SPECIAL SERVICE IN THE CATHEDRAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 2416, 17 December 1875, Page 2

SPECIAL SERVICE IN THE CATHEDRAL.

The most complete arrangements that were Jiossible under the oiroumstances were made or the special service within the walls of the Cathedral, and the dav being fine, thousand* of people congregated there to take part in the moat interesting and imposing Churoh Service that has ever been witnessed in Canterbury. Many months ago it was deoided that on the Settlement attaining its twentyfifth birthday, the occasion would be an appropriate one for holding a divine celebration within the wall* of the Cathedral. The result was, that the whole of ■ the necessary arrangements were carried out with a degree of success as to render the event for ever memorable to those who took part in it. At 8 a.m., there waa a full choral service at S. Miohaol's Ohurob, whero the Holy Communion was administered to about forty communicants. Mr Neville Bamett presided at the organ. The offertory amounted to £6 7s lOJd, whioh is to be handed over to tbe Cathedral Guild Fund to enable them to undertake another portion of the work. It is to the exertions of the Guild that the completion of fche beautiful western doorway is to be attributed. It was announced that at half-past ten o'clock, his Lordship, Bishop Harper, would be presented — first, with a pastoral staff by the Oathedral Guild j and secondly, with a orozier on behalf of the clergy and laity of this ecclesiastical diocese. The presentations were made in a tent ereoted at fche North-east corner of fche grounds. The pastoral staff and orozier are of silver, beautifully aud artistically studded, and were manufactured by Mr Brunette, jeweller, Cathedral square. The design of the crosier, whioh was drawn by Mr Mountfort, oan with truth be pro* nounoed very handsome. The crosier is about six feet in length. The staff is made of native wood, turned and polished, with a small silver globe, oxydised and white, about a foot from the bottom. A band encircles the globe, on whioh there are six Maltese crosses. Near the top of the staff there is a spiral silver riband for inscription, and above (bis a numbor of silver leaves in relief support a silver §lobe four inohes in diameter. The globe is ivided into quarters by six horizontal bands of silver, and is also enoircled by a band laterally, in "which settings of jasper and greenstone alternate. On the summit of tbe globe a pretty orown forms tbo base from whioh the crook springs, both being of solid silver. Settings of jasper and greenstone mounted on oxydised silver alternate on both sides of tbe crook for its entire length, and tbe edges are marked by a neat silver cord. The crook is terminated with a Jteur de lie of greenstone, wbioh, in contrast with the silver mountings, has a very pretty effect. About sixty ounces of silver have been used in tbe work, and it is evident tbat the commission was placed in thoroughly good hands. The presentation of tbe pastoral staff was mado by Mr H. B. Gresson, on behalf of the Cathedral Guild. Mr Gresson, addressing bis Lordship, said : — ** My Lord,— lt appeared to the Cathedral Guild thafc this, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the landing of fche first Canterbury settlers, would be a fitting occasion publioly to offer thanks to Almighty God for fche great and countless mercies wbioh tbey bavo received since their arrival in Now Zealand. It also appeared to the Guild that in no place could their saorifico of praise and thanksgiving bo so appropriately offered up as in the Cathedral, in the progress of whioh your Lordship and many Churchmen of the Diocese tako so deep an interest. Tbis also seemed to be a most suitable occasion for presenting to your Lordship, as Chief Pastor of the Diocese, and Metropolitan, a pastoral staff and crosier, in testimony of the respect for yeur Lordship's oflice and affection to yourself which are entertained by Ohurohmen of all classes throughout the Diocese ; indeed, X may add, by the whole community. A Committee waa appointed to carry out the objeot* proposed, and I bave

