service was conducted by the Rev. Mr Heighway, and in the evening by Dr Waddell.

Bishop Verdon left for Europe in the Tarawera on Thursday. It is understood that he will be absent for twelve months, but the period will be governed to some extent by the length of lime he will have to remain in Rome before he gains an audience with the Pope.

A large number of the workers and friends connected with the Central Mission assembled at the railway station on Friday to welcome the Rev. Mr Ready's successor, the Rev. W. A. Sinclair, who, with his wife, arrived by the north express train. As was announced recently by our Auckland correspondent, Mr Sinclair has been superintending the work of tho mission there for the past four years, and has taken an active part in philanthropic and temperance work.

■ The Tablet announces that the Very Rev. Dean Mackay has been appointed Administrator of the Diocese of Dunedin during tho absence of the Right Rey. Dr Verdon. The following clerical changes have taken place in the Diocese of Dunedin : Rev. Father M'Grath (Invercargill) goes this week to Gore, his place in Invercargill being taken by the Rev. Father ODea, who, up to the present, has been assistant priest to the Rev. Father O'Donnell at Gore.

Harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Mosgiel Baptist Church on Sunday, 9th, and attracted Large congregations. On Tuesday tho minister of the church (the Rev. F. W. Bcreham) sat in his vestry, having invited the members of tho congregation to bring thank-offerings. He received the sum of £75, which will be devoted to tho further reduction of the loan on the manse, which will thus be reduced to £125. It is thought possible that the thank-offering may yet amount to £100.

At a meeting of the Clutha Presbytery it was decided to accept the resignation of the Rev. W. H. Gray of the charge of Owaka, members, while doing so, expressing the high esteem in which the rev. gentleman was held. A memorial signed by office-bearers, members, and adherents was presented to Mr Gray requesting him. to continue at Owaka, but he slated that under existing circumstances he could not see his way clear to remain as minister of the parish.

In a report furnished to the North Canterbury Board of Education by tho Normal School Committee was a paragraph referring to religious instruction. The committee, ■whose report was adopted, stated that as the Echeme arranged for giving religious instruction at tho school (out of school hours) had largely broken down, the principal's recommendation to set free at 3.30 p.m. those children only who wished to attend the remaining class had been approved. Except in the case of ono, denomination, the facilities placed at the disposal of the several clergymen for the purpose of giving religious instruction had not been taken advantage of for any length of time.

The centenary of the Church Missionary Society is now being celebrated in the United Kingdom and the colonies. . The patron is the Queen, the vice-patron the Archbishop of Canterbury. Some idea of the magnitude of the bcale of its operations may be gathered from the fact that last year it employed 7193 agents, lay and clerical, of whom 254 are lady missionaries. The income for the year was £331,598. This society has greatly helped the Maori missions of the North Island, and, in conjunction with the Home body and its foreign branches, a special celebration of the Holy Communion was held at St. Paul's Cathedral yesterday, when Bishop Nevill was the celebrant. An address was given by the Rev. W. Ivens, M.A., of the Melanesian mission, and a fairly good congregation was present. Tho offertory was in aid of the Maori mission, North Island. The Rev. Mr Ivons will preach at the cathedral on Sunday evening next, on behalf of the Melanesian mission.

The Premier has replied to a protest from the North Canterbury Methodist Preachers' Association against the action of the House in having the Journal pignod on a Sunday morning, at tho close of the last session, and also against the action of the Cabinet in holding meetings on the Sabbath Day for the transaction of public business. In his reply, Mr Soddon says: — "If the allegation is correct, I might be permitted to point out that there is Biblical authority for tho digging out of an ox or an ass on tho Sabbath. Whether Mr Speaker or tho Clerk of the House signed the Journal, as alleged, I cannot say, but if so, I presume it would be considered by them as a work of necessity, and would not vary much from signing and writing letters, a not infrequent thing for clergymen to do. I sincerely hope and trust, both in the interests of the due observance of the Sabbath, and for tiie sake of the seventh day's rest, that all persons may keep from labour on the Lord's Day. It is only under unavoidable circumstances that Ministers meet to discuss matters of State on other than week days, and I should feel obliged if your association would impress upon members to be a little more considerate during the sitting days of the House, and not deputationise and occupy the time of Ministers during tho other week days."

A farewell meeting to Mr and Mrs George Allan, and Messrs 13. Heycock and Charles Wilson, all of whom intend to leave Dunedin in a few days for the mission field in South America, was hold in the Choral Hall on Friday night. Mr A. H. Heycock presided, and there was a "largo attendance, the Rev. A. North and Mr H. Webb being among those who were accommodated with seats on the platform. The- chairman said the meeting was .held in connection with the South American Evangelical Mission, which was represented here for the first lime. The headquarters of the society, which was supported by voluntary contributions, were in Toronto, Canada. Lately an Australasian Council in connection with the society had been established in Melbourne, arid more recently a local council had been formed here, consisting of Messrs H. Webb, Daniel Louden, and himself. Air

and Mrs G. Allan and All Ileycoek and Mr "Wilson would be the first of the missionaries

to- go from Australasia, and they all belonged to Otago. Addresses were subsequently given by Mrs Allan. Messrs Allan, E. Hcycock, and C. Wilson. The last three all referred to ■the circumstances which led to their deciding to enter the mission field, and spoke of the

difficulties in the way of their undertaking missionary work th.it had 1-een overcome mainly through the instrumentality of prayer. Mr Charles Reeve, from the India Poona Mission, also addressed the meeting, and asked those present to give the party who were going to South America their prayers and hearty sympathy. Before the meeting broke up, all present joined in singing " God be with you till we meet again."