The Rev H. R. Haweis.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5280, 10 June 1895, Page 2

The Rev H. R. Haweis.

St John theßaptist's Church was crowded on Saturday evening, when tbe Rev H. R. Hawois preached. Tbe vicar, the Rev H. C. M. Watson, conducted the service. Crotch's anthem, " Holy, Holy, Holy," wsb sung, and Mr Lawrence Watkins was organist. Mr Haweis took as hia test the words, "O God, my heart is ready, my heart is ready ; I will sing and give praise with the bast member that I have," &c. (Paalm cyiii., 1 and 2, prayer-book version). His subject was the functions of music, ' both active and passive, in the sanctuary. Music was exercised actively in the house of God by intoning the responses and by singing psalms and, hymns. The intoned response was very ancient. The sentences " Let us pray," " The Lord be with you. " and " And with thy spirit," in the English liturgy of to-day were part of the "Orisonß" of Clement of Rome, who lived in tbe first century, and the remains of who;e oratory were discovered only thirty years ago. The preacher Bpoke eloquently of the power and significance of hymns, telling how they had soothed, sustained and comforted Christians in days of trouble and sorrow, from the days of Christ and His apostles. He was very glad that in that church he had not had to find fault, as had elsewhere been the case, with the organist and choir for apparently thinkingthat they were very much above the congregation, and galloping the congregation quite out of breatb. He earnestly exhorted organist, choir and congregation to do their respective parts in a true devotional Bpirit, and with a full sense of their several responsibilities. At the conclusion of the sermon Mies Watson sang "The Holy City," with much power, sweetness and devotional feeling. After the service Mr Haweis, accompanied by his manager, Mr Fiecher, left Lyttelton for Wellington in the s.s. Penguin."