been deputed to present to your Lordship thf pastoral staff. I need scarcely say that I feel very deeply tbo compliment whieh haa boen paid me, and tbat I have willingly undertaken this most agreeable duly. In this place and in your Lordship's presence, it would bo vu* becoming in me, as well aa distasteful to your Lordship, if I were to speak of yoo in such terms ae it might occur to me to use in another place and on another occasion. Many of us may remember the terms in whioh you wore first mentioned to the Churchmen of Canterbury, by one whose praise, as as ablo and devoted servant of God, is in all tha Churches --Bishop Selwyn. We have had now nearly nineteen year* experience of yoar Lordahip ae our Diocesan, and your unwearied labours in the discharge of your Episcopal duties, aa well as in the lose prominent baft not leas appreciated work of a Parish Clergymen, are well known to most of us. That you maw long be spared to preside over the Ohureh„w New Zealand, and that yoo may have ftfcek happiness of seeing the completion of the Cathedral, of whioh you have laid the found** tion, is our earnest wiah and hearty prayer. . My Lord, I beg now to present to you the pastoral staff, an emblem of your Lordship's office aa Chief Pastor, ordered to be borneoy a Bishop when celebrating the Holy Oom* munion, or executing 'any other public offioe, or to be carried before him by his Chaplain." The Very Rev the Dean of Christohuroh then stepped forward, and said that in the name ana on behalf of many of the elergy and laity of this ecclesiastical Province, he had to . present his lordship with a crosier, the - emblem of the high spiritual office which he held in this their adopted oountry. It was the earnest prayer of all those who had joined is presenting his Lordship with this emblem, that he would be spared for many years to have oharge of this ecclesiastical. Provinoe, of whieh office he had in the past done so much to uphold the dignity. It was a matter of very much regret to them that the crosier waa nofc in a fit state to be borne before hie Lord* ship on this oocasion ; but it was in a state whieh showed sufficiently what those on whose behalf he presented it, thought of his Lord* ship and of the manner in which he had discharged the duties of his high spiritual offioe during so long a series of years. In the muse of the clergy and laity of this ecclesiastical Province, he bad the honour of presenting this crosier to his Lordship, witb aa earnest hope that he would be long spared to discharge those duties wbioh he had fulfilled with suoh dignity in the pest. His Lordship said he found eome difficulty in expressing himself , on this occasion. Hie could hot be otherwise than highly gratified at suoh a presentation ae that whieh they had so kindly made to him. Without presomp* tion, he hoped he might look npon it a* ft token of the esteem in whieh they regarded him personally. He must value these gifts,' too, not only on that account ; but he eel • high value npon them aa a recognition of his high office, and of the spiritual relations in wbioh he stood towards all mem* bers of the Church in this Ecdesias* . tical Province. He certainly stood in tbe closest spiritual relations to all of them. He was, by the offioe whieh he held, their Spiritual Shepherd — the under shepherd, who was placed over them by the Great Bhepherd, who in the end was to judge of all their actions. Therefore he could net help setting a high value on these gift*, beoaoee they expressed not only their personal regard for bim, but were a recognition of tiie high offioe whioh, in God's providence, he had bees per* mitted to hold for so many year*. It was nearly nineteen yeara sinoe he firat earne into this diooese, and he oould say with the Utmost I confidence, that during that time he bad met from all shades of opinion — and there were, and would ever be in their Church shades of opinion — with the greatest eon* eideration and kindness. The pastoral staff would be of service to bim, besiaee reminding him of tbeir kindness and coostf enUioo for his office—reminding him that to be faithful to the duties of hie office, he must be. meek, patient, and considerate, for all condition* of men j and that other emblem— the crosier — would remind him thei he oould sot disoharge the duties of hie offioe pre* perly, without that self-denial which wa* represented in the Cross. Whenever he might look on theso emblems, he should be reminded not only of their kindness and eon* eideration at this particular time, but also of tbe spiritual relations that existed between them ; and he trusted tbat with God's help— they also helping him by their co-operation and prayers— he should be enabled to spend. 