MARTON.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3336, 3 November 1871, Page 3

MARTON.

(PEOM OVa OWN OOBBESPONDENT.) laying the foundation stone of st. Stephen's church. The foundation stone of St. Stephen's was laid by the Bishop of the Diocese on Thursday last. The weather was all that could be desired, and a large number of people were present at the ceremony. The proceedings commenced by a procession being formed, consisting of the clergy, the building committee, members of the Church of England, &c. The order used for the occasion was the same as that in common use in the Southern Dioceses of England ; the musical arrangements were under the management of Messrs W. E. Heywood and G. F. Allen, to whose kind assistance and indefatigable exertion, the success and joyousness of the service was to be attributed. St. Stephen's choir was aided by several members of the Christ Church (Wanganui) choir, who very generously came all the way from town to assist at the ceremony. The 50th Hymn (ancient and modern) was sung as the offertory hymn ; the office was sung in plain song. The psalms " Quam Dilecta," " Lastatus Sum," and " Fundamenta Ejus" were also given by the combined choirs in a very careful and correct manner. The under-stone and the foundation stone proper are square blocks of ironstone, excavated from the Cokeley property. The foundation was not laid in its proper position at the north-east corner, owing to difficulties in the formation of the ground, but, at the happy suggestion of one of the members of the church, it was placed in the baptistry as a basis to the font, emblematical of the foundation of the spiritual life. The Bishop gave a short address, founded on a passage in the account of tlie dedication of Solomon's Temple, the special points in his Lordship's address being, first : The contrast between the nature and mode of the manifestations of the Divine presence ; and, secondly, of the sacrifices required at the hands of God's people, in the old and new covenants. The document to be placed beneath the stone was first read in a loud, clear, and impressive manner by Major Willis, to the generous assistance of whose family the building committee and the members of the church are much indebted, they having contributed a very munificent sum towards its erection. While on the subject I may mention that the Rev Mr Twogood has also given an amount equal in value to his yearly stipend ; a practical illustration of that chanty which he so often preaches. There was a large attendance at evensong, when the Bishop preached a very animated sermon from Isaiah, on the enlargement of the church The point especially noticed were : 1st — The painful contrast between the glorious anticipations of the prophet and the present divided state of Christendom. 2nd — That in spite of that divided state progress was still being made, the work they had been engaged in on that day being an illustration of the fact. 3rd — The duty of cleaviflg fast to the divinely organised apostolical church, to a branch of which his hearers had the privilege of belonging; and, lastly, at the same time, of paying due homage to the good work done by other bodies of Christians who lacked their privilege in this particular. The Town Hall was densely crowded, many not even finding seats, and the sermon was listened to with marked attention. Hymns suitable to the occasion were sung, and formed a fitting close to the services of the day. One noticeable feature were some beautifully-made offertory bags, worked and presented by some of the ladies of the congregation, and in use for the first time on that day.