OPENING OF S. Andrew's Anglican Church, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1430, 1 September 1881, Page 2

OPENING OF S. Andrew's Anglican Church , CAMBRIDGE.

Tins pli^d!! Was , 'o>*i4cr.ited for i Divini WonYn by the B.j'iop of Auckland yesterday morning. Tlie opening ceremony was certainly tht' most impressive of the kind -whic'i has ever yet taken place in this distiict. Notwithstanding the unpleasant state of the weather which prevailed throughout the entire day, a considerable number of the Bettlci'3 of the out-lying districts, especially from Hamilton, thronged to Cambridge to witness the opening of the new church of. S. Andrews', of which they have heard so much, and a full description of which has already appeared in these columns. Through the efforts of the Building Committee and the kindness of the business residents of Cambridge, the occasion was made a public holiday, all business of a practical nature being suspended throughout the day. This eaabled a large number of persons to be present who would otherwise, through their respective occupations, have , oeen incapacitated from attending. There weae about 500 people present and every convenience was provided for the accotnodafion of the congregation there being ample sitting-room for all. The clergymen who assisted in the ceremony of consecration were the Venerable Archdeacon Putt, the Rev. F Gould (Otuhuhu;, E. J. Phillips (Te Awamutu), H. S. Davis (Ngaruawahia), William Calder, S. Peter's (Hamilton), B. T. Dudley (St. Sepulchre's Auckland), and W. N. de L. Willis (S. Andiew's, Cambridge). The choir consisted of about 50 voices under the leadeiship of Mr J. jA. Beale, who presided at the organ assisted by Mr J. Neal. Mrs Ghittty presided at the harmonibm, and these were accompanied by a euphonium and cornet played by Mr C. D. Mackintosh and a local amateur. The music throughout the service was invariably well rendered. Divine Service was commenced a few minutes after 11 o'clock by the entry of the Bishop atended by his chaplain into the church from the vestry, the Minister of S. Andrew's with several other Clergy, the Churchwardens, and Vestrymen, with some of the principal inhabitants entering at the same time from the aparttne.it to the north of the chancel, Both processions meeting in the middle of the chancel, Mr T. Wells, churchwarden, read the following petition :—: — To IHI RIGHI Rl-Vl RLND FaTIIBR IN GOD, WIIIIAM G\RDLN.— By DIVINK Pi KMISSION Bishop oi Auckland. 'I he petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the Parochial District of b. Andrew's, Cambridge, in the County of Waikato and Colony of New Zealand, being 1 members ot the Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England. Sin wi.ih That a Church has been erected on the said | Parochial District, on a site purchased tor that purpose out of monies subscribed by your petitioners and others. lhat such site has been duly coin eyed before the signing of these presents to the Trustees of the General Trust Board of the Diocese of Auckland. 'lhat the said Church is now ready for the pciformance of Divine service. Your petitioners therefore pray that the said Church may be consecrated and set apart for ever for the Public Worship ol Almighty God, according to the Rites of the Church of the Province ot New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England, under the name ot the Church of Saint Andrew. Having given his consent, the Bishop then proceeded with the Ceremony of Consecration as follows, the congregation joining in the responses. 1. 'lhe earth is the Lord's and all that therein is ; the compass of the world, and they that dwell therein. , 2. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and prepared it upon the floods. 3. Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord, or who hhali rise up in his holy place ? 4. Even he hath clean hands, and a pure heart ; and that hath not lift up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his neighbour. 5. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6. This is the generation of them that seek Him, even of them that seek thy face, 0 Jacob. 7. Lift up your heads, 0 ye gate", and be ye lift up, ye everlasting 'doors ; and the King of Glory shall come in. i 8. Who is the King of Glory ? It is the Lord, stronsr and mighty, even the Lord mighty m battle. 9. Lift up your heads 0 yo gates, and be ye lift up, yo everlu sting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. 