THE COMING ANGLICAN MISSION AT HAMILTON.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2076, 27 October 1885, Page 2

THE COMING ANGLICAN MISSION AT HAMILTON.

The Rev. It. O'C. Bnhjs, in his sermon on Sunday evening at S. Peter's, Hamilton, speaking of the success of tin* Mission, said that to doubt it was to doubt the goodness of God, and no earnest etfoits maclu for Christ can fail. But " the kingdom of God conieth not with observation," and the sinceiitynf those who clea\e unto the tmth will only In 1 known hereafter. He exposed the fal-e idea of conversion, — tli.it it indicates the «udden and complete tiansformation of tho dinner into the without the power of relapse, and he warned his hearers not to mistake the emotions which necessarily accompany calls and special seasons of grace (such as a mission) foi tine repentance, for the one offering winch alone will be accepted, the otfei ing of oui m>uN and bodies to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto (}od, but rather to repaid them as invitations and helps to move onwaid, to use and tiavel homeward, nearer to God. Ho concluded with encouragements to earnest woik. He said that the Christian who is really vwnking for God and for his soul has ever some intimation that his service is acceptable, some enconagement not to be weary in well domp, some assuiancc th.it in due tune ho shall leap. After the seimon he i elated some of tho effects already observable of the mission in Auckland, so far as it has yet gone, vi/., a pi cater kindliness of feeling, showing itself in hemty sympithv and little deeds of kindness, adult candidates for baptism, middle-aped candidates for conhi (nation, and men changed from a total neglect of n*liginn to be lepular wor-shipper 1 -. He uiged that the*e facts should, Mar us up to renewed energy in prayer for similar blpssingh from the mission in Hamilton. He informed the congregation that daily prayei i« beincr offered up in several churches in England for a blessing on the mission in New Zealand, and that durin*; the progress of the mission in Hamilton, many friends in Auckland will offer up special prayers that a rich blet-sing may be poured out on S. I'eter's parish. He also explained an important featnie of a mission, namely, "Intercessory prayei." that a box is placed in the church porch foi communications to the mi— -loner and tor requests for prayer forielatives or fi lends, foi temporal or spiritual blessings, and th.it there need be no limitation in in iking these requests, as it i-> not nrcess.ny to mention any name. The box is opened daily and tho missionei ai ranges the requests md formulates them into a .shoit Litany. Theie was then a practice of some of the mission hymn«, which will be repeated on the intervening Sunday evenings before the mission, and it is hoped that the congregation will avail themselves of tho oppoitunitv thus afforded (and also at the special practic ■ at 8.30 on Fiiday evenings) of becoming familiar with tho music, so that tho singing at the mission may be congregational and hearty.