News and Notes.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 6, 1 December 1922, Page 428

News and Notes.

We have been asked to call, attention to the retreat for women to be held at Hukarere School from January 22nd to January 26th, 1923. Deaconess Esther Brand (Hastings) is secretary and will give any information required. There is nothing formidable about a retreat, the most simple-minded and the highly intellectual meet together m the presence of God, and, shutting out the world, listen to God's voice. A retreat is as its narile implies, a withdrawal from earthly worries and mental distractions, into the peaceful atmosphere of silence and meditation. It gives detachment, clearness of mental vision,, confidence m spiritual strength and the power of God's grace, and generally, a refreshment that sends one back into the -yorld with new energy and high ideals. In these times of anxiety and the rush of busy lives retreats are absolutely necessary if we would retain our spiritual force ; and our mental clarity. A retreat is the most direct way of accepting our Lord's invitation, "Come unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." A Quiet : Afternoon for Sunday School teachers was held at St. Luke 's, HaVelock North; on Saturday, October 28th, conductor, the Rev. Canon Maclean. Twenty-eight teachers were present and the best comment on the helpfulriess of the three hours thus spent was their desire to have many such opportunities given to them.' The intention is to hold a devotional afternoon two or. three,

tjmes^a year m Napier, Hastings, or .A few years ago one of our parishes had a surpliced ladies' choir, and there is always a tendency m a certain number of people' to advocate putting ladies m some sort of gown, surplice- and mortar-board. "It looks so nice." But if it pleases some it disgusts others, for the one word which canriot be applied to it is "nice." It is never "nice "for a woman to dress m male garments, least, of all m a church. Ladies' choirs are .an essential m most churches; but why should they notdress as women? There is nothing so becoming to a girl as the various ecclesiastical vestments for women. The bridal veil is a female ecclesiastical costume, so is the veil for.confirmation and for the churching of women. In some London churches the war time custom of women communicating m a. kind of mantilla is still retained, and very preferable it is to the large hat. m convenience. There should be no reason, therefore why the ladies m the choir. should not be "decently attired?', m- becoming female costume. "They should not iniitate either men or . nuns. , The Bishop of Goulburn , (Bathurst — Ed. C.S.), it is said, has authorised a white linen head r covering (like a confirmation veil), together with a white linen garment that covers the figure and is. girded at the waist. Something like that would be quite satisfactory. But after all, if the choir with the organ were m its right place, behind the. congregation,, there would be no need for special costume. For a choir is intended to be heard, not seen. — The' "Northern" Churchriiari," Queensland. \ V Canon Batty thus concludes a series of articles on "Church Music" .m the "Church Chronicle," ' Brisbane: — There is a strong vis inertia on the part of both priest and people with regard to any change m the music of the "Church. But my short experience of experiments m change has taught me (i) that the tunes which our reformers want us to use, and of which a splendid selection is to be found m the English Hyninal, orice they are known, are the most popular tunes' of all; (2) that if th*. co-operation of the cpngregatien is explicitly sought, and they are brought to regard themselves as having a definite function to fulfil m public Worship, and are bound to. do their part just as much as priest or choir, they will respond aMost with enthusiasm; "(3) that congregational practices before Sunday everisong are not only an invaluable and absolutely necessary means of familiarising, the congregation with tunes "which it is desired to" introduce, .hht. are eag-

erly welcomed by the congregation, who,, m common with the rest of the human race, find community singing a natural and entirely delightful occupation. ' ■ . .