11. Who is the King of Glory ? Even the Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory. Glory to the Father, and to the son, and to the Holy Ghost, As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen. Hymn No. 396, A. and M. 2nd part was then sung, after which the trustees presented the Deed of Dedication to the Bishop seated in hU chair. The congregation remaining standing, the Bishop proceeded as follows : — Dearly beloved in the Lord forasmuoh as devout and holy men, as well under the law as under the Gospel, moved either by the secret insphationof the Blessed Spirit, or by the express command of God, or by their own reason and pense of the natural decency of things, hare erected houses for the public worship of God, and separated them from all profane and common uses, in order to fill men's minds with greater reverence for His Glorious Majesty, and affect their hearts with more devotion and humility m His service, which pious works have been approved of and graciously accepted by our Heavenly Father, let us not doubt that He will also favourably approve our godly purpose of netting apart this place in solemn manner for the performance of the several offices of religious worship,' and let us faithfully and devoutly beg 1 His blessing on this our underaking and say:— o Eternal God mighty in' power, and of majesty iucomprhensible, whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands, and who yet hast been graciously pleased to promise Thy especial Presence in whatever place even two or three of Thy faithful servants shall assemble in Thy Name to offer up their praises and supplications unto Thee, vouchsafe 0 Lord, to be present with us who are here gathered together, with all humility and readiness of heart, to consecrate this place to the honour of Thy Name, separating. ,it henceforth from all unhallowed, ordinary, and common uses, and dedioating.it to Thy service for reading Thy Holy Word, for celebrating Thy Holy Sacraments, for* offering to Thy Glorious Majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving for blessing Thy people in Thy Name, and for the performance of all other j hply ordinances. Accept, O'L'oi'd, 'this service at our hands, and bletis it* with 'such suoces*,' a« taay tend most to Thy glory, and the salvation of Thy people, through Jesus Christ; out BUssSed' Lord and Saviour.' '' '"' 'The 1 congregation' > refnaining r kneeling, u the .Bishop .then offered ti£ -k prayer^ invoking 1 the bleosing of Almighty Go 4 upqn the bulletin^

and the congregation, tHj^/choifr*.j4rag- . ing the "Amens."'' All present Then stood up, when Colonel Lyon, acting on behalf of the Chancellor of the Diocese, approached the Bishop, who was seated jn Ins chair, and read the? follpwin|j\|enf "Wee- of consecration, wftjch I Wa§,4Jgfcsd), by the Bishop. Itib RIOHrRI VHtt!f.Virl?\TH r «'R IN GbD, Wir.trASf GvKDI'V. — n\ DIVIVIi Pi RMISSION Bt&HOl' ( Ol AucHr VND.— ro,AL| fro \VjUJm ItIKSEPRHSHjjIbj i shUl Lome bu.vus QREuriNGs. .If <* J s Whereas it has been 1 eproented to us by the petition ot our well : beloved m Christ William" Newtombe de L.n.il Willib, i'hom.is Wells., Fr.uiLis Hick->, and other members of the Church ot tho province ot New Ze il.and, commonly c.illcd " The Church of England," that the Chuich now called "The Church ot S. Andrew," C.imbndjjc, in the diocese of Auckland, is> ready for thi> performance ot Divine Service. And Wheieas the site of the said chuich hath been duly conveyed to the General Trust Board of the Diocese ot Auckland, , '■ Now, we bcingMestroufc that the pious wishes of the aforesaid Petitioners should be fulfilled, and moved thereto by good and sufficient considerations, do here, in tho presence- pi Almighty God, and in the face of this congregation assembled in the aforesaid Church, pronounce, on this thirty-first day of August, one thousand eight hunched and eighty-one, this our Solemn and Definitive Sentence of Consecration, and do hereby Pronounce and Declare this Church, knowu by the name of the Church of S. Andicw, Cambridge, in the Diocese of Auckland, to be consecrated and set apart for ever for the public Worship of Almighty God, according to the rites of the Church ot ths Province.' of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England. In Witness whereof wo have hereto subscribed our hand this thirty-first day if August; in the year of Our Lord one 'thousand eight hundred and eighty-one, and in the twelfth year of our consecration. This document having been signed by 'the Bishop, was ordered to be preserved among the muniments in the Registry. No 166 A and M Hymn was then sung by the congregation and choir, which was followed by a shortened form of morning prayer, the Preces and Responses being sung to Talhs. The Proper Psalms BA, 122, 132, and proper lessons I Kings VIII ver 22-62 with the Te Deum (to Jackson in P) followed. The anthem was "In Jewry," by Whitfield, and this being ended the Bishop proceeded to the order of Holy Communion, the Rev. F. Gould epistoler, and the Venerable Archdeacon Pritt Gospeller and Preacher. The following is the sermon, being upon the text ''Ebenezer." You will remember the chapter from which the text is taken, which describes the deliverance of the Israelites from the Philistines, 20 years after their great defeat and the capture of the ark by their enemies. During these 20 years their fortunes had been at the lowest ebb, and their subjection to the Philistines complete. Then Samuel assembled the people at night, and promised them deliverance from the Philistines if only they would turn from iheir idols and