Mission Services at Hawera.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 126, 2 May 1885, Page 2

Mission Services at Hawera.

' [ffmvera Star.] What is termed a "mission," commenced at St. Mary's Church on Saturday evening. It is not within the province of a secular journal to criticise the movement, its objects, or its probable results ; but we may say that the service is equivalent to what m other churches is designated a revival, and m place of the ordinary ritual of the church, there is sul>stituted another, the features of which are extempore prayer, short addresses, and special hymns having lively and catching tunes. Anything more unlike the solemn and dignified ritual of the Anglican Church, or more opposite to what its adherents m this district have been accustomed to, it would he difficult to conceive. At 8 o'clock on Saturday evening the missioner, the Rev. Mr. Coninger (who is curate m charge of the district of Palmerston North) entered the west door of the church, where he was met by the Rev. Mi*. Root (curate m charge of Hnwera), who j took off his stole and put it on the ' missioner, m loken that during the currency of of the mission the latter had charge of the cure. One or two Jjrtiyer.s were said, and then the hymn " Onward, Christian soldiers," was struck up, and the clergy proceeded lo tie chancel, and- the mission service began. The missioner is I*ll, and well-built, of about middle age, clean shaven, and is arrayed durintr mission services m cassock with girdle. He has a fine voice, an earnest, manner, and a wonderful memoiy, continually quoting and preaching from texls without reference. There were not a great many persons present at Saturday evening's* meeting, hut last evening there was a pretty full church. The mission continues all the we<«k, there being services nt intervals during" i*acli day, and every evening at eigbfc o'clock.