Gisborne.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 5, 1 November 1910, Page 12

Gisborne.

Vicar : Rev. L. Dawson Thomas. The Mission.— Our Missioner has come, and gone. Onr prayers have 'most- surely been heard. God hatli visited His people. It is difficult to write about this truly wonderful time, a great deal of that which happened cannot, indeed, be told m words* It is known only to God. The points that seem to stand out prominently are these. :~ It was a Mission of Instruction. Each evening, before the sermon, a simple address on some point of doctrine, or Church teaching was given. Conversion, auricular Confession, Absolution, the Sacraments, each iv turn was faithfully and clearly dealt with. It was also a Praying Mission. The whole effort was saturated with Prayer. Requests for Prayer poure.d iv each day. At the early celebrations (the "Church's Daily Prayer Meeting," so called by the Missioner) the average attendance was over seventy. One day, during the Mission, was set apart as a day of continuous Intercession, and from daylight till long after dark the Church had people praying. The effect of this was most striking. People not belonging to the Church, and who had not attended the Mission, confessed to feeling a strange iniluence m the district. There was real grief at the departure of Rev. T. Rees. We are, however, not quite withoxit hope that we shall, some day, have him back m New Zealand. Church Literature. — During the course of the Mission there were large sales of the cheap Church Manuals. The whole supply was practically sold out, and requests for more were incessant. Our branch of the C.E.M.S. has arisen to the occasion, and is erecting a permanent book rack m Trinity Church. This will be kept stocked with the best of the cheap books. A large order is being sent out from England. We are laying man extensive stock of the Mirfield " Manuals for the Million. 11 We do not intend to mix the teaching given m these booklets. Confirmation.— Classes m preparation for the rite of Confirmation have begun. There are a good number of candidates and the work promises to be most interesting,

The Bishop will visit the Parish for the Confirmation early m February. Lecture on Palestine. — During a recent visit our Bishop most kindly gave a lecture on his tour through the Holy Land. The entertainment was organised by the C.E.M.S., and over £36 was taken. This will be used by the Society for Parochial purposes.