THE CHURCHES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2181, 28 March 1891, Page 2

THE CHURCHES.

TffiM DKA. Yesterday being Good .Friday strict holiday was kept in Tetnuka st. saviour’s church. At St. Saviour’s church the Eev. T. A. Hamilton officiated both in the morning and evening, the services being the special ones for the day. The sermon in the morning was founded on the words, “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by P Behold and see if there be any oorrow like unto my sorrow.”—Lamentations i. 12. The preacher dwelt upon the fact that Good Friday commemorated the crucifixion of our Lord, and that Christians, the wide world over, were gathered together to spend the day in meditation and prayer, aud recalling the terrible scenes of the crucifixion, mourn their sins, which “ crucified the Son of God afresh.” But many did not regard the day with any degree of solemnity ; to hundreds Good Friday was a day for pleasure making and nothing more. The Cross was uplifted to draw men from mere pleasure, worldliness, and sin, to lives of manly service of God in the active business of life, and also to patient endurance of suffering by looking away from one’s own troubles and finding happiness m relieving the sorrows, etc., of others. An earnest appeal on behalf of the reecue work in connection with St. Mary’s Homo, Christchurch, concluded a most touching audimpresaive sermon. The text in the evening was Isaiah liii. 3, “ A man of sorrow and acquainted with grief.” The congregations were good. The organist, Mr Proudlock, played suitable voluntaries with taste and feeling, and appropriate hymns from “ Hymns Ancient and Modern,” were effectively rendered. The offertory in the evening was devoted to the Sunday School fund.

ST. JOSEPH’S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. The special services in the above church in connection with Holy Week commenced on Thursday, and were continued yesterday. The usually beautiful church presented a sorrowful appearance, the statuary, etc., wearing

the customary drape of the season. High Maas was celebrated by the Rev, Father Fauvel on Thursday morning at 9 o’clock, at which there was a large congregation present. A very large number partook of the Sacrament of Holy Communion- The musical portion of the service by the choir (which is making excellent progress under the tuition of the Rev. Father Aubry) was of special merit. Mass being over, preparations were made to carry the Blessed Sacrament in procession through the church. The procession consisted of a number of boys, who each wore a large sash, and girls, who were robed in white, the altar boys, and the Rev. Fathers Aubry and Fauvel. The Rev. Father Fauvel carried the Sacred Host under a beautiful canopy, which was homo by four boys. Each child carried a lighted candle, and the procession, which was of an impressive character, marched from the principal altar through the main aisle towards the end of the church, round the vacant space, and then to Altar of Repose, which was beautifully dressed out with flowers (natural and artificial),, etc,, and there was a large profusion of lighted candles, the tout ensemble being

very impressive, The Sacrament remained there exposed until the following morning, and during the exposition the church was not permitted to he toraaken. On Good Friday the customary service commenced at 10 o’clock, the Rev. Father Fauvel again officiating. After the Adoration of the Cross the Sacred Host was carried in procession from the Altar of Repose to main altar, and the Mass of the Pre-Sanctified was celebrated. The services were cony eluded with the Way of the Cross.