THE CHURCHES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1882, 23 April 1889, Page 2

THE CHURCHES.

GERALDINE.

Services were held at both the Church of England and the Eoman Catholic Church, Geraldine, on Good Friday. At the former the Rev. Jas, Preston preached. At the latter the Ray. Father Treacey conducted the service. “ The Holy way to the Cross ” being the subject of the sermon. On Easter Sunday at the latter church the rev. gentleman took as hie the words “ And He said unto thejfr be not affrighted, ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified. He is risen, He is not here, behold the place where they laid Him.”—Mark xvi., 6. The church was beautifully decorated and a large congregation was present. During the service the “ Litany,” “ Kyrie,” “Gloria,” “ Sanctus,” ” Agnus Dei,” and “ Benediction ” were sung. The “ Regina Coeli ” was given during the offertory. Mrs Willoughby presided at the organ. At the Primitive Methodist Church on Easter Sunday the Rev. Geo. Clement preached to a good congregation from the words, “ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.”— I. Corinthians xv., 20.

At St. Mary’s the Eev. J. Preston delivered a most eloquent address, taking for his text “Christ is risen indeed,” and a celebration of Holy Communion took place after the morning service. A harvest thanksgiving service was also held in conjunction with the Easter services, and in the course of his sermon Mr Preston said that although we had a tendency to complain at the hard times, low wages, and other disadvantages, still we as a community were far more fortunate than most countries, and we had a great deal to be thankful for. The alter and other parts of the phurch were very prettily decorated, and there was a large attendance at all tho:y services. TEMUKA. Special services were held at St. Saviour’s Church on Easter Sunday. The church was tastefully decorated by Mesdames Hamilton, Campbell, and Aspinall, assisted by Misses Eayner. Sweet, Pilbrow (3), Ladbrooke, Wills, and Poster, and Messrs L. and W. Eayner. The decorations, which were composed principally of crosses and wreaths of native shrubs, relieved with autumnal flowers, were in the extreme, and from an artistic point of view could hardly been improved upon. The service in the morning in spite of the threatening weather was well attended. The anthem for the day, “ Now is Christ risen f rom the dead,” was rendered most efficiently by the choir, Mr Proud! ock presiding at the organ. Special hymns for Easter were sung. The sermon was preached by the Eev. T. A. Hamilton, and was taken from the second lesson for the day. At the close of the service the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was administered to about 50 communicants, many of whom had attended from a considerable distance. In the evening the service was con-j! ducted by Mr E. Pinckney. There was a largo congregation. The offertory was presented, according to the ’

custom of the Church, to the Incumbent, At &t. John’s Church, Winchester the service in the evening was conducted by the Eev. T. A. Hamilton, and owing to the additions now in progress to the church was held in the schoolroom, which was arranged j with suitable seating by the church- ' wardens. There was a large congregation. The “farewelliug” to the “old place” at the Wesleyan Church on Sabbath last more than realized the anticipations of the most sanguine. IrTtfhe morning the Eev. E. S. Bunn discoursed befittingly on Caleb’s * words of encouragement, “ Let us go up at once and possess the land ; for we are well able,” The Methodist Love Beast in the afternoon was noted for its hearty singing, retrospects, and not a few golden memories. The evening services were solemn and profitable. The sermon on “The Besurrection ” was listened to with unflagging attention to its last sentence. The Communicants at the Sacremant were very numerous. The lessons for the day were read by members of the congregation. A prayer meeting next Sabbath morning at 10 o’clock will complete another link in the chain of circumstances in connection S with the history of Methodism in JfTemuka. The closing of the old with ' its past, and the opening of the new ■ by the Eev. G. Bond with its future, L is calculated to make next Sabbath a red-letter day for “ the people called Methodists.” A St. Joseph’s Church presented a most imposing spectacle on Easter Sunday. In addition to the usual beautiful floral ornamention, the prettiness of the scene was greatly enhanced by the presence of several vases of natural flowers. Two M asses were celebrated by the Eey. Eather Eauvel—at 8 and 10.30 o’clock, the last, at which there was a very large attendance, being a Solemn High Mass, when the rev. gentleman delivered a very eloquent and impressive sermon on the festival of the day. In the evening Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was held. The choir, which was under the conductorship of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Mks Gaffaney presiding at the harmonium, rendered the musical portion of the service with good effect,