SACRED CONCERTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 7

SACRED CONCERTS.

There was a large congregation at tho Durham street Methodist Church on Thrfrsday even in?, when a combined vocal recital was siven bv Mrs Ernest Firth and Mr Rex Harrison. Mr Ernest Firth- acting as accompanist. Mia Firth Bang "Ho was Despised" (Handel), and Mr Harrison sang "It is Enough" (Mendel&slion), whilst together the" sau-s the duels. "Break, Diviner Light" (Allifton), and "Tho Day Ib Dono" (Lohr). Previous to tho recital tho choir, "with. Messrs A. E. Petty and E. Jolin&on, as eoloists, gave Stainer's "Crucifixion." A collection was taken up on behalf of tho trust funds. Thero was a-good house at Everybody's Theatre, lust evening. when the Rev. C. G. Mutter, Diocesan Missioner, gavo an illustrated lantern lecture. Th-> scries of slides shown dcpicted various incidents in tho 3'asf.ion and Crucifixion, - tJie lecturer delivered brief explanatory comments upon tho pictures, which wero taken from wellknown masterpiecee, and in some cases from pictures painted during the _ war. At tho close of the lecture a. collection was taken up in aid of tho fund for necessitous Xew Zealand soldiers at Home, a fund which ban already been tho means of relieving several urgent cants. The work js in connexion with tljo Church of England's activities at tho front, and the fund is administered by Arr.iide.acon Jacob. His Majesty's Theatre was well filled in all parts last evening when tho Woolston Band gave a sacred concert in accordance with their Annual custom. The programme wa6 an excellent one. and the band, under the conductorship of Mr R. J. Eatall, playod snlendidly, the overture from "Poet and Peasant," and tho selection from "William Tell" being the- Etar itemß. Interspersed with the instrumental number* were songs ably rendered by Mr 3 R. L. Gray, Mr M. Gilmore. and Mr J. H. Cocke, Mr® J. Jti. Cocks played -the accompaniments for the 6olos. An organ Tecital and sacred concert was given in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church last evening, the' attendance being -very large. Mr Baynor White, who presided at tho organ, played skilfully a march and chorus from "Tho Crucifixion" (Stainer). Other item-a on. the- programme were:—Solo, Mr N. Turner", Grand Choeur (Cesar Ftanck); solo. "Sun of My Soul" (Haslam), Mr'R. B, McWhirter; Xoctume (Sibelius),: eolo, "In the Cathedral" (G. de Cban«t ■), Mr R. Sullivan ; Offertoiro Xo. 1 (Webv): Romance (opus) 5) (Tchaikowsky); aolo, Mr IS. Sullivan; Momento Capriccioso (Weber): Marche Romaine- (Gounod), and ?, Tccitation by tfje Rev. J. Paterson. A collection was taken up ja aid of-ibo "organ fund, - •