WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE IN A RITUALISTIC CHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1641, 29 May 1873, Page 4

WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE IN A RITUALISTIC CHURCH.

, + The London : Telegraph publishes the following account of a special service at St. Alban's, Holborn, on New Year's eve : — The priests of St. Alban's are wise in their generation, and know that tbeir church, above all others, situated im one of the poorest neighbourhoods, cannot, without extreme unwisdom, let slip so golden an opportunity of appealing to the sympathies of the working classes as is afforded 'by a midnight service on the last day of the year. "No bell is xung," s<*id the Rev Father Stapton, the chief promoter of this and many other methods of getting at tbe poor of Baldwin's Gardens, " and yet the people come." Come they did, at all events, last nigbt — the working men. and still more the working women and children, came literally "in crowds," notwithstanding the pouring rain. And what did Father Stanton do with them when he got them there ? Did he receive them with a correct and "aesthetic service,'' which certainly would have driven them all out again, and prevented their ever comiog any more ? -By no means. There was not a symptom of ritualism to be seen. The beautiful chancel wa9 not used. The hymns were special ones, culled from the Wesleyan manuals. There was no choir. Father Stanton was the sole " minister," and he wore tio vestments — not even the possibly obnoxious surplice. Precisely at half-past eleven he mounted the pulpit and requested the congregation to join hiui in the first hymn, "Shall we meet beyond the river ?" which was done most effectively- : Mr Stanton afterwards delivered a brief extempore address on the duty of recognising the goodness of Gad while "in the land of the living." The problem started by the preacher was, Bow is it, if God be good, that anybody has a chance of going to hell ? A In solving this problem by the answer of free-will, I make bold to say this ritualistic preacher outpreached any Wesleyan in the great metropolis. Mutter, manner, and energy, were of the very essence of the conventicle ; and_ the congregation, which was essentially a poor one, literally hung upon bis lips as he contrasted God's goodness with man's misrepresentations of Him. Lest men shou'd only fear God, he turned their attention to the story of the Incarnation— >God at Christmas-tide, cradled at Bethlehem, crucified on Cavalry. . " Do not say you be must damned, dear friends," he concluded : "do not harbour the blackest sin of despair. It is a lie. Say, ' O God, Thou art my God.' If a fellow only bates his sins because he thinks they will pitchfork him into. hell, that is not repentance. Lpve God as perfect goodness ; then you wiil see all with a new light. '1 hen you will be truly penitent, as frosts melt and flowers sping uj* when the sun shines." A long silent prayer ensued as the church chimes rang in the new yenr, followed by an extempore prayer by the minister; af er wbich the hymn, " Guide ua, O Thou great Jehovah," was sung to the tuneof "Rousseau's Dream." At the last verse, •* Come, Lord Jesus, take Thy waiting people home," Mr Stanton .desired all to " sing, out loud ;" and I can answer for it thafc every man, woman, and child followed his injunction. He then continued bis address. to did the congregation at St. Alban's inaugurate the year of grace 1873. "Go either to church or chapel." fcuch was the practical advice with which the address concluded. . " I know many reasons why you may not like church. But at all events, put yourselves on the Bide of God. Be on the si c of the good, good God."