'the remainder of his days in the faithful discharge of the duties of hie offioe, as a good shepherd of the Great Shepherd of all— as one who was beond to look continually to the Gross of Christ and to the coming of tbe Great Shepherd and Bishop of their souls to judge of their actions. He begged to thank them, whom be might call hit friends, bis ohildren, as he was their father in God, fer their kind gifts j and may God grant that when thev met hereafter on the aay of last account, they would have joy together, throogh Jesus Christ our Lord. Mr Mountfort then presented his Lordship with two photographs of the Western door* ' way, as erected by the Cathedral Guild. A procession was immediately afterward* formed, consisting of his Lordship, the ma* jorityoftbe clergy of the Diocese, end tbe members of the choir. Leaving the tent in which the presentations were made, tlu procession moved along the Northern sule of the building, and entered the walls by tbe Western doorway. By tbis time the available space within the Cathedral "walls was densely crowded. The members of the Cathedra. Guild, the members of the choir, and the various instrumentalists, whose services were secured to give fuller effect to the services, were accommodated with seats on a temporary platform at the Eastern end of the buudiog ■ Altogether there must have boen considerably - above a thousand persons within the Cathedral . walls. The following waa the order of service : — Processional hymn, composed specially for the occasion by the Very Bev the Dees of Christchurcb :-- --" Brothers, let os work together For the Lord Whose name we bear ; Sisters, help ye one another Deck His Bride so passing fair : Strive ye all by earnest union In our midst God's House to build • Knit in steadfast heart-communion, Cherish our Cathedral Guild. Build we first the Western doorway, Faithful folk may enter by ; Bee in throngs rejoicing pour they Through its portal broad and high ; See tbem, rapt in mute thanksgiving, Tread thoee hallowed court* witb praise, Seeking there tbe Water Living, And the Bread of endless days.

Seethe long procession winding k> Through the door and up fche aisle, , Spotless robes^ of white reminding, *;< Ghrisfcians mUsfc be free from guile ; Hark 1 the holy sound asoonding Of fche glad processional ; Bishop, priests, and orowds attending Join to keep high festival. See the Lord with looks of pity, Throned above fche door on high, Bless the homes of this fair oily, Bless the faithful passers by : What could better tell ifcs story P ' Type no sooner seen than owned — Christ ere long shall reign in glory, ,sln the midst of Christ's Ohurch throned. God hath blessed our first; beginning j In His Name will we pursue Greater works, fresh courage winning From, works done, new works fco do 5 , Jusfc as, striving up towards heav'n, . Saints from strength to strength go on j The more they have the more is giv'n, Till their early race is run. Work then, brothers, all together For the Lord Whose Name we bear : Sisters, help ye one another Deck His Bride so passing fair : Strive ye all by earnest union In our midst God's House to build j Knit in steadfast heart-oommunion, Cherish our Cathedral Guild. Amen." When all were in k their plaoes wifcbin tbe walls, the Rev E. A. Lingard said .— Let us pray. Lord, have meroy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. ' Lord, have mercy upon us. Our Father, whioh art; in heaven, Ac. O Lord, open thou our lips. Ans. : And our moufch shall show forth thy praise. Praise ye fche Lord. Ans. : The Lord's name be praised. Pbopbb P5aim5— 48, 122, 127, 134. Pbotbb Lesson— l.Ohron. xxix, verse. 6, , ,to the wordy "gladness," in verse 22, read by fche Ven Arehdeaoon Willook. Tb Deum Laudamus. Atobti.es' Orbed. Rev E. A. Lingard : The Lord be with you. Ans. : And with thy spirit. Rev E. A- Lingard : Our help is in fche name of the Lord. Ans, : Who. hath made heaven and earth., RevE. A. Lingard : Blessed bo the name of fche Lord. < Ans.s Henceforth, world wifchoufc end. Rev 1. A. Lingard : O . Lord, save fcho Queen. Ans. s And meroif ully hear us when we oall upon Thee. Rev E. A. Lingard j Endue Thy ministers with righteousness. • Ans. ; And mako Thy chosen peoplo joyful. Rev E. A. Lingard: Prosper Thou the work of our hands upon us. Ans. i O prosper Thou our handy work. Rev E. A. Lingard; O Lord, hear our prayer. Ails, s And let our ory come unto Thee. Rev E. A. Lingard : Let us