S. JOHN'S, TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1968, 17 February 1885, Page 3

S. JOHN'S, TE AWAMUTU.

» VKVKsr Til \\KS(,I\ ING I'LSTI\ \L. Tub icivice on Sunday opened with tho choii singing hjmn 352, "Come, Ye truthful People, Coino." The chinch presented, as usual on the->e occasion*, a \eiy beautiful appearance, tho decorations being paiticularly tasteful. Ovor tho enti.uicc to the communion table wa* an arch composed of green maize in flower, eveigreens, ' fruit, <lower«, and cam of whp.it Ilio altar rails ond leading desk were di.vped with evergreen*, peeping out fiom winch could be seen the vauons Howph in season, and fiuit. The decorations of the chande lieis consisted of tlie tenduls of climbing flowering plant*, with the flower* on them in bloom, and pendant fiom the chnndeheis were apple*. At intervals round the wa'ls weie shields made of laurel leaves, and in the centre of each wa.s a bouquet of flow en and cu.s of wheat. The ends of the pews weio adorned aKo with laurel leaves, wheat and flowers. At the foot of the communion table was a display of fruit and vegetables. Thcseivico was a full choral oho throughout. The anthem was taken fiom the 3(>th chapter of K/ekiel, " Ye Shall Dwell in the Land. ' The text was psalm CVll, Mb \eise, "Oh that men would praise, the Lord for His goodness, and declare the wonders that lie doeth for tho children of men." At the close of the service Mr Phillips n-feired in feeling teims to tinlate lJenci.il (tordon. He spoke of his pi oat love and tenderness for hit. fellow creatiuen, and described bis life as a bl.uneless one, and th.it, obedient to the dnme command, he daily took up his Clns*. I aiu soiry to have to mention an act of wilfrl and pioss disrespect which occurred in the chinch. A peison indulged in chon)»a (JiuitiK tho "cm ice, and expectorated tin' floor, mill behaved in such a >ianner as to nttiact the attention of a good ninny of the congt coition. Not content with this, us soon as tho people rose to leave he put on his hat and walked down the .us],- ue.um;,' it, although ho saw every i.ther peison uncovered, and, as if his vulgar conduct \v,v< not biirficiently ghring and diMc"»pi>ctful, he amused himself by throwing pellets of paper or something of the kind at someone who was walking out before him. Such conduct aa this cannot bo attuhuted to want of knowing better; pu-iynian knows he should not wear his hat in chinch. The fellow did it intentionally, and, if ho repeats the offence. I promise him I shall forwaid yon his name. Another objocttonible practice is _ that of bnnirmg dogs into church. During the rtorvice a little cm kept running up ami down the aislo and (icc»«ii)ii illy b.il'kl )){.', to the annoyance of some :ind the amusement of those whose nsiluhty is easily piovoked. — (Own Coiiesponilent )