WHITELEY CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8060, 12 March 1906, Page 2

WHITELEY CHURCH.

Special interest attached to the services at the Whiteley Memorial Church on Sunday, in connection with the Harvest Thanksgiving Festival. A r cry complete arrangements had been made for the celebration, and every thing passed off most successfully. The decorations were particularly tasteful in design, and called forth an amount of effort and labour which was most praiseworthy. Quite a small army of workers were busy all day ou Saturday making preparations, the result being that the beautiful sanctuary has never looked belter on similar occasions in previous years, and that is saying a great deal. So effec live were the decorations that the preacher spoke words of warm praise in regard to the efforts of those who had carried out the work. The Rev. J. H. Simmonds, 8.A., from Auckland, was the preacher for the day. In the morning the text was taken from Phils IX. 7,"from which a thoughtful and suggestive discourse was delivered. .In the evening the sermon was bused on Psalm i' x'v. IS, the subject being dealt with in a masterly manner.

The congregations were large at built services, the commodious building being tilled in the evening. The choir was in strong force ami the service ol' praise was it special feature. The hymns were specially chosen and suitable to the occasion. The anthems '• Ye shall dwell in the land" and "Great and marvellous are thy works," were rendered with fine effect. Mr E. N. Okey conducted throughout, and Mr G. H. White was at the organ. In the afternoon, a large number of the Sunday School scholars marched to the Hospital and Old People's Home with lloral tributes, which were left for the inmates. At the Home, a short Hymn Service was conducted, and evidently much appreciated. The Festival will be concluded with a social meeting lliircvcning in Whiteley Hall, when a first-class musical programme will be submitted, to be followed by a sale of fruit.