ROUND THE CHURCHES.

Observer, Volume X, Issue 620, 15 November 1890, Page 7

ROUND THE CHURCHES.

What Baptist church wag so poor that it could aofc afford to send its pastor to the Conference ?

Quoth a friend to an Auakland parson — ' Why do you chew ?' • Because I love it,' was the reply.

There are 2,805 Baptists in New Zealand. The remaining 600,000 or so 'have not' been ' baptised.'

Mb Spitrgeon's evangelistic tour has resulted in 17 ' souls,' and a good few pounds sterling besides, on the credit side.

The annual report of the Baptist Union states :— ' The exchequer of the Union is almost entirely empty.' The old, old story.

While the Auckland 'Tab' hab been running info debt, Ponsonby Baptists have paid off a debt of £&& during the past year.

The Salvationists have their Bishop. He is an Ensign at Christchurch, who will shortly come to take charge of Auckland division.

" Tommy ' Spubgeon's evangelistic mission has resulted in an increase of Baptists in New Zealand for the year 1890. Last year there was a decrease.

It is reported that Mr Joseph Newmans recovery from accidental injuries was aocelar*ted by Pastor Birch doing the oil and prayer business over him.

Mrs Whitaker, of Parnell, a daughter-in-law of Sir Frederick, is a well-known adherent of the Salvation Army, and a constant attendant at its meetings.

Pastor Birch, at the Helping Hand Mission on Sunday la-^t, thanked God that the adherents of that mission were not ' painted Christiana.' Does he mean that the Tab. people-paint ?

Three Parnell ladies of position— a widow, a matron and a maid — have taken to straggling all the way to the Newton service of the Harmy. Can the shifting of the dear Lieutenant be responsible for this great waste of shoe-leather ?

Speaking at the Helping Hand Mission on Sunday, Mr VV. H. Smith said that some of their converts were heard of in Hokianga and Wellington, and some even went so far as to get promoted by joining the Plymouth. Brethren. Now we think of it, 'some Auckland Chris* tiaus who have never been so low as need a helping hand, have found that ' Brethrenism 'is the best type of Christianity.

At St. Thomas's Church, Union-street, they have service twice a week, and the parson saya the people can have it oftener, if they like. But they would give him more credit for sincerity if he would see to having the front gate unlocked, and not compel people to go round by the back entrance. Lasc Friday night; a number of worshippers climbed over the fence rather than make the big detour ; but one lady refused to negotiate the climb, because the holy men would not turn their heads away or prayerfully promise not to look at her anklea.

There are 8550 bands in the Salvation Army

Thb Bishop of Sodor and Man haa seven brothers, all clergymen. . : ,'

The Baptist Conference is now sitting at Auckland Tabernacle.

Rkv. Mr JIADOiiiFFB, formerly of Christchurbh, has been sent eighteen months to prison in JEngland for larceny.

St. Barnabas' Church district, Mount Eden, has been erected into a parish, with St. Alb.-ui's, Mount Koskill, attached to it This is a good step, and should lead to increased, efficiency in Anelican affairs in the allied districts, if the a^le incumbent of St. Barnabas has a young-curate to help him.

Tukbe is at least one clergyman in Napier .where practice and preching run in double harness. He belongs to the English Church and regularly every week pays ten shillings out of some fund at his disposal to a poor woman with some young children whoso husband has deserted her The husband in question was some time ago converted into a Yankee book-hawker by the Adventist-s and sent away to canvass in the South Island. All honour to the parson who^e Christian charity is not limited by the bounds of creed.

Not long ago, at Balmain, Sydney, one Sunday night, when the parson had just come to the part of the service where the prayerß of the congregation were invoked for 1 Wales,' a shrill voice in the back pews yelled out, ' Hi ! Don't pray for that blanky blank, he's no good.' Without much ceremony the desecrator — who was no other than ' Lady ' Munro — was promptly bundled out, but nr.t before the congregation broke into a snigger, which a subsequent sermon on hell-fire couldn't frighten off their faces.