worship the Lord alone. The Philistines on hearing this went up against them ; and they, putting their trust only in the Lord, asked Samuel to pray for them. He did so : God interfered, evidently in their behalf, thundering with a great thunder against the Philistines, who were completely discomfited. On returning from tl*e plirsuit, Samuel took a stone and set it up, and called the name of it Ebenezer, that is the stone of help, saying, " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us."' You will remember that this placing of a stone as a memorial of some great act or gracious providence of God is often met with in the Bible. The most celebrated instance is that of Jacob after his vision, where it is said that Jacob took a 3tone and put it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. This stone and its anointing have been taken (I may remark in passing) by S. Augustine and other commentators as typical of Christ, the chief cornerstone, anointing, and being anointed with the oil of gladness before His fellows. But why have I chosen this text ? It came into my mind as I was contrasting the present state of the Waikato with the past— a contrast so great that none who has not witnessed both could realise its fulness. Let me recall something of that old state of things here. Within the district itself instead of a population gradually and naturally increasing as circumstances required, suited more or less to their position, and possessing some means and appliances adapted to it, there was a population suddenly brought together from various quarters, and therefore with no coherence or sympathy arising from previous knowledge or similarity of occupation ; many quite unfitted for their present life, possessed of no adequate capital, without means of subsistence, without power of providing, or without employment from others — poor, spiritless and strange, with something of that recklessness which arises from a want of hope. Of course there were many exceptions ; men who boldly persevered, men who are still (many of them) in the district, active, intelligent, and industrious, who are now worthily reaping the fruits of their byegone struggle. But I am speaking of the mass. What would have become of the district I know not had not the Thames goldfields broken out and drawn away many, especially among them the most unsuitable of the population. Then outside of the district there were the hostile natives. Panics of Maori invasions were almost a regular part of the system. These panics doubtless benefitted some, but they put a stop for the time to any systematic industry, and most effectually prevented the advent of capital into the district. Nor was the spiritual state any better — no churches, no resident ministers, services held at irregular intervals, conspicuous chiefly for their mean and sordid surroundings, and the absence of a voluntary congregation, which consisted mostly of church patades. And now what a marvellous change through all Instead of the old poverty-stricken, desponding population, men of capital, energy, intelligence, enterprise and position ; instead of wide tracts of uncultivated land, over which fern and ti-tree held undisputed sway, the only sign of life being the cattle tracks, whose frequent interlacings often misled unaccustomed travellers, now on every side we see good roads and flourishing farms, very pictures of comfort, prosperity and hope. And when we turn to Church matters, the change is more striking and animating still. To speak only of our own Church here : instead of the irregular visits ("flying" yisits.ras my good, kind old friend Major Clare called themat my first interview with him, in deprecation of their unsatisfactory results), of a casual clergyman, you have now a clergyman resident in the parsonage which you have built for him ; you built a church large enough, to say the least, for the congregation ; and now you have reared this handsome edifice to meet increasing wants. Instead of a few uncertain worshippers there is a large and regular attendance, many riding in from a considerable distance to join in the services. And what is most thankworthy, the same energy and intelligence which have changed lihe face of the land have also lent an active aid in changingjthe aspect of Church affairs. ' But nothing but a hearty general co-operation could have raised so speedily this fair and goodly church— this Ebenezer, as I would wish to regard it. Great, indeed, and unwearied must have been the,, exertions of your clergyman, earnest his .prayers,, and firm his reliance on Divine aid.,, I say that I would wish to regard this church as an Ebenezer— as an expression of gratitude to God for , all His mercies vouchsafed— as a practical utterance of the feeling that "Hitherto God has helped you." This is, Jhe/jgre/kt lesson which I wish to bring to your thoughts to : day. That the earth' is the Lord's ami the futaesa of it, It ja H,o

