METHODIST CHURCH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9651, 7 July 1919, Page 5

METHODIST CHURCH.

.'■ Thanksgiving, services ,were'held -in the Baring Squai'e Church, and for the purpose the two churches united. Rev. T. W. Vealie, assisted -.by'Mr W. J. Brown, conducted the morning service. The church was festooned with flags,' and there was a . large congregation. The service was opened by the singing of the Doxology, followed by the repeating of the Lord's Prayer and the singing of the National Anthem. The Proclamation was then read, all standing, and after prayer the choir sang the Te Deum. The lesson for the j morning was Ps. 46, which was read by IMr W. J. Brown, who also led in prayer. A short address to the children was followed by a powerful address by Mr Vealie on "Thoughts on The Great War." In speaking to the subject, the preacher referred to the cyclonic nature of the war. A planned campaign or injustice, a defiance of justigp and freedom, and had sought to force on the world the belief that might was right, and an Almighty militarism to over-run the world. The Allies had been forced into the war _to defend liberty, -self-respect, and maintain, a right* to live in liberty and peace. It was more. important that right principles should live than that we should live, and the victory had delivered the free peoples of the world from the menace of an unscrupulous nation. The winning of the war marked the abadonment of denominational separations; it inculcated a religion of practice rather than dogma. The spirit of democracy was placed in the scale of ascendency in society, and whole--heartedness in service. All the hymas were chosen with special bearing' on I the service.

In the evening the church was packed in. every part, and followed tho order of the morning service. The Proclamation, was again read, and a telling address by Mr Vealie on "Post War Christianity" followed. In speaking to the subject the preacher emphasised the fact that religion ' was an exaltation of life, and to this end God had consecrated a day. Religion possessed the world in thoughts, deeds, and words on Society, State., and School. To disbelieve in religion required more faith than belief, ' and briefly reviewing the case, pointedly asks: What is the present'outlook? The man in the street said that Hell had been let loose. But it was equally true now as when Gladstone spoke. That the greatest triumphs of our time will be the enthronement of the Divine in the world, and that militarism to-day was an,amazement of the world, and its end for the present had come. Victory had been attained. What will be the influence of the war on the teaching of Christianity? Christian teaching. and practice were both challenged—but: Christianity taught the Fatherland of God and the brotherhood of man—never that might was right. It opposes all -evil, and is a sword against inequity. War ha*s risen because the nations, were not vitally Christian, and the future hope lies in an international Christianity, in a Federation of the world. Democracy has come, will it prove itself worthy? Will there be more justice, liberty, and insight into e*ssentials. The Christianity of the future must rid itself of excrescences, purify error, get free of all encumbrances, and recognise the Fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. Christianity has not failed, it has not been tried. The worthlessness of our denominationalism and the need of our unitedly standing in the interest of right was evident. A need for an all-pervading Christian faith was an absolute necessity; facts esteemed above doctrine. There is social unrest. The old con■servative has given place to liberal, and democracy has como to rule, and

if it is. to be successful, the teaching of Christ must be applied. During the service a large, united choir rendered the anthems "And the Glory," "Gloria," and the Hymn of Peace (Mr Brown taking the solo) in an effective manner, Mr Humphreys conducting.