pray. Almighty God, Who through Thine Only* Begotten Son, ko. (Collect for Easter Day.) Almighty God, give us grace tbafc we may castaway, &o. (Advent Oollepfc.) Lord, we beseech Thee to keep Thjr household, the Church, &o. (Collect for 22nd Sunday after Trinity,) O Almighty God, Who has built thy Ohurch, &o. (Collect for S. Simon and.S. Judo). STBOIA*& TBAYBE 808 THB PBOVINOB AND COI.ONY, SAID BY THB BISHOP. Almighty and mosfc merciful Father, Who hast given unto us thejpromise of fcho life fchafc now is, as well as of mat which is to come, and has been pleased to bring us to this good land, and has vouchsafed to us in it many things richly to enjoy j let Thy continual blessing rest upon us arid upon all Thy people in this Provinoe and Oolony, and make us plenteous in the work of our bands, and in the fruifc of our labours. Watch over us for good, direct our ways, and give us contented and thankful hearts, and so order and govern fche whole course of our lives thafc we may serve Thee in peace and goodness all our days, through Jesus Christ; our Lord. Amen, His Lordahip thon delivered an address, in the course of whioh he earnestly solioited the people of the Diooese to assist in furthering thp' good work, within fche walls of whieh divine service had been held for the first time fchafc day. A collection was made on behalf of the funds of the Cathedral Guild, to enable them to undertake some ofcher portion of the work, and the result was, that including the amount of tho Offertory at S. Miohael's in the morning, a total sum of £108 was obtained. During the oolleofcion, hymns Nos. 806, " Christ is our Corner Stone," ke., and 186, "All people that on earth do dwell," were sung. As an appropriate present; for fche oooasion, Mrs W. J. W. Hamilton forwarded four beautifully worked collecting bags, whioh spoke volumes, alike for that lady's forethought and good taste. When the alms were offered, the Bishop said "Let us give thanks unto our Lord God," to which the people responded, " Ifc is meet and right so fco do/' Then followed this special thanksgiving, offered by tbo Bishop s— Unto Thee, 0 God, do we give thanks, for that Thy Name is nigh Thy wondrous works declare. Thou hasfc given us life and being. By, Thy blessing we and all things living aro sustained. Thou hast preserved us in our going oufc and ooming in, ahd hasfc replenished ue wifch Thy goodness, and satisfied us with Thy mercies. For all Thy bounties known to us, and all unknown, multiplied upon us in this favoured land, we praise Thy holy Name. But chiefly do we praise Thoo for fche rioh inheritance of meroy vouchsafed to us through Thy Churoh in Christ Jesus our Lord, for our redemption from sin and death, for our means of grace and salvation, and for fche hope of life efcernal | and we humbly beseeoh Thee to • continue Tby loyingklndness towards us, and to epdlble us to show forth our thankfulness for the same, by a faithful use of aU Tby gifts and blessings to the furtherance of Tby glory and our growth in grace. And do Thou, Q Lord, roeroifully accept whafc we have fchis day offered of Thino own towards fche building pf this House iot Thy Holy Name i and so prosper the work which wo have taken in hand, fchafc ifc may be continued and finished wifch Tby gracious benediction, and be unfco Thee » holy Temple, acceptable in Thy sight; for all true and spiritual worship, for the manifestation of Thy presence and the communication of Thy grace. Granfc fcbis for fche sake of Him Whom Thou didst send into the world for our salvation, aud Who at His second coming will gather together His elect

in one before Thine efcernal fcbrone. To Whom with Theo, 0 Heavenly Father, in tho unity of the Holy Spirit, wjs asoribe all honour, thanksgiving, and praise, now, henoefortb,and for over, Amen. Tho Colleofc was then said, " Prevent us, 0 Lord," Ao. j followed by tho Hallelujah chorus, and the Benediction having boen pronounoed, the reoessional hymn No, 320, " Tho Church's one foundation " brought; fcho services to a oloso.

Twenty-five years elapsed yostorday sinoo fche firsfc fcwo of the four pioneer ships to Canterbury arrived at Lyfctolton, Tho ships Charlotte Jane and Goorgo Seymour arrived on Doo. 16, 1850, the Randolph noxfc morning afc ten o'olook, and tho Creasy ton days afterwords. Consequently, a quarter of . a century has elapsed since the first settlors landed direot from England on fche shores of Canter* bury. *