*|kp*' B«|tte|^' up iand^putteth down ; on Hra*s6le ""will all things in heaven and earth depend. Do not say that this is an amiable platitude, suitable w for deliver^in rthiB r thi8 ajai^jjut lik&j&an.y* otheraeligi(|u^seJitiSneEjts fatteny|uupraeuttiutu, ofof, ttaadipseii to ".daily life.**,,.it*-Js the sum and substance of all religion to -believe-that God is the^anthor, sustaiuer, anil controller of eyerything, and tha^ , .for, ftfc pleasure aty jtlnugs apa frtjd Swede* ■k&d. 'Maybe? if oiAfineW Were uoi bo- overladen' -and- -diverted— by-< things' temporal we should never dream of doubting* th,ls." In human flatters is any reasonable 'man wont ' to work without a purpose ? Does he not form his, designs, and endeavor; to, see tilings applied to their intended ends ? Does he not control and direct them to the best of his ability? Do yon' notf all of you in youV severa| ' occupations (at least, all who succeed) 1 ; form your plans' carefully 'and carry them out systematically,, especially avoiding all haphazard operations 1 And is it possible to couceive that i God, and i God alone, reverses this proceeding ? That he flings (as it were) a universe into space, and leaves it to shape its own course without His controlling Jiand-? He, works, indeed, by means' ' He employs, in' many ways, us, men. as , His agents upon the earth;; but the beginnings .and the ends 'of all' things ai*e in His hand,s, and the means fail or prosper according' to His will. Scripture literally teems with passages which inculcate this most practical truth. ' ' Except the Lord (it 'is written) build the house their labor is but lost that build it;" "It is but lost labor that ye haste to rise up early, and so late take rest and eat the bread of carefulness, for so He giveth His beloved Bheep " — that is it is vain to rise up early to a day of toil, vain to go late to a prayerless rest, vain to cat our bitter bread in wearineas and pain of heart unless He be with us, and His blefesing be upon us and on our" labor. Or again, " 0 Lord, I know that the way of man is'not in himself ; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps ;" or again, " Both riches and honor come of Thee," and "Thou reignest over all," and "In Thine hand is power and might," and " In Thine hand at is to make great and to give strength to all ;" and in the New Testament S. John declares,' "A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven," and our Lord (after uttering the parable of the rich fool, whose soul, in the very midst of his anticipated enjoyments for many year-s wa^ on the instant required of him, aaks : Which vi you with taking thought can add to his «tatiire one cubit ; or, as the words may equally well mean, can add to lna life one span. The sense, however, is the Bame, that the minutest atom of body- or of life depend entirely upon the will of God. Men have no control over their own birth, their infancy, their growth, or age, and as little really have they over their own present position. God inaketh rich and maketh poor. He gives and he takes Hw.iy, and happy he who c<m say with Job, in either case, " Blessed be the name of the Loid." You have known others skilful, industrious, intelligent, persevering, who have striven and failed. Aud why have you succeeded ? la it not because hitheito the Lord hath helped you P Again : As this Church has been reared us a token of gratitude to God, and an expression of your dependence upon Him, so should it testify your belief that all you have is His. You will remember how for years King David collected together an incredible array of jrold and precious stones ; of silver, brass, and iron to raise a fitting temple to his God, and how, in his dedication of these to God, he said, "Whom am I, and who are my people that we should be able to offer so willingly after this &oi t ? for all things are of Thee, and of Thine own have given Thee." David said this of the Temple, but do not suppose that in the Christian Dispensation Churches are lens necessary than in the Jewish. God declares "In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee and bless thee." The glory of the Gospel is not the abolition of outward ceremonies, but their dissemination throughout the world ; not to esteem one building in one city holy, but to 1 aiee hallowed Temples in every land. When our Lord was burn on earth, He came to unite Heaven and earth more closely ; to make earth more like to Heaven ; to declare the One God as Lord alike of both. The fleshy body in which He veiled His eternal Godhead is a type of the Christian Churches, and He calls upon us to honour the«e walls where in an outward and visible Temple His eternal presence dwells. David says, " For all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee." \nd so though you cannot do as he, though you have not the materials and the wealth and the, skill which lay at his disposal, you can do your best. You can offer willingly, and eagerly, and thankfully a portion of thfit which has come to you of God, and which even before you offer it to Him is His own. And thus can you, m a visible, tangible, and substantial tnanner, tell forth