HARVEST FESTIVAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2597, 5 March 1889, Page 2

HARVEST FESTIVAL .

Thk Harvest Thanksgiving Festival, which was held at S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, commenced on Friday morning with a ■ celebration of the Holy Communion at 7.30 a.m., the incumbent being celebrant. The appeal for" helping hands" in our recent issue showed most excellent results in the profuse and tasteful decoration of the Church. The altar, as usual, arrested tho attention of the huge congregation by the dignity and beauty of its decoration. The dossel' was surmounted by three sheaves of wheat, and the curtain bordered with wreaths of corn anil small bunches of fruit. The super-alter boro the usual ornaments, raised upon a stand, hung round with bunches of grapes, and most artistically piled with mixed fruit of the most glowing colour-', interspersed with lycopodium. Bouquets of pink and white lillies upon a background of variegated bamboo and miniature sheaves of corn completed this part of the decoration. Pot-plants and large sheaves of grain surrounded by fruit ran on each side of the altar, and the rails, edged with oats and vaiiuus fruits, showed well against the handsome and dignified background. The pulpit and choir stalls were out-lined with oats and barley, with small bunches of fruit among the wreathing, while on each panel of the pulpit, and on each choir stall hung a handsome Cornucopian group of mixed fruits—apples, pears, plums, oranges, grapes, Cape gooseberries, passion fruit, etc.—giving a look of plenty, at which all decorators aim on such occasions, but of which, some fall short. The windows were most tastefully bordered with blackberries and hips and haws alternately, while the sills were filled with ferns, sheaves, and piles of fruit. Tho prayer-desk, lectern, and font were heavily outlined with mixed grain, while handsome sheaves and piles of vegetables and fruit surrounded the base of each. Tho arches were gracefully and lightly outlined with grain, while the pillars were amply covered with Indian corn, and topped with sunflowers, There was a brightness given to the whole church by the banners; which hung on tho walls, both in chancel and nave. The whole work- speaks well for much patient industry on the part of the members of the congregation. Evensong was at 7.30, when the Rev. Isaac Richards, of St. Mark's, JiQinuora, was the preacher, also the Rev. R. G. Jloler, from To Amiinutu, and the incumbent. The anthem was Burnby's •' Harvest Tide Thanksgiving." The sermon was an exhortation to consider the duties of thanksgiving, and to turn the lesson ot the sower to daily and hourly account by so watching the " sowing " in our lives that our "reaping may be full and plentious. The festiual was continued on Sunday when tliere were good both at matins and evenson};, at tilts latter especially, the church being largely filled. Tiio inoiimbent conducted both services, and preached excellent sermons, in which he drew many practical lessons from appropriate texts taken from words of our Lord. The total offerturjea aujouuted to £0 10».