METHODIST CENTRAL MISSION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14507, 26 April 1909, Page 3

METHODIST CENTRAL MISSION

The harvest festival services were held yesierday in the Garrison Kali. The morning eel-viej was conducted by Wie ilev. E. 0. lilainires, who t-ook as "his text Luke xvii, 10, iuid who -referred- to tiic life cif ilio fanner as the life of a servant cf God; as such he hm rapressntaiivo of litis Christian in the spiritual service of God. Service was the proof of love, and the greatexample cf perfect sorvico was given in the life of Christ. Even in service Ho was the reveular of God, wlio, though greatest of all—or rather bscause greatest of all— serva-nt- of all. The service of God was the service of needy humanity, with whom God identified Himself; and hence the call of Iho parable lo extra, service was not a call of an autocratic nature, but one that revealed God's love. His demand for full conitcralion was the demand of a heavenly Father, who was in sympathy with His children's need. 'l'lle llcv. W. Sla«Io preached at night, the building b?ing well filled. Taking as his text " Whatsoever a man eowet.li, that shall he also roup," ho poiuto<l out how the natural law was seen to work not only in tlis farmer's liold, but also in the bodily life, of man. 'J'lie youth who sowed the seeds of an evil lifo would undoubtedly reap in older age as he ha<l sown. In business life the same law ope.ra.ted. Men got out of their business what they put in. The slovenly worker found his way to the Bankruptcy Court, and the aJert. ajid careful reaped success. In mental life also the law held good, and, higher still, the spiritual reaping in cliaraoter and life was the effect of the sowing God had a message of hope for all, whatever the past life had been, that was not to be left out of account, for Christ, oil behalf of men, had also sown, and must rea.p Ilis harvest. The decoration of tho hall was tasteful, and the choir in its harvest anthems acquitled itsolf well. Mr S'.ade referred hopefully to the Central Minion ImiMing soliemo during tho ovo-iiing, reporting progress and saying t,l»t (lie ideal lie desired to reach was to havo tho foundation stone laid next year.