St. MARY'S SUNDAY SCHOOL JUBILEE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 10175, 3 December 1894, Page 2

St. MARY'S SUNDAY SCHOOL JUBILEE.

A GREAT SUCCESS. The Jubilee of St. Mary's Sunday School, which was founded in 1844 by Roy. Mr Bolland on a site near the present Reclaimed Land, was celebrated on Sunday, when special services were conducted by Dean Hnvell, of Napier, assisted by Archdeacon Govett and tho clergy of the Archdeaconry. There was a large congregation at the morning service, Dean Hovell choosing as his text a portion of second lesson for the day. — I. Peter iv., verse 11, " That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever, Amen." " A key-note of this passage," said the preacher, " is praise." Basing his discourse upon this word, he proceeded to show how that the central idea of all worship was the praise of God. The day of their Sunday School Jubilee shoald be essentially a day of praise and thanksgiving to the Almighty for all His mercies. But God mast be praised not; only with the lips but also in the lives of men. Religion -was not merely a Sunday matter, but was a practical work — a day affair. A man might attend church with the strictest regularity, but, if he did not live up to his Sunday prof ession, his religion was a sham. The layman -who led a holy beneficent life preached a more effectual sermon than could be delivered from any pulpit. The Dean proceeded to show that religion still had a marvollous hold upon the lives of multitudes, and gave it as hjs opinion that those who argued that Christ was losing his hold upon the heart of the world were in error. In conclusion, tho preacher pointed his hearers to that heavenly home where care and worry and death should give place to tireless service and praise in the presence of the Lord. There was a large congregation at the children's service, held at 3 p.m., the number of adults and children being estimated at 1200. All the Church of England Sunday schools in the districts near the town were represented, as well as the other Protestant schools m the town. Among the congregation were several otthe Roy Mr Bolland's scholars of 50 years ago. Dean Hovell addressed the large gathering, taking for bis text " Trumpet Music." The subject was well handled by ( the Dean, who kept his auditors' attention engaged throughout. In tho evening the church was full to overflowing. The Deau again preached, taking for hi 3 text the words contained ia Genesis, chap vii., first verse. During the services specially solected hymns were sung, which were a pleasing feature. A full choir, under the able conductorahip of Mr Ezra Brook, was present on each occasion. Bunnett'a service in F being used ; in the morning the anthem "Hosanmi in the Highest" (Stainer), and in the evening Macfarren's " The Lord is my Shepherd," were well rendered. Collections were made in aid of tho church building fund, and amounted to about £60.