GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES.

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

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES.

THE CATHEDRAL,

Services appropriate to tho day irerO held at tho Cathedral yesterday, and. there were good congregations at all tho services, that at tho tliree-liour service in tho afternoon being a very largo one. . At 9-30 in tho morning an antoCommunion service was held, at which the Rev. K. H. Shoro officiated. At 10.30 tho Lifany was read, with morning prayer, a\id the Rev. E. H. Shoro preached a sevrmon on "Tho Cross of God." The \three-hour servico commenced at noou, Canon Wilford taking tho service, assisted by his Lordship Bishop Julius. The servico was of an impressive nature, and during its courso several short devotional addresses were given. At four o'clock ft very largely-attended-children's service was held, his Lordship the Bishop officiating. At eigiit o'clock Stainer's cantata, "Tho Criicifixiqn," was rendered with magnificent effect by the choir. Tho Cathedral was well -'filled, the whole of tho seating capacity being taken up. Tho collections at all tho services wero fo r the purpose of augmenting tho funds of St. Saviour's Orphanage, and a total sum of about £100 was received, £14 of this being given by the children at their servico. A series of services to that held at the Cathedral was bold at tho churches in tho diocese, with the exception of tho three-hours' service, which was not held at some of thcru.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL. The- services special to Holy Wcok began at the Roman Catholic Cathedral on Wednesday evening with the oilico of Tenebrao, tho Catholic clergy with representatives from the "West Coast and South Canterbury r taking part. There was a full choir, and tho chant was 6ung very impressively. Tho sermon was on tho meaning of the ceremonies of Holy Week. On Thursday there was a very largo number of communicants from early morning until 9 a.m.. when tho office proper to the day was begun with a Pontifical High Mass. The celebrant was the Bishop; Dean Regnault, S.M., was tho assistant priestj Fathers Graham and Cooney, -deacon and sub-deaoon respectively; and Deans Tubman and Hyland, deacons of honour. The solemn blessing of tho holy oils was performed by .'tho Bishop, ' and ilie service was attended by representatives of tho clergy of tho diocese. At tho end of'the Mass, a procession was formed to tho Altar of Repose, which had been very tastefully decorated by the ladies of tho Altar Socioty. The Altar was visited by large numbers during the day and tho evening, and the- men of tho congregation kept watches beforo it all the night. On Thursday evening the office of Tenebrao was again given. The Lamentations were song by Fathers Coouey, Murphy, and tho Bishop. At the close of tho service there was a sermon on tho Holy Eucharist. On Friday morning tho office was begun at 9 o'clock with tho Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, at which tho Cross (which, had been covered since Passion Sunday) was unveiled and venerated by tlie clergy and congregation. The Bishop was tho celebrant; assistant priest, Father Graham; deacon. Father O'Hare; sub-deacon, Father Hanrahan;' do'acons of honour, Monseigneur Byrne, VjG., of Brisbane, and Dean Hyland. The Passion of St. John was sung, Fai&er Berger singing the narrative, Father I/ong the Christiis,/ and, Father Cooney the Turba. Them was' lar^ ; «mg |re g a ' t i on '» the Cathedral. Yesterday, at 3;;, p.m., the Cathedral'was again filled fbr the Stations of the-Cross., .Tho Bishop con« ducted •; the 'Procession round the stations,- with' Father' Hanrihan. Thero was also a procession ofjchbir boys. Tho ' 'Stihlat Mater'' was! sung by tho chair, and during the day a*, relic : of the. True Cross (a possession of tho Cathedral procured <by the Hate Bishop Grimes) was exposed on the Altar. Last night tho last office of Tenebrao was celebrated, the„Bishop deliVeHng, 1 . a sermon on tho Passion; This \mornirig, I ''at 8 o'clock, tljcre will he tlie, blessing -of the, Fire, Paschal Candle . and the Baptismal., Fond;, followed'by theVMass, of' Easter Eve. On Sunday the Bishop will celebrate Afftgq a t 11 aan., and preach at vespers on tho Resurrection. Tho Holy Week services' wore also celebrated at tho Sacred Heart Church, Aldington, by Father O'Haro; at Mount Magdala by Father Haxrrahan: and at Nazareth House by the priests of' St. Bedo's College.

UNITED COMMUNION SERVICE. At 11 a-ni. yesterday, all tKe, nonepiscopal churches under the auspices of the Christchurch. Ministers' Association united' in a service of ; communion and intercession in St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. Thero Tvas a very largo eathermg, over which the Rev. J. Paterson presided. • The. prayers were taken hy, the Bevs: S. Knight, H;;'Johnsou, arid J. J. Norths Tho, Rev.','Allen Job delivered an address on "Th® Crisis and the Cross," in whicTi ho showed how the Cross had been illuminated by the war. Tho meaning and value of sacrifice was now understood as never before. The fall of the Lucifer of Nations had revealed the utter collapse of human agencies for man's Salvation and peace, and a new impetus would be given to tho preaching of tho Cross. The collection amounted to" £13 17s 2d, and after deducting the expensei (£1 13s 6d) tho balanco of *£12 3s 8d is being handed to tho Belgium Relief Fund. SALVATION ARMY. • A special scries of # united meetings, were conducted by Lieut.-Colonel and Mrs Mclnnes in the Sydenliapi.Linwood, and Christchurch halls yesterday. The colonel was supported by a number of staff and field officers from . tlif Christchurch headquarters and suit rounding corps. Tho theme touched upon in all meetings was that of tha Crucifixion. The morning subject inrat the Last Words of Stephen, who said, when being stoned, "Lay not this sin to their charge." This was simply an echo from Calvary and the last words of Jesus, "Father, forgivo them, for thc.v know not what they do." At Linwoocl during the afternoon a very enthusiastic service was held, when tho topic taken by tho "colonel was, "Tho grain of it die it abideth alone." with the fitting referenco to Christ's dying when the dark hour of his life had come and a lost world was redeemed. At night a monster open-air meeting was conducted in ; ; tho Square, followed by an Easter service at the Victoria street hall, when Colonel and Mrs Mclnnes addressed the-gathering on "The Last Seven Words from the Cross." Large attendances were recorded at all three meetings. The colonel is a veryearnest and fluent speaker, and carried his audiences with him on each occasion, while Mrs Mclnnes, who has a very pleasing manner, easily he.id" her listeners. An open-air servieo is to bo held to-night in the Square, when the colonel will speak. Three meetings arc announced fo r to-morrow in the Victoria street hall. The final gathering will take place at Sydenham on Monday naglit. J

Morning and evcninc services were held at All Saints' Church, Sumner yesterday, when the vicar, the Rer. J. de B, Galwey, officiated. There -were large congregations. The offertories were in*, aid. of 'Sir Saviouc'i Qnct-anxurcv,