His glory, and evidence your belief in His claim to the sole sovereignty over all the things of men. And surely in the.se days of material prosperity and practical unbelief in things future and unseen, it is more than ever needful that you should give evidence of this faith by devoting willingly of your very best to Him. " Does not the whole world," it has been eloquently said, "speak in praise of God ?" Does not every star in the sky, every tree and flower upon earth, all that grows, all that endures — the leafy woods, the everlasting mountains, speak of God ? Do not the pearls in the sea, and the jewels in the rocks, and the metals in the mine, and the marbles in the quarry ; do not all rich and beautiful substances everywhere witness of Him who made them ? Are they not His work, His token, His glory ? Let us then master this great and simple truth that all rich materials and productions of this world being God's property, are intended for God's service ; and sin, and sin only, turns them to a different purpose. One other les3on I should like to suggest to you in drawing to a close, a lesson especially needed in these self-seek-ing selfish days, and that lesson is a lesson of unselfishness. ,In building a Church you are building for others as well as for yourselves. Long after those who are aiding now have , passed away, this Church, their work, will remain for other generations of worshippers, who will reap that which you have sowed ; who will testify to the unity of the Church by continuing that which you have begun ; who, I pray God, will receive from your present devout use of this Church a treasury of holy thoughts, holy prayers, holy services and offices as their inheritance in times to come. For, finally, this after all, as between God and yourselves, is the great consideration to be dwelt upon, that only in proportion aa you use this building 'to God's glory will the erection of it be of any nse to yourselves. Jacob set up a stone at Bethel, a type of the rock of our salvation ; on that rock our salvation rests, and in the Church built upon that rock each one of us is set for a spiritual stone. Vain is it to raise high superstructures' unless we lay a deep foundation in ourselves. Vain to raise a material Temple to God if we are not 1 building up ourselves aa spiritual Temples of His Hqly t ,Spfriti jto,Id.TCQ,U io,'"Do not then resemble buttresses of ,the Church affording but an outside* support ; ready, indeed, to> contribute Jyottr counsel, your ' exertions, your moneys but not yourselves. It ia tody, soul^ and spirit which ' <!bd 'tcquiien; and with 'nothing less, wiU Ho be satisfied " Hitherto %*

Lord hatttphelped you"— may He"T»n.-< tinue to help you to knoV and aerre Him better, May you be lod/>n year by year to feel ukmo depply the presence and the .Jjles^ng 1 of this help. Then whatever be ihflHßeans Js&whii:h He shall help you for we-fntuT^f-wHether it ba by prosperity or by tiial and affliction, you shall go on from strength to sfrength, leaning more and more trustfully upon His help. lYea, as you walk through the valloy of 'the rtliudow of death you shall fear no evil,«foi* He -who hath- hitherto helped' you 1 " will be with you, and His rod and His, htaff they shall c >mfy|i|yV)u£ \ >l % v Theserxice being*ended, the^collectlon, which .amounted .to, JESSLies^was-inade, - during which, selections,, from. Barnby's Offertory iSeriwiices" Were sung. There were about 40 communicants. "Throughout the service tlie Rev. Calder, of Hamilton, filled the office of Bishop's Chaplain. " " ' ' ' '„ At 6.30' p. hi. 'the Church was again crowded, the Processional l hyniii ' being "Blessed, pity//'^ (A., and , M.) 396,,, the prayers .being said by the Rev. Wm. Calder. The first lesson was , Isaiah LIV., read by Rev,. H. S. Pavia ; the second lesson & John XII. y verses 20-42, read by Rev. E. 'J: Phillips, the Cantiqles, being Jackson in F. , The anthetn w*3 the Hallelujah ' Clibrus from the "Messiah." 'Jhe hymn before the sermon was. (£36, A and M, Ist tune) "Hark the Sound of Holy Voices.?' ■ The Bishop preached from the Epistle for the day, 2 Cor., VI, IS, ' ' What agreement hath the temple of God with idols." — His Lordship ; apok9 of Reverence being the' outward' manifestation of an inward devotioq, "and quoted the words of a learned] writer •' He who never needs rarely prays 1 ." The Right Rcvt Pieacher also sketched the wonderful projjrebs in Church matters tn Cambridgfe during the last eleven years, and mentioned the kindly courtesy of tho Wesleyan Minister, . and the hospitality of Major Clare, but reminded his hearers that Progression and Promotion in the words of an eminent living Statesman mean^ inincreased responsibilities, and urged the membeis of the Chuich to increased devotion, and use of the.ingans of grace. After the Sermou 'and Hymn the offertry was cqllected, the music being as in the morning. The Blewng by the Bishop and the Procession of Bishop nnd Clergy left the Church during the Singing of Hymn 391 (A. and M.) " Onward Christain Soldiers."