ST. SEPULCHRE’S CHURCH.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 463, 16 April 1890, Page 5

ST. SEPULCHRE’S CHURCH.

PARISH EVENING. REMARKS BY BISHOP BERWYN. Last evening the parishioners of St. Sepulchre’s met in the Symonds - street schoolroom for the first of their monthly “parish evenings,” which were instituted last winter and proved very pleasant. There was a good attendance, the Ven. Archdeacon Dudley occupying the chair. Mr Dudley explained the object of the gatherings, which was to bring together in a pleasanj social way the parishioners at an informal entertainment where they might have an opportunity of conversation between the items of music, readings, etc. He read a note from Herr Carl Schmitt, apologising for his absence and promising to be present with his violin on future occasions. Tho entertainment began with a glee, “The Carnovale ” (Rossini), sung by a dozen ladies and gentlemen, the accompaniment being played by Mr Rice. The other items wore:—Song, “I Fear no Foe,” Mr Hudson ; song, “ When Sparrows Build,” Miss Kissling ; pianoforte solo, “Polish Dance,” Miss Brown; reading, “ Bishop Potts’ Wives ” (Max Adder), Mr G. P. Pierce; song, “Captain of the Lifeboat,” Captain McKay (encored); and Captain McKay gave “The Young Brigade.”* Bishop Solwyn, who was received with applause, gave a short and discursive account of his trip to the Old World, with some of the thoughts that occurred to him. He had passed through Venice, Florence and Rome, but he would not try to go over old ground by describing them. He would recommend his young hearers to read all they could of those cities. The lesson to be learnt was that these places were made great and good by the people, and the young people of New Zealand must remember that of their own country. When they went into the great square of the Signori, the square where the great Savonarola was brought out to die, the thoughts which came over cne could not be anything bub noble, and tinged with the spell of that name. Then one goes to the convent of St. Mark, where Savonarola lived, and it was hard for those living in a new country like New Zealand to feel the calm and peace and love of antiquity that comes over one in such a place. And there all round were the cells of the monks, bare simple rooms, but decorated with masterpieces of human art applied to religion, for in that convent lived Fra Angelico, whose offerings bo his brother monks wore these works of art. , The most satisfying idea of Christ he ever saw was the “ Transfixion of Christ” at the door of one of those cells. The lesson for us is to dedicate our powers to the service of our friends, as did this brother. Then they went to Rome, and standing on the site of that historic city all they had read or heard of it was stamped more firmly on their minds. Looking in one glance at the ancient land marks, before one’s mind there rises the memory of all the deeds that have been done on these spots. His Lordship went on togivea brief description of the city. Then they went to England, and he was in East London shortly after the great strike. He did not know whether Australia and New Zealand in their assistance had done what they expected by assisting the strikers, for they had concentrated the dock work in fewer hands, who had more settled work, bub a large number who occasionally had work were now completely shut "out. But his experience in the East End was chiefly with the work done by the clergy, who by their workmen’s clubs and other means were gaining the sympathies and confidence of the working men. Lectures were there delivered, and all questions allowed. He spoke on the work in Melanesiaand the firstquestion asked him was how could they help him. They had billiard-rooms and other amusements, co-operative stores and various other ways of raising the tone of tho people. At times they started without a single man, but soon tho working men and roughs came. Nor were the lives of these roughs and low characters, as they were called, wanting in heroism, for they frequently showed that good stufl was in them. The Bishop referred to tho great review at Spithead, which showed that the good old British nation still had plenty of life left, and made one hope that the British nation over the world would remain one and that there would be no talk of “cutting the painter.” He had also met Stanley, after he came out from his last journey. He was a very ordinary looking-man, but when be warmed up one could see the fire that carried him through all his journeys. He had also seen a man who gave the story of Gordon in Khartoum. This man said the Mahdi was ready to retreat and raise the siege of Khartoum if tho English had advanced at once, but being urged by two of his emirs to delay, did so, and as the English did nob come up, Khartoum fell, and Gordon died. He ad- : vised them all to read up the history of the Old World, so that when they went to visit it they might do so with their minds in a fib state.

The Bishop’s address was received with applause. It was followed by two songs, “Life on the Rolling Sea,” by Mr T. Charter, and “ Thorns and Roses,” by Mr G. Shirley. “ God Save the Queen ” concluded a very pleasant evening.