CONFERENCE SUNDAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5860, 12 January 1903, Page 3

CONFERENCE SUNDAY.

Yesterday was a great day, the weather ■was all that could be desired. Country friends drove into town, aud there were large congregations at all the services. At 9.45 a.m. a largely attended prayer meeting was held, and at U a.m. theßev. J. Olphert preached m the Conference Church to a congregation which filled the church, to hear the preacher who was formerly a pastor of the church. The service was marked by much spiritual power, and will be long remembered by those present. The preacher was m good form, and preached a very interesting sermon, taking as his subject, " Our Sinless High Priest." Jesus, tho Great High Priest, was full of the deepest sympathy with all His followers. His perfect knowledge of their circumstances, the deep love He had for them, and His owu experience of temptation, enabled Him to sympathise with all Christian pilgrims m their struggles and welfare on their way to heaven. The Great High Priest Himself was tempted when on earth. He was tempted as man, and nob simply as God. He had both a divine and human nature, and it was m the latter that He was tempted. His was the supreme temptation of this world, and He resisted it us a maD, and did not call upon his divine nature to defeat the tempter. His temptation was not temporary, but lifelong. The devil only left Him for a season, but repeatedly assailed Him. Having been tempted so severely, He was well qualified to sympathise with the tempted. Jesus wa£ tempted m all points of his nature. He was tempted m His appetite or his physical nature. Thousands were tempted m this part of their nature. Jesus was also tempted m His spiritual nature; His faith was tried. He was tempted to leave the great purpose of His life. As surely a3 He was victorious, and now sits on heaven's throne, and He has promised to help all His followers until at last they enter the palace of the King. OAItP MEETING. In the afternoon a camp meeting was held m the Domain, and a l.irge crowd was present. The Allenton Temperance Brass Band enlivened the proceedings during the afternoon. The Eev. J. Dawson, m his usual happy, racy style, conducted the gathering, and addresses were delivered by Mr J. Clement, who has MStt a local preacher of the Primitive MethoMt Church for 63 years, and Mr C. M. Luke, the able exPresident, who possesses rare popular gifts as a public speaker. The Eev. P. C. Cossem j spoke upon "Christ's invitation to the weary and heavy laden." The Rev. W. S. Potter delivered an address to the children, upon " Working for Jesus." The gathering was a very enjoyable one. The attendance at the Wills Street Primitive Methodist Church on Sunday night was said to be a record one. The building was not merely filled, it was packed even to the point of discomfort, and, as expressed by Rev J. Dawson, the only place where there was a little available space was at the feet of those who occupied the rostrum. The fact that Rev. J. Cocker, of Wanganui, had been announced to preach contributed no doubt to tho unusually large eongreg.v ion, as many people m all parts of the district wished to come m contact once more with a man who for many years labored so acceptably m this part of Canterbury. The opening prayer was offered by Rev W. S. Potter, and the Rev. J. Dawson read the first lesson, Mr Dawson's running comments being apt and racy. Mr Cocker's text was from Galatians 6: 14—"But God forbid that I should glory save m the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." It was shown that, apart from the gospel, the Apostle Paul had advantages and acquisitions of _ which he could glory, such as his nationality, his religions training, his classical education, intellectual ability, patriotism and virtues. The preacher deprecated the idea that simply a wooden structure was meant by the term "cross" m his text. It was that which it represented, namely, the great atoning work of Jesus Christ. St. Paul boasted of the cross because it gave nn assurance of victory, for like many a hero of history, tho real victory wa3 accomplished at death, but unliko many others, that which the spectators thought was defeat at the moment of death, was really the time of Jesus Christ's greatest triumph. Ihe historical words, "It is finished," were the expression of the Saviour's knowledge that the salvation of the race was accompli eh While tho beauties of nature revealed a portion of God's affection, the cross was the greatest proof of His love for humanity, and was likewise an idea of God's estimate of sin. The atoning work of Jesus is the only remedy for sin. and all other attempts to deal with it. Such Christian science, theosophy, anc j the like, were but quack remedies. But there must be personal application for the remedy, and it was important to note that, if the individual sinner refused to meet Christ at the cross, he would

be compelled to meet Christ en the judgment throne. A very powerful sermon, delivered with intense earnestness and fervour, ,vaa brought to aclose by :in appeal to tli« congregation tv accept a gracious pardou, which would be accompaui.-d with hpaluig. After t\m service an old-lime l"ye feast was hflil, tr> which the majority of tun oouj,'fßgati-iu leuiained. The (proceeding?, were of a most animated description, >md the singing of Torrey-Ale.,ander hymns ta very vigorous fashion, indicated that, whatever might be said of some exponents of Christianity, the!' imitive Methodists of Aslibiu-tou, are not a dismal, morose class r>f peopio.