WATCH NIGHT SERVICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 524, 3 January 1882, Page 2

WATCH NIGHT SERVICES.

St. Stephen’s. The service commenced at this church on New Year’s eve, at 11 o’clock. There was a good attendance, some fifty persons being present. The service commenced withia portion of the ordinary evening service, including the litany. A hymn was than given by the choir, after which the Rev. A. W. Hands, the incumbent, delivered a short address. The last five minutes before the birth of the New Year was devoted to : silent prayer by the congregation, after which a verse of another hyi in was sung, and the service concluded. Wesleyan Church. —About fifty persons attended the service held at the Wesleyan Church, on Saturday night last (New Year’s Eve) The proceedings were commenced at 10.30, by the Rev. W. Keall, who gave an appropriate address from Ecclesiastes, vii., 8. —“ Better is the end of a thing than the beginning ■ thereof. ” Messrs J. E. Buchanan and T. R. Hodder also briefly addressed the congregation, and the few minutes preceding midnight were spent in silent prayer. The hymn—“ Come let us anew,” etc., was then sung, and the service came to a close at about 12.15.