GOOD FRIDAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 775, 26 March 1910, Page 7

GOOD FRIDAY.

. IN THE CHURCHES. Good Friday was celebrated with solemn services in many of the city churches. A three-hours' service was. held at St. Paul's Pro-Cathedral, where a series of short addresses on-"Words from the Cross" was delivered by tho Rev. H. A. Kennedy, one of the forerunners of the General Mission. The usual services were held at all tho other Anglican Churches. The cervices in the Roman Catholio 'Basilica .began at 9 o'clock. His Grace Archbishop Redwood pouticated, and had as his deacon the Rev. Father Peoples, and as sub-deacon tho Rev. Father Hickson, and Father Herbert acted as master of ceremonies. Tho service consisted of the unveiling of the Crucifix, the adoration of the Cross, and the celebration of Mass. In the afternoon the service of the Stations of the Cross took place. His Graco Archbishop Redwood presided,: attended by Father Herbert. In the evening the office of Tenebrao was held, his Grace Archbishop Redwood presiding. All the services were well attended.. There were also special services at St. Joseph's in- Buckle Street, and St. Anne's.iu Newtown. There was a large congregation at St. John's ■ Church yesterday morning, when the Rev. Dr. Gibb spoke feelingly on the lessons that could be deduced from the sad anniversary marked by the day. The preacher took for his text, "Behold and seo if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow!" .The words- were, said Dr. Gibb, spoken' in the first instance in Jerusalem, the city of many sorrows, including the sorrows of our Lord, and anyone who had listened to the music in Handel's "Messiah" could never hear them spoken without relating them to the' sufferings of the Son of God. Rationalists and others loved to liken the lamentations of .Christ to other great men of the race, and often compared the death of Christ with that of Socrates, ■ rather, to the disadvantage of the Redeemer. Socrates's sun,''went down in a clear sky, amid perfect 'calm. Christ died in the anguish of Gethsemene, entreating' the Father that tho cup might pass from Him. Ho died on the cross bowed down by a weight of woe human speech could not.measure. It was not the prospect of death that so disturbed His heart. He, indeed, showed fear of death. ' Everyone does. But Ho of all men had cause to hate' it. as a vile in-trusion-on the rights- of His sinless soul. But it was hot death that moved Him so. What was it? There-was'no-other explanation than this—He was bearing, ,on His heart the, sin of the world. "Ho did so'that wo might have eternal life, aud it was'our sins, that brought Him to the pass .which, bowed His. meek soul to desolation aud to death upon tho cross. The'preacher , then asked what the sorrow of Christ meant.to the individual. They could not survey it with sympathy. Ko man could. It had been said that literature touches tho story with heavy and sombre, sentences; that art invests its. pourtrayal with all .the sadness people can feel; music is always moved 'to a" coronach of lamentation. These all nearly expressed with wisdom and understanding the pathos more dim-' iy felt by careless hearts, but sympathy was' evanescent.' They would never understand aright or take up the right attitude towards the sufferings of Christ till they realised that their sins uailod Him to the tree.'. The preacher bade his congregation-dwell on this subject.until: sin was crucified'in their hearts; then with Christ they would.rise with newness to..life.:.:„:_.,,. .:. ..<_ .... ..:. .

.The Rev.. W. Shirer, of., St. James's Church,, hold, special services at Island Bay at .11 .'a,m.,' and'. 1 at: St. James's .Church.; at ;7.':p.m'.' yesterdny.' The subject of.lthe- morning's service was "Tho Gospel'.of the : ,Cros3." and iii tho.'evening "Lefsons from the New Grave in the Garr--/'---- r : ••-... ■"•■'■■■■'.-"'■.'■'■ '. , ' Serv^'"""''.■,"—s. also, .held - at '■ several other churchci!,,. .....