EASTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2345, 19 April 1892, Page 3

EASTER.

TEMUKA. THE CHURCHES. ANGLICAN CHURCH. On Easter Sunday special services were held in connection with St. Saviour’s Parish at the Maori Pah, Temuka, Orari, and Winchester, the Rev. T. A. Hamilton officiating in each case. The parish church was beautifully decorated with evergreens and a profusion of flowers, and in spite of somewhat bleak - looking weather there was a large attendance, among whom might be noted many from a distance. The special canticles for the day were sung, and the hymns were appropriate to the occasion. The sermon was taken from Job xix., 23rd to 27th verses, which expressed the prophet’s emphatic belief in a resurrection of the body. From this text the preacher argued that at a period like Easter, after Lenten discipline and examination, Christians ought to be able to throw off their doubts and uncertainty, and say with full faith “ 1 know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my death worms devour this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” At all services the Sacrament of Holy Communion was administered, and there was an unusually large number of communicants. Mr R. Pinckney conducted the evening service at Temuka, and Mr H. J. Gladstone the morning service at Winchester. The decorations at the Temuka church surpassed all previous

efforts, the church never having looked so well, and the same may be said of the 'Winchester church, although the decorations there are always exquisite, and almost beyond praise. In addition to the floral decorations several texts were placed on the walls, &c., of St. Saviour’s Church; the one across the east window was exceptionally well done, having the words K The Lord is Risen in old English letters worked in white wadding upon a blue ground covered with gold stars. In the Winchester Church a floral star above the altar was also a work of art. A feature of the decorations was that most of the wreaths and crosses were prepared in the homes of the parishioners, where abundance of material could be obtained. They were then brought and reverently placed in position. Thus loss of time was to-a large extent avoided, and the work better done than when chance collections of flowers,” Ac., were used at random. —The annual festival in connection with St. Saviour’s Church will bo held on Thursday and Friday this week and the annual meetings of parishioners, to receive reports and balance-sheets and elect officers for the ensuing year, will be held on the 26th and 28th at Winchester and Temuka respectively. si. Joseph’s church.

St. Joseph’s Church was decorated in unique stylo for the festival. First mass was celebrated by the Rev, Father Fauvel at 8 o’clock. At 10.30 a solemn high mass was snug, the rev. gentleman again officiating. Father Fauvel preached a most earnest and impressive sermon, taking his text from tho Gospel for the day “Ho is risen; He is not here; behold the place they laid The rev. gentleman dealt with the subject in an able manner and at great length, concluding with an earnest exhortation to his congregation to lead such lives as would ensure for them a glorious resurrection. The musical portion of the service was of a special character,

Before mass the choir rendered “Vidi Aquam” and the “Resurrection Litany.” The “ Mass of the Annunciation ” (C. M. Baeteus) was sung. The offertory piece was Labat de Serene’s “ Regina Cceli,” in parts. After the Communion a selection from Haydn was played, and after mass one from Mozart. The various solos and duets were sustained by Misses Connolly, L. Quinn, and B. Connolly. Masters Scannell and Polaschek took the bass solos in the mass. In the evening solemn vespers were sung, The “ 0 Salutaris ” and “ Tantum Ergo ” were from the Parochial Hymn Bowk, while the “ Litany ” was by the Rev. Father Police, sung in three parts. The “ Regina Coeli ” and other Easter hymns were also rendered. Miss Quinn presided at the harmonium both morning and evening. THE SALVATION ARMY. The special meeting at the Salvation Army on Sunday was well attended. Captain Emily Forlong, who is secretary for the children’s work, gave an address in the afternoon to parents, and explained the methods the Army had adopted for the children. For some years General Booth had felt that while a great effort was being done for the fathers and mothers, yet very little bad been done for the children. Captain Forlong explained that the General had now introduced the new regulations into New Zealand, and that they were working satisfactorily. In Temuka the children’s meetings were well attended. In the evening the barracks were crowded to excess, all available setting room being occupied, and a large number having to stand, it being announced as the memorial service of the late Miss Ward. Amongst the large audience were the relatives, friends, and schoolmates of the deceased lady. The meeting was conducted by Captain Harlow. After the band had played the Army funeral march etc., and Captain Forlong had spoken a few words, Captain Harlow referred to the life and death of Miss Ward who was a member of the Army. He had visited her during her illness, and she constantly gave a good experience that she was trusting, and he had no doubt that she had gone to heaven in Christ. On Monday afternoon the special meetings were conducted by Major Vince, In the evening the barracks were crowded.

GERALDINE. st. mary’s Anglican church. St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Geraldine, was superbly decorated on Sunday with dowers and holly, and the services throughout were very attractive, the attendance being large. The Rev. J. Preston preached a very appropriate sermon from Luke xxiv., 34, “ The Lord is risen indeed.” He showed that on the resurrection of Christ depended the faith of the Christian church. He dealt in an able manner with the objections some had raised with regard to the resurrection of Christ, and asked “ Why should people doubt the resurrection of the dead when they beheld so many wonderful miracles wrought in their midst daily? Who would have thought that a crawling caterpillar would become a beautiful butterfly, or that seeds, hidden for countless ages, when brought in contact with moisture, heat, and earth, would shoot forth flowers and bloom. So it was with the resurrection of the dead, although the body perceptibly be dissolved, God had the germ of life hidden away somewhere —a remaining portion, imperishable, which would be the seed of the future immortal man. Christ’s resurrection from the dead was the proof of His divinity, ‘Dead had no more dominion over His body.’ ” st. mart’s roman catholic church. The usual Easter Masses were sung at this church at 10.30 on Sunday morning, when the attendance was unusually large. The Rev. Father Treacy preached a, sermon suitable for the occasion from the text St. Matthew xvi., 6, “ You seek Jesus of Nasareth, He is risen and is not here.” During the service the choir under the able leadership of Mrs Willoughby sang “Webb’s Mass in G,” “Regina Cceli,” and the Benediction. PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHURCH. The Rev. W. Woollass conducted Easter services at the Primitive Methodist Church, Geraldine, and in the evening preached an Easter sermon from Ephesians iv., 8—“ Therefore, he said, He hath ascended on high and led captivity captive.” He described the resurrection as part of a hinge which took hold of heaven, and the ascension as the part which took hold of earth, and said the Christian religion would not have been complete without Christ had ascended into heaven. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. Easter service was held in the Presbyterian Church, Geraldine, in the forenoon on Sunday, when there was a large congregation present. The Rev. A. B. Todd conducted the service, and remarked that he thought it a very great pity that the Presbyterian Church so completely ignored the festival of the Christian Easter. His sermon he based on Matthew xxviii., 6, and dealt with the resurrection of Christ. He showed its importance as one of the cardinal doctrines of the Christian Faith, and its meaning for Christ, the Church, and the individual. He spoke of the resurrection as —first, the proof that God had accepted the sacrifice of Christ on behalf of man ; and second, the acknowledgment by ! God that Christ is the Son of God ; and third, that Christ is a